2024 WSU Vancouver Marine Invertebrate Communities (Biol 486) blog
Beginning on 8 May 2024, a group of WSU Vancouver students will take part in a field course to observe marine invertebrates in their native habitats using a natural history and ecological approach. 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. 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.
This blog will describe the activities and habitats explored by Marine Intertidal Communities participants.
Wednesday – 8 May 2024
Sam Hagan
The sun smiled overhead as students congregated before the long trip. The lab equipment, luggage, and students stacked into the van. The strategic arrangement of chatter and bags was made easier—four students, friends, peeled off into a separate car. Quickly, the trip was ready to begin.
But disaster struck! The separate car wouldn’t start, the four friends stranded! Our group had to wait for WSU staff to help jump the car to life. Another car was eventually secured, and the long journey to the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology began.
The van was filled with excitement as we traveled down the coast, Dr. Berger fiddled with the temperature as people talked or slept. Most of the road down was bright green forests and swaying fields. The meandering conversations and muted music ran past the hours.
Around 11:40, we slid into a parking spot in Eugene, Oregon. The van group and the four friends convened for lunch at a Thai food cart. It was a pleasant break from such a long ride! We finished and packed back up around 12:30.
At 2:30, along the ever-more-squiggly country roads, the van stopped for a break. Dean Creek’s Elk Viewing Area was a sprawling marsh, the forested mountains in the distance providing a lovely background. A wooden pavilion jutted up from the marsh to our left, rings of what we believe to be barn swallows chased each other in circles around it. Standing inside, the chirps and calls of birds engulfed you on all sides. Birds would swoop underneath the floor, getting so close to the rails you might believe–if you stretched–you might just touch the tips of their tails. It was a short break, but a memorable one.
Arriving at OIMB around 3:40, the schedule began to quicken. Dr. Berger led a short tour around the campus, showing off the library, dining hall, and classrooms. Afterwards, we collected our things, deciding how to split our cottages.
We joined back up for a quick meeting before dinner. The meeting was about our upcoming schedule, and warnings for safety in the upcoming trips to the field.
We had dinner at 5:11. It was exciting for me, as WSU doesn’t have a cafeteria experience like this. WSU’s cafeteria is more of a convenience store to me, with no defined mealtimes.
After dinner, we walked down to Dr. Berger’s cabin by the sea, nearly being blown away by the winds. We had a discussion on “Natural History: the sense of wonder, creativity and progress in ecology” by Paul K. Dayton and Enric Sala for Scientia Marina. There was a long discussion about the importance of natural history to science, the current state of science, and about how climate change affects our perspective. We talked about how observing and asking questions about the systems around you can help improve our understanding of the natural world.
We ended by taking a beautiful walk to a nearby beach behind Dr. Berger’s cabin. It was choppy, and there was an absolutely massive concrete structure prone in the sand. It looked like something out of a sci-fi movie. It was beautiful.
Some students wandered down to the beach. Some people left to explore the campus. Each person splits off eventually, wandering back to their cabins. It was a wonderfully calm ending to the long day.
(Thanks to Penelope Anderson and Ashton Brous for additional photos)
Thursday morning- 9 May 2024
Ashton Brous
Thursday morning here at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, and it was much earlier than I’m sure most were interested in. But today was an incredible combination of clear skies and an especially low tide, meaning that our group was set to see quite a bit more than what one might usually find!
The first trip out Into the field was to Cape Arago South Cove, a rocky intertidal shore. We came in as the sun was still rising and had quite the trek to get down, carrying our equipment. The long winding path down was home to numerous snails, possibly pacific sidebands. As terrestrial snails, they weren’t exactly what we were looking for. But after we had climbed down the side of a small cliff using a previously suspended rope, it was clear just how many different creatures we could expect to see in the span of just a few short hours.
Traversing the driftwood was a challenge, all of us still with our backpacks, bags and buckets. Even harder was when sand turned to coarse rock coated with slimy algae. But the most difficult part of traveling across the rocky intertidal was not stopping at every new animal to examine it! In the beginning, each snail, sea urchin, and barnacle was something to marvel at. But soon enough, it became clear how much of the rocky intertidal is a battle for space. Looking down at the ground below our feet, it was tough to find a single place not encrusted with barnacles, covered in algae, or drilled with urchins.
I’d like to say that avoiding the creatures underfoot was an elegant dance, but in reality it was a clumsy, stumbling one. I unfortunately found that when you step on a sea anemone it sprays water at you. Poor little guy.
We were given a few hours to investigate the area around us, finding a new world teeming with life. We discovered large, bright red chitons hiding in the pools of water below. Sea stars wedged themselves into cracks, snails and limpets firmly stuck to rock all around. All these spots were where the lowering tide left behind a small oasis, a shelter from the hot sun above. The places each animal chose to live showed just how harsh life is in the intertidal.
One memorable encounter was with a couple not with our group. They had discovered a large abalone hidden amongst the rocks! Our professor said that he hadn’t ever seen one around here, and I’m overjoyed to see their population might be recovering after overharvesting! From above, it looks like nothing more than a round, dull rock. But underneath is that iconic nacre shine!
Visiting the rocky intertidal was an experience I’m sure I will always treasure. Not too long ago, I had no idea about the incredible diversity the Oregon coast held. We had the opportunity to take some animals back with us to the classroom. We have our red chiton, a white sea slug, a few hermit crabs, a red anemone anchored to a shell, and a few sea urchins (each of which was given a hat), as well as a few other animals. Later on in our trip, we’ll return them back to Cape Arago South Cove. I’m excited to see the other local marine habitats and find out what kind of organisms inhabit them!
Thursday afternoon – 9 May 2024
Penelope Anderson
Following our visit to Cape Arago to explore the incredibly diverse and interesting tide pools there, we finally returned to OIMB just in time to eat lunch. After what felt like a feast, constituting small burgers, fries, and a salad, we headed back out into the field. Our destination was Simpson Beach, a small enclosed soft substrate habitat. With the sun overhead and incredibly warm weather for the Oregon coast, the majority of the group had a makeshift beach day filled with sunbathing and bare feet fun (a rare treat for PNW natives.) The group tried to dig in the sand with a shovel whenever the waves receded in hopes of finding a mole crab, but unfortunately, we were never able to obtain one.
Simpson beach!
After exploring the idyllic beach, we set our sights on gaining some ground and viewing the ocean from above the rocky cliffs. When we made the short hike up the cliff, we were met with a fantastic view of the ocean below. Dr. Berger was able to find two sea lions that were quite a distance away from our location with his binoculars to our delight. Just moments earlier we had seen a lone sea lion swimming close to the beach, but the individual quickly left once our group was noticed.
Viewing area that we visited that granted us a beautiful view of the ocean!
After viewing the ocean from a fantastic perspective, we made the quick hike to the botanical gardens at Shore Acres State Park. A multitude of rhododendrons, Japanese cedars, and many other non-marine invertebrate species greeted us, rounding out our trips outside of OIMB for the day.
The botanical gardens at Shore Acres State Park.
After making the short trek back, we discussed climate change and what we can do about it. Despite the general tone of the conversation being dreary, there were still jokes and an overall vigor to effect meaningful change, no matter the economic cost or difficulty involved. Overall, our first full day on the Oregon coast was an incredible start to our journey and the group was overwhelmingly excited to both retire to our cottages and to return tomorrow to do it all over again, but this time – in the mudflats!
Friday morning- 10 May 2024
Rylee Latham
Friday Morning, May 10th began with a peaceful day of sleeping in due to our later start beginning at 7:30 with a quick yet delicious breakfast.
Upon our departure to the soft sediment habitat we received a pleasant surprise that it was a short walk to the location for our second lab. After about 10 minutes we had arrived and began our pursuit to find invertebrates, specifically bivalves.
We did this by creating 5, half meter by half meter quadrants every two meters moving up away from the shoreline, after digging 25cm into the sediment. During this time we were able to locate multiple polychaetes of varying species, as well as a number of bent-nose clams, Tresus clams, as well as a clam that is still yet to be classified.
While finding these clams there were many amazing discoveries unfolded for us young marine biologists in training, including that within a Tresus clam there are commensal pea crabs. A male and a female residing within the clam bonded for life, this was uncovered for us learners due to the unfortunate circumstance that occurred while digging with the shovels provided. While digging there were some clams crushed which was disheartening for many individuals, but was swiftly turned into an anatomy lesson by Dr. Berger.
Additional work after finding and documenting the species and number of each for each of the quadrants was to find the mean lower low water (MLLW) level, otherwise referred to as the elevation of the tide at a given time in order to compare between previous years. All of the techniques and tools used for today’s morning lab were used in the previous lab the morning before.
After a productive morning of digging for a plethora of different bivalve and polychaete species, with varied surprises from surrounding sea birds, we headed out for a little down time before lunch. Along our journey home we encountered a friendly dog, the number on her vest was called to reveal an unshocked owner with instructions for her return. Once the cunning girl was returned all of the equipment and species were properly put away, everyone got rinsed off which was very needed after many of us students engaged in a recreation of the sinking horse from a never ending story, followed by a peaceful hour of personal time that was enjoyed before a delightful lunch.
Friday afternoon – 10 May 2024
Catherine Conley
After our morning trip to the mudflats and a brief break for lunch, we headed over to the docks across the road from OIMB for our afternoon adventure. Upon arrival at the docks we were greeted by a harbor seal floating nearby, enjoying his time in the sun.
Photo by Ashton
At this location we saw many marine invertebrates and collected a variety of them, such as crumb of bread sponges, white lined dirona, a large purple star, and California muscles to name a few.
When we brought them back to the classroom we got them settled in the water table, making sure our newly found starfish was far enough away from the muscles so it wouldn’t make them its evening snack.
After all of the specimens were put into the water table, many were selected to be looked at under microscopes and via the naked eye. The sponges were a fan favorite among the writer and editor of this evening’s post, displaying how it filter fed and redirected the filtered water out of taller stalks on the sponge
(Species: Crumb of bread sponge)
Here are a couple of other species that were examined today:
(Species: Purple sponge)
(Species: Stalked tunicate)
(Species: Polychete worm sp.)
(Species: Acorn barnacle)
(Species: California mussel)
(Species: Grainy hermit crab)
(Species: Graceful decorator crab)
(White lined Dirona)
For the classmates that stuck around the classroom for a bit longer than the others, we got to see the chiton spawning in the water table where they were being kept.
As the sun sets on another day of discovery, I’m reminded that there is always something to discover, even in your everyday area. Until tomorrow, keep the spirit of exploration alive!
(Solar storm northern lights night sky) Photo by Briar Morrow
Saturday – 11 May 2024
Timothy Zoller
Starting the morning off with a refreshing night’s rest, we awoke to the distant crashing of waves and thick saline fog that often accommodates life on the PNW coast. After a relaxed breakfast at the cafeteria, we departed at 9:00am to survey the salinity, pH, dissolved and oxygen level of estuary habitats along Winchester creek, due south of the bridge.
Google maps location of the first site
With the barks and cries of the sea lions under the bridge, we finished our surveying and packed up for the second location further up the river. Our second location took us further up the estuary (down south) to study the changes in the variables we studied at the mouth of the bay.
Google maps location of the second location
Safe to say spirits were high from the start of this trip, but we first needed to hike to the second location of interest. As we made our way down the trail, the plant life seemed to change, with more skunk cabbages and other salt water tolerant plants that then gave way to the salt marshes we were aiming to study.
After yet some more hiking, we made it to what was once a dirt dam that held in the river, and a former railroad track used for lumber back in the day.
Dr. Berger then asked us all as a group what we wanted to do to take the samples for the river. He suggested either he could take the water sample for us, one brave soul could, or multiple people could do it as a representative of their lab group. In our continued fervor, we all opted for the latter of the options, the decision that we may have soon regretted.
Sam, Rylee, Penelope, Briar, Chloe, and Dr. Burger all went down to face the arduous journey for the group.
Casualties were had, but in the end, a sample of the river water was acquired for each group!
A friend was also made along the way.
Unfortunately for the whole team, the excitement and wonder was beginning to wear off as we finished collecting our samples and collecting the data with our devices, and our ascent back to the vehicle reminded us of all our aches and pains.
Google maps photo of the last site visited
The final site was located the farthest down the river from the mouth of the estuary, and it proved to be much less of a journey to get to than the previous walk, as the vehicle was parked directly at the site.
By the time we set our boots on the ground however, it became apparent that we only had enough time to collect the data for the river’s chemical attributes and would have to forgo our final lab assignment, as Dr. Berger assessed that if we were to do the lab then, we would have had to miss lunch. None too eager to miss lunch, Dr. Berger performed a mini demonstration to show how the lab would have been performed if time allowed. After the test was demonstrated, we simply packed our equipment one last time and departed for the lab. All of us were quite famished by this point, and certainly ready to call it a day.
For the remainder of the day after lunch, each group met up with Dr. Berger to discuss the plans for our research out in the field, and we brainstormed pitfalls and solutions and supplies we would need for the next morning.
After our long and somewhat fruitful day had passed, we gathered ourselves and prepared for the early morning we had ahead of us, perhaps somewhat apprehensively, but nonetheless filled with anticipation for our field study.
Sunday – 12 May 2024
Chloe Hendricks
Today started bright and early at 5:00 am down here at OIMB. Today was the big day for collecting data for our individual group research projects! We were all excited (yet tired) to depart and face the reality of doing some real field work. I myself have done field work before, so I was anticipating some familiar uncomfortability. The drive took about an hour, with most students catching up on missed sleep on the way. Once we arrived, the familiar uncomfortability of field work on the Oregon Coast came washing back to me. It was UNBELIEVABLY windy. Like, shaking the van back and forth kind of windy. Despite this, we all bundled up with our equipment and headed down to the site.
The site was stunning, with over 50 meters of intertidal habitat to conduct our research in. My group was interested in finding different species of chitons and their respective weights, while the other groups conducted research based on hermit crabs and levels of intertidal diversity. This data collection lasted until about noon, which ended up being about 5 hours of independent research! It was hard, a bit stressful, and we had to think on our feet and adjust to unexpected problems in the field. Overall, it was a fantastic experience to get out there and perform our own research… but next time I’ll bring another coat!
After the research, we all needed a nice relaxing break. Dr. Berger took us to Elk Creek for a nice sunny spot to enjoy our packed lunches. This creek was absolutely stunning, and everyone enjoyed a moment in the sun (away from the wind). Many students explored the creek, finding interesting stones, ores, and fossils. Others played in the cool glacier water, which was almost crystal clear. Finally, I (and only I) went on a journey to catch some sort of critter. It ended up being a Northwestern alligator lizard, which I of course excitedly presented to the rest of the group.
The workday came to an end as we made the long journey back to OIMB. Once again, many students slept in the van as we traveled the winding coastal roads. We unloaded, rinsed our equipment, and introduced 3 new species (a ribbon worm, an orange nudibranch, and a sea cucumber) to the sea table in the lab. Honestly, I could spend hours in there sorting through every cool thing we’ve collected so far! Each student filed back into the cottages and began the long journey of processing our collected data into something we can eventually turn into a research paper and poster. This is unfortunately now the “boring” part of research, but I know we’ll all be proud of what we’ve discovered on this trip!
