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Today’s article will be about the oceans surrounding Carriacou Island, Grenada. This island is 877 Kilometers (544 Miles) off of the coast of Venezuela, in the Caribbean Sea. In this article we will discuss the main marine ecosystems, the salinity & temperature, the marine flora & fauna, the nearby underwater cave-systems, & how pollution & ocean acidification are affecting these waters. The Caribbean Sea is a diverse & beautiful part of the ocean, yet at times it can become terrifying. Carriacou Island is the largest island of the Vincentian & Grenadine Islands. Its oceans are known for its tropical lagoons, & colorful coral paradise. Now let us delve into the waters that surround Carriacou Island, Grenada. The Salinity Levels, Temperatures, Tides, & Marine Geography Of Carriacou Island The yearly average warmest water temperature for the island is 29° Celsius or 84° Fahrenheit. The temperature usually rests at 27° Celsius to 29° Celsius year round. The highest tides usually don’t get larger than 1.2 meters. The riptide is relatively nonexistent in this area. The waves are calm & the waters are relatively peaceful in terms of current. There are larger salt deposits around the island, as well as higher salinity levels. It is recommended that one hydrates before & after swimming in these waters. These waters are usually clear & shallow. There are many dive sites on the island has the coral reefs make it a hot spot. Quoting padi.com “Grenada’s little sister, Carriacou, offers some of the best diving in the Caribbean.”. There are over 30 dive sites as of 2022. Within 5 nautical miles the waters get as deep as 3280.8 feet deep. From 304 meters (1000 feet) around the island the water only appears to get 10 meters (32.8 feet) deep. It is important to note that the island is only 13.13 square miles. These waters are a part of the Caribbean Sea. The waters either have coral reefs or are sandy flats. The Marine Ecosystems Of Carriacou Island There are many marine ecosystems of the island however we will only be covering the main ones. The word “Carriacou” means isle of the reefs, as there are many many coral reefs that surround the island. Coral Reef There are many small coral reefs that surround the island. Most reside in shallow lagoons around the island & can be seen from the beach. It is not fully documented exactly how many species of coral are found here. However a few of the documented species are as follows: Great Star Coral (Montastrea Cavernosa), Mountainous Star Coral (Orbicella faveolata), Mustard Hill Coral (Porites Asteroides), Grooved Brain Coral (Diploria Labyrinthiformis), & Massive Starlet Coral (Diploria Labyrinthiformis). This ecosystem can be found anywhere from 1.5 meters deep (5 feet) to 6 meters deep (19.688 Feet). Many species can be found living here as this is objectively the most diverse marine ecosystem of the island. Sand Flats This ecosystem is mostly sandy coastal areas. This ecosystem is found closest to the shoreline & is home to many marine invertebrates. Occasionally you may find different types of seagrasses here. This area is mostly a barren sand area. This ecosystem is closest to shore however it can be found farther out at sea. Mangrove Forests Originally there weren’t many mangrove trees however thanks to Seacology in 2017 they approved a project to plant a mangrove forest on the island. This ecosystem is extremely important to turtles as they lay eggs in these mangrove forests. These forests can be found lining the northeast sides of the island. However it is recommended to be careful if you do venture into these mangrove forests as they can be extremely dangerous due to wildlife & other things. Kelp Beds These ecosystems can be found near the tidal or coastal areas. They have large amounts of kelp or sea grass & typically hold things like small fish & marine invertebrates such as crabs or even octopi. These areas are also found further out at sea where they are prime hunting grounds for things like octopi. The Documented Marine Flora Of Carriacou Island Marine vegetation is incredibly important to our oceans. Unfortunately, around Carriacou Island the marine vegetation is not very well documented at all. Many creatures depend on things like kelp or coral to survive. There’s an odd pattern to the lesser Antilles. Plants that were recorded in one place in the 1960s seem to be migrating to other places, like Carriacou Island. Beds of seagrasses seem to be migrating from Barbados towards Carriacou Island. However this isn’t just towards Carriacou, they are migrating away from the island as well. Unfortunately, there is no complete list of marine flora species for the island. However, a graph was made showing the areas where certain ecosystems & marine flora can be found. This graph was made by a certain Christina Giovas . The Documented Marine Fauna Of Carriacou Island There are hundreds of marine animal species that inhabit the waters around Carriacou. Carriacou island has many ecosystems that make this a desirable location for migration. One of these animals is the Leatherback Sea Turtle. This turtle is the largest living turtle that is currently alive. Quoting cbd.int “Grenada has 233 marine species, 69 marine/brackish water species, and several species of sea birds as well as 17 freshwater species on the main island.” Unfortunately they do not reveal the list of these 233 documented marine species, however it is comforting to know that there is an actual number. How Both Pollution & Ocean Acidification Are Affecting Carriacou Island Unfortunately, pollution has already taken a large toll on the marine wildlife of Grenada. For a while, there were no official regulations against plastic products being thrown in the ocean. Thankfully this was fixed eventually, but unfortunately many animals are dead or were chased out of the area out due to this issue. Carriacou Island is famous for its coral reefs as its name means “Isle Of The Reefs”. However due to ocean acidification, that coral is slowly bleaching. You see, ocean acidification is caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have increased, largely because of human-caused burning of fossil fuels, and deforestation, for the past 150 years. When carbon dioxide contacts sea water, it forms carbonic acid. Carbonic acid gives off positive H+ ions, which causes increased oceanic H+ concentrations and decreased oceanic Ph. However there are signs that its effects are tapering off. As we are seeing an increase in coral population & seeing more coral coverage than ever before. Another reason that the coral of Carriacou could be flourishing now more than ever, is that there is much more seagrass around. As carbon dioxide fills up our air, most of it gets absorbed into the oceans. As the kelp or seagrass grows it encapsulates the carbon that dissolved into the water & produces more oxygen. This could be a key in helping relieve the effects of ocean acidification in the long term. Our Conclusion Carriacou Island had an incredibly diverse & beautiful marine environment. This isle of reefs is a key part of our remaining coral on earth. More kelp should be planted around the island to combat ocean acidification. This is an absolutely beautiful island that should have more prevalence in modern-day Caribbean tourism. Directories & Credits https://dalspace.library.dal.ca/bitstream/handle/10222/81281/PatriquinblowoutsAqBot1975.pdf?sequence=1 Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors Our Loyal Patrons https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Carriacou-marine-habitat-showing-coral-reefs-types-top-left-and-reef-and-water-depths_fig1_304530853 https://www.cbd.int/countries/profile/?country=gd Ms. Ochoa

This month’s series will be about… Carriacou Island, Grenada! This is an island in the Caribbean Sea that belongs to the country of Grenada. It has a population of approximately 8,000. Its name “Carriacou” translates to the Isle Of The Reefs. It is only a 20-minute plane trip from Mainland Grenada. The language that is best spoken on Carriacou is Jamaican Patois which is an English-based Creole. It is best known for snorkeling & scuba diving. In its surrounding oceans recede some of the last untouched coral reefs in the region. There are a total of 33 diving sites on the island. In these waters recedes a certain type of flying fish, the Flying Gurnard. This is one of the only types of flying fish. It is not very well documented & vastly undiscovered. Now lets delve into the Flying Gurnard. The Discovery & Lives Of The Flying Gurnard It’s not exactly known when the Flying Gurnard was first recorded as being discovered. It is a bottom-dwelling fish. It is found everywhere from north of Massachusetts to the Caribbean Sea, to Argentina. The exact lifespan of this creature is not well documented. They can grow to be a maximum length of 50 centimeters (20 inches). Their diet mainly consists of small fish, bivalves, & different types of crustaceans. They are in abundance however there population is in control because they are a common prey animal. It is most commonly found on the bottom of lagoons or coral reefs. They are typically found from 6 meters deep all the way to 100 meters deep. They use their wing-shaped pectoral fins in order to propel & glide through the water at quick speeds. They are not endangered, in fact on the IUCN red list they are “least concern”. They are not edible by humans. a way to tell whether they are actually Flying Gurnard or not, is that when they are excited they spread their pectoral fins. These fish can be kept in aquariums however they need much care & an incredibly large aquarium. They are reportedly incredibly hard to care for & it is recommended that they should be kept in only tanks of 1600 liters or more. The Mating Patterns Of The Flying Gurnard Flying Gurnards reproduce through heterosexual reproduction with a male and female partner. A female Flying Gurnard carries eggs that get fertilized from a male Flying Gurnard's sperm during sexual intercourse. They mate essentially as many fish do & do not seem to possess many unique traits when it comes to mating. The parents are not involved after the juvenile is born. The eggs freely float up to the surface after being released from the female. Unfortunately, it is not clear how many eggs are released at once. They develop quite slowly, & after 2-7 days they hatch & swim off into the ocean. It is not clear exactly the age of the fish when they breed. They stay together in monogamous pairs for mating season. Do The Flying Gurnard Actually Fly? Shockingly, Flying Gurnards can apparently fly. They are bottom-dwelling fish as well meaning they don’t get often get anywhere near flying. Their wing shaped pectoral fins actually help them glide through water & glide above water for short distances. As well as helping with propulsion. These wings are semi translucent & blue tipped. They look beautiful & reflect light when brought into the sun. These wings help them glide at high speeds which helps them escape from predators & other things. These pectoral fins are also used to communicate with one another. These pectoral fins have bones in them, however these bones are quite flimsy yet flexible. These fins are also one of the main identifying characteristics of the Flying Gurnard. These wings are unique to some Gurnards & the family of fish known as Exocoetidae. The Scientific Detailing Of The Flying Gurnard The Flying Gurnard is unique in bone structure & behavioural patterns. They have a boney head that is helmet shaped making it incredibly tough to consume. Its wings have thin bones that give them the structural integrity needed to glide through the water. Their skull connects to a large plate that goes down their back. Their teeth are elongated. Their phylum is Chordata meaning that they developed these 5 characteristics. All Chordata develop 5 similar characteristics either in adulthood or as juveniles. The characteristics that they develop include, a notochord, dorsal hollow nerve cord, endostyle or thyroid, pharyngeal slits, & a post-anal tail. Their class is Actinopterygii, which is a clade of boney fish, this clade comprises over 50% percent of living vertebrate species. This is also the class where all Exocoetidae Are Oriented From. Their Order is Syngnathiformes meaning that they have elongated narrow bodies which are surrounded by a series of rings made of bone. This also means that their mouth is aligned in a way so that they are able to ingest via suction of nearby prey. Another defining characteristic of Syngnathiformes is their reversed sexual system. Many species in this clade have a reversed sexual system meaning that the males conduct specialized brooding and rearing of the embryos. The males house eggs in a small osmoregulated pouch or adhere eggs to their tails until the eggs reach maturity. Their family is Dactylopteridae which is a family of fish with greatly enlarged pectoral fins, which in some allow them to glide above water for short distances. And finally, their genus is Dactylopterus which holds an assortment of Flying Gurnard. Our Conclusion The Flying Gurnard is an odd species which possesses traits seen in very few fish species. This fish should have more research & experimentation conducted upon it. Hopefully someday, we’ll be able to study & capture their breeding cycles & patterns. These creatures are necessary to parts of Carriacou Island’s Ecosystems. More skeletons of them should be examined, & hopefully someday we will be able to fully document all of this species’ abnormalities. Gallery Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors Our Loyal Patrons Ms. Ochoa

