Lycopsids (clubmosses) were among the most conspicuous and readily identifiable components of early land plant communities. The most widespread and best known genus, Leclercqia, had a vast biogeographic range, inhabiting both the southern and northern continents during the Early to Middle Devonian period (~400-370 million years ago). For this reason, Leclercqia has been used to indicate the proximity of the continents for this time period. Despite its contributions to understanding Devonian ecosystems and continental drift, only two species have been described to date (L. complexa and L. andrewsii). A new Devonian fossil locality in the Chilliwack Group of northern Washington State, the Northwest Lime Quarry, represents the westernmost record for Leclercqia’s distribution in North America. This site also has yielded a new morphotype for the genus. To distinguish this new morphotype, we developed a series of measurements capturing leaf size, shape, stem size, and sporangia. These measurements were analyzed to assess the morphological and potential taxonomic diversity within Leclercqia from all known fossil localities. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) shows that the new morphotype from the Chilliwack Group is statistically significantly different from both L. complexa and L. andrewsii in five out of eleven characters, L. complexa in seven characters, and L. andrewsii in nine characters. L. complexa shows significant differences from L. andrewsii in seven of the characters measured. Multivariate statistical techniques (Principal Component Analysis, Linear Discriminant Analysis) using vegetative characters similarly separate the new morphotype from L. complexa; L. andrewsii could not be analyzed due to incomplete data. Based on these results, we suggest the addition of a new species to the genus: Leclercqia scolopendra. This study constitutes one of the first extensive morphometric analyses of Devonian lycopsids and indicates that morphometrics may be a potentially valuable method for analyzing taxonomic diversity and morphological disparity in extinct lycopsid clades.

The brown catshark, Apristurus brunneus, (Gilbert, 1892) is a species of deep-water catshark (family: Scyliorhinidae) found along the outer continental shelf and upper slope from British Columbia to Baja California. Morphological analyses by Nakaya (pers. comm.) and Compagno (1984) have led to speculation that A. brunneus may be a complex containing one or more cryptic species. One possible new species may be represented by the population living within the Salish Sea (Puget Sound and Straight of Georgia basin). For this study I gathered tissue samples of A. brunneus from throughout its range for the purposes of molecular phylogenetic analysis. Additionally, I gathered samples of a closely related species, A. kampae, to serve as an outgroup. Proven phylogenetic markers were amplified from two mitochondrial genes: cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) and cytochrome b (cyt b); and one nuclear gene: recombination activating gene 1 (RAG1). This is the first molecular systematics study of A. brunneus as a possible cryptic species complex. The results of this study will be used as the foundation for future work that incorporates additional molecular data and new morphological data to determine if the Puget Sound population is a separate species or subspecies. The implications for such a finding could be far reaching as the distribution of this species would be confined to an area in close proximity to urban and industrial areas (e.g. Seattle, Vancouver, Bellingham), making it highly vulnerable to the effects of localized disturbances (e.g. pollutants, commercial fishing, etc.).

To date, very little is known about the reproductive behavior of the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae). Their extensive migrations and wide distributions make observation and quantification of their mating tactics difficult. Scientists have long grappled with how to best characterize the humpback whale mating system. Long interbirth intervals and asynchronous estrus cycles in females could result in a male directed, skewed operational sex ratio (OSR) in humpback whales. In addition, it has been demonstrated that there is variance in reproductive success (RS) among male humpback whales. However, while some scientists have labeled this mating system as one of mild polygyny, additional information is needed before this theory can be confirmed. In this study, we focus on the role of escorting as a mating strategy for the central North Pacific subpopulation of humpback whales. Using DNA fingerprinting, we explore the potential effect of this mating strategy on male RS by determining whether escort males have fathered more offspring than males observed occupying other roles (i.e. challengers and singers). This study serves as a pilot project with two additional purposes: (a) to verify the accuracy of sloughed skin collection methods coming from the animal in question by sampling known individuals multiple times within or across years and (b) to validate the utility of our chosen microsatellites by sampling known mother/calf pairs. For the parentage analysis, a total of 160 males and calves were genotyped across ten field seasons (five consecutive year-pairs). In order to validate our methods we have genotyped three females whose known calves are included in the subsequent parentage analysis. The optimized methods presented in this pilot study, in combination with future integration of photo identification and behavioral data, will provide us with the tools necessary to gain a better understanding of the factors influencing humpback whale reproductive success.

