Skip to content
oceanbites

oceanbites

Ocean science for everyone!

  • About oceanbites
    • Style Guide
  • Our authors
  • Oceanbites Out Loud
  • Write for oceanbites!
  • Other science bites sites

Author: Diana Fontaine

I love writing of all kinds. As a PhD student at the Graduate School of Oceanography (URI), I use using genetic techniques to study phytoplankton diversity. I am interested in understanding how environmental stressors associated with climate change affect phytoplankton community dynamics and thus, overall ecosystem function. Prior to graduate school, I spent two years as a plankton analyst in the Marine Invasions Lab at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) studying phytoplankton in ballast water of cargo ships and gaining experience with phytoplankton taxonomy and culturing techniques. In my free time I enjoy making my own pottery and hiking in the White Mountains (NH).
SURFO SPECIAL: Understanding Cold-Water Corals
Undergraduate Research

SURFO SPECIAL: Understanding Cold-Water Corals

SURFO student, HuxleyAnn Huefner, describes her summer research on deep-water corals.
August 28, 2022 Diana Fontaine
SURFO SPECIAL: Robots and Velcro:  How You’re $2,500 Away from Being an Oceanographer
Undergraduate Research

SURFO SPECIAL: Robots and Velcro: How You’re $2,500 Away from Being an Oceanographer

SURFO student, Ashley Hutchins, describes her summer research on a cool remote controlled vehicle known as GeoFF.
August 27, 2022August 26, 2022 Diana Fontaine
Deep Learning of the “Sea”: Using Artificial Intelligence to Better Understand our Earth’s Climate
Undergraduate Research

Deep Learning of the “Sea”: Using Artificial Intelligence to Better Understand our Earth’s Climate

Exploring ocean sea surface temperature datasets might be the answer to understanding our Earth’s climate.
September 12, 2021September 12, 2021 Diana Fontaine
Bay Watch: Tracking Long-term Changes in Nutrients and Phytoplankton Composition in Narragansett Bay, RI
Undergraduate Research

Bay Watch: Tracking Long-term Changes in Nutrients and Phytoplankton Composition in Narragansett Bay, RI

Phytoplankton composition can vary based on environmental changes. How can we study these important organisms over time?
August 28, 2021August 30, 2021 Diana Fontaine
Here’s the “Catch” with the COVID-19 Pandemic
Fisheries

Here’s the “Catch” with the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic brought changes to global fisheries. Using a Maine lobstering community as an example for global small fisheries,…
June 12, 2021June 8, 2021 Diana Fontaine
Will dead corals help reefs recover from disturbances?
Biological oceanography Coastal Management Conservation Coral

Will dead corals help reefs recover from disturbances?

This is a guest post by Kelly Wong. Kelly is a current Master’s student at California Sate University, Northridge in…
March 30, 2021 Diana Fontaine
Does coral size matter?
Climate Change Coastal Management Conservation Coral

Does coral size matter?

Nina Bean is a 2nd year master’s student at the California State University, Northridge in Dr. Peter Edmunds’ Polyp Lab.…
February 28, 2021February 28, 2021 Diana Fontaine
Catching a ride on plastic: how dangerous bacteria might travel across oceans
Biological oceanography Climate Change Evolution Human impacts Microbiome Plastic

Catching a ride on plastic: how dangerous bacteria might travel across oceans

Plastic is abundant in the ocean ecosystem. Not only is it harmful to marine animals, but as scientists discovered, it…
January 26, 2021January 26, 2021 Diana Fontaine
To fish or to dive?: A case study of fisher and diver perceptions of coral reef management
Coastal Management

To fish or to dive?: A case study of fisher and diver perceptions of coral reef management

This week is #BlackInMarineScience week and here at Oceanbites we’re featuring the work of Black scientists all week long! Today’s…
December 4, 2020December 3, 2020 Diana Fontaine
No language bounds in the ocean
Aquaculture Biodiversity Biological oceanography Coastal Management Conservation Human impacts Invasive Species

No language bounds in the ocean

What happens when an animal is found outside of its native range? Does it take over? How does it get…
November 3, 2020November 12, 2020 Diana Fontaine
El Golfo de San Lorenzo es un histórico rompecabezas de oxígeno
Climate Change Coastal Management En Espanol Ocean Exploration Physical oceanography Undergraduate Research

El Golfo de San Lorenzo es un histórico rompecabezas de oxígeno

Adalberto Ubinas Romero es un estudiante de último año en la Universidad de Puerto Rico en Humacao con especialización en…
September 5, 2020September 5, 2020 Diana Fontaine
Whisk-y Business: How Insights from Whisker Anatomy Can Expand Our Knowledge of Seal Behavior (Guest Post by Aubree Jones)
Behavior Biology Conservation Developmental Biology

Whisk-y Business: How Insights from Whisker Anatomy Can Expand Our Knowledge of Seal Behavior (Guest Post by Aubree Jones)

This is a guest post by Aubree Jones. Aubree is working towards her PhD at the University of Rhode Island.…
September 4, 2020September 3, 2020 Diana Fontaine
Around the world on a quest for diatoms
Biodiversity Biological oceanography Climate Change Genetics

Around the world on a quest for diatoms

How do scientists explore the diversity of tiny cells in the vast ocean? Does diversity change in relation to environmental…
September 4, 2020September 2, 2020 Diana Fontaine
How does mercury end up in our seafood? (Guest Post by Patricia Myer)
Chemistry Ecology Fisheries Human Health

How does mercury end up in our seafood? (Guest Post by Patricia Myer)

This is a guest post by Patricia Myer. Patricia is a third-year Chemical Oceanography PhD student at the University of…
September 3, 2020September 3, 2020 Diana Fontaine
SURFO SPECIAL: The oxygen puzzle of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence
Climate Change Coastal Management Physical oceanography

SURFO SPECIAL: The oxygen puzzle of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence

Each summer, the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO) hosts undergraduate students from all over the country…
August 29, 2020September 4, 2020 Diana Fontaine
SURFO SPECIAL: A virtual adventure in coastal restoration
Coastal Management Conservation Coral

SURFO SPECIAL: A virtual adventure in coastal restoration

Coastal and Marine National Parks welcome millions of visitors every year, and they need our help! Habitat degradation is a…
August 29, 2020August 29, 2020 Diana Fontaine
Plastic Problems in Marine Pathways
Book Review

Plastic Problems in Marine Pathways

What if I told you that the organisms in the ocean produce half of the oxygen we breathe? Then what…
August 6, 2020August 6, 2020 Diana Fontaine
Getting your toes wet: Citizen science as a means for long-term monitoring
Biology Coastal Management Conservation Ecology Fisheries Policy

Getting your toes wet: Citizen science as a means for long-term monitoring

To understand ecosystem level changes, it is important to monitor an ecosystem over a long period of time. However, long-term…
July 6, 2020July 6, 2020 Diana Fontaine
Southern Ocean diatoms: while they’re small, they are mighty!
Biological oceanography Ecology Evolution Methodology

Southern Ocean diatoms: while they’re small, they are mighty!

Tiny organisms called phytoplankton fuel the marine food web. How have they adapted to live in the Southern Ocean where…
June 4, 2020June 4, 2020 Diana Fontaine
Life in the Abyss: the ecological impacts of deep-sea mining
Coastal Management Coral deep sea Economy Human impacts Noise ocean engineering Ocean Exploration Pollution

Life in the Abyss: the ecological impacts of deep-sea mining

Did you know that about 95% of the ocean is unexplored? The deep ocean is logistically very difficult to access,…
May 12, 2020May 12, 2020 Diana Fontaine

Posts navigation

Older Posts

Search oceanbites

WordPress Theme: BlogGrid by TwoPoints.