Christine Hoekenga

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Christine Hoekenga, Ocean Portal Community Manager

Christine joined the NMNH Department of Education and Outreach in the Fall of 2009 after having served as a Museum Specialist in the Office of the Sant Chair for Marine Science. She holds a dual bachelor’s degree in media studies and environmental science from Willamette University and a master’s degree in science communication from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Christine has experience working as an environmental journalist, a freelance science writer, and a conservation organizer and advocate for nonprofits. Despite growing up in land-locked Nevada, Christine is also an avid SCUBA diver with experience conducting marine research in the field and the lab.

Collaborator Contributions

A collage of the wildlife found in one cubic foot on the reef near Moorea, French Polynesia.

One Cubic Foot of Reef

Photographer David Liittschwager took a 12-inch metal frame to Moorea, French Polynesia, and four other disparate environments to see how much life he could find in one cubic foot. Read more about the project and ocean biodiversity.

Squid at Sunset Reef Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

“Upon returning from the reef after a night dive, I swam toward a bright reflection and came eye-to-eye with this beautiful, curious squid," said Charles Viggers, a Nature's Best photographer.

Tern and Loggerhead Sea Turtle, São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal

“I slowly approached this bird resting on the back of a turtle just under the surface of the water. I got the shot just before the tern flew away.” -- Nature's Best photographer, Nuno Sá.

See more beautiful ocean photos in our slideshow of winners from the 2010 Nature's Best Ocean Views photo contest.

Parrotfish in Mucus Cocoon

A parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus) creates a mucus cocoon to protect it from parasites, like bloodsucking isopods, while it sleeps. Read more from the Citizens at Sea blog.

Isopod Engorged With Blood

Isopods (small, shrimp-like animals) like this one (Gnathia aureusmaculosa) are the mosquitoes of the sea, sucking the blood of fish while they sleep. Find out more in "No Fouling Around" from the Citizens of the Sea blog series.

Great Barracuda, Witu Islands, Papua New Guinea

“A four-foot-long barracuda is visible flashing past me, with the sky and the lights of my boat seen above.” -- Nature's Best photographer, Yeang H. Ch’ng.

See more beautiful ocean photos in our slideshow of winners from the 2010 Nature's Best Ocean Views photo contest.

Photograph of several large jellyfish with orange bells, dark red tentacles, and pale ruffly oral arms, swimming against a bright blue aquarium background.

Pacific Sea Nettles

These large jellyfish (Chrysaora fuscescens) are most commonly found along the coasts of California and Oregon. (They're also popular in the displays of public aquaria.) Their bells can grow to a diameter of around 1 foot (30 cm), with red stinging tentacles and oral arms extending far below. Pacific sea nettles have a varied diet, which includes fish, comb jellies, floating snails, and other jellyfish.

Veined Octopus at Anilao Batangas Pier, Philippines

The veined octopus (Amphioctopus marginatus), also known as the coconut octopus, has a skill beyond other cephalopods: it hides under animal and coconut shell, which it drags along the seafloor for protection. This is one of the few examples -- if not the only example -- of tool use in invertebrates. Here, the octopus sits inside a vacant bivalve shell.

Albatross Accidentally Caught on a Longline

Accidental Catch

An albatross drowned after being accidentally caught on a longline near Brazil. Marine birds are among the species that can become bycatch. Watch a video about how scientists and fishermen are trying methods to reduce bycatch.

Adélie Penguins, Paulet Island, Antarctica

“As we motored around Paulet Island in a Zodiac boat, these two curious penguins waddled across an iceberg to get a closer look at us.” -- Nature's Best photographer, Phillip Colla.

See more beautiful ocean photos in our slideshow of winners from the 2010 Nature's Best Ocean Views photo contest.