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CORVALLIS, Ore. - Sixteen Oregon high school teams will test their knowledge of marine sciences on Saturday, March 4, during the annual Salmon Bowl competition at Oregon State University.

At stake for the 80 competing teens is a trip for the winning team to the national competition in Monterey, Calif., this May. For the dozens of volunteers - faculty, staff and students - in the OSU College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences that hosts the event is a chance to help boost science literacy and interest in the world's oceans.

"Interest in the Salmon Bowl has grown every year," said David Christie, a professor in the college and faculty adviser to the event. "And every year, the students' knowledge gets better and better."

The public is invited to watch the event, held on the OSU campus from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Burt Hall, Wilkinson Hall, and the College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences administrative building. All three facilities are located roughly at 26th Street and Monroe in Corvallis. Admission is free.

This statewide competition is part of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl, which aims to develop the next generation of marine scientists, policy makers, educators, explorers, researchers and advocates. It is organized by the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education, a group of 85 universities and aquaria, including OSU. More information is available at: http://www.nosb.org/

Last year's winning team, Neah-Kah-Nie High School's "A" Team, returns to defend its title.

Competing teams will tackle questions about tsunamis, undersea earthquakes, offshore currents, fisheries, animal behavior and plate tectonics - to name just a few.

Care to test your own knowledge?

Rising sea levels attributed to global warming threaten to eliminate which country, Tuvalu, Guam, Jamaica or Haiti? (The answer: Tuvalu).

Or what is the primary defense mechanism of sea cucumbers? (The answer: autoevisceration, or expelling the digestive tract through the animals', uh, anterior end).

"There are some difficult questions," said Alicia Christensen, a graduate student in OSU's College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, who is coordinating outreach for the event. "It's pretty exciting to watch high school students answer tough, real-world questions about research our faculty have done - and that a lot of graduate students and even other faculty don't know the answers to."

For more information on OSU's College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, visit the college website at: http://www.coas.oregonstate.edu/

Competing Salmon Bowl teams, individuals and coaches are listed below:

Astoria: Astoria High School Team A: Elliot Leback, Jonathan Skillman, Maia Donachy, Victoria Enterline, Kevin Berry; Team B: Jonnie Dunne, Katrina Sentgeorge, Christina Tweed, Kye Johnson, Kim Russell; Coach Lee Cain.

Corvallis: Corvallis High School: Danielle White, Annette Patton, Mellissa Meitle, Madeleine Moum, Coach Brian Wake.

Crescent Valley High School: Ian Scott, Hannah Camfield-Bronstein, Andrea Bettag, Molly Bell, Alese Cochran, Coach Dan Bregar, Coach Daniela Zima.

Estacada: Estacada High School: Melissa Rathbun, Erik McAbee, Jessica Armstrong, Taylor Reed, Jade Keller, Coach Crystal Wulff.

McMinnville: McMinnville High School: Robert Bay, Sarah Fisher, Nat Polzen, David Kouns, Derick Ybanez, Coach Mary Beth Kramer.

Neah-Kah-Nie: Neah-Kah-Nie High School Team A: Theo Hill, Collin McCandless, Rachel Ryan, Katy Greenwood, Cameron DuBois; Team B: Nick Crissman, Samantha Ferber, Ashley Rauscher, Sarah Aagesen, Laura Grauwen; Coach Beth Gienger, Coach Peter Walczak.

Newport: Newport High School: Megan Baker, Colin McNamara, Yuanbo Liu, Ben Waik, Dyllynn Chrichton, Coach Jesica Haxel.

Portland: Benson Tech Team A: Kennon Ono, Paul Dornath, Jing Chen, Ryver Hankins, Jack Lee, Coach Jean Eames, Coach Matt Pellico; Team B: Tony Mac, Nikesh Hajari, Christy Le, Michael Gray, Geoff Balke, Coach David Burmester.

Catlin Gabel School: Laura Hays, Brian Lee, Molly Wilcox, Blake Zwerling, Coach Kathryn Shimmon.

Grant High School: Gaedwyn Swails, Christian Hofmann, Alex Luttman, Steven Stewart, Sarah Benjamin, Coach Linda Driscoll.

Salem: McKay High School: Katrina Beringer, Colin Jabin, Justin Neill, Westley Dang, Yoon Fow Saeteurn, Coach Teresa Mills.

West Salem High School: Nicole James, Byron Harmon, Alex Kreitzberg, Melanie Altaras, Coach Michael Lampert.

Seaside: Seaside High School: Max Broderick, Elizabeth Cameron, Emily Smith, Alice Stewart, Peter McClure, Coach Matthew Johnson.