Research: Developing non-invasive assessment methods to improve octopus conservation efforts

Live Cam Note: Some ISPs seem to block live feed. To see recent still image go here. Image Archive also available. Project Summary: Octopuses are an important part of our marine ecosystem and provide excellent scientific models to examine behavior and cellular processes. In addition, octopus are major attractions to aquariums and are a preferred food product in some regions. In the Pacific northwest wild populations of species including the giant pacific octopus have experienced declines. This decline has been attributed to several factors including the deterioration of habitat caused by pollution and large scale climate processes. In order to develop techniques to better evaluate the physiological condition of octopus, non invasive sampling methods are being examined to determine potential effectiveness. Methods include analysis of protein expression in epidermal mucus and documenting changes in behavior (this page). The long-term goal of this research is to provide tools to better assess octopus physiological status in the wild and in captivity.

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