Tagging of Pacific Predators (TOPP)

Tagging of Pacific Predators (TOPP)
Name	Tagging of Pacific Predators (TOPP)
Formation	2000
Type	Research program
Headquarters	Pacific Ocean
Parent organization	Census of Marine Life

Tagging of Pacific Predators (TOPP) is a large-scale marine research program that investigated movement, foraging, and population dynamics of pelagic predators across the North Pacific. TOPP combined field studies, satellite telemetry, electronic tagging, and ecological modeling to produce broad-scale datasets used by scientists, managers, and educators. The program operated within international research networks and intersected with oceanographic, conservation, and fisheries initiatives.

Overview

TOPP integrated disciplines and institutions to study animals across the North Pacific, linking projects based at Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Stanford University, University of Washington, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and NOAA laboratories. The program employed tagging methods developed by teams at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, University of California, Santa Cruz, Oregon State University, and University of British Columbia to monitor species relevant to Marine Protected Area planning, Endangered Species Act assessments, and ecosystem-based management. TOPP outputs informed stakeholders such as National Marine Fisheries Service, Pew Charitable Trusts, World Wildlife Fund, and regional ocean observing systems.

History and Development

TOPP began in 2000 as part of the Census of Marine Life initiative and expanded through the 2000s with collaborations involving University of California, Santa Barbara, Dalhousie University, University of Alaska Fairbanks, and international partners including Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Early development leveraged expertise from researchers like those affiliated with Scripps Institution of Oceanography and engineering groups at NASA centers for satellite telemetry. Funding and logistical support grew through associations with institutions such as Monterey Bay Aquarium, Packard Foundation, and national programs at National Science Foundation and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Over time, TOPP integrated new technologies from private-sector firms and academic spin-offs to scale deployments from coastal to basin scales.

Goals and Objectives

TOPP aimed to map animal movements, quantify foraging ecology, and link predator behavior to physical features like fronts, eddies, and currents. Objectives included improving understanding for Marine Spatial Planning, informing Endangered Species Act decisions, and contributing data to the Global Ocean Observing System. TOPP sought to develop tagging technologies for long-duration tracking, to produce open-access datasets for researchers at institutions such as University of Miami, Imperial College London, and University of Tokyo, and to foster public engagement through partners like Monterey Bay Aquarium and media collaborations with outlets including National Geographic and BBC.

Methods and Technology

TOPP used a suite of electronic tags: satellite-linked transmitters developed in conjunction with engineering groups at NASA, archival tags from manufacturers linked to teams at Mote Marine Laboratory, and time-depth recorders refined by laboratories at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Data collection combined ARGOS satellite telemetry, GPS fixes, and remotely sensed oceanographic products from NOAA satellites, MODIS, and oceanographic surveys by vessels from Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Analytical approaches incorporated state-space modeling from statisticians at University of Washington and habitat modeling methods used by researchers at Stanford University and Princeton University. Collaborative software and data standards were informed by initiatives at Ocean Biogeographic Information System and Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Key Species and Study Areas

TOPP focused on apex and mesopredators including Blue whale, Humpback whale, Fin whale, California sea lion, Northern elephant seal, Leopard seal, Steller sea lion, Harbor seal, White shark, Pacific bluefin tuna, Albacore tuna, Salmon shark, Loggerhead sea turtle, Leatherback sea turtle, Short-tailed albatross, and numerous seabird species studied in collaboration with Point Reyes National Seashore and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Study areas spanned the California Current, Gulf of Alaska, Bering Sea, and the central North Pacific gyre, with focal regions near Monterey Bay, San Francisco Bay, Juan de Fuca Strait, and the Aleutian Islands.

Major Findings and Impact

TOPP produced influential findings on long-distance migrations, foraging hotspots, and the role of physical oceanography in predator distribution, informing management by National Marine Fisheries Service and conservation by The Nature Conservancy. Studies revealed connectivity among breeding and feeding areas for species tracked between California and Alaska, documented use of mesoscale eddies and fronts by whales and turtles, and quantified overlap with fisheries fleets referenced in assessments by International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas and regional fishery management councils. TOPP datasets supported publications in journals associated with Nature Publishing Group, Science (journal), and other academic outlets, and contributed to policy dialogues at venues such as Convention on Biological Diversity and regional marine planning workshops.

Collaborations and Funding Sources

TOPP was jointly executed by academic institutions, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations including Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Stanford University, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, NOAA Fisheries, Marine Mammal Center, and foundations such as David and Lucile Packard Foundation and Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. International partners included Fisheries and Oceans Canada and researchers from University of Tokyo and University of Auckland. Major funding and logistical support came from National Science Foundation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, private foundations, and in-kind contributions from marine sanctuaries such as Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and research vessels operated by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Category:Marine biology Category:Oceanographic expeditions