Southern Fried Science

World’s oldest known bonnethead shark captured in South Carolina!

July 21, 2011 David Shiffman 2 Comments

Bonnethead sharks have always occupied a special place in my heart (and in the photo of myself that I use for Southern Fried Science). These animals, a member of the hammerhead family, are some of the most abundant sharks along the coast of the Southeastern United States. While the IUCN Shark Specialist Group rates bonnetheads as “Least Concern”, the assessment noted that these sharks are subjected to heavy commercial and recreational fishing pressure.

Posts of Note from around the Gam – July 21, 2011

July 21, 2011July 21, 2011 David Shiffman

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This is a new weekly feature on Southern Fried Science where we’ll highlight 4 or 5 posts from other blogs in our network, and one post from outside our network published in the previous week. Posts of Note will run every Thursday, but the hosts will alternate among myself, Andrew, and Amy. Enjoy this week’s … Read More “Posts of Note from around the Gam – July 21, 2011” »

Deep Fried Sea – Sample Dispensation part 1

July 18, 2011July 18, 2011 Andrew Thaler 1 Comment

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Click to embiggen.

New research lists tuna species as threatened; will fisheries managers act?

July 14, 2011July 14, 2011 David Shiffman 2 Comments

Conservation, Science

atlantic_bluefin_tuna_thunnus_thynnus_oceana_keith_ellenbogen_37339 — Image courtesy Keith Ellenbogen, OCEANA

Bluefin tuna have become a posterchild for the marine conservation movement. A single bluefin can sell for tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars, which results in heavy fishing pressure. Conservationists and fisheries scientists have tried for years to get the fishing quota reduced. They tried to get CITES protection for the bluefin. Citing both heavy fishing pressure and the fact that the oil spill occurred in bluefin spawning grounds in the Gulf, some recently tried to get these animals protected under the Endangered Species Act. To date, these efforts have fallen short, resulting in just a modest quota reduction at ICCAT. New research, however, shows just how important protecting this group of fishes is.

Largetooth sawfish to become second elasmobranch to receive Endangered Species Act protections

July 13, 2011 David Shiffman 1 Comment

Conservation, Science

The Largetooth Sawfish (Pristis perotteti) is about to become the second elasmobranch protected by the Endangered Species Act, a welcome step in the conservation of these animals. In addition to the slow growth, low number of offspring, and relatively late maturity which characterizes most elasmobranchs, another biological feature contributes to sawfish being “among the most endangered fishes in the world,” according to Shark Advocates International President Sonja Fordham. It’s hard to imagine a biological structure that can get more thoroughly entangled in fishing nets than the “saw” on their rostrum, and bycatch is one of the leading causes of population decline in this group of animals. Additionally, the saw used to be a part of the souvenir trade.

$300 Donated to Bonehenge!

July 13, 2011July 13, 2011 Andrew Thaler

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A thousand thanks to all our readers who donated to the Bonehenge project. We managed to raise $300 this year, which we sent off this morning. As always, the donor plaque will read “southernfriedscience.com readers”. To date our readers have raised $500! Read more about Bonehenge here.

Ocean Conservation, Ecology, Science, and Outreach on Dr. Kiki’s Science Hour

July 10, 2011July 10, 2011 Andrew Thaler

Conservation, Science

Check out my interview with Dr. Kiki Sanford on Dr. Kiki’s Science Hour. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Huf6ahIgShU And here’s a direct link for a high resolution version.

Adventures in Backyard Agriculture: A Summary and More

July 8, 2011July 8, 2011 Bluegrass Blue Crab

Conservation

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — fireweed, a delicious wild edible in alpine climates

This week, Southern Fried Scientist and I have written about our personal adventures in making town life a little more sustainable. First, building a chicken coop – a deluxe one, complete with green roof and made out of recycled materials. Next, dwarf goats as milk-producing pets and clarifying some of the tall tales about goats (no, they don’t eat tin cans but yes, you can teach them to head butt on command). The chicken story continued with how to raise them – whether to get chicks or pullets, what they need as they grow to be egg producing hens or the cock-a-doodle-doo producing rooster. Plus, it’s hard to beat chicks in a basket. Finally, what you might have thought backyard agriculture was all about – the garden.

After our miniseries, you might be left wondering ‘now what’? Where to begin or maybe there’s still some hesitation over whether it’s all worth it. Here’s some other practical considerations you might think about before beginning your urban agriculture adventure.

Posts of Note from around the Gam – July 7, 2011

July 7, 2011July 5, 2011 Andrew Thaler

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This is a new weekly feature on Southern Fried Science where we’ll highlight 4 or 5 posts from other blogs in our network, and one post from outside our network published in the previous week. Posts of Note will run every Thursday, but the hosts will alternate among myself, David, and Amy. Enjoy this week’s … Read More “Posts of Note from around the Gam – July 7, 2011” »

Adventures in Backyard Agriculture: How to earn the fruits of your (garden) labor, literally

July 7, 2011July 6, 2011 Bluegrass Blue Crab

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Brown thumbs can turn brown, I promise. The trick to vegetable gardening is similar to any sort of gardening or landscaping – know your environment. I’ve learned an immense amount about gardening since moving to the coastal plain from the more fertile piedmont region of NC. Growing vegetables in the piedmont was as easy as throwing a seed in the pile of dirt behind the house. In sandy coastal regions, not so. Here’s some of my lessons, which I think can be taken and adapted just about anywhere…