Overfishing is one key impact to the decline of coral reefs worldwide and a new study performed by the Wildlife Conservation Society, James Cook University, and The Australian Institute of Marine Science shows just how important fish are to the recovery of areas affected by coastal threats such as overfishing. “Reef fish play a range of important roles in the functioning of coral reef ecosystems, for example by grazing algae and controlling coral-eating invertebrates, that help to maintain the ecosystem as a whole,” said coauthor Nick Graham of James Cook University. “By linking fisheries to ecology, we can now make informed statements about ecosystem function at a given level of fish biomass.” Coastal threats such as overfishing have long been adapted to antiquated techniques so the results of this study will improve efficiency for both reef and fishermen. “The finding that gear restrictions, species selection or local customs can also contribute to fish population recovery is compelling. It demonstrates that managers can use a range of different management strategies in areas where it may not be culturally feasible to establish permanent marine reserves,” said coauthor Stacy Jupiter, WCS Melanesia Program Director. Check out the key findings here!… More:

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For me, one of the most interesting things about the appearance of the tropical strays on Long Island, is the sheer abundance of some of the species. The spotfin butterflyfish, Chaetodon ocellatus is a great example. I have lived in the Caribbean and I’ve spent a fair amount of time diving on Florida’s reefs. Although I probably encountered spotfin butterflies on the majority of dives within their native range, It was uncommon for me to see more than one or two at a time, and on any given dive, the total number rarely, if ever, got out of the single digits.While diving in New York however, 10 or more spotfins in your field of view at any time is a regular occurrence, especially late in the season. I often wonder what role this annual temporary influx of non-native fishes might play in our local ecology. If you’d like to hear more on this topic, I’ll be giving a presentation at MACNA in September, where I’ll discuss questions like this, as well as techniques for catching and caring for these expatriates from the tropics. 

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A new study from the University of Sydney Australia has found that the Spiny Chromis reef fish can manipulate the gender of their offspring to combat the gender bias created by increasing ocean temperatures. “The research findings are significant because global warming poses a threat to species with temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD), such as reptiles and fish, potentially skewing the sex-ratio of offspring and, consequently, breeding individuals in a population,”said lead author and UTS Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Research Fellow Dr Jennifer Donelson. “A reduction in the proportion of females in the population could be especially damaging because population growth rate is often constrained by female fertility.” The understanding of how prenatal gender adjustments can be made is a bit of a mystery to scientists but the findings certainly add to the hope that ecosystems will adapt to the changes occurring all over the globe. “Just precisely how our study species, the Spiny Chromis coral reef fish, engineer these amazing adjustments is unknown and is something we are now investigating. What we do know however is that oceans are warming and emerging research is showing the importance of transgenerational plasticity in reducing the negative impacts of climate change on species with TSD.” Read more here!… More:

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Could ich free fish be the wave of the future? Imagine if you were shopping for a new addition to your marine aquarium, and in addition to choosing between captive bred and wild caught, you could also choose between ich vaccinated and non-ich vaccinated. Vaccination of companion animals is common, and most of us protect our pets from fatal diseases like rabies and distemper, simply by getting them a common vaccine. So why hasn’t this taken place for marine fish?  Recently scientists decided to see if marine fish could really become immune to Cryptocaryon irritans, the infamous marine ich. In a control group of mullet, it was found that after initial exposure to the parasite and treatment, the fish didn’t become infected again in excess of six months. This led researchers to believe the fish had developed an immunity to the parasite. How vaccines work:Normally around late September or October, signs start popping up in pharmacy windows advertising that the flu vaccine is in stock. Most health insurance providers encourage us to get the vaccine, simply by paying the full cost for it. Let’s stay out of the all the vaccine hoopla that surrounds reports of autism and mercury, and simply focus on the process by which vaccines prevent disease. The goal with a vaccine is to stimulate the immune system to produce anti-bodies (substances used to fight disease), without actually infecting an animal with the disease. It’s sort of getting all the fringe benefits of getting sick, without actually having to suffer the symptoms, or worse, die. In labs pathogens of both bacteria and viruses are grown, by infecting tissue and harvesting live disease. To prevent the risk that a vaccine will actually infect something, the disease is often weakened, grown under a series of stress that make it less dangerous. In other cases the part of the pathogen that causes an immune response is taken out, and used to create a vaccine. For vaccines such as the tetanus vaccine, the toxin the pathogen makes is deactivated, then conditioned so the body can recognize it. In all cases, vaccines make a body automatically identify a pathogen and automatically know exactly what antibodies to administer to destroy it. It doesn’t prevent something from contracting a pathogen, it just makes sure that if they do, instantly the body is able to cripple it and prevent illness. This is why even if your pet is vaccinated against rabies, if they are exposed to a potentially rabid animal and you are exposed to their saliva, it is recommended you too become vaccinated against the virus, since there is still a chance the virus is alive in your pet’s saliva.… More:

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The Journal of Science recently published a paper from the University of California at Berkeley where fossils were studied to help predict which marine species were now at the greatest risk for extinction.”Marine species are under threat from human impacts, but knowledge of their vulnerabilities is limited,” says study co-author, Professor John Pandolfi from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at the University of Queensland. Using fossils to better understand the inherent risk some species have to coastal threats such as human presence, the team was able to map the extinction patterns of marine species. “We used these estimates to map natural extinction risk in modern oceans, and compare it with recent human pressures on the ocean such as fishing, and climate change to identify the areas most at risk,” says Professor Pandolfi. Protecting modern species from extinction is the number one goal yet some species have an intrinsic rick of extinction so the teams goal “was to diagnose which species are vulnerable in the modern world, using the past as a guide” says study lead author, Assistant Professor Seth Finnegan from the University of California Berkeley. “We believe the past can inform the way we plan our conservation efforts. However there is a lot more work that needs to be done to understand the causes underlying these patterns and their policy implications,” says Asst. Professor, Seth Finnegan Read more here!… More:

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Two years ago, Barry and Aimee Brown began photographing “hidden” letters in the brain coral colonies around Curacao, the Caribbean island where they live. Their hunt, which sometimes took them as deep as 100 feet, gave them an even better understanding of the devastation shallow-growing brain coral have experienced from bleaching and recent strong storms. You can download the full set of letters for free here as a zip file. The photographers only ask that you give them credit and that you don’t use the work commercially.… More:

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Happy 4th, everyone!  I hope you all have a great holiday, and remember to drink responsibly, drive carefully, and wear plenty of sunscreen!… More:

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A team of engineers at Clemson University, led by Michael M. Porter, have created a 3-D printed model of a seahorse’s tail in the hopes of finding out if the tail’s unique shape – an organization of square prisms surrounded by bony plates that are connected by joints – has a functional advantage over the cylindrical tails that most animals possess. After the scientists created 3-D models of a square prism and a cylindrical tail, they whacked the models with a rubber mallet and twisted and bent them. The findings?  The square was stiffer and more resilient when crushed, and was half as able to twist, a feature which could help prevent damage and supply greater control.
The seahorse tail could inspire new types of armor, or even search-and-rescue robots that would move like a snake and contract to fit into tight spaces. I’m looking forward to hearing more about this fascinating discovery; it has the potential to inspire breakthroughs in robotics, defense systems, or even biomedicine. … More:

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Good afternoon friends, I’m back!! I had another three day weekend and stayed far away from the computer, I love being out of touch! Aimee and I both refuse to enter the world of mobile phones, we only carry our antique Nokia disposable phones that have zero access to the internet, so no texting or surfing on the go for us. My three days off went super fast but they sure were fun, just ask the dogs! Each day I took them on one 2-3 hour adventure and returned them worn out and dirty! After their baths,(which one of them really hates) these two lucky dogs lay in the comfort of an air conditioned room and snooze the afternoon away, sounds great right!

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Ben Johnson is a Facebook staple for many of us in the reef industry. He runs a successful aquarium maintenance company, and is known for his funny, opinionated, and informational posts. But did you know that he just got his ENTIRE back tattooed? 
In the picture above I think I can make out dolphins, a moon, and, on the left, a school of tangs. Truly a one-of-a-kind piece. Many great artists find their calling as children – I see a bright future ahead for this creative young lady. Keep up the good work! 

The artist at work

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The name “Sparkle Pony” has been kicking around my head for months, waiting for the perfect coral or Zoanthid.  I have had great success with propagating the specimen pictured here, and I feel that it embodies the character that this ridiculously awesome name requires. And so, I would like to introduce to you my newest Zoanthid, Sparkle Pony. Check out the video below for my invitation… This video is where I first heard of Sparkle Pony.  Enjoy!         … More:

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 A very rare catch was found off the coast of Maine: a split colored lobster. According to research by the Lobster Institute, the chances of finding this split colored lobster is a one in fifty million chance. This was certaintly against the odds and likely wont end up served with lemon and butter. MORE… More:

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Here’s a fun art project to keep the little ones entertained and occupied during these long summer days – a serene jellyfish of one’s own, floating peacefully in a water bottle.  The activity uses all recycled materials; its a great opportunity to talk with the kids about our oceans, and the havoc that plastic bags and other plastic debris is causing. The National Resources Defense Council has a great article about this problem, if you need a jumping-off point:  www.nrdc.org/oceans/plastic-ocean/The project itself is quite simple, you just need a plastic grocery bag, a water bottle, string, food coloring, and scissors.  Instructions: 1. flatten the bag and cut off the handles and bottom 2.cut along both sides to create two plastic sheets (you will only need one sheet per jellyfish) 3. gather the center of the sheet into a tiny balloon to make the head, and tie with string – leave a tiny hole to pour in water at the end 4. cut 8-10 strips from the edges up to the head to begin the tentacles 5.  cut each tentacle again to make a few small strips, and cut off any remaining parts 6. trim to make longer and shorter tentacles 7. put a little bit of water in the head so that it will sink, but leave air inside to help it float 8. fill up your water bottle, adding a few drops of blue food coloring for effect. 9. insert your jellyfish, screw on the cap, and shake lightly      … More:

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Several Aquariums in Japan are trying to organize a group to bypass the restrictions placed on buying Taiji Dolphins instituted by the Japanese Association of Zoos (Jaza) and Aquariums on behalf of the World Association of Zoo’s and Aquarium’s initiative (Waza) in May. To accomplish this, certain groups plan to disband the conference of Cetaceans , currently regulated by Jaza. These Aquariums plan to leave Jaza to continue buying the Taiji dolphins. They have indicated that it is just too difficult to breed dolphins. This news is very dishertening for what appeared to be a great stride in moving away from the Taiji dolphin hunt. Its still important to focus on the achievement of Jaza banning the Taiji dolphins, but makes you wonder how many groups will leave to be able to continue to aquire Taiji hunt dolphins. MORE… More:

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Exciting news!  The scientists behind the Mindstream Aquarium Monitoring System have announced that they will be showcasing and demonstrating their product at MACNA this year! Aquarists have been eagerly anticipating this news since the product was first mentioned nearly two years ago. This monitoring system uses a patented fluorescing optical system to read concentration levels of 12 different aquarium parameters, including pH, alkalinity, NH3, NH4, NO2, NO3, Ca, Mg, K, O2, and CO2. It then uploads the information to its cloud every 15 minutes, where the data is accessible to the user free of charge (there will be no monthly fee).  While the Mindstream monitoring is automatic, the device requires aquarist to replace the test foil every 90 days.How does the optical system work, you ask? Mindstream’s inventor explains: The technology has been adapted from the biomedical field and utilizes fluorescent ionophores developed for each chemical parameter being measured. These complex molecules become more or less efficient in converting light of one wavelength to another, based on ion concentrations. Ten sensor foils are placed on the rotating sensor disc, where they are exposed to pulses of ultraviolet light. The resulting fluorescence is measured by precision optics and electronic circuitry and sent to the cloud where complex algorithms calculate the chemical level. 24 optical measurements per sensor on the disc are performed on each reading assuring the integrity of the measurement. In the rare event the optical scan detects fowling, an alert will be sent and a gentle cleansing will solve the problem. For updates and to contact the company, visit Mindstream’s facebook page.  I’m looking forward to seeing this innovative product in person at MACNA this September!… More:

