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"content": "\u003cp>[dl_subscribe]We all know it’s not nice to pull the legs off bugs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Luckily for entomology researcher Ignacio Escalante, he doesn’t have to. In the \u003ca href=\"https://nature.berkeley.edu/eliaslab/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Elias Lab\u003c/a> at UC Berkeley, he studies daddy longlegs, the harmless eight-legged critters you might have met in the shower.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1914213\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_med-cu-climbing.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1914213\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_med-cu-climbing-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_med-cu-climbing-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_med-cu-climbing-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_med-cu-climbing-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_med-cu-climbing-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_med-cu-climbing-1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_med-cu-climbing-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_med-cu-climbing-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_med-cu-climbing-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_med-cu-climbing-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_med-cu-climbing-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Their rope-like limbs make the creatures excellent climbers. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Daddy longlegs’ appendages don’t need to be pulled off because these arachnids, related to spiders, drop them deliberately. A gentle pinch is enough to trigger an internal system that discharges the leg. It’s a way to stay alive in the wild if something is trying to devour the bug’s limb.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Whether it hurts is up for debate, but most scientists think not, given the automatic nature of the defense mechanism. The only blood lost comes from the detached leg.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s called autotomy, the voluntary release of a body part. And it’s just one of the topics Escalante will be broaching in his presentation at \u003ca href=\"https://eastbay.nerdnite.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">East Bay Nerd Nite\u003c/a> next month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A “nerd night,” if you hadn’t heard, is an evening of talks, usually in a bar, generally unrelated to each other, that are part lecture, part rant. More than 100 cities worldwide host nerd nights on a regular basis. The motto of East Bay Nerd Nite, which takes place on the last Monday of the month at Club 21 in Oakland, is “Be there and be square.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Escalante’s research focuses on autonomy in daddy longlegs and how it affects their long term survival. But at Nerd Nite he’ll spend a good deal of time myth-busting on his favorite topic. Daddy longlegs, a.k.a harvestmen, have generated a lot of misinformation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1914240\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 720px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415_daddylonglegs_legrelease_720.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1914240\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415_daddylonglegs_legrelease_720.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The deliberate release of a body part, seen here in a daddy longlegs, is known as autotomy. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For example, have you heard that daddy longlegs is the most venomous spider in the world, and that one bite could kill you, but its fangs are too small to penetrate human skin?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nothing in that statement is true.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Daddy longlegs are not spiders at all. The two groups split 350 million years ago. Like scorpions and mites, daddy longlegs are their own order of arachnids. They lack silk glands, so if you see one in a web, you’re probably looking at a cellar spider, which is also long-legged. (To make sure, count the body segments. A spider has two, like a peanut, while a daddy longlegs has only one, like a pea.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Daddy longlegs also lack venom and true fangs. But their front claws, called chelicerae, \u003cem>are\u003c/em> big enough to bite humans, though they prefer to munch on fruit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1914214\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_grooming.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1914214\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_grooming-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_grooming-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_grooming-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_grooming-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_grooming-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_grooming-1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_grooming-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_grooming-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_grooming-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_grooming-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_grooming-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A daddy longlegs grooms one of its appendages. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Two of their appendages have evolved into feelers, which leaves the other six legs for locomotion. Daddy longlegs share this trait with insects, and have what scientists call the “alternate tripod gait,” where three legs touch the ground at any given point.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That elegant stride is initially hard-hit by the loss of a leg. In the daddy longlegs’ case, the lost leg doesn’t grow back.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But they persevere. A daddy longlegs that’s missing one, two, or even three legs can recover a surprising degree of mobility by learning to walk differently.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They have a 60 percent probability of losing a leg during their lifetime,” Escalante explained. “It’s a very common phenomenon, so you would expect to find compensatory mechanisms.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those mechanisms include developing different types of strides more suited to the new leg count.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After losing one leg, a daddy longlegs begins to favor “stotting,” where it dribbles its body on the ground like a basketball with every stride. After losing two legs, it turns to “bobbing,” where the vertical plane of movement becomes pronounced.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1914243\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 720px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415_daddylonglegs_8-to-5-legs_720.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1914243\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415_daddylonglegs_8-to-5-legs_720.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Even after losing three legs, a daddy longlegs can recover its speed. \u003ccite>(Ignacio Escalante)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“For certain variables, like speed, there’s a recovery after a few days,” said Escalante.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Because they are more chaotic, these forms of movement may even help the daddy longlegs stay alive longer because it becomes difficult for predators to track. The proof, as the saying goes, is in the pudding.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you have four legs, it probably means that you have successfully escaped four encounters with predators,” said Escalante.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once these adaptations are better understood, they may have applications in the fields of robotics and prosthetic design.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1914215\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_hook.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1914215\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_hook-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_hook-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_hook-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_hook-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_hook-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_hook-1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_hook-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_hook-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_hook-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_hook-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_hook-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The tip of the harvestman’s leg is segmented and hooked. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Predators like small birds and lizards aren’t the only way a daddy longlegs can lose a limb. Mating among these arachnids can get rough too. In some species, males actually wrap their legs around the female’s to keep her in place, and even shake her, during copulation. But as with many other species, the females are often bigger and stronger.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’ve seen females pop the leg off a male because they don’t want to mate with him,” said Kasey Fowler-Finn, who researches daddy longlegs at \u003ca href=\"http://bio.slu.edu/fowlerfinn/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">St. Louis University\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In nature, reproductive success is the goal of any survival strategy. Ultimately, for the daddy longlegs, it doesn’t matter how pretty you walk if you can get the job done. That’s the next question for Escalante.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m going to be investigating whether mating success is different in animals that have lost legs,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>We all know it’s not nice to pull the legs off bugs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Luckily for entomology researcher Ignacio Escalante, he doesn’t have to. In the \u003ca href=\"https://nature.berkeley.edu/eliaslab/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Elias Lab\u003c/a> at UC Berkeley, he studies daddy longlegs, the harmless eight-legged critters you might have met in the shower.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1914213\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_med-cu-climbing.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1914213\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_med-cu-climbing-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_med-cu-climbing-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_med-cu-climbing-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_med-cu-climbing-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_med-cu-climbing-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_med-cu-climbing-1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_med-cu-climbing-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_med-cu-climbing-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_med-cu-climbing-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_med-cu-climbing-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_med-cu-climbing-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Their rope-like limbs make the creatures excellent climbers. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Daddy longlegs’ appendages don’t need to be pulled off because these arachnids, related to spiders, drop them deliberately. A gentle pinch is enough to trigger an internal system that discharges the leg. It’s a way to stay alive in the wild if something is trying to devour the bug’s limb.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Whether it hurts is up for debate, but most scientists think not, given the automatic nature of the defense mechanism. The only blood lost comes from the detached leg.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s called autotomy, the voluntary release of a body part. And it’s just one of the topics Escalante will be broaching in his presentation at \u003ca href=\"https://eastbay.nerdnite.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">East Bay Nerd Nite\u003c/a> next month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A “nerd night,” if you hadn’t heard, is an evening of talks, usually in a bar, generally unrelated to each other, that are part lecture, part rant. More than 100 cities worldwide host nerd nights on a regular basis. The motto of East Bay Nerd Nite, which takes place on the last Monday of the month at Club 21 in Oakland, is “Be there and be square.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Escalante’s research focuses on autonomy in daddy longlegs and how it affects their long term survival. But at Nerd Nite he’ll spend a good deal of time myth-busting on his favorite topic. Daddy longlegs, a.k.a harvestmen, have generated a lot of misinformation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1914240\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 720px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415_daddylonglegs_legrelease_720.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1914240\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415_daddylonglegs_legrelease_720.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The deliberate release of a body part, seen here in a daddy longlegs, is known as autotomy. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For example, have you heard that daddy longlegs is the most venomous spider in the world, and that one bite could kill you, but its fangs are too small to penetrate human skin?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nothing in that statement is true.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Daddy longlegs are not spiders at all. The two groups split 350 million years ago. Like scorpions and mites, daddy longlegs are their own order of arachnids. They lack silk glands, so if you see one in a web, you’re probably looking at a cellar spider, which is also long-legged. (To make sure, count the body segments. A spider has two, like a peanut, while a daddy longlegs has only one, like a pea.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Daddy longlegs also lack venom and true fangs. But their front claws, called chelicerae, \u003cem>are\u003c/em> big enough to bite humans, though they prefer to munch on fruit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1914214\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_grooming.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1914214\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_grooming-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_grooming-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_grooming-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_grooming-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_grooming-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_grooming-1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_grooming-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_grooming-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_grooming-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_grooming-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_grooming-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A daddy longlegs grooms one of its appendages. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Two of their appendages have evolved into feelers, which leaves the other six legs for locomotion. Daddy longlegs share this trait with insects, and have what scientists call the “alternate tripod gait,” where three legs touch the ground at any given point.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That elegant stride is initially hard-hit by the loss of a leg. In the daddy longlegs’ case, the lost leg doesn’t grow back.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But they persevere. A daddy longlegs that’s missing one, two, or even three legs can recover a surprising degree of mobility by learning to walk differently.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They have a 60 percent probability of losing a leg during their lifetime,” Escalante explained. “It’s a very common phenomenon, so you would expect to find compensatory mechanisms.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those mechanisms include developing different types of strides more suited to the new leg count.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After losing one leg, a daddy longlegs begins to favor “stotting,” where it dribbles its body on the ground like a basketball with every stride. After losing two legs, it turns to “bobbing,” where the vertical plane of movement becomes pronounced.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1914243\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 720px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415_daddylonglegs_8-to-5-legs_720.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1914243\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415_daddylonglegs_8-to-5-legs_720.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Even after losing three legs, a daddy longlegs can recover its speed. \u003ccite>(Ignacio Escalante)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“For certain variables, like speed, there’s a recovery after a few days,” said Escalante.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Because they are more chaotic, these forms of movement may even help the daddy longlegs stay alive longer because it becomes difficult for predators to track. The proof, as the saying goes, is in the pudding.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you have four legs, it probably means that you have successfully escaped four encounters with predators,” said Escalante.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once these adaptations are better understood, they may have applications in the fields of robotics and prosthetic design.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1914215\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_hook.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1914215\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_hook-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_hook-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_hook-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_hook-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_hook-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_hook-1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_hook-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_hook-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_hook-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_hook-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL415-daddy-longlegs_hook-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The tip of the harvestman’s leg is segmented and hooked. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Predators like small birds and lizards aren’t the only way a daddy longlegs can lose a limb. Mating among these arachnids can get rough too. In some species, males actually wrap their legs around the female’s to keep her in place, and even shake her, during copulation. But as with many other species, the females are often bigger and stronger.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’ve seen females pop the leg off a male because they don’t want to mate with him,” said Kasey Fowler-Finn, who researches daddy longlegs at \u003ca href=\"http://bio.slu.edu/fowlerfinn/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">St. Louis University\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In nature, reproductive success is the goal of any survival strategy. Ultimately, for the daddy longlegs, it doesn’t matter how pretty you walk if you can get the job done. That’s the next question for Escalante.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m going to be investigating whether mating success is different in animals that have lost legs,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "Algae-Poisoned Sea Lions Inundate Marine Mammal Center",
"headTitle": "Algae-Poisoned Sea Lions Inundate Marine Mammal Center | KQED",
"content": "\u003cp>Beached Sea lions are turning up on California’s central coast with domoic acid poisoning, an affliction associated with marine algae blooms. The \u003ca href=\"http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/\">Marine Mammal Center\u003c/a> in Sausalito has admitted 68 sea lions into its veterinary hospital since July 1\u003csup>st\u003c/sup>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That many animals in such a pretty short time period is a severe event,” says Cara Field, staff veterinarian at the Center.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/science/top-research-projects/domoic-acid-toxicity-2017.html\">Domoic acid\u003c/a> is a neurotoxin, which is a byproduct of algae blooms that crop up in coastal marine waters throughout the year, especially during the summer months. The noxious compounds are eaten by anchovies and sardines which are then consumed by sea lions and other marine mammals.\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"aligncenter\">\n[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PalzkxjilU&feature=youtu.be]\n\u003cp class=\"wp-caption-text\">Countdown the sea lion is head-weaving which is a telltale sign of domoic acid poisoning. After being admitted to the Marine Mammal Center, she was able to make a full recovery and was released on August 8th at Point Reyes National Seashore. (Marine Mammal Center)\u003c/p>\n\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>The symptoms of poisoning are neurological, including tremors and convulsions, which can affect immediate survival or cause long-term brain damage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Generally sea lions spend a lot of time foraging for food and swimming around,” Field explains. “If they accumulate this bio-toxin, they can have a seizure in the water, drown or be eaten. Often they end up on shore where they may have seizures on the beach.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is a cascading effect of this poisoning in the sea lion community, explains Field, because most of the animals currently affected are lactating mothers with offspring that are dependent on them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s a bad prognosis for the pups,” says Field, “because they’re not getting fed or they’re getting stranded.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fortunately, sea lions are not an at-risk species and Field says their populations are stable.\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"pullquote alignright\">‘Our rescue teams were…working all day and all night, collecting animals and bringing them in for treatment’\u003ccite>Cara Field, Marine Mammal Center\u003c/cite>\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>The number of affected sea lions is up since last year. A total of 89 animals have been treated so far this year, compared with 70 last year. However, in years with the biggest algae blooms, such as 2014-2015, numbers of affected animals were well above 200.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Marine Mammal Center started tracking sea lion domoic acid poisoning in 1998, and since then, has seen these events evolve from being a summer-only problem, to a year-round one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Afflicted sea lions often display abnormal behaviors including head waving and wobbling, disorientation and a general lack of responsiveness. If you see a sea lion on the beach, Field advises you not to approach it. Instead call the center’s 24-hour \u003ca href=\"http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/what-we-do/rescue/report-a-stranded-marine-mammal.html\">hotline\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>July was a busy month for the hotline. Some days, up to 10 sea lions were reported, many from San Luis Obispo County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Our rescue teams were in that area working all day and all night, collecting animals and bringing them in for treatment,” says Field.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1914659\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 4032px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1914659\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/4.-CSL_Spoodle_in-rehab_-%C2%AC-The-Marine-Mammal-Center.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"4032\" height=\"3024\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/4.-CSL_Spoodle_in-rehab_-¬-The-Marine-Mammal-Center.jpg 4032w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/4.-CSL_Spoodle_in-rehab_-¬-The-Marine-Mammal-Center-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/4.-CSL_Spoodle_in-rehab_-¬-The-Marine-Mammal-Center-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/4.-CSL_Spoodle_in-rehab_-¬-The-Marine-Mammal-Center-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/4.-CSL_Spoodle_in-rehab_-¬-The-Marine-Mammal-Center-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/4.-CSL_Spoodle_in-rehab_-¬-The-Marine-Mammal-Center-1920x1440.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/4.-CSL_Spoodle_in-rehab_-¬-The-Marine-Mammal-Center-1180x885.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/4.-CSL_Spoodle_in-rehab_-¬-The-Marine-Mammal-Center-960x720.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/4.-CSL_Spoodle_in-rehab_-¬-The-Marine-Mammal-Center-240x180.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/4.-CSL_Spoodle_in-rehab_-¬-The-Marine-Mammal-Center-375x281.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/4.-CSL_Spoodle_in-rehab_-¬-The-Marine-Mammal-Center-520x390.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 4032px) 100vw, 4032px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Spoodle was rescued on July 19th at Oceano Dunes in San Luis Obispo. She made a full recovery and was released on August 9th at Point Reyes National Seashore. \u003ccite>(Marine Mammal Center)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Once animals are brought to the center, they are treated with anti-seizure medicine and given time to recover.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Along the northern California coast, the primary cause of marine algae blooms are natural factors such as \u003ca href=\"http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/02quest/background/upwelling/upwelling.html\">ocean upwelling of nutrient-rich water\u003c/a> combined with warm ocean temperatures. Blooms are also fed by polluted runoff from agriculture and other human activity, and are projected to increase in frequency and severity due to climate change.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Other animals such as dolphins, Guadalupe fur seals, northern fur seals and southern sea otters are also affected by the toxin.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"excerpt": "Experts say the changing climate and increased nutrient runoff from shore are both culprits.",
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"description": "Experts say the changing climate and increased nutrient runoff from shore are both culprits.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Beached Sea lions are turning up on California’s central coast with domoic acid poisoning, an affliction associated with marine algae blooms. The \u003ca href=\"http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/\">Marine Mammal Center\u003c/a> in Sausalito has admitted 68 sea lions into its veterinary hospital since July 1\u003csup>st\u003c/sup>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That many animals in such a pretty short time period is a severe event,” says Cara Field, staff veterinarian at the Center.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/science/top-research-projects/domoic-acid-toxicity-2017.html\">Domoic acid\u003c/a> is a neurotoxin, which is a byproduct of algae blooms that crop up in coastal marine waters throughout the year, especially during the summer months. The noxious compounds are eaten by anchovies and sardines which are then consumed by sea lions and other marine mammals.\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"aligncenter\">\n\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/-PalzkxjilU'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/-PalzkxjilU'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\n\u003cp class=\"wp-caption-text\">Countdown the sea lion is head-weaving which is a telltale sign of domoic acid poisoning. After being admitted to the Marine Mammal Center, she was able to make a full recovery and was released on August 8th at Point Reyes National Seashore. (Marine Mammal Center)\u003c/p>\n\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>The symptoms of poisoning are neurological, including tremors and convulsions, which can affect immediate survival or cause long-term brain damage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Generally sea lions spend a lot of time foraging for food and swimming around,” Field explains. “If they accumulate this bio-toxin, they can have a seizure in the water, drown or be eaten. Often they end up on shore where they may have seizures on the beach.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is a cascading effect of this poisoning in the sea lion community, explains Field, because most of the animals currently affected are lactating mothers with offspring that are dependent on them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s a bad prognosis for the pups,” says Field, “because they’re not getting fed or they’re getting stranded.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fortunately, sea lions are not an at-risk species and Field says their populations are stable.\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"pullquote alignright\">‘Our rescue teams were…working all day and all night, collecting animals and bringing them in for treatment’\u003ccite>Cara Field, Marine Mammal Center\u003c/cite>\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>The number of affected sea lions is up since last year. A total of 89 animals have been treated so far this year, compared with 70 last year. However, in years with the biggest algae blooms, such as 2014-2015, numbers of affected animals were well above 200.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Marine Mammal Center started tracking sea lion domoic acid poisoning in 1998, and since then, has seen these events evolve from being a summer-only problem, to a year-round one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Afflicted sea lions often display abnormal behaviors including head waving and wobbling, disorientation and a general lack of responsiveness. If you see a sea lion on the beach, Field advises you not to approach it. Instead call the center’s 24-hour \u003ca href=\"http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/what-we-do/rescue/report-a-stranded-marine-mammal.html\">hotline\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>July was a busy month for the hotline. Some days, up to 10 sea lions were reported, many from San Luis Obispo County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Our rescue teams were in that area working all day and all night, collecting animals and bringing them in for treatment,” says Field.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1914659\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 4032px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1914659\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/4.-CSL_Spoodle_in-rehab_-%C2%AC-The-Marine-Mammal-Center.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"4032\" height=\"3024\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/4.-CSL_Spoodle_in-rehab_-¬-The-Marine-Mammal-Center.jpg 4032w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/4.-CSL_Spoodle_in-rehab_-¬-The-Marine-Mammal-Center-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/4.-CSL_Spoodle_in-rehab_-¬-The-Marine-Mammal-Center-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/4.-CSL_Spoodle_in-rehab_-¬-The-Marine-Mammal-Center-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/4.-CSL_Spoodle_in-rehab_-¬-The-Marine-Mammal-Center-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/4.-CSL_Spoodle_in-rehab_-¬-The-Marine-Mammal-Center-1920x1440.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/4.-CSL_Spoodle_in-rehab_-¬-The-Marine-Mammal-Center-1180x885.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/4.-CSL_Spoodle_in-rehab_-¬-The-Marine-Mammal-Center-960x720.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/4.-CSL_Spoodle_in-rehab_-¬-The-Marine-Mammal-Center-240x180.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/4.-CSL_Spoodle_in-rehab_-¬-The-Marine-Mammal-Center-375x281.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/4.-CSL_Spoodle_in-rehab_-¬-The-Marine-Mammal-Center-520x390.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 4032px) 100vw, 4032px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Spoodle was rescued on July 19th at Oceano Dunes in San Luis Obispo. She made a full recovery and was released on August 9th at Point Reyes National Seashore. \u003ccite>(Marine Mammal Center)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Once animals are brought to the center, they are treated with anti-seizure medicine and given time to recover.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Along the northern California coast, the primary cause of marine algae blooms are natural factors such as \u003ca href=\"http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/02quest/background/upwelling/upwelling.html\">ocean upwelling of nutrient-rich water\u003c/a> combined with warm ocean temperatures. Blooms are also fed by polluted runoff from agriculture and other human activity, and are projected to increase in frequency and severity due to climate change.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Other animals such as dolphins, Guadalupe fur seals, northern fur seals and southern sea otters are also affected by the toxin.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "Help Make History: Eclipse Projects for Citizen Scientists",
"headTitle": "Help Make History: Eclipse Projects for Citizen Scientists | KQED",
