Parasite on a hot vent limpet

The hot vent limpet (Lepetodrilus fucensis) is the most abundant animal found at vents on the Juan de Fuca and Explorer Ridges. Recently we have been doing work on a new species of chitonophilid copepod that parasitizes the limpet.


The copepodite of the parasite enters the mantle cavity and attaches to the afferent branchial vein. An invasive, vermiform stage is injected into the vein and develops into an extensive rootlet system. This endosome is mobile but eventually an ectosomal female body grows outside the vein. The rootlet system is still able to wriggle but it is fixed in place by the ectosomal body as seen in this video.

Sponge Reefs

We have done work at the glass sponge reefs in the Strait of Georgia. We use a number of different instruments and sampling techniques to gain insight into these interesting habitats.



A Sontec ADV is positioned above the osculum of a glass sponge (Heterochone calyx) by the deft manipulator of ROPOS.



Using specially designed SIP samplers to sample a small volume of water expelled from the osculum of the glass sponge (Heterochone calyx).

Saanich Inlet

Several students and collaborating scientists have done work using VENUS in Saanich Inlet.



Arrow worms were so abundant in the water that they obscured the subject of the photograph. These zooplankton (Sagitta elegans) are predators on copepods and smaller plankton.



A swarm of hyperiid amphipods are highlighted against an anemone in the background. Many species of plankton migrate daily to the bottom where there are food for the benthos.