{"id":150,"date":"2016-05-12T15:51:16","date_gmt":"2016-05-12T22:51:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vancouver.labs.wsu.edu\/michael-berger\/?page_id=150"},"modified":"2024-05-01T10:05:29","modified_gmt":"2024-05-01T17:05:29","slug":"2016-wsu-vancouver-marine-invertebrate-communities-biol-486-blog-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/vancouver.labs.wsu.edu\/michael-berger\/33-2\/48-2\/2016-wsu-vancouver-marine-invertebrate-communities-biol-486-blog-2\/","title":{"rendered":"2016 WSU Vancouver Marine Invertebrate Communities (Biol 486) blog"},"content":{"rendered":"
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2016 WSU Vancouver Marine Invertebrate Communities (Biol 486) blog<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n

Beginning on 19 May 2016, a group of WSU students will take part in a field course to observe marine invertebrates in their native habitats using a natural history and ecological approach.\u00a0 We will explore communities along the southern Oregon coast ranging from the rocky intertidal habitat at Cape Blanco to the sand dunes north of Coos Bay.\u00a0 Sandy beaches, estuaries, and mud flat communities will also be explored. Participants will reside and work at a marine lab on the southern Oregon coast.<\/p>\n

\"Southern<\/p>\n

This blog will describe the activities and habitats explored by Marine Intertidal Communities participants.<\/p>\n

Thursday – 19 May 2016<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Jessica Kench<\/p>\n

We set out on our week long adventure to the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology in Charleston, Oregon at approximately 8:30 a.m. this morning from the Washington State University Vancouver campus. After a brief lunch stop over at a well known caf\u00e9 in Eugene called the Humble Bagel, our nine person party departed in a convoy of two vehicles and arrived safely at OIMB around 3:15 p.m.<\/p>\n

The staff at OIMB received us warmly upon arrival. Shortly thereafter, we proceeded on a brief tour of the marine biology research facilities and amenities. We were able to view some of the student designed experiments currently in progress at the research lab.<\/p>\n

After divvying up rooms and tidying our living quarters, we met downstairs in the cafeteria around 5:30 for a delicious meal of \u201ctsunami chicken\u201d with cherry cheesecake for dessert. The food was delicious and calmed all of our stomachs before reconvening for a 6:30 p.m. discussion on the topic of Natural History. The general consensus of the group was that Natural History has a very pertinent role in the formation of scientific inquisition. Observing and cataloging the natural world around us may help develop a more accurate historical account of organisms in their environments and avoid \u201cshifting baseline syndrome\u201d. We will be putting some of our observation skills to work tomorrow.<\/p>\n

Tomorrow we will depart at 5:00 a.m. after our continental breakfast and a cup of Dr. Berger\u2019s finely brewed coffee. Cape Arago\u2019s rocky intertidal habitat awaits us, but for now we are ready to tuck in and get some shut eye for the evening.<\/p>\n

\"OIMB
\nDinning hall and dormitory on the OIMB campus<\/p>\n

Friday morning – 20 May 2016
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Jag Boyer<\/p>\n

The day started bright and early as we departed from the marine lab at five am. There were a few stragglers who didn\u2019t seem to want to get up\u00a0 early but, we made it out on time. We reached Cape Arago\u2019s South Beach around 5:40 am. After some quick safety info and a trip down a slippery trail we got straight to work.<\/p>\n

We ran a field lab where we were assessing the diversity of species both seaweeds and animals in the algal\u00a0 zone versus in the barnacle zone. To do this, we divided into groups of three. Then we measured out transects running parallel to the shore line and placed a quadrat every 2 meters for a total of four times. With each quadrat we determined the percentage that was made up by each individual species and what percentage was bare rock.<\/p>\n

We also took this time to look around and see what we could find in the rocky shore habitat we were visiting. Among the different things seen were Dermasterias imbricate<\/em> or the leather star, Henricia leviuscula<\/em> or the blood star. We also saw moonglow, and aggregating anemones, purple sea urchins, three different chiton species, such as Moplia muscosa<\/em>, Katharina tunicata<\/em> , and Cryptochiton stelleri<\/em>;\u00a0 even a sea cucumber was found. Snails, hermit crabs, limpets, mussels, and barnacles were also in abundance.<\/p>\n

