Did you know some species of puffers and other fish can live in both fresh and saltwater? It’s called euryhaline. Like … rhymes with “your-e-hey-leen!”. What’s it called when an animal isn’t this adaptable? Find out here.
Marine & Freshwater Environmental Education
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How much salt is in the ocean?
The amount of salt in the ocean, known as ‘salinity’, is a measure of the of the amount of salt dissolved in 1000 grams of water. The amount is expressed as parts per thousands (ppt). Refractometers are a tool used to measure the amount of salinity in the ocean. The salinity in the ocean is […]
From Sandy, coastal towns learn ‘dune’ diligence lesson. Is it enough?
The superstorm still affecting millions along the mid-Atlantic is a wake-up call. The damage due to flooding and fires is unmatched to any other storm in recent history. Experts say the event will not be an unfamiliar one in future decades due to an influx of people living along the coast and the impending sea […]
Test your knowledge: National Ocean Science Bowl biology
Here are some more sample questions from the Consortium for Ocean Leadership‘s popular National Ocean Science Bowl (NOSB). These questions come from the Biology section. Good luck! 1) Northern elephant seals come ashore during the spring and summer to do what? a) Mate b) Eat c) Give birth d) Shed their fur 2) The habitat […]
What is a salt marsh?
A salt marsh is the habitat where freshwater (from rivers and lakes) mixes with the saltwater (from the ocean). The salt marshes that I am most familiar with have tall cordgrasses near the water’s edge. Usually, it is a mix of two types of cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora and Spartina pattens. Away from the water’s edge […]
Belly biology creates lasting memories
It’s the dead of winter and I am Reminiscing about last summer. My husband and I both turned 40 in 2019 and we splurged on a family vacation to Alaska. It’s been over six months and the most memorable part of the trip for our nine and six year old was an afternoon we spent […]
How do sandbars get started?
The current closest to the ocean floor is moving offshore and dumps small piles of sand right at the wave break area. The sand accumulates to various degrees, and regardless it makes the water much shallower where you stand. Now, the sandbars that I am thinking of are very long and are parallel to the […]
It’s as easy as A, B, Sea: Y for Yellowfin Tuna
Yellowfin tuna are the most commercially sought after of all tunas. They have a football shaped body and can reach up to 450 pounds. Which is very impressive since they can also swim up to 30 miles per hour. Yellowfin tuna prefer to swim in schools in all temperate oceans. They prefer to eat fish […]
From USFWS “Miracle Migration: The Long Distance Flyer, Rufa Red Knot”
Thank you to the Northeast Office of the US Fish and Wildlife Service for posting this graphic on their Twitter feed! With the mention of horseshoe crabs, how could I not repost this!?! Did you know that shorebird hunting in the Caribbean and South America may contribute to the red knot’s decline along the Atlantic […]
It’s a Great White Expedition!
This is some footage from the series Shark Men from the National Geographic Channel. These scientists are under the gun to get a great white shark back in the water alive while still gathering all the pertinent data. AMAZING!
Syzygy and Supermoons
OK, just in case you are playing some pub trivia this summer I want to mention the phenomenons of syzygy and supermoons. In celestial terms, syzygy refers to when three heavenly bodies (for instance the sun, the moon, and the Earth) are aligned. This alignment typically enhances tides to an exceptional level. In marine science, […]
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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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