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  • News

    February 2022

    Feature Story

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    Feb 8, 2022
    • Ecology
    • Genetics/Genomics
    • Marine Science

    This tiny coastal fish wears a toothy coat of armor

    pacific spinly lumpsucker as viewed from the side
    Karly Cohen
    The Pacific spiny lumpsucker, covered in circular-shaped odontodes made from the same material as teeth.

    The ocean is full of otherworldly creatures, seemingly from alien planets with alien capabilities. In most cases, the award for craziest looking critter would go to an invertebrate. But many fish are contenders, too, and there’s an oddly adorable one common in northwest waters.

    What does it look like? Imagine a golf ball. Now put some googly eyes on it and add a suction cup to its belly. Give it some fins so it can swim, albeit poorly. There you have it — Eumicrotremus orbis, the Pacific spiny lumpsucker, in all its glory.

    “It’s such a cute, lovely, rotund fish that bounces around the intertidal,” says Karly Cohen, a biology graduate student doing doctoral research at the UW Friday Harbor Labs. Cohen has been studying the globe-shaped fish to better understand its natural history along with advisor Adam Summers.

    But the lumpsucker has another oddity — it’s covered head to tail in armored spikes. Not much was previously known about the barnacle-looking lumps and bumps on the fish’s body, so Cohen and undergraduate Ella Woodruff took a closer look. Their findings were published in the Journal of Morphology, where Woodruff was the lead author on a team of four.

    “The armor is protecting them against the pressures of the intertidal [like smashing into rocks and other hard objects] instead of for fighting,” Woodruff says. Armor is not uncommon in fish species, but the real discovery was the kind of armor the lumpsucker creates. “My favorite thing about them is that their armor is actually the same material as teeth. That is so incredible to me and so unexpected, that we found out their armor is made of enamel.”

    Karly Cohen
    CT scans show odontodes developing with age in numerous rows, denoted by color, from the view of the fish’s top, bottom and side.

    The hard structures that cover the external surfaces of animals with a similar structure to teeth are called odontodes. They’re often lighter than the armor produced by some other fishes, yet the enamel still provides protection using one of the hardest biological materials known. This is good news for the lumpsucker, whose poor swimming abilities would only be exacerbated if its armor was heavy. And because its swimming leaves something to be desired — constantly at the will of currents, tides and waves — the armor is crucial as the fish collides with hard surfaces when going about its daily business.

    “They are not born with the armor, they have to develop it,” says Woodruff. “The armor is non-overlapping, and each odontode starts with a singular cone that they add to in a spiral shape.” The odontodes are organized into eight rows — six rows on the body, another row surrounding the eye and one more underneath the chin.

    Creating enamel does come with a cost. While other fishes’ armor is highly mineralized compared to the lumpuscker’s, it is believed that other fish can repair damaged plates. The lumpsucker cannot, and while the enamel on its ontododes is hard, it is not strong and can easily crack or be worn down over time. Nearly 100% of older lumpsuckers show signs of damage to their armor and do not have a way to fix it.

    What’s novel about these findings are twofold, says Cohen. First, while mostly restricted to the mouth in bony fishes, scientists can look at the evolution of teeth that show up in unexpected ways, painting a bigger picture of how tools evolve and are used in different lineages. The second is how armor may bring additional benefits, like camouflage. If you look closely, the lumpsucker looks almost as if it’s covered in barnacles, a common invertebrate covering rocks and hard surfaces in the marine environment, which may help the fish blend in with its surroundings.

    The list of oddities goes on for the Pacific spiny lumpsucker. That suction-cup disc on its belly? It allows them to hunker down in stormy seas, anchoring them to hard surfaces. Cohen says another cool thing, perhaps her favorite about them, is still a bit of a mystery. “Male lumpsuckers glow bright red all the time. When you look at them in normal light, they are red and purple, and they fluoresce bright red under UV light. And the disc on all lumpsuckers fluoresces bright yellow.” Cohen and her research team are trying to figure out why, along with other mysteries of this strange little fish.

