Measurements spanning from the California coast to Hawaii in the mid-Pacific Ocean from 1998 to 2006.

This dataset includes biological variables showing surf smelt spawning presence, geological variables describing beach composition, and sample locations using RTK-GPS. This field data was also used to run the Sea Level Affecting Marshes Model (SLAMM; Warren Pinnacle Consulting, Inc., Warren, Vt)) to predict the changes to beaches over time, and under different sea level rise scenarios. Field sampling took place on the northern part of Bainbridge Island, Puget Sound, Washington during summer and fall of 2010.

Timeseries data from 'Point Loma Ocean Outfall (Historic)' (point-loma-ocean-outfall-histori)

The Trinidad Head Line (THL) is a transect of stations extending due west from Trinidad Head (41° 3.5¿ N) The THL was initially established in late 2006 to provide ship-based observations of hydrographic structure and the planktonic ecosystem in coastal waters off northern California. Since 2008, sampling has been conducted approximately monthly. Sampling is conducted at up to six stations along the transect, three of which are over the shelf and three over the upper slope. Data collected include hydrographic casts at each station, which measure temperature, salinity, and a suite of ancillary parameters. Physical samples collected include water samples for asssay of nutrient and chlorophyll concentrations, and net tows for zooplankton.

A meta-analysis was undertaken to examine the vulnerability of Antarctic marine biota occupying waters south of 60 degrees S to ocean acidification. Comprehensive database searches were conducted to compile all English language, peer-reviewed journals articles and literature reviews that investigated the effect of altered seawater carbonate chemistry on Southern Ocean and/or Antarctic marine organisms. A document detailing the methods used to collect these data is included in the download file.

Data used to generate statistical analysis in the manuscript "Carbon limitation in response to nutrient loading in an eelgrass mesocosm: influence of water residence time on eutrophication expression" by Kaldy, Brown and Pacella. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Kaldy, J., C. Brown, and S. Pacella. Carbon limitation in response to nutrient loading in an eelgrass mesocosm: influence of water residence time.. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES. Inter-Research, Luhe, GERMANY, 689: 1-17, (2022).

Casault, B., Johnson, C.L., Devred, E., and Beazley, L. 2025. Chemical and Biological Oceanographic Conditions on the Scotian Shelf and in the Eastern Gulf of Maine during 2023. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 3658: vi + 57 p. https://doi.org/10.60825/4d69-8120 Nutrient and plankton metrics are assessed in the context of physical conditions observed in the Maritimes region in 2023. Sub-surface (50-150 m) nitrate inventories were spatially variable across the region in 2023 but indicated a gradual return toward near-normal levels, except in the Bay of Fundy (i.e., at Prince-5) where a record-low value was observed in 2023. Bottom nitrate concentrations during summer were predominantly below normal across the region in 2023. In situ chlorophyll-a inventories were on average higher than normal in the region in 2023. Surface chlorophyll-a concentrations measured by satellite remote sensing reached record-high values in some sub-regions in 2023. The spring phytoplankton bloom timing was later than normal with a mainly lower-than-normal intensity in 2023. The fall bloom was generally earlier than normal with a higher-than-normal intensity. Diatoms abundance at Halifax-2 indicates increasing levels over the last three years. The abundance of Calanus finmarchicus was on average slightly above normal in the region in 2023, contrasting with the low abundances observed since 2011. Pseudocalanus spp. abundance was on average above normal in the region while zooplankton biomass and the abundance of Arctic Calanus species remained mainly near or below normal levels in 2023.

NWFSC scientists are studying the biological effects of ocean acidification on larval geoduck, Pacific oyster, krill, copepods and pteropods (zooplankton that are food for the fish we eat), Dungeness crabs, market squid, surfsmelt and rockfish, all North Pacific species of economic, ecological, or conservation concern that are potentially vulnerable to the effects of ocean acidification, climate change, and deoxygenation. The NWFSC Ocean Acidification (OA) team has built an experimental state-of-the-art facility for growing animals in conditions that mimic pre-industrial, current, and future ocean carbon dioxide levels to observe changes in animal growth, survival and behavior. To more closely mimic conditions that marine organisms experience in the ocean, scientists use the ocean acidification facility to reproduce the natural changes that occur in carbon dioxide levels, temperature, and oxygen concentrations at daily, weekly and seasonal scales. The experimental system allows for the dynamic control of pCO2 and other environmental parameters, which enables us to mimic the natural patterns of variability in carbon chemistry that occur on diurnal and tidal cycles and with upwelling events and phytoplankton blooms. The system also provides control over temperature, dissolved oxygen, food delivery and photoperiod, allowing for experiments on multiple stressors. The relatively high water volumes in the system permit simultaneous experiments on multiple species. The laboratory requires constant uptake to maintain its function and will be modified as needed to support our research program. In addition to the laboratory work, the NWFSC OA team is modeling the effects of ocean acidification on regional marine species and ecosystems using food web models, life-cycle models, and bioenvelope models. Finally, the NWFSC OA team is collaborating with other Genetics and Evolution Program staff and with other NWFSC scientists to examine the genetic effects of exposure to ocean acidification in some of these organisms (notably, Dungeness crab, representing one of the most lucrative fisheries in the United States), using proven genetic breeding designs and pedigree analyses, combined with experimental treatments and exposure over multiple generations. Research on ocean acidification's effects on marine organisms is a focal issue for NMFS and is supported in part by NOAA's Ocean Acidification Program (part of the agency's office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research). This work has components involving laboratory experiments and outreach. Outreach projects by the NWFSC OA research team include participation in community events (e.g., public presentations, working with school groups, etc.) and development of education materials. They also mentor a relatively large number of undergraduate interns and provide other graduate and undergraduate research opportunities. Ocean acidification experimental results for Dungeness crab, China rockfish, Pacific herring, bivalves, krill, and other species.

Two species of eelgrass can be found in Padilla Bay, Washington (Zostera japonica and Zostera marina) and act as a bioindicators of ecosystem health. Many factors can contribute to the status of an eelgrass bed, including light, temperature, salinity, and nutrients. However, following several cases of seagrass die-off events worldwide, another factor is suspected to contribute to eelgrass health: pore-water sulfide. This study examined the relationships between Z. japonica, Z. marina, and pore-water sulfide in Padilla Bay and the effects of elevated pore-water sulfide concentrations on eelgrass. Forty sites were surveyed for eelgrass shoots and sulfide concentration profiles were measured at depths of 0 to 12 cm. A correlation was expected between eelgrass and the inventory of sulfide during August and September due to increased temperature and increased bacterial respiration as a result of higher quantities of organic matter accumulation. While the data hinted at patterns between eelgrass density and sulfide, there were no significant correlations found between Z. japonica and Z. marina and the inventory of sulfide from June 2013 through September 2013. This is perhaps due to relatively low concentrations of sulfide at the study sites and documented eelgrass tolerance to the concentration range, as well as the overall health of eelgrass in this location. To further examine the relationship between eelgrass and sulfide, Zostera japonica and Zostera marina were grown in sediment amended with sulfide in an outdoor laboratory tank to study growth response and photosynthetic yield. Eelgrass shoots were grown for four weeks under different sulfide manipulations and shoot growth was recorded weekly. Quantum efficiency of PSII in eelgrass shoots was measured by PAM fluorometry at the conclusion of the experiment. The growth rates of Z. japonica and Z. marina were significantly reduced in treatments with elevated sulfide concentrations. Manipulated concentrations of pore-water sulfide resulted in significantly lower growth rates among Z. japonica shoots treated with moderate and high levels of sulfide. The decrease in growth in both species suggests that elevated levels of pore-water sulfide have an impact on eelgrass in Padilla Bay. The average photosynthetic yield of the shoots for Z. japonica and Z. marina was lower in shoots treated with sulfide, although this difference was not statistically significant, suggesting the drop in growth was not due to chloroplast damage.

Black sea bass (Centropristis striata) and scup (Stenotomus chrysops) compose important recreational and commercial fisheries along the United States Atlantic coast. Black sea bass is a temperate species, associated with reef habitat. Wild stocks and landings have been decreasong in recent decades. The demand for black sea bass exceeds supply, and the high market value has prompted research to evaluate their potential for commercial aquaculture. Recent studies conducted at the National Marine Fisheries Service, Milford, CT laboratory examined growth rates of juvenile scup fed commercial diets. This and other on-going studies at Milford have shown scup to acclimate quickly to tank conditions in the laboratory, and to exhibit rapid growth rates. These studies indicate the possibility that scup have potential as a candidiate species for commercial aquaculture. Studies with both fish species suggest they are interesting species for studies of the effects of ocean acidification because of their economic importance as fisheries species. These studies focused on laboratory-based experiments to measure the biological effects of elevated levels of CO2 on embryos of these important marine finfish. Adult black sea bass were naturally conditioned and spawned in the laboratory by photo-thermal manipulation. Adult scup were strip-spawned at sea and their eggs were fertilized at sea. The fertilized eggs of both species of fish were exposed to two treatment levels of pCO2 and one control level, with three replicates per treatment and the controls. Measurements of biological effects included percent hatch, viable embryos, abnormal embryos, and dead embryos. Measurements of dissolved oxygen concentration, percent oxygen saturation, temperature, salinity and pH were taken daily in each treatment container and the controls. Samples of seawater were taken at the time of intial experimental setup and at the time of hatching from each container for analyses of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), and analyses of pH by spectrometry.