Our Awesome Ocean!

Today's blog: Awesome Things in the Ocean!!

Sit back and enjoy some fun facts and pretty photos to keep your week rollin'!



A shaggy mouse nudibranch underwater
at Point Hudson (photo by Elise Gorchels)



Did you know...



- Some nudibranchs (sometimes known as "sea slugs" but they're really so much cooler!) have the ability to not only eat the stinging cells found in jellyfish and anemones without injury, but actually pass them through their digestive tract un-activated and use them for their own defense??  One local species that has this ability is commonly known as the "shaggy mouse"



- The geoduck (pronounced "goey duck"), found intertidally in the Puget Sound, is the world's largest intertidally found clam, weighing in at an average of 2.2 pounds.  They can grow to be upwards of 10 pounds each and live to over 100 years!  If you've got eight minutes to kill, check out the video of Mike Rowe harvesting them for Dirty Jobs:



A GPO (not actually so "giant", it was approximately the size
of a grapefruit) out for an underwater stroll at
 Redondo (photo by Elise Gorchels)



- There are 289 known species of octopus worldwide; only two of them are known to live (or at least commonly found) in the Puget Sound.  They are the Giant Pacific Octopus (or GPO as many divers and marine enthusiasts refer to them) and the Red Octopus. 



- Hermit crabs have bodies that coil either to the right or the left.  Similarly, snail shells coil in either direction.  If a hermit crab finds an appropriately sized home, but it coils the wrong direction, he is out of luck!



It's cool, I'll just hide behind this...foliage...(photo taken at Les Davis pier by Elise Gorchels)

 - Many people have heard that sea stars can regenerate lost limbs, but did you know they can regenerate more than that?  All that is required is one intact arm and 1/5 of their central disc (the part that the arms all attach to)  In theory, you could cut a sea star into five exactly equal portions, and end up with five sea stars!
-Anemones are animals, not plants, and are capable of moving when they find their habitat undesireable.  Some species, such as the swimming anemone, move by contracting alternating sides of their column.  Others might detach and inch along the bottom, and still others will completely roll in their foot (the part of their body that attaches to the surface they live on) and flip on their side, rolling much like a barrel in the current.

A Painted anemone at Langley Tire Reef (photo by Elise Gorchels)

That's all for now!  Stay tuned for updates on our marine exhibit tanks, which will reopen in April and recaps from our annual auction, happening March 10th!

-Elise

It's all about the packaging



Pepsi or Coke isn't the only choice
you'll have to make this Super Bowl Sunday



Today is Super Bowl Sunday, apparently, and while millions scramble around cleaning and cooking I am sitting quietly at work.  Had the Packers won a few weeks back, I would be frantically searching for a website to listen to the game and a computer with speakers, but they didn't and I'm thankful today that I don't have to find myself cheering for one of these teams (whew!)

 

But outside my little bubble people are hitting the grocery stores, doing some last minute shopping for snacks, soda, and libations.  It is definitely a great day to indulge in salty food and a comfy couch.  As shoppers fill the grocery aisles they are making decisions on every purchase: diet or regular; tortilla chips or sour cream and onion; Miller or microbrew; bottles or cans?  And one thing I'm sure hardly factors into anyone's purchase is the item's packaging.

How much trash does one party
produce?

It's a scenario that could be straight from our Free Science Classes, which coincidentally began this week.  You're feeding 30 people.  Do you choose paper plates that might not support the baked beans and mini chili dogs, plastic plates which will ultimately cost more, or are you going to put out your own ceramic plates and wash them all?  Should you buy a 12-pack of soda cans or a couple 2-litre bottles and some cups?  Just how recyclable is that plastic bottle?



Plastics do not biodegrade clogging
our oceans when they escape our
trash, and mimic food sources of
many marine animals.



The conclusion we generally guide our students to is this: plastic can be a great thing - it makes things such as airbags, pacemakers, and even our fish tanks possible - but we can have too much of a good thing.  One of the biggest problems future generations will face is plastics in the ocean as plastic bags, rings, and fragments choke marine life, smother coral reefs, and fill the stomachs of marine birds.  Much of the plastic in use currently is actually not recyclable, and that plastic often ends up in the trash.  That trash will never degrade using present technology; all plastic ever produced on this planet is still in existence.

One thing we can all do is reduce the demand for plastic at its source.  Use fabric shopping bags, carry your own coffee mug, and opt for metal or paper packaging as much as possible.  The energy saved by recycling *one* aluminum can can power a television for three hours.  Filling a reusable mug each day saves 365 cups, sleeves, and lids - which stacked on top of one another would reach roughly 16 stories high.



