Did you know that the WA-BC Chapter is the largest chapter in all of AFS? That we are one of only two international chapters? That we’ve received the honor of being named AFS Outstanding Chapter of the Year two of the last four years? That we hosted the biggest, best, and most successful AFS meeting ever just two years ago?

Yes, we’ve enjoyed great success over the last several years. But we need you to keep us moving forward. We have many fun and exciting projects on the horizon that need your help to see through. For example, you’ve probably seen that we are establishing an endowment to help fund fisheries and aquatic science students in our region. This is a great first step, but we need continued leadership to help grow this fund and help our students – our future – as much as possible. You may have also noticed our recent foray into social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.). This is a tremendously powerful outreach tool that we’ve not nearly tapped the full potential of yet.

The open positions that nominations are being accepted for are listed below. All candidates must be AFS members in good standing.

1. Vice-President. The VP is a four-year commitment, serving the first year as VP, the second year as President-Elect, the third year as President, and the fourth year as Past-President.

2. Treasurer (two-year term)

3. Secretary (two-year term)

4. Student Subunit Representative (one-year term). The Student Subunit Representative should be a student attending a college or university in Washington or British Columbia.

Terms will start this September. Further descriptions of duties each position carries out can be found in our bylaws (http://wabc-afs.org/about-us/bylaws/). Feel free to contact current or recent officers to find out what their experience was like.

Nominations are due by 5:00 pm Pacific time on Friday, June 7. Please email your nominations to Mark Celedonia (mark.celedonia [at] gmail.com). Nominations should contain a brief written statement that includes the position you are nominating for, your background, why you want to serve on the Executive Committee, and what vision you have for the Chapter. These statements will be available to the Chapter membership for use in voting. Contact Mark Celedonia, Nominating Committee Chair, at the above email address or by phone (360-888-2775) if you have any questions.

If approved, the scholarship endowment fund will be named in honor of the late Jeff Cederholm, adjunct professor at The Evergreen State College. Jeff – as his students knew him – was a vocal, tireless, and effective advocate for aquatic and fisheries science education and conservation. Jeff not only understood the importance of the link between education and conservation – he lived it. The proposed endowment fund is a fitting tribute and honor to Jeff’s lasting legacy as an educator and a conservationist.

The full text of the proposal to establish the C. Jeff Cederholm Scholarship Endowment Fund can be found on our website: Endowment Resolution (PDF). Please read and cast your vote to approve (“YES”) or disapprove (“NO”). Only current AFS members in Washington and British Columbia (or WA-BC Chapter members living in other areas) may vote. Voting will close at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, April 24. Vote by sending an email with the subject line “Endowment fund vote [YES/NO]”. Please send your votes to afs.wabc [at] gmail.com. If you have further questions about the proposal, please contact Mark Celedonia at mark.celedonia [at] gmail.com or by phone at 360-888-2775.

The Big Pre-AGM* Issue!

*Annual General Meeting!

Inside this Issue

1. President’s Line by John Morgan – page 2
2. Annual General Meeting at Lake Chelan, March 25-28 – page 4
3. Upcoming Meeting, Camps, and Events – page 7
4. Sponsorship Highlight – page 8
5. WA-BC Chapter Officer Reports – page 10
6. Student Subunit Reports – page 13
7. Obituary: Dr. Lee Alverson written by Don Gunderson – page 16
8. The Book Nook – page 18
   • Four Fish, review by Fred Utter – page 18
   • Finding the River, review by Orlay Johnson – page 21
9. Upcoming articles – page 26

Dayton Lee Alverson dies at 88

Dr. Lee Alverson, an internationally recognized expert in world fisheries who helped establish the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and served as NOAA’s NWFSC Director in 1970, passed away at age 88 on January 19, 2013. Obituary by Don Gunderson – page 16

Have a newsletter article (or ideas for future articles) that you’d like to submit? Email your idea/topic to one of our editors: Orlay Johnson orlay.johnson [at] noaa.gov or Stephanie Caballero scaballero [at] fs.fed.us

Abstract Submission

Abstracts are due March 10, 2013. Abstract submissions must include:

1. Type of presentation preferred (oral or poster).
2. Topic area from above list, or suggest a topic.
3. Abstract Title: Be brief but descriptive.
4. Author(s) name(s) as they should appear in the program, affiliation, mailing address, phone number and email address.
5. Name of presenter and contact person if different from first author.
6. Students indicate participation in “best student paper or poster”.
7. Text of abstract in 300 words or less.

Abstracts can be submitted on the conference website at:
http://agm2013.wabc-afs.org/abstract-submission/

Symposium Submission

Symposia proposals are due February 10, 2013. Symposium submissions must include:

1. Organizer’s information: Provide first and last name, affiliation, mailing address, phone number and email address of lead organizer.
2. Symposium title: Be brief but descriptive.
3. Description: Submit a brief (<300 word) abstract that describes your proposed symposium.
4. Audiovisual requirements: LCD projectors and laptops will be available in every room. Please list special AV requirements, if any.
5. Special seating requests: Standard rooms will be arranged theatre-style. Please indicate special seating requests, if any.

For more information please visit the conference website (http://agm2013.wabc-afs.org/) or contact: Matt Klungle at Matthew.Klungle [at] dfw.wa.gov or 360-902-2742.

Poster Submission

Posters will be mounted to 121.9 cm square (48”x48”) rolling tack boards so consider these dimensions as the maximum size of your poster. We will supply materials for mounting the posters to the boards.
Minimize the amount of text in the poster. Using bulleted phrases rather than complete sentences is recommended.

• The title should be short and fit across top of poster on one line. Authors’ names and affiliations should appear below the title.
• Fonts must be large enough to be readable from a distance of 3 ft. The following font sizes are recommended:
  • Title – 72 point or larger, kept short.
  • Authors’ names and affiliations – 48 point.
  • Section headings – 36 point, bold.
  • Text – 28 point.
  • Graphs and tables – all numbers and labels 28 point or larger.
  • Graph bars and symbols – use colors; avoid cross hatching.
  • Acknowledgments – 20 to 24 point

Haig Brown Award: Established in 1981 to recognize those who have produced outstanding, non-technical articles or publications on any aspect of fishery management, research, habitat protection, enhancement, or other related fields. Presented to an individual or agency who best exemplifies the journalistic spirit in his book The Western Angler: “Hand in hand with preserving and improving the fishery must go the work of presenting it properly to the public.”. The Haig-Brown Award consists of a perpetual trophy, small sculpture, and a $US 100.00 check.

Worthy Coelacanth Award: First presented in 1984, the award goes to a senior member (over 55 years young) of the WA-BC Chapter who has made an outstanding contribution to fisheries management and science.

Volunteer Organization: For a volunteer organization that has made exemplary contributions to fisheries conservation, education, or science.

The Fish Gaffe: This award recognizes the most noteworthy faux pas by a Chapter member each year. [The first recipient was Jeff Cederholm for his outstanding collection of self-inflicted typos in a previous AGM agenda].

Certificate of Appreciation: For a member, non-member, or organization who has significantly contributed to the betterment of the Chapter or its activities.

Certificate of Achievement: For a Chapter member who has demonstrated significant professional achievement, consistent with AFS goals and policies.

Conservation Organization of the Year: For an organization that has significantly contributed to a program or activity for conservation of fishery resources or habitats.

Meritorious Service: Awarded to a Chapter member who has made substantial contributions to the success of the Chapter.

Tommy Brayshaw Junior Conservation Award: Established in 1995, presented to someone 16 years or younger who has meaningfully involved in some form of fish conservation work.

The Program Committee invites your proposals for symposia topics related to the meeting theme of “From the Palouse to the Pacific and Kootenay to the Coast, fisheries management in the 21st Century”. Topics not related to the meeting theme should be of general interest to AFS members and should address the challenges facing broad groups of fisheries professionals, along with solutions to these specific challenges.

Symposium organizers are encouraged to recruit presenters, solicit their abstracts, and direct them to submit their abstracts. Organizers are not required to recruit a full symposium at the time of proposal submissions. The Program Committee is particularly interested in working with the symposium organizers so that each symposium incorporates appropriate presentations, whether these are submitted as contributed oral or poster presentations. A symposium should include a minimum of 5 presentations. Time slots are limited to 20 minutes, but multiple time slots (i.e. 40 or 60 minutes) may be offered to keynote symposia speakers or wrap-up panel discussions.

FORMAT FOR SYMPOSIUM PROPOSALS

When submitting your proposal, please include the following:

1. Organizer’s information: Provide first and last name, affiliation, telephone number, and e-mail address of organizer. (More than one person can help organize a symposium, but we will only collect information from the lead person. Provide the telephone number and e-mail address where the lead organizer can most easily be reached.)
2. Symposium title: Be brief but descriptive.
3. Description: Submit a brief (<300 word) abstract that describes your proposed symposium. Deadline for symposia submittals is December 14
4. Audiovisual requirements: LCD projectors and laptops will be available in every room. Other audio-visual equipment needed for the symposium will be considered, but computer projection is strongly encouraged. Please list special AV requirements, if any.
5. Special seating requests: Standard rooms will be arranged theatre-style. Please indicate special seating requests (for example, “after the break, a panel discussion with seating for 10 panel members will be needed”).

For more information, please contact Matt Klungle at Matthew.Klungle [at] dfw.wa.gov 360-902-2742.

Meeting information will be available at http://agm2013.wabc-afs.org/

Inside this Issue

1. Upcoming Fisheries Events
2. President’s Line by John Morgan
3. Upcoming Chapter meeting in Chelan, March 2013
4. WABC Officer Reports Presentation, Socials, and Award winners
5. Student Subunit Activities
6. The Book Nook – Recovering a Lost River – reviewed by Fred Utter
7. Science and Conservation Unbuild it and they will come: The initial stages of salmon recolonization in the Elwha River by John R. McMillan, Raymond Moses, Mike McHenry, Sarah Morley, Oleksandr Stefankiv, and George Pess
8. Girl and the Fish Eleanor Chittenden on the Elwha River by Bob Royer
9. Spotlight on Technology – Data Loggers
10. Upcoming book review and other articles – Giants squids and giant dams

Have a newsletter article or ideas for a future article you’d like to submit? Email your idea/ topic to one of our editors: Orlay Johnson
(orlay.johnson [at] noaa.gov) or Stephanie Caballero (scaballero [at] fs.fed.us).

“Unbuild it and they will come” Don’t miss the article on the removal of the Elwha River Dan and how just over a month later, at least a few wild winter steelhead were documented spawning in Little River and Indian Creek.

AGM Comm Chr defs (DOC)

Summer 2012 Edition
President Mark Celedonia
WA-BC Chapter
American Fisheries Society

Inside this Issue

Mark Pedersen from 2012 AGM wrap-up – Mark Pedersen receiving his award for exceptional service to the Chapter (Credit: Orlay Johnson).

