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Getting Under a Sea Otter’s Skin: The Anatomy of Sensitive Touch
May 16, 2021 @ 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
FreeVirtual Science Sunday — Getting Under a Sea Otter’s Skin: The Anatomy of Sensitive Touch
Sarah McKay Strobel, Ph.D., Lecturer, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department, UC Santa Cruz
Sea otters are in a race against time. To survive, they hunt for clams, crabs, urchins, snails, mussels, and abalone down to 100 feet deep. Otters must work quickly since they can hold their breath for only 1-3 minutes per dive, and their prey is often found in rocky crevices or buried under the sand. Scientists have discovered that sea otters are fast decision makers with the help of their ultra-sensitive paws and whiskers. As a follow-up to that research, scientists explored what’s happening underneath the skin’s surface to enable sea otters’ impressive abilities.
Join Sarah McKay Strobel to explore how the anatomy of skin influences the sense of touch in a hungry sea otter, as well as how researchers interpret clues from anatomy to learn how animals perceive the world.
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Register in advance for the online Science Sunday webinar (required): https://seymourcenter.ucsc.edu/learn/ongoing-education/science-sundays/
Please register at least one hour prior to event start time. Registration closes at 12:30 PM PDT on Sunday, May 16, 2021.
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Science Sunday is for everyone interested in the world around them. Join us on the third Sunday of every month (except December) for a public lecture from a marine scientist, who presents current research and topics in an entertaining and easy-to-understand format, with up-to-date photos, video, and discussion.
-Time: 1:30 PM; lectures are one hour long and include time for a few questions at the end.
-Location: Online; webinar preregistration is required.
-Recommended for ages 10 and older.
Virtual Science Sundays are free for Seymour Center members, and $10 per household for non-members. Please consider supporting the Seymour Center, and gaining free access to programs like Science Sunday, by becoming a member today: seymourcenter.ucsc.edu/get-involved/join