The health of marine ecosystems is often determined by water chemistry balance and the levels of nutrients. Nutrients, such as nitrates, are essential to primary productivity. When they are present in excess, nutrients can lead to harmful algal blooms (HABS), eutrophication, and hypoxic conditions at depth due to phytoplankton decomposition. With decreasing dissolved oxygen, respiring plants and animals are at risk. Because of the potential negative impacts to the ecosystem, it is crucial to monitor these factors. We investigated the health of Possession Sound through levels of nitrate, dissolved oxygen (DO), and phytoplankton densities to investigate changes over time and indications of eutrophication. We hypothesized that the plankton populations would be less dense in areas with low DO levels and denser in areas with high nitrates. We used long-term water quality monitoring data collected by Ocean Research College Academy (ORCA) from 2014-2019 from five different sampling locations. Overall, trends from 2014 - 2019 showed that there was no linear correlation between nitrates, DO, and phytoplankton densities. It appeared that plankton density generally alternated every other year between highs and lows. Seasonally, DO was higher in the spring and summer, and Nitrates were higher in the fall and winter. Phytoplankton appeared to be greatest in the spring, with 2014 and 2018 having the largest blooms. Over time, nutrient levels changing can greatly affect the marine ecosystem in Possession Sound by creating an environment for excess plankton and algae blooms to occur and potentially harming fish populations. By observing a smaller sample of oceanic environments, we can see what could potentially occur in the open ocean if human influence goes unchanged.

Phytoplankton, one of the primary sources of dissolved oxygen in marine ecosystems, are dependent upon nutrients for growth. However, there is evidence that eutrophication, the overabundance of nutrients, can lead to hypoxia in marine ecosystems. Because they are a primary source of dissolved oxygen and are dependent upon nutrients, phytoplankton density can indicate how nutrients are affecting dissolved oxygen at depth. It was hypothesized that an increase in phosphates, nitrates, and nitrites would correlate with an increase in phytoplankton density. Furthermore, it was predicted that with greater phytoplankton density there would be a greater difference in dissolved oxygen at the halocline versus dissolved oxygen 30 meters below the halocline. This study used data collected from 2016 to 2019 by students at the Ocean Research College Academy (ORCA) at two sampling stations in Possession Sound, WA. Water was collected and sent to the University of Washington Marine Chemistry Lab for nutrient analysis. Phytoplankton density was calculated using samples collected during 3-minute horizontal tows at the halocline. Dissolved oxygen data was collected using a YSI Exo2 Sonde at different depths. Preliminary results suggest that greater levels of phosphates, nitrates, and nitrites may show a steeper oxycline due to an increase in density of phytoplankton from the nutrients. The potential for hypoxia is increasing because of anthropogenic nutrients, so understanding the influence humans have over nutrients in marine environments is critical. This study will help us to understand how humans are influencing Possession Sound and marine ecosystems as a whole as a result of the impact of nutrients on phytoplankton and dissolved oxygen.

The Port of Everett is tucked into the Snohomish River Estuary in the small city of Everett, Washington. The Snohomish River feeds into Possession Sound, an inlet of Puget Sound, creating a salt wedge estuary that is host to a lively ecosystem, which can be greatly harmed by the presence of plastic debris. Students of Everett Community College’s Ocean Research College Academy (ORCA) program began collecting data from a Seabin located on the Port of Everett’s K Dock in November 2019. The Seabin is a device with a mesh net set inside a pump designed to draw surface water and floating plastic marine debris into it. However, observations of the Seabin located in Everett, Washington show it also collects natural and other anthropogenic debris. It was hypothesized that river discharge would have a positive correlation with mass collected by the Seabin. Data were collected weekly and cataloged by mass and qualitative observations. Each catch was weighted both wet and dry, then sorted when dry to determine the composition of each catch. Anthropogenic debris was separated and cataloged into one of the following eight categories: plastics, metals, textile fibers, cement, oils, papers, paints, and fiberglass, while natural debris was recorded similarly as plant matter, algae, dirt or mud, hair, fish, birds (including feathers), and live organisms such as bugs, fish and plankton. The wet and dry mass of each catch were recorded as well and compared to river discharge data recorded by the United States Geological Survey from a probe set in the Snohomish River. Data from this project will be part of an awareness campaign for educating marina goers.

During September and October, endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles have been observed swimming up onto the beaches of Salinas Grandes, Nicaragua to nest. Literature has identified different environmental factors that affect sea turtle nesting activity. This study compared moon phase, lunar illumination, and tide height to the number of nests observed. The data for these factors were collected by tides4fishing, a company that collects data on tides, solunar activity, moon phases, lunar illumination, and fishing sites in North and Central America. Data for the number of nests, along with the time of night they were counted, were provided by Turtle Tribe, a sea turtle conservation project run by a non-profit called Water and Light International in Salinas Grandes, Nicaragua. I partnered with Turtle Tribe to use their data for conducting research that could aid in future conservation efforts; I even collected some nest data myself when I traveled to Nicaragua. It was hypothesized that the greatest number of nests would occur when there is the least amount of lunar illumination and at a high tide level. The limited light could act as protection for the sea turtles from predators and the high tide would allow them to walk farther up the beach where the nests are not in danger of being drowned by the tide. Least-squares regression analysis was performed to check for correlation between these factors. The hypothesis was not supported by these data. More data are needed to conclusively determine whether there is a correlation between these environmental factors and the number of Olive Ridley sea turtle nests. Additional years of data and environmental factors such as the steepness of the beach would be useful.