Unexplainable A magical world at the ocean’s edge
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Jul 2, 2025 
Rebecca Johnson, Director of the Center for Biodiversity and Community Science, shares her passion for tide pools and the vibrant marine life they harbor. She discusses the delicate balance of ecosystems, emphasizing the decline of crucial species like the sunflower sea star due to environmental challenges. The conversation dives into the nostalgia of childhood memories associated with nature, and the hope for restoring fragile marine environments amidst ecological threats. The importance of community engagement and conservation efforts shines through as a cornerstone for future resilience.
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First Tide Pooling Experience
- Byrd Pinkerton shares his first tide pooling experience at a rocky cove as a child, feeling cold, wet, and enchanted.
- The discovery revealed a hidden world of diverse creatures beneath the waves, sparking a lifelong fascination with tide pools.
Impact of Sea Star Wasting Disease
- The sea star wasting disease severely diminished sea star populations, causing ecological imbalance.
- Warm waters likely exacerbated this, leading to over 90% losses in some spots like Pillar Point.
Kelp Forest Ecosystem Collapse
- Kelp forests rely on a balance between grazers like urchins and predators like sunflower sea stars.
- Loss of sunflower stars and warming waters led to urchin barrens, decimating kelp in Northern California.