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liv’s field notes

@livs_fieldnotes

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Research • Conservation • Ocean Advocacy
Protect what you love! 🦈🪼🪸

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Giant Kelp: Macrocystis pyrifera

Kelp is pretty cool! It’s not a plant, but rather the largest marine algae species! It photosynthesizes and absorbs nutrients from its cool nutrient rich habitat. This species of kelp grows only on the west coast of the United States, from Alaska to Mexico.

Many kelp species are endangered, including the Giant Kelp, due to warming waters and over predation. Sea Urchin are natural predators to kelp forests, and their populations have recently exploded, especially in California. Warming waters have caused disease and decline in sea stars, sea urchins natural predators, allowing sea urchin populations to grow unchecked.

Kelp forests are very important as they protect our coast and limit erosion by being a buffer to strong surges. They also are home to hundreds of marine species, are a safe breeding ground, provide food, and helps process harmful CO2 emissions as a carbon sink. The decline of kelp forests causes a cascading effect on marine specie populations, increased coast erosion, and possibly higher CO2 concentrations in our atmosphere.

Scientists are working to not only stop the decline of kelp forests but bring them back, and are finding success! Through the use of satellite monitoring, heat resilience breeding, and removal of sea urchin, kelp forests are returning! by @livs_fieldnotes

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7 months ago

Giant African Land Snail: Achatina fulica

While these guys may appeal to hawaiin tourist invert lovers (me), they are seriously invasive! I think they are similar to our bunny problem back in the north east, where they eat through peoples gardens. Interestingly, they also feed on rocks for the minerals to harden their shells. Impressive radula! by @livs_fieldnotes

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8 months ago

Black sea cucumber: Holothuria atra

I love these guys! Sea cucumbers are omnivores, meaning they are like the janitors of the sea. Anything that helps nutrients cycle in our oceans are very important. An interesting fact, they have tentacles to help them feed! We just dont see them as they are in their mouths. by @livs_fieldnotes

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8 months ago

Another wonderful Makena Landing dive!

1: Ha'uku'uku'ula'ula, the Red Pencil Urchin: Hetreocentrotus mamillatus

2: Scrambled Egg Nudibranch!!!!: Phyllidia varicosa

3: Sea urchin endoskeleton aka test by @livs_fieldnotes

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8 months ago

Humpback Whale: Megaptera novaeangliae

These beautiful creatures have made the trip from Alaska to Hawaii to give birth/ mate. The formation of the Hawaiian Islands creates a shallow, safe, and warm "bath tub" for mothers to give birth, recover, and then teach their babies.

This interaction was nothing short of life changing. Pictured is a female humpback whale, who was being followed by a male humpback whale, most likely with the hopes of mating. She was very interactive with the boat, kind of using the boat to position herself away from the male. Thank you for your time beautiful girl! by @livs_fieldnotes

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8 months ago

Sandbar shark: Carcharhinus plumbeus

This was another amazing dive off the coast of Ni'ihau. I was feeling much more comfortable with these guys after our first dive at Ni'ihau. This was one of probably 20 sharks we saw on this dive. by @livs_fieldnotes

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10 months ago

Some of the beautiful and unique flora of Hawaii!
1: Neoregelia bromeliads
2: Plumeria
3: Cycnoches pentadeactylon by @livs_fieldnotes

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10 months ago

Gold Dust Day Gecko: Phelsuma laticauda

These guys are beautiful!!! I had been trying to get a picture of their blue, red, orange, and green colors the entire trip. They are quite quick! by @livs_fieldnotes

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10 months ago

Gold lace nudibranch!!!: Halgerda terramtuentis

Any interaction with a nudibranch is an exciting one. This was my first time seeing this species of nudibranch. I was shocked by how translucent it was between the gold "lace". by @livs_fieldnotes

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10 months ago

Ni'ihau dive 1!!

1: Me with sandbar shark. These guys were everywhere! They were fast, big, and beautiful. I have dived with sharks before, after all the ocean is their home, but never with so many around. This was a boat dive, and before we got in the water we caught a tuna and gutted it, which woke the sharks up in the area. I have certainly never been in the water with such curious sharks. The sight and rush of adrenaline was electrifying!

2: Gray reef shark: Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos (I believe)

3: 2 sandbar sharks: Carcharhinus plumbeus

4: Crown of thorns starfish: Acanthaster planci
One of the largest sea stars in the world, this guy is an aggressive hunter. They feed coryl polyps and their spines are venomous! One invert I can not support.

5: Sandbar shark

6: Me signaling shark so my sister can take a look! by @livs_fieldnotes

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10 months ago

by @livs_fieldnotes

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10 months ago

double headed larval horseshoe crab! by @livs_fieldnotes

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10 months ago