Nudibranch Safari…

UW photography and nudibranchs

This is the event for you if you shoot pictures or like nudibranchs.  Joining us will lift your knowledge of how to find and identify the different species.

Scientists and nudibranchs

Held in the spring every year, the Nudibranch Safari is hosted by internationally acclaimed experts. If Are there things to know about Nudibranch? the scientists will teach you about identification, behaviour, feeding habits and biology.

Typically, if there are things to know about Nudibranch shooting? The Safari also includes a lecture on how to photograph nudibranchs best. Join us for unlimited nudibranch fun – and experience first-hand the amazing array of species we have on the Gulen house reef!

A great learning experience

Joining a workshop to learn more about your favourite subject is always a good idea. You’ll meet like-minded people who can help you learn more and better understand things, and it is always fun to share experiences. The Nudibranch Safari is no exception! After attending the Nudibranch Safari, you will know the differences between the different species.

Next Nudibranch Safari 21 to 26th of March 2023

Don’t miss this opportunity to experience incredible fun.

Higlights

• 2010: Eubranchus rupium was recorded as a new species for Norway.
• 2011: Goniodoris castanea and Onchidoris oblonga were recorded as new species for Norway. Tritonia lineata was recorded for the first time in 140 years.
• 2012: Berghia norvegica was identified for the first time since 1939, and seen in situ by divers for the first time in history. Read more here
• 2013: A record number of 54 species were identified. Three new species were recorded in Norway for the first time – Onchidoris pusilla, Onchidoris sparsa and Eubranchus doria.
• 2014: It was determined that a new Flabellina species has to be described. Three new species for Gulen were found – Eubranchus tricolor, Aldisa zetlandica and Doto millbayana.
• 2015: Two new Doto species never before recorded in Norwegian waters was identified – Doto maculata and Doto dunnei. Work on the Flabellina species is progressing and will likely result in the desciption of two new species.
• 2016: A new Dendronotus species was confirmed, and inconclusive work to identify the extremely rare Cuthona suecica was done. The Flabellina project continued and will result in three new species being described.
• 2017: New contributions to science are the discovery of the species Gulenia orjani, Gulenia monicae and Fjordia chriskaugei.

Summary

Our house reef at Gulen Dive Resort has probably the highest documented nudibranch species count anywhere in the Atlantic Ocean.
Among our scientific contributions is the discovery of the species Gulenia orjani, Gulenia monicae and Fjordia chriskaugei, all of which were published in November 2017, along with a major revision of the family Flabellinidae.

We have found a staggering 73 species at the Nudibranch Safari since the beginning. Eight of these are marked cf, which is only done when we are certain they are not the regular species (which is then not checked on the list). We try to keep them cf’s to a minimum, but over the years, we have inevitably accumulated a few.

Read more on the topic and Safari here: Scubapixel.com

Scientific fieldwork

There are several things to know about Nudibranchs and the experts who hold the lectures on the Nudibranch Safari are seasoned scientists. Often, the trip is part of their scientific fieldwork, and meticulous notes are taken down when they study the collected nudibranchs in close detail. They will all help you to build up a unique understanding of the subjects during the Nudibranch Safari.

Dr. Alexander Martynov

Scientist of the Zoological Museum of Moscow State University. Alexander is author of more than 80 scientific publications (including monographs) and co-author of the colour guide “Opisthobranch molluscs of the Seas of Russia”. Since 1992 he has described 30 new species, 9 new genera and 1 new family

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Curator Bernard Picton

Curator of Marine Invertebrates Department of Natural Sciences National Museums. Nudibranch expert Bernard Picton, author of "A Field Guide to the Nudibranchs of the British Isles" is present, he is counted as one of the worlds most know expert on Nudibranchs.

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Dr. Tatiana Korshunova

Senior Scientist of Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology in Moscow. Major fields of scientific interests – cells and molecular mechanisms of behaviour. Tatiana has participated in numerous expeditions and field trips targeted mainly to collect new species of nudibranchs, especially in very cold waters. She is co-author of many scientific papers on nudibranchs molluscs, including description of 21 new species and 2 new genera. Tatiana also co-author of the first ever published colour guide on the opisthobranchs molluscs of Russia.

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Dr scient Torkild Bakken

Current position is Head of Department, which also allows time for research and teaching. Main research fields are biosystematics and biogeography, particularly of polychaete worms (Polychaeta). I also have a great interest in nudibranch molluscs (Nudibranchia). My research is focused on phylogeny, taxonomy and biogeography in these groups, as well as faunistics and biodiversity of marine invertebrates along the Norwegian coast.

Read more about other topics on these pages

Supplementary information on the topic

• Some articles about Gulen
• Our wonderful marine life
• Our magic house reef

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