The marking and tagging of pinnipeds is important because of the ecological information it can tell us. Being able to track and monitor populations allows us to aim our ecological efforts in a more precise way and the basis of this comes from being able to observe markings and tags. The issue that arises is the natural degradation of identifying marks. It is critical that we assess if whether it is relevant to apply identification marks to pinnipeds as they molt annually. By tracking the depreciation of marks over time we can report the effects that the environment has on identifying marks and if we can justify the application of these identifying marks.

In the unique coastal environment of Southern California, the movement of large wildlife between intertidal and terrestrial habitats holds profound ecological implications. Understanding these patterns is vital for assessing the effects of human activity and seasonal changes on animal behavior and resource distribution. This study aims to investigate the energetic connectivity between intertidal and adjacent terrestrial ecosystems in Santa Barbara County, focusing on the Vandenberg Space Force Base and the Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve. More specifically, this study will concentrate on baseline movement patterns of animals between intertidal habitats, such as beaches, rocky intertidal zones, marshes, and nearby terrestrial habitats. By deploying an array of motion-triggered trail cameras along access-restricted coastlines, we captured valuable insights into the foraging behavior and movement of terrestrial consumers, including coyotes, deer, and feral pigs, within intertidal habitats. The significance of this research lies in understanding the phenomenon of animal-vectored subsidies, where resources are transferred between different ecosystems through animal-mediated movement. Historically, the Southern California coastline has benefited from marine-to-terrestrial subsidies, with nutrient flow from productive kelp forests to less productive beach and coastal scrub habitats. However, the increasing human barriers, such as roads and development, have disrupted this natural flow of resources. By investigating the impact of human activity and seasonal changes on animal movement and foraging behavior, this study sheds light on the alterations in animal-mediated resource transfer. Our findings have the potential to inform conservation efforts and ecosystem management strategies along the Southern California coastline.

Recent breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI) and the breadth of its application, motivated us to use AI for marine species identification and analysis. Using an open-source ‘do-it-yourself’ AI software platform developed by NOAA called VIAME (Video and Image Analytics for Marine Environments), we will assess the effectiveness of using AI and machine learning to identify marine species from video surveys in Humboldt Bay, California. Humboldt Bay produces ~70% of California's oysters, and is home to many ecologically and commercially important marine species. With the growth of oyster aquaculture in the bay, the resultant habitat modification may provide an additional source of shelter for benthic fish and invertebrates, and may influence species’ habitat use. Using BRUVS (Baited Underwater Video Systems) to collect video footage of marine species present in and out of aquaculture-modified habitat in Humboldt Bay, we will compare how efficient VIAME is compared to human observers in identifying species in our video surveys. This will allow us to determine whether VIAME is a useful tool that can save time and resources in analyzing BRUVS footage, a common underwater survey method.

Many non-indigenous species have been transported globally through anthropogenic vectors such as hull-fouling via commercial shipping vessels. Efforts have been made to prevent non-indigenous species from being able to travel on these ships, like the use of copper (Cu)-based antifoulants. However, some species like Watersipora sp., have been documented to have a tolerance to Cu. Thus, this marine-encrusting bryozoan has been able to invade estuaries and bays worldwide. The Eureka Docks within Humboldt Bay is one of the numerous locations that Watersipora sp. has invaded. It was previously observed that Watersipora sp. had higher success when settling in the presence of the barnacle Balanus crenatus. A barnacle that is highly abundant at the Eureka Docks. Our research aims to see if this barnacle plays a facilitating role in the larval settlement of Watersipora sp.. A large amount of research has been previously done on the role Watersipora plays in facilitating the transport of other non-indigenous marine species. However, little to no research has been done on what species facilitate Watersipora’s success. Especially research that allows for the natural settlement of the larvae outside of the lab.