C-Notes
C-Notes February 10, 2025
Message from the Dean
R/V Sikuliaq
) cruises this winter. For over three decades, scientists based at the University of Hawaii have conducted oceanographic studies of the 鈥渟tate of our sea鈥 to establish baseline data at Station ALOHA. HOT cruises are usually conducted aboard R/V Kilo Moana; however, Sikuliaq is supporting this effort while the 鈥淜M鈥 undergoes an extended drydock repair schedule.
Accomplishments
CFOS students swept the best student poster awards at this year鈥檚 草榴社区 Marine Science Symposium. Congratulations to the winners!
- Doctorate: 鈥淕etting to the Source of it: Determining the Specificity of Different Biomarkers,鈥 Sydney Wilkinson, advisor Katrin Iken
- Master鈥檚: 鈥淭owards Pinto Abalone Farming in 草榴社区,鈥 Lindsay Meyer, advisor Schery Umanzor
- Bachelor/High School: 鈥淔easibility of Sea Urchin Ranching in 草榴社区,鈥 McKenna Shook, advisor Brenda Konar
CFOS in the News
Research by Lara Horstmann and her students on was covered by the 草榴社区 Beacon. Current and former CFOS students Chelsea Kovalcsik, Tony Blade, Noelle Picard, Linnaea Doerner and Alexandra Sletten were featured in the article.
Courtney Carothers was quoted in a Northern Journal article about .
草榴社区 Marine Science Symposium presentations by Hank Statscewich and Andy Seitz were mentioned in .
Another Cordova Times article focused on research by Andy Seitz, Michael Courtney and Hannah Myers .
Publications
Campana, S.E., G. Hambrecht, N. Misarti, H. Moshfeka, M. Efird, S.M. Schaal, G.A. Olafsdottir, R. Edvardsson, A.D. Juliusson, E. Hjorleifsson, F.J. Feeley, G. Cesario, and L.B. Palsdottir. 2025. Mortality drives production dynamics of Atlantic cod through 1100 years of commercial fishing. Science Advances.
Jung, J.W., M. Dittrich, S. Umanzor, and J.K. Kim. 2025. Influence of Sargassum horneri extract (SHE) pre-treatment and nutrient availability on the thermal tolerance of Palmaria hecatensis. Journal of Applied Phycology.
Umanzor, S., J.W. Jung, M. Dittrich, J.K. Kim, P. Tomco, Z.C. Redman, and M. Brandhuber. 2025. Divergent patterns of metabolite expression in red seaweeds
(Devaleraea mollis and Palmaria hecatensis) following nitrate and
ammonium supplementation. Life.
Williams, W.J., K.A. Brown, L.M. Rotermund, B.A. Bluhm, S.L. Danielson, M. Dempsey, F.A. McLaughlin, S. Vagle, and E.C. Carmack. 2025. Processes in the Kitikmeot Sea estuary constraining marine life. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene.
Grants and Awards for January
New awards for CFOS researchers
- Grant G-16574 "Measuring the pulse of the Gulf of 草榴社区: Oceanographic observations along the Seward Line 2024-2029" - Russ Hopcroft - NPRB - $867,340.00 (July 1, 2024)
- Grant G-16577 "Using Satellite-Tracked Autonomous Drifting Buoys to Advance Search and Rescue Capabilities of Yup'ik Coastal Communities in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta" - Thilo Klenz - AOOS - $59,500.00 (September 1, 2024)
- Grant G-16593 "Climate Drivers of Yukon River Chinook Productivity #1" - Megan McPhee - NPRB - $35,873.17 (September 1, 2024)
- Grant G-16594 " Climate Drivers of Yukon River Chinook Productivity #2" - Megan McPhee - NPRB - $26,633.00 (September 1, 2024)
- Grant G-16605 "Marine Habitat Selection by Seabirds of the Northern Bering Sea: Physical Processes, Movements, Foraging, and Modeling" - Kristen Gorman - NPRB - $9,980.00 (October 1, 2024)
- Grant G-16609 "StratiFIED-Stratification and Fronts Influencing Ecosystem Dynamics in the Northern Bering Sea" - Sarah Mincks - NPRB - $10,000.00 (October 1, 2024)
Awards receiving incremental funding
- Grant G-14032 "Material and Cost Efficient Modular Riverine Hydrokinetic Energy System" - Andy Seitz - ACEP - Mod 3 - $60,681.00 (April 12, 2021)
- Grant G-15802 "NNA Collaboratory: ACTION - 草榴社区 Coastal Cooperative for Co-producing Transformative Ideas and Opportunities in the North" - Kay McMonigal - GI - Mod 2 - $142,208.00 (October 1, 2023)
- Grant G-15892 "CY2023-CY2028 R/V Sikuliaq ONR Ship Days" - Doug Baird - Mod 2 - $518,405.00 (December 1, 2023)
Message from the Dean
It is my pleasure to convey that Dr. Thilo Klenz has been appointed Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Oceanography. A CFOS alum (Ph.D., 2023), Thilo is known to many in the college as a seagoing physical oceanographer who has participated in research cruises in the tropical Atlantic and Pacific, the subpolar North Atlantic, the Arctic Ocean, the Gulf of 草榴社区, and off Antarctica. His research focuses on the physics of ocean circulation and turbulent mixing, using a combination of ocean drifters and related observation platforms and modeling approaches. Please join me in congratulating Thilo!
