2017

This is a companion project to a 2016 CREOi award. Globally, amphibians are threatened by fungal diseases, climate change, and habitat loss and fragmentation. In urbanizing areas like western Washington State, road corridors and increasing traffic may contribute to habitat fragmentation, blocking amphibian migration paths between spring breeding ponds and the upland forests that provide overwintering habitat. Oxbow staff and… Read Project SummaryTraffic and roadway impacts on amphibian diversity and distribution in the Snoqualmie Valley, WA

Humans have historically altered ecosystem structure through landscape manipulation, leaving “remnants,” or refuge patches of suitable habitat amidst inhospitable terrain. Large carnivores tend to be especially vulnerable to such habitat alterations because they often occur at low densities, have slow reproductive rates, and wide-ranging behavior necessitated by high food requirements. Multiple wildlife studies, however, have demonstrated large carnivore presence is… Read Project SummaryLarge predator competition in an urbanizing world: Cougar and black bear interactions along the wildland-urban gradient of western Washington

Globally, islands are special places of concern for biological diversity because they are species-rich yet also highly vulnerable. Islands make up 5% of the land area of earth but house 20% of all bird, rodent and flowering plant species and 37% of critically endangered species; they have also hosted 61% of all recorded species extinctions. In the Salish Sea, islands… Read Project SummaryDiscovering Island Biodiversity in the Salish Sea

This project is a continuation of a 2015-2016 CREOi award, supporting restoration of the Olympia oyster (Ostrea lurida), which has played an important ecological and cultural role as Washington’s only native oyster. Since 2012, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community (SITC) has been collaborating with regional partners on a long-term restoration project to reestablish, expand, and research Olympia oyster, Ostrea lurida, populations on Reservation… Read Project SummaryRestoring an endemic species to native tidelands: Olympia oysters in Swinomish pocket estuaries

Olympic mudminnow (Novumbra hubbsi) are Washington State’s only endemic fish species, and yet are subject to challenges plaguing many noncommercial freshwater species; namely, the lack of consistent research and monitoring, leading to knowledge gaps that limit conservation actions. With a small range and low dispersal ability, Olympic mudminnow were listed as a State Sensitive species by Washington Department of Fish… Read Project SummaryIdentifying conservation challenges and opportunities for the endemic Olympic mudminnow