Guest column contributed by the SeaDoc Society. Karin Miller’s lecture on nudibranchs will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m. at the Eastsound Fire Hall Community Room.
Is there any animal more in need of a fairy godmother than the nudibranch?
First there’s the unpronounceable name (the final “ch” is pronounced as a “k”). Then there’s the unfortunate family name: sea slug.
Sea slug or not, nudibranchs are some of the most colorful creatures in the Salish Sea, and they come in an astonishing variety of shapes. They’re as extraordinary as exotic flowers, and they’re one of the main drivers of Washington State’s multi-million dollar recreational SCUBA industry.
Nudibranch guru Karin Miller will share her knowledge of these trippy creatures at the Eastsound Fire Hall Community Room on Oct. 12. The talk is part of the SeaDoc Society and YMCA Camp Orkila‘s annual Marine Science Lecture Series.
Come find out how nudibranchs’ bright coloration protect them from predators, how they are important in the ecosystem, and how most are hermaphroditic while some species switch from male to female over time.
Aside from their beauty, nudibranchs also are important to scientists because they are good indicators of ecosystem health. When species of nudibranchs decrease in numbers or disappear, that can be an early warning sign of diminished environmental quality.
They’re also important for other scientific research because their large individual nerve cells help scientists understand the more complex nervous systems of humans.
About the Marine Science Lecture Series:
The 2011-12 Marine Science Lecture Series is designed to inspire the general public and to highlight the amazing fish and wildlife of our region. Lectures are free. The event will take place in the community room at the Eastsound Fire Hall. The fire hall is located on Mt Baker Road just opposite the airport entrance. There’s plenty of parking behind the building. Note this is a new location and we’ve also changed from the second Tuesday to the second Wednesday of the month this year.
The lecture Series is presented by program partners The SeaDoc Society and YMCA Camp Orkila. It has been made possible through generous sponsorship by Tom Averna (Deer Harbor Charters), Barbara Brown, Denise and Dan Wilk (Eclipse Charters), Audrey and Dean Stupke and West Sound Marina. For more information visit http://www.seadocsociety.org.
Questions? Call Jean Spalti or Joe Thoron at 360-376-3910.
