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A black & white drawing of doctor Meghan Holst. The first thing you notice about Dr. Meghan Holst is her enthusiasm. It radiates through her words like sunlight through shallow water, especially when discussing her eight-armed friends or toothy research subjects. An esteemed researcher on sharks and octopuses, she's made it her mission to transform how we see these often misunderstood creatures. You might know her voice from Sharkpedia, the hit podcast she co-hosts with fellow marine scientist Amani Weber-Schultz. But today, she's sitting down with us to share something different: her journey through the world of marine biology, her thoughts on diversity in marine science, and why she believes sharks deserve better PR. In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore everything from the hidden lives of octopuses to the future of ocean conservation. We've edited our chat for clarity, but we've kept the spark that makes Dr. Holst's perspective unique. Grab your diving gear – we're about to take the plunge. The Contents Of The Interview Questions About Her Passion:  1. What sparked your interest in marine biology? Unfortunately, I don't have a very direct answer, I've always been interested in creatures. Some of my earliest memories are of collecting bugs & fishing! I used to stop people from killing spiders, I've always been an advocate for creatures in general & their conservation. I've also always been interested in the novelty of the ocean. There is so much we don't know about the ocean, it's almost like outer space. 2. Do you have a person, place, or moment that helped spark your interest in marine biology? I'm not sure, however, I learned to fish as a young child. Eating fish, gutting them, & seeing their anatomy was always highly interesting to me. I was always a little scientist. 3. What attracts you to sharks & what is your favorite species of shark? I got lucky in that I had access to them. Once again I've always been interested in fish as well as fish biology, & sharks are really large cartilaginous fish. As soon as I had access to them, I jumped at the opportunity to research them. I'm very hesitant to choose one favorite species, I think I'd have to say that the Broadnose Sevengill Shark is my favorite. I did my PhD on Broadnose Sevengill Sharks, they are the center of where I started in Shark Biology. They are truly how I began as a Shark Biologist.  4. What attracts you to Science Communication? I feel that science communication is incredibly important. If we are doing science & not communicating it to the public, there will be a huge disconnect. Communicating science can also be very beneficial to scientists, it's amazing to see people get excited about what you're saying. Watching the light turn on in people's eyes is very fun. Questions About Her Career:  5. How did you end up going to University for marine biology & which universities did you go to before landing at UC Davis?  I went for my undergraduate degree at Oregon State University because originally I wanted to study whales. There is this wonderful laboratory there called the Hatfield Marine Science Center that is in Newport, Oregon, that is right on the ocean. It gives you direct access to study science, & to study large mammals. That is what drew me to Oregon State. In the end, I ended up switching paths from mammals to fish, which I am very grateful for. After leaving Oregon, I went to San Francisco State University for my Master's Degree, where I ended up studying Octopi.  6. What inspired you to found the Minorities in Zoo & Aquarium Science organization, & what programs does it have? I spent the first two decades of my career working in Aquariums. When I left Oregon State University after I finished my undergraduate, I worked as an aquarist. It's a pretty predominantly white field in my opinion, & with the way that a lot of internships are structured, you have to do lots of free work before getting a job. Even when you do get into a position that pays, the pay is not very sustainable. At one point I considered leaving Aquarium Sciences to become a teacher because if I were a teacher, I would likely be working the same amount yet earning much more money. This is fairly prevalent in aquariums across the United States. Although it is difficult for everyone, I saw that it was disproportionately affecting minorities, & that ethnic as well as racial minorities were facing many additional challenges. I don't wish to discourage readers from following this career path, it is gradually getting better, however, this is what sparked my idea for Minorities in Aquarium & Zoo Sciences. I am not an ethnic or racial minority, I would like to be very transparent about that, I simply saw a very frustrating issue.  My co-founder Jenny Jansen, who is also the president of the organization, is Chinese American. So before starting, I had gone to Jenny & told her what I was observing in our industry, & asked her if I was correct in that it was disproportionately impacting people of color. She agreed that it was, which led to the birth of the organization.  Although I would say that Aquarium Sciences are a predominantly female field, leadership roles are often male, & most often are not people of color. Ultimately, we launched Minorities in Aquarium & Zoo Sciences to try & uplift as well as amplify people of color because they are so disproportionately impacted by the financial impacts of getting into this field. As for the programs we currently have, I'm quite proud of one in particular. The acronym for it is AMLAZ, which stands for Advancing Minority Leadership in Aquariums & Zoos. The program is to help fund mid-level leaders that are people of colour in these sciences to go through leadership programs to help them advance their skills & uplift their communities. We also offer scholarships for other programs, if you are a person of colour & are doing an unpaid internship, we can help you get funding for living expenses covered when the institution isn't able to do so. Our mission is not only to retain the diversity that we currently have but ultimately to increase it. Quite frankly, we would like to not be needed at some point, & for the industry to catch up.  7. What did you do in your capacity as a Senior Biologist & Aquarist for Aquariums?  