SAFS hosts weekly lunch-time seminars, where students and faculty share findings from their current research. Read through our past seminars to get an idea of topics covered and be sure to check out our events calendar to download upcoming seminars on your calendar.

Any recordings will be uploaded below and on the SAFS YouTube.

Winter 2026 Quantitative Seminars

Fridays at 12:30-1:30 pm in FSH 203.

 

Option to join the seminars remotely via Zoom is available.

1/23/26 – ** ROOM CHANGED TO FSH-213**

Melanie Davis (Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University)

TITLE: “Hierarchical Science”: How effective data synthesis can better inform management

ABSTRACT: Integrating habitat restoration with hatchery, harvest, hydropower, and climate drivers has long been considered the “holy grail” of effective salmon management, and can help managers move beyond habitat-only strategies to better understand tradeoffs among recovery actions. This talk highlights a “hierarchical” approach to data synthesis in the Nisqually River Delta that uses restoration monitoring data, salmon life-history information, and climate scenarios to better inform habitat restoration and salmon management. We draw from detailed monitoring and bioenergetics data to connect restoration actions directly to juvenile growth, survival, and fishery outcomes.

01/30/26 – No Speaker

02/06/26

Andrew Berger (Puyallup Tribe Fisheries)

TITLE:  A Retrospective: Long-term Trends in Juvenile Salmon Migration Timing and Abundance in the Puyallup River

ABSTRACT:  The Puyallup River Juvenile Salmonid Production Assessment Program has operated for over two decades to quantify outmigrating juvenile salmonids using rotary screw traps on both the Puyallup and White Rivers. Since its inception, the program has generated a continuous, multi-species time series of juvenile abundance, migration timing, and species composition that contributes to adult return forecasts and long-term population assessment. This presentation focuses on the sampling methods, data structure, and insights gained from twenty years of standardized screw trap monitoring. We describe the operation and consistency of the trap, summarize interannual trends across juvenile salmonid species, and highlight recent patterns associated with the pronounced increase in juvenile pink salmon production. Together, these data provide a rare long-term perspective on juvenile salmonid migration dynamics in a highly altered river system and underscore the value of sustained monitoring for interpreting variability, detecting change, and contextualizing recent population responses.

02/13/26

Jack Litle (Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle)

Title TBD

02/20/26

Alanna Hildebrandt (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Tacoma)

Title TBD

02/27/26

Erik McDonald (School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, University of Washington, Tacoma)

Title TBD

03/06/26

Shima Abadi (The School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle)

Title TBD

03/13/26

Fran Ehrenberg (University of Washington, Seattle)

Title TBD

Archived Quantitative Seminars

Past seminar recordings can be found on our YouTube channel Quantitative Seminar playlist

Autumn 2025 Seminars
Spring 2025 Seminars
Winter 2025 Seminars
Autumn 2024 Seminars
Spring 2024 Seminars
Winter 2024 Seminars
Autumn 2023 Seminars
Spring 2023 Seminars
Winter 2023 Seminars
Autumn 2022 Seminars
Spring 2022 Seminars
Winter 2022 Seminars
Autumn 2021 Seminars
Spring 2021 Seminars
Winter 2021 Seminars
Autumn 2020 Seminars
Spring 2020 Seminars
Spring 2015 Seminars