Science Institute News Recent accomplishments of CDFW's scientific community Saving California’s White Abalone August 17, 2017 in Wildlife Research California’s coastal waters are home to seven species of abalone, and all but one are endangered or listed as species of special concern. The white abalone in particular has been nearly decimated by overfishing and disease, and scientists can find no evidence that the remaining population is reproducing in the wild. In order to avoid loss of the entire species, CDFW and partner agencies have formed the White Abalone Recovery Consortium, which will employ captive rearing and restoration stocking efforts and extensive public outreach in order to save these animals from extinction. It will be an ongoing, long-term project, but all signs point to future success – already there are more white abalone thriving in the captive breeding program than the entire population living in the wild. Read more about the efforts to restore California’s white abalone – and learn what you can do to help! – on the CDFW Marine Management News Blog. Related Posts Replenishing Southern California’s Abalone Populations Harvesting abalone for dinner used to be as fundamental to a Southern California lifestyle as fish tacos and flip-flops. But by 1998, a combination of overfishing and disease led to the closure of all abalone fishery south of San Francisco. Science Spotlight: Increasing the Genetic Diversity of White Abalone At nearly 130 feet underwater, CDFW abalone researcher Dr. Laura Rogers-Bennett didn’t have much time. Her dive computer told her it was time to ascend, which meant that she would have to stop searching for the endangered white abalone hiding in the waving fields of red and gold gorgonians. California’s Disappearing Kelp Forests: What Scientists and Divers can do to Reverse this Trend The view of northern California’s beautiful coastline has historically been pristine and breathtaking. With dense kelp forest canopies blanketing the surface of the nearshore areas and protecting the abundant rockfishes, red abalone, sea stars and red urchins that lived below, it was a healthy, natural ecosystem rich with thriving inhabitants. Unfortunately, the ocean is now changing, and this idyllic scene is no more. Remotely Operated Vehicle Gives Scientists an Underwater View into California’s MPAs Marine scientists from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and Marine Applied Research and Exploration (MARE) recently completed an unprecedented three-year survey of deep-water habitats off the California coast using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). Counting Mountain Lions in California’s Back Country CDFW wildlife biologist Justin Dellinger has a most unusual job -- since 2015, he’s been capturing and collaring mountain lions in California’s back country. Justin aims to achieve something unique, which is the first-of-its-kind comprehensive population assessment of California’s mountain lions. California's White-footed Vole The white-footed vole is one of the least-studied (and most difficult to catch!) mammals in North America. CDFW Environmental Scientist Dr. Scott Osborn, his collaborator Dr. Tim Bean of Humboldt State University’s Wildlife Department, and a small team of field biologists know that better than anyone – they spent the summer of 2014 setting traps for them in Humboldt and Del Norte counties. Designated a Species of Special Concern by CDFW, only nine records of the species were known in California prior to their study, which was aimed at determining how environmental conditions, such as climate (and future climate change), might affect their distribution. Tagged With: abalone, biology, California, captive breeding, CDFW, endangered, environmental science, Fish and Wildlife, invertebrate, marine, marine management news, mollusk, research, White Abalone Recovery Consortium
Subscribe to receive Science Institute news by email. Email Subscribe Recent Posts New Salmon Habitat Created Along the Sacramento River Near AndersonJanuary 11, 2021Restoring Habitat at Southern California’s Salton SeaJanuary 6, 2021New Issue of CDFW Scientific Journal Focuses on WildfireJanuary 4, 2021Spotlight: Kokanee Salmon Egg Collection from Stampede ReservoirDecember 14, 2020New Issue of CDFW’s Scientific Journal Reviews Environmental Impacts of Cannabis CultivationOctober 30, 2020Read More Archives 2021January (3) 2020January (1) February (1) March (2) April (1) May (3) June (3) July (4) August (3) September (2) October (3) November (1) December (1) 2019January (2) February (3) March (4) April (4) May (2) June (2) July (2) August (1) September (1) October (1) December (1) 2018January (5) February (4) March (3) April (5) May (4) June (2) July (5) August (3) September (4) October (4) November (1) December (2) 2017February (2) March (3) April (4) May (5) June (3) July (3) August (5) September (4) October (4) November (4) December (3) Mammals Birds Reptiles and Amphibians Fish Invertebrates Plants Ecosystems Pollution and Water Quality Climate and Renewable Energy