As the week comes to a close, I’m so thankful that I’ve had this time to spend with my friends and fellow students. This class has been an absolute blast, and I’m saddened we have to leave so soon! But don’t fret, there will still be plenty of updates coming your way!
Monday morning – 13 May 2024
Nicole Dyba
On Monday the 13th we had breakfast at 7:30 then walked down to the marina near the Charleston Marine life center. We all put on our life jackets and loaded onto the OIMB research vessel. The weather was cold and misty with wind, we were told waters may get rough while out on the ocean. The captain gave us a tour of the boat and went over safety procedures, then headed out of Coos Bay to the ocean at a steady pace of 10 knots. Some of us students sat out on the deck of the ship while others sat in the cabin. While traveling to our trawling location we spotted a sea lion on a buoy.
Picture credit: Penelope Anderson
Once we reached our trawling location, we slowed to 2 knots then cast a plankton net off the back of the boat. The net collected plankton for a few minutes then we pulled it in and collected the plankton to look at in the lab.
Students then helped run the cable attached to the trawling net through the A-frame to lower the trawling equipment into the depths, reaching 150-200 feet below the surface. The equipment scraped the bottom of the ocean for around 5-10 minutes, then us students pulled it up using the A frame controls. We saw many sea cucumbers and basket stars as well as anemones and a few bottom dwelling fishes.
We switched to a different trawling net to better match the rocky bottom of the area we were in and did another round of trawling. As we were waiting for this one to pick up organisms, the captain of the ship taught students how to drive the boat and told us about his experiences as a coast guard at Cape Disappointment and Coos bay. The second trawling round was soon ready to pull up! This round resulted in many different corals, crabs, sponges, and brittle stars.
After the second trawling it was time to start heading back, the waves were larger and choppier than before with waves splashing above the nose of our ship. We traveled back at 8 knots with Penelope driving us back into Coos Bay with the guidance of the captain, returning to OIMB at 11:45am. Despite the choppy waters and a little seasickness, we were able to have a successful trip to the ocean where we saw many invertebrates and were able to work together as a crew to operate the ship’s equipment.
Picture credit: Briar Morrow
Monday afternoon – 13 May 2024
Jasper Klamfoth
It’s time to say goodbye to our creatures! After our boat ride, we came back to the class room and collected all of our specimens from the docks and returned them to their home! From the docks we had collected many species, such as sponges, mussels, nudibranchs, a sea star, and a few others!
They were most of what was in our sea tables so it’s looking a bit empty now, [Gert in the sea table picture] but we’re glad to take them back to their home. After they were returned, we had some dinner and went back to our cottages to get ourselves a bit packed up as well. It was a nice calm evening after the excitement and sea-sickness of our morning.
Tuesday – 13 May 2024
Briar Morrow
This morning started off with a trip back to Cape Arago to release the lovely invertebrates we’ve grown so attached to this past week. While it was great to visit our first site again and release the critters back into their natural habitat, we sure will miss them!
We said goodbye to some of our favorite friends, such as Gert the Gumboot
And my personal favorites, Bella (White Berthella) and Carrot (Red Dorid), the nudibranchs!
We took about an hour and a half to release our friends and spend some time looking around given the new knowledge we’ve acquired over the past week. We found some interesting crabs as well as some more chitons!
We took some group photos for the last time at Cape Arago, including some silly ones!
It was then time to leave what was probably my favorite spot from this whole trip, which involved a rather steep hike back up to the van.
We made a short stop at a viewpoint overlooking some seal and sea lion nesting sites. Dr. Berger brought a pair of binoculars for us to view them better.
We all gathered in the van to come back to OIMB for the last time to collect our things and finish cleaning up. We had a delicious lunch with gyoza and fried rice before heading back to Vancouver!
This was such a wonderful trip and I’m grateful for all I was able to do during it. Sadly, this is our last update, but we thank Dr. Berger and the staff at OIMB for making our trip such an awesome experience!!!