The Horn Shark, a misunderstood fish by Ariana Wilson Horn Sharks are solitary, slow-moving predators native to the temperate rocky reefs, algal beds and kelp forests of the Pacific Ocean from California all the way down to western Mexico. They are considered one of the smaller shark species and can grow to four feet long. The majority of their diet consists of clams, mollusks, small crustaceans and sea urchins — which are becoming increasingly abundant on California’s coast. Their mouths are on the underside of their body, positioned to sweep the seabed and crush the hard shells of crustaceans that…

Sebastes mystinus by Ariana Wilson As a west coast diver for over two years, the rockfish is one of the most prolific fish I’ve observed, from Washington State to Southern California. Blue rockfish can be seen as far North as the Bering Sea, West of Alaska and as far south as Punta Baja, Baja California, Mexico. The blue rockfish, or blue seaperch, is a species of marine ray-finned fish that live in shallow rocky habitats and reefs, feeding and, for some species, enjoying a lifelong game of hide-and-seek. Their life expectancy can reach up to a quarter of a century.…

by Nick Escalada In the olden days, the pumpkins sitting in your yard in October would usually be the same ones on your dinner table weeks later. In our era of store-bought pies and soups, many households face an awkward confrontation with their expiring porch decorations post-Halloween and rotting gourds end up lining neighborhood gutters without fail. There are several ways to repurpose or dispose of your pumpkins sustainably according to the folks at Green Spiral Farm located in the Arcata Bottoms. They run a vibrant pumpkin patch that’s just seen a few mushy outliers after a long season and…

The Muraenidae and November’s Coral Bleaching Awareness Month by Ariana Wilson November marks the beginning of Coral Bleaching Awareness Month. Organizations, conservationists and lovers of oceans and coral amplify the voice of the vast oceans to raise awareness about coral bleaching. Coral bleaching occurs when the organisms that give reefs life and color die due to rising ocean temperatures. Their white color is a ‘sign of surrender’ from the sea that humans need to take seriously.  “As ocean temperatures rise, corals face increasing stress that can lead to bleaching and loss of biodiversity,” Chair for Coral Reef and Ocean Health…

by Ryndi Greenwell For the past couple of years, there has been no official botany club on campus. STEM students like botany majors are often so overwhelmed with classwork that mingling with their peers can fall on the back burner. The new campus botany club has the goal to remedy that issue. While the president of the club is technically Holly Popplewell, a senior botany major, she emphasizes that the club structure is more like a council. She thinks that rather than a group with specific leaders, it would be better to ensure all club members feel they can contribute…

Ptychocheilus oregonensis: the largest carp in North America by Ariana Wilson There is one fish that has been stressing scientists along the Pacific Northwest and Northern California — the unassuming pike minnow. Due to its approachable-sounding name, one may infer that it is a small fish no bigger than your hand. The largest reported northern pikeminnow according to the International Game Fish Association world record was seven pounds and 14 ounces. Its counterpart, the Colorado pikeminnow, is the largest North American minnow and is an endangered native of the Colorado River. It has not always been known by its current…

by Nick Escalada Humboldt is a refuge for old-growth redwoods and progressive culture, as well as a seasonal pit stop for the largest animal on the planet. Blue whales are migratory marine mammals that occur in all the world’s oceans — except the Arctic — throughout the year. They convene with their grey and humpback cousins on the Northern California coast from late summer to early fall to feed, using their comb-like baleen plates to sieve krill and plankton from the water. “All baleen whales have two parts of their lives: one part where they’re feeding extensively, and then the…

Oncorhynchus clarkii: the trout with many homes by Ariana Wilson The cutthroat trout is the state fish for several western states, including Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. There are 14 recognized subspecies of cutthroat trout, with distinct subspecies designated as the state fish for Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. Cutthroat trout are typically found in well-oxygenated, shallow rivers and they reproduce in cold, deep lakes. They are native to alluvial or freestone streams, which in fly-fishing terminology refers to areas with loose gravel or sand. Some coastal cutthroat trout exhibit semi-anadromous behavior, living in both freshwater and saltwater environments. Fish…

by Carmen Ruiz Fernandez Among flight simulators and earthquake tables in the library’s Hall of Simulation, students can now explore an interactive 3D herbarium. There, they can bring plants to life like never before. Throughout September, interactive workshops were held every Monday on the library’s second floor to introduce students to the herbarium. Diego Rodrigez, organizer of the 3D workshop, said the events were important to remind students that the herbarium is available as a resource for classes or personal exploration, as well as to showcase its features. Currently, the herbarium contains approximately 86 plants, but the number continues to…

by Nick Escalada Environmentalism isn’t quite the first word in independent rock, but a group of Cal Poly Humboldt STEM undergrads seem to disagree. Meet Sporegasm, a band of natural sciences students who have shaken up the Humboldt scene for years by infusing a passion for the outdoors into unique blends of music. Ecological restoration seniors Brandt Porteous and Jack McCann and senior forestry major Mark Ortiz have all known one another since 2022, as roommates and former bandmates. McCann was president of the Mycology Club back then, and an idea to form a mushroom-themed band sprouted from their shared…

Oncorhynchus tshawytscha: the fish king of the “Beaver State” by  Ariana WilsonThis week, we welcome an out-of-state finned friend from the North — Oregon’s state fish, the chinook salmon. The most significant and valuable species of Pacific salmon, with its common name originating from the Chinookan peoples. Known by many other names, including king salmon, quinnat salmon, spring salmon, blackmouth, and tyee salmon. These salt and freshwater dwellers are native to the North Pacific Ocean and the river systems of western North America, from California to Alaska, as well as rivers in Asia, from northern Japan to northeast Siberia. After…