    Cohen, Woodruff and their colleagues were able to explore these questions using the Burke Museum’s fish collection, housed within the College of the Environment.

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    Jan 27, 2022
    • Polar Science

    Glaciers are squishy, holding slightly more ice than thought

    Brad Lipovsky (right) hikes over Easton Glacier on Washington’s Mount Baker in September 2021 with UW graduate students Danny Hogan (left) and Quinn Brencher.
    Mark Stone/University of Washington
    Brad Lipovsky (right) hikes over Easton Glacier on Washington’s Mount Baker in September 2021 with UW graduate students Danny Hogan (left) and Quinn Brencher.

    Glacier ice is usually thought of as brittle. You can drill a hole in an ice sheet, like into a rock, and glaciers crack and calve, leaving behind vertical ice cliffs.

    But new University of Washington research shows that glaciers are also slightly compressible, or squishy. This compression over the huge expanse of an ice sheet — like Antarctica or Greenland — makes the overall ice sheet more dense and lowers the surface by tens of feet compared to what would otherwise be expected, according to results published Jan. 19 in the Journal of Glaciology.

    “It’s like finding hidden ice,” said author Brad Lipovsky, a UW assistant professor of Earth and space sciences. “In a sense, we discovered a big piece of missing ice that wasn’t accounted for correctly.”

    Compression of the ice lowers the surface by up to 37 feet (11.3 meters) on the Antarctic ice sheet and by up to 19 feet (5.8 meters) on the Greenland ice sheet. Averaged across the entire Antarctic ice sheet, the surface is lower by 2.3 feet (0.7 meters), which represents 30,200 gigatons of additional ice. For Greenland, the surface of the ice sheet is lowered by an average of 2.6 feet (0.8 meters), which represents 3,000 gigatons of ice.

    Read more at UW News »

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    Feb 11, 2022
    • Marine Science

    How COVID-19 changed research on the high seas

    For crew members of the UW research vessel Thomas G. Thompson, the last two years have been a test of preparedness and resilience while conducting research at sea. On top of the usual threats of rough seas and homesickness, seafarers now have to factor in the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, which has had a special knack for spreading rapidly on ships.

    While the isolated nature of research on the open ocean might have seemed like welcome distance from the rest of humanity during the early days of the pandemic, many will remember how some of the first stories of the virus’ potential came from shipboard outbreaks. Ships can be dangerous places when disease is spreading, as quarters are close, and there are no doctors or emergency rooms to turn to when you’re in the middle of the ocean.

    The pandemic emerges

    a ship deck with two sailors entering a tropical harbor
    Marci Train
    The Thompson enters Port Louis, Mauritius, in March 2020. This was the last routine port stop before COVID precautions brought the ship back to the US.

    When news of COVID-19 first broke in January 2020, the Thompson was in Cape Town, South Africa. The crew had just had a suspected outbreak of norovirus, which was precariously timed. “I’m really happy that we had that [norovirus] before the stories about COVID broke internationally, otherwise we might have been sent away,” said Port Captain Meegan Corcoran. The ship then traveled to the Indian Ocean, stopping at Mauritius in early March. The crew that joined the ship in Mauritius was subject to additional health screening, but was allowed into the country and onto the boat. That would be the last routine stop.

    The Thompson left Mauritius on a 27-day transit to Fiji, passing under Australia. During those 27 days, the world changed dramatically. While near Hobart, Tasmania, the captain was told by the National Science Foundation and US Navy that they must return to the US immediately. Within two days of that, Fiji shut their borders and would not allow the ship to dock. With supplies and fuel running low, Corcoran said, “we were asking ‘well, how are we going to get back?’”

    The deck of a ship with the Sydney Opera House lit at night.
    Emmy Jarris
    The Thompson leaves Sydney, Australia with an emergency resupply.

    Thankfully, a connection in Sydney arranged for an emergency port call. Nobody was allowed on or off the ship, but they were able to pick up food and fuel.

