Photos: Humboldt Squid Have a Bad Day at the Beach

Jumbo Mystery

Photograph by Chris Elmenhurst, Surf the Spot Photography

Why these jumbo squid—capable of growing up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) in length—end up beaching en masse is a bit of a mystery in the scientific community. “These types of things do happen now and then for various reasons which are not well understood,” said fish biologist John Field, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Published December 24, 2012

Deadly Hunger

Photograph by Chris Elmenhurst, Surf the Spot Photography

Diverse causes for this macabre phenomenon (pictured above) include expanding squid ranges due to climate change and warming waters, or toxic algae blooms that disorient the squid so they lose their bearings.

Some scientists think it has a more direct cause. It’s possible the squid were following prey and couldn’t cope with being crowded into increasingly shallow waters on a falling tide, said Henk-Jan Hoving, a researcher with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) in California. (Seevideo of these “Red Devils.”)

Published December 24, 2012

Squidy Obstacles

Photograph by Chris Elmenhurst, Surf the Spot Photography

“Strandings have been taking place with increased frequency along the West Coast over the past ten years,” noted NOAA’s Field, “as this population of squid seems to be expanding its range—likely a consequence of climate change—and can be very abundant at times.” (Learn about other jumbo squid strandings.)

Humboldt squid are typically found in warmer waters farther south in the Gulf of California (map) and off the coast of Peru. “[But] we find them up north here during warmer water time periods,” said ocean sciences researcher Kenneth Bruland with the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC).

Coastal upwelling—when winds blowing south drive ocean circulation to bring cold, nutrient-rich waters up from the deep—ceases during the fall and winter and warmer water is found closer to shore. Bruland noted that climate change, and the resulting areas of low oxygen, “could be a major factor” in drawing jumbo squid north.

Published December 24, 2012

Incredible Ability

Photograph by Chris Elmenhurst, Surf the Spot Photography

But this is not a universally accepted view. “I do not think this has anything to do with global warming” or changes in oxygen levels, said Francisco Chavez, a biological oceanographer with MBARI. Chavez’s colleague Hoving agrees. He points to the incredible ability of Humboldt squid to thrive in low oxygen environments that most other organisms tend to avoid. Hoving also described the invertebrate as an “incredibly agile predator” that would be unlikely to become trapped without cause, especially in such large numbers. (Related:“Jumbo Squid Flash, Flail in First Ever Squid-cam Video.”)

Published December 24, 2012

Mass Poisoning?

Photograph by Carrie Vonderhaar, Ocean Futures Society/National Geographic

Harmful algal blooms are yet another possible cause for mass beaching events. Certain species leak toxins, such as domoic acid, into the water that can incapacitate local wildlife. Some scientists surmise that these blooms could play a direct role by rendering squid unable to discern direction.

This disorientation could cause a mass beaching, but the evidence is as yet inconclusive. “While it’s possible that the squid were exposed to a toxin, its reasonably unlikely,” said Raphe Kudela, a phytoplankton ecologist at UCSC. “My lab monitors algae and toxins weekly from the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf, and there has generally been very little to no toxin for the last month or so, and very few potentially toxic algae.” (Related:“Sea Lion Seizures May Result From Toxic Algae.”)

Published December 24, 2012

Final Resting Place

Photograph by Chris Elmenhurst, Surf the Spot Photography

There are no clear answers for the cause of such a gruesome day at the beach. The only certainty is the feast it provided for seagulls, sea lions, and other coastal predators that have happily carried out the beach cleanup effort.

Published December 24, 2012