Kurt
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kurtbb.bsky.social
Kurt
@kurtbb.bsky.social
65 followers 130 following 23 posts
BS/MS Marine Biology (uscphilippines). Interested in black corals and related organisms. he/him/his
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kurtbb.bsky.social
Counting down my days as a fellow at SI NMNH. Nothing but pure bliss to be here.
October 7, 2025 at 12:41 AM
kurtbb.bsky.social
Workspace at NMNH MSC. #taxonomy #blackcorals
August 29, 2025 at 1:26 AM
kurtbb.bsky.social
First day of fellowship begins today.
August 25, 2025 at 4:00 PM
kurtbb.bsky.social
Back on land after a month of being at sea sampling in Earth's most remote ecosystem - the deep sea. Always just grateful for the experience and the kind people I have met during that time. @dsbsoc.bsky.social
July 31, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Reposted by Kurt
dsbsoc.bsky.social
Another exciting 2025 #DSBSoc support awardee!

Meet Kurt Bacharo (@kurtbb.bsky.social), a grad student in the @miselab.bsky.social at U. of the Ryukyus working with #BlackCorals and currently aboard the #JAMSTEC R/V Kaimei exploring the biodiversity off the Daito Islands.

Read more in alt-text!
I am Kurt Bryant Bacharo, currently a graduate student in the Molecular Invertebrate and Systematics Laboratory @miselab.bsky.social at the University of the Ryukyus. Prior to relocating to Japan, I finished my BS and MS degrees in Marine Biology at the University of San Carlos in Cebu, Philippines where I had the privilege to study the readily accessible shallow-water reefs in my country. Image: Kurt Bacharo smiling and wearing glasses, a white hard hat, flotation device and a DSBS17 shirt on the deck of the R/V Kaimei. Coming from the developing world, the concept of deep-sea exploration has always been out of sight, out of mind. The opportunity only opened to me when I was selected as an OceanCensus participant to board JAMSTEC R/V Kaimei for the KM 24-03 (Leg 2) research cruise last year to explore the Kyushu-Palau Ridge and the Daito Islands. The latter is part of the Deep-Sea Archaic Refugia in Karst (D-ARK) project, whose main objective has been on the documentation of the deep-sea biodiversity found inside limestone caves. Now in its second year, I am lucky to be part of the project again to further explore the hidden biodiversity of the Daito Islands. This year's participation for the KM 25-06C research cruise was made possible by a Research Support Award granted by @DSBSoc. Image: Kurt gesturing towards the docked R/V Kaimei from the adjacent pier. As my current project focuses on the taxonomy of black corals in southern Japan, the deep-sea offers significant research opportunities related to biodiversity, biogeography, and species discovery. Few of the specimens collected both in KM 24-03 (Leg 2) and KM 25-06C research cruises highlighted new records of black corals in the NW Pacific, and perhaps some are likely new to science. Image: Two pictures of Kurt smiling towards the camera on deck of the R/V Kaimei. He is wearing a dark blue JAMSTEC shirt.
July 27, 2025 at 3:12 PM
kurtbb.bsky.social
The D-ARK (Deep-Sea Archaic Refugia in Karst) voyage continues! Was able to join as an @oceancensus.bsky.social participant last year. And now, on its second year, I am lucky to be part of it again with the generous cruise support provided by @dsbsoc.bsky.social.
July 1, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Reposted by Kurt
dsbsoc-arts.bsky.social
🎨🔬 CALLING ALL ARTISTS & DEEP-SEA SCIENTISTS!

💡 Open to ALL artists & scientists

🗓 Deadline: August 31

📍 Apply via the short form in our bio / link below!

🔗 forms.gle/SftLbez3ML2j...
Are you inspired by the mysteries of the deep? We're launching a new initiative ArtSea Matchmaking that pairs artists and scientists for creative collaborations rooted in deep-sea science. Together, you'll co-create compelling work that bridges disciplines and reaches wider audiences through exhibitions and outreach.
June 25, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Reposted by Kurt
systbiol.bsky.social
In case you missed it: SSB is hosting a breakout meeting Jan 9-11.

Thinking about hosting a workshop or tutorial? Email @jembrown.bsky.social for more information - or find him at the in-person #evol2025 in two weeks!

ssb2026.github.io
2026 SSB Breakout Meeting
ssb2026.github.io
June 4, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Reposted by Kurt
shchurch.bsky.social
Excited to share our study on sailing siphonophores, AKA bluebottles or man-o'-war! 🌊 we received hundreds of samples from scientists around the world, part of a huge effort to sequence genomes and test for multiple species 🧬 out today in @currentbiology.bsky.social doi.org/10.1016/j.cu... 🦑🧪📌
Physalia megalista, a cnidiran with a gas filled float, raised sail, and long blue tentacles hanging below. Image credit: Dalila Destanović
June 19, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Reposted by Kurt
zookeys.pensoft.net
A new species of black coral, represented by two specimens collected 738 m and 1604 m deep off Puerto Rico and Hawaii, respectively, is recognized in the family Schizopathidae. See its description here: doi.org/10.3897/zook...
Description of a new species of Stauropathes (Anthozoa, Antipatharia, Schizopathidae) from Puerto Rico
A new species of black coral, Stauropathes monopinnata sp. nov., represented by two specimens collected 738 m and 1604 m deep off Puerto Rico and Hawaii, respectively, is recognized in the family Schi...
doi.org
June 16, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Reposted by Kurt
echinoblog.bsky.social
Many may not remember the DENDROGRAMMA mystery! This weird mushroom-shaped thing was described in 2014 as a "new metazoan" of unknown affinities! They were hinting that it might be a new phylum-but THEN 2 years later @drtimohara.bsky.social sequenced it and BOING! BENTHIC
#SIPHONOPHORE!
mushroom shaped organism with translucent base
June 15, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Reposted by Kurt
oceancensus.bsky.social
Looking to join a marine expedition — but need funding support? 🚢 The Ocean Census Expedition Awards are now OPEN for applications.

Find out more and apply 👇
oceancensus.org/publications...
The Ocean Census Expedition Awards are now open
The Ocean Census Expedition Awards provide support to taxonomists, biodiversity and community scientists who wish to take part in an existing expedition onboard a research vessel.
oceancensus.org
May 28, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Reposted by Kurt
echinoblog.bsky.social
Interesting video showing off the Antarctic brittle star Ophionotus cleaning itself off! #echinoday youtube.com/shorts/9cBOk...
Antarctica - the Kingdom of the Echinoderm!
YouTube video by Inkfish Expeditions
youtube.com
May 23, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Reposted by Kurt
miselab.bsky.social
New paper by MISE octocoral crazy collectors and friends!! @lauramacrina.bsky.social

www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Biodiversity and biogeography of zooxanthellate soft corals across the Indo-Pacific - Scientific Reports
Scientific Reports - Biodiversity and biogeography of zooxanthellate soft corals across the Indo-Pacific
www.nature.com
May 3, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Reposted by Kurt
echinoblog.bsky.social
A feather star, sitting on this weird sponge/black coral cluster, 1445 m but with interestingly weird arm movements! Kure Atoll #okeanos #saveNOAA #echinoday
yellow feather star with feathery arms and long tendrils attached to sponge
April 23, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Reposted by Kurt
echinoblog.bsky.social
A curiousity! Glass sponge with a black coral inundated within it! 981 m #okeanos #saveNOAA #spongethursday
April 13, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Reposted by Kurt
sandsharks.bsky.social
Visual depiction of the evolutionary trend of black coral skeletal networks and ridges. www.nature.com/articles/s42...
April 8, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Reposted by Kurt
sandsharks.bsky.social
🚨 Fossilized Black Corals 🚨 Includes two transitional species too! Come learn about the evolutionary trend toward regularity in the axial skeleton from the Ordovician to modern day antipatharians (includes reduced ridges and a longitudinal fusion of networks). www.nature.com/articles/s42...
Unveiling the early evolution of black corals - Communications Biology
The authors describe two transitional species of Sterictopathes from the Middle Ordovician of Shaanxi, China, bridging the fossil gaps and thereby elevating the genus Sterictopathes to a new family, S...
www.nature.com
April 7, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Reposted by Kurt
oceancensus.bsky.social
Calling all marine scientists involved in marine species discovery 📣 The Ocean Census Species Discovery Awards are now open for applications. These are financial awards, generously provided by The Nippon Foundation, to help fund the discovery of new species.

Info here: oceancensus.org/awards/
April 7, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Reposted by Kurt
echinoblog.bsky.social
Was at #AWESOMECON here in DC and wow. Handmade PLUSHIE NUDIBRANCHS! Sometimes I think education about invertebrates is working! #molluscmonday
multiple plush toy nudibranchs on a shelf
April 6, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Reposted by Kurt
oceancensus.bsky.social
The Ocean Census Species Discovery Awards support outstanding taxonomists, biodiversity and community scientists involved in marine species discovery.

Financial awards available to apply for now oceancensus.org/awards/
April 1, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Reposted by Kurt
echinoblog.bsky.social
Benthic siphonophores! aka Sea Dandelions! GORGEOUS, weird & deadly! All those thin threads? stinging cells! but also holding the animal in place. It has created a curtain of death around it as food gets stung and eaten! #okeanos Lumpy Seamount North Atlantic #saveNOAA
orange-brown center on a ball-like jelly like animal suspended by long mucous like threads orange-brown center on a ball-like jelly like animal suspended by long mucous like threads orange-brown center on a ball-like jelly like animal suspended by long mucous like threads
March 29, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Reposted by Kurt
echinoblog.bsky.social
IRIDIGORGIA! the fireworks coral-for #octocoralFriday #Okeanos #saveNOAA south of Hawaiian Islands, about 700m I think? from dive 4 of the shakedown cruise!
spiral coral in multiple whorls spiral coral in multiple whorls
March 28, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Reposted by Kurt
colinjanthony.bsky.social
NEW PAPER ON CORAL RESTORATION PUBLISHED IN ONE EARTH!
🌏🌊🏝
Within we find a lack of knowledge on basic coral biology limits innovation.
🪸🪸🪸
Please enjoy! doi.org/10.1016/j.on...
Request on ResearchGate if you need access:
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
March 27, 2025 at 3:51 AM
Reposted by Kurt
echinoblog.bsky.social
#wormwednesday! A #newspecies of an unusual polychaete genus Ctenophoricola (#Phyllodocida, Phyllodocidae, Alciopini) from the Indian Ocean how interesting! www.mapress.com/zt/article/v...
March 26, 2025 at 3:25 PM