Farallon Institute News
New Alaska Sea Grant award to Farallon Institute, NOAA-NMFS and University of Alaska
February 01, 2010
The project, titled Increased Variance As a Leading Indicator of Reorganization in Alaskan Marine Ecosystems: An Empirical Test will investigate whether marine ecosystems respond to external forcing with abrupt reorganizations that are economically and socially devastating to fishing communities. Using novel ecosystem modeling approaches, FI scientist Mike Litzow and collaborators Franz Mueter (UAF) and Dan Urban (NOAA-NMFS) will conduct a study exploring the use of variance (rather than the mean) in fisheries statistics an indicator of ecosystem reorganization. The team will test key parameters for increasing in spatial variance prior to ecological reorganizations in Alaskan waters during the 1970’s and 1980’s.
Russian River Salmon in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat
January 12, 2010
Lower numbers of Chinook Salmon are returning to the Russian River of Central California again this year. In an article in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Dr. Sydeman emphasizes that these shrinking populations reflect coast-wide reductions in salmon abundance and changes in the nearshore ocean environment.
NOAA Bans Commercial Harvesting of Krill
July 13, 2009
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) published a final rule in the Federal Register prohibiting the harvesting of krill in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington. Krill are important because they convert microscopic phytoplankton into a food source for numerous other species and are a principal food source for many species of fish, seabirds and marine mammals. Some of the species that depend on krill as prey are listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act, and many others are important as target species for commercial and recreational fisheries on the west coast.
2009 Seabird Die-off in the San Francisco Chronicle
May 02, 2009
President WJ Sydeman says that the success of seabirds in the Bay Area is linked to fish populations, in a San Francisco Chronicle article by Jane Kay.
Sydeman to serve on the California Ocean Protection Council’s Science Advisory Team (OPC-SAT)
February 29, 2008
The California Ocean Protection Council helps coordinate and improve the protection and management of California’s ocean and coastal resources. The members of the OPC-Science Advisory Team are chosen to ensure that the best available science is applied to OPC policy decisions and to provide expert review, advice, and synthesis of scientific inquiries made by OPC or its staff. Dr. Sydeman was selected to serve at the OPC’s February meeting.
National Wildlife Magazine Feature on Cassin’s Auklets
August, 2008
Dr. Sydeman discusses how Cassin’s auklets respond to oceanographic conditions in a feature article in National Wildlife Magazine.
US News and World Report Discusses Missing Fish
February 14, 2008
President WJ Sydeman quote in an article on the mystery of the missing fish in California, by Justin Ewers, in the U.S. News and World Report.
Dr. Jarrod Santora and Sarah Ann Thompson, Msc. Join the Team
February, 2008
Two scientists, Dr. Jarrod Santora and Sarah Ann Thompson, M.Sc. are joining the Farallon Institute staff. Dr. Santora, who completed his Ph.D. at the City University of New York in 2007, will work on krill and predator-prey dynamics. Ms. Thompson, M.Sc. in Biology from Sonoma State, will manage databases and provide technical support.
FATE Grant Awarded
February, 2008
The Farallon Institute received a Fisheries and the Environment (FATE) grant from NOAA to conduct integrated wavelet analyses on ecosystem indicator time series in central and northern CA Current.
Bodega Marine Lab Donates Office Space
February, 2008
The Bodega Marine Lab has generously donated office space to the Farallon Institute. We greatly appreciate this contribution.
Sydeman Discusses Salmon in the San Francisco Chronicle
January 30, 2008
Dr. Sydeman discusses relationships between salmon and krill abundance in the Gulf of the Farallones in an article titled Salmon arriving in record low numbers by Jane Kay.
San Francisco Chronicle Wonders: Where the Salmon Have Gone?
October 30, 2007
FIAER research on seabirds, salmon and krill is featured in a recent San Francisco Chronicle article titled Central Valley salmon largely absent from fall run – but why?, by Jane Kay.