We decided to call it a trip a little earlier than planned and on the way back to the cars we ran into some people who told us about the remnants of a giant octopus. So, we went investigating and found a large tentacle and an unidentifiable blob of flesh. While we were there, some of us chose to partake in the sampling of some sea weed, which was salty and crunchy.<\/p>\n

We made the adventurous hike back up the hill. On the drive back we stopped by a look out point to see sea lions and seals that are currently pupping near North Cove. From there we made our way back to the marine lab, arriving at ten thirty, giving us an hour and a half to relax and clean up before lunch.\u00a0 After lunch we headed on another adventure to lighthouse beach.<\/p>\n

\"20160520_060804\"<\/p>\n

Cape Arago\u2019s rocky shoreline at South Cove<\/p>\n

\"20160520_062716\"<\/p>\n

Students doing their experiments<\/p>\n

\"20160520_063550\"<\/p>\n

One of the diversity quadrats<\/p>\n

\"20160520_062149\"<\/p>\n

Dermasterias imbricate<\/em> or the leather star<\/p>\n

\"20160520_062201\"<\/p>\n

Henricia leviuscula<\/em> or the blood star<\/p>\n

\"20160520_062547\"<\/p>\n

Purple sea urchin<\/p>\n

\"20160520_062449\"<\/p>\n

The three chitons from right to left Cryptochiton stelleri<\/em>, Katharina tunicata<\/em>, and Moplia muscosa<\/em> (can you find Moplia<\/em> )<\/p>\n

\"IMAG0092\"<\/p>\n

Sea cucumber<\/p>\n

\"20160520_063502\"<\/p>\n

Hermit crab<\/p>\n

\"IMAG0119\"<\/p>\n

The remains of the giant octopus that left us part of its tentacle to examine<\/p>\n

\"IMAG0127\"<\/p>\n

The view from the lookout point with seals and sea lions everywhere. Can you see them?<\/p>\n

Friday afternoon – 20 May 2016<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Lyvinna Lee<\/p>\n

Throughout the afternoon the weather continued to be very accommodating; not too windy, nor too cold. The plan for the afternoon was to drive up to Lighthouse Beach and stay there for a few hours to make observations. We arrived at our sandy destination with shovels and buckets in hand. Shovels were utilized to capture some mole crabs and other potential creatures. The mole crabs were very fast burrowers, so it was quite a challenge to obtain them, especially after the waves had rolled in. Judging by the number of mole crabs chilling in the buckets, our mission was successful. Unfortunately, we struggled with retrieving some of our equipment when the waves came crashing in. Don\u2019t worry, after a few minutes of digging we were able to rescue them from the unforgiving sea.<\/p>\n

\"Digging<\/p>\n

Digging for some mole crabs. . .\u201dWhere are they?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Bucket\"<\/p>\n

Some of the captured mole crabs, displayed with our very helpful butter knives.<\/p>\n

\"Lighthouse\"<\/p>\n

View of Cape Arago Lighthouse from Lighthouse Beach<\/p>\n

As we trekked along the beach, several sand hoppers jumped out. We carefully and quickly made our way through the entire length of the beach, while watching for incoming large waves. Unfortunately due to the absence of the bridge connecting the lighthouse to the beach, we were unable to actually visit the lighthouse. However, the lighthouse was still visible at a distance on the far side of the beach.<\/p>\n

\"Headlands\"<\/p>\n

Walking around a headland when the water receded<\/p>\n

\"Burrowing<\/p>\n

Evidence of burrowing bivalves<\/p>\n

Additionally, there were a variety of rocks. For example, there were giant slabs of rock that are very brittle due to erosion and rocks with many holes created by bivalves. Speaking of bivalves, a number of fossilized bivalves were present. Another interesting specimen that we found on the beach was Bull Kelp. Fun fact: Bull Kelp are known to make good trumpets and are filled with carbon monoxide. Even though the diversity of species were scarce overall, the afternoon was a relaxing and fulfilling learning experience.<\/p>\n

