The Essential Rhythm | WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode answers listeners’ questions about estuaries, the zone in a river where it meets the sea. The influence of tidal flows and differing densities of water are discussed relative to the mixing of fresh and salt water. Organisms that can live in the wide range of salinities typically found in estuaries are briefly discussed.  About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 9/10/23: Where Fresh Water Meets the Sea first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode explains where the salt in the ocean comes from, and outlines in simple terms the balance of inputs and outputs that result in relatively steady state salinity in ocean water. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 8/27/23: All the Salt in the Sea first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode describes the history of the northwest Atlantic/Canadian maritime population of walruses, including their historic range and reasons for extinction. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 8/13/23: Charismatic Megafauna – Northwest Atlantic Walruses first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episodes describes the unique ocean going fish Mola mola. It includes a physical description, behavioral characteristics and how to differentiate the fin of a Mola mola from that of a shark.  About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 8/6/23: Meet Mola Mola, the Ocean Sunfish first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode explains the origins of the sandy beaches of maritime Canada, as related to the erosion of sandstone formed as a result of the erosion of the ancestral Appalachian mountains. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 7/23/23: Beach Daze first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode describes the ecological of horseshoe crabs as species that transfer energy to many different threads in the food web, including migratory shore birds and fish. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 7/2/23: The Crab that Feeds Everyone first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode explains why horseshoe crabs’ blood is blue as well as the critically important substance found in it. Limulus amoebocyte lysate is isolated from horseshoe crab blood and used to test the sterility of medical equipment and vaccines, and as of yet has no approved synthetic alternative in the United States. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 6/25/23: Blue Blood first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode describes the state of horseshoe crab populations as well as the challenges to understanding population levels in the absence of data.  About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 6/18/23: How Are They Doing It? It's Complicated… first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode describes some key anatomical features of Limulus polyphemus, American horseshoe crabs and explains the mating behaviors that can be seen when the animals visit the intertidal zone. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 6/4/23: Horseshoe crabs in Maine first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode summarizes the findings of Johnston et al (2023) showing that commercial rockweed harvest as practiced in Maine results in on average reduced height but pre harvest levels of biomass one year post harvest. Different implications based on management perspectives are noted.  Johnston, Elliot et al 2023 Bed-scale impact and recovery of a commercially important intertidal seaweed, Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 561:151869 About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 5/21/23: Does rockweed harvest damage intertidal ecosystems? first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode describes the process of using environmental DNA (eDNA) to investigate the presence or absence of organisms in the environment.  About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 5/14/23: The Perils and Promise of eDNA first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode describes the concept of life history strategy, and highlights findings from a paper that investigated the impact of introduced intertidal crabs (Carcinus maenus, European green crabs and Hemigrapsus sanguineus, Asian shore crabs) on Atlantic rock crabs (Cancer irroratus). The study demonstrated that the rock crab life history strategy of living in the intertidal zone for the first two years of its life is no longer adaptive in areas with introduced crabs, as green crabs and shore crab readily prey on young rock crabs. Griffen, B. Riley, M. 2015 Potential impacts of invasive crabs on one life history strategy of native rock crabs in the gulf of maine Biol invasions 17: 2533-2544 About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 4/30/23: Crab vs. Crab first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode summarizes a 2019 study on the interactions of European green crabs and Asian shore crabs. Researchers found that in rocky intertidal habitats on the southern New England, when shore crabs and green crabs overlap, green crab density goes down significantly. They identified key behavioral differences between juveniles of the two crab species that likely explain this observed effect.  About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 4/23/23: Next Wave Species Introductions first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode highlights Calanus finmarchicus, a tiny crustacean that serves as a keystone species in north Atlantic food webs. North Atlantic Right Whales, commercially important fish and virtually all other predators in the north Atlantic feed on it because of its high nutrient content. C. finmarchicus likewise feeds heavily on phytoplankton and is a major conduit for moving primary productivity into the greater food web. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 4/9/23: Yummy Yummy Copepods first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode describes a little known intertidal snail that feeds on kelp, the Lacuna snail (Lacuna vincta). The snail can also be found by searching out its doughnut shaped egg masses on kelp fronds. Its hard times dispersal strategy involves creating a mucous parachute which enables it to drift away on water currents. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 3/26/23: Lacuna Snails first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode discusses misconceptions about early animal evolution, including the notion that resolving early animal evolution will settle the debate as to whether our earliest ancestors were sponges or comb jellies. Both groups of animals display a suite of undervalued traits, referred to as hidden biology, that demonstrate their evolutionary complexity. Reference: Dunn et al 2015 The hidden biology of sponges and ctenophores, Trends in Ecology and Evolution Vol 30 No 5 About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 3/12/23: Hidden Biology first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode describes the ‘ciliary mucus particle transport’ mechanism that many animals use for feeding. Reef building corals are the primary example featured in this show. Suspension feeding Molluscs are also included as an example of independent evolution of this trait (two or more lineages landing on the same trait independently). About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 2/26/23: Other uses for mucus first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode explains the chemical structure of mucus, and revisits is role in early animal evolution as well as as a lubricant for animal movement and travel. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 2/19/23: What is mucus? first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode discusses the origins of mucus in early animal lineages, including Cnidaria and Ctenophora, and highlights the lack of mucus in another early animal lineage, Porifera (sponges). Scientists hypothesize that the invention of mucus was a major event that enabled the evolution of true tissues, as well as serving as the front line of the immune system, separating microbes from vulnerable tissue, in all animals from Cnidarians to ourselves. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 1/29/23: The Origins of Mucus first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode continues the discussion of the role of shells in marine invertebrates, including protection from predation and the environment. Like vertebrate skeletons, invertebrate shells also provide attachment points for muscles and enable complex movement. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 1/22/23: What are shells good for? first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode describes some of the similarities between vertebrate bones and mollusc shells. The use of calcium to make the different mineral components, as well as the different layers of mollusc shells is discussed. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 1/15/23: Bones on the outside first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode discusses physical factors that influence food availability and thus seasonal rhythms at the sea shore. Soft shell clams (Mya arenaria) are used to illustrate the seasonal connections between temperature, food and reproduction About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 1/1/23: Seasons at the Shore first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode describes the scientific process, as executed by a group of first year college students surveying the intertidal zone in Maine. Findings include a generally positive relationship between the distance from the high tide line and biodiversity, as well as an unexpected pattern of periwinkle abundance relative to time of day. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 12/18/22: How Science Happens first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode explains the function of the CO1 gene, which is used for DNA barcoding animals. The gene codes for part of the protein cytochrome oxidase, which is integral to aerobic respiration and the generation of ATP. It is also idea for barcoding because of its not to fast/not too slow mutation rate. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 12/11/22: Cytochrome oxidase what? first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode describes the results of DNA barcoding a barnacle, and explains the characteristics scientists use to classify barnacles as an arthropod, related to shrimp and lobsters. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 12/4/22: The Humble Barnacle first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode describes the familiar marine invertebrate Lacy Crust Bryozoan, explaining its colonial growth form and feeding structure, as well as its status as an introduced and potentially ecologically damaging marine species. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 11/13/22: Lacy Crust Bryozoan first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode describes the process of DNA Barcoding: extracting DNA from a cell and using it to identify the species of the organism. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 10/23/22: DNA Barcoding first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode describes some of the animals that make up the meiofauna on a sandy beach, tiny animals that live between grains of sand. Groups include nematodes (round worms), copepods (tiny crustaceans) and tardigrades (water bears). About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 9/25/22: Tiny Creatures in the Sand first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode introduces ‘interstitial space’, which is the space between grains of sand, as the primary habitat found on a sandy beach. This habitat is largely occupied by tiny animals known collectively as meiofauna, and they form an ecological connection between the macrofauna and microbial communities in benthic and beach environments. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 9/11/22: What lives on sand beaches? first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode recounts walking the sandy beaches of Martha’s Vineyard and seeing slipper shells (Crepidula fornicata) as the primary herbivore in the ecosystem. Slipper shells are sessile, leading to the question of where they find places to settle in a dynamic sandy environment. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 8/28/22: Southern Sandy Beaches first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode describes a recent trip to Machias Seal Island. The island hosts the largest population of nesting puffins on the coast of Maine. Elements of their land based breeding behavior include vocalizations and near constant motion, as well as feeding their young. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 8/14/22: A Field Trip to an Island first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode is a public service announcement reminding beach goers that sand dollars are living creatures just like snails and mussels, and should be left at the beach! Attributes of living sand dollars are described (presence of minute spines, colored dark red or purple) to help beach combers discern living animals from empty shells acceptable for collecting. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 8/7/22: Sand dollars are alive first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode details finding a mass of long fin squid eggs washed up on the shore at a local Maine beach. Squid life history and mating behavior are also discussed. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 7/24/22: A Mystery at the Beach first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode describes Ensis directus, otherwise known as razor or jack knife clams. These clams are known for being very active, rapidly burrowing into the sand using their large and powerful foot. Some sources report they can even swim in the water! About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 7/17/22: Maine's Most Active Clam first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode describes the complex phenomenon of self/non-self recognition in otherwise simple asexually reproducing animals, the anemones. Certain anemones are able to differentiate between their own clones and unrelated individuals in order to defend their territory. This research is featured in Adam Nicolson’s Life Between the Tides. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 6/26/22: Attack of the clones first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode describes research completed in the Gulf of Maine in the 1980’s by Robin Hadlock Seeley, exploring the changes of smooth periwinkle shell shape in response to predation pressure from green crabs. The research was featured in Adam Nicolson’s book Life Between the Tides. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 6/12/22: Evolution in Action first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode features insights from Adam Nicolson's Life Between the Tides and describes dynamics between common periwinkles and their predators, green crabs. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 5/29/22: Periwinkles and Predators first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode features insights from Adam Nicolson’s Life Between the Tides and describes the parallels between the nervous systems of shrimp and humans. Both animal lineages have fast reacting, non brain linked neural pathways that drive life saving behaviors (sometimes called a “startle response” or reflex). About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 5/15/22: Shrimp have deep thoughts too first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode describes the water retaining properties of the exoskeleton of sand fleas as well as research into their unexpectedly complex navigational systems. Together these allow them to forage in the intertidal zone, breaking down organic matter and recycling nutrients. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 5/8/22: Sand fleas are smarter than you think first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode introduces the book Life Between the Tides by Adam Nicolson and highlights sand fleas, the organisms covered in the first chapter of the book. It also discusses protean flight, the adaptive anti predator behavior exhibited by sand fleas and many other prey animals. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 5/1/22: Sand Fleas and Good Books first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode recounts the signs of spring related to the onset of the alewife migration. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 4/24/22: Everyone is hungry first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode describes an early spring trip to a typical Maine gravel flat beach, and the many organisms that can be found, including razor and surf clams, ribbon and terebellid worms, sea stars and sand dollars, and rough nudibranchs and their eggs. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 4/10/22: An early spring trip to the seashore first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode describes the blood vascular circulatory system both humans and marine worms share. Many marine worms in the phylum Annalida have external gills that oxygenate blood that is then circulated through vessels to various tissues. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 3/27/22: How marine worms breathe first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode details how members of the phylum Mollusca utilize ventilation of their gill tissue for dual purposes. Bivalves suspension feed, pulling food out of the water they “inhale” and Cephalopods use the water for jet propulsion. This adaptive efficiency has lead to broad biodiversity in this phylum. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 3/20/22: How molluscs breathe first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode introduces the basics of specialized gas exchange structures in marine invertebrates. Disadvantageous diffusion rates are overcome by high surface area, achieved through folding or filaments of tissue known collectively as gills. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 2/27/22: How Gills Work first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode elaborates on the simple gas exchange mechanisms of sponges, cnidarians and flatworms. These organisms lack specialized gas exchange organs, instead relying on simple diffusion across the body wall. This limits their body shape and structure as a trade off for reducing the diffusion distance gasses pass through. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 2/20/22: Breathing from water first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode introduces the concept of metabolic gas exchange and discusses simple gas exchange mechanisms used by marine invertebrates, including manipulation of surface area to volume ratios. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 2/6/22: Gas Exchange at Sea first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode describes a study where researchers discovered that grazing herbivores like limpets and periwinkles help stabilize intertidal community structure and thus provide resilience in the face of climate change. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 1/23/22: The importance of grazers first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode describes the misconception that animals physically suction themselves to rock surfaces in the intertidal zone, and discusses new research that demonstrates that organisms generate a mucus with temporary adhesive properties (aka reversible glue) to navigate life in a wave impacted environment. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 1/9/22: How they stick first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode discusses the local (to Maine) limpet Tectura testudinalis and its important ecological relationship with encrusting coralline algae. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 12/26/21: Limpets and their frenemies first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley This episode discusses chitons, unusual molluscs similar to limpets that can be seen at low tide. About the host: Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine. The post The Essential Rhythm 12/12/21: Chitons: The Many Shell Bearers first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.