    While the crew longed to be back at their home port at the University of Washington, Seattle seemed to be one of the most dangerous places to go due to the high level of COVID transmission in the area. The ship eventually headed to US waters in Honolulu, where the crew was kept onboard for three weeks awaiting further instruction. “Something like this had never happened before, and we didn’t quite know what to do,” Corcoran said. But finally, as case rates began to drop stateside, the ship was allowed back to Seattle to dock, returning home after a cruise of 823 days.

    COVID safety at sea is a moving target

    a person holds a sign saying "welcome home" as the ship transits the Lake Washington ship canal
    While loved ones on shore were excited for the ship’s return, the crew still chose to keep the COVID-free “bubble” on the ship going when docked in Seattle.

    As the state of the pandemic became clearer and the ship was docked, they needed to develop new health protocols to get ahead of new risks. The crew met and discussed what measures they would like to take — would the ship allow the crew to visit family and friends, and then return to the boat? “We’re much more like a democracy on the ship,” Corcoran said. “Ship culture is delicate, and we have to ensure every voice is being heard or things can fall apart quickly.” Eventually, the crew agreed that they would follow strict protocols. The ship would be isolated from the outside world, and anyone coming or going would need to quarantine and test frequently. “We’re constantly talking about it, and it is a moving target,” said Corcoran. “A new variant can blow everything out of the water and change our plans.”

    “Pre-COVID, port calls were a time the crew would look forward to as a break in the action and an occasion to explore,” said Relief Captain Christine Klimkowski, the first female captain of the Thompson. “Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have all been restricted to staying on the ship … and it is tough to be next to a beautiful island and not be able to go ashore or to the beach.” Along with staying onboard, the global reach of the Thompson was reduced, with the ship remaining near North America and only docking at US ports. Conveniently, the ship found nearby research opportunities off the Oregon coast for the summer of 2020, and came into dry dock for overhaul in the fall and winter.

    While isolated on the ship, Chief Steward Sarah Wicker and Second Cook Sabrina Hutchinson prepare a BBQ dinner on deck.

    Science teams and crew typically come on and off the boat prior to setting sail, but are now required to complete a quarantine period before every research cruise. Adding this extra hurdle on top of already busy research schedules was a challenge, not to mention the psychological toll of extended isolation. However, some crew liked the quiet. “I think some members quite enjoyed the quarantine process,” Klimkowski said. “People embraced the time as a bit of a retreat and did things like taking an online class, working on their hobbies or just relaxing.”

    “You get paid well for hanging out just to be sure you don’t have COVID,” Corcoran added. “That certainly helps.”

    Easing restrictions

    Border policies and health precautions for the crew were not the only disruptions on board. The disturbance to the global supply chain was felt on the ship as well, which required creative solutions. While the Thompson usually received “store deliveries” of eight to twelve pallets of food and supplies on a tractor trailer, the suppliers had trouble recruiting drivers and taking on new orders to fulfill the Thompson’s needs. “Fred Meyer has been the solution!” Klimkowski said. “They have been able to fulfill several smaller orders each time we come into port.”

    Terry Anderson
    The crew was received vaccines at the port of St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

    In the summer of 2021, increased availability of COVID-19 vaccines promised to mitigate the impacts of the disease. Vaccination clinics for the dozens of shipboard crew members were set up at St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, and later for a second dose at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Massachusetts. The clinics were held on the dock in order to maintain the ship’s “bubble.” With vaccines came more freedom, allowing crew to go ashore for outdoor recreation or personal shopping, but still forbade going to bars, restaurants or other public gatherings. “Part of being a mariner is getting to explore,” Corcoran said, “and the pandemic is honestly pretty hard when you want to experience different cuisines and cultures.”

    A new normal

    Despite the challenges, many of the crew still relish their time at sea. “Landlubbers would be surprised by the simple things,” Klimkowski said. “How truly blue the open ocean can be, the dramatic sunrises and sunsets, the seabirds, marine mammals, fish, squid and jellyfish, the night sky with no light pollution.” 

