Oregon

Oregon mussels died at alarming rates this summer. Researchers don’t know why

Published

1 year ago

September 16, 2023

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Oregon mussels died at alarming rates this summer. Researchers don’t know why

Research technicians Brenna Rothman, left, and Sailor Benitez search for dying mussels in mid-August in Depoe Bay, Ore.

April Ehrlich / OPB

Like many sea creatures, mussels along Oregon’s coastline are struggling. Their population took a sudden nose dive this summer, and researchers aren’t sure what’s behind the die-off.

This mystery is what brought Oregon State University professor and marine ecologist Bruce Menge and his research team to a tide pool in Depoe Bay in mid-August. Wearing waterproof overalls and looking out at the restless ocean, Menge said mussels at research sites across Oregon have been dying at alarming rates since June.

“And they’re doing it in sort of a random way,” Menge said. “It’s not all the mussels in a given area, but it’s one here, one there, one over there. But it adds up to numbers that are way higher than anything we’ve ever seen before.”

Menge says researchers in British Columbia and Northern California have also seen an uptick in mussel deaths, but the trend doesn’t seem to extend farther south.

On a rocky, mussel-covered shore, Sailor Benitez tosses a mussel into the ocean as Augie Kalytiak-Davis nearby crouches to the ground. — Research technician Sailor Benitez, left, tosses a dead mussel into the ocean as Oregon State University grad student Augie Kalytiak-Davis inspects other mussels off the shore of Depoe Bay, Ore., in mid-August.
*April Ehrlich / OPB*

So Menge recruited research technicians to help him count dead and dying mussels at various sites throughout the summer, including the Fogarty Creek State Recreation Area. There, he and his team used hand-held pry bars to wrestle sickly mollusks from their tightly packed clusters.

“I found another one,” Menge called out to his colleagues. “And it’s got tissue in it.”

As high-tide waves crashed ominously nearby, the team — consisting of two research technicians and a graduate student — looked for mussels that were slightly open and still had meat inside their shells, meaning they were still alive. If after a few quick taps a mussel didn’t close up, or it was slow to respond, that meant it was likely dying.

Those dying mussels, as well as a collection of apparently healthy mussels, were tossed into buckets and sent to labs. The labs would later test sea water samples and mussel tissue for any red flags, such as physical deformities or toxins.

Menge and his team also removed any dead mussels they could find; that ensured that when they returned in a few weeks, they could make an accurate count if how many more died in the interim.

A sea star clasps to tightly packed mussels off the shore of Depoe Bay, Ore., on Aug. 15.
*April Ehrlich / OPB*

While extreme ocean temperatures on the East Coast made headlines this summer, Menge doesn’t think this die-off is related to a warmer Pacific, because Oregon’s coastal waters have been relatively cool.

Oregon’s coast was hit with several upwellings this summer. That’s when strong winds push away the ocean’s surface water, thereby drawing in cooler water from the ocean’s deep. That deep ocean water is full of nutrients, including tiny lifeforms called phytoplankton. Menge thinks they might be tied to the mussels’ sudden die-off.

“A toxin released by those [phytoplankton] might be in the water and negatively affecting all the mussels, such that their digestive systems don’t work as well,” Menge said. “If that hypothesis is correct, it might be that they’re simply starving, even though there’s a lot of food in the water.”

That could explain why mussel deaths have been so scattered. Maybe the ones that are surviving have some sort of beneficial physical trait, like a larger shell or thicker internal tissue.

Even before this current die-off, Menge said, mussels have been under stress for decades. During the 25 years that he’s been studying mussels, he has noticed mussel reproduction rates declining, and the amount of tissue within their shells shrinking.

A man wearing waterproof overalls and holding a small pry bar walks across rocks covered in mussels. — Oregon State University professor and marine ecologist Bruce Menge searches for dead or dying mussels near the Fogarty Creek Recreation Area.
*April Ehrlich / OPB*
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“They’re sort of on the edge, and it’s a little — it’s a lot concerning,” Menge said.

Mussels are what’s called a “foundation species,” in that hundreds of other creatures rely on them for food or habitat. Barnacles cling to their shells, their massive clusters create an ideal home for seaweeds, and sea stars rely on them for food.

“If we lost all these mussels, it would be an environmental catastrophe,” Menge said.

Menge said identifying what’s behind this recent mussel die-off is crucial, because it could help researchers determine what this means for the rest of the ocean.

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Related Topics:Featured Wildlife | Oregon Coast | Science & Environment

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Oregon

5-Star Defensive Lineman Visiting Oregon Ducks for Ohio State Buckeyes Matchup

Published

8 hours ago

October 5, 2024

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5-Star Defensive Lineman Visiting Oregon Ducks for Ohio State Buckeyes Matchup

Consensus five-star defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart is visiting the No. 6 Oregon Ducks on Oct. 12 as the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes come to Autzen Stadium. On Oct. 5, Stewart announced he will be reclassifying from the class of 2026 to the class of 2025.

Consensus five-star defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart is visiting the No. 6 Oregon Ducks on Oct. 12 for the top-10 matchup with the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes On Oct. 5, Stewart announced he will be reclassifying from the class of 2026 to the class of 2025.

One week after revealing his plans to graduate a year early, Stewart will be in Autzen as the Buckeyes take on the Ducks.

Oregon coach Dan Lanning and Ohio State coach Ryan Day both have undefeated teams with College Football Playoff aspirations, but the recruiting never ends. Stewart projects as a player who can make an immediate impact.

Jahkeem Stewart under the Friday night lights. / Jahkeem Stewart / Instagram

After his visit to Eugene on Oct. 12, Stewart has plans to visit LSU on Nov. 9, USC on No. 16, and Ohio State on Nov. 30. Typically, the team with the last visit

The early signing period begins on Dec. 4, giving Day and the Buckeyes the last chance to make an impression on Stewart. That being said, LSU and USC have both been considered favorites throughout Stewart’s recruitment.

🚨NEWS🚨 5-star DL Jahkeem Stewart has reclassified to the 2025 cycle, per @SWiltfong_‼️
Read: https://t.co/ZTuincsC7N pic.twitter.com/bPD8QrNm37
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) October 5, 2024

Stewart was already high-profile recruit, and he is now the No. 3 defensive lineman recruit in 2025 according to the 247Sports Composite.

247Sports Scouting Analyst Gabe Brooks thinks highly of Stewart, writing about the elite defensive lineman’s athleticism.

“Reportedly highly productive sophomore campaign with 85 tackles, 33 TFL, 20 sacks. Still developing pass-rush repertoire but has shown encouraging technical awareness,” said Brooks. “Elite young defensive line prospect given outstanding physical tools and promising movement ability who could become a serious NFL Draft candidate down the road.”

MORE: Oregon Ducks’ Dan Lanning: ‘Tough’ Dillon Gabriel Injury Update After Michigan State

MORE: Will ESPN College GameDay Visit Eugene for Oregon Ducks vs. Ohio State?

MORE: Oregon Ducks Secure Recruiting Visit With Son of Former NFL Star

MORE: USC Trojans’ Bear Alexander Interested in Transfer To Oregon Ducks?

MORE: Oregon Ducks Recruiting Pushing To Flip USC Trojans Four-Star Commit

MORE: Largest College Football Stadiums: Ranking Oregon Ducks In Big Ten Conference

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Oregon

Friday’s win allows Oregon football to look ahead to matchup with Ohio State

Published

16 hours ago

October 5, 2024

Press Room

Friday’s win allows Oregon football to look ahead to matchup with Ohio State

Oregon is undefeated, coming off its third straight convincing win and despite some unremarkable plays in recent weeks, is starting to look more and more like a team that should to be favored to land a spot in the College Football Playoff in December.

Now comes the most anticipated game of the regular season.

Bring on the Buckeyes.

The No. 6 Oregon (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) will play No. 3 Ohio State – which is 4-0 heading into its game Saturday against Iowa – at 4:30 p.m. next Saturday in Autzen Stadium, a game between the two highest ranked teams in the conference.

“I think it’ll be a great challenge and a great opportunity for us in front of our home crowd,” quarterback Dillon Gabriel said after Oregon defeated Michigan State 31-10 Friday in Autzen Stadium. “You dream for moments like these and games like this and I think everyone’s excited for it.”

Despite this mid-October gem on its schedule, coach Dan Lanning said his team hasn’t looked ahead to Ohio State while it opened the season with wins against Idaho, Boise State, Oregon State, UCLA and now the Spartans.

“They’ve done a really good job of not listening to you guys, right?” Lanning said to media members Friday night. “But finally, you guys can talk about it. We’re finally there. We’re going to play them now. A great team. … There’s a reason why they’re one of the best teams in the country. It’s going to be a great challenge for us, and our fans are gonna have to show up.”

Lanning said the team would turn its focus to the Buckeyes at midnight on Friday. That wasn’t soon enough for wide receiver Tez Johnson.

“Right now,” Johnson said. “We turn the page right now. Obviously, it’s a big game … we’ll got out here and practice physical knowing that they got some really good players. But so do we. It’s going to be a really good matchup.”

Heading into their game against the Hawkeyes, the Buckeyes are the most prolific team in conference. With former Oregon coach Chip Kelly in his first season as offensive coordinator, Ohio State is ranked No. 1 in the Big Ten in scoring (48.8 points) and yards (534.8) per game, and No. 2 in passing yards (307.8) and No. 4 in rushing yards (227.0) per game.

They’ve also allowed the fewest points per game (6.8) for a No. 1 point differential of 42.0.

“I played Ohio State two years,” said defensive tackle Derrick Harmon, a Michigan State transfer. “I know what they bring. We just have to compete that game. That’s a game we’re gonna have to compete. Everybody run to the ball, everybody in the right gaps, everybody playing for each other. That’s what we gotta do.”

In 2021, the Ducks upset the Buckeyes in Columbus, 35-28, the only victory for Oregon in 10 games against Ohio State. The two games prior were a 42-20 loss in the 2015 national championship game and a 26-17 defeat in the 2010 Rose Bowl.

“We’re two great programs that have been known for playing good football,” Gabriel said. “The things you look to as a young man playing the game is big-time moments and great atmospheres. So, super excited for it.”

Chris Hansen covers University of Oregon football, men’s basketball, track and field, cross country and softball for The Register-Guard. You can reach him on X @chansen_RG or by email at chansen@registerguard.com.

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Oregon

Live updates: Michigan State trails Oregon 31-7 in fourth quarter

Published

23 hours ago

October 5, 2024

Press Room

Live updates: Michigan State trails Oregon 31-7 in fourth quarter

MSU closes gap in waning seconds

A nice drive by Tommy Schuster puts points on the board for the Spartans. 31-10 looks like the final with 25 seconds to play. I’m sure there many out there that were more interested in that field goal than others.

Defense gets a stop, Chiles’ day is done

Tommy Schuster enters for the Spartans with six minutes and change remaining. Looks like the rest of the starting crew is still out there.

Touchdown, MSU!

In year one of a new coaching staff, and against teams that are probably in a different weight class, little things like getting on the scoreboard matter. A 75-yard drive ended with a Kay’ron-Lynch Adams one yard scoring run, and it’s 31-7 late. Chiles found a few receivers, including two first downs to Jack Velling, and a 35-yard strike to Montorie Foster. 8:27 remains to close the gap further.

Score blown open after long Oregon TD drive

After holding the ball for over eight minutes, the Ducks hit paydirt on fourth and goal from the two. For the second week in a row, there are just too many weapons for Michigan State to keep up with. 31-0 Oregon is your score now.

Fourth quarter looms with Oregon in control

Oregon has really slowed the pace and is taking a bunch of time off the clock while moving the ball. The Ducks are threatening again, as the end of the third quarter arrives. MSU’s defense needs the breather, they are getting leaned on right now. Let’s see if they can keep the end zone clean.

