Matt Bracken
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brackenlab.bsky.social
Matt Bracken
@brackenlab.bsky.social
5.6K followers 2.7K following 3.4K posts
Marine biodiversity - https://faculty.sites.uci.edu/biodiversity/ - he/him/his
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brackenlab.bsky.social
*Megathura* for #MolluscMonday. Giant keyhole limpets are so wonderfully chonky! #MarineLife 🌊🦑
A giant keyhole limpet - a large gastropod mollusc - sits in a tide pool. Its black mantle extends around and on top of its shell. Like other members of the Fissurelidae, it has a pore (“keyhole”) at the apex of its shell that is used for waste excretion.
November 24, 2025 at 7:37 PM
brackenlab.bsky.social
So an advertising blimp flew over my backyard this afternoon. But the AI in my phone says it’s a slug… 🤔
A photo of an orange blimp against a blue sky. Below it are the Siri suggestions for what it is: either *Sarasinula plebia* or *Drusia valenciennii*. Siri thinks it’s a slug.
November 23, 2025 at 10:45 PM
brackenlab.bsky.social
There are four types of guys online. No exceptions.
The Highwaymen: Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, & Kris Kristofferson. Photo: Jim McGuire, https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/the-highwaymen-the-fights-and-friendship-of-countrys-great-supergroup-184126/
November 23, 2025 at 5:09 PM
brackenlab.bsky.social
Egret evening. 🦑🪶
A Great Egret hunts along a rocky shore at low tide, with rocks, the ocean, and a sunset sky behind it.
November 23, 2025 at 4:33 PM
brackenlab.bsky.social
#Caturday 🐈‍⬛💕
Our calico kitty, Sephy, is sitting on my lap.
November 22, 2025 at 6:41 PM
brackenlab.bsky.social
Sometimes, the lemon tree in our yard produces cursed artifacts.
I’m holding a lemon that looks like it has twisted appendages.
November 22, 2025 at 5:17 PM
brackenlab.bsky.social
Sunset #seaweed surveys. #PhycologyFriday #MarineLife 🌊🦑
Students measure temperature, desiccation, and physiological performance associated with rockweeds - large brown algae - on a rocky shore at low tide.
November 21, 2025 at 6:57 PM
brackenlab.bsky.social
Mantis rescue! 🙏🏻🦗🛟 #Invertebrate
A praying mantis is carefully clutched in my hand after I scooped it up from a road on campus today. The same mantis in the clump of foliage where I placed it.
November 20, 2025 at 7:49 PM
brackenlab.bsky.social
Goodnight, sleep tight, don’t let the amphipods bite! 🌅🌊
Sunset over the Pacific Ocean, with silhouetted rocks and swirling water
November 20, 2025 at 2:25 AM
brackenlab.bsky.social
Oceanside pier. #TidesOutTuesday 🌊
A view looking seaward from beneath the pier, showing swirling water and pilings receding toward the horizon.
November 18, 2025 at 8:47 PM
brackenlab.bsky.social
Backyard friend 🙏🏻🦗 #Invertebrate
A green praying mantis climbs up a grapevine in my backyard
November 17, 2025 at 8:02 PM
brackenlab.bsky.social
I’m skeptical of @columbiasportswear.bsky.social’s climate-denying ad campaign.
Large Columbia Sportswear mural ad from an outdoor mall stating “THIS JACKET IS A CLIMATE DENIER.”
November 7, 2025 at 3:47 AM
brackenlab.bsky.social
Peek-a-boo! 🐈🐈‍⬛ #Caturday
An orange tabby cat peers from beneath a purple quilt. A calico cat is exposed when a quilt is shifted.
November 2, 2025 at 12:31 AM
brackenlab.bsky.social
There are two cats nestled beneath this quilt. #Caturday
A purple, snail’s-trail quilt is jumbled at the foot of a bed.
November 2, 2025 at 12:29 AM
brackenlab.bsky.social
#Caturday 🐈‍⬛
A calico cat is sprawled across my legs & tummy, looking up at me
October 25, 2025 at 5:52 PM
brackenlab.bsky.social
Tangled up in #kelp. #PhycologyFriday
A tangled mass of kelp (at least 3 different species!) and surfgrass on a sandy beach.
October 24, 2025 at 3:27 PM
brackenlab.bsky.social
Goodnight, all!
A lifeguards’ station stands silhouetted against the sunset ocean.
October 18, 2025 at 3:46 AM
brackenlab.bsky.social
Comparing our Southern California intertidal rockweeds: *Silvetia compressa* (left) &
*Pelvetiopsis californica* (right) #PhycologyFriday #MarineLife 🌊🦑
Two rockweeds - olive-green-golden seaweeds - next to each other on a rocky shore. *Silvetia* (left) has more strap-like blades without swollen, reproductive branch tips (receptacles), whereas *Pelvetiopsis* (formerly *Hesperophycus*, right) has more flattened blades with receptacles.
October 17, 2025 at 5:53 PM
brackenlab.bsky.social
Starbucks jumping on the protein bandwagon 😬
A photo of a sandwich board advertising Starbucks’ new line of “Protein Cold Foam” drinks
October 15, 2025 at 8:04 PM
brackenlab.bsky.social
Swirling surfgrass. #TextureTuesday #MarineLife 🌊🦑
Brilliant green surfgrass fronds swirl in the surging waves, bordered by patches of kelp and red algae.
October 14, 2025 at 9:09 PM
brackenlab.bsky.social
#Kelp, illuminated. #Egregia #PhycologyFriday #MarineLife 🦑🌊
Golden blades and bladelets of the feather-boa kelp with the sun shining through them.
October 10, 2025 at 4:45 PM
brackenlab.bsky.social
A little bite of sea lettuce 🌊🥬 #Ulva #Seaweed #MarineLife
I am holding a thin, green seaweed blade between my thumb and forefinger.
October 9, 2025 at 6:38 PM
brackenlab.bsky.social
🌅🌊
The sun sets over the Pacific, sending a shimmering light-stream across the ocean and damp sand.
October 9, 2025 at 2:03 AM
brackenlab.bsky.social
So stoked to hear @brokencompassbg.bsky.social at the Huck Finn Jubilee this past weekend! #bluegrass
October 5, 2025 at 11:49 PM
brackenlab.bsky.social
Jamming at the Huck Finn Jubilee - an amazing weekend of #bluegrass. #BanjoFeed
October 5, 2025 at 8:24 PM