1. Upcoming AFS events
   • 2012 AFS 142nd AGM August 19-23rd,
   • 2013 WABC Chapter AGM in Chelan, WA
   • 2013 Western Div Boise, ID April 15-16
2. Wrap-Up of 2012 AGM by Co-Chair John Morgan
   • Presentation, Socials, and Award winners
3. WA-BC Officer Reports and List Server Update
   New List Serve to better serve our members
4.  Subunit Activities and Elections
   AFS UW, BC, WWU, and potential new subunit at EWU.
5. The Book Nook – Orlay Johnson
   Octopus –The Ocean’s Intelligent Invertebrate
   New guide to Eastern Washington Fish, published by EWU.
6. Ecosystem restoration and dam removal – Part 1: Condit dam
   Brady Allen (USGS) and Jeanette Burkhardt (Yakama Nation)
7. In Memorial: Bill Hastie (November 6, 1943 – May 3, 2012)
8. Metalheads – Student fiction by Chris Clark
9. Up Coming Articles in “The Confluence”

Condit Dam moments have explosion breeching the dam from “Dam Removal in the Northwest” by Allen and Burkhardt (Credit: Andy Maser)

Have a newsletter article you’d like to submit?  Email your idea/ topic to one of our editors:
Orlay Johnson (orlay.johnson [at] noaa.gov) and Stephanie Caballero (scaballero [at] fs.fed.us).
WA-BC webpage is at http://wabc-afs.org/.
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UPCOMING AFS EVENTS

American Fisheries Society Annual General Meeting
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN, August 19-23, 2012
Theme: Fisheries Networks: Building Ecological, Social, and Professional Relationships.
Check out the website at http://afs2012.org/

View of the Twin Cities waterfront – Site of the 2012 AFS meeting

WABC AFS Chapter AGM at beautiful Lake Chelan, WA – March 2013
For more info contact VP Brian Missildine

Western Division AGM Boise, Idaho – April 15-18, 2013
Come celebrate the 50th anniversary of Idaho AFS in sunny southern Idaho at Boise Centre with lodging next door at the Grove Hotel.
Also check out Western Division’s new website: http://wdafs.org/
Check out info on AGM at: http://www.idahoafs.org/meeting.php

Boise – site of the 2013 Western Division meeting

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WRAP-UP OF 2012 WABC Annual Meeting

by president elect and AGM co-chair John Morgan

The WA-BC AFS Chapter annual general meeting was held May 15-18 at the University of Victoria in Victoria, BC on Vancouver Island with co-chairs John Morgan (left) and Ali Meeks (right).

 This year’s AGM was held in conjunction with the Society for Ecological Restoration’s BC and NW chapters, and the theme of the conference was Restoration 2012: Beyond Borders. The meeting truly lived up t o its name as about 300 people came together from BC, Washington, Oregon, Montana and points beyond to enjoy a week of sunshine and talks on the beautiful UVic campus. The plenary session kicked things off with Cara Nelson (U of Montana), Eric Higgs (UVic) and Lisa DeBruyckere (Creative Resource Strategies) discussing emerging topics in ecological restoration and natural resource conservation.

The technical sessions included 120 oral and 29 poster presentations in 14 symposia and 6 contributed paper sessions. AFS organized symposia included Stream Restoration, Derelict Fishing Gear, Applied Fisheries Science in the Okanogan River Basin, and Fish Behavior and Habitat at Overwater Structures. There were also 4 workshops dealing with freshwater and marine restoration techniques, as well as seven on and off campus field trips that demonstrated various restoration projects in the south island area.

AFS students were well represented at the meeting with 13 oral and poster presentations. Best student oral presentation was awarded to Iris Kemp (University of Washington) (left) and best student poster to Zachary Mueller (University of Victoria). Honorable mentions went to Alix Blake (Eastern Washington University), Morgan Bond (UW) and Robert Dunn (North Carolina State University). Student travel scholarships to attend the meeting were awarded to Jessica Rohde (UW), Jessie Hale (UW), Iris Kemp (UW), Justin Brown (UW), Alix Blake (EWU), Devin Sontag (EWU), Nicole Harris (Western Washington University), Michael Rafferty (Colorado State University), Stephanie Avery-Gomm (UBC).

The annual chapter awards were presented at the plenary session and business lunch and the recipients were: Steelhead Committee of the International Federation of Fly Fishers for “The Osprey” journal (Haig-Brown Award), Dr. Philip Roni (Below Left) (Certificate of Achievement), Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group (Conservation Organization of the Year), Norma Jean Sands (Meritorious Service), Mark LaRiviere (Certificate of Achievement), Dr. Brian Riddell (Worthy Coelacanth Award), Byrne Creek Streamkeepers (Volunteer Organization), and Emily Pizzichemi (Below Right) (The Fish Gaffe). Congratulation to all of the award winners!

Social Events: As you can see it was a very busy agenda, but there were also plenty of opportunities to socialize at the welcome and trade show socials, banquet and dance, the student mentoring mixer and the local pubs. The spawning run continued its annual tradition with an early Wednesday morning run/walk along the UVic campus trails. Our banquet speakers include Belinda Claxton ( Below Left) and Briony Penn (Below Right – renown artist and horseback rider) who spoke of the close family connections between First Nation and Victoria settlers. And finally, Leaping Frog Films were on hand for special presentations of their Ecological Restoration Films throughout the conference.

Thanks to all that attended and to the volunteers that helped make the meeting a success. We hope you enjoyed your time in Victoria, and invite you to join us at the next chapter meeting, which will be held in a central Washington location in late March 2013. Stay tuned for more details in the early fall!

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WABC AFS Officer Reports

See WA-BC webpage for list of officers and contact information:
http://wabc-afs.org/about-us/officers/

• President Mark Celedonia
• President-Elect John Morgan
• Vice President Brian Missildine
• Past President Mark G. Pedersen
• Treasurer Emily Pizzichemi
• Secretary Lisa Harlan
• Communications Officers Orlay Johnson & Stephanie Maria Caballero
• Student Sub-Unit Representative Christopher Clark

Report from Past President Mark Pedersen
While I am trying to be retired, it just doesn’t seem to be working because interesting projects keep coming up and the AFS involvement stays exciting. The adage, “when you’re green, you grow, and when you’re ripe you rot, is certainly true – I’m blessed to just keep growing with new adventures.

