Oceans Research and Conservation in South Africa

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🪸 Red Algae – More Than Just Seaweed

These deep red tufts may seem simple at first glance, but red algae (Rhodophyta) are some of the most fascinating and important organisms in our coastal ecosystems 🌊✨

🧬 Ancient pioneers:
Red algae are one of the oldest groups of multicellular organisms — over a billion years old! They played a big role in shaping early marine ecosystems and still form the base of many food webs today.

🌿 Hidden power:
Their red pigment (phycoerythrin) allows them to absorb blue light and photosynthesise in deeper or shaded waters where many other algae can’t survive. This gives them a special niche in the marine world.

🌍 Ecosystem engineers:

Provide habitat and shelter for countless small invertebrates, eggs, and juvenile fish.

Help stabilise shorelines by reducing erosion and trapping sediment.

Contribute significantly to primary production, feeding entire intertidal communities.

🧪 Beyond the ocean:
Red algae give us useful compounds like agar and carrageenan, used in food, cosmetics, and science (yes — even in microbiology labs!).

💡 Fun fact: Some species of red algae can deposit calcium carbonate, helping build and strengthen reef structures over time.

So next time you spot these crimson seaweeds clinging between mussels and barnacles, remember — they’re quiet but powerful builders of coastal life.

#RedAlgae #Rhodophyta #MarineScience #IntertidalEcology #OceanBiodiversity #EcosystemEngineers #MarineBiology #SeaweedScience #Fieldwork #CoastalEcosystems #OceansResearch

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🔬 Fieldwork find: Paper nautilus shell

During an intertidal invertebrate assessment, we came across this delicate paper nautilus shell, which is actually not a true shell at all — but the eggcase of a female Argonauta octopus.

Unlike true nautiluses, paper nautiluses are pelagic octopuses that inhabit the open ocean. Females secrete this thin, papery structure to protect their eggs and help regulate buoyancy. Males, in contrast, are much smaller and do not produce an eggcase.

Finding one of these along the shore is a rare event, as they typically drift far offshore — a reminder of how dynamic our coastal systems are and how oceanic life can intersect with intertidal zones. 🌊🐚

#MarineBiology #Argonauta #PaperNautilus #InvertebrateDiversity #Fieldwork #CoastalEcology #OceanScience #MarineResearch #ORI #StudentScience #Biodiversity #IntertidalStudies

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Our students get hands-on with the quadrat and transect method — one of the classic ways to measure biodiversity across the intertidal zone.

But, as the saying goes, there’s more than one road that leads to Rome! 🌍 There are so many ways to study these ecosystems — from random quadrat sampling and drone transects to photographic surveys and timed searches — each offering a slightly different window into the same shoreline.

🔍 Have you ever tried one of these methods, or do you have a favourite way to explore intertidal life? We’d love to hear it below! 👇

#IntertidalEcology #MarineBiology #FieldSkills #StudentFieldwork #OceansResearch #ScienceInAction

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During our egg case analysis shift at the Hartenbos river mouth, the recent opening created some incredible low-water conditions — and our students came across this fascinating find! 🪱🌊

What looks like a coral head is actually a dense colony of tube worms. Each little tube is the home of a worm that builds and cements it together with thousands of others, forming these reef-like structures. They help stabilise sediment, create shelter for small creatures, and even filter the surrounding water.

Just another reminder that every time the tide shifts, there’s something new to discover and learn from our coastline. 💛

#FieldSkills #MarineBiology #IntertidalDiscoveries #Hartenbos #OceansResearch #EstuaryEcosystems #StudentScience

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🌊 White shark journeys: Jan–July 2025 🦈

In collaboration with the Shark Research Foundation, the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) and Stellenbosch University, our tagging program has already revealed two very different stories this year:

✨ Maya – In April, our students had the unforgettable chance to assist in tagging her. Since then, Maya has shown remarkable residency around Algoa Bay, giving us valuable insights into local habitat use and prey dynamics.

✨ James – His story took a more perilous turn. After over two months of silence, James resurfaced off Richards Bay, dangerously close to the shark board nets maintained by the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board. Despite their name, these nets are not protective barriers—they are fishing gear designed to kill sharks, dolphins, turtles, and rays. Eventually, James pinged further offshore into deeper water, but still not fully out of the danger zone. His journey highlights both the resilience of these animals and the risks they face when natural migrations overlap with human activity.