Sea Discovery: Chitons, the algae vacuums of the intertidal Chitons are a group of molluscs that are defined by the eight plates that act as armour on their backs. These plates are mobile and allow the oval-shaped mollusc to curl itself into a ball when hiding from predators (just like Read more…
Weekly Sea Discovery: One organism or many? The budding and beautiful orange sea pen Suitably named after the old-fashioned quilled pen, sea pens have a very distinct shape. Sea pens are cnidarians and related to soft corals, sea fans, anemones and jellies. These bottom-dwelling invertebrates look quite different from their other stinging Read more…
Weekly Sea Discovery: Bubble Snails As we continue our eelgrass surveys in our local waters, I am always amazed at the diversity of exciting creatures we encounter. Last week, we mapped an area by Montague Harbour and came upon hundreds of egg deposits in the eelgrass bed (see photo). Though Read more…
Weekly Sea Discovery: Sea Cucumbers Are Amazing Nutrient Cyclers While kayaking during our eelgrass surveys this week, I looked down and noticed some bright orange specks hidden amongst the algae and kelp. As we went shallower, I could see that these vibrant blobs were orange sea cucumbers! While nuzzled in Read more…
Weekly Sea Discovery: Delicate Porcelain Crabs of the Intertidal While porcelain crabs may look like true crabs, they are more closely related to squat lobsters and hermit crabs. They have flattened bodies so they can squeeze between rocks and crevices on rocky shores. One identifying feature is their large, broad Read more…
Weekly Sea Discovery: Wasting Sea Stars of the Intertidal Many of you may have noticed or heard about the virus causing sea stars along the Pacific Northwest to waste away, known as Sea Star Wasting Disease/Syndrome. The virus isn’t new, but changes in ocean temperature and marine environments have resulted Read more…
Weekly Sea Discovery: Nudibranchs! Commonly known as sea slugs, nudibranchs are creatures that are a mystery to many of us. These squishy invertebrates can be found in the shallow intertidal, down to the deep depths of the subtidal. Their vibrant colours and intricate shapes make them an eye-catching surprise in Read more…
Weekly Sea Discovery: Aggregate Green Anemone These small greenish anemones with bright pink tips are an easy find in our local rocky intertidal, and can form large colonies. To survive in these turbid, shallow environments, aggregate green anemones stick to the substrate below them, enabling them to endure massive wave Read more…