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Author: Megan Chen

I'm a past oceanbites writer, occasional editor and guest poster.  I graduated with a Masters of Coastal & Marine Management from the University of Akureyri in Iceland, and am currently working in marine conservation.  In particular, I'm supporting an Indigenous-led initiative to safeguard the largest inland sea in the world (Hudson Bay & James Bay, Canada). I love weird ocean critters and *sigh...I really do enjoy long walks on the beach.
Biology

Scientists reveal a greasy discovery: swordfish lubricate their heads for speed!

Swordfish boast a variety of adaptations that makes them one of the fastest swimmers on the planet! Everything from their…
August 3, 2016August 5, 2016 Megan Chen
Conference

Marine Educator Conference Highlights: Glowing jellyfish, bad petitions, lost sharks & affordable VR

An ocean pharmacy made possible by jellyfish, the danger of bad petitions, the importance of understanding 'lost sharks', and affordable…
July 6, 2016July 6, 2016 Megan Chen
Conference

Green Eggs & Sand: A Horseshoe Crab Workshop

This month, a whole post about horseshoe crabs! How do they grow? How have they saved lives? The answer to…
June 2, 2016June 5, 2016 Megan Chen
Biology

How fish can help design better filters

This new study takes a closer look at the fluid dynamics happening inside filter-feeding fishes. How might this save industries…
May 9, 2016May 10, 2016 Megan Chen
Aquaculture

What happens to human health when we feed crops to farmed fish?

Feed for farmed seafood is relying on more land-based ingredients. As aquaculture production is projected to increase in response to…
April 5, 2016April 7, 2016 Megan Chen
Book Review

Ice-Proof Penguin Feathers Inspire New Material

Unlocking the secrets behind penguin feathers' ability to stay ice-free may help us make safer and better products. Read more…
March 3, 2016March 3, 2016 Megan Chen
Biology

Sea of (Unromantic) Love: Strange Mating Behaviours

Tired of being alone on Valentine’s Day? Well, picture yourself in any of these animals situations and well, maybe it’s…
February 10, 2016February 14, 2018 Megan Chen
Biology Chemistry Coastal Management

Whale earwax: a hearing aid & time capsule

How is whale earwax essential to whales, and how can it help whale conservation? Read more to find out!
January 6, 2016January 6, 2016 Megan Chen
Coastal Management Conservation Coral Fisheries

How to Stop Dragging Our Assets: The World’s First Fishery Habitat Quota

Setting limits on fish catch is standard practice in fisheries management. For the first time in history, limits on habitat…
December 5, 2015December 6, 2015 Megan Chen
Fisheries

Northern Atlantic cod make an epic comeback

The collapse of Northern Atlantic cod was the textbook example of how overfishing can lead to a population crash. Decades…
November 6, 2015November 6, 2015 Megan Chen
Climate Change Modeling Physical oceanography Science Communication

Oceanbites Mingles With ArcticMix (Part 1)

This is part 1 of 3 interview posts on the ArcticMix voyage. Scientists share their experiences with life aboard a…
October 6, 2015December 5, 2015 Megan Chen
Fisheries

Counterfeit fish: the extent of seafood mislabeling in the United States

Media coverage of a seafood mislabeling study in the U.S. has popularized the 2013 finding that one-third of U.S. seafood…
September 7, 2015September 9, 2015 Megan Chen
Biology

The Science Behind the Male Sea Sapphire’s Flash Dance & Disappearing Act

Male sea sapphires have the ability to flash brilliant colours, then seem to disappear. Read more about the science behind…
August 12, 2015August 12, 2015 Megan Chen
Biochemistry Biology Human impacts Ocean Acidification

Ocean acidification may make “peekaboo” harder for shrimp

What happens to a shrimp's shell when exposed to more acidic conditions? Read more to find out!
July 9, 2015July 9, 2015 Megan Chen
Conference Economy Fisheries Policy Science Communication

Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2015 Highlights

Capitol Hill Ocean Week (CHOW) is an annual event in Washington, D.C. that brings together a wide range of leaders…
June 19, 2015June 19, 2015 Megan Chen
Coastal Management Conservation

Taiwan creates “Facebook” for sea turtles!

Photo ID databases have been used to estimate population sizes for zebras, cheetahs, whales, sharks dolphins, turtles and more. This…
May 14, 2015May 14, 2015 Megan Chen
Coastal Management Ecology

Lethal Injection: Crown of Thorns Edition

Predation by crown of thorns sea stars (COTS) is one of the main causes of coral reef decline in Australia’s…
April 14, 2015April 16, 2015 Megan Chen
Climate Change Fisheries

Written in bone: what ancient Pacific Cod can tell us about sea level rise and mercury

Through biogeochemical analysis, researchers found that mercury levels in ancient Pacific Cod bones peaked at a time of deglaciation and…
March 12, 2015March 15, 2015 Megan Chen
Biology

Yee-haw! This jellyfish-riding lobster has special appendages to keep clean and be carried on

By riding jellyfish, this lobster larvae can travel the high seas, and have easy access to a convenient snack. But…
February 18, 2015February 18, 2015 Megan Chen
Biology Climate Change

Anemones can do the ‘symbiont shuffle’ in the face of climate change

The bubble-tip anemone can harbour several types of algae or 'endosymbionts' simultaneously. This raises the question: are there advantages to…
January 13, 2015January 13, 2015 Megan Chen

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