tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8997724252948267275.post3879728849917532312..comments2023-05-26T09:51:14.388-04:00Comments on Ashland Marine Biology: Shape Shifters of the Sea!Mason Posnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00027326710842603888noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8997724252948267275.post-36882439249006228972012-04-09T14:44:25.338-04:002012-04-09T14:44:25.338-04:00To Katelyn, I'm not too sure if they all swim ...To Katelyn, I'm not too sure if they all swim off and go in the same direction. They might not since they usually start off as free swimming larva that float freely with the currents. Also, I'm also not sure of the number of eggs produced each time, but I did read somewhere that the female can produced around 350,000 eggs each year.<br /><br />To Kelly, I do not know and exact time, but I do know that they begin dropping and settling after their hard skeleton begins to form. Usually, they will begin as free swimming larvae and go through several stages before their skeleton forms. <br /><br />To Angie, I'm sorry to say that I did not come across anything on the abundance of sand dollars in different areas.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8997724252948267275.post-63954364907591551112012-04-08T02:07:00.067-04:002012-04-08T02:07:00.067-04:00During spring break last year in Tybee Island Geor...During spring break last year in Tybee Island Georgia, there was a crazy amount of sand dollars on the beach. I have been to several different beaches in my lifetime and at different times of the year and I had never seen anywhere near the amount I saw. Did you come across anything about their abundance in certain areas at certain times of the year? And it is awesome to collect some and study their little leg like structures on the bottom side. When you let me sit out of the water for a little (but not to dry out) and touch their undersides, their leg-like structures harden. Its very cool!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8997724252948267275.post-84156361509048626282012-03-31T12:57:01.083-04:002012-03-31T12:57:01.083-04:00Very interesting. I always forget that they are a...Very interesting. I always forget that they are an actual organism and not just the shell we hope to find on the beach!Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00914896913369584144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8997724252948267275.post-91323053709061561612012-03-31T10:40:55.386-04:002012-03-31T10:40:55.386-04:00This is so interesting! I have seen so many adult...This is so interesting! I have seen so many adult sand dollars on vacations, but I had never once thought about its larval stages and any developmental stage for that matter. It is very neat that they have the ability to swim at a stage and can choose where they would like to settle. Do you know how long it takes them to settle?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8997724252948267275.post-47151538519490499562012-03-30T11:49:56.109-04:002012-03-30T11:49:56.109-04:00WOW! This is a very interesting study. To think th...WOW! This is a very interesting study. To think that sand dollars can swim seems to be odd, yet they choose where they settle. I find that very unique for this animal because it is a bottom dweller. Also poses the idea of reproduction with these creatures as well. How many larvae are produced at one time? Do they all to swim off to different directions? This post has me really curious to learn more about these animals.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com