I love my rockin' pink camo coffee mug, but it's
plastic -- do I drink enough coffee to justify that? 
If you know me, the answer to that question is quite clear...



Life is ultimately about choices.  Sometimes, buying plastic is the best or only option (just try to make a balloon without it!) but often there are reasonable alternatives.  Here at PTMSC, we're interested in what you are doing every day to support marine life.  We invite you to comment below and visit our website to find out how you or your class can visit our exhibits and learn more about the threat of plastics in the marine environment.

Until next time,

Elise

What is PTMSC's Marine Mammal Stranding Network?

Have you ever wondered what PTMSC’s Marine Mammal Stranding Network does?
Well, today is your lucky day!!

PTMSC’S Stranding Network is called the East Jefferson County Marine Mammal Stranding Network (EJCMMSN). The EJCMMSN is authorized by the National Marine Fisheries Service to investigate live and dead stranded marine mammals, collect scientific data, and educate the public about issues involving marine mammals and human interaction.

Local citizens and visitors to east Jefferson county coast call the EJCMMSN Hotline if they have found a stranded marine mammal. We check the hotline messages frequently throughout the day and always return the call. If appropriate we send a responder to investigate the sighting. The majority of our responders are local volunteers (which could be you!).

Our responders are trained to collect data that includes the animal’s species, sex, health/body condition, and signs of human interaction. This information is then entered into a database, reported to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and used by scientific researchers for a variety of studies. Occasionally fresh dead carcasses or parts are collected for necropsy or sample collection. If the animal is injured or tangled in fishing gear measures are taken to make sure the animal gets the help it needs.

So what exactly is a marine mammal stranding anyway? Check out this spiffy table explaining what normal behavior is and what qualifies as a marine mammal stranding!

Why do marine mammals strand in the first place? Some strand because of harassment or injuries caused by humans, such as entanglement in fishing gear or marine debris, ingestion of plastics, gunshot wounds, or boatstrikes. Many animals strand due to injuries caused by natural predators or illness/disease. Natural or anthropogenic (human-caused) toxins in the environment can cause strandings. Sometimes young animals who have been prematurely separated from their mothers or who are recently weaned strand because they have not been successful in finding food. Environmental and Oceanographic events such as El Nino cause changes in distribution and abundance of prey and can lead to malnourishment and stranding.

Educating the public is also a part of what the EJCMMSN does. We are currently working on updating the EJCMMSN section of PTMSC’S website, publishing a brochure, and training more volunteers.

If you have any additional questions about our Stranding Network, contact Jen at jstevens@ptmsc.org

Are you interested in becoming an EJCMMSN volunteer? Contact Jean Walat at jwalat@ptmsc.org

Remember; if you ever find a stranded marine mammal please call our hotline ASAP at 360 385-5582 ext.103

Jen Stevens

Marine Mammal Citizen Science Assistant

Port Townsend Marine Science Center finds unique phytoplankton

PHYTOPLANKTON NEWS FLASH!

Last week Port Townsend Marine Science Center Sound Toxins volunteers Linda Dacon and Darryl Hrenko identified the presence of the relatively rare phytoplankton species, Dinophysis tripos:

Photo of Dinophysis tripos taken by Linda and Darryl on 12/7/2011 in the Discovery Lab at Port Townsend Marine Science Center

The sample containing D. tripos was collected at the Cape George Marina in Discovery Bay of Puget Sound and was an exciting find for our Sound Toxins team. This is the first identification of D. tripos at Port Townsend Marine Science Center since the start of the Sound Toxins program (formerly known as ORHAB) in 1999.

Dinophysis tripos is a type of phytoplankton that falls under the phylum of Dinoflagellata. Some of its defining characteristics are:

  

• A toxic marine species that is commonly found in tropical to warm temperate coastal waters

You are probably wondering… what is D. tripos doing in the chilly waters of Puget Sound at Port Townsend Marine Science Center?!?! We consulted our contacts at NOAA and found that as far as distribution goes, it is commonly found in warmer coastal waters but sometimes detected in Puget Sound.