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 This video is by far probably the best photobomb I have ever seen. This footage was taken on July 6, 2015 in Mossel Bay, South Africa and has been gaining more and more viewers. Essentially because this video is just plain awesome. This footage was captured during a dive tour hosted by White Africa Shark. There were six divers in the cage during this dive. The camera is focused on a White Shark who is chomping on some bait next to the boat, when all of sudden, another Great White jumps out of the water and right into the footage. Great White Shark diving is very popular for the adventurous, especially in South Africa. This brings me back to the fun memories from my own great white dive in South Africa in 2013. Good Times. Just watch this video (from the comfort of your couch) and see for yourself. MORE… More:

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 Sunita Williams, 49 years old, has been an astronaut with NASA since 1998. She has spent over 322 days in space. On Thursday, to the pleasure of guests, Williams dove in the New England Aquarium’s Giant Ocean Tank. Williams is very comfortable with diving. Astronauts train underwater because it can emulate the weightlessness of space and challenges with gravity. Williams has also spent nine days living at the only underwater research center,Aquarius, in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, which is owned by Florida International University. Williams also gave a presentation at the Aquarium after her dive, in which she compared space suit technology to diving equipment. “It was really cool,” she said. “It was a little crowded. Space is a little bit more open. But I felt very much like I was in their world.” She compared diving to being in space. “A diving suit essentially does the same thing as an astronaut suit,” she said. “It provides oxygen and keeps us warm, and protects us from the elements.” Here’s hoping that one day soon space travel for the masses becomes possible soon. For now, I’ll stick to diving.  MORE… More:

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Everyone knows it’s feeding time in the aquarium!“We lose a lot more fish to overfeeding than we do to underfeeding.”I’ve read or written that sentence—or some variation upon it—more times than I can recollect. While I still consider this statement to be true on balance, I think placing undue emphasis on overfeeding versus other forms of inappropriate feeding can lead to some false conclusions. Among them: Fish have uniform needs when it comes to the volume and frequency of feedings. Good water quality takes precedence over keeping fish properly fed. Fish are secondary to corals in a reef system. Quantity/frequency of feeding is a more important consideration than the types of food offered. The risks to our fishes’ health are greater with overfeeding than with other forms of inappropriate feeding. Let’s take these points one by one and briefly examine where they go wrong: 1) Fish have uniform needs when it comes to the volume and frequency of feedings Nothing could be further from the truth.

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Good morning friends, I know long time no blog, sorry about that! We have been crazy busy with our family members and yesterday we had submersible runs here at Substation Curacao all day long! On monday we took the family to a place called Porto Marie which is one of the most beautiful beaches in Curacao, equipped with a dive shop, restaurant and hundreds of beach chairs. I mostly hung out in the shade taking pictures of a three year old and a five year old playing in the sand while the parents got in the water with Aimee and explored the shallows with fins and masks.  Here is a big beautiful French Angelfish, Pomacanthus paru that lives out in front of the Substation, I see him and his or her mate almost every day.

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Reachers from Miami’s University of Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science have been simulating and studying reproductive strategies of three reef species to better understand the relationship between larvae dispersal and diversity within reefs. The universities own Connectivity Modeling System was used to track larval movements in a simulated reef environment of the Caribbean sea plume (Anthiellogorgia elisebeathae), the bicolor damselfish (Stegastes partitus) and the Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus).   “We found that the rate at which a species spawn drives the relatedness between distant populations,” said Claire Paris, associate professor of ocean sciences at UM. “Therefore more frequent spawning is more likely to stabilize the connectivity network.” “There is tremendous variability in how often reef animals reproduce and release eggs and larvae, yet they all find their way to coral reefs,” said Andrew Kough, UM Rosenstiel School alumnus and lead author of the study. “Our study explored how changes in reproductive frequency shape an animal’s connectivity network.” Read more here!… More:

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