Year: 2011
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Toxic Algae on the Loose
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10 top tips for saving seahorses
A question I get asked a lot is ‘Are seahorses endangered?’. And my answer, sadly, is yes. So, what can we do about it? Well, here are my top ten tips for doing your bit to save the seahorses: 1. Don’t buy dead seahorses This may sound a little odd. Why would you…
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Greetings from the Seaster Bunny
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Waking from the Gluttony
There is a great post from the Science Progress Fish on Fridays series excerpted below (go here to read in full). Many fisheries scientists were sure there was no way humans could make a dent in the seemingly endless abundance of fish in the ocean as late as the middle of the 20th century. But…
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Walking shark
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvyXvZmRaW0[/youtube] This recently discovered species of epaulette shark can swim like most regular sharks but often spends its time mooching about on the seabed, ‘walking’ on its pectoral fins. More about their discovery at National Geographic News
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Where is all of that extra energy going?
The greenhouse gases we are emitting into the atmosphere trap heat from the sun that would otherwise be reflected off the surface of the earth. This is the greenhouse effect that is causing global warming / Anthropogenic Climate Change (ACC). Most people, including many scientists, think of the warming of the land and lower atmosphere when they…
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A letter from your mother on Earth Day
Hello to all of my human inhabitants, This is your mother, the Earth. Yes that’s right, the planet you live on. I thought I’d get in touch with a message in honor of my special day (thank you, BTW, I never miss an excuse for a good party), and the SeaMonster was kind enough to…
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The tree octopus – a legend caught on camera?
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfMeXel1gDw[/youtube] A short movie made in 1928 by pioneer underwater filmmaker, Jean Painleve. Painleve is barely remembered today (seems we only have room in our hearts for one French underwater filmmaker) but in his time was renowned for blending science and art in his series of remarkable movies – including this one, which was obviously…
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Belize fisherman foresaw the collapse of the reef ecosystem 40 years ago
Belizean fisherman Villamar Godfrey. Photo by Clare Fieseler. Clare Fieseler is currently in Belize interviewing fishers as part of a lab study we have been working on for several years, investigating the effectiveness of fisheries management along the Mesoamerican Reef. A chance encounter with fisherman Villamar Godfrey eventually led to the revelation that he had appeared in…
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Unhappy Birthday to Deepwater Horizon
One year ago today we woke up to one of the worst environmental disasters in American history. Eleven people and countless animals dead, five million barrels of crude released, and the potential long-term transformation of the ocean on a regional scale. Only time will reveal the full consequences of the event but the picture is…