EPA Townetting CTD casts - Evaluating the ecological health of Puget Sound's pelagic foodweb

To evaluate effects of human influence on the health of Puget Sound's pelagic ecosystems, we propose a sampling program across multiple oceanographic basins measuring key attributes of the pelagic foodweb. We will quantify seasonal abundance and composition of pelagic biota from lower trophic levels (e.g., bacteria and phytoplankton) to middle trophic levels (e.g., zooplankton, small pelagic fishes, and jellyfish), as well as assess the individual condition of forage fish and juvenile salmon.

The goals of this program:

1) Determine how foodweb endpoints vary across natural and anthropogenic gradients.

2) Determine how these characteristics vary across Puget Sound.

3) Evaluate a number of biological metrics for monitoring ecosystem health.

These outputs will improve our basic understanding of pelagic ecology in Puget Sound, better define what comprises a healthy pelagic ecosystem in Puget Sound, determine foodweb-relevant indicators that are sensitive to human influence, and help prioritize regional protection and restoration efforts. Work is conducted by NOAA personnel and contractors in collaboration with tribal partners (Squaxin, Port Gamble/S'Klallam), undergraduate research interns, and citizen volunteers.
Access database containing all conductivity/temperature/depth (CTD) casts.