Zaie Burris , MS student

Research Interests: I am studying the mating processes of a very tiny “sea spider.” Don’t worry, they aren’t actually spiders (and won’t bite you)! They have eight legs and a long mouth that they use like a straw for sucking up soft animals (such as sea anemones and worms). They are very special animals because only the males take care of the young; they carry the eggs everywhere they go! I am trying to find out if carrying thousands of eggs is dangerous for the males: maybe they can be spotted more easily by their predators, maybe they are washed off of rocks more frequently, maybe they are too weighted down to look for food. I am going to find out!

Advisor: Dr. Alan Shanks

About GK-12: What a unique & fun home we have here on the Oregon Coast! Our sandy beaches, dunes, rocky seashores, and oceans are teeming with stories of a special way of life. GK-12 provides the means (in the form of field trips & in-class hands on discovery) for children to learn about, understand, & connect with their coastal community. It is exciting for me to guide students as they begin to identify this magical marine world as their own. GK-12 is a participation path that leads “scientists in training” (as they like to be called) to appreciate, enjoy and be responsible for their Oregon Coast.