This work is a recent continuation of studies began in 1988 to explore and describe the benthic continental shelf communities of Oregon. In collaboration with multiple Federal and State agencies our lab is involved in describing the megafaunal invertebrate communities in this areas and quantifying relationships between groundfish, invertebrates and physical habitat. In 1999, new studies were initiated to further explore Heceta Bank, OR in more detail using high-resolution, multi-beam mapping. This work was extended to Astoria Canyon, OR in  2000 and to the Cowcod Conservation Areas off southern California in 2002. Recent studies are ongoing at Cordell Bank, CA and new work is starting on the California Channel Islands and off the Central California coast. Our most recent emphasis is on the distribution and abundance of deep sea corals and other structure-forming invertebrates and their associations with groundfish.

Publications:

1)   Hixon, M. A., B. N. Tissot, W. G. Percy. 1991. Fish Assemblages of Rocky Banks of the Pacific Northwest. Final Report, OCS Study 91-0052, U. S. Minerals Management Service, Camarillo, CA. 410 pp.

2)   Hixon, M. A. and B. N. Tissot. 1992. Fish Assemblages of Rocky Banks of the Pacific Northwest. Final Report Supplement, OCS Study 91-0025, U. S. Minerals Management Service, Camarillo, CA. 128 pp.

3)   Stein, D. L., B. N. Tissot, M. A. Hixon and W. A. Barss. 1992. Fish-habitat associations on a deep reef at the edge of the Oregon continental shelf. Fisheries Bulletin 90: 540-551.

4)   Starr, R. M., D. S. Fox, M. A. Hixon, B. N. Tissot, G. Johnson and W. H. Barss. 1996. Comparison of submersible and acoustic estimates of fish density on a rocky bank. Fishery Bulletin 94: 113-123.

5)   Nasby, N. Embley, R., Tissot, B.N, Hixon. M., Wright, Wright, Merle, S. and W.  Wakefield. 2002. Integration of Historical Groundfish Habitat Data with New High Resolution Remotely Sensed Data on Heceta Bank, Oregon. Fisheries Bulletin 100(4):739-751.

6)   Tissot, B. N., W. Waldo Wakefield, N. P.F. Puniwai, J. Pirtle, K.York and  J. E.R. Clemons.  2004. Abundance and distribution of structure-forming megafaunal invertebrates, including cold-water corals, on Heceta Bank, Oregon, 2000-2002. NOAA Technical Report, 48pp.

7)   Wakefield, W.W., C.E. Whitmire, J.E.R. Clemons, B.N. Tissot. 2005. Fish habitat studies:  Combining high-resolution geological and biological data. In P. W. Barnes and J. P. Thomas, editors. Benthic habitats and the effects of fishing. American Fisheries Society, Symposium 41; 199-138. Bethesda, Maryland.

8)   Tissot, B. N., M. A. Hixon and D. L. Stein, D. L. In Press. Habitat-based submersible assessment of groundfish assemblages at Heceta Bank, Oregon from 1988 to 1990. Fisheries Bulletin

9)   Tissot, B. N., M. M. Yoklavich, M. S. Love, K. York and M. Amend. In Press. Structure-forming invertebrates as components of benthic habitat on deep banks off southern California. Fisheries Bulletin

Grants:

1)   Megafaunal Invertebrates on Cordell Bank, CA. NW Fisheries Science Center, 2004-2005. Point Reyes National Seashore PWR ($9,945)

2)   Fish-Habitat Associations on Heceta Bank, OR. NW Fisheries Science Center, 2003-2005. National Marine Fisheries Service ($30,000)

3)   Fish-Habitat Associations on Heceta Bank, OR. NW Fisheries Science Center, 2002-2003. National Marine Fisheries Service ($24,900)

4)  Macroinvertebrates and Associated Habitats from the Cowcod Conservation Areas Off Southern California. 2002-2004. SW Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service ($70,489)

5)  Ocean Exploration off the West Coast of the U.S.: A Voyage of Discovery to Unexplored Marine Habitats in the Northeast Pacific - Completing the Lewis and Clark Legacy. 2001-2002. NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration ($13,956, w/Wakefield, Embley, Yokalvich et al.)

6)   Combining Historical Data, High Resolution Seafloor Imagery, and New Survey and Analysis Techniques in Fisheries Habitat Studies Off Oregon. 2000-2001. NOAA National Undersea Research Program ($92,000, w/Wakefield, Embley, Yokalvich).