As I mentioned before, I worked as an Aquarist for the first 2 decades or so of my career. When I got out of my bachelor's degree, I didn't exactly know what to do. I thought that I would be one of those people who get out of their undergraduate & go straight to their Master's Degree & had science figured out, however when I got out of my undergraduate, I didn't know what I could do for my master's degree.  I ended up being incredibly fortunate & finding a job in Aquarium Sciences, & fell in love with it. As an intern, I would often go scuba diving to help with conservation surveys. On the same day, I would manage a touch pool, & give talks about the conservation research that we were doing. That was the beginning of my work in Science Communication, it was amazing. I found it incredibly fulfilling to work at an aquarium where I could do science, support science, & lead science, & in the same breath make it accessible to the public! After a while, I began at an aquarium in Oregon, taking care of Octopi. I started asking all these questions about their behavior that people didn't necessarily have the answer to, which pushed me further into the field. My curiosity deepened, & my boss at the time asked me to evaluate if it was human interactions were negative or positive, to make sure that we were respecting their boundaries.  After moving to California, I had this assessment that I had made in Oregon, & expanded on it at my new job. I began to become curious as to what was going on at a cellular level with these animals, & how it affected their behavior. That ultimately started my Master's Project, & had me work as a full-time aquarist during my master's degree. 8. What did you do in your capacity as a Marine Biological Researcher with Oregon State University in the Computational Mechanics & Design Laboratory? That was an odd position that I got while studying for my undergraduate degree. That laboratory is an engineering laboratory that needed a marine biologist to help them in a whale-tagging project. I went to Oregon State originally intending to be a whale researcher, & they wanted someone on the biological side of things who could study the differences in blubber between different groups of whales, & then explain how that would affect the way that the tag is implanted. Interestingly, I met my then-boyfriend, now husband there! He was working on the mechanical side of things studying how to get the tags to function properly. 9. How did you gain an interest in Scuba Diving, & what did you do in your capacity as a Divemaster? When I went to Oregon State, they had a program where you could take a class to learn Scuba Diving from a certified diver. I knew that I would likely end up needing the skill to properly do research, so I took the course & got the certification. I got to know the course instructor extremely well, & trained to become a diver master alongside him. I ended up helping him instruct some of his classes, & going out into the ocean to help get people certified. It was an amazing experience, so I've been able to use diving in my career ever since then. 10. What is the most fulfilling or proudest moment in your career thus far? Some of my best moments have been when I see other people learning & getting access to things. I worked incredibly hard for a very long time to gain access to marine science, & it was not easy. My proudest moments are generally when I help other people gain access to science. For example, when I take other people on the boat with me to learn how to do shark fishing to support shark science, it is extremely fulfilling to watch them get excited & realize that they can get close to sharks.  To not only learn about these animals but to watch other people learn about these animals, makes me very excited! It is sort of addicting. Overall, I would have to say that my proudest moment was watching one of the undergraduate students studying under me gradually learn more about shark science, write their thesis, & eventually work with me.  11. What is the biggest challenge or hurdle that you have faced in your career thus far? Quite frankly, my biggest challenge is other people not wanting me or other groups of people in this field. It is not always a welcoming field, although I do feel that is gradually changing. I have faced my fair share of exclusion & hardship, simply existing in the field.  The hardest part is the people who will randomly take action against your ability to do science. I do not completely understand the motivation behind that, it doesn’t exactly make sense to me.  I distinctly remember that as an undergrad, my biology professor took me aside & told me to change my degree, because I would never be successful in biology. People will make you feel as if you don’t have the right to be here, or as if you don’t belong, which has driven me to be as inclusive as possible. I try to share as much as possible & be as inclusive as possible. I’m grateful that that’s how I have come out the other side as opposed to being bitter about it, & perpetuating that cycle of exclusion. 12. Do you have any words for new marine biologists entering the field? Take the opportunities you can, they don’t often come. If there is anything that you can do, take it. Say yes as much as possible. The other thing that I would like to say is, at the same time, do not lose yourself in that process. It may feel like you need to sacrifice your soul for any opportunity, however, that isn’t true. As you are getting into the field, people may attempt to take advantage of you. Some professors are simply looking for bodies to fill roles, & they may not have your best interest in mind. Always listen to your gut & put yourself first, as no one else is going to. 13. How do you feel about the current public perception of sharks as menacing beasts, & do you wish to change it? I feel as if that is gradually changing thankfully. They aren’t these man-eating beasts that people seem to think that they are. One of my favorite statistics is that you are more likely to get killed by a vending machine than you are a shark. The likelihood is so low. Overall, I think that it is getting better, however there is still room to grow. Questions About Her Research:  14. How many research projects have you been involved in & what was your first research project? The first research project that I was a part of was the whale tagging project at Oregon State University, & the first time leading research was during my Master’s Degree when I made the octopus assessment.  