Archive for 2017

Oxbow Farm & Conservation Center
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 Read more

Clint Robins, University of Washington
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 Read more

Vashon Nature Center
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 Read more

Swinomish Indian Tribal Community

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 Read more

C. Vynne, Osprey Insights
This project was a continuation of a 2016 CREOi award. Canada lynx, one of three wild cat species native to Washington State, depend on large pristine tracts of boreal forest habitat with ample snowshoe hare and persistent deep snow. In Washington, lynx populations steeply declined due to trapping and habitat degradation and Read more

Julian Olden, University of Washington
Cryptic and difficult to find, but once discovered the Olympic mudminnow is both colorful and full of charisma.
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 Read more