Intertidal nudibranch sea slugs from Scott Creek, Santa Cruz County, California, 1975-2015

A recent inquiry from @joepaquin about Scott Creek, CA as a site for nudibranchs prompted me to write a summary of results of a long-term study of nudibranchs at Scott Creek that I started as an undergrad at UC Santa Cruz. At first glance my Scott Creek study site may not appear to be particularly promising for nudibranchs, especially compared to larger and better known sites in the region, like Carmel Point, Pillar Point, Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, or Duxbury Reef. But over the years and decades, the shallow pools with their low, overhanging ledges revealed a rich biodiversity, drawing me back time and again. The full site is best observed on tides falling below -1’ when the swell isn’t too large, but many productive pools are exposed on any minus tide. The only caveat is that one needs to move along on one’s knees a lot here to see what’s under all those low ledges, an activity I'm less inclined to do these days, after my 55 years of searching for nudibranchs. On the other hand, the walk to the site, though not too long, is just long enough to ensure that sometimes you’ll be the only person present, a real gift on a calm foggy morning between Pacific tides so close to the hustle and bustle of the Bay Area.

So, for your interest, @joepaquin, and other aficionados of intertidal nudibranchs in central CA, including @mcduck, @anudibranchmom, @chilipossum, @passiflora4, @chloe_and_trevor, @kestrel, @rebeccafay, @nudibitch, @kueda, @dpom, @craigahoover, @lemurdillo, @lorri-gong, @lutea11, here is where you can find a summary of my study of nudibranchs at Scott Creek:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/19jBRnb5VoVwu84GckDB1D5cI3W_wBaQJ/view?usp=sharing

Thanks to @anudibranchmom for the suggestion on how to make my pdf publicly available

Posted on Ιούνιος 21, 2023 0925 ΜΜ by jeffgoddard