The Remarkable Barnacle

In all innocence and ignorance, I thought to write an ‘ain’t-nature-grand’ piece about barnacles.  Why? … well, after the latest easterly, I chanced upon a not-uncommon ‘find’ on our beaches, a goose barnacle-encrusted length of driftwood.

My article was to begin as follows … but <Spoiler Alert> the story will take a quite remarkable and unexpected twist!  It began ….

The goose barnacle [Lepas anatifera] is a crustacean that flutters about like a palm in a strong wind, its base anchored to its preferred attachment—whether that be a barnacle-covered hull, a piece of driftwood floating with the tide, or a more permanent address on a rocky tidal shelf.

Surprisingly, barnacles are not related to bivalve molluscs—think mussels, oysters, pippies, and those beautiful little sand wanderers that leave wiggly grooves in the wet sand at low tide … the ones that mysteriously start from nowhere [Point A] and just as inexplicably end at nowhere [Point B].

No, they are actually a close relative of crabs and lobsters, although quite tethered.  Even after studying them closely, it’s still hard to fully grasp their kinship, but they are indeed kith and kin…again <Spoiler Alert> there is more on this to come!

With a lifespan of up to 20 years, barnacle colonies have been the bane of sea-going vessels ever since humans took to the sea in ships.  They are the main reason ships and boats are careened [olden days], scraped [nowadays], and coated with anti-fouling paint.

Known for their long, fleshy, flexible, and vaguely sinister-looking stalks and their bivalve-like calcareous armour, they do rather mimic the neck, head, and white chubby cheeks of a goose—hence the name.

These creatures attach to floating objects, like driftwood or ship hulls in the open ocean, and form colonies where they filter plankton for food through their feathery appendages.

Large clusters are often found on driftwood washed ashore by storms, where they can survive out of seawater for quite a long time.  And, although I struggle with the thought of eating one—perhaps a touch hypocritically, given that I am an oyster and mussel devotee—they are a sought-after marine delicacy in some cultures.

There is a wide disparity in the number of described species … Wikipedia claims 2,100 [https://tinyurl.com/5dk4ympa] while Saltish Magazine suggests only 1,200 [https://tinyurl.com/salt-barnacle].  Often, the differences are minor, with some sources engaging in the unavoidable classification debate: are these genuinely new species or just intra-specie adaptations?

Whatever the case—whether the tough North Lorne acorn barnacles that hurt my barefoot soles when chasing Blighty barefoot across the rock shelves, the vaguely gruesome ones that wave like mini-triffids from a driftwood log, or even the political flotsam that governments try to ‘scrape away’ before the end of a parliamentary term—barnacles are a fact of life.

Common acorn [or rock] barnacles

Now, here’s where the story gets really interesting, because the common barnacle has a little-known but celebrated role in scientific history.  When I decided to write about barnacles, I never thought I’d open a window to arguably the greatest story of all time—Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species” and his theory of evolution.  NB: for any creationists out there, look away now! … we are entering evolutionary territory, and the story is a real eye-opener.

In “Darwin and the Barnacle” [https://tinyurl.com/bdcu89b8], author Rebecca Stott shares a fascinating and true story of how “… one small curiosity from the natural world contributed to history’s most spectacular scientific breakthrough.”  Summarising a synopsis of Stott’s work, it goes something like this:

… Pairing Charles Darwin and the barnacle as her two unlikely protagonists, Rebecca Stott has written an absorbing scientific detective story that sheds light on Darwin’s greatest achievement—the theory of evolution.  Starting her scientific detective story in the 1820s—even before Darwin’s voyage aboard the Beagle began—Stott investigates why he delayed more than twenty years between developing his key theory of natural selection and publishing it.  Richly illustrated and filled with riddles and ideas that challenged Victorian-era scientific understanding, “Darwin and the Barnacle” is a captivating account of how his wonder at this tiny creature led to one of history’s most remarkable scientific breakthroughs.

If asked to identify the animals that most influenced Charles Darwin, we would probably choose the Galápagos finches, but the truth is, Darwin didn’t actually care much for finches.  Indeed, he didn’t specifically mention Galápagos finches in “On the Origin of Species” [https://tinyurl.com/mth35pje].  But if not finches, which animals had the greatest impact on his theory of evolution?  Pigeons played a role, as did worms, but the most significant influence on Darwin was the much-despised marine pest—the barnacle.  For anyone looking for an engaging layman’s explanation of Darwin’s pursuit of evolutionary truth … it reads like a Hercule Poirot-esque detective series … I can wholeheartedly recommend you spend ten minutes reading Sam Kean’s article “Darwin’s Barnacles” in the Science History Institute’s Distillation Magazine.  It is a story not to be missed [https://tinyurl.com/mth35pje].

I have paraphrased Kean’s conclusion like this: “… we expect eureka moments or sudden flashes of insight [think Archimedes and his bathtub].  We all love a bit of drama.  But Darwin’s patient years of labour hunched over his smelly barnacles were actually quite the opposite.  It took him ages to notice that, in successive generations, certain organs in one barnacle species would often be repurposed in another, and that unused organs would gradually wither away.  In fact, his meticulous work and obsession with barnacles were vital as he refined his once-vague theory of evolution into the coherent whole he finally published as “Origins” … a monumental work that would change science forever.

So … the next time you see a barnacle-encrusted log washed ashore by a furious sea or curse the sharp imprint of an acorn barnacle as you chase your dog across the rocks, pause for a moment and think of how those tiny creatures delivered Charles Darwin his theory of evolution.

Our world does, indeed, move in mysterious ways!

John Agar

Feature Writer

A word from the chairman

Hello

Well ,it’s finally happening, the Point Grey redevelopment has started!  The plans are finalised, the builders are on site and the safety fences are up.  We now hope for kind weather and energetic and organised workers to bring the vision to life.  For too long this iconic part of Lorne’s history and social fabric has been decaying and we will watch with excitement as the new Point Grey unfolds.  The appointed builders, Bowden Corporation, are well known in Lorne having completed the Stribling Reserve Community Pavilion some years ago and they have a reputation for completing projects on time including more recently the Whittlesea Aquatic Centre and several school and hospital projects.  The schedule is to have the precinct completed, open and functioning for next summer season.  We can’t wait!

*****

As we tick Point Grey off our to do list, we turn our minds to a less savoury topic, toilets, and specifically at the Memorial Arch and Teddy’s Lookout.  Every day, hundreds of tourist buses and cars stop at the Memorial Arch for the must-have photo or selfie, disgorging thousands of people into this confined space.  It’s a perfect place for a toilet break, but where are the toilets?  They don’t exist!  So, what happens when nature calls, nature does!  The result is a stinking filthy mess in what should be one of the most iconic and respected locations on our beautiful Surf Coast.  Is this the best we can do for the world’s biggest war memorial (yes, the Great Ocean Road is that!), the memory of the diggers who fought for our freedom and the ex-servicemen who created the Road.  I am not sure whose responsibility it is (Surf Coast Shire, GORCAPA, VicRoads?) but let’s get it fixed.

While we are at it, what about doing something for Teddy’s Lookout.  Once again, this scenic lookout is on every tourist’s must-do list but no toilets to be seen.  The result, another picturesque spot turned into an open-air toilet.  We can do better than this!

So how do we fund these projects. Take a look at your rate notices and your land tax bills and see the extraordinary increase in taxes and levies that our State Government is sucking out of Lorne.  It’s time to get some of those funds spent in our community!

*****

Our cricketers have continued their winning way with an emphatic victory over Simpson last Saturday.  This week they take on our neighbours, Apollo Bay, in the Coastal Cup and for a top of the ladder position.  It is also Pink Stumps Day, so wear something pink and join us at Stribling Reserve starting at 1.30pm.

*****

It is great to see the Lorne Theatre open and screening films again on a regular basis.  If we want to keep this wonderful facility alive, we need to support it, so treat yourself and someone special to a night out.

And to all you lovers, old and young, Happy St Valentines Day!

Cheers

Lorne Ward Events Calendar

February

15 Deans Marsh Vintage & Pre-loved Market, 10am – 2pm at Deans Marsh Reserve

March

7 Lorne Market, 9-3pm www.lornemarkets.com/

22 Deans Marsh Festival, Live music, local harvest, market stalls, dog jumping, kids events and much more. 10am – 3pm at Deans Marsh Reserve.