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
Have you ever seen a seahorse swim? Maybe you haven’t, because they are always doing this: Anyway, they are not very fast swimmers because they have tiny fins that they must rapidly flutter in order to move. As a result they often attach to a substrate or just float in the water column. These guys have … Continue reading
This Youtube video, originally posted about 3 years ago, has been making the rounds in the blogosphere as of late. It is frightening and incredible all at once. It acts as a history lesson, showing us who the players were in the arms race and even mirroring the ramp up and end of the cold … 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
When I was younger, I was obsessed with disasters of all kinds (yeah, I was a strange kid). I avidly read books about the bubonic plague and had a recurring dream that involved a black hole appearing in our solar system, ready to suck the earth into its depths. One of my favorite disasters, however, … Continue reading
Oceanographers the world over have done without everyone’s favorite submarine since 2011, when the submersible Alvin went in for a major makeover. But after a two-year-long spa day, the sub that discovered hydrothermal vents and first surveyed the wreck of the Titanic is back in the water and expected to be certified to dive in a … Continue reading
The following are guest posts from undergraduate students in the Marine Ecology class that I am a TA for this semester. See the entire student blog at http://marineecologyblog.web.unc.edu/ By Courtney Grigsby If you’re a Disney fan, you’ve probably seen the movie Finding Nemo. Besides the memorable catch phrases in the movie such as “Fish are … Continue reading
The following are guest posts from undergraduate students in the Marine Ecology class that I am a TA for this semester. See the entire student blog at http://marineecologyblog.web.unc.edu/ By Tyler Hodges, Abigail Brewer, and Cathy Wood People have always said, “There are other fish in the sea.” What they don’t tell you is that those … Continue reading
The following are guest posts from undergraduate students in the Marine Ecology class that I am a TA for this semester. See the entire student blog at http://marineecologyblog.web.unc.edu/ By Katie Myrick and Olivia Wilson Cue Jaws theme song…but instead of it being an unrealistically huge shark that you have to worry about, it’s jellyfish. Swarms … Continue reading
” How the world is failing at its climate goals” “Put the heat on subsidizing climate change” “Remember the government shutdown? It is still screwing over scientists in Antarctica” “Did climate change cause typhoon Haiyan?” These are just a few of the many headlines that have caught my eye over the past week. Everywhere I … Continue reading
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