May 2000: Pam Rogers, Editor
Staff and Volunteers Evict Invasive Species
About forty hardy HMSC staff, volunteers and members of the public showed up with wheelbarrows, loppers, pruners and rototiller and literally dug into the weeds in the front entrance garden beds on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22. They also made good progress on cleaning out blackberry bushes and scotch broom along the estuary trail.
The work party, called "Evict Invasive Species" in keeping with the current Visitor Center theme of "Invasive Species," involved a real show of community spirit. Students from Angell Job Corps enthusiastically helped with the trail and cleaning the interpretive signs. Lincoln County Public Works Department loaned the tools, and Thompson's Sanitary Service donated a large dumpster that was quickly filled to overflowing with the debris.
The crowd was fed pizza from Figaro's after the three-hour work session and it appeared that everyone went home feeling good - although dirty and tired - about their efforts. "It means a lot to us that so many people were willing to give their time and energy for this effort," said Visitor Center Manager Jon Luke. "The garden beds are the first impression visitors get of the HMSC, and of course the estuary trail is so well-used, maintaining these areas is important. We appreciate the good-natured effort that everyone put forward."
"I'm amazed at the dedication and work that people were willing to put into this on a volunteer basis," Randy Walker, Facility Manager, said. "Seeing this effort has renewed my enthusiasm to clean up other areas - like the bone yard!"
Fisheries Behavioral Ecology Group Welcomes New Manager
The NMFS Alaska Fisheries Science Center welcomed Allen Stoner, the new manager of the Fisheries Behavioral Ecology Program. Bori Olla, the past manager, is on an IPA with NOAA and is working half-time. Allen comes the the Center from the NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center in Highlands, New Jersey, where he was the branch chief for the behavioral ecology program there. He requested the lateral transfer because of the strength of the Newport facilities and the strength of the researchers. He feels we have one of the best facilities in the country for live animal fisheries research. The program analyzes growth parameters, survivorship, distribution and recruitment of commercially important native species. In the future he would like to see an expansion of their efforts into flatfish such as halibut.
Allen earned his B.S. in Zoology from Ohio State University, and his M.S. in Oceanography and his Ph.D. in Biological Science from Florida State. His dissertation was on the habitat association of coastal fish and invertebrates, predator-prey interactions in sea grass meadows. Upon completion, he had a post-doc at Harbor Branch Marine Lab and then taught oceanography for four years at Woods Hole. After that he moved to a warmer climate, teaching at the University of Puerto Rico for four years and then worked at the Caribbean Marine Research Center in the Bahamas, where he had been recruited by Bori Olla to study queen conch. During that time he lived on a sailboat. After ten years, he transferred to the NMFS NE post.
For fun, Allan and his wife Marcia and daughter McCall enjoy the outdoors, especially backpacking, hiking and mountaineering for Allen. His wife is a commercial artist who works with interior designers on wall sculptures and murals.
USFWS Works on Expansion of Coastal Refuges
Crook Point, a headland south of Gold Beach and Cape Sebastian, will be the newest addition to the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge (see map). This 135-acre parcel of undeveloped headland has many important features that will be preserved by this new status. Although it will not be open to the general public because of the sensitive resources and proximity to major seabird colonies, the USFWS is working on possible limited guided public access. Exposed geologic formations show evidence of active plate tectonics and preliminary evidence suggests that the headland may be rising four times faster than the rest of the coast. An unknown species of blue butterfly has been observed on the headland and may be a new species or a range extension for a known species. The Nature Conservancy was able to purchase this land before it was snapped up by developers and is now selling it to the Refuge.
On January 10th the USFWS purchased a 407-acre ranch along the Coquille River in Bandon, to add to Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge. A large portion of this ranch is currently diked pastureland and. when several adjacent properties are purchased, over 400 acres of pasture will be restored to tidal marsh habitat. When this project is completed, it will be the largest tidal marsh restoration in Oregon. Because there are many Native American historical sites on the property, the Service is working closely with the Coquille Indian Tribe to provide protection to cultural resources. On the lower unit of this refuge on Riverside Drive, the USFWS is constructing a 10-car paved parking area, boardwalk and elevated viewing deck overlooking Bandon Marsh. The fully accessible boardwalk and deck will be constructed using plastic (recycled) lumber and interpretive panels will be installed.
