New tools for monitoring health of life at the bottom of Puget Sound

By Maggie Dutch, Senior Benthic Ecologist, Washington Department of Ecology




Up close and personal view of brittlestars taken by Maggie Dutch of Ecology's marine sediment monitoring program.

The sand and mud at the bottom of Puget Sound is home to a wide variety of microscopic
invertebrates that scientists refer to as the “benthos.”



Microscopic creatures support the food chain
These