    The Thompson remains ready for COVID cases onboard with an isolation room and testing kits. However, as of January 2021, they have not had to use it, making the Thompson rare among large research ships in having no cases or outbreaks. What has led to the success? “Our testing scheme has been so tight, we catch people before they come onboard,” Corcoran explained. “And it is because our crew has full buy-in and we talk to them when we make decisions.”

    Currently, the Thompson is located 600 miles south of the Galapagos Islands. You can track it here.

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    Jan 27, 2022
    • Awards and Honors

    UW Environment scientist named 2021 AAAS fellow

    A blond woman with glasses and a black blazer smiles at the camera for a headshot
    Emily Carrington

    Emily Carrington, resident scientist at the UW’s Friday Harbor Laboratories, was named a AAAS Fellow, according to a Jan. 26 announcement by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She is among 564 new fellows from around the world elected in 2021, who are recognized for “their scientifically and socially distinguished achievements” in science and engineering.

    Carrington is honored for her research contributions in biomechanics and ecophysiology, as well as efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in science. Her research has shown how marine life in near-shore ecosystems, especially invertebrates and seaweeds, respond to both short-term fluctuations in their environment and long-term shifts due to climate change. Carrington’s research has illuminated the many ways that expected shifts in oceans due to climate change — including heat waves and increases in dissolved CO2 — will negatively impact shellfish, algae and other organisms in coastal ecosystems and aquaculture. Her investigations of the biomaterials that mussels use to adhere to underwater surfaces have also aided the design of wet adhesives and antifouling surfaces for biomedical and maritime applications. A member of the UW faculty since 2005, Carrington also served as a program director in the National Science Foundation’s Directorate for Biological Sciences from 2016 to 2019.

    Read more at UW News »

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    Feb 15, 2022
    • Conservation

    New Center for Environmental Forensic Science aims to disrupt and dismantle international illegal wildlife trade

    Ivory seizure in 2017 in Hong Kong
    WildAid
    The UW’s Center for Environmental Forensic Science will work globally to help stop poaching of endangered wildlife species, including elephants. Researchers can extract DNA from ivory seizures, like this one in 2017 in Hong Kong, to help law enforcement pinpoint transnational criminal enterprises.

    Across the globe, endangered species are at risk for illegal poaching. African elephants are sought out for their ivory, rhinoceros for their singular horns, and armadillo-like pangolins for their protective, brittle scales. Add to that list valuable and environmentally sensitive trees illegally harvested throughout the world where entire ecosystems are being deforested and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing that is devastating oceans. These illicit markets, estimated at $1 trillion annually, cause enormous environmental impacts and have the potential to unleash new, deadly pathogens.

    Now, a group of University of Washington professors is leading an effort to combat these crimes. The UW’s Center for Environmental Forensic Science is a unique interdisciplinary collaboration of researchers; state, federal and international law enforcement agencies; nongovernmental organizations; and the private sector that aims to disrupt and dismantle transnational organized environmental crimes.

    “This important project epitomizes how UW scientists are innovating across disciplines to contribute to the public good,” said UW President Ana Mari Cauce. “Working to protect precious and endangered species and stop transnational criminals from trafficking in illegal goods will help to preserve our natural world in service of all humanity, including future generations.”

    The center was established last fall with state funding and will be led by co-executive directors John Hermanson, a UW research scientist in the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, and Samuel Wasser, a UW professor in the Department of Biology. It will replace and broaden the work of the UW Center for Conservation Biology.

    Hermanson has devised similar approaches to track illegally harvested timber. He led the development of the XyloTron, a machine vision device that scans timber and can quickly and accurately identify species. Hermanson also co-developed Arbor Harbor, with the support of U.S. Forest Service International Programs, which is a trees-to-trade reference system that helps authorities identify illicit timber shipments by aggregating and vetting information on taxonomy, geographic origin, conservation and trade regulations.

    The group is comprised of nearly 40 additional scholars who span the UW’s expertise, including from the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences.

