WaterNotes

Sylvia Earle’s TEDPrize talk last night did not disappoint. Built between her comments about the relative fragileness of the ocean and its complex systems were a slew of passionate beliefs that she holds about the watery parts of our world. She quoted a poem noting: “Thousands have lived without love, none without water.” [...]

TED2009 is underway out in California this week and tonight’s webcast event is something not to be missed, especially if you’re an ocean lover. Why not? Dr Sylvia Earle will give her TED Prize talk tonight and will present one wish to the world. I have been excited to hear what Dr [...]

This past Tuesday lionfish successfully leaped into the Florida Keys. A recreational diver spotted a lionfish on the Benwood Ledge, just off of Key Largo’s coastline, and reported the sighting, along with a digital image to confirm identity, that quickly prompted a recovery operation. A team from REEF, NOAA, and FKNMS were able [...]

Apparently a researcher with the University of Alberta is building a sperm bank for Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata).  This past summer Dr. Acker, a frozen tissues expert, joined a group of coral researchers during an elkhorn spawning event and attempted to freeze eggs, sperm, and larvae.  They were successful with the sperm, but it doesn’t [...]

Acropora species corals – elkhorn and staghorn – within the Caribbean basin are not in great shape.  I’ve written before of some intriguing research regarding raw sewage and potential links to an increase in white pox disease of these corals.  Yet white pox isn’t the only disease plaguing Caribbean stony corals – white band disease also [...]