The Service is in the public comment stage for expanding Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge by acquiring up to 375 acres in and around Neskowin Marsh, a large bog system and the largest unprotected freshwater marsh on the Oregon coast. The marsh features insectivorous plants, abundant amphibians, migratory birds, and is used extensively by juvenile coho salmon. The marsh is being surrounded by housing developments that would add runoff from lawn chemicals and other contaminants to the marsh.
A Department of Transportation TEA-21 grant for $210,000 has been awarded to the Coastal Refuges to improve facilities and provide interpretive features at Cape Arago. The USFWS, working with Oregon State Parks and other partners, will completely reconstruct the Shell Island Overlook, Oregon's premiere pinniped viewing location. The parking lot will be recontoured, reconfigured and repaved. New fences and sidewalk will be installed and a fully accessible viewing deck with interpretive panels and a spotting scope will be constructed. Three informational kiosks will be installed on the Cape Arago trail system to encourage the visiting public to park their cars and use the trails.
Michael Schirripa Joins NMFS Northwest
The NMFS Fishery Resource Analysis and Monitoring Division welcomed the new research fisheries biologist, Michael Schirripa. He will be working on stock assessment of the groundfisheries of the Pacific coast. Michael has an interesting mix of experience and education to bring to this position. He earned his B.S. in Fisheries from Michigan State and then served in the Peace Corps in Belize, where he worked with shrimp mariculture. He then worked in Longview, Washington at the Abernathy salmon culture facility before moving all the way across the country and many climate zones to work as a biological technician at the Everglades National Park. He then earned his master's and Ph.D. at Florida International University. His master's research was on a stock assessment of spotted sea trout in Florida Bay. His dissertation work was on ageing and growth studies using simulated models in comparison to actual field data, trying to determine which of several models came closest to the true field results. Leaving NMFS in Miami, he transferred to Newport and the NMFS Northwest Fisheries Science Center.
Michael is an amateur bird watcher and enjoys fishing, along with many of his new co-workers. For the curious, his family name is of Italian derivation.
Interesting New Titles in the Library
Salmon of the Pacific coast : with engravings, showing the apparatus used for their artificial propagation, and the operations of salmon fishing and canning as conducted at Gold Beach, Curry County, Oregon, U.S.A. / by R.D. Hume. San Francisco : Printed by the Schmidt Label & Lithographic Co., 1893.
This one is not new! This 1893 missive describes the history of salmon fishing in the Northwest and calls for the establishment of a "Chief Fish Warden" for the state who would monitor the salmon runs. It also calls for the banning of fish traps, wheels and seines that take fishes less than five pounds weight. The lithographs provide a clear concept of the processing steps. The booklet's sponsors are listed with their packing labels and advertisements. It's a great glimpse at the state of the salmon fisheries 100 years ago.
The ecology of deep-sea hydrothermal vents / Cindy Lee Van Dover. Princeton, N.J. : Princeton University Press, c2000.
This is the first textbook on hydrothermal vents to appear. Over the past twenty years since the discovery of these vents, thousands of publications have appeared. Dr. Van Dover has written this for advanced undergraduate and graduate students as well as the non-specialist. This means it is readable and interesting to all.
ICES zooplankton methodology manual / edited by Roger Harris ... [et al.]. San Diego, Calif. ; London : Academic, c2000.
The ICES Study Group on Zooplankton Production have been working on this manual since 1992. The Group has succeeded in producing "an updated review of basic methodology used in studies of zooplankton including recommendations on improvements, harmonization and standardization of methods."
Older ODFW Reports Catalogued
ODFW reports from the fifties through the seventies have recently been sent to our main library for cataloging and are starting to come back. When we have a lot of new books, we usually don't put older reports on the new book list, so the best thing to do is to search the catalog. We are adding a lot of material that has previously been unavailable.
Recent new arrivals include: Species composition of rockfish in catches by Oregon trawlers 1963-71 by E.W. Niska (HMSC SH 222 .O7 N571 1976) and Scallop resource assessment by Rick Starr and Jean McCrae (HMSC SH 372.2 .O7 S731 1982). We haven't gotten everything back yet, and we are looking forward to getting titles like Coastal rivers investigations (1960s-70s), Spawning fish surveys in coastal watersheds (1967-1975), and Methods of
supplementing clam and abalone production (1973-1976).