    Read more at UW News »

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    Feb 15, 2022
    • Conservation
    • Ecology
    • Resource Management

    eDNA a useful tool for early detection of invasive green crab

    European green crabs feast on shellfish, destroy marsh habitats by burrowing in the mud and obliterate valuable seagrass beds. The invasive species also reproduces quickly, making it a nightmare for wildlife managers seeking to control its spread in Washington’s marine waters.

    Last month, Gov. Jay Inslee issued an emergency order in response to more than 70,000 crabs caught on Lummi Nation land as well as dramatic increases in crab populations on Washington’s outer coast and other locations in Puget Sound in recent years.

    As the green crab invasion in the state worsens, a new analysis method developed by University of Washington and Washington Sea Grant scientists could help contain future invasions and prevent new outbreaks using water testing and genetic analysis. The results, published online Feb. 6 in the journal Ecological Applications, show that the DNA-based technique works as well in detecting the presence of green crabs as setting traps to catch the live animals, which is a more laborious process. Results suggest these two methods could complement each other as approaches to learn where the species’ range is expanding.

    “We have limited resources to be able to combat this problem, and it’s important to think about how to allocate those resources efficiently and effectively,” said lead author Abigail Keller, who completed the work as a master’s student in the UW School of Marine and Environmental Affairs. “Knowing the best situations for using eDNA to detect invasive green crabs is important, and that’s what our study tried to tackle.”

    The research team relied on data collected over three months in 2020 from green crab traps in 20 locations throughout Puget Sound and the outer coast. Trapping at these locations was done by a large number of partners participating in statewide efforts to monitor and control European green crab, including multiple tribes, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife — the state lead for green crab management — Washington Sea Grant’s Crab Team, and other state and federal agencies.

    Read more at UW News »

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    Feb 22, 2022
    • Marine Science
    • Resource Management

    New story map unites sea gardens around the Pacific and shows the importance of revitalizing Indigenous mariculture practices for food sovereignty and resilience

    Indigenous people have been stewarding the ocean for thousands of years. This stewardship has appeared in many different forms around the world, all of which represent a reciprocal relationship between humans and the sea rooted in deep, place-based knowledge. From octopus houses in Haida Gwaii to fish ponds in Hawai’i, an Indigenous mariculture renaissance is making waves as groups across the Pacific seek to revitalize these ancient techniques and traditions.

    For the first time, information about a multitude of Indigenous cultivation practices has been collected into a cohesive online repository. Sea Gardens Across the Pacific: Reawakening Ancestral Mariculture Innovations is a new interactive, “living” story map that synthesizes knowledge about Indigenous aquaculture throughout the Pacific region, including the west coasts of North, Central and South America; the east coasts of Asia, Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand; Oceania and coastlines in between. The project shows these local initiatives are not one-off projects, but rather pieces of a global story. A story that is being told by Indigenous knowledge holders, and further amplified by diverse collaborators who created the story map.

    Many ancestral mariculture practices were subverted over time by colonialist attitudes and policies that targeted the erasure of Indigenous cultures and the separation of people from wilderness. As industrialization-caused ocean change continues to imperil marine resources, reviving ancient practices could help protect these ecosystems and the people that rely on them today.

    Read more at Washington Sea Grant »

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    Events

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    March 2, 2022

    Environmental Communications Seminar: Communicating Environmental Injustice

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    March 10, 2022

    2022 Sustaining Our World Lecture with Rae Wynn-Grant

    Calendar Icon Check out our calendar for more events

    News From Around the College

    • You don’t have to be a climber to explore the Cascades' mightiest glaciers, KING 5 / Earth and Space Sciences
    • An ancient link between heart and head — as seen in the blobby, headless sea squirt, Nature / Friday Harbor Labs
    • It may be the little things that determine whether whales and salmon survive, The Olympian / Oceanography
    • Snow forecasts aided by research aircraft out of Virginia, US News & World Report / Atmospheric Sciences
    • An unexpected item is blocking cities' climate change prep: obsolete rainfall records, NPR / Climate Impacts Group
    • Dams alter river temperatures and endanger fish, yet 3,700 more will be built, Washington Post / Aquatic and Fishery Sciences

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