Washed Up

Gimme an Anemone

By Mike Kelly

washedup@northcoastjournal.com

An anemone with a bit of digested and ejected crab.

Photo by Mike Kelly

One drawback of beachcombing is the lack of cheerleaders. So, I assembled my own crew of former NFL and CFL cheerleaders who had been fired for various deviant behaviors.

I said, “Welcome. Here are your pompoms. They are designed to look like the giant green sea anemone, Anthopleura xanthogrammica.”

The cheerleaders waved their bright green pompoms and chanted, “Give me an A!” And I shouted, “A!” And they proceeded letter by letter, all the way to: “What’s that spell? Anthopleura xanthogrammica! Woo!”

I said, “Giant green anemones range from Alaska to Central America, and they are common in our local tide pools. Despite being squishy, they are tenacious and don’t dislodge easily. So, I don’t find them washed up very often. And when they do wash up, they look like greenish fleshy lumps, not pompoms.”

But because this is my fantasy, I impressed the cheerleaders by immediately finding a washed-up giant green anemone. I said, “Hey, you cheerleaders, this stranded anemone is still alive. Maybe it was knocked loose by an object in the surf.”

The cheerleaders said, “Let’s go! Let’s go! Resuscitate that ane-nome — then flagellate our enemy! Woo!”

I said, “It’s pronounced, ‘a-nem-oh-nee,’ not ‘a-nen-oh-mee.’”

The cheerleaders said, “Well mister smarty-pants, it’s pronounced pom-pon, not pom-pom. You lookin’ to get flagellated?”

“Shhh, not now,” I said. “Anyway, most washed-up invertebrate animals are difficult to place back into the wild. But anemones are sometimes an exception. This anemone could live 100 years, so we might as well try. I’ll place it here in this rocky tide pool, hopefully close to its home. It will happen slowly but if it can attach its foot to these rocks, it can ‘walk’ around to find the right spot.”

The cheerleaders said, “Mikey always finds the right spot — ’cause he’s hard like iron and totally hot! L-O-L. Woo!”

I said, “That’s right. And did you know that while the giant green anemone isn’t a plant, it gains energy through photosynthesis? Yep, its tissues provide a home for symbiotic microalgae called zoochlorellae and dinoflagellates called zooxanthellae. These single-cell organisms contain chlorophyll, so not only do they contribute nutrients to the anemone, they enhance the anemone’s color. These organisms don’t thrive without sunlight, so giant green anemones living in dark areas may turn pale.”

“Dino … flagellates?” shouted the cheerleaders. “Now we’re talkin’. Dinoflagellate zooxanthellae! If you don’t like ’em, you can go to hell, eh! Woo!”

I said, “Anemones are carnivores that eat mussels, crabs, fish, urchins or anything else unlucky enough to encounter their tentacles. Like its relatives the corals and jellyfish, the anemone’s tentacles contain many stinging cells called nematocysts, which can immobilize prey before closing around it and transferring the meal to its stomach.”

The cheerleaders said, “Rah, rah, nematocyst boom bah! Paralyze our foes and eat them raw! Woo!”

I continued, “Touching a nematocyst triggers an explosive firing of a tiny, barbed thread that penetrates and holds the victim while delivering venom. However, some sea slugs that eat anemones can swallow the nematocysts without triggering them, and then the sea slugs incorporate these weapons into their own bodies for self-defense. Also, some fish and crabs develop a slimy layer that prevents the nematocysts from firing. Some slimed-up hermit crabs can even feed on anemone tentacles. Other slimed-up creatures hide among anemones, which form an impenetrable defense from predators.

The cheerleaders said, “Defense, defense, hold that line! Can’t tackle Mikey ’cause he’s covered in slime! Woo!”

They had offense and defense backwards, but I let the cheerleaders oil me up anyway. They pumped their pompons and things were getting good. But then a bunch of linebackers tackled me. l

Biologist Mike Kelly (he/him) is also the author of the book Tigerfish: Traditional and Sport Fishing on the Niger River, Mali, West Africa. It’s available at Amazon or everywhere e-books are sold.

Guided Tour of Fort Humboldt State Historic Park. 1-2 p.m. Fort Humboldt State Historic Park, 3431 Fort Ave., Eureka. See June 18 listing. Women and Girls Birding Tour of Trinidad Head. 8:30-11 a.m. Trinidad Head Trail, 925 Lighthouse Road. Join walk leader Maddy Rifka-Brunt for the one-year anniversary of the monthly Women and Girls Bird Walk series. Bring a scope if you have one. Scopes will be available to share. Contact Janelle Chojnacki to sign-up and get meeting location details. Free. janelle.choj@gmail.com. rras.org/ home.aspx.

SPORTS

Drag Races. Samoa Drag Strip, Lincoln Avenue and New Navy Base Road. See June 18 listing. Humboldt Crabs - Father’s Day. 12:30 p.m. Arcata Ball Park, Ninth and F streets. Humboldt Crabs vs Seattle Studs, featuring the World Famous Crab Grass Band. Dad’s day at the ballpark. Gates at 11:30 a.m. Tickets online or at Wildberries Marketplace. $10, $4 child (3-12). humboldtcrabs@gmail.com. humboldtcrabs.com/. (707) 840-5665.

