Mesidotea entomon is the Latin name of the isopod we commonly call giant sea lice.  It is found in the shallow water around Bristol Bay.  Isopods are a class of Crustaceans that fill an important role in local aquatic communities as shredders.  M. entomon is responsible for breaking down salmon carcasses that end up in streams and creeks.  They play an important role in recycling nutrients brought back from sea with salmon runs into the riparian zone.  Keep an eye out for Mesidotea entomon next time you are walking along creeks or beaches

Nushagak Bay is a large estuary covering over 50 km² in southwestern Alaska and includes the flow of the Nushagak, Wood, Snake, and Igushik Rivers. The estuary supports one of the world’s largest sockeye salmon runs that residents sustainably used for both subsistence gains and commercial profits.     Given the estuary’s ecological and economic importance, few comprehensive benthic studies have been conducted.   The Nushagak Bay Diversity Project aims to document species to ecosystem level diversity and to investigate trophic energy flow in Nushagak Bay . Diversity is measured through species counts and total biomass, while habitat diversity is measured using an ecosystem approach.  In addition, baseline physical data collected includes, water temperature, pH, DO, salinity, turbidity, tidal current flow, and benthic substrates.  Over 33 800 m³ has been sampled and we found that 16 species were distributed in three benthic zones throughout the estuary. Species collected including teleost fishes, isopods, amphipods, and other crustaceans giving Nushagak Bay a Shannon Diversity (H’) value of 1.54,   ranking it below similar subarctic estuaries.   This low diversity is most likely due to low salinity (average 8 ppt) and soft muddy sediments found in much of Nushagak Bay .   Continued sampling will provide insight into the benthic community structure of the bay.   Research plans for future work includes bomb calorimetry and stable isotope analysis of samples collected, which will provide addition details about trophic structure and energy flow throughout the estuary.

Tidal energy is a topic BBESL has been pursuing the past three years.  Using an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP); an instrument used to measure the velocity of water currents.  The data collected indicate tidal currents throughout Nushagak Bay are strong enough to turn a turbine and produce electricity.  A velocity of greater than 3-4 knots is necessary for useable electrical generation.  We have observed currents up to 5 knots at some locations. 

Water quality and ecosystem health are a primary focus of BBESL.  Toward that goal BBESL has received EPA microbiology certification through Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation.  BBESL is now the only lab in western Alaska certified to enumerate water samples for total and fecal coliforms, as well as E. coli and Enterococci.  These are organisms or groups of organisms that indicate fecal contamination in waterways.  We are currently working with three partners around Bristol Bay to monitor bacteria contamination around the region.  We are working with Bristol Bay Coastal Resource Service Area to monitor the waters off Kanakanak Beach, Scandinavian Beach, and Snag Point, as part of the BEACH grant program.  The summer of 2009 we began monitoring the Kanektok River in Togiak National Wildlife Refuge, as well as worked with Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation, monitoring drinking water systems in rural Bristol Bay villages.

We here in the Environmental Studies program were curious how old the typical Christmas Tree is in Bristol Bay, so we came up with this challenge as a way to encourage students and local residents to help us find out as well as a good chance to learn how to collect scientific data.

The challenge to students is this: Before cutting down your Christmas Tree this year, take a few measurements including the height of the tree , the growing conditions (in deep forest, on the edge of forest, northern view, southern view, etc...), take a picture of the tree before cutting it down (if possible) and measure from the ground to the height where the tree will be cut down.

After cutting the tree down cut a one inch slice off the bottom of the tree trunk, and count the rings to find the age of the tree .

*If you already have your tree up at your house, it's okay, you can still participate by cutting off a slice when you take the tree down. Try your best to remember where you cut the tree down and what it's growing conditions were like.

Our experience with counting tree rings is that the slice has to be well sanded to get an accurate reading, if you want to do that at your home that is wonderful, if you don't have the time we would appreciate it if you could collect the slices attach your name and the trees growing conditions and send them to us to analyze.

Find out more information about the challenge and download the data collection form here: http://www.uaf.edu/bbesl/events/christmas-challenge/

There are many strange stories and myths about southwest Alaska, things believed to be impossible or untrue, but are they?

This is your chance to ask about something strange and bust a myth or two with the Bristol Bay Science Sleuths at Beaver Round-Up 2013!

To ask a question or give the Sleuths a challenge click here: http://www.uaf.edu/bbesl/events/science-sleuths/