Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary
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Our Marine Invertebrate Research Project Needs Volunteers!

Join our new ground breaking community science research project! Digging deep into the world within Aramburu Island's new beach.
This year our team is in search of dedicated volunteers that would like to help discover what effects the reconstruction of Aramburu Island's shoreline had on the surface and sub-surface level marine invertebrates.
 
Micro and Macro invertebrates such as crustaceans, worms, mollusks, nematodes and more are critical players in our San Francisco Bay ecosystem. Not only do these animals provide a vital food source for our migratory and residential shorebirds, but they also work to maintain a healthy environment for all plants and animals. Invertebrates, which make up as much as 97% of our earth's living species, have been linked to soil aeration, vegetation composition (through predation and pollination) and the filtration of water, debris and toxins from the ecosystem (http://sfbaymsi.org/schoolprograms/refrencelibrary/sfbayecology.html). This is why invertebrates are used as biological monitors, giving scientists insight on the health of our environment. 
 
In the 2011-2012 reconstruction of Aramburu Island, our quickly eroding mudflats were replaced by a mix of sand, rock and oyster shell to create a gently sloping and scalloped beach front that would attract migrating birds as resting and nesting habitat.
 
Be one of the first set of volunteers to help us uncover some of the mysteries beneath the mud. Volunteer work takes place onsite at our Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary. Volunteers must be comfortable sitting, using a microscope and using lab equipment for extended periods of time. Open to everyone 14 years old and up, flexible volunteer opportunities, long term volunteers encouraged. 
 
Please contact Aramburu Restoration Field Technician Courtney Gutman at cgutman@audubon.org or 415.388.2524 x 108 to join our research team! 

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