Showing posts with label SeanMarden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SeanMarden. Show all posts

Monday, June 8, 2015

Belize 2015 | Night Dive (with video!)

Staff from the New England Aquarium recently traveled to Belize as part of a long-term research program run by Aquarium scientist Randi Rotjan, PhD, to monitor coral health near Carrie Bow Cay. Today's post by Giant Ocean Tank diver Sean Marden is part of a series about these research efforts.

We ended our trip to Belize with a very exciting experience — a night dive! This was an excellent opportunity to observe the differences in the reef community during different times of day. Animals that are more active during the day are called diurnal and those that prefer night are nocturnal.

An example of unique nocturnal behaviors can be seen in some species of parrotfish which create a mucus cocoon around themselves while they lay down to rest at night. The function of this cocoon is not completely understood but the mucus may act to repel ectoparasites while the parrotfish rests (Fishmucous cocoons: the ‘mosquito nets’ of the sea - Grutter et. al. 2010). 



During our dive I found this terminal phase stoplight parrotfish tucked up against the reef.

Many species of invertebrates also become more active at night. For animals that don’t rely on vision to hunt there is no need to hunt during the day when potential predators might be lurking. Basket stars and corals are generally much more active at night.




In the video above a basket star has captured a small red worm and is beginning to pull it in towards its mouth and then a coral colony can be seen extending it's polyps searching for food. Stony corals are located in the phylum Cnidaria along with jellyfish and sea anemones. When corals extend their polyps you can really see the resemblance!

My time in Belize was a great opportunity to observe these animals in their natural habitat and I can't wait to get back there soon!

Catch up on previous trips to Belize—lots more amazing pictures!
  • Researchers most recently visited this past spring
  • See the beauty of hermit crabs and ride out a tropical storm during their 2013 trip
  • Learn more about threats to corals, plus signs of a late-night visitor to Carrie Bow Cay, in 2012
  • See what other researchers are up to at the research station in 2011
  • And read the exciting post where the marine protected area was announced in 2010
Posted by Unknown at 4:29 PM 0 comments
Labels: , , , ,

Monday, June 1, 2015

Belize 2015 | Carrie Bow Cay Snorkel

Staff from the New England Aquarium recently traveled to Belize as part of a long-term research program run by Aquarium scientist Randi Rotjan, PhD, to monitor coral health near Carrie Bow Cay. Today's post by Giant Ocean Tank diver Sean Marden is part of a series about these research efforts.

I recently had the privilege of traveling down to Carrie Bow Cay in Belize with several other NEAq researchers. Since this was my first trip my goal was to learn the protocols of the research and familiarize myself with the area.

Carrie Bow Cay is an intimate little island with lots to explore

We were treated with clear skies and a full moon on most nights

This trip was a great opportunity for me to practice identifying the numerous Caribbean fish species that live near Carrie Bow. As a Giant Ocean Tank diver I work with a lot of adult fish but rarely get up close and personal with young juveniles. As practice I spent an afternoon snorkeling on the reef that borders Carrie Bow and was treated to an incredible diversity of fish. Check out the video below and see if you can identify any of the animals, especially the juveniles!



Reef and sea grass beds are important areas for small juvenile fish. The cover provided by these habitats helps the fish avoid predators and gives them time to grow up to adults. That is why it is important for us to protect and study these delicate areas. I am glad I had the opportunity to observe them first hand! 



Catch up on previous trips to Belize—lots more amazing pictures!
  • Sean most recently visited this past spring
  • See the beauty of hermit crabs and ride out a tropical storm during their 2013 trip
  • Learn more about threats to corals, plus signs of a late-night visitor to Carrie Bow Cay, in 2012
  • See what other researchers are up to at the research station in 2011
  • And read the exciting post where the marine protected area was announced in 2010
Posted by Unknown at 4:32 PM 0 comments
Labels: , , ,

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Belize 2015 | Artwork and fish identification

Staff from the New England Aquarium recently traveled to Belize as part of a long-term research program by Aquarium scientist Randi Rotjan, PhD, to monitor coral health near Carrie Bow Cay. Today's post comes from GOT diver Sean Marden.

It is great to discover what you do not know. 

Working as a Giant Ocean Tank diver gives me plenty of practice identifying and counting all sorts of fish from small neon gobies up to large groupers. But I still get stumped occasionally while doing surveys in Belize.

At times when I'm not sure of an ID I have to rely on my artistic abilities to capture any distinguishing characteristics so that I can later comb through guidebooks to determine the species.

Here is a sketch I made of a fish I saw near one of our transects.

While my artistic skills may be lacking I was able to record a few key characteristics that helped me identify the individual.

I noted that the fish had very distinct white patches on its dorsal side, a darker color on its belly, and it had the shape and swimming pattern of a wrasse. When I returned to Carrie Bow after the day's dives I pulled out the collection of fish ID books on the island and got to work!

The mystery fish resembled a juvenile puddingwife but lacked the full range of colors that I would have expected. We actually have a large "initial phase" puddingwife in the GOT.

Juvenile puddingwife, colorful with white bars on back | Photo: P. Asman and J. Lenoble via Wikimedia Commons

Although the mystery fish resembled a wrasse its coloration did not match any wrasse species in the ID books. I needed to broaden my search so I began looking at other groups of fish that are a similar size and shape. That is when I came across a photo of a serranid (group of fish that includes groupers and harlequin bass) and found a photo of a "tobaccofish."

Tobaccofish | Photo: D. Meadows via Wikimedia Commons

That was my guy! White splotches on the dorsal, darker belly, and size and shape of a wrasse. It is always an exciting day when you are able to identify a new species of your own. Identifying fish in the field is one of many invaluable skills that this Belize Expedition has helped me develop and improve—one that can help me with census and collecting trips for the Giant Ocean Tank.


Posted by NEAQ at 1:58 PM 0 comments
Labels: , , , ,

Monday, May 18, 2015

Belize 2015 | Giant Ocean Tank and Giant Ocean

Staff from the New England Aquarium are traveling to Belize as part of a long-term research program by Aquarium scientist Randi Rotjan, PhD, to monitor coral health near Carrie Bow Cay. Today's post comes from diver Sean Marden.
..............................................................

This is my second trip to Carrie Bow Cay in Belize. One of the things that I love about coming here is having the opportunity to observe animals that are similar to species we have in the Giant Ocean Tank (GOT) but are also a little different. We have about 1500 different animals in the GOT from 130 different species. That is a lot of diversity, but in the oceans you can find even more!

We have two loggerhead turtles in the GOT and both of them are adult females. Our loggerheads came to the Aquarium through our rescue program so we do not know exactly how old they are.

Loggerhead in the Giant Ocean Tank

This ancient looking loggerhead came upon us during one of our dives. Unlike the GOT loggerheads this fellow is a male and is quite large, easily several hundred pounds. I don't know how old this guy is but he sure looks like he has seen a lot! He did not seem to mind our presence as he swam on through our group.

Loggerhead in Belize

The GOT is also home to several jackknife fish. These distinctive-looking fish really stand out in the exhibit and are one of my favorites.

Jackknife fish in the Giant Ocean Tank
Jackknife fish swoop underneath one of the loggerheads in the Giant Ocean Tank!

With a little bit of searching I found a spotted drum, a close relative to the jackknife fish. This guys really stand out with their bold white and black coloration. We have exhibited spotted drums in the past but currently we don't have any in the exhibit.

Spotted drum in Belize

Finding this species in the wild is exciting for me because it highlights how many surprises, both big and small, are still out there in the oceans. Our work in Belize will hopefully help quantify that, and shed light on the impact of establishing protected areas in our oceans.

Posted by NEAQ at 10:02 AM 0 comments
Labels: , , , ,

Friday, May 15, 2015

Belize 2015 | Arrival on Carrie Bow Cay

Staff from the New England Aquarium recently traveled to Belize as part of a long-term research program by Aquarium scientist Randi Rotjan, PhD, to monitor coral health near Carrie Bow Cay. Today's post comes from educator Sam Herman.
..............................................................

It's hard to believe that we were in Boston this morning.

I am sitting here on an island that could fit inside the Aquarium's property boundaries with Sean (a GOT diver). Like other Aquarium employees over the last few years we are here to help conduct surveys on fish and coral populations on sites around Carrie Bow Cay off the coast of Belize. Sean was here last fall...I'm going to be depending on his past experience!

Sean and I began our journey at 4:00am at Logan airport. Our flight to Miami left at 5, getting in around 8:30. From there we caught a flight to Belize City and then (after immigration and customs) we got on a third flight to Dangriga. This 10-seater was probably the smallest plane I've been on (even though it was bigger than on previous trips). The final leg of our trip was a 45-minute boat ride to Carrie Bow Cay. I couldn't help thinking that 45 mins is my normal commute to the Aquarium from Somerville. This was definitely a nicer trip.

The view that welcomes visiting scientists to Carrie Bow Cay

While that all sounds hectic, looking back it actually seems pretty quick. Maybe we're just tired.

I am very excited to be on this trip, but have to admit to being a little nervous. This is going to be very different from my normal week as a Senior Educator at the Aquarium. While I often talk to our visitors about the various coral projects the Aquarium is involved in, actually being here is a totally different experience.

Luckily, in addition to Sean, we also have other veteran surveyors here with us. They all bring years of experience and are already great teachers. We've talked through the process of surveying and I think I get it as much as I can from talking about it on dry land...now we just need to get to it!

We've got a full day of diving ahead tomorrow. So for now, time for bed.

The sun sets over Carrie Bow Cay

Posted by NEAQ at 3:32 PM 0 comments
Labels: , , ,
Subscribe to: Comments (Atom)