Today’s article will discuss the history of Andros Island. Andros Island is an archipelago in the Gulf Of Mexico south 318 miles off the coast. The entirety of the archipelago known as Andros Island is approximately 2,300 square miles. Andros island has a long & complicated history due to The Bahamas & The United States Of America. It is currently owned by The Bahamas however it was once independent with its own native people. Andros Island has an incredibly diverse history with a unique & interesting culture. Now let is dive into the recorded history of Andros Island & its history with The Bahamas. The Discovery, Colonization, & All The Public Domain Recorded History Of Andros Island Andros Island was first officially discovered in 1500 however some sources state it was discovered in 1550. Something that geographically looked like it was on a 1782 map, it was called “San Andreas” on this map. However we don’t exactly know if this “San Andreas” is the same as Andros Island. It was discovered by an Italian explorer & sailor named Amerigo Vespucci. It was discovered when he was on a 4-month expedition in The Bahamas lasting from 1499-1500. It was then given the name “Espirtu Santo” which means “The Island Of The Holy Spirit”. He mapped the eastern areas of the island. The British formally claimed The Bahamas in 1629 in a peaceful & civil manner. However no recorded settlement took place up until 1640. The earliest permanent settlement was recorded in 1648 on Eleuthera. The British didn’t stay peaceful for the entirety of their ownership, as during the 18th-century slave trade many Africans were transported by the British to different areas of The Bahamas & namely Andros Island to work unpaid. In 1718 the British promptly clamped down upon The Bahamas’ piracy. This was a following event from the American Revolution, as The Crown relocated many American Loyalists to The Bahamas as it was under British Control. The British then enslaved many of the residents & established plantations on land grants. However in 1834 an emancipation was made throughout all British colonies causing all slaves to be freed. A majority of them ended up leaving The Bahamas & Andros Island. Afterwards however the ones that stayed became majority of the island now. Many of their descendants are on Andros Island or live in The Bahamas to this day. Thankfully after being under British rule for 269 years, in 1898 The Bahamas claimed their independence & Andros Island went along with them, as Andros Island is officially owned by The Bahamas. Andros Island had natives who were called the Bowlegs who were originally exiles from Florida. They were mostly African Bahamian. Unfortunately there is almost no record of these Bowleg people. The Economy & Stock Exchange Of Andros Island The Entire Archipelago of Andros Island makes 142 million dollars in direct revenue. a large sum of money comes from the nature-based tourism of the island. The economy is rather stable & doesn’t seem to be on a decline however anything can happen as a large sum of the island’s revenue comes from tourism. The median property price as of 2020 is $359,079 USD. The stock exchange of The Bahamas is called The Bahamas Security Exchanges. There are currently 52 listings on this exchange. Their combined market cap as of 2017 is 5.349 billion Bahamian Dollars. It is 1 of 12 main Caribbean stock exchanges. The median income of the island is 44,044 Bahamian Dollars a year. As of 2022 the current exchange rate between USD & BSD is the same, meaning 1 USD is equal to 1 BSD. The median hourly pay is 21.18 Bahamian Dollars. The economy of The Bahamas is rather stable making Andros Island a reliable & beautiful place to buy property. The Bahamas also have high security laws when it comes to investment, property, & open bank accounts of all kinds. This means that most government forces cannot access a bank account that is opened in The Bahamas. Why Andros Island Is Not As Populous As New Providence Island New Providence Island is home to Nassau which is the capital of The Bahamas. New Providence Island is also 79.92 square miles. New Providence Island is much more industrialized than Andros Island. Andros Island doesn’t have the best cellular service connection & many organizations are protecting its wildlife as much as possible. As well as most of the island being home to dangerous animals such as salt water & freshwater crocodiles & sea snakes which are deadly. Many real estate companies do not want to disturb the wildlife, or go against those organizations which are put in place to protect the wildlife of the island. For that reason & many other contributing factors andros island is much less populous than New Providence Island. However this is much for the better than for the worst. This also boosts the economy of Andros Island as the beauty of the wildlife attracts many tourists looking for a surreal nature experience that they wouldn’t forget. How The History Of Andros Island Correlates With The Modern Oceans Surrounding Andros Island Andros Island has a long & complicated history with The Bahamas, Great Britain, & The United States Of America. Many of which took advantage of Andros Islands oceanic resources as they are in abundance. Throughout history the different civilizations of the island have developed different uses of the oceans. most commonly it was used for commercial fishing & tourism. The history of the island helps us figure out what resources there might be, what industries are most likely to fail, & what the economy might be like. It gives us a predictable path so that we can figure out more strong points of the island’s economy. It helps us figure out statistics of things like possibly salinity levels rise every century. we wouldn’t know this without studying the history of Andros Island & its oceans, as well as figuring out ways that the past civilizations that controlled Andros Island utilized its resources. All Of The Man-Caused Disasters & Natural Disasters Of The Island. Unfortunately many tragedies have happened in The Bahamas & on Andros Island. Most likely no more man-caused will disasters take place as the Bahamian goverment takes laws & hazards that jeopardize their citizens very seriously. As well as aviation safety being taken very seriously in modern days & more safety practices being put into place. This is the history of the main man caused disasters & natural disasters of Andros Island & The Bahamas. Hurricane Dorian Hurricane Dorian took place in 2019 & terrorized the Caribbean, most namely Grand Bahama Island. It was a stage 5 Atlantic hurricane. The effects of Hurricane Dorian in The Bahamas were absolutely catastrophic. The Bahamas were affected the worst out of all of the countries that were affected by this. Over 3.4 Billion dollars in damage was caused. There are 74 confirmed deaths & 282 people who are missing due to Hurricane Dorian’s effects but aren’t confirmed to be dead. On September 1st 2019 the hurricane first fell over the island of Grand Bahama. On September 3rd it finally moved away from The Bahamas, leaving destruction & chaos behind. There were 185 mph winds which caused even more damage. thankfully Grand Bahama Island has been mostly restored. The Great Bahamas Hurricane Of 1929 In 1929 a category 4 tropical cyclone that destroyed the Bahamas for 3 days with no end in sight. It destroyed most of the Bahamas but especially Andros Island & New Providence Island. It was erratic & unpredictable which made it much difficult to locate & prepare for, which worsened it for people in the Bahamas & in South Florida. Moisture from this caused 2 major floods in the Southeastern areas of the United States of America. It engulfed many lakeside cities in its path & has a confirmed death count of 155. However there could be more who died indirectly from the damage. It lasted from September 22nd 1929 To October 4th 1929. As far as we know it caused over 9.31 million dollars in damage to the USA & no one knows exactly how much damage it caused to the Bahamas. Our Conclusion Much of Andros Island is undiscovered & there is much of its history that we do not know. This is a diverse & absolutely beautiful place. More research deserves to be conducted & hopefully someday we’ll be able to graph out the bottoms of these oceans. Hopefully we’ll explore the small blue holes in these oceans & possibly one day make a report of all the species in these oceans. Gallery Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors Our Loyal Patrons Ms. Ochoa

Asha De Vos is a Sri Lankan marine biologist & a pioneer in blue whale research around the globe. Asha De Vos was also the founder of the conservation organization known as Oceanswell. She was born in year of 1979. Currently she is 43 years of age. As of 2023 she is the first & only Sri Lankan woman with a degree in Marine Biology. She is best known for her discoveries & research about blue whales. De Vos has a total of 29 scientific publications in her name. She also has 1 book currently published which is titled as “Humpback Whale (Young Zoologist). In the words of shondaland.com De Vos is “changing the landscape of marine biology”. Her Early Life Asha De Vos was born in 1979 in the country of Sri Lanka, it is believed that she was born in Colombo. She attended the school known as Ladies’ College located in Colombo for her primary & secondary education. When she was 6 years of age her parents would buy her second-hand National Geographic magazines. These inspired her as she would look through the pages & "imagine that that would be me one day going places where no one else would ever go & seeing things no one else would ever see", this gave her the dream of being an "adventure scientist". Her Later Years & Her Career De Vos moved to Scotland for her undergraduate studies in marine & environmental sciences at the University of St. Andrews. She went on to gain her Masters in integrative bio-sciences at the University of Oxford, and a Ph.D. from the University of Western Australia. De Vos is the first & only Sri Lankan to be awarded a Ph.D. in marine mammal research. De Vos had served as a senior programme officer in the marine & coastal unit of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. She founded the Sri Lankan Blue Whale Project in 2008, which forms the first long-term study on blue whales within the northern Indian Ocean. She discovered through her research that an unrecognized unique population of blue whales, previously thought to migrate every year, stayed in waters near Sri Lanka year-round. Due to De Vos's research, the International Whaling Commission has designated Sri Lankan blue whales as a species in urgent need of conservation research & has started collaborating with the Sri Lankan government on whale ship-strikes. De Vos is an invited member of the IUCN Species Survival Commission's Cetacean Specialist Group. She was a post-doctoral scholar at the University Of California Santa Cruz & a guest blogger for National Geographic. She is the founder & director of the non-profit Oceanswell, Sri Lanka's first marine conservation research & education organization.

