Valeska Upham
Are MPA’s the best way to conserve the seahorse population?
While Marine Protected Areas do a great job of preserving essential marine habitats, and decreasing fishing pressure, they may not be the best solution for the seahorse population. Valeska UphamFor 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 […]
Beware! Shellfish are taking over the fishing industry
Overfishing has created a cascading effect in the marine food web. Once, large apex predators, such as cod, dominated the fishing industry, but now, shellfish have taken over and contribute to more than half the fisheries stock. Valeska UphamFor my fisheries and aquatic science PhD I am working on how to tank raise urchins and […]
Hawksbill turtles are picky about their water temperature
Hawksbill turtles leave their place of birth and then head out into the world, but they always come back to their birth site in order to lay their eggs. Their journey, however, is not a random exploration of the wild ocean, but rather a purposeful voyage, seeking the perfect temperature of water. Valeska UphamFor my […]
It’s all about color for the rainbow wrasse
Male rainbow wrasses actively defend their territory and the amount of red light entering the water column has been found to have an effect on how aggressive these males will be towards intruding wrasses. Valeska UphamFor my fisheries and aquatic science PhD I am working on how to tank raise urchins and transplant them onto […]
Tag you’re it! Reef manta rays are being tagged in the Red Sea
Reef manta rays are being tagged in order to better understand their diving profile. Understanding how long the manta rays are at the near onshore surface waters as opposed to the deeper offshore waters will help in conservation strategies. Valeska UphamFor my fisheries and aquatic science PhD I am working on how to tank raise […]
How Coral Size Influences Fish Size
Many fish find a coral colony to host in, living their whole life in that same coral. They must pick carefully, however, for the shape and size of the coral will determine how the fish will grow. Valeska UphamFor my fisheries and aquatic science PhD I am working on how to tank raise urchins and […]
There’s no place like home
Lemon sharks travel many miles in their lifetime, but once a female becomes sexually mature she will be found right back at her place of birth to reproduce. Valeska UphamFor 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 […]
Coral Invasion in the Gulf of Mexico
The black sun coral is “invading” the Gulf! Once settled, it could out-compete other benthic epifauna and change the dynamic of the region’s community structure. Valeska UphamFor 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 […]
This Time Around, Humans Aren’t the Bad Guys in the Salmon Fishery
Salmon fishing is a huge industry in the Baltic Sea. So it comes as no surprise that when a predator starts attacking the fishing nets, a change must occur. In this case, the gray seals targeting the salmon nets are portrayed as the bad guys. Valeska UphamFor my fisheries and aquatic science PhD I am […]
How Our “Trash” Can Aid Juvenile Red Snappers
Cement, limestone, and even old barges are being used in the northern Gulf of Mexico to build additional habitats for several fish species. These recycled, man-made structures, also known as artificial reefs, have been piling up off the coast of the U.S. for the last 50-some years. While these rubble piles may look random, time […]
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