"content": "\u003cp>The solar eclipse this month will be our country’s \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/forum/2017/07/26/americans-prepare-for-first-total-solar-eclipse-in-century/\">first\u003c/a> total eclipse in the age of the Internet. Technologies that are commonplace now, such as smartphones, were nearly unthinkable in 1979, the last time there was a total solar eclipse seen from the continental U.S. Today’s instant global connectivity makes whole new kinds of citizen science possible.\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"pullquote alignright\">‘It’s an opportunity for everybody to realize their deep connection to the sun.’\u003ccite>Holli Riebeek, NASA\u003c/cite>\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>The smartphones that each one of us has in our pocket are data-gathering machines, and when we upload an observation or a photo, scientists can know exactly where we were on the planet at the very moment we took it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here are some simple and fun ways to be a scientist for a day on August 21\u003csup>st\u003c/sup>. Grab your phone, because most of them involve downloading an app.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Life Responds\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During a total eclipse, the common orb weaver spider stops what she’s doing, and starts diligently eating her web. This is her nighttime routine, but she’s doing it during the day. Is she responding to the sudden darkness? Or maybe the sudden change in temperature?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Spiders disassembling their \u003ca href=\"http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1439-0310.1994.tb00878.x/abstract\">webs\u003c/a>, birds going to roost, gray squirrels running into their dens. There’s loads of anecdotal evidence that animals change their behavior during solar eclipses, but scientists haven’t systematically gathered this information — until now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The California Academy of Sciences’ project, Life Responds, invites people to join one of the largest examinations of plant and animal behavior during an eclipse ever made. To participate, plan to observe nature during the eclipse — whether in the wilderness or your home or backyard — and download the iNaturalist app on your smart phone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1910274\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1024px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1910274\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Six-spottedOrbweaver_Araniella_displicata_RJohnson.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Six-spottedOrbweaver_Araniella_displicata_RJohnson.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Six-spottedOrbweaver_Araniella_displicata_RJohnson-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Six-spottedOrbweaver_Araniella_displicata_RJohnson-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Six-spottedOrbweaver_Araniella_displicata_RJohnson-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Six-spottedOrbweaver_Araniella_displicata_RJohnson-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Six-spottedOrbweaver_Araniella_displicata_RJohnson-960x720.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Six-spottedOrbweaver_Araniella_displicata_RJohnson-240x180.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Six-spottedOrbweaver_Araniella_displicata_RJohnson-375x281.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Six-spottedOrbweaver_Araniella_displicata_RJohnson-520x390.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The six-spotted orb weaver is known to eat her web at night. What will she do during the eclipse? \u003ccite>(Rebecca Johnson / Cal Academy of Sciences)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Then, on the day of the eclipse, scout your surroundings and choose an animal to observe. Rebecca Johnson, citizen science research coordinator at Cal Academy, recommends choosing an animal that you suspect might change its behavior, such as spiders, ants and birds — even captive animals such as chickens, dogs or cats. Or, maybe pick a flower that normally closes at night, such as the morning glory or the California poppy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Life Responds will make a permanent record from the observations, Johnson says. Johnson and her partners will make this information available to scientists and anyone else who’s curious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Click \u003ca href=\"https://www.calacademy.org/citizen-science/solar-eclipse-2017\">here\u003c/a> to learn more and get involved.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>GLOBE Observer\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>NASA’s GLOBE Observer program invites people to spend the day of the eclipse observing what happens to the weather when the sun is blocked out for a period of time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The temperature may drop. Clouds may change. The wind may shift.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[contextly_sidebar id=”sFrVoNh6v5nagaZWjNGOTmsiHxuTBFWM”]To participate in this project, download the GLOBE Observer app. In the weeks before the eclipse, take a couple minutes to learn how to read a cheap thermometer and how to characterize cloud types (the app can help with that). On the day of the eclipse, pay close attention to the sky and record what you observe every 10 minutes for two hours before and after the eclipse. You observations will help scientists understanding more about how the sun’s rays impact weather.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s an opportunity for everybody to realize their deep connection to the sun,” says project coordinator Holli Riebeek. “It’s so easy to take it for granted. This project helps you think about that relationship in a new way.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Click \u003ca href=\"https://observer.globe.gov/science-connections/eclipse2017\">here\u003c/a> to learn more and get involved.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eclipse Soundscapes\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s one thing most people don’t associate with eclipses: sound. The solar eclipse doesn’t impact only the visual environment, it also affects the soundscape. This citizen science event is part scientific inquiry and part artistic creation, and offers blind and visually impaired people a way to experience the eclipse.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1910277\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 4608px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1910277\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Rumble-Map.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"4608\" height=\"3072\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Rumble-Map.jpg 4608w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Rumble-Map-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Rumble-Map-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Rumble-Map-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Rumble-Map-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Rumble-Map-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Rumble-Map-1180x787.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Rumble-Map-960x640.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Rumble-Map-240x160.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Rumble-Map-375x250.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Rumble-Map-520x347.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 4608px) 100vw, 4608px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Eclipse Soundscapes gives a multi-sensory experience for the blind and visually-impaired \u003ccite>(Kelsey Perrett / Eclipse Soundscapes)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>During an eclipse, day temporarily turns to night. Nocturnal animals such as crickets will emerge and start to sing, and diurnal animals such as birds will quiet and nest. Loud cities may temporarily fall silent as everyone looks toward the sky — people may gasp, or laugh.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>By recording the environment before, during and after the August 21 eclipse, you can capture these changes in the sound environment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Our main goal is to record as much scientifically valuable information as we can,” says project founder Henry Winter, an astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>“We will then combine that information on a web-searchable database that any researcher can have access to.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To participate, all you need is a recorder or smartphone with recording capabilities. Set up away from noisy machinery or powerlines. Start recording 30 minutes before the eclipse will reach its fullest condition in your area and for 30 minutes after. Upload your recording to the Eclipse Soundscapes website.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Your recordings will be geo-located and made publicly available to scientists and artists.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Eclipse Soundscapes \u003ca href=\"https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/eclipse-soundscapes/id1262152991?mt=8\">phone app\u003c/a> will also provide a multi-sensory show on the day of the eclipse. Glide your fingers over the app and it will respond with tones that sonically interpret the moon’s passage over the sun.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1910399\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/iStock-517462556.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1910399\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/iStock-517462556-800x800.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/iStock-517462556-800x800.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/iStock-517462556-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/iStock-517462556-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/iStock-517462556-1020x1020.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/iStock-517462556-1920x1920.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/iStock-517462556-1180x1180.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/iStock-517462556-960x960.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/iStock-517462556-240x240.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/iStock-517462556-375x375.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/iStock-517462556-520x520.jpg 520w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/iStock-517462556-32x32.jpg 32w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/iStock-517462556-50x50.jpg 50w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/iStock-517462556-64x64.jpg 64w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/iStock-517462556-96x96.jpg 96w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/iStock-517462556-128x128.jpg 128w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/iStock-517462556-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Comparing thousands of high quality photos of the eclipse will help scientists answer questions about the sun’s atmosphere. \u003ccite>(iStock)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>This project is a way to “provide an engaging experience for people who have historically been left out of astrophysics enterprises,” says Winter. “And a good way to start building tools that allow people who have not traditionally had access to astronomical information to have access to it in some real way.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Click \u003ca href=\"http://eclipsesoundscapes.org/\">here\u003c/a> to learn more and get involved.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003cstrong>Eclipse Megamovie\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Taking a good picture of the eclipse is hard to do and \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2017/07/24/dont-be-in-the-dark-answers-to-your-burning-questions-about-the-august-eclipse/?gclid=CjwKCAjwzYDMBRA1EiwAwCv6Jrjvu7hARagMVMBDO3S4Xnk3z_mCv51SoF9iwmHWNfD6Tv3ncP-LaxoCu3cQAvD_BwE\">potentially dangerous\u003c/a> for your eyes and camera. Many experts discourage people from trying. However, if you’ve got a fancy camera and you’re passionate about snapping photos of this celestial phenomenon, then you might as well join the Megamovie club.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>UC Berkeley astronomer Alexei Filippenko is helping with a project to stitch together photos to create the first crowd-sourced video of the progression of the eclipse over 90 minutes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Though too late for the Megamovie itself, anyone can upload their images of totality to the project’s\u003ca href=\"https://eclipsemega.movie/\"> website\u003c/a> through Labor Day. They’ll be included in a vast image archive for future research.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Our primary goal is to collect as much imagery as possible and to hold it in a vast public-domain archive for future study,” Filippenko wrote in a recent \u003ca href=\"http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/citizen-science-salon/2017/06/21/capturing-the-total-solar-eclipse-one-photo-at-a-time/#.WX9sy4Tyupo\">article\u003c/a> in Discover Magazine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Click \u003ca href=\"https://eclipsemega.movie/\">here\u003c/a> to learn more and get involved.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>HamSci Project\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Have you ever wondered why you can hear some AM radio stations at night that you can’t hear during the day? It has to do with the ionosphere, an electrified layer of the earth’s atmosphere 50 miles over our heads, which absorbs radio waves and sometimes refracts them back to earth.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1910272\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 1280px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1910272\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/ham-nathaniel6.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/ham-nathaniel6.jpg 1280w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/ham-nathaniel6-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/ham-nathaniel6-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/ham-nathaniel6-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/ham-nathaniel6-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/ham-nathaniel6-1180x786.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/ham-nathaniel6-960x640.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/ham-nathaniel6-240x160.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/ham-nathaniel6-375x250.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/ham-nathaniel6-520x347.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The eclipse impacts the way radio waves move in the atmosphere. Ham Radio operators can collect data on August 21 to help answer space physics questions. \u003ccite>(Tracey Regan)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>During the day, UV rays from the sun strike atoms in the ionosphere and knock off some of their electrons, causing them to become charged. At night, this process stops and an entire layer of the ionosphere dissipates. But what if the sun gets blocked by the moon? Does the same thing happen?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To partake in the HamSci project, take a couple minutes in the weeks before the eclipse to find an AM radio station you can only hear at night. Then, during the eclipse, tune into that same channel and see if you can hear a signal as the sun dims. Write down what you heard and where you heard it and \u003ca href=\"http://www.skyandtelescope.com/2017-total-solar-eclipse/how-to-hear-the-solar-eclipse/\">email\u003c/a> your observation to the project organizer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re a ham radio operator, there’s a lot more you can do. Space physicist and HamSci organizer Nathaniel Frissell from the New Jersey Institute of Technology is asking ham radio operators across the U.S. to collect a wide range of data during the eclipse.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s a chance for radio-lovers to contribute to something bigger,” says Frissell.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Click \u003ca href=\"http://www.hamsci.org/basic-project/2017-total-solar-eclipse\">here\u003c/a> or \u003ca href=\"http://www.skyandtelescope.com/2017-total-solar-eclipse/how-to-hear-the-solar-eclipse/\">here\u003c/a> to learn more and get involved.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The solar eclipse this month will be our country’s \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/forum/2017/07/26/americans-prepare-for-first-total-solar-eclipse-in-century/\">first\u003c/a> total eclipse in the age of the Internet. Technologies that are commonplace now, such as smartphones, were nearly unthinkable in 1979, the last time there was a total solar eclipse seen from the continental U.S. Today’s instant global connectivity makes whole new kinds of citizen science possible.\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"pullquote alignright\">‘It’s an opportunity for everybody to realize their deep connection to the sun.’\u003ccite>Holli Riebeek, NASA\u003c/cite>\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>The smartphones that each one of us has in our pocket are data-gathering machines, and when we upload an observation or a photo, scientists can know exactly where we were on the planet at the very moment we took it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here are some simple and fun ways to be a scientist for a day on August 21\u003csup>st\u003c/sup>. Grab your phone, because most of them involve downloading an app.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Life Responds\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During a total eclipse, the common orb weaver spider stops what she’s doing, and starts diligently eating her web. This is her nighttime routine, but she’s doing it during the day. Is she responding to the sudden darkness? Or maybe the sudden change in temperature?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Spiders disassembling their \u003ca href=\"http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1439-0310.1994.tb00878.x/abstract\">webs\u003c/a>, birds going to roost, gray squirrels running into their dens. There’s loads of anecdotal evidence that animals change their behavior during solar eclipses, but scientists haven’t systematically gathered this information — until now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The California Academy of Sciences’ project, Life Responds, invites people to join one of the largest examinations of plant and animal behavior during an eclipse ever made. To participate, plan to observe nature during the eclipse — whether in the wilderness or your home or backyard — and download the iNaturalist app on your smart phone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1910274\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1024px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1910274\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Six-spottedOrbweaver_Araniella_displicata_RJohnson.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Six-spottedOrbweaver_Araniella_displicata_RJohnson.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Six-spottedOrbweaver_Araniella_displicata_RJohnson-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Six-spottedOrbweaver_Araniella_displicata_RJohnson-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Six-spottedOrbweaver_Araniella_displicata_RJohnson-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Six-spottedOrbweaver_Araniella_displicata_RJohnson-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Six-spottedOrbweaver_Araniella_displicata_RJohnson-960x720.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Six-spottedOrbweaver_Araniella_displicata_RJohnson-240x180.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Six-spottedOrbweaver_Araniella_displicata_RJohnson-375x281.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Six-spottedOrbweaver_Araniella_displicata_RJohnson-520x390.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The six-spotted orb weaver is known to eat her web at night. What will she do during the eclipse? \u003ccite>(Rebecca Johnson / Cal Academy of Sciences)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Then, on the day of the eclipse, scout your surroundings and choose an animal to observe. Rebecca Johnson, citizen science research coordinator at Cal Academy, recommends choosing an animal that you suspect might change its behavior, such as spiders, ants and birds — even captive animals such as chickens, dogs or cats. Or, maybe pick a flower that normally closes at night, such as the morning glory or the California poppy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Life Responds will make a permanent record from the observations, Johnson says. Johnson and her partners will make this information available to scientists and anyone else who’s curious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Click \u003ca href=\"https://www.calacademy.org/citizen-science/solar-eclipse-2017\">here\u003c/a> to learn more and get involved.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>GLOBE Observer\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>NASA’s GLOBE Observer program invites people to spend the day of the eclipse observing what happens to the weather when the sun is blocked out for a period of time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The temperature may drop. Clouds may change. The wind may shift.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>To participate in this project, download the GLOBE Observer app. In the weeks before the eclipse, take a couple minutes to learn how to read a cheap thermometer and how to characterize cloud types (the app can help with that). On the day of the eclipse, pay close attention to the sky and record what you observe every 10 minutes for two hours before and after the eclipse. You observations will help scientists understanding more about how the sun’s rays impact weather.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s an opportunity for everybody to realize their deep connection to the sun,” says project coordinator Holli Riebeek. “It’s so easy to take it for granted. This project helps you think about that relationship in a new way.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Click \u003ca href=\"https://observer.globe.gov/science-connections/eclipse2017\">here\u003c/a> to learn more and get involved.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eclipse Soundscapes\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s one thing most people don’t associate with eclipses: sound. The solar eclipse doesn’t impact only the visual environment, it also affects the soundscape. This citizen science event is part scientific inquiry and part artistic creation, and offers blind and visually impaired people a way to experience the eclipse.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1910277\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 4608px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1910277\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Rumble-Map.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"4608\" height=\"3072\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Rumble-Map.jpg 4608w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Rumble-Map-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Rumble-Map-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Rumble-Map-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Rumble-Map-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Rumble-Map-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Rumble-Map-1180x787.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Rumble-Map-960x640.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Rumble-Map-240x160.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Rumble-Map-375x250.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/Rumble-Map-520x347.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 4608px) 100vw, 4608px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Eclipse Soundscapes gives a multi-sensory experience for the blind and visually-impaired \u003ccite>(Kelsey Perrett / Eclipse Soundscapes)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>During an eclipse, day temporarily turns to night. Nocturnal animals such as crickets will emerge and start to sing, and diurnal animals such as birds will quiet and nest. Loud cities may temporarily fall silent as everyone looks toward the sky — people may gasp, or laugh.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>By recording the environment before, during and after the August 21 eclipse, you can capture these changes in the sound environment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Our main goal is to record as much scientifically valuable information as we can,” says project founder Henry Winter, an astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>“We will then combine that information on a web-searchable database that any researcher can have access to.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To participate, all you need is a recorder or smartphone with recording capabilities. Set up away from noisy machinery or powerlines. Start recording 30 minutes before the eclipse will reach its fullest condition in your area and for 30 minutes after. Upload your recording to the Eclipse Soundscapes website.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Your recordings will be geo-located and made publicly available to scientists and artists.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Eclipse Soundscapes \u003ca href=\"https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/eclipse-soundscapes/id1262152991?mt=8\">phone app\u003c/a> will also provide a multi-sensory show on the day of the eclipse. Glide your fingers over the app and it will respond with tones that sonically interpret the moon’s passage over the sun.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1910399\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/iStock-517462556.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1910399\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/iStock-517462556-800x800.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/iStock-517462556-800x800.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/iStock-517462556-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/iStock-517462556-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/iStock-517462556-1020x1020.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/iStock-517462556-1920x1920.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/iStock-517462556-1180x1180.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/iStock-517462556-960x960.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/iStock-517462556-240x240.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/iStock-517462556-375x375.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/iStock-517462556-520x520.jpg 520w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/iStock-517462556-32x32.jpg 32w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/iStock-517462556-50x50.jpg 50w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/iStock-517462556-64x64.jpg 64w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/iStock-517462556-96x96.jpg 96w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/iStock-517462556-128x128.jpg 128w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/iStock-517462556-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Comparing thousands of high quality photos of the eclipse will help scientists answer questions about the sun’s atmosphere. \u003ccite>(iStock)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>This project is a way to “provide an engaging experience for people who have historically been left out of astrophysics enterprises,” says Winter. “And a good way to start building tools that allow people who have not traditionally had access to astronomical information to have access to it in some real way.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Click \u003ca href=\"http://eclipsesoundscapes.org/\">here\u003c/a> to learn more and get involved.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003cstrong>Eclipse Megamovie\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Taking a good picture of the eclipse is hard to do and \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2017/07/24/dont-be-in-the-dark-answers-to-your-burning-questions-about-the-august-eclipse/?gclid=CjwKCAjwzYDMBRA1EiwAwCv6Jrjvu7hARagMVMBDO3S4Xnk3z_mCv51SoF9iwmHWNfD6Tv3ncP-LaxoCu3cQAvD_BwE\">potentially dangerous\u003c/a> for your eyes and camera. Many experts discourage people from trying. However, if you’ve got a fancy camera and you’re passionate about snapping photos of this celestial phenomenon, then you might as well join the Megamovie club.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>UC Berkeley astronomer Alexei Filippenko is helping with a project to stitch together photos to create the first crowd-sourced video of the progression of the eclipse over 90 minutes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Though too late for the Megamovie itself, anyone can upload their images of totality to the project’s\u003ca href=\"https://eclipsemega.movie/\"> website\u003c/a> through Labor Day. They’ll be included in a vast image archive for future research.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Our primary goal is to collect as much imagery as possible and to hold it in a vast public-domain archive for future study,” Filippenko wrote in a recent \u003ca href=\"http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/citizen-science-salon/2017/06/21/capturing-the-total-solar-eclipse-one-photo-at-a-time/#.WX9sy4Tyupo\">article\u003c/a> in Discover Magazine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Click \u003ca href=\"https://eclipsemega.movie/\">here\u003c/a> to learn more and get involved.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>HamSci Project\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Have you ever wondered why you can hear some AM radio stations at night that you can’t hear during the day? It has to do with the ionosphere, an electrified layer of the earth’s atmosphere 50 miles over our heads, which absorbs radio waves and sometimes refracts them back to earth.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1910272\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 1280px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1910272\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/ham-nathaniel6.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/ham-nathaniel6.jpg 1280w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/ham-nathaniel6-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/ham-nathaniel6-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/ham-nathaniel6-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/ham-nathaniel6-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/ham-nathaniel6-1180x786.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/ham-nathaniel6-960x640.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/ham-nathaniel6-240x160.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/ham-nathaniel6-375x250.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/ham-nathaniel6-520x347.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The eclipse impacts the way radio waves move in the atmosphere. Ham Radio operators can collect data on August 21 to help answer space physics questions. \u003ccite>(Tracey Regan)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>During the day, UV rays from the sun strike atoms in the ionosphere and knock off some of their electrons, causing them to become charged. At night, this process stops and an entire layer of the ionosphere dissipates. But what if the sun gets blocked by the moon? Does the same thing happen?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To partake in the HamSci project, take a couple minutes in the weeks before the eclipse to find an AM radio station you can only hear at night. Then, during the eclipse, tune into that same channel and see if you can hear a signal as the sun dims. Write down what you heard and where you heard it and \u003ca href=\"http://www.skyandtelescope.com/2017-total-solar-eclipse/how-to-hear-the-solar-eclipse/\">email\u003c/a> your observation to the project organizer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re a ham radio operator, there’s a lot more you can do. Space physicist and HamSci organizer Nathaniel Frissell from the New Jersey Institute of Technology is asking ham radio operators across the U.S. to collect a wide range of data during the eclipse.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s a chance for radio-lovers to contribute to something bigger,” says Frissell.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Click \u003ca href=\"http://www.hamsci.org/basic-project/2017-total-solar-eclipse\">here\u003c/a> or \u003ca href=\"http://www.skyandtelescope.com/2017-total-solar-eclipse/how-to-hear-the-solar-eclipse/\">here\u003c/a> to learn more and get involved.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>[dl_subscribe]With the drought officially over and the summer heat upon us, people all across California are heading outdoors. For many, that means a day on the river or relaxing by the lake. The wet winter means there’s plenty of habitat for one of nature’s most curious creatures.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Water striders, also called pond skaters, seem to defy gravity. You’ve probably seen them flittering across the water’s surface, dodging ripples as they patrol streams and quiet backwater eddies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Scientists like David \u003ca href=\"http://www.hu.gatech.edu/\">Hu\u003c/a> at Georgia Institute of Technology study how water striders move and how they make their living as predators lurking on the water’s surface. It’s an amazing combination of biology and physics best understood by looking up close. Very close.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1892350\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 500px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-Striders-wide.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1892350\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-Striders-wide.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Water striders create circular waves when they move. The waves announce the water strider’s presences to their peers. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Water striders are insects with six legs. They use the front and back legs to hold themselves up and the middle pair to row.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They’re basically like little rowboats,” said Hu.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But unlike the oars of a rowboat, water striders’ legs don’t penetrate the surface of the water.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1892352\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 500px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-Striders-row-slow.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1892352\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-Striders-row-slow.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Water striders use their center pair of legs to push against dimples in the water. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>That’s because water striders are covered with tiny hairs that repel water, trapping a layer of air next to the strider’s legs and body.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That buoyant air keeps the legs from breaking the water’s surface and makes the striders bob back up if they get swamped by a tiny wave.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The weight of the strider pushing down on the water causes the surface to deform—but not so much that it breaks. Instead, the water dimples.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It like standing on a trampoline for them,” said Hu. “Their legs are actually under the water line but surrounded by air.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hu has studied the way striders move by filming them in dishes of water in his lab at Georgia Tech. The researchers dyed water with food coloring to reveal how striders disturb the water as they row.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hu found that striders move by pushing against the walls of the dimples of water. “They use the water to push on more water,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s how striders scramble across the nearly frictionless surface of the water. They can even leap off the water in order to dodge attacks from below.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1892354\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 640px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-WaterStriders-furry-leg.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-1892354\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-WaterStriders-furry-leg-1020x574.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-WaterStriders-furry-leg-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-WaterStriders-furry-leg-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-WaterStriders-furry-leg-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-WaterStriders-furry-leg-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-WaterStriders-furry-leg.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-WaterStriders-furry-leg-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-WaterStriders-furry-leg-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-WaterStriders-furry-leg-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-WaterStriders-furry-leg-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-WaterStriders-furry-leg-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Water strider legs are covered in a layer of tiny hairs that repel water. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The hairs create so much buoyancy that it’s very difficult for water striders to dive. That’s important because the females protect their eggs by laying them under submerged rocks or tree branches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1907156\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 500px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-Striders-leaf-floating-.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1907156\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-Striders-leaf-floating-.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The weight of a leaf deforms the surface of the water but not enough to break it. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>This ability to “walk” on water gives striders an incredible advantage over creatures that can’t.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What looks like a gently babbling brook to us is a deathtrap to most insects. For something the size of a fly, water is very sticky. Those that can’t free themselves from the grip of the surface tension quickly become exhausted by the struggle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s exactly what what water striders look for.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They live in a world of waves,” said Hu. “Water striders hear by feeling vibrations in the water’s surface.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And to them, the vibrations caused by a cricket or moth struggling to swim sound like a dinner bell.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The striders wait for their prey to float by and then bolt out from the stream’s edge to collect their prize.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They grab hold with their front legs and use their piercing needle-like mouth to stab into their victim and squirt in digestive enzymes that pre-digest the meal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1892356\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 500px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-Striders-eat-cricket2.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1892356\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-Striders-eat-cricket2.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A water strider feeds on a young cricket. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Moving across the stream requires agility and effort, so striders typically hang onto the side of the riverbank to rest between meals or when they feel threatened.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For water striders, keeping their feet dry certainly gives them the upper hand.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>With the drought officially over and the summer heat upon us, people all across California are heading outdoors. For many, that means a day on the river or relaxing by the lake. The wet winter means there’s plenty of habitat for one of nature’s most curious creatures.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Water striders, also called pond skaters, seem to defy gravity. You’ve probably seen them flittering across the water’s surface, dodging ripples as they patrol streams and quiet backwater eddies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Scientists like David \u003ca href=\"http://www.hu.gatech.edu/\">Hu\u003c/a> at Georgia Institute of Technology study how water striders move and how they make their living as predators lurking on the water’s surface. It’s an amazing combination of biology and physics best understood by looking up close. Very close.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1892350\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 500px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-Striders-wide.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1892350\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-Striders-wide.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Water striders create circular waves when they move. The waves announce the water strider’s presences to their peers. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Water striders are insects with six legs. They use the front and back legs to hold themselves up and the middle pair to row.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They’re basically like little rowboats,” said Hu.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But unlike the oars of a rowboat, water striders’ legs don’t penetrate the surface of the water.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1892352\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 500px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-Striders-row-slow.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1892352\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-Striders-row-slow.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Water striders use their center pair of legs to push against dimples in the water. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>That’s because water striders are covered with tiny hairs that repel water, trapping a layer of air next to the strider’s legs and body.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That buoyant air keeps the legs from breaking the water’s surface and makes the striders bob back up if they get swamped by a tiny wave.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The weight of the strider pushing down on the water causes the surface to deform—but not so much that it breaks. Instead, the water dimples.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It like standing on a trampoline for them,” said Hu. “Their legs are actually under the water line but surrounded by air.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hu has studied the way striders move by filming them in dishes of water in his lab at Georgia Tech. The researchers dyed water with food coloring to reveal how striders disturb the water as they row.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hu found that striders move by pushing against the walls of the dimples of water. “They use the water to push on more water,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s how striders scramble across the nearly frictionless surface of the water. They can even leap off the water in order to dodge attacks from below.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1892354\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 640px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-WaterStriders-furry-leg.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-1892354\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-WaterStriders-furry-leg-1020x574.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-WaterStriders-furry-leg-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-WaterStriders-furry-leg-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-WaterStriders-furry-leg-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-WaterStriders-furry-leg-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-WaterStriders-furry-leg.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-WaterStriders-furry-leg-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-WaterStriders-furry-leg-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-WaterStriders-furry-leg-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-WaterStriders-furry-leg-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-WaterStriders-furry-leg-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Water strider legs are covered in a layer of tiny hairs that repel water. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The hairs create so much buoyancy that it’s very difficult for water striders to dive. That’s important because the females protect their eggs by laying them under submerged rocks or tree branches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1907156\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 500px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-Striders-leaf-floating-.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1907156\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-Striders-leaf-floating-.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The weight of a leaf deforms the surface of the water but not enough to break it. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>This ability to “walk” on water gives striders an incredible advantage over creatures that can’t.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What looks like a gently babbling brook to us is a deathtrap to most insects. For something the size of a fly, water is very sticky. Those that can’t free themselves from the grip of the surface tension quickly become exhausted by the struggle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s exactly what what water striders look for.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They live in a world of waves,” said Hu. “Water striders hear by feeling vibrations in the water’s surface.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And to them, the vibrations caused by a cricket or moth struggling to swim sound like a dinner bell.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The striders wait for their prey to float by and then bolt out from the stream’s edge to collect their prize.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They grab hold with their front legs and use their piercing needle-like mouth to stab into their victim and squirt in digestive enzymes that pre-digest the meal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1892356\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 500px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-Striders-eat-cricket2.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1892356\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/08/DL414-Striders-eat-cricket2.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A water strider feeds on a young cricket. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Moving across the stream requires agility and effort, so striders typically hang onto the side of the riverbank to rest between meals or when they feel threatened.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For water striders, keeping their feet dry certainly gives them the upper hand.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "Know How to Protect Yourself From Lyme Disease on Bay Area Hikes",