Ducks add field goal, 24-0 score

Well, it could be worse. A promising Oregon drive stalled out, and it was a nice job by Michigan State to force a 50-yard field goal, especially with an iffy Ducks kicking game. The attempt was good, and now Michigan State takes over on offense, still trying to put some points on the board.

Oregon takes over after empty possession

Michigan State’s offensive line is breaking down, and Chiles is doing his best to scramble around. Oregon’s defensive line is a handful for anyone. Jaron Glover had an opportunity to haul in a big play inside the red zone, but had the ball punched out at the last second. Still 21-0 early third quarter.

Lead extends to 21-0 going into half

That’s huge. Oregon marches right down the field, eats up the rest of the clock, and scores a touchdown. Gabriel throws his 135th TD pass and now the Spartans have dug quite a first half hole against a top 10 team for the second week in a row.

MSU gives ball back at two minute timeout

A few sacks derailed a drive that started off strong. Michigan State will get the ball to begin the second half, so this upcoming drive for the defense will be crucial to get a stop.

Ducks punch one in to go up 14-0

It is becoming clear that there isn’t much Spartan resistance for the Oregon ground game tonight. Oregon back Jordan James is up to 133 rushing yards on 14 carries, with the team up to 174. There is still 5:26 left in the half. Offense needs to put some points up quick.

Second quarter starts another turnover

Plot twist, this was NOT another Michigan State turnover. Charles Brantley is on an interception hot streak, and he just got the second red zone pick of the night for the Spartans. In a game with three drives that got inside the five, it is 7-0 Oregon with 11:17 left in the first half.

Gabriel runs in late first quarter score

The Ducks have gotten to at least the one-yard line in their last two drives, but no turnover this time. A couple big plays were capped off by a nine-yard touchdown run by Gabriel, and it’s 7-0 Oregon. End of the first quarter in Eugene.

Three-and-out for MSU, Ducks takeover

Nice decision from Chiles to not force anything on a third and a million. A nice punt from Ryan Eckley and another play by Spencer flips the field.

Oregon returns the favor; Spartans pick off Dillon Gabriel

Call it even! Fresh off of forcing a turnover at their own one yard-line, Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel throws an interception at the Spartan one. Malik Spencer made a very athletic diving catch to secure the pick, and Michigan State takes over after the touchback.

Chiles fumble at the 1 squanders golden scoring chance

This is getting ridiculous. Yet another drive where Michigan State marches the ball right down the field ends with a turnover. This one is an Aidan Chiles fumble as he was reaching into the end zone. The most frustrating thing for Spartan fans is how good Chiles also looks. Multiple great throws, including a deep bomb to Nick Marsh that set the Spartans up at the two, set up the scoring chance. But one step forward has been followed by a step back too many times so far to hang with the big boy teams.

Hello Defense!

Michigan State won the toss and gave the Ducks the ball. That turned out to be a good choice. The Spartans force a three and out and the offense has an early chance to punch ahead.

Let’s get this party started

Nice surprise on this late-night for Michiganders. Tigers’ announcer Jason Benetti is on the call in Eugene for Fox. 3-2 Spartans and 4-0 Ducks on deck.

The Spartans continue the meat of their schedule with a trip across the country to face unbeaten and No. 6-ranked Oregon on the national stage.

Coming off a 38-7 home loss to Ohio State, Michigan State faces another top-10 team, but this time it’s on the road. The Spartans moved the ball well against the Buckeyes, and did not look physically outmatched for most of the night, but costly turnovers and mistakes proved too much to keep up with Ohio State.

Those mistakes will need to be limited, as the Spartans head into one of the most hostile environments in the country. However, Oregon has let opponents hang around in home games so far. The Ducks needed a late score to put away FCS Idaho in Week 1 and only beat Boise State out of the Mountain West by a 37-34 score. Oregon is coming off a pair of dominant road performances the last two weeks, with a 49-14 rout at Oregon State and 34-13 win at UCLA.

Follow along here for live updates from Detroit News contributor Griffin Beers.