MCC's Marine Biology Study Ablog 2023

Hidden throughout the rocky intertidal area behind the hotel there was a significant increase in the number of anemones compared to the sandy intertidal. I saw a multitude of shape size and color anemone. Some of these were wide open and actively feeding with the water washing over their tentacles. These tentacles have stinging nematocysts that assist in catching tiny plankton and fish and delivering it to the centrally located mouth. Anemone are able to change their body form to better withstand their surroundings and not only can they hide their tentacles in dry conditions, they can also lower and widen their body shape to withstand conditions with heavy waves. These are survival specialists of the tidal pools. 

Another creature i found in the sandy intertidal area near CEDO that was absolutely fascinating to me were these turban snails. I found the mix between the pattern in their anatomical structure and the coloration in their bodies downright captivating.  This species, Turbo Fluctuosus, can be found in the Pacific Ocean ranging between Baja California peninsula, to  Peru  and off the Galapagos archipelago. Also known as the wavy turban, these mollusks are a type of sea snail that feeds on seaweed growing on the surfaces of stones and sea beds. Nifty facts aside, they’re so beautiful!  

Day 1, wandering the intertidal area near CEDO. I turned over a rock and found a really unique looking sponge. As I have never seen one before i began taking photos and was completely caught off guard when it started walking!!! This actually turned out to be a species of crab that uniquely had a sponge attached to its shell which was growing successfully! Because the sponge and the crab both require similar environmental conditions this symbiosis is effectively providing the crab with a near perfect camouflage, while providing the sponge the unusual ability to move and remain in a wet location where it can collect food and prevent itself from absorbing too much air. As a sessile filter feeder this is not an ability it is typically afforded, providing an increased chance of survival in the intertidal zone where seawater is not always available. Super neat.

 On this excursion we worked with Paloma and Alan from CEDO to survey the life on the beach. As shown in the description below a quadrant on the beach was laid out every 10 meters or so and the life within the square was observed and recorded. Many many worms were seen in each square where there was water pooled up. The occasional snail or algae happened to fall into the area of observation but many times stuff was visible but not counted because it wasn’t in the quadrant. It was so cool to be in the field working like an actual biologist. After this task the tide has pulled out a little bit stranding what we decided were anchovies, so the group located as many as we could and put them back into the sea. 

 On day one of the class we went down to the beach right by CEDO. Being from the desert the seeing the ocean is an extraordinary experience. The tides had pulled back enough for sizeable tide pools to be revealed and the life in them. Blue crabs, lumpy arm crabs and various anemones were scattered in the tide pools as well as the sea hare. Their cool defense mechanism of spreading a violet ink was observed and researched because it had gotten on several of us. Overall it was a great first experience on the beach.

  5/19/23 Today we visited the mudflats of Cholla bay and boy was it different from the other excursions we went on. The tide had pulled further back than I had ever seen, leaving a wet desert of shells. Upon further inspection several crabs could be found walking about or in the mud hiding from potential predators. This zone yielded several sand dollars ripe for the plundering, an obvious result of the pulling out of the tide. However the greatest find in my opinion was the little guy from the picture. Being a presenter of the mollusks the presence of this guy was important to see in action. Holding him and seeing the suckers in action was such a gift.