Hi COASSTers,

Hope you’ve all had a great month! Thank you for the datasheets and photos that you’ve sent in recently, we really appreciate it.

As you head out for your next survey, note that there is currently a largeharmful algal bloom occurring on the West Coast involving microscopic algae called Pseudo-nitzschia.  This algae produces a strong neurotoxin called domoic acid. High levels of domoic acid are often reported in the fall, but this outbreak is occurring earlier than usual and is shutting down many recreational and commercial shellfish harvests in Washington, Oregon, and California.

In other news, this week we received an update on Sea Star Wasting Disease from Dr. Drew Harvell at Cornell University, which we’ve posted on theCOASST website with an updated animation. During recent surveys in Eastsound, WA, Dr. Harvell and her team confirmed that the surviving sea stars are not resistant and the disease is reportedly going strong again this year.

If you live in a coastal area with cobble, rocky bench, or tide pool coastal sites and are able to conduct a July sea star survey during low tides, we’d greatly appreciate it. Everything you need to get started (the sea star survey protocol and datasheet) can be found in the volunteer toolbox at the bottom. We’re hoping to get a final push of data in for July to help assess the size of their populations and assess the magnitude of further impacts of Sea Star Wasting Disease.

Also, we’d like to give a big welcome to our new COASSTers in Fort Bragg and Fortuna, CA and our new COAST interns who are joining us for summer quarter. We’re excited to have you all join the team!

Let’s take a look at what’s washed in recently:

Mariner Park (AK) 6/2/15 found by Michelle and John

Wing: 42 cm

Alaska Wing Key – page 44
Choose gray, some species with dark tips and/or dark stripe(s) (go to Q25), select gray wingtips with white windows and fingernails – Glaucous-winged Gull (LA6).

West Coast Wing Key – page 33
Choose gray, some species with dark tips and/or dark stripe(s) on mantle (go to Q10), wingtips do not contrast (gray- same as mantle) (go to Q11), primary feathers have contrasting white in the outer half – white windows and fingernails – Glaucous-winged Gull (LA7).

West Coast Wing Table – page 32
Choose size row Extra Large (wing chord 33-43) and column gray mantle. Don’t have a photo of the underwing linings, so it’s either Heermann’s Gull (HEEG – LA21) or Glaucous-winged Gull (GWGU – LA7). HEER has a very dark mantle and wingtips – must be the lighter-colored Glaucous-winged Gull (LA7)

Elger Bay (WA) 1/12/15 found by Alice and Bill

Wing: 34 cm
Tarsus: 95 mm

Alaska Foot Key – page 34
West Coast Foot Key – page 22
Choose webbed (go to Q2), choose completely webbed (go to Q3), choose 4 toes: 3 webbed, 4^th free (go to Q5), choose tarsus more than 12mm across – LOONS.

Alaska Guide
On LO1, we don’t have a bill, but measurements fit only one species – Common Loon (LO6)

West Coast Guide
On LO1, we don’t have a bill, but measurements fit only one species – Common Loon (LO4).

Babs sent images of this buoy, found on Second Beach, to COASST back in May. The buoy and other debris was also reported to WDFW, who put together this information about their response. If you see something unusual or interesting, don’t hesitate to report it!

Have you jawbones like these on your surveys? Bobbee, Linda, and Jeanene found this set at Rendsland Creek last week, just above the wrack line. To get an idea of size, the longest jawbone is 4 inches from tip to tip and the smaller one is 2.5 inches.

According to Mike Etnier, a curator at the UW Burke Museum, these are salmon jawbones, but “ID-ing salmon bones to species is really really tricky (some would say impossible).” With a chum salmon hatchery nearby and the big, hooked teeth in front, these jawbones may be from a chum salmon.

Seen something on the beach you’ve always wondered about? Send us a photo!

Cheers,
Erika, Julia, Jane, Hillary, Charlie, Heidi, Jenn, and the COASST Interns

Two year postdoctoral position in seabird conservation

The Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) of University of Washington’s School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, in partnership with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, seek a Postdoctoral Research Associate.

COASST is a 17-year old citizen science program focused primarily on rigorous, effort-controlled, standardized, and independently verified data on the identity and condition of beach-cast birds. COASST data are collected monthly at ~450 sites from northern California north to Cape Lisburne, Alaska by a diverse collective of hundreds of coastal residents who are committed to coastal stewardship and science as a basis of responsible decision-making. Additional information on site characteristics and citizen participation, as well as verification and QAQC post-processing, bring the total database fields to over 200.

This project is focused on data mining with a particular objective of using the COASST dataset to further scientifically-based natural resource management along the West Coast, and with a goal of publication in the peer-reviewed literature. Potential projects include:

• modeling the factors affecting deposition rate as a precursor to establishing a credible estimate of total carcasses (an index for mortality)
• creating a time/space and taxon specific model of oiling sensitivity

We seek an enthusiastic, creative team-player who wants to apply their quantitative skills to the intersection of citizen science, coastal ecology and applications to resource management. The ideal candidate will bring unique skills to add to the COASST team of faculty, students and staff; and will be available to start by September 2015.

Screening of applicants will begin on July 1, 2015; applications should be received by June 30th, 2015 to ensure consideration. Applications should include: (1) letter of interest (2) a curriculum vitae, including publications, (3) the names and contact information of four individuals who can provide a letter of reference. Please send all materials and any questions to Sarah Drerup at sdrerup@uw.edu