• D. tripos is found in neritic (coastal), estuarine and oceanic waters

• It is rather large, measuring in at about 100µm in length

 This little guy (actually it is sexless but we will call it this as a term of endearment) is about 100 µm (micrometers or microns) long! To give us some perspective, that’s equal to one tenth of a millimeter! If you’re wondering how Dinophysis tripos sizes up to some other common miniatures, here are some comparisons for you:

Dinophysis tripos is…

• About 10 times bigger than a red blood cell 
• Only 5 to 10 times bigger than most bacteria cells

• The Genus Dinophysis was discovered in the mid-1800s

• D. tripos is connected to Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP)

There are many species of Dinophysis connected to historic events of DSP. DSP is one of four recognized symptomatic types of shellfish poisoning (others being paralytic, neurotoxic, and amnesic). D. tripos releases the toxin dinophysistoxin-1 (DTX-1) which is linked to DSP.

Here’s what Brian Bill, a phytoplankton expert at NOAA had to say about the finding:

“As far as toxin content or production from this specific species, not much is known. It is known to produce some amounts of Okadaic acid and Dinophysis toxins, but how much and whether more or less than other species if something we don't know. They are particularly hard to culture in the laboratory because their normal mode of feeding is preying on ciliates such as Mesodinium rubrum, which in turn prey on small cryptophytes for their nutrition. With all those levels of complexity, it's difficult to culture them and find out what conditions facilitate production and what types and ratios of toxins they produce. Hopefully in the near future we can answer some of those questions... the recall of shellfish from Sequim Bay last year and the outbreak in Canada during the same time will hopefully translate into funding so some of those questions can be answered.”

So thanks for checking in with us and stay tuned for more updates on marine science, phytoplankton, coastal issues...

Port Townsend Marine Science Center



Necropsy Training at PTMSC!

Hello all!

Port Townsend Marine Science Center had a very exciting (and smelly) Harbor Seal pup necropsy training early last week with marine mammal veterinarians, Pete Schroeder and Betsy Lutmerding. This training was to inform our staff and stranding network volunteers how to perform a basic necropsy and collect samples/data. The purpose of a necropsy is to determine the cause of death of the animal and to collect information used for monitoring and learning about local marine mammals. During the necropsy we looked for notable wounds, unusual tissue or organs, and signs of human interaction. To search for pathogens and toxins, samples were taken of blubber, major organs, internal fluids, and stomach contents. This time collecting samples was just for the training; during future necropsies we will interpret and use the results of the analyzed samples.

Receiving Prescott Grant funding, which started in October, has made training and future necropsies possible for our stranding network. The East Jefferson County Marine Mammal Stranding Network (EJCMMSN) now has funding to install information signs at 10 beaches, create and print a brochure, improve the marine mammal stranding information on our website, plan additional trainings, and perform and analyze samples from 5 necropsies.

Chrissy Mclean (PTMSC’s Marine Program Coordinator) and I would like to thank our wonderful stranding network volunteers as well as Pete Schroeder and Betsy Lutmerding for their time, effort, and smiling faces they contribute to our stranding network. Thank you all very much!

Jen Stevens

Marine Mammal Citizen Science Assistant

(See photos from the necropsy training below! CAUTION: Photos are Graphic)

Interested in joining our team of stranding network volunteers? Contact Jean Walat at jwalat@ptmsc.org for more information!

Examining the stomach contents from one of the seal pups– all that was found were a few very small fish bones. Photo by Richard Smith

Marine Mammal Veterinarian Betsy Lutmerding measuring the blubber layer during the necropsy training. Photo by Sandy

Dengler

PTMSC staff, stranding network volunteers, and marine mammal veterinarians worked together to perform two successful Harbor Seal pup necropsies. Photo by Sandy Dengler

Marine Life Trivia

Okay so here’s a little Marine Life Trivia for you…

What species…

• Lives to be somewhere between 20 and 30 years old, with the females reaching the upper limit of this range…

• Has an average adult male that can weigh up to 1500 lbs (!) with females averaging 600 lbs…

• Will regularly travel up to 250 miles to find food and as deep as 600 feet…

• Needs to eat at least 6% of its body weight each day in order to survive? Let’s do the math… average male is 1500 lbs. x 6% = 90 lbs. a day!! *

So… we’ll give you a hint… it’s a mammal!

   ** Puzzled?......

Okay, here’s another hint… Our Marine Program Coordinator Chrissy McLean and AmeriCorps Citizen Science Assistant Jamie Landry responded to a stranding of one of these guys last week! So can you guess now???

Okay, Okay, I’ll tell you!!

A Steller Sea Lion!!

