Latest news with #OceanInstitute
ABC News
30-07-2025
- Science
- ABC News
Weeding project on WA island helps little penguin population
Standing around 30 centimetres high, the average little penguin can struggle to shake off larger predators and opponents. But the presence of 1.5-metre-high weeds at a key breeding site off Western Australia's southern coast has required human intervention. The island, which the ABC has chosen not to identify at the request of researchers, hosts a large number of little penguin nesting burrows. But an infestation of the invasive perennial weed Chasmanthe floribunda, also known as African corn-flag, has been stopping the penguins from moving freely around the island. Belinda Cannell from the University of Western Australia's Ocean Institute said weeds could have a devastating impact. "Weeds have been shown to demolish colonies of little penguins elsewhere in Australia," Dr Cannell said. The weeds tower over the small birds, also known as fairy penguins. Little penguins tend to return to the same landing areas on the island and then walk up to their burrows, making access critical, so a group of researchers and volunteers teamed up to spray, weed, and open paths on the island. "That's why we're opening up areas. Because while some of the burrows can be near the rocks on the island, others can be further up from where they land," master's student Isha Barve said. Ms Barve's master's project focused on weed management and the impact on little penguins, looking at part of the island, and building on previous research. "Chasmanthe floribunda sprouts in June/July and can keep growing until November, so it's smack in the middle of their breeding season, which is a big problem." UWA researcher Harriet Paterson said previous vegetation surveys showed the weeds covered about 80 per cent of the island. DBCA (Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions) sprayed some paths suggested by the team, and volunteers and TAFE students assisted in hand-weeding more difficult-to-get-to areas. "Obviously, where they've been sprayed, they've gone away," Ms Paterson said. Ms Barve said her research showed penguins had been using the paths created. Previous population estimates suggested there were 123 breeding pairs of little penguins on the island. "I came along two to three years later and I have found at least another 31 burrows on the island that weren't marked previously, which is a really good thing," Ms Barve said. Dr Cannell said little penguins inhabited several other islands on the south coast. "The south west is really important because terrestrial temperatures hopefully will not get into what we call the thermo-neutral zone," she said. "For the little penguins, that's when they start to become stressed and if it continues to climb then they become overheated and they actually die from hyperthermia. "It could happen, but hopefully it's less likely to happen in Albany. It certainly happens in Perth." Pollution was another threat the species faced. "Marine pollution certainly is a potential issue and I've had two students now who've found microplastics in the faeces of the penguins," Dr Cannell said. "We don't know what impact these very small pieces of plastic are going to have on the body condition, or maybe even longer term with respect to things like other illnesses the birds might get."
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Night cruises dive into science of Southern California's glowing waves
The public is invited to take part in an ocean journey that will give them to chance to witness the glowing blue waters caused by seasonal algal blooms in Southern California. The Ocean Institute, a nonprofit organization based in Dana Point, will host its popular Bioluminescence Night Cruises this summer along the Orange County coastline. The popular night cruises, which are expected to sell out, will give guests the chance to see the dazzling natural display in person, as well as learn about the science behind the natural phenomenon. 'These cruises are one of the most magical experiences we offer,' said Sara Larrea, the Ocean Institute's public programs and volunteer senior manager. 'Guests not only witness the breathtaking beauty of the glowing ocean but leave with a deeper understanding of how these organisms fit into the larger marine ecosystem.' The glowing light of bioluminescence is triggered by blooms of algae that light up when agitated by the water. Though it's a beautiful, surreal sight, the blooms also serve as an important indicator of ecological conditions and environmental shifts, experts say. The cruises include deploying a deep-sea net to collect plankton, observing marine life under a squid light, viewing glowing organisms under microscopes and engaging with educators about the role of bioluminescence in ocean life. Cruises will take place between 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. on select nights from May through October. Tickets are $55 per person, with discounts for infants and toddlers. The Ocean Institute says the vibrance and vividity of the bioluminescence will vary based on specific conditions each night, but the experience promises to be engaging and educational for guests of all ages. For more information, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Los Angeles Times
08-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Around Town: View blood moon total eclipse with the pros at OCC's Planetarium
The public is invited to view the March 13 and 14 blood moon lunar eclipse by peering through a telescope at Orange Coast College Planetarium's Telescope Farm with the pros. The full eclipse will start at 11:26 p.m. Thursday and end at 12:31 a.m. on Friday. Faculty, staff and students from OCC's astronomy department will be available to answer questions and provide insights about the eclipse. Guest may arrive starting at 10 p.m. on Thursday and stay until 1 a.m. Friday when the event concludes. Admission is free. Orange Coast College is located at 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa; guests are advised to park in the college's parking lot E. Reservations are not required, but they are encouraged. Visit to register and for more information. The newest donation center for Goodwill of Orange County is at the Costa Mesa Farmers Market at the OC Fair & Event Center. A ribbon-cutting for the new drop-off center was held March 6, where civic leaders joined Goodwill OC representatives to celebrate its opening. The donation center will be open every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to accept donations of clothing, household items and other gently used goods. Ocean Institute is partnering with Rivian to bring a monthly program to Laguna Beach called 'Little Currents: Powered by OI + Rivian' for kids 2 and younger beginning Wednesday, April 2. The free interactive program will introduce little ones to ocean-inspired themes through sensory play, sing- along circles, themed crafts and interactive story time. Little Currents will meet on the first Wednesday of every month from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Rivian Showroom, 160 South Coast Highway. For more information about the program, or to learn more about Ocean Institute's upcoming events, visit The inaugural Newport Beach Celebrity Classic will take place Sunday, March 16 at Newport Beach Country Club to kick off the Hoag Classic tournament week. More than 70 sports legends, including Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Joe Flacco, Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb, Pro Football Hall of Famers Eric Dickerson and Marshall Faulk, and Hockey Hall of Famer Teemu Selanne are expected to play in the event. Also teeing up will be Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush, soccer icon Landon Donovan, skateboard legend Ryan Sheckler, American professional wrestler The Miz, Fox Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt, and former NFL quarterbacks Matt Barkley, Mark Sanchez, Steve Beuerlein, Matt Leinart and Carson Palmer. Two organizations will be the beneficiaries of the tournament: Steadfast LA and the Newport Beach Fire Department Foundation, both of which have been offering support to victims of the Palisades and Eaton fires in Los Angeles County. Tickets, priced at $100 for adults and $40 for children (15 and under), can be purchased online. For tournament information and tickets visit The Hoag Pickup Family Neurosciences Institute is enrolling people for an Alzheimer's vaccine study headed by researcher Michael Agadjanyan at the Institute for Molecular Medicine in Huntington Beach, David Sultzer from UCI MIND and Lon Schneider from USC. People who are interested in joining the study must be between 60 to 85 with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease. For more information about this trial and its enrollment criteria, call (949)764- 6797 or email clinicalresearch@
Los Angeles Times
05-03-2025
- Los Angeles Times
Dana Point invites visitors to dive into its annual Festival of Whales
The California gray whale migration season is upon us, which means it is time for the Festival of Whales too. Now in its 54th year, the Dana Point Festival of Whales on March 7 through 9 celebrates the whales and other marine life off the coast of Dana Point, which is known as the dolphin and whale-watching capital of the world. 'The Festival of Whales is always the first weekend in March, and it is a celebration of the migration of California gray whales as they migrate past Dana Point,' said Donna Kalez, chair of the Festival of Whales Foundation and owner of Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching. Kalez's father, Don Hansen, founded the business, and he is credited with being the first in Orange County to host whale watching, using his original fleet in San Clemente to take local students on tours to see dolphins and whales. Hansen launched the festival in 1971, the same year he became Dana Point Harbor's first tenant. He passed away in 2022 at age 87 and is honored in the harbor with a special plaque commemorating his legacy. 