Elbow crab and ladybug
I thrill at finding new Monterey Bay creatures (new to me) and learning about them. 
This morning I found this beauty on the beach. While taking photos, I spotted what looked like a dead crab or carapace. When I flipped it over, I was amazed by the purple and white details of a live sandflat elbow crab (Heterocrypta occidentalis), a species I had never seen before. Elbow crabs aren’t just new to me, they’re also relative newcomers to the bay.
In his 1969 book Seashore Life of Southern California, Sam Hinton wrote about the elbow crab, “It is mainly a tropical form, with Southern California representing the northernmost part of its range.” And, a 1995-1996 survey off Hopkins Marine Station by UC-Santa Cruz students, who were repeating a Pearse 1971-72 survey, found that elbow crabs, which had been rare or absent in the early 1970s, were common by 1996. It appears that the species has been moving northward.
These days we often see climate change reports of spring arriving earlier and terrestrial species moving north or to higher elevations. We’re less exposed (physically and via media) to species in our oceans making similar shifts. Less than 1% of the synthesis information on climate change on natural systems has come from marine life (Richardson et al 2012). Why has the elbow crab move into and become more common in the bay? What’s the impact of its expanding range? I couldn’t find answers — maybe no one knows. But we do know our world is changing and we need to pay attention to both the obvious and the subtle shifts. Have you noticed changes near you?
I carefully picked up the elbow crab (not being sure about it little pincers) and tossed it into the wash. With each successive wave, it slowly crawled sideways into the ocean.
As I was reviewing the photos later, I saw that the elbow crab wasn’t alone (and I consider myself observant). Near it was a ladybug beetle — a subtle reminder to slow down and look more carefully in the future.
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Sources
Hinton, S. (1969). Seashore Life of Southern California. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
Lucas, S. S., Lonhart, S. I., Bernardi, G., et al. (1997). Comparative species survey of a coastal California marine refuge. Poster presented at the Sanctuary Currents Symposium, Monterey, CA. Abstract.
Richardson, A. J. et al. (2012). Climate change and marine life. Biology Letters 8(6): 907-909.
Seal pups arrive
The Monterey Bay Aquarium hosted its 12th annual Día del Niño/Day of the Child celebration today, and it seemed fitting that families walking to the aquarium witnessed another annual event — seal moms training new pups. 
On sheltered beaches throughout the bay during this time of year, harbor seals give birth. This morning on my walk, along with families going to the aquarium, we watched mothers and new pups on the beach of Hopkins Marine Station and a small cove to the west, both in Pacific Grove, California.
These pups have very short “puphoods.” Mothers feed and fatten them for 4 to 6 weeks, then wean them. In that short time, pups must learn to swim, dive and fend for themselves. This morning, I watched new pups comforted by mothers (photos), a pup while it nursed (see video), and a squealing pup get a swimming lesson (see video). I could have stayed all day.
The pups look so helpless at this stage and yet they’ll be on their own soon. Knowing that, it’s sometimes hard to watch them, but they’re so adorable. I know that in June I’ll have new curious harbor seals following my kayak as I paddle these shores.
Cormorants on nests
The winds have been wild and ocean rough this month, but the Brandt’s cormorants have managed to build nests on the Monterey Harbor breakwater anyway. 
The colony was lively this morning — males landing with algae-seagrass wads and cementing the bits together with guano to attract a mate, partners greeting and flashing bright blue throat pouches, and pairs mating. I saw no eggs (females lay 3 to 6), but given today’s activity, those will surely come soon.
In addition to the Brandt’s, I spotted pelagic cormorants with nest material flying under the hotels, restaurants and shops along Cannery Row. They’re more solitary than the Brandt’s and, I assume, the pilings offer more privacy or better protection from the elements and predators. I’m glad for the gregarious cormorants on the breakwater where I can spend the next few months watching males maintain nests, females brood eggs and youngsters grow and fledge.
May 19, 2013 update
No sign of youngsters yet, just growing nests and patient parents.
Cormorants rule
The cormorants have taken the breakwater (mostly) from the sea lions. 
In this photo of a Brandt’s cormorant, you can see the algae at the bird’s feet — the beginnings of a nest. All along the waterfront, cormorants are flying busily to and fro with wads of algae and seagrasses in their mouths for building nests.
Part of the birds’ breakwater takeover occurs because mature sea lions move on to breeding waters and islands off the coast and part because of the tenacity of the cormorants. The birds will be nesting here through spring and summer (you see some of our summer fog has already drifted in). As their nests progress, I’ll keep you posted. (See my Bestiary pages for more about cormorants and sea lions.)
Breakwater February 2013
Breakwater
early April 2013
Breakwater late April 2013
Young sea lions in distress
Young California sea lions have been in the news lately. 
Emaciated, dehydrated, hungry, and in some cases dying or dead, hundreds have appeared on the beaches and shorelines of southern California this year. (So far about 1,300 have been rescued; last year the number was about 100. For updated numbers, visit NOAA’s strandings website.) Many marine mammal rescue centers are crowded and their resources stretched thin.
Most of these animals are last year’s pups according to NOAA (U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Starving yearlings are not unusual. Their first year is tough. What is unusual this year is the number of animals, their age and the time of year. So far no one is sure why so many so young are in such need.
In response, NOAA Fisheries declared this an Unusual Mortality Event starting in January due to the significant numbers of California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) strandings in five counties — from San Diego north to Santa Barbara. This designation means that the current situation is unexpected, involves a significant die-off of a marine mammal population, and demands immediate response, including investigation into the cause. Similar mortality events in the past have been caused by leptospirosis, El Niño conditions resulting in food scarcity, or diatom blooms producing toxic domoic acid.
Monterey Bay is north of the areas hardest hit and I haven’t seen or encountered reports of similar sea lion conditions in our area. However, local marine mammal rescue centers are supporting the centers in the south by taking some of the animals, and so are feeling the strain, too. In a couple of months, pregnant sea lions will be giving birth on offshore islands. Many people will be watching this summer to see if the current problem is restricted to last year’s pups.
What can you do?
If you see a sea lion (or any marine mammal) in distress, the only thing to do is call for help and keep others away from the animal until help arrives. Do NOT get close (these animals bite) or attempt a rescue of any marine mammal! You need to know what you’re doing. (Note: Harbor seals will start pupping soon and a young seal on the beach this time of year is a pup just waiting for mom to return. It doesn’t need your assistance. Again, if in doubt, call for expert help.)
If you’re on the central or northern California coast, contact The Marine Mammal Center rescue hotline at 415-289-7325. (Their range is about 600 miles from San Luis Obispo to Mendocino counties.) For Monterey Bay, they have a base in Moss Landing and the rescue hotline is 831-633-6298. You can also help by donating to The Marine Mammal Center or a wildlife rescue center near you. To keep up-to-date on the situation, visit NOAA’s UME website.
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