MALE SEA LIONS HAVE GOTTEN BIGGER OVER THE LAST FIFTY YEARS! UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA MARINE SCIENCE

Usually as a population grows, the sea lions get smaller.  However just published in Current Biology, is a report from University of California at Santa Cruz.

Excerpt:  It's counterintuitive.  You would expect that their body size would decrease as dietary resource competition intensified," said coauthor Paul Koch, professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at UCSC.

The number of California sea lions has increased dramatically since the Marine Mammal Protection Act was passed in 1972.  In parts of their range, the sea lions may now be approaching the ecological "carrying capacity," the largest number of animals an ecosystem can support.

NEWS-UCSC EDU : 2024 SEA LIONS

Excerpt: "We found that the male California sea lions have expanded their ecological niche, which means they are now foraging on a more diversified group of prey and expanding the places where they are foraging on a more diversified group ogf prey and expanding the places where they are foraging," Valenzuela-Toro said.  "Apparently they are now going farther north than they used to.....

**** Scientists looked at the skulls of sea lions...

STINGRAY is a BATOID - CAL STATE LONGBEACH SHARK LAB

CSULB SHARK LAB- STINGRAY BEHAVIOR and BIOLOGY 

Excerpts: Most batoids spend their time resting on the seafloor with their mouths and gills on the bottom and their eyes and spiracles (snorkel opening for breathing) on top of their heads.  Spiracles allow them to draw in clean water across their gills so they can breath while laying on the bottom.

HERMIT CRABS : HIDING OUT IN SOMEONE ELSE'S SHELL

CHESAPEAKE BAY - HERMIT CRABS  Watch a hermit crab change borrowed shells...

Three species of hermit crabs are native to the Bay...

What do all hermit crabs have in common?

Hermit crabs eat algae, detritus, and tiny particles of this and that.

What eats them?

PACIFIC CORAL REEFS from the UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

USGS - COASTAL CORAL REEFS 

Excerpts;

Coral reefs are unique ecosystems of plants, animals, and their associated geological framework.  Although they cover less that 0.5 of Earth's surface, coral reefs are home to an estimated 25% of all marine species.  Of the total coral reef habitat in the United States waters, about 75% or more than 16,000 square kilometers (6,000 square miles) is located in the Pacific Ocean.

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This site has hard science and wonderful photos of coral reef ecosystems...  See what healthy coral looks like!

FLORIDA CORAL RESCUE PROJECT ! SPECIES DIED OFF? STONY CORAL TISSUE LOSS DISEASE

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission - FLORIDA CORAL RESUE 

An unprecedented coral disease event has ravaged Florida's reefs since 2014, causing mortalityin more than 20 Caribbean coral species.  The disease, known as stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) began near Miami, Florida, and has since spread through the northern extent of Florida's Coral Reef in Martin County, sound through the Florida Keys, west into the Marguesas, and is currently just inside the boundary of the Dry Tortugas National Park.....

SEA SHELL FRAME

What do you imagine is beyond the frame?

These days shells should only be personally collected from beaches, if at all.  They too are sea creatures that are being removed from their place in the ecology of the oceans.

 

HENRY DOORLY ZOO and AQUARIUM in OMAHA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U78AjU7FfTQ 

Sharks, Turtles, Giant Spider Crab, Sea Starfish, Reef Aquariums and Jellyfish.

STARFISH

 

HERMIT CRAB - FIDDLER CRAB

 

MERMAID WITH BIRD IN HAIR