photo by Greg Hofmann

5/10/2004: Elsewhere we have seen the extent of the reefs on the pilings of the railroad bridge near Hudson's Landing, as well as the researchers who are studying them. A recent set of minus tides (on May 7 it was minus 1.8 feet at Kirby Park) offered a chance to get closer. These reefs are built by an invasive tubeworm (Ficopomatus enigmaticus) from Australia. The conical shells among the tubes (see closeup in a new window) are those of the invasive Japanese Horn Snail (Batillaria attramentaria), which was introduced into the slough in the 1930s, when Japanese oysters were cultured here.