William Barnacle
@urchinartdesigns.bsky.social
Sometime sailor, diver, biologist, photographer, jeweler, and a beer every couple of weeks... you can call me "Bill".
Science Magazine recently published an article on PFOACs and fish consumption: Risks of PFOACs substance exposure through marine fish consumption www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
The PFOAC levels from farmed fish aren't specifically addressed. Trophic levers are important, cod & herring high conc.
The PFOAC levels from farmed fish aren't specifically addressed. Trophic levers are important, cod & herring high conc.
Risks of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance exposure through marine fish consumption
Global food trade expansion has enriched diets worldwide but also heightened concerns about contaminant spread. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) can persist in the environment for decades, y...
www.science.org
December 22, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Science Magazine recently published an article on PFOACs and fish consumption: Risks of PFOACs substance exposure through marine fish consumption www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
The PFOAC levels from farmed fish aren't specifically addressed. Trophic levers are important, cod & herring high conc.
The PFOAC levels from farmed fish aren't specifically addressed. Trophic levers are important, cod & herring high conc.
Today's post is of a Cabezon guarding his eggs. The egg mass is next to his jaw on the rocks in red. I bet he sees a big eye in the camera lens and if it gets any closer he's gonna nip it.
December 22, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Today's post is of a Cabezon guarding his eggs. The egg mass is next to his jaw on the rocks in red. I bet he sees a big eye in the camera lens and if it gets any closer he's gonna nip it.
This morning's post is a Monterey Dorid Nudibranch after it laid egg collars on a reef near Coal Oil Pt.
Just above the nudibranch is a sea urchin test that looks like the former occupant was eaten.
Just above the nudibranch is a sea urchin test that looks like the former occupant was eaten.
December 21, 2025 at 3:16 PM
This morning's post is a Monterey Dorid Nudibranch after it laid egg collars on a reef near Coal Oil Pt.
Just above the nudibranch is a sea urchin test that looks like the former occupant was eaten.
Just above the nudibranch is a sea urchin test that looks like the former occupant was eaten.
Today's post is of a Two-Spot Octopus caught out in the open. At 1st the Octopus tried waving a couple of arms wildly to distract me, but it turned out the way it usually did when they flash colors then jet away.
Octopus hate it when their camouflage fails to hide them.
Octopus hate it when their camouflage fails to hide them.
December 20, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Today's post is of a Two-Spot Octopus caught out in the open. At 1st the Octopus tried waving a couple of arms wildly to distract me, but it turned out the way it usually did when they flash colors then jet away.
Octopus hate it when their camouflage fails to hide them.
Octopus hate it when their camouflage fails to hide them.
3rd post with Sheepshead. A female Sheepshead follows a Garibaldi around as he patrols his nest, the algae growing below the 2 fish.
The Garibaldi picks purple urchins off the nest and the Sheepshead gets an urchin for a meal if it acts fast enough, an urchin turned over is easier to eat.
The Garibaldi picks purple urchins off the nest and the Sheepshead gets an urchin for a meal if it acts fast enough, an urchin turned over is easier to eat.
December 19, 2025 at 3:49 PM
3rd post with Sheepshead. A female Sheepshead follows a Garibaldi around as he patrols his nest, the algae growing below the 2 fish.
The Garibaldi picks purple urchins off the nest and the Sheepshead gets an urchin for a meal if it acts fast enough, an urchin turned over is easier to eat.
The Garibaldi picks purple urchins off the nest and the Sheepshead gets an urchin for a meal if it acts fast enough, an urchin turned over is easier to eat.
Yesterday's post was of female sheepshead changing sex from female to male, and here's a pic of a male that's fully developed.
Wrasse in tropical waters transition in two weeks but it might take longer in the cold waters off California.
Wrasse in tropical waters transition in two weeks but it might take longer in the cold waters off California.
December 18, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Yesterday's post was of female sheepshead changing sex from female to male, and here's a pic of a male that's fully developed.
Wrasse in tropical waters transition in two weeks but it might take longer in the cold waters off California.
Wrasse in tropical waters transition in two weeks but it might take longer in the cold waters off California.
Today's pic is of a California Sheepshead in transition: from female to male
When the dominant male disappears then one of the females starts to change sex and it's called protogynous hermaphroditism
Right now the white on the lower jaw is the only difference so tomorrow I'll post a pic of a male
When the dominant male disappears then one of the females starts to change sex and it's called protogynous hermaphroditism
Right now the white on the lower jaw is the only difference so tomorrow I'll post a pic of a male
December 17, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Today's pic is of a California Sheepshead in transition: from female to male
When the dominant male disappears then one of the females starts to change sex and it's called protogynous hermaphroditism
Right now the white on the lower jaw is the only difference so tomorrow I'll post a pic of a male
When the dominant male disappears then one of the females starts to change sex and it's called protogynous hermaphroditism
Right now the white on the lower jaw is the only difference so tomorrow I'll post a pic of a male
Just left of center is a Gray Moon Sponge, a small one. This sponge can grow as big as a couch, according to some authors.
And it's true, I've seen giant ones. Plus small pieces broken off can grow into another couch-sized one. Beats the heck out of some phony cellulose ones, no?
And it's true, I've seen giant ones. Plus small pieces broken off can grow into another couch-sized one. Beats the heck out of some phony cellulose ones, no?
December 16, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Just left of center is a Gray Moon Sponge, a small one. This sponge can grow as big as a couch, according to some authors.
And it's true, I've seen giant ones. Plus small pieces broken off can grow into another couch-sized one. Beats the heck out of some phony cellulose ones, no?
And it's true, I've seen giant ones. Plus small pieces broken off can grow into another couch-sized one. Beats the heck out of some phony cellulose ones, no?
Here's a shot of the Sunstar, Pycnopodia helianthoides, off of Coal Oil Point before Wasting Syndrome appeared.
There was one theory that low O2 levels may be causing the die off but this was taken when a lot of mud was dumped on the reef and this one didn't even notice the mud so, it's Vibrio now.
There was one theory that low O2 levels may be causing the die off but this was taken when a lot of mud was dumped on the reef and this one didn't even notice the mud so, it's Vibrio now.
December 15, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Here's a shot of the Sunstar, Pycnopodia helianthoides, off of Coal Oil Point before Wasting Syndrome appeared.
There was one theory that low O2 levels may be causing the die off but this was taken when a lot of mud was dumped on the reef and this one didn't even notice the mud so, it's Vibrio now.
There was one theory that low O2 levels may be causing the die off but this was taken when a lot of mud was dumped on the reef and this one didn't even notice the mud so, it's Vibrio now.
This photo was taken off Palos Verdes Peninsula. It's a juvenile Garibaldi, the State Fish of CA. The adults are bright gold/yellow and aggressive so they are easy to picture but the juveniles are skittish so they won't stay still.
The adults will swim up to you if you get near their nest.
The adults will swim up to you if you get near their nest.
December 14, 2025 at 2:56 PM
This photo was taken off Palos Verdes Peninsula. It's a juvenile Garibaldi, the State Fish of CA. The adults are bright gold/yellow and aggressive so they are easy to picture but the juveniles are skittish so they won't stay still.
The adults will swim up to you if you get near their nest.
The adults will swim up to you if you get near their nest.
A Bat ray rests on the bottom near some kelp, or was resting until I came along.
Sometimes I don't want to get out of bed either but I have to...
Sometimes I don't want to get out of bed either but I have to...
December 13, 2025 at 4:37 PM
A Bat ray rests on the bottom near some kelp, or was resting until I came along.
Sometimes I don't want to get out of bed either but I have to...
Sometimes I don't want to get out of bed either but I have to...
Deck us all with Boston Charlie,
Walla Walla, Wash., an’ Kalamazoo!
Nora’s freezin’ on the trolley,
Swaller dollar cauliflower alley-garoo!
Don’t we know archaic barrel
Lullaby Lilla Boy, Louisville Lou?
Trolley Molly don’t love Harold,
Boola boola Pensacoola hullabaloo!
From Pogo by Walt Kelly
Walla Walla, Wash., an’ Kalamazoo!
Nora’s freezin’ on the trolley,
Swaller dollar cauliflower alley-garoo!
Don’t we know archaic barrel
Lullaby Lilla Boy, Louisville Lou?
Trolley Molly don’t love Harold,
Boola boola Pensacoola hullabaloo!
From Pogo by Walt Kelly
December 12, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Deck us all with Boston Charlie,
Walla Walla, Wash., an’ Kalamazoo!
Nora’s freezin’ on the trolley,
Swaller dollar cauliflower alley-garoo!
Don’t we know archaic barrel
Lullaby Lilla Boy, Louisville Lou?
Trolley Molly don’t love Harold,
Boola boola Pensacoola hullabaloo!
From Pogo by Walt Kelly
Walla Walla, Wash., an’ Kalamazoo!
Nora’s freezin’ on the trolley,
Swaller dollar cauliflower alley-garoo!
Don’t we know archaic barrel
Lullaby Lilla Boy, Louisville Lou?
Trolley Molly don’t love Harold,
Boola boola Pensacoola hullabaloo!
From Pogo by Walt Kelly
This old fellow is a Sheep Crab that's reached his terminal molt, lost one pincher, and growing algae on his back, but he still comes into shallow water for the breeding season.
This crab is half the size of the younger ones around but he's still game.
This crab is half the size of the younger ones around but he's still game.
December 12, 2025 at 3:07 PM
This old fellow is a Sheep Crab that's reached his terminal molt, lost one pincher, and growing algae on his back, but he still comes into shallow water for the breeding season.
This crab is half the size of the younger ones around but he's still game.
This crab is half the size of the younger ones around but he's still game.
Here's a 2nd pic of the Skagit River this morning. It's 32' deep downstream at the gauge near Mt Vernon, WA. More water on the way.
December 11, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Here's a 2nd pic of the Skagit River this morning. It's 32' deep downstream at the gauge near Mt Vernon, WA. More water on the way.
Here's pic of the Skagit River between Concrete & Hamilton WA showing the river flooding.
It isn't supposed to crest until tomorrow a couple more feet of water is coming. One log I saw two days ago had a raccoon on it as it travelled down the River to the Sound.
It isn't supposed to crest until tomorrow a couple more feet of water is coming. One log I saw two days ago had a raccoon on it as it travelled down the River to the Sound.
December 11, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Here's pic of the Skagit River between Concrete & Hamilton WA showing the river flooding.
It isn't supposed to crest until tomorrow a couple more feet of water is coming. One log I saw two days ago had a raccoon on it as it travelled down the River to the Sound.
It isn't supposed to crest until tomorrow a couple more feet of water is coming. One log I saw two days ago had a raccoon on it as it travelled down the River to the Sound.
A Gorgonian on the reef at Coal Oil Pt. is brightly colored. It's a soft coral that's a colonial organism. The California Golden Coral is called Muricea californica.
December 11, 2025 at 3:36 PM
A Gorgonian on the reef at Coal Oil Pt. is brightly colored. It's a soft coral that's a colonial organism. The California Golden Coral is called Muricea californica.
A C/O Turbot glides smoothly under a blade of red alga called a Turkish Towel hoping the photographer isn't dangerous. It need not worry since I gave up spearfishing long before this.
This was taken not far from Arroyo Burro Beach, popular with families but known for high bacterial counts.
This was taken not far from Arroyo Burro Beach, popular with families but known for high bacterial counts.
December 10, 2025 at 3:49 PM
A C/O Turbot glides smoothly under a blade of red alga called a Turkish Towel hoping the photographer isn't dangerous. It need not worry since I gave up spearfishing long before this.
This was taken not far from Arroyo Burro Beach, popular with families but known for high bacterial counts.
This was taken not far from Arroyo Burro Beach, popular with families but known for high bacterial counts.
A recently settled Navanax inermis, a predatory sea slug that eats other sea slugs, glides along a blade of Giant Kelp.
Kelp provides more food, it provides shelter, sequesters carbon from the sea, and supplies products like thickener for ice cream. Kelp beds protect coastlines from storm surge too
Kelp provides more food, it provides shelter, sequesters carbon from the sea, and supplies products like thickener for ice cream. Kelp beds protect coastlines from storm surge too
December 9, 2025 at 3:37 PM
A recently settled Navanax inermis, a predatory sea slug that eats other sea slugs, glides along a blade of Giant Kelp.
Kelp provides more food, it provides shelter, sequesters carbon from the sea, and supplies products like thickener for ice cream. Kelp beds protect coastlines from storm surge too
Kelp provides more food, it provides shelter, sequesters carbon from the sea, and supplies products like thickener for ice cream. Kelp beds protect coastlines from storm surge too
Coral reefs have orchestrated Earth’s climate for 250 million years" from the theconversation.com/coral-reefs-...
"In phases when reefs dominate, recovery slows because shallow seas trap the dissolved minerals, known as ions (Ca ions), that would help the ocean absorb carbon"
250 m yrs old system
"In phases when reefs dominate, recovery slows because shallow seas trap the dissolved minerals, known as ions (Ca ions), that would help the ocean absorb carbon"
250 m yrs old system
December 8, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Coral reefs have orchestrated Earth’s climate for 250 million years" from the theconversation.com/coral-reefs-...
"In phases when reefs dominate, recovery slows because shallow seas trap the dissolved minerals, known as ions (Ca ions), that would help the ocean absorb carbon"
250 m yrs old system
"In phases when reefs dominate, recovery slows because shallow seas trap the dissolved minerals, known as ions (Ca ions), that would help the ocean absorb carbon"
250 m yrs old system
Long before the Sea Star Wasting Disease appeared I took some photos & a video of a Giant Spiny Sea Star spawning near Tajiguas CA.
Here's one of the pics. I can load the video up later on when the option is available.
