Talk on Ocean Wildlife

Southern flank of Cape Perpetua (Visitor Center roof visible to right of photo).\Photo courtesy of ODFW.

Jessica Miller, a professor in Oregon State University’s Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station, will speak on “Ocean Trackers: The Movement,  Migration, and Growth of Animals in the Ocean” on Saturday, Nov. 23, 11 a.m. at the Cape Perpetua Visitor Center (2400 Hwy 101, about three miles south of Yachats).

Dr. Miller will talk about the approaches she uses to reconstruct how animals move around the ocean and how the environment can influence their growth and survival. Her approach combines field collections with the chemical and structural analysis of animal hard parts, such as otoliths (fish ear stones) and shells. She will present examples from her research, including studies on the early marine residence of Chinook salmon, determining natal origins of Pacific lamprey, and the animals that crossed the Pacific Ocean on marine debris generated during the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami. 

Her research focuses on advancing our ecological and evolutionary understanding of marine and anadromous species and contributing to management and conservation efforts. More specifically, she examines how environmental variation impacts the dispersal, distribution, growth, and survival of marine organisms.

The event is free, but a day use or Recreation Pass is required when visiting the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area and at some trailheads and day use sites. For more information on these events, contact the Cape Perpetua Visitor Center at 541-547-3289.