Jennifer Ruesink of University of Washington talks about:

Study of trophic support (stable isotopes) and productivity (growth rates) has revealed spatial and temporal patterns relevant to coastal zone management.

Notes from her talk:

Whether aquaculture in Totten Inlet was reducing overall health of the area. They also looked at areas in Budd Inlet and Squaxin Inlet.

What happens with anthropegenic inputs. At you go further into Totten, you get more nitrogen, which is the “signal” of anthroprogenic inputs.

For carbon, you see “light carbon” which is the signal that terrestrial inputs are increasing as you move inside Totten inlet, much more than Tacoma or Seattle.

Clam growth rates were much higher in Totten and South Puget Sound than rest of Puget Sound

Carbon sources were similar in Totten Inlet than rest of Puget Sound.

Question and Answers

What was the variability inside Totten?

There was variability inside and outside Totten. The growth rates were higher inside than outside.

But, with the isatopes, there was a gradual increase as you went inside Totten Inlet.