Well, unfortunately, not too much to report on this week. As a part of our REU, the powers that be have asked that we procure a final exit paper defining, as best we can, what we've accomplished as REU students this year. In lue of having not much else to talk about this week (aside from having acquired a kitten, and my girl friend graduating from college!!) I have decided to post here the abstract of what is soon to be my final REU paper. Please feel free to give any feedback you would like on the form of it so far!
The Elwha Nearshore: Assessing Nearshore Utilization by Forage and Salmonid Fish Species in a disrupted Environment utilizing Bayesian Theory
Benjamin J. Warren*
*Western Washington University
Due to riverine dams and shoreline armoring, the Elwha nearshore (a complex and diverse component of the Elwha ecosystem) has experienced major ecological disruption over the last century. Though many studies have shown the effects of riverine dams on river ecosystems, there is little data examining the effects of riverine dams on the nearshore ecosystem, and moreover, the effects of removal. As a part of the essential baseline studies vital to the upcoming historical damn removals, this study seeks to assess the current nearshore utilization by forge fish and salmonid species in the Central Strait of Juan de Fuca. In doing so, this paper also presents the use of Bayesian statistical theory, in assessing the viability of its use in establishing a link between forage fish and salmonid presence. This paper documents the accumulative documentation of forage fish utilization along the Elwha nearshore; indicating that the Elwha nearshore remains a viable ecosystem despite major ecological disruption, and suggests conservation measures and methods that could significantly enhance the function of this vital system in the future.
