To evaluate effects of human influence on the health of Puget Sound's pelagic ecosystems, we propose a sampling program across multiple oceanographic basins measuring key attributes of the pelagic foodweb. We will quantify seasonal abundance and composition of pelagic biota from lower trophic levels (e.g., bacteria and phytoplankton) to middle trophic levels (e.g., zooplankton, small pelagic fishes, and jellyfish), as well as assess the individual condition of forage fish and juvenile salmon. The goals of this program: 1) Determine how foodweb endpoints vary across natural and anthropogenic gradients. 2) Determine how these characteristics vary across Puget Sound. 3) Evaluate a number of biological metrics for monitoring ecosystem health. These outputs will improve our basic understanding of pelagic ecology in Puget Sound, better define what comprises a healthy pelagic ecosystem in Puget Sound, determine foodweb-relevant indicators that are sensitive to human influence, and help prioritize regional protection and restoration efforts. Work is conducted by NOAA personnel and contractors in collaboration with tribal partners (Squaxin, Port Gamble/S'Klallam), undergraduate research interns, and citizen volunteers. Filemaker Pro database containing fish data collection.

To evaluate effects of human influence on the health of Puget Sound's pelagic ecosystems, we propose a sampling program across multiple oceanographic basins measuring key attributes of the pelagic foodweb. We will quantify seasonal abundance and composition of pelagic biota from lower trophic levels (e.g., bacteria and phytoplankton) to middle trophic levels (e.g., zooplankton, small pelagic fishes, and jellyfish), as well as assess the individual condition of forage fish and juvenile salmon. The goals of this program: 1) Determine how foodweb endpoints vary across natural and anthropogenic gradients. 2) Determine how these characteristics vary across Puget Sound. 3) Evaluate a number of biological metrics for monitoring ecosystem health. These outputs will improve our basic understanding of pelagic ecology in Puget Sound, better define what comprises a healthy pelagic ecosystem in Puget Sound, determine foodweb-relevant indicators that are sensitive to human influence, and help prioritize regional protection and restoration efforts. Work is conducted by NOAA personnel and contractors in collaboration with tribal partners (Squaxin, Port Gamble/S'Klallam), undergraduate research interns, and citizen volunteers. Access database containing all conductivity/temperature/depth (CTD) casts.

This project seeks to develop and apply an assessment of shellfish growing area (SGA) vulnerability to closures caused by watershed- and marine-derived pathogens. Using empirical data and quantitative models, we will examine the impacts of alternative watershed management strategies, nearshore protection, and climate on the vulnerability of three SGA. Outputs include the following: 1) Maps of the spatial distribution of terrestrial and marine-derived sources of nutrients and pathogens. 2) Validated model estimates of transport of nutrients and pathogens to SGA under future climate and restoration strategies. 3) Assessments of the fate of nutrients and pathogens in terms of changes in ecosystem service values provided by SGA--filtration, food web support, and socio-economic impacts due to harvest closures. Outcomes include improvements in the ability of shellfish growers and managers to classify vulnerability of SGA according to risk of future closures, and to prioritize strategies for improving delivery of shellfish-related ecosystem services and values. Nitrogen nutrient data for three shellfish growing areas in the Puget Sound.

This project seeks to develop and apply an assessment of shellfish growing area (SGA) vulnerability to closures caused by watershed- and marine-derived pathogens. Using empirical data and quantitative models, we will examine the impacts of alternative watershed management strategies, nearshore protection, and climate on the vulnerability of three SGA. Outputs include the following: 1) Maps of the spatial distribution of terrestrial and marine-derived sources of nutrients and pathogens. 2) Validated model estimates of transport of nutrients and pathogens to SGA under future climate and restoration strategies. 3) Assessments of the fate of nutrients and pathogens in terms of changes in ecosystem service values provided by SGA--filtration, food web support, and socio-economic impacts due to harvest closures. Outcomes include improvements in the ability of shellfish growers and managers to classify vulnerability of SGA according to risk of future closures, and to prioritize strategies for improving delivery of shellfish-related ecosystem services and values. Stable isotopes of Carbon and Nitrogen for Pacific oysters and potential diet sources from marine and freshwater sources in the Samish, Hamma Hamma and Dosewallips growing areas. This dataset also includes water quality parameters from CTD casts at high tide in the oyster beds.

