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Happy Birthday, Beach Chair Scientist!

July 13, 2009 by Leave a Comment

Today marks the one year anniversary of the first Beach Chair Scientist post!

Thank you all so much for all of your amazing contributions. Without your insightful inquiries the forum would not be nearly as entertaining.

To mark this occasion I thought we would simply count down the top ten most visited posts over the past year.

10. What are jellyfish? from July 21, 2008

9. What is the biggest fish in the sea? from November 18, 2008

8. What are those tiny colorful clams? from July 23, 2008

7. What are those tiny black pods with tendrils hanging on the ends? from October 24, 2008

6. How much salt is in the ocean? from November 22, 2008

5. What eats sea urchins? from September 10, 2008

4. How do sea spiders get their nutrients? from November 21, 2008

3. How many plants and animals are in the ocean? from November 21, 2008

2. Do lobsters mate for life? from November 24, 2008

1. Why are horseshoe crabs amazing? from July 13, 2008

Do you have another great question? Check out www.beachchairscientist.com and let us know what you always ponder while digging your toes in the sand!

Filed Under: Ocean

How do sea spiders distribute nutrients throughout their bodies?

November 21, 2008 by Leave a Comment

If anyone has ever come upon a sea spider you immediately think – where are its guts and stuff? huge-sea-spiderThe answer is that their stomach, intestines and reproductive parts are housed within the sea spider’s legs. The animal breathes and manages waste by direct diffusion along the surface of it’s bodies. They can be a foot across – but, most types are barely more than 0.05 of an inch across! They do have a global distribution.

Sea spiders are not in the same exact family as other spiders. However, the sea spiders and terrestrial spiders are in a class together…along with one other creature, Horseshoe Crabs! Yup, horseshoe crabs are more directly related to spiders than other types of crabs.

Image (c) sethwhite.org

Do you have another great question? Check out www.beachchairscientist.com and enter your request!

Filed Under: Arthropods

Just Flip ‘Em

June 25, 2010 by Leave a Comment

If you do not already know, the Atlantic horseshoe crab is my favorite animal. It just breaks my heart when I am home and see a few crabs stranded along the wrackline. One thing that can be done for the animals that are still alive is to ‘Just Flip ‘Em’ (JFE).

JFE is a program from the Ecological Research & Development Group, Inc. that promotes to the public the importance of flipping the gentle crustacean over so they can get back into the sea. A lot of folks are hesitant but the horseshoe crab cannot sting or bite you. The most important piece or information to remember is to flip them from the sides of their shells. This simple act can save thousands of crabs.

Image (c) horseshoecrab.org

Filed Under: Atlantic Horseshoe Crab, People, Wrack Line Tagged With:

What is the difference between a marine biologist and an oceanographer?

July 27, 2009 by 6 Comments

A marine biologist studies the life in the ocean (“bio” = life). An oceanographer studies the physical elements of the oceans.

A marine biologist will study dolphins.

An oceanographer will study tides.

A marine biologist will study jellyfish.

An oceanographer will study the salt content of seawater.

A marine biologist will study algae.

An oceanographer will study the volcanic activity of the sea.

A marine biologist will study horseshoes crabs.

An oceanographer will study the plate tectonic action of the ocean.

Of course, I do not think they are at all exclusive. But, that is the general break down of who studies what.

Do you have another great question? Check out www.beachchairscientist.com and let us know what you always ponder while digging your toes in the sand!

Filed Under: Ocean

What are those sand flea thingees and why do they follow me home?

August 4, 2008 by Leave a Comment

I have two answers for you here – Mole Crabs or Sand Hoppers.

Mole Crabs:

Unfortunately, not all crabs are as interesting in appearance or function as the great Atlantic Horseshoe Crab, but the mole crab has some merit.

Mole Crabs, or one type of sand fleas thingees, are properly referred to as Emerita analoga. A pretty dignified, but boring sounding Latin name – rather appropriate for the critters too.

Here is why:

  • They look like tiny lobsters, but are more closely linked to hermit crabs.
  • At low tide they are quite the efficient tunnelers and use their back legs to dig down to six inches and wait for the next high tide.

Sand Hoppers:

These little guys truly are harmless. Sand hoppers, or the other type of sand flea thingees, are properly referred to as Orchestia. They are most often found in clumps of rotting seaweed – which they eat. They resemble small shrimp and are about a half an inch long and “hop” by using their tails and last three sets of legs.

Do you have another great question? Check out www.beachchairscientist.com and enter your request!

Filed Under: Crustaceans Tagged With: , ,