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In today’s article, we are going to discuss an Antique Nautical Chart of Tokyo Bay. This map comes courtesy of Maps Of Antiquity, an antique map shop in New England. Tokyo Bay is a bay located in Japan’s Southern Kanto Region, & is named after the city of Tokyo. The bay is very large, stretching to Tokyo in the North, & Yokosuka in the south. It is one of the largest industrial areas in all of Japan, & one of the most populous areas as well. In this article, we are going to delve into the contents of this map, its maker, & what it was made or originally used for. With that being said, let us delve into the serene waters of Tokyo Bay. The Chart Itself An antique nautical chart of Greater Tokyo Bay from the Edo-era. Credit to Maps of Antiquity. This map spans the entire area of Tokyo Bay, as well as the Uraga Channel which connects the bay to the Pacific Ocean. It depicts various seaways both in the bay & near the bay. The bay is officially referred to as “Yedo” Bay on the map, as the name of the bay wasn’t changed to Tokyo Bay until the mid-nineteenth century, as Tokyo was referred to as Edo before that. Names of various coastal cities can be seen, such as Tokyo, spelled Tokio, in the North. The map is uncolored, & is a pristine white & grey color. It is incredibly accurate as well, only missing a few cities. There are 3 small compasses around the map, in the lower right corner, upper middle area, & central right area respectively. The chart is approximately 26 inches wide & 38.5 inches long. An Analysis Of The Chart & Its Contents This map was made in 1889 by the British Admiralty. It was likely made in the mainland United Kingdom in a major city such as London, from data collected by British sailors in Japan. As it was made by the British Admiralty, it was likely used for militaristic purposes. Considering the time that it was made, it was likely made using Lithography. The lithographic method was one of the most popular map-making methods between the early 1820s, & the 1910s. In the lithographic method, the artist will draw directly onto a printing surface, such as zinc, or copper, until they are satisfied with the drawing. After this, the surface will be covered with a chemical etch, which will bond it to the surface. With this process, the blank areas will attract moisture to the plate & repel the lithographic ink, while the areas that are drawn on will hold the ink. Water is then wiped onto the unpainted areas to help prevent the ink from deviating. After the map wanted is inked, the paper is laid over it & covered with a tympan, & the tympan is pressed down. Finally, these materials pass through the scraper bar of the litho press. Afterward, an exact copy of whatever was supposed to be printed is revealed. Directories / Credits All credit for this map analyzed today goes to Maps Of Antiquity, a wonderful New England map shop. To purchase this map, any other maps, or any other cartographic objects, please visit mapsofantiquity.com . To be clear, this is not an advertisement for Maps Of Antiquity, as we do not have a partnership with them. Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast STEMScribe Tides of Tomorrow Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

A lovely portrait of Mr. Greg Eisen at the Cabrillo High School Aquarium. Credit to the Cabrillo High School Aquarium. Recently, our head writer was immensely grateful to sit down with Greg Eisen for an interview discussing his career. Greg Eisen is an Aquarium Director & science communicator best known for his work at the Cabrillo High School Aquarium, located in Lompoc, California. The Aquarium is unique, run entirely out of Cabrillo High School, and has a volunteer staff of 200 dedicated and passionate high schoolers. In today’s interview, we sit down with Greg to discuss this beautiful facility, the founding of the aquarium, & his passion for marine life, in a comprehensive 16-question-long interview. Before delving into today's article, please note everything said has been edited for clarity, & that the opinions of our interviewee do not necessarily reflect the opinions & values of our organization. With that being said, let us delve into the contents of the interview! The Contents Of The Interview: 1. What sparked your passion for marine life & aquariums? Growing up, I spent a lot of time in & around the ocean. I loved the TV series “The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau”, & it was one of my favorites as a child. My interest in aquariums truly began when I was in University, at California Polytechnic University of San Luis Obispo, when I began keeping my first aquarium. My first aquarium wasn’t a marine one interestingly, it was freshwater, & primarily composed of African cichlids. I’m very passionate about my hobbies, & I got into it. I immensely enjoyed watching them, getting them to breed, & learning more about them! Additionally, at the time, this was around the time that I began visiting public aquariums, such as the Seattle Aquarium & Monterey Bay Aquarium. Those were the first two aquariums that truly helped me fall in love with the subject. All of the tanks that I have currently are occupational & located at the school, I don’t have any at my home. I spend quite a lot of time at school, & I don’t wish to come home & have more organisms to take care of. (Which is perfectly reasonable!) 2. Do you have a specific place, person, location, or experience that assisted in the sparking of your passion? In 1992, I was hired as the Marine Biology Teacher for Cabrillo High School, in Lompoc Unified School District. I didn’t know it before taking the job, however, I was pleasantly surprised to find that they already had a small aquarium club! At the time, it was a very small group of students, & a few tanks in a classroom. Their passion, along with mentorship from Dave Long, the founder of the aquarium, is undoubtedly what sparked my interest. It is such a privilege to work at this wonderful school. 3. What is your favorite marine animal generally, & favorite animal to have in an aquarium? I have been asked this question quite a lot, however, it is near-impossible for me to choose only one favorite animal. In terms of invertebrates, one of my favorites is the Octopus. It is an anomaly in terms of being so short-lived, yet so clever. I love how each octopus has its unique personality. Sometimes you’ll get two of the same species, where one is very antisocial & shy, & refuses to come out. Then you’ll have another one, that is extremely gregarious, & wants to touch you, & is constantly curious about new things. They are very popular with our visitors, as well as our student caretakers. In terms of favorite vertebrate animals, I have so many favorites! I enjoy a multitude of shark species, I’ve swam with Leopard Sharks during both day & night. They are very active in the evenings, & it feels almost surreal when you are night swimming with them. The majority of shark species are not dangerous, however, during our night swim, they were in the midst of a feeding frenzy. I wasn’t worried, as we were in relatively shallow water with good lighting, however, it was still so surreal. 4. As a science & marine biology teacher, what inspired you to become a science communicator? You know, I did not know what I wanted to do immediately out of high school, so I went to community college. I grew up in a little seaside town called El Segundo, & spent much time by the beach. I learned how to surf there, & spent a tremendous amount of time in the water. I went to El Camino Community College in Torrance, California, because I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted in a career. So, I was taking general education classes. I had a biology professor whom I really cherished, and who inspired me. I did not know that I enjoyed science that much, it was the teacher that made it so fun! At that time, I thought “You know what? I’m going to go to Cal Poly to study science, & I want to ultimately become a science teacher”, which is precisely what I did. When I got to Cabrillo High School, I was truly inspired by the staff, especially the coaches, on many levels. When I first arrived I was coaching soccer, as I love sports, & working with youth of course. Dave Long, the founder of the aquarium, roped me in right away “Hey you’re the marine science teacher, come help me at the Cabrillo High School Aquarium!”. I love learning from mentors, & truly I feel that you can learn from anyone. I learn from my students all of the time. Questions About His Career At The Cabrillo Aquarium & The Aquarium Itself: 5. Do you mind giving a summary of the institutions that you have worked with throughout your career? Yes; it’s very brief! I started at Cabrillo High School in 1992 & that was my first career. I’ve taken other jobs while working my way through university, however, I wouldn’t call those a part of my career. Once I got there, I fell in love with the school, the community, & my beautiful wife, & got married 2 years after I arrived. We’ve enjoyed being a part of this community. My wife & I were both coaches when we met, & she became the first Aquarium Outreach Coordinator for the aquarium. She assisted in organizing tours, & assisting in mobile exhibits for schools that could not visit us. 6. What exactly is your role at the Cabrillo High School Aquarium, & Cabrillo High School? My roles are quite extensive as a director. I oversee all aspects of running the aquarium, but I’m very thankful to have two other staff members who I work very closely with who help me greatly. The three of us jointly operate the aquarium, along with our industrious staff of 200 students. Each year, we interview & choose next year’s student curators, who function as the leadership team of the aquarium. Apart from this, each of us is also a full-time Science Teacher. It is a heavy workload, but it’s a labor of love. One of us three is at the aquarium 365 days per year; you can't take a day off with live animals in the mix. 7. How many exhibits does the aquarium have, what is the biodiversity at the aquarium, & what regions are represented in this Aquarium? We currently have about 24 exhibits, with certain exhibits having sub-exhibits within them. For example, we have these wet laboratories that have multiple tanks & within each tank, you can have multiple micro-habitats. We developed these small laboratories based on a model from the Monterey Bay Aquarium, however they are primarily used for experiments. Additionally, we have a touch-tank exhibit, which is one of the most pristine touch tanks that I have seen at any public aquarium, with cascading pools, & each pool has a different assemblage of animals. Although I count it as one exhibit, it technically has 5 individual tanks. As for biodiversity, we primarily have cold-water coastal species, such as animals native to the Kelp Forest. Due to our aquarium being very close to California's Coastline, we mainly have California native species. In addition to this, we have a freshwater exhibit, as well as a rainforest exhibit, which is primarily composed of South American critters. We took inspiration for this exhibit from this gorgeous mural that a local artist created of a South American ecosystem, & we wished to expand our aquarium to have accuracy with our art. We are also expanding to create a new tropical gallery, with tropical fish species. At one point we had a tropical tank in the middle of all of our cold water tanks, & it did not make sense visually. To combat this, we started a new room, which I am calling the Tropical Fish Gallery, using 1 of our old tanks, & 6 state-of-the-art tanks that were graciously donated by the Monterey Bay Aquarium to us from their now-closed Tentacles Exhibit. It's going to be incredible when it is finished, & we are hoping to have it up and running by the Fall or Winter of 2025. 8. What is the story of the aquarium's founding, & can you describe what it took to build the aquarium from a few tanks to the 6,000-square-foot wonder that it is today? I'd love to tell you that story, it's such a beautiful one. Dave Long, the founder of the aquarium, was a long-time teacher at the high school as well as a coach. He had a passion for the ocean & the sea, & loved it. He was an avid Scuba Diver, & the underwater was his second home. It all started with a question, as most things do. "Why can't we have in the academic sphere something similar to the gymnasium where the public comes in & becomes excited about what students are learning?", & "Why can't we use the sea as a catalyst for this?". After this vision, he was determined to make this happen, & in 1986, he founded the aquarium as a Marine Biology Club. So many people told him that this wouldn't work, & to this day people don't believe that the aquarium is as grand as it truly is. "You're a public school & you have this?", yes, we most certainly do, because someone had a vision. He asked for help from his students & fellow teachers, & if he was shot down he would simply move on to the next person. He never let money be the issue, & he was extremely passionate. That is something that I would advise to everyone, be passionate! It started in a small classroom, however, he kept making partnerships with people at the high school & in the community, which is truly the story of our aquarium. It is a tale of partnerships, which fits nicely into our motto of "A Partnership With The Sea". He convinced enough people to make this a reality, including the California Legislature, which assisted in the final needed funding to build the new aquarium structure in 2000, about 25 years ago now. Boy time does fly! When people walk into the aquarium now, the first comment they make typically isn't about the Aquarium's Grandeur. It's usually along the lines of "I had no idea that High School Students could be this articulate, or such good ambassadors for the sea". We have our students involved in all aspects of the aquarium, including the Grant Presentations. It's a great experience for the students, many of the students are more articulate than I am quite honestly. 9. What exactly is your adopt-a-tank, & adopt-an-animal program? What do you offer through that program to interested donors? This was a wonderful student idea! A student several years ago created this new, & innovative way that individuals, families, & businesses can contribute to the aquarium. The program gives people a way to contribute to the maintenance of an individual exhibit or animal group, & provides them with a way to truly support our aquarium. We have monthly open house events where the community at large comes in, & we shall set tables up where people can learn about this program. We are immensely grateful to each of our donors, & it creates a special relationship between our community & our aquarium. 10. What volunteer opportunities do you offer to students at your aquarium? We offer a multitude of Volunteer Opportunities to our students that are not only focused on marine science. Many students want to come in & be generalists in the aquarium which is all right, however, we also offer many opportunities for our students to specialize, primarily for our curator program. These students specialize in anything, from sharks to jellyfish. We have one of the most pristine Jellyfish exhibits from Monterey to Long Beach. Our curator program is our student leaders at the aquarium, who are handpicked by our staff advisors. Each student interested in obtaining a curator-ship must apply, be interviewed, & then be selected for the next school year. In addition to the aquarium itself, we have a gift shop, which is staffed by a student manager as well as student workers. We also have a newsletter, staffed by student writers & a student editor. We have a specialist nutrition team as well, which solely focuses on the feeding & diets of our creatures here at the aquarium; which never ends! 11. Did you receive any training before running the aquarium, or during your directing of the aquarium, if so, may I ask what the training was? Without a doubt, the majority of the training that I have gotten has been on-the-job training; & that is what makes being in the aquarium so fun! It never gets old, we're continually learning. There has been some specialist training in the form of our visiting public aquariums we visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium in March 2025. We get special behind-the-scenes tours & pick the brains of the aquarists there, as well as enjoying the exhibits. Their aquarists taught us how to successfully stimulate our Moon Jellyfish to strobilate from their polyp form to their medusae form! Monterey Bay has some of the most well-known, amazing, & knowledgeable jellyfish aquarists in the world. Recently, we became a certified Career Technical Education Program from Lompoc School District, which the aquarium was a perfect fit for! To receive this certification, we did receive specific training, which has helped us to raise the bar. We're always looking to see "How can we improve?". When you have that mindset, you actively look for ways to learn. We truly believe that you're either learning & improving, or slanting & declining. You can't only maintain the status quo. 12. What is the most interesting experience that you have had at the aquarium with a marine animal, or what are your top experiences? Oh my, there are so many I could share! Interesting experiences include; having an evening open house event & all of the sea stars in our touch tanks started spawning simultaneously; having an elementary school group coming through while the sharks begin breeding right there in front of everyone; & having thousands of moon jellyfish begin strobilating on Christmas Day! 13. What is your proudest moment or triumph of running the aquarium? Quite frankly, my proudest moments are when the students perform exceptionally. When the students rise & hit the ball out of the park. Recently, two of our students gave this fantastic presentation to the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, & they did such an amazing job. We won the grant, & were awarded the 90,000$ for our tropical fish gallery. As a teacher, these are the moments I am the most proud of. Once in a while though, you have to stop, take a deep breath, look around, & appreciate this for all that it is. We have a tremendous team and a beautiful mission, & we're serving others, which I feel is a secret ingredient in building an organization. It's truly powerful work that keeps us coming back. 14. You have likely experienced just as many failures & setbacks as you have triumphed, what is the largest hurdle that you have faced in running the aquarium? Challenges are every day. When failures happen, we try to use them as opportunities to learn. I'd say that we do a fantastic job at the aquarium with our critters, however, one of the largest hurdles is simply the time-intensive nature of it all. It takes an extreme amount of time & energy. When the tough times happen, we will share it with the students, & sometimes that means admitting "Hey, I screwed up!". Mistakes do happen, & you've got to own them! I don't attempt to hide my failures from the students, as they can learn from my mistakes just as much as they can learn from their own. 15. Do you have any advice for new aquarists, science teachers, science communicators, or anyone looking to enter the marine science field? Be passionate! No matter what you are doing, be passionate about it, & think big. Dream big, & go big. A lot of times we can be small in our thinking, & why not shoot for the stars? Also, have good mentors if you are starting. There is someone out there doing what you are doing successfully, & success leaves clues. We all need mentors, including yours truly! I wish to keep learning, & keep growing. Finally, you never arrive. Once you accomplish one goal or one dream, celebrate it, that is important, however, you have to think of the next steps, & the journey never ends. 16. Do you have any final words about the aquarium, your career, or science communication? If you haven't had a chance & you're ever in Southern California, please come check out the work that our students are doing over at the Cabrillo High School Aquarium! A photograph of Cabrillo High School Aquarium, with many diligent high school students tending to the various tanks. Credit to Cabrillo High School Aquarium. Directories / Credits: https://www.cabrillohighschoolaquarium.org Strategic Partnerships: Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast StemScribe Cash Daniels Our Loyal Patrons: P. R. Ochoa

A stunning photograph of the historic Mount Tachu, known for its breathtaking hikes. Credit to AllThePeaks. Today’s article will discuss the oceans surrounding the island of Yakushima, Japan. Yakushima, Japan is located in the Kagoshima Prefecture. The island is in Southern Japan, & is located in the Ōsumi Islands archipelago. The island is known for its beautiful cedar wood forests, macaque monkeys, deer, Yaku Sagi trees, & their loggerhead turtle sights. Approximately 40% of all Loggerhead turtles coming into Japan are coming to Nagata Beach, on northern Yakushima Island. A big reason for the island being able to host such wonderful creatures is because the Yakushima National Park takes up 42% of the island. Part of the national park also includes a marine reserve, which hosts some of the loggerhead turtles. The name Yakushima translated into English means “Medicine Island”, due to the medicinal properties of the herbs there. Yakushima Island is approximately 285.58 nautical miles (328.639595 miles or 528.89416 kilometers) from mainland South Korea. Yakushima island is approximately 194.9 square miles (504.78868 square kilometers), of which 83.807 square miles (217.059134 square kilometers) is a National Park. Part of this national park contains a marine sanctuary, which protects the various marine creatures. Yakushima’s history spans 17,000 years, beginning in the south. It is designated as a Unesco World Heritage Center, for its ancient yakusagi trees. The highest elevation on the island is Mount Miyanoura, which is 6,352 feet (1936.09 meters). The current population of Yakushima is approximately 11,698. The main town on the island is also synonymously called Yakushima, the website of this town is currently  http://www.yakushima-town.jp/ . Administratively, the whole island is the town of Yakushima. There are approximately 21 different postal codes on the island. In this article, we will discuss the Documented History Of Yakushima, the Aboriginals of Yakushima, the Most Destructive Man-made & Natural Disasters of Yakushima, & finally the Economic state of Yakushima. With that being said, let us delve into this ethereal island.  The Documented History Of Yakushima Before Colonization Yakushima Island was formed when molten granite was forced upwards by tectonic movement, forming the island itself. After the formation of the island, granite slowly rose at a rate of 1 meter per thousand years, which formed the mountains on the island. This granite is still rising but at a much slower pace.  Yakushima has had humans around the island for at least 17,000 years, & on the island for at least 6,000. Evidence of human inhabitants has appeared in dwellings, ceramics, & fishing equipment. Yakushima most likely has more evidence, but very few archeological expeditions have taken place. It is for this reason that the prehistoric history of Yakushima island is extremely poorly understood. After Colonization By The Japanese Empire Historical Events From the 700’s After this Chinese priests began regularly going on missions to the island, the most prominent of which are Ganjin. Ganjin visited the island in the year 753. It is said that Ganjin did not think the island was particularly important, but he did acknowledge the island's medicinal resources.  Historical Events From The 900’s During the 900’s & the 1000’s the island became popular among Japanese Aristocracy, for its precious shells that were used as ornaments for various crafts.  Historical Events From 1000’s & 1100’s Yakushima continued to export shells in this century, & aside from that didn’t grow much economically or culturally. Historical Events From The 1200’s & 1300’s There is extremely little information on what exactly went on in this century, but there is information on the neighboring island of Tanegashima. Many have theorized that the reason for this lack of records is that Yakushima just generally, was unproductive.  Historical Events From The 1400’s In 1488, religious pilgrimages became more popular in Japanese Culture. These pilgrimages were to pay homage to the gods. It soon became common practice for villagers to venture deep into the Mountains once or twice a year to pray. This practice was officially known as Takemariri. Historical Events From The 1500’s In the year 1543, a few Portuguese explorers arrived on the nearby island of Tanegashima, with muskets, & sweet potatoes. They sold some of these sweet potatoes to the merchants of Yakushima, & some of their muskets. Sweet Potatoes soon became a national staple of the Japanese diet, & firearms became extremely popular for defense, in Yakushima. Also in this century, after the warlord Hideyoshi Toyotomi initiated combat with the Shimazu clan, & lost, the Shimuzu ordered some extremely old Yaku Sagi Trees to be cut down. These trees were cut down, & sent to Tokyo, but it is debated if they ever arrived.  Historical Events From The 1600’s During the 1600’s the lumber industry on the island grew massively. The reason for this was that a period of near-constant warfare ended during this century, prompting the construction of many new castles. Before this century, only small trees near the coast were cut down for domestic use, but now it is proposed that the large Yaku Sagi trees in the mountains should be cut. The islanders revered these trees as they were an extremely important part of their religion, so they rejected any of these ideas very quickly. However, a preacher, Tomari Jochiku, who was originally a citizen of the island returned & began convincing the villagers to cut these trees & expand the lumber industry. He convinced these villagers that he had spoken with the gods & that they had given the villagers permission to capitalize upon their lumber. It is theorized that he was counseled by the ruling Shimazu Clan to do this to capitalize on Yakushima’s abundant forests, but this is unclear. After this, Tomari was considered a local saint as he expanded the local economy & made many middle-class locals, very wealthy.  Historical Events From The 1700’s An Italian Missionary known as Giovanna Batista Sidotti arrived on the island. Sidotti did not travel as a part of a missionary group or program, instead visiting completely alone. Upon arrival, He was promptly taken prisoner in Nagasaki. While in Nagasaki, he befriended a politician named Arai Hakuseki. Hakuseki eventually arranged for Sidotti to sail to Tokyo on house arrest. Sidotti held a close relationship with Hakuseki until his unfortunate death in 1714. Right before his passing, it was discovered he converted his sailors to Christianity. This greatly angered the Japanese Authorities as Christianity had been outlawed in Japan in the 1630’s. As punishment, he was locked in the cellar of a building until his death, where his remains would stay until their discovery in 2014. After this, Yakushima seemingly disappeared from the records once again.  Historical Events From The 1800’s Yakushima reappeared in the records during the 1800s when Land Surveys were taken of the island. In these surveys it was noted for its natural environmental value, & fishing value. Around this time, the Hiragi industry also grew. Hiragi are Cedar Wood roofing tiles, that are durable, water-resistant, & easy to transport. It was so popular that the island's annual stipend began being paid in Hiragi tiles, instead of rice. This unfortunately came to a massive halt when the shogunate collapsed in 1868. This industry wouldn’t begin recovering for at least another decade. Historical Events From The 1900’s  The Hiragi industry continued rising up until the start of World War 2 when it began falling apart. The industry slowly recovered afterward, & cedar wood roofing shingles are still produced to this day. The majority of the trees on the island near the interior regions of the island were cut down & sent to mainland Japan. A logging village called Kosugidani was established in the 1920s to facilitate more forestry. The logging officially stopped in 1970, & the last villagers left in 1972. The remains of this village can be found deep in the mountains today. The Aboriginals Of Yakushima Island  Unfortunately, we simply do not have enough information to discuss the aboriginal Japanese of Yakushima, as there has not been enough archaeological data available to properly write a section.  The Most Destructive Man-Caused & Natural Disasters To Affect Yakushima Island During typhoon seasons, Yakushima is often hit by strong rain & wind. This often causes roadblocks, flooding, & generally bad conditions. Unfortunately, aside from these occasional typhoons, we cannot find any information on major disasters affecting Yakushima.  The Economy Of Yakushima Island The primary industries of the island are currently tourism, commercial fishing, & forestry. Also, the exporting of cedar wood shingles remains a prominent staple of the economy. The exporting of tea is also becoming increasingly popular. Tourism makes up approximately 72% of the economy of the island. Approximately 200,000 tourists visit Yakushima every year. Directories / Credits Citation No. 1: “Yakushima - A Brief History” Written by Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by YES! Yakushima. Retrieval Date: October 11th, 2023.  https://yesyakushima.com/facts-about- yakushima/yakushima-history Citation No. 2: “Yakushima - The Alps Of The Ocean” Written By Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by YES! Yakushima. Retrieval Date: October 11th, 2023.  https://yesyakushima.com/yakushima-the-alps-of-the-ocean/ Citation No. 3: “About Yakushima” Written By Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Go! Yakushima. Retrieval Date: October 11th, 2023.  https://goyakushimatour.com/about-yakushima Strategic Partnerships  Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcasts STEMScribe Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

Anne Rudloe preparing to go diving at a U.S Naval Base in Panama City as a part of her involvement with the naval "Scientists in the Sea" program. This article is a part of our collection known as the Marine Hall Of Distinction. In this special collection, we will discuss marine biologists who we feel have served marine biology & oceanography the most. We do this in order to commemorate these marine biologists & to show gratitude for everything they have contributed to our oceans. Today’s marine biologist is Dr. Anne Rudloe, an American Marine Scientist.  Dr. Anne Rudloe is an American marine biologist, Zen Buddhist, author, conservationist, & co-founder of the Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratory. She is well known for her numerous books on marine life, science communication, & efforts to bring people as a whole closer to the ocean.  In today's article, we are going to be discussing Dr. Rudloe's formative years & education, personal life & career, & finally her accomplishments achievements, honorable, & awards. With that being said, let us dive into today's article.  Her Formative Years & Education  Anne Rudloe was born Anne Eidemiller on December 24th, 1947 in Troy, Ohio. She soon moved to Hampton, Virginia, where she was raised, & would eventually go to university. Very little is known about her life prior to university. Rudloe graduated from university in 1969, with an undergraduate in biology from Mary Washington College in Virginia. Soon after in 1972, she earned a master's degree in Oceanography from Florida State University, for her thesis research on turtle grass beds.  She worked on her P.hd in Marine Biology for 6 years, before successfully completing it in 1978. Her dissertation was on the subject of behaviors in Atlantic Horseshoe Crabs. Her Personal Life & Career In 1971, Rudloe married her husband, Jack Rudloe, who was also a naturalist & author. It was here that she changed her name to match her husband's, leaving behind her maiden name of Eidemiller. Upon completing her P.hD, she went to train at the U.S Naval Base in Panama City as a part of their Scientists in the Sea Program, to study underwater diving. She completed the program, breaking glass ceilings in the process, as she was the first woman to complete the program. Thereafter, she became an adjunct professor at her Alma mater Florida State University. However, she would soon begin another new ambitious endeavor. In 1980, she co-founded the Panacea Institute of Marine Science in Panacea, Florida, an institute dedicated to marine biology. In 1990, she co-founded the Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratory, also in Panacea, Florida, with her husband. She was the first managing director of the institution. It was started as a non-profit teaching organization a purpose which it currently fulfills. Modernly, the laboratory operates an aquarium available for the public to see, operates science outreach camps for children, & helps to rescue sick & injured animals off the coast of Florida. Over 250,000 children are believed to have toured the aquarium & been introduced to marine science as such, helping to fuel the next generation of oceanic innovation. Unfortunately, on April 27th, 2012, she passed away after a battle with colon cancer. She is survived by her husband, Jack Rudloe, & her son. In her personal life, she would frequently study Zen Buddhism. She received an INGA, also known as a Dharma Transmission, & a JDPSN certification from the Kwan Um School of Zen. She used her qualifications to begin as the Abbess at Cypress Tree Zen Center in Tennessee, which is effectively the head of a Buddhist nunnery or temple.  Her contributions to Zen Buddhism, Marine Life, Marine Conservation, & Ocean Science as a whole will not be forgotten, & have left a beautiful legacy behind.  Her Accomplishments, Achievements, Honorables, & Awards  She has authored 5 naturalistic books fiction & non-fiction books, including Butterflies on a Sea Wind, 2002, & Shrimp: The Endless Quest for Pink Gold, 2009.  She co-founded the Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratory in Panacea, Florida, alongside her husband, Jack Rudloe. She was the leader of a Zen Buddhist Temple, serving as the Abbess, or head nun.  She was the first woman to complete the Scientists in the Sea U.S. Naval program. In 2020, she was posthumously named a River & Bay Champion by the Northwest Florida Water Management District. Her son & husband stood in her place to accept the award, with her husband saying "My family and I are deeply honored to accept this award on behalf of our wife and mother. Anne dedicated her life to teaching the next generation about the importance of our ecosystems using our local bays and rivers as her classroom,” as well as “Through her teachings at the FSU Center for Professional Development and Gulf Specimen Marine Lab she provided a voice for our coastal areas and helped to grow Champions of the future. We are proud to continue her legacy through our work every day at Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratory in Panacea." She has authored numerous naturalistic articles for magazines such as National Geographic. She posthumously won the National Wetlands Award, which is an incredibly prestigious award from the Environmental Law Institute. In 2020, Gulf Marine Specimen Laboratory was awarded a 450,000$ grant by Volunteer Florida to build a new 2,000-square-foot state-of-the-art teaching facility, alongside a new parking lot. Along with this, they were given a land donation from Nancy & Gene Phipps to help construct their new facility. This new teaching facility is named the Anne Rudloe Memorial Education Center, & is currently conducting courses on aquaculture. Directories / Credits  Citation No. 1: "Anne Rudloe Education Center", Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratory. Anne Rudloe Education Center Citation No. 2: "Jack & Anne Rudloe", Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Environmental Law Institute. Jack and Anne Rudloe | Environmental Law Institute Citation 3: "Jack & Anne Rudloe Papers", Written by Jack & Anne Rudloe, & Published at varying dates. Collection assembled by the University of Florida. Collection: Jack and Anne Rudloe Papers | Special & Area Studies Collections Strategic Partnerships  Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast StemScribe Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

A gorgeous photograph of Yakushima's coastline. Credit to Sam Spicer Photography. Today’s article will discuss the oceans surrounding the island of Yakushima, Japan. Yakushima, Japan is located in the Kagoshima Prefecture. The island is in Southern Japan, & is located in the Ōsumi Islands archipelago. The island is known for its beautiful cedar wood forests, macaque monkeys, deer, Yaku Sagi trees, & their loggerhead turtle sights. Approximately 40% of all Loggerhead turtles coming into Japan come to Nagata Beach, on northern Yakushima Island. A big reason for the island being able to host such wonderful creatures is because the Yakushima National Park takes up 42% of the island. Part of this national park also includes a marine reserve, which hosts some of the loggerhead turtles. The name Yakushima translated into English means “Medicine Island”, due to the medicinal properties of the herbs there. Yakushima Island is approximately 285.58 nautical miles (328.639595 miles or 528.89416 kilometers) from mainland South Korea. Yakushima island is approximately 194.9 square miles (504.78868 square kilometers), of which 83.807 square miles (217.059134 square kilometers) is a National Park. Part of this national park contains a marine sanctuary, which protects the various marine creatures. Additionally, the island has beautiful small lagoons, frequently visited by locals & tourists alike. These small lagoons provide a glimpse into what is considered the “other-worldly” marine ecosystems. The most popular beaches on the island are Isso Beach, Kurio Beach, Nagata Beach, Inakahama Beach, & Jodogahama Beach. In this article, we will discuss the salinity, tides, temperatures, & marine geography, of the island, the most prominent ecosystems of the island, the documented marine flora & fauna, & Finally, & how ocean acidification has affected the island. With that being said, let us delve into the oceans surrounding the spectacular, Yakushima Island.  The Salinity, Tides, Temperatures, Marine Geography, & Basic Information Of The Oceans Surrounding Yakushima Island Unfortunately, the salinity of Yakushima Island has yet to be measured. Since Yakushima Island rests in the Northern Pacific Ocean, it has a lesser salinity than the Atlantic. Salt deposits or brine pools have not been proven to be found around the island in higher concentrations than other areas. However, this could change. Since the average salinity of the water in the Pacific Ocean is 35 parts per thousand at any given time, it can be assumed that the salinity level is somewhere around that number. Salinity is measured in 1,000 grams. For every 1000 grams of water, there will be a certain number of grams that are pure salt. This is the way that salinity is currently measured. There are no external factors currently that seem to be affecting the salinity either. The tidal charts for Yakushima Island can be found on a variety of sources, including  https://tides4fishing.com ,  https://www.seatemperatu.re , &  https://www.tideschart.com . The tide usually never gets over 6.7 feet (2.04216 meters). The temperature charts for Yakushima can be found on similar websites, such as https://tides4fishing.com . As far as we are aware, Yakushima does not have high riptide, & is completely safe for swimmers, with the most popular beach for swimming being Isso Beach. Pollution isn’t an issue either, as the Japanese Government takes sanitation measures very seriously. Scuba diving, kayaking, and snorkeling are also fairly common, as Yakushima does have beautiful coral reefs. Due to the average temperature being a fair 66.56° Fahrenheit (19.2° Celsius), a 5-millimeter full-coverage wet suit is suggested to comfortably swim. Though in the summers, the temperature can go well over 28° Celsius (82.4 Fahrenheit) making it so that no wetsuit is required. The primary substances composing the oceanic floor are coral, sand, & rock. We unfortunately, are unable to figure out how deep the oceans surrounding Yakushima are, due to poor oceanic floor maps. The Most Prominent Marine Ecosystems Of Yakushima Island Ecosystem Type No. 1: Fringing Coral Reefs  The coral reefs nearby are usually within 30 feet of surface level & are directly against the coastline. They are absolutely beautiful & attract millions of dollars in tourism each year. These areas serve as a home, a habitat, & a hunting ground for many creatures. Not to mention that the coral itself is alive. The types of coral reefs around Yakushima, are known are fringing coral reefs instead of barrier reefs. Unfortunately, coral is extremely susceptible to oceanic acidification, as well as negative human activity. It is for this reason that there should be active conservation work to prevent the death of Yakushima’s beautiful coral reefs. Currently, these coral reefs house roughly 1 third of all fish species around Yakushima island, of which there are approximately 520. These coral reefs bring in the strangest of creatures, from sea snakes to pufferfish, Yakushima is an island that never ceases to amaze.  Ecosystem Type No. 2: Rocky Lagoons The lagoons around Yakushima are usually fairly shallow, & are often visited by humans. These lagoons usually have many different species of waterfowl nearby them, as the waterfowl prefer these kinds of ecosystems. These ecosystems also usually have patches of marine seagrass. These ecosystems are found fairly frequently around the island, & are often swimming in due to their shallow waters, & often beautiful views. This ecosystem is less biodiverse, but it is just as important. Usually, they are extremely close to the coastline, & have underwater rock formations near them.  The Documented Marine Flora Of Yakushima Island Unfortunately, we are unable to confirm what species of marine flora are found around Yakushima. This is largely due to the marine plant life of Yakushima being understudied.  The Documented Marine Fauna Of Yakushima Island Yakushima is extremely biodiverse on both land & in the sea. This is due to the extremely desirable conditions of Yakushima. These conditions are there largely due to the Kuroshiro Current, which supplies warm water to the island year-round. This gives Yakushima a much milder winter compared to the rest of Japan. These conditions are evidenced in that Yakushima island has approximately 520 species of Ray-Skinned Fish, & 78 species of marine mollusks. For those who would like to see a list of all of these species, please visit  https://www.inaturalist.org . The island has at least 2 species of endemic fauna, but neither of them are aquatic. By far, the most prominent species of marine fauna on the island is the Loggerhead turtle. It is extremely hard to establish how many species are in Yakushima at any given moment, as the majority of creatures migrate. For example, the Loggerhead turtle only migrates to Yakushima from April to September, to nest. This is why, all research experiments about the amount of marine fauna around the island must be done over a drawn-out period The best place to see Marine life on the island is Isso Beach, located on the northwestern side of the island.  Directories / Credits Citation No. 1: “Diving & Snorkelling” Written By Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published By Yes Yakushima. Retrieval Date: October 5th, 2023.  https://yesyakushima.com/yakushima-activities/yakushima-ocean-activities/yakushima-diving-snorkelling/ Citation No. 2: “Wetsuit thickness and temperature guide” Written By Mark Evans, & Published On April 24th, 2023, at 3:05 PM. Published By Scuba Divers Magazine. Retrieval Date: October 5th, 2023. https://www.scubadivermag.com/wetsuit-thickness-and-temperature-guide/#Scuba_diving_wetsuits Citation No. 3: “Yakushima, JP, KS”, Written By To Many To Name, & Published at Varying Dates. Published By INaturalist. Retrieval Date: October 5th, 2023.  https://www.inaturalist.org/places/yakushima#page=10&taxon=47178 Citation No. 4: “MARINE LIFE in YAKUSHIMA” Written By Yakumonkey, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published By Yakumonkey. Retrieval Date October 5th, 2023. https://www.yakumonkey.com/marine-life-in-yakushima Strategic Partnerships  Reel Guppy Outdoors  SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcasts STEMScribe Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

Today’s map is an antique map of Taiwan, & the Island of Luzon, The Philippines. Taiwan is a large island off the coast of China, in the northern Pacific Ocean, while the isle of Luzon is the largest island in the Philippine Archipelago, with the largest population of any Philippine isle. The chart spans a decent amount of land, covering approximately 800 miles of the Pacific Ocean.  The map is in fair condition, apart from a stain near the upper right corner, a stain near the bottom of the map, as well as a few wrinkles & fold marks.  In this article, we will discuss the map itself, the translation of certain sections of the map, & analyze this antique nautical map. With that being said let us delve into the Isles of Taiwan, & Luzon.  The Chart Itself  An antique nautical chart of Taiwan & the Philippines. Due to the map being in English, there is no need for translation. The map spans covers 3 main areas, those being Taiwan, Luzon, & China’s Haitan Bay. Although the map is uncolored, it has yellowed with age. On the chart, there are the names of various islands & topographic features, with a few areas noted as “position doubtful”, or “uncertain or doubtful”. The chart proves to be fairly accurate, apart from the areas it declares as uncertain. The chart has approximately 8 different compasses in the Left, Right, & Central areas of the map, drawn on very lightly.  An Analysis Of The Chart  This chart was designed & released in 1863, by the Scottish pair of Hydrographers James Imray & his son, James Frederick Imray. The map was created & published in London, as that is where the cartographic office of the Imray’s was located. This map was made available for purchase by Maps of Antiquity. It is unclear whether or not the map is a part of any particular collection of the Imray. The map was made for Civilian Use, & it is unlikely that it was used by any militaries or militia groups.  Considering the makers of the chart & the time period, this map was likely made with Lithography. Lithography is a method of printing that arose in the 1820s, & remained the most popular method of printing until the early 1930s when more efficient methods became available. There are 2 main methods, with one of the methods remaining popular well into the modern day for producing large quantities of prints.  In the common lithographic method of the time, the artist will draw directly onto a printing surface, such as zinc, or copper, until they are satisfied with the drawing. After this, the surface will be covered with a chemical etch, which will bond it to the surface. With this process, the blank areas will attract moisture to the plate & repel the lithographic ink, while the areas that are drawn on will hold the ink. Water is then wiped onto the unpainted areas to help prevent the ink from deviating. After the map wanted is inked, the paper is laid over it & covered with a tympan, & the tympan is pressed down. Finally, these materials pass through the scraper bar of the litho press. Afterward, an exact copy of whatever was supposed to be printed is revealed. Directories / Credits All credit for this map analyzed today goes to Maps Of Antiquity, a wonderful New England map shop. To purchase this map, any other maps, or any other cartographic objects, please visit mapsofantiquity.com . To be clear, this is not an advertisement for Maps Of Antiquity, as we do not have a partnership with them. Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler The Marine Enthusiasts Podcast STEMScribe Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

Cash Daniels in an interview with PBS. Credit to PBS. Recently, our head writer was immensely fortunate to sit down with Award-Winning conservationist Cash Daniels to discuss his career, his passion, & all of his efforts in conservation. Cash Daniels is a conservationist well known for his work cleaning up the Tennessee River, & across his extensive cleanups, engaging hundreds of volunteers, Cash has picked up approximately 46,031 pounds of trash. He has also founded, & currently operates a monofilament bin-based conservation project, across 5 U.S. states. In addition to this, his book, One Small Piece, has garnered attention from organizations such as RiversAreLife.  In today's interview, we sit down with Cash Daniel's for a thorough 16-question-long conversation about his career, passion, & drive to make a difference. Before diving in, please note everything said has been edited for clarity, & that the opinions of our interviewee do not necessarily reflect the opinions & values of our organization. With that being said, let us delve into the contents of the interview. Contents Of The Interview: Questions About His Passion:  1. What sparked your interest in the environment, rivers, & marine life? I've always had a connection to rivers, oceans, & everything in nature. My family would always take me out to the aquarium, & to zoos, which I feel was really important in helping me develop my interest in nature & not just sit behind a television all day.  In addition to this, I would watch Shark Week almost every year, & would watch quite a lot of David Attenborough's & Sylvia Earle's documentaries.  2. Do you have a favorite marine or terrestrial animal? It would have to be the Whale Shark, it's one of my dreams to see them in the wild someday. 3. You have mentioned in multiple places that you wish to become an underwater photographer, what attracts you to that particular area? I would say that my general passion for photography & water is what attracts me. I can mix cinematography, photography, & oceans very well.  Also, I have a good friend Jim Abernathy who works for National Geographic who has taught me some fantastic things about underwater photography. Ultimately, I want to make underwater documentaries, & show people about the underwater world, especially those who can't get out there & Scuba Dive. Everyone is on Netflix watching a documentary, or scrolling through Instagram, & they may see a clip of something of mine, or a few photos.  Questions About His Career:  4. What was your first & most recent cleanup, & did you find anything interesting? What inspired you to begin doing cleanups?  I first got interested in doing river cleanups when I was 7 years old! When I found a plastic straw on the beach, after we went home, the straw stayed in my mind. I did research about how plastic can harm not only oceans but rivers too. So, I decided to do river cleanups to combat that issue! Since then, I have been able to remove over 46,031 pounds of trash, & counting.  Sadly, I do not remember my first cleanup, however, at my most recent cleanup, I found something extremely memorable. We found an entire metal cooler, that seemed very old. It took about 25 minutes to haul out due to the size.  5. What was the documentary produced about you by the Primitive Planet film company? The Primitive Planet film company makes documentaries about different people doing amazing things all around the country to help the environment. They collaborated with me to make the documentary "Rivers Are Life", & came down to film for about two days to make it.  I felt as if I had to constantly talk about it, but it was fun! We went kayaking with some of my friends to get some footage, & one of them fell in the water, & this was in the middle of February. If anyone was going to fall in, it was going to be him. Although this is quite humorous now, it was not funny then.  6. What research did you conduct on your research trip to Costa Rica? I went down to Costa Rica primarily to research Hawksbill sea turtles, & assist in building a hatchery for them. The research trip lasted about 2 weeks, & during that time I helped tag some Hawksbill sea turtles, count their eggs, & assisted in the building of a new hatchery. Additionally, I went fishing for sharks to tag, however, sadly I did not find any, which was a bummer. It was quite a lot of work, however, it was fun. 7. I'm sure that you have encountered just as many hurdles as you have triumphed, What was the most difficult challenge to overcome across it all?  Being my age, some people use that as an excuse to not respect me or take me seriously. Additionally, my mom has to drive me everywhere, as I cannot drive yet. That is a large weight on her shoulders, however, as I get older, things should get easier.  Additionally, when I was younger, it was very difficult for me to get out there & speak, being as nervous as I was.  8. What is your most memorable moment on any of your cleanups? Meeting new people & being able to go around the world to make an impact are the most memorable things. I've been able to visit so many beautiful places all around America & the world to help in the cleanup process.  9. What is your advice to new marine biologists, citizen scientists, or conservationists? Get out there! Try & make a difference, every little bit counts. Even if it is just a Walmart bag on the side of the road, or a floating plastic bottle, every little bit helps. If somebody says you can't change the world, get out there & prove them wrong!  Questions About His Monofilament Fishing Line Bin Project: 10. What inspired you to begin your Monofilament bin cleanup project? My monofilament bin cleanup project was something that I began a few years ago to collect fishing lines. I was inspired to start it because, during cleanups, I kept finding alarming amounts of fishing line, which can seriously harm the environment. So, I decided to do something about it. I began by putting out these monofilament recycling bins all across the state of Tennessee, & I currently have them in Michigan, Tennessee, Georgia, & Florida. We have bins in 26 state parks, & several public boating ramps. So far, I have been able to prevent over 4,000 miles of fishing line from entering our ecosystems.  11. What exactly do you do as a part of your Monofilament Fishing line cleanup project? The Monofilament Recycling Bins are essentially tubes made of PVC pipes. Each of them is approximately 2 feet long, with an elbow piece at the top, & a screw at the bottom. Fishermen can discard their used fishing line in these bins, which prevents it from entering the ecosystem. After the fishing line has been collected, it gets shipped off to the Berkeley Fishing Institute in Iowa where it is melted down to create fish habitats. Through this project, something that was originally harming the environment is now helping it.  Questions Regarding His Book: 12. What inspired you to write "One Small Piece", the children's book that you authored? What was your goal in writing it? I wrote the book when I was about 9 years old, & my goal with it was to teach kids all around the world the importance of conservation & keeping our rivers clean. I wanted to show people that no matter how young you are, you still have a place in saving our world. The book is currently available on Amazon.  13. Do you have any final words concerning wildlife conservation, river & ocean science, or environmental activism? Remember that it doesn't matter how old or young you are, you can make a difference. Kids may be a small portion of the population, but they are 100% of the future.  Directories / Credits  theconservationkid.com   https://a.co/d/hv3t4mY Strategic Partnerships   Reel Guppy Outdoors  SharkedSkooler  Marine Enthusiasts Podcast STEMScribe  Cash Daniel's  Our Loyal Patrons  P. R. Ochoa

Leanne Armand standing happily in front of the Investigator scientific vessel. This article is a part of our collection known as the Marine Hall Of Distinction. In this special collection, we will discuss marine biologists who we feel have served marine biology & oceanography the most. We do this in order to commemorate these marine biologists & to show gratitude for everything they have contributed to our oceans. Today’s marine biologist is Leanne Armand, a marine biologist & paleontologist from Australia.  Dr. Leanne Armand was a professor, marine scientist, researcher, & paleontologist hailing from Australia. She is well known for her research in diatoms, sea ice estimation, & Antarctic research.  In today’s article, we are going to delve into her formative years & education, her personal life & career, & her achievements honorables awards & accomplishments. With that being said, let us delve into the life & work of Leanne Armand. Her Formative Years & Education  Armand was born on February 20th, 1968, in Adelaide, Australia. She has one younger brother, Andrew, who is a nurse in a local hospital, whom she has 3 nieces & nephews from. As a child, she spent quite a lot of time on the coast, particularly in the Gleneg & Marion suburbs of Australia. She would often collect shells & observe local marine life. Once collected, she would bring these shells home & set up small exhibits with them, that she referred to as “Museums”. She would give “tours”, to her family members, explaining what each shell belonged to & why it was important.  In high school, she changed her focus on her subjects to include more science, & for her efforts, won the John Green Memorial Prize from her high school at the end of her 11th-grade year.  As a high schooler in 12th grade, she represented Australia in a rotary exchange program, & spent time as an exchange student in Arkansas, USA. She stayed for approximately 6 weeks, meeting Bill Clinton during her stay, the then-governor of Arkansas.  After leaving high school, she went to Flinders University to earn her Bachelor’s degree in Biology. Going into university, her goal was to become a biology teacher, however, her passion for paleontology & ocean sciences led her elsewhere.  Her involvement in paleontology began on an expedition to the Naancoorte caves of South Australia, under the guidance of Rod Wells & Peter Murray. Soon after, she participated in a longer expedition at the Alcoota fossil beds, again with Peter Murray. These expeditions started a lifelong love & enjoyment of fieldwork, especially fieldwork involving fossils. After 6 months at Flinder’s University, she decided to withdraw due to the distance between the University & the Alcoota fossil beds. After leaving, she immediately got involved in a conference for Australian vertebrate paleontologists, & assisted in organizing the event.  After finishing the conference, she started her studies back up at the Australian National University, & worked alongside Dr. David Ride as a part-time fossil preparer. While working on her honors bachelor’s degree, she studied multiple fossil formations including those in the Alps & in the Teapot Creek Fossil Formation.  She stayed for her PhD, & did a collaborative program between the Geology Department of Australian National University, & Bordeaux University in France. Armand successfully completed her PhD in micropaleontology in 1998, under the guidance of Australian Scientist Dr. Patrick DeDeckker, & French Scientist Dr. Jean-Jacques Pichon. During her PhD, she met her now husband, Stéphane, at Australian National University, whom she now shares 2 children with. Her thesis was on the topic of algae, & how it can be used to measure the surface temperature of sea ice in the south pole.  Her Personal Life & Career  During the last year of her PhD, Armand & her husband moved to France. After finishing her PhD, she applied to numerous postdoctoral fellowships, & was offered one in Hobart, Tasmania. After much thought, she, her husband, & her new three-month-old son named Gaston, moved back to Australia.  During her Postdoctoral, she worked on research estimating sea ice formations over the last 190,000 years, & worked with scientists in Antarctica. This research helped oceanographers estimate how sea ice formations affected fish stocks, assists in oceanic circulation, & numerous other things. This work led to a lifelong fascination with the Antarctic, which she kept until her unfortunate passing. Armand was awarded the esteemed Marie Curie fellowship from the EU, being the first Australian scientist to earn this fellowship. Upon earning it, she began doing research at the University of Aix-Marseille in the Southern region of France. She began working more with Diatoms, an animal she was thoroughly fascinated & enamored by. She participated in multiple research missions while with the University, & worked with both fossilized & live diatoms. In 2009, she moved back to Australia to begin a professorship at Macquarie University in Sydney. She joined the Climate Futures Center of Research Excellence, & lectured multiple courses in marine sciences to undergraduate students. During her time there, she spearheaded a research team researching phytoplankton. Armand ended up as Deputy director at the university’s Marine Research Center for a year from 2015 to 2016, before moving on. She soon joined the CSIRO Australian Government Agency to participate in their Scientists & Schools Program, where she shared her experiences as a female paleontologist & marine researcher.  Armand formidably led the National Collaborative Australian Postgraduate Sea Training Alliance Network as director from 2013 to 2017, designing multiple masters-level sea-based training courses. The program is now managed by the Marine National Facility.  Soon after, she became Chief Scientist of the Australian Research Vessel known as the RV Investigator. She took the vessel, & a team of international marine scientists, to the Southern Ocean near Antarctica to study glacial conditions near East Antarctica & the Sabrina Coast. For all her Antarctic efforts, particularly on this expedition, she was awarded the U.S Antarctic Service Medal, a high-ranking medal awarded by the Department of Defence.  In 2018, she re-joined her alma mater Australian National University, in the Research School of Earth Science. Unfortunately, Armand passed away on January 4th, 2022 in Canberra, Australia. She passed away after a short battle with an incredibly aggressive form of cancer. She is survived by her husband Stéphane, her sons Maxime & Gaston, & her numerous colleagues. Her contributions to the field will never be forgotten, & she remains an inspiration to many Australian & International Scientists to this day.  Her Achievements, Honorables, Awards, & Accomplishments In 2014, she received the prestigious U.S Antarctic Service Medal, an award presented by the United States Department of Defence for her work in the Southern Ocean. She earned the Rose Provasoli Award from Bigelow’s Laboratory, named in honor of Henry Bryant Bigelow.  She received the esteemed Dorothy Hill award from her alma mater, Australian National University, for her Paleo-oceanographic research.  From 2016 to 2020, she was a council member of the International Society for Diatom Research.  She was the Australian and New Zealand International Ocean Discovery Program Consortium for multiple years.  Directories / Credits Citation No. 1: “Dr. Leanne Armand, marine micropaleontologist”, Written by Marian Hyde, & Published in 2001. Published by the Australian Academy of Science.  https://www.science.org.au/learning/general-audience/history/interviews-australian-scientists/dr-leanne-armand-marine Citation No. 2: “Leanne Armand”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Australian Academy of Science. https://www.stemwomen.org.au/profile/leanne-armand Citation No. 3: “Obituary - Professor Leanne Armand, ANZIC Professor”, Written by Unknown, & Published on January 22nd, 2022. Published by Australian National University. https://earthsciences.anu.edu.au/news-events/news/obituary-professor-leanne-armand-anzic-director-1968-2022 Citation No. 4: “With Great Sadness”, Written By Sarah Spaulding, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the International Society for Diatom Research.  https://isdr.org/with-great-sadness/ Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast StemScribe Our Loyal Patrons  P. R. Ochoa

A protective mother brown bear assisting her two young cubs to hunt near a watershed. Credit to Mark Kelley. This month's articles series will discuss.., Admiralty Island, Alaska. Admiralty Island is an island in the Alexander Archipelago, in Southeast Alaska. The island is the 7th largest island in the United States, & the 132nd-largest island in the world. The nearest main city is Juneau, the state capital. The island itself is approximately 955,747 acres, & 90 miles long. The island has extremely few people, with a population density of 0.39 per square mile. The total population is 650, which makes it so that the bears outnumber the humans 3:1. The island is famous for its large population of brown bears, & its beautiful canoeing areas. The island is approximately 2.59 nautical miles (2.980519 miles or 1.398488 kilometers) from mainland Alaska. Since the island's coast is so untouched by man, many marine animals migrate closeby to the island every year. The majority of oceanic animals don’t live here year-round though, as they tend to migrate further south in the winter to survive. The oceanic resources have been used by the island's main population, The Tlingit Aboriginals, for a variety of reasons. In this article, we will discuss the Salinity, Tides, Temperatures, & Marine Geography, of the island, the most prominent ecosystems of the island, The documented marine flora & Fauna, & Finally, & how ocean acidification has affected the island. With that being said, let us delve into the oceans surrounding the wondrous, Admiralty Island. The Salinity, Tides, Temperatures, Marine Geography, & Basic Information Of The Oceans Surrounding Admiralty Island Admiralty Island rests in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean. The salinity in Juneau is extremely low, due to freshwater glaciers melting & mixing freshwater into the sea. The Salinity in Juneau is approximately 15.2 parts per thousand, which is extremely low for the Pacific. Salinity is measured in 1,000-gram increments of water. For every 1000 grams of water, there will be a certain number of grams that are pure salt. This is the way that salinity is currently measured. The Temperature charts of Admiralty Island can be found in a variety of places, such as but not limited to:  https://www.watertemp.org ,  https://www.tide-forecast.com , &  https://www.tideschart.com . The average yearly sea temperature for the Eliza Harbour area of Admiralty Island is approximately 45° Fahrenheit (7.22222° Celsius). The tidal charts can be found on similar web pages, including  https://www.tide-forecast.com , &  https://tides4fishing.com/us/alaska . The tide usually doesn’t exceed 5.13 feet, & usually doesn’t go below -2 feet. The deepest oceanic point within 5 nautical miles (5.7539 miles, or 9.26 kilometers) of the island is approximately 1,259.8 feet (383.7432 meters) deep. The oceanic floor surrounding the island is primarily composed of Rock Sand, & Gravel. The area is unpopulated, & largely untouched by man. The water is safe for swimming in, though the water is incredibly cold so precautions should be taken. The wetsuit thickness needed for the annual average temperature is 8 millimeters thick semi-dry suit or a drysuit. Unfortunately, we are unable to find information about the riptide, & currents of this island. You can go snorkeling or scuba diving around the island, but it is not recommended as there is very little interest, & it is extremely cold. The Most Prominent Marine Ecosystems In The Oceans Surrounding Admiralty Island Ecosystem Type No. 1: Open Ocean The majority of the creatures that live around Admiralty iIslandlive in open oceanic areas. They usually are just there to hunt, & then migrate away. This ecosystem is the farthest from the coast, & the most biodiverse.  Ecosystem Type No. 2: Sandy / Rocky Flats There are sand flats, but the only creatures really found in those areas are crustaceans. These areas are on the bottom of the oceanic floor, & are found everywhere. Occasionally, species of fish or crustaceans will build elaborate burrows below the sand, but those are the only real formations in the area.  The Documented Marine Flora Of Admiralty Island Unfortunately, we are unable to confirm that any species of seagrass, or kelp, are found here at all. The Documented Marine Fauna Of Admiralty Island  Admiralty Island is not very biodiverse marine-wise, largely due to how cold it is, & the fact that little to nothing grows here. The majority of animals found here are cetaceans or have a large amount of blubber to protect them. As of 2025, there are no accepted endemic marine species on Admiralty Island. With that being said, the list of all the most prominent marine species currently found around Admiralty Island: Eumetopias Jubatus (Steller Sea Lion), Orcinus Orca (Killer Whale), Enhydra Lutris (Sea Otters), & Megaptera Novaeangliae (Humpback Whale).  Directories / Credits Citation No. 1: “ Alaskan Oceans: Temperature & Salinity ” Written By Elizabeth Litwin, & Published in 2002. Published By PBS. Retrieval Date: September 29, 2023.  https://www.pbs.org/harriman/education/projects/elitwin.html Citation No. 2: “ Wetsuit thickness and temperature guide ” Written By Mark Evans, & Published On April 24th, 2023, at 3:05 PM. Published By Scuba Divers Magazine. Retrieval Date: September 29th, 2023. https://www.scubadivermag.com/wetsuit-thickness-and-temperature-guide/#Scuba_diving_wetsuits Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast STEMScribe Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

Today’s map is an antique map of the Southern Pacific Ocean. The Southern Pacific Ocean is a region from the Pacific Ocean spanning from the southern side of the Equator to Southern Chile. The area spans approximately 12,726 kilometers across.  The map is in fantastic condition, apart from yellowing in the upper right corner, wrinkles, & a few small creases. These imperfections are consistent with being used on a ship, meaning this map was likely used by a group of sailors. The dimensions of the map are approximately 38.5 inches long & 75 inches wide.  In this article, we will discuss the map itself, the translation of certain sections of the map, & analyze this antique nautical map. With that being said let us delve into the Southern Pacific Ocean. The Map Itself  A beautifully in-depth map of the Southern Pacific Ocean. Credit to Maps Of Antiquity. Due to the map being in English, there is no need for translation. The chart is centered on the Southern Pacific Ocean, & Oceania. The chart is was made to be uncoloured, however it has slightly yellowed with time. The chart has the names of various islands, seaways, & topographic features, with certain areas marked with a question mark, or as “doubtful”. The map is semi-accurate, as certain islands are not listed, & other areas are marked as unknown.  The chart has 6 different small compasses on the chart located in the center, upper center, lower left, & upper left. These would have been used by sailors to stay on course, & guide them.  An Analysis Of The Chart  This chart was originally designed in 1848 by James Imray, a Scottish Hydrographer, Sailor, & Cartographer. The map was produced & published in London, as that is where Imray’s cartographic office was located. Revisions & additions were made in 1855, with a new version of the map being published then. The map was originally made for Civilian Use, & was likely not used by any militaries.  Considering the time that the map was produced in, & the mapmaker, this map was likely made using Lithography. Lithography is a method of printing that arose in the 1820’s, & remained the most popular method of printing until the early 1930’s, when more efficient methods became available.  In the lithographic method, the artist will draw directly onto a printing surface, such as zinc, or copper, until they are satisfied with the drawing. After this, the surface will be covered with a chemical etch, which will bond it to the surface. With this process, the blank areas will attract moisture to the plate & repel the lithographic ink, while the areas that are drawn on will hold the ink. Water is then wiped onto the unpainted areas to help prevent the ink from deviating. After the map wanted is inked, the paper is laid over it & covered with a tympan, & the tympan is pressed down. Finally, these materials pass through the scraper bar of the litho press. Afterwards, an exact copy of whatever was supposed to be printed is revealed. Directories / Credits  All credit for this map analyzed today goes to Maps Of Antiquity, a wonderful New England map shop. To purchase this map, any other maps, or any other cartographic objects, please visit mapsofantiquity.com . To be clear, this is not an advertisement for Maps Of Antiquity, as we do not have a partnership with them. Strategic Partnerships  Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler The Marine Enthusiasts Podcast STEMScribe Our Loyal Patrons  P. R. Ochoa

A breathtaking photograph of Santorini's historic blue-domed orthodox churches in the hillside town of Oia. Today’s article will discuss the Documented History Of Santorini. Santorini is an island off the coast of Greece, located in the AeAegeanea. Santorini is approximately 104.57 nautical miles (120.337007 miles or 193.66364 kilometers from the nearest mainland area, which is Greece. It is a part of the Cyclades Islands, which is an archipelago located between Attica & Crete. There are approximately 220 islands classified within this archipelago. It is extremely popular for its beautiful white houses, with blue roofs. It is also popular for its boating tours of rocky coves & inlets. Santorini has 2 main cities, those cities being Fira, & Oia. The beautiful rugged cliffs attract many eco-tourists as well, seeking the beauty of the island. Many tourists from around the Mediterranean also enjoy Santorini for its unique seafood, as their cuisine is considered to be very high-class.   Their beautiful dark sand beaches are also regarded extremely highly. Santorini is very biodiverse, & has beautiful underwater ecosystems housing thousands of animals. For this reason, scuba diving is also extremely popular as it gives people the opportunity to see the beauty of it. From sea hares to sea squirts, Santorini is filled with beautiful marine animals. Santorini has a long, complex, & beautiful history dating back to the Neolithic period. The presence of a society on Santorini dates back to 3,600 B.C. These societies were constantly being damaged by volcanic eruptions, which unfortunately caused many structures & artifacts to be lost. Also, these volcanic eruptions caused many periods where a civilization could not evolve on the island, leaving massive historical gaps. Santorini & the rest of the Cyclades Archipelago were formed by overlapping volcanic eruptions. When Santorini formed, the island did not have its rugged cliffsides or its beautiful rocky beaches. The current landscape was formed by a colossal volcanic eruption in 1,620 B.C., which eroded everything & also blew apart parts of the island itself. In this article,e we will discuss the Documented History Of Santorini, the Aboriginals of Santorini, the Most Destructive Man-Caused & Natural Disasters of Santorini, & finally the Economic state of Santorini. With that being said, let us delve into this island of paradise. The Documented History Of Santorini Before Colonization By Humans The island first formed approximately 3.6 million years ago, due to volcanic activity when the African & Eurasian tectonic plates met. The island remained uninhabited until approximately 3,600 B.C.  After Colonization By The Minoans  In 3,600 B.C. an ancient Minoan colony existed in Southern Santorini, near the modern-day city of Akrotiri. This civilization was a part of the once-vast Minoan Empire. Due to the location of Santorini, the people were able to establish trade with Northern Africa, Cyprus, Crete, & Greece. This allowed their economy to flourish, & for the islanders to become fairly wealthy & independent of all external forces. The people of the city established a drainage system, squares, & multi-story buildings. They also had paved streets, & sophisticated art. This civilization achieved many amazing architectural feats, & had a very lively culture. This civilization called the island Strongilli, which was derived from the island's large round shape. This beautiful Minoan civilization lasted until 1,600 B.C. when everything catastrophically changed. In 1,600 B.C. a massive volcanic eruption devastated the Minoan Empire, & destroyed it. This eruption also devastated Crete, causing massive tsunamis & earthquakes. This caused a civilization to not be able to survive on the island for 300 years. The swift disappearance of a thriving society sparked rumors that Santorini was the lost city of Atlantis, but those rumors would eventually be dismissed. The next Civilization on Santorini was built by the Phoenicians.  After Colonization By The Phoenicians  The Phoenicians began inhabiting the island in approximately 1,300 B.C. They built a society based on trade & commerce, as it was a place where the East met the West. The reason for the economy being so heavily based on trade is because of the extremely convenient location of Santorini. The Phoenicians called the island “Kallisti”, as it meant most Beautiful.  In 900 B.C., the Lacedaemonian Commander Thiras sailed to the island, settled, & founded the city of Ancient Thira on the island. This city was built at Mesa Vouno Mountain, & artifacts from it can be found on display at various museums. Due to this, the island was renamed “Thira” in honor of him. During this time, Santorini also adopted the Phoenician Alphabet. They also adopted their currency.  After Colonization By The Venetians The Venetians had the island surrendered to them, in 1204 A.D. & stayed on the island until 1579 A.D. Soon after the Venetians began occupying the island, a catholic church called “Santa Irina” was constructed. This gave the island the name Santorini, though the legal name remains Thira. The Venetians advanced the island, & introduced many western agricultural techniques to the island. One of the things that they introduced to the island, was the cultivating of vineyards. These vineyards were used to make the famous Santorini Wine, which was extremely highly esteemed. During this Era, many Mediterranean pirates would attack the island, & raid it. This led to the construction of 5 fortified cities around the island. These 5 fortified cities are Imerovigli, Pygros, Emporio, Akrotiri, & Agios Nikolaos at Oia.  The Venetians would lose the island to the brutal Ottoman Turks, via conquest.  After Colonization By The Ottoman Turks The Ottoman Turks inhabited the island from 1579 to 1821. Throughout their occupation, they prioritized trade with the Eastern Mediterranean over the Western Mediterranean. Aside from this, the Ottoman Turks didn’t do very much with the island culturally or economically. The Ottoman Turks referred to Santorini as Dermetzik, which meant “Small Mill”. The reason for this name is that there were many windmills on the island at the time. Attacks on Santorini were massively decreased as the island acquired its naval fleet. Santorini was given a fair amount of Autonomy over itself, but it had to pay a tax to the Turks.  After Colonization By Greece  Greece fought their war of independence with the Ottoman Turks, & when they won they tried to take Santorini with them. After the independence of Greece was ratified with Constantinople in 1833, Santorini did not immediately become a part of Greece.  Historical Events From The 1900’s Greece only annexed Santorini in 1912. During this time, the economy diminished due to the introduction of steamships. Until World War 2, the island remained relatively quiet. On the 18th of October 1944, Santorini was occupied by German & Italian military forces. For this reason in the Santorinian villages of Pyrgos, & Karterados, there are large plaques commemorating those who lost their lives in World War 2. Soon after in 1956, a massive volcanic eruption caused approximately 85% of the island to be utterly destroyed. Many locals were forced to quickly abandon the island, & this caused a massive infrastructural collapse. It was not until the 1970s that the island completely recovered & began getting a steady influx of tourists. Santorini has a modern population of approximately 15,550 people. The Aboriginals Of Santorini Unfortunately, due to the number of times that Santorini has changed hands, we can’t say that there were Aboriginals on the island. Additionally, there are no groups that are historically agreed upon to be Aboriginals.  The Most Destructive Man-Caused & Natural Disasters To Affect Santorini Disaster No. 1: The Minoan Eruption Of 1,600  In approximately 1600 B.C., volcanoes 70 miles north of Crete erupted with a VEI magnitude of 6. This caused somewhere between 28 & 41 square kilometers (10.8109 & 15.8302 square miles) of ash, magma, & other volcanic debris to be expelled from the said volcano. This was one of the largest volcanic events in human history. This volcanic eruption caused earthquakes, & multiple tsunamis. This destroyed the Minoan civilization, & possibly caused a small volcanic winter, but that is unclear.  Disaster No. 2: The Santorini Earthquake Of 1956  On July 9th, 1956, a massive earthquake struck Santorini. It was a 7.5 magnitude event, & it utterly devastated the island. Soon after the initial earthquake hit, a 25-meter (82.021-foot) high tsunami washed over the island. This caused at least 53 deaths, & 35% of homes on the island collapsed. Almost all government & commercial buildings were also destroyed. This caused the majority of locals to flee the island & go to Athens.  The Economic State Of Santorini Generally, Santorini’s economy is fairly stable. Santorini’s main industry is tourism, as the island receives about 2 million tourists annually. Approximately 90% of Santorini’s economy is tourism. Agriculture is also a major source of revenue for the island, with grapes for wine being the biggest agricultural product. This wine is said to be sweet, & very rich. This wine is primarily brewed by the Santorini Brewing Company. Additionally, Santorini cultivates a unique kind of Tomato that is prized amongst many. This tomato is still actively exported to this day. Their Fava beans are also very highly esteemed, but they are not exported in large amounts. Only approximately 200 kilograms (440.925 pounds) of their fava beans are exported each year. The average cost of living in Santorini is approximately 1,211 U.S.D. (1134.77 Euro) for one person per month. Food costs an average of 482 U.S.D (451.66 Euro) per month. Directories / Credits Citation No. 1: “The history of Santorini – A step back in time”, Written By an Unknown & Published on January 29th, 2023. Published by Andronis. Retrieval Date: September 23rd, 2023.   https://www.andronis.com/blog/the-history-of-santorini-a-step-back-in-time/ Citation No. 2: “Santorini: A Brief History”, Written by Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Santorini Web Portals. Retrieval Date: September 23rd, 2023.   https://www.santorini.com/santorini/history.html Citation No. 3: “Santorini History” Written By Unknown & Published at an Unknown. Published By Greeka. Retrieval Date: September 23rd, 2023.   https://www.greeka.com/cyclades/santorini/history/ Citation No. 4: “Santorini History” Written By Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published By Santorini View. Retrieval Date: September 23rd, 2023.   https://www.santorini-view.com/history-of-santorini/ Citation No. 5: “Santorini History” Written By Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published By Santorini Dave. Retrieval Date: September 23rd, 2023.   https://santorinidave.com/santorini-history Citation No. 6: “Cost Of Living In Santorini”, Written by Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published Living Costs. Retrieval Date: September 23rd, 2023.   https://livingcost.org/cost/greece/santorini Citation No. 7: “SANTORINI: Economy”, Written By Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published By The World Of Info. Retrieval Date: September 23rd, 2023.   https://theworldofinfo.com/santorini/economy/ Citation No. 8: “The 1956 Santorini earthquake & its devastating aftermath”, Written By Andriana Simos, & Published On September 7th, 2020. Retrieval Date: September 23rd, 2023.  https://greekherald.com.au/culture/history/on-this-day-the-1956-santorini-earthquake-and-its-devastating-aftermath/ Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast StemScribe Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

A photograph of a determined David Gruber in full aquatic gear. This article is a part of our collection known as the Marine Hall Of Distinction. In this special collection, we will discuss marine biologists who we feel have served marine biology & oceanography the most. We do this in order to commemorate these marine biologists & to show gratitude for everything they have contributed to our oceans. This collection has no relation to the main monthly series. This series is published on the 25th of every month, shortly after our article on the oceanic environment of a certain region on the 20th. Today’s marine biologist is David Gruber.  David Gruber is an American Marine Biologist, Ocean Enthusiast, Professor, & Nonprofit Founder. He is well known for his nonprofit organization, the Cetacean Translation Initiative. His career has been highly diverse, with work in subjects ranging from robotics to whales, to the arts. As of 2025, he is a professor at the City University Of New York as well as Baruch College, teaching courses in environmental sciences & biology.  In this article, we are going to delve into his formative years & education, his career & personal life, & his accomplishments, achievements, awards, & honorables. With that being said, let us delve into this esteemed scientist. His Formative Years & Education David Gruber was born at an unclear date in the town of Paterson, Northern New Jersey. In 1991, he began working on his Bachelor of Science in Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island, which he acquired successfully in 1995. He spent the next two years working on a Masters Degree in Environmental Management at Duke University, before moving on to a Master of Science in Journalism at Columbia University. Gruber acquired his doctoral degree in Biological Oceanography from Rutgers University in 2007, after working on it for 6 years.  His Career & Personal Life Gruber has had a vast, & diverse career, combining many fields in many different ways. He began his career in 2006, with the publishing of his first book “Aglow In The Dark: The Revolutionary Science of Bioflouresence”. The book is 263 pages long, & was co-authored with fellow Marine Biologist, Vincent Pieribone. Throughout the book, you are introduced to many topics, including glowing oceanic worms, biotechnology & its applications in humans, & glistening anemones.  In 2008, he was stepped into the role of Assistant Professor of Biology at the Baruch College, City University of New York. He continued in this position until 2017 when he became a full-time professor. Soon after, in 2022, he became a distinguished professor. While working as an assistant professor, he worked with a team of other scientists studying fluorescent fish, & reported the discovery of 180 never-before-seen fish to science. Along with studying these new species, he studied bioluminescence in moray eels, & nesting hawksbill turtles in the Pacific. Gruber first began experimenting with robotics & its applications in the ocean in 2015 with Robert Wood in collaboration with Harvard University. He invented numerous useful robotic tools, including a camera that enabled scientists to view the ocean from the perspective of sharks, a robot used for handling delicate marine animals such as cnidarians without causing harm, & gentle robotic arms that can be used on submarines & remotely operated vehicles. From 2017 to 2018, he worked with the Radcliffe Institution of Higher Education on a fellowship, studying jellyfish. This research he conducted would lead him to designing an educational animation, in collaboration with TED.  In 2019, he was awarded the Lagrange Prize in Turin, Italy, for his contributions to science.  In 2020, he officially founded the Cetacean Translation Initiative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to understanding sperm whale communication & figuring out ways that humans may communicate with them. As of 2024, they have at least 16 staff members, in disciplines ranging from linguists, to acoustics engineers, to marine biologists. It is an Audacious project, with funding from the TED organization. His Accomplishments, Achievements, Awards, & Honorables 1. He founded his own nonprofit, known as the Cetacean Translation Initiative.  2. He is a collaborator with TED, & has held 2 TED talks.  3. He is a respected author, with at least one title known as Aglow In The Dark: The Revolutionary Science of Biofluoresence. He co-authored this novel with fellow scientist Vincent Pieribone.  4. He is a research associate with the American Museum of Natural History on the subject of Invertebrate Zoology.  5. He is an Adjunct Associate Fellow with John B. Pierce Laboratory, at Yale University 6. He is a prolific researcher, having published at least 40 research publications. 7. In 2019, he was a recipient of the Lagrange Prize, a prize given to researchers who have made large contributions to the progress of science.  Directories / Credits Citation No. 1: “David Gruber: Marine Biologist, & President of Project CETI”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by TED. Retrieval Date: October 26th, 2024.  https://www.ted.com/speakers/david_gruber Citation No. 2: “David Gruber’s PhD”, Written By Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by David Gruber. Retrieval Date: October 26th, 2024.  https://www.davidgruber.com/ Citation No. 3: “David Gruber”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Schmidt Ocean Institute. Retrieval Date: October 26th, 2024.  https://schmidtocean.org/person/david-gruber/ Citation No. 4: “Baruch College’s David Gruber Helps Pioneer Revolutionary Technology to Study Deep-Sea Life”, Written by Unknown, & Published by January 17th, 2024. Retrieval Date: October 26th, 2024.  https://newscenter.baruch.cuny.edu/news/baruch-colleges-david-gruber-helps-pioneer-revolutionary-technology-to-study-deep-sea-life/ Citation No. 5: “David Gruber”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Story Preservation Initiative. Retrieval Date: October 26th, 2024.  https://www.storypreservation.org/david-gruber-marine-biologist Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast STEMScribe Our Loyal Patrons  P. R. Ochoa

The Harbour Porpoise Of Ostend Beach, Belgium (Phocena Phocena)  This month's article series will discuss... Ostend Beach, Belgium! Ostend Beach is in the northern area of Belgium. It is touching the southern area of the North Sea. It is on the mainland & is not an island. Ostend Beach is specifically part of the town known as Ostend. For the historical part of this month’s series, the history of the town will be studied instead of the beach itself. Ostend is approximately 61.66 miles from (70.957061 miles or 114.19432 kilometers) from the island of Great Britain. The actual name of the city is Oostende. This translates from German into English as “East End”. This is a bit confusing as Ostend Beach is in the northeastern area of Belgium. The German-speaking population of Belgium is in the western area, not the area where Ostend Beach is. This leads many to wonder how the town was named. Ostend has many different types of marine mammals in particular. This is because most marine mammals usually have large amounts of fat to insulate them from the cold waters of the North Sea. One of the more interesting of these species is known as the Harbour Porpoise. They are not endemic to Belgium, but they are found in extremely high quantities around Belgium. Harbour Porpoises are Cetaceans meaning they are extremely closely related to whales, & dolphins. They are the lesser-known of those 3. They look very similar to dolphins so they are often mistaken for being dolphins. However some defining characteristics of porpoises are that they are much smaller, they have a smaller proportioned beak, & they have less curved dorsal fins. The Harbour porpoises specifically are the most common type of porpoise that is found, many other types of endemic porpoises will be discussed in later articles. There are no known abnormalities in the Ostendian or Belgian population of harbor porpoises. They are large contributors to the ecosystems as they make sure that certain populations of fish & squid do not overpopulate in the area. They also help balance the food chain by just existing. In this article, we will discuss the life of the Harbour porpoise, the mating procedures, tactics, practices, & cycles of the harbor porpoise, the distribution of the Harbour porpoise, & finally the scientific detailings of the Harbour porpoise. With that being said, let us delve into the life of the puffing pig.  The Life Of The Harbour Porpoise  The Harbour porpoise was discovered in the year 1758 by Carl Linnaeus. The circumstances in which it was discovered are unclear. The maximum length of a harbor porpoise is approximately 6 feet (1.8288 meters) long. The females tend to be larger than the males by small amounts. Their maximum weight is approximately 200 pounds (90.7185 kilograms). The average life span of the Harbour porpoise is approximately 9 years. This does not vary based on gender. Porpoises are incredibly intelligent, as dolphins are as well. They have large & complex brains respective to other marine creatures. They are capable of recognizing themselves when shown other porpoises. This would imply that they have a sense of identity & that they have a high level of self-awareness. They are able to recognize humans as well. They are able to also hold grudges against humans, meaning if you wrong a porpoise this porpoise may show aggression towards you in the future. However, they are also able to show affection & love towards certain humans. The porpoise as the creature that we know has existed for approximately 50 million years. They can also occasionally be aggressive towards each other for mates or food. Porpoises are fairly social creatures, as they live in pods or groups. Some populations may migrate, but they usually have 1 specific territory. This means that they are most likely territorial. Porpoises can swim as fast as 34 miles per hour (54.7177 kilometers per hour), however, this is only for the adult Porpoises. Porpoises generally sleep with 1 eye open in order to keep their brain half on. They will usually sleep along the surface however sometimes they will choose to sleep in shallow areas & then come back as needed. Porpoises' diets mostly consist of fish & squid. Porpoises do not have specific hunting hours, they will hunt at all hours. Their metabolism is relatively high compared to a dolphin. Porpoises generally eat approximately 10% of their body weight every single day. They are not cannibalistic in any capacity whatsoever. Harbour porpoises have a small, robust body along with a short, blunt beak. They also possess a medium-sized triangular dorsal fin. Their back is dark gray fading to lighter intermediate shades of gray on their sides. Their belly & throat are white, with a dark gray chin patch.   The Mating Tactics, Procedures, Practices, & Cycles Of The Harbour Porpoise  Harbor porpoises mate via sexual reproduction. This species species of porpoise is not monogamous. Both genders of porpoises reach sexual maturity at approximately 3-4 years old. They are not hermaphroditic in any capacity. They cannot change genders. They are incredibly promiscuous creatures & often will attempt to produce more sperm to beat the male competition. Males will often approach lone females & attempt to mate with them. They will not mate in large groups. It is estimated that approximately 62.5% of mating events happen when a male approaches a lone female in order to initiate reproduction. It is extremely rare to see a male approach large groups of females. When the males approach the females, they will often go at very fast speeds in order to do so. They will also leap around the female occasionally. They will most often attempt to approach the female from above. The calves will often get separated from their mothers during this event. For approximately 25% of events, the calf will accompany the mother. During an experiment in which these mating events were documented, it was observed that the males always attempted to initiate breeding by positioning their ventral sides on the females’ left side. This extreme laterality in sexual approach has not been reported for any cetacean species. Males have also been known to have displayed their penis toward the female without attempting to initiate breeding. They do appear to have a specific breeding month or season, with that being from June to September. The females will often engage with more than one male per breeding season. The females will usually only give birth to one single calf. They give birth through live birth & they do not lay eggs. Their gestation period is somewhat close to humans, being approximately 10-11. They do lactate, often for approximately 8-12 months after the baby is born. Calves can usually consume solid food such as fish at around 5 months old. The calves will usually leave their mothers at 9 months. However, it can be up to 12 months.  The Distribution Of The Harbour Porpoise   The Harbour porpoise is found around 4 of 7 continents. These continents are Africa, Europe, South America, & finally North America. They do have geographically distinct populations. This species currently has 3 subspecies. These subspecies are known as Phocena Phocena Phocena in the North Atlantic & western African regions, Phocena Phocena Reilcta in the Black Sea & the Sea of Azov, & finally Phocena Phocena Vomerina in the Northeast Pacific. They have an estimated population of 700,000. The actual demographic of how many are in each area of the world does not currently exist. However, they are most commonly seen throughout Europe, suggesting the population is largely based in that area. Since they have blubber, they are able to survive in frigid polar waters.   The Scientific Detailings Of The Harbour Porpoise  Harbor porpoises are unique for their incredible intelligence. As stated in the first section of this article entry, they have shown signs of self-awareness & self-recognition. They also seem to feel emotions, both negative & positive. Whenever a caretaker who they get food from or play with enters their vicinity they seem to become happier & more relaxed. They are able to show some level of affection. They also have a very similar body mass-to-brain ratio as humans. They are also able to hold grudges against humans or other species who have physically injured them or caused discomfort in the past. Their brains are quite complex as well. Porpoises have spade-shaped teeth for ripping apart meat. They are vertebrates. In the porpoise's flippers, individual finger bones can be found. This is a remanent of their ancient land-walking ancestors. Porpoises do not have specialized organs that are only found in porpoises specifically. When swimming, they move their tail fin & lower body themup & down which propels themselves through vertical movement, while their flippers are mainly used for steering. Flipper movement is continuous. Some species log out of the water, which may allow them to travel faster, and sometimes they porpoise out of the water, meaning jump out of the water. Their phylum is Chordata meaning that they developed these 5 characteristics all species under the phylum of 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 Mammalia. Mammalia is classified by the production of milk by the mother for their child to nurse, a neocortex which is a region of the brain, some capacity for fur or hair, & three middle ear bones. There are currently 6,400 species categorized under the class of Mammalia. Their order is Artiodactyla. which are even-toed ungulates. Species categorized under Artiodactyla are ungulates, hoofed animals which bear weight equally on two of their five toes, these toes are the third & fourth toes. The other three toes are either present, absent, vestigial, or pointing posteriorly. Their infraorder is that of Cetacea. Key characteristics of this infraorder are their fully aquatic lifestyle, streamlined body shape, often large size & exclusively carnivorous diet. Another characteristic is their incredible social intelligence. There are roughly 90 species categorized under Cetacea at the time of publishing. Their family is known as Phocoenidae. This is the family in which all porpoise species are. Species in this family are more closely related to narwhals & beluga whales than true dolphins. Their genus is Phocena. This genus has 4 of the 8 porpoise species. All species in this genus are classified as porpoises. Their binomial name is known as Phocena Phocena.    Directories / Credits  1. Harbor Porpoise - American Cetacean Society  2. https://waggonerguide.com/how-do-whales-and-dolphins-sleep/   3. The porpoise of hybridization – Marine Biology @ Friday Harbor Labs  4. The Sex Life of Harbor Porpoises: Lateralized and Aerial Behavior  5. https://animalia.bio/harbour-porpois  Strategic Partnerships   Reel Guppy Outdoors  SharkedSkooler  Our Loyal Patrons Ms. Ochoa

The beautiful hillside town of Oia on Santorini with its picturesque blue-domed buildings, & calm Aegean waters. Credit to Craig K. Collins. Today’s article will discuss the oceans surrounding Santorini. Santorini is an island off the coast of Greece, located in the Aegean sea. Santorini is approximately 104.57 nautical miles (120.337007 miles or 193.66364 kilometers from the nearest mainland area, which is Greece. It is a part of the Cyclades Islands, which is an archipelago located between Attica & Crete. There are approximately 220 islands classified within this archipelago. It is extremely popular for its beautiful white houses, with blue roofs. It is also popular for its boating tours of rocky coves & inlets. Santorini has 2 main cities, those cities being Fira, & Oia. The beautiful rugged cliffs attract many eco-tourists, seeking the beauty of the island. Many tourists from around the Mediterranean enjoy Santorini for its unique seafood, as their cuisine is considered to be very high-class.   Their beautiful dark sand beaches are also regarded extremely highly. Santorini is very biodiverse, & has beautiful underwater ecosystems housing thousands of animals. For this reason, scuba diving is also extremely popular as it gives people the opportunity to see the beauty of it. From sea hares to sea squirts, Santorini is filled with beautiful marine aanimals the most prominent of which will be featured in this article. Santorini is also held in very high regard for its red sand, & white sand beaches. These beaches are known as the Red Beach, & the White Beach. The red beach got its color from volcanic activity destroying the cliff, & exposing rocks that were rich with iron. In this article, we will discuss the Salinity, Tides, Temperatures, & Marine Geography, of the island, the most prominent ecosystems of the island, The documented marine flora & Fauna, & Finally, & how ocean acidification has affected the island. With that being said, let us delve into the oceans surrounding the volcanic isle of Santorini, Greece.  The Tides, Temperatures, Salinity, Marine Geography, & Basic Information Of Santorini  Santorini is in the Mediterranean Sea, meaning that it will have a higher salinity than the Pacific Ocean. The current Salinity of the AAegeanSea is 38.5 parts per thousand on average, making it one of the saltiest places on Earth. Salinity is measured in 1,000-gram increments of water. For every 1000 grams of water, there will be a certain number of grams that are pure salt. This is the way that salinity is currently measured. There are no external factors currently that seem to be affecting the salinity either. The Tidal charts for Santorini can be found on a variety of websites, a few of which are https://tides4fishing.com ,  https://www.tideschart.com ,  https://tidechecker.com , & finally  https://tidechecker.com . It seems that the tide rarely gets over 0.5 meters (1.64042 feet) on any given day. The oceanic temperatures can be found on similar websites, including  https://www.seatemperature.org ,  https://seatemperature.info ,  https://seatemperature.net , & finally  http://worldseatemp.com . There is an annual oceanic temperature average of 74.6° Fahrenheit (23.66667 Celsius). Santorini doesn’t have a high riptide, so it is very safe to swim. No wetsuit is needed to comfortably swim at this temperature. Santorini is not very polluted, & is in fact rather clean. Snorkeling, & Scuba diving are extremely popular in the region for this reason. Eco-tourism has also become increasingly important, as their trees, coves, & reefs are becoming steadily popular. The deepest oceanic area within 5 nautical miles (5.7539 miles or 9.26 kilometers) of Santorini is approximately 1892.6 feet (576.86448 meters) deep. There is a marine protected area on the island but it does not encompass the entire island. The main thing that comprises the oceanic floor is rock, seaweed, & compressed sand.  The Most Prominent Marine Ecosystems Of Santorini Ecosystem Type 1: Rocky Reefs Rocky reefs are similar to coral reefs, in that they are essentially a hub for oceanic life. They usually have interesting rock formations, that work similarly to holes in coral, in that they both provide protection from predators. These rocky reefs are usually less biodiverse though, & are usually in deeper areas of the ocean. These reefs are usually more intricate as well, as they usually have fish living inside of them, & tunnel systems. These types of ecosystems are usually found the furthest offshore.  Ecosystem Type 2: Seagrass Meadows Seagrass meadows are extremely common around Santorini, & can occasionally impede swimmers & pedestrians. Due to the large amount of seagrass that washes ashore, it can be difficult to walk along the beach. Seagrass meadows are popular areas for breeding, fish spawning, & hunting. The most common seagrass species around Santorini is Posidonia Oceanica (Mediterranean Tapeweed / Neptune Grass). These types of ecosystems can be found close to the coast or far offshore. They can be found 2 meters (6.56168 feet) deep to 45 meters (147.638 feet) deep. These seagrass meadows play an integral part in producing oxygen, & digesting carbon dioxide, so it is important to not pollute or otherwise harm them.  Ecosystem Type 3: Sandy Flats The sandy flats are areas of the ocean that are barren of much life & only have a few marine invertebrates & occasionally seagrass. They usually have things such as crabs & rarely, sea cucumbers & anemones. In this area, salinity levels are usually highest as they are found so close to the coast. These however are some of the ecosystems that have been impacted by oceanic acidification, & temperature changes caused by global warming. Temperatures have skyrocketed in areas that are usually much cooler forcing these animals out of their domiciles. Coastal areas were once some of the coldest oceanic areas for this area & now that temperatures have skyrocketed they have no reliable place to find these colder areas. These areas are usually also the closest to land unless there is a rocky reef jutting up directly against the shoreline.  The Documented Marine Flora Of Santorini  As mentioned in the subsection titled “Ecosystem No. Type 2: Seagass Meadows”, the main oceanic seagrass species found around Santorini is Posidonia Oceanica. This seagrass will often grow in massive colonies, known as meadows. Usually, their colonies grow at depths of 3.3 to 114.8 feet deep. When the plant blades die, they form into balls, which are known as the “Olive of the Sea”. Their fruits are also known as Neptune balls & will often wash up along the coastline. They often plague the beaches & make for a strange sight to see. They usually don’t impede visitors, but they can. These Neptune balls are brown, & somewhat crunchy. The interesting thing about this species is that it can absorb carbon dioxide in huge droves. This species is able to soak up 15 more times carbon dioxide than a similar-sized piece of the Amazon Rainforest in South America. Their fruits are also important as they are basically just dense balls of dead Neptune grass leaves. These dense balls are able to trap plastics within them & then carry these plastics to the shoreline where people can discard them. These species aren't threatened with extinction as of 2025. Posidonia Oceanica is usually bright green, however it may turn brown as it ages. It usually grows between 7.87402 inches (20.0000108 centimeters) & 15.748 inches (39.99992 centimeters) tall. It also grows usually to be 10 millimeters (0.393701 inches or 1 centimeter) wide. There are other species of seagrass, but we are unable to confirm exactly what species there are, & for that reason, we cannot provide information on them.  The Documented Marine Fauna Of Santorini Santorini is semi-biodiverse as it is in a convenient location for animals to migrate back & forth to. Additionally, Santorini has extremely favorable conditions. Their historical seagrass meadows, & their beautiful volcanic rock formations attract not only new types of fauna but also tourists. Divers flock to Santorini as to many, the island is a paradise. Many marine photographers adore Santorini as well their waters are crystal clear, making the animals easier to find. Generally, though, these animals are hard to find because they like to hide. The majority of the marine life doesn’t come very close to shore either, & has to be found out to sea. This is why scuba diving is much more popular than snorkeling. As of 2025, there are no accepted endemic marine species to Santorini. Now, for this article, we will not include nudibranchs, sea slugs, sea snails, planktons, lichens, sea worms, or sea urchins, as there are just too many of them. With that being said, the list of all the most prominent species currently found around Santorini: Hippocampus Hippocampus (Short-Snouted Seahorse), Aplysina Aerophoba (Yellow Sponge), Sygnathoides Typhle (Broadnosed Pipefish), Clavelina Lepadiformi (Light Bulb Sea Squirt), Rhopilema Nomadica (The Nomad Jellyfish), Pelagia Noctiluca (Purple People Eater / Night Light Jellyfish), Dardanus Arrorsor (Mediterranean Hermit Crab), Clibanariuserythropuss (Hermit Crab), Holothuria Tubulosa (Tubular Sea Cucumber), Holothuria Sanctori (Sea Cucumber), Enchinaster Sepostitus (Mediterranean Red Starfish), Sparisoma Cretense (Mediterranean Parrotfish), Tripterygion Delaisi (Black-faced Blenny), Pterois Miles (Devil Firsfish), Raja Radula (Rough Ray), Symphodus Tinca (East Atlantic Peacock Wrasse), Labrus Merula (Brown Wrasse), & finally Coris julis (Mediterranean Rainbow Wrasse).  Directories / Credits Citation No. 1: “Posidonia”, Written By Angel Pérez-Ruzafa, Paolo Guidetti, Carla Morris, Lorenz Schwork, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Science Direct. Retrieval Date: September 21st, 2023.  https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/posidonia Citation No. 2: “Santorini, Marine Life”, Written by Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Dive In Action. Retrieval Date: September 21st, 2023.  https://scubasantorini.com/video-images/santorini-marine-life/ Citation No. 3: “Marine Conservation”, Written By Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published By Archipelago. Retrieval Date: September 21st, 2023.  https://archipelago.gr/en/our-work/marine-conservation/ Citation No. 4: “Scuba To Snorkel, Diving In Santorini”, Written By Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published Orbizz. Retrieval Date: September 21st, 2023.  https://www.orbzii.com/see-do/diving-santorini/ Strategic Partnerships  Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast STEMScribe Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

Today’s map is an antique map of the coastline of the Carolinas. The Carolinas are the states of North & South Carolina, located in the South Eastern Area of the United States. Combined, they occupy approximately 85,839 square miles, with a combined coastline of over 3,565 miles long.  The map is in decent condition, as it has been restored. There is very little damage around the map, & all place names, geographic features, & waterways are clearly marked. The chart is approximately 27.5 inches long, & 37 inches wide. In this article, we will discuss the map itself, the translation of certain sections of the map, & analyze this antique full chart. With that being said let us delve into the coastline surrounding the Carolinas. The Map Itself An antique nautical map of the coast of the Carolinas. As the map is in English, there is no need for translation. The chart is centered around South & North Carolina, & lacks color. It is very clear as well as detailed, with most peninsulas, islands, & curves of the coast outlined. The names of various towns, states, & rivers can be seen on the map, with North Carolina to the North & Florida to the south.  There are 2 small compasses on the map, located in the lower center & upper right. These would have been used by sailors to stay on course, & guide them.  An Analysis Of The Map This map was produced in 1832 by Edmund March Blunt, an American cartographer, hydrographer, & bookseller. It was found by Maps of Antiquity, who restored it, cleaned it, & fixed its backing. This map was likely made in the United States, as Blunt’s cartographic office was based in Newburyport, Massachusetts. The chart is fairly accurate, with very little being left off or inaccurate. It likely isn’t a part of any particular collection. The chart was made for civilian use, & was not made to be used in strategic combat. As the map was produced in 1832, it was likely made using Lithography. Lithography is a method of printing that arose in the 1820s, & remained the most popular method of printing until the early 1930s when more efficient methods became available.  In the lithographic method, the artist will draw directly onto a printing surface, such as zinc, or copper, until they are satisfied with the drawing. After this, the surface will be covered with a chemical etch, which will bond it to the surface. With this process, the blank areas will attract moisture to the plate & repel the lithographic ink, while the areas that are drawn on will hold the ink. Water is then wiped onto the unpainted areas to help prevent the ink from deviating. After the map wanted is inked, the paper is laid over it & covered with a tympan, & the tympan is pressed down. Finally, these materials pass through the scraper bar of the litho press. Afterward, an exact copy of whatever was supposed to be printed is revealed. Directories / Credits All credit for this map analyzed today goes to Maps Of Antiquity, a wonderful New England map shop. To purchase this map, any other maps, or any other cartographic objects, please visit mapsofantiquity.com . To be clear, this is not an advertisement for Maps Of Antiquity, as we do not have a partnership with them. It encompasses the areas of the Atlantic Ocean near the Carolinas, & extends up to North Carolina & down to Florida. Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors The Marine Enthusiasts Podcast SharkedSkooler STEMScribe Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa