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Fall 2016
Greetings!
This fall semester the lab has been active with 34 research projects conducted by 71 students.
The Coral Sea also had a record 25 scheduled cruises although several were cancelled due to
severe October weather. Below are some updates of additional recent activities. Best Regards,
Brian Tissot, Director
Research Updates
HSU Faculty and Students at the Western Society of Naturalists Meeting
Humboldt State University faculty and students had a major impact at the Western Society of
Naturalists (WSN) Meeting in Monterey Nov. 10-13, 2016. HSU had 51 registered participants
(the most of any university) and presented 11 fantastic talks and 11 great posters. Great job
everyone!
A listing of all presentations, along with abstracts is available on WSN's website...
HSU students at the meeting.
Attendance at WSN by University.
Humboldt Bay Symposium unites
residents to discuss changing
environment, future development
At the 8th Humboldt Bay Symposium held October 2122, area residents had the opportunity to speak
directly with local experts on the region's latest updates in coastal science, restoration and
development. Lead by Humboldt County Sea Grant Extension Specialist and HSU adjunct faculty
member Joe Tyburczy, this year's conference theme of "Changing Tides, Changing Times"
focused on large-scale environmental changes including sea level rise and ocean acidification.
The symposium's topics ranged from changes in flood risk and water quality to new development
in aquaculture and coastal trails.
Read More....
US government approves $11 million grant for
"eyes on the ocean" off Central and Northern
California
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
recently approved a five-year, $11 million grant to the
Central and Northern California Ocean Observing
System (CeNCOOS). This grant will allow CeNCOOS
to provide real-time information about ocean conditions
that are essential for the shipping, fishing, and
aquaculture industries; the U.S. Coast Guard, pollutioncontrol agencies, and ocean scientists from Central California to the Oregon border. HSU is part
of this network and has real-time sensors located in Humboldt Bay and Trinidad pier maintained
by technician Kyle Weis with lab director Brian Tissot serving as the project principle investigator.
Link to Full Article...
Link to Real-Time Shore Stations in Humboldt Bay...
Marine Biologists Saving Sea Life by Smashing It
What is the best way to see if an animal is healthy? Check its
temperature? Test its blood? How about smashing its bones?
"It's really satisfying when you hear that crack," Humboldt State
marine biology major Kasey MacRae said. "If you're having a bad day,
just go into the lab and crush some snails."
MacRae, 21, is currently assisting professor Paul E. Bourdeau on his
thesis regarding ocean acidification and its effects on sea life. The
best way to test this is to press the dead animals' exoskeletons in an
Instron Universal Testing Machine until they crack.
Link to Lumberjack Article
Student Success Stories
Kindall Murie Wins Prestigious Award
Kindall Murie, a Marine Biology Major with Dr. Bruce O'Gara, has
been awarded the 2016 Jack and Maureen Yarnall Scholarship for a
Student Athlete majoring in the Biological Sciences.
Kindall is a junior, a member of the HSU Women's Basketball Team,
an HSU Marine Lab Technician, a volunteer in Dr. Bourdeau's lab,
and carries an exceptional GPA! Congratulations Kindall!
Studying Sneaky Cephalopods
Declan Cowan works with 14 Octopus rubescens
(commonly known as the red octopus) at HSU's
Telonicher Marine Lab in Trinidad. Since 2015, the
HSU Zoology and Biology major has had a unique
opportunity to study and interact with one of the
world's smartest invertebrates. Rule number one with
octopuses: Don't turn your back on them. "They're
highly intelligent and curious. When you walk away,
they will try to slip out of the tank," says Declan
Cowan.
Read the full story in the Humboldt Now...
Featured Alumni: Anna Neumann
HSU Experiences and Working for Reef
Check
By Anna Neumann
Anna Neumann received her BS degree in
Oceanography in 2013 from Humboldt State
University under the direction of Drs. Jeff Borgeld
and Christine Cass.
I am the North Coast Regional Manager for Reef
Check California and a Humboldt State alumni!
While at Humboldt State I majored in
Oceanography and minored in Scientific Diving;
which literally translates into late nights in the
library and weekends underwater. I also completed
the Leadership Diving course and founded the HSU
Marine Debris Program in my senior year.
Reef Check utilizes volunteer scuba divers who
take a proactive role in making sure that our
Anna on the job with Reef Check
nearshore ecosystems are healthy and well
managed. These citizen scientists monitor rocky
reefs inside and outside of California's Marine Protected Areas. Working from San Diego to
Humboldt County, Reef Check surveys roughly 90 sites every year. We work with marine
managers, researchers and the public to provide the scientific data. These data are used to make
informed, science-based decisions for the sustainable management and conservation of
California's ocean environment.
As Regional Manager I am responsible for training divers on Reef Check survey protocol, as well
as organizing, promoting, and leading dive surveys to collect data, and entering that data into the
Nearshore Ecosystem Database.
The Leadership Diving program was extremely influential on my education and provided me with
the skills necessary to be competitive in my field and secure the job I now hold at Reef Check.
While part of the HSU Dive program I totaled 98 dives in California with a large majority of them
being on the North Coast. I watched closely as Diving Safety Officer Rich Alvarez and Boating
Safety Officer Steve Monk taught all skill levels of students and safely took them into and out of
the ocean. They taught me to evaluate dive sites, diver skill level, assess the ocean conditions,
and identify potential dangers and mitigate those risks so that research could be safely
accomplished.
Working to create the Marine Debris program was a terrific learning experience; the program was
established under NOAA's Marine Debris protocols and still runs today. I learned how to work
independently yet simultaneously within a larger program, organize and promote events, and
work with the public. These are all skills that I use at my job with Reef Check on a daily bases. It
also gave me my first lesson in how cold science and data collection on the north coast can be! I
would spend hours walking in the rain, picking up trash, alone on the beach. Now I dive in a 10
millimeter wetsuit, in sub 50 degree temperature water for over an hour, as I meticulously count
critters.
Despite the cold however, my heart truly lies on the north coast. From the wind swept dunes I
walked for the Marine Debris program to the little coves and bays we dove for the HSU dive
program, attending Humboldt State introduced me to the ecosystems that continue to capture my
imagination and interests.
Give Now!
Help Support the Lab!
If you are interested in supporting the lab your donations can help fund a number of
activities; even a small donation is important to us. If you have any questions please don't
hesitate to give me a call or send an e-mail.
Sincerely,
Brian Tissot, PhD
Director & Professor, Marine Laboratory
Humboldt State University
[email protected]
707-826-5827
FOR MORE VISIT OUR WEBSITE
Humboldt State University Telonicher Marine Laboratory
http://www.hsumarinelab.org