OSU Surimi School Another Outstanding Success
The 8th Annual OSU Surimi Technology School was held in Astoria between April 11-13. It was the biggest one with 125 people from Oregon, Washington, Alaska - but also from France, Ireland, Iceland, Uruguay, Denmark, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Latvia, and India. This school was established in 1992 and became the only program of its kind offered annually around the world. It consists of lectures and hands-on laboratory experiments during 2 1/2 days. Topics taught during the school were Surimi Chemistry, Surimi Microbiology, Acid-aided Surimi Manufacturing, Technology in Surimi Freezing, Rheology and Texture, Surimi Processing and Waste Management, Ingredient Technology, HACCP, Colors in Surimi and Surimi Seafood, Surimi Seafood Flavors, Surimi Seafood: Product, Market, and
Manufacturing.
In the evening of the first day, there was a sponsor's presentation and display. We had 21 industry sponsors from the US, Denmark, and France. Their generous donation plays a key role in maintaining the OSU Surimi School and related research activities successful. This year a new book, Surimi and Surimi Seafood (edited by Jae Park) was published just
before the surimi school and used it as a textbook. COMES faculty members Jae Park, Michael Morrissey, and Ed Kolbe participated in writing their book chapters related to surimi/surimi seafood processing and freezing technology.
Surprisingly 30 pre-registrations have been made for the next year surimi school. Jae and Michael will go to Thailand this summer to teach at the Third OSU Surimi School in Bangkok (Aug 15-17). Jae also plans to offer the Second OSU Surimi School in Paris next February.
"Ingredients for a Balanced Life"
Friday, May 5, at 7:00 p.m.
HMSC Auditorium
Workshop Saturday 9-12
OSU professor Vivian Simon-Brown will lead an interactive and thought-provoking exploration of the values that help Americans live a fulfilling, appealing, productive and environmentally responsible life.
A more in-depth follow-up workshop will be held on Saturday, May 6, 9:00 a.m. This workshop will explore some topics in greater depth, such as defining your own personal quality of life, frugality, finances, community stewardship and responsible consumerism. Register for this workshop with Pam Rogers at 7-0212 (limited enrollment).
Maggie Sommer
Maggie Sommer is our newest aquarist, replacing Todd Miller and joining Hamdi Ogut. A master's student in Marine Resource Management under Jim Good, Maggie has a wide range of experiences under her belt. She was at the Bahamas ForFar Field Station, a nonprofit station where she served as Director. The station hosted colleges from all over the United States for field work. Before that she earned her B.A. in French from the University of Virginia and worked as a chef in a small restaurant. When she was ready to go back for her advanced degree, she decided that OSU was the best place for marine resource management and her interest in public education on these issues. For fun Maggie likes to hike, snowboard, flyfish and play the flute. Welcome aboard!
Pam Johnson in lobby of USFWS
Pam Johnson is the long-awaited answer to the USFWS's prayer for administrative support. She joined the staff as the administrative support assistant for the Coastal Refuges. Prior to coming here with her husband, Jim, who works for BLM at Yaquina Head, she worked for the Park Service at Rocky Mountain National Park. She has served at Dinosaur Park in Colorado and Yosemite in California. A native Californian, Pam has a son, 5, and a daughter, 8. For fun the family enjoys outdoor activities like hiking, hunting and fishing. For the first time in 15 years, there are two Pams at the HMSC!
Patrick McDonald at his microscope
Patrick McDonald has been here several months, and works with Bruce Pederson, Marian Mann and Jennifer Menkel in the Fish Ageing Unit. This unit is a collaboration among NMFS, ODFW and the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. A native of Portland, Oregon, Patrick earned his B.S. in Fisheries from OSU and prior to working at the Center, worked for the USGS tagging salmon in the Columbia Gorge and at ODFW in Corvallis ageing chum otoliths. Patrick enjoys birdwatching, hiking, reading and SCUBA diving.
Spring Scholarship and Award Deadlines
$7,500 Holt Marine Education Fund - undergraduate or graduate students in marine sciences producing marine-related educational output for course, public education, extension . Deadline is May 15.
$5,000 Bill Wick Marine Fisheries Award - gradute students in area of marine fisheries ecology. Deadline is May 15.
$1,500 Reynolds Scholarship - graduate students in residence at HMSC - paid in three equal installments beginning Fall Term. Deadline is May 15.
$500 Schawantes Memorial Fellowship Fund - graduate students in residence at HMSC - to foster sound marine resource management. Deadline is May 15.
NEW - $1,000 Anja Robinson Shellfish Fellowship
More information can be obtained in the HMSC Director's office (7-0212) directors.office@hmsc.orst.edu. All applications are to be turned into Dr. Weber. All winners must present a 5-10 minute report on their research at the June 2 Markham Research Symposium.