Physical, chemical, and biological oceanographic studies provide a way of monitoring ecosystem state and its variation, in space and time. They also provide a means to link organisms at higher trophic levels with this variation, which can significantly affect distribution, abundance, and ecology.
The oceanography program includes monitoring of physical, chemical, and biological parameters of surface waters (temperature, salinity, and chlorophyll), and the water column (temperature, salinity, chlorophyll, dissolved Oxygen, nutrient concentration, and primary productivity). On selected surveys, micronekton biomass is estimated using an EQ-50 depth sounder, and plankton and micronekton samples are collected using ring, bongo, and manta net tows. Our oceanographic data cover areas in the eastern tropical Pacific including the Gulf of California, the shelf and slope waters of California, Oregon, and Washington, and the eastern north Pacific basin. (Contact Paul Fiedler)
Selected Publications
Fiedler, P. C. and L. D. Talley. 2006. Hydrography of the eastern tropical Pacific: A review. Progress in Oceanography, 69(2-4):143-180.
Fiedler, P. C. 2002. Environmental change in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean: Review of ENSO and decadal variability. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 244, 265-283.
Fiedler, P. C. 2002. The annual cycle and biological effects of the Costa Rica Dome. Deep-Sea Research I, 49, 321-338.
Spear, L.B., L.T. Ballance, and D.G. Ainley. 2001. Response of seabirds to thermal boundaries in the tropical Pacific: the thermocline versus the Equatorial Front. Marine Ecology Progress Series 219:275-289.
Hoefer, C.J. 2000. Marine bird attraction to thermal fronts in the California Current System. Condor 102:423-427.
Fiedler, P. C., S. Reilly, R. P. Hewitt, D. Demer, V. A. Philbrick, S. Smith, W. Armstrong, D. A. Croll, B. R. Tershey and B. R. Mate. 1998. Blue whale habitat and prey in the Channel Islands. Deep Sea Research II, 45, 1781-1801.
Fiedler, P. C. , J. Barlow and T. Gerrodette. 1998. Dolphin prey abundance determined from acoustic backscatter data in eastern Pacific surveys. Fishery Bulletin, U. S., 96, 237-247.
Ballance, L.T., R.L. Pitman and S.B. Reilly. 1997. Seabird community structure along a productivity gradient: importance of competition and energetic constraint. Ecology 78:1502-1518.
Fiedler, P. C. 1994. Seasonal and interannual variability of coastal zone color scanner phytoplankton pigments and winds in the eastern tropical Pacific. Journal of Geophysical Research, 99, 18,371-18,384.
Fiedler, P. C. and S. B. Reilly. 1994. Interannual variability of dolphin habitats in the eastern tropical Pacific. II: Effects on abundances estimated from tuna vessel sightings, 1975-1990. Fishery Bulletin, U. S., 92, 451-463.
Fiedler, P. C., F. P. Chavez, D. W. Behringer and S. B. Reilly. 1992. Physical and biological effects of Los Niсos in the eastern tropical Pacific, 1986-1989. Deep-Sea Research, 39, 199-219.
Fiedler, P. C., V. Philbrick and F. P. Chavez. 1991. Oceanic upwelling and productivity in the eastern tropical Pacific. Limnology and Oceanography, 36(8), 1834-1850.
Reilly, S. B. 1990. Seasonal changes in distribution and habitat differences among dolphins in the eastern tropical Pacific. Marine Ecology Progress Series 66:1-11.
Au., D., W.L. Perryman, R.L. Pitman, and M.S. Sinclair. 1980. Cetacean populations and equatorial oceanography. Trop. Ocean-Atmos. Newsletter, Univ. Washington, 4:6-10.