Biological oceanography Climate Change Ecology Fisheries
Winter Cruisin’ on the North Atlantic
Do you wonder what it is like to do oceanographic research aboard a sea-going vessel? What types of research are…
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).
Biodiversity Biological oceanography Climate Change
Phytoplankton: Small cells with a big impact
Tiny organisms called phytoplankton fuel the base of the marine food web. Did you know that every other breath of…
Aquaculture Conservation Fisheries
To fish or not to fish: Exploring China’s seafood production strategies
China is the world’s largest producer of seafood and uses many different production methods to keep this reputation. These methods…
Biology Economy technology
The secret life of cheese: how dairy can support biofuel production
Did you know that phytoplankton can be used for biofuels? They provide a good alternative to fossil fuels because they…
Alternative Energy Aquaculture Climate Change Coastal Management Ocean Exploration Restoration
A floating island: is this where we’re moving to next?
Are floating islands in our future? As many of may know, the sea level is rising and will eventually intrude…
Biodiversity Coastal Management Conservation Ecology Genetics genomics Invasive Species Methodology Policy
Hidden diversity in ships’ ballast tanks
Did you know that organisms can live in the ballast tanks of cargo ships? Ballast tanks are used by ships…
Coastal Management Fisheries Harmful Algal Bloom Human Health ocean engineering technology Toxicology
Sailing Solo: An alternative way to monitor harmful algal blooms
Have you ever heard about a harmful algal bloom? Do you know what causes them? Or how scientists monitor them?…
Biological oceanography Biology Coastal Management Conservation Fisheries
SURFO SPECIAL: What’s it like to live in a dogfish eat dogfish world?
Brianna Villalon is a senior at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, studying marine biology and looking to gear her research toward…
Chemistry Hazards Human Health Toxicology Undergraduate Research
SURFO SPECIAL: Flame retardants: Not as friendly as we like to think
Jamillez Olmo Classen is a senior at the University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo, majoring in Technology in Industrial Chemical…
Biology Coastal Management Ecology Undergraduate Research
SURFO SPECIAL: The world is your oyster: Collecting data on Matunuck Oyster Farm
Did you know that oysters act as a biological water purifier? Thus, many different environmental conditions like the tide and…
Coastal Management Conservation Science Communication
Lights, Camera, Action! Photography as a tool for observing environmental change
Observing long-term trends in the environment can be a daunting task. Here, scientists used settlement panels to observe community compositional…
Biological oceanography
A Balancing Act for the US Atlantic scallop: Ocean Acidification and Fishery Management
Commercially important fisheries around the world are threatened by environmental changes. This post explores the effect of ocean acidification (OA)…
Book Review
Hijackers within the Sea: Catching a ride across an ocean
Did you know that organisms attached to marine debris can unintentionally cross ocean basins? Read more to learn how the…