I just returned from my third tour of Papua New Guinea, where I am part of the Independent Environmental and Social Consultants (IESC) appointed by a group of international lenders (including the US Import-Export Bank) to assure the $16 billion Papua New Guinea Liquid Natural Gas (PNG LNG) project currently being constructed by Esso Highlands Ltd. meets international standards for sustainability. This trip I was able to meet with the Women’s Fish Market Coop at Lea Lea Village, to discuss their concerns regarding construction of the LNG offloading wharf just north of Port Moresby. .

I also took a small boat down the Kikori and Omati Rivers (seeing 3 crocodiles up close and personal along the way!) to observe pipe-laying and dredging in the Omati, ending up at a village meeting in Goare to discuss effects of the construction with local fishers. . Our IESC was also treated to 3 helicopter rides over the jungle canopy and a seven-hour, 80-mile Land mountain rainforest, following the pipeline route, on what was called a “road”.

But I am glad to be back in the US, at least for a few days. Most of April was spent in Japan to witness the birth of my first granddaughter, then home a few days, then off to Guinea, West Africa to advise on a proposed new port facility related to the Rio Tinto Iron Mine project. I was able to share these and similar adventures at the May AGM in Victoria during the Continuing Ed, presentation: “International Fisheries Consulting Related to Approval of Major Infrastructure Projects”.

Report From President Mark Celedonia: New List Server for WA-BC Chapter of AFS
We have recently taken two big steps to enhance communications with our membership.  You are looking at the first one – we’ve migrated to a new email delivery service that is considerably more powerful than the previous service.  This is the first message sent from the new service – we hope you like our new look!

The second big step we’ve taken is a substantial update to our email distribution list.  In the old system, some members were finding it difficult to opt-in, and some who were on the list were mysteriously disappearing from it.  We think we’ve fixed these bugs as part of the transition to the new system.

As a reminder to all:  Our email distributions are used to communicate with AFS members in (or interested in) our geographic area.   We typically send out about one email a week.  Emails contain information about Chapter conferences and events, other fisheries and aquatic science related events in our area, job announcements, and other pertinent news and information.

If you prefer not to receive these updates, you can unsubscribe from our email list at any time by clicking on the “unsubscribe” link contained at the bottom of all emails.  If you unsubscribe but change your mind in the future, you can resubscribe by sending a request to afs.wabc [at] gmail.com or by clicking the “contact ” link at the top of our webpage (wabc-afs.org). Please send any questions, comments, or concerns regarding our new service to afs.wabc [at] gmail.com.

Thank you,  Your WA-BC Chapter Executive Committee

Report From Vice-President Brian Missildine

I have been diligently working on the planning for the 2013 AGM to be held at Campbell Resort in Chelan, WA

Report From Secretary Lisa Harlan 

Since the Annual Meeting in Victoria BC work has kept me very busy. I have been attending the Executive Committee teleconferences as I’m able and participating in email discussions pertaining to location of the 2013 AGM, choosing a new list serve service, and tying up loose ends from the 2012 AGM. As Excom minutes are approved they will be posted on the WA-BC website under the “About Us” tab. I encourage all members to check it out – it’s a great way to keep up with what’s happening!

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STUDENT SUB-UNIT ACTIVITIES

AFS UW, WWU, and SFU-UBC
With potential new unit at EWU

New Student Sub-Units: Congratulations to the students at Simon Fraser University and University of British Columbia for forming BC’s first WABC AFS Chapter Student Sub-Unit! Eastern Washington University is also in the process of forming a new student subunit.

Newly elected AFS British Columbia Subunit Executive Committee
(From L to R): Vice President Stephanie Avery-Gomm, Secretary Annie Morgan, President-Elect Natalie Sopinka, Treasurer Kendra Robinson, and President Kelli Stingle (Missing: Communications Officer Brittany Keeling)
Biography of President Kelli Stingle (Simon Fraser University) kstingle [at] sfu.ca

Kelli is working to complete a MRM with the Fisheries Science and Management Research Group at Simon Fraser University, using photographic identification data to infer relationships between static habitat variables and the relative density of blue whales (Baleonoptera musculus) in the Santa Barbara Channel. She likes mountain biking, gardening and going on adventures with her family.

Faculty Sponsor – Dr. Sean Cox (SFU) Associate Professor Fisheries Science and Management is a fisheries scientist focusing on aquatic conservation and management of human impacts on aquatic ecosystems.

WABC looks forward to this new dynamic chapter and we can hope for many exciting student activities as well as exchanges between BC and WA colleges and universities.

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Updates from AFSUW
Jessica Rohde, President — Fall 2011-2012
Jessica Hale, President — Fall 2012-2013

Hello friends of AFSUW! Spring quarter was filled with more new and exciting events. With the impeccable leadership of our former Vice President Morgan Bond, we held our first ever Stable Isotope Workshop at the University of Washington. The event was hugely successful, with over 40 people attending from organizations including UW, NOAA, USGS, and USFWS. For more information on the material covered, including slides and handouts, visit the AFSUW website. We hope to continue this workshop in the future, and are also open to other workshops, so please email your suggestions to afsuw [at] uw.edu.

We also had our 5th Career Development Seminar featuring Shawn Larson, Curator of Animal Health and Research at the Seattle Aquarium. Students attending learned about Shawn’s career path and the past and current research at the aquarium, including work on sea otter endocrinology, six and seven gill shark population genetics, and Hawaii reef surveys. Seminars are open to anybody who wishes to attend, and you can stay up-to-date on our upcoming seminars by subscribing to our News & Events blog.

Finally, many student chapter members attended the AGM in beautiful Victoria, BC. Several AFSUW members were grateful to have been awarded student travel scholarships to attend, including Jessica Rohde (current President), Iris Kemp (current Vice President), Jessica Hale (current Communications Officer). AFSUW members took home several awards, with Iris Kemp awarded the Best Student Presentation Award, and Morgan Bond (former Vice President) awarded Honorable Mention for Best Student Presentation.  Finally, officers Jessica Rohde, Iris Kemp, and Jessica Hale collaborated to hold a symposia on social media for scientists, which covered the ways that scientists can take advantage of twitter and blogs to communicate their science to the public, and to enhance their own careers. To learn more, see the wiki of resources from the symposia.

