• Ashlee Maust

    Ashlee Maust
    Univ. of Washington
    Gained taxonomic skills by learning larval fish identification techniques and equipment use.

    In the summer of 2008, I was able to join the hard-working Resource Assessment and Conservation Engineering (RACE) team here at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center. The scientists in the RACE Division study the early life history of larval fishes in order to determine and understand the factors that influence the survival and recruitment of fish populations. During my time here, I was exposed to wide variety of exciting learning opportunities, both in the laboratory and out of it.

    As the basis for many of the activities in the lab, the first and ongoing step was to become familiar with larval fish identification. In most cases, larvae appear very different from their adult counterparts and may even change drastically multiple times between the early stages of development. Using the "Laboratory Guide to Early Life History Stages of Northeast Pacific Fishes" (Matarese et al. 1989) and the instruction of the RACE team, I was trained to recognize morphological and meristic characters that are significant for identification.

    By the end of my internship, I was exercising my taxonomic skills by performing cruise verifications and working on a project attempting to identify samples of unknown embryos. In order to gather data on these embryos and other larval fish species, I was taught to use the Image Pro-Plus software. Image Pro utilizes a camera attached to a microscope allowing the user to take snapshots of specimens which are then used to gather measurements. In order to collect meristic data, I learned to operate the x-ray machine and obtained images of Chirolophis species to help Morgan Busby and Ann Matarese in their studies of this genus.

  • A cleared and stained unidentified embryo.


    An x-ray of Chirolophis nugatory.



    I also worked with Debbie Blood and Ann Matarese to update the Ichthyoplankton Information System (IIS). An online database compiling all of the available information on the early life history of fishes the AFSC works with, including distribution maps, illustrations, diagnostic characters and other life history information. The IIS is the largest database of its kind and was designed by members of the RACE Recruitment Processes Program in order to keep the existing knowledge of these fish as accessible and current as possible.

    Also in my roster of accomplishments this summer, I learned the techniques of collection archiving, the process of scientific illustration with the guidance of RACE's illustrator, Rachael Cartwright, and how to clear and stain fishes by helping Morgan create developmental series for Lumpenus species. I will also have the opportunity to go aboard the Miller Freeman this September for its fall cruise to the Bering Sea.

  • My mentors (l to r): Debbie Blood, Ann Matarese, and Morgan Busby.


    Without a doubt, my time in the AFSC ichthyoplankton lab was well spent. My experiences were diversified and gave me plenty of opportunities to find what I was talented at and what aspects of the program I most enjoyed. The skills I obtained while working here will be extremely useful in my future studies and have helped to give a much needed clarification of my career options as I continue my education.

    I would like to thank Morgan Busby for all of his guidance and contagious enthusiasm as well as Susanne McDermott, Rebecca Reuter, and all of the RACE staff for making my time as exciting, encouraging and useful as possible!