Vantuna Research Group at Occidental College
@vrgoxy.bsky.social
Researching the marine environment of Southern & Baja California since 1966. Photos and content by J. Williams, except when otherwise noted.
https://www.oxy.edu/vrg
https://www.oxy.edu/vrg
Pinned
(2022 Update!) Rebirth of a Reef: Palos Verdes Reef Restoration Project [18 Months Later]
A Film by Shaun Wolfe – updated for 2022 (18 months after construction)!!Palos Verdes Reef------------------------------The purpose of the Palos Verdes R...
www.youtube.com
Want to learn more? Here's a short film from 2022 that tells the whole story of Palos Verdes Reef. 🌎🐟🧪🦑 www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGg0...
I know this isn't the point, but what incredible footage. Very useful in educating a wide array of people.
I will forever be haunted by this footage.
Trawling has only been filmed underwater a few times in documentary history, and never with such clarity.
What’s so heart-rending about these shots is watching how the animals don’t just get swept up — they swim for their lives.
🌎🦑🧪
Trawling has only been filmed underwater a few times in documentary history, and never with such clarity.
What’s so heart-rending about these shots is watching how the animals don’t just get swept up — they swim for their lives.
🌎🦑🧪
May 9, 2025 at 11:21 PM
I know this isn't the point, but what incredible footage. Very useful in educating a wide array of people.
Reposted by Vantuna Research Group at Occidental College
I will forever be haunted by this footage.
Trawling has only been filmed underwater a few times in documentary history, and never with such clarity.
What’s so heart-rending about these shots is watching how the animals don’t just get swept up — they swim for their lives.
🌎🦑🧪
Trawling has only been filmed underwater a few times in documentary history, and never with such clarity.
What’s so heart-rending about these shots is watching how the animals don’t just get swept up — they swim for their lives.
🌎🦑🧪
May 9, 2025 at 9:32 PM
I will forever be haunted by this footage.
Trawling has only been filmed underwater a few times in documentary history, and never with such clarity.
What’s so heart-rending about these shots is watching how the animals don’t just get swept up — they swim for their lives.
🌎🦑🧪
Trawling has only been filmed underwater a few times in documentary history, and never with such clarity.
What’s so heart-rending about these shots is watching how the animals don’t just get swept up — they swim for their lives.
🌎🦑🧪
Strapped some lasers and lights on our dropcam and drifted along the Santa Monica Bay ocean floor at about 40m depth. Absolutely hacky, but it worked.
Plenty of brittlestars, sanddabs, urchins, tubeworms, anemones, and more!
Turns out octopuses are a lot like cats when it comes to lasers.
🦑🐟🧪🌎
Plenty of brittlestars, sanddabs, urchins, tubeworms, anemones, and more!
Turns out octopuses are a lot like cats when it comes to lasers.
🦑🐟🧪🌎
May 5, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Strapped some lasers and lights on our dropcam and drifted along the Santa Monica Bay ocean floor at about 40m depth. Absolutely hacky, but it worked.
Plenty of brittlestars, sanddabs, urchins, tubeworms, anemones, and more!
Turns out octopuses are a lot like cats when it comes to lasers.
🦑🐟🧪🌎
Plenty of brittlestars, sanddabs, urchins, tubeworms, anemones, and more!
Turns out octopuses are a lot like cats when it comes to lasers.
🦑🐟🧪🌎
Gotta say, I did NOT expect *cleaner* than normal water in terms of chemistry. Genuinely shocked.
The layer of surface ash stopped showing up consistently about 2 km north of our site, but ... I'll take the good news where I can.
The layer of surface ash stopped showing up consistently about 2 km north of our site, but ... I'll take the good news where I can.
Should be interesting (and probably disappointing) to see our upcoming water chemistry sampling results, plus see the lingering effects of runoff on the water column and ocean floor over the next year.
We saw it after the Woolsey Fire, I can imagine the result is any better this time around.
We saw it after the Woolsey Fire, I can imagine the result is any better this time around.
L.A. fires wreaked havoc on the land. Scientists are racing to learn what they've done to the sea
The debris and pollution from the recent L.A. fires will eventually make their way to the ocean — and scientists will be gauging the impact.
www.latimes.com
March 25, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Gotta say, I did NOT expect *cleaner* than normal water in terms of chemistry. Genuinely shocked.
The layer of surface ash stopped showing up consistently about 2 km north of our site, but ... I'll take the good news where I can.
The layer of surface ash stopped showing up consistently about 2 km north of our site, but ... I'll take the good news where I can.
cc: students
March 13, 2025 at 6:45 PM
cc: students
Reposted by Vantuna Research Group at Occidental College
recently finished this marine bio inspired knit 🧶 🌊
March 5, 2025 at 8:56 PM
recently finished this marine bio inspired knit 🧶 🌊
Two tries later: success!
Increased fill to 60% and used a rectilinear infill pattern. Printed with a Bambu Lab A1 printer. Took 10:47 to print.
This one liter sediment core weighs 179g, has a beveled top edge, a 1-mm screen on the bottom, and is just slightly *negatively* buoyant.
It’s perfect.
Increased fill to 60% and used a rectilinear infill pattern. Printed with a Bambu Lab A1 printer. Took 10:47 to print.
This one liter sediment core weighs 179g, has a beveled top edge, a 1-mm screen on the bottom, and is just slightly *negatively* buoyant.
It’s perfect.
March 4, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Two tries later: success!
Increased fill to 60% and used a rectilinear infill pattern. Printed with a Bambu Lab A1 printer. Took 10:47 to print.
This one liter sediment core weighs 179g, has a beveled top edge, a 1-mm screen on the bottom, and is just slightly *negatively* buoyant.
It’s perfect.
Increased fill to 60% and used a rectilinear infill pattern. Printed with a Bambu Lab A1 printer. Took 10:47 to print.
This one liter sediment core weighs 179g, has a beveled top edge, a 1-mm screen on the bottom, and is just slightly *negatively* buoyant.
It’s perfect.
Given what is happening at the federal level, I assume this is not a glitch and that buoy information is not going to come back online.
I really hope I'm wrong. Buoy data is absolutely invaluable.
I really hope I'm wrong. Buoy data is absolutely invaluable.
March 4, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Given what is happening at the federal level, I assume this is not a glitch and that buoy information is not going to come back online.
I really hope I'm wrong. Buoy data is absolutely invaluable.
I really hope I'm wrong. Buoy data is absolutely invaluable.
Hey, I know those fish! 😂
Today I got to play “guess how many fish are in the jar”, which is one of my favorite games because I get to look at lots of cool fish.
February 26, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Hey, I know those fish! 😂
For reference, we previously used 5" sections of 4" ABS pipe, glued on a knockout plug, drill large holes in the plug, then glued 1-mm screen over the holes.
Super inefficient, prone to damage, and costs more in just materials than a 3D printed core using PLA.
It works, but we can do better!
Super inefficient, prone to damage, and costs more in just materials than a 3D printed core using PLA.
It works, but we can do better!
As we replace old and damaged gear, why not use newer/cheaper/better technology?
I designed and 3D printed a diver sediment core with 1-mm screen and a beveled edge.
Not bad for a first try, screen isn’t perfect but it’ll work.
Biggest issue? It floats 😳🫠🤷🏻♂️ Guess I need a higher infill %?
🧪🦑🌎
I designed and 3D printed a diver sediment core with 1-mm screen and a beveled edge.
Not bad for a first try, screen isn’t perfect but it’ll work.
Biggest issue? It floats 😳🫠🤷🏻♂️ Guess I need a higher infill %?
🧪🦑🌎
February 14, 2025 at 10:12 PM
For reference, we previously used 5" sections of 4" ABS pipe, glued on a knockout plug, drill large holes in the plug, then glued 1-mm screen over the holes.
Super inefficient, prone to damage, and costs more in just materials than a 3D printed core using PLA.
It works, but we can do better!
Super inefficient, prone to damage, and costs more in just materials than a 3D printed core using PLA.
