{
"@context": "http://schema.org/", "@type": "WebPage", "additionalType": "Project", "url": "https://www.usgs.gov/centers/werc/science/santa-cruz-field-station", "headline": "Santa Cruz Field Station", "datePublished": "February 24, 2017", "author": [ { "@type": "Person", "name": "Josh Adams", "url": "https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/josh-adams", "identifier": { "@type": "PropertyValue", "propertyID": "orcid", "value": "0000-0003-3056-925X" } }, { "@type": "Person", "name": "Julie Yee", "url": "https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/julie-yee", "identifier": { "@type": "PropertyValue", "propertyID": "orcid", "value": "0000-0003-1782-157X" } }, { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joseph Tomoleoni", "url": "https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/joseph-tomoleoni", "identifier": { "@type": "PropertyValue", "propertyID": "orcid", "value": "0000-0001-6980-251X" } } ], "description": [ { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "SEA OTTER RESEARCH" }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "Research on sea otters is mandated by the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the U.S. Endangered Species Act, due to the listing of several populations of sea otters as threatened. And with the attention given to the poor health of earth\u2019s ocean ecosystems, the threats of overfishing, climate change, pollution, emergent diseases, invasive species, and loss of bio-diversity -- the sea otter is increasingly recognized as a bellwether for the health of near-shore marine ecosystems of western North America. Sea otters are useful as a sentinel species because they are relatively easy to observe, their sensitivity to many of the same factors that threaten other marine species as well as human health, and their important role as \u201ckeystone predators\u201d in these systems." }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "Scientists at the Santa Cruz Field Station study sea otters and seabirds in their environment. The USGS Western Ecological Research Center has two research missions based in the Santa Cruz region:" }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "Seabird Health and Adaptive Management" }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "Dr. Adams and colleagues conduct WERC seabird research with partners that include the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Navy, universities and laboratories within the California State University and University of California systems, and non-governmental organizations. WERC seabird research spans the Pacific Ocean from the California Channel Islands, Oregon, and Washington, to as far away as Hawaii and Chile." }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center\n2885 Mission St.\nSanta Cruz, CA 95060\nOffice: (831) 460-7566\nFax: (831) 427-4709" }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "Seabird Ecology and Marine Planning" }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "WERC research focuses on this smallest marine mammal\u2019s population biology and its role as a keystone species in the nearshore marine community. WERC scientists conducting long-term research in California and Alaska seek to answer complex ecological questions, and they work with partners including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Coastal Conservancy, Monterey Bay Aquarium, University of California-Santa Cruz, University of California-Davis, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Santa Barbara Zoo, other scientists, and various conservation organizations (most notably Defenders of Wildlife). The sea otter program also coordinates closely with the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission." }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "Dr. Adams and team use aerial surveys and telemetry to inform marine spatial planning. In addition, they are interested in quantifying species vulnerabilities based on spatial distributions, habitat characteristics, behaviors and life histories." }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "The WERC Santa Cruz seabird team focuses on seabirds of the Pacific Ocean, primarily species that utilize the waters off California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii. Their research can broadly be categorized as:" }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "Sea Otter Studies and Coastal Ecology Team\nPrincipal Investigator: Julie Yee\nJoseph Tomoleoni\nMichael Kenner" }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "The seabird studies team develops and applies innovative and traditional methods to assess seabird populations and trends in abundance. They also explore ways to evaluate impacts of invasive species on seabird colonies and study how habitat restoration influences seabird health." }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "Seabird Studies Team\nPrincipal Investigator: Josh Adams\nJon Felis\nEmma Kelsey\nCheryl Horton\nLaney White\nMorgan Gilmour" }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "SEABIRD RESEARCH" } ], "funder": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)", "url": "https://www.usgs.gov/centers/werc" }, "about": [ { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Biology" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Energy" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Geology" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ecosystems" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "sea otters" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "seabirds" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "birds and renewable energy" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Science Technology" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Environmental Health" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Water" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "offshore renewable energy" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Information Systems" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Methods and Analysis" } ]
}