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North Carolina: The mecca for marine science?

June 25, 2011 by Leave a Comment

We all know North Carolina has research triangle between Raleigh-Durham and incorporates Chapel Hill. But, did you know that there is a marine science research quadrant in the state as well. First, you have the Division of Marine Fisheries in Morehead City (as well as the Duke and NOAA labs in nearby Beaufort). Next, in the center of the state you have the universities in the traditional research triangle. Then there are aquariums, nature reserves and UNC Coastal Studies program in the northeast Manteo area. Lastly, the National Undersea Research Center and the Coastal and Ocean Research and Monitoring Program are both located in the Wilmington area. Wilmington is also home to the state’s Sea Grant program as well as the Cape Fear Community College‘s Marine Advanced Technology Engineering program. Please click on the image below for a far superior version.

Image (c) ncmarinescience.com

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The Daily Ocean

June 24, 2011 by Leave a Comment

I’d like to take the time out to applaud one of the best ocean blogs out there, The Daily Ocean.

I cannot tell you the countless hours I have spent drooling over Ms. Bayles world-wind expedition of collecting trash (beginning in Santa Barbara, CA). It is so exciting (I’m really not kidding)! Not only is she dedicated but she is smart and savvy and keeps a wonderful blog with new and insightful factoids and pictures.

Please follow her and take the time to read more about her and her process for collecting trash. Who knows, maybe you’ll get inspired? It is such an honor to be a part of a community of ocean bloggers that includes this wonderful site. Keep up the great work and come home safe!

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Hands Across the Sand

June 23, 2011 by Leave a Comment

So if you do not have any weekend plans as of yet, what could be better than rallying some friends and family to participate in your nearest Hands Across the Sand event (June 25, 2011). It’s really quite simple. Once you find your nearest participating beach follow these three steps:

STEP 1 – Go to the beach at 11 AM in your time zone for one hour, rain or shine.

STEP 2 – Join hands for 15 minutes at noon in your time zone forming lines in the sand against oil drilling in your coastal waters. Yes to clean energy.

STEP 3 –Leave only your footprints.
This is the poster for the event organized by Oceana I will be attending this weekend.
Also, if you want some great background into the origin of the event read this press release.
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Who are the deepest divers in the sea?

June 22, 2011 by Leave a Comment

After gathering data from marinebio.net, the University of California – San Diego, National Science Foundation, Softpedia, and Scientific American the folks from LiveScience.com have presented this amazing graphic of the 8 deepest divers in the sea. As a bonus, it explains how penguins manage to pull off diving to a depth greater than the height of the Empire State Building! (P.S. If anyone knows where I can find a mentor who can teach me how to create these beautiful infographics please let me know.)

8. Emperor penguin – 1,500 feet deep

7. Weddell seal – 1,970 feet deep

6. Blaineville beaked whale – 4,100 feet deep

5. Leatherback sea turtle – 4,200 feet deep

4. Elephant seal – 5,000 feet deep

3. Southern elephant seal – 5,300 feet deep

2. Cuvier’s beaked whale – 6,200 feet deep

1. Sperm Whales – 6,500 feet deep

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Filed Under: Marine Mammals, Penguins, Sea Turtles Tagged With: , ,

FLASH: Florida Aquatic Science Heros

June 21, 2011 by Leave a Comment

While I was in graduate school in Florida I spent a lot of time in and around the Indian River Lagoon. It is one of the most diverse estuarine ecosystems in North America mainly due in part that it’s expansive length stretches across two geographic zone, the temperate and the tropic zone. This seamless mixing creates some of the most beautiful landscape you’d ever set your eyes on. It is also one of the most fragile environments since it sits on the edge of one of the largest man-made disasters in our country, the Everglades restoration project. Dr. Edie Widder is a deep-sea biologist who founded the Ocean Research and Conservation Association and is featured this video produced by COSEE. Get to know some of her exciting work helping to restore the balance of aquatic ecosystems in south Florida by Making Water Pollution Visible.

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Test your knowledge: Alphabet soup

June 21, 2011 by Leave a Comment

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 and directed the restoration of one the most diverse estuaries since 1983.
ICCAT: An inter-governmental fishery organization responsible for the conservation of tunas (and tuna-like species) in the Atlantic Ocean and its adjacent seas.
MSP: Concept that allows multiple users of the oceans to coordinate (or plan) decisions for a sustainable future.
NEPA: Signed into law on January 1, 1970 this Act set out to “assure that all branches of government give proper consideration to the environment prior to undertaking any major federal action that could significantly affect the environment.”
NOAA: No, no, no … It’s not National Offshore Aquaculture Act of 2007 … it’s the other one. This federal agency oversees the oceans. They also oversee the atmosphere as well (i.e., hurricanes, climate, etc).
PFD: Please bring one of these for every person on your boat this summer.
SAV: Beds of this are important habitat for many species that use estuaries as nursery grounds.
VIMS: College that runs (through SeaGrant) BRIDGE (teacher-approved marine resources).

Related articles
Test Your Knowledge: NOSB Biology (beachchairscientist.wordpress.com)
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Beach trivia

June 14, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Can you name the world’s longest beach (at 76 miles long!)?

Want to find out the location of the famous beach from the movie “From Here to Eternity“?

Did you know that a beach on the west coast of Florida is the top spot to find seashells in the U.S.?

You can learn all these facts and a whole lot more with this interactive beach quiz from National Geographic. Have fun and please let us know if you learn anything particularly surprising or fun.

Filed Under: Beach, Ocean, Random Fun!, Test Your Knowledge

How deep is the ocean?

June 9, 2011 by 2 Comments

A picture is always worth a thousand words. So, to illustrate this question I’m using a nifty infographic from Our Amazing Planet relating the world’s tallest mountain to the ocean’s deepest trench. This poster will show you where Denver is in to relation to your average plane flying overhead and how deep sperm whales dive in relation to where the Titanic wreck was discovered!

Our Amazing Planet explores Earth from its peaks to it mysterious depths.
Source

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World Oceans Day

June 8, 2011 by Leave a Comment

On today, World Oceans Day, I’d like to bring your attention to an editorial published yesterday in the Huffington Post “Looking for a Sea Change on World Oceans Day” by Vicki Spruill, Ocean Conservancy CEO. Please share your thoughts on the article and don’t forget to wear your blue!

Filed Under: Ocean

Adaptations

June 2, 2011 by Leave a Comment

As a new mama, the wheels in my head are constantly wondering how my daughter’s surroundings will influence her personality. I sure hope she’s not bitter like the anglerfish featured in yesterday’s Sherman’s Lagoon cartoon. I will just remind the little one to keep smiling and tell her that adaptations are what led to the strongest species surviving.

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Filed Under: Ocean