Field Notes with PWSSC

What microscopic creatures drift through the waters of Prince William Sound—and how can scientists study them without ever leaving shore?

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Rob Campbell of the Prince William Sound Science Center to explore a remarkable ocean-monitoring system known as the Profiler. This advanced mooring is packed with instruments that continuously measure key ocean conditions, including nutrients, turbidity, oxygen, salinity, and more, providing scientists with an unprecedented view of the underwater environment.

What truly sets the Profiler apart is its groundbreaking plankton camera—the first of its kind to capture twice-daily vertical profiles of plankton images throughout the water column. These snapshots offer a unique window into the microscopic organisms that form the foundation of the marine food web.

Dr. Campbell takes us behind the technology, explaining how the Profiler works, what it is revealing about the changing ocean, and how these data are helping researchers better understand the ecosystem that supports Prince William Sound’s countless species.

Tune in for a fascinating journey into the hidden world beneath the waves, where cutting-edge technology is uncovering the ocean’s smallest—and most important—inhabitants.

Note: Season 1 features episodes from 2015–2025 as we work to bring our podcast archive to major podcast platforms. These episodes were previously available only on our website, and we're excited to make them easier to discover and enjoy. Thanks for joining us on the journey!

It’s time to crunch the numbers! Over the past few months, we’ve explored the many pieces of the Prince William Sound Herring Research and Monitoring Program. Now, it’s time to bring the puzzle together.

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Trevor Branch of the University of Washington and graduate student John, who take us behind the scenes of how decades of herring research and monitoring data are transformed into sophisticated population models. Using Bayesian statistics—a concept they cleverly compare to solving a murder trial—they walk us through the evidence, the suspects, and the process of determining “whodunit” when it comes to changes in the herring population.

Whether you love data, fisheries science, or a good mystery, this episode offers a fascinating look at how scientists use evidence to understand the past, assess the present, and predict the future of Prince William Sound herring. Tune in to discover what the numbers reveal.

Note: Season 1 features episodes from 2015–2025 as we work to bring our podcast archive to major podcast platforms. These episodes were previously available only on our website, and we're excited to make them easier to discover and enjoy. Thanks for joining us on the journey!

Did you know that fish can actually be easier to study at night? Dive into the fascinating world of fisheries science in this episode featuring Dr. Pete Rand of the Prince William Sound Science Center.

As an acoustic specialist with the Herring Research and Monitoring Program, Dr. Rand uses hydroacoustic technology—essentially underwater sound waves—to help estimate the abundance of herring in Prince William Sound. He takes us behind the scenes of his research, explaining how scientists locate and measure schools of fish beneath the surface and why nighttime sampling can provide valuable insights.

Tune in as Dr. Rand shares the tools, techniques, and discoveries that are helping researchers better understand Prince William Sound’s herring population and the ecosystem that depends on it.

Note: Season 1 features episodes from 2015–2025 as we work to bring our podcast archive to major podcast platforms. These episodes were previously available only on our website, and we're excited to make them easier to discover and enjoy. Thanks for joining us on the journey!

What happens when a fish gets sick—and can disease shape the future of an entire population?

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Paul Hershberger of the United States Geological Survey Marrowstone Marine Field Station to explore the hidden world of fish health and disease. As part of his research on Pacific herring, Dr. Hershberger studies how pathogens and infections can affect individual fish and potentially influence population dynamics.

From viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) to the parasite commonly known as “ich,” Dr. Hershberger walks us through some of the diseases that herring face, how scientists investigate outbreaks, and what these findings can tell us about the health of marine ecosystems.

Tune in for a fascinating look at the microscopic threats lurking beneath the waves and the research helping us better understand Prince William Sound herring.

Note: Season 1 features episodes from 2015–2025 as we work to bring our podcast archive to major podcast platforms. These episodes were previously available only on our website, and we're excited to make them easier to discover and enjoy. Thanks for joining us on the journey!

For young herring, surviving their first winter can mean the difference between life and death. But what does it take for these tiny fish to make it through the coldest months of the year?

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Kristen Gorman, a researcher with the Herring Research and Monitoring Program, to explore the energetic strategies of juvenile herring during their critical first winter. By studying how young herring use and conserve energy, Dr. Gorman is working to better understand the factors that influence survival during one of the most challenging periods of their lives.

Dr. Gorman walks us through her research methods, shares some of her early findings, and explains how her work fits into the broader effort to understand the drivers of herring population dynamics in Prince William Sound.

Tune in to discover how the survival strategies of some of the Sound’s smallest fish may hold important clues to the future of the herring population.

Note: Season 1 features episodes from 2015–2025 as we work to bring our podcast archive to major podcast platforms. These episodes were previously available only on our website, and we're excited to make them easier to discover and enjoy. Thanks for joining us on the journey!

What does it take to understand the rise and fall of a fish population?

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Scott Pegau of the Prince William Sound Science Center to explore the Herring Research and Monitoring Program and the collaborative effort behind it. As the program coordinator, Dr. Pegau provides an inside look at the research priorities, monitoring efforts, and partnerships that drive this long-term scientific initiative.

From tracking herring populations and ecosystem conditions to managing vast amounts of data, Dr. Pegau explains how researchers are building a more complete picture of Prince William Sound herring. He also discusses where the data are stored, how they are used, and the critical questions scientists are working to answer about the factors influencing herring abundance and recovery.

Tune in for a big-picture look at the science, collaboration, and curiosity fueling one of the most comprehensive herring research efforts in Alaska.

Note: Season 1 features episodes from 2015–2025 as we work to bring our podcast archive to major podcast platforms. These episodes were previously available only on our website, and we're excited to make them easier to discover and enjoy. Thanks for joining us on the journey!

Imagine collecting information about thousands of tiny ocean organisms while traveling across some of Alaska’s most remote waters. How is it possible?

In this episode, we’re joined by Sonia Batten of Gulf Watch Alaska to explore the fascinating world of plankton monitoring and the powerful tool known as the Continuous Plankton Recorder. Sonia explains how this unique instrument samples marine life as it moves through the ocean, what kinds of data it collects, and why these microscopic organisms are so important to understanding the health of marine ecosystems.

From field collection to laboratory analysis, Sonia takes us through the journey of a plankton sample and reveals how scientists use this information to track changes in ocean conditions and food webs over time.

Tune in to discover how some of the ocean’s smallest inhabitants can tell us some of its biggest stories.

Note: Season 1 features episodes from 2015–2025 as we work to bring our podcast archive to major podcast platforms. These episodes were previously available only on our website, and we're excited to make them easier to discover and enjoy. Thanks for joining us on the journey!

Can scientists uncover the secrets of a fish population without harming the fish themselves?

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Kevin Boswell of Florida International University to discuss innovative non-lethal sampling techniques being used to study Pacific herring in Prince William Sound. By collecting valuable biological information while minimizing impacts on the fish, researchers are gaining new insights into the factors that influence herring survival, health, and population trends.

Dr. Boswell takes us behind the scenes of this research, explaining how these methods work and how the data they provide are helping scientists better understand the complex environmental and biological forces shaping Prince William Sound’s herring population.

Tune in to learn how cutting-edge science is helping researchers answer some of the biggest questions about one of Alaska’s most important forage fish species.

Note: Season 1 features episodes from 2015–2025 as we work to bring our podcast archive to major podcast platforms. These episodes were previously available only on our website, and we're excited to make them easier to discover and enjoy. Thanks for joining us on the journey!

In this 2015 interview with Gulf Watch Alaska's John Moran from Juneau, Alaska, John discusses how humpback whale feeding habits were affecting herring populations of the Prince William Sound. John touches on various research methods used to identify what humpbacks are eating. Listeners will also get to hear hydrophone footage of a school of herring escaping humpback whales.

Note: Season 1 features episodes from 2015–2025 as we work to bring our podcast archive to major podcast platforms. These episodes were previously available only on our website, and we're excited to make them easier to discover and enjoy. Thanks for joining us on the journey!