15. What research are you currently conducting at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Sciences? I am currently what is called a Postdoctoral Fellow, people call it a post-doc for short. A Post-Doc is a temporary position people usually do after their P.hD, as most universities will not hire you immediately after you have finished your P.hD. A post-doc helps you gain more experience, & do your research while having something to fall back on. Getting a post-doc is entirely dependent on funding. I'm studying freshwater fish in this position, as that is where funding was. In this project, the leading professor wanted to hire somebody to lead a project looking for contaminants in the San Francisco Bay estuary, & I studied sharks in San Francisco Bay which is very close. I work very closely with a toxicologist looking at how pollution affects sharks & fish in the bay. Questions About Her Science Communication & Outreach: 16. How did you begin your Sharkpedia podcast & when did you begin it? We began it in 2021, my co-host Amani Weber-Schultz & I, I’m not even entirely sure how we came up with the idea! I do remember that I was in a Science Communication Class for my P.hd, & part of it was that we had to come up with a science communication project.  I had always been interested in the notion of starting a podcast, however I was very intimidated by it. I sort of used the excuse of it being for class as a reason to try, & see if my friend would be willing to help me. It was a very selfish, very amazing way to meet other scientists in the field. The point of Sharkpedia is that we have scientists come on & talk about how they conduct research, what led to it, & what struggles they had doing the science. That was a very excellent way for both my co-host & I, who were both P.hd students at the time, to learn a lot about the field.  Many great collaborations came out of it, and several people on the podcast ended up collaborating with me on research & other things. It was the perfect project to do as P.hd students. We unfortunately have had a small hiatus as Amani is at the end of her P.hd right now & she is grinding away. We are planning to come back this next year thankfully! It is a great way to connect with other scientists, & share science with other people. 17. Who is your co-host for the Sharkpedia podcast? Amani Weber-Schultz is a friend of mine, she volunteered with me once when I was working as an Aquarist. She co-founded Minorities In Shark Sciences which helped inspire me to start Minorities in Aquarium & Zoo Sciences. She is an incredible human, I am inspired by her all the time. She has studied the mechanics of dermo denticles, which are the scales on Sharks, quite extensively. She’s Awesome! 18. Have you considered doing a video version of the podcast or an animated version of the podcast? We have not considered an animated version of the podcast or a video portion, mostly because it is more editing on our part.  19. Do you have any final questions about sharks, science communication, or marine biology in general? If you are passionate & you want to be in this field, don’t let anyone tell you that don’t belong here. Directories / Credits https://meghanholst.weebly.com/ https://miazs.org/ Strategic Partnerships  Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast StemScribe Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

This is a beautiful photograph of Lahaina's Beaches before the catastrophic wildfire storm in 2023. Credit to Mlenny Photography. Lahaina is a beautiful town on the western end of the island of Maui. Maui is one of the 8 islands of Hawaii. The island of Maui is approximately 2,132.00 Nautical Miles (2453.462 miles or 3948.464 kilometers), from mainland America, specifically California. Lahaina has a fascinating history, which can still be seen in the town today. Lahaina is a popular resort town, as its front street was extremely famous for its jewelry & clothing lines. They were also famous for their Wharf which is right next to the water. Unfortunately, due to the catastrophic wildfires of 2023, the Wharf, & their beautiful stores, were reduced to nothing but Ash. This has greatly affected the tourism in the town as well, which is terrible as Lahaina’s main sector is tourism. The town is also a prime location for fishing, as they are extremely biodiverse. Many fishing charters depart from their port each day, to Lanai, & other areas around Maui. Lahaina’s waters have beautiful coral reefs that creep up onto the shore. Along every beach, dead coral lines the sand, & sprawling reefs can be seen very clearly in the water. Lahaina has rather peaceful waters, that are usually very calm. The coral reefs cause the waves of Lahaina to be rather quiet, though occasionally these waves may become rather intense. Lahaina is located on the western-central side of Maui, & is also a popular area of transit for its Maui-Lana’i passenger ferry. Lanai also has a unique mix of marine terrain, with everything from seagrass to coral, to rocky coves. Since Lahaina has an extreme proximity to Lanai, animals frequently migrate back & forth to get the most diverse access to prey. 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  Lahaina, Maui.  The Tides, Temperatures, Salinity, Marine Geography, & Basic Information Of The Oceans Surrounding Lahaina Lahaina rests in the Pacific Ocean, which means it most certainly has a lower salinity level than the Caribbean. The salinity around Lahina has been estimated at approximately 32.9 parts per thousand. Compared to the average salinity of the water in the central Pacific 35 parts per thousand, Lahaina’s salinity is shockingly low. 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 Lahaina can be found on a multitude of websites, a few of which are: https://www.usharbors.com , https://www.tideschart.com , and Https://tides4fishing.com . The tides in Lahaina usually don’t get over 3.34 feet, however, they can on occasion reach higher heights. The water temperatures unfortunately are not listed on those sites, but they are listed on these: https://seatemperature.net , https://seatemperature.info , https://www.watertemperature.net , https://www.watertemp.org , & finally, https://www.seatemperature.org . The average annual water temperature is approximately 25.7° Celsius (78.26 Fahrenheit). A wetsuit is not required to comfortably swim in Lahaina, & many swim in normal swimsuits. Riptide around Lahaina is generally not a threat, because the coral reefs cause the waves to be smaller. Currents around Lahaina are also not a big issue, because the coral provides a natural barrier. Lahaina is extremely popular for swimming, kayaking, & fishing. Lahaina is extremely safe for these activities as well, as it is not polluted at all. Snorkeling is also extremely popular & in Lahaina, as the coral reefs make for magnificent scenery. The deepest oceanic point within 5 nautical miles (5.7539 miles or 9.26 kilometers), is approximately 719.8 feet (219.39504 meters) deep. It is unclear how close exactly the nearest marine protected area is, as the area is not clearly outlined on any maps. The oceanic terrain around Lahaina primarily consists of mud, gravel, rock, sand, & coral. There is ongoing government research around Lahaina waters, but it is mostly just to monitor the marine species, & ecosystems.  The Most Prominent Marine Ecosystems Of Lahaina Ecosystem No. 1: Fringing Coral Reefs Fringing Coral Reefs are incredibly important to Lahaina’s marine ecosystem. These reefs usually are on the seafloor no further than 257.5459 feet (78.5 meters) deep. These reefs can be in shallow waters or deep sea. Many creatures such as whales, dolphins, rays, fish, & mollusks can be found in these ecosystems. By far, this type of ecosystem is the most biologically diverse & biologically active of Lahaina. The reason for this is simply that coral reefs have lots of prey, nutrients, & areas to hide. Additionally, coral reefs are paid particularly close attention to by conservationists as they provide a natural barrier against large waves, that could potentially damage coastal communities. The specific kind of coral reef found off the coast of Lahaina is known as a fringing coral reef, because it fringes along the shoreline, & juts up directly against the coast. There are 4 primary types of coral found off the coast of Lahaina, those coral being Lobe Coral, Cauliflower Coral, Rice Coral, & Finger Coral, all being warm water corals. Lobe coral is found from depths of 10 to 45 feet (3.048 to 13.716 meters) deep, & is usually a tan, green, or yellow color. Cauliflower Coral is the most common coral found in shallower reefs less than 10 feet (3.048 feet) deep, & is usually a tan or pink color. Rice Coral is usually found in shallower environments, ranging from 1 to 4 meters (3.28084 to 13.1234 feet)deep. It takes on a tan to blue color, & one species of Rice Coral, the Blue Rice Coral, is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. Lastly, finger coral lives at shallow depths to 100 feet (30.48 meters) deep, & is brownish yellow color.  Ecosystem No. 2: Rocky Reefs Rocky reefs are very similar to Coral reefs, but they just don’t have coral. They usually have interesting rock formations, that work similarly to holes in coral, in that they both protect from predators. These rocky reefs are usually less biodiverse though, & are usually in deeper areas of the ocean. Ecosystem No. 3: Coves & Rocky Pools Coves & Rocky tide pools are extremely common throughout Lahaina. Rocky Pools usually consist of coastal rocky areas, that fill up with water at high tide. These areas are not always filled with water, which provides access to more resources for certain animals. These areas are usually filled up with crustaceans, & bivalves. The reason for this is, that with the tide new nutrients can come in & out repeatedly like clockwork.  The Most Prominent Marine Flora Of Lahaina There are currently 2 known species of seagrass, those species being Halophila Hawaiiana (Hawaiian Seagrass), & Halophila decipiens (Paddle Grass). These are both found in underwater meadows around Hawaii. Hawaiian Seagrass is found right up against the coast, while Paddle Grass is found at least 100 feet deep. Hawaiian seagrass is approximately is unfortunately being threatened by an invasive species of algae, which is causing depletion. Hawaiian seagrass takes on a bright light green color, & is has blades only an inch long. Paddle Grass green & white ombré appearance, & has blades approximately 1.25 centimeters (0.492126 inches) long. Unfortunately, we could not confirm if certain species were found specifically in Lahaina, or if they were found in other parts of Maui, as the majority of publishers don’t specify.  The Most Prominent Marine Fauna Of Lahaina Lahaina has an interesting clash of marine species, as it is near the center of all the Hawaiian Islands. Many creatures will migrate from Lanai to Maui, as well as migrating to the rest of the Hawaiian islands. This makes it so that some creatures will not have a year-round residency on the island. This makes it rather hard to keep track of which animals are found around Maui, & which animals aren’t. They do this because Maui has a wide variety of ecosystems all very close to one another, which offers a unique contrast. Due to the diversity of this region, divers flock to this region to see it in person, before can’t anymore. Unfortunately, Lahaina’s coral reefs are in danger due to ocean acidification, & general rising temperatures. Many conservationists are working to prevent coral from bleaching, & to protect the seagrass species as well. Aside from the Blue Rice Coral, & the Hawaiian Monk Seal. There are no known endemic marine species to Maui. 