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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260507T180000
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UID:4350-1778176800-1778182200@www.elakhaalliance.org
SUMMARY:Restoring our Kelp Forests Webinar Series - Life in the Kelp: Predator\, Prey\, and Ecosystem Dynamics
DESCRIPTION:Dive into the hidden world of kelp forests—some of the planet’s most vital yet imperiled ecosystems. This webinar series explores the changing world of kelp\, from the challenges these vibrant ecosystems face to the passionate efforts underway to bring them back. Hear stories from scientists\, divers\, and community groups working to restore balance among keystone species and revive these essential ocean habitats. Discover how resilience\, balance\, and ingenuity are shaping the future of life along our coasts. \nRegister for Webinar\nThis series is brought to you by Seven Capes Bird Alliance in partnership with Friends of Otter Rock\, Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition\, Oregon Kelp Alliance\, and the Elakha Alliance. \nA large marine epidemic known as sea star wasting disease hit the Oregon coast in 2014. This caused an important sea urchin predator\, the sunflower sea star\, to decline by more than 98% in population size. This large\, fast\, up to 28-armed sea star influences urchin populations not only by directly consuming urchins\, but also by indirectly affecting their behavior through fear. The loss of this predator is linked to a 70% decline of Oregon’s kelp forests and an increase in urchin populations\, creating urchin-dominated barrens. Miles will walk us through his laboratory research\, where he quantified how many urchins a sunflower sea star can eat\, and his field experiments\, where he dove in Oregon’s cold turbulent waters to test the effect of sunflower sea star presence on urchin behavior and grazing.  \nMiles Rough is a Ph.D. student at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology in the laboratory of Dr. Aaron Galloway. Miles is fascinated by kelp forest dynamics\, particularly the shifts between healthy ecosystems and urchin-dominated barrens. He uses field and laboratory experiments to understand the role of sunflower sea stars as a key predator influencing urchin populations and ecosystem stability. Miles is an AAUS scientific diver and SCUBA instructor\, using diving both to conduct research and to train others in underwater observation techniques. He earned his B.S. in Biology with a focus on Marine Biology from Oregon State University in 2024.
URL:https://www.elakhaalliance.org/event/restoring-our-kelp-forests-webinar-series-life-in-the-kelp-predator-prey-and-ecosystem-dynamics/
CATEGORIES:Free Event,Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.elakhaalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Miles-Rough.png
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260603T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260603T193000
DTSTAMP:20260505T040403
CREATED:20260414T201617Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260414T201617Z
UID:4352-1780509600-1780515000@www.elakhaalliance.org
SUMMARY:Restoring our Kelp Forests Webinar Series - Sea Otters & Kelp Forests: Restoring Oregon’s Missing Link
DESCRIPTION:Dive into the hidden world of kelp forests—some of the planet’s most vital yet imperiled ecosystems. This webinar series explores the changing world of kelp\, from the challenges these vibrant ecosystems face to the passionate efforts underway to bring them back. Hear stories from scientists\, divers\, and community groups working to restore balance among keystone species and revive these essential ocean habitats. Discover how resilience\, balance\, and ingenuity are shaping the future of life along our coasts. \nThis series is brought to you by Seven Capes Bird Alliance in partnership with Friends of Otter Rock\, Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition\, Oregon Kelp Alliance\, and the Elakha Alliance. \n\nRegister For Webinar\nSea otters once thrived along the Oregon coast\, playing a critical role in maintaining healthy kelp forests. Their removal during the maritime fur trade left a missing link in Oregon’s nearshore ecosystem\, contributing to unchecked sea urchin populations and declining kelp habitat. \nIn this engaging and science-based presentation\, marine biologist Chanel Hason explores how sea otters function as keystone predators\, the cascading ecological benefits they bring to kelp forests and estuaries\, and what restoration could mean for Oregon’s biodiversity\, fisheries\, and coastal resilience. Attendees will gain insight into the collaborative\, tribal-led efforts underway to develop a responsible reintroduction plan by the Elakha Alliance–and how restoring this iconic species could help rebalance Oregon’s underwater forests for generations to come. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nChanel Hason is a marine biologist\, environmental educator\, and passionate ocean advocate serving as the Director of Outreach & Community Relations for the Elakha Alliance. With a background that includes working with sea otters at the Monterey Bay Aquarium\, conducting marine research on the Great Barrier Reef\, and educating communities about the wonders of the natural world\, Chanel brings science to life with energy and heart. At Elakha\, she leads public engagement efforts to support the restoration of sea otters to the Oregon coast–reviving an essential keystone species to help restore balance to nearshore ecosystems. Whether she’s giving a science pub talk\, running a fundraiser\, or tabling at community events\, Chanel loves inspiring people to fall in love with sea otters and the kelp forests they call home.
URL:https://www.elakhaalliance.org/event/restoring-our-kelp-forests-webinar-series-sea-otters-kelp-forests-restoring-oregons-missing-link/
CATEGORIES:Free Event,Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.elakhaalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/otter2.jpg
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