2023

Spatiotemporal patterns of marine debris distribution in Puget Sound

Markus Min, Callie Murakami, Mark Scheuerer, University of Washington Applied Ecology Lab; Kathryn Meyer, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
2023 (category)

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has conducted systematic scientific bottom trawling in Puget Sound since 1987. Although the primary objective of these surveys is to monitor bottomfish populations, the survey is effectively representative of anything physically inhabiting the soft-bottom habitat of Puget Sound. This includes numerous species of invertebrates, as well as inorganic material such as marine… Read Project SummarySpatiotemporal patterns of marine debris distribution in Puget Sound

Monitoring North Cascades landscapes to increase beaver occupancy and density

Kathleen Gobush
2023 (category)

Beavers, and their unique engineering ability to enhance and maintain watershed health and complexity, are increasingly heralded as a natural solution to ecosystem degradation caused by numerous anthropogenic pressures including climate impacts. Currently, beaver-focused monitoring before and after pertinent restoration action is sometimes recommended but not required nor even described; rather, a focus on fish and stream ecological monitoring is… Read Project SummaryMonitoring North Cascades landscapes to increase beaver occupancy and density

Learning from fish that sing in the kelp forest

In 2022, Washington State gave highest priority to the protection and restoration of kelp forests in the Salish Sea. At the same time, state agencies acknowledged that apart from mapping the geographic extent of the kelp canopy, they lacked affordable methods for monitoring the ecological functioning of kelp forests. This project explored the use of “soundscapes,” i.e., monitoring of fishes… Read Project SummaryLearning from fish that sing in the kelp forest

Restoring wápupxn (Canada lynx) to their native lands in Northeast Washington: a translocation project

This is a continuation of a 2021 CREOi-funded project. In 1993, wápupxn (Canada lynx, Lynx canadensis) were listed as a Washington State threatened species and by 2017 were up-listed to endangered status. In 2000, they were listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Numerous studies have pointed to evidence that the persistence… Read Project SummaryRestoring wápupxn (Canada lynx) to their native lands in Northeast Washington: a translocation project

Motus Wildlife Tracking

The Motus Wildlife Tracking System is an international collaborative network of researchers that use automated radio telemetry to simultaneously track hundreds of individual birds, bats and insects. Motus is based on two components — tiny radio tags and a network of receivers. Motus radio tags are lightweight transmitters that send out pulses every few seconds that are detected by Motus… Read Project SummaryMotus Wildlife Tracking

Puget Sound Seabird Survey

Puget Sound is the nation’s second largest marine estuary, and covers just over 1,000 square miles. It supports significant wildlife including marine mammals, marine birds and important salmon populations. The Puget Sound Seabird Survey (PSSS) is a community science effort created by Seattle Audubon in 2007 and was recently transitioned to Puget Sound Bird Observatory (PSBO). The program engages over… Read Project SummaryPuget Sound Seabird Survey