It works, but we can do better!
As we replace old and damaged gear, why not use newer/cheaper/better technology?
I designed and 3D printed a diver sediment core with 1-mm screen and a beveled edge.
Not bad for a first try, screen isn’t perfect but it’ll work.
Biggest issue? It floats 😳🫠🤷🏻♂️ Guess I need a higher infill %?
🧪🦑🌎
I designed and 3D printed a diver sediment core with 1-mm screen and a beveled edge.
Not bad for a first try, screen isn’t perfect but it’ll work.
Biggest issue? It floats 😳🫠🤷🏻♂️ Guess I need a higher infill %?
🧪🦑🌎
February 14, 2025 at 10:06 PM
As we replace old and damaged gear, why not use newer/cheaper/better technology?
I designed and 3D printed a diver sediment core with 1-mm screen and a beveled edge.
Not bad for a first try, screen isn’t perfect but it’ll work.
Biggest issue? It floats 😳🫠🤷🏻♂️ Guess I need a higher infill %?
🧪🦑🌎
I designed and 3D printed a diver sediment core with 1-mm screen and a beveled edge.
Not bad for a first try, screen isn’t perfect but it’ll work.
Biggest issue? It floats 😳🫠🤷🏻♂️ Guess I need a higher infill %?
🧪🦑🌎
Happy Valentines Day, from the VRG to you ...
but feel free to fill in your own names on our custom templates!
(artwork, text, and original absurdity by @chesseea.bsky.social)
but feel free to fill in your own names on our custom templates!
(artwork, text, and original absurdity by @chesseea.bsky.social)
February 14, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Happy Valentines Day, from the VRG to you ...
but feel free to fill in your own names on our custom templates!
(artwork, text, and original absurdity by @chesseea.bsky.social)
but feel free to fill in your own names on our custom templates!
(artwork, text, and original absurdity by @chesseea.bsky.social)
"In wake of Palisades fire, scientists keep an eye on how debris runoff could impact the ocean"
Listen to VRG Post-Doc Zoë Kitchel (@zoejean88.bsky.social) talk about potential impacts of the Palisades Fire on rocky reefs in Malibu!
laist.com/shows/airtal...
Listen to VRG Post-Doc Zoë Kitchel (@zoejean88.bsky.social) talk about potential impacts of the Palisades Fire on rocky reefs in Malibu!
laist.com/shows/airtal...
Checking in on California’s weather and water outlook
Today on AirTalk, fill in host Jacob Margolis takes an early look at the atmospheric river that will be hitting Los Angeles later this month. Also on the show, we explore how debris runoff could impac...
laist.com
February 6, 2025 at 7:15 PM
"In wake of Palisades fire, scientists keep an eye on how debris runoff could impact the ocean"
Listen to VRG Post-Doc Zoë Kitchel (@zoejean88.bsky.social) talk about potential impacts of the Palisades Fire on rocky reefs in Malibu!
laist.com/shows/airtal...
Listen to VRG Post-Doc Zoë Kitchel (@zoejean88.bsky.social) talk about potential impacts of the Palisades Fire on rocky reefs in Malibu!
laist.com/shows/airtal...
A lot goes unsaid and under-discussed in this article and video, and it'd be great if the general public didn't have to connect the dots, but also this is a really informative piece.
Maybe 100 ft to the right of this photo is Palos Verdes Reef, which we built in 2020.
abcnews.go.com/US/californi...
Maybe 100 ft to the right of this photo is Palos Verdes Reef, which we built in 2020.
abcnews.go.com/US/californi...
California coastal community shifts 4 inches closer to the ocean each week: NASA
A coastal community in Southern California is shifting downslope toward the Pacific Ocean at a rapid rate, according to NASA.
abcnews.go.com
February 6, 2025 at 5:27 PM
A lot goes unsaid and under-discussed in this article and video, and it'd be great if the general public didn't have to connect the dots, but also this is a really informative piece.
Maybe 100 ft to the right of this photo is Palos Verdes Reef, which we built in 2020.
abcnews.go.com/US/californi...
