JOIDES stands for the Joint Oceanographic Institutions for Deep Sea Sampling. This project began in the 1970’s as a collaboration between many prominent universities and oceanographic institutes (including Woods Hole and Scripps) to take core samples and study the bottom of the ocean. The vessel used for the project was known as the Glomar Challenge. Since the initial project a JOIDES resolution unfolded in 1985 maintaining the mission of the project. Currently, Mission 330 is underway where they are studying the Louisville Seamount Trail. Learn more here. To date the deepest hole drilled into the earth has been approximately 1.3 miles deep.
It’s as easy as A, B, Sea: I for Irish Moss
February 9, 2011 by Leave a Comment
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Irish moss is also known as carageen. Carageen is a deep red alga that grows around rocky substrates along both coasts of of the north Atlantic Ocean. Carrageenan is a gelatinous material extracted from Irish Moss and can be used as a vegetarian alternative to gelatin. It is found in ice cream, soy milk, diet soda and even used in fake saliva for movie effects.
It’s as easy as A, B, Sea: H for Horseshoe Crab
February 8, 2011 by 1 Comment
Horseshoe crabs are an arthropod more closely related to spiders and scorpions than crabs and lobsters. They have a three part body: prosoma (head), opisthosoma (heavy shell with legs under it) and the telson (tail). This amazing body structure has been unchanged for over 200 million years. Interestingly enough, this is this Beach Chair Scientist’s favorite animal and there have been numerous posts about Limulus polyphemus. Read more here.
It’s as easy as A, B, Sea: G for Gorgonians
February 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Gorgonians are a group of corals known as the ‘horny corals’. This is includes the sea whips, sea fans and sea feathers. They are similar to the soft corals because they all have eight-part symmetry. Most jewelry that is made from coral is made from the gorgonians. If you ask me though corals are too precious too wear.
It’s as easy as A, B, Sea: F for Fulmar
February 6, 2011 by Leave a Comment
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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.
It’s as easy as A, B, Sea: E for Epipelagic
February 5, 2011 by 1 Comment
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Epipelagic is the area of the water column extending from the surface of the water down to 700 feet. Since is the only zone that the sunlight can penetrate this is the only zone where plants reside. Consequently, this is where 90% of ocean life hangs out.
The epipelagic zone is also known as the sunlight or euphotic zone.
It’s as easy as A, B, Sea: D for Diaz, Bartholomeu
February 4, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Bartholomeu Diaz was a Portuguese navigator who was the first person to sail around the Cape of Good Hope. His flotilla of three ships are thought to have rounded the tip of Africa the first week of February in 1488. He was sent by Prince John (eventually King) to explore the west coast of Africa south of fifteen degrees latitude in an effort to understand how Africa and India are linked.
It’s as easy as A, B, Sea: C for Chitin
February 3, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Chitin (kai-tin) is the main material for 1) the exoskeleton of shrimp, crabs and lobsters, 2) the beak of squid and octopi and 3) the radula of mollusks. It is very similar in make up to glucose and similar in function to keratin (which is what makes up our hair, skin and nails).
It’s as easy as A, B, Sea: B for Baffin Bay
February 2, 2011 by Leave a Comment
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I love the game Scattegories so I am going to be drawn to learning new words that will help me gain more points.
The Baffin Bay separates Greenland from Canada and is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by the Davis Strait. You won’t be finding any vacation homes along the shores of the Baffin Bay as the surrounding islands are cold and mountainous and the Bay is covered in ice for most of the year.
The Baffin Bay is approximately 700 miles long, varies from 70 to 400 miles in width and ranges from 1,200 to 9,000 feet deep.
It’s as easy as A, B, Sea: A for Agnatha
February 1, 2011 by 1 Comment
So we all agree the month of February can be a little slow and dreary. But, I am here to prove contrary. Sit back and relax with a Bloody Mary and have BCS entertain you (well, at least in theory). Welcome to the month of A, B, Seas! For each day in February there will be a marine science related term (including person, place, or thing) defined in only the way BCS knows how … with concise style, grace, and humor.
Image via Wikipedia
Here we begin with the letter A.
Agnatha is a class of primitive fish including the hagfish and lampreys (pictured). Agnatha is Greek for “no jaws”. Members of this class all suction or filter feeders.
To add a little more to the lesson, here is the mnemonic device I use for remembering how to classify plants and animals: King Philip Came Over For Good Spaghetti for Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species.
Related Articles
- National Hagfish Day is October 20th (beachchairscientist.wordpress.com)
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