Solar-powered seaweed-sucking seaslugs with Nicole Mertens

This one’s for you if you’re into nudibranchs, sea grapes, solar power, butterflies, citizen science and tongues with teeth(!?) 🌱🐛

Nicole Mertens is a marine ecologist with a passion for sacoglossans, a science communicator and the Nature Stewards Coordinator with the Victorian National Parks Association. Nicole is passionate about using citizen science as a platform for evidence-based conservation, and helping people connect with their local environment.

You can find Nicole and the VNPA team here and on socials @vicnationalparks.

Subscribe for updates or support the podcast at quietnightin.substack.com. You can find and contact me @seaweed.people. Donate to support the making of this show at buymeacoffee.com/seaweedpeople.

Links to research, projects and stories touched on in this ep:

Seaslug census Facebook group (Australia)

iNaturalist - sacoglossans of Victoria (good pics)

Nudibranchs - videos + freaky facts

Shaun the Sheep internet famous nudi

Keep your head: the self-decapitating sea slugs that regrow their bodies – hearts and all

Solar-powered sea slugs

VNPA ReefWatch citizen science programs