\"Lighthouse<\/p>\n

Walking along Lighthouse Beach<\/p>\n

\"Fossils\"<\/p>\n

Some fossilized bivalves and gastropods<\/p>\n

\"Bull<\/p>\n

Bull kelp cut in half<\/p>\n

Saturday morning – 21 May 2016
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Shyla Edwards<\/p>\n

We rose with the sun this morning and enjoyed a warm breakfast before embarking on our lab field trip to the Portside mudflat.<\/p>\n

\"image1\"<\/p>\n

Panoramic view of the Portside mudflat.<\/p>\n

As we ventured down to the mudflats, which were exposed due to the low tide in the estuary, we soon noticed that there was not much to see on the surface. The random squirts of water from burrow openings and the small piles of castings were evidence of life below the surface in the soft substrate habitat. Once we began digging into the sediment, we found an abundance of different species of worms and bivalves as well as ghost shrimp and a brittle sea star.<\/p>\n

\"20160521_085210\"<\/p>\n

The heart cockle, Clinocardium nuttalli<\/em><\/p>\n

\"20160521_085655_MSB\"<\/p>\n

A juvenile Dungeness crab, Cancer magister<\/em>, that is commonly found in mud flats<\/p>\n

Our field work consisted of examining the three dimensional habitat along a vertical height gradient in order to quantitatively assess bivalve infauna. As we counted and identified different species of bivalves, the seagulls and harbor seals were curiously watching nearby; perhaps hoping for scraps. After about two hours, the rising tide forced us to trek back through the gooey mud.<\/p>\n

\"20160521_082635_MSB\"<\/p>\n

Quantifying bivalve abundance<\/p>\n

\"20160521_082709_MSB\"<\/p>\n

Estimating sampling plot height above mean lower low water<\/p>\n

Once back at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, we all washed up and had the opportunity to relax and take advantage of the beautiful weather before lunch. We also got to look forward to a festive afternoon because of the grand opening of the long awaited Marine Life Center here in Charleston, Oregon.<\/p>\n

Saturday afternoon – 21 May 2016
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Vanessa Paurus<\/p>\n

Today after lunch, we all walked down to the Charleston boat basin docks to collect invertebrate specimens. The teeming diversity and amount of living creatures that were attached all along the docks just below the water’s surface amazed us all. Large California mussels were incredibly abundant here and quite difficult to pry off of the dockside. Most of us were also pretty eager to each find and collect a sea star on our hunt.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_4194\"<\/p>\n

Collecting invertebrates on the side of a dock in the Boat Basin harbor.<\/p>\n

There were various species collected such as mussels, sea stars, sponges, anemones, crabs, and shrimp.\u00a0 Seals could often be seen popping their heads out of the water to watch our efforts from a safe distance. Once we had collected a pretty good amount of different specimens in our buckets, we headed back to the marine lab to put them in shallow saltwater table\u00a0 for our later observation and identification.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"IMG_4203\"<\/p>\n

California mussel, cover with sponge and two smaller mussels<\/p>\n

Today in Charleston they were having the opening “kelp cutting” ceremony for their new Marine Life Center. This center is open to the public and provides specimens of both live and preserved organisms that inhabit Oregon’s coast. As soon as you walk through the front doors, there is a huge grey whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling. As you continue through the center there are exhibits on animals from large to small, such as whales, seals, fish, squid, down to the small invertebrates that we have been studying.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_4214\"<\/p>\n

Grey whale skeleton that greets visitors<\/p>\n

\"IMG_4228\"<\/p>\n

Preserved specimens on display<\/p>\n

The Marine Life Center was incredibly impressive and highly interactive, with many hands-on exhibits. They had microscope stations set up for people to view specimens closely and small tide pools for people to see and touch many of the invertebrates that live on Oregon’s coast . The Marine Life Center was appealing, educational, and fun for all ages to attend and we were all very excited to have had the opportunity to attend its grand opening.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_4224\"<\/p>\n

Viewing a specimen at a microscope station<\/p>\n

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