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

1 / 28

Cuthona caerulea nudibranch.

Linda Ianniello

2 / 28

Banded Coral Shrimp.

Linda Ianniello

3 / 28

Dragonets mating.

Linda Ianniello

4 / 28

Felimare ruthae nudibranch.

Linda Ianniello

5 / 28

Felimare ruthae nudibranch laying eggs.

Linda Ianniello

6 / 28

Flabellina marcusorum nudibranch.

Linda Ianniello

7 / 28

Flatworms mating.

Linda Ianniello

8 / 28

Flounders mating.

Linda Ianniello

9 / 28

Flying gurnard.

Linda Ianniello

10 / 28

Chelidonura hirundinina headshield slug.

Linda Ianniello

11 / 28

Mollusk laying eggs.

Linda Ianniello

12 / 28

Pipehorse pair, male brooding.

Linda Ianniello

13 / 28

Striated frogfish.

Linda Ianniello

14 / 28

Juvenile striated frogfish.

Changing Seas

15 / 28

Juvenile Octopus vulgaris (common octopus).

Changing Seas

16 / 28

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

Sandra Edwards

17 / 28

Cerberilla sp. Nudibranch, about three inches in size.

Sandra Edwards

18 / 28

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

19 / 28

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

20 / 28

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

Sandra Edwards

21 / 28

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

Sandra Edwards

22 / 28

A female seaweed blenny with the male standing guard.

Changing Seas

23 / 28

A sharpnose eel.

Changing Seas

24 / 28

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

Changing Seas

25 / 28

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

Changing Seas

26 / 28

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

Changing Seas

27 / 28

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

David Sanchez

28 / 28

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