The CVN Shoreline Group had a productive field trip to the Willow Point reef in Campbell River this year on July 5. As on trips to this location in previous years, the group enjoyed the excellent leadership of Campbell River’s Sandra Milligan.
This reef is rich in intertidal life, and Sandra has been accumulating a list of the species she’s seen there for many years. To provide context for this trip, Sandra made these comments about her cumulative list:
The reef species composition does change, so some species haven’t been seen recently, but I leave them on the list in hopes they will reappear. The reef is still changing because of the sea star die-off 10 years ago and subsequent increase in urchin and mussel abundance.
Following the trip, Sandra updated her list. You can download the full species list here. Check marks indicate the species that were observed on this occasion.
Thanks to CVN members Stuart and Véronique for the photo above and those below. Click a photo to enlarge it.