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Author: Derrick Alcott

Derrick is pursuing a Ph.D. in the Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He is interested in anadromous fish migrations, how aquatic organisms interact with their physical environment, and the impact of human development on natural systems.
Behavior Biology deep sea

Hide-and-Go-Seek in the Deep Sea

In the deep sea off the coast of Antartica, sea urchins are getting crafty to avoid predation from king crabs.…
August 18, 2016 Derrick Alcott
Behavior Biology

School is in Session for Fish

Human school is a place to learn. Fish school is a way of swimming in a group to stay alive.…
July 20, 2016July 20, 2016 Derrick Alcott
Conservation Policy

Is ‘Shark Week’ Good or Bad for Sharks?

'Shark Week' has become a staple of summer television. It is currently the longest continuously running series on television. It…
June 27, 2016June 27, 2016 Derrick Alcott
Behavior Ecology

Scaredy-crab behavior can alter food webs

Being small crab can be tough. Dodging predators from the land, sea, and air is no small task. A new…
March 29, 2016 Derrick Alcott
Biogeochemistry Ecology Human impacts Restoration

Solving Big Dam Problems

The US has a lot of dams. Probably far more than you ever imagined possible. Many of these dams are…
February 26, 2016February 26, 2016 Derrick Alcott
Biological oceanography Biology Climate Change Fisheries

The Codfathers: Holding the Keys to Success in Warming Oceans

Atlantic cod stocks have struggled to recover from overfishing for decades. Warming oceans will make a cod recovery even more…
January 12, 2016 Derrick Alcott
Behavior Biology

Feeling fishy about our view of fish feelings

Humans are conscious beings that experience a range of emotions. But do other organisms share this quality, or is it…
December 8, 2015December 10, 2015 Derrick Alcott
Biology Coastal Management Conservation Human impacts Pollution

Cohos in Dirty Water: Salmon and Pollution

Coho salmon are one of the six species of Pacific salmon. They can be found from California to Alaska, but…
November 9, 2015November 10, 2015 Derrick Alcott
Climate Change Ecology Seagrass

Kelps forced into hiding: Underwater forests troubled by warm oceans

Kelp forests are highly productive and diverse ecosystems found in cool coastal waters. A new study suggests that warmer waters…
October 10, 2015October 9, 2015 Derrick Alcott
Conservation Ecology Fisheries

Big Fishing on (Important) Little Fish

Forage fish may be little as individuals, but their big schools have a big impact on marine ecosystems. They serve…
September 11, 2015September 11, 2015 Derrick Alcott
Biology Modeling Physiology technology

Science Says Fish Should Stay in School!

Is it cool for fish to stay in a school? Many do, but why? Avoiding predators is one reason, but…
August 18, 2015August 18, 2015 Derrick Alcott
Biology Book Review Conservation

Using Robots to Track Sea Turtles

A new technique using underwater robots may be able to teach us about sea turtle behaviors in the wild.
July 15, 2015 Derrick Alcott
Coastal Management Conservation Ecology

The True Value of Fish Nurseries

Estuaries (where freshwater and seawater mix) are used as nursery grounds to raise many species of young fish around the…
June 18, 2015 Derrick Alcott
Biochemistry Biology Coastal Management Conservation Fisheries Genetics

Protecting Hometown Herring

River herring are anadromous fish, which means they live most of their life in the ocean but spawn in freshwater…
May 20, 2015 Derrick Alcott
Biology Ecology

The Advantages of Being a Deceptive Fish: Tales of a Predatory Mimic

Dusky dottybacks are small (8cm/3in) fish found on the Great Barrier reef, but despite their small size, they are fish…
April 25, 2015 Derrick Alcott
Conservation Fisheries Policy

Protecting Well-Traveled Fishes: A New Approach

Fisheries managers have begun a shift from attempting to protect individual fish species to protecting entire ecosystems. Marine Protected Areas…
March 19, 2015March 19, 2015 Derrick Alcott
Climate Change Coastal Management Ecology

Complex Relationships in a Changing World: Sponges and Seagrass

Different species within an ecosystem interact with each other. However, their interactions are often more complex than we may realize.…
February 11, 2015February 11, 2015 Derrick Alcott
Conservation Ecology Fisheries Human impacts technology

Are Fisheries Scientists Ringing the Dinner Bell for Marine Mammals?

Acoustic telemetry is a valuable technique used by fisheries scientists to track fish movements. However, a new study suggests that…
January 20, 2015 Derrick Alcott
Coastal Management Ecology Fisheries Human impacts

How Our Love of Living Near Water Impacts Estuarine Ecosystems and Pacific Salmon

We all love a beautiful view from a pier looking out over the water. However, piers are just one example…
December 4, 2014December 4, 2014 Derrick Alcott

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