A resource for science and design at the land-sea interface
In the Sebens Lab in Seattle, we are very lucky to have a group of fantastic interns. This fall, we’ve been spending a lot of time sorting through sediment samples … Continue readingInterns share their favorite critters
Two things are occurring right now that justify a posting about my favorite of all sea slugs, the hooded nudibranch (Melibe leonina). The first is that they have been all … Continue readingThe hooded nudibranch
On many occasions, I see rats scurrying through riprap habitat in the intertidal. It’s kind of gross, particularly when you’re climbing through these boulder fields to get to your dive … Continue readingRats in the intertidal
The results are in. After several months of tethering urchins and measuring their feeding rates, it seems that we can now conclusively say that tethered urchins go on hunger strike. … Continue readingUrchins on hunger strike
I took the photo above recently at Alki Pipeline, in West Seattle. It’s a noble sea lemon, Peltodoris nobilis, and it’s larger than any other specimen I’ve ever seen, at … Continue readingThe noble sea lemon
This illustration from the Seattle Times (link to article) provides a fascinating window into what Seattle’s marine ecosystem might have looked like prior to urbanization. It’s a map of the … Continue readingSeattle before urbanization
A few times recently when I’ve been out collecting sediment, I’ve had the feeling that I’m being followed. Each time, I turn around and find one of these little guys … Continue readingMy friend the spotted ratfish
Unfortunately, the urchin corrals (see previous post) proved unsuccessful. After numerous adjustments to the design, escapees continued to find their way to freedom. By the end, the only prototypes that … Continue readingUrchins on leashes
Here’s a cool recent paper from Cesar Megina and colleagues: Harbours as marine habitats: hydroid assemblages on sea-walls compared with natural habitats. Megina et al. compared communities of hydroids in harbors and … Continue readingHydroid assemblages in Spain’s harbors versus natural rocky habitats
That’s right, the first 8 week samples from the enrichment plots are in and it’s time to get to work. Here’s what the inside of our lab fridge looks like … Continue readingEnrichment plot samples are here!