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. Additionally, we will only be listing animals that have been seen within the last 2 years. With that being said, the list of all the most prominent species currently found around Lahaina are as follows: Megaptera Novaeangliae (Humpback Whale), Neomonachus Schauinslandi (Hawaiian Monk Seal), Stenella Longirostris (Spinner Dolphin), Tursiops Truncatus (Common Bottlenose Dolphin), Stenella Attenuata (Pantropical Spotted Dolphin), Rhinecanthus Rectangulus (Wedgetail Triggerfish), Acanthurus Triostegus (Convict Tang), Thalossoma Duperrey (Saddle Wrasse), Zanclus Corntus (Moorish Idol), Naso Lituratus (Pacific Orange-Spine Unicornfish), Zebrasoma Flavscens (Yellow Tang), Melichthys Niger (Black Triggerfish), Acanthurus Nigrofuscus (Dusky Sturgeonfish), Octopus Cyancea (Hawaiian Day Octopus), Chataedon Ornatissimus (Orange Butterflyfish), Canthigaster Jactator (Hawaiian Spotted Toby), Abudefduf Sordidus (Blackspot Sergeant), Parupenus Miltifasciatus (Manybar Goatfish), Mulliodichthys Flavolineatus (Yellowstripe Goatfish), Ostracion Meleagris (Spotted Boxfish), Aulostomus Chinensis (Pacific Trumpetfish), Fistularia Commersonii (Blue-spotted Cornetfish), Gymnothorax Meleagris (White-mouth Moray), Chaetodon Lunula (Raccoon Butterflyfish), Chataedon Quadrimaculatus (Four-spot Butterflyfish), Chaetodon Auriga (Threadfin Butterflyfish), Melichthys Vidua (Pinktail Triggerfish), Naso Unicornis (Bluespine Unicorn Fish), Gomphosus Varius (Bird Wrasse), Istiblennius Zebra (Zebra Blenny), Caranx Melampygus (Bluefin Trevally), Acanthurus Olivaceus (Orange Blotch Surgeonfish), Cantherhines Dumerilii (Barred Filefish), & finally Scarus Rubroviolaceus (Redlip Parrotfish). There are hundreds of other species, but for this article, we cannot list them all. All species can be found listed on https://www.inaturalist.org , by following this link.  How Ocean Acidification Is Affecting Lahaina’s Coral Reefs Lahaina is having issues with ocean acidification, in that it is causing the coral to become stressed out & then bleach. After coral bleaches, it is extremely hard to cause it to recover naturally. If the coral reefs of Lahaina disappear, the natural wave protection will cease & swimming will become more hazardous for humans. Additionally, many creatures will no longer have a natural habitat, & become endangered or possibly extinct.  Ocean acidification is caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.  Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have increased, largely because of human-caused burning of fossil fuels, & deforestation, for the past 150 years.  When carbon dioxide contacts sea water, it forms carbonic acid.  Carbonic acid gives off positive H+ ions, which causes increased oceanic H+ concentrations & decreased oceanic Ph. Directories / Credits  Citation No. 1: “Salinity Forecast: Hawai’i”,  Written by Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published By The Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System. Retrieval Date: September 12th, 2023.  https://www.pacioos.hawaii.edu/water/model-salinity-hawaii/ Citation No. 2: “The Hawaiian Islands Seagrass”, Written By Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. Retrieval Date: September 12th, 2023.  https://www.habitat.noaa.gov/protection/wetlands/wild-in-our-wetlands/wetlandpage.html?29 Citation No. 3: “Coastal Plants Of Hawaii: HAWAII - ENDEMIC”, Written By Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published By Marine Life Photography. Retrieval Date: September 12th, 2023.  https://www.marinelifephotography.com/marine/plants/plants.htm Citation No. 4: “Seagrass Restoration Initiative”, Written By Unknown & Published at an Unknown date. Published by Mālama Maunalua. Retrieval Date: September 12th, 2023.  https://www.malamamaunalua.org/habitat-restoration-program/seagrass-restoration-initiative/ Citation No. 5: “Corals Of Maui”, Written by Unknown & Published on October 18th, 2017. Published by the Hawaii Ocean Project. Retrieval Date: September 12th, 2023.  https://hawaiioceanproject.com/corals-of-maui/ Citation No. 6: “Maui, HI, US”, Written by INaturalist, & Published at varying Dates. Published by INatrualist. Retrieval Date: September 12th, 2023.  https://www.inaturalist.org/places/maui-island#taxon=47178 Strategic Partnerships  Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast StemScribe Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

An aerial drone photograph of Lahaina, pre-2023 firestorm—Credit to Christian Crook. Picture a place where Hawaiian kings once walked, where whaling ships crowded the harbor, and where one of the world's largest banyan trees spread its branches across an entire city block. This was Lahaina — a town that has witnessed the sweep of Hawaiian history from royal capital to tourist haven and now stands at the threshold of its greatest challenge. Lahaina is a beautiful town on the western end of the island of Maui, one of the eight islands of Hawaii. The island of Maui is approximately 2,132.00 Nautical Miles (2453.462 miles or 3948.464 kilometers), from mainland America, specifically California. Lahaina has a fascinating history, which can still be seen in the town today. Lahaina was up until recently a popular resort town, as its front street was popular for its beautiful jewelry & coastal clothing lines. They were also famous for their elaborate Wharf, which was abundant with shopping centers & eateries, & sat very close to the water. Devastatingly, due to the catastrophic wildfires of 2023, the wharf, front street, & many of the beautiful historic buildings were reduced to nothing but ash & smoke. The town is also a prime location for fishing, as they are extremely biodiverse. Many fishing charters depart from their port each day, to Lanai, & other areas around Maui. Lahaina’s waters have beautiful coral reefs that creep up onto the shore. Along every beach, dead coral lines the sand, & sprawling reefs can be seen very clearly in the water. Lahaina’s current town website is https://lahainatown.com , where information about the town can be accessed with ease. Lahaina was once briefly the capital of Hawaii, which caused many buildings to be added, thus making the historical district very large. The entire town of Lahaina is built right on the water so the average elevation is only about 3 feet (0.9144 meters). In the 2020 Population Census, Lahaina had a population of 13,216, but that unfortunately declined massively due to the catastrophic Maui Wild Fires of 2023. The next population census is in 2030, so hopefully by that point, the population will have recovered. In this article, we will discuss the Documented History Of Lahaina, the Aboriginals of Lahaina, the Most Destructive Man-made & Natural Disasters of Lahaina, & finally the Economic state of Lahaina. With that being said, let us delve into the tropical archives of Lahaina.  