Killer whales are famous for their intelligence and athletic prowess in (and leaping out of) the water. However, for some killer whale populations, human activity on the water can negatively impact their lives. Just how bad is this impact, and does it differ between male and female whales? Francesca GiammonaI am a PhD candidate at […]
The science of animal behavior has become more focused on figuring out the intellectual capacity of non-human, and particularly non-mammalian, animals in recent years. Cuttlefish have now taken the spotlight, and in a recent study, scientists ask the question: can these small marine animals learn, and make decisions based on past experiences? Francesca GiammonaI am […]
Dolphin groups, or pods, need every member working together to communicate and find food. To do this, dolphins whistle to each other. But when humans, and their boats, are in a pods’ natural territory, do dolphins have to change their whistling and feeding behavior in order to successfully chow down? Francesca GiammonaI am a PhD […]
With the threat of climate change ever present, many of us focus on the negative effects of unusually warm water on fish species. But, can abnormally cold water also hurt fishes, and can it hurt different fishes in different ways? Francesca GiammonaI am a PhD candidate at Wake Forest University, and I received a B.S. […]
Did you know that many plastic items can shed tiny particles called microplastics? These microplastics are present everywhere in our environment, from the sea to the air. But how prevalent are they, and do they pose harm to humans? Researchers attempted to answer this question by studying a common food item – canned fish. Francesca […]
Let’s think of well-known relationships between two different species. Sharks and remoras, hippos and small birds, and….fish and fig seeds? How does one species of fish help fig trees to grow, and how is this plant growth affected by the growth of the fish themselves? Francesca GiammonaI am a PhD candidate at Wake Forest University, […]
We all know that sharks are excellent hunters, but can the instinctual predatory mind of one of the ocean’s apex predators be influenced by the fishing actions of humans? Can sharks learn to feed differently based on human presence? Francesca GiammonaI am a PhD candidate at Wake Forest University, and I received a B.S. in […]
With climate change becoming a more pressing issue, the world’s coral reefs are suffering heavy consequences. Corals are increasingly becoming bleached, which can lead to reef death. But are there ways for corals to recover from bleaching? Francesca GiammonaI am a PhD candidate at Wake Forest University, and I received a B.S. in Biology from […]