Your name:
Curtis R. Morris
Social Media Details (Twitter, Instagram):
On Bluesky at @crustisrmorris.bsky.social
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Macro images
Image title:
The Codium and the Kelp
Image description:
The introduced species Codium fragile and it's co-introduced epiphyte Melanothamnus harveyi backdropped by waving fronds of the Gulf of Maine's dominant kelp species, Saccharina latissima. Codium and Melanothamnus are both non-native to the Gulf where they readily established and expanded into former kelp beds following defoliation of the region's kelp forests by a trophic cascade driven boom in urchin population and herbivory. Since that time, kelp has returned to abundance the waters of the Gulf of Maine, but it now faces threats from other non-native species and the rapid warming of the region's waters. In this frame, these three beautiful species from worlds apart coexist. Each represents a wealth of evolutionary history, and each in possession of a storied narrative for how they came to be in this place. All are important threads making up the rich tapestry of life in our coastal seas. Photo was taken in the Western Gulf of Maine with natural sunlight and an Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV.
