June 2, 2004
Tides take a plunge
By Susan Mador
The moon may not be in its seventh house
and Jupiter might not align with Mars this week. However, it is
the dawning of days of Aquarius in Puget Sound.
Low tides in June and July will be the lowest in the tidal system's
18-and-a-half year cycle.
Saturday, June 3, west side tides will drop to minus 3.7 feet at
12:19 p.m. On the east side, Saturday's tides will plummet to minus
4.1 feet at 12:26 p.m.
These record-setting lows happen based on complex celestial arrangement.
Tide cycles depend on the moon's phase as it revolves around Earth
as well as the orbit of planets, Jan Holmes, Washington State University
Island County Beach Watcher said.
Holmes is anxious for the low tides to arrive.
"As a biologist, I'm excited," she said. "But I'm worried about
trampling."
Low tides can attract large crowds, eager to see what the tide brings
to light. But human enthusiasm can cause death on the beach
.
"It's sad that many people don't know how amazingly diverse marine
life is here," Beach Watcher Mary Jo Adams said.
"Most people wouldn't deliberately harm animals. They just don't
understand what's hiding in the seaweed and under rocks."
The summer's extremely low tides will give people more opportunity
to view soft-bodied sea critters usually hidden under water. Creatures
such as sea cucumbers and six-rayed sea stars. Urchins and anemones.
Perhaps octopus.
In addition to being subjected to more light, heat and wind than
normal, these creatures will be exposed to hungry birds. They don't
need added harassment by humans.
By practicing good beach etiquette, people can
enjoy low tide without causing death and destruction. Beach
etiquette means visiting the beach as
if you are visiting another person's home. It's not a person's home
but beach es are homes to plenty of life.
"Many people don't know what plants and animals live out here,"
said Adams. She and fellow Beach Watchers
Charlie Seablom and Bill Piggot scouted Libbey Beach
Tuesday morning. At 9:17 a.m., low tide was minus 1.7
feet. Animals hid under rocks and in tide pools, seeking shelter
and moisture. Drifts of beached sea weeds and grasses harbored others.
Adams carefully lifted rocks, finding something to exclaim over
under each one.
Tube worms, crabs, chitons, snails and a few fish. Several types
of crabs scrambled about as did cling fish which have modified fins
that act as suction cups on rocks. When the tide goes out, cling
fish and sculpin must keep their gills moist. If their rocks are
removed, light and heat can evaporate their water supply.
"Look. Shaggy mouse nudibranchs. What a treat to find." Adams said.
These nudibranchs, or sea slugs, eat anemones which use stinging
cells as a defense.
Adams said the slugs pass the stinging cells through their system
and then cover themselves with the stingers for their defense.
"I never have a bad day at a Whidbey beach ," Adams
said. "I always find something interesting."
Thursday, June 3, Beach Watchers will be
at Double Bluff on South Whidbey to lead tours at 10:30 a.m. Saturday,
June 5, from noon to 2 p.m., they will be at Double Bluff and at
Rosario Beach on Fidalgo Island in Deception Pass
State Park to discuss beach etiquette and lead
tours explaining interesting marine life
"As a biologist, I'm excited," she said. "But I'm worried about
trampling."
Low tides can attract large crowds, eager to see what the tide brings
to light. But human enthusiasm can cause death on the beach
.
"It's sad that many people don't know how amazingly diverse marine
life is here," Beach Watcher Mary Jo Adams said.
"Most people wouldn't deliberately harm animals. They just don't
understand what's hiding in the seaweed and under rocks."
The summer's extremely low tides will give people more opportunity
to view soft-bodied sea critters usually hidden under water. Creatures
such as sea cucumbers and six-rayed sea stars. Urchins and anemones.
Perhaps octopus.
In addition to being subjected to more light, heat and wind than
normal, these creatures will be exposed to hungry birds. They don't
need added harassment by humans.
By practicing good beach etiquette, people can
enjoy low tide without causing death and destruction. Beach
etiquette means visiting the beach as
if you are visiting another person's home. It's not a person's home
but beaches are homes to plenty of life.
"Many people don't know what plants and animals live out here,"
said Adams. She and fellow Beach Watchers
Charlie Seablom and Bill Piggot scouted Libbey Beach
Tuesday morning. At 9:17 a.m., low tide was minus 1.7
feet. Animals hid under rocks and in tide pools, seeking shelter
and moisture. Drifts of beached sea weeds and grasses harbored others.
Adams carefully lifted rocks, finding something to exclaim over
under each one.
Tube worms, crabs, chitons, snails and a few fish. Several types
of crabs scrambled about as did cling fish which have modified fins
that act as suction cups on rocks. When the tide goes out, cling
fish and sculpin must keep their gills moist. If their rocks are
removed, light and heat can evaporate their water supply.
"Look. Shaggy mouse nudibranchs. What a treat to find." Adams said.
These nudibranchs, or sea slugs, eat anemones which use stinging
cells as a defense.
Adams said the slugs pass the stinging cells through their system
and then cover themselves with the stingers for their defense.
"I never have a bad day at a Whidbey beach ," Adams
said. "I always find something interesting."
Thursday, June 3, Beach Watchers will be
at Double Bluff on South Whidbey to lead tours at 10:30 a.m. Saturday,
June 5, from noon to 2 p.m., they will be at Double Bluff and at
Rosario Beach on Fidalgo Island in Deception Pass
State Park to discuss beach etiquette and lead
tours explaining interesting marine life.
© Copyright 2003 Whidbey News Times
Reproduced with permission