PEER INTO THE SSEA
February 2017
NotesNote from the Executive Director

Check out this Tidepool Sculpin! This coming month at the Estuarium is going to be one of my favorites - Fish February. Of course, the Puget Sound is home to iconic salmon species, but there are so many other fish species that are interesting to explore and critical to our ecosystems. Come on down to the Estuarium and check them out.

Don't forget that our matching offer for membership donations is still in effect until the end of Winter. Visit www.SSEAcenter.org/donate today, and your gift will be matched dollar-for dollar!

SSEA is ramping up for a summer full of beach days.
This month, we are hiring a Volunteer and Education Coordinator to start planning for the season. Stay tuned for more information!

I am also excited to announce we just launched a pilot SSEA Internship Program to give young students an opportunity to advance their careers in environmental education. You can read more about these inspiring individuals below.

In this edition, we report on the Estuarium's Kelp Crab, "Lady." We also review our January Discovery Speaker Series on Geology, which attracted a record-breaking 140 community members. In a bit of unfortunate events, we have temporarily suspended Pier Peer due to a storm that devastated Boston Harbor's pier. SSEA will keep you updated on the situation.

Enjoy! 
 
In This Issue
EventsUpcoming Events

SSEA Events 
  • February 1st-28th: Fish February at the Estuarium
  • February 15th: "Tides: The Science and Spirit of the Ocean" a presentation with local author Jonathan White
  • February 16th, 7:00 PM: Rachael Jamison from the Port of Olympia - Discovery Speaker Series at LOTT WET Science Center
  • March 25th, 7:00 PM, Songs for SSEA, a benefit with music by Pinniped and Ken Bevis - $20/person
     
Community Events
  • February 3rd, 4th, 17th, and 18th: Amphibian Egg Mass Surveys (contact Michelle at mstevie@ci.olympia.wa.us for more information)
  • February 4th: Baleen and Toothed Whales at the Hands On Children's Museum (during open hours)
  • February 9th, 9:00 AM: Forage Fish Surveys West Bay Park
  • February 16th, 7:00-8:30 PM: Birds of Our Temperate Rainforests Traditions Fair Trade at 300 5th Ave SW, Olympia
LadyLady: The Estuarium's Beloved Kelp Crab
by Taisha McFall, Estuarium Manager



As the Estuarium Manager, it is my duty to care for all of our fantastic live animal ambassadors. This includes responsibilities, such as feeding the animals, cleaning their habitats, and observing their behavior for any changes that might indicate something is wrong.

For instance, a few months ago our very large and charismatic northern kelp crab, Lady, began to grow algae on her body. I was concerned she needed to molt her shell but didn't feel safe enough to do so in her aquarium, which she shared with two staghorn sculpin companions, Bonnie and Clyde. The staghorn diet consists of up to 50% small crabs in the wild, but Lady had never had any conflicts with Bonnie or Clyde due to her massive size. Still, molting can be a dangerous time for crabs, because between the time they lose their shell and regrow a new one, they are essentially soft, naked, and vulnerable to the jaws of staghorns. I spent many hours researching kelp crab husbandry and attempting to create a space in the aquarium for Lady to safely molt, but she wouldn't. I was at my wits end trying to figure out a solution to this problem!

Then, finally one day while searching the sparse kelp crab scientific literature online, I found an article explaining that kelp crabs have what is called a "terminal molt," and that once a female reaches reproductive maturity, she will never molt again. She will remain that size for the rest of her life, up to 50 years! When kelp crabs enter the geriatric stage of their life, they become slower, stiffer, and are unable to clean their shells. An unkempt shell is actually an advantage at this stage in life, since the algae that grows on it camouflages the crab from the eyes of predators, allowing the crab to squeeze in a few more attempts at reproduction.

At last, I had an answer to my question about Lady! I was excited to have found the answer...but wait...oh no...this new information meant that Lady was essentially entering the final stages of her life cycle. I immediately felt sadness wash over me, knowing that I might arrive at the Estuarium soon to find Lady gone.

That day arrived on Sunday, January 15th. The previous evening Lady had been unable to eat, and was finding it very difficult to move. She had lost two of her legs overnight- which is common for elderly crabs- and my volunteer staff and I knew that we were witnessing the final hours of her life. We recalled all the times that visitors were amazed by her size and personality, and all of the questions frequently asked about Lady: What does she eat? Where does she live? How can you tell she's a girl? Does it hurt when she pinches you? We were going to miss her tremendously.

Lady was a beautiful and true Animal Ambassador for the Estuarium. Her legacy will live on in the hearts of everyone she inspired, myself included.

I feel so fortunate to be the one to care for these animals and share Lady's story with you, our SSEA supporters. I'm always learning something new at the Estuarium, and telling others about what I've learned brings me so much joy, even when what I've learned isn't what I wanted to hear. Despite the ups and downs of animal care-giving, I couldn't ask for a better job than working with SSEA.

P.S. Come by during Estuarium open hours and tell us your favorite story about Lady. Perhaps you will meet a new Animal Ambassador while you're here!

InternsSSEA Welcomes New Evergreen Interns
  
SSEA has recently launched a new internship program! Each quarter, we will host 2-4 interns from local colleges to give them an opportunity to gain experience in the environmental and education fields. They will gain the basics of non-profit management, participate in outreach events, work with staff to expand our environmental education curriculum, and help lay the foundation for the next interns. 

I am very happy to introduce these students from the Evergreen State College, who are already exceeding our expectations! 
  • Stevie Knapp is a current senior studying Conservation Marine Sciences and will graduate with her dual Bachelors degree this March.
  • Shayley Jacobson is currently studying Marine Biology and is pursuing her dual Bachelors degree.
  • Brett Larson is an Estuarium Intern. He has previous experience volunteering for the Seattle aquarium, and his current program requires at least five hours of community service.
If you, or someone you know, is interested in interning during the Spring Quarter, please check out our opportunities by visiting http://www.sseacenter.org/internships.

DSSDiscovery Speaker Series
  


In January, we held a record breaking Discovery Speaker Series at the LOTT's WET Science Center with 140 people! Wendy Gerstel came to speak to us about geology and glacial history in south Puget Sound. She spoke about the interactions between glaciers and land, landslides, lidar imaging, sediment movement, and coastal processes.

If you would like more information about this topic, Wendy provided us with some followup links:
If you are interested in viewing the presentation online, you can find it HERE.

Our next Discovery Speaker Series is February 16th and features Rachael Jamison from the Port of Olympia.
Program Updates

EstuariumEstuarium

January was all about Jellyfish at the Estuarium. We had a fun video showing how a jellyfish stinger works, a display of just a fraction of the 10,000 different species in the phylum "Cnidaria" (jellies, corals, anemones, and more), and even some LIVE JELLIES swimming around in our temporary exhibit!

Speaking of anemones, many visitors came by to meet the star of last month's newsletter- our resilient plumose anemone, Pumpkin. In case you were wondering, Pumpkin is doing very well, and has now found a nice cozy corner of the aquarium in which to live.

Coming up in February we'll be focusing on those charismatic, amazingly diverse, super-cool vertebrates...FISH! There are so many kinds of fish to learn about! How will we decide? Drop us a line at center@SSEAcenter.org to tell us which fish you wish to dish about during Fish February!

If you would like to schedule a field trip, birthday party, or other event at the Estuarium, please email taisha@SSEAcenter.org for more information or submit a group inquiry form.

PierPeerPier Peer

Pier Peer is temporarily suspended until the pier at Boston Harbor is repaired. Stay tuned!
AboutSSEAAbout SSEA
Explore * Connect * Inspire

South Sound Estuary Association (SSEA) was founded to create opportunities for the public to learn about estuaries, geology, natural and cultural history, marine life, and human impact on the Puget Sound (the biggest estuary in the United States by volume and second largest in the United States by shoreline).

Our mission is to foster learning opportunities that inspire people of all ages to connect with, protect, and enjoy the unique estuary environment of the Puget Sound. 

We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and are supported by donations from caring individuals like you. Please help us continue our work by donating today. You can donate by clicking on the Paypal button below, mailing your check to: South Sound Estuary Association PO Box 2182, Olympia, WA 98507, or visiting our website at www.SSEAcenter.org.
 


SupportersOur Supporters

We are grateful to have the support of our major donors, sponsors, and partners. Support these local businesses & partners. They support SSEA! 
  • Bob Vadas
  • Daniel Knoetke- providing carpentry for The Estuarium
  • LOTT's WET Science Center - Discovery Speaker Series partner
  • Boston Harbor Marina - our Pier Peer partner
  • TSS Digital Services - providing Internet and phone services to the Estuarium
  • Jason Quam, Blue Coral - aquarium maintenance
  • William Thomas, Aquariums W - aquarium maintenance
  • Kevin Gordham - SSEA the Sound
  • Nancy Lapointe, Navigate Financial Services - SSEA the Sound
  • Curry In A Hurry- providing support through advertising