Kayla Wilson and the Beauty of the Juvenile Blacksmith (Chromis punctipinnis ) Blacksmith are a fish that live above reefs. They make use of the turbulence above the reef to concentrate their food source, plankton. Blacksmith help control the population of many ecologically important species including other predators by eating larval plankton from mollusks (veligers including abalone larvae), crabs, and lobsters. Young blacksmith are very colorful until they reach around 2 inches in length. Upon reaching adulthood they turn blue-black and grow to about 12 inches in length. Reference: friendsoflajollashores.com/marinelife/blacksmith/# www.aquariumofpacific.org/onlinelearningcenter/species/bl... Ed Parnell, Associate Research Oceanographer, Integrative Oceanography Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography About the Project Marine Protected Animal (MPA) Glam Shots Come get your Glam on for the Ocean! Artist, Jessica Ling Findley, combines retro glamour portraits with sea creatures thriving in Marine Protected Areas. These portraits highlight successful human actions to heal our oceans. Want to help spread the word about Marine Protected Areas and ocean optimism? Sign up to be a model for the ocean at bit.ly/38dykjn Project Origins: Inspired by the world’s premier Ocean Sciences Meeting in February 2020, Seaport Village and The Port of San Diego have invited artist Jessica Ling Findley to produce a series of art experiences. She will help bring science to life through art at Seaport Village from December 2019 to February 2020. As ocean vitality becomes more critical with changing climate, these works, produced with input and data from scientists at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Birch Aquarium, explore how stories of Ocean Optimism can inspire us all to work together for a sustainable future. These immersive experiences invite audiences to think about the future of our oceans in new and creative ways. #MPAglamour #GlamourMPA #scripps #oceanography #birchaquarium #oceanscience #marineprotectedareas #blacksmithfish #jessicalingfindley #oceanoptimism #glamourshot #glam (at Seaport Village Waterfront, San Diego) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6bVd_-n6NC/?igshid=1ttppe6z05817