on the cover
MICHAEL EDWARDS
building blocks of inventions that will
add strength and durability to commonly
used products. The giant keyhole limpet of
Southern California produces haemocyanin,
a chemical that is used to fight bladder
cancer. The limpet’s Hulk-like strength and
its production of cancer-fighting agents
are direct byproducts of the creature’s
evolutionary journey to figure out how to
stick to rocks while simultaneously grazing
on algae, all the while being pummeled by
waves one minute and baking in the sun the
next. Along with surviving the tidal shifts
and incessant pounding surf, limpets and
related mollusks of the intertidal zone are
popular menu items for birds.
Pacific tide pools are the permanent
home for a variety of unique birds and
a stop-over site for others. Flying in
tight formation, sanderlings coordinate a
landing at the surf ’s leading edge where
they probe the wet sand for mole crabs. By
their synchronized movements, these little
“caffeinated” shore birds give the appearance
that they are engaging in communal
telepathy. Away from the sanderlings’
shrimping grounds in the swash zone, four
whimbrels stalk the mudflats for prey; their
long decurved bills are perfect for probing
deep into the burrows of fiddler crabs.
Beyond the visible rocks, a “raft” of surf
scoters dives beneath the pounding surf,
each bird prying a mussel from their prized
beds 25 feet below the surface. These bright
beaked sea ducks swallow the mussels
whole, pulverizing the bivalves’ shells in
their gizzards. The next time you notice an
iridescent blue tint reflecting off a beach-
going child’s galactic sand castle, know that
that blue sheen might be from mussel shells
that passed through the gut of a surf scoter.
Unlike the iron-gutted scoter, perpetually
irritated oystercatchers and industrious
turnstones hammer through and chisel
under the hard calcium carbonate shells of
tasty goose barnacles.
In order to see these, and other, often
well camouflaged birds better, bring
binoculars.
From Roads End to Spanish Head there
are several tide-pools for people to explore.
The tide pools are fun, fascinating and,
depending on how low the tide is, accessible
places to visit. But as we are reminded of all
too often, the ocean is an unforgiving place.
Keep your eyes seaward, know the status of
the tides before you go out onto the rocks
and understand that brown and green algae
that you see is as slick as a rampaging pig
covered in olive oil. It isn’t always possible,
but try to step onto bare rock rather than
on anemones or shellfish. Finally, treat
the tide-pools as you would a designated
wilderness area. Take from your visit
photographs and memories and leave the
exotic creatures for others to see and enjoy.
Hidden within the intertidal labyrinth
are wonders both known and unknown to
science. Maybe due in part to the curiosity
triggered by their trip to the tide pools,
that child eating the sand coated egg
salad might someday be a part of an OSU
research team that discovers an algae whose
chloroplasts produce a chemical that cures
macular degeneration. At a minimum, your
family will get a few unplugged hours in
the sea air, exploring alien-like creatures
together.
Time spent exploring nature is never
time wasted.
PATRICK ALEXANDER
oregoncoastTODAY.com • facebook.com/oregoncoasttoday • May 29, 2020 • 13