HALLE BERGER: I would say I am a researcher like Shellington because we are both naturally curious and passionate about studying marine life. HOST: And what about you, Halle? Which Octonauts character captures your current position? I think I’ll stick with Dashi as I do assist with capturing images of our animals on exhibit and love reading up on the animals in the reserve. HOST: Wow, You both come from really different backgrounds and I am curious which Octonauts’ job you think that you have? Do you think you are a researcher like Shellington, an oceanographer like Inkling, a systems analyst like Dashi, a leader like Barnacles?ĭITA O'BOYLE: This is a toughie, as depending on the day I have tasks similar to different crew members. I am also currently a graduate student at the University of Connecticut, where I research the vulnerability of crabs and other shellfish to climate change using computer models and laboratory experiments. HALLE BERGER: As a Knauss fellow, I am working with NOAA program managers to help build a research community that will address the challenges of ocean acidification and harmful algal blooms, which are coastal stressors that may interact to negatively impact marine ecosystems. Halle, can you share a little bit about your work as a Knauss Fellow? HOST: I am so happy you mentioned crabs, Dita, we are definitely going to come back to that. We also keep different species of crab in our aquariums to discuss this with guests. I love how you can look at their physical adaptations to figure what habitats they use or how they get their food. One of my favorite topics is crabs as they are such a diverse group of animals. Our programming covers a huge range of topics from plankton to watersheds. I work with a variety of audiences from kindergarteners to retirees sharing my passion about estuarine animals and their habitats. I take the work that the researchers and staff do at the reserve and create activities and programming for the public. Thank you both for being here, Dita and Halle! Dita, can you maybe kick us off and tell us what you do at the Rookery Bay?ĭITA O'BOYLE: Sure, estuaries are important areas where the river meets the sea and act as nurseries for numerous marine animals. Our guests today are Dita O’Boyle from the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and Halle Berger, a 2021 Sea Grant Knauss Marine Policy Fellow. Sometimes smaller fish also use the urchins for safe shelter from predators while moving throughout the reef. Now crabs are not the only marine creatures to benefit from the urchins' sharp spines. The crab is built with two back legs that are especially adapted to grab anything from debris, corals, and even sponges. In return for it’s protection, the sea urchin is able to find food more quickly and effectively when traveling with the crab. This crab can carry fire urchins on their backs and when confronted with a predator, the crabs have been known to wield the spiny urchins, like a weapon. The crab in this episode is most likely a carrier crab, or it is also known as the “urchin crab”. The urchin relies on the crab, just as the crab relies on the urchin.īefore we begin our chat, let’s set the stage for the deep dive. The two invertebrates featured have a large amount of diversity in the two groups with over 6,000 different species of crabs and 950 species of sea urchins. Shellington explains to Captain Barnacles that the crab and urchin are symbiotic, meaning that they have a mutually beneficial relationship, and need each other for food and protection. A snail tells them that a green-blue crab and an orange sea urchin are arguing loudly and keeping all the sea creatures up. This podcast is hosted by NOAA’s Office of Education and the Coastal Ecosystem Learning Centers network. For today's podcast, we are talking about the Crab and the Urchin Octonauts episode. It's bedtime for the Octonauts until a knocking sound wakes up Kwazii and Captain Barnacles. HOST: Our monthly podcast brings together experts from inside and outside of NOAA to help you - and the children you care about - learn more about the real-life versions of the Octonauts sea creatures and the ocean they call home. MUSIC: Explore! Rescue! Protect! Octonauts! Their mission: to explore the world’s ocean, rescue the creatures who live there, and protect their habitats. HOST: You’re listening to "NOAA & the Octonauts" - an episode-by-episode discussion of the children’s TV show The Octonauts, which features a crew of quirky and courageous undersea adventurers. MUSIC: Octonauts, to your stations! Barnacles! Kwazii! Peso!
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