Reserve Category: Otter Rock
Sea Stars Observed after Massive Epidemic
In 2014, the Pacific Coast of North America was hit by a mysterious epidemic that wiped out millions of sea stars, marking the largest marine animal disease event in recorded history. Looming questions researchers are trying to answer include … Read More
New Ecological Monitoring Plan
Check out ODFW’s newly released Ecological Monitoring Plan. Learn about how long-term monitoring is helping us learn more about marine reserve protections and about Oregon’s nearshore ocean. Read More
On the Rocks
In the field last week, scientists from UCSC and ODFW set up sampling plots to monitor rocky intertidal habitats at the Otter Rock and Cascade Head marine reserves. Read More
Sea Star Wasting Syndrome
Sea star wasting syndrome is a mysterious disease that has had a large effect on many sea star species along the west coast of the United States. This disease causes lesions and decaying of the sea star body, ultimately resulting in death. Read more to hear research the Marine Reserves program is doing to better understand disease. Read More
SMURFs Help Us Learn About Larval Fish
What is a SMURF? We are not talking about the cartoon characters. Rather, SMURF stands for: Standard Monitoring Units for the Recruitment of Fishes. Learn more about how we sample juvenile fish. Read More
Scientific Divers to Survey Otter Rock Marine Reserve
Volunteer scientific divers are practicing their survey skills in Otter Rock Marine Reserve this week. Scientific divers play a integral role in conducting ecological research in Oregon’s Marine Reserves. We use diver based underwater visual census methods to identify and count macroalgal, invertebrate, and fish communities. Read More