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Author: Erin McLean

Hi and welcome to oceanbites! I recently finished my master's degree at URI, focusing on lobsters and how they respond metabolically to ocean acidification projections. I did my undergrad at Boston University and majored in English and Marine Sciences - a weird combination, but a scientist also has to be a good writer! When I'm not researching, I'm cooking or going for a run or kicking butt at trivia competitions. Check me out on Twitter @glassysquid for more ocean and climate change related conversation!
Lobsters fighting antenna and claw over burrows
Behavior

Lobsters fighting antenna and claw over burrows

Animals fight for all kinds of reasons, but the main reason an animal will fight is to become a dominant…
December 26, 2017 Erin McLean
Talking to your teen about climate change
Climate Change

Talking to your teen about climate change

Do you remember having “the talk” with your parents? No, not the birds and the bees – the talk about…
October 25, 2017October 26, 2017 Erin McLean
To Cull or Not to Cull: Determining Attitudes Towards Shark Mitigation Strategies
Sharkbites Saturday

To Cull or Not to Cull: Determining Attitudes Towards Shark Mitigation Strategies

Opinions are like…well, you know…everyone’s got them. But how can we use what people think to make better decisions? Researchers…
September 30, 2017 Erin McLean
As far as the eye can(‘t) see: climate change may impact vision
Physiology

As far as the eye can(‘t) see: climate change may impact vision

Seawater is getting warmer, more acidic, and depleted of oxygen, and those shifts are causing animals serious problems: decreases in…
August 31, 2017 Erin McLean
The elephant in the oxygen minimum zone
Ecology

The elephant in the oxygen minimum zone

When people think of the animals that inhabit the deep sea, they think of the fascinating, alien-like creatures like the…
August 4, 2017 Erin McLean
Book Review Fisheries

Minimizing bycatch by maximizing incentives

What's the best way for fishermen to avoid catching the wrong type of animal in their nets? According to this…
June 26, 2017 Erin McLean
deep sea

Eating bones and building habitats: the life of an ecosystem engineer

Believe it or not, zombies can be...a good thing? Read on to find out how "zombie worms" in the deep…
May 30, 2017May 31, 2017 Erin McLean
Book Review

An Ocean in Your Beer

This St. Patrick’s Day, think outside the green beer and whiskey and try an ocean-inspired beer! Didn't know there were…
March 17, 2017March 16, 2017 Erin McLean
Behavior Biology Climate Change Ecology Ocean Acidification

Ocean acidification makes predators dumb

Chemistry is important for a lot of things, but can it change the behavior of animals? Read on to find…
February 24, 2017February 23, 2017 Erin McLean
Biology Ecology Fisheries

All Food Does NOT Come from the Sun

Excerpt: We’re taught at a young age that all food comes from the sun via photosynthesis. But, does it really?…
January 16, 2017January 15, 2017 Erin McLean
Biology Invasive Species Microbiology

Lionfish slime helps ward off diseases

We know of many things that protect animals against disease – immune systems and gut bacteria are just the two…
December 6, 2016 Erin McLean
Biology deep sea Ecology

When Pigs Get Crabs: A Story of Symbiosis

Excerpt: The deep sea is not an easy place to live. Cold, dark, and featureless, it doesn’t provide a lot…
November 8, 2016November 8, 2016 Erin McLean
Behavior Biology Climate Change Physiology

Seahorses Don’t Like It Hot

Scientists have been doing a lot of work recently trying to figure out how species are going to react to…
October 12, 2016October 15, 2016 Erin McLean
Biology Ecology Physiology

Lobster Poop: Way More Interesting Than You’ve Ever Imagined

If you’re like most people, you’ve probably never ever given any thought to lobsters and their poop. In contrast, the…
September 24, 2016September 24, 2016 Erin McLean
deep sea Ecology

How Much Wood Can A Wood Boring Clam Bore?

How much wood could a wood boring clam bore if a wood boring clam was given a lot of different…
August 22, 2016July 3, 2020 Erin McLean
Biology Ecology Natural History

Migrating lobsters use magnets to find their way

For the last post in our school's out for summer theme week, take a look inside to see how migrating…
July 22, 2016 Erin McLean
Biology Climate Change Ecology Ocean Acidification Parasitism

Can being sick be a good thing for surviving ocean acidification?

Scientists (myself included!) have been doing a lot of work on how marine animals respond to rising carbon dioxide (CO2)…
June 23, 2016June 23, 2016 Erin McLean
Aquaculture Biology Fisheries

When life gives you dead mussels, make…lobsters?

Many industries have been trying to figure out how to make their waste products into useful raw materials for other…
May 26, 2016 Erin McLean
Biochemistry Biology Conservation deep sea

Marine life: Coming to a PharmaSea near you!

The PharmaSea program is looking to expand our library of marine-derived compounds for use in drug discovery. Want to know…
April 29, 2016April 28, 2016 Erin McLean
Ecology Evolution

Sea of Love: The Fascinating Story of Sexual Parasitism

When they think of deep sea fish, most people think of that crazy fish from Finding Nemo with the big…
February 9, 2016May 11, 2020 Erin McLean

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