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Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons

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Environmental Sciences

WWU Graduate School Collection

Theses/Dissertations

Marine

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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Distribution And Mixotrophy Of Cryptophyte Phytoplankton In The Northern Gulf Of Alaska, Megan O'Hara Jan 2023

Distribution And Mixotrophy Of Cryptophyte Phytoplankton In The Northern Gulf Of Alaska, Megan O'Hara

WWU Graduate School Collection

The Northern Gulf of Alaska (NGA) is a productive subarctic marine ecosystem that supports high abundances of plankton, fishes, seabirds, and mammals. Research has shown that this high productivity is primarily controlled by seasonal and spatial heterogeneity in the lower trophic level food web. Marine cryptophytes are a crucial, yet understudied, phytoplankton group in the NGA. Cryptophytes have the capacity for mixotrophy (acquiring energy through photosynthesis and feeding) which can improve trophic transfer efficiency, increase cellular growth rates, and improve retention of nutrients in the water column. Field samples collected in spring, summer, and fall 2021 surveyed the contribution of …


Analysis Of Eelgrass In Padilla Bay, Washington Using An Uncrewed Aerial System, Hannah Hein Jan 2022

Analysis Of Eelgrass In Padilla Bay, Washington Using An Uncrewed Aerial System, Hannah Hein

WWU Graduate School Collection

Eelgrass is an important part of coastal environments in the Pacific Northwest as it provides crucial habitat and moderates storm surge. Padilla Bay, Washington is home to one of the largest eelgrass meadows in North America and contains the native Zostera marina and the non-native Z. japonica. The relationship between these two species is of interest due to the influx of Z. japonica in previously unvegetated areas. I used an uncrewed aerial system (UAS) and a multispectral camera to study species dynamics. I compared the ability of values derived from the band data, two vegetation indices, and a principal …