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Echinoderms
Echinoderm Videos
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Lesson Plan
Artful EchinodermsEngaging Students with Echinoderm Phenomena, Adaptations, and ArtFull Lesson Plan
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Factsheet
Echinoderms: The Spiny RebelsModern echinoderms, which include sea stars, urchins, sea cucumbers and sea lilies, have a unique body plan with a five-part symmetry.Download Factsheet
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Reading
Echinoderms: Give me Five, an Ultimate Animal"If there are animals from another planet already here, they're probably starfish."Download Reading
Features
Creature
Sunflower Sea Star (Pycnopodia): An Apex Predator
We’re thrilled when we see a magnificent sunflower sea star. The sunflower star, Pycnopodia helianthoides, may not be a “charismatic megafauna” like the most well-known apex predators. But, indeed, this large sea star is a powerful predator and the apex one in some of its world.
Sunflower Sea Star (Pycnopodia): An Apex Predator
We’re thrilled when we see a magnificent sunflower sea star. The sunflower star, Pycnopodia helianthoides, may not be a “charismatic megafauna” like the most well-known apex predators. But, indeed, this large sea star is a powerful predator and the apex one in some of its world.
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Scientist
John Pearse
Dr. John Pearse has spent a lifetime studying the reproductive biology and ecology of sea stars and sea urchins. His doctoral work involved exploring the biology of marine invertebrates in the Antarctic, where he overwintered in 1961 then returned with his own students repeatedly in the 1980s. They found that the abundant and ecologically important Antarctic cushion star spawns in mid-winter to produce long-lived pelagic larvae that feed on…
John Pearse
Dr. John Pearse has spent a lifetime studying the reproductive biology and ecology of sea stars and sea urchins. His doctoral work involved exploring the biology of marine invertebrates in the Antarctic, where he overwintered in 1961 then returned with his own students repeatedly in the 1980s. They found that the abundant and ecologically important Antarctic cushion star spawns in mid-winter to produce long-lived pelagic larvae that feed on…
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Did You Know?
Kelp forests and Sea Urchin Barrens
In 2015 a “blob” of warm water, combined with a strong El Niño created extra warm water in the Monterey Bay and slowed the growth of giant kelp. This warming caused sea urchins, who typically thrived in their niches, to proactively search for kelp instead of waiting for it to drift by. This all created what is known as sea urchin barrens.
Kelp forests and Sea Urchin Barrens
In 2015 a “blob” of warm water, combined with a strong El Niño created extra warm water in the Monterey Bay and slowed the growth of giant kelp. This warming caused sea urchins, who typically thrived in their niches, to proactively search for kelp instead of waiting for it to drift by. This all created what is known as sea urchin barrens.
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Shape of Life Blog
A "CRAB-SOLUTELY FABULOUS" WAY TO INSPIRE KIDS TO LOVE SCIENCE
A recent episode of Bob's Burgers highlights echinoderms, and I'm all for it.
A "CRAB-SOLUTELY FABULOUS" WAY TO INSPIRE KIDS TO LOVE SCIENCE
A recent episode of Bob's Burgers highlights echinoderms, and I'm all for it.
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