student blogs

Groundwater depletion is an issue that is affecting many portions of the United States, and its management is becoming increasingly crucial. It is defined as long-term consistent groundwater pumping that results in a lowered water…

Deep in the Pacific Ocean, just off the coast of California and amidst rocky substrates inundated with algae, invertebrates, and groundfish, dwells the white abalone. Scientifically named Haliotis sorenseni, this large herbivorous gastropod has been…

Imagine a bustling city where individuals quietly work behind the scenes amidst the hustle and commotion; their contributions are often overlooked, but their impact is strong. Similarly, coastal and oceanic ecosystems stand as the unsung…

Background

Where do animals on the beach get their food and shelter? 

Meet Winter and she is a Western Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus). Since Winter lives on a beach in Orange County, California, she is exposed…

Gillnet fishing is a system that uses nets to catch fish, but unfortunately, it results in the accidental trapping, mutilation, or casualty of marine mammals like dolphins, seals, and sea lions. This has led to…

Figure 1 Wrack pile. Photo Cred: Laguna Bluebelt

It’s a brisk spring morning, and the sun’s rays are beginning to shine through the water. You’re in southern California so the water is chilly, but not too…

When I was young, I would go to the beach and watch the surfers and skimboarders ride the waves of Laguna. I wasn’t much of a surfer, but I was fascinated with the marine life…

At times when I sit and think about the world, I realize how big of an influence society and culture have on the way we live our lives and how we think. What if we…

A group of California sea lions hauled-out at Dana Point Harbor Photo Credit: Houstan Vassel

All About the California Sea Lion

Ranging from southeast Alaska to the Pacific coast of central Mexico, California sea lions are one…