Invertebrate Chess

Posted on by kimjimin01

A classic game of chess with a touch of marine biology! Each piece was crafted to model a different marine invertebrate found in the waters of Bamfield. From crabs to tunicates, the diversity you can see there is truly incredible.

At the very top, we have two different crab species – Hemigrapsus nudus (purple) and Cancer productus (red) representing the ‘king’ and ‘queen’. You can tell the king and queen apart by the abdomens, just like in real crabs. The king is represented by the male crab, distinguishable by the narrow and pointed flap on the abdomen, and the queen by the broader and rounder flap.

Following the crabs we have the nudibranchs representing the rooks. On the left is the Doris montereyensis, a gorgeous yellow nudibranch with cute black spots and on the right is Triopha catalinae, a vibrant nudibranch resembling its namesake, the Clown Dorid. Both feature a feathery rosette-like structure on the dorsal side called the external gills – fitting for the name nudibranch which means ‘naked gill’.

To the right of the nudis are the lovely sea anemones. Though the name may be hard to pronounce they are not hard to spot. Representing the knights is the Giant Green Anemone, Anthopleura xanthogrammica (on the left), and the aggregating anemone, Anthopleura elegantissima (on the right). Although they are staples of aquarium petting zoos these guys actually pack quite a punch! The slightest touch from its prey is enough to trigger its nematocysts, injecting it with paralyzing neurotoxins.

Repping the bishops on the bottom left image we have two species of sea stars, Dermasteria imbricata on the left, and Pisaster ochraceus on the right. These crawling critters move in an interesting way – through thousands of little feet located on the ventral side of the starfish.

Last but not least we have the tunicates representing the pawns! Covered by a firm layer called a tunic these soft-bodied invertebrates survive by filtering seawater through their two openings called siphons. A wide variety of tunicates are present along the coast of Bamfield. Some of these include the Long-Stalked tunicate, Styela montereyensis (left), Last but not least we have the tunicates! Covered by a firm layer called a tunic these soft-bodied invertebrates survive by filtering seawater through their two openings called siphons. A wide variety of tunicates are present along the coast of Bamfield. Some of these include the Long-Stalked tunicate, Styela montereyensis (left), Cnemidocarpa finmarkiensis (middle left), Taylor’s Social Tunicate, Metandrocarpa taylori (middle-right), and the Star Tunicate, Botryllus schlosseri (right).

Tides of Love: A tale of two star-crossed anemones

Posted on by drewskiiii

Have you ever fallen in love with somebody? Was the way you got along with them unbelievably and perfectly easy? Maybe you met at work, at school, at dance class, or even just at a coffee shop, love at first sight was no longer a myth; this person felt like the one for you. However, even despite the vast number of things you had in common with them, it was something out of either of your control that made your relationship an impossibility.

The poem I’ve written today is a practically Shakespearean tale of a giant green anemone and an aggregating anemone’s forbidden relationship. Will their ‘eternal love’ survive the test of being forever physically separated by their positions in the ocean’s intertidal zone? Will they persist, throughout all the trials and tribulations that are thrown their way by mother nature herself? Scroll onwards, dear reader, and find out:

For more information regarding these star-crossed lovers, consider reading their pages by the Monterey Bay Aquarium:

Invertebrate Greeting Cards: Adding a Splash of Creativity to Science

Posted on by lemons and lines

Invertebrates might not always get the attention they deserve, but in this project, I aimed to change that! Instead of sticking to a traditional blog post about our lab work, I decided to create a project that would make an appreciation of invertebrates accessible to all by crafting invertebrate-themed greeting cards.

Each card was designed with both whimsy and educational value in mind. The star of the collection is the card featuring an adorable octopus, accompanied by the punny message, “You octopi my heart.” This playful twist on words will not only bring a smile to the recipient’s face but also highlight the unique circulatory system of these cephalopods. The inside of the card says, “Octopi actually have three hearts, so if I were an octopus, you’d be in all three!”

For those with a love of entomology, our “You’re so fly” card featuring a swarm of flying bugs could be a hit. This clever play on words combined with intricate bug illustrations showcased the diversity and beauty of insects while adding a touch of humor to the mix. The back of the card says, “Insects are the only invertebrates that fly! They are so unique, just like you!”

Continuing the underwater theme, I couldn’t resist including a card featuring a graceful jellyfish with the word “tentacular” emblazoned across it. This wordplay not only emphasizes the unique tentacles of jellyfish but also introduces recipients to new vocabulary related to marine biology. The back of the card says, “You are a spectacular specimen, like a jellyfish, which can have tentacles over 27 meters long!”

One of the more unexpected additions to my collection was the hermit crab card simply labeled “clawsome.” With its clever wordplay, this card not only celebrates the unique claw adaptations of hermit crabs but also captures their endearing charm. The back of the card highlights their unique social structure with the saying, “Despite their name, hermit crabs are social animals who need to be in pairs or groups. Like this crab, I need friends like you!”

Finally, I couldn’t forget about our terrestrial friends, so I included a card featuring a charming snail with the message “Snailed it.” This punny phrase celebrates the slow but steady perseverance of snails while also acknowledging the achievement of completing a task. The back of the card highlights their evolutionary success with the writing, “Just like you, snails are very successful as they are number two on the list of most species on earth, second only to insects!”

Overall, these invertebrate greeting cards served as a fun and creative way to share the passion for these often-overlooked creatures. By combining art, humor, and science, I hope these cards inspire others to appreciate the beauty and diversity of the invertebrate world. So the next time you’re in need of a unique greeting card, why not consider one inspired by nature’s fascinating invertebrates? After all, they truly are a heartwarming bunch!

All drawings, writing, and photos were created by Melanie Jackson-Rintjema

Love Invertebrates? Me too!

Posted on by Avery Rose

That’s why I made this poster of my drawings showcasing the amazing diversity of the marine invertebrates living in the Pacific Northwest!

marine-invertebrates-of-the-pacific-northwestDownload

Feel free to download this PDF if you’d like a copy! This poster demonstrates the beautiful life that resides in the intertidal and subtidal zones of the West coast of British Columbia and helps you identify which major groups these organisms belong to. I personally am going to order this in the form of a jigsaw puzzle to really bring these animals to life!

Invertopoly!

Posted on by janavisukumar

Here’s a fun twist on the classic family game Monopoly! In this marine invertebrate themed game, the rules are simple, and are functionally the same as in the original. Roll the dice, buy property, and bankrupt other players to win the game.

In this version, property names are all based some of my favourite inverts I’ve come across during the duration of this course. Notable locations are “Pisaster Place”, “Littorina Lane”, and “Goats on the Roof”.

The community chest cards is where the real fun lies, with a mix of fun and educational scenarios raising the stakes of the game!

If you want to make your own themed monopoly this is the template I used: https://bradfrost.com/blog/post/monopoly-photoshop-template/