Todays Article With Discuss The Oceans Surrounding Andros Island Which Is An Island That Makes Up The Country Bahamas. We Will Discuss The Oceans Themselves, The Ecosystems Within A 5 Mile Vicinity Of The Shoreline & The Marine Creatures That Roam The Andros Barrier Reef. It Is Incredibly Important That We Preserve & Conserve These Oceans As Climate Change Is Taking Its Toll On Our Oceans. Andros Island Is A Stunning Island That Should Have More Research Conducted Concerning It. These Oceans Are Beautiful & Are One Of The Travel Destinations Of A Divers Dreams. Now Let Us Delve Into This Island Paradise’s Oceans & Marine Ecosystems. The Marine Climate & Habitat Of Andros Island The waters surrounding Andros Island are widely tropical with the highest temperature being 30.2° Celsius (86.4 Fahrenheit). However in January it may get down to 23.3° Celsius (73.9° Fahrenheit). The waves are usually 1-4 feet in size & the current is safe for swimmers as of 2022. Andros Island sits in the Atlantic making the salt concentration significantly higher. Due to the water temperature being much higher this also means there is less oxygen meaning the creatures there most likely won’t grow as large as creatures in say the Arctic Ocean. There is evidence to believe that the oceans surrounding Andros Island can get as deep as 2,000 meters (6,561.68 feet). With so much ocean Andros Island has 200 small “blue holes” which are mostly unexplored cave systems. These blue holes are small vertical caves, however they aren’t officially called blue holes. This is an amazing step for marine exploration. Hopefully one day all of these cave systems will be explored or grafted. The waters are relatively calm which attracts many species of marine animals. A contributing factor to this is that pollution is minimized because of the stopping of importing or exporting of coal. This also makes the air quality pristine compared to New York’s air quality or say London’s air quality. The Andros Barrier Reef can be seen from certain docks & piers on the island. The Andros Barrier Reef is 164 miles long & is the 3rd longest coral reef in our oceans. These areas are flooded with all sorts of exotic marine vertebrates & invertebrates. These are absolutely beautiful, diverse, & officially healthy oceans that are some of the best scuba diving spots in the world. The Marine Ecosystems Of Andros Island Every ocean has its marine ecosystems with none being the same as another one. There are numerous marine ecosystems of Andros Island, however some can be much more eye-catching than others. A quite namely example is the Andros Barrier Reef which is along & close to the coastal areas of the island. The 2 main marine ecosystems of Andros Island are coral reefed areas & coastal/tidal areas. These areas have their respective characteristics. Now let’s delve into these intricate & complex ecosystems. Coral Reef (The Andros Barrier Reef) Coral reefed areas are areas with coral shelfs, which the Andros Island has a lot of. The Andros Barrier Reef the 3rd coral reef in the world. it contains the Tongue Of The Sea which is a deep water basin around Andros Island & the rest of the Bahamas. The Andros Barrier Reef is incredibly important as it is a large percentage of our world’s remaining coral. It spans the entire circumference of Andros Island. It ranges from being 2.5 meters deep to 1.8 kilometers (8 feet to 5905.51 feet deep) in depth. The Andros Barrier Reef has the following species of coral: Giant Tube Sponge Coral, Sea Rod, Smooth Brain Coral, Deep Water Gorgonia, & Staghorn Coral. However it may have other undiscovered species of coral. The Andros Barrier Reef is one of the healthiest coral reefs in the world making it a very appealing area for animals. This reef doesn’t have very many societies restoring it as it does not need much restoration. Coastal/Tidal Areas The coastal/tidal areas of Andros Island are relatively calm. They are similar to most tidal areas as they have tide pools, & small invertebrates such as crabs & anemones. Cuttlefish also enjoy these areas as less predators & more food is found in these areas. These areas typically don’t have as many plants as the coral reefed or open ocean areas. This area is also typically colder than coral reefed areas & has a higher level of salinity. These areas are not usually very inhabited by vertebrates. Mangrove Forests The mangrove forests consist of large trees with stems & roots extending from 1.8 feet to 1.2 meters underwater. Andros Island’s mangrove forests are between the south & north island. However it is significantly farther south. Its salinity levels are significantly higher than those in other habitats of the island. It is also significantly more dangerous due to wildlife in the waters, one of those dangerous creatures are sea snakes. The Marine Flora & Fauna Of Andros Island There are numerous types of marine plants & animals with not all of them being documented. A large percentage of the marine flora & fauna live in the mangrove areas or the coral reefed areas. There is an incredible amount in diversity in the Andros Barrier Reef & in the other ecosystems, all of which deserved to be acknowledged. Now let’s delve into the marine flora & fauna of . Marine Animals There are a plethora of marine animals the reside or migrate through the waters around Andros Island. A large chunk of them being either whales, sea turtles, or exotic fish. There are 164 known species that live in the Andros Barrier Reef. However unfortunately this list is not public domain so we cannot disclose the animals on that list. Marine Plants Marine vegetation is incredibly important to marine biological research. Unfortunately there is not a well-documented list of any of the marine plants of Andros Island. However we do know that there are at least 33 species of moss from 28 genera. This was documented in by Elizabeth G. Britton in 1921. There are 7 known types of coral as well as 1 species of mangrove tree. Unfortunately any other information is not public domain or has not been published at all. How Ocean Acidification Had Affected The Andros Barrier Reef Ocean acidification has affected many coral reefs by causing them to bleach. Ocean acidification is caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have increased, largely because of human-caused burning of fossil fuels, and deforestation, for the past 150 years. When carbon dioxide contacts sea water, it forms carbonic acid. Carbonic acid gives off positive H+ ions, which causes increased oceanic H+ concentrations and decreased oceanic ph. The increased carbon dioxide is causing the coral to bleach with can kill small coral reefs entirely. The effect that ocean acidification gives off has been minimized or eradicated due to the fact that the Bahamas are carbon free. This is why the Andros barrier reef is one of the healthiest in the world. This gives marine biologists hope that hopefully one day, all if not most coral reefs will be restored. Our Conclusion The oceans & ecosystems surrounding Andros Island are extremely diverse & tropical waters. They contain all sorts of marine flora & fauna, as well as having numerous ecosystems with no ecosystem being the same. These oceans deserve more thought & research effort from marine scientists & oceanographers. Andros Island is beautiful, biologically diverse, & all together one of the prettiest islands. Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors Our Loyal Patrons Ms. Ochoa

This month’s article series will be about.. Andros Island, Bahamas! Andros Island is one of the islands that is the country of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Andros Island is best known for its extremely high density of tourism. Snorkelling & scuba divers flock to this island every summer. Its currency is the Bahamian Dollar which is one US Dollar. It is surrounded by coral reefs, tropical waters, & exotic marine life. The Bahamas sit in the Atlantic Ocean just 72 kilometers (44.7387 miles) southeast of Florida. However it is not the island itself that will be discussed in this article, it is the creatures in the waters around it. In this article we will discuss the Gray Angelfish which is an exotic ray-finned marine fish. The Lives Of The Gray Angelfish The Gray Angelfish was first put on record in 1758 & was labelled as Pomacanthus Arcuatus . It was described & discovered by Carolus Linnaeus. Carolus Linnaeus was a Swedish zoologist, botanist, physicist, & marine biologist. The first known documentation of the Pomacanthus Arcuatus was in the book Systema Naturæ written by Carolus Linnaeus. Systema Naturæ is about the Linnaean Taxonomy System. It was not noted where they were originally found, however as of 2022 they are found from New York to the Gulf Of Mexico & Rio De Janeiro. Most shockingly they along with 2 other species of angelfish from our knowledge live up to 20 years. Gray Angelfish can grow up to 60 centimeters (24 inches) in length. They can also weigh upwards of 1.6 kilograms (3 1/2 pounds). The Gray Angelfish is flat, light gray in colour, & oval shaped. From its feeding behaviours in captivity we can tell that its diet consists mainly of sponges but it also is known to enjoy tunicates, algae, gorgonians, hydroids, bryozoans, & a variety of seagrasses. Pomacanthus Arcuatus have a small comb like row of teeth to help them chew & consume their food properly. Unfortunately, there are no photographs that are public domain of the Gray Angelfish’s teeth. Gray Angelfish are not endangered in any capacity. These are also not to be confused with Pterophyllum, another species called Angelfish that live in the fresh waters marshes of South America. The Gray Angelfish phylum is Chordata meaning that they have 5 synapomorphies, these 5 synapomorphies include a Notochord, Dorsal Hollow Nerve Cord, Endostyle Or Thyriod Pharyngeal Slits, & A Post Anal Tail. The name “Chordate” comes from the first of these synapomorphies, The Notochord, which plays a significant role in Chordate structure and movement. Mating Behaviours Of The Gray Angelfish The Gray Angelfish have a very strange way of mating. The male angelfish flaps its pectoral fins to attract a group of females who are usually called a harem. The male angelfish then mates with each of them. There are usually 4-6 female Pomacanthus Arcuatus in a harem however there can be up to 10 female angelfish in a harem. Also one female angelfish can have babies with one male then go onto be in another harem. There is no evidence that points to the angelfish taking care of their young after they hatch. Their mating season is from April to September however this does not mean they do not mate in the colder months. The female Pomacanthus Arcuatus can lay anywhere from 100 to 1,000 eggs in one breeding cycle. It is unfortunately not on record how many breeding cycles they have in one year. They lay them in rows on ocean leaflets & then swim away never to be seen again by their young. However some of them choose to lay everywhere, they have been recorded laying eggs on bare ocean floor. We did the math using information about these creatures & it is estimated that approximately 90,000,000 eggs are laid in the breeding months of the year. However most likely only 25% of these fish ever survive past the egg stage. That is not counting in the ones that die at a juvenile stage. Distribution Of The Gray Angelfish The Gray Angelfish live from New York to Rio De Janeiro. However they can be found in northern coastal waters of Florida. They are largely found off the coast of Mexico & in the Gulf Of Mexico in all seasons. From our knowledge they have been found in the Veracruz coral reef. They enjoy tropical waters & are found on average from 3 to 30 meters (9.84252 feet to 98.4252 feet) below the surface of the ocean. However there is evidence that they live even deeper than that in underwater canyons & ravines. These marine finned fish are in abundance around Jamaica where they are widely known as “pot cover”. In Jamaica they are an absolute delicacy. They is a wide market in the Caribbean for their flesh because of how protein packed they are. The Habitats Of The Gray Angelfish The Gray Angelfish enjoy tropical areas of the ocean. However, it is not uncommon to see them around the waters of New York & all up the East Coast. They are mostly found in coral reefed areas & lagoons. It is extremely rare to find them in deeper areas of the ocean. They are notably common around Jamaica & The Bahamas. They are incredibly important to the predator fish of this area as they are quite the target as prey. How To Cook The Gray Angelfish Properly The Gray Angelfish (In Jamaica known as pot cover) are an absolute delicacy if prepared properly. They are packed with protein & a plethora of vitamins & are highly recommended by various culinary associations. They can be served fresh or salted however if not prepared properly there is evidence that they can cause ciguatera disease which comes primarily from fish poisoning. Symptoms of this usually appear 25-70 minutes after consuming the contaminated fish. Severe cases may result in death. Their flavour profile is most similar to the Florida pompano in taste. Reportedly they taste best when salted & served in a stew or with rice. It is important that one cooks the fish thoroughly so that one does not consume any bacteria. From numerous amounts of taste testing statistics, they are best cooked when pan fried instead of by boiling, broiling, or baking. It is also recommended that you cook them for 14-18 minutes for taste & flavour as well as safety in mind. They are mostly found as dishes in Jamaica & all throughout the rest of the Caribbean, however on rare occasion you may find them in Florida as a dish during the winter. Our Conclusion The Gray Angel Fish is an incredibly interesting species with some utterly odd mating behaviours. They have a complex & savoury flavour profile that is a delicacy in Jamaica as well as looking incredibly majestic & art like. Seeing a group of them swim by in a coral reef is a surreal experience sought after by select groups of divers. These fish deserve more research to be done about them in the future by marine bioscientists. Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors Our Patron Supporters Ms. Ochoa

In today’s article we will be discussing the history of the largest Spanish Canary Islands, Tenerife. We will discuss when it was discovered, who it was discovered by, and its original purpose, & its purpose now, in the eyes of its inhabitants and rulers. We will also discuss the current economic state of Tenerife & the property rates of Tenerife. We will also do a small segment on Canarian Spanish as well as the Guanche people. Now we shall delve into the complicated & interesting history of Tenerife. The Discovery Of Tenerife & The Spanish Colonization Tenerife was known to Europeans and Africans since at least the time of the Romans and their client king Juba II of Mauretania. We don’t know if the island was inhabited then. The Gaunches started living on Tenerife at some point. The Spanish began conquering Tenerife in 1494. As far as we know the island is 3 million years old. Its “original” inhabitants were the Guanche people who were promptly colonized. The Spanish Colonization Era Lasted From 1402 when Castile, one of the kingdoms that later unified to form Spain, began colonizing the Canary Islands. It stopped in 1496, when Castile finished conquering the islands. Tenerife as far as we can tell had multiple independent nations until the Spanish of Castile claimed it. The Canary Islands didn’t serve as much for the Spanish up until 1492 when La Palma, another of the islands, was used as a way-station for Christopher Columbus. All of the Canary Islands were used as way-stations for trade between Europe and the Americas after that. After Tenerife was used as a way station it turned into a tourism hot spot. During the era from 1494-1800 most of the Guanche people were either vacated or used as slaves in The Spanish Slave Trade. Some intermarried with the Spanish and other newcomers. During the late 1800’s Spain began to industrialize Tenerife as it began to rise in popularity among upper-class Europeans. Tenerife is still vastly undiscovered due to the hands of the Spanish explorers. Much of Tenerife’s history has been erased or is simply written in dead languages. A contributing factor to this may be that rising water levels wiped out many remaining artifacts. Scientists hope to uncover more of Tenerife’s history in the future. The Guanche People The Guanche people were the original inhabitants of Tenerife. Evidence suggests that they have been there since the 6th Century BC, but we do not know for sure. Unfortunately, the Guanche people are a dead society & are considered a lost culture. During the conquest of Tenerife most of the Guanche were murdered by the Spanish. The Guanche People spoke Guanche which is a language isolate. No other language was like it meaning we can’t exactly know what they spoke. They weren’t very technologically advanced even for the time. Other than the Spanish they were mostly isolated from surrounding countries. Nobody is exactly sure how they arrived on the island in the first place. We don’t know much about the Guanche & unfortunately we might not ever know much. A Brief Overview Of The Conquest Of The Canary Islands The Conquest Of The Canary Islands officially took place between 1402 and 1496. Modern day historians label this as a mass genocide of the islanders who occupied the Canary Islands. It is now regarded as the first instance of European settler colonialism in Africa & extended to areas of Africa. Officially it is divided into 2 Main eras; Conquista Señorial & Conquista Realenga. Conquista Señorial was carried out by Castilian nobility in exchange for a covenant of allegiance to the Crown, as well as Conquista Realenga carried out by the Spanish Crown itself, during the reign of the Catholic Monarchs & the Catholic Monarchy. The Current Economic State Of Tenerife Ever since 1970 Tenerife has heavily relied on tourism as its main industry. As of 2022 60% of it’s wealth comes from the tourism industry broadly speaking. The economy is somewhat stable in Euros but it is not as stable when converted into USD. The median property value of Tenerife is currently 268,000€ (273,360 USD currency) as of 2021. However, they seem to be on a steady decline. This could change in the future but the crashing economy of the world is a contributing factor as of 2022. As one would expect Tenerife took a massive hit to its economy during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Unfortunately, the economy does not show any signs of recovering any time within the near future. All Of Tenerife’s Main Disasters The Great Airport Disaster Of Tenerife The Great Airport Disaster Of Tenerife occurred on March 27th 1977. 2 Boeing 747 aircrafts containing up to 416 passengers collided on the runway of Los Rodeos Airport. This collision happened because KLM Flight 4805 initiated its takeoff while the Pan Am flight 1736 was still on the runway. The impact resulted in a fire which unfortunately led to the death of all passengers aboard the KLM Flight 4805. This also caused the death of most occupants aboard the Pan Am flight, with only 61 total survivors. There were 583 recorded fatalities making this the deadliest & most horrific accident in all of aviation history. Accident reconstructions show us that a likely reason for this is due to the immense amount of fog on that day. It has been dubbed the apocalypse of the runway. Tenerife’s Flood Of 2002 Tenerife had a flash flood on march 31st 2002 resulting in the death of 8 residents. Approximately 200-236 liters (52.8344 to 62.3446 gallons) of rain fell on each square meter of Santa Cruz, Tenerife for 4 hours. This blocked off all main roads leading to the airport in Santa Cruz. Since Santa Cruz as a high tourist industry a few unlucky souls got caught in the mixt of the floods. In officials’ first evaluation of the damage they found that this flood cut off upwards of 35% of all electricity was cut off. This also cut off at least 150,000 phone lines of residents. This completely threw communications with the outside world into utter chaos. 400 individuals were left without homes because of this disaster, as well as thousands of people being stranded at the airport after coming home from their Easter holiday. As Pilar Merino Tromboso said, “The City Was Virtually In Darkness”. The Red Cross has said that it had deployed 120 volunteers & 10 ambulances & boats to help aid those who were impacted by this disaster. Our Conclusion Tenerife has a long history that deserves more recognition. More of the Guanche Peoples’s history needs to be uncovered or at least looked for. We know that Tenerife has ancient surfs & hopefully researchers can find more information about them. Tenerife is a beautiful, majestic, & incredibly diverse island. Directories & Credits https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conquest_of_the_Canary_Islands https://amp.theguardian.com/environment/2002/apr/01/naturaldisasters.climatechange1 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenerife_flood_of_2002 Gallery Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors Our Loyal Patrons Ms. Ochoa

Roger Arliner Young was an American zoologist, biologist & marine biologist. She was the first African American to receive a doctorate degree in zoology. She was born in 1899 Clifton Forge, Virginia, & passed away on November 9th in New Orleans Louisiana. She is best known for her work with marine biology & zoology, which gave her the international & iconic status that she has. She is an icon & a staple for minorities in science. Her Early Life & Young Adult Life She was born in Clifton Forge, Virginia in 1899. Ms. Young soon moved with her family to a certain Burgettstown, Pennsylvania. The family was financially troubled and much time and resources were expended in the care of her disabled mother. This gave Ms. Young a strong will & motivation. In 1916 aged 27, Ms. Young enrolled at Howard University in Washington, D.C. to complete a degree in music. She wrote in the yearbook: "Not failure, but low aim is a crime." She did not take her first science-related course until 1921. Even though her grades were unpromising at the beginning of her college career, some of her teachers saw a brightness in her. One of these was Ernest Everett Mr. Just, a prominent black biologist and head of the Zoology department at Howard University. Ms. Young graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1923. Mr. Just tried unsuccessfully to help her to gain some funding for graduate school, but in 1924 Ms. Young began studying for her master's degree at the University of Chicago, which she received in 1926. This was a Master of Arts degree. While studying at the University of Chicago, she was asked to join Sigma Xi , a scientific research society, which was an unusual honor for a master's student. In 1924 her first article, "On the excretory apparatus in Paramecium" was published in the journal Science, making her the first African American woman to research and professionally publish in this field. Her Career Ernest Everett Just invited Ms. Young to work with him during summers at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts beginning in 1927. While there, they worked on researching the fertilization process in marine organisms, as well as the process of hydration and dehydration in living cells. In 1929, Ms. Young became interim department head for the zoology department at Howard University for the time while Mr. Just was in Europe seeking grant money. Ms. Young's eyes were permanently damaged by the ultraviolet rays used in the experiments conducted at Howard for Mr. Just. In the fall of 1929, Ms. Young returned to the University of Chicago to begin her doctorate degree under the direction of Frank Rattray Lillie. Mr. Lillie had been a mentor of Mr. Just while both were involved with the Marine Biological Laboratory. However, in 1930 she failed to pass her qualifying exams, and for a time, disappeared from the scientific community. She returned to Howard University to teach and continued working with Mr. Just at the Marine Biological Laboratory during the summers. However, around 1935, rumors started circulating that there was a romance between Mr. Just and Ms. Young, and in 1936 they had a huge confrontation. Later that year she was fired, ostensibly because she missed classes. In her words, "The situation here is so cruel and cowardly that every spark of sentiment that I have held for Howard is cold." She used this setback as an opportunity to try again to obtain a Ph.D. In June 1937, she went to University of Pennsylvania, studying with Lewis Victor Heilbrunn, who was another scientist she met at the Marine Biological Laboratory, and graduated with her doctorate in 1940. After obtaining her doctorate, Ms. Young became an assistant professor at the North Carolina College For Negroes, and Shaw University, (1940–1947), and held teaching positions in Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana until 1959. Ms. Young contributed a great deal of work to science. She studied the effects of direct and indirect radiation on sea urchin eggs, on the structures that control the salt concentration in paramecium, as well as hydration and dehydration of living cells. Directories https://peoplepill.com/people/roger-arliner-young https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/young-roger-arliner-1889-1964/ Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors Our Loyal Patrons Ms. Ochoa

Today’s article will be about the beautiful oceans that surround the island of Tenerife. In this article we will discuss the oceans around Tenerife, the animals & plants that reside there, the ecosystems of the ocean, & how climate change & rising sea levels are affecting it. Tenerife is a beautiful island that needs to be conserved, now let us dive into the oceans of Tenerife. The Oceans Surrounding Tenerife The oceans surrounding Tenerife are diverse yet beautiful waters. Tenerife is the largest island of the Spanish Canary Islands. It is 99.7793 kilometers (62.1371 miles) off of the coast of Western Sahara. It sits in the Atlantic, which makes the salt concentration significantly higher. The oceans look surreal making Tenerife look like a dreamland. The waters are clear which makes Tenerife a more desirable destination for tourists. The waters are relatively warm & tropical. The yearly average water temperature for the coastal water is 21.30° celsius (70.34° fahrenheit). The tourists are relatively respectful of the coastal sea making the water some of the cleanest water in our oceans. Tenerife’s waters are very safe for swimming with stunning beaches that will leave you mesmerized. Pollution is minimized & the air quality is great for residents considering the high density of tourism. The waters are perfect for snorkeling, scuba diving, & kayaking. Some parts of the water can reach depths of 600 meters to 800 meters (1968.5 feet to 2624.67 feet) below the surface. However there is reason to believe an oceanic cave system spans up to 3,780 meters (12,401.57 feet) below the surface. The waters are calm, mostly shallow, & home to very many marine animals. As of 2022 there seems to be no strong currents surrounding the island from what researchers can tell. However this does not mean one couldn’t form within the next few years. There are no volcanoes on or near the island. The risk for tsunamis is quite slim. The best beaches on Tenerife are as follows: 1. Playa De Las Teresitas 2. Playa La Tejita 3. Playa De Los Gigantes 4. Playa La Bollullo, La Orotava 5. Playa Jardín, Puetro De La Cruz 6. Playa Del Duque, Costa Adeje 7. Playa La De Vistas 8. Playa De Las Americas 9. Playa De Fañabé & 10. Troya Beach. The Marine Animals & Plants That Reside In The Oceans Near & Around Tenerife The oceans surrounding Tenerife are home to thousands of types of marine life. Tenerife has many different species of plants & animals reside in this area of the ocean which is why we must not pollute it. Now let us dive into some of these amazing creatures. Marine Animals Marine animals come plentifully into Tenerife due to the tropical waters & calm winds. This also makes it a popular area for animals to breed & give birth. A list of animals that are known to do that include: Short-finned pilot whales, Mediterranean monk seals, sperm whales, killer whales, common dolphins, rough-toothed dolphins, blue whales, bottle-nosed dolphins, atlantic striped dolphins, humpback whales, angel sharks, manta rays, dusky groupers, cuvier’s beaked whale, basking sharks, green turtles, parrot fish, a wide assortment of sea stars, & marine turtles. Thankfully the ecosystems are relatively preserved & healthy. Many organizations are working to preserve our oceans such as but not limited to: Ocean Conservancy, Surfrider Foundation, Oceana, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Take-3, Green Peace, The Five Gyres Institute, Oceanic Preservation Society, The Environmental Defense Fund, Ric O’Barrys Dolphin Project, Pretoma, & The Natural Resources Defense Council. We still don’t exactly know why animals migrate to Tenerife yearly. However, salinity has a large effect on animals. It could cause behavioral changes, distribution changes, & even cause differences in life cycles. This could mean a higher concentration changes the migration patterns. A few animals that have shown patterns of migration are: humpback whales, killer whales, sperm whales, & blue whales. If you would like to see some of these majestic marine mammals yourself, Turtle Bay/El Puertito is the best snorkeling experience on the island. However it is advised to approach with caution for jellyfish, with stings that can cause neurological damage, enjoy the island as well. Marine Plants Marine vegetation is just as important as marine animals if not more so. There is a plethora of different marine plants that live around Tenerife. As of 2022 the marine flora of the island is composed of 711 known species 59 cyanophycota, 385 rhodophycota, 125 chromophycota, 117 chlorophycota, 3 seagrasses and 22 fungi. Unfortunately, there are no known kelp forests off the coast of Tenerife or any other one of the Spanish Canary Islands. The higher salt concentration could be a contributing factor or the sole factor for this. Another reason is the tropical waters meaning that less oxygen is in the water. From our current knowledge of the island there does not seem to be any marine plant, marine fungi, or marine flora that are endemic to Tenerife. The closest coral reef system is El Simplon reef. It ranges from being 12 meters below the surface to 20 (40 to 65.7 feet). The Oceanic Ecosystems Of Tenerife There are 2 main ecosystems that surround Tenerife, those ecosystems being coral shelf & coastal area. Coral shelf is mostly coral reef & open ocean while coastal waters are shallow & contain mostly invertebrates. Coastal Areas The Coastal Areas Of Tenerife Are Mostly Tidal & Shallow Waters. Most Of Tenerife’s Marine Invertebrates Live Here A Few Of Those Being, Crabs, Urchins, Clams, & On Rare Occasion Jellyfish. This Area Consists Of Tidal Pools & Not Very Much Else. Coral Shelf Coral shelf is the outer ecosystem of the island. It consists of coral reefs, open ocean, & is much further offshore. Coral shelf is also typically much more vibrant & is the most diverse out of all of the marine ecosystems surrounding the island. Much larger creatures live in this ecosystem such as whales, sea turtles, & a wide assortment of dolphins. The coral shelf is also the area most snorkeling takes place in. This area also has a much lower salt concentration than the coastal areas. This could be due to the buildup of salt in the water. How Climate Change & Rising Water Levels Is Affecting The Oceanic Ecosystems Of Tenerife Climate change has affected many islands in their own special ways but it has affected Tenerife especially. When Tenerife was formed it was formed quite similarly to Catalina Island in the way it was made, slanting downwards rather then upwards. Due to climate change & rising water levels Tenerife is slowly being pulled underwater. & marine biologists predict that within the next 80 years the water levels will rise by 81 centimeters (31 inches/2.5 feet). Going by that rate in 487,520 years Tenerife will be completely submerged in water. Our Conclusion Tenerife’s ecosystems are unique & diverse places that should not be disturbed. We should advance our knowledge on rising water levels in order to prepare in the event Tenerife does get pulled into the ocean. We should do more studies into why the coastal waters have higher salinity levels. This could help us with figuring out migration patterns of certain animals. We also should consider planting more coral as coral is becoming scarce in our world’s oceans. We should listen to what our oceanic organizations tell us about climate change more often. Tenerife is a beautiful diverse environment that should be preserved & protected by any company or entity that attempts to disturb the current marine ecosystem. Gallery Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors Our Loyal Patrons Ms. Ochoa References https://www.climatestotravel.com/climate A checklist of the marine plants from the Canary Islands by María Candelaria Gil-Rodríguez , Ricardo Haroun , & Maria Candelaria .

This month’s article series will be about.. Tenerife! Tenerife is the largest island of the Spanish Canary Islands. The Canary Islands are a Spanish territory off of the coast of the western Sahara. It is best known for the stunning landscapes, amazing food, & it is an absolutely beautiful sight to see. The language spoken most often is a dialect of Spanish called Canarian Spanish. It has some of the most beautiful waters in the world and in Fuerteventura you can even see Morocco from the beach. However it is not about the island we will be discussing, it is the waters around it. The Lives of Mediterranean Monk Seals Many creatures live around its tropical waters, including the Mediterranean monk seal. The Mediterranean monk seal was first discovered in November of 2010. It was spotted in Bodrum, Turkey, and the seal did not show signs of being a juvenile. Mediterranean monk seals are thought to live upwards of 45 years old at maximum. However the average life span seems to be 15 years to 25 years of age. From what we have on record they start out as 80 centimeters (2.62467 feet) long & in adulthood grow up to an average of 2.4 meters (7.87402 feet) long. They primarily prey on but are not limited to eels, sardines, tuna, lobster, flatfish, & mollusks. They also occasionally are known to prey on octopi. Other pinniped seals, sea lions, walruses, & many shark species like to prey on the Mediterranean monk seal. Unfortunately, it is extremely rare to observe the seals reproducing. From what we know after the female monk seal has been impregnated they haul out into the ocean to give birth to their seal pups. They generally don’t give birth to multiple pups at once like most marine mammals do, they give birth to a singular pup instead. Baby Mediterranean monk seals usually stay with their mothers for 4 to 7 & a half weeks. After that they usually leave & fend for their own out in the open ocean. There is no evidence to believe that the male Mediterranean monk seal is involved at all with the babies at this stage of their lives. They don’t roam in packs & they hunt, & live most of their adolescent lives alone. Their mating seasons are from February to July, however this does not mean they don’t mate during other times of the year. How Humans Have Directly & Indirectly Interacted With Them Over The Years & How They Have Interacted With Us Mediterranean monk seals roam & graze in the kelp gardens around Tenerife, unfortunately the ocean is slowly becoming polluted. Monachus monachus are endangered, with marine bioscientists believing there to be around 600-700 of them remaining in the wild. Unfortunately this is due to habitat destruction, deliberate death via humans, & getting tangled in nets from commercial fisheries. Despite what you may think, Mediterranean monk seals are incredibly smart. They have been known to purposely tangle themselves in fishermans’ nets, let the fish come into the net, catch some of the fish & swim away. Surprisingly, they are non-aggressive to humans & have been known to investigate nearby humans. they seem to be touchable & quite happy with the affection that humans provide. Unfortunately a Mediterranean monk has not been observed in captivity as of 2022. They seem to only roam in parts of the Mediterranean ocean, & the Atlantic. They have also been spotted off the coast of these following countries; Greece, the Canary Islands, Turkey, Norway, Morocco, Western Sahara, & Mauritania. There is also evidence to believe 3/4 of them live off of the coast of Turkey. These are the known places that they enjoy. However they could be off the coast of France from what we know. They enjoy tropical waters & open ocean ecosystems mostly as this is where most of the monk seals prefer. There are now foundations dedicated to bringing the Mediterranean monk seal off of the endangered list. Many efforts for conservation are currently being made to help & understand these creatures more. Many companies are sponsors towards the preservation & conservation of these magnificent animals. an amazing example of this is https://www.monachus-guardian.org which is dedicated to educating people on the endangerment of the Mediterranean monk seal. The Roles That Mediterranean Monk Seals Play In The Ecosystems Of Tenerife & Some Of Its Scientific Details Mediterranean monk seals play a large role in Tenerife’s oceanic ecosystems. They are apex predators in their respective ecosystems, & they heavily control the population of many species of small fish. Their phylum is Chordata. All Chordata develop 5 similar characteristics either in adulthood or as juveniles. The characteristics that they develop include, a notochord, dorsal hollow nerve cord, endostyle or thyroid, pharyngeal slits, & a post-anal tail. They are part of the family Phocidae, this is not to be confused with Phocides, a certain genus of butterflies, or Pholcidae, a family of spiders. Phocidae are essentially earless seals, which means that they do not have ear flaps, & they do not have any distinguishable ears that one can see without being up close. Earless seals are sometimes referred to as crawling seals to distinguish them from the family of fur seals & sea lions, Otariidae. Mediterranean monk seals are also the rarest known type of Pinnipedia. Pinnipedia is the Mediterranean monk seals’ clade. This is a contributing factor as to why Mediterranean monk seals to this very date are the rarest seal to find in our oceans. The Cultural Significance of The Mediterranean Monk Seal Interestingly, the Mediterranean monk seal holds a lot of cultural significance in Greek culture. They occasionally appear in classic mythology & poetry. One of the better known examples of this is in Homer’s “The Odyssey”; Proteus who is the sea’s shepherd, & is the god of the sea flock. Proteus is seen herding monk seals for his father, Poseidon. The Odyssey is one of the 2 major poems that are written by Homer. The Odyssey is divided into 24 main books & entails the Greek war hero Odysseus returning to his home of Ithaca, & his journey home after the great Trojan war. Another example of Mediterranean monk seals in literature is when the mythical war hero Phocus of Aegina was the son of nereid Psamathe, & was conceived while she was transformed into a monk seal. As well as the city of Phocis & Phocaea were names after Phocus, & Phocaea took on the monk seal as their emblem. In Greek, Phokos translated means seal. This is could possibly be why they took on the monk seal as their emblem. The monk seals are heavily associated with Poseidon & other oceanic gods. Our Conclusion Mediterranean monk seals are wonderful creatures that should have more legal protection. Hopefully more journalists & marine biology sources will cover more about these magnificent creatures. We should research them & with this we will hopefully one day capture a live one. We should try & tag one in order to establish their migration patterns & possibly determine the place that they are found most. This could lead to more discoveries about the monk seal. These creatures deserve more thought & recognition from our marine societies. Here’s to Mediterranean monk seals! Gallery Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors Our Loyal Patrons Ms. Ochoa

Our Santa Catalina Island Report We were sponsored by Reel Guppy Outdoors, a Ventura County nonprofit focused on teaching young people about the marine environment, to go on an expedition to Santa Catalina Island for 3 days. (Yay!) This report will feature reviews of White’s Landing & our boat rides, & it will also discuss what we did & the overall outlining of our trip to Catalina Island. This experience is different for everyone for a multitude of reasons. However I think that we have all come to love this magnificent island. Our boat ride on the Catalina Express & our boat ride to White’s Landing Our trip began in Long Beach Harbor. As we waited for the boat, we saw a ray glide through the water below; A good sign for our trip. The boat ride on the Catalina Express was quite pleasant & peaceful. Their pricing for perishables is considerably cheaper than anywhere on the island. The scenery is surreal & absolutely wonderful for any marine enthusiast. They also sell alcoholic drinks on board for those who are interested. Animals were allowed on the boat so many dogs were sleeping along the floor of the boat. When we went up to get some of the food that they had to offer, a member of the cabin crew told us an interesting story. Apparently there were 6 originating families that lived on the island & she was a direct relative of them. We have yet to find any evidence to corroborate this. Once we had arrived at the Catalina Express terminal on the island we went into our respective float area (Another one of the Catalina Express floats) to wait for the boat to transport us to White’s Landing, about 4 miles away along the coast. Avalon was surprisingly close to the terminal, within 500 feet. The shuttle boat was small, flat, white, and low to the water. It had comfortable standing room for about 30 people, and sitting areas along its sides. After the shuttle boat had arrived a man helped us with our luggage onto the boat. The boat ride was approximately 45 minutes long & it was amazing. The scenery was beautiful. There really was nothing like it, also strangely enough in places where the rocks eroded they revealed a purple layer of rock. We also saw that Catalina Island has lots of steep hills along its coast. We could not have driven along the coast from Avalon to White’s Landing because there is no road along the coast, and we would have had lots of trouble walking with our luggage because it is so hilly. We saw at least a couple small beaches that had cliffs directly behind them, so they could only be approached from the ocean without specialized gear. We wondered if smugglers or pirates had buried things at those beaches long ago. After we had reached White’s Landing and docked they took us to the office to check us into our tents. The people at the office told us that we had been upgraded to tents right next to the beach. We then settled into our tents & wondered what White’s Landing had in store for us. Day 1 in White’s Landing White’s Landing has a beach, which is bounded on both the east and west by hills. Upon arrival at 5:54 p.m., we were escorted off the pier & taken to the office of administration. We were then told that bison enjoyed going onto the property, and that they could jump. The clerk told us that he was in charge of leading the bison away from the property. He also informed us that he had been charged by bison 7 times this season. Apparently the bison had also been repeatedly damaging an industrial water hose on the property & making a small body of water, probably because the bison wanted to make a pond to drink from. The personnel at White’s Landing hope to seal the hose underground in order to stop this destruction. We had booked one of the creek side bell tents however we were upgraded to a waterfront tent instead. This tent was about 20 feet walking distance away from the beach. After settling in we decided to go to the beach & explore it. The beach was about 60 feet wide, and had some white sand, some brown dry sand, and some brown wet sand near to the water. We found that other than the beach there were many hills behind our campsite, and a trail that led inland. We learned that 2 yacht clubs, San Diego Yacht Club and Balboa Yacht Club shared facilities on areas of the beach, on both sides of our facility, which was owned by Mountain and Sea Adventures. We decided to go into the water at a point more or less midway between the eastern and western ends of the beach to see if we could see marine life. The water was crystal clear making the search much easier, however the waves kicked up sand and so we did not see any marine life. At about 6:30 P.M., we noticed the small “dimples” created in the sand by pacific mole crabs , and decided to see if we could catch any pacific mole crabs. We then caught a juvenile pacific mole crab, photographed it, and put it back in the sand. They are in abundance around the island. Once we had gotten back on land we found the camp cat who the staff called Joy. One of our field agents managed to catch Joy, to whom we then gave much affection. At 7:25 pm we decided to go crab fishing off the pier. During our crab expedition a bison came down from the hills, walked between the tents, & began to curiously look at the persons on the beach, scaring one of our field agents who was also on the beach at the time, and who found herself uncomfortably close to the bison. After approximately 30 minutes of eating the shrubbery & people-watching the bison began to retreat back into the hills. The sunset was utterly beautiful so at this point so we retreated to our respective tents. We had not brought any food with us, and we found that no dinner was available at the campsite that day for those who had not purchased it with their reservation, so we did not have dinner. Luckily, we’d had a good lunch in Avalon. We did look come out of our tent and look around briefly after dark, and we found that our Wilson & Miller military-grade flashlight was strong enough to illuminate the nearby hills, hundreds of feet away. We also saw the stars, which are very beautiful and visible from the campsite. We pulled up our crab net at about 8:45 P.M. There were no crabs in it. Unfortunately the staff did not provide us with sheets or sleeping bags so it was quite cold, though we could hear the ocean all night. However we had to wake up quite early for our journey in the dawn of the next day. Day 2 in White’s Landing We awoke at 8:00 am to see the first low tide of the day. We received a continental breakfast which we very much enjoyed. We then set out to the westernmost side of White’s Landing. To do this we took a trail which had cacti along the edges, we found that the cacti bore fruit. The westernmost side of White’s Landing has a group of hills that rapidly rise up from the water, and include cliffs, sea caves, and tidepools where they meet the beach. One of our field agents decided to swim from the beach to a small archipelago offshore. The current was relatively strong making this a lot more complicated. Two field agents swam over the reef & onto the rocks of the small archipelago. The reef was incredibly sharp & we saw a few other divers & swimmers cut themselves along it. Our field agents made it to the archipelago, but were also cut and scratched a little as the waves pushed them against the rocks. One field agent thinks she found sea caves inside a large rock offshore, which was part of the archipelago. By then it was near low-tide, so we decided to investigate the tidepools by the cliff at the western edge of White’s Landing. These tidepools were usually formed from the edges of the large rocks, so we had to climb over the rocks to get to the tidepools. We found numerous purple crabs that were 4-5 inches across, including their legs, and a hollow space between the rocks, and covered by another rock, where a large number of these crabs seemed to live. We counted 8 of them in the hollow space (Including two that were mating), and there were others scuttling around the rocks and inside the tidepools. They might have been pacific rock crabs or red rock crabs , but we are unsure. We also saw other crabs that we believe to be striped shore crabs, pachygraspus crassipes . We also found a ring made of living green material, lying on the sand, a few inches underwater. It looked like it was from a plant, but as we watched, it buried itself in the sand. We soon recognized similar rings of living material on the rocks. One of them was covered with small bits of rock, like a form of camouflage, making it harder to notice. We think these were sunburst anemones, anthopleura sola . There was also a dark gray amorphous creature hiding between two large rocks that we believe to be a sea slug or sea hare , but we could not tell for sure, because we could not see most of it. At 12:28 p.m. two of our field agents decided to go hiking up this steep hill behind the dining hall. They made the climb, which was very gravelly. After that they decided to explore the campsite more. They went over to the bell tent area & behind the bell tents they found a Catalina fox. It had a charcoal gray snout & upper body & brown ears. It also had a red underbelly. At this point it was approximately 2:45 pm & they decided to go back to the beach for purposes of documentation. At approximately 4:35 they all went back to our respective cabins to relax until 6 pm. While these two field agents were hiking, our other field agent decided to explore the tide pools on the eastern side of White’s Landing. These tide pools were also visible at this time, because it was near low tide. He found crabs , what he thought were two types of sea anemones, and sea urchins . At about 6 P.M. we went to a part of the reefed area, in the beach on the western part of White’s Landing but further away from the western edge, to see more marine life. We journeyed into the water until it was 2-3 feet deep. We found leopard sharks (possibly a type of endemic leopard shark which is only native around Catalina, or the more general leopard shark population of triakis semifasciata ) swimming 6-8 feet from the shoreline. An interesting thing that we saw is a school of small fish . There looked to be around 50 of them. They all moved in exact unison, when one wiggled itself they all wiggled, and when one swam in a certain direction they all swam in the same direction. Unfortunately we could not determine what the exact species was however we do think that these are what the sharks primarily preyed on. We also found what looked to be a sting ray but unfortunately we couldn’t determine what species of sting ray was. After we left the western end of white’s landing we journeyed back to our cabins. One of our field agents walked inland and saw a Catalina Fox and a deer, as well as cacti that seemed to be in full bloom with fruits. When we had settled back in for the night Joy came looking for us & decided to sit on the patio of the tent & admire the waters. She also went into our tent & rubbed herself against a field agent. Day 3 in White’s Landing & Our Departure. We all awoke at 8:30 & decided to explore the interior of the island. We enjoyed our continental breakfast & then set out to the inner areas of the property. We then found another Catalina Fox of which we managed to collect footage. It let us get about 6 feet away from it before retreating back to its den. After this we explored a small ravine that we had found. Unfortunately then the ferry had arrived to transport us back to Avalon. We then packed our things walked back to the pier & went back to the Catalina Express terminal. Beach Reviews Balboa Yacht Club Beach: This beach has an unbeatable view. The lagoon makes it an amazing spot for snorkeling. There is plenty of wildlife & the weather is wonderful. This is amazing for swimmers, snorkelers, & sun bathers. The current is quite strong making swimming a bit harder however the views are very worth it. This is also a wonderful spot to kayak or paddle-board near. The water is crystal clear as well. We highly recommend this beach for all. Buffalo Beach: Buffalo Beach was quite small yet it was nice. It had fire-pits nearby making it a good place for families. There are rocks to climb on nearby the beach & on the waterfront. The water is clear even 6 feet deep making this one of the clearest & cleanest beaches on Catalina Island. How to Book Transportation to the Island The easiest way to get to Avalon & Two Harbors is to book online through the Catalina Express. The Catalina Express is the only commercial ferry that runs to Avalon & two Harbor. There are terminals in Long Beach, and San Pedro, in Los Angeles County & Dana Point in Orange County on the mainland. Tickets cost between 44$ USD & 83.50$ USD. The Permit to Hike & How to Fish on the Island We had to get permits in hike on the island. We do not know exactly what happens if you do not get a permit for hiking & decide to hike anyway. However you can be fined if caught by officials without a fishing permit. The Hiking Permit & How to Get One The hiking permit was completely free & you are able to get one on catalinaconservancy.org . This is for people who are day hiking on the island. There are a few rules that apply to having the permit but other than that the permit was relatively easy to get. How to Fish on the Island Fishing is allowed in Avalon, however there are multiple marine protected areas. One of the best places to fish without a permit is Green Pleasure Pier. It is the main pier of the island & it is located in Avalon. The best months of the year to fish are summer months as the chance of one catching a fish is much higher.

Nicole Dubilier is an American marine microbiologist who teaches at the University of Bremen. she was born on January 16th 1957 in New York City, New York. She is an evolutionary biologist. she is best known for her work with marine microbiology, which gave her the international status that she has today. she is one of the main reasons that humans know so much about marine evolution to this date. Her Early Life Nicole Dubilier was born on January 1957 in New York City, New York. Her father was an American businessman, & her mother was a German immigrant. Her mother was a direct relative of one of the greatest electrophysiology pioneers, Emil Du Bois-Reymond, as well as the renowned pianist & composer, Fanny Mendelssohn. As a juvenile she originally was interested in a much different form of art, classical ballet. In 1970 Stuttgart Ballet accepted her to train with John Cranko. However, she decided otherwise & choose to stay in Wiesbaden (now Hessen Germany) with her mother & 3 her 3 siblings. During her primary years of school, science never crossed her repertoire of interests. It was her visits to Fire Island New York City & her marine internship at the Biological Institute of Heligoland Germany. Her Career She established her career mostly in Germany via her internship at the Biological Institute of Heligoland Germany. In 1985 Dr. Dubilier obtained her degree in zoology biochemistry & microbiology. She got her Ph.D. in marine biology from the University of Hamburg in 1992 alongside Olav Giere. However, during her graduate studies she found herself dispassionate & quite disinterested in her studies often wanting to quit. Yet she with persistence & motivation, finished her degree. In 1992, with this new found motivation to rediscover the excitement of marine biology, Dr. Dubilier attended a molecular biology summer course at University of Southern California. This course was instructed by Dr. Donal T. Manahan at University of Southern California. Later, from 1993-1995, she experienced her first post-doctoral with the guidance of Collen Cavanaugh on hydrothermal vents, and chemosynthetic life forms. Two years later, she started her career with the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, first as a post-doctoral studying the evolution of bacterial symbiosis in gutless worms (1997-2001) and afterwards as the coordinator of the Max Planck Institute of Marine Microbiology International Research Program (2002-2017), head of the Symbiosis Laboratory (2001-2017) and the head of the Symbiosis Department (since 2013). Dr. Dubilier has continued her work on symbiotic relationships within chemosynthetic living organisms, expanding her exploration & knowledge of both shallow & deep-sea environments, ranging from seagrass to coastal sediments, through meta-omic approaches, like say metaproteomics & metagenomics. Her primary animal models constitute of shrimp, gutless-worms, nematodes, and ciliates. Her Honorables, Achievements & Awards 2017 Co-Chair American Society Microbiology Microbe Conference. 2017 Co-Chair American Society Microbiology Microbe Conference 2014 German Research Foundation Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz prize. 2013 Elected Member at the American Academy of Microbiology. 2013 Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Marine Microbiology Initiative Award. 2009 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) Applied and Environmental Microbiology chapter.

Today’s article is going to be about the wonderful oceans surrounding Magnetic Island, Australia. The oceans that surround Magnetic Island are the Coral Sea. In this article we will discuss the ecosystems there, how ocean acidification is destroying parts of them, & briefly about the Coral Triangle. We will first do a brief overview of the main 3 ecosystems & delve more into details of them later in the article. The Coral Sea is an incredibly diverse sea, & it plays a substantial role in our ecosystem. It also holds one of the largest coral reefs, the Coral Triangle. The Coral Triangle is incredibly important to our oceans, as it is 30% of our coral reefs. Now let’s delve into the ecosystems of the Coral Sea. Coral Reefs Coral reefs are one the most diverse ecosystems in our oceans. Unfortunately, they are dying out due to ocean acidification & not enough laws being put in place to stop commercial fishing. This part of the Coral Sea mostly consists of tropical waters, & open ocean with a few coastal areas. The Coral Triangle takes up predominant space in the Coral Sea. Coral reefs are usually somewhere between 20 & 100 feet below the surface. However they can get to over 500 feet below the surface. Most animals here are vibrant & often don’t get larger than 8 meters (24 feet & 6 inches) due to the tropical water. A contributing factor is that there is simply not being enough oxygen to sustain these creatures. Seamounts Seamounts are sort of self-explanatory, they are mounts in the sea. Most sea mounts are formed by volcanic eruption in the ocean, or plates colliding & sea mounts rising out. They form abruptly & form from the sea floor where now extinct volcanos were. Sea mounts are incredibly unique & typically have sea vents close by. They bustle with life & vegetation & are homes to thousands of creatures. They can be anywhere from 1000 meters to 4,000 meters in height from the ocean floor. (3,280.1007880 feet to 13,123.4315200 feet) Abyssal The abyssal zone is mostly deep-sea areas of the Coral Sea. The deepest parts of the abyssal zone that we have discovered is 4,000 meters deep. (13,123.36 feet deep) as you may infer, there is no sunlight at all at this level, there is also almost no light at all. It is very cold & pressurized at this level in the ocean. We unfortunately know very little about this zone due to the fact that we can’t easily send cameras down that deep. However we do know that it is extremely frigid at this depth, meaning there could be creatures larger than the colossal squid hiding at this depth. However that is extremely unlikely. Every 33 feet down you go in the ocean adds another atmosphere of pressure onto it. This would mean it is 397.666667 atmospheres of pressure at that level. In the future scientists hope to document this further & discover what goes on at that level. A Brief Overview Of The Coral Triangle The Coral Triangle is one of the most important aspects of the southern Pacific Ocean. The Coral Triangle spans over the Philippines, west of Singapore, & southeast of the Solomon islands. Here is an accurate map of the Coral Triangle. It spans for 1,400 miles which is almost as large as the Great Barrier Reef. It has mostly tropical waters & the water has much less concentrated oxygen. Many creatures live & roam this area making parts of it a hotspot of scuba diving. However, it is vastly unexplored & can be dangerous at times. not only is the seascape dangerous, but many venomous & ravenous animals live in this territory, like the Irukandji jellyfish which if not treated is fatal, which have killed 70 people since 1883. the Coral Triangle is a mesmerizing area that is utterly stunning & feels otherworldly at times. Ocean acidification is a rising issue mainly due to the use of fossil fuels. Unfortunately our oceans are at severe risk if we don’t stop using fossil fuels. We shall now delve into, how it is caused, the implications for our oceans, & how it can be stopped before it utterly destroys our oceans permanently. Ocean Acidification Ocean acidification is caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have increased, largely because of human-caused burning of fossil fuels, and deforestation, for the past 150 years. When carbon dioxide contacts sea water, it forms carbonic acid. Carbonic acid gives off positive H+ ions, which causes increased oceanic H+ concentrations and decreased oceanic PH. Ocean acidification has been debated since 2003. “Once the ocean is severely affected by high carbon dioxide, it is virtually impossible to undo these alterations on a human-generation timescale,” said Sabine Mathesius of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Potsdam, Germany. It is predicted that by 2075 90% of coral will have died due to ocean acidification. Thankfully most countries are on the path to completely being completely fossil fuel free or are completely fossil fuel free. The following list of countries & provinces are a list of countries that plan to become fossil fuel free: France, Ireland, Sweden, Wales, Greenland, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Scotland, Germany, Uruguay, Denmark, China (Yay!), Morocco, The United States of America, Kenya, New Zealand, Portugal, & One Of Canada’s Provinces Quebec. We now have 20 confirmed countries that are on the way to or are completely fossil fuel free. However, this isn’t going to be immediate, Denmark is the largest oil producer in the European Union. As of 2021 the Prime Minister of Denmark has said that the deadline to terminate the oil contracts is 2050. Hopefully by then, all governments will be completely fossil fuel free. Denmark & Costa Rica are leading the group called the “Beyond Gas & Oil Alliance”. ( https://beyondoilandgasalliance.com ) This group is an international alliance that aims to repeal the damage that fossil fuels have caused to our environment. Announcement! We got a partnership with the nonprofit “Reel Guppy Outdoors”! We got a grant from Reel Guppy Outdoors and took a trip to Santa Catalina Island, & we will be releasing a special about it on August 30th. There will be a review of Santa Catalina Island, how to book transportation, & everything that we did and saw while on the Island. We will also be discussing permits needed, & how to fish on Catalina Island as a civilian without a role in the marine biology community. Stay tuned because you are not going to want to miss this wondrous read. Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors Our Loyal Patrons Ms. Ochoa

The Box Jellyfish For Todays Article Will Be About.. The Box Jellyfish! The Box Jellyfish Was Discovered By Doctor Hugo Flecker Who Was Wondering Why So Many Swimmers Were Dying. Namely A Five Year Old Boy Who Was Stung & Unfortunately Passed Away Due To The Venom. They Were Officially Discovered & Named On January 20th 1955 Off The Cost Of Cardwell, North Queensland. Box Jellyfish Aren’t Just Off The Coast Of Australia Either, They Are All Around The World. But With The Diversity Of These Creatures Comes Different Species. The Phrasing “Box Jellyfish” Is Somewhat If A Umbrella Term. From Taxonomy & Statistics As Of 2018, There Are 51 Species Of Box Jellyfish That We Have Discovered. We Most Likely Have Not Discovered Them All, With That Being Said Let Us Dive Into The Most Lethal Of The Box Jellyfish. The Most Lethal List The Australian Box Jellyfish (Chironex Fleckri) The Australian Box Jellyfish Is Considered The Most Venomous Jellyfish. As You Can Guess This Was Most Likely The First Discovered Species Of Box Jellyfish. They Live Mostly Off The Northern Coast Of Australia In Shallow Waters Waiting To Strike. They Also Can Get Up To 10 Feet Long, They Are The Also The Longest Box Jellyfish. The Bell However, Can Only Reach 1 Foot Long. When These Chironex Fleckri Swim, Their Tentacles Retract To Around 5.9 Inches, But When They Hunt Their Tentacles Can Get As Long As 3 Meters (10 Feet). The Tentacles Are Covered With A High Concentration Of Stinging Cells Called Cnidocytes Which Are Activated By Pressure And A Chemical Trigger; They React To Proteinous Chemicals. The Way That They Transmit Venom Is That Their Tentacles Are Covered In Biological Traps That Are Best Known As Nematocysts Which Are Tiny Darts Packed With Venom. They Grip Hold Of Their Unfortunate Victim & Inject Their Venom. Should You Be Unfortunate Enough To Get Stung, You Have To Get Out Of The Water & Rinse The Area With An Acetic Acid, Vinegar Working Best. Do This For Half Of A Minute Then Go To A Hospital For Immediate Treatment. However In Most Cases The Victim Suffers Paralysis, Cardiac Arrest, & Unfortunately Sometimes Death. They Have Caused 60 Reported Deaths In The Last 100 Years. Chironex Fleckri Are Typically Found In The Waters North Of Bundaberg, Queensland, & Most Of Northern Australia. The First Reported Death Came From Cardwell Queensland Which Is A Quite Small Town Only Having 1,309 People. The Chironex Fleckri Have Evolved To Be So Large Due To Cold-water Gigantism. Cold-Water Gigantism Is When Animals Grow Larger Due To There Being More Oxygen In The Water. The Surplus Of Oxygen Is Caused Because The Colder A Liquid Is The More Gas It Can Dissolve. Cold-Water Gigantism Is The Same Reason That Deep Sea Creatures (Namely The Giant Ribbon Worm) Can Grow To Be 30 Meters Long. These Box Jellyfish Reproduce Sexually & Asexually. The Chironex Fleckri Is The Most Lethal Jellyfish In Our Waters, So Watch Out. The Common Kingslayer (Malo Kingi) The Malo Kingi Are Named After An American Tourist Named Robert King Who Was In Queensland & Unfortunately, Died Due To The Lethal Sting. The Malo Kingi Is No Bigger Then The Size Of A Human Finger Nail, They Are Nearly Transparent Making Them Hard To Spot. However, The Malo Kingi Has Some Of The Most Potent Venom In The World. Thankfully They Are Mostly Found In Queenland. A Typical Set Of Symptoms For This Venom Is, Vomiting, Severe Back Pain, Muscle Cramps, Anxiety, Severe Sweating, & Increased Heart-rate. Malo Kingi & 19 Other Species All Irukandji Syndrome. Irukandji Syndrome Has Caused 70 Reported Deaths As Of 2022. Approximately 30% Of All Cases Result In A Form Of Heart Failure, Or Lung Failure. The Malo Kingi Has 69 Confirmed Deaths Since 1883, However There Could Be More Deaths That Have Been Caused. The Malo Kingi Can Be Halo Banded. This Means They Appear With Halo Like Rings Encircling Their Tentacles. Their Nemocyst Warts Are Light Violet In Colour. The Malo Kingi Has A Frown Shaped Rhopaliar Niche Ostium, & Perradial Lappets That Have 2 Rows Of Warts. Unfortunately We Have Yet To Record Their Mating Cycles, System, & If There Is Any Involvement From The Parents  After Birth There.  Is No There Is Much Biological Work To Be Done To Understand These Creatures. The Malo Kingi Is A Vastly Undiscovered Species & There Is Still Very Much To Learn About Them. Irukandji Jellyfish (Carukia Barnesi) The Carukia Barnesi Is A Type Of Irukandji Jellyfish. It Was Discovered By Jack Barnes, Jack Barnes Was A Lifeguard Who Allowed Him To Be Stung By The Jellyfish To Determine If This Is What Caused Irukandji Syndrome. This Type Of Box Jellyfish Cause Irukandji Syndrome. This Syndrome Causes Severe Muscle Cramping, Severe Pain In The Abdomen, & Can Even Lead To Life Threatening Cardiac Complications. The Carukia Barnesi Lives Off The Coast Of North Queensland Australia. They Can Range Anywhere From 5 Centimeters To 50 Centimeters. Due To The Carukia Barnesi’s Size They Are Incredibly Hard To Spot. A mature Carukia Barnesi's Bell Is Only 12 By 30 Millimetres (0.47 By 1.18 Inches) In Height. It Has Four Contractile Tentacles, One Extending From Each Bottom Corner Of Its Bell, Ranging In Length From 5 To 50 Centimetres (2.0 To 19.7 Inches). They Follow An Odd Life Cycle, Their 2 Main Stages Are Juvenile Benthic Sessile Polyps, & Their Full Grown Adult Motile Pelagic Medusae. Unfortunately The Mating System For Carukia Barnesi Has Yet To Be Recorded. However We Do Know That The Polyps Reproduce Asexually & The Adults Reproduce Sexually. There Is No Evidence That After The Larvae Is Produced That The Parents Are Involved At All. This Species Does Not Possess Any Traits Of Hermaphroditism. Our Conclusion Box Jellyfish Are Very Diverse & Extremely Venomous. They Are Vastly Undiscovered So We Still Have A Lot To Learn About These Marine Assassins. Also, Please Be Safe If You Go Swimming Off Of The Cost Of Queensland Australia. Gallery Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors Our Loyal Patrons Ms. Ochoa

