Delicate Balance: Brittle Stars on Vibrant Sponge

Spiny brittle stars (Ophiothrix spiculata) and snapping shrimp create a complex ecosystem atop a bright orange sponge in the Channel Islands National Park. These brittle stars extend their distinctive feathery arms to filter feed in the nutrient-rich waters. The park's protected status has allowed such intricate biological communities to thrive, offering researchers a window into the complex relationships that sustain marine biodiversity along California's coast. Marine biologists monitor these habitats to track ecosystem health in this underwater wilderness.