Bright Pink Slugs Make Unexpected Appearance Along California’s Coastline
- 9 years ago
Spots along California’s central and northern coastlines are brimming with vibrant pink blooms comprised of sea slugs.
Spots along California’s central and northern coastlines are brimming with vibrant pink blooms, but not of the fragrant, floral variety.
The colorful displays are comprised of sea slugs, and they’ve been making unexpected - and tough to explain – appearances in tide pools.
Typically, the creatures prefer warmer environments, so their presence in the cooler waters has scientists both puzzled and concerned.
Possible explanations for their arrival are found in historical precedents.
Populations of the rose-colored invertebrates exploded most recently in 1998, the year El Niño events including heavy rains and increased ocean temperatures swept through the region.
The problem with that being the case this time around is that there is no such activity currently occurring, and only a 50 to 60 percent chance of it over the next couple of months.
That has scientists
Spots along California’s central and northern coastlines are brimming with vibrant pink blooms, but not of the fragrant, floral variety.
The colorful displays are comprised of sea slugs, and they’ve been making unexpected - and tough to explain – appearances in tide pools.
Typically, the creatures prefer warmer environments, so their presence in the cooler waters has scientists both puzzled and concerned.
Possible explanations for their arrival are found in historical precedents.
Populations of the rose-colored invertebrates exploded most recently in 1998, the year El Niño events including heavy rains and increased ocean temperatures swept through the region.
The problem with that being the case this time around is that there is no such activity currently occurring, and only a 50 to 60 percent chance of it over the next couple of months.
That has scientists