The Documented History Of Lahaina, Maui Before The Unification Of The Kingdom Of Hawaii Polynesian Settlers from the Marquesas first arrived on the island sometime between 400 A.D & 450 A.D. The last large wave of settlers arrived from Tahiti in about 700 A.D.  After The Unification Of The Kingdom Of Hawaii Events From The 19th Century Lahaina was only formally built after the Kingdom Unified, & was made the kingdom's shining capital in 1802, by King Kamehameha the First. He built a large brick palace there, government buildings, & many residential buildings to help industrialize the town. In 1810, King Kamehameha United all of the Kingdom Of Hawaii, & kept the sun-drenched coastal town of Lahaina as its capital. By this point Lahaina had become a major city for whaling & fishing, so it saw about 400 ships in the harbor at once almost every day. King Kamehameha decided that Lahaina should become a larger port, so he allowed missionaries to come into Lahaina. In 1820, the first protestant missionaries arrived on the island. These missionaries opened the first high school, made the first printing press on the island, introduced new fashion styles, & introduced the writing system. Unfortunately, while traveling to London with his wife, King Kamehameha The II died of measles. His younger brother, despite being only 11 years of age, was made king. In 1831, Maui’s Lahainaluna secondary school was opened, making it the oldest school in Hawaii, & the oldest school in the western USA. It was opened by Protestant Missionaries. It is still open to this day, as it managed to survive the Maui Wild Fires. The land on which it was built was given by the Chiefess Kalakua Hoapiliwahine. The school was originally built as a boarding school for young men to be taught promising talents as well as trades. Today, it remains one of the few public boarding schools in the U.S.A. In 1834, the Baldwin house was built, which is the oldest house built in Lahaina. Now, by 1840, Lahaina’s Whaling industry was booming, & their general fishing industry was growing rapidly. Without afety precuations such as a lighthouse, a disaster would have have been imminent. For this reason, the Lahaina lighthouse was built in 1840, making it the oldest lighthouse in the Pacific. When it was unveiled it was 9 feet tall, with a lamp lit with whale oil. In 1853, the Old Lahaina Prison Was built, also called Hale Pa’ahao. It was used to jail peace-violating soldiers, & was built partially of coral. In 1854, King Kamehameha III passed away, & his nephew, Alexander Liholiho, assumed the throne, & became King Kamehameha IV. In 1858, the beautiful Lahaina Courthouse was constructed. It, unfortunately, no longer stands, as its roof collapsed during the cataclysmic Maui Wildfires. Though, a few walls still stand, reminders of the monument that once was. As Lahaina grew, the economy was diversifying away from just whaling. One big example of this is the Pioneer Mill Company. The Pioneer Mill Company was established in 1860, as the first commercial sugar plantation in Lahaina. Soon after, in 1863, King Kamehameha passed away at age 29, & his older brother, Lot Kapuaiwa, assumed the throne. 1863 saw a massive surge in leprosy cases for Maui, a disease known to cause nerve damage, disfiguration, & death. To combat this horrible epidemic, King Kamehameha V enacted an isolation law, forcing people to arrested, hospitalized, & shipped to a small isolated island known as Kalaupapa. The first batch of patients sent to this island stayed there for 7 whole years. This law remained in effect until 1969, over 106 years later. In 1872, King Kapuaiwa passed away, & was the last king to be a direct descendant of the great King Kamehameha. He died without having any remaining family or producing an heir. The famous Banyan Tree of Lahaina was planted soon after he died in 1873. When it was planted, it was a mere 8 feet (2.4384 meters) tall, but now it is over 60 feet (18.288 feet) tall & covered an entire city block. Since King Kapuaiwa didn’t leave an heir, it was up to the election to choose the next king. William Charles Lunalilo was elected as the King Of Hawaii, & did not stay long in office. After amending the constitution, disbanding the army, & making it so that you didn’t need property to vote, he promptly passed away in 1874 of Tuberculosis. Although he had lost to King Lunalilo just a year before, King Kalakaua assumed the throne. Due to his passion for luxury, parties, music, & festivities in general, he had a massive palace built as his primary residence. This palace, the Lolani Palace, cost approximately 350,000 U.S.D. In 1891, King Kalakaua passed away after sailing to San Francisco for Treatment. His famous & extremely compelling last words were “Tell my people I tried”. After his death, his sister Queen Liluokalani assumed the throne. She was the last monarch of Hawaii. She was extremely opposed to U.S. annexation, & fought vigorously against it. She ultimately could not resist U.S. annexation, & in 1900, Hawaii became a U.S. territory.  After Unification With The United States Of America   Events From The 1900’s Hawaii officially became a U.S. territory in 1900, & would remain that way until 1959, when it officially became a U.S. state. In 1998, the historical Lahaina Courthouse was finally restored. Before the Maui Wildfires of 2023, it was home to the Lahaina Historical Museum. The majority of the documents were saved, as they were saved in online copies. However, the majority of the artifacts were destroyed in the fire.  The Aboriginals Of Lahaina, Hawaii Unfortunately, we could not find information on the Aboriginals of Lahaina specifically.  The Most Destructive Man-Caused & Natural Disasters To Affect Maui No. 1: The Maui Wildfires Of 2023 The Maui Wildfires were a catastrophic “fire hurricane”, that occurred in 2023. The fire first broke out on August 8th, & was not contained until September 3rd. The cause of the fire is unclear, but it is believed to be a downed power line. These wildfires caused approximately 102 deaths, 20 recorded injuries, 388 disappearances, & 5.52 Billion USD in damage at the time of publishing. Approximately 2,200 buildings were destroyed, with 86% of them being residential. Lahaina itself is 9.92 square miles, & 3.4 square miles were burned in the fire. That means that 34.27% of Lahaina was burnt. The fire displaced at least 11,000 people, & left many with nothing to return to. The numbers tell only part of the story, as numbers can't capture the depth of what was lost — generations of history, family homes, & pieces of Hawaiian culture that can never be replaced. Lahaina’s historical Front Street, Heritage Museum, Wharf, & Harbour were reduced to nothing but ash, & coral. It has been, without a doubt, the most destructive wildfire in the last century, & undoubtedly the worst disaster Lahaina has been faced with. No. 2: Hurricane Dora Hurricane Dora was a Category 4 hurricane that lasted from July 29th to August 21st. It brought winds of 145 miles per hour near Hawaii, which exacerbated the firestorm. Due to the high winds, the fire spread much quicker, & much further than it normally would have. It did not pass by Maui directly, so no casualties were caused by it directly. The Economic State Of Lahaina, Maui The economic state of Lahaina is currently terrible. Before the wildfires, Lahaina had a sprawling tourism, & fashion industry. Lahaina was close to the popular resort area of Kaanapali, giving it a massive influx of traffic. Since the majority of real estate, & markets have been destroyed in Lahaina, we cannot accurately calculate the cost of living or the average cost of real estate.  Directories / Credits Citation No. 1: “Lahaina Timeline”, Written By Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Government Of Lahaina. Retrieval Date: September 14th, 2023.  https://lahainatown.com/lahaina-history.php Citation No. 2: “Here are the names of those missing on Maui. Officials want you to read everyone.”, Written by Alisha Ebrahimji, & Published at 2:15 PM EDT, on August 25th, 2023. Published by CNN. Retrieval: September 14th, 2023.  https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2023/08/25/us/maui-missing-people-list-lahaina-wildfire/index.html Strategic Partnerships  Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast StemScribe Our Loyal Patrons Ms. Paloma Rodriguez Ochoa

A Charcoal Portrait Of Johan Hjort. 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 Johan Hjort, a Norwegian Marine Biologist & Marine Scientist. He is well known for his work regarding fisheries, scientific discovery, & his place in founding the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea.  In this article, we are going to delve into his formative years & education, his career & later life, & his achievements, accomplishments, awards, & honorables. With that being said, let us delve into the life & career of Johan Hjort.  His Formative Years & Education  Johan Hjort was born on February 18th, 1869, in Oslo, Norway. He was born to Johan S. A. Hjort, an accomplished professor in ophthalmology, & Elizabeth Falsen, of the Dano-Norwegian Noble Falsen Family. He had at least one sibling, Alf Hjort, who went on to become a distinguished electrical engineer. As a young man, he had a fascination with the natural world, which inspired him to go down the career path he ended up on. Although his true desires were to study animals & the natural world, his father wished for him to follow in his footsteps & become a doctor. Hjort began taking classes in medicine at the University of Oslo, however he felt unsatisfied & unfulfilled. His fascination for animals was incredibly strong, & eventually, he left, & went to the University of Munich to study Zoology. After graduating, he briefly worked at the Stazione Zoologica in Southern Italy, studying Botryllus tunicates. These tunicates would form the basis for his thesis. Upon leaving Italy, he returned to Munich & got his P.hd in 1892.  His Career & Later Life Upon earning his doctorate he returned to Norway & worked as the curator of a museum for a while, while simultaneously developing courses.  In 1894, he succeeded fellow marine biologist Georg O. Sars as a Research Fellow studying Fisheries. However, he quickly left the possession, as he had a desire to learn more about chemical oceanography. This desire led him to the University of Germany, where he stayed for a year, before moving back to Norway in 1897 to work at the Marine Biological Station at Oslo. Hjort soon began working with a variety of scientists & fisheries researchers such as C. G. Johannes Petersen, to study fish stocks in the shallow waters of Denmark. Petersen had devised an interesting trawling system for other research missions, however, it wouldn’t work as well for the soft-bottomed Norwegian fjords. Hjort adapted it successfully, & upon using it on an expedition in 1898, discovered plentiful stocks of Pandalus borealis, a species of Deep Sea Prawn. This was an incredibly important event, as it introduced a new kind of plentiful seafood to the region. The Norwegian government was very interested in this, & Hjort convinced them to fund the building of a deep-sea fisheries research vessel. He named the vessel Micheal Sars, after a marine zoologist. It was officially completed in 1900.  Hjort soon became the director of the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research in Bergen, Norway, & stayed in that position for 16 years. During this time, he conducted many research expeditions, venturing as far as Spitsbergen & Jan Mayen. A fellow Norwegian marine biologist had recently discovered that the eggs of certain commercially important fish would move naturally, & thus, would not be affected negatively by deep-sea trawling. Hjort found this information to be highly intriguing, & launched an expedition aboard the Micheal Sars research vessel to study the abundance of cod eggs in the North Atlantic. On this mission, he realized that areas with more plentiful eggs would usually have more existing plentiful fish stocks. This would lead many Norwegian Fishermen to come to these areas, & caused Norway to become one of the most profitable fishing grounds for Cod in Europe.  