COSEE-Ocean Systems Webinars

Research-Based Online Learning Event (ROLE) Model Webinar
Webinar Topic: Lobster in the Gulf of Maine - From Hatch to Catch

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

PRESENTATIONS and Q&A

Richard Wahle

About these Webinars:
The ROLE Model webinars provide scientists with the opportunity to interact with educators and present their research in a non-traditional format - through multimedia concept maps created with the Concept Map Builder and presented through the Ocean Climate Interactive. [more]

About this Scientist:
Dr. Richard Wahle is a Research Associate Professor at the University of Maine's School of Marine Sciences, and is based at the Darling Marine Center in Walpole. Rick's research focuses on the dynamics of benthic populations, communities and fisheries and ways they are impacted by physical and biotic factors in the ocean. He has a long-standing research program on the American lobster. Rick and other collaborators are trying to develop tools and models for predicting population trends through an understanding of larval transport, settlement, and post-settlement processes. This webinar represents Rick's first collaboration with COSEE-Ocean Systems.

WEBINAR RECAP

Dr. Wahle's webinar presentation provides a wealth of information about the life cycle of American lobsters (Homeras americanus); their settlement process, i.e., the point at which they no longer drift on ocean currents but settle on the ocean floor; and the predation, environmental, and disease factors affecting their survival and recruitment to later life stages. He discussed some of the unique attributes of Gulf of Maine habitat and conditions as concerns lobsters and described various methods of collecting lobster data about different age groups. Along with other researchers, Rick is trying to understand why Maine lobster landings are increasing while those of their kin to the south are decreasing, and they are trying to develop models that will forecast fishery recruitment for one of the most important fisheries on the Atlantic coast. So far the models Rick and his colleagues have developed are tracking well with observed data.

VIEW CLIPS FROM SCIENTIST'S PRESENTATION

1 - Gulf of Maine Environment 2 - Size Differences
3 - Adjusting the Model

Clip 1

Clip 2

Clip 3

Additional Resources

Blogs about this webinar
More information for teachers
Upcoming events offered by COSEE-OS

DISTRIBUTION OF WEBINAR PARTICIPANTS

Forty one participants representing a variety of occupations joined in from eleven states. Of the fourteen participants who filled out the post webinar survey, 85% said that the scientist presentation was “useful” or “very useful”, and 100% said that they felt more comfortable with the topic than they had before. 64% also said they now feel the topic is more relevant to their own work.

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