Dear Colleagues, we are quite happy to announce two new publications from our lab alums. Please see below and let me know if you need .pdf’s. best, Ellen Cope, S, Hines, E, Bland, R, Davis, JD, Tougher, B, Zetterlind, V. 2021. Multi-sensor integration for an assessment of underwater radiated noise from common vessels in San Francisco Bay. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0003963 There is growing evidence that smaller vessels not required to broadcast data via the Automatic Identification System (AIS) contribute significant noise in urbanized coastal areas. The Marine Monitor (M2), a vessel tracking system that integrates AIS data with data collected via marine radar and high-definition camera, was employed to track all vessel types (regardless of AIS data availability) in a region of San Francisco Bay (SFB) where high-speed ferry, recreational, and commercial shipping traffic are common. Using a co-located hydrophone, source levels (SL) associated with 565 unique vessel passages were calculated and resultant cumulative daily sound exposure levels across the study area were modeled. Despite large ships primarily having the greatest SLs, ferries and motorized recreational craft contributed noise to the largest area in two frequency bands of interest. The M2 provided data without the need for an on-site observer and enabled a systematic analysis of all relevant vessel types which showed that non-AIS vessels should not be excluded from consideration, especially in a highly urbanized estuary like SFB. This research provides an assessment of underwater radiated noise from all common vessel types in SFB suitable for informing habitat quality and threat evaluation for local cetacean species. Backe, K., Hines, E., Nielsen, K., George, D., Twohy, E., and M. Lowry. 2021. Effects of sea-level rise and storm enhanced flooding on Pacific harbor seal habitat: a comparison of haul-out changes at the Russian and Eel River Estuaries. Aquatic Conservation https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3574 1. Patterns and changes in the distribution of coastal marine mammals can serve as indicators of environmental change which fill critical information gaps in coastal and marine environments. Coastal habitats are particularly vulnerable to the effects of near-term sea-level rise. 2. In California, Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardii) are a natural indicator species of coastal change due to their reliance on terrestrial habitats, abundance, distribution, and site fidelity. Pacific harbor seals are marine top predators that are easily observed while hauled out at terrestrial habitats which are essential for resting, pupping, and molting. 3. While increasing inundation from recent sea-level rise and storm driven flooding has changed the California coastline, little is known about the effect of future sea-level rise and increased storm frequency and strength on harbor seal haul-out availability and quality in California. 4. Harbor seal habitat was modeled at two sand bar-built estuaries under a series of likely sea-level rise and storm scenarios. The primary findings of these scenarios reveal that, over time, habitat at both estuaries decreased with increasing sea-level, and storm enhanced water levels contributed significantly to habitat flooding. These changes reflect pressures on coastal habitats that impact human and natural systems. Ellen Hines, PhD Associate Director and Professor of Geography & Environment Estuary & Ocean Science Center San Francisco State University 3150 Paradise Dr, Tiburon, CA 94920 USA ehines@sfsu.edu<mailto:ehines@sfsu.edu> https://eoscenter.sfsu.edu/content/ellen-hines **I formally acknowledge that I reside and work on occupied Tamyen Ohlone and Coastal Miwok land.