Ocean Advocates

Scuba is expensive. Period.

2010-08-19T00:19:00.000-07:00

Well I decided to go shopping for scuba instructors today on my rare day off. The first one effectively scared me off by incessently trying to bully me into signing up today. So, I went next door and it was a completely different experience. The other guy seems more laid-back and I liked the facility better. It's funny because everyone I've ever talked to said to go to the other place because it's the best, but I just don't see that, I like the place across the street better.

So yeah, it is way expensive. Don't these people understand that I'm a college student? I barely have enough to pay my tuition, and I need to get certified in order to get good research positions later. Well, so much for that. I figure that with basic equipment, I could get out of there for no less than $500. Wow. And then there are so many horror stories about people renting their gear that it almost makes me want to buy a BCD, cylinder, and regulator up front.

The guy said that it was a proven fact that within two years if you don't have your own equiptment, you'll probably lose interest in the sport because renting sucks. He said that they carry for the most part medium and large sizes, but getting a rental that fits for someone as petite as I am will be a Herculean task!

Sigh, I'm gonna have to think about this.
It's a lot of money, and if I was smart I would save up for a car, as I don't have one and never did. And I would hate it if I had to endure another summer where I don't get to see my friends and am stuck at home.

One ocean: my new toy.

2010-08-19T00:06:00.000-07:00

www.oneocean.cbc.ca
I just discovered this neat Canadian website dedicated to ocean conservation. It seems to be pretty new so that would explain why it's a little buggy.

There are some games to play, my favorite is the sustainable fisheries game. You can find it under "Biosphere" which is like this whole game system, and then it's under "mission" and then under the mission "forever fish" or something.

I found that the videos won't stream to me because I'm not in Canada. This makes me very ticked and more than a little disappointed.

Make sure to check out the "Time Machine" for a real treat. It has some 3d models of ancient sea dwellers, and of past deep sea diving vehicles.

The graphics on the game are a little lacking, by the way, and moving is hard to control, so have a little patience. I did not have so much trouble with the sustainable fisheries game which might be why I liked it so much.

"Rough" Times

2010-08-18T21:00:00.000-07:00

So what exactly is an orange roughy and why should you care?
Let's give you the straight up facts about this food fish.
1) They are a deep sea fish
2) They can live to be over 100 years old! You are eating a fish that is likely older than you, maybe even older than your grandmother!
3) They are commonly called "slimehead"
4) Very vulnerable to overfishing as they reproduce late in their life and it is a slow grower.
5) Because they are so old, toxins tend to accumulate in their bodies, for example mercury.
6) Bottom trawling is a common fishery method.

Overall, please do not support fisheries which catch orange roughy.

SAVE YOUR GRANDMOTHER-FISH!!

Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

2010-08-15T20:23:00.001-07:00

Well, I had a great time in Dollywood on vacation.
Although this is one of the places you can really see the repression.
We walked into this Pigeon Forge amusement park which carries the name of country singer Dolly Parton, and it wasn't busy at all. Granted it was the middle of the week and towards the end of summer, but still, there was practically no lines at all!
This is quite unnerving for an Ohio native who regularly visits Cedar Point, home of the 1 and 1/2 hour wait for the Millennium Force.

Scarily enough, one waitress commented that "Oh, last year was much worse. It's picking up now."

My response to the lack of guests... it's their loss!

I had a great time on the new ride that started this year (2010) it is a huge high ropes course, without having to unclip and reclip when you move onto the next rope like I had to do with "real" high ropes courses. The whole thing is continuous and the safety rope that you are attached to runs along a track. I would say this is my new favorite ride there.

Dollywood is no Cedar Point, but some of the rollercoaster action was a little bit better this time than I remembered.

However it is way expensive! I think the tickets were even more expensive than Cedar Point's! Eating is pricey, so make sure you eat a big breakfast before arrival. Getting thirsty is expensive too, a 16 dollar Dollywood cup yields the owner 99 cent refills on fountain pop. Wonderful. Not to mention that most of Tennessee has 10% sales tax (wow!). A big, big bag of kettle corn will run you 22 dollars, which is still very expensive.

Here is a brief guide....
Must sees: Birds of America show (see raptors and other birds of prey fly and do tricks while raising awareness for the American Eagle Association). Ride Tennessee Tornado, Mine Ride, Blazing Fury, and some water ride near the Mine Ride where you shoot the other guests and the other guests shoot you, it's great for your mischevious side.

Must skips: that silly motion movie (called Smokey Mountain Adventure). I wasn't terribly impressed, since they did not do much with this ride, and I feel like it just shakes you around, the movements are not very coordinated with the visual.

Must brings: A bathing suit. There are many, many water rides. Don't miss out on any however some require you to wear shirt and shoes. Still, I feel like wet bathing suit under wet clothes is more comfortable than wet undies under wet clothes.

Thanks guys,
Enjoy the rest of your summers,
Megan.

Titanic Museum at Pigeon Forge, Tennessee Review

2010-08-15T19:50:00.000-07:00

In brief: Wait to go to this museum until it is less new and crowded, otherwise, expect a lot of waiting around before moving on to the next segment. Interesting, but also somewhat lacking substance.

Don't get me wrong. Like every 11-year old kid, I had a healthy obsession with the Titanic. I saw the movie, watched the first part and always skipped the second part (the part with the old people dying and all the sinking).

Even with my enthusiasm, I was rather disappointed with the new Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge.

First off, it was really crowded. It was a relatively small museum despite their claims of being "World's Largest Museum" on their advertisements. (Actually, looking deep inside the brochure, it clarifies a little...World's Largest TITANIC Museum). It may have been the hype from it being new, but I felt really cramped rushed with all the other prying eyes trying to read the same letter I was reading.

Also, I didn't feel like there was all too many artifacts besides letters. I felt like there were more "recreations" then anything else, and a lot of blown up photos.

Although, the recreations were quite fabulous at times. I enjoyed the Grand Staircase recreation, it felt quite authentic. There was a trough of water that was the same temperature of the water the night the iceberg hit, and you could stick your hand in it and see how long it took you to lose finger function (not long).

There was a recreation of a coal furnace, which you could shovel fake coal into, in order to show how heavy and how strenuous the crews work was. Apparently a lot of the coal shoveler were immigrants, who worked for nothing in exchange for free passage.

Some other fun things were an area where there were three ramps that represented the angles of the deck a passenger would encounter at various times during the sinking. The steepest one was enough for me to slide down on!

There were some cool recreations of third class vs. first class rooms, and a cool flooding staircase.

I can only tell you about this, since photography is not allowed inside of the building.

I don't think I'll ever be back, it really is a one time thing. Bring your kids, that's really what places like this are for. Grown-ups may be able to sneak in some history, but I recommend waiting a couple of months until there are less people. I'm sure it would be much more enjoyable.

Overall this is a cool place to go just one time, but I still did not have a very good experience due to crowding, there were points where the hold-up meant at least 10 minutes before moving.

Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, Tennessee

2010-08-14T19:42:00.002-07:00

I was lucky enough to visit one of my favorite aquariums in the world the other day, Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In case you haven't visited this gem yet, here is an overview of what it has to offer as well as some pictures I took. Enjoy!

The area is beautiful, this is just outside the aquarium, you can see the Smokey Mountains in the distance. There are two main buildings of TA, one focuses on marine life, the other mostly on freshwater (but still has some salt in it as well). An aquarium ticket grants you access to both.

Unidentified freshwater fish in River Journey.

River otter in River Journey. There was a pair of them and they were EXTREMELY active. Quite funny, especially when they reared up on their hind legs for a split second before diving back in. This is a must-see of the aquarium.

The have an incredible seahorse display! It is an entire basement full and most definitely the best seahorse exhibit I've ever seen. This is a weedy sea dragon, there was also pregnant male seahorses, dwarf seahorses (pygmy), pipe fish, shrimpfish, leafy sea dragons, and they've even managed to keep a Moorish Idol alive!

HERE IS A LITTLE VIDEO I MADE. ENJOY!

Also make sure you do the behind-the-scenes tour. It is fascinating, and relatively cheap. They give you shrimp to feed to the rays/sharks. There is a really great touch tank (largest I have ever seen!) It has various species of stingrays (without their barbs), Epaulette sharks, bamboo sharks, among others. Also you can pet a sturgeon!

Come visit, you won't regret it!

