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OSU Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences

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OSU Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences

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Empowering future scientists through interdisciplinary education, research, and hands-on experience.

11/05/2026

Did you know that imitation crab has an Oregon State University connection? 🦀

For more than 20 years, OSU’s Seafood Research Laboratory in Astoria was home to “Surimi School,” where researchers and seafood industry professionals explored new ways to work with surimi the protein-rich fish muscle used to make imitation crab.

The work went far beyond imitation crab. Researchers developed ways to recover more usable meat from Pacific whiting, helping keep more protein from ending up as fish meal or going down the drain.

The Seafood Lab’s work has helped inspire surimi research around the world, with innovations reaching researchers and industry in countries including Thailand, France and Korea. 🌍

Today, surimi innovation continues through conferences and research focused on making better use of seafood resources and reducing waste.

👉 Read the full story from the Astoria Budget: beav.es/Yb9

📷️ Jae Park

11/03/2026

What does it take to turn a passion for wildlife conservation into a career? 🏔️

For Débora García Ovejero, it took five years, nine time zones and a commitment to learning while working full time. 🌍

After years of volunteering with wildlife conservation organizations during her vacations, Débora decided she wanted to make a lasting impact and returned to school to build the knowledge and experience to make conservation her career.

She earned her Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences bachelor’s degree online from Oregon State University while living and working in the Netherlands. Along the way, she gained hands-on research experience through an internship in Namibia, studying wildlife and human-wildlife conflict using camera-trap data.

Today, Débora is pursuing a master’s degree in biology at Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands, continuing toward her goal of a career in conservation research and applied ecology. 🌿

Her journey is a great example of how an online degree can open doors to hands-on experiences and a new career, even from thousands of miles away. 💚

Interested in continuing your education with FWCS? Winter term registration opens soon! Whether you're looking to build on your experience or explore a new career path, FWCS offers opportunities to take that next step.

👉️ Read Débora’s story: https://beav.es/Yby
📜 Check out the FWCS undergrad program here: https://beav.es/g5w

10/22/2026

How are invasive species shaping the food web of the Snake River? 🐟

On October 14, FWCS associate professor Jonny Armstrong joined Andrew Murdoch of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to present research on walleye ecology to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council . Their work helps inform regional discussions about walleye predation and the conservation of native fish. 🌊

Their research tracked walleye diets throughout the year to understand how they combine native and non-native prey. In theory, the growing abundance of non-native American shad and Siberian prawn could reduce predation pressure on juvenile salmonids — if walleye filled up on these prey instead of salmon. But the research found the opposite: walleye fed heavily on shad in fall and winter, then switched to salmon when smolts migrate downstream in spring, with Siberian prawn providing a consistent food source throughout the year. Because these prey have complementary seasonal timing, the non-native species are actually amplifying predation pressure on salmon (and lamprey as well) by sustaining walleye year-round between annual salmon pulses.

🔬 Check out the research: https://beav.es/Y9D

📊 View the presentation to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council: https://beav.es/Y9a

📰 Read more about the growing concerns over walleye and potential management strategies: https://beav.es/YCE

🎧 Listen to the Northwest Public Broadcasting report: https://beav.es/YCz

📷️ Matt Polacek

10/20/2026

Congratulations to FWCS assistant professor Josh Twining, lead author Jen Grauer, and their co-authors on receiving The Wildlife Society's 2026 Best Paper Award! 🎉

Their study, published in Ecology Letters, found that white-tailed deer limit moose not by outcompeting them directly, but by spreading parasites that deer tolerate and moose can't. 🫎 🦌

The researchers found that parasite-mediated competition limited moose occupancy, highlighting how indirect interactions between species can shape wildlife communities and have important implications for conservation and wildlife management.

The study provides new insight into how interactions between competitors, parasites, and their environments can drive wildlife population dynamics on landscape-scales.

Congratulations to Josh and the entire research team on this well-deserved recognition! 🥳

🌿 Read the full story from The Wildlife Society: https://beav.es/YCW
🔬 Check out their research here: https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.70159

10/13/2026

Mark your calendars! The 17th Annual Squirrel’s Fundraiser is happening this Thursday, October 15! 🍻

Head to Squirrel’s Tavern in Corvallis and order a “Fish Beer” or the new “Fish Cider” for $4 to directly support the Fisheries and Wildlife Graduate Student Association (FWGSA)!

The annual fundraiser is a great opportunity to support FWCS graduate students while enjoying a drink with friends and colleagues. 💚

🎸 Stick around for live music from local band Brutal Bridges, joined by FWCS faculty member Clint Epps for a special reunion performance. The band takes the stage at 8 p.m., following dinner service.

Come out, support FWGSA, and enjoy an evening of fish-themed drinks and live music! 🐟

Check out the flyer for event details and meet some of the graduate students working to advance fisheries and wildlife research and conservation at OSU!

10/12/2026

Another reason to celebrate our FWCS Internship Coordinator, Shalynn Pack! 🌿

It’s been a big year for Shalynn! After recently being recognized with OSU's Inclusive Excellence Advocate Award and named Club Advisor of the Year, we’re excited to share that Shalynn has been selected to participate in Oregon State University’s Fall ’26 Teaching and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Faculty Learning Community, a 9-week program bringing faculty together to explore how artificial intelligence is shaping teaching and learning.

Shalynn will be examining how students can judiciously utilize AI tools in their career preparation and will apply her learning into our Career Skills in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences course, which all FWCS undergrads take.

Through her work as our Internship Coordinator, VIEW Fellowship Coordinator, FW Club faculty advisor, and professional development lead, Shalynn is constantly creating opportunities for our students to connect, grow and find their place in the fisheries and wildlife community. We’re glad to have her bringing that perspective to conversations about how we can thoughtfully navigate the opportunities and challenges of AI in higher education.

We look forward to seeing what she brings back to our department and students! 💚

🔗 Faculty can learn more about participating in OSU's Teaching and Learning Communities here: https://beav.es/YKW

10/08/2026

Congratulations to FWCS PhD candidate Olivia Boisen, who was recognized in the 2026 National Estuaries Week Photo Contest! 🎉📸

Olivia had two photos selected as winners in the Work category, along with an additional photo receiving an honorable mention, from more than 140 submissions to this year’s contest.

As a PhD student in the Heppell Lab studying Fisheries Science, Olivia studies the effectiveness of seagrass restoration in Oregon from the perspective of fish and invertebrate communities. Her research reflects her passion for coastal ecosystems and the species that depend on them.

Her photography offers another way to highlight the beauty and importance of these environments. Olivia’s recognized photos were captured at South Slough Reserve, showcasing the coastal ecosystems that inspire her work. 🌊🌿

Congratulations, Olivia!

Swipe through to see Olivia’s recognized photos and a few highlights from the contest! 📸

You can also check out the other 2026 contest winners at coast.noaa.gov/nerrs/about/photo-contest-winners.

10/06/2026

Tech Tuesday: What can scientists learn by listening to crayfish? 🦞🔊

On our previous Tech Tuesday, we explored how AI-based tracking and behavioral analysis are helping researchers study how native and non-native crayfish move and interact.

But what if researchers could study those interactions by listening, too?

Ph.D. student Abdullah Y. Alkinani, working in the Arismendi Lab with faculty advisor Ivan Arismendi, is developing an integrated approach to studying interactions between native Signal Crayfish and non-native Ringed Crayfish.

In these experiments, scientists use a model fish to simulate a predator and study crayfish responses without exposing them to a live predator. 🐟🦞

Researchers will also use HydroMoth underwater passive acoustic recorders to capture sounds produced during crayfish interactions. These waterproof acoustic recorders can capture underwater sounds while video cameras record what the crayfish are doing at the same time. 📹🔊

By matching the sound recordings with the video, researchers can investigate whether particular sounds are associated with aggressive, defensive or other competitive behaviors.

This adds another layer to the behavioral data collected through tools like DeepLabCut and BORIS. Instead of looking only at how crayfish move and what they do, researchers can also explore whether their interactions produce detectable sounds.

By combining computer vision, behavioral analysis and underwater acoustics, this research is exploring new ways to understand how native and non-native crayfish interact and how technology can help scientists observe behaviors that might otherwise be difficult to detect.

👉 Swipe through to see the model fish used to simulate a predator response, the HydroMoth, and other technologies being used in the experiments.

10/05/2026

🌊 Save the date! Our Willamette Symposium 2026 is coming to OSU December 8–9.

Now in its third year, the symposium brings together researchers, restoration practitioners, Tribal members, utilities, landowners and public agencies to share knowledge, build partnerships and explore how science, policy and community action can support the Willamette River watershed.

📅 December 8–9, 2026
📍 CH2M HILL Alumni Center, Oregon State University

A few important dates to keep in mind:

🌿 Early registration: November 7
📚 Poster abstracts due: November 2

Students can also attend at no cost by volunteering during the symposium. Current students interested in the volunteer opportunity should contact the conference coordinator to arrange an assignment.

👉 Learn more about the symposium, registration, poster submissions and student volunteer opportunities: ourwillamette.oregonstate.edu/

10/01/2026

We’re excited to celebrate FWCS Faculty Research Assistant Emma Svatos, whose artwork was selected as the commemorative design for the 2026 Corvallis Fall Festival! 🎨🌲

Emma is part of Dr. Ivan Arismendi’s Freshwater Ecology and Conservation Lab, where she works as an aquatic ecologist. Her passion for block printing began in graduate school, when she participated in an art and science festival that challenged scientists to communicate their research through art.

Since then, Emma has used block printing to share her love of fish, wildlife and the natural world. Her Fall Festival design brings together many of the things she loves about Corvallis, from local species and landmarks to the community spaces that make the area feel like home.

One of the most meaningful parts of the experience for Emma was hearing people recognize places and species in the artwork and share their own connections to them. It was a reminder of the ways art can help people connect with science, nature and their community. 💚

We’re proud to see Emma representing FWCS through both her research and her art. Congratulations, Emma! 🎉

Read more about Emma and the story behind the 2026 Fall Festival design: www.corvallisfallfestival.org/2026-poster-artist

Address

104 Nash Hall
Corvallis, OR
97331

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Telephone

+15417374531

Website

http://fwcs.oregonstate.edu/

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