sea vivs

exploring the big blue | aspiring marine biologist | #womeninscience | hometown: Los Angeles, CA 

[noaasanctuaries]

What’s better than one octopus? A THOUSAND OF THEM

🐙🐙🐙🐙🐙! While diving in the deep waters of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, researchers aboard the E/V Nautilus came across more than a THOUSAND octopuses! These octopuses – Muusoctopus robustus – were in a likely brooding posture. They were tucked into nooks in the seafloor with their arms inverted, covering their bodies and white egg clusters.

Yes, those white dots are all octopuses. Here’s a closer view of one of them:

(Isn’t she beautiful? That’s her siphon that she’s showing off. Octopuses squeeze water through their siphon to swim and steer. They also use their siphon to blow oxygen-rich water gently over their eggs.)

The octopuses were near shimmering fluid seeps, which were previously unknown to occur in this region. Near the octopuses, you can see sea anemones, sea snails, and other organisms. This dive was at about 3,000 meters (1.9 miles). We have footage of the octopuses for you, too:

The E/V Nautilus is currently in port to repair its ROV cable, but should be out at sea again soon! Find photos, videos, and information about the expedition here, and visit nautiluslive.org to watch the dives.

(GIF 1 description: Many white octopuses resting on the seafloor. GIF 2: An octopus rests on the seafloor and displays her siphon through her arms. GIFs/video credit: Ocean Exploration Trust/NOAA) 

[seavivs]

What’s Kraken?!

Note: Krakens are believed to be a species of squid, not octopus. 

[seavivs]

Scientists discover genetic basis for how harmful algae blooms become toxic

Scientists have uncovered the genetic basis for the production of domoic acid, a potent neurotoxin produced by certain harmful algae blooms, according to an article by the National Science Foundation.In recent years the toxin has resulted in that have resulted in cancellation of razor clam digs on t

Harmful algal blooms occur in both freshwater and saltwater ecosystems and can be extremely damaging to environments, eco-tourism and our personal health. 

[noaasanctuaries]

Clean up, clean up, everybody everywhere – today is the International Coastal Cleanup! 

Whether you’re participating in an organized cleanup event today or not, head out to your favorite beach today and do what you can to fight marine debris. 

Not near a beach? You can still help keep our ocean clean by keeping your local streams and river clear of trash, using reusable shopping bags and drink containers, opting not to use plastic straws if you don’t need them, and spreading the word about the importance of maintaining a clean and healthy ocean. 

(Photo: NOAA) 

[Image description: Two people pull a conglomerate of fishing nets onto a boat.]

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If you’re not near a beach or can’t make it out to one, there are ways you can help!

Join the movement on Coastal Cleanup Day by keeping your driveway clear of any trash or if you see a piece of trash on the sidewalk, pick it up! Making sure you properly dispose of any waste into the appropriate receptacles keeps our neighborhoods clean but helps the environment in every way. Just like Gill said, all drains lead to the ocean. 

[seavivs]

This alga may be seeding the world’s skies with clouds

After some of these microbes die, their calcium shells make their way into sea air

The average size of the individual organism photographed, a phytoplankton species named Emiliana huxleyi, is 0.003 millimeters across in diameter. 

Phytoplankton (phyto = Greek for plant, plankton = Greek for wander or drift) are microscopic organisms that can photosynthesize and live in both bodies of fresh and saltwater. 

Emiliana huxleyi is a species of coccolithophores. 

Coccolithophores are one of the different types of phytoplankton. Want to know more about coccolithophores? Click here

[seavivs]

Stingray Enrichment!

I’ve been working with the cownose rays at the Shedd Aquarium as a volunteer these past few weeks and it’s been interesting becoming familiar with some of the individuals. There’s quite the range of personalities and a hierarchy when it comes to feeding times. 

Cownose rays, or Rhinoptera bonasus, have a large distribution as they have been seen from New England of the United States down the Atlantic to the southern edge of Brazil. They largely consume clams and scallops using a modified subrostral fin to help identify and forage for food. 

This enrichment activity above is to see if the cownose rays can forage for the mussels, which are sustainably purchased through the Aquarium, in the plastic hard hat. The first time the hard hat was placed in the water, I observed very strong reactions that involved splashing and fast turns swimming away from the hat. They have definitely warmed up to the hard hat now although I’m sure the little bribe of their favorite food is extremely helpful *wink.* 

By the end of the enrichment session, two of the females creeped right up to the edge of the helmet and gobbled up the mussels! Using their flat, thin, and elongate molars, they crush the mussels and slurp all the inside goodies before spitting the shell pieces out.  

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American Toad, Anaxyrus americanus

My last days as an Amphibian Field Research Intern have come to an end and I’m so sad about it! I filled in my last days with looking for the Blue-Spotted Salamander and a few tadpoles surveys of both Chorus Frogs and American Toads. It has definitely been an interesting couple weeks experiencing three different seasons and getting friendly with some amphibian friends. I have to admit that 30 degree - snow field days were a lot more enjoyable than our 90 degree - mosquito ridden field days. 

But fear not! I’m staying on as a Shedd Volunteer working with their aquarist team on caring for the tropical stingrays that reside in the Stingray Touch exhibit at the Aquarium so keep an eye out for some stingray posts. ;)

[seavivs]

Hello Spring ✿

Spring is finally showing itself and I learned a couple native plants this past week that I wanted to show you all! Flower color diversity has always amazed me and I am definitely excited to see what else will be popping up in the weeks to come. 

Top left to right: Spring Cress (Cardamine douglassii), Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica)

Bottom left to right: Yellow Violet (according to others in the field, they’re not seen very often), Blue Violet (the Illinois state flower). These are both members of the Viola spp. 

[seavivs]

Mr. Toad?

It was our first day out in the field this season hearing toad trills in our field sites and stumbled upon some live toad porn. Whoops. We’ve been hearing chorus tree frog calls for a couple days now but they are ridiculously hard to find due to their small size. These toads are a bit bigger and were making quite the ripple in the ponds this morning. 

Q. What’s the difference between a frog and a toad?

A. According to the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology there is no difference but there are physical characteristics that define each group. 

Frogs have teeth; toads do not. 

Frogs tend to have slimy smooth skin; toads tend to have dryer bumpy skin. 

Frogs tend to be more aquatic, they are more dependent on water; toads mostly live on land but are found near water. 

Mythbuster: You can’t get warts from handling toads. 

I’ll be posting some spring wildflowers up on the blog soon since they are slowly starting to creep on out so keep an eye out!

[seavivs]

Happy Earth Day

Here are some photos I took at the Volcano National Park located in on the Big Island of Hawaii and at Haleakalā National Park on the island of Maui. These places definitely put life into perspective as it gives you an inside look into how life can grow and become so diverse on a barren strip of rock. It reminded me of how small I am and of how small the range of human existence has been. These craters (one currently still an active crater) are living timelines of perhaps what the lands that we reside on must have looked like billions of years ago. It is remarkable to see how life begins on such a barren rock with such harsh living conditions such as lack of water, hardly any topsoil, harsh weather conditions, and altitude.  A visit here to see the Haleakalā Crater, active Halema'uma'u Crater, and to see the lava ooze and burn in its wake reserve was ultimately a very humbling experience - one that I will not forget for a lifetime.  

[mindblowingscience]

Scientists accidentally create mutant enzyme that eats plastic bottles

The breakthrough, spurred by the discovery of plastic-eating bugs at a Japanese dump, could help solve the global plastic pollution crisis

Scientists have created a mutant enzyme that breaks down plastic drinks bottles – by accident. The breakthrough could help solve the global plastic pollution crisis by enabling for the first time the full recycling of bottles.

The new research was spurred by the discovery in 2016 of the first bacterium that had naturally evolved to eat plastic, at a waste dump in Japan. Scientists have now revealed the detailed structure of the crucial enzyme produced by the bug.

The international team then tweaked the enzyme to see how it had evolved, but tests showed they had inadvertently made the molecule even better at breaking down the PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic used for soft drink bottles. “What actually turned out was we improved the enzyme, which was a bit of a shock,” said Prof John McGeehan, at the University of Portsmouth, UK, who led the research. “It’s great and a real finding.”

Continue Reading.

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So does that mean I can use more plastic?!

Not yet! Amazing as this discovery is, we still have a lot of prevention and cleaning up to do. Remember that there is still a lot of plastic and trash roaming around our home, cities and natural resources. We still have not yet changed the way we dispose of our plastic debris. 

100% plastic-free is hard to implement right away so start off with some small ways that can help make an impact! Here are 3 quick ways to support the cause and the environment.

Bring reusable bags to the grocery store and for other times you are out shopping! Limiting the need for a plastic bag will mean that there is one less to dispose of. Here’s a link to a DIY No-Sew T-Shirt Produce Bag. Reduce, reuse, recycle!

#SheddtheStraw! Start off being single-use-plastic-free with not using plastic straws with your iced coffee and or cocktails. The Shedd Aquarium in Chicago is campaigning the end of plastic straws as they are items often found along Lake Michigan’s shore. Click on the hashtag for more information. 

Try to stay away from as much plastic packaging as you can when it comes to grocery shopping! Buy in bulk, with your own reusable bag, and make healthier meal choices all while helping the planet!

[seavivs]

Did you know?

The Blue-spotted salamander (Ambystoma laterale):

Are known for the blue spots and flecks over its black body and these spots differentiate from individual to individual just like zebras! We use a software program to identify the individuals we find and see if we have any re-captures. 

The family, Ambystomatidae, is also known as the “mole salamander” family as these species tend to live most of their life underground. The famous axolotl salamander(Ambystoma mexicanum) is a member of the same family!

This species of salamander has been observed to reproduce all-female hybrid populations with another species called the Jefferson salamander, Ambystoma jeffersonianum. The hybrid females are also capable of parthogenesis, which means they do not need the male genetics to reproduce!

This is one of the species that is part of my research internship with the Shedd Aquarium. It’s been about 3 weeks into the internship and yes, it is still snowing. Field conditions have been chilly with temperatures around the mid 30′s but I am thankful to not have to worry about mosquitos just yet. 

To date we have found 8 salamanders in our transects! We’re waiting for the weather to warm up for the tree frogs and hopefully I will be able to have a blog post about them soon.

[seavivs]

out in the field // I’m a Shedd Aquarium Conservation & Research Intern!

[seavivs]

Happy International Women’s Day!

I dedicate this post to Ms. Sylvia Earle for her groundbreaking achievements in the realm of marine science and her work in advocating and educating the world the importance of protecting our oceans.

“Even if you never have the chance to see or touch the ocean, the ocean touches you with every breath you take, every drop of water you drink, every bite you consume. Everyone, everywhere is inextricably connected to and utterly dependent upon the existence of the sea.” -Sylvia A. Earle, The World Is Blue: How Our Fate and the Ocean's Are One // Photo by Kip Evans. 

Let us take in the moment in praising and acknowledging the accomplishments women have made till now but let us also not forget the work that surrounds us in both the realm of science but also reality. Do not forget those that are oppressed and the work that still needs to be done. 

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Seeing these both on land and in the sea was such a trip 🐢Happy #NationalWildlifeDay! pc: @mrmonolid

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Stingray City; a small patch of soft white sand, crystal turquoise blue water and a fever of Southern stingrays swimming around. 

Fun Facts:

Southern stingray (Dasyatis americana) is an elasmobranch, a fish with a cartilaginous skeleton very much like sharks.

Stingray City is a shallow sandbar out by the reefs where fisherman tossed the remaining pieces after filleting their catch for the day. The stingrays have “adapted” and come now to this very popular feeding ground. *thank you fishermen*

Yes, these individuals did have their stingers (they’re usually located around the base of the tail) but Southern stingrays are known to be a docile species. It is best to always exercise caution when near these wild animals. 

[seavivs]

She did what?!  

Well, I’ve got a couple new updates for you..

I no longer live in Two Harbors on Catalina Island

I recently traveled to the Big Island of Hawaii and to Rum Point, Cayman Island. [Pictures are coming your way!]

I now live in downtown Chicago, IL with my significant other. Yes, I miss the sun rather terribly but a little bit of snow didn’t hurt me. 

I’m currently on the hunt for a new job in the Windy City. If you are aware of any outdoor organizations looking for work, please let me know!

[seavivs]

Lythrypnus dalli // Anthopleura sola (at USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies)