A study was published on Jan 21, 2014, the 50th anniversary of the IUCN Red List, that found a quarter of shark and ray species are threatened with extinction (more information here). Only 23% of these species are considered “safe” with the IUCN listing of “Least Concern.” You may think of sharks as threats to … Continue reading
Twitter and world media have been abuzz this week about the Taiji Cove dolphin drive. A practice in a small Japanese town that leads to the death or capture of hundreds of dolphins each year. You may have heard of this before if you are a fan of documentaries. “The Cove” is a documentary by … Continue reading
As the new year unfolds, you may still be searching for ways to add purpose to your 2014. Fortunately for the introspective, the arrival of Martin Luther King Day means that you are guaranteed to encounter many quotes from the great civil rights leader over the next few days. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s most … Continue reading
Recently, there have been some big changes being discussed regarding the protection regulations for two of my favorite marine animals: dolphins and grouper. Many of my peers may laugh at this, but I am the quintessential marine biologist that has always loved dolphins and would have chosen to be a dolphin when I grew up if that … Continue reading
3 days ago I was in Boston. It was roughly 0 degrees Fahrenheit and 2 feet of snow had just fallen while I was asleep. Today it is above 50 degrees in Boston and it is raining. Conversely, in my hometown of Columbus, Ohio the high today is -5 and Ohio State is shut down … Continue reading
Happy New Year 2014! As we enter the new year, even the most diligent marine scientists may find themselves shaking off their Christmas cookie comas and wondering what happened in the world of oceanography over the past few weeks. Accordingly, here are 3 recent marine science news stories to bring you up-to-date for 2014. 1. … Continue reading
A Nobel Prize winning biologist has announced a boycott of high impact journals such as Nature, Science, and Cell. When a Nobel Prize winner says something like that, people listen. The question is really whether or not that stance is well founded. Randy Shekman, the Nobel winner in question, is the editor of an open access … Continue reading
There has been a recent debate in the scientific literature about the effect of predators on invasive lionfish. Are Caribbean predators controlling the lionfish invasion? Two studies seem to have conflicting results. Is someone “lyin’” about lionfish? See previous post, The Great Debate: Predators vs Lionfish, for background on the lionfish invasion and more info on the … Continue reading
There has been a recent debate in the scientific literature about the effect of predators on invasive lionfish. Are Caribbean predators controlling the lionfish invasion? Two studies seem to have conflicting results: Also, stay tuned to find out if someone is “lyin’” about lionfish! Background: See previous posts about lionfish featured in Marine Monster Mash and Photography Friday. … Continue reading
It’s your quintessential dark and stormy night, and a wooden sailing ship is making its way across the Mediterranean Sea. The waves are large, washing over the walls of the boat despite the best efforts of the captain to turn its prow into the waves. When the sun rises a few hours later, the ship … Continue reading
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