by Jessica Wingar, RJD Intern Sea otters, Enhydra lutris, are very playful and charismatic marine organisms. They can often be seen swimming on their backs, just floating in the ocean. In addition to the fact that they are extremely charming creature, they have very many distinct qualities that not many other marine animals possess. Sea […]
2013 was a great year for the University of Miami’s RJ Dunlap Marine Conservation Program, and we wanted to share some of the highlights with you! 1) We caught, measured, sampled and tagged 318 sharks, including 34 bull sharks, 23 lemon sharks,54 blacktip sharks, 35 tiger sharks, 20 great hammerheads, and even a great white! […]
by Pat Goebel, RJD Intern The profitability of a live whale compared to a dead whale has greatly increased over the last decade. Since the banning of commercial whaling, whale watching tourism has become a $2.1 billion dollar industry (Kuo 2011). As of 2008, 13 million people participated in whale watching in 119 countries, ranging from […]
by Jake Jerome, RJD Intern There is no debate that an oil spill is devastating to the marine environment. While many oppose the idea of drilling for oil in the ocean, the fact remains that it is currently happening and will continue into the future. Whether it be from direct drill sites in the ocean […]
by Jessica Wingar, RJD Intern It was raining on and off when I woke up on Saturday morning. However, this rain didn’t deter me from my excitement of heading to the Seaquarium for a great day of shark tagging. I went to pick up Kyra to drive over to Key Biscayne, and we kept talking […]
by Hanover Matz, RJD Intern Constructed between 1998 and 2003, the Alqueva Dam lies in south-eastern Portugal. Situated in the Guadiana River valley, construction of the dam flooded an area of 250 km2, creating the largest artificial lake in Europe. To determine the impact of this dam on the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), Pedroso et […]
by Jacob Jerome, RJD Intern It is well documented that our climate on Earth is changing and new evidence suggests that marine organisms are adapting. This alteration by marine species is often characterized by adjusting their home range (i.e. where they live). As our climate warms, you would expect marine species to move away from […]
by Daniela Escontrela, RJD Intern Olive Ridley sea turtles, also known by their scientific name of Lepidochelys Olivacea, are as their name suggests an olive color. They have a heart shaped carapace (or top shell) and have either one or two claws on their flippers. These turtles tend to reach sexual maturity around 15 years […]
by Heather Alberro, RJD Intern This article focuses on the issue of ocean acidification and the complexity of its impacts on the marine environment, marine organisms, and on humans societies that depend on the goods and services provided by thriving oceans. The authors of the article stress that, due to the trans-disciplinary nature of the […]
by Chelsea Olson, RJD Intern While much of the attention as of lately has been on Japan and the Fukushima radiation’s potential effects, a source of serious concern has been spreading in our own backyards. Many of Florida’s waterways are becoming increasingly polluted and, in turn, affecting local marine life, the ocean and our ecosystem. […]