|
Kelp and eel grass beds provide an important region for small wildlife in Puget Sound. Twice daily tides and strong currents bring vital and rich nutrients for our animals, along with shelter from predation. Unfortunately, these areas are suffering from a multitude of hazards. Increasing pollutants and toxins are killing off the Kelp. Heavy metals and micro-plastics are infiltrating our waters and ecosystems. Increasing acidification and warming waters are all contributing to the problems. The marine life is in great distress, and we should all be concerned. Many of the beautiful small animals below live and thrive in our kelp beds for safety and food. We at Made In Puget Sound are working to help save these vital regions. Join Us!
0 Comments
During my first visit to Pullman, Washington, I launched my drone and captured a few video clips of the famous falls. The historic falls were formed almost 15,000 years ago, while the Palouse has been in existence for nearly two billion years. We'll be returning in the Spring for our daughter's graduation from WSU. Spring colors will be exploding at that time. Fresh-water is not necessarily a good thing. Although this time of year is usually excellent for underwater exploration, until the weather gets so bad it becomes very difficult to enter and exit the water.The viz is declining every week from all the rains. As fresh-water infuses with salt water it becomes a little cloudy. The fresh-water runoff also carries pollutants and toxins from our streets, highways, and yards into the Sound and Salish Sea. I'm sure our delicate wildlife do not enjoy the taste of motor oil and heavy metals. Something to think about. Populations of many animals is looking very good. Schools of Perch, Tubesnout and Herring still present. Depending on where I am, I will find different nudibranch species. Alki is home to many Diamondback and Striped, not so much in other areas. Food source is the main reason. First time I personally have spotted so many Cryptic Kelp Crabs. They seemed to be everywhere. In Elliot Bay, I spotted quite a few Kelp Greenlings, big ones. This seems to be a recent trend. I've typically found few if any in this part of the Sound. Curious why that is. Will be out next week with another report on our amazing wildlife and the conditions of Puget Sound Underwater. A very good day in Puget Sound Underwater. Some of my very favorites and a few somewhat rare animals. The shrimp I photographed I could not identify. There are so many different types of shrimp in our waters, it's nearly impossible to know them all. It's also rare to spot PSL's this late in the year. Although not unheard of, but because the Kelp is mostly dying off now, the PSL's seem to disappear, are preyed upon, or go into hibernation(?). We don't really know where they go at the end of the year. Lots of beautiful Red Octopuses all the time. The decorator crabs, one juvenile, the other a bit older, looked fabulous. So many nudibranchs all over. It's very nice to see lots of healthy little nudi's. Finally, still seeing massive schools of tubesnout, Perch and Herring. |
RSS Feed