We are welcoming a fresh new set of officers who will be learning the ropes over the summer:

President: Jessica Hale (SAFS undergraduate and former Communications Officer)

Jessie is a junior majoring in Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences and minoring in Marine Biology. Her current research in the Friedman lab focuses on Pinto Abalone restoration, developing tagging methods, and creating a field guide for abalone identification. Her broad research interests include marine conservation and invertebrates. Jessie is a new member of AFS, and as Communications Officer hopes to increase undergraduate involvement in the AFS Student Chapter.

Other officers (bios in the fall edition):

• Vice President: Rachel Hovel (SAFS PhD student)
• Secretary: Laura Twardochleb (SAFS PhD student)
• Treasurer: Tim Walsworth (SAFS PhD student)
• Communications Officer: Shannon Hennesey (SAFS undergraduate)

As I close out my presidency, let me say thanks to all the WA-BC AFS members for the support of AFSUW students, and have a sunny summer! – Jessica

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WWU AFS Subunit Club President Jordan Head

The subunit hosted the second annual Trivia Night fundraiser for the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association!  The Club and friends supported restoration and sustainability of wild salmon runs, played some fish related trivia and got some awesome prizes including a FREE student member in AFS.  There was also a silent auction.  Great time was had by all.

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Eastern Washington University has a potential new Student Sub-Unit

If you are a EWU student or alumni and interested in helping the chapter get started, contact Alix Blake , a graduate student in fisheries (Scholz Lab). This is an excellent time to form a chapter in Eastern Washington as our 2013 AGM is at Lake Chelan, WA AND the University has just published a new book on Fishereis of Eastern Wastington (see Book Nook, below)

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The Book Nook

“Octopus: The Ocean’s Intelligent Invertebrate”

Are these beasts really that smart – or just good at pulling out corks from wine bottles? Book review by Orlay Johnson

If first impressions are important, this book by by Drs. Jennifer A. Mather, Roland C. Anderson (The Seattle Aquarium), and James B. Wood, is a winner. The dust cover features a stunningly beautiful orange octopus whose yellow-lined eyes stare at you challengingly, either sizing you up for supper – or perhaps for a game of chess. And best, the rest of the book lives up to the initial impression.

 “Octopus” is not the first book written on octopus behavior and intelligence – not even close. However, it may be the first by three researchers active in the field who describe their own and others’ research with scientific accuracy, and do so through a series of storylines that will appeal to anyone curious about these 8-armed cephalopods or the marine world in general.

Equally impressive are the 38 color plates of different octopus and other marine species, plus a great shot of Seattle from a octopus/SCUBA divers perspective. Most of the photos are taken by co-author James Wood and emphasize the first class quality of the book. Kudos’s to publishers Timber Press for a job well done. The line drawings in the first chapter of the external anatomy of octopods are excellent, but perhaps future editions can include drawings of the internal anatomy to help us visualize the unique structure of the octopus’ brain and nervous system discussed in the book (e.g. it is hard to imagine with illustration how the octopod esophagus can run through the middle of the brain).

While three authors provide for some discontinuity, their stories are fascinating and the editors have done a nice job of making the chapters fit together. The book describes complex research studies, but it is written for the general public and should be a fine read for anyone interested in octopus behavior.

Octopuses of course, are members of the phylum Cephalopoda (meaning “head foot”), which also include squids, cuttlefishes, and chambered nautiluses. The word “octopus” is derived from ancient Greek, not Latin, so the correct plural of octopus is indeed octopuses or octopods, not octopi. Cephalopods are an ancient lineage, first appearing in the early Paleozoic Era and dominating the world’s oceans during Ordovician and Silurian Periods (400 – 500 myo), beginning millions years before true fish appear on earth. However, the massive extinctions at the end of these periods opened up an aquatic niche for armored placoderms in the Devonian seas. The remaining cephalopods then experienced a second evolutionary explosion, where all but the nautiluses lost their external shells, becoming mobile and fierce competitors for dominance over fish in the Devonian. Is it any wonder they developed a unique and very alien intelligence from their invasive vertebrate competitors?

The authors address this unique intelligence by dividing the book into 11 chapters based on octopus life history, beginning with egg development and progressing to senescence and death (e.g. “Drifting and Settling”, “Not Getting Eaten” or “Sex at Last”). In each of these chapters, they connect the life history motif with the research on octopus intelligence and how it has contributed to the sophisticated behaviors discussed in that chapter. This is generally well done through personal narratives and stories of some amazing research that uncovers the details such as distinctive octopus personalities, differences among species mating behaviors, playful behavior (squirting water at humans), and even secretive nighttime attacks on sharks in the Seattle Aquarium dome (if you have never seen the video of this, Google “You Tube, Seattle Aquarium, octopus, dogfish” and watch it. This book gives you some interesting back-story on that video (not all…but some).

Another aspect of this book I enjoyed are the short boxed narratives written by the author of each chapter. The inserts are short personal anecdotes related to the research discussed in the main chapter. When I picked up the book, I skipped through the book itself and read these first. They are fun to read, give you a quick feel for the book itself, and as they are related to the main text, they very much whet your appetite to learn more.

The local connection is that one of the co- authors is Dr. Roland Anderson, a Seattle native who recently retired from The Seattle Aquarium after 31 years as a staff biologist. During his career he specialized in studies on octopus and other cephalopods and has many publications in the field. As you will learn in this book, he is also a very determined and an inexhaustible researcher, sometimes under very difficult circumstances.

Equally dedicated to the study of octopods are the co-authors of this book Drs. Jennifer Mathers (lead author) and James Wood. Mathers is a professor of psychology at University of Lethbridge with a focus on the behavior of cephalopods, specifically octopus cognition and skin pattern displays in squid. James Wood the principal photographer is Associate Director of the Waikiki Aquarium. He has held several academic positions and is a former professor at Duke University and former Director of Education at the Aquarium of the Pacific. He is also Webmaster of the Cephalopod Page http://www.thecephalopodpage.org/, a compendium of all things related to squids, octopuses, and cuttlefish.

This book is also valuable in that it chronicles the major shift that has occurred over the last few decades in how we think about what octopuses think about. The authors don’t dwell on this, but as an example, when Roland first started working at The Seattle Aquarium as the night biologist in 1977, octopuses were perceived as fearsome, if not very bright creatures that earned divers merits for bravery by wrestling and spearing them into submission. And as a diver in The Seattle Aquarium’s main dome during the early 1980s, I was once even asked to fake wrestle a Giant Pacific Octopus so a visitor could videotape it. Today, that would not happen, as research by these authors and others have revealed octopuses and other cephalopods to have a highly evolved and sophisticated intellect, including an amazing ability to use tools, disparate and distinct personalities, and the ability to communicate by changing skin colors, as well as being of immense importance in marine ecosystems around the world. XCDF

I do wish the authors had included more details on the evolutionary background of these animals as I think evolutionary perspectives such as differences in convergent and homologous evolution are critical to understanding how cephalopods could develop such highly evolved nervous systems in so fundamentally different ways from that of vertebrates.

Homologous evolution uses the same framework to develop something, such as claws in dogs and fingernails in humans. Convergent evolution uses different building blocks for this purpose, think wings in bats, birds, flying fish, and Pterodactyls. This parallel evolution is important when we remember that cephalopods (e.g. tiny Plectromoceras, 500 mya) predate vertebrates, and that many modern cephalopods evolved their present general phenotypes and nervous systems before true vertebrates appeared. So understanding how two phyla evolved such remarkable intelligences would make fascinating reading

I would love to see a second edition that elaborates on the “Ethics and Invertebrates” section (a box narrative on page 115) and in more detail addresses our responsibilities to an animal with such a unique and highly evolved intelligence. Cephalopods have been called weeds of the sea (their R-type selection does allow for rapid reproduction, much like terrestrial weeds), but they are also very susceptible to over fishing and changes in ocean chemistry (e.g. seawater acidification), so they may not be as resilient as managers and the fishing industry seem to think.
Finally, the last chapter “Postscript – Keeping a Captive Octopus” almost seems like a throw back to an earlier era. It is well written and presents a very comprehensive guide to keeping octopuses in captivity, essential for scientists and of interest to the aquarium hobbyists. However, after reading this wonderfully written book about how intelligent and photogenic these magnificent beasts are, I wonder why in the world would someone want to go out and catch one so they could put it in the sterile environment of a home aquarium. The authors suggest that removing an octopus here and there for private captivity will not impact the overall population, but previous chapters would also suggest the ethics of keeping such an intelligent creature in solitary confinement to be questionable.

Bottomline –The book is a fascinating glimpse into the world of octopus research. It shows how successful collaborations can occur, and how seeming disjointed studies from around the world can come together into a coherent story. The photography is breathtaking and storyline reveals the evolution of our understanding of octopuses from monsters (e.g. the octopus in the film “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”) to a highly evolved and very intelligent species that hopefully will share this marvelous planet with us for many millennia to come.

Many thanks to Drs. Utter and Kronheim for their valued editorial comments.

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New Fish Field Guide from Eastern Washington University
From the EWU Bookstore — Field Guide to the Fishes of Eastern Washington, by Allan Scholz, professor of biology, and Holly McLellan, research associate for the EWU Fisheries Department, is a comprehensive resource for learning about the region’s fish. The book, ten years in the making, is a practical field guide – with color photographs, fish characteristics, distribution maps, spiral binding to lay open, and special paper to prevent water damage. Covering 39 native species, 43 introduced fishes, and eight rare fishes; the 310-page book provides complete information for readers to identify and learn more about each of the fish species found in eastern Washington waters. Available at the EWU Bookstore (or online at tinyurl.com/EWUfish), proceeds from the book help fund EWU Fisheries research activities.

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Ecosystem Restoration and Dam Removal in the Northwest: Part 1

Cooperative Science for Planning Salmonid Recolonization in the White Salmon River following the Removal of Condit Dam
By Brady Allen (USGS) and Jeanette Burkhardt (Yakama Nation)

Figure [1] Condit Dam breach seconds after detonation, October 26, 2011 (Credit: Andy Maser)

Figure [2] Seining for tule fall Chinook in the lower White Salmon River before breach of Condit Dam, fall 2011. (Credit: Jeanette Burkhardt)

Figure [3] Loading tule fall Chinook salmon onto a tanker truck for transport above Condit Dam, fall 2011. (Credit: Jeanette Burkhardt)

Figure [4] Weir and USFWS raceways in the lower White Salmon River used to intercept tule fall Chinook for transport above Condit Dam, fall 2011. (Credit: Jeanette Burkhardt)

With the successful removal of the original coffer dam above Condit Dam in April 2012, the last remaining artificial passage barrier in the former reservoir reach has been eliminated. Some monitoring and evaluation is planned by several agencies. The YN conducted steelhead spawning surveys in Rattlesnake Creek in spring 2012, and additional steelhead spawner and carcass surveys are planned in Buck and Rattlesnake creeks in 2013. The USFWS plans to survey for tule fall Chinook passage and spawning distribution from BZ Corner (RM 12.3) downstream to the USFWS hatchery raceways at RM 1.1, and spring Chinook spawning in the mainstem. Fall Chinook redds will be mapped in coordination with a two-year bathymetry survey of changes to fall Chinook spawning habitat being conducted by USGS. The USFWS will also survey for juvenile lamprey presence in the lower river and at the newly formed White Salmon River delta. The WDFW has reopened a sport

