Working on Coconut Island has many upsides, but one of my favorite is getting to see science in action. I’ve been in the lab for the past few years, watching as Dr. Chris Bird’s research on the Hawaiian limpets (known locally as opihi) has unfolded. The tale they tell is already an intriguing one, as they seem to be one of the only organisms with solid evidence to suggest sympatric speciation (the splitting of species without any physical barriers). They’re also one of the only marine species to have radiated here in Hawaii. But on the most recent expedition, something else strange about these little mollusks was confirmed: they tend to separate based on sex.
The scientists found that female opihi live higher up on the shore than male opihi. Why? Well, we don’t know yet, but Chris is determined to find out. He thinks it likely has to do with spawning, and may prove valuable information for managers of the opihi fishery. The recent discovery was even featured on the local news – alongside some fantastic visuals of the perils these scientists undergo to conduct their research:
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About Christie Wilcox
Christie Wilcox is a science writer and PhD Student at the University of Hawaii, where she studies the protein toxins in venomous fish. She is renowned in the science blogosphere for her delicate balance of contemporary science and scientific perspective seasoned with just the right amount of wit. Her award-winning posts have been featured in The Open Laboratory: The Best Science Writing On Blogs four years running and landed on the pages of major media outlets including The New York Times and Scientific American. To learn more about her life and work, check out her webpage or follow her on Twitter, Google+, or Facebook.
Working on Coconut Island has many upsides, but one of my favorite is getting to see science in action. I’ve been in the lab for the past few years, watching as Dr. Chris Bird’s research on the Hawaiian limpets (known locally as opihi) has unfolded. The tale they tell is already an intriguing one, as they seem to be one of the only organisms with solid evidence to suggest sympatric speciation (the splitting of species without any physical barriers). They’re also one of the only marine species to have radiated here in Hawaii. But on the most recent expedition, something else strange about these little mollusks was confirmed: they tend to separate based on sex.
