Biology Conservation Coral Ecology
The importance of sea urchins
A look into Valeska’s graduate research. Why coral reefs depend on the long spined black sea urchin for survival.
Author: Valeska Upham
For my fisheries and aquatic science PhD I am working on how to tank raise urchins and transplant them onto reefs across the Florida Keys in order to help reverse the phase shift from algae dominated back to coral dominated.
Conservation Ecology Human impacts
Are satellite tags the new dinner bell for harbor seals?
Satellite tags are being used to study the foraging behavior of fishes, but in the lab harbor seals have been…
Coral Evolution Geology Ocean Exploration
Happy Birthday Charles Darwin
207 years ago, a renowned naturalist and geologist was born; Charles Darwin. Today OceanBites is honoring Charles Darwin and his…
Biology Climate Change Ecology Fisheries
Disoriented fish are getting lost at sea!
Young fish rely on sound cues to navigate the vast ocean, but as our oceans acidify, the journey home to…
Ecology
Predator vs. Prey: starfish vs. coral
The crown-of-thorns starfish has become a vicious predator of acroporid corals in the Indo-Pacific. This study looks at recruitment strategies…
Climate Change Ecology Fisheries
Always follow your gut, or in this case, follow the fish guts
Following the guts of fish species is sometimes the best way to track small, mobile crustacean prey.
Ecology Fisheries
I’ll stand guard for you!
When it comes to helping each other out, it turns out that some fishes are better at it than we…
Climate Change
The barrels of the sea; giant barrel sponges that is
Giant barrel sponges are understudied compared to many other marine organisms, but that doesn’t make them any less important. Climate…
Biology Climate Change Ecology
Corals better learn to keep up or they may drown!
The coral reefs protecting many islands in the Pacific need to grow quickly in order to keep up with the…
Climate Change Human impacts ocean engineering technology
An exact replica of a coral reef right in the office!
In order to better understand coral reef complexity and structure researchers developed a cost effective way to 3D print coral…
Coastal Management Ecology Human impacts
Do fish communities need natural shorelines, or are artificial structures ok?
Due to coastal development and natural erosion, shoreline fish communities are stressed. Several versions of artificial structures have been built…
Climate Change Ecology Fisheries Human impacts
What would coral reefs be like without human impact?
One would think that an isolated reef ecosystem shielded from the influence of people would provide an ideal benchmark against…
Biology Climate Change Ecology
Just sealing around; Ice seal misidentification in aerial surveys
Aerial photographs are a great way to collect images of marine species in order to analyze their distribution patterns. Distinguishing…
Climate Change Coral Genetics
A new thermally tolerant species of algae is found!
Rising ocean temperatures threaten coral reefs, but a new thermal tolerant algae could help.
Biology Coral Genetics
Is a coral’s color all for show?
Two of the exact same corals, sitting right next to each other, often appear to be different based on their…
Biology Ecology
Watch out guys, pregnant whale sharks are on the loose!
Whale sharks have become an increasingly popular tourist attraction, but much of their life history remains largely unknown. This study…
Ecology
How do jellyfish find their prey?
Jellyfish bloom have multiplied over the years, gathering in large quantities in the Norwegian fjords. Researchers used this opportunity to…
Climate Change Conservation Coral Ecology Human impacts
Can a complex model hold the fate of the crown-of-thorns starfish?
Not all starfish are cute! The crown-of-thorns starfish has been eating all the coral on the Great Barrier Reef! Researchers…
Ecology
The Language of Fishes
Coral reefs are composed of hundreds of different species, who all use different acoustics to communicate, just like we use…
Book Review Ecology Fisheries
What factors influence Lionfish success in the Bahamas?
Lionfish are recent invaders of the Caribbean Basin and are reproducing at a rapid rate, their population continuing to grow…