Figure [5] Former reservoir above Condit Dam after breach and cofferdam removal, White Salmon River, May 2012. (Credit: Jeanette Burkhardt)

The following referenced documents can be accessed at http://www.fws.gov/columbiariver/publications.html :
Jolley, J.C., Silver, G.S., and Whitesel, T.A. 2012. Occurrence, Detection, and Habitat Use of Larval Lamprey in the White Salmon River Basin: Pre-Condit Dam Removal. 2011 Annual Report. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Columbia River Fisheries Program Office, Vancouver, Washington, 21 p.
Smith, C.T., and Engle, R. 2011. Persistent Reproductive Isolation between Sympatric Lineages of Fall Chinook Salmon in White Salmon River, Washington. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, 140: 3, 699 — 715
Silver, B., Hudson J.M., and Whitesel T.A. 2011. White Salmon River Bull Trout: Patches, Occupancy and Distribution. 2010 Progress Report. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Columbia River Fisheries Program Office, Vancouver, Washington, (1.5mb).

Other referenced documents can be accessed at: http://ykfp.org/klickitat/WS.htm or http://pubs.er.usgs.gov
Allen, M.B., and Connolly, P.J. 2005. Assessment of the White Salmon watershed using the ecosystem diagnosis and treatment model: U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia River Research Laboratory, Cook, Washington, 55 p.
Allen, M.B., Connolly, P.J., Jezorek, I.G., Munz, C., and Charrier, J.C. 2006. Assess current and potential salmonid production in Rattlesnake Creek in association with restoration efforts: U.S. Geological Survey 2004–2005 Annual Report, Project No. 200102500, BPA Report DOE/BP-00005068-4, 101 p.
Allen, M.B., and Connolly, P.J. 2011. Composition and relative abundance of fish species in the lower White Salmon River, Washington, prior to the removal of Condit Dam: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2011–1087, 32 p.
Connolly, P.J., Sharpe, C.S., and Sauter, S. 2002. Evaluate status of coastal cutthroat trout in the Columbia River Basin above Bonneville Dam: Prepared for Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon, Project Number: 2001-007-00, BPA Report DOE/BP-00005678, 87 p.
Theisfeld, S.L., McPeak, R.H., McNamara, B.S. 2001. Bull trout population assessment in the White Salmon and Klickitat Rivers, Columbia River Gorge, Washington: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Annual Report to Bonneville Power Administration, Contract No. 00004474, Project No. 199902400, (BPA Report DOE/BP-00004474-1), 77 p.

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Student Submissions – Articles of Fiction and Non-fiction by our Student Members

The Confluence encourages our Student Members to submit fictional or non-fictional articles of interest to the general fisheries world. If you would like to submit an article please send it the edits. We will try and publish one in each edition. This edition’s selection is by our Student Coordinator Chris Clark.
Note that articles do not reflect WA-BC AFS options or positions. They solely represent the writings of our student authors.

Ode to Big John #67 38lbs
The Life and Times of a Columbia River Salmon
Ole Mossback

Johnny hatched out back in ’81 far up a tributary, shaded from the sun up in the rugged Bitteroot Mountains where the clear, cold water cascaded in fountains. He could not know the dangers ahead, or to where the flowing waters led. He dodged large fishes and sharp bird’s bills as he struggled his way down from the hills. His gills were tortured by chemicals and silt when he reached the first dam where no water was spill’t.

For three days he searched, and no exit was found, so on the fourth day, he decided to sound. He was blasted through, to the terrace below, little did he know he had 8 more dams to go. With half his scales gone, and a rip in one fin, he fought bravely onward determined to win! After passing three dams, which was awful scary, 30 days later he arrived at McNary. Up a long screen then down a lnog slide, then a nitrogen brand was burned in his side, and not being lucky, he once more was chose to have a fin clipped, and a coded wire placed in his nose.

He was dumped on a barge, with 1000′s of his kind, and caught a disease which nearly left him blind. Below Bonneville… he was pumped from the hull, and narrowly missed by a diving sea-gull.

One hundred fifty more miles he flowed with the tide, I suppose you could say, he had quite a ride. After many months he’d reached the Pacific, and it was there that his appetite became quite prolific. He gorged on small fish, it felt good to be free, as he ate his way up to the Bering Sea. He had a great time, but he must not forget there are seals, sea-lions, sharks, or a Japanese net. One day while feeding near the Canadian shore he ate many small fish, but wanted one more. He struck the herring and felt the cold steel after a furious fight, the line broke at the reel.

Four years had passed and he’d increased much in girth, and he felt an urge to return to his place of birth. Heading South, he passed countless bays, and many a beach towards that famous old river he might never reach. How he found it, who knows? His keen sense of smell? He has many secrets, he may never tell. Since he last passed this place it had been many moons passed the lower Willamette and the call of the loons. A long way to go, he’d have quite a fight, with a festering wound, from an old seal bite. Using powerful thrusts he surged up the stream, How many more perils, he could never dream.

On the fifth day, in a setting sun, he once more reached Bonneville, he’d made quite a run. He passed the window, where people would watch, cheer, and clap, but before leaving the dam he was caught in a trap. He didn’t the anesthetic, but what really got his goat, was when a radio-transmitter was rammed down his throat. Tossed back in the river, with the rest of his pals, he was drugged and tired, as he swam for the Dalles. As he passed the Dalles, and streaked for John Day he found a cool trib and decided to stay. He wouldn’t have stayed with is chances and bets of getting through that maze of Indian nets. He got all tangled up in the nylon mesh, and barely escaped with torn up flesh. He beeped past McNary and through the last dam, then found a trick had been played, by old Uncle Sam. While he was gone a new dam was made, far below where his mothers egg’s were laid. “For Flood Control” the Corp had said, but in a few short weeks, old John would be dead. He had instinctively dreamed of returning, and then making advances to a pretty old hen. But in the great barrier, no ladder was built, so with a ragged body, and wasted milt he died on the shore. As people came to look at the last of a breed of spring chinook. What could have happened? They said, who could have failed? Then men responsible ought to be Jailed!