Around this time, he assisted in the founding of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, more commonly known as ICES. He served as the Norwegian Delegate to ICES from 1908 to 1938. He was elected president that year, & kept that position until his unfortunate death. In 1909, Scottish-Canadian Oceanographer John Murray, who we have discussed in a previous article, proposed a four-month expedition on the Micheal Sars research Vessel with Hjort as the Scientific Commander. He offered to fund the entire voyage, & Hjort accepted. They spent the winter months of late 1909 & early 1910 preparing the ship for the voyage, & set sail in April of that year. They traveled approximately 11,500 miles, & visited at least 116 research stations.  The results of the expedition were published in the book “The Depths of The Ocean”, 1912, which has since become one of the most popular scientific books amongst marine biologists.  After much research, in 1914, he published one of his most cited works, “Fluctuations in the Great Fisheries of Northern Europe”. In the same year, he conducted research on the Gulf of Saint Lawrence in Canada, & published the results in a small book. The book had a very small circulation, & very few copies exist modernly. His interest in fish populations led to him becoming concerned about overfishing, which he was one of the first people to consider. To combat this, he began petitioning the Norwegian Government to pass legislation that would limit whaling. Parliament listened, & soon passed legislation to limit commercial whaling.  Hjort negotiated foreign relations between England & Norway during the First World War regarding fish-purchasing agreements. He did this with the intention of it being made public, however, the Norwegian Foreign Minister decided otherwise. Distraught & mildly disappointed, Hjort resigned from most of his positions in Norway, & spent the next few years moving between Denmark & England. His thirst for knowledge led him to the Department of Physiology & Zoology at Cambridge University, where he was often seen taking notes during lectures. He would return to Oslo in 1921, to become a professor. He visited New England in 1936 to receive an honorary degree from Harvard University, & while visiting, he realized how similar the waters of New England were to the waters of Atlantic Norway. Hjort commissioned a research vessel to do trawling, & found an abundance of Shrimp. This caused shrimp fisheries to pop up along the Eastern United States, which were incredibly profitable.  Unfortunately, he passed away on October 7th, 1948, at the age of 79. He was married twice, with his first wife being Wanda von der Marswitz, & his second wife being Constance Gran. He had 2 sons & 2 daughters from his first wife, & no children from his second wife. He dedicated his life to marine life & zoology, & contributions to each field will not be forgotten.  His Achievements, Accomplishments, Awards, & Honorables For his scientific efforts, he has had many things named in his honor, including an oceanic trench, a species of squid, a mountain range, & a street in Bergen, Norway.  He single-handedly increased fisheries worldwide & understanding of how fish stocks naturally fluctuate. He has published multiple books that have had an incredible impact, a few of which are The Unity Of Science, 1921, & The Depths Of The Ocean, 1912.  He received multiple honorary degrees from many universities, including Harvard & Cambridge. He has received many awards, including an Alexander Agassiz Award.  He has received many honors, including the Order of St. Olav, & the Fellowship of the Royal Society. Directories / Credits Citation No. 1: “Johan Hjort superhero ‘avenger’ of fisheries research and the man who showed Forrest Gump how to go shrimpin'”, Written by Ibon Cancio, & Published on May 31st, 2021. Published by the European Marine Biological Resource Center. Retrieval Date: October 15th, 2024. https://www.embrc.eu/newsroom/news/johan-hjort-superhero-avenger-fisheries-research-and-man-who-showed-forrest-gump-how Citation No. 2: “Obituary: Johan Hjort 1869-1948”, Written by A. C. Hardy, & Published on November 1st, 1950. Published by Royal Society Publishing. Retrieval Date: October 15th, 2024. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsbm.1950.0012 Citation No. 3: “Scientist Of The Day: Johann Hjort”, Written by Dr. William B. Ashworth, & Published on October 7th, 2015. Retrieval Date: October 15th, 2024. https://www.lindahall.org/about/news/scientist-of-the-day/johann-hjort/ Citation No. 4: “A Sea Change: Johan Hjort & The Natural Fluctuations In Fish Stocks”, Written by Vera Schwach, & Published in October 2014. Retrieval Date: October 15th, 2024. https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Johan-Hjort-was-a-well-regarded-marine-scientist-but-also-a-controversial-Director-of_fig1_273028270 Citation No. 5: “Hjort, Johan (1869-1948): Marine & Fisheries Biology”, Written by Charles Smith, & Published in 2005. Published by Some Biogeographers, Evolutionists and Ecologists: Chrono-Biographical Sketches. Retrieval Date: October 15th, 2024. https://people.wku.edu/charles.smith/chronob/HJOR1869.htm Citation No. 6: “Johan Hjort: A Marine Research Pioneer Whose Ideas Still Hold Water”, Written by Unknown, & Published on November 15th, 2019. Published by The Barents Observer. Retrieval Date: October 15th, 2024. https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/news/johan-hjort-a-marine-research-pioneer-whose-ideas-still-hold-water/226511 Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast  StemScribe Our Loyal Patrons Ms. Paloma Rodriguez Ochoa

A stunning photograph of a coral reef by Raphael Ritson-Williams. In today’s article, we delve into an interview conducted by our head writer with esteemed professor, coral researcher, & underwater photographer, Raphael Ritson-Williams.  Raphael Ritson Williams is an esteemed marine biologist currently working as a