Biology Department

The shellfish pathogen that hit California’s Channel Islands in the 1980s began to quickly kill one of the tideland’s most important animals — black abalone.

But what unnerved scientists was what they learned next: Whenever ocean waters grew warmer, the deadly…

The shellfish pathogen that hit California’s Channel Islands in the 1980s began to quickly kill one of the tideland’s most important animals — black abalone.

But what unnerved scientists was what they learned next: Whenever ocean waters grew warmer, the deadly…

Scientists have cracked the mystery of what has killed millions of sea stars in waters off the Pacific coast, from British Columbia to Mexico.

Jellyfish blooms have been making waves over the last few decades, with reports that conglomerations of these gelatinous creatures seem to be on the rise. Scientists debate whether blooms are becoming more common globally due to human activities or whether people are simply noticing them more as…

With the return of the rainy season, mushrooms and other fungi are sprouting everywhere in the Northwest, prompting excitement among Mushroomers and curiosity among casual outdoors observers.

"Mushrooms are coming up all over the place," said Fred Rhoades…

Watermelon snow is neither a tasty treat nor a hoax.
Algae and bacteria that thrive in cold conditions can tint snow with a splash of pinkish-red at certain elevations.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the strange phenomenon not only resembles the…

A marine invertebrate expert will kick off the 2014-15 Discovery Speaker Series with a program Thursday on sea star wasting disease.

Presented by the South Sound Estuary Association, the free six-part series brings experts to the South Sound to talk about issues…