NW scientists monitor tsunami debris for invasive species
NEWPORT, Ore. (AP) - Scientists at Oregon State University's Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport are monitoring the possible spread of plant and animal life carried to the Northwest coast on debris from the 2011 Japanese tsunami.
Docks that washed ashore last summer at Newport's Agate Beach and in December on Washington's Olympic Peninsula carried non-native species. Most were scraped off and destroyed.
An invasive species specialist at the science center, John Chapman, told The Oregonian many organisms from Japan survived more than a year floating across the Pacific and crashing on the Northwest coast. But whether they will spread and become a problem is hard to predict.
Chapman says it's important to record marine life on tsunami debris for what he calls a "giant experiment."
Docks that washed ashore last summer at Newport's Agate Beach and in December on Washington's Olympic Peninsula carried non-native species. Most were scraped off and destroyed.
An invasive species specialist at the science center, John Chapman, told The Oregonian many organisms from Japan survived more than a year floating across the Pacific and crashing on the Northwest coast. But whether they will spread and become a problem is hard to predict.
Chapman says it's important to record marine life on tsunami debris for what he calls a "giant experiment."
"monitoring" more like standing around with thumb up a** collecting salary. BTW, when it comes to paying for this, send the bill to: Emperor, Tokyo, Japan.
I recall when all the anti-gubamint doomsayers were insisting these debris would irradiate the west coast of America. I guess they'll settle for snails now
Hey, give me your wallet., I'm from Olympia and I need more of your money to flush down the toilet.
As if these are the FIRST floating objects to show up on our beaches from Japan.
I bet the copters are up and running ready for the Federal Tsumami Strike Force to deploy on seconds notice on this"giant experiment"...