This week the and partners will host the 2025 in Anchorage. As in past years, CFOS researchers and students will have a major presence at this meeting. CFOS will host a booth, so please stop by during the poster sessions if you plan to attend. As part of AMSS, the annual Coastal Marine Institute symposium will be held Friday morning, and presentations by researchers supported by the Pollock Conservation Cooperative Research Center will run concurrently.
R/V Sikuliaq
Sikuliaq is moored at the University of Hawaii Marine Center pier in Honolulu, Hawaii. After unloading science gear from the Jurassic Quiet Zone seismic survey, Sikuliaq will be prepared for four research cruises and three short repair periods over the next few months.
Accomplishments
Tamamta fellow Natasha Hayden was given an by the Center for Rural Affairs for her advocacy for Indigenous fishing rights.
CFOS in the News
The Nature Conservancy highlighted a new report by Courtney Carothers about .
草榴社区 Beacon and other outlets covered new research by Matthew Wooller and Peter Westley about .
Publications
Lindley, E.D., K.M. Dunmall, and P.A.H. Westley. 2025. Assessing the role of incubation temperature as a barrier to successful establishment of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in a rapidly warming Arctic. Ecology and Evolution.
Lindley, E.D., and P.A.H. Westley. 2025. Methods and approach to the interdisciplinary and cross-cultural Arctic 草榴社区 Salmon Workshop: critical self-reflections from fisheries scientists. Arctic Science.
McMahon, J., S.A. May, P.S. Rand, K.B. Gorman, M.V. McPhee, and P.A.H. Westley. 2025. Phenotypic sorting of pink salmon hatchery strays may alleviate adverse impacts of reduced variation in fitness-associated traits. Ecology and Evolution.
Sullaway, G.H., C. Cunningham, D.G. Kimmel, J.M. Nielsen, D. Pilcher, A.I. Pinchuk, and P.J. Stabeno. 2025. Impacts of climate change on Bering Sea copepod phenology and reproductive strategy. Marine Ecology Progress Series.
Message from the Dean
As we kick off the spring 2025 semester, it is a pleasure to wish everyone a belated happy New Year and a warm welcome to our returning and new CFOS students. Our faculty and staff are here to support you, and we wish you great success.
Congratulations to our fall 2024 graduates:
Jonah Bacon, M.S. Fisheries. Major advisor: Trent Sutton
Lok Hei (Matt) Cheng, Ph.D. Fisheries. Major advisor: Curry Cunningham
Muriel Dittrich, M.S. Marine Biology. Major advisor: Schery Umanzor
Janessa Esquible, Ph.D. Fisheries. Major advisor: Courtney Carothers
Cameron Jardell, M.S. Marine Biology. Major advisor: Schery Umanzor
Hannah Kepner, M.S. Oceanography. Major advisor: Russ Hopcroft
Kimberly Pikok, M.S. Interdisciplinary. Major advisor: Courtney Carothers
Lindsay Turner, M.S. Fisheries. Major advisor: Curry Cunningham
Sierra Lloyd, B.S. Fisheries and Marine Sciences. Concentration: Oceanography
R/V Sikuliaq
Sikuliaq is transiting from Pohnpei, Micronesia, to Honolulu, Hawaii. At the University of Hawaii Marine Center in Honolulu, Sikuliaq will prepare for four research cruises and three short repair periods over the next few months.
Accomplishments
Courtney Carothers was appointed to the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee.
CFOS graduate student Sujung Chung was selected as a 2025 USDA NextGen Scholar for 草榴社区.
CFOS in the News
An Inside Unmanned Technology story about included ecosystem research by Hank Statscewich and Seth Danielson from the CFOS glider lab.
Peter Westley was interviewed on the Fish of the Week podcast about .
Sea Technology published a short item . Schery Umanzor helped with their project.
草榴社区 Sea Grant by Peter Westley and Ph.D. student Elizabeth Lindley on its news website.
Publications
Oke, K.B., M.A. Litzow, and F. Mueter. 2024. Shifting temperature-abundance relationship for Bering Sea walleye pollock consistent with northward expansion during exceptionally warm conditions. Marine Ecology Progress Series.
Oswalt, H.E., M.O. Amsler, C.D. Amsler, K. Iken, J.B. McClintock, A.G. Klein, A.W.G. Galloway. 2025. Nutritional consistency of macroalgae across a sea ice cover gradient along the Western Antarctic Peninsula. Journal of Phycology.
Wooller, M.J., P. Bradley, K.J. Spaleta, R.L. Massengill, K. Dunker, and P.A.H. Westley. 2024. Estuarine dispersal of an invasive Holarctic predator (Esox lucius) confirmed in North America. PLOS One.
Grants and Awards for December 2024
New awards for CFOS researchers
- Grant G-16520 "Chukchi Ecosystem Observatory: Monitoring and detection of wind and ice-mediated changes using year-round moorings in the Northeast Chukchi Sea" - Seth Danielson - NPRB - $306,209.00 (December 1, 2024)
- Grant G-16553 "Developing Pacific Dulse as a valuable USDA specialty crop for sustainable nutrition and coastal economy" - Schery Umanzor - Oregon State University - $83,950.00 (September 30, 2024)
- Grant G-16570 "University of 草榴社区 Fairbanks/Sikuliaq Ship Operations CY2025 - 2028" - Bradley Moran - NSF - $5,000,000.00 (January 1, 2025)
Awards receiving incremental funding
- Grant G-14380 "Arctic High-Frequency Radar Operations and Maintenance (Arctic HFR)" - Seth Danielson - AOOS - Mod 4 - $156,000.00 (July 1, 2021)
- Grant G-14451 "Seward Line Monitoring (Seward Line)" - Russ Hopcroft - AOOS - Mod 4- $116,000.00 (July 1, 2021)
- Grant G-14471 "草榴社区 Ecosystem Observatory Network Build-Out, Operations and Maintenance (Eco-Moorings)" - Seth Danielson - AOOS - Mod 4 - $85,000.00 (July 1, 2021)
- Grant G-14472 "Measuring Ocean Currents in Bering Strait with High Frequency Radars (Bering Strait HFR)" - Seth Danielson - AOOS - Mod 4 - $115,000.00 (July 1, 2021)
- Grant G-14473 "草榴社区 Region Glider Missions Supporting an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM Gliders)" - Seth Danielson - AOOS - Mod 4 - $240,000.00 (July 1, 2021)
- Grant G-14482 "An Arctic Marine Mammal Observing System (Chukchi Glider)" - Seth Danielson - AOOS - Mod 4 - $65,000.00 (July 1, 2021)
- Grant G-14484 "Time-Series Monitoring of Ocean Acidification in 草榴社区 (OA Timeseries)" - Natalie Monacci - AOOS - Mod 4 - $29,000.00 (July 1, 2021)
- Grant G-14485 "National Ocean Acidification Observing Network (NOA-ON) Stations: Gulf of 草榴社区 (GAKOA) and Bering Sea (M2) moorings (M2 and GAK Moorings)" - Natalie Monacci - AOOS - Mod 4 - $168,972.00 (July 1, 2021)
- Grant G-15157 "Arctic High-Frequency Radar FCC Compliance (HFR Operators)" - Seth Danielson - AOOS - Mod 3 - $19,048.00 (July 1, 2022)
- Grant G-15438 "Examine health metrics of Copper River sockeye salmon stocks to inform management decision making" - Kristen Gorman - NPS - Mod 4 - $419,000.00 (April 13, 2023)
- Grant G-15870 "LTER: Seasonal controls and emergent effects of changing land-ice-ocean interactions on the Arctic coastal ecosystems (BLE II)" - Katrin Iken - University of Texas at Austin - Mod 1 - $139,994.00 (September 1, 2023)