Thursday, July 24, 2014

Views from the Strait of Juan de Fuca

Pterygophora californica, in the stiff "breeze" that is all too common at Elwha dive sites

This week marked the beginning of another year of sub-tidal surveys designed to track the response of the marine biological community to the removal of the Elwha Dams. And for the most part, after two years of (not surprisingly) pretty poor visibility, reasonably good visibility is back, with some sites that I had the chance to dive providing visibility in excess of 20 feet. Which also means that we are collecting more good photography and video. So here, all shot at sites around the Elwha delta and fresh off the SD card, are a few for you to enjoy.

Pterygophora californica stipe, hosting its own micro-community

Urticina columbiana in the surge

Terebellid worm

the enchanting Balanus nubilus

the cryptic Saxidomus gigantea

Metacarcinus gracilis - I always need to check twice to make sure its not a Dungeness

Pagarus armatus, with a diver in the background

a multi-species cluster: Eudistylia vancouverii, Schizobranchia insignis and (possibly) Eudistylia polymorpha

Probably Citharichthys, utilizing the newly sandy habitat at our site 4SP1 near the mouth of the Elwha

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