'When my father opened his business in January of 1971, he immediately got the local people in the harbor together because he wanted to bring awareness to the California gray whales that he had been seeing while he was off the San Clemente pier,' said Kalez. The California gray whale migration is one the largest the sea mammals make twice a year, south in winter and north in spring. Beginning in December to mid-February the whales migrate from the Arctic and travel to Baja California. They then turn around and travel up along the West coast until early May. 'Dad was pretty amazing because he called it the Festival of Whales, and although we celebrate the gray whale, we also see tons of fin whales and humpback whales, so it is like a whale party,' Kalez said. The festival started as a small community event focused mainly on whale watching, but it has since grown to include activities onshore. 'It is the best of what Dana Point has to offer on the land and the sea,' Kalez said. The festival makes its first splash of the weekend on March 7 with the Welcoming of the Whales Ceremony at the Ocean Institute from 5 to 8 p.m. A tradition was added to the event three years ago, and Kalez said it is a moving piece of the festival. 'It is a very powerful evening, we have the Acjachemen Nation come out and do a ceremony and then we have a paddle out, and it has become a very cherished event for us,' said Kalez. On March 8, the fun continues with the Cardboard Classic & Dinghy Dash at Westwind Sailing & Baby Beach from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The cardboard boat-building contest and race is a free public event that challenges innovative young ship builders to make it across the harbor with nothing but a paddle and their cardboard ships, with proceeds benefiting the Dana Point Aquatic Foundation. Visitors can grab a bowl of chowder at the Clam Chowder Cook-Off from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with local restaurants competing for the title of Best Chowder, the People's Choice Award and Best Booth Decoration. A $15 ticket buys a taste of all chowders with proceeds benefiting Fish for Life, which funds fishing trips for special needs children. On March 9, a Little Pirates Treasure Hunt at Baby Beach invites kids to buy a shovel for $10, dress like a pirate and start digging for treasure at 11 a.m. At the same time, the Ocean Institute will host the Stand Up to Trash Beach Cleanup and Lunch & Learn with a presentation by UC Irvine Professor Jessica Pratt and her Global Sustainability Capstone students. While the Festival of Whales Parade will pause this year, a three-day Festival of Whales Carnival will take place at the nearby Lantern Bay Park overlooking the harbor. 'For the first time, the city of Dana Point has added a carnival,' said Kalez. 'We are super excited because we have never had a carnival at the Festival of Whales. We are going to have a Ferris wheel and lots of fun games and rides.' The carnival will open on March 7 from 6 to 10 p.m., March 8 from 3 to 10 p.m. and March 9 from 3 to 9 p.m. with carnival rides, games, food, music and a beer garden. Additionally, there will be live music, classic car shows, art in the park and a modern makers market throughout the weekend. Visitors can also attend the Dana Point Historical Society Walking Tour or book whale-watching tours and more boat excursions through Captain Dave's Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari, Ocean Institute Whale and Marine Life Tours and, of course, Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching. For a full schedule of events, visit Putting the festival together each year is a collaborative effort of the community with help from Dana Point Harbor Partners, the city of Dana Point and the Ocean Institute, among others. 'This festival highlights the beauty of marine life, the value of environmental stewardship and the vibrant culture of Dana Point with a weekend full of unforgettable experiences,' Dana Point Harbor Partners partner Bryon Ward said in statement. 'We are thrilled to continue to support the Festival of Whales Foundation and to invite visitors to join us for this cherished annual tradition, celebrating the majestic migration of whales in the premier whale-watching destination, Dana Point Harbor.' Kalez, who has served as festival chair for 25 years, said the annual event wouldn't be possible without the collective cooperation of the community. 'The minute the festival is over, we are already thinking about what we are going to do next year. Jan. 1 is when we start working 24/7 to put it together, but we work on it year round,' said Kalez. 'Dana Point is one of the best places in the world to have an event because they are all in. The city leaders are all in, the mayor — they all put everything towards the festival.' She is also proud to be able to continue her father's tradition of celebrating California whales and their environment. 'My dad's legacy is just to bring awareness to what we have in our backyard that many don't know,' said Kalez.