Fitness is a measure of reproductive success and offspring survival. Size should be an important parameter of survival and hence fitness, so we compared bill length and depth, flipper length, and foot length, measures of structural size of penguins, between successful (their chicks survived to adulthood) and unsuccessful Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus). We examined heritability of size between successful parents and their offspring because heritability plus differences between successful and unsuccessful parents would indicate that directional selection is occurring. Since 1983, we have measured over 56,000 Magellanic at Punta Tombo, Argentina and have 7,300 parent-chick pairs. From those pairs, 329 offspring were re-sighted as adults. We separated parents based on sex and the year that they bred, creating four year groups; 1988-1989, 1995-1996, 2002-2004, and all years (1983-2004). We used logistic regression with success or failure (1 or 0) as the response variable and the four traits as predictor variables for each year group and each sex. For female parents there were no significant differences between successful and unsuccessful sizes for any year group (P > 0.05). For successful males, bill depth was smaller in 1988-1989 (P = 0.01, n = 451), larger in 2002-2004 (P = 0.01, n = 352), and foot length was longer for all years (P = 0.001, n = 1706). Bill depth and foot length of males appear to be inherited by their male offspring. Size may be important for male breeding success because large size confers advantages to males in winning nests. However it may have costs as big fledgling males may be less likely to survive after fledging if food is poor. Understanding how size relates to fitness in males and females provides a greater understanding of the selective forces that determine optimal body size and how fitness changes when environmental conditions vary.

Species-specific population dynamics and natural history are shaped by top-down (predation) and bottom-up (food availability) forcing. The interplay between these two forcing factors is evident among species inhabiting temperate coastal marine ecosystems, which are subject to seasonal upwelling. The Leach’s Storm-petrel is a small (40g), planktivorous seabird which breeds on isolated coastal islands primarily in the upper latitudes of the Northern hemisphere. Like most seabirds, storm-petrels are long-lived, colonial and display a high degree of site fidelity. To avoid diurnal avian predators including gulls (Larus spp.) and Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus), Leach’s Storm-petrels nest in underground burrows, forage by day, and return to the colony at night. As surface-foragers with a feeding range in excess of 100km, storm-petrels are subject to the short-term effects of weather (e.g. windstorms) and long-term effects of climate (e.g. shifting temperature regimes, current patterns). We used a cross-validated regression modeling approach to investigate factors contributing to colony attendance and on-colony activity at daily to yearly timescales, from 30 years of standardized capture (mist net) data (i.e. CPUE, or birds per hour of net time) collected as part of a long-term monitoring project. Factors included moon phase, cloud cover and time of night as proxies for predation pressure, and Pacific Decadal Oscillation, the Southern Oscillation Index, upwelling strength and spring transition date as proxies for food availability. Storm-petrels were caught most frequently in non-El Niño years (positive Southern Oscillation Index), when winter conditions were mild (relatively stronger upwelling). Within the season, maximum catch rates occurred during June-July, when the parental population was augmented by pre-breeders. All other variables were insignificant.

Sea urchins are important members of many marine ecosystems. Frequently thought of as herbivores, urchins are actually omnivores and may prey on a wide variety of algae and marine invertebrates, especially in rocky habitats where sessile invertebrates are the dominant space occupiers. Subtidal rock walls are one such habitat, and the aim of this study was to describe the patterns of consumption in the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus franciscanus on rock walls in San Juan Channel. Using gut content analysis, the composition and diversity of prey items were quantified for urchins from three sites along the San Juan Channel: Point George, Shady Cove and O’Neil Island. Gut contents of urchins across all sites and sizes were found to be composed primarily of foliose algae (70%), invertebrate prey items (20%) and other (10%). Urchins from Point George demonstrated the highest proportion of foliose algae (77.4%, ± 5.9%), while Shady Cove and O’Neil Island urchins contained more branching algae (23.0%, ± 3.9%, 18.6%, ± 3.5%) Invertebrate contribution to diet (sessile, mobile, Metandrocarpa taylori) was similar proportionally across all sites. Multivariate analysis revealed significant site variation driven primarily by foliose algae, as well as differences between the gut contents of small (27-70mm) and large (126-190mm) urchins. The ascidian Metandrocarpa taylori was the largest contributor to non-algal gut contents for all groups of urchins. Together, these results suggest that urchin gut contents may be predicted by site and size at particular times of the year. A significant portion of the urchin diet consists of invertebrates, and as major consumers in these habitats they may be creating space and indirectly contributing to species diversity.

Seagliders are autonomous underwater vehicles that collect a wide range of data, including salinity and temperature. Seagliders provide the optimum environment for attaching acoustic monitoring devices, as the gliders are quiet while in operation with no external devices. The goal of Passive Acoustic Autonomous Monitoring, PAAM, is to create an attachable device with accompanying software to record the sounds of beaked whales with a testing emphasis on the Orca. The equipment must be autonomous, low powered, and able to record at high sample rates, as the Seagliders are out at sea for extensive testing. A preliminary board for recording and monitoring sound has already been configured for the Seaglider and experimentation has begun. A digital sound library allows for lab testing in preparation for field studies. Based on early stage results, the board successfully records sound and can deliver that data back to a base station computer during lab testing. The ability to monitor beaked whales will help researches understand the vocalizations and behavior patterns that are unique to marine mammals. Utilization of this study could also aid in giving early warning of whale proximity to naval operations. The PAAM project will continue with lab testing, showing field test results, and producing recordings. The employment of the autonomous recording and monitoring device will open the doors for future research, allowing Seagliders to act as true vehicles of multi-disciplinary study.