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Author: Katherine Barrett

Kate received her Ph.D. in Aquatic Ecology from the University of Notre Dame and she holds a Masters in Environmental Science & Biology from SUNY Brockport. She currently teaches at a small college in Indiana and is starting out her neophyte research career in aquatic community monitoring. Outside of lab and fieldwork, she enjoys running and kickboxing.
El Niño forces Mexican farmers to roll the dice on crop production
Physical oceanography

El Niño forces Mexican farmers to roll the dice on crop production

Unusual cycles in the climate bring devastation to agriculture in central Mexico, but scientists have found a way to aid…
May 29, 2021May 29, 2021 Katherine Barrett
Corals can’t take the heat
Coral

Corals can’t take the heat

Coral reefs are incredibly important to humans and other species, but they are also vulnerable to the effects of climate…
May 29, 2021June 4, 2021 Katherine Barrett
Appreciation for the oceans & Oceanbites
Science Communication

Appreciation for the oceans & Oceanbites

Water: it's the substance we all have in common with each other, and with the oceans. This is my last…
March 9, 2021March 8, 2021 Katherine Barrett
The killing of killer whales
Human impacts

The killing of killer whales

Talking about killer whales may conjure images of Free Willy defying the odds and escaping captivity. However, in the wild,…
February 28, 2021February 28, 2021 Katherine Barrett
Scientists set sail to survey the ocean’s plankton diversity
Ecology

Scientists set sail to survey the ocean’s plankton diversity

If you gaze into the ocean, or a lake or stream, you may be surprised at the abundance and variety…
January 28, 2021January 29, 2021 Katherine Barrett
The Bellagio of the natural world: glacial fountains
Glaciers

The Bellagio of the natural world: glacial fountains

Glaciers are sentinels of global change, yet there is still much to be learned about how glaciers melt, and in…
November 5, 2020November 5, 2020 Katherine Barrett
Is Noise Pollution Causing Marine Mammals to Starve?
Behavior

Is Noise Pollution Causing Marine Mammals to Starve?

Noise surrounds our daily lives, and the oceans are no exception. Sonar is used by the Navy and oil industry,…
November 4, 2020November 4, 2020 Katherine Barrett
Lessons from inland saline lakes: linkages between “extreme” systems and the ocean
Aquaculture

Lessons from inland saline lakes: linkages between “extreme” systems and the ocean

What connections do inland salt lakes have with the ocean? Both are salty, and we can learn many important lessons…
September 30, 2020September 30, 2020 Katherine Barrett
Destruction in your backyard: why we need to keep industry accountable (Guest post by Meaghan Efford)
Archaeology

Destruction in your backyard: why we need to keep industry accountable (Guest post by Meaghan Efford)

This is a guest post by Meaghan Efford. Meaghan is an archaeologist and historical ecologist looking at how Burrard Inlet…
September 17, 2020November 1, 2022 Katherine Barrett
SURFO Special: Scouting out marine plastics on the shores of Guam
Plastic Pollution

SURFO Special: Scouting out marine plastics on the shores of Guam

Plethora of plastic pollution! Every year, large amounts of plastic are being deposited into our oceans as a direct result…
September 5, 2020September 5, 2020 Katherine Barrett
SURFO Special: The Pettaquamscutt River Estuary (AKA Narrow River): A Body of Water with Unique Characteristics and Unknown Circulation Patterns
Physical oceanography

SURFO Special: The Pettaquamscutt River Estuary (AKA Narrow River): A Body of Water with Unique Characteristics and Unknown Circulation Patterns

Estuaries are unique bodies of water with a mixture of fresh and salt-water that operate much differently when compared to…
September 5, 2020September 5, 2020 Katherine Barrett
Fisheries

What’s up, doc? How scientists are developing health charts for fish populations

Have you ever thought about how scientists may measure the health of marine fish? Just as we have our health…
July 31, 2020 Katherine Barrett
The lament of sediment: pesticide pollution hurts coastal biodiversity
Pollution

The lament of sediment: pesticide pollution hurts coastal biodiversity

Although seemingly far removed from the coasts, urban industries, agriculture, and daily human activities contribute pollution that can wind up…
May 8, 2020May 8, 2020 Katherine Barrett
Prey variety is key to coexistence of octopuses and sea stars
Ecology

Prey variety is key to coexistence of octopuses and sea stars

At family gatherings, relatives often compete for that last bite of turkey or crescent roll. How do predators living in…
March 3, 2020 Katherine Barrett
Protecting marine ecosystems by tracking top predators
Conservation

Protecting marine ecosystems by tracking top predators

What do canaries have in common with polar bears, sea turtles, and sea birds? Read on to find out how…
January 3, 2020January 4, 2020 Katherine Barrett
Atmospheric traffic jams halt nutrient flow to ocean phytoplankton
Climate Change

Atmospheric traffic jams halt nutrient flow to ocean phytoplankton

It is known that climate change is influencing our oceans in many direct ways, but what about changes in atmospheric…
November 4, 2019November 4, 2019 Katherine Barrett
Happy clams eat varied diets: seasonal changes in food resources for coastal critters
Ecology

Happy clams eat varied diets: seasonal changes in food resources for coastal critters

Between land and sea, coastal ecosystems receive seasonal varieties of food sources that impact organisms at the bottom of the…
September 3, 2019September 3, 2019 Katherine Barrett
How does salinity impact fish grazing in seagrass meadows?
Ecology

How does salinity impact fish grazing in seagrass meadows?

Seagrass meadows are widely recognized as one of the most productive and diverse marine ecosystems, as they provide a bounty…
July 17, 2019July 21, 2019 Katherine Barrett
Great Salt Lake: a place migratory birds call home
Conservation

Great Salt Lake: a place migratory birds call home

Is Great Salt Lake America’s Dead Sea? Quite the contrary, as this inland sea is very much alive! Read on…
June 6, 2019 Katherine Barrett
Hydrothermal vents spew out tasty morsels for local marine consumers
Ecology

Hydrothermal vents spew out tasty morsels for local marine consumers

Hydrothermal vents are not only cool structures where magma meets the sea; they offer a previously unappreciated food source for…
December 6, 2018 Katherine Barrett

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