20 Monday

BOOKS

Equity Arcata’s Community Book Club. Third Monday of every month, 4-6 p.m. Virtual World, Internet, Online. Alia Dunphy and Meridith Oram discuss Adrienne Marie Brown’s book Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds. On Zoom. Register online. www. equityarcata.com.

FOOD

Miranda Farmers’ Market. 2-6 p.m. Miranda Market, 6685 Avenue of the Giants. Fresh produce, herbs and teas, eggs, plants and more. Free. info@northcoastgrowersassociation.org. (707) 441-9999. Volunteer Orientation Food for People. 3:30-4:30 p.m. See June 16 listing.

HOLIDAY EVENTS

Juneteenth Festival. Countywide. See June 16 listing.

ETC

Homesharing Info Session. 9:30-10 a.m. and 1-1:30 p.m. This informational Zoom session will go over the steps and safeguards of Area 1 Agency on Aging’s matching process and the different types of homeshare partnerships. Email Julie at homeshare@a1aa.org for the link. Free. www. a1aa.org/homesharing. (707) 442-3763. Humboldt Bounskee League. 6-8 p.m. Humboldt Brews, 856 10th St., Arcata. Weekly league nights. Purchase of any wood bounskee from Humbrews or the website includes one-month family membership for future events. All ages. Free. bounskee@gmail.com. bounskee. fun. (707) 601-9492. Tabata. 5:30-6:30 p.m. Virtual World, Internet, Online. See June 17 listing.

21 Tuesday

MUSIC

The Hip Abduction. 8 p.m. Arcata Theatre Lounge, 1036 G St. All ages. Doors at 7 p.m. $15. www.arcatatheatre.com. Zach Kleisinger with Flynn Martin. 7-9 p.m. The Siren’s Song Tavern, 325 Second St., Eureka. Based in Vancouver, Canada, Zach Kleisinger writes lyrically-driven songs in the contemporary, darkened-folk, singer-songwriter style. $5. zkleisinger@gmail.com. www.facebook.com/ events/671325623940001. 1 707-599-8986.

FOOD

Fortuna Farmers Market. 3-6 p.m. Fortuna Farmers Market, 10th and Main streets. Locally grown fruits, veggies and garden plants, plus arts and crafts. WIC and Cal Fresh accepted with $10 bonus match when using EBT card. Free. Old Town Farmers Market. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Old Town, F Street between First and Third streets, Eureka. GMO-free produce, humanely raised meats, pastured eggs, plant starts and more. Live music weekly and CalFresh EBT cards accepted. Free. Shelter Cove Farmers’ Market. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Mario’s Marina Bar, 533 Machi Road, Shelter Cove. Fresh fruits and vegetables, flowers and premium plant starts and more. Live music and hot food vendors. Free. info@ northcoastgrowersassociation.org. www.northcoastgrowersassociation.org/sheltercove.html. (707) 441-9999.

MEETINGS

Humboldt Cribbage Club Tournament. 6:15-9 p.m. Moose Lodge, 4328 Campton Road, Eureka. Weekly six-game cribbage tournament for experienced players. Inexperienced players may watch, learn and play on the side. Moose dinner available at 5:30 p.m. $3-$8. 31for14@ gmail.com. (707) 599-4605.

Understanding and Responding to Dementia-Related

Behavior. 2:30-3:30 p.m. Participants can learn about dementia-related behaviors, what triggers them, and strategies for handling these behavioral challenges. Register online. Free. www.tinyurl.com/HUMSENIORJUN21REGISTRATION. (707) 443-9747 ext 2217.

ETC

English Express: An English Language Class for Adults.

Build English language confidence in ongoing online and in-person classes. All levels and first languages welcome. Join anytime. Pre-registration not required. Free. englishexpressempowered.com. (707) 443- 5021. Restorative Movement. 10:30-11:30 a.m. & 2-3 p.m. Virtual World, Internet, Online. See June 16 listing.

22 Wednesday

ART

Figure Drawing. 6-8:30 p.m. Blondies Food And Drink, 420 E. California Ave., Arcata. $5. www.blondiesfoodanddrink. com.

BOOKS

On the Same Page Book Club. 5:30 p.m. Virtual World, Internet, Online. Online book club that meets on the first Wednesday of the month on Zoom. Sign up using the Google form at www.forms.gle/bAsjdQ7hKGqEgJKj7.

LECTURE

Natural History and Ecology of California Pinnipeds.

6-7 p.m. Trinidad Town Hall, 409 Trinity St. Join Trinidad Coastal Land trust for an in-person presentation by Claire Nasr focused on the natural history and ecology of California pinnipeds (the taxonomic group that includes seals and sea lions). trinidadcoastallandtrust.org/calendar.

MUSIC

Bayside Ballads and Blues. 6-8 p.m. Clam Beach Tavern, 4611 Central Ave., McKinleyville. Every Wednesday. Contact venue for current COVID protocols.

EVENTS

Best of Humboldt Fair. Redwood Acres Fairgrounds, 3750 Harris St., Eureka. Five days of arts, entertainment, agriculture, racing, local products, tastings and livestock showings. www.redwoodacres.com.