For a marine scientist, one of the best parts of North Carolina’s Outer Banks is access to some incredible habitats. I have been able to experience this first-hand as I’ve started my MS research here at UNC’s Institute of Marine Sciences (IMS) this summer. About half of the students in our Marine Sciences department have … Continue reading
For this week’s photography Friday, we at UndertheC thought we’d indulge our love of GIFs–also known as the perfect marriage between photographs and film–with a collection of some of the best marine science-themed gifs. As our own Megan Schutt stated, “They’re like Harry Potter paintings, but in real life.” … Continue reading
Happy Valentine’s Day! Can you spot all three marine organisms in this picture? Vase Sponge The heart in our Valentine’s Day photo is actually a uniquely-shaped vase sponge. These sponges are usually found on coral reefs and can be pink, purple, or even fluorescent blue. As members of the Porifera phylum, these organisms lack true … Continue reading
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
A few years ago, if I saw a cat with glowing green fur wandering around my yard, I’d assume that the poor animal had experienced radiation exposure that had left it eerily lit from within. After checking it for other superpowers and taking a few pictures (first things first, you know), I’d probably head online … Continue reading
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
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
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
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