Kwiaht presents a Marine Matinee, with updates on marine research around Lopez and throughout the islands: salmon, forage fishes, plankton, pollution and climate change. Slideshow presentation by Kwiaht director and ecologist Russel Barsh, with light refreshments and an opportunity to learn how you can get involved in the upcoming 2026 field season. Free and family-friendly.
Key to understanding change in marine ecosystems of the Salish Sea is “what eats what,” beginning with zooplankton such as krill and larval crabs, which have begun responding to warmer water temperatures. We are learning that “forage fishes” such as herring, sand lance, surf smelt and anchovies have different foraging strategies, and feed on different plankton species in different marine sub-basins, which affects their reproductive success and accumulation of toxic contaminants. Changes in forage fish behavior has affected the early marine growth and survival of Chinook salmon and marine mammals that hunt them.
Meanwhile we are seeing impacts of urban development, recreational activity and warming seas on the islands’ seagrass meadows, sea stars, and inter-tidal ecosystems. There are winners and losers as island shorelines change; some species thrive under these new conditions although, on the whole, diversity of species has declined. What is happening on our seashores parallels the history of terrestrial ecosystems: the growth of farms, cities and towns favor those species that comfortably live amongst people and take advantage of gardens and garbage.
Learn about the findings of ongoing local research touching on all of these issues at the Marine Matinee!