If you have an article please submit to one of our editors Orlay Johnson (orlay.johnson [at] noaa.gov) or Stephanie Caballero (scaballero [at] fs.fed.us).

Up Coming Articles from WABC AFS Chapter in “The Confluence”

• “History and Legacy of Asian fishery biologists in the Pacific Northwest”
• “Ecosystem Restoration and Dam Removal in the Northwest: Part 2 The Elwha River “ by George Pess
• Book Nook Review – “Kraken: The Curious, Exciting, and Slightly Disturbing Science of Squid” by Wendy Williams. Review by Emily Pizzichemi

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Have a great summer and see some of you at AFS in St Paul-Minneapolis!

Please indicate the position and the name of the person you are selecting for each open position. You may write in a name of a candidate not listed if you desire. Your vote will only be read by our Past President, Mark Pedersen, and will not be shared with anyone else. Voting closes on August 3.

The terms for these offices begin August 24th at the 2012 AGM in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Vice-President is a four year commitment progressing from VP to President-elect, President, and Past President. If you fulfill the duties of each ‘presidential’ office at the end of the four years you receive a life-time membership to AFS.

Communications Officer is a two-year commitment. Student Representative is one year.

• Vice President — Matt Kungle
• Communications Director – Orlay Johnson
• Student Representative — Stephanie Avery-Gomm

Vice President — Matt Kungle

Background
Like many others in this profession, my passion for natural resources developed at an early age growing up hunting and fishing with my family. This adoration of the outdoors led me to Michigan State University where I earned a Bachelor of Science in Fisheries and Wildlife. My first job in the fisheries field lead to a fascination in working with native species and the dynamics and complexity of riverine systems; I knew I wanted to pursue a career in this field. After spending five years in the western US working for the states of Idaho and Montana as a fisheries technician, I was encouraged to go back to school to obtain a graduate degree. Graduate school found me back at Michigan State University where I earned a Master of Science degree studying the effects of large woody debris restorations in northern Michigan rivers.

Currently, I work for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife where I am responsible for evaluating study designs and improving current statistical analysis and modeling approaches to estimating out-migrating juvenile salmonid abundance.

AFS Involvement
I became involved in the American Fisheries Society in 2001 while a graduate student at Michigan State University and have served as the student concerns committee chair for the Michigan Chapter, endangered species committee member for the Montana Chapter, and Poster Session Chair for the recent WA-BC Chapter annual general meeting. I have also organized symposia at the national and local Chapter levels.

Vision
As President, I would work to continue to build on our recent successes as a Chapter (Chapter of the Year) and increase member involvement by making a more effective forum for the exchange of ideas and information among the various resource entities we have in our region. To achieve this goal, I would work within the AFS Strategic Plan to focus on providing additional opportunities for our members. These opportunities would range from professional development via continuing education courses and workshops, to the promotion of our professional society through increased exposure in popular press and social media.

If elected, I would commit my energy and resources to fulfilling the duties of Vice President and look forward to the opportunity to serve.

Communications Director – Orlay Johnson
Orlay Johnson is a research fishery biologist in NOAA’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center’s Conservation Biology Division. Prior to earning his Ph.D. and joining NOAA, Orlay was a biologist at the new Seattle Aquarium and a high school teacher on Lopez Island, WA.
As continuing Communication Director, I would like to continue improving our newsletter and make it more of a source not only for updates on WA-BC Chapter events, but also for new info on developing issues in fisheries for the BC and WA regions. I also hope to work with our Web design to develop a more streamlined website, and work with Mark and others to make our list server more useful and available to all.
Orlay W. Johnson, Ph.D.
Geneticist-Research Fishery Biologist
Conservation Biology Division
NOAA-Northwest Fisheries Science Center
2725 Montlake Blvd. East
Seattle, WA 98112
206-860-3253
Orlay.johnson [at] noaa.gov

Photo by Dan Turner

Student Representative — Stephanie Avery-Gomm
Please accept my nomination for the Washington-British Columbia Student Subunit Representative position.
Over the past 9 months, since becoming an AFS member, I have been active in the society and to involve others. Currently I am the Student Representative for the Canadian Aquatic Research Section, (CARS) and the Vice President of the new BC Student Subunit of the WA-BC Chapter. In recent years AFS has not had a strong presence in British Columbia. With my colleagues on the BC Student subunit and CARS I am working address this problem and increase Canadian graduate student participation in AFS.

If elected as the WA-BC Chapter Student Rep I will represent the interests, and report on the activities, of both BC Student Subunit handcars, and I would benefit from the increased participation in my local chapter. In addition election would offer me an opportunity to communicate and coordinate with the other WA Student Subunits, which I am certain would help inform the formation and activities of the BC Student Subunit as we get established.

I am a BC native, interested in marine and freshwater ecology and conservation. At the moment I am a MSc Candidate at the University of British Columbia where I am doing research on the conservation ecology of freshwater fishes. Specifically I am studying Nooksack Dace, a cyprinid that is endemic to BC and Washington. My work is supervised by Dr. John Richardson at UBC, and Dr. Jordan Rosenfeld at the BC Ministry of Environment. I am also interested in issues related to marine plastic pollution, and am currently undertaking research to investigate the extent of plastic pollution in the eastern North Pacific. When I finish my degree I plan to continue working in research and conservation, and I am currently looking for PhD opportunities.

Sincerely,
Stephanie Avery-Gomm
Master’s Student
University of British Columbia
#4200-6270 University Blvd.
Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4
E: Stephanie.AveryGomm [at] gmail.com
C: 778 322 3483
Lab Website: http://www.zoology.ubc.ca/person/savery
LinkedIn: http://ca.linkedin.com/in/stephanieaverygomm