David Shiffman

This month’s 3D printed reward is a megalodon tooth! Here are 5 things to know about megalodon.

March 14, 2018March 13, 2018 David Shiffman

I recently unveiled a new tier of Patreon rewards: 3D printed shark and ray models! For $17 per month, you will get a monthly 3D printed educational model of different shark or ray parts in the mail, and you’ll be supporting my efforts to provide these models to schools for free.

The first month’s reward comes from one of the most (in)famous sharks of all time, Carcharocles megalodon! The first 3D printed Patreon reward is a meg tooth, an exact copy of the meg tooth that has been used to educate thousands of students at UBC’s Beaty Biodiversity Museum!

Here are some things to know about Carcharocles megalodon!

Announcing new Patreon rewards: 3D printed shark and ray models!

March 9, 2018March 9, 2018 David Shiffman

Science

Want to support public education about sharks and rays while getting some one-of-a-kind elasmoswag? Sign up for my latest tier of Patreon rewards! Each month, you’ll receive a 3D printed educational model highlighting various aspects of shark and ray biology in the mail. These models will include: Shark teeth Components of shark jaws Stingray spines … Read More “Announcing new Patreon rewards: 3D printed shark and ray models!” »

Giant penguin colonies and tiny squid: Thursday Afternoon Dredging, March 8th, 2018

March 8, 2018 David Shiffman

Uncategorized

Cuttings (short and sweet): Follow Travis Tai, a graduate student studying climate change and fisheries, on twitter! Thumbnail-sized pygmy squid discovered in Australia. By Shreya Dasgupta, for MongaBay. This octopus is 40,000 times heavier than its mate. By Liz Langley, for National Geographic. Seal poo reveals plastic’s path in the sea. Nature research highlights. Grass is … Read More “Giant penguin colonies and tiny squid: Thursday Afternoon Dredging, March 8th, 2018” »

Floridian flamingos and fishing in the twilight zone: Thursday Afternoon Dredging, March 1st, 2018

March 1, 2018 David Shiffman

Uncategorized

Cuttings (short and sweet): Follow Kristina Tietjen, a marine conservation biologist working in Kiribati, on twitter! A case for wild flamingos calling Florida their home. By Joann Klein, for the New York Times. The underwater damage left behind by hurricanes. From NPR’s Weekend Edition. Even corals have microbiomes. By Jason Goldman, for Hakai. Life of an albatross. … Read More “Floridian flamingos and fishing in the twilight zone: Thursday Afternoon Dredging, March 1st, 2018” »

Have you heard the good news about shark populations? Shark population increases are cause for #OceanOptimism

February 28, 2018February 28, 2018 David Shiffman

Conservation, Science

Did you know that some shark populations have declined due to overfishing? Did you know that some once-declined shark populations have recovered? If you’re like my twitter followers, it’s likely that you’ve heard the bad news, but have not heard the good news.

Why does this matter?
It’s important to share bad news so that people know there’s a problem, and that we need to act to solve that problem. However, it’s also important to share good news so that people know that a problem is solvable! This idea was behind the birth of the #OceanOptimism online outreach campaign.

Intertidal spiders and starfish night vision: Thursday Afternoon Dredging, February 22nd, 2018

February 22, 2018February 22, 2018 David Shiffman

Uncategorized

Cuttings (short and sweet): Follow Jessica Meeuwig, the Director of the UWA Centre for Marine Futures, on twitter. Check out #WowScienceFact, a science communication hashtag game that I started! Ocean tides could have driven ancient fish to walk. By Alexandra Witze, for Nature News. Spoils (long reads and deep dives): Webs under water: the bizarre lives … Read More “Intertidal spiders and starfish night vision: Thursday Afternoon Dredging, February 22nd, 2018” »

Walking fish and microbe warfare: Thursday Afternoon Dredging, February 15, 2018

February 15, 2018 David Shiffman

Uncategorized

Cuttings (short and sweet): Follow Katelyn Heman, a marine conservation biologist working at the Georgia Aquarium, on twitter! What this walking fish can teach us about evolution. By Sarah Gibbens, for National Geographic Fish forego sleep thanks to this molecule in their brain. From Nature’s Animal Behavior news. Microplastics pollute even the most remote parts of … Read More “Walking fish and microbe warfare: Thursday Afternoon Dredging, February 15, 2018” »

Dear Shark Man, do open ocean sharks use nursery areas?

February 14, 2018February 14, 2018 David Shiffman

Uncategorized

Welcome to Dear Shark Man, an advice column inspired by a ridiculous e-mail I received. You can send your questions to me via twitter (@WhySharksMatter) or e-mail (WhySharksMatter at gmail).

Dear Shark Man,

I know that sharks that live close to the coast sometimes use “nursery areas” when they are young. Do open ocean sharks also use nursery areas?
Sincerely,
Nosey in North Carolina

Insect-eating salmon and cloned crayfish: Thursday Afternoon Dredging, February 8th, 2018

February 8, 2018 David Shiffman

Uncategorized

Cuttings (short and sweet): Follow wildlife illustrator Marc Dando on twitter! The rise of fishing apps. By the Fisheries Blog. Misled penguins swim to fishing grounds that no longer have food. By Katie Peek, for Scientific American Spoils (long reads and deep dives): A pet crayfish is cloning itself and spreading around the world. By Sarah … Read More “Insect-eating salmon and cloned crayfish: Thursday Afternoon Dredging, February 8th, 2018” »

Canada proposed revisions to the Fisheries Act. Here’s how science and conservation experts reacted.

February 7, 2018February 7, 2018 David Shiffman

Science

Yesterday, the government of Canada announced some proposed amendments to the national Fisheries Act. The full text of the proposal can be viewed here. So far, it’s gone through the First Reading in the House of Commons (for my non-Canadian readers, here is what that means). I reached out to fisheries and conservation policy experts across Canada to ask what they think of these proposed changes.