Science – Page 60 – Southern Fried Science

Weekly dose of SHIFF: Detection of an ontogenetic shift in sandbar shark diets

April 22, 2011April 21, 2011 Andrew Thaler

Science

All is quiet on the site today because Bluegrass Blue Crab and I are currently in Charleston watching WhySharksMatter’s masters thesis defense. Since y’all can’t be there with us, take a moment to enjoy David’s talk from Benthic Ecology 2011 – Detection of an ontogenetic shift in the diet of a heavily exploited shark species. … Read More “Weekly dose of SHIFF: Detection of an ontogenetic shift in sandbar shark diets” »

Beneath the Waves Film Festival: Shifting Gears

April 18, 2011April 18, 2011 David Shiffman

Conservation, Science

This 2011 Beneath the Waves Film Festival entry comes from the Pew Charitable Trusts. Shifting Gears tells the story of longlining in the Gulf of Mexico. If you have a question for the filmmakers, please leave it as a comment below and I’ll make sure they get it.

Beneath the Waves Film Festival: Microworlds – What Do Marine Mammals Eat?

April 14, 2011April 2, 2011 David Shiffman

Science

This 2011 Beneath the Waves Film Festival entry comes from Paul Hillman at NOAA. What Do Marine Mammals Eat? is part of the Microworlds series, which focuses on NOAA scientists interacting with public school students.

A rig by any other name, could it be an artificial reef?

April 14, 2011 Andrew Thaler 2 Comments

Conservation, Science

There are currently more than 7,500 offshore oil platforms actively probing the earth’s crust for black gold. Their relatively minimal appearance at the surface belies the shear magnitude of human construction beneath the waves. Oil platforms are among the world’s tallest man-made structures. Compliant tower platforms reach up to 900 meters in depth (in contrast, the tallest building is 828 meters). these rigs are not permanent structures. As the wells run dry and sea water corrodes steel jackets, the wells are capped and rigs decommissioned. At least 6500 offshore platforms are slated for decommission by 2025, which begs the question, what do we do with inactive oil platforms?

Beneath the Waves Film Festival: Mini-Season

April 11, 2011April 2, 2011 David Shiffman

Conservation, Science

The latest 2011 Beneath the Waves Film Festival entry, Mini-Season, comes from University of Miami graduate student Erica Staaterman. It explains the culture and biological effects of lobster mini-season in the Florida Keys.

MSC considering granting sustainable status to a fishery with high shark bycatch

April 6, 2011April 6, 2011 David Shiffman 11 Comments

Conservation, Science

In a world where greenwashing, overfishing, bycatch and pirate fishing run rampant, it can be difficult for eco-conscious consumers to know what to buy. Many eco-certification agencies exist, but they often offer conflicting advice. Who should you listen to?

Book Review: A year at Lazy Point

April 5, 2011April 13, 2011 Andrew Thaler 8 Comments

Conservation, Science

I adored Song for the Blue Ocean. The first time I read it was a formative moment in my development as a young marine biologist and conservationist. When I picked up Eye of the Albatross and, later, Voyage of the Turtle, I expected that same magic, but could not find it. Safina’s subsequent books were not bad. Both were evocative, beautifully written, and stirring tributes to the natural world. But their stories felt too familiar, like listening to a contemporary symphony built around a Bach fugue or watching a remake of a classic movie. So I approached The View from Lazy Point with the same expectations, as yet another supplement to Song for the Blue Ocean. I was mistaken.

What is Sustainability Science?

April 5, 2011April 5, 2011 Bluegrass Blue Crab 1 Comment

Science

The term sustainability is a muddy one, covered in marketing efforts and political baggage. So when someone says they study sustainability or are part of the field of sustainability science, what does that mean? The discipline actually refers to a fairly well-defined subject borne out of the call for interdisciplinary research, especially between ecology and the social sciences. At its heart, the field is based in the need to provide food, fuel, and fiber to current and future residents of planet earth. In other words, it’s the science behind the Brundtland Commission’s oft-cited goals of sustainable development and hopes to understand and create long-term integrity of the biosphere and human well-being.

Beneath the Waves Film Festival: Under the Boat

April 2, 2011April 2, 2011 David Shiffman 2 Comments

Popular Culture, Science

This 2011 Beneath the Waves Film Festival entry comes from students of Dr. Jeremy Long, the creator of “What Invert You Like“. If you have a question for the filmmakers, please leave it as a comment below and I’ll make sure they get it. This entry won “best student film”.

Shark shooter identified, but has he broken any laws?

March 31, 2011March 31, 2011 David Shiffman 18 Comments

Conservation, Popular Culture, Science

Earlier this month, a video of fishermen shooting a rifle at sharks appeared on YouTube and caused quite a stir. The video has since been removed, but not before shark conservation activists made copies (warning: the videos are extremely graphic and have inappropriate language). Apparently some computers can access the site with the videos and others can’t, if you can’t access the site and want a copy of the videos just let me know. All images in this post are screenshots from the video.