Program on the Environment

Invasive species can adversely impact native ecosystems once their populations are established, but sometimes these non-native species have the potential to be used for our benefit. Varnish clams (Nuttallia obscurata) are a non-native species in Puget Sound. The Tulalip Tribe has recently shown interest in harvesting varnish clams to use as aquaculture feed and for commercial use. Ghost shrimp (Neotrypaea californiensis) are found adjacent to varnish clams and are an important source of prey for gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) that feed on them by sifting through the sand, which leaves behind large feeding pits. The relationship to varnish clams is that there’s evidence of varnish clam recruitment within the feeding pits left behind by the gray whales. The aim of my internship was to learn about varnish clams and create a study design that can be used to monitor varnish clam and ghost shrimp populations in Northern Puget Sound after harvest. I performed literature reviews to learn about the species of interest and the physical environment of the nearshore. In addition, we spoke with the Tulalip Tribe’s shellfish biologist to gather relevant information regarding harvest plans. Learning more about species’ populations is important because it can help us make management decisions, determine if sustainable harvest is possible, and inform us about species interactions. As physical environmental conditions change, it will be increasingly important to study species populations because of the impacts they could have on one another.