We're currently out collecting our settlement plates from this summer. If you see us on your local wharf, stop by to chat with us! Here are some photos we took over the past few days:

 

 This is the top of a plate - we typically get a lot of organic material (e.g. amphipod burrows and organic debris) settling on top of the plate.

The top of this plate had two surprise visitors - sea urchins! We don't see them very often, but they probably found their way onto our plates while foraging for algae.

In some cases, the top of the plate is completely overgrown with green or red algae. What's underneath is often a different story...

This plate has a number of anemones on it - they are currently tucked inside themselves so as not to dry out. The round, crystalline-like colonies are encrusting bryozoans. They are included in our survey because we are also on the lookout for the invasive lacy crust bryozoan.

Sometimes the bottoms of the plates are completely covered in mussels and barnacles. You can see they present a nice buffet for foraging sea stars with voracious appetites!

This plate bottom is completely covered by colonies of the golden star tunicate. There were also Japanese skeleton shrimp hunkered down against the moist tunicates.

• Are you interested in learning more about those slimy and strange organisms called sea squirts?
   
• Do you enjoy getting outside during the summer to have fun while learning and experiencing new things?
   
• Would you like to assist research scientists collect information about native and non-native aquatic species, and maybe spot a newly introduced alien invader?
  

Then volunteering for the Sea Squirt Survey may be a great adventure for you!

Project UFO team members, Jeff Locke and Sheralynne Deveaux, after completing a rapid assessment for invasive species around the government wharf in Mabou, Cape Breton Island.