Multi-Scale Ecosystem Observations in Cowichan Bay, BC
Presentation Abstract
Early Marine Survival (EMS) and Early Marine Habitat Use (EMHU) of Chinook and Coho salmon in the Salish Sea will be influenced by both bottom-up and top-down mechanisms with water property variability and the resultant food availability expected to be critical bottom-up factors. To improve on our understanding of these mechanisms it is critical to monitor the water properties and the ecosystem on both temporal and spatial scales appropriate to understand nutrient cycling, variability in food supply (phytoplankton and zooplankton), the movements of fish and their predators, and ultimately the survival rate and the primary factors controlling this survival rate. Here we report on a study in Cowichan Bay, BC, where we made use of fixed moorings equipped with sensors to monitor water properties and water movement continuously for a 12 month period from April 2014 to April 2015 while the water column biology, including phytoplankton, zooplankton, fish and marine mammals were monitored using a bottom-mounted multi-frequency acoustical backscatter sonar system from May to August 2015. Combining these data we present a conceptual model of how changes in the physical and chemical properties modulate ecosystem dynamics in the bay.
Session Title
The Salish Sea Marine Survival Project- Novel Approaches, Project Status and Key Findings
Conference Track
Species and Food Webs
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2016 : Vancouver, B.C.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
2016 12:00 AM
End Date
2016 12:00 AM
Location
2016SSEC
Type of Presentation
Oral
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Pacific salmon--Monitoring--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Fish stock assessment--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Multi-Scale Ecosystem Observations in Cowichan Bay, BC
2016SSEC
Early Marine Survival (EMS) and Early Marine Habitat Use (EMHU) of Chinook and Coho salmon in the Salish Sea will be influenced by both bottom-up and top-down mechanisms with water property variability and the resultant food availability expected to be critical bottom-up factors. To improve on our understanding of these mechanisms it is critical to monitor the water properties and the ecosystem on both temporal and spatial scales appropriate to understand nutrient cycling, variability in food supply (phytoplankton and zooplankton), the movements of fish and their predators, and ultimately the survival rate and the primary factors controlling this survival rate. Here we report on a study in Cowichan Bay, BC, where we made use of fixed moorings equipped with sensors to monitor water properties and water movement continuously for a 12 month period from April 2014 to April 2015 while the water column biology, including phytoplankton, zooplankton, fish and marine mammals were monitored using a bottom-mounted multi-frequency acoustical backscatter sonar system from May to August 2015. Combining these data we present a conceptual model of how changes in the physical and chemical properties modulate ecosystem dynamics in the bay.