Here's one of the pics. I can load the video up later on when the option is available.
December 8, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Long before the Sea Star Wasting Disease appeared I took some photos & a video of a Giant Spiny Sea Star spawning near Tajiguas CA.
Here's one of the pics. I can load the video up later on when the option is available.
Here's one of the pics. I can load the video up later on when the option is available.
A large Brittle Star, Ophioderma panamense, navigating the ocean floor between two Red Urchins near Coal Oil Pt.
I've not seen any news regarding their population. During the Sea Star Wasting period I mean. Were Brittle Stars affected by the disease like Pisaster & Pycnopodia were?
I've not seen any news regarding their population. During the Sea Star Wasting period I mean. Were Brittle Stars affected by the disease like Pisaster & Pycnopodia were?
December 7, 2025 at 3:48 PM
A large Brittle Star, Ophioderma panamense, navigating the ocean floor between two Red Urchins near Coal Oil Pt.
I've not seen any news regarding their population. During the Sea Star Wasting period I mean. Were Brittle Stars affected by the disease like Pisaster & Pycnopodia were?
I've not seen any news regarding their population. During the Sea Star Wasting period I mean. Were Brittle Stars affected by the disease like Pisaster & Pycnopodia were?
A Rockpool Blenny looks out from his home (an old boring clam burrow) to see who's making all that noise.
The reefs where this guy lives are composed of Monterey Shale and digging into the rock releases odors of coal oil. Indeed, this photo was taken at Coal Oil Point in shallow water, perhaps 20'
The reefs where this guy lives are composed of Monterey Shale and digging into the rock releases odors of coal oil. Indeed, this photo was taken at Coal Oil Point in shallow water, perhaps 20'
December 6, 2025 at 4:18 PM
A Rockpool Blenny looks out from his home (an old boring clam burrow) to see who's making all that noise.
The reefs where this guy lives are composed of Monterey Shale and digging into the rock releases odors of coal oil. Indeed, this photo was taken at Coal Oil Point in shallow water, perhaps 20'
The reefs where this guy lives are composed of Monterey Shale and digging into the rock releases odors of coal oil. Indeed, this photo was taken at Coal Oil Point in shallow water, perhaps 20'
A Spanish Shawl nudibranch leans out on some red algae searching for prey, Hydroids.
This nudibranch saves the stinging cells from the Hydroids and stores them in the gills lining the back so if a fish tried eating it, then the fish gets a mouthful of Hydroid nematocysts!
This nudibranch saves the stinging cells from the Hydroids and stores them in the gills lining the back so if a fish tried eating it, then the fish gets a mouthful of Hydroid nematocysts!
December 5, 2025 at 3:12 PM
A Spanish Shawl nudibranch leans out on some red algae searching for prey, Hydroids.
This nudibranch saves the stinging cells from the Hydroids and stores them in the gills lining the back so if a fish tried eating it, then the fish gets a mouthful of Hydroid nematocysts!
This nudibranch saves the stinging cells from the Hydroids and stores them in the gills lining the back so if a fish tried eating it, then the fish gets a mouthful of Hydroid nematocysts!
A Mermaid's Purse attached to a kelp holdfast.
I love seeing these. It's a Swell Shark Egg case with an embryo. Sometimes I get lucky and see one with the shark developing inside, alive and kicking.
If it wasn't for the oceans then I probably would have never have had as much fun as I have.
I love seeing these. It's a Swell Shark Egg case with an embryo. Sometimes I get lucky and see one with the shark developing inside, alive and kicking.
If it wasn't for the oceans then I probably would have never have had as much fun as I have.
December 4, 2025 at 3:30 PM
A Mermaid's Purse attached to a kelp holdfast.
I love seeing these. It's a Swell Shark Egg case with an embryo. Sometimes I get lucky and see one with the shark developing inside, alive and kicking.
If it wasn't for the oceans then I probably would have never have had as much fun as I have.
I love seeing these. It's a Swell Shark Egg case with an embryo. Sometimes I get lucky and see one with the shark developing inside, alive and kicking.
If it wasn't for the oceans then I probably would have never have had as much fun as I have.
This landed on my glove one day while working off an area known as Tajiguas, along the coast NW of Santa Barbara.
It's a juvenile anemone, possible Telia or Epiactis spp., I think.
It's a juvenile anemone, possible Telia or Epiactis spp., I think.
December 3, 2025 at 3:32 PM
This landed on my glove one day while working off an area known as Tajiguas, along the coast NW of Santa Barbara.
It's a juvenile anemone, possible Telia or Epiactis spp., I think.
It's a juvenile anemone, possible Telia or Epiactis spp., I think.