Maybe 100 ft to the right of this photo is Palos Verdes Reef, which we built in 2020.
abcnews.go.com/US/californi...
Many of our marine biology PIs and staff are getting trained on our new #microCT … hopefully not our last NSF-funded purchase
(This picture is lame, but I didn’t want to interrupt. I’m sure we will spam you with TONS of images soon #ScanAllFishes)
(This picture is lame, but I didn’t want to interrupt. I’m sure we will spam you with TONS of images soon #ScanAllFishes)
January 29, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Many of our marine biology PIs and staff are getting trained on our new #microCT … hopefully not our last NSF-funded purchase
(This picture is lame, but I didn’t want to interrupt. I’m sure we will spam you with TONS of images soon #ScanAllFishes)
(This picture is lame, but I didn’t want to interrupt. I’m sure we will spam you with TONS of images soon #ScanAllFishes)
Should be interesting (and probably disappointing) to see our upcoming water chemistry sampling results, plus see the lingering effects of runoff on the water column and ocean floor over the next year.
We saw it after the Woolsey Fire, I can imagine the result is any better this time around.
We saw it after the Woolsey Fire, I can imagine the result is any better this time around.
L.A. fires wreaked havoc on the land. Scientists are racing to learn what they've done to the sea
The debris and pollution from the recent L.A. fires will eventually make their way to the ocean — and scientists will be gauging the impact.
www.latimes.com
January 29, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Should be interesting (and probably disappointing) to see our upcoming water chemistry sampling results, plus see the lingering effects of runoff on the water column and ocean floor over the next year.
We saw it after the Woolsey Fire, I can imagine the result is any better this time around.
We saw it after the Woolsey Fire, I can imagine the result is any better this time around.
Reposted by Vantuna Research Group at Occidental College
Applications for our postbaccalaureate program are only open for another 10 days. If you're a recent college grad who is interested in museum careers, but didn't get the opportunity in college to gain research experience, consider applying to work with us for 12 months! Please feel free to share
#NHMLAC is currently accepting applications for the next cohort of #UNLAB postbaccalaureate researchers! Apply to spend a year working with a curator on a biodiversity research project in L.A.—view program details, eligibility requirements, and more: nhm.org/how-apply-un...
January 23, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Applications for our postbaccalaureate program are only open for another 10 days. If you're a recent college grad who is interested in museum careers, but didn't get the opportunity in college to gain research experience, consider applying to work with us for 12 months! Please feel free to share
I’m in the middle of family leave, but I took two days back because some students told me they wanted to test out a promising project.
Lo and behold, three automatic (via thruster and pre-programming) CTDs that we made race through a profile program.
The red one won! 😂
Lo and behold, three automatic (via thruster and pre-programming) CTDs that we made race through a profile program.
The red one won! 😂
January 3, 2025 at 11:00 PM
I’m in the middle of family leave, but I took two days back because some students told me they wanted to test out a promising project.
Lo and behold, three automatic (via thruster and pre-programming) CTDs that we made race through a profile program.
The red one won! 😂
Lo and behold, three automatic (via thruster and pre-programming) CTDs that we made race through a profile program.
The red one won! 😂
Wow! If only Apple Watch also had pH and DO sensors, we'd *really* be in business!
Just released! Our prototype app that turns your smartwatch into a smartsensor for marine science.
If you love a little DIY, fork our open source code and test our app on your Apple Watch. github.com/rejectedbana...
Not that into DIY? Beta begins testing soon....
@vgwschutte.bsky.social
If you love a little DIY, fork our open source code and test our app on your Apple Watch. github.com/rejectedbana...
Not that into DIY? Beta begins testing soon....
@vgwschutte.bsky.social
GitHub - rejectedbanana/BoB: SwiftUI application for environmental monitoring
SwiftUI application for environmental monitoring. Contribute to rejectedbanana/BoB development by creating an account on GitHub.
github.com
November 26, 2024 at 6:08 PM
Wow! If only Apple Watch also had pH and DO sensors, we'd *really* be in business!
Whoa - lot of new followers while I was out on family leave!