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"content": "\u003cp>Northern California has many attractions, but the fact that it’s prime tick habitat isn’t one of them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Adding to the angst surrounding outdoor activities is that tick hotspots are unevenly distributed on a patchy landscape.\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"pullquote alignright\">‘Medicine has the tendency to want a vaccine or a clear antibiotic silver bullet, and I don’t think the Lyme system gives us that luxury.’\u003ccite>Nate Nieto, University of Northern Arizona\u003c/cite>\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>One moment you’re strolling through redwood forests, the next through oak forests, and a couple of hours later you may come across scenic chaparral. While on this iconic hike, you probably don’t realize that you’ve moved through both high- and low-risk Lyme disease areas. The question is, do you know where you are most at risk?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The answer is in the oak forest where layers of rich leaf litter are a kind of Club Med for ticks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>It’s Always Tick Season\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Tick season” exists year-round in northern California. The highest risk is in the spring and early summer due to an abundance of juvenile ticks, known as nymphs (the most virulent life-stage). However, peak diagnosis time extends into July, because it can take a few weeks to realize that you have the disease.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Summer is also particularly dangerous for Lyme disease because that’s when people spend the most time outside, and many of the most beautiful hiking areas tend to be tick-ridden.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1870758\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1870758\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-on-Leaf_Shutterstock_99641744_-e1500680859219-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-on-Leaf_Shutterstock_99641744_-e1500680859219-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-on-Leaf_Shutterstock_99641744_-e1500680859219-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-on-Leaf_Shutterstock_99641744_-e1500680859219-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-on-Leaf_Shutterstock_99641744_-e1500680859219-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-on-Leaf_Shutterstock_99641744_-e1500680859219-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-on-Leaf_Shutterstock_99641744_-e1500680859219-1180x787.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-on-Leaf_Shutterstock_99641744_-e1500680859219-960x640.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-on-Leaf_Shutterstock_99641744_-e1500680859219-240x160.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-on-Leaf_Shutterstock_99641744_-e1500680859219-375x250.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-on-Leaf_Shutterstock_99641744_-e1500680859219-520x347.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">It’s always tick season in Northern California. Peak season is spring and early summer. \u003ccite>(Bay Area Lyme Foundation)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Most people associate Lyme disease with the Northeastern U.S. and the upper Midwest, and for \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/stats/maps.html\">good reason\u003c/a>; the vast majority of cases are reported there, due mostly to the fact that the landscape is blanketed with prime tick habitat. On the west coast, the risk is real, but it’s different.\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"alignright\">\u003cstrong>How to prevent a tick bite in the first place.\u003c/strong>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Dress the part\u003c/strong>: Ticks tend to like to climb upwards, so wear full-length pants, tucked into your socks, and a full length shirt, tucked into your pants\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Pesticide options\u003c/strong>: Chemical tick-repellents or acaricides can be very effective at low dosages. Be sure to read manufacturer’s instructions carefully.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Clean your body and clothes\u003c/strong>: Take a shower once you get home from a hike and throw your clothes in a hot dryer for a 1-hour cycle.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Check your pets and yourself\u003c/strong>: Perform a thorough tick check when you get home. Ticks can travel into your house on dogs and cats.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>“There are definitely patches in California where the risk is just as high as the East –it’s just not the same spatial extent,” says Dan Salkeld, research scientist at Colorado State University.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The overall abundance of Lyme ticks is relatively low on the West Coast; however, the risk is spread unevenly. Hikers can move from high-risk area to a low-risk area and never know it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In California, “You can be in one valley and rates of Lyme can be as high as in upstate New York, Connecticut or Rhode Island,” says Nate Nieto, a microbiologist at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. “Then you go over one ridge, the habitat changes completely –and there’s nothing,”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Part of what puts Californians at risk is a lack of awareness — among the public and even among doctors. Much of the research and public health information is based on east coast ecology and may not apply to the West.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For many Californian physicians, Lyme disease is just not on the radar, even though according to the \u003ca href=\"http://www.bayarealyme.org/\">Bay Area Lyme Foundation\u003c/a>, Lyme-infected ticks have been located in 42 of California’s 58 counties (highest incidence were in Trinity, Humbolt and Mendocino as of 2014). About 100 cases of Lyme disease are reported in California each year, but according to Supervising Public Health Biologist Kerry Padgett of the state Department of Public Health, the disease is likely more widespread.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There is an under-diagnosis and under-reporting of Lyme disease in California,” says Padgett.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>How Ticks Make Us Sick\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lyme disease is caused by a microscopic spiral-shaped bacteria called \u003cem>borrelia burgdorferi\u003c/em>. On the west coast, these Lyme disease-causing bacteria live inside the guts of the western blacklegged tick and can travel into the blood streams of bitten animals.Ticks generally live for two or three years. They are born Lyme-free, and will contract or transmit Lyme during feeding, once during each of their three life stages.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1870913\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1870913\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/lizard-with-ticks-closer-up-800x572.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"572\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/lizard-with-ticks-closer-up-800x572.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/lizard-with-ticks-closer-up-160x114.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/lizard-with-ticks-closer-up-768x549.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/lizard-with-ticks-closer-up-240x172.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/lizard-with-ticks-closer-up-375x268.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/lizard-with-ticks-closer-up-520x372.jpg 520w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/lizard-with-ticks-closer-up.jpg 898w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Blue-bellied lizards are our friends. Their blood actually cures infected ticks of Lyme disease. The “grapes” in this lizard’s ear are all feeding ticks. \u003ccite>(Ervic Aquino)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>When a Lyme-infected tick bites, it typically takes 36-48 hours for the bacteria to make the journey from the tick’s gut to their mouth and into the blood of their host. The process can take as little as 24 hours.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Only 15-20 percent of backlegged ticks contain Lyme disease during their nymph stage, and that number is much lower, 1-2 percent, in adults.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>A Forest Full of Frenemies\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To determine disease risk of a particular place, researchers look to some of the tick’s favorite foods.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The most common reservoir of Lyme disease — the species that initially infects ticks — is the western gray squirrel.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So avoid gray squirrel habitat and you’re safe? Not so fast.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Enter the blue-bellied lizard (also known as the western fence lizard), which is naturally immune to Lyme disease, and has special proteins in its blood that will cleanse infected ticks of the pathogen.\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"alignright\">\n\u003ch3>What to do if you find a tick on you:\u003c/h3>\n\u003cfigure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1870759\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1870759 size-medium\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-sizes_Nate_larger-1-800x515.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"515\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-sizes_Nate_larger-1-800x515.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-sizes_Nate_larger-1-160x103.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-sizes_Nate_larger-1-768x494.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-sizes_Nate_larger-1-1020x656.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-sizes_Nate_larger-1-1180x759.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-sizes_Nate_larger-1-960x618.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-sizes_Nate_larger-1-240x154.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-sizes_Nate_larger-1-375x241.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-sizes_Nate_larger-1-520x335.jpg 520w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-sizes_Nate_larger-1.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Adult (left) and nymph (right) western blacklegged ticks. \u003ccite>(Bay Area Lyme Foundation)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you find a tick on your body, don’t panic! Remove the tick and keep track of what happens.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Is the tick feeding? That is, is the tick embedded in the skin?\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>If the tick is embedded, slowly and steadily, with even pressure, remove the entire tick by pulling it straight out with a pair of tweezers. Do not jerk or twist the tick. Remove any mouthparts that break off during removal. Then, if possible, save the tick in a jar or plastic bag. DO NOT try to kill the tick with oil or matches while it’s feeding. (If you do, it will release the contents of its gut into you.)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Clean the bite area with rubbing alcohol or soap and warm water.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>How long did it feed? If it’s less than 36 hours, there’s a high probability that you are safe.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Pay attention to your symptoms. If in 6-to-12 days, you have any kind of fever, go and see a doctor.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>A bulls-eye rash around the tick bite is a sure-fire way to know if you’ve contracted Lyme, but this symptom only shows up in 50-70 percent of cases. Other symptoms include headache, fatigue, and skin rash.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>So, a tick could feed on a squirrel and contract Lyme, which could then be neutralized when it bites a lizard.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you go into dense black oak woodland, which is prime habitat for ticks and squirrels, we find a higher proportion of infected ticks,” explains Salkeld. “However, if you move into a broken clearing with more light, you’re going to find more lizards, and the prevalence of Lyme goes down.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lyme disease involves many different species and is ecologically complex, which makes it a notoriously difficult problem to solve for researchers and public health officials.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Medicine has the tendency to want a vaccine or a clear antibiotic silver bullet, and I don’t think the Lyme system gives us that luxury,” says Nieto.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Lyme disease is something that we call, in the science world, a complex system, meaning that there’s a bunch going on here,” he continues. “ there’s a bunch of hosts, there’s a bunch of vectors, and there’s a bunch of pathogens, and that makes things difficult.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mapping a Pathogen\u003cbr>\n\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California’s diverse landscape and the complex interplay among species makes predicting Lyme tricky. However, the greatest risk posed to Californians might be a lack of awareness. Doctors here are less likely to suspect Lyme when patients come in with characteristic symptoms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I have talked to physicians who say that they are not aware of Lyme disease in California,” says Salkeld.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Organizations, such as the Bay Area Lyme Foundation, along with researchers like Nieto and Salkeld, are working to change the narrative and build the necessary evidence to make doctors aware of the scale of the problem. The foundation has a \u003ca href=\"http://www.bayarealyme.org/blog/bay-area-lyme-foundation-offers-free-tick-testing-nationwide/\">program\u003c/a> offering free tick testing nationwide, which aims to map tick-borne diseases across the country by encouraging concerned citizens to send in samples.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re working on gathering real empirical data to show that Lyme is in the ecosystems of the West Coast,” says Nieto, “We’re getting clinical samples, ecological [tick] samples, and wildlife host samples…so we can change the educational paradigm within the medical schools and say, ‘It’s not just the Northeast and upper Midwest’—it’s in California too.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think Californians should be aware of ticks, and the risks of tick-borne diseases, but the fear of disease should not keep them from enjoying the great outdoors,” adds Padgett. “I really do feel it’s possible to stay tick-safe while recreating and spending time outside.”\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Northern California has many attractions, but the fact that it’s prime tick habitat isn’t one of them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Adding to the angst surrounding outdoor activities is that tick hotspots are unevenly distributed on a patchy landscape.\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"pullquote alignright\">‘Medicine has the tendency to want a vaccine or a clear antibiotic silver bullet, and I don’t think the Lyme system gives us that luxury.’\u003ccite>Nate Nieto, University of Northern Arizona\u003c/cite>\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>One moment you’re strolling through redwood forests, the next through oak forests, and a couple of hours later you may come across scenic chaparral. While on this iconic hike, you probably don’t realize that you’ve moved through both high- and low-risk Lyme disease areas. The question is, do you know where you are most at risk?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The answer is in the oak forest where layers of rich leaf litter are a kind of Club Med for ticks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>It’s Always Tick Season\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Tick season” exists year-round in northern California. The highest risk is in the spring and early summer due to an abundance of juvenile ticks, known as nymphs (the most virulent life-stage). However, peak diagnosis time extends into July, because it can take a few weeks to realize that you have the disease.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Summer is also particularly dangerous for Lyme disease because that’s when people spend the most time outside, and many of the most beautiful hiking areas tend to be tick-ridden.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1870758\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1870758\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-on-Leaf_Shutterstock_99641744_-e1500680859219-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-on-Leaf_Shutterstock_99641744_-e1500680859219-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-on-Leaf_Shutterstock_99641744_-e1500680859219-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-on-Leaf_Shutterstock_99641744_-e1500680859219-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-on-Leaf_Shutterstock_99641744_-e1500680859219-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-on-Leaf_Shutterstock_99641744_-e1500680859219-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-on-Leaf_Shutterstock_99641744_-e1500680859219-1180x787.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-on-Leaf_Shutterstock_99641744_-e1500680859219-960x640.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-on-Leaf_Shutterstock_99641744_-e1500680859219-240x160.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-on-Leaf_Shutterstock_99641744_-e1500680859219-375x250.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-on-Leaf_Shutterstock_99641744_-e1500680859219-520x347.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">It’s always tick season in Northern California. Peak season is spring and early summer. \u003ccite>(Bay Area Lyme Foundation)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Most people associate Lyme disease with the Northeastern U.S. and the upper Midwest, and for \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/stats/maps.html\">good reason\u003c/a>; the vast majority of cases are reported there, due mostly to the fact that the landscape is blanketed with prime tick habitat. On the west coast, the risk is real, but it’s different.\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"alignright\">\u003cstrong>How to prevent a tick bite in the first place.\u003c/strong>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Dress the part\u003c/strong>: Ticks tend to like to climb upwards, so wear full-length pants, tucked into your socks, and a full length shirt, tucked into your pants\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Pesticide options\u003c/strong>: Chemical tick-repellents or acaricides can be very effective at low dosages. Be sure to read manufacturer’s instructions carefully.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Clean your body and clothes\u003c/strong>: Take a shower once you get home from a hike and throw your clothes in a hot dryer for a 1-hour cycle.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Check your pets and yourself\u003c/strong>: Perform a thorough tick check when you get home. Ticks can travel into your house on dogs and cats.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>“There are definitely patches in California where the risk is just as high as the East –it’s just not the same spatial extent,” says Dan Salkeld, research scientist at Colorado State University.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The overall abundance of Lyme ticks is relatively low on the West Coast; however, the risk is spread unevenly. Hikers can move from high-risk area to a low-risk area and never know it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In California, “You can be in one valley and rates of Lyme can be as high as in upstate New York, Connecticut or Rhode Island,” says Nate Nieto, a microbiologist at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. “Then you go over one ridge, the habitat changes completely –and there’s nothing,”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Part of what puts Californians at risk is a lack of awareness — among the public and even among doctors. Much of the research and public health information is based on east coast ecology and may not apply to the West.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For many Californian physicians, Lyme disease is just not on the radar, even though according to the \u003ca href=\"http://www.bayarealyme.org/\">Bay Area Lyme Foundation\u003c/a>, Lyme-infected ticks have been located in 42 of California’s 58 counties (highest incidence were in Trinity, Humbolt and Mendocino as of 2014). About 100 cases of Lyme disease are reported in California each year, but according to Supervising Public Health Biologist Kerry Padgett of the state Department of Public Health, the disease is likely more widespread.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There is an under-diagnosis and under-reporting of Lyme disease in California,” says Padgett.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>How Ticks Make Us Sick\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lyme disease is caused by a microscopic spiral-shaped bacteria called \u003cem>borrelia burgdorferi\u003c/em>. On the west coast, these Lyme disease-causing bacteria live inside the guts of the western blacklegged tick and can travel into the blood streams of bitten animals.Ticks generally live for two or three years. They are born Lyme-free, and will contract or transmit Lyme during feeding, once during each of their three life stages.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1870913\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1870913\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/lizard-with-ticks-closer-up-800x572.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"572\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/lizard-with-ticks-closer-up-800x572.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/lizard-with-ticks-closer-up-160x114.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/lizard-with-ticks-closer-up-768x549.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/lizard-with-ticks-closer-up-240x172.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/lizard-with-ticks-closer-up-375x268.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/lizard-with-ticks-closer-up-520x372.jpg 520w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/lizard-with-ticks-closer-up.jpg 898w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Blue-bellied lizards are our friends. Their blood actually cures infected ticks of Lyme disease. The “grapes” in this lizard’s ear are all feeding ticks. \u003ccite>(Ervic Aquino)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>When a Lyme-infected tick bites, it typically takes 36-48 hours for the bacteria to make the journey from the tick’s gut to their mouth and into the blood of their host. The process can take as little as 24 hours.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Only 15-20 percent of backlegged ticks contain Lyme disease during their nymph stage, and that number is much lower, 1-2 percent, in adults.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>A Forest Full of Frenemies\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To determine disease risk of a particular place, researchers look to some of the tick’s favorite foods.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The most common reservoir of Lyme disease — the species that initially infects ticks — is the western gray squirrel.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So avoid gray squirrel habitat and you’re safe? Not so fast.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Enter the blue-bellied lizard (also known as the western fence lizard), which is naturally immune to Lyme disease, and has special proteins in its blood that will cleanse infected ticks of the pathogen.\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"alignright\">\n\u003ch3>What to do if you find a tick on you:\u003c/h3>\n\u003cfigure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1870759\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1870759 size-medium\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-sizes_Nate_larger-1-800x515.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"515\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-sizes_Nate_larger-1-800x515.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-sizes_Nate_larger-1-160x103.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-sizes_Nate_larger-1-768x494.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-sizes_Nate_larger-1-1020x656.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-sizes_Nate_larger-1-1180x759.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-sizes_Nate_larger-1-960x618.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-sizes_Nate_larger-1-240x154.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-sizes_Nate_larger-1-375x241.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-sizes_Nate_larger-1-520x335.jpg 520w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/Tick-sizes_Nate_larger-1.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Adult (left) and nymph (right) western blacklegged ticks. \u003ccite>(Bay Area Lyme Foundation)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you find a tick on your body, don’t panic! Remove the tick and keep track of what happens.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Is the tick feeding? That is, is the tick embedded in the skin?\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>If the tick is embedded, slowly and steadily, with even pressure, remove the entire tick by pulling it straight out with a pair of tweezers. Do not jerk or twist the tick. Remove any mouthparts that break off during removal. Then, if possible, save the tick in a jar or plastic bag. DO NOT try to kill the tick with oil or matches while it’s feeding. (If you do, it will release the contents of its gut into you.)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Clean the bite area with rubbing alcohol or soap and warm water.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>How long did it feed? If it’s less than 36 hours, there’s a high probability that you are safe.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Pay attention to your symptoms. If in 6-to-12 days, you have any kind of fever, go and see a doctor.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>A bulls-eye rash around the tick bite is a sure-fire way to know if you’ve contracted Lyme, but this symptom only shows up in 50-70 percent of cases. Other symptoms include headache, fatigue, and skin rash.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>So, a tick could feed on a squirrel and contract Lyme, which could then be neutralized when it bites a lizard.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you go into dense black oak woodland, which is prime habitat for ticks and squirrels, we find a higher proportion of infected ticks,” explains Salkeld. “However, if you move into a broken clearing with more light, you’re going to find more lizards, and the prevalence of Lyme goes down.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lyme disease involves many different species and is ecologically complex, which makes it a notoriously difficult problem to solve for researchers and public health officials.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Medicine has the tendency to want a vaccine or a clear antibiotic silver bullet, and I don’t think the Lyme system gives us that luxury,” says Nieto.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Lyme disease is something that we call, in the science world, a complex system, meaning that there’s a bunch going on here,” he continues. “ there’s a bunch of hosts, there’s a bunch of vectors, and there’s a bunch of pathogens, and that makes things difficult.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mapping a Pathogen\u003cbr>\n\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California’s diverse landscape and the complex interplay among species makes predicting Lyme tricky. However, the greatest risk posed to Californians might be a lack of awareness. Doctors here are less likely to suspect Lyme when patients come in with characteristic symptoms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I have talked to physicians who say that they are not aware of Lyme disease in California,” says Salkeld.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Organizations, such as the Bay Area Lyme Foundation, along with researchers like Nieto and Salkeld, are working to change the narrative and build the necessary evidence to make doctors aware of the scale of the problem. The foundation has a \u003ca href=\"http://www.bayarealyme.org/blog/bay-area-lyme-foundation-offers-free-tick-testing-nationwide/\">program\u003c/a> offering free tick testing nationwide, which aims to map tick-borne diseases across the country by encouraging concerned citizens to send in samples.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re working on gathering real empirical data to show that Lyme is in the ecosystems of the West Coast,” says Nieto, “We’re getting clinical samples, ecological [tick] samples, and wildlife host samples…so we can change the educational paradigm within the medical schools and say, ‘It’s not just the Northeast and upper Midwest’—it’s in California too.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think Californians should be aware of ticks, and the risks of tick-borne diseases, but the fear of disease should not keep them from enjoying the great outdoors,” adds Padgett. “I really do feel it’s possible to stay tick-safe while recreating and spending time outside.”\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "why-is-the-very-hungry-caterpillar-so-dang-hungry",
"title": "Why Is the Very Hungry Caterpillar So Dang Hungry?",
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"content": "\u003cp>[dl_subscribe]It’s summer and butterflies are everywhere, fluttering around with their flashy looks. But the truth must come out: Behind every beautiful butterfly is a funny-looking, very determined, caterpillar.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In San Francisco there are a few places where you can get a behind-the-scenes look at caterpillars hard at work or chrysalises splitting open to reveal the butterflies inside.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That caterpillar in your backyard is more than just an awkward adolescent. It’s chewing through your best leaves for a good reason: It’s eating for itself, for the butterfly it will become, and for every egg that butterfly will lay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>No wonder it’s so hungry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Caterpillars have to store up incredible reserves of proteins,” said \u003ca href=\"http://www.biol.sc.edu/faculty/boggs\">Carol Boggs\u003c/a>, an ecologist at the University of South Carolina who studies butterflies. “Nectar doesn’t have much protein. Most of the protein that goes to making eggs has to come from larval feeding.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1811993\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 500px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_FOUR_CATERPILLARS_EAT_500.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1811993\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_FOUR_CATERPILLARS_EAT_500.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"280\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Four caterpillars stuff themselves with leaves to build up protein stores that they’ll use to lay eggs once they turn into butterflies. Clockwise: monarch, Gulf fritillary, California pipevine swallowtail and painted lady caterpillars. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Caterpillars are the larval stage of a butterfly. Their complete transformation to pupa and then to butterfly is a strategy called holometaboly. Humans are in the minority among animals in that we don’t go through these very distinct, almost separate, lives. We start out as a smaller version of ourselves and grow bigger.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But from an evolutionary point of view, the way butterflies transform makes sense.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You have a larva that is an eating machine,” said Boggs. “It’s very well-suited to that. Then you’re turning it into a reproduction machine, the butterfly.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1811991\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 500px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_MONARCH_BUTTERFLY_DRINKS_NECTAR_500.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1811991\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_MONARCH_BUTTERFLY_DRINKS_NECTAR_500.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"280\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A monarch butterfly sips nectar at the Conservatory of Flowers. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Once it becomes a butterfly it will lose its mouth, grow a straw in its place and go on a liquid diet of sugary nectar and rotten fruit juices. Its main job will be to mate and lay eggs. Those eggs started to develop while it was a pupa, using protein that the caterpillar stored by gorging on leaves. We think of leaves as carbohydrates, but the nitrogen they contain makes them more than one quarter protein, said Boggs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you want to see caterpillars in action, the \u003ca href=\"http://www.sfbotanicalgarden.org\">San Francisco Botanical Garden\u003c/a> in Golden Gate Park is the place to go. Nearby, the \u003ca href=\"http://conservatoryofflowers.org\">Conservatory of Flowers\u003c/a> and the \u003ca href=\"http://www.calacademy.org\">California Academy of Sciences\u003c/a> both have exhibits where you can watch butterflies emerging from their chrysalises.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The botanical garden has cultivated a third of an acre in its native plants garden with California pipevine to provide habitat for a striking blue and orange butterfly with a hairy black and blue body dotted with white. The California pipevine swallowtail butterfly is native to the state, but rare in San Francisco because there isn’t much pipevine, the only plant its caterpillars can eat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1811987\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_CALIFORNIA_PIPEVINE_SWALLOWTAIL_BUTTERFLY.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1811987\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_CALIFORNIA_PIPEVINE_SWALLOWTAIL_BUTTERFLY.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_CALIFORNIA_PIPEVINE_SWALLOWTAIL_BUTTERFLY.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_CALIFORNIA_PIPEVINE_SWALLOWTAIL_BUTTERFLY-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_CALIFORNIA_PIPEVINE_SWALLOWTAIL_BUTTERFLY-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_CALIFORNIA_PIPEVINE_SWALLOWTAIL_BUTTERFLY-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_CALIFORNIA_PIPEVINE_SWALLOWTAIL_BUTTERFLY-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_CALIFORNIA_PIPEVINE_SWALLOWTAIL_BUTTERFLY-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_CALIFORNIA_PIPEVINE_SWALLOWTAIL_BUTTERFLY-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_CALIFORNIA_PIPEVINE_SWALLOWTAIL_BUTTERFLY-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_CALIFORNIA_PIPEVINE_SWALLOWTAIL_BUTTERFLY-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_CALIFORNIA_PIPEVINE_SWALLOWTAIL_BUTTERFLY-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A California pipevine swallowtail butterfly (Battus philenor hirsuta) at the San Francisco Botanical Garden. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1811989\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 500px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_CALIFORNIA_PIPEVINE_SWALLOWTAIL_CATERPILLAR_EXITS_EGG_500.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1811989\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_CALIFORNIA_PIPEVINE_SWALLOWTAIL_CATERPILLAR_EXITS_EGG_500.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"280\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A California pipevine swallowtail caterpillar emerges from its egg at the San Francisco Botanical Garden. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1811990\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_California_pipevine_swallowtail_caterpillar.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1811990\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_California_pipevine_swallowtail_caterpillar.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_California_pipevine_swallowtail_caterpillar.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_California_pipevine_swallowtail_caterpillar-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_California_pipevine_swallowtail_caterpillar-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_California_pipevine_swallowtail_caterpillar-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_California_pipevine_swallowtail_caterpillar-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_California_pipevine_swallowtail_caterpillar-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_California_pipevine_swallowtail_caterpillar-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_California_pipevine_swallowtail_caterpillar-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_California_pipevine_swallowtail_caterpillar-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_California_pipevine_swallowtail_caterpillar-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A California pipevine swallowtail caterpillar at the San Francisco Botanical Garden after several weeks of eating pipevine leaves. \u003ccite>(Gabriela Quiros/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Pipevine caterpillars are what’s called gregarious – they’re born in groups, eating their way out of tiny round orange egg shells. Then they munch on leaves en masse. Species like monarch caterpillars forage by themselves.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pipevine caterpillars are almost as spectacular as the butterflies they become. Young ones are reddish and spiky. The oldest ones – three to six weeks old – are black with rows of bright red spikes that make them look like devils ready to go trick-or-treating. The red tells predators that the caterpillar is poisonous, a useful trick.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The larval stage is the most vulnerable,” said Tim Wong, who volunteers at the botanical garden and keeps \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaPipevineSwallowtail/\">a Facebook page\u003c/a> about the species and its host plant. “They can be parasitized, or eaten. So they try to make it quick.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When they’ve had their fill, they weave a sling out of silk and hang diagonally from a branch. Their skin splits open. As they shimmy, folds of skin bunch up at one end.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s like wriggling out of a too-tight dress,” said Boggs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When this happens, the caterpillar has turned itself into a pupa, also known as a chrysalis. They’re difficult to spot in the garden because pipevine chrysalises look like brown or green leaves to protect from predators while they continue to develop inside their hard casing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pipevine butterflies and caterpillars are out and about at the botanical garden into the fall, though they’re more abundant in April and May.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1811986\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_Anartia-jatrophae-butterfly-emerged.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1811986\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_Anartia-jatrophae-butterfly-emerged.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_Anartia-jatrophae-butterfly-emerged.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_Anartia-jatrophae-butterfly-emerged-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_Anartia-jatrophae-butterfly-emerged-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_Anartia-jatrophae-butterfly-emerged-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_Anartia-jatrophae-butterfly-emerged-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_Anartia-jatrophae-butterfly-emerged-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_Anartia-jatrophae-butterfly-emerged-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_Anartia-jatrophae-butterfly-emerged-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_Anartia-jatrophae-butterfly-emerged-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_Anartia-jatrophae-butterfly-emerged-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A white peacock butterfly emerges from its chrysalis at the Conservatory of Flowers. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1811992\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_WHITE_PEACOCK_BUTTERFLY_DRINKS_NECTAR.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1811992\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_WHITE_PEACOCK_BUTTERFLY_DRINKS_NECTAR.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_WHITE_PEACOCK_BUTTERFLY_DRINKS_NECTAR.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_WHITE_PEACOCK_BUTTERFLY_DRINKS_NECTAR-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_WHITE_PEACOCK_BUTTERFLY_DRINKS_NECTAR-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_WHITE_PEACOCK_BUTTERFLY_DRINKS_NECTAR-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_WHITE_PEACOCK_BUTTERFLY_DRINKS_NECTAR-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_WHITE_PEACOCK_BUTTERFLY_DRINKS_NECTAR-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_WHITE_PEACOCK_BUTTERFLY_DRINKS_NECTAR-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_WHITE_PEACOCK_BUTTERFLY_DRINKS_NECTAR-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_WHITE_PEACOCK_BUTTERFLY_DRINKS_NECTAR-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_WHITE_PEACOCK_BUTTERFLY_DRINKS_NECTAR-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Once its wings have dried off, a white peacock butterfly is ready to sip nectar with its straw-like proboscis. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Seeing one emerge from its chrysalis is difficult, said Wong. If you want to watch butterflies emerging, it’s a better bet to visit the Conservatory of Flowers’ “Butterflies and Blooms” exhibit, where rows of chrysalises of half-a-dozen species are displayed for visitors in a white wooden case. At least a handful of them are likely to emerge each morning when it gets warm. Midday is a good time to watch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“On a high-emergence day it might be several in an hour,” said Kristen Natoli, chief nursery specialist at the Conservatory of Flowers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Emergence takes less than a minute and is mesmerizing. A triangular monarch chrysalis, for example, is transparent by the time the butterfly is ready to emerge, making the orange and black wings visible inside.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The butterfly starts to pump its wings and cracks the cuticle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Then this perfect choreography has to happen,” said Natoli.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1815214\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 500px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_MONARCH_BUTTERFLY_EMERGES_500_.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1815214\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_MONARCH_BUTTERFLY_EMERGES_500_.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"280\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A monarch butterfly emerges at the Conservatory of Flowers. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The butterfly falls backward out of the sac, all while holding onto it with its legs. It moves its wings to dry them. And it curls and uncurls the two long parts of its proboscis until they zip into a straw – ready to drink nectar.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In an adjacent garden, butterflies flit about from flower to flower, sticking their proboscis deep into red salvias and pink Princess flowers. Among them is the spicebush swallowtail, which mimics the California pipevine swallowtail butterfly with blue and orange on its wings in order to make predators think it’s poisonous too. The conservatory’s temporary exhibit is open through early January.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Down the road, the California Academy of Sciences has a permanent exhibit at the top of its rainforest, where visitors can watch the emergence of the blue Morpho and other tropical butterflies brought in as chrysalises from Costa Rica.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They’re moving color,” said Natoli. “They’re so delicate and fragile.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Both exhibits are a reminder that the importance of butterflies transcends their beauty. As they move from flower to flower, they carry pollen with them, helping to fertilize plants. Think of that the next time you find a caterpillar – or a horde of them – munching on your favorite plant.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"title": "Why Is the Very Hungry Caterpillar So Dang Hungry? | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>It’s summer and butterflies are everywhere, fluttering around with their flashy looks. But the truth must come out: Behind every beautiful butterfly is a funny-looking, very determined, caterpillar.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In San Francisco there are a few places where you can get a behind-the-scenes look at caterpillars hard at work or chrysalises splitting open to reveal the butterflies inside.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That caterpillar in your backyard is more than just an awkward adolescent. It’s chewing through your best leaves for a good reason: It’s eating for itself, for the butterfly it will become, and for every egg that butterfly will lay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>No wonder it’s so hungry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Caterpillars have to store up incredible reserves of proteins,” said \u003ca href=\"http://www.biol.sc.edu/faculty/boggs\">Carol Boggs\u003c/a>, an ecologist at the University of South Carolina who studies butterflies. “Nectar doesn’t have much protein. Most of the protein that goes to making eggs has to come from larval feeding.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1811993\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 500px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_FOUR_CATERPILLARS_EAT_500.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1811993\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_FOUR_CATERPILLARS_EAT_500.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"280\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Four caterpillars stuff themselves with leaves to build up protein stores that they’ll use to lay eggs once they turn into butterflies. Clockwise: monarch, Gulf fritillary, California pipevine swallowtail and painted lady caterpillars. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Caterpillars are the larval stage of a butterfly. Their complete transformation to pupa and then to butterfly is a strategy called holometaboly. Humans are in the minority among animals in that we don’t go through these very distinct, almost separate, lives. We start out as a smaller version of ourselves and grow bigger.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But from an evolutionary point of view, the way butterflies transform makes sense.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You have a larva that is an eating machine,” said Boggs. “It’s very well-suited to that. Then you’re turning it into a reproduction machine, the butterfly.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1811991\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 500px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_MONARCH_BUTTERFLY_DRINKS_NECTAR_500.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1811991\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_MONARCH_BUTTERFLY_DRINKS_NECTAR_500.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"280\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A monarch butterfly sips nectar at the Conservatory of Flowers. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Once it becomes a butterfly it will lose its mouth, grow a straw in its place and go on a liquid diet of sugary nectar and rotten fruit juices. Its main job will be to mate and lay eggs. Those eggs started to develop while it was a pupa, using protein that the caterpillar stored by gorging on leaves. We think of leaves as carbohydrates, but the nitrogen they contain makes them more than one quarter protein, said Boggs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you want to see caterpillars in action, the \u003ca href=\"http://www.sfbotanicalgarden.org\">San Francisco Botanical Garden\u003c/a> in Golden Gate Park is the place to go. Nearby, the \u003ca href=\"http://conservatoryofflowers.org\">Conservatory of Flowers\u003c/a> and the \u003ca href=\"http://www.calacademy.org\">California Academy of Sciences\u003c/a> both have exhibits where you can watch butterflies emerging from their chrysalises.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The botanical garden has cultivated a third of an acre in its native plants garden with California pipevine to provide habitat for a striking blue and orange butterfly with a hairy black and blue body dotted with white. The California pipevine swallowtail butterfly is native to the state, but rare in San Francisco because there isn’t much pipevine, the only plant its caterpillars can eat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1811987\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_CALIFORNIA_PIPEVINE_SWALLOWTAIL_BUTTERFLY.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1811987\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_CALIFORNIA_PIPEVINE_SWALLOWTAIL_BUTTERFLY.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_CALIFORNIA_PIPEVINE_SWALLOWTAIL_BUTTERFLY.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_CALIFORNIA_PIPEVINE_SWALLOWTAIL_BUTTERFLY-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_CALIFORNIA_PIPEVINE_SWALLOWTAIL_BUTTERFLY-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_CALIFORNIA_PIPEVINE_SWALLOWTAIL_BUTTERFLY-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_CALIFORNIA_PIPEVINE_SWALLOWTAIL_BUTTERFLY-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_CALIFORNIA_PIPEVINE_SWALLOWTAIL_BUTTERFLY-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_CALIFORNIA_PIPEVINE_SWALLOWTAIL_BUTTERFLY-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_CALIFORNIA_PIPEVINE_SWALLOWTAIL_BUTTERFLY-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_CALIFORNIA_PIPEVINE_SWALLOWTAIL_BUTTERFLY-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_CALIFORNIA_PIPEVINE_SWALLOWTAIL_BUTTERFLY-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A California pipevine swallowtail butterfly (Battus philenor hirsuta) at the San Francisco Botanical Garden. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1811989\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 500px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_CALIFORNIA_PIPEVINE_SWALLOWTAIL_CATERPILLAR_EXITS_EGG_500.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1811989\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_CALIFORNIA_PIPEVINE_SWALLOWTAIL_CATERPILLAR_EXITS_EGG_500.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"280\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A California pipevine swallowtail caterpillar emerges from its egg at the San Francisco Botanical Garden. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1811990\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_California_pipevine_swallowtail_caterpillar.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1811990\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_California_pipevine_swallowtail_caterpillar.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_California_pipevine_swallowtail_caterpillar.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_California_pipevine_swallowtail_caterpillar-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_California_pipevine_swallowtail_caterpillar-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_California_pipevine_swallowtail_caterpillar-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_California_pipevine_swallowtail_caterpillar-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_California_pipevine_swallowtail_caterpillar-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_California_pipevine_swallowtail_caterpillar-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_California_pipevine_swallowtail_caterpillar-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_California_pipevine_swallowtail_caterpillar-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_California_pipevine_swallowtail_caterpillar-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A California pipevine swallowtail caterpillar at the San Francisco Botanical Garden after several weeks of eating pipevine leaves. \u003ccite>(Gabriela Quiros/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Pipevine caterpillars are what’s called gregarious – they’re born in groups, eating their way out of tiny round orange egg shells. Then they munch on leaves en masse. Species like monarch caterpillars forage by themselves.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pipevine caterpillars are almost as spectacular as the butterflies they become. Young ones are reddish and spiky. The oldest ones – three to six weeks old – are black with rows of bright red spikes that make them look like devils ready to go trick-or-treating. The red tells predators that the caterpillar is poisonous, a useful trick.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The larval stage is the most vulnerable,” said Tim Wong, who volunteers at the botanical garden and keeps \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaPipevineSwallowtail/\">a Facebook page\u003c/a> about the species and its host plant. “They can be parasitized, or eaten. So they try to make it quick.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When they’ve had their fill, they weave a sling out of silk and hang diagonally from a branch. Their skin splits open. As they shimmy, folds of skin bunch up at one end.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s like wriggling out of a too-tight dress,” said Boggs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When this happens, the caterpillar has turned itself into a pupa, also known as a chrysalis. They’re difficult to spot in the garden because pipevine chrysalises look like brown or green leaves to protect from predators while they continue to develop inside their hard casing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pipevine butterflies and caterpillars are out and about at the botanical garden into the fall, though they’re more abundant in April and May.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1811986\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_Anartia-jatrophae-butterfly-emerged.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1811986\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_Anartia-jatrophae-butterfly-emerged.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_Anartia-jatrophae-butterfly-emerged.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_Anartia-jatrophae-butterfly-emerged-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_Anartia-jatrophae-butterfly-emerged-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_Anartia-jatrophae-butterfly-emerged-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_Anartia-jatrophae-butterfly-emerged-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_Anartia-jatrophae-butterfly-emerged-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_Anartia-jatrophae-butterfly-emerged-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_Anartia-jatrophae-butterfly-emerged-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_Anartia-jatrophae-butterfly-emerged-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_Anartia-jatrophae-butterfly-emerged-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A white peacock butterfly emerges from its chrysalis at the Conservatory of Flowers. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1811992\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_WHITE_PEACOCK_BUTTERFLY_DRINKS_NECTAR.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1811992\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_WHITE_PEACOCK_BUTTERFLY_DRINKS_NECTAR.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_WHITE_PEACOCK_BUTTERFLY_DRINKS_NECTAR.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_WHITE_PEACOCK_BUTTERFLY_DRINKS_NECTAR-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_WHITE_PEACOCK_BUTTERFLY_DRINKS_NECTAR-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_WHITE_PEACOCK_BUTTERFLY_DRINKS_NECTAR-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_WHITE_PEACOCK_BUTTERFLY_DRINKS_NECTAR-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_WHITE_PEACOCK_BUTTERFLY_DRINKS_NECTAR-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_WHITE_PEACOCK_BUTTERFLY_DRINKS_NECTAR-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_WHITE_PEACOCK_BUTTERFLY_DRINKS_NECTAR-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_WHITE_PEACOCK_BUTTERFLY_DRINKS_NECTAR-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_WHITE_PEACOCK_BUTTERFLY_DRINKS_NECTAR-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Once its wings have dried off, a white peacock butterfly is ready to sip nectar with its straw-like proboscis. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Seeing one emerge from its chrysalis is difficult, said Wong. If you want to watch butterflies emerging, it’s a better bet to visit the Conservatory of Flowers’ “Butterflies and Blooms” exhibit, where rows of chrysalises of half-a-dozen species are displayed for visitors in a white wooden case. At least a handful of them are likely to emerge each morning when it gets warm. Midday is a good time to watch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“On a high-emergence day it might be several in an hour,” said Kristen Natoli, chief nursery specialist at the Conservatory of Flowers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Emergence takes less than a minute and is mesmerizing. A triangular monarch chrysalis, for example, is transparent by the time the butterfly is ready to emerge, making the orange and black wings visible inside.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The butterfly starts to pump its wings and cracks the cuticle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Then this perfect choreography has to happen,” said Natoli.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1815214\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 500px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_MONARCH_BUTTERFLY_EMERGES_500_.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1815214\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/07/DL_413Caterpillars_MONARCH_BUTTERFLY_EMERGES_500_.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"280\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A monarch butterfly emerges at the Conservatory of Flowers. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The butterfly falls backward out of the sac, all while holding onto it with its legs. It moves its wings to dry them. And it curls and uncurls the two long parts of its proboscis until they zip into a straw – ready to drink nectar.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In an adjacent garden, butterflies flit about from flower to flower, sticking their proboscis deep into red salvias and pink Princess flowers. Among them is the spicebush swallowtail, which mimics the California pipevine swallowtail butterfly with blue and orange on its wings in order to make predators think it’s poisonous too. The conservatory’s temporary exhibit is open through early January.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Down the road, the California Academy of Sciences has a permanent exhibit at the top of its rainforest, where visitors can watch the emergence of the blue Morpho and other tropical butterflies brought in as chrysalises from Costa Rica.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They’re moving color,” said Natoli. “They’re so delicate and fragile.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Both exhibits are a reminder that the importance of butterflies transcends their beauty. As they move from flower to flower, they carry pollen with them, helping to fertilize plants. Think of that the next time you find a caterpillar – or a horde of them – munching on your favorite plant.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "a-real-alien-invasion-is-coming-to-a-palm-tree-near-you",
"title": "A Real Alien Invasion Is Coming to a Palm Tree Near You",
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"headTitle": "A Real Alien Invasion Is Coming to a Palm Tree Near You | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>[dl_subscribe]Summer means vacation time, and nothing says, “Welcome to paradise!” quite like a palm tree. From Waikiki to Mar-a-Lago, the trees’ iconic fronds instantly signal luxury, glamor and the good life.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Though it’s home to only one native species, California has nonetheless adopted the palm as one of its quintessential icons. Just turn on “La La Land” and start counting how many you see on screen.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1680204\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-canary-top-CC.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1680204\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-canary-top-CC-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-canary-top-CC-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-canary-top-CC-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-canary-top-CC-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-canary-top-CC-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-canary-top-CC-1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-canary-top-CC-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-canary-top-CC-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-canary-top-CC-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-canary-top-CC-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-canary-top-CC-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Canary Island date palm is one of the more iconic features of the California landscape. \u003ccite>(Mark Hoddle/UC Riverside)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But a new snake in California’s palm tree-lined garden may soon put all that myth-making to the test. Dozens of palms in San Diego’s Sweetwater Summit Regional Park, about 10 miles from the U.S.- Mexico border, are looking more like sad, upside-down umbrellas than the usual bursts of botanical joy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They just look like brown starfish,” said Mark Hoddle, a biologist at the University of California, Riverside’s Center for Invasive Species Research.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The offender is the South American palm weevil, a recent arrival to the U.S. that’s long been widespread in the tropics. Large, black, shiny and possessed of an impressive proboscis (nose), the weevil prefers the king of palms, the Canary Island date palm, also known as the “pineapple palm” for the distinctive way it’s often pruned.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1680207\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-weevil-snout-CC.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1680207\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-weevil-snout-CC-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-weevil-snout-CC-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-weevil-snout-CC-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-weevil-snout-CC-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-weevil-snout-CC-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-weevil-snout-CC-1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-weevil-snout-CC-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-weevil-snout-CC-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-weevil-snout-CC-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-weevil-snout-CC-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-weevil-snout-CC-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The South American palm weevil has recently appeared in San Diego. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>A palm tree is basically a gigantic cake-pop, an enormous ball of veggie goodness on a stick. The adult female palm weevil uses her long snout to drill tunnels into that goodness—known to science as the “apical meristem” and to your grocer as the “heart” of palm—where she lays her eggs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When her larvae hatch, their food surrounds them. And they start to eat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They turn the inside of the tree to mush, and the mush ferments, and it stinks,” Hoddle said, adding colorfully, “It smells like baby diarrhea.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As its leaf-sprouting heart shrivels, the ailing tree takes on the characteristic wilt that Hoddle has observed in the Sweetwater palms. Inside, the weevil larvae grow into pupae, mature inside cocoons and depart on the wing to a fresh host.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Left half alive, the palm can never regain its splendorous form.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1680208\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-larva-fingertips-CC.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1680208\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-larva-fingertips-CC-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-larva-fingertips-CC-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-larva-fingertips-CC-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-larva-fingertips-CC-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-larva-fingertips-CC-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-larva-fingertips-CC-1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-larva-fingertips-CC-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-larva-fingertips-CC-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-larva-fingertips-CC-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-larva-fingertips-CC-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-larva-fingertips-CC-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The red-headed larvae of the South American palm weevil eat the trees from the inside out. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>From aerial surveys conducted by drone, Hoddle estimates that more than 50 trees have been hit in Sweetwater Summit Regional Park. Other suspected infestation zones in San Diego, including the extensive Otay Valley Regional Park seven miles south, and the county’s innumerable streets, parks and golf courses, remain unsurveyed. The total number may be closer to 150.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>South American palm weevils are vulnerable to pesticides, but once the eggs and larvae are inside the tree, they’re just about impossible to find. Pesticides work better as a preventative measure sprayed on neighboring trees to keep the adults away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mark and his research partner (and spouse) Christina Hoddle have seen it happen before. In 2010, an arborist removing an unsightly palm in Laguna Beach, California, discovered beetles and larvae in the tree litter. The adults were distinctive, even beautiful, for their red markings. Three months later, a beetle was found on another sickly tree less than a tenth of a mile away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The beetles in Laguna turned out to be the red palm weevil, a separate species related to the current San Diego invader.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s the world’s most devastating pest to palm trees,” said Hoddle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1680209\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-drone-dead-palms-CC.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1680209\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-drone-dead-palms-CC-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-drone-dead-palms-CC-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-drone-dead-palms-CC-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-drone-dead-palms-CC-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-drone-dead-palms-CC-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-drone-dead-palms-CC-1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-drone-dead-palms-CC-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-drone-dead-palms-CC-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-drone-dead-palms-CC-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-drone-dead-palms-CC-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-drone-dead-palms-CC-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Footage taken by drone shows numerous weevil-infested trees in one San Diego park. \u003ccite>(Mark Hoddle/UC Riverside)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>How that weevil got to Laguna remains a mystery. The nearest population is in Bali, an impossible distance for a weevil to travel on its own. So it had help getting here—possibly onboard an imported palm, though the FDA has had a ban on such imports in recent years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Hoddles suspect that Laguna’s red palm weevil may have been brought in deliberately by other means—such as in a suitcase, possibly as a food source. Around the world, the yellow-bodied, red-headed larvae of many weevil species are a culinary delicacy harvested from afflicted wild palms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Laguna was lucky. As an isolated outbreak, the infestation was containable. The city’s $1 million eradication program included two tree removals, and preemptive chemical spraying on thirteen more. The plan took three years to be declared a success, when no new weevils turned up in that time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Also lucky in the Laguna infestation was California’s $34 million date industry, centered in Indio, not to mention the much larger ornamental trade, valued at $70 million.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With this new weevil threat in San Diego however, that luck may be running out. Rather than an isolated appearance, this outbreak marks the leading edge of a probably irreversible expansion by the weevil. The Hoddles believe that it’s hopscotching north, from tree to transplanted tree, on its own wings.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Human activity has basically provided corridors of food though habitat that would have acted as a natural barrier,” Mark Hoddle said. “And that’s allowed it to creep its way all the way up to San Diego from its native range.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1680210\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-pupa-xcu-CC.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1680210\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-pupa-xcu-CC-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-pupa-xcu-CC-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-pupa-xcu-CC-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-pupa-xcu-CC-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-pupa-xcu-CC-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-pupa-xcu-CC-1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-pupa-xcu-CC-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-pupa-xcu-CC-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-pupa-xcu-CC-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-pupa-xcu-CC-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-pupa-xcu-CC-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The South American palm weevil pupa gestates in a cocoon. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If the South American palm weevil consolidates its foothold in California, then the worst might still be to come. While these weevils generally stick to the Canary Island palms, they can harbor a parasitic worm that causes red ring disease—a fatal infection that can strike almost any palm, including the state’s precious native, the California fan, as well as more commercially valuable trees. So far, no red ring disease has shown up in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Just across the border, Tijuana is already in the shadow of the South American palm weevil’s spread. Last year Mark Hoddle took an informal survey of Tijuana’s streets by car and found a chilling view of the future. In eight hours he counted 140 dead trees, some with only a scant few grey fronds, others so long dead and dry that they’d caught fire.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the moment, no eradication efforts are underway in San Diego, though the Hoddles continue to monitor the situation while conducting research on how far and fast the weevils spread. Their preliminary data suggests that the adult weevils can fly between two and 15 miles a day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That means, from the current infestation sites, most of San Diego is an easy leap for them. “It may only occur when they have killed everything locally and need to disperse to new pastures,” Hoddle said.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"title": "A Real Alien Invasion Is Coming to a Palm Tree Near You | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Summer means vacation time, and nothing says, “Welcome to paradise!” quite like a palm tree. From Waikiki to Mar-a-Lago, the trees’ iconic fronds instantly signal luxury, glamor and the good life.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Though it’s home to only one native species, California has nonetheless adopted the palm as one of its quintessential icons. Just turn on “La La Land” and start counting how many you see on screen.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1680204\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-canary-top-CC.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1680204\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-canary-top-CC-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-canary-top-CC-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-canary-top-CC-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-canary-top-CC-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-canary-top-CC-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-canary-top-CC-1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-canary-top-CC-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-canary-top-CC-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-canary-top-CC-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-canary-top-CC-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-canary-top-CC-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Canary Island date palm is one of the more iconic features of the California landscape. \u003ccite>(Mark Hoddle/UC Riverside)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But a new snake in California’s palm tree-lined garden may soon put all that myth-making to the test. Dozens of palms in San Diego’s Sweetwater Summit Regional Park, about 10 miles from the U.S.