PTMSC’s Marine Program Coordinator, Chrissy McLean and Artemis the male Steller Sea Lion

PTMSC's AmeriCorps Citizen Science Assistant Jamie Landry helps document Artemis' stranding

The Port Townsend Marine Science Center is part of NOAA’s Marine Mammal Stranding Network (MMSN) and responds to calls of mammal stranding on a regular basis. Last week, a local citizen reported a dead and beached Steller Sea Lion on Marrowstone Island. After collecting basic information on this endangered species, Chrissy and Jamie collected the head in hopes to get tissue samples and a fully intact skull which the Marine Science Center will use for educational purposes. We have named the male Steller Sea Lion Artemis and are looking forward to having his skull in the Natural History Museum at Fort Worden State Park. It was an exciting call and we want to give special thanks to our volunteers who participate in the MMSN and all locals who place calls to inform us of marine mammal stranding in the East Jefferson County area.

If you find what you believe to be a stranded mammal, please visit our website http://www.ptmsc.org/mmstranding.html for more information on what to do and who to call.

* Statistics credit: The Alaska Sea Otter and Stellar Sea Lion Commission
** Cartoon Credit: Mark A. Hicks





Until next time,
PTMSC

What's New at the Marine Science Center?

Hi there guys and gals!  It's been a while since we've posted on the blog- partly because we wanted to let Chris' thoughts on "poop" really sink in- and partly because we've been so busy with all the transitions around here.

So what kind of transitions are we talking about? And who is "we"?

Well, "we" is the new AmeriCorps team for the 2011-2012 season!

From the left: Jamie, Elise, and Jen are getting settled in and finding their way at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center.  (Clarification: Jamie doesn't actually drink the lab chemicals, Elise is not stored in the Eelgrass Tank, and Jen is not part fish.)

So here's a little bit more about these ladies and what they hope to bring to the Marine Science Center this coming year:

Jamie Landry comes to us from her hometown of Gilford, NH.  After graduating from the University of Rochester, she moved to Iceland in 2009 to pursue her Master's Degree in Coastal and Marine Natural Resources.  After spending an additional year in Iceland as a head volleyball coach, she moved back to the US to work as a naturalist and environmental educator with the Adirondack Mountain Club outside Lake Placid, NY.  Now residing in Uptown Port Townsend, she can be found at PTMSC in the Discovery Lab, around town on her early morning runs, playing volleyball with the local club, or knitting traditional Icelandic sweaters. 

Elise Gorchels is a very busy, well-caffeinated, scuba diving conservation biologist whose greatest fear in life is being boring, followed closely by being bored.  She is a transplant from Madison, WI and can most frequently be heard discussing cheese, microbrews, and Badger football.  When she isn't at work she's probably underwater photographing all the great life the PNW has to offer!  After graduating from UW Madison in 2008 she spent two seasons as an educator on Orcas Island and one year as an AmeriCorps member at a community center in Madison.

Jen Stevens is originally from Minnesota and has a Bachelors Degree in Marine Zoology from The Evergreen State College in Olympia. She spent time doing husbandry and research of sea turtles at Mote Marine Laboratory in Florida and recently worked as a zoological aide at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. Jen’s main objective at PTMSC is the East Jefferson County Marine Mammal Stranding Network and lately has been helping run seal necropsy trainings. When not at PTMSC she can be found exploring downtown, hanging out with her two felines, or playing Dungeons and Dragons with her friends in Olympia.

So there you have it!  These three vivacious ladies look forward to working with all of our wonderful volunteers and inspiring future Marine Science Center visitors with their enthusiasm and passion for the magnificent Salish Sea.

Aaaaannnnd... we have more exciting news! Some of you might recognize this lovely lady...

You may have recently seen former PTMSC 2010 Summer/Fall Intern, Claudia Padilla around a bit more than usual. After spending last winter and spring working various jobs around town and traveling, she's back as staff through October 2012. She will serve as the Education and Volunteer Program Organizer to assist with a variety of tasks such as working with the volunteer program, writing education curricula, organizing and planning Free Science Classes, and helping to maintain the NHE among many other responsibilities.

Claudia is originally from Pennsylvania where she attained her Journalism degree from Penn State. She served as an AmeriCorps as part of the Maryland Conservation Corps, before moving to Washington, DC in 2006. After a few years in DC at different non-profits, she was ready for career shift, starting with PTMSC in June 2010. Being in the Pacific NW has rekindled her love of the outdoors and educating the public about the environment. Swimming, cooking, exploring the Olympic National Park and reading are some of her favorite things to do.

So, stay tuned for more updates and thanks for reading!

PTMSC