Episode 804: Beneath the Bridge

The Blue Heron Bridge in Riviera Beach, Florida, is known as one of the best shore dives in the United States. What appears as an unlikely dive site at first is home to a rich variety of marine life, ranging from sea horses to manta rays. A scientist from Florida Atlantic University is studying the two species of octopus that live here, to better understand how these animals can co-exist in one area without competing with each other. In addition, a group of dedicated underwater photographers is contributing to scientific knowledge by documenting the large number of nudibranchs, or sea slugs, that live beneath the bridge.

Experts

Meet the experts featured in this episode.

Episode Photos

Linda Ianniello

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Cuthona caerulea nudibranch.

Linda Ianniello

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Banded Coral Shrimp.

Linda Ianniello

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Dragonets mating.

Linda Ianniello

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Felimare ruthae nudibranch.

Linda Ianniello

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Felimare ruthae nudibranch laying eggs.

Linda Ianniello

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Flabellina marcusorum nudibranch.

Linda Ianniello

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Flatworms mating.

Linda Ianniello

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Flounders mating.

Linda Ianniello

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Flying gurnard.

Linda Ianniello

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Chelidonura hirundinina headshield slug.

Linda Ianniello

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Mollusk laying eggs.

Linda Ianniello

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Pipehorse pair, male brooding.

Linda Ianniello

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Striated frogfish.

Linda Ianniello

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Juvenile striated frogfish.

Changing Seas

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Juvenile Octopus vulgaris (common octopus).

Changing Seas

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Macrotritopus defilippi (Atlantic long-arm octopus) looking out for predators and prey.

Sandra Edwards

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Cerberilla sp. Nudibranch, about three inches in size.

Sandra Edwards

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A Chromodoris clenchi nudibranch - this species is commonly seen at the Blue Heron Bridge. The yellow spiral holds the eggs of this sea slug.

Sandra Edwards

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Face of Micromelo undatus. This animal has a white and red shell that is fragile. The face is square with two tiny black eye ports.

Sandra Edwards

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Flabellina nudibranch with eggs. These animals are common at the bridge. They can be red or orange with white tips.

Sandra Edwards

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A female and male Molly Miller Blenny in their hole surrounded by the three stages of their purple eggs.

Sandra Edwards

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A female seaweed blenny with the male standing guard.

Changing Seas

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A sharpnose eel.

Changing Seas

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A long-arm octopus in the sand. Octopuses are masters of disguise.

Changing Seas

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Common octopuses like to use bottles and other structures as their dens to hide from predators.

Changing Seas

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Octopuses can taste with their suckers. They also help them attach to various surfaces.

Changing Seas

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Common octopuses are messy eaters that like to decorate their dens with discarded shells.

David Sanchez

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A common octopus with eggs.

Special Thanks:

Force-E Scuba Centers
155 East Blue Heron Blvd
Riviera Beach, FL 33404
(561) 845-2333

Image Credits

Changing Seas would like to thank the following individuals and institutions who kindly allowed their footage, images and other media to be used in this production:

Chelsea Bennice

Anne DuPont

Sandra Edwards

Linda Ianniello

Jeff Nelson

Naples Daily News

Diane Randolph

David Sanchez

Gabrielle Winters

Special Thanks:

Jim Abernethy

Carolina Cuadra

Paula Echevarria

Christy Andreoni
Phyllis Man
Kelly King
Palm Beach County Film & Television Commission

Karen Richason

Episode 804: Beneath the Bridge

Experts

Chelsea Bennice

Anne DuPont

Sandra Edwards

Linda Ianniello

Jeff Nelson

David Sanchez

Gabrielle Winters

Special Thanks:

Image Credits

Special Thanks:

Web Extras

Off the Coast of Palm Beach County

Life Beneath the Bridge

Funding for this episode of Changing Seas was provided by: