We have posted some natural history observations on the checkered puffer before (see here and here and here), and now the scientific paper on their dietary habitats has been published (here). We think this species is a plays a much under-appreciated role in nearshore ecosystems of The Bahamas and throughout the Caribbean. They are ubiquitous in shallow […]
An interesting new study using stable isotopes to look at the feeding ecology of more than 5,000 individual sharks across 114 species. The cartoon above does a nice job of characterizing this study, and here is a good summary.
Check out this National Geographic article written by Krista Sherman from Shedd Aquarium about Nassau grouper research in The Bahamas. See article here.
Did you know pupfish live in salty lakes on San Salvador Island? Researchers at UNC Chapel Hill have been studying them for years and recently made headway in understanding how the pupfish have diversified their feeding habits from eating algae to eating snails and fish scales. Check out a popular news article here that gives a nice […]
We have been reporting on our long-term artificial reef research in Haiti for a few years now. This year we were pleased to learn that not only did our reefs survive the massive hurricane Mathew, but they also had substantially more fish on them than they did last year. This is a really positive sign that the reefs are providing […]
An interview I did a few months ago for Quarks and Quirks on CBC radio recently aired. Yes, of course, it is more about fish pee, but I thought I would post it all the same. It is pretty funny. Scroll down a bit for the actual interview.
A blog post from Bonefish and Tarpon Trust on the vast extent of tarpon movement patterns. The take home message is, like for so many large marine species, the extent that international collaborations are needed to develop effective conservation strategies.
A day of guest posts – this from Justa Heinen-Kay. Thanks Justa!
Imagine yourself walking down a street in a town known for its low crime rate. How would you behave? Would you explore new areas? Would you walk by yourself? Now imagine yourself walking down a similar street, but in a neighborhood known to have a high murder rate. Would […]
Some positive news for our Caribbean coral reefs! Research from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute reports that small algae-eating fish and sea urchins may be taking the place of Diadema, a large sea urchin that suffered severe declines in the 1970s from a widespread disease. Read HERE for more details.
Officially law last year (see here), Nassau grouper fishing season is closed in The Bahamas from December 1st to February 28th. This is to help populations recover and stop unsustainable fishing practices on their spawning aggregations. Let us all do our part and help spread the word.