Y’all, I am out living my marine biologist child dreams here with Field School and @drcatmac.bsky.social and @whysharksmatter.bsky.social ! If you have always to get out and see a shark in the wild and get to help researchers, I can’t recommend this crew enough for their accessibility and teaching
This Brazilian frog might be the first pollinating amphibian known to science Nectar-loving tree frog likely moves pollen from flower to flower
It’s the first time a frog—or any amphibian—has been observed pollinating a plant, researchers reported in 2023.
Learn more on #WorldWildlifeDay: https://scim.ag/4riUU1G
Painful unforced error for cookie cutters here. No one was ever going to put the demon whale biter on a cutesy Christmas card.
I think it’s also helpful to recognize that it’s not a long leap from the militarized discourse about “combatting invasive species” to horrific nativist and anti-immigrant ideas. The first time I taught this in a graduate class, around 2018, students were skeptical. Today, it feels obvious to them.
Reminder that the role and effects of non-native species will vary across ecological contexts. Non-natives can create habitat, support and stabilize food webs, and fill the niches of depleted natives in ways that benefit biodiversity of native species.
composite satellite image of Antarctica, the snow & ice appearing as different shades of blue and beige, the sea is black. following three images are variations of this theme.
GUYS have you seen this. antarctica on google maps. go look at it. this is tech struggling to process the Sublime
I wrote a paper with @ecoandrew.bsky.social
that included some of the policy changes around this and we ended up developing a grad student drinking game around assertions that shark feeding and freedom were synonyms.
How come none of you have ever informed me that Spotted Salamanders have a symbiotic relationship with algae that grow in their eggs (algae supply larvae with oxygen and sugar)? That algae may live within them and pass to future generations?
www.scientificamerican.com/blog/artful-...
Valid and fair!
Yes but the question of the traits or beliefs of scientists is separate from the question of the bias (if any) of the science itself.
Four heart cockles in different hues from ofange to yellow to purple. Photo by Tim Pierce, Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Happy Bivalventines 💗
Heart cockles are the flatfish of bivalves, opening on their sides. They partner with symbiotic algae to get part of their nutrition! (327) photo source: carnegiemnh.org/warm-those-h...
This argument conflates science and scientists. A person can have an opinion and still conduct unbiased research; that’s essentially what science is for. Both of the statements here can be true, and are not mutually incompatible.
Darwin also famously had beef with the marine iguanas of the Galapagos, writing "The black lava rocks on the beach are frequented by large, most disgusting, clumsy lizards" and calling them "imps of darkness"
This female lemon shark graced us with three great passes this afternoon. We couldn’t figure out which to feature, so here’s all three. What other city but Miami can serve megafauna serving like this?? 🙌🍋🦈🍋🦈🍋🦈 #lemonshark #shark #catwalkswim #coralcity #coralcitycamera #miami #portmiami #biscaynebay
It’s a striking headline given the…backstory
You can read the (pretty damning) report from Human Rights Watch here:
That MPA creation was probably the best way to continue forcibly excluding the people of Chagos from their former homes because “the environmental lobby is far more powerful than the Chagossians’ advocates.”
Important PSA: do not let powerful interests use your love of the planet and desire to conserve it as a bludgeon against marginalized people.
Doubt that’s a risk? Well, in a leaked diplomatic cable, the US State Department noted …
1/3
Last year we published the longest post in the more than 17 year history of our science blog.
It contains a panel of experts (including me) responding to nearly 50 common questions that people have about marine biology career advice.
Please read and share! I'm happy to answer any questions.
🧪🦑🌍
First dance
Book with paper roses
Laughing during a toast
You nerds will appreciate this.
I got married on Saturday! It was wonderful.
It was at a rare and historic book library, and we leaned into the theme.
Table centerpieces were books checked out of our library based on our interests, themed to that tables’ guests.
And Eileen made paper roses.
I’ve gotta tell you, we’re having the best time at @whysharksmatter.bsky.social ‘s wedding this weekend!
We volunteer more chondrichthyans, anytime.
This actually sounds heavenly. Oh, to be a Greenland shark, and partake of the peace of their dark slowness.
Every moment like:
Neither would work in the slightest, but I’m confident injections would taste better.
Nightmare fuel.
Stingrays feel like wet mushrooms.
100%
“Some kind of flavor” — you are a born diplomat.
Trying to do my part, but it’s a product that un-sells itself.
