Happy World Oceans Day! #salishsea #pacificnorthwest #marineconservation #estuarylove #celebratethecoast #worldoceansday

Dungeness Spit is the longest natural sand spit in the US and is home to about 300 different species of land mammals, marine mammals and birds. It’s beautiful wildlife havens like this that make it obvious how important National Wildlife Refuges are and why I love working in nearshore ecosystems. #salishsea #marineconservation #dungessspit #missingfieldwork #pacificnorthwest

Seagrass, kelp, oyster beds and salt marshes make up the nearshore ecosystem in the #pacificnorthwest and provide habitat for juvenile salmon, crabs, and a bunch of other critters. In honor of #earthday remember it takes all of us to help protect and restore these amazing places! #seagrass #kelp #marinelife #marineconservation

As an intern at the @pnnlab Marine Sciences Lab, I was measuring growth rates for eelgrass when I accidentally stepped on something hard. Curious as to what it was, I started moving eelgrass blades out of the way. Suddenly, this helmet crab popped out and stared at me (obviously offended). I profusely apologized for my indiscretion to the helmet crab’s satisfaction who then turned around to continue with its day. And that, boys and girls, is the moment I fell in love with eelgrass meadows. #marinescience #eelgrass #pacificnorthwestisbest #marinelife

How could I almost miss National #seaslugday ?! This little guy is an opalescent nudibranch that likes to live in eelgrass meadows and rocky shores.