- Mexico border, are looking more like sad, upside-down umbrellas than the usual bursts of botanical joy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They just look like brown starfish,” said Mark Hoddle, a biologist at the University of California, Riverside’s Center for Invasive Species Research.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The offender is the South American palm weevil, a recent arrival to the U.S. that’s long been widespread in the tropics. Large, black, shiny and possessed of an impressive proboscis (nose), the weevil prefers the king of palms, the Canary Island date palm, also known as the “pineapple palm” for the distinctive way it’s often pruned.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1680207\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-weevil-snout-CC.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1680207\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-weevil-snout-CC-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-weevil-snout-CC-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-weevil-snout-CC-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-weevil-snout-CC-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-weevil-snout-CC-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-weevil-snout-CC-1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-weevil-snout-CC-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-weevil-snout-CC-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-weevil-snout-CC-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-weevil-snout-CC-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-weevil-snout-CC-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The South American palm weevil has recently appeared in San Diego. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>A palm tree is basically a gigantic cake-pop, an enormous ball of veggie goodness on a stick. The adult female palm weevil uses her long snout to drill tunnels into that goodness—known to science as the “apical meristem” and to your grocer as the “heart” of palm—where she lays her eggs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When her larvae hatch, their food surrounds them. And they start to eat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They turn the inside of the tree to mush, and the mush ferments, and it stinks,” Hoddle said, adding colorfully, “It smells like baby diarrhea.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As its leaf-sprouting heart shrivels, the ailing tree takes on the characteristic wilt that Hoddle has observed in the Sweetwater palms. Inside, the weevil larvae grow into pupae, mature inside cocoons and depart on the wing to a fresh host.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Left half alive, the palm can never regain its splendorous form.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1680208\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-larva-fingertips-CC.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1680208\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-larva-fingertips-CC-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-larva-fingertips-CC-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-larva-fingertips-CC-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-larva-fingertips-CC-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-larva-fingertips-CC-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-larva-fingertips-CC-1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-larva-fingertips-CC-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-larva-fingertips-CC-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-larva-fingertips-CC-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-larva-fingertips-CC-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-larva-fingertips-CC-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The red-headed larvae of the South American palm weevil eat the trees from the inside out. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>From aerial surveys conducted by drone, Hoddle estimates that more than 50 trees have been hit in Sweetwater Summit Regional Park. Other suspected infestation zones in San Diego, including the extensive Otay Valley Regional Park seven miles south, and the county’s innumerable streets, parks and golf courses, remain unsurveyed. The total number may be closer to 150.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>South American palm weevils are vulnerable to pesticides, but once the eggs and larvae are inside the tree, they’re just about impossible to find. Pesticides work better as a preventative measure sprayed on neighboring trees to keep the adults away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mark and his research partner (and spouse) Christina Hoddle have seen it happen before. In 2010, an arborist removing an unsightly palm in Laguna Beach, California, discovered beetles and larvae in the tree litter. The adults were distinctive, even beautiful, for their red markings. Three months later, a beetle was found on another sickly tree less than a tenth of a mile away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The beetles in Laguna turned out to be the red palm weevil, a separate species related to the current San Diego invader.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s the world’s most devastating pest to palm trees,” said Hoddle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1680209\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-drone-dead-palms-CC.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1680209\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-drone-dead-palms-CC-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-drone-dead-palms-CC-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-drone-dead-palms-CC-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-drone-dead-palms-CC-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-drone-dead-palms-CC-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-drone-dead-palms-CC-1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-drone-dead-palms-CC-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-drone-dead-palms-CC-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-drone-dead-palms-CC-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-drone-dead-palms-CC-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-drone-dead-palms-CC-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Footage taken by drone shows numerous weevil-infested trees in one San Diego park. \u003ccite>(Mark Hoddle/UC Riverside)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>How that weevil got to Laguna remains a mystery. The nearest population is in Bali, an impossible distance for a weevil to travel on its own. So it had help getting here—possibly onboard an imported palm, though the FDA has had a ban on such imports in recent years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Hoddles suspect that Laguna’s red palm weevil may have been brought in deliberately by other means—such as in a suitcase, possibly as a food source. Around the world, the yellow-bodied, red-headed larvae of many weevil species are a culinary delicacy harvested from afflicted wild palms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Laguna was lucky. As an isolated outbreak, the infestation was containable. The city’s $1 million eradication program included two tree removals, and preemptive chemical spraying on thirteen more. The plan took three years to be declared a success, when no new weevils turned up in that time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Also lucky in the Laguna infestation was California’s $34 million date industry, centered in Indio, not to mention the much larger ornamental trade, valued at $70 million.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With this new weevil threat in San Diego however, that luck may be running out. Rather than an isolated appearance, this outbreak marks the leading edge of a probably irreversible expansion by the weevil. The Hoddles believe that it’s hopscotching north, from tree to transplanted tree, on its own wings.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Human activity has basically provided corridors of food though habitat that would have acted as a natural barrier,” Mark Hoddle said. “And that’s allowed it to creep its way all the way up to San Diego from its native range.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1680210\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-pupa-xcu-CC.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1680210\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-pupa-xcu-CC-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-pupa-xcu-CC-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-pupa-xcu-CC-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-pupa-xcu-CC-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-pupa-xcu-CC-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-pupa-xcu-CC-1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-pupa-xcu-CC-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-pupa-xcu-CC-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-pupa-xcu-CC-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-pupa-xcu-CC-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL412-pupa-xcu-CC-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The South American palm weevil pupa gestates in a cocoon. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If the South American palm weevil consolidates its foothold in California, then the worst might still be to come. While these weevils generally stick to the Canary Island palms, they can harbor a parasitic worm that causes red ring disease—a fatal infection that can strike almost any palm, including the state’s precious native, the California fan, as well as more commercially valuable trees. So far, no red ring disease has shown up in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Just across the border, Tijuana is already in the shadow of the South American palm weevil’s spread. Last year Mark Hoddle took an informal survey of Tijuana’s streets by car and found a chilling view of the future. In eight hours he counted 140 dead trees, some with only a scant few grey fronds, others so long dead and dry that they’d caught fire.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the moment, no eradication efforts are underway in San Diego, though the Hoddles continue to monitor the situation while conducting research on how far and fast the weevils spread. Their preliminary data suggests that the adult weevils can fly between two and 15 miles a day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That means, from the current infestation sites, most of San Diego is an easy leap for them. “It may only occur when they have killed everything locally and need to disperse to new pastures,” Hoddle said.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>[dl_subscribe]With summer just around the corner, Southern California beaches are ready to welcome the yearly arrival of some very unique and amorous guests. That’s right, the grunion are running!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California grunion are fish that spend their lives in the ocean. But when the tides are at their highest during spring and summer, grunion make a trip up onto beaches to mate and lay eggs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Grunion mate on beaches throughout Southern California and down into Mexico. The grunion runs are especially popular in coastal communities like Santa Barbara and San Diego.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During warm summer nights, crowds emerge to witness the grunion run. Some are there just to watch. Others scramble in the darkness to catch the fish and bring them home for a date with the grill or frying pan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Grunion ride in on the biggest waves, wiggling and flopping to get as far up onto the sand as possible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1689035\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 500px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL411-Grunion-run-500.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1689035\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL411-Grunion-run-500.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"277\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">California grunion spawning events can completely cover a section of beach. \u003ccite>(Michael Murrie/Pepperdine University)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“They’re not particularly agile on land but they’re able to do what they need to do,” said Karen Martin, a biology professor at Pepperdine University.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Martin said she doesn’t get much sleep this time of year because California grunion typically run at night. Instead she can be found leading groups of students and researchers out to the coast where they use night-vision scopes and headlamps to search for the fish.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>By tracking the tides, Martin is able to estimate the time \u003ca href=\"http://www.grunion.org/\">when grunion are most likely to run\u003c/a>. But the exact timing and locations are anyone’s guess.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You have to know where to look,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s not like they run across the entire beach, usually it’s just one little area where you might be able to find them.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Female grunion use their tails to burrow down into the loose wet sand until they are buried up to their gills. That’s when they lay their translucent orange-yolked eggs. The eggs are tiny— each one a little smaller than a pea.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The male grunion do their best to join up with the females and that’s no easy feat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1689039\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 500px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL411-Grunion-flop-500.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1689039\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL411-Grunion-flop-500.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"278\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A grunion searches for a mate by flopping on the damp sand. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Grunion don’t appear particularly well adapted to getting around on the damp sand. Instead they bend their bodies and hurl themselves into the dark in search of mates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When they do meet up, the males curl their bodies around the females and fertilize the eggs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1689041\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 500px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL411-Grunion-laying-eggs-500.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1689041\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL411-Grunion-laying-eggs-500.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"277\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Female grunion burrow into the semi-liquid sand to deposit their eggs. \u003ccite>(Michael Murrie/ Pepperdine University)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“They’re not out very long,” Martin said. “But they’re not breathing air. They won’t survive very long like that, but when they’re out they don’t appear to be stressed out and panicking.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When the deed is done, the grunion wiggle back out and catch the next big wave home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The whole undertaking is a sight to behold and prompts the question of why a fish would want to risk coming out on land just to leave their next generation stranded in the dry sand.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I guess they just do it for the kids’ sake,” Martin said. “They get to develop in a protected area.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The ocean is full of predators who would like to gobble up a tasty fish egg. The grunion eggs tend to be safer up on the beach if they can make it there without raising the attention of predators like birds and raccoons.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Each egg is encased in a thick clear layer called a chorion that serves to protect them from damage while allowing oxygen through to the developing fish.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you touch them they almost feel like they’re made of plastic,” Martin said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1689042\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 500px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL411-Grunion-egg-eye-500.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1689042\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL411-Grunion-egg-eye-500.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"280\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The eyes of a developing grunion are clearly visible through the translucent chorion layer. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The chorion makes the eggs tough enough to survive being buried under the sand and keeps them from drying out while they develop.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And that sand may not be as dry as it seems.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The surface might be totally dry but if you dig down a few inches where the eggs are then it’s still damp,” Martin said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The baby grunion wait for the next cycle of high tides to take them back out to sea. That typically means a two-week wait. But if that set of high tides turns out to be a dud, the grunion eggs can stay put for an extra two weeks to catch the following cycle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When the high tides do return, the grunion get swept out by the waves.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The cold seawater is the signal to hatch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1689044\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 500px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL411-Grunion-hatch01-500.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1689044\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL411-Grunion-hatch01-500.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"276\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">When exposed to seawater, grunion secrete enzymes from glands in their tails that eat through the chorion allowing them to break free from the protective layer. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Spurred on by the agitation of getting bounced around in the waves, the grunion come bursting out of their chorions and swim off to live their lives in the sea.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The mating runs were first described in the early part of the 20th century, but the timing wasn’t linked to the tides until the 1940s. By then it was also becoming clear that people were catching grunion faster than they could be replaced.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To protect the grunion, the fishing season closes every year during the peak of the expected spawning period. During the open season there is no take limit but grunion can only be caught with hands without the use of nets or traps.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition to their dangerous mating strategy, grunion populations also contend with loss of sandy beach habitats and coastal pollution.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“These animals depend on their beaches,” said Martin. “The experience of watching them come surfing in on the waves… it goes along with our whole California thing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For more info about grunion head over to http://www.grunion.org/\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>With summer just around the corner, Southern California beaches are ready to welcome the yearly arrival of some very unique and amorous guests. That’s right, the grunion are running!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California grunion are fish that spend their lives in the ocean. But when the tides are at their highest during spring and summer, grunion make a trip up onto beaches to mate and lay eggs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Grunion mate on beaches throughout Southern California and down into Mexico. The grunion runs are especially popular in coastal communities like Santa Barbara and San Diego.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During warm summer nights, crowds emerge to witness the grunion run. Some are there just to watch. Others scramble in the darkness to catch the fish and bring them home for a date with the grill or frying pan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Grunion ride in on the biggest waves, wiggling and flopping to get as far up onto the sand as possible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1689035\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 500px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL411-Grunion-run-500.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1689035\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL411-Grunion-run-500.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"277\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">California grunion spawning events can completely cover a section of beach. \u003ccite>(Michael Murrie/Pepperdine University)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“They’re not particularly agile on land but they’re able to do what they need to do,” said Karen Martin, a biology professor at Pepperdine University.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Martin said she doesn’t get much sleep this time of year because California grunion typically run at night. Instead she can be found leading groups of students and researchers out to the coast where they use night-vision scopes and headlamps to search for the fish.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>By tracking the tides, Martin is able to estimate the time \u003ca href=\"http://www.grunion.org/\">when grunion are most likely to run\u003c/a>. But the exact timing and locations are anyone’s guess.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You have to know where to look,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s not like they run across the entire beach, usually it’s just one little area where you might be able to find them.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Female grunion use their tails to burrow down into the loose wet sand until they are buried up to their gills. That’s when they lay their translucent orange-yolked eggs. The eggs are tiny— each one a little smaller than a pea.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The male grunion do their best to join up with the females and that’s no easy feat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1689039\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 500px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL411-Grunion-flop-500.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1689039\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL411-Grunion-flop-500.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"278\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A grunion searches for a mate by flopping on the damp sand. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Grunion don’t appear particularly well adapted to getting around on the damp sand. Instead they bend their bodies and hurl themselves into the dark in search of mates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When they do meet up, the males curl their bodies around the females and fertilize the eggs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1689041\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 500px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL411-Grunion-laying-eggs-500.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1689041\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL411-Grunion-laying-eggs-500.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"277\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Female grunion burrow into the semi-liquid sand to deposit their eggs. \u003ccite>(Michael Murrie/ Pepperdine University)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“They’re not out very long,” Martin said. “But they’re not breathing air. They won’t survive very long like that, but when they’re out they don’t appear to be stressed out and panicking.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When the deed is done, the grunion wiggle back out and catch the next big wave home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The whole undertaking is a sight to behold and prompts the question of why a fish would want to risk coming out on land just to leave their next generation stranded in the dry sand.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I guess they just do it for the kids’ sake,” Martin said. “They get to develop in a protected area.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The ocean is full of predators who would like to gobble up a tasty fish egg. The grunion eggs tend to be safer up on the beach if they can make it there without raising the attention of predators like birds and raccoons.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Each egg is encased in a thick clear layer called a chorion that serves to protect them from damage while allowing oxygen through to the developing fish.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you touch them they almost feel like they’re made of plastic,” Martin said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1689042\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 500px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL411-Grunion-egg-eye-500.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1689042\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL411-Grunion-egg-eye-500.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"280\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The eyes of a developing grunion are clearly visible through the translucent chorion layer. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The chorion makes the eggs tough enough to survive being buried under the sand and keeps them from drying out while they develop.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And that sand may not be as dry as it seems.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The surface might be totally dry but if you dig down a few inches where the eggs are then it’s still damp,” Martin said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The baby grunion wait for the next cycle of high tides to take them back out to sea. That typically means a two-week wait. But if that set of high tides turns out to be a dud, the grunion eggs can stay put for an extra two weeks to catch the following cycle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When the high tides do return, the grunion get swept out by the waves.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The cold seawater is the signal to hatch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1689044\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 500px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL411-Grunion-hatch01-500.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1689044\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/06/DL411-Grunion-hatch01-500.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"276\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">When exposed to seawater, grunion secrete enzymes from glands in their tails that eat through the chorion allowing them to break free from the protective layer. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Spurred on by the agitation of getting bounced around in the waves, the grunion come bursting out of their chorions and swim off to live their lives in the sea.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The mating runs were first described in the early part of the 20th century, but the timing wasn’t linked to the tides until the 1940s. By then it was also becoming clear that people were catching grunion faster than they could be replaced.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To protect the grunion, the fishing season closes every year during the peak of the expected spawning period. During the open season there is no take limit but grunion can only be caught with hands without the use of nets or traps.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition to their dangerous mating strategy, grunion populations also contend with loss of sandy beach habitats and coastal pollution.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“These animals depend on their beaches,” said Martin. “The experience of watching them come surfing in on the waves… it goes along with our whole California thing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For more info about grunion head over to http://www.grunion.org/\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "behind-the-scenes-with-deep-look-the-diva-decorator-crabs",
"title": "Behind the Scenes With Deep Look: The Diva Decorator Crabs",
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"headTitle": "Behind the Scenes With Deep Look: The Diva Decorator Crabs | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>[dl_subscribe]\u003cem>Deep Look\u003c/em> has been exploring big scientific mysteries and revealing the unseen at the edge of our visible word since 2014. In early 2017, \u003cem>Deep Look\u003c/em> welcomed a new host: \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/author/laurensommer/\">Lauren Sommer,\u003c/a> an award-winning KQED radio reporter who can make the most obscure science concepts clear and entertaining.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lauren and key members of the \u003cem>Deep Look\u003c/em> team give fans a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into crafting their weirdly wonderful videos. Below are highlights from interviews conducted while the team was shooting \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2017/05/09/decorator-crabs-make-high-fashion-at-low-tide/\">“Decorator Crabs Make High Fashion at Low Tide.”\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1648114\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1648114\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_GABRIELA_JOSH_AND_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"Deep Look producer Gabriela Quirós and cinematographer Josh Cassidy film biologist Jay Stachowicz\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_GABRIELA_JOSH_AND_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_GABRIELA_JOSH_AND_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_GABRIELA_JOSH_AND_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_GABRIELA_JOSH_AND_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_GABRIELA_JOSH_AND_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_GABRIELA_JOSH_AND_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_GABRIELA_JOSH_AND_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_GABRIELA_JOSH_AND_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_GABRIELA_JOSH_AND_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_GABRIELA_JOSH_AND_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u003cem>Deep Look\u003c/em> producer Gabriela Quirós and cinematographer Josh Cassidy follow biologist Jay Stachowicz as he heads out to collect crabs for his research at the University of California, Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory, in Bodega Bay. \u003ccite>(Shelley Pearson Cranshaw/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Lauren Sommer, Host and Writer\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“\u003cem>Deep Look\u003c/em> is all about the wonder in the natural world. There are so many surprising, weird and beautiful stories to uncover, even in things we encounter every day. You don’t have to be interested in science to find a \u003cem>Deep Look\u003c/em> episode that’s captivating.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The producers come back with these really incredible images from the field. And I work with them on shaping the story and finding what the really fascinating tidbits are to highlight for our viewers.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“One of my favorite things about \u003cem>Deep Look\u003c/em> is that we ask how and why things happen at a very tiny scale. And from that, we discover some incredible universal truths that you never would think would be there. We usually end up tapping into our own human experience or things that all organisms on the planet share. You probably wouldn’t think you have a lot in common with a \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2016/08/23/sea-urchins-pull-themselves-inside-out-to-be-reborn/\">sea urchin\u003c/a> or \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2016/10/04/for-these-tiny-spiders-its-sing-or-get-served/\">spider,\u003c/a> but you’d be surprised.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“As a radio reporter, I’m usually out in the field solo, gathering interviews and finding news. It’s been a lot of fun collaborating on writing scripts and shaping stories. I cover major science news stories like droughts and floods, so sometimes it’s nice to think about lighter things like an \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2017/02/14/if-your-hands-could-smell-youd-be-an-octopus/\">octopus’s suckers,\u003c/a> finessing the . . . um . . . ‘action’ between \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2017/03/14/everything-you-never-wanted-to-know-about-snail-sex/\">two garden snails\u003c/a> or a decorator crab’s \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2017/05/09/decorator-crabs-make-high-fashion-at-low-tide/\">latest bling.\u003c/a>”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1648231\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1648231\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_LAUREN_GABI-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"Lauren Sommer goes over narration with producer Gabriela Quirós. \" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_LAUREN_GABI-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_LAUREN_GABI-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_LAUREN_GABI-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_LAUREN_GABI-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_LAUREN_GABI.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_LAUREN_GABI-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_LAUREN_GABI-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_LAUREN_GABI-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_LAUREN_GABI-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_LAUREN_GABI-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Before recording narration for an episode on decorator crabs, \u003cem>Deep Look\u003c/em> host Lauren Sommer goes over narration with producer Gabriela Quirós. \u003ccite>(Mike Elwell/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Quirós, Coordinating Producer\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We aim to develop a story with characters and a narrative arc. We treat animals, or plants, as characters and try to figure out what they want, who or what is keeping them from getting what they want, and how they go about getting around these obstacles to achieve their goals. We want our stories to be as dramatic as possible, while remaining accurate.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The main challenge of producing \u003cem>Deep Look\u003c/em> is that animals and plants are on their own schedules. When we went out to film the decorator crabs, we waited almost two full days, and in the afternoon of the second day, they finally decorated for a total of about 15 minutes. Here’s an interesting fact that didn’t make it into the video: When decorator crabs outgrow their shells and molt, they sometimes transfer seaweed and anemones from their old shells to their new shells. So even decorator crabs can’t seem to let some old outfits go!”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Inevitably, there’s that moment when you’re looking through the camera lens, and you see the animal or plant doing that thing that the scientists described, and it’s so fantastic. I really hope that what we’re conveying to viewers is, ‘Look how amazing the natural world is!’”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1661669\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1661669\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_MIKE_ELWELL_FILMS_JOSH_AND_GABI-800x699.jpg\" alt=\"Gabriela Quirós and Josh Cassidy set up the tank to film. \" width=\"800\" height=\"699\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_MIKE_ELWELL_FILMS_JOSH_AND_GABI-800x699.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_MIKE_ELWELL_FILMS_JOSH_AND_GABI-160x140.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_MIKE_ELWELL_FILMS_JOSH_AND_GABI-768x671.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_MIKE_ELWELL_FILMS_JOSH_AND_GABI-1020x891.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_MIKE_ELWELL_FILMS_JOSH_AND_GABI-1180x1031.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_MIKE_ELWELL_FILMS_JOSH_AND_GABI-960x839.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_MIKE_ELWELL_FILMS_JOSH_AND_GABI-240x210.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_MIKE_ELWELL_FILMS_JOSH_AND_GABI-375x328.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_MIKE_ELWELL_FILMS_JOSH_AND_GABI-520x454.jpg 520w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_MIKE_ELWELL_FILMS_JOSH_AND_GABI.jpg 1236w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u003cem>Deep Look\u003c/em> producer Gabriela Quirós and cinematographer Josh Cassidy set up the tank to film a moss crab at the University of California, Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory, in Bodega Bay, California. \u003ccite>(Shelley Pearson Cranshaw/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Josh Cassidy, Lead Producer and Cinematographer\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We really like answering a big scientific question by zooming in on our subject, like decorator crabs. When you look at a decorator crab’s shells with your naked eye, the shells look kind of fuzzy, but with the macro lens you can zoom in and really see the hooks that hold the kelp, which look a lot like Velcro.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Filming in the wild is always fun and always super challenging. The tide pools are a perfect example of a place that’s constantly changing. The waves can be coming in, and you can never really focus completely on whatever it is you’re filming. I have to keep at least one eye on the waves to make sure I don’t get swept out. I’ve spent a couple of very short trips into the ocean with my camera equipment and, of course, nothing can wreck electronics and optical equipment quite like sea water!”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In this line of work, it’s always the instant that you look away when the action happens, so you have to stay focused. It was a great feeling to finally catch that whimsical moment when the crab started to get dressed like it was about to go out on the town. After a while they become their own little walking ecosystems. Nature is full of surprises.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1648116\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1648116\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_JOSH_CASSIDY_FILMS_CRAB_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"Josh Cassidy films a moss crab \" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_JOSH_CASSIDY_FILMS_CRAB_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_JOSH_CASSIDY_FILMS_CRAB_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_JOSH_CASSIDY_FILMS_CRAB_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_JOSH_CASSIDY_FILMS_CRAB_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_JOSH_CASSIDY_FILMS_CRAB_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_JOSH_CASSIDY_FILMS_CRAB_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_JOSH_CASSIDY_FILMS_CRAB_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_JOSH_CASSIDY_FILMS_CRAB_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_JOSH_CASSIDY_FILMS_CRAB_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_JOSH_CASSIDY_FILMS_CRAB_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u003cem>Deep Look\u003c/em> cinematographer Josh Cassidy films a moss crab at the University of California, Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory, in Bodega Bay, California. \u003ccite>(Shelley Pearson Cranshaw/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003cbr>\nElliott Kennerson, Producer and Post-Production Coordinator\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We love to create a sense of magic and wonder around nature; it’s really a collaborative show. The stories are all discovered by the individual producers, but then workshopped among the producers as well as with our host, Lauren.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Before shooting begins, the producers do a lot of research so we can anticipate what’s going to happen when we get out there. That means understanding whatever animals we’re filming as well as the conditions we’ll be filming in. We go in with a plan for getting what we need for the show, but, that said, nature is always surprising! Sometimes we have to scrap the plan and work on the fly.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Macro cinematography works best when you can control the conditions. That’s a tall order in the wild. Often we’re working in a scientist’s lab or in our studio at KQED, where we have the best chance of controlling the things that can work against you on a shoot, like light, temperature and weather. Sometimes we build little sets for the critters that mimic natural conditions that allow us to capture their behaviors.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Doing this type of cinematography is incredibly difficult. It’s also not always the kind of thing where we can look into the camera as we’re filming and know that we got our shot. Often we don’t even know until we are sitting in the edit room and looking at the footage. That’s when we know we can pull together a show.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1648117\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1648117\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_IN_EDIT_SUITE-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"Elliott Kennerson checks out footage from our episode about decorator crabs. \" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_IN_EDIT_SUITE-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_IN_EDIT_SUITE-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_IN_EDIT_SUITE-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_IN_EDIT_SUITE-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_IN_EDIT_SUITE.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_IN_EDIT_SUITE-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_IN_EDIT_SUITE-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_IN_EDIT_SUITE-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_IN_EDIT_SUITE-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_IN_EDIT_SUITE-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Elliott Kennerson, \u003cem>Deep Look’s\u003c/em> post-production supervisor, checks out footage from our episode about decorator crabs. \u003ccite>(Mike Elwell/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Check out our \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2016/08/16/behind-the-scenes-with-deep-look-caddisflies/\">first Behind the Scenes episode\u003c/a> for more insider information on camera tricks and water, and be sure to watch the crabs due their fashion thing: \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2017/05/09/decorator-crabs-make-high-fashion-at-low-tide/\">“Decorator Crabs Make High Fashion at Low Tide.”\u003c/a> Watch new videos twice a month and show us some love by \u003ca href=\"http://goo.gl/8NwXqt\">subscribing to \u003cem>Deep Look\u003c/em> on YouTube.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1648115\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1648115\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_GABI_JOSH-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"Elliott Kennerson, Gabriela Quirós and Josh Cassidy at table\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_GABI_JOSH-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_GABI_JOSH-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_GABI_JOSH-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_GABI_JOSH-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_GABI_JOSH.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_GABI_JOSH-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_GABI_JOSH-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_GABI_JOSH-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_GABI_JOSH-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_GABI_JOSH-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Elliott Kennerson, Gabriela Quirós and Josh Cassidy are the three producers for KQED’s \u003cem>Deep Look.\u003c/em> \u003ccite>(Mike Elwell/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Deep Look’s\u003c/em> core production team includes: \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/author/craig-rosa/\">Craig Rosa,\u003c/a> series producer; \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/author/laurensommer/\">Lauren Sommer,\u003c/a> host and writer; \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/author/gabriela-quiros/\">Gabriela Quirós,\u003c/a> coordinating producer; \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/author/joshua-cassidy/\">Josh Cassidy,\u003c/a> lead producer and cinematographer; and \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/author/ekennerson/\">Elliott Kennerson,\u003c/a> producer and post-production coordinator. In addition, each episode is accompanied by an original musical score by \u003ca href=\"http://www.sethgsamuel.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Seth G. Samuel\u003c/a> as well as additional editing and motion graphics by \u003ca href=\"http://www.sneakylittlesister.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kia Simon.\u003c/a> Many episodes also feature animations by Teodros Hailye. The original story idea for the episode about decorator crabs came from \u003cem>Deep Look’s\u003c/em> intern Jacob Shea, a student at the University of California at Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"title": "Behind the Scenes With Deep Look: The Diva Decorator Crabs | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cem>Deep Look\u003c/em> has been exploring big scientific mysteries and revealing the unseen at the edge of our visible word since 2014. In early 2017, \u003cem>Deep Look\u003c/em> welcomed a new host: \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/author/laurensommer/\">Lauren Sommer,\u003c/a> an award-winning KQED radio reporter who can make the most obscure science concepts clear and entertaining.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lauren and key members of the \u003cem>Deep Look\u003c/em> team give fans a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into crafting their weirdly wonderful videos. Below are highlights from interviews conducted while the team was shooting \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2017/05/09/decorator-crabs-make-high-fashion-at-low-tide/\">“Decorator Crabs Make High Fashion at Low Tide.”\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1648114\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1648114\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_GABRIELA_JOSH_AND_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"Deep Look producer Gabriela Quirós and cinematographer Josh Cassidy film biologist Jay Stachowicz\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_GABRIELA_JOSH_AND_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_GABRIELA_JOSH_AND_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_GABRIELA_JOSH_AND_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_GABRIELA_JOSH_AND_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_GABRIELA_JOSH_AND_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_GABRIELA_JOSH_AND_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_GABRIELA_JOSH_AND_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_GABRIELA_JOSH_AND_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_GABRIELA_JOSH_AND_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_GABRIELA_JOSH_AND_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u003cem>Deep Look\u003c/em> producer Gabriela Quirós and cinematographer Josh Cassidy follow biologist Jay Stachowicz as he heads out to collect crabs for his research at the University of California, Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory, in Bodega Bay. \u003ccite>(Shelley Pearson Cranshaw/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Lauren Sommer, Host and Writer\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“\u003cem>Deep Look\u003c/em> is all about the wonder in the natural world. There are so many surprising, weird and beautiful stories to uncover, even in things we encounter every day. You don’t have to be interested in science to find a \u003cem>Deep Look\u003c/em> episode that’s captivating.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The producers come back with these really incredible images from the field. And I work with them on shaping the story and finding what the really fascinating tidbits are to highlight for our viewers.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“One of my favorite things about \u003cem>Deep Look\u003c/em> is that we ask how and why things happen at a very tiny scale. And from that, we discover some incredible universal truths that you never would think would be there. We usually end up tapping into our own human experience or things that all organisms on the planet share. You probably wouldn’t think you have a lot in common with a \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2016/08/23/sea-urchins-pull-themselves-inside-out-to-be-reborn/\">sea urchin\u003c/a> or \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2016/10/04/for-these-tiny-spiders-its-sing-or-get-served/\">spider,\u003c/a> but you’d be surprised.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“As a radio reporter, I’m usually out in the field solo, gathering interviews and finding news. It’s been a lot of fun collaborating on writing scripts and shaping stories. I cover major science news stories like droughts and floods, so sometimes it’s nice to think about lighter things like an \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2017/02/14/if-your-hands-could-smell-youd-be-an-octopus/\">octopus’s suckers,\u003c/a> finessing the . . . um . . . ‘action’ between \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2017/03/14/everything-you-never-wanted-to-know-about-snail-sex/\">two garden snails\u003c/a> or a decorator crab’s \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2017/05/09/decorator-crabs-make-high-fashion-at-low-tide/\">latest bling.\u003c/a>”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1648231\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1648231\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_LAUREN_GABI-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"Lauren Sommer goes over narration with producer Gabriela Quirós. \" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_LAUREN_GABI-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_LAUREN_GABI-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_LAUREN_GABI-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_LAUREN_GABI-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_LAUREN_GABI.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_LAUREN_GABI-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_LAUREN_GABI-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_LAUREN_GABI-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_LAUREN_GABI-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_LAUREN_GABI-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Before recording narration for an episode on decorator crabs, \u003cem>Deep Look\u003c/em> host Lauren Sommer goes over narration with producer Gabriela Quirós. \u003ccite>(Mike Elwell/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Quirós, Coordinating Producer\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We aim to develop a story with characters and a narrative arc. We treat animals, or plants, as characters and try to figure out what they want, who or what is keeping them from getting what they want, and how they go about getting around these obstacles to achieve their goals. We want our stories to be as dramatic as possible, while remaining accurate.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The main challenge of producing \u003cem>Deep Look\u003c/em> is that animals and plants are on their own schedules. When we went out to film the decorator crabs, we waited almost two full days, and in the afternoon of the second day, they finally decorated for a total of about 15 minutes. Here’s an interesting fact that didn’t make it into the video: When decorator crabs outgrow their shells and molt, they sometimes transfer seaweed and anemones from their old shells to their new shells. So even decorator crabs can’t seem to let some old outfits go!”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Inevitably, there’s that moment when you’re looking through the camera lens, and you see the animal or plant doing that thing that the scientists described, and it’s so fantastic. I really hope that what we’re conveying to viewers is, ‘Look how amazing the natural world is!’”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1661669\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1661669\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_MIKE_ELWELL_FILMS_JOSH_AND_GABI-800x699.jpg\" alt=\"Gabriela Quirós and Josh Cassidy set up the tank to film. \" width=\"800\" height=\"699\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_MIKE_ELWELL_FILMS_JOSH_AND_GABI-800x699.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_MIKE_ELWELL_FILMS_JOSH_AND_GABI-160x140.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_MIKE_ELWELL_FILMS_JOSH_AND_GABI-768x671.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_MIKE_ELWELL_FILMS_JOSH_AND_GABI-1020x891.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_MIKE_ELWELL_FILMS_JOSH_AND_GABI-1180x1031.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_MIKE_ELWELL_FILMS_JOSH_AND_GABI-960x839.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_MIKE_ELWELL_FILMS_JOSH_AND_GABI-240x210.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_MIKE_ELWELL_FILMS_JOSH_AND_GABI-375x328.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_MIKE_ELWELL_FILMS_JOSH_AND_GABI-520x454.jpg 520w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_MIKE_ELWELL_FILMS_JOSH_AND_GABI.jpg 1236w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u003cem>Deep Look\u003c/em> producer Gabriela Quirós and cinematographer Josh Cassidy set up the tank to film a moss crab at the University of California, Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory, in Bodega Bay, California. \u003ccite>(Shelley Pearson Cranshaw/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Josh Cassidy, Lead Producer and Cinematographer\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We really like answering a big scientific question by zooming in on our subject, like decorator crabs. When you look at a decorator crab’s shells with your naked eye, the shells look kind of fuzzy, but with the macro lens you can zoom in and really see the hooks that hold the kelp, which look a lot like Velcro.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Filming in the wild is always fun and always super challenging. The tide pools are a perfect example of a place that’s constantly changing. The waves can be coming in, and you can never really focus completely on whatever it is you’re filming. I have to keep at least one eye on the waves to make sure I don’t get swept out. I’ve spent a couple of very short trips into the ocean with my camera equipment and, of course, nothing can wreck electronics and optical equipment quite like sea water!”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In this line of work, it’s always the instant that you look away when the action happens, so you have to stay focused. It was a great feeling to finally catch that whimsical moment when the crab started to get dressed like it was about to go out on the town. After a while they become their own little walking ecosystems. Nature is full of surprises.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1648116\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1648116\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_JOSH_CASSIDY_FILMS_CRAB_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"Josh Cassidy films a moss crab \" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_JOSH_CASSIDY_FILMS_CRAB_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_JOSH_CASSIDY_FILMS_CRAB_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_JOSH_CASSIDY_FILMS_CRAB_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_JOSH_CASSIDY_FILMS_CRAB_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_JOSH_CASSIDY_FILMS_CRAB_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_JOSH_CASSIDY_FILMS_CRAB_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_JOSH_CASSIDY_FILMS_CRAB_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_JOSH_CASSIDY_FILMS_CRAB_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_JOSH_CASSIDY_FILMS_CRAB_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_JOSH_CASSIDY_FILMS_CRAB_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u003cem>Deep Look\u003c/em> cinematographer Josh Cassidy films a moss crab at the University of California, Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory, in Bodega Bay, California. \u003ccite>(Shelley Pearson Cranshaw/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003cbr>\nElliott Kennerson, Producer and Post-Production Coordinator\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We love to create a sense of magic and wonder around nature; it’s really a collaborative show. The stories are all discovered by the individual producers, but then workshopped among the producers as well as with our host, Lauren.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Before shooting begins, the producers do a lot of research so we can anticipate what’s going to happen when we get out there. That means understanding whatever animals we’re filming as well as the conditions we’ll be filming in. We go in with a plan for getting what we need for the show, but, that said, nature is always surprising! Sometimes we have to scrap the plan and work on the fly.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Macro cinematography works best when you can control the conditions. That’s a tall order in the wild. Often we’re working in a scientist’s lab or in our studio at KQED, where we have the best chance of controlling the things that can work against you on a shoot, like light, temperature and weather. Sometimes we build little sets for the critters that mimic natural conditions that allow us to capture their behaviors.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Doing this type of cinematography is incredibly difficult. It’s also not always the kind of thing where we can look into the camera as we’re filming and know that we got our shot. Often we don’t even know until we are sitting in the edit room and looking at the footage. That’s when we know we can pull together a show.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1648117\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1648117\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_IN_EDIT_SUITE-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"Elliott Kennerson checks out footage from our episode about decorator crabs. \" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_IN_EDIT_SUITE-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_IN_EDIT_SUITE-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_IN_EDIT_SUITE-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_IN_EDIT_SUITE-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_IN_EDIT_SUITE.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_IN_EDIT_SUITE-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_IN_EDIT_SUITE-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_IN_EDIT_SUITE-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_IN_EDIT_SUITE-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_IN_EDIT_SUITE-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Elliott Kennerson, \u003cem>Deep Look’s\u003c/em> post-production supervisor, checks out footage from our episode about decorator crabs. \u003ccite>(Mike Elwell/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Check out our \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2016/08/16/behind-the-scenes-with-deep-look-caddisflies/\">first Behind the Scenes episode\u003c/a> for more insider information on camera tricks and water, and be sure to watch the crabs due their fashion thing: \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2017/05/09/decorator-crabs-make-high-fashion-at-low-tide/\">“Decorator Crabs Make High Fashion at Low Tide.”\u003c/a> Watch new videos twice a month and show us some love by \u003ca href=\"http://goo.gl/8NwXqt\">subscribing to \u003cem>Deep Look\u003c/em> on YouTube.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1648115\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1648115\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_GABI_JOSH-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"Elliott Kennerson, Gabriela Quirós and Josh Cassidy at table\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_GABI_JOSH-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_GABI_JOSH-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_GABI_JOSH-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_GABI_JOSH-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_GABI_JOSH.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_GABI_JOSH-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_GABI_JOSH-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_GABI_JOSH-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_GABI_JOSH-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_400BBehind_the_Scenes_ELLIOTT_GABI_JOSH-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Elliott Kennerson, Gabriela Quirós and Josh Cassidy are the three producers for KQED’s \u003cem>Deep Look.\u003c/em> \u003ccite>(Mike Elwell/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Deep Look’s\u003c/em> core production team includes: \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/author/craig-rosa/\">Craig Rosa,\u003c/a> series producer; \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/author/laurensommer/\">Lauren Sommer,\u003c/a> host and writer; \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/author/gabriela-quiros/\">Gabriela Quirós,\u003c/a> coordinating producer; \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/author/joshua-cassidy/\">Josh Cassidy,\u003c/a> lead producer and cinematographer; and \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/author/ekennerson/\">Elliott Kennerson,\u003c/a> producer and post-production coordinator. In addition, each episode is accompanied by an original musical score by \u003ca href=\"http://www.sethgsamuel.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Seth G. Samuel\u003c/a> as well as additional editing and motion graphics by \u003ca href=\"http://www.sneakylittlesister.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kia Simon.\u003c/a> Many episodes also feature animations by Teodros Hailye. The original story idea for the episode about decorator crabs came from \u003cem>Deep Look’s\u003c/em> intern Jacob Shea, a student at the University of California at Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "Decorator Crabs Make High Fashion at Low Tide",
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"content": "\u003cp>[dl_subscribe]As fans of the hit TV show \u003ca href=\"http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/project-runway?cmpid=paidsearch_M_Project+Runway&s_kwcid=AL!4852!10!16483475610!27099212686&ef_id=UFi7rwAASzIeOQTn:20170501234242:s\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Project Runway\u003c/a> know, in fashion one day you’re in, and the next day you’re out. Nowhere is this truer than in the animal kingdom. One minute you’re a crab minding your own business in a tide pool, and the next, you’re a seagull’s snack.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unless you’re a decorator crab, that is, and you use this season’s seaweed to save your life.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There are nearly 700 species of decorator crabs around the world—about a dozen of them in California, where they live in tide pools and kelp forests. They camouflage by decorating their heads, or their entire bodies depending on the species, with pieces of seaweed, anemones or other materials around them, which they attach securely to a natural Velcro that grows right on their bodies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s not a glue or anything; they have these hooked hairs all over their shells,” said \u003ca href=\"https://stachlab.wordpress.com/people/jay-stachowicz/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">biologist Jay Stachowicz\u003c/a>, who studies decorator crabs at the University of California, Davis. “Through microscope photography we can see that it looks just like Velcro, except probably even better, even more hooked.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These golden-colored hairs are thick and curled to form long rows. Some species of decorator crabs have these rows of hooked hairs only on their heads; others, on their entire bodies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1604726\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_HOOKS_UNDER_MICROSCOPE.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1604726\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_HOOKS_UNDER_MICROSCOPE.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_HOOKS_UNDER_MICROSCOPE.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_HOOKS_UNDER_MICROSCOPE-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_HOOKS_UNDER_MICROSCOPE-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_HOOKS_UNDER_MICROSCOPE-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_HOOKS_UNDER_MICROSCOPE-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_HOOKS_UNDER_MICROSCOPE-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_HOOKS_UNDER_MICROSCOPE-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_HOOKS_UNDER_MICROSCOPE-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_HOOKS_UNDER_MICROSCOPE-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_HOOKS_UNDER_MICROSCOPE-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Decorator crabs have Velcro-like hooked hairs on their shell into which they tuck pieces of seaweed that help them camouflage. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Crabs have been evolving this unique way of camouflaging for millions of years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“One of the arguments for how it came to be is that it started as a food storage behavior,” said Stachowicz. “Then by accident somebody stuck something on them that wasn’t that good to eat, but it made them much less likely to be eaten. And so it was successful and went on from there.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At his lab at \u003ca href=\"http://bml.ucdavis.edu/\">UC Davis’ Bodega Marine Lab\u003c/a> in Bodega Bay, Stachowicz collects crabs off the coast, places them in tanks, gives them some seaweed and watches them go to work.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1604727\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_BIOLOGIST_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1604727\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_BIOLOGIST_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_BIOLOGIST_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_BIOLOGIST_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_BIOLOGIST_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_BIOLOGIST_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_BIOLOGIST_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_BIOLOGIST_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_BIOLOGIST_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_BIOLOGIST_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_BIOLOGIST_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_BIOLOGIST_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Biologist Jay Stachowicz points to the tide pools next to the University of California, Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory, in Bodega Bay, California, one of the places where he collects decorator crabs for his research. \u003ccite>(Gabriela Quirós/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The process is more exciting than watching Project Runway contestants create their confections, if you consider that the crabs are making it work with much simpler tools than the designers. And the stakes are much higher.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1604725\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 720px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_PUGETTIA_RICHII_DECORATES_720.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1604725\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_PUGETTIA_RICHII_DECORATES_720.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The top of a Cryptic kelp crab’s head is covered in thick, curled hairs onto which it attaches pieces of seaweed to camouflage. The seaweed covers two antennae located below the crab’s head that flutter constantly and could call the attention of predators. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1604732\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_PUGETTIA_RICHII_PROFILE.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1604732\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_PUGETTIA_RICHII_PROFILE.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_PUGETTIA_RICHII_PROFILE.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_PUGETTIA_RICHII_PROFILE-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_PUGETTIA_RICHII_PROFILE-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_PUGETTIA_RICHII_PROFILE-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_PUGETTIA_RICHII_PROFILE-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_PUGETTIA_RICHII_PROFILE-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_PUGETTIA_RICHII_PROFILE-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_PUGETTIA_RICHII_PROFILE-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_PUGETTIA_RICHII_PROFILE-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_PUGETTIA_RICHII_PROFILE-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">This Cryptic kelp crab has made itself a hat out of purple seaweed. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>A pink Cryptic kelp crab cuts a piece of purple seaweed with one of its claws.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“For smaller crabs in particular, it’s important that the algae be small enough to fit within the rows of hooked hairs,” said Stachowicz. “So very small, slender seaweed or sheet-like seaweeds are often chosen because they attach well.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Then the crab holds the piece of seaweed above its head, the only part of its body where it has hooked hairs—four rows of them, up and down its long nose. It moves the piece of seaweed back and forth, until it’s tightly wedged inside the hooks. The crab gives the seaweed a little tug with one claw, and sure enough, the seaweed stays put. Then it repeats the process, but on the other side of its nose. The result is a “hat” of bushy seaweed that protrudes beyond its head.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With the seaweed, the crab is concealing two of its four antennae, short protuberances located near its mouth. These antennae are constantly aflutter. The crab uses them to smell, and they could call the attention of predators even when the crab remains still. By hiding the movement of the antennae, the seaweed visor protects the crab from birds pecking around in the tide pools and aquatic predators like fish and octopuses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Crabs like this Cryptic kelp crab might be able to make do with decorating just their heads. That’s because they have another way of camouflaging: their shells can change color to mimic the algae around them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But other crabs have to rely solely on decorating for their protection and have evolved hooked hairs all over their bodies. They’re what Stachowicz calls “extreme” decorators.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1604724\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 720px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_LOXORHYNCHUS_CRISPATUS_DECORATES_720.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1604724\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_LOXORHYNCHUS_CRISPATUS_DECORATES_720.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A moss crab attaches a piece of seaweed to its head to camouflage against predators. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The moss crab, for example, is so covered in greenish golden hairs that it looks like a Barbie-sized furry toy robot. Some of its many hairs aren’t made specifically for holding seaweed. They have sensation in them so that when the crab moves its claw back and forth in front of its head, the hairs below the claw help it sense that its face is uncovered.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So the moss crab gets to work creating itself a suitable outfit. It breaks off a piece of pink algae. Then it slides it in and out of its mouth.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“By ‘tasting’ the item, they can identify whether it is something they perceive as food or decoration,” said Stachowicz. “In some decorators, chemically nasty items are sensed this way and used as decoration.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1604729\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_STRAWBERRY_ANEMONE_ON_LOXORHYNCHUS_CRISPATUS_CRAB.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1604729\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_STRAWBERRY_ANEMONE_ON_LOXORHYNCHUS_CRISPATUS_CRAB.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_STRAWBERRY_ANEMONE_ON_LOXORHYNCHUS_CRISPATUS_CRAB.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_STRAWBERRY_ANEMONE_ON_LOXORHYNCHUS_CRISPATUS_CRAB-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_STRAWBERRY_ANEMONE_ON_LOXORHYNCHUS_CRISPATUS_CRAB-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_STRAWBERRY_ANEMONE_ON_LOXORHYNCHUS_CRISPATUS_CRAB-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_STRAWBERRY_ANEMONE_ON_LOXORHYNCHUS_CRISPATUS_CRAB-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_STRAWBERRY_ANEMONE_ON_LOXORHYNCHUS_CRISPATUS_CRAB-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_STRAWBERRY_ANEMONE_ON_LOXORHYNCHUS_CRISPATUS_CRAB-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_STRAWBERRY_ANEMONE_ON_LOXORHYNCHUS_CRISPATUS_CRAB-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_STRAWBERRY_ANEMONE_ON_LOXORHYNCHUS_CRISPATUS_CRAB-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_STRAWBERRY_ANEMONE_ON_LOXORHYNCHUS_CRISPATUS_CRAB-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A strawberry anemone grows on a moss crab in Bodega Bay, California. Anemones have stingers that keep predators away from the crab. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Moss crabs like the one that Stachowicz has collected also decorate themselves with strawberry anemones, bright-orange animals that provide the crab extra protection by warding off predators with their stingers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Over time, the anemones and seaweed can grow and spread on the crab’s shell, fed by nutrients from the crab itself. The fanciful outfit can become a heavy load; but ultimately, it’s worth it. Being fabulous just might save the crab’s life.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Jacob Shea and Elliott Kennerson contributed reporting.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"excerpt": "In California’s waters, crabs deck themselves out in seaweed hats and anemone accessories to camouflage.",
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"title": "Decorator Crabs Make High Fashion at Low Tide | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>As fans of the hit TV show \u003ca href=\"http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/project-runway?cmpid=paidsearch_M_Project+Runway&s_kwcid=AL!4852!10!16483475610!27099212686&ef_id=UFi7rwAASzIeOQTn:20170501234242:s\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Project Runway\u003c/a> know, in fashion one day you’re in, and the next day you’re out. Nowhere is this truer than in the animal kingdom. One minute you’re a crab minding your own business in a tide pool, and the next, you’re a seagull’s snack.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unless you’re a decorator crab, that is, and you use this season’s seaweed to save your life.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There are nearly 700 species of decorator crabs around the world—about a dozen of them in California, where they live in tide pools and kelp forests. They camouflage by decorating their heads, or their entire bodies depending on the species, with pieces of seaweed, anemones or other materials around them, which they attach securely to a natural Velcro that grows right on their bodies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s not a glue or anything; they have these hooked hairs all over their shells,” said \u003ca href=\"https://stachlab.wordpress.com/people/jay-stachowicz/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">biologist Jay Stachowicz\u003c/a>, who studies decorator crabs at the University of California, Davis. “Through microscope photography we can see that it looks just like Velcro, except probably even better, even more hooked.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These golden-colored hairs are thick and curled to form long rows. Some species of decorator crabs have these rows of hooked hairs only on their heads; others, on their entire bodies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1604726\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_HOOKS_UNDER_MICROSCOPE.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1604726\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_HOOKS_UNDER_MICROSCOPE.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_HOOKS_UNDER_MICROSCOPE.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_HOOKS_UNDER_MICROSCOPE-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_HOOKS_UNDER_MICROSCOPE-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_HOOKS_UNDER_MICROSCOPE-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_HOOKS_UNDER_MICROSCOPE-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_HOOKS_UNDER_MICROSCOPE-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_HOOKS_UNDER_MICROSCOPE-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_HOOKS_UNDER_MICROSCOPE-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_HOOKS_UNDER_MICROSCOPE-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_HOOKS_UNDER_MICROSCOPE-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Decorator crabs have Velcro-like hooked hairs on their shell into which they tuck pieces of seaweed that help them camouflage. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Crabs have been evolving this unique way of camouflaging for millions of years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“One of the arguments for how it came to be is that it started as a food storage behavior,” said Stachowicz. “Then by accident somebody stuck something on them that wasn’t that good to eat, but it made them much less likely to be eaten. And so it was successful and went on from there.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At his lab at \u003ca href=\"http://bml.ucdavis.edu/\">UC Davis’ Bodega Marine Lab\u003c/a> in Bodega Bay, Stachowicz collects crabs off the coast, places them in tanks, gives them some seaweed and watches them go to work.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1604727\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_BIOLOGIST_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1604727\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_BIOLOGIST_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_BIOLOGIST_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_BIOLOGIST_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_BIOLOGIST_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_BIOLOGIST_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_BIOLOGIST_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_BIOLOGIST_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_BIOLOGIST_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_BIOLOGIST_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_BIOLOGIST_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_BIOLOGIST_JAY_STACHOWICZ_AT_BODEGA_MARINE_LAB-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Biologist Jay Stachowicz points to the tide pools next to the University of California, Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory, in Bodega Bay, California, one of the places where he collects decorator crabs for his research. \u003ccite>(Gabriela Quirós/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The process is more exciting than watching Project Runway contestants create their confections, if you consider that the crabs are making it work with much simpler tools than the designers. And the stakes are much higher.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1604725\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 720px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_PUGETTIA_RICHII_DECORATES_720.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1604725\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_PUGETTIA_RICHII_DECORATES_720.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The top of a Cryptic kelp crab’s head is covered in thick, curled hairs onto which it attaches pieces of seaweed to camouflage. The seaweed covers two antennae located below the crab’s head that flutter constantly and could call the attention of predators. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1604732\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_PUGETTIA_RICHII_PROFILE.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1604732\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_PUGETTIA_RICHII_PROFILE.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_PUGETTIA_RICHII_PROFILE.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_PUGETTIA_RICHII_PROFILE-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_PUGETTIA_RICHII_PROFILE-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_PUGETTIA_RICHII_PROFILE-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_PUGETTIA_RICHII_PROFILE-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_PUGETTIA_RICHII_PROFILE-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_PUGETTIA_RICHII_PROFILE-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_PUGETTIA_RICHII_PROFILE-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_PUGETTIA_RICHII_PROFILE-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_PUGETTIA_RICHII_PROFILE-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">This Cryptic kelp crab has made itself a hat out of purple seaweed. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>A pink Cryptic kelp crab cuts a piece of purple seaweed with one of its claws.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“For smaller crabs in particular, it’s important that the algae be small enough to fit within the rows of hooked hairs,” said Stachowicz. “So very small, slender seaweed or sheet-like seaweeds are often chosen because they attach well.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Then the crab holds the piece of seaweed above its head, the only part of its body where it has hooked hairs—four rows of them, up and down its long nose. It moves the piece of seaweed back and forth, until it’s tightly wedged inside the hooks. The crab gives the seaweed a little tug with one claw, and sure enough, the seaweed stays put. Then it repeats the process, but on the other side of its nose. The result is a “hat” of bushy seaweed that protrudes beyond its head.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With the seaweed, the crab is concealing two of its four antennae, short protuberances located near its mouth. These antennae are constantly aflutter. The crab uses them to smell, and they could call the attention of predators even when the crab remains still. By hiding the movement of the antennae, the seaweed visor protects the crab from birds pecking around in the tide pools and aquatic predators like fish and octopuses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Crabs like this Cryptic kelp crab might be able to make do with decorating just their heads. That’s because they have another way of camouflaging: their shells can change color to mimic the algae around them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But other crabs have to rely solely on decorating for their protection and have evolved hooked hairs all over their bodies. They’re what Stachowicz calls “extreme” decorators.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1604724\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 720px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_LOXORHYNCHUS_CRISPATUS_DECORATES_720.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1604724\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_LOXORHYNCHUS_CRISPATUS_DECORATES_720.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A moss crab attaches a piece of seaweed to its head to camouflage against predators. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The moss crab, for example, is so covered in greenish golden hairs that it looks like a Barbie-sized furry toy robot. Some of its many hairs aren’t made specifically for holding seaweed. They have sensation in them so that when the crab moves its claw back and forth in front of its head, the hairs below the claw help it sense that its face is uncovered.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So the moss crab gets to work creating itself a suitable outfit. It breaks off a piece of pink algae. Then it slides it in and out of its mouth.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“By ‘tasting’ the item, they can identify whether it is something they perceive as food or decoration,” said Stachowicz. “In some decorators, chemically nasty items are sensed this way and used as decoration.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1604729\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_STRAWBERRY_ANEMONE_ON_LOXORHYNCHUS_CRISPATUS_CRAB.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1604729\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_STRAWBERRY_ANEMONE_ON_LOXORHYNCHUS_CRISPATUS_CRAB.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_STRAWBERRY_ANEMONE_ON_LOXORHYNCHUS_CRISPATUS_CRAB.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_STRAWBERRY_ANEMONE_ON_LOXORHYNCHUS_CRISPATUS_CRAB-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_STRAWBERRY_ANEMONE_ON_LOXORHYNCHUS_CRISPATUS_CRAB-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_STRAWBERRY_ANEMONE_ON_LOXORHYNCHUS_CRISPATUS_CRAB-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_STRAWBERRY_ANEMONE_ON_LOXORHYNCHUS_CRISPATUS_CRAB-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_STRAWBERRY_ANEMONE_ON_LOXORHYNCHUS_CRISPATUS_CRAB-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_STRAWBERRY_ANEMONE_ON_LOXORHYNCHUS_CRISPATUS_CRAB-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_STRAWBERRY_ANEMONE_ON_LOXORHYNCHUS_CRISPATUS_CRAB-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_STRAWBERRY_ANEMONE_ON_LOXORHYNCHUS_CRISPATUS_CRAB-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/05/DL_410DecoratorCrabs_STRAWBERRY_ANEMONE_ON_LOXORHYNCHUS_CRISPATUS_CRAB-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A strawberry anemone grows on a moss crab in Bodega Bay, California. Anemones have stingers that keep predators away from the crab. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Moss crabs like the one that Stachowicz has collected also decorate themselves with strawberry anemones, bright-orange animals that provide the crab extra protection by warding off predators with their stingers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Over time, the anemones and seaweed can grow and spread on the crab’s shell, fed by nutrients from the crab itself. The fanciful outfit can become a heavy load; but ultimately, it’s worth it. Being fabulous just might save the crab’s life.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Jacob Shea and Elliott Kennerson contributed reporting.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "volunteer-brown-pelican-count-aims-to-measure-recovery-of-once-endangered-birds",
"title": "How Do Pelicans Survive Their Death-Defying Dives?",
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"headTitle": "How Do Pelicans Survive Their Death-Defying Dives? | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>[dl_subscribe]California’s brown pelicans are coming back — you can count on it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For the second year running, \u003ca href=\"http://ca.audubon.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Audubon California\u003c/a> is organizing a survey of the Pacific coast’s brown pelican population. The semi-annual counts, aimed at tracking the bird’s erratic recovery from near-extinction, will take place on May 6 and September 9 at sites from Washington State to Tijuana.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The dates bookend the birds’ annual journey from their breeding grounds in Baja California and the Channel Islands to roosting sites along the coast.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1576116\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-diving-1080p-CC.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1576116\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-diving-1080p-CC-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"A brown pelican dives for fish off the Farallon Islands.\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-diving-1080p-CC-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-diving-1080p-CC-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-diving-1080p-CC-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-diving-1080p-CC-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-diving-1080p-CC.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-diving-1080p-CC-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-diving-1080p-CC-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-diving-1080p-CC-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-diving-1080p-CC-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-diving-1080p-CC-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A brown pelican dives for fish off the Farallon Islands. \u003ccite>(Judy Irving / Pelican Media)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The survey is a snapshot in time of the pelicans on their migration,” said Cindy Margulis, executive director of the \u003ca href=\"https://goldengateaudubon.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Golden Gate Audubon Society\u003c/a> in Berkeley.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A joint effort of Audubon, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and \u003ca href=\"http://ebird.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">eBird.com\u003c/a>, the survey tallies only brown pelicans, the ocean-going ones who are regularly seen plunging for fish at sundown around San Francisco Bay and along the Pacific coast in the summer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://ca.audubon.org/brownpelicansurvey\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The counts\u003c/a> lean heavily on volunteer “citizen scientists” who will report their findings on eBird.com, a website that makes user-submitted bird-watching data available to the public.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One aim of the survey is to get a more complete picture of brown pelicans’ recovery since they \u003ca href=\"https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/profile/speciesProfile?spcode=B02L\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">were removed from the endangered species list in 2009\u003c/a>. The most recent population estimates —150,000 individuals of the Pacific subspecies and 650,000 of all brown pelicans worldwide — are more than ten years old.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1576118\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 720px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-turning-720.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1576118\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-turning-720.gif\" alt='\"Baja\" is a brown pelican in permanent captivity at Wildcare in San Rafael.' width=\"720\" height=\"405\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">“Baja” is a brown pelican in permanent captivity at Wildcare in San Rafael. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy / KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>A lot has a happened since then.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pelicans are one of the many bird species pushed to the brink of extinction by the pesticide \u003ca href=\"https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/ddt-brief-history-and-status\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DDT,\u003c/a> which went into agricultural use in the 1940’s. The pesticide renders bird eggs brittle, leading the adults to fatally crush unborn chicks in the nest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Things got so bad for pelicans, according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife, that only a single chick out of 552 eggs survived the 1970 breeding season at Anacapa Island, off Ventura, a traditional pelican hatchery.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The iconic birds were among the inaugural class of animals named to the endangered species list, and began to make a comeback after DDT was banned in 1972. Counts in 2006 at Anacapa and at breeding grounds in Mexico revealed a critical mass of reproductive pairs, and the bird came up for delisting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It was taken off the list, with great fanfare,” said Anna Weinstein, Marine Program Director at California Audubon, an organizer of the survey. “It was the right thing to do, it had recovered.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But there was more trouble on the horizon. Just as federal funding to monitor the birds was falling away with delisting, \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2014/06/04/brown-pelican-population-plunges-in-california/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fresh disasters, \u003c/a>connected in part to climate change, began to affect the pelicans’ food supply. A combination of unusually warm water and overfishing have put both Pacific sardines and anchovies into steep decline.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Animal rescue centers in the Bay Area, such as \u003ca href=\"http://www.wildcarebayarea.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wildcare\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.bird-rescue.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">International Bird Rescue,\u003c/a> began to see influxes of desperate, emaciated birds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1576226\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-tags-IBR-CC.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1576226\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-tags-IBR-CC-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"A bird rehabilitator at International Bird Rescue in Fairfield displays the tags that identify the birds they release.\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-tags-IBR-CC-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-tags-IBR-CC-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-tags-IBR-CC-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-tags-IBR-CC-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-tags-IBR-CC-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-tags-IBR-CC-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-tags-IBR-CC-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-tags-IBR-CC-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-tags-IBR-CC-520x293.jpg 520w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-tags-IBR-CC.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A bird rehabilitator at International Bird Rescue in Fairfield displays the tags that identify the birds they release. \u003ccite>(Elliott Kennerson / KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Amid this new urgency, the agencies charged with monitoring pelican numbers have been at a loss for resources to fill the gaps in their data. Owing to their wide-ranging breeding and roosting patterns, pelicans can be tricky, not to mention expensive, to track.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s not enough money for agency biologists to survey all these places,” Weinstein said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So the agencies have turned to the birding public for help. Next month’s survey offers a simple, clear\u003ca href=\"http://ca.audubon.org/conservation/protocol\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> set of online instructions\u003c/a> on how, when, and where to look for birds — and how to report those findings online to scientists.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Amateur birders by the hundreds have met the call with enthusiasm. “It’s been a really worrisome species that we obviously don’t want to lose,” Audubon’s Margulis said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Part of the iconic status of the species stems from their spectacular diving behavior. California’s brown pelicans are one of the two pelican species worldwide (once considered the same) that plunge from the air to hunt. The rest, like the white pelican, bob for fish at the water’s surface.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“What they’re able to do is pretty incredible,” said \u003ca href=\"http://danieljfield.com/Home/Home.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Daniel Field,\u003c/a> an evolutionary biologist at the University of Bath. “Dive face first, straight into the water, from a considerable height.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1576117\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-bones-foramina-CC.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1576117\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-bones-foramina-CC-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"Caverns in pelicans' bones, like this femur, keep their bodies light.\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-bones-foramina-CC-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-bones-foramina-CC-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-bones-foramina-CC-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-bones-foramina-CC-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-bones-foramina-CC-1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-bones-foramina-CC-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-bones-foramina-CC-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-bones-foramina-CC-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-bones-foramina-CC-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-bones-foramina-CC-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Caverns in pelicans’ bones, like this femur, keep their bodies light. \u003ccite>(Elliott Kennerson / KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>A number of anatomical adaptions enable the bird to take these dives in stride. The shape of its bill is essential, reducing “hydrodynamic drag” — buckling forces, caused by the change from air to water — to almost zero. It’s something like the difference between slapping the water with your palm and chopping it, karate-style.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And while all birds have light, air-filled bones, pelican skeletons take it to an extreme. As they dive, they inflate special air sacs around their neck and belly, cushioning their impact and allowing them to float.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even their celebrated pouches play a role. A famous limerick quips, “A remarkable bird is a pelican / Its beak can hold more than its belly can…” That beak is more than just a fishing net. It’s also a parachute that pops open underwater, helping to slow the bird down.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is a really tough bird that’s built to last,” said Weinstein.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1576577\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 720px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pouch-underwater-720.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1576577\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pouch-underwater-720.gif\" alt=\"The pelican's pouch opens underwater to both catch fish and act as a parachute. \" width=\"720\" height=\"405\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The pelican’s pouch opens underwater to both catch fish and act as a parachute. \u003ccite>(Elliott Kennerson / KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cdiv class=\"mceTemp\">\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>Behind the pelican’s remarkable resilience (and beak) lies 30 million years of evolutionary stasis, meaning they haven’t changed much over time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Once pelicans hit on this approach to making a living, there hasn’t been a lot of pressure to change,” Field said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The best place to see — and count — pelicans in the Bay Area is at the roosting site off Alameda Island, on a breakwater in sight of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.uss-hornet.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">USS Hornet Museum\u003c/a>. In last year’s May count, the birds numbered more than 300.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Participation in the Audubon survey is open to any member of the public who wants to join. Simple instructions on how to count can be found on their \u003ca href=\"http://ca.audubon.org/conservation/protocol\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">website.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1576228\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-head-side-CC.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1576228\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-head-side-CC-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"A brown pelican in rehabilitation at International Bird Rescue.\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-head-side-CC-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-head-side-CC-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-head-side-CC-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-head-side-CC-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-head-side-CC-1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-head-side-CC-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-head-side-CC-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-head-side-CC-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-head-side-CC-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-head-side-CC-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A brown pelican in rehabilitation at International Bird Rescue. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy / KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n",
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"excerpt": "Brown pelican high-dives require the right technique, equipment, and 30 million years of practice. ",
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"title": "How Do Pelicans Survive Their Death-Defying Dives? | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>California’s brown pelicans are coming back — you can count on it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For the second year running, \u003ca href=\"http://ca.audubon.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Audubon California\u003c/a> is organizing a survey of the Pacific coast’s brown pelican population. The semi-annual counts, aimed at tracking the bird’s erratic recovery from near-extinction, will take place on May 6 and September 9 at sites from Washington State to Tijuana.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The dates bookend the birds’ annual journey from their breeding grounds in Baja California and the Channel Islands to roosting sites along the coast.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1576116\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-diving-1080p-CC.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1576116\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-diving-1080p-CC-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"A brown pelican dives for fish off the Farallon Islands.\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-diving-1080p-CC-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-diving-1080p-CC-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-diving-1080p-CC-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-diving-1080p-CC-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-diving-1080p-CC.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-diving-1080p-CC-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-diving-1080p-CC-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-diving-1080p-CC-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-diving-1080p-CC-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-diving-1080p-CC-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A brown pelican dives for fish off the Farallon Islands. \u003ccite>(Judy Irving / Pelican Media)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The survey is a snapshot in time of the pelicans on their migration,” said Cindy Margulis, executive director of the \u003ca href=\"https://goldengateaudubon.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Golden Gate Audubon Society\u003c/a> in Berkeley.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A joint effort of Audubon, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and \u003ca href=\"http://ebird.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">eBird.com\u003c/a>, the survey tallies only brown pelicans, the ocean-going ones who are regularly seen plunging for fish at sundown around San Francisco Bay and along the Pacific coast in the summer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://ca.audubon.org/brownpelicansurvey\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The counts\u003c/a> lean heavily on volunteer “citizen scientists” who will report their findings on eBird.com, a website that makes user-submitted bird-watching data available to the public.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One aim of the survey is to get a more complete picture of brown pelicans’ recovery since they \u003ca href=\"https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/profile/speciesProfile?spcode=B02L\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">were removed from the endangered species list in 2009\u003c/a>. The most recent population estimates —150,000 individuals of the Pacific subspecies and 650,000 of all brown pelicans worldwide — are more than ten years old.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1576118\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 720px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-turning-720.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1576118\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-turning-720.gif\" alt='\"Baja\" is a brown pelican in permanent captivity at Wildcare in San Rafael.' width=\"720\" height=\"405\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">“Baja” is a brown pelican in permanent captivity at Wildcare in San Rafael. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy / KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>A lot has a happened since then.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pelicans are one of the many bird species pushed to the brink of extinction by the pesticide \u003ca href=\"https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/ddt-brief-history-and-status\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DDT,\u003c/a> which went into agricultural use in the 1940’s. The pesticide renders bird eggs brittle, leading the adults to fatally crush unborn chicks in the nest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Things got so bad for pelicans, according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife, that only a single chick out of 552 eggs survived the 1970 breeding season at Anacapa Island, off Ventura, a traditional pelican hatchery.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The iconic birds were among the inaugural class of animals named to the endangered species list, and began to make a comeback after DDT was banned in 1972. Counts in 2006 at Anacapa and at breeding grounds in Mexico revealed a critical mass of reproductive pairs, and the bird came up for delisting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It was taken off the list, with great fanfare,” said Anna Weinstein, Marine Program Director at California Audubon, an organizer of the survey. “It was the right thing to do, it had recovered.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But there was more trouble on the horizon. Just as federal funding to monitor the birds was falling away with delisting, \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2014/06/04/brown-pelican-population-plunges-in-california/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fresh disasters, \u003c/a>connected in part to climate change, began to affect the pelicans’ food supply. A combination of unusually warm water and overfishing have put both Pacific sardines and anchovies into steep decline.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Animal rescue centers in the Bay Area, such as \u003ca href=\"http://www.wildcarebayarea.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wildcare\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.bird-rescue.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">International Bird Rescue,\u003c/a> began to see influxes of desperate, emaciated birds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1576226\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-tags-IBR-CC.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1576226\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-tags-IBR-CC-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"A bird rehabilitator at International Bird Rescue in Fairfield displays the tags that identify the birds they release.\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-tags-IBR-CC-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-tags-IBR-CC-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-tags-IBR-CC-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-tags-IBR-CC-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-tags-IBR-CC-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-tags-IBR-CC-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-tags-IBR-CC-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-tags-IBR-CC-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-tags-IBR-CC-520x293.jpg 520w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pelican-tags-IBR-CC.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A bird rehabilitator at International Bird Rescue in Fairfield displays the tags that identify the birds they release. \u003ccite>(Elliott Kennerson / KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Amid this new urgency, the agencies charged with monitoring pelican numbers have been at a loss for resources to fill the gaps in their data. Owing to their wide-ranging breeding and roosting patterns, pelicans can be tricky, not to mention expensive, to track.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s not enough money for agency biologists to survey all these places,” Weinstein said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So the agencies have turned to the birding public for help. Next month’s survey offers a simple, clear\u003ca href=\"http://ca.audubon.org/conservation/protocol\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> set of online instructions\u003c/a> on how, when, and where to look for birds — and how to report those findings online to scientists.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Amateur birders by the hundreds have met the call with enthusiasm. “It’s been a really worrisome species that we obviously don’t want to lose,” Audubon’s Margulis said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Part of the iconic status of the species stems from their spectacular diving behavior. California’s brown pelicans are one of the two pelican species worldwide (once considered the same) that plunge from the air to hunt. The rest, like the white pelican, bob for fish at the water’s surface.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“What they’re able to do is pretty incredible,” said \u003ca href=\"http://danieljfield.com/Home/Home.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Daniel Field,\u003c/a> an evolutionary biologist at the University of Bath. “Dive face first, straight into the water, from a considerable height.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1576117\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-bones-foramina-CC.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1576117\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-bones-foramina-CC-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"Caverns in pelicans' bones, like this femur, keep their bodies light.\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-bones-foramina-CC-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-bones-foramina-CC-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-bones-foramina-CC-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-bones-foramina-CC-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-bones-foramina-CC-1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-bones-foramina-CC-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-bones-foramina-CC-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-bones-foramina-CC-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-bones-foramina-CC-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-bones-foramina-CC-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Caverns in pelicans’ bones, like this femur, keep their bodies light. \u003ccite>(Elliott Kennerson / KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>A number of anatomical adaptions enable the bird to take these dives in stride. The shape of its bill is essential, reducing “hydrodynamic drag” — buckling forces, caused by the change from air to water — to almost zero. It’s something like the difference between slapping the water with your palm and chopping it, karate-style.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And while all birds have light, air-filled bones, pelican skeletons take it to an extreme. As they dive, they inflate special air sacs around their neck and belly, cushioning their impact and allowing them to float.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even their celebrated pouches play a role. A famous limerick quips, “A remarkable bird is a pelican / Its beak can hold more than its belly can…” That beak is more than just a fishing net. It’s also a parachute that pops open underwater, helping to slow the bird down.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is a really tough bird that’s built to last,” said Weinstein.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1576577\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 720px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pouch-underwater-720.gif\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1576577\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-pouch-underwater-720.gif\" alt=\"The pelican's pouch opens underwater to both catch fish and act as a parachute. \" width=\"720\" height=\"405\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The pelican’s pouch opens underwater to both catch fish and act as a parachute. \u003ccite>(Elliott Kennerson / KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cdiv class=\"mceTemp\">\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>Behind the pelican’s remarkable resilience (and beak) lies 30 million years of evolutionary stasis, meaning they haven’t changed much over time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Once pelicans hit on this approach to making a living, there hasn’t been a lot of pressure to change,” Field said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The best place to see — and count — pelicans in the Bay Area is at the roosting site off Alameda Island, on a breakwater in sight of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.uss-hornet.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">USS Hornet Museum\u003c/a>. In last year’s May count, the birds numbered more than 300.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Participation in the Audubon survey is open to any member of the public who wants to join. Simple instructions on how to count can be found on their \u003ca href=\"http://ca.audubon.org/conservation/protocol\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">website.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1576228\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-head-side-CC.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1576228\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-head-side-CC-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"A brown pelican in rehabilitation at International Bird Rescue.\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-head-side-CC-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-head-side-CC-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-head-side-CC-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-head-side-CC-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-head-side-CC-1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-head-side-CC-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-head-side-CC-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-head-side-CC-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-head-side-CC-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/DL409-head-side-CC-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A brown pelican in rehabilitation at International Bird Rescue. \u003ccite>(Josh Cassidy / KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "PHOTOS: Your Pics of California's 'Super Bloom'",
"headTitle": "PHOTOS: Your Pics of California’s ‘Super Bloom’ | KQED",
"content": "\u003cp>It’s a fantastic year for wildflower lovers, who’ve been flocking to fields of poppies, lupine and golden brush to witness California’s ‘Super Bloom.’ We asked our social media fans for your photos of the spectacle, and you delivered! Here’s a sampling of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/casuperbloom/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#CASuperBloom.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can also see the \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2017/04/10/heres-what-californias-wildflower-super-bloom-looks-like-from-space/\">‘Super Bloom’ from space\u003c/a>, and find out \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/2017/03/31/desert-creatures-thriving-on-wildflower-superbloom/\">what it means for desert creatures.\u003c/a> Park ranger Steve Bier says anyone who wants to see this spectacle of nature had better get there before those sphinx moth caterpillars \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/2017/03/18/california-deserts-in-super-bloom-thanks-to-a-wet-winter/\">eat up all the flowers\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Don’t forget your camera, sunscreen and water. Please stay on the trail and \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/2017/04/04/overly-enthusiastic-visitors-trample-wildflowers/\">don’t trample the flowers\u003c/a> just to get the picture.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1555925\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1555925\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/Nicole_Camarda-carrizo-plain-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"Carrizo Plain.\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/Nicole_Camarda-carrizo-plain-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/Nicole_Camarda-carrizo-plain-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/Nicole_Camarda-carrizo-plain-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/Nicole_Camarda-carrizo-plain-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/Nicole_Camarda-carrizo-plain-960x720.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/Nicole_Camarda-carrizo-plain-240x180.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/Nicole_Camarda-carrizo-plain-375x281.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/Nicole_Camarda-carrizo-plain-520x390.jpg 520w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/Nicole_Camarda-carrizo-plain.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Carrizo Plain \u003ccite>(From @Nicole_Camarda, via Twitter )\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1555929\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1555929\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/abhijith.c-at-Antelope-Valley-800x800.jpg\" alt=\"Antelope Valley\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/abhijith.c-at-Antelope-Valley-800x800.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/abhijith.c-at-Antelope-Valley-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/abhijith.c-at-Antelope-Valley-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/abhijith.c-at-Antelope-Valley-1020x1020.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/abhijith.c-at-Antelope-Valley-960x960.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/abhijith.c-at-Antelope-Valley-240x240.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/abhijith.c-at-Antelope-Valley-375x375.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/abhijith.c-at-Antelope-Valley-520x520.jpg 520w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/abhijith.c-at-Antelope-Valley-32x32.jpg 32w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/abhijith.c-at-Antelope-Valley-50x50.jpg 50w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/abhijith.c-at-Antelope-Valley-64x64.jpg 64w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/abhijith.c-at-Antelope-Valley-96x96.jpg 96w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/abhijith.c-at-Antelope-Valley-128x128.jpg 128w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/abhijith.c-at-Antelope-Valley-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/abhijith.c-at-Antelope-Valley.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Antelope Valley \u003ccite>(From @abhijith.c, via Instagram)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1555930\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1555930\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/annmariestuart-at-Neenach-CA-800x800.jpg\" alt=\"Neenach, CA\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/annmariestuart-at-Neenach-CA-800x800.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/annmariestuart-at-Neenach-CA-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/annmariestuart-at-Neenach-CA-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/annmariestuart-at-Neenach-CA-1020x1020.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/annmariestuart-at-Neenach-CA-960x960.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/annmariestuart-at-Neenach-CA-240x240.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/annmariestuart-at-Neenach-CA-375x375.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/annmariestuart-at-Neenach-CA-520x520.jpg 520w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/annmariestuart-at-Neenach-CA-32x32.jpg 32w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/annmariestuart-at-Neenach-CA-50x50.jpg 50w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/annmariestuart-at-Neenach-CA-64x64.jpg 64w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/annmariestuart-at-Neenach-CA-96x96.jpg 96w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/annmariestuart-at-Neenach-CA-128x128.jpg 128w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/annmariestuart-at-Neenach-CA-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/annmariestuart-at-Neenach-CA.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Neenach, CA \u003ccite>(From @annmariestuart, via Instagram)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1555931\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 750px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1555931\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/aov_photo-at-Joshua-Tree.jpg\" alt=\"Joshua Tree National Park\" width=\"750\" height=\"937\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/aov_photo-at-Joshua-Tree.jpg 750w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/aov_photo-at-Joshua-Tree-160x200.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/aov_photo-at-Joshua-Tree-240x300.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/aov_photo-at-Joshua-Tree-375x469.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/aov_photo-at-Joshua-Tree-520x650.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Joshua Tree National Park \u003ccite>(From @aov_photo, via Instagram)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1555932\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1555932\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/bobthedog_marley-at-Anthony-Chabot-Regional-Park-800x800.jpg\" alt=\"Anthony Chabot Regional Park\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/bobthedog_marley-at-Anthony-Chabot-Regional-Park-800x800.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/bobthedog_marley-at-Anthony-Chabot-Regional-Park-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/bobthedog_marley-at-Anthony-Chabot-Regional-Park-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/bobthedog_marley-at-Anthony-Chabot-Regional-Park-1020x1020.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/bobthedog_marley-at-Anthony-Chabot-Regional-Park-960x960.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/bobthedog_marley-at-Anthony-Chabot-Regional-Park-240x240.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/bobthedog_marley-at-Anthony-Chabot-Regional-Park-375x375.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/bobthedog_marley-at-Anthony-Chabot-Regional-Park-520x520.jpg 520w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/bobthedog_marley-at-Anthony-Chabot-Regional-Park-32x32.jpg 32w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/bobthedog_marley-at-Anthony-Chabot-Regional-Park-50x50.jpg 50w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/bobthedog_marley-at-Anthony-Chabot-Regional-Park-64x64.jpg 64w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/bobthedog_marley-at-Anthony-Chabot-Regional-Park-96x96.jpg 96w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/bobthedog_marley-at-Anthony-Chabot-Regional-Park-128x128.jpg 128w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/bobthedog_marley-at-Anthony-Chabot-Regional-Park-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/bobthedog_marley-at-Anthony-Chabot-Regional-Park.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Anthony Chabot Regional Park \u003ccite>(From @bobthedog_marley, via Instagram)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1555934\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1555934\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/briankphotography-at-Walker-Canyon-800x599.jpg\" alt=\"Walker Canyon\" width=\"800\" height=\"599\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/briankphotography-at-Walker-Canyon-800x599.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/briankphotography-at-Walker-Canyon-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/briankphotography-at-Walker-Canyon-768x575.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/briankphotography-at-Walker-Canyon-1020x764.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/briankphotography-at-Walker-Canyon-960x719.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/briankphotography-at-Walker-Canyon-240x180.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/briankphotography-at-Walker-Canyon-375x281.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/briankphotography-at-Walker-Canyon-520x390.jpg 520w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/briankphotography-at-Walker-Canyon.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Walker Canyon \u003ccite>(From @briankphotography, via Instagram)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1555937\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1555937\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/john_dirm-at-Trabuco-Creek-Santiago-Truck-Trail-800x800.jpg\" alt=\"Trabuco Creek Santiago Truck Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/john_dirm-at-Trabuco-Creek-Santiago-Truck-Trail-800x800.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/john_dirm-at-Trabuco-Creek-Santiago-Truck-Trail-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/john_dirm-at-Trabuco-Creek-Santiago-Truck-Trail-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/john_dirm-at-Trabuco-Creek-Santiago-Truck-Trail-1020x1020.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/john_dirm-at-Trabuco-Creek-Santiago-Truck-Trail-960x960.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/john_dirm-at-Trabuco-Creek-Santiago-Truck-Trail-240x240.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/john_dirm-at-Trabuco-Creek-Santiago-Truck-Trail-375x375.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/john_dirm-at-Trabuco-Creek-Santiago-Truck-Trail-520x520.jpg 520w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/john_dirm-at-Trabuco-Creek-Santiago-Truck-Trail-32x32.jpg 32w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/john_dirm-at-Trabuco-Creek-Santiago-Truck-Trail-50x50.jpg 50w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/john_dirm-at-Trabuco-Creek-Santiago-Truck-Trail-64x64.jpg 64w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/john_dirm-at-Trabuco-Creek-Santiago-Truck-Trail-96x96.jpg 96w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/john_dirm-at-Trabuco-Creek-Santiago-Truck-Trail-128x128.jpg 128w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/john_dirm-at-Trabuco-Creek-Santiago-Truck-Trail-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/john_dirm-at-Trabuco-Creek-Santiago-Truck-Trail.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Trabuco Creek Santiago Truck Trail \u003ccite>(From @john_dirm, via Instagram)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1555938\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1555938\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/mamawooste-at-Joshua-Tree-800x800.jpg\" alt=\"Joshua Tree National Park\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/mamawooste-at-Joshua-Tree-800x800.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/mamawooste-at-Joshua-Tree-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/mamawooste-at-Joshua-Tree-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/mamawooste-at-Joshua-Tree-1020x1020.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/mamawooste-at-Joshua-Tree-960x960.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/mamawooste-at-Joshua-Tree-240x240.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/mamawooste-at-Joshua-Tree-375x375.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/mamawooste-at-Joshua-Tree-520x520.jpg 520w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/mamawooste-at-Joshua-Tree-32x32.jpg 32w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/mamawooste-at-Joshua-Tree-50x50.jpg 50w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/mamawooste-at-Joshua-Tree-64x64.jpg 64w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/mamawooste-at-Joshua-Tree-96x96.jpg 96w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/mamawooste-at-Joshua-Tree-128x128.jpg 128w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/mamawooste-at-Joshua-Tree-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/mamawooste-at-Joshua-Tree.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Joshua Tree National Park \u003ccite>(From @mamawooste, via Instagram)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1555939\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1555939\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/onalilrampage-at-Carrizo-Plain-800x419.jpg\" alt=\"Carrizo Plain\" width=\"800\" height=\"419\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/onalilrampage-at-Carrizo-Plain-800x419.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/onalilrampage-at-Carrizo-Plain-160x84.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/onalilrampage-at-Carrizo-Plain-768x402.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/onalilrampage-at-Carrizo-Plain-1020x534.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/onalilrampage-at-Carrizo-Plain-960x502.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/onalilrampage-at-Carrizo-Plain-240x126.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/onalilrampage-at-Carrizo-Plain-375x196.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/onalilrampage-at-Carrizo-Plain-520x272.jpg 520w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/onalilrampage-at-Carrizo-Plain.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Carrizo Plain \u003ccite>(From @onalilrampage, via Instagram)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1555940\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 640px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1555940\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/tamararyanbrody-at-Carrizo-Plain.jpg\" alt=\"Carrizo Plain\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/tamararyanbrody-at-Carrizo-Plain.jpg 640w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/tamararyanbrody-at-Carrizo-Plain-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/tamararyanbrody-at-Carrizo-Plain-240x240.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/tamararyanbrody-at-Carrizo-Plain-375x375.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/tamararyanbrody-at-Carrizo-Plain-520x520.jpg 520w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/tamararyanbrody-at-Carrizo-Plain-32x32.jpg 32w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/tamararyanbrody-at-Carrizo-Plain-50x50.jpg 50w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/tamararyanbrody-at-Carrizo-Plain-64x64.jpg 64w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/tamararyanbrody-at-Carrizo-Plain-96x96.jpg 96w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/tamararyanbrody-at-Carrizo-Plain-128x128.jpg 128w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/tamararyanbrody-at-Carrizo-Plain-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Carrizo Plain \u003ccite>(From @tamararyanbrody, via Instagram)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1556278\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/spjika-shell-beach-sonoma-coast-800x534.jpg\" alt=\"Shell Beach, Sonoma Coast\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1556278\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/spjika-shell-beach-sonoma-coast-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/spjika-shell-beach-sonoma-coast-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/spjika-shell-beach-sonoma-coast-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/spjika-shell-beach-sonoma-coast-960x641.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/spjika-shell-beach-sonoma-coast-240x160.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/spjika-shell-beach-sonoma-coast-375x251.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/spjika-shell-beach-sonoma-coast-520x347.jpg 520w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/spjika-shell-beach-sonoma-coast.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shell Beach, Sonoma Coast \u003ccite>(From @spjika, via Twitter)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1555928\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1555928\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/centralcoastfoodie-AnzaBorregoPark--800x600.jpg\" alt=\"Anza Borrego Park \" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/centralcoastfoodie-AnzaBorregoPark--800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/centralcoastfoodie-AnzaBorregoPark--160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/centralcoastfoodie-AnzaBorregoPark--768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/centralcoastfoodie-AnzaBorregoPark--960x720.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/centralcoastfoodie-AnzaBorregoPark--240x180.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/centralcoastfoodie-AnzaBorregoPark--375x281.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/centralcoastfoodie-AnzaBorregoPark--520x390.jpg 520w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/centralcoastfoodie-AnzaBorregoPark-.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Anza Borrego Park \u003ccite>(From @centralcoastfoodie, via Twitter)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "It’s a fantastic year for wildflower lovers, who’ve been flocking to fields of poppies, lupine and golden brush to witness California's 'Super Bloom.' We asked our social media fans for your photos of the spectacle, and you delivered!",
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"description": "It’s a fantastic year for wildflower lovers, who’ve been flocking to fields of poppies, lupine and golden brush to witness California's 'Super Bloom.' We asked our social media fans for your photos of the spectacle, and you delivered!",
"title": "PHOTOS: Your Pics of California's 'Super Bloom' | KQED",
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"headline": "PHOTOS: Your Pics of California's 'Super Bloom'",
"datePublished": "2017-04-14T10:00:17-07:00",
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"slug": "photos-your-pics-of-californias-super-bloom",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>It’s a fantastic year for wildflower lovers, who’ve been flocking to fields of poppies, lupine and golden brush to witness California’s ‘Super Bloom.’ We asked our social media fans for your photos of the spectacle, and you delivered! Here’s a sampling of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/casuperbloom/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#CASuperBloom.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can also see the \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2017/04/10/heres-what-californias-wildflower-super-bloom-looks-like-from-space/\">‘Super Bloom’ from space\u003c/a>, and find out \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/2017/03/31/desert-creatures-thriving-on-wildflower-superbloom/\">what it means for desert creatures.\u003c/a> Park ranger Steve Bier says anyone who wants to see this spectacle of nature had better get there before those sphinx moth caterpillars \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/2017/03/18/california-deserts-in-super-bloom-thanks-to-a-wet-winter/\">eat up all the flowers\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Don’t forget your camera, sunscreen and water. Please stay on the trail and \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/news/2017/04/04/overly-enthusiastic-visitors-trample-wildflowers/\">don’t trample the flowers\u003c/a> just to get the picture.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1555925\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1555925\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/Nicole_Camarda-carrizo-plain-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"Carrizo Plain.\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/Nicole_Camarda-carrizo-plain-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/Nicole_Camarda-carrizo-plain-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/Nicole_Camarda-carrizo-plain-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/Nicole_Camarda-carrizo-plain-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/Nicole_Camarda-carrizo-plain-960x720.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/Nicole_Camarda-carrizo-plain-240x180.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/Nicole_Camarda-carrizo-plain-375x281.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/Nicole_Camarda-carrizo-plain-520x390.jpg 520w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/Nicole_Camarda-carrizo-plain.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Carrizo Plain \u003ccite>(From @Nicole_Camarda, via Twitter )\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1555929\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1555929\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/abhijith.c-at-Antelope-Valley-800x800.jpg\" alt=\"Antelope Valley\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/abhijith.c-at-Antelope-Valley-800x800.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/abhijith.c-at-Antelope-Valley-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/abhijith.c-at-Antelope-Valley-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/abhijith.c-at-Antelope-Valley-1020x1020.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/abhijith.c-at-Antelope-Valley-960x960.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/abhijith.c-at-Antelope-Valley-240x240.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/abhijith.c-at-Antelope-Valley-375x375.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/abhijith.c-at-Antelope-Valley-520x520.jpg 520w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/abhijith.c-at-Antelope-Valley-32x32.jpg 32w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/abhijith.c-at-Antelope-Valley-50x50.jpg 50w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/abhijith.c-at-Antelope-Valley-64x64.jpg 64w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/abhijith.c-at-Antelope-Valley-96x96.jpg 96w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/abhijith.c-at-Antelope-Valley-128x128.jpg 128w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/abhijith.c-at-Antelope-Valley-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/abhijith.c-at-Antelope-Valley.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Antelope Valley \u003ccite>(From @abhijith.c, via Instagram)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1555930\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1555930\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/annmariestuart-at-Neenach-CA-800x800.jpg\" alt=\"Neenach, CA\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/annmariestuart-at-Neenach-CA-800x800.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/annmariestuart-at-Neenach-CA-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/annmariestuart-at-Neenach-CA-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/annmariestuart-at-Neenach-CA-1020x1020.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/annmariestuart-at-Neenach-CA-960x960.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/annmariestuart-at-Neenach-CA-240x240.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/annmariestuart-at-Neenach-CA-375x375.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/annmariestuart-at-Neenach-CA-520x520.jpg 520w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/annmariestuart-at-Neenach-CA-32x32.jpg 32w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/annmariestuart-at-Neenach-CA-50x50.jpg 50w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/annmariestuart-at-Neenach-CA-64x64.jpg 64w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/annmariestuart-at-Neenach-CA-96x96.jpg 96w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/annmariestuart-at-Neenach-CA-128x128.jpg 128w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/annmariestuart-at-Neenach-CA-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/annmariestuart-at-Neenach-CA.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Neenach, CA \u003ccite>(From @annmariestuart, via Instagram)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1555931\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 750px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1555931\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/aov_photo-at-Joshua-Tree.jpg\" alt=\"Joshua Tree National Park\" width=\"750\" height=\"937\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/aov_photo-at-Joshua-Tree.jpg 750w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/aov_photo-at-Joshua-Tree-160x200.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/aov_photo-at-Joshua-Tree-240x300.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/aov_photo-at-Joshua-Tree-375x469.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/aov_photo-at-Joshua-Tree-520x650.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Joshua Tree National Park \u003ccite>(From @aov_photo, via Instagram)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1555932\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1555932\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/bobthedog_marley-at-Anthony-Chabot-Regional-Park-800x800.jpg\" alt=\"Anthony Chabot Regional Park\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/bobthedog_marley-at-Anthony-Chabot-Regional-Park-800x800.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/bobthedog_marley-at-Anthony-Chabot-Regional-Park-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/bobthedog_marley-at-Anthony-Chabot-Regional-Park-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/bobthedog_marley-at-Anthony-Chabot-Regional-Park-1020x1020.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/bobthedog_marley-at-Anthony-Chabot-Regional-Park-960x960.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/bobthedog_marley-at-Anthony-Chabot-Regional-Park-240x240.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/bobthedog_marley-at-Anthony-Chabot-Regional-Park-375x375.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/bobthedog_marley-at-Anthony-Chabot-Regional-Park-520x520.jpg 520w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/bobthedog_marley-at-Anthony-Chabot-Regional-Park-32x32.jpg 32w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/bobthedog_marley-at-Anthony-Chabot-Regional-Park-50x50.jpg 50w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/bobthedog_marley-at-Anthony-Chabot-Regional-Park-64x64.jpg 64w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/bobthedog_marley-at-Anthony-Chabot-Regional-Park-96x96.jpg 96w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/bobthedog_marley-at-Anthony-Chabot-Regional-Park-128x128.jpg 128w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/bobthedog_marley-at-Anthony-Chabot-Regional-Park-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/bobthedog_marley-at-Anthony-Chabot-Regional-Park.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Anthony Chabot Regional Park \u003ccite>(From @bobthedog_marley, via Instagram)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1555934\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1555934\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/briankphotography-at-Walker-Canyon-800x599.jpg\" alt=\"Walker Canyon\" width=\"800\" height=\"599\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/briankphotography-at-Walker-Canyon-800x599.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/briankphotography-at-Walker-Canyon-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/briankphotography-at-Walker-Canyon-768x575.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/briankphotography-at-Walker-Canyon-1020x764.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/briankphotography-at-Walker-Canyon-960x719.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/briankphotography-at-Walker-Canyon-240x180.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/briankphotography-at-Walker-Canyon-375x281.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/briankphotography-at-Walker-Canyon-520x390.jpg 520w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/briankphotography-at-Walker-Canyon.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Walker Canyon \u003ccite>(From @briankphotography, via Instagram)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1555937\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1555937\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/john_dirm-at-Trabuco-Creek-Santiago-Truck-Trail-800x800.jpg\" alt=\"Trabuco Creek Santiago Truck Trail\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/john_dirm-at-Trabuco-Creek-Santiago-Truck-Trail-800x800.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/john_dirm-at-Trabuco-Creek-Santiago-Truck-Trail-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/john_dirm-at-Trabuco-Creek-Santiago-Truck-Trail-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/john_dirm-at-Trabuco-Creek-Santiago-Truck-Trail-1020x1020.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/john_dirm-at-Trabuco-Creek-Santiago-Truck-Trail-960x960.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/john_dirm-at-Trabuco-Creek-Santiago-Truck-Trail-240x240.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/john_dirm-at-Trabuco-Creek-Santiago-Truck-Trail-375x375.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/john_dirm-at-Trabuco-Creek-Santiago-Truck-Trail-520x520.jpg 520w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/john_dirm-at-Trabuco-Creek-Santiago-Truck-Trail-32x32.jpg 32w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/john_dirm-at-Trabuco-Creek-Santiago-Truck-Trail-50x50.jpg 50w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/john_dirm-at-Trabuco-Creek-Santiago-Truck-Trail-64x64.jpg 64w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/john_dirm-at-Trabuco-Creek-Santiago-Truck-Trail-96x96.jpg 96w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/john_dirm-at-Trabuco-Creek-Santiago-Truck-Trail-128x128.jpg 128w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/john_dirm-at-Trabuco-Creek-Santiago-Truck-Trail-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/john_dirm-at-Trabuco-Creek-Santiago-Truck-Trail.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Trabuco Creek Santiago Truck Trail \u003ccite>(From @john_dirm, via Instagram)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1555938\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1555938\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/mamawooste-at-Joshua-Tree-800x800.jpg\" alt=\"Joshua Tree National Park\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/mamawooste-at-Joshua-Tree-800x800.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/mamawooste-at-Joshua-Tree-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/mamawooste-at-Joshua-Tree-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/mamawooste-at-Joshua-Tree-1020x1020.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/mamawooste-at-Joshua-Tree-960x960.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/mamawooste-at-Joshua-Tree-240x240.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/mamawooste-at-Joshua-Tree-375x375.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/mamawooste-at-Joshua-Tree-520x520.jpg 520w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/mamawooste-at-Joshua-Tree-32x32.jpg 32w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/mamawooste-at-Joshua-Tree-50x50.jpg 50w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/mamawooste-at-Joshua-Tree-64x64.jpg 64w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/mamawooste-at-Joshua-Tree-96x96.jpg 96w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/mamawooste-at-Joshua-Tree-128x128.jpg 128w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/mamawooste-at-Joshua-Tree-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/mamawooste-at-Joshua-Tree.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Joshua Tree National Park \u003ccite>(From @mamawooste, via Instagram)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1555939\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1555939\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/onalilrampage-at-Carrizo-Plain-800x419.jpg\" alt=\"Carrizo Plain\" width=\"800\" height=\"419\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/onalilrampage-at-Carrizo-Plain-800x419.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/onalilrampage-at-Carrizo-Plain-160x84.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/onalilrampage-at-Carrizo-Plain-768x402.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/onalilrampage-at-Carrizo-Plain-1020x534.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/onalilrampage-at-Carrizo-Plain-960x502.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/onalilrampage-at-Carrizo-Plain-240x126.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/onalilrampage-at-Carrizo-Plain-375x196.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/onalilrampage-at-Carrizo-Plain-520x272.jpg 520w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/onalilrampage-at-Carrizo-Plain.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Carrizo Plain \u003ccite>(From @onalilrampage, via Instagram)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1555940\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 640px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1555940\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/tamararyanbrody-at-Carrizo-Plain.jpg\" alt=\"Carrizo Plain\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/tamararyanbrody-at-Carrizo-Plain.jpg 640w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/tamararyanbrody-at-Carrizo-Plain-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/tamararyanbrody-at-Carrizo-Plain-240x240.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/tamararyanbrody-at-Carrizo-Plain-375x375.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/tamararyanbrody-at-Carrizo-Plain-520x520.jpg 520w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/tamararyanbrody-at-Carrizo-Plain-32x32.jpg 32w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/tamararyanbrody-at-Carrizo-Plain-50x50.jpg 50w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/tamararyanbrody-at-Carrizo-Plain-64x64.jpg 64w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/tamararyanbrody-at-Carrizo-Plain-96x96.jpg 96w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/tamararyanbrody-at-Carrizo-Plain-128x128.jpg 128w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/tamararyanbrody-at-Carrizo-Plain-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Carrizo Plain \u003ccite>(From @tamararyanbrody, via Instagram)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1556278\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/spjika-shell-beach-sonoma-coast-800x534.jpg\" alt=\"Shell Beach, Sonoma Coast\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1556278\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/spjika-shell-beach-sonoma-coast-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/spjika-shell-beach-sonoma-coast-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/spjika-shell-beach-sonoma-coast-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/spjika-shell-beach-sonoma-coast-960x641.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/spjika-shell-beach-sonoma-coast-240x160.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/spjika-shell-beach-sonoma-coast-375x251.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/spjika-shell-beach-sonoma-coast-520x347.jpg 520w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/spjika-shell-beach-sonoma-coast.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shell Beach, Sonoma Coast \u003ccite>(From @spjika, via Twitter)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1555928\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1555928\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/centralcoastfoodie-AnzaBorregoPark--800x600.jpg\" alt=\"Anza Borrego Park \" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/centralcoastfoodie-AnzaBorregoPark--800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/centralcoastfoodie-AnzaBorregoPark--160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/centralcoastfoodie-AnzaBorregoPark--768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/centralcoastfoodie-AnzaBorregoPark--960x720.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/centralcoastfoodie-AnzaBorregoPark--240x180.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/centralcoastfoodie-AnzaBorregoPark--375x281.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/centralcoastfoodie-AnzaBorregoPark--520x390.jpg 520w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2017/04/centralcoastfoodie-AnzaBorregoPark-.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Anza Borrego Park \u003ccite>(From @centralcoastfoodie, via Twitter)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"info": "Possible is hosted by entrepreneur Reid Hoffman and writer Aria Finger. Together in Possible, Hoffman and Finger lead enlightening discussions about building a brighter collective future. The show features interviews with visionary guests like Trevor Noah, Sam Altman and Janette Sadik-Khan. Possible paints an optimistic portrait of the world we can create through science, policy, business, art and our shared humanity. It asks: What if everything goes right for once? How can we get there? Each episode also includes a short fiction story generated by advanced AI GPT-4, serving as a thought-provoking springboard to speculate how humanity could leverage technology for good.",
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