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Starlet Stressors

August 23, 2011

The starlet sea anemone, a small animal found in salt marshes on Cape Cod, is a close relative of reef-building corals. Like other animals, corals and sea anemones can be stressed by exposure to extreme temperatures, ultraviolet light, and chemical pollution. Many animals, from sea anemones to humans, have evolved similar mechanisms to protect their cells from damage, but it is important to understand which animals may be particularly vulnerable to certain types of stress. Learn from WHOI biologist Ann Tarrant how researchers are studying the effects of environmental stressors on sea anemones, including potential impacts from oil spills at the August 23 Science Made Public talk.(Photo by Tom Kleindinst, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)