Corvallis Science Pub features mega-rafting of invasive species

CORVALLIS, OR — The 2011 Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami launched a flood of debris across the Pacific Ocean. At the Corvallis Science Pub on October 14, Jessica Miller, professor in fisheries and wildlife at Oregon State University, will discuss what she and other scientists learned about the nearly 300 invasive species that hitchhiked their way on the debris to Hawaii and the Northwest.

Miller and her colleagues published their findings in the journal Science in 2017. “We were able to not only identify this unique suite of species but, in some cases, examine their growth and ability to reproduce, which provides useful information on how they fared during their transoceanic voyage,” said Miller.

The research also highlights the potential for large events, such as tsunamis and major storms, to interact with expanding coastal infrastructure and increase the role of marine debris in species dispersal.

Science Pub is free and open to the public, but due to its continuing popularity, registration is required. People can register online at https://beav.es/Zht or by contacting University Events at 541-737-4717 or [email protected]. If registration is closed (fully booked), walk-ins are welcome, but people who arrive without a ticket will not be admitted to the reserved seating area until 6 p.m.

Podcasts of previous Corvallis Science Pub events on topics such as “Technology in the Fields” and “From Wolves to the Warning to Humanity: Facing the Environmental Crisis through Science” are available at http://communications.oregonstate.edu/podcast.

Sponsors of Science Pub include Terra magazine at OSU, the Downtown Corvallis Association and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.

For accommodations for disabilities or questions, contact University Events at 541-737-4717 or [email protected].