Penn Cove (in the Whidbey Basin) is designated as a category 5, 303d impaired water body due to low dissolved oxygen. In addition to runoff from adjacent developed and agricultural lands, treated effluent from two sewage treatment plants (STPs) and freshwater from the nearby Skagit River flow into Penn Cove. This project investigates the structure and function of microbial communities in the context of inorganic nutrients and physical parameters to assess any detectable influence of STPs. Work is conducted by NOAA personnel with assistance from undergraduate research interns. Data collected across four different seasons include bacterial/archeal abundance (biomass), heterotrophic production (productivity), bacterial diversity, chlorophyll A, inorganic nutrient concentrations, dissolved oxygen concentration, and seawater temperature. Anticipated products are presentations at scientific meetings related to marine dissolved oxygen and to local management authorities (e.g., county government) as well as publication in the referred literature. The project is a seed project to develop further capacity to assess additional low dissolved oxygen sites. FileMaker Pro of field & lab analyses.

Sustainable culture of sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) is an active research area at NWFSC, with a primary objective of rearing a human food source under healthy, economic, and sustainable conditions. Development of sustainable feed for juvenile fish through replacement of marine fish oils is key for economic and ecological viability of sablefish culture. This project intends to analyze the GI microbiome of juvenile sablefish, comparing three feeds (corn oil, linseed oil, BioOregon BioBrood) used in a National Marine Aquaculture Initiative (NMAI)-funded project examining the effects of substitute lipids on growth, production composition, and lipid bioconversion. Community DNA from GI mucus and luminal contents will be extracted, quantified, and quality checked. DNA will be submitted for analysis by a microbial phylogenetic microarray bearing over a million probes for classifying more than 59,000 bacterial taxa. Second Genome, a company with exclusive licensing for this phylogenetic microarray, will conduct the the analysis for classification, relative abundance, & ordination. Complementary to microbiome analysis, morphological changes in gastrointestinal tissues will be assessed for each fish by light microscopic histology (collaboration with Mark Myers). Although this is a stand-alone project, the objective is for the microbiome approach to become an integral component of finfish nutrition research. Raw & refined classification & abundance data from array analysis & histology analysis.

This is a database of available fecal coliform bacteria, fecal streptococci bacteria, and nutrient loading data. Loading for contaminants other than fecal coliform bacteria and nutrients are included when values occurred coincidentally within the same literature.

As part of a long-term contaminant-monitoring program of fish in Puget Sound and Georgia Basin, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and NWFSC have collaborated in collection and analyses of fish and other marine biota to determine contaminant exposure and potential effects to a wide range of marine species. NWFSC staff help collect samples and conduct chemical tracer analyses of a number of marine organisms to provide information about spatial and temporal changes in contaminant and lipid levels, as well as provide information on their potential health effects. WDFW takes the lead on study design and sample collection and provide expertise in the distribution and ecology of the fishes. This information can then be used by agency management to make informed decisions about Puget Sound/Georgia Basin fishery resources and habitats. In FY18-19, the NWFSC will analyze approximately 500 tissue/fluid samples of marine and anadromous fish species and the associated quality assurance samples for chemical contaminants (e.g., persistent organic pollutants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), PAH metabolites, xenoestrogens), as well as percent solids and lipids. In addition, approximately 20 semi-permeable membranes and the associated quality assurance samples will be analyzed for this same suite of chemical contaminants. Determining levels of persistent organic pollutants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and xenoestrogens in various matrices of fish from Puget Sound.

Seston data with phytoplankton and size fractioned non-living particles counted by flow cytomter from Penebscot River, Maine in April, May, and June of 2015. High frequent chlorophyll, dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature and salinity data collected by Sondes in Bronx, New York in the Fall of 2012.