Zooxanthellae are the photosynthetic organism that live within coral reefs and supply the food to the reef building corals. They have a symbiotic relationship with the other protists but can also live an independent life. Enjoy this quick video about the process!
Marine & Freshwater Environmental Education
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Wordless Wednesday | Shell art
For more images from Beach Chair Scientist, please visit Flickr.
February 3rd: International Strawfree Day
Thanks to Inland Ocean Coalition for sharing this information about this upcoming Saturday: “Join the movement on February 3rd for International Strawfree Day! Every day the United States uses 500 million straws, enough to encircle the earth 2.5 times! The global total is undoubtedly much larger. Please do your part and say no to straws […]
Christmas critter countdown: Harp seal
This is the fluffy creature that tugs at our heartstrings and purses to fork over donations. What should you do though if you see a seal coming up on shore and lounging like he doesn’t have a care in the world? Or, if they’ve somehow lost their adorable, cute white fur and are a patchy? […]
How do female terrapins navigate to a nesting site?
The answer is “very carefully”. Female terrapins need to look for a spot above the high tide line to lay a nest for their eggs (They lay on average 2 clutches of approximately a dozen eggs each summer). The challenge is getting to a spot on the beach above the high tide line (dunes are […]
Did the squid warn of an earthquake?
Is it possible that squid can warn us of earthquakes? I say yes. It was pointed out in the The Yomiuri Shimbun earlier this month that fishermen saw in increase of their catch of squid right before several major earthquakes, including this recent one in March 2011. The article stated that “According to Agriculture, Forestry […]
Did you know what we add to our garden affects the ocean?
It’s officially day 4 of the “We affect what goes in our watershed” week (see posts on marine debris, oil, and pharmaceuticals). This time it’s all about fertilizers. Researchers whom published in the February 2011 edition of the journal Environmental Research Letters pointed out the human use of phosphorous, primarily in the industrialized world, is […]
NE Saltwater Fishing Show
For all the anglers out there get to the NE Saltwater Fishing Show in Providence, RI from March 19-21, 2010. Great exhibits and a wide array of seminars for the expert to the beginner.
When did life in the ocean begin?
It is said that Earth was created about 4.5 billion years ago (bya). Life began about (note “about”) 3.5 bya. And, in fact, it is thought that life began in the oceans! Follow the evolution of the whale on the National Museum of Natural History’s Sant Oceans Hall on-line ocean portal and see if the […]
Marine Debris Art Contest: Deadline November 30th
Here are two questions we should all be asking ourselves: How does marine debris impact the ocean and Great Lakes? What are you doing to help prevent marine debris? This year the NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest is sponsor another amazing art contest for students in grades K-8 from all U.S. states and territories. Make sure that […]
It’s as easy as A, B, Sea: F for Fulmar
Fulmar is a name given to the group of scavenger seabirds that inhabits the North and South Poles. Shearwaters and petrels are in this group of birds that have been nicknamed ‘stinkers’. The great fulmar of the Antarctic has a wingspan of over 6 feet and is almost 3 feet tall.
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