If you aren't familiar with us, I always recommend familiarizing yourself with one of our recent success stories: Palos Verdes Reef. Check out this short film by Shaun Wolfe called "Rebirth of a Reef"!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGg0...
If you aren't familiar with us, I always recommend familiarizing yourself with one of our recent success stories: Palos Verdes Reef. Check out this short film by Shaun Wolfe called "Rebirth of a Reef"!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGg0...
(2022 Update!) Rebirth of a Reef: Palos Verdes Reef Restoration Project [18 Months Later]
YouTube video by Vantuna Research Group
www.youtube.com
November 26, 2024 at 5:09 PM
Whoa - lot of new followers while I was out on family leave!
If you aren't familiar with us, I always recommend familiarizing yourself with one of our recent success stories: Palos Verdes Reef. Check out this short film by Shaun Wolfe called "Rebirth of a Reef"!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGg0...
If you aren't familiar with us, I always recommend familiarizing yourself with one of our recent success stories: Palos Verdes Reef. Check out this short film by Shaun Wolfe called "Rebirth of a Reef"!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGg0...
I still think about this about once a month, especially "Eel. Seal. Eel in a Seal."
Wild Green Memes has been cracking me up all week with movie poster parodies
I wrote about WGM for American scientist magazine www.americanscientist.org/blog/macrosc...
I wrote about WGM for American scientist magazine www.americanscientist.org/blog/macrosc...
October 23, 2024 at 11:19 PM
I still think about this about once a month, especially "Eel. Seal. Eel in a Seal."
Lost in the excitement of all this was that the shark barfed up a fish carcass (as in, whole fish sans fillets) with a SMALL hook in it attached to about 20 ft of light test monofilament.
The way I see it, us catching her might have saved her life.
The way I see it, us catching her might have saved her life.
🧪🌎🦑🐟
Me, instructor, making wild claims: "I bet we catch a big leopard shark on this replicate."
Class, having caught only bait thus far: 🙄
Me, beaming/gloating/measuring (149 cm TL) leopard shark (Triakis semifasciata) that we seined onto the beach from < 1m of water in Marina del Rey, CA:
Me, instructor, making wild claims: "I bet we catch a big leopard shark on this replicate."
Class, having caught only bait thus far: 🙄
Me, beaming/gloating/measuring (149 cm TL) leopard shark (Triakis semifasciata) that we seined onto the beach from < 1m of water in Marina del Rey, CA:
October 14, 2024 at 3:47 AM
Lost in the excitement of all this was that the shark barfed up a fish carcass (as in, whole fish sans fillets) with a SMALL hook in it attached to about 20 ft of light test monofilament.
The way I see it, us catching her might have saved her life.
The way I see it, us catching her might have saved her life.
🧪🌎🦑🐟
Me, instructor, making wild claims: "I bet we catch a big leopard shark on this replicate."
Class, having caught only bait thus far: 🙄
Me, beaming/gloating/measuring (149 cm TL) leopard shark (Triakis semifasciata) that we seined onto the beach from < 1m of water in Marina del Rey, CA:
Me, instructor, making wild claims: "I bet we catch a big leopard shark on this replicate."
Class, having caught only bait thus far: 🙄
Me, beaming/gloating/measuring (149 cm TL) leopard shark (Triakis semifasciata) that we seined onto the beach from < 1m of water in Marina del Rey, CA:
October 9, 2024 at 6:54 PM
🧪🌎🦑🐟
Me, instructor, making wild claims: "I bet we catch a big leopard shark on this replicate."
Class, having caught only bait thus far: 🙄
Me, beaming/gloating/measuring (149 cm TL) leopard shark (Triakis semifasciata) that we seined onto the beach from < 1m of water in Marina del Rey, CA:
Me, instructor, making wild claims: "I bet we catch a big leopard shark on this replicate."
Class, having caught only bait thus far: 🙄
Me, beaming/gloating/measuring (149 cm TL) leopard shark (Triakis semifasciata) that we seined onto the beach from < 1m of water in Marina del Rey, CA: