In the MRC the tidepool contained:
a lobster
star fish
snail coiled egg cases
sea urchins
mussels
sand dollars
snails
horseshoe crabs
Jenny Nixon, a marine researcher, has worked at the Center for
two years now. Nixon is currently
conducting a study on the behavioral patterns of lobsters. Her
research focuses on how lobsters
receive and send chemical signals and how they use these signals
to communicate and regulate their
behavior. Even though scientists know that the lobster uses chemicals
to control its behavioral
patterns the chemical has not yet been isolated.
One of the animals in abundance at the MRC is the horseshoe crab.
Besides the obvious interest
in their appearance and behavior, these animals are of medical
interest to humans. In the 1920's, it
was found that when blood is taken from horseshoe crabs, it contains
a protein which reacts with
the bacteria that causes spinal meningitis. Thus, this protein
can be used to diagnose this disease
quickly, so that treatment can begin immediately.
Also, horseshoe crabs have several pairs of primitive eyes which
have become the basis of studies
on human eyes. Instead of seeing an image like us, their eyes
are sensitive only to light and
shadow. Another interesting thing about their eyes is that barnacles
never grow over them.
Scientists are currently working on finding the chemical horseshoe
crabs use to keep barnacles off,
as this would most likely be a source of great profit.
Go to MRC Page 1 - Marine Resources Center
Go to MRC Page 3 - Sting rays & Sharks
Go to MRC Page 4 - Cuttlefish
Go to MRC Page 5 - Interesting fish
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