Monthly Archives: May 2015

My research interests are centered on the evolutionary relationships among seahorse and pipefish (family Syngnathidae) through morphological study and DNA sequencing. This entails collecting and observing fish for study via scuba diving and photography in shallow inshore water in which the underwater habitat is typically characterized by silty and muddy sediment, sandy and rocky bottom, or dense seagrass beds. Pipefish are very difficult to find in their habitat due to their cryptic appearance. They are rather small, and resemble dead or alive seagrass blades, kelp fronds, or small sticks, and depending on water conditions it’s rather easy to spend an hour or two underwater and not find one fish. My colleague Dr. Healy Hamilton and I decided to travel to the Gold Coast in southern Queensland Australia in November 2014 to look for two species of fish that we had not yet observed, photographed, or collected for our research study. One such fish is the Tryon’s…

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BMSIS is pioneering a new internship program model. Alongside cutting-edge scientific investigations, students are also exposed to training in Communication as well as Ethics. The modern scientist requires excellent communication skills. It is increasingly necessary for scientists to clearly communicate the value of their science to the public and to policy makers, to write compelling proposals for funding, and to communicate their findings at scientific conferences. Communication is thus a pivotal skill in the success of a scientific career. Modern science can also touch the sensitivity of society at large, from climate change to evolution, and countless other topics. The modern scientist thus needs to have the skills to place his or her work in a modern media-rich environment and think about the societal implications of their research. BMSIS interns may work on-site or remotely, depending on the needs of the project, mentor, and intern. Funding is available for some…

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New research by NOAA Fisheries has revealed the opah, or moonfish, as the first fully warm-blooded fish that circulates heated blood throughout its body much like mammals and birds, giving it a competitive advantage in the cold ocean depths. The silvery fish, roughly the size of a large automobile tire, is known from oceans around the world and dwells hundreds of feet beneath the surface in chilly, dimly lit waters. It swims by rapidly flapping its large, red pectoral fins like wings through the water. Fish that typically inhabit such cold depths tend to be slow and sluggish, conserving energy by ambushing prey instead of chasing it. But the opah’s constant flapping of its fins heats its body, speeding its metabolism, movement and reaction times, scientists report in the journal Science. That warm-blooded advantage turns the opah into a high-performance predator that swims faster, reacts more quickly and sees more…

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