My Homepage Photos

pretty kelp photo

WB0157-D. Bull Kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) just under the ocean surface. Air filled bladders called pneumatocysts buoy up the stalks and blades of this fast growing marine algae. Deception Pass, Washington, USA, Pacific Ocean. Photo Copyright © Brandon Cole. All rights reserved worldwide. www.brandoncole.com

forest of bull kelp photo

XN0203-D. Bull Kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) off the coast of Oregon. The amazing, tree-like plants float up to the surface, buoyed by air-filled bladders. Fronds or blades create a canopy. The forest sways back and forth in the surge caused by the swell. In recent years, much of the kelp along the coast of Oregon and California (northern and central) has disappeared, devoured by sea urchins whose population has exploded in the absence of sea star predators. Redfish Rocks, Oregon, USA, Pacific Ocean. Photo Copyright © Brandon Cole. All rights reserved worldwide. www.brandoncole.com

purple sea urchin barrens photo

XN0034-D. Purple Sea Urchins (Stronglyocentrotus purpuratus) in an urchin barrens. These voracious herbivores feed on kelp and algae, and have devoured all the plants on this shallow reef, leaving just bare rock. Warmer than average seawater temperatures and a lack of natural predators (primarily the sunflower sea star, whose population was decimated by a wasting disease) have resulted in an explosion of sea urchin numbers along much of the Oregon coast (as well as central and northern California). Drake Point, South Cove Cape Arago, Oregon, USA, Pacific Ocean. Photo Copyright © Brandon Cole. All rights reserved worldwide. www.brandoncole.com

bull kelp and sea uchins photo

XN0075-D. Bull Kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) off the coast of Oregon. The amazing, tree-like plants float up to the surface, buoyed by air-filled bladders from which fronds or blades extend. Though fast growing, kelp is suffering along the coast of Oregon and California (northern and central) where much of it has disappeared, devoured by purple sea urchins (Stronglyocentrotus purpuratus) shown here in the background. Purple urchin populations have exploded in the absence of sea star predators and during years with warm water events which negatively impact kelp recruitment and general health. It is likely only a matter of time before these urchins feed on this bull kelp plant. Drake Point, South Cove Cape Arago, Oregon, USA, Pacific Ocean. Photo Copyright © Brandon Cole. All rights reserved worldwide. www.brandoncole.com

black rockfish photo

XN0258-D. Black Rockfish (Sebastes melanops) swimming over boulders at 60 feet deep. This fish species grows to 27 inches in length and 11 pounds in weight, distributed from Alaska to Mexico down to 1200 feet deep. Strawberry Sea Anemones (Corynactis californica) and sea urchins on the rocks below, as well as a Ling Cod (Ophiodon elongatus) to the left. Redfish Rocks, Oregon, USA, Pacific Ocean. Photo Copyright © Brandon Cole. All rights reserved worldwide. www.brandoncole.com

forest of bull kelp photo

XN0248-D. Bull Kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) off the coast of Oregon. The amazing, tree-like plants float up to the surface, buoyed by air-filled bladders. Fronds or blades create a canopy. The forest sways back and forth in the surge caused by the swell. In recent years, much of the kelp along the coast of Oregon and California (northern and central) has disappeared, devoured by sea urchins whose population has exploded in the absence of sea star predators. Redfish Rocks, Oregon, USA, Pacific Ocean. Photo Copyright © Brandon Cole. All rights reserved worldwide. www.brandoncole.com

purple sea urchins and kelp photo

XN0335-D. Kelp on a rocky reef off the coast of Oregon. In recent years, much of the kelp growing along the coastlines of Oregon and California (northern and central) have disappeared, devoured by purple sea urchins (Stronglyocentrotus purpuratus) whose population has exploded in the absence of sunflower sea star predators. The brown sea star shown here is an Ochre Sea Star (Pisaster ochraceus) and feeds mostly on mussels, not urchins. Redfish Rocks, Oregon, USA, Pacific Ocean. Photo Copyright © Brandon Cole. All rights reserved worldwide. www.brandoncole.com

bull kelp and sea uchins photo

XN0089-D. Bull Kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) off the coast of Oregon. The amazing, tree-like plants float up to the surface, buoyed by air-filled bladders from which fronds or blades extend. Though fast growing, kelp is suffering along the coast of Oregon and California (northern and central) where much of it has disappeared, devoured by purple sea urchins (Stronglyocentrotus purpuratus) shown here in the background. Purple urchin populations have exploded in the absence of sea star predators and during years with warm water events which negatively impact kelp recruitment and general health. It is likely only a matter of time before these urchins feed on this bull kelp plant. Drake Point, South Cove Cape Arago, Oregon, USA, Pacific Ocean. Photo Copyright © Brandon Cole. All rights reserved worldwide. www.brandoncole.com

ling cod photo

XN0263-D. A Ling Cod (Ophiodon elongatus) rests on the bottom amongst boulders in the Redfish Rocks Marine Reserve along the southern Oregon coast. Protection works: more gamefish like ling cod and rockfish are present here than in adjacent waters that are harvested by commercial and recreational fishermen. Many fish in the reserve, like ling cod and black rockfish, seem unafraid and even curious, allowing close approach by visiting scuba divers. Redfish Rocks, Oregon, USA, Pacific Ocean. Photo Copyright © Brandon Cole. All rights reserved worldwide. www.brandoncole.com