Seminar on Tsunami Debris and Invasive Species

Japanese sea slugs that washed ashore in Oregon in 2015/ photo by John Chapman

Oregon Institute of Marine Biology (OIMB) invites the public to hear world-renowned biologist Dr. Jim Carlton speak about his research. Dr. Carlton is the leading expert in the field of marine bioinvasions and will be sharing his research on tsunami debris and rafting of invasive species on Wednesday, July 13 at 7 p.m. His talk, titled “The Age of Invasions Meets the Age of Plastics: How Tsunamis, Storms, Megarafting, Coastal Development, and Climate Change May All be Related," will be held in the  Boathouse Auditorium at the end of Boat Basin Rd. The event is free and open to all. 

About the speaker: "Dr. Jim Carlton is a Professor Emeritus of marine sciences at Williams College (MA) and Director Emeritus of the Williams College-Mystic Seaport Ocean & Coastal Studies Program. His research focuses on the environmental history of coastal marine ecosystems, including invasions of non-native species. Dr. Carlton is the only scientist to receive the Interagency Recognition Award from the U.S. Federal Government for his national and international work to reduce the impacts of exotic species invasions in the sea, among many other awards. His seminar will address the Great Japan Earthquake & Tsunami of March 2011, which ejected into the Pacific Ocean millions of rafting objects which carried 100s of living Japanese species to North America and Hawaii. Remarkably the tsunami debris field with living species from Japan continued to arrive in 2021-2022. This event provided a unique opportunity to study transoceanic rafting of coastal species and an unexpected window into discovering a neopelagic community."

To reach the OIMB Boathouse Auditorium, park on Boat Basin Rd. near the campus and walk down the road past the Coast Guard housing.

For more information, call (541) 346-7277  or email mwolf1@uoregon.edu