Evaluating responses of marine nearshore communities to anthropogenic pressures

Abstract

Coastal ecosystems are changing and causing impacts to the ecology of marine species. Understanding these consequences is essential for ensuring that natural resource management remains effective under changing environmental conditions. In my dissertation, I sought to understand marine species’ responses to anthropogenic impacts within an urbanized estuary. Two themes within my research included how patterns change across scales of biological organization and how motile species distribute across a mosaic of nearshore habitats. In Chapter 1, I asked how the abundance of two Pacific salmon and two forage fishes varied as a function of the extent of armored shorelines and examined how patterns of association vary across spatial scales of armor presence. In Chapter 2, I evaluated the diversity of fish assemblages across the Salish Sea in nearshore areas adjacent to different shorelines with variable urbanization contexts. In Chapter 3, I synthesized information about Chinook salmon interactions with nearshore habitats to evaluate habitat quality in the context of nearshore juvenile outmigration. In Chapter 4, I evaluated the robustness of the current management strategy for Dungeness crab to stressors identified by managers of the Washington State fishery in the Salish Sea. Ultimately, this body of work informs resource management strategies to promote recovery for the region and urbanized estuaries worldwide.