Author: John Bruno
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From lionfish hunter to little miss marine biologist
Below is a guest post from Serena Hackerott, an undergraduate in my lab. After 103 lionfish, 186 otoliths, 5 weeks of field work, and 3 weeks of lab work, I feel like I have become a “real Marine Biologist.” As the girl who has always loved the ocean and wanted to be a marine biologist…
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Lionfish: from the spear, to supper, to science
Below is a guest post by Serena Hackerott, an undergraduate in my lab. This summer has been such an exciting adventure! I have gained invaluable research experience and have learned a lot about working in marine science. My project has been filled with surprises, adventures, challenges, and many important lessons. One of my favorite experiences…
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New species of carnivorous sponge
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC3tAtXdaik&[/youtube] Meet Chondrocladia lyra, the harp sponge. A new species of carnivorous sponge from the deep-sea off California. C. lyra is called the harp sponge because its basic structure, called a vane, is shaped like a harp or lyre. Each vane consists of a horizontal branch supporting several parallel, vertical branches. Source: mbari.org
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We know a lot about the climate
As part of a great piece debunking climate change denier strategy #2 “exaggerate the uncertainty” Dana Nuccitelli has a nice brief on the key facts that we do know about climate change (with supporting links): First of all it’s important to note that while there will always be uncertainties associated with any area of scientific…
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Reversing the life cycle
There is a great piece in the NYT today about the classic marine biology paper “Reversing the life cycle“, that describes the discovery that a small hydrozoan (a cnidarian, related to corals, jellyfishes and sea anemones) can reverse it’s life cycle, something unheard of until the mid 1980s. After more than 4,000 years — almost since…
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Over the falls
I know this feeling. It is not a good feeling. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTrzAjZHTBQ&[/youtube]
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Kook Jamie O’Brien rides sea turtle
Oy vey! One of the world’s most famous free surfers and tube riding master, Jamie O’Brian, has created a massive controversy in Hawaii (and elsewhere) by posting this picture on his FB page: Not cool Jamie. At least ride an adult! [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQBTzf2yGks&[/youtube]
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What does the election mean for national ocean policy?
Answer: no big changes at NOAA, where the agency will try to consolidate all the new policies it developed during Obama’s first term. But what congress and the White House will do is more complicated. One of my big concerns about a Romney win, was the loss of Dr Jane Lubchenco, who heads NOAA. In…
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Progress on shark conservation
There has been some good news (and a little bad news) in the shark fishing regulation world recently. I am especially happy about the announcement by NOAA that it will greatly limit shark fishing in the Gulf of Mexico and in the Atlantic ocean, primarily to reduce catch of ducky dusky and black tip sharks (more…
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Rangiroa spur and groove
A dramatic spur and groove fore reef structure on the south side of Rangiroa, French Polynesia. Photo by Dr. Andy Bruckner. See more photos from the Living Ocean Foundation’s Tuamotu Islands, French Polynesia cruise here.