|
Bringing together partners to inspire science-based stewardship of Washington's extraordinary aquatic reserves
|
|
In the full height of summer, with projects abound, the Aquatic Reserves Program has had no trouble keeping busy! We are excited to share what we have been up to across the reserves and soaking up the sun while we work!
Best,
The Aquatic Reserves Program
Use this link to subscribe to the newsletter, or send to someone who would like to subscribe.
Jump to:
Cover photo by Kylie Rench;
Mt. Rainer from Maury Island Aquatic Reserve. July 2022
|
|
Fidalgo Bay Aquatic Reserve
Forage Fish Update
By: Tom Flanagan
Edited by: Rondi Nordal
 Forage fish spawn sample
Photo by: Tom Flanagan
The first photo is a forage fish spawning sample from this past August near the front of the Fidalgo Bay RV Resort. Surf smelt spawning is normally abundant in Fidalgo Bay, making it the most productive of the aquatic reserves. This sample is exceptional, probably the highest egg count for the season (>100,000 eggs). There is some aquatic vegetation mixed in with this sample causing the dark color. Most of these eggs are dead because of the warm conditions and general lack of protective shade during summer.
Forage fish spawn sample under the microscope
Photo by: Tom Flanagan
This second picture gives you an idea of what goes on in microscope analysis. This tray is used to help count the sample on a grid network with a black background to make identification easier. This particular sample was taken from a site with somewhat favorable shade conditions but the vast majority of these eggs are dead. This is about 1/4 of the sample. The number of eggs in the tray is a little over 3,500. The sample had about 16,000 eggs.
Species Highlight: Taylor’s Seahare
By: Catherine Houck
Edited by: Rondi Nordal
Taylor’s sea hare (Phyllaplysia taylori)
Photo by: Karen Looney-Patterson
This Taylor’s seahare, Phyllaplysia taylori, was found during an ANeMoNe monitoring field day in Fidalgo Bay on May 31, 2022. It was found on the luxuriant eelgrass beds north side of Weaverling Spit, east of the Fidalgo Bay RV Resort. Taylor’s seahare, Phyllaplysia taylori, are found exclusively on eelgrass, grazing on epiphytes, the tiny plants and animals that settle on eelgrass blades.
Taylor’s sea hare (Phyllaplysia taylori)
Photo by: Karen Looney-Patterson
|
|
Cherry Point Aquatic Reserve
"What's the Point?" Event Recap
By: Rondi Nordal
Alice Sigurdson, a member of the Cherry Point Aquatic Reserve Citizen Stewardship Committee, directed traffic and helped attendees find parking
Photo by: Diane Hollands
What’s the Point (WTP) is the Cherry Point Aquatic Reserve Citizen Stewardship Committee’s annual low-tide event where naturalists help people explore the beach and learn about the creatures and habitats of the intertidal, the zone between high and low tides. It happens on one of the very low tides around the summer solstice, this year taking place on June 18th.
Three of the interactive booths hosted by event partners. Left to right: Whatcom Conservation District, Whatcom Land Trust, Whatcom Marine Mammal Stranding Network
Photo by: Diane Hollands
Traditionally WTP is held at the Point Whitehorn Marine Reserve, a Whatcom County park that provides access to a popular public beach located within the Cherry Point Aquatic Reserve. The county park is located between Point Whitehorn and Cherry Point, the two points for which the event is named. This year it was hosted at Semiahmoo Park, as the stairs to the beach at Point Whitehorn remain closed to public access.
A volunteer from the Whatcom Marine Resources Committee focuses on a fun critter using a microscope
Photo by: Diane Hollands
This was the Committee’s first return to in person events since 2019. It’s estimated that 100+ people attended the event which included guided tours, interactive booths, and a free parking shuttle. We are so grateful for the wonderful event partners who supported the event and made it a fun time for people of all ages. We’re looking forward to seeing folks on the beach again in 2023! In the meantime you can check out the event website for beach exploration tips.
Annual Cherry Point Science Forum
By: Rondi Nordal
People exploring the beach, peering into a tidepool
Photo by: Diane Hollands
We are now beginning to plan the 10th annual Cherry Point Science Forum, an event held each fall that features scientific presentations related to Cherry Point ecology. Past topics have ranged from eelgrass monitoring via drone to the devastating impacts of heatwaves on marine intertidal critters. Stay tuned for more updates about the event including the speaker lineup, Zoom link, and event date. In the meantime, feel free to check out recordings from 2021 and 2020.
A sea slug captured in a plastic Tupperware full of water, found on the beach at Semiahmoo Park
Photo by: Diane Hollands
Grizzly Bear Washed Ashore
By: Kylie Rench
Grizzly bear on rock outlook
Photo by: USFWS
In a rare occurrence, a young grizzly bear washed up on the shores near Cherry Point and was reported to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife on June 17th. This caused significant commotion as grizzly bears haven't been spotted in Washington's North Cascade Range since the early 1990's, the last credible report being in 1996. There is some speculation on where this bear came from originally, many suggesting that it was from Canada, as grizzlies have been spotted swimming from the Canadian mainland to Vancouver Island, or that perhaps it died and was carried south by the Frasier River.
This could potentially signify improved populations and perhaps a readiness for the bears to begin returning to Washington's North Cascades. There have been proposals in the past to support the reintroduction of grizzly bears in this area, since they are endangered in Washington and threatened in the lower 48 states. The population we do have in Washington is sparse and scattered around the state. Unfortunately, the proposal suggested in 2020 was dismissed, however, there is hope it will be revisited.
Sources:
Dead grizzly washes ashore in Whatcom County | king5.com
|
|
Maury Island Aquatic Reserve
Summer High School Interns at Vashon Nature Center
By: Brendan McGarry
Intern Catherine Montano leading an activity during Vashon Nature Center's Summer Camp
Photo by: Vale Martinez
We have eleven high-school-age interns working with us this summer, focusing on professional development in marine sciences, restoration ecology, and science communication. Because of the combined support of King County Seals, Rose Foundation, and Waterworks grants we were able to launch this exciting new internship program! They have been continuing our watershed restoration efforts, surveying shorelines in the Maury Aquatic Reserve, and bolstering our science communication streams. They also assisted us in two of our big summer events, our BioBlitz and our week long Summer Camp at the Vashon Center for the Arts.
Interns Leo Neidinger and Oliver Churchill on a snorkel survey this summer
Photo by: Maria Metler
Vashon Nature Center Collaborates with DNR, WDFW, and WDOH to create a Guide to Shellfish Harvesting
By: Brendan McGarry
The extreme low tides this summer have made it ever more important to know the harvest rules and to share them with others! Vashon Nature Center created this resource in partnership with Washington Department of Natural Resources, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Washington Department of Health. This handout is now being used in other aquatic reserves across the state. It is available online as well as printed in Spanish, Korean, and English (get in touch with us if you would like some printed copies or visit the Heritage Museum or the Vashon-Maury Land Trust office).
Vashon Nature Center Celebrates 6th BioBlitz!
By: Brendan McGarry
Vashon Nature Center interns naturalizing during low tide under the Vashon Ferry Dock
Photo by: Brendan McGarry
Vashon Nature Center celebrated 10 years since its first BioBlitz in 2012 this year. We had over 100 people participate in this all out, 24-hour biodiversity count spanning July 9th and 10th. We still have data coming in, but this year we documented 517 species in our focus on the heart of Vashon, centered on our uptown (the most “urban” part of Vashon) and nearby greenspaces. You can read about it in this blog post by a long time participant, Kathryn True and check out our iNaturalist project page for the event.
|
|
Lake Kapowsin Aquatic Reserve
Amphibians
By: Kylie Rench
Amphibians surveyors from the Jon boat
Photo by: Bobbi Bevacqua
With the height of summer our amphibians surveys have been dwindling, though we continue our water quality surveys. We conducted our last amphibian survey during July. No occupied egg masses were found, however, an adult rough skinned-newt and various insects were spotted. Most amphibians finish laying their eggs in late spring or early summer with more lily pads providing plenty of shade and shelter.
Dragonfly visiting a surveyor
Photo by: Kylie Rench
Butterflies puddling on shore for nutrients and minerals
Photo by: Kylie Rench
|
|
|
DNR Project Updates
Acidification Nearshore Monitoring Network
(ANeMoNe)
By: Kylie Rench
 ANeMoNe Site at Maury Island Aquatic Reserve
Bobbi Bevacqua, Tyler Goodspeed and Erin Stehr wading
Photo by: Kylie Rench
The Aquatic Reserves team has continued conducting site visits to Maury Island Aquatic Reserve in accordance with DNR's ANeMoNe project. During each site visit, we conduct an eelgrass survey, clean the sensor array, survey birds, and clean sensors to make sure they continue to collect valid data. The sensors are swapped quarterly and measure conductivity, pH, chlorophyll, water temperature, and water level.
Freshly cleaned ANeMoNe sensor array
Tyler Goodspeed, Bobbi Bevacqua
Photo by: Alise Newman
The tides have varied during the summer, sometimes exposing the site completely, while other times the team must wade out in waders past their knees to find sensors and race the clock to complete all our tasks in time. The site visits since June have been particularly exciting as we have had three new members join us. As we approach the busy end of the season for the Puget SoundCorps, whose terms will end in early September, a member of the Aquatic Assessment and Monitoring Team conducted a final sensor swap and site visit for the 2022 season.
Sediment Sampling
By: Kylie Rench
Sampling sediment with sterile spoon and gloves
Bobbi Bevacqua
Photo by: Kylie Rench
This summer, the Aquatic Reserves Program collected sediment samples from multiple sites on all seven marine aquatic reserves. These samples were analyzed for oil related contaminants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and petroleum hydrocarbons (NWTPH-Dx) to establish baseline data that can be used by the Spills Department at the Washington Department of Ecology in the event of an oil spill. The data collected can aid in the understanding of environmental conditions prior to oiling and in identifying the need for, and scope of, subsequent environmental sampling and injury assessment.
Collected samples to be handed off to staff for chain of custody and cooling
Erica Bleke, Bobbi Bevacqua, Kylie Rench
Photo by: Kylie Rench
Since these sediment results could have significant future importance, there are strict procedures on how we collect the samples to minimize contamination, keeping the samples below a minimum temperature throughout transportation to the lab, and maintaining a chain of custody to be sure they remain untampered.
Light Trap: Up Close
By: Kylie Rench
 Helmet crab (Telmessus cheiragonus) juvenile
Photo by: Erin Stehr
During our light trap projects we find numerous little critters in our traps and plankton tows. Here are a few up close and personal looks at a few of the creatures we have found. Occasionally we bring back some of our finds to the lab for closer inspection under our high powered Leica microscope. This fancy scope is a dissecting microscope but also allows us to capture images and video. This helps with species ID and it's amazing to see plankton in such detail!
Pea crab (Pinnotheres sp.) zoeae
Photo by: Erin Stehr
Pea crab (Pinnotheres sp.) megalopa
Photo by: Erin Stehr
These are pea crabs, a species that often live within the mantle cavity of certain bivalve mollusks and other animals as a commensal (i.e., living on or in another animal host but not deriving nourishment from it). They do share their host's food but no evidence shows that these crabs directly harm their hosts. There are several species of pea crabs and each is specially adapted to its host animal. They can be particularly challenging to ID when they are small so we are only able to ID them to the genus level as Pinnotheres.
Hermit crab (Paguridae) megalopa
Photo by: Erin Stehr
With over 800 species worldwide, it can be difficult to ID these little friends past the family of Paguridae. These little hermit crab megalopa show up in our light traps frequently and can be tough to spot thanks to their transparent bodies at this size. The term hermit crab came about because they live one crab to one shell, however, it is a misnomer for these social crabs, which can live in large groups of a hundred or more in the wild. The team makes sure to ID our crab species since we record any Dungeness crabs caught in the traps as part of the large Puget Sound-wide monitoring effort with the Pacific Crab Research Group (PCRG, https://www.pnwcrab.com).
We also caught this fantastic larval giant Pacific octopus which is rare and very exciting! Here we are able to see its chromatophores.
Larval giant Pacific octopus
Photo by: Alise Newman
Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/animal/pea-crab#ref222835
https://www.britannica.com/animal/crab
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/facts/hermit-crabs
https://www.britannica.com/animal/hermit-crab
https://aquarium.org/animals/helmet-crab/
|
|
New Outreach and Education Activity
By: Kylie Rench
In preparation for Fidalgo Bay Days, a community outreach event in Fidalgo Bay, the Aquatic Reserves Program team created an activity to discuss various species and monitoring projects. Kylie Rench designed, illustrated and spearheaded this activity. They received extensive support in research, editing, activity guidelines, photo gathering and physical production from the rest of the Puget SoundCorps team, which includes Bobbi Bevacqua, Alise Newman, Tyler Goodspeed, and Chris Jendrey. A special thanks to Chris Jendrey for finding the maps and to Bobbi Bevacqua for being copilot and assisting with the activity guidelines.
The interactive element for these cards is arranging them on a Velcro and felt board to discuss different aspects of mudflat and eelgrass meadow ecology. Since many of our projects focus around eelgrass beds and invasive or important native species, this card activity allows flexibility to talk about many issues important to the public. This was used for the Fidalgo Bay Days event, hosted by the Skagit County MRC, on August 20th. Below are only four of the twenty-one cards created for the activity.
 
Created with Adobe Illustrator
Designed by: Kylie Rench
Research and editing: Bobbi Bevacqua, Chris Jendrey, Alise Newman, Tyler Goodspeed
Illustrations: Kylie Rench
Maps: Chris Jendrey (Maps shown were found at the following sites:
Eelgrass: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zostera_marina_dis.png
Sea Lettuce: https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/map?has_coordinate=true&has_geospatial_issue=false&taxon_key=5273309&occurrence_status=present
Phytoplankton: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AYool_SEAWIFS_annual.png
Zooplankton: http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/copepod/ Everett et al., 2017 (doi: 10.3389/fmars.2017.00077)
|
|
Puget SoundCorps
By: Kylie Rench
Does this work appeal to you? Do you want to work on projects like these and travel around Washington State doing conservation work? Check out the Washington Conservation Corps. Puget SoundCorps are individual placement positions working with the DNR for set contract positions, however there are a variety of other positions available as well. The Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) provides hands-on environmental service opportunities to young adults (ages 18-25) and military veterans. WCC is currently recruiting field crew and Individual Placement members throughout Washington State. Successful applicants will start October 3, 2022.
Serving with the WCC means typically spending your days outdoors, in all types of weather, accomplishing projects that restore and enhance landscapes across Washington. Crews consist of five AmeriCorps members and a crew supervisor. Individual Placements like the Puget SoundCorps, serve directly with a partnering organization, focusing on environmental research, community engagement and restoration project management.
Learn more about positions and descriptions on the web map, and apply online at https://ecology.wa.gov/wcc!
|
|
|
|
