Presentation Abstract
Conspicuous declines in the abundance of bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana), the most common canopy-forming species in Puget Sound, have been observed in many areas. Despite these observations, little information on abundance, or temporal changes in kelp distribution have been scientifically documented. To document and increase attention to changes in kelp populations around the region, the Northwest Straits Initiative formed a Salish Sea International Kelp Alliance and developed a scientifically-driven monitoring protocol. Citizen scientists of the Northwest Straits Marine Resources Committees then applied the protocol to delineate kelp beds via kayak over the summers of 2015-2107. The protocol has now been added to the Washington State Puget Sound Estuarine Monitoring Program PSEMP Nearshore Monitoring Toolbox and is very similar to protocols used by citizen science groups in the Gulf Islands of British Columbia. This presentation provides a summary of results on changes in extent observed throughout summer months, as well as, changes observed over the 3 years of sampling. To date, more than 177 Bull kelp kayak surveys, at 42 sites, have been acquired in 7 counties of the Northwest Straits over 3 summers. Fourteen of the sites have a full 3 years of data on presence/absence, acreage and ancillary measurements of depth and temperature. Data will be made available from the Northwest Straits online mapping application SoundIQ linked to interactive maps, data, photos and summary results in Storymap format.
Session Title
Kelp Distribution and Recovery Strategies in the Salish Sea: Part I
Keywords
Bull kelp, MRC, Northwest Straits Initiative, Nereocystis
Conference Track
SSE1: Habitat Restoration and Protection
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2018 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE1-554
Start Date
6-4-2018 9:15 AM
End Date
6-4-2018 9:30 AM
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)
Nereocystis luetkeana--British Columbia--Gulf Islands--Geographical distribution; Volunteer workers in science--British Columbia--Gulf Islands; Kelps--Monitoring--British Columbia--Gulf Islands
Geographic Coverage
Gulf Islands (B.C.)
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
Included in
Fresh Water Studies Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons
Monitoring Salish Sea bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) via kayak surveys
Conspicuous declines in the abundance of bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana), the most common canopy-forming species in Puget Sound, have been observed in many areas. Despite these observations, little information on abundance, or temporal changes in kelp distribution have been scientifically documented. To document and increase attention to changes in kelp populations around the region, the Northwest Straits Initiative formed a Salish Sea International Kelp Alliance and developed a scientifically-driven monitoring protocol. Citizen scientists of the Northwest Straits Marine Resources Committees then applied the protocol to delineate kelp beds via kayak over the summers of 2015-2107. The protocol has now been added to the Washington State Puget Sound Estuarine Monitoring Program PSEMP Nearshore Monitoring Toolbox and is very similar to protocols used by citizen science groups in the Gulf Islands of British Columbia. This presentation provides a summary of results on changes in extent observed throughout summer months, as well as, changes observed over the 3 years of sampling. To date, more than 177 Bull kelp kayak surveys, at 42 sites, have been acquired in 7 counties of the Northwest Straits over 3 summers. Fourteen of the sites have a full 3 years of data on presence/absence, acreage and ancillary measurements of depth and temperature. Data will be made available from the Northwest Straits online mapping application SoundIQ linked to interactive maps, data, photos and summary results in Storymap format.