Interview With Jeremiah O’Brien, Member Of The Board Of Directories Of The Morro Bay Maritime Museum Todays Article Will Include An Interview With Jeremiah O’Brien, A Review Of Coleman Beach As Well As Morro Rock Beach, & A Segment On the Economy Of Morro Bay.   One of our field agents interviewed Jeremiah O’Brien, a member of the Board of Directors of the Morro Bay Maritime Museum.  Mr. O’Brien is also on Morro Bay’s Harbor Advisory Board, Vice President of a Morro Bay sport fishermen’s group, and has been an avid sport fisherman for decades.  He is highly involved in other community activities in the town of Morro Bay, and has lived in the area for more than 40 years.   Mr. O’Brien talked about some of Morro Bay’s unique characteristics, such as the bay’s unique currents.  He said that a common saying in Morro Bay is “If you learn to run a boat in Morro Bay, you can run one anywhere in the world.”  He noted that Morro Bay boaters experience lots of collisions.  Mr. O’Brien also mentioned that the temperature variation in Morro Bay is less than that experienced in other nearby communities, such as Athascadero, where it often gets much hotter than Morro Bay in the summer. We speculate that the fog our field agents have observed in Morro Bay contributes to the bay and town being relatively cool on many days when nearby parts of California experience temperatures over 90 degrees Fahrenheit.  We also speculate that the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant also helps in this regard by providing power without generating air pollution.  The Diablo Canyon plant does cause other problems, though, some of which are further explained below. Morro Bay’s museums also help to showcase the area’s unique characteristics, and Mr. O’Brien also mentioned a “hierarchy” of museums in the Morro Bay area that works together, and with the area’s historic Native American tribes.  The “hierarchy” cooperates to improve the area’s museums.  We believe that this “hierarchy” creates more opportunities to identify problems to research, and then research them. We also believe that museums in a geographic area should form cooperative groups, which can help the museums to lobby together, share information, and improve and learn from each others’ exhibits and resources.  This is especially important if the individual museums in the group have limited resources, which might be the case in a relatively small community like Morro Bay.   A museum can also learn about one field from information that another museum displays about a different field.  For example, the other museums in the Morro Bay area can learn from the Morro Bay Maritime Museum’s Oral History project, because the oral history archives might include useful information about the way that marine life and its behavior in the Morro Bay area, and has changed in the last 150 years. Here is a hypothetical illustration of how oral history and individuals’ personal records that were not part of “official” histories or scientific journals can tell us more about marine life:  Mr. O’Brien stated that he has seen whales in Morro Bay only 3 times in his 42 years there.  Our field agent thinks this makes sense because Morro Bay’s maximum depth is less than 30 feet deep, and the bay has a narrow entrance.  However, if, oral histories from a long-ago period show that whales in that time came into Morro Bay much more or much less often, than they do today, this may indicate a (perhaps previously unknown) change in the area’s marine life.   The Morro Bay Maritime Museum has also helped its research capabilities by developed many good relationships with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the closest of the California State University (CSU) universities to Morro Bay, which allow students and professors at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to collaborate with the Morro Bay Maritime Museum (and possibly other museums) on research. Mr. O’Brien also discussed conservation measures’ impact on Morro Bay.  He said that stocks of brownfish and groundfish have recovered dramatically since commercial fishing on brownfish and groundfish from 30 to 100 fathoms deep (180 to 600 feet deep) was banned.  Fishing of brownfish and groundfish has been limited within a conservation zone that extends from Canada to Mexico.  Mr. O’Brien cannot think of any changes to the marine animals in and around Morro Bay since 2010 that were not natural cycles. Our field agent did not ask him what he meant by “natural cycles”. Mr. O’Brien’s experience suggests that conservation efforts targeted at specific species have gotten good results, and that the environmental regulations targeting Morro Bay are helping the environment and reducing human impacts on Morro Bay.  However, we suggest that “natural cycles” may affect some species negatively, such as predators relying on a food supply that a natural cycle has disrupted. We also suggest that the Morro Bay Maritime Museum collection of videos, photographs, and oral history archives might give researchers more long-term information about natural cycles that affected Morro Bay in the past, and that might return in the future.  The Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant has provided both benefits (Such as power and reduced air pollution observed by our field agents) and problems (Heat pollution of the nearby ocean, which Mr. O’Brien discussed) to the Morro Bay area.  Mr. O’Brien explained that the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant draws water from the ocean for cooling.  It returns the cooling water to the ocean, but the returned cooling water is much warmer, because the plant used it to absorb heat.  Mr. O’Brien stated that this heated returned water “cooks” the larvae of many marine species.  It also leads to decreased oxygen solubility in the water, which affects other species.  Mr. O’Brien noted that the warmed water mixes with cooler water from the ocean, but also guesstimated that the warmer water may affect a zone up to about half a mile from the place where it is returned to the ocean.  Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), the owner of the Diablo Canyon plant, settled a lawsuit over the environmental damage caused by the heated water for $8 million, and this money was paid to a group called Legacy Foundation, which used the money to build marine conservation areas. Mr. O’Brien also talked about some of Morro Bay’s new improvements, which will hopefully help the people and economy there while limiting damage to the natural environment.  The City of Morro Bay started getting an allocation of additional fresh water from the State of California.  Fresh water will also be force-pumped into Morro Bay’s aquifers, and Mr. O’Brien believes that this will be good for the city in times of drought.   A new water reclamation plant is also being built in Morro Bay to capture impurities in the water that travels into Morro Bay from human activities like irrigation and urban water use. Mr. O’Brien believes that any water that the reclamation plant sends back into the ocean will be “very clean”, which means that impurities are less likely to hurt the marine life there.   Mr. O’Brien said that the water in Morro Bay, and the surrounding ocean, is checked “all the time”, partly because there are two aquaculture facilities, oyster farms, in Morro Bay.  These two facilities, at least twice a week, produce publicly available reports on the water that they use. There are also plans to build the largest lithium battery storage facility in the world, underground, in the Morro Bay area.   Discussions are taking place regarding building an offshore wind-power farm in Morro Bay, the first in California.  The sport-fishing industry has legitimate concerns that they will be hurt by the offshore wind farm, and that the farm will drive marine life away and make navigation more difficult.  Mr. O’Brien, and others, are therefore trying to arrange some form of “mitigation” to make sure that the sport-fishing industry in the area continues to exist.  This shows that even if something is designed to help the environment overall, it still may have bad effects for some groups, so those groups need to be represented in the planning process.  Damage to those groups should also be mitigated, if possible.   Coleman Beach & Morro Rock Beach Review. We Decided To Review A Few Of The Beaches In The Small Beachfront Town Known As “Morro Bay”. Here Are The Reviews Of The 2 Beaches We Went To, Aswell As Some Of The Sea Life You Can Find Along The Beaches. Coleman Beach Review: Beautiful Beach. The Water Was A Bit Murky & Was Much To Cold To Swim In But It Was Beautiful. They Have Many Kayaking Programs In Morro Bay & This Is A Popular Spot To Go Off Of In The Bay. It Has Many Rocks Along The Beach & The Sand Is Very Fine. Some Of The Sea Life That Frequents Coleman Beach & The Bay Are But Not Limited To: Seals, Sea Lions, Otters, Cloudy Bubble Snail, Sea Stars, Geese, & The Chipmunks That Live In The Rocks. When You Go To Coleman Beach You Will Notice Many Fat Chipmunks Along The Rocks, There Are Plentiful & They Live In Little Burrows & Caves Beneath The Rocks. There Are Also Many Otters That Are Grouped Together, The Otters Typically Sleep There For A While Then Go Up To The Harbor Across The Bay. You May Also Find Geese Occasionally. If You Walk Along The Harbor Or Visit The Maritime Museum, You May Hear Sea Lions Bellowing At Each-other. They Make Almost Barking Sounds & We Have Yet To Determine The Meaning Of Them. So If You Walk Along The Habor Be Prepared To Hear Sea Lion Noises Disrupting Your Brunch. Morro Rock Beach Review: Very Strong Current But An Overall Surreal Experience. Not Crowded At All, But There Was A Jelly Fish Washed A Shore. It Is A Beautiful Beach With An Astounding View Of Morro Rock. With Blue Waters & Temperatures In The Low 60s You Can’t Beat This Wonderful Location. The Fishing Industry Of Morro Bay & The Economy Of The Bay Morro Bay Has A Vast Fishing Industry As It Is Waterfront & Has A Bustling Harbour. However The Oceans Around Morro Bay Are Unpredictable & Rocky. The Current Has An Odd Pattern Which Causes Many Accidents In The Harbour Which They Have A Saying For; If You Can Run A Boat In Morro Bay You Can Run A Boat Anywhere In The World. The Oceans Are Vastly Unpredictable Causing Many Issues  For The Fisherman Of The Bay. As Our Interview With Jeremiah O’Brien States, “We Are Hoping To Come Up With A Solution So That The Fishing Industry Isn’t Completely Wiped Out.”. Because The Fishing Industry Is Such A Vast Source Of Cash For Most In The Bay This Could Cause Catastrophic Issues. Fishing Is One Of The Main Sources Of Money For The Economy. The Economy Of Morro Bay Has Always Been Extremely Stable & Secure. The Economy Of Morro Bay Has Always Been Well Due To The High Tourism Industry. The Average Median Household Income Of 2019 Is 68,262 Dollars , The 2020 Median Household Income Is 73,864 Dollars. Making The 2019 23,994 Dollars More Then The 2019 Median Household Income Of Miami Which Is 44,268 Dollars. As Well As Making Morro Bays 2020 Median Household Income 29,596 Dollars More Than Miami’s Median Household Income. The Property In Morro Bay Are Much Cheaper Then You Would Expect With The Average Of 2019 For Them Coming In At 607,300 Dollars. Morro Bay Has A Low Crime Rate, Nice Weather, & Stunning Beaches With Majestic Views. Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors Patreon Supporters Ms. Ochoa