Marine & Freshwater Environmental Education
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14 fascinating facts about the blue whale
A toddler can fit into a blue whale’s blowhole. The spray can reach up to 30 feet high. The blue whale’s scientific name is Balaenoptera musculus. Blue whales live in all oceans of the world. A blue whale’s tongue weighs more than an elephant. Blue whales are the loudest animal on Earth reaching up to […]
What are the fastest fish in the sea?
Not too long ago, I provided an update on the fastest fish in the sea, the Indo-Pacific sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus). I thought it would be interesting to do some research on how fast this fish is in comparison to other animals on land and in the sea and create a graphic to illustrate it. First, […]
Share your beachcombing adventures!
It’s just about time to get back to reality from a weekend, so why not extend the good times and share your beachcomber adventures?Did you find anything interesting? Did you watch any birds swoop down to the sea for food? What was the sunset like? Share your pictures or any fun stories! Here is a […]
“Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.” P.J. O’Rourke
Today Ira Flatow discussed summer science reads on Science Friday, my favorite radio program. So, I got to thinking about two very special books that I always wander back to when I want to reconnect with the ocean. Henry Beston’s, The Outermost House, and Jennifer Ackerman’s, Notes from the Shore, are two books written in […]
What is the difference between a swamp and a marsh?
Swamps and marshes are easily interchanged as they are both areas of vegetation that are susceptible to flooding. In North America they are defined a little differently (check out this BCS post for a quick lesson in wetland ecology – image below). A swamp is a place where the plants that make up the area […]
Reference Squid
I would love to share this wonderful squid dissection video from Paul Dewiler, Instructor of Marine Science at the San Diego Mesa College. The video was inspired by his overview during his Ultimate Squid Dissection workshop at the National Marine Educators Associations 2010 conference in Gaitlinburg, TN. He states that the purpose of the video […]
Happy Chinese New Year … Year of the (Sea) Dragon!
Happy Chinese New Year … Year of the (Sea) Dragon! January 23 will bring a very significant celebration for those that live by the sea … it is the year of the water dragon which only occurs every six decades! To commemorate such an occasion, BCS will highlight two very remarkable and elaborate dragons found […]
What is a Marine Protected Area (MPA)?
“A marine protected area (MPA) in the ocean is similar in concept to what a national park is on the terrestrial environment.” Shifting Baselines There are many terms that mean ‘MPA’, including: sanctuaries, parks, preserves, or natural areas. All of these areas have some boundary in the oceans and are protected by either the Department […]
Answers to “Test your knowledge of sea stars”
Answers to “Test your knowledge of sea stars” from December 31, 2009. True or False: Sea stars are fish. They are echinoderms, a group of invertebrates. Invertebrates have no backbones. All fish have backbones. True or False: Sea stars are closely related to sea cucumbers, sea urchins and brittle stars. True or False: Sea stars […]
Linda Thornton, an inspiring aquaculturist on a mission for sustainability
If you’ve got some spare time this weekend, take some time to enjoy this fantastic documentary of one woman’s quest to transform shrimp aquaculture practices. Andrew Revkin of the New York Times helped produce this 16 minute documentary of Linda Thornton, a biologist who uprooted herself from her home in Illinois to Belize, and set out […]
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- Beyond the bag: Other plastics being banned
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