Cathy A. Laetz

Background

Cathy has worked at the NWFSC since November 2001. She came here after completing a M.S. in Marine Environmental Science (State University of New York at Stony Brook 2001) and a B.S. in Biological Oceanography (University of Washington 1996). Her previous research experience includes both laboratory and field work, and ranges from measuring the growth of shellfish during harmful algal blooms, to monitoring benthic invertebrate communities surrounding municipal wastewater outfalls. Her overall research goal has been to determine the effects of anthropogenic pollutants on the biology and ecology of marine organisms.

Current Research

In her current job at NWFSC, Cathy continues to investigate pollution effects on marine and anadromous fish. Specific projects (both laboratory and field based) include; measuring DNA damage in fish liver cells as a measure of chronic exposure to pollution, monitoring fish assemblages in restored near-shore urban habitats, investigating pre-spawned mortality of adult coho salmon returning to urban streams, and studying the neurological and behavioral effects of pesticide exposure on juvenile coho salmon.