Videogram from the field
 
Another successful field season has wrapped up.  Join documentary film maker Simon Schneider as he reports from the field on some of this summer's activities.

See full story>>

September 29, 2008

Toward a Common Goal
Scientists Share Dataset to Advance Research

Among the challenges facing researchers in the eastern North Pacific Ocean is the complexity of the marine ecosystem, and the lack of physical descriptions of the state of the ocean. To address this knowledge gap, Consortium scientists have compiled a comprehensive set of environmental data about the ocean and are sharing it freely with fellow researchers.

see full story>>

September 2, 2008

Deconstructing the Diet
New Model May Help to Quantify Prey Consumption

Studying the diet of marine mammals can reveal important information about their ecological role. But traditional techniques of analyzing diet are imperfect. Recently, Consortium researchers tested a model designed to determine the relative proportions of prey consumed by harbor seals. The innovative process examines the unique chemical remnants of prey that are incorporated into the seal’s living blubber.

See full story >>

July 21, 2008

Steller sea lions have different energetic needs in each season—and in each season the body responds differently to food shortages. Recently, scientists examined the seasonal changes in hormone levels in Steller sea lions under a restricted diet. They found that sea lions are most vulnerable to food shortages at times of year when key human fisheries, which compete for the same prey, are most active.

See full story >>
June 23, 2008