Seaweeds are weird and wonderful organisms that are vital to our coastal marine ecosystems. They create habitats, provide food and shelter, produce oxygen, stabilize shorelines and are simply beautiful to behold. Along the coast of the Northeast Pacific, we are spoiled with seaweed biodiversity, including the iconic canopy-forming kelps, Macrocystis tenuifolia (yes, the name just changed!) and Nereocystis luetkeana, but also gorgeous red seaweeds like Opuntiella californica and the many bubble-gum pink coralline species. This talk will touch on the ecology, life cycles, natural history and human connections to some charismatic British Columbia seaweeds, particularly species found in the Salish Sea. We will explore the growing use of iNaturalist and other community (citizen) science initiatives to document and share knowledge about our local marine flora, with tips for high-quality iNaturalist observations specific to seaweeds. Finally, we will discuss a growing body of outreach and education resources specific to local seaweeds.

Dr. Bridgette Clarkston loves seaweeds and thinks you should too. Bridgette is an Associate Professor of Teaching at the University of British Columbia and co-author of the field guide Pacific Seaweeds: A Guide to Common Seaweeds of the West Coast (Harbour Publishing). A delightful moment in a lifetime spent appreciating BC’s seaweeds was discovering a new genus of beautiful red seaweeds and naming it after the Salish Sea (Salishia). A Vancouver Island settler, Bridgette was born and raised on the unceded traditional territory of the K’ómoks First Nation, the traditional keepers of this land.

On the Monday preceding the event, Nature Vancouver members will receive the Zoom link in the weekly e-News.  The talk will begin at 7:30 pm.  Non-members are welcome and should Email enews@NatureVancouver.ca a few days ahead to register for the link.