Spectacular Swordfish Island

Abigail and Annie measuring dimensions

Erik measuring temperature and salinity

Matias and Erik measuring

Matilda and Millie observing

Matilda

D block marine scientists were very fortunate to get to Swordfish Island yesterday to do a tidepool study. In addition to measuring the dimensions of two tidepools, they compared temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen of high and low tidepools. Students also made species lists for both of the tidepools they were examining.

We did expand our exploration beyond tidepools because this is such a stunning place. Here are a few of the spectacular marine species:

New bull kelp in intertidal zone

Giant green anemone with barnacle molts

Striped sun star with commensal worm

Leather chitons and channeled dogwinkle with egg capsules

Six armed sea star

And two terrestrial species:

Camas

Succulents

So beautiful!

Tidepool studies

First year marine scientists have been investigating tidepools at Weir’s Beach today and at Witty’s Lagoon, Tower Point over the past few days. Above Jacqueline and Ochuko are making observations about a high tidepool.

A low tidepool at Weir’s Beach

A high tidepool at Witty’s

Ilana and Jaime

Abbie observing a feather duster worm

We also observed some interesting organisms and events:

A shaggy mouse nudibranch (Aeolidia papillosa) at Weir’s Beach (perhaps the same individual that Roxi spotted last year). These slugs eat anemones! And speaking of anemones…

A dividing aggregating anemone (Anthopleura elegantissima).

A spawning aggregation of whelks (Nucella lamellosa) and an abundance of egg capsules.