2010-07-27T10:11:00.001-07:00

hmmm im thinking this blog should go mobile...

Very Short Film: High Definition Tom Campbell Stock Footage

2009-12-15T13:36:00.000-08:00

See the footage here: http://www.ocean.com/film.asp?locationid=&resourceid=10516&ProdId=0&CatId=5&TabID=&SubTabID=

This is the man behind the manta ray film I review recently. Very talented.

"Tom Campbell is one of the most experienced marine cinematographers in the world today, with over 30 years experience of shooting in almost every underwater environment known.

His still photos have been featured in more than 80 magazine covers and he’s published hundreds of articles showcasing his award-winning images.

As a cinematographer, Tom is highly sought after, working with the BBC, National Geographic, Discovery, and the History Channel amongst others.

Having built up a huge experience using high definition camera systems, he has run numerous HD workshops, and has been a cameraman, producer, & director of photography on countless projects including: Face to face with the Great White Shark, Asian Enigma & Ocean Realms."

-Quoted from the Save our Seas Foundation

Film Review: Voice of the Dolphin

2009-12-15T13:01:00.000-08:00

Watch it here: http://www.ocean.com/film.asp?locationid=44&resourceid=90&ProdId=&CatId=44&TabID=&SubTabID=

You can skip the first chapter without missing anything at all; it's duller than a pencil after the SAT test! And wow, this is an old film, this was made before I was even born! Good ol' 1990.

The premise of this film made me giggle. They have a bunch of synchronized swimming champions on this boat, and there is one scene where they are all making ridiculous poses. Why synchronized swimmers? To attract the dolphins and then film them. The footage was to be sent to scientific professionals.

Well, whatever works.

Anyway, it wasn't too educational, the ideas were rather outdated, but it was charming, enchanting, and beautiful enough to enjoy a watch. Kind of a guilty-pleasure.

***/*****

Film Review: Giant Mantas of San Benedictos

2009-12-15T11:50:00.000-08:00

Watch it here: http://www.ocean.com/film.asp?locationid=44&resourceid=6381&ProdId=&CatId=44&TabID=&SubTabID=

Please visit here for FAQ about mantas, this is a good page! http://www.elasmo-research.org/education/topics/lh_manta_faq.htm

This is an absolutely lovely film about manta research. Though, mostly, it just shows we don't know a whole lot about these gentle giants.

****/*****

A 5 minute film review: sea babies

2009-12-15T02:36:00.000-08:00

If you are going to watch a movie from ocean.com, but really don't have a lot of time, pick this one! It's absolutely breathtaking footage, and it's only 5 minutes long!

Amazing pictures of hatching/hatchling cephalopods, and others!

***** out of ***** because I know how tough it must have been to get this footage!

Watch it here: http://www.ocean.com/film.asp?locationid=3&resourceid=6382&ProdId=&CatId=48&TabID=&SubTabID=

A Film Review: A Rainbow Colored Fish

2009-12-15T02:02:00.000-08:00

Watch it yourself! Here: http://www.ocean.com/film.asp?locationid=3&resourceid=6880&ProdId=&CatId=48&TabID=&SubTabID=

I can say, without a doubt in my mind, that the mandarin dragonet is my favorite fish by far, of all time. I have my own personal mandarin in my saltwater, and I adore it. There's just something about this fish.

I'm writing this article as I watch the short film. My first impression is that the footage does not do the fish's colors justice! Then again, it is shot at night.

They are right about one thing: they are rather hummingbird like, the way they flit around the coral.

Frankly, I find the "steam locomotive" behavior bizarre, and oddly...fascinating. Even though I have a male, I doubt I will see such behavior in my tank, but I intend to make every effort to see this!

Oh, and how fascinating, the females give the males a "kiss of approval," how interesting! Perhaps that's why they have those oddly colored cheek patterns. If you notice, all of the males had ragged caudal fins, from tail-biting attacks from rival males? There sure was plenty of that in this movie!

Not to mention those adorable shots of the pajama cardinals!

Okay, I admit it. This isn't so much a film review anymore. It's more like me gushing.

Ah, well all good things must come to an end, even this inspiring flick. *****/***** of course!!

Film Review: Dugongs of Abu Dhabi

2009-12-15T01:04:00.000-08:00

Watch it here! http://www.ocean.com/film.asp?locationid=3&resourceid=6939&ProdId=&CatId=11&TabID=&SubTabID=

Most have heard of manatees, have you heard of the other member of the order sirenia?

If not, here is some information via wikipedia about them:

"Dugongs are referred to as "sea cows" because their diet
consists mainly of sea-grass. They are particular about their diets, with
certain "fields" of sea-grass being regularly cropped. Unlike manatees, dugongs
are exclusively benthic, or bottom, feeders. Their primary feeding mechanism is
uprooting sea-grass by digging furrows in the seafloor with their snouts.
Reflecting this, the muscular snouts of dugongs are more dramatically tapered
than those of manatees."

"Dugong are hunted for food throughout their wildlife range, usually for their meat and blubber.[citation needed] The seagrass beds which the dugong depend on for food are threatened by eutrophication caused by agricultural and industrial runoff, and dugong waste matter is a major food source for other aquatic creatures. Due to their shallow-water feeding habits, dugong are frequently injured or killed by collisions with motorized water vessels. Because of their large size, they have only a few predators. These include sharks, killer whales and saltwater crocodiles."

Not to mention that a dugong has a different tail than a manatee: compare this to the manatee that they love to put on postcards from Florida...

This is an interesting account of how a growing county (The United Arab Emirates) is promoting environmental awareness.

Okay, but the funniest part of the video (and the cutest) was this moment between a teacher and her class:

Teacher: "Say 'I love Dugong.'"

Students: "I love dugongs."

There is some nice footage, and an interesting insight to a not-very-talked-about place. It's a wonderful introduction to dugongs in general.
Also talks about the green turtle briefly. Do not take too seriously the narrarator's change in voice (if anyone else hears it, let me know! Whenever he starts talking about remoras, I swear his voice sounds angrier). No one fall for it! The relationship between a remora and what it holds onto is not parasitic. It probably isn't beneficial to both parties, either. It's a neutral relationship. The remora holds on and gets leftovers without harming its "host."

I give it ****/*****

Skip it, unless you really love vegetarian marine mammals (who doesn't!)

Film Review: Secrets of the Sevengills

2009-12-15T00:48:00.000-08:00

Watch it here!http://www.ocean.com/film.asp?locationid=44&resourceid=8929&ProdId=&CatId=44&TabID=&SubTabID=

While a great, short, little film. It's not my favorite film overall, but still fascinating enough to deserve a watch. And it alerted me to yet another problem with man's misunderstanding of sharks: shark nets.

Watch the video and you will see exactly what I mean. Shark nets are put up to, you'd assume, keep sharks out of beach areas so there will be no shark attacks. WRONG! Actually, it derives from this logic "if there are less sharks, then there will be less of a chance of a shark attack."

Still don't get me? Bycatch. Lots and lots of sharky bycatch. A lot of it ON THE BEACH SIDE OF THE NET!! Sharks can swim over the net, but the nets are specifically designed to entangle/drown sharks. It's tragic. Please do your best to understand our cartilaginous friends, and to stop this madness!! Everywhere you look, there are problems with the ocean. But it's do-able. The ocean must be saved.

Film Review: Beneath the North Atlantic.

2009-12-12T07:41:00.000-08:00

Watch this hour long film here: http://www.ocean.com/film.asp?locationid=44&resourceid=101&ProdId=&CatId=44&TabID=&SubTabID=

Or just see my favorite footage!

Wolf-fish feeding on second episode. I had no idea that they mate for life. Nor did I know that they eat sea urchins! There is some nice footage of that in this episode.

In Episode 4. There is an interesting picture (for those of us in the marine aquarium hobby) of copepods under microscope with a grain of rice as a comparison. Very interesting. Also interesting enough, the green murky water is actually caused by the chlorophyll of diatoms. That's a lot of diatoms for those copes to eat!

Episode 5. Some fascinating mussel-scallop-sea star behavior! Basket stars, and escaping scallops!

Episode 6. Beautiful footage of the Lion's Mane Jellyfish, which I did not know was the largest jellyfish. Apparently, Nomura's isn't the largest. And a jaw dropping scene where an anemone eats a fish really fast!

Episode 9. Whelks! Remember how the sea star lost to the scallop? Will it lose to the whelk?

Episode 10: The strange, strange lumpfish.

Episode 11: Some absolutely fascinating footage of blue sharks, one of the sharks known to be "man eaters," though they rank very low on that list of about twenty species. I did not know that some sharks had a form of eyelids either! They use them to protect themselves from prey that decides to fight back.

Episode 12: I hate to spoil things for all of you, but what do they find in the mama Great White Shark's belly? Hmmm.... a whole harbor porpoise. Yes, that's right the shark swallowed it WHOLE! Amazing, no?

Episode 15: Oh, how I love beluga whales. This one, is named Wilma by the locals. She is a loner, and only has humans to interact with. Also, look around in the scene where Wilma scratches/rubs her back on the sandy bottom. I had to laugh when I saw a little sea star float up in the water. Poor thing! Haha! And apparently belugas are one of the only delphinidae species who can bend and turn their neck. Others have fused neck vertebrae.

I give it ****/*****

Spotlight on a Species/ Film Review: Hector's Dolphin

2009-12-12T07:09:00.000-08:00

Hector's Dolphin

Cephalorhynchus hectori

Found only off the coast of New Zealand.

World's smallest and rarest dolphin.

Which means: endangered.

Has quite a unique dorsal fin shape.

From kcc.org.nz
Population Size?
"There are only about 3000 - 4000 South Island Hector's dolphins.
A small population of Hector's dolphins live off the coast of the North Island, mostly
between Kawhia and Muriwai. They are the North Island Hector's dolphin, also
known as the Maui dolphin. There are only about 100-150 North Island Hector's
dolphin.
There are at least three genetically distinct populations of the
dolphin, one on the west coast of the North Island and in both the west and east
coasts of the South Island. The Southland population may also be genetically
distinct.
The North Island and South Island Hector's dolphins are separate
subspecies, they are physically and genetically different."

Interesting enough these dolphins hang out in small groups, the video states that they have groups of 3 to 4.

They can live to be about 20 years.

Watch this video: I give it 3/5 stars ***/*****

http://www.ocean.com/film.asp?locationid=44&resourceid=3524&ProdId=&CatId=44&TabID=&SubTabID=

End of the Line: a documentary on overfishing.

2009-12-11T17:49:00.001-08:00

See the webisodes yourself here: http://www.babelgum.com/browser.php#play/SEARCH,channelID:180214,order:FEATURED,hint_editorial:%2Fshuffle/1,3020495

Readers really should check out this amazing documentary on overfishing themselves, but here is my own reflections on what I watched.

As someone who does not eat fish, or anything that comes out of the ocean, I'll admit that I've been a little harsh in thoughts about fishermen. I had an image in my head of silly, destructive, bloodthirsty, low lifes who were the very root of overfishing.

I see I owe them an apology. This documentary claims that some of the best overfishing activists are fishermen who've had a change of heart.

"I used to love and enjoy [fishing]," said one fisherman. "The trouble is there is so much pressure, so much bad press. Fishermen are perceived all the time to be these horrible, bad, nasty people."

"I started in this business as a tuna farmer," said another fisherman. "That was many years ago. Those days were the good old days, when the stock was healthy, I would say. But then bluefin tuna became big business. And as from there, I tried to the good thing." Other fishermen describe having chronic nightmares about bluefin tuna death screams.

Interesting aspect of an incredible film. Imagine me sympathizing with fishermen!

BOOK REVIEW- Descent: The Heroic Discovery of the Abyss

2009-08-27T05:23:00.001-07:00

3.5 stars out of five
Good- Tells an interesting, human story. Informative, a good book for biology nerds.

Bad- Drags at time. At some point you'll want to jump on top of a chair and yell "Just dive already!!" Unlikable characters, from those that vomit on the way down to the abyss, to those who think they are the cat's pajamas.

This book by Brad Matsen was picked up on a whim from the library, as I've always been interested in the deep sea. What followed was a read that held my interest for awhile, but had me just skimming the pages towards the end.

The story details how Otis Barton, a rich young dreamer with an interest in science, joined William Beebe, already a famous adventurer, to make it over a half a mile down into the sea. They created the Bathysphere, a little metal sphere attached by a chain to a boat on the top. It details the planning and creation of the Bathysphere, which was cringe-worthy in its claustrophobic proportions. Also, this sort of thing hadn't really been done before, so there was no previous experience of others to go on. They built it, and just hoped it would hold together in the extreme pressure.

The book also has a touching human element to it. Anyone who has ever felt inferior to someone else will find Barton interesting, but probably not likeable. I found Barton whiney, and Beebe pompous, but together I recognize that they changed the study of the ocean forever. Beebe and Barton did not get along at all; Barton was always complaining (even publically writing to newspapers chastisizing them for recognizing Beebe more than him) about his role as second fiddle. The tension is so thick you can taste it at some points.

The book will hold your interest for awhile, but I give it only three and a half stars out of five. For one, I would have liked to see more of a biological perspective in the book. Specimens collected and observed were mentioned, but they seemed a minor part of the book. It was more of a biography at times. Sometimes the book would also stray off topic, which was sometimes interesting, but also distracting.

Mr. Matsen has clearly done a lot of research for this book, and I congratulate him. If you are sick of mind-numbing books that make you feel like you just ingested a million bubbles that are eating away at your brain, I suggest you try this book. It will leave you with a lingering feeling of wonder at the possibilities of this wet world we mistakenly call "Earth."

FIXING FISH: an interview with an aquatic veterinarian

2009-08-24T13:43:00.001-07:00

Here is the first interview from Ocean Advocates. This week we're talking to Dr. Amy Kizer, a veterinarian who operates on fish. She works at the Lexington Pet Clinic and also works on animals at Underwater Adventures, an aquarium located inside the Mall of America, Bloomington Minnesota.

Dr. Kizer first got her marine biology degree then headed to work at a public aquarium. There she worked with a veterinarian, and realized that she "really enjoyed the animal health aspect." She went back to school after that for her veterinary degree.

Ocean Advocates: Where does the most demand for aquatic surgery come from?

Dr. Kizer: Probably from koi hobbyists and public aquariums.

OA: Most common procedure?

DK: Ovarian and skin tumor removals have been the most common procedures, in my experience.

OA: What specific challenges face aquatic surgeons/veterinarians when working with animals that have gills?

DK: Keeping your surgical field sterile can be a challenge while you're trying to keep the gills wet. Also, monitoring them under anesthesia. We can monitor heart rate with a Doppler, but we don't have a good way to monitor oxygenation or blood pressure like we do in dogs and cats.

OA: How do your clients show up? With a tank? Do you have to travel much?

DK: Most of the time I do the surgery on site. I have a mobile anesthesia cart so I can do the surgery at the pond and allow the fish to recover in their normal environment. When I am at Underwater Adventures, we set up a system based on the type of animal we are going to work on. A white tip reef shark requires a much different set up than an ocean surgeonfish.

Sometimes clients do bring fish to me, though. I had a client drive from Michigan to spay his goldfish because they kept spawning and fouling the water. They brought the fish to me in Rubbermaid containers with an airstone.

OA: What are some of your favorite animals to work with and why?

DK: I really enjoy koi because they are very personable animals that can be trained to eat from your hand and be petted. Most koi owners really love their fish and will seek out medical treatment if their fish is sick.

I also really love working with sharks and stingrays because they are such a challenge to work with and to get a diagnosis. It is very rewarding when a sick animal gets better.

On helping set up my friend's saltwater..

2009-08-22T00:56:00.001-07:00

Ah, the anxious beginning reef keeper. My poor friend (I'm helping him set up his saltwater reef aquarium) is getting all worked up about water chemistry and the beginning of the nitrification process. He brings in a water sample everyday for me to test!! I find it rather amusing, and I really don't mind. My only advice for beginning reefers: "if ain't broken, don't try to fix it!"

Everything will fall in to place, you just need to be informed, patient, and consistent.

fun

The Red Sea is not all that red.

2009-08-07T20:59:00.001-07:00

The Red Sea really isn't very red. It's normally blue-green but there is occasionally a bloom of a cyanobacteria called trichodesmium erythraeum. When they die they turn the water a weak reddish-brown. The coloration/intensity varies through the body of water.

You've seen cyanobacteria probably if you've ever been to a lake. Because they can fix their own nitrogen, which algae can't do (Nitrogen is only less likely than phosphorous to become the limiting factor) they particularly thrive.

They are classified as bacteria. "Annie, Fannie, and Mike," are three cyanobacteria that bloom so much that they are seen as nuisance "algae" to some people. Annie=Anabaena Fannie= Aphanizoomemnon and Mike= microcystis.

info

Making Waves

2009-08-07T20:43:00.000-07:00

Clark Little's portfolio of ocean waves speaks for itself. Best wave photographer I've ever seen. Take a look!

Wow, look at the sand caught up in this one!!
And the one before it, it was like melting oceany glass! Okay, one more:

Manatee loc systems from Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution.

2009-08-05T20:41:00.000-07:00

Manatees in Florida face many well known dangers. Boats tear long gashes, and rip off huge chunks of flesh from their backs, habitat loss has decreased the amount of food available to the sea cows, and trash is often ingested with deleterious effects. However there exist lesser known evils, such as the basis of this blog: the lock and dams that are deterring, and in some cases killing manatees.

A lock is a narrow channel that has water on higher land, and the main source it runs into below. In order to transfer goods, locks were put in place to allow ships to safely pass up the river, uncannily like steps. Manatees can be trapped and drowned, or crushed in these passages. Notably, Rodman Dam and Buckman Lock in Ocklawaha river have been responsible for the deaths of at least 10 manatees, and probably upwards of 7 more. State wide, locks are responsible for more than 191 manatee deaths since 1974.

The dedicated scientists at harbor branch have developed promising technology that may reduce these numbers greatly, if not stop them all together. The system is known as the
Manatee Acoustic Detection Sensor Protection System. It works by using undetectable sound beams that can perceive a manatee from a distance. When the manatee is sensed the gaits open, and stay that way long enough for the manatee to swim through, or move out of the way.

Surprisingly, this lock technology has been available for ten years, and was only first used last year as a replacement for the Ortona Lock on the Caloosahatchee River. Phase two has just been initiated and 6 locks in the Okeechobee water way will be replaced this year. the army corp. of engineers is paying for the lock replacements.

Some critics of the program believe that the project is a waste of time, and more importantly money. However when taken into account the important niche manatees fill, and the fact that only around 3,000 manatees of this species are alive at this time , every single one counts toward conserving this rare creature, and the gentle ecosystems they help hold together.

Need a laugh? Listen to this hilarious talk on the mola mola fish!!

2009-08-02T19:31:00.001-07:00

Mola mola or the giant ocean sunfish, may be the goofiest fish I've ever seen.

Sylvia Earle's TED prize wish for the ocean

2009-08-02T19:11:00.000-07:00

"Sylvia Earle, called "Her Deepness" by the New Yorker and the New York Times, "Living Legend" by the Library of Congress and "Hero for the Planet" by Time, is an oceanographer, explorer, author and lecturer with a deep commitment to research through personal exploration.
Earle’s work has been at the frontier of deep ocean exploration for four decades. Earle has led more than 50 expeditions worldwide involving more than 6,000 hours underwater. As captain of the first all-female team to live underwater, she and her fellow scientists received a ticker-tape parade and White House reception upon their return to the surface.

In 1979, Sylvia Earle walked untethered on the sea floor at a lower depth than any other woman before or since.

In the 1980s she started the companies Deep Ocean Engineering and Deep Ocean Technologies with engineer Graham Hawkes to design and build undersea vehicles that allow scientists to work at previously inaccessible depths.

In the early 1990s, Dr. Earle served as Chief Scientist of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. At present she is explorer-in-residence at the National Geographic Society.

Sylvia Earle is a dedicated advocate for the world’s oceans and the creatures that live in them. Her voice speaks with wonder and amazement at the glory of the oceans and with urgency to awaken the public from its ignorance about the role the oceans plays in all of our lives and the importance of maintaining their health.

"We've got to somehow stabilize our connection to nature so that in 50 years from now, 500 years, 5,000 years from now there will still be a wild system and respect for what it takes to sustain us."

-Sylvia Earle

Dr. Earle's biography was taken from TED.com, for the purpose of education.

Thank you Sylvia, you are an inspiration to us all!!