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- September 12, 2026
Marine & Freshwater Environmental Education
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New benthic species discovered off the coast of California
You might think all the animals that live in the ocean are floating throughout the sea, but there are entire communities of benthic animals and plants that live in a two-dimensional way just like we do on land. ‘Benthos’ are animals and plants that live in or on the ocean floor. These benthic animals live […]
What is the difference between a summer and winter flounder?
I would suggest laying it flat on a surface with the head facing your left hand. A summer flounder will have their eyes swiveled to the top of their heads and their mouth will be under their eyes. Their mouth will actually also extend behind their eyes. A winter flounder will have their eyes closer […]
Test your knowledge: Alphabet soup
See if you can guess what these marine-related acronyms stand for with the clues provided. AFS: Organization of fisheries professionals. Seattle is hosting their conference this year. BCS: A nice and funny blogger who enjoys making marine science entertaining (and it has nothing to do with college football). CBP: A regional partnership that has led […]
Jellyfish protein help create glow-in-the-dark ice cream
Looks like seaweed isn’t the only ocean organism used to make ice cream a special treat these days, particularly if its glow-in-the-dark ice cream. Charlie Francis, British ice cream creator, partnered with a Chinese scientist interested in understanding the nuances of jellyfish proteins, to synthesize the fluorescent jellyfish protein specifically for use as part of […]
More reasons why I love the Atlantic Horseshoe Crab…
As I mentioned before, the horseshoe crab is a rather frightening looking creature, however quite the opposite is true, they are the steadfast, strong member of the ocean community. This animal, not only is a vital part of the Atlantic coast food chain, but has remained rather unchanged since before the time of the dinosaurs! […]
17 facts about the wee sea potatoes
In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, and my Irish heritage, here’s a post on the humble and charming sea potato. The dried shell (also known as the test) of this urchin resembles a potato, hence the common name – sea potato. The sea potato, Echinocardium cordatum, is a common echinoderm found along beaches on all […]
What is the difference between a tern and a gull?
Wings: Terns have long-pointed wings while gulls have broad wings. Beaks: Terns have sharp bills while gulls have hooked beaks. Body size: Terns are smaller. Predatory practice: Terns dive to water to grab fish while gulls float on water to pick up prey. Tern (l), Gull (r) Image (c) cheasapeakebay.net (tern), wikipedia.com (gull) Do you […]
100 ways to live (and die) green
Conservation and marine science education are two primary themes on BCS. And, since I’ve been dedicating a lot of time to marine science education the past few months I indulged myself with this list 100 of ways to live (and die) green. It’s a list of fun suggestions – beyond recycling day-to-day – and is […]
Can you tell how old a fish is by looking at it?
There is one possible way to tell how old a fish is while it’s still alive. And, at that, – it’s pretty invasive. You need to take some of its scales (see image). The scales are similar to the rings of a tree. Depending on how many dark rings you may see (if you were […]
Sink your teeth into this: 20 facts about shark teeth
Are you ready to sink your teeth into Shark Week 2012? Here are 20 facts about shark teeth to get you started. Discovery Channel’s annual event looks like it will quite the extravaganza for its 25th year. Andy Samberg from Saturday Night Live has been brought in as the official ‘chief shark officer‘. I have […]
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- Robert Emahiser on Why you should never walk on dunes
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- Beach Chair Scientist on 17 facts about the wee sea potatoes
- Bernard Rejterada on 17 facts about the wee sea potatoes
- Brian on What is the difference between a summer and winter flounder?
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- Donnie Huckabee on Wordless Wednesday | Shell art
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- ItzJaylaD on What I know about whale sharks
Top posts & pages from BCS …
- Hurricane vs. Cyclone vs. Typhoon
- A House for Hermit Crab
- How to handle a horseshoe crab
- Snot's your house
- Wednesday Wisdom: Various quotes (Alaska scenes)
- A naturalist's must-see destination: Fossil Hunting at Bayfront State Park in Chesapeake Beach, MD
- Belly biology creates lasting memories
- Five awful puns about courtship in the sea
- Horseshoe crabs confirmed as members of arachnid family
- Beyond the bag: Other plastics being banned
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