Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans PISCO

OSU, UC Santa Cruz, UC Santa Barbara, Stanford University Funded by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation

Research Focus Coastal Ecosystems: Ecological Interactions Nearshore Oceanography Conservation

Why do we care about coastal ecosystems? What do we need to know? How do we address these questions?

Many values of Coastal Ecosystems: Ecological Economic Heritage Aesthetic

Humans are changing ecosystems at an unprecedented rate --

Protection and conservation are impeded by Poor understanding of coastal ecosystems, and

Protection and conservation are impeded by Poor understanding of coastal ecosystems, and Ineffective transfer of scientific knowledge

Understanding and conservation requires research that is Interdisciplinary Multi-scale Long-term

PISCO Goals Determine the long-term, large-scale processes underlying the dynamics and structure of intertidal and shallow subtidal reef communities along the US West Coast Develop new scientific approaches for conservation, especially distinguishing natural causes from human induced changes (including reserves) Initiate interdisciplinary training and research Integrate this knowledge into public and policy arenas

1) establish a coordinated monitoring and experimental network to track ecological patterns / processes along 2,000 km coastline 2) examine linkages between coastal oceanographic and ecological patterns and processes in coastal rocky habitats 3) use monitoring studies to direct other process-oriented and experimental studies 4) more closely link research, training and it’s application to conservation problems Overall Approach 5) develop mechanisms for bridging science-policy

California Current Mooring locations On-shore locations CODAR sites

The Research Program How nearshore oceanography influences nearshore marine communities Larvae Adults

Field Research - Intertidal 6 Mainland Intertidal Sites 6 Intertidal Sites at Santa Cruz Island

Community structure - Intertidal Unprecedented in scale -- West Coast of the contiguous U.S. Monitors patterns and diversity

Connections among populations – Recruitment Examples of recruitment collectors

Intertidal Experiments Predation by sea stars and whelks on mussels in the low and mid zones

Abundance Distribution Diversity Community structure - Subtidal

Nearshore Moorings Biological measurements –larval abundance –recruitment Physical measurements – nutrients – chlorophyll a – salinity – temperature

Focus species - Rockfish Focus areas - Monterey Bay and Channel Islands/Point Conception Dispersal among populations

Dispersal - Microchemistry Approach Look for trace elements in otoliths Determines connectivity among populations of fish

Conservation Implications Endangered Species Marine Reserves Effects of Climate Change