• Amanda Guenther

    Amanda Guenther
    Univ. of Washington     Studied the habitat and abundance of euphausiids which are prey to many marine species in the Bering Sea.

    In the summer of 2009, I had the opportunity to work for Dr. Patrick Ressler of the National Marine Fisheries Service's Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC). During this time, I worked on a project titled "Defining prey fields in the Bering Sea: the habitat and abundance of euphausiids ('krill')." Euphausiids, small shrimp-like zooplankton, are essential to the diets of many marine animals, seabirds, and fish. In particular, they are one of the most important prey species for walleye Pollock, which support a large commercial fishery in the Bering Sea.

    During this internship I spent three weeks aboard the NOAA Ship Oscar Dyson during the 2009 AFSC echo integration-trawl survey of walleye pollock in the eastern Bering Sea. While at sea, I was able to help collect zooplankton samples from the surface, the water column, and the bottom of the sea using a sampling device called a "Tucker Trawl" equipped with a benthic sled. I was responsible for identifying the animals collected to the species level, making length measurements of individual euphausiids under a dissecting microscope, creating images of the individuals using a modified flatbed scanner, and preserving samples for later analysis.

    In addition to work related to my specific project, I had the opportunity to take part in other research that was being conducted on the cruise. I participated in midwater and bottom trawl catch processing by helping to sort, sex, identify, measure, and weigh fish, and to collect stomach samples and otoliths from walleye pollock. I also helped to collect oceanographic data and learned how scientists and fishermen use bioacoustic data to manage important fishery stocks.

  • equipment

    View towards the stern of the NOAA ship Oscar Dyson.


    During my time at sea, I was also able learn a lot about life working at sea as both a research scientist and a crew member. I enjoyed interacting with such a diverse group of people such as the other scientists, deck workers, fishermen, and the NOAA Corps officers. Working in such a beautiful setting with breathtaking landscape views and abundant wildlife was also a great pleasure. I was able to see two Kodiak brown bears, countless birds, Dall's porpoises, and humpback whales in addition to the many species of crabs, squid, and fish collected in midwater and bottom trawls.

    After the cruise, I returned to Seattle to analyze the data for this project. I compared euphausiid abundance from samples collected at the surface, in the water column, and on the bottom. Additionally, I compared length measurements made with a dissecting scope and image analysis software, compiled a final written report, and presented a talk at the internship symposium in August 2009.

    I could not have asked for a better experience working for NOAA/AFSC. I am now familiar with conducting scientific research in a professional setting and have made contacts with AFSC scientists in my field. I enjoyed the opportunity to visit Alaska and to spend time in Seattle, both of which are geographically diverse and beautiful places.

  • I would encourage anyone with a sense of adventure and passion for scientific research to apply for an internship with the AFSC!

    After the cruise, I returned to Seattle to analyze the data for this project. I compared euphausiid abundance from samples collected at the surface, in the water column, and on the bottom. Additionally, I compared length measurements made with a dissecting scope and image analysis software, compiled a final written report, and presented a talk at the internship symposium in August 2009.

    I could not have asked for a better experience working for NOAA/AFSC. I am now familiar with conducting scientific research in a professional setting and have made contacts with AFSC scientists in my field. I enjoyed the opportunity to visit Alaska and to spend time in Seattle, both of which are geographically diverse and beautiful places. I would encourage anyone with a sense of adventure and passion for scientific research to apply for an internship with the AFSC!


    A poster was prepared by Amanda subsequent to her internship and presented at the Water Management Association of Ohio's Annual Fall Conference held in Columbus, Ohio,  in November 2009. It is a good summary of the science results from her project. View the .pdf poster; 2.52 MB.