Dr. Ric Brodeur will be the featured speaker of the OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center’s Science on Tap. His presentation is on Wednesday, May 11th at 6pm and is entitled “Jellyfish Blooms: Beyond the Slime.” Dr. Brodeur is a Research Fishery Biologist with the Fish Ecology Division of NOAA’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center and is based at HMSC in Newport. 

HMSC’s Science on Tap is at Rogue Ale’s South Beach waterfront location, Brewer’s on the Bay, in the downstairs Board Room. Doors open at 5:15pm, and the presentation will begin at 6pm. The family-friendly event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited and early arrival is recommended. Food and beverage will be available for purchase from the regular menu.

More about Jellyfish Blooms: Beyond the Slime: Evidence from ecosystems around the world suggests that jellyfish blooms are increasing in terms of frequency and severity most likely due to human activities, such as overfishing, habitat modification, and species introductions.  Although jellyfish have some positive benefits to humans in terms of food production and the aquarium trade, the majority of the impacts negatively affect human endeavors such as fishing, tourism, and power generation.

Ric will discuss the evidence for increasing jellyfish populations and their potential impacts from examples in several ecosystems, and attempts to control these populations or mitigate against their impacts. He will also provide examples from his own research (with collaborators) in the California Current and Bering Sea.

For more information call 541-867-0234.