When temperatures plummet and cabin fever sets in, many begin to daydream wistfully about sunny summer days on the beach. Residents of Sonoma County, California, however, may be able to count such days on one hand. Although the county’s famous vineyards receive plenty of sun year-round, the coastline is commonly “fogged in” and windy, as … Continue reading
Check out our previous related posts this week about Poseidon’s Steed and seahorses as stealth predators! More fun facts about seahorses: Seahorses are monogamous and the males bear the young. They are poor swimmers and can die of exhaustion during storms. They have no teeth or stomach so food passes extremely quickly through their digestive systems. Seahorses … Continue reading
What is that yellow-spined thing? This is a species of sea slug, one of the strangest groups of organisms present on reefs worldwide. Sea slug is a pretty all encompassing term that includes groups such as Nudibranchs and Cephalaspidea. They are part of the “cryptic” fauna present on coral reefs. These interesting and strange creatures … Continue reading
Lionfish are beautiful fish, but they are invasive in Atlantic and Caribbean waters. They are harming invaded ecosystems by eating too many juvenile fish which leads to smaller adult fish populations, less food for native predators, and changes in important ecosystem processes upon which both marine animals and humans depend. So what can we do about … Continue reading
So my research involves examining diatoms, which are free-floating aquatic phytoplankton with silicified cell walls (a substance similar to glass!). A lot of my time in the lab is spent culturing different species of diatoms, which is interesting but sometimes dissatisfying–since diatoms are microscopic, most of my cultures look like vials of clear or brownish … Continue reading
Can you spot the hidden predator in this week’s Halloween-themed Photography Friday? Scorpionfish are ambush predators. They are usually found near the bottom, remaining very still. Their cryptic coloration allows them to attack unsuspecting prey including crustaceans and other fish. This also allows them to hide from snorkelers or divers, so be careful! Scorpionfish are known for the … Continue reading
For UNdertheC’s first “Photography Friday” I’d like to highlight the beautiful and mysterious manta ray that was featured in a recent TED talk available here. Manta rays are gentle giants of the ocean. Mantas can grow to have 23 ft wingspans and weigh up to 4,440 lbs! Although it is a common misconception, they do … Continue reading
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