Shannon Point Marine Center

�� scientists awarded $638K grant to study forage fish survival in Salish Sea

thomps94 — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 18:39:52 +0000

�� scientists awarded $638K grant to study forage fish survival in Salish Sea thomps94 Mon, 11/18/2024 - 10:39am

Grant will also provide paid research stipends for both graduate and undergraduate students

Surf smelt eggs in the lab at ��.

A food web is only as strong as its weakest link, a fact not lost on a multidisciplinary team of Western Washington University Marine and Coastal Science (MACS) faculty that were recently awarded a three-year, $638,000 grant from the National Science Foundation.

The goal of the new grant is to better understand the impact of polyunsaturated aldehydes (PUAs) – a type of toxic fatty acid, or lipid – on a group close to the bottom of the food pyramid that impacts everything above it: forage fish.

“Forage fish are a foundational functional group in the Salish Sea. Every part of their life history, from embryos in the egg to adults, are food for something else,” said �� Associate Professor of Biology Brady Olson, who, along with Assistant Professor of Chemistry Karin Lemkau and Associate Professor of Biology Jim Cooper, are the principal investigators on the grant. Also assisting them will be Jamie Pierson, a zooplankton ecologist from the University of Maryland.

As Olson said, forage fish such as herring and surf smelt are important because they are, as their name suggests, eaten by so many things. Less forage fish means less food for bigger fish and marine mammals.

��'s Brady Olson brings a container of surf smelt to the beach to strip spawn their roe.

What are PUAs and how do they impact forage fish?

At the very bottom of the marine food web sits the tiny diatom, a microscopic algae invisible to the naked eye. Diatoms are incredibly important not just as a food source but because they produce about 20 percent of the world’s oxygen each year and make up a sizeable portion of the organic material found in the world’s oceans.

When diatoms become stressed – either from environmental factors such as nutrient loss or by being grazed on by predators, they produce PUAs which are ingested by those predators – and in this case, very commonly, those predators are a type of local zooplankton called copepods. Copepods ingest the diatoms and then store the diatoms’ PUAs in a process called bioaccumulation. Eventually the copepods are eaten by the juvenile forage fish in question, which brings the researchers back to their main question: how do these PUAs impact the forage fish?

“We know PUAs negatively impact the copepods, in particular their reproductive success. Female copepods that eat diatoms produce fewer eggs, and the larvae that hatch from the eggs are often dead or deformed. Research shows that PUAs disrupt normal embryo development. So how does that transfer to these young forage fish that are themselves still developing? That’s what we are hoping to find out,” said Olson.

Cooper said a large portion of his part of the project will be to examine how young fish that are in the process of transitioning from feeding from the yolk sac they were born with to becoming free-feeding juveniles - subsisting initially on zooplankton such as copepods - may face mutations from ingesting PUAs during this critical life stage that could impact them as adults. These mutations could be anything from swimming issues to mutated jaws that don’t allow the fish to feed as well, and Cooper and his lab will explore measuring these potential changes on forage fish reared at ��.

�� grad student Jiho Kim strip spawning a female surf smelt.

“Fish that can’t swim as well as they should or feed as well as they should will have lower survivability. We need to better understand how the PUAs are impacting these fish at this point in their lifecycle, and from that point on,” he said. “The larval-to-juvenile stage is just so critical.”

Lemkau, the analytical chemist in the group, will work to better understand the concentration, composition and distribution of PUAs in the Salish Sea .

“Measuring PUAs has been a challenge, but we now have a solid method in place to do that and will be expanding our techniques from laboratory cultures into the field,” Lemkau said.

According to Olson, nailing down this methodology was not only a case of the right person in the right place at the right time, but it proved to be vital to getting the grant approved.

“We recruited �� recent Biology graduate Jeremy Johnson to come to �� as a graduate student and be co-advised by Karin and I. Jeremy worked with Karin and �� chemistry undergrads to develop a method in Karin’s lab to measure PUAs, and afterward, he surveyed benthic (bottom-dwelling) diatom populations for production of PUAs,” Olson said. “Before his work, the PUA/benthic diatom association was mostly unknown in the Salish Sea. Of the eight most common bottom-dwelling diatoms Jeremy isolated, all produced PUAs. So now we have proven that we can measure PUAs at ��, and just as importantly, have gathered data that shows that benthic diatoms produce PUAs.”

Surf smelt eggs on a sandy beach.

Lemkau said Johnson’s work will allow her lab to measure both dissolved and particulate PUAs in the field at known forage fish spawning areas as well as from cultured populations in the lab.

Laying the foundation

Olson said this wasn’t the kind of study done with the goal of “fixing” an issue; rather it is to gain a better understanding of the processes impacting the survivability of such an important marine food group.

“We can’t stop PUAs from occurring, but as of now their impact is not at all well known. We have theorized on that impact but this will provide some definitive early answers,” Olson said. “And as this diatom-to-forage-fish relationship isn’t unique to the Salish Sea, it could be the basis or jumping-off-point for other studies elsewhere for sure.”

Cooper noted that the grant will provide paid research stipends for two grad students and a number of undergraduate researchers.

“This will be another incredible research opportunity for Western’s undergrads to take advantage of,” he said.

For more information on this grant or its research, contact Brady Olson at brady.olson@wwu.edu; for more information on Western’s Marine and Coastal Science program, see its website here or go to https://marine.wwu.edu/.

Dungeness are WA’s most lucrative seafood, but we know little about them

thomps94 — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 18:54:38 +0000

�� scientists awarded $638K grant to study forage fish survival in Salish Sea thomps94 Mon, 11/18/2024 - 10:39am

Grant will also provide paid research stipends for both graduate and undergraduate students

Surf smelt eggs in the lab at ��.

��'s Brady Olson brings a container of surf smelt to the beach to strip spawn their roe.

What are PUAs and how do they impact forage fish?

�� grad student Jiho Kim strip spawning a female surf smelt.

Lemkau, the analytical chemist in the group, will work to better understand the concentration, composition and distribution of PUAs in the Salish Sea .

“Measuring PUAs has been a challenge, but we now have a solid method in place to do that and will be expanding our techniques from laboratory cultures into the field,” Lemkau said.

According to Olson, nailing down this methodology was not only a case of the right person in the right place at the right time, but it proved to be vital to getting the grant approved.

Surf smelt eggs on a sandy beach.

Lemkau said Johnson’s work will allow her lab to measure both dissolved and particulate PUAs in the field at known forage fish spawning areas as well as from cultured populations in the lab.

Laying the foundation

Cooper noted that the grant will provide paid research stipends for two grad students and a number of undergraduate researchers.

“This will be another incredible research opportunity for Western’s undergrads to take advantage of,” he said.

Neither Plants nor Animals, These Ocean Organisms Protect Their Ecosystems against Heat Waves

thomps94 — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 19:10:49 +0000

�� scientists awarded $638K grant to study forage fish survival in Salish Sea thomps94 Mon, 11/18/2024 - 10:39am

Grant will also provide paid research stipends for both graduate and undergraduate students

Surf smelt eggs in the lab at ��.

��'s Brady Olson brings a container of surf smelt to the beach to strip spawn their roe.

What are PUAs and how do they impact forage fish?

�� grad student Jiho Kim strip spawning a female surf smelt.

Lemkau, the analytical chemist in the group, will work to better understand the concentration, composition and distribution of PUAs in the Salish Sea .

“Measuring PUAs has been a challenge, but we now have a solid method in place to do that and will be expanding our techniques from laboratory cultures into the field,” Lemkau said.

According to Olson, nailing down this methodology was not only a case of the right person in the right place at the right time, but it proved to be vital to getting the grant approved.

Surf smelt eggs on a sandy beach.

Lemkau said Johnson’s work will allow her lab to measure both dissolved and particulate PUAs in the field at known forage fish spawning areas as well as from cultured populations in the lab.

Laying the foundation

Cooper noted that the grant will provide paid research stipends for two grad students and a number of undergraduate researchers.

“This will be another incredible research opportunity for Western’s undergrads to take advantage of,” he said.

Trio of Western alums help keep Highline College’s MaST Aquarium afloat

thomps94 — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 17:45:07 +0000

�� scientists awarded $638K grant to study forage fish survival in Salish Sea thomps94 Mon, 11/18/2024 - 10:39am

Grant will also provide paid research stipends for both graduate and undergraduate students

Surf smelt eggs in the lab at ��.

��'s Brady Olson brings a container of surf smelt to the beach to strip spawn their roe.

What are PUAs and how do they impact forage fish?

�� grad student Jiho Kim strip spawning a female surf smelt.

Lemkau, the analytical chemist in the group, will work to better understand the concentration, composition and distribution of PUAs in the Salish Sea .

“Measuring PUAs has been a challenge, but we now have a solid method in place to do that and will be expanding our techniques from laboratory cultures into the field,” Lemkau said.

According to Olson, nailing down this methodology was not only a case of the right person in the right place at the right time, but it proved to be vital to getting the grant approved.

Surf smelt eggs on a sandy beach.

Lemkau said Johnson’s work will allow her lab to measure both dissolved and particulate PUAs in the field at known forage fish spawning areas as well as from cultured populations in the lab.

Laying the foundation

Cooper noted that the grant will provide paid research stipends for two grad students and a number of undergraduate researchers.

“This will be another incredible research opportunity for Western’s undergrads to take advantage of,” he said.

�� grad student (now alumna) Jackelyn Garcia named the 2023 Washington Sea Grant Keystone fellow

thomps94 — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 16:05:36 +0000

�� scientists awarded $638K grant to study forage fish survival in Salish Sea thomps94 Mon, 11/18/2024 - 10:39am

Grant will also provide paid research stipends for both graduate and undergraduate students

Surf smelt eggs in the lab at ��.

��'s Brady Olson brings a container of surf smelt to the beach to strip spawn their roe.

What are PUAs and how do they impact forage fish?

�� grad student Jiho Kim strip spawning a female surf smelt.

Lemkau, the analytical chemist in the group, will work to better understand the concentration, composition and distribution of PUAs in the Salish Sea .

“Measuring PUAs has been a challenge, but we now have a solid method in place to do that and will be expanding our techniques from laboratory cultures into the field,” Lemkau said.

According to Olson, nailing down this methodology was not only a case of the right person in the right place at the right time, but it proved to be vital to getting the grant approved.

Surf smelt eggs on a sandy beach.

Lemkau said Johnson’s work will allow her lab to measure both dissolved and particulate PUAs in the field at known forage fish spawning areas as well as from cultured populations in the lab.

Laying the foundation

Cooper noted that the grant will provide paid research stipends for two grad students and a number of undergraduate researchers.

“This will be another incredible research opportunity for Western’s undergrads to take advantage of,” he said.

Deadline for this year's MACS cohort is Jan. 15

thomps94 — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 18:31:18 +0000

�� scientists awarded $638K grant to study forage fish survival in Salish Sea thomps94 Mon, 11/18/2024 - 10:39am

Grant will also provide paid research stipends for both graduate and undergraduate students

Surf smelt eggs in the lab at ��.

��'s Brady Olson brings a container of surf smelt to the beach to strip spawn their roe.

What are PUAs and how do they impact forage fish?

�� grad student Jiho Kim strip spawning a female surf smelt.

Lemkau, the analytical chemist in the group, will work to better understand the concentration, composition and distribution of PUAs in the Salish Sea .

“Measuring PUAs has been a challenge, but we now have a solid method in place to do that and will be expanding our techniques from laboratory cultures into the field,” Lemkau said.

According to Olson, nailing down this methodology was not only a case of the right person in the right place at the right time, but it proved to be vital to getting the grant approved.

Surf smelt eggs on a sandy beach.

Lemkau said Johnson’s work will allow her lab to measure both dissolved and particulate PUAs in the field at known forage fish spawning areas as well as from cultured populations in the lab.

Laying the foundation

Cooper noted that the grant will provide paid research stipends for two grad students and a number of undergraduate researchers.

“This will be another incredible research opportunity for Western’s undergrads to take advantage of,” he said.

Researchers find potentially harmful level of pollutants in edible seaweed

thomps94 — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 18:00:25 +0000

�� scientists awarded $638K grant to study forage fish survival in Salish Sea thomps94 Mon, 11/18/2024 - 10:39am

Grant will also provide paid research stipends for both graduate and undergraduate students

Surf smelt eggs in the lab at ��.

��'s Brady Olson brings a container of surf smelt to the beach to strip spawn their roe.

What are PUAs and how do they impact forage fish?

�� grad student Jiho Kim strip spawning a female surf smelt.

Lemkau, the analytical chemist in the group, will work to better understand the concentration, composition and distribution of PUAs in the Salish Sea .

“Measuring PUAs has been a challenge, but we now have a solid method in place to do that and will be expanding our techniques from laboratory cultures into the field,” Lemkau said.

According to Olson, nailing down this methodology was not only a case of the right person in the right place at the right time, but it proved to be vital to getting the grant approved.

Surf smelt eggs on a sandy beach.

Lemkau said Johnson’s work will allow her lab to measure both dissolved and particulate PUAs in the field at known forage fish spawning areas as well as from cultured populations in the lab.

Laying the foundation

Cooper noted that the grant will provide paid research stipends for two grad students and a number of undergraduate researchers.

“This will be another incredible research opportunity for Western’s undergrads to take advantage of,” he said.

Skagit County sites included in Salish Sea seaweed toxicity study

thomps94 — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 16:04:39 +0000

�� scientists awarded $638K grant to study forage fish survival in Salish Sea thomps94 Mon, 11/18/2024 - 10:39am

Grant will also provide paid research stipends for both graduate and undergraduate students

Surf smelt eggs in the lab at ��.

��'s Brady Olson brings a container of surf smelt to the beach to strip spawn their roe.

What are PUAs and how do they impact forage fish?

�� grad student Jiho Kim strip spawning a female surf smelt.

Lemkau, the analytical chemist in the group, will work to better understand the concentration, composition and distribution of PUAs in the Salish Sea .

“Measuring PUAs has been a challenge, but we now have a solid method in place to do that and will be expanding our techniques from laboratory cultures into the field,” Lemkau said.

According to Olson, nailing down this methodology was not only a case of the right person in the right place at the right time, but it proved to be vital to getting the grant approved.

Surf smelt eggs on a sandy beach.

Lemkau said Johnson’s work will allow her lab to measure both dissolved and particulate PUAs in the field at known forage fish spawning areas as well as from cultured populations in the lab.

Laying the foundation

Cooper noted that the grant will provide paid research stipends for two grad students and a number of undergraduate researchers.

“This will be another incredible research opportunity for Western’s undergrads to take advantage of,” he said.

Study raises concerns about contaminants in edible seaweeds

thomps94 — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 19:13:26 +0000

�� scientists awarded $638K grant to study forage fish survival in Salish Sea thomps94 Mon, 11/18/2024 - 10:39am

Grant will also provide paid research stipends for both graduate and undergraduate students

Surf smelt eggs in the lab at ��.

��'s Brady Olson brings a container of surf smelt to the beach to strip spawn their roe.

What are PUAs and how do they impact forage fish?

�� grad student Jiho Kim strip spawning a female surf smelt.

Lemkau, the analytical chemist in the group, will work to better understand the concentration, composition and distribution of PUAs in the Salish Sea .

“Measuring PUAs has been a challenge, but we now have a solid method in place to do that and will be expanding our techniques from laboratory cultures into the field,” Lemkau said.

According to Olson, nailing down this methodology was not only a case of the right person in the right place at the right time, but it proved to be vital to getting the grant approved.

Surf smelt eggs on a sandy beach.

Lemkau said Johnson’s work will allow her lab to measure both dissolved and particulate PUAs in the field at known forage fish spawning areas as well as from cultured populations in the lab.

Laying the foundation

Cooper noted that the grant will provide paid research stipends for two grad students and a number of undergraduate researchers.

“This will be another incredible research opportunity for Western’s undergrads to take advantage of,” he said.

�� researchers find potentially harmful levels of pollutants in the Salish Sea’s edible seaweeds

thomps94 — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 16:06:52 +0000

�� scientists awarded $638K grant to study forage fish survival in Salish Sea thomps94 Mon, 11/18/2024 - 10:39am

Grant will also provide paid research stipends for both graduate and undergraduate students

Surf smelt eggs in the lab at ��.

��'s Brady Olson brings a container of surf smelt to the beach to strip spawn their roe.

What are PUAs and how do they impact forage fish?

�� grad student Jiho Kim strip spawning a female surf smelt.

Lemkau, the analytical chemist in the group, will work to better understand the concentration, composition and distribution of PUAs in the Salish Sea .

“Measuring PUAs has been a challenge, but we now have a solid method in place to do that and will be expanding our techniques from laboratory cultures into the field,” Lemkau said.

According to Olson, nailing down this methodology was not only a case of the right person in the right place at the right time, but it proved to be vital to getting the grant approved.

Surf smelt eggs on a sandy beach.

Lemkau said Johnson’s work will allow her lab to measure both dissolved and particulate PUAs in the field at known forage fish spawning areas as well as from cultured populations in the lab.

Laying the foundation

Cooper noted that the grant will provide paid research stipends for two grad students and a number of undergraduate researchers.

“This will be another incredible research opportunity for Western’s undergrads to take advantage of,” he said.

Shannon Point Marine Center

�������� scientists awarded $638K grant to study forage fish survival in Salish Sea

What are PUAs and how do they impact forage fish?

Laying the foundation

Dungeness are WA’s most lucrative seafood, but we know little about them

What are PUAs and how do they impact forage fish?

Laying the foundation

Neither Plants nor Animals, These Ocean Organisms Protect Their Ecosystems against Heat Waves

What are PUAs and how do they impact forage fish?

Laying the foundation

Trio of Western alums help keep Highline College’s MaST Aquarium afloat

What are PUAs and how do they impact forage fish?

Laying the foundation

�������� grad student (now alumna) Jackelyn Garcia named the 2023 Washington Sea Grant Keystone fellow

What are PUAs and how do they impact forage fish?

Laying the foundation

Deadline for this year's MACS cohort is Jan. 15

What are PUAs and how do they impact forage fish?

Laying the foundation

Researchers find potentially harmful level of pollutants in edible seaweed

What are PUAs and how do they impact forage fish?

Laying the foundation

Skagit County sites included in Salish Sea seaweed toxicity study

What are PUAs and how do they impact forage fish?

Laying the foundation

Study raises concerns about contaminants in edible seaweeds

What are PUAs and how do they impact forage fish?

Laying the foundation

�������� researchers find potentially harmful levels of pollutants in the Salish Sea’s edible seaweeds

What are PUAs and how do they impact forage fish?

Laying the foundation

�� scientists awarded $638K grant to study forage fish survival in Salish Sea

�� grad student (now alumna) Jackelyn Garcia named the 2023 Washington Sea Grant Keystone fellow

�� researchers find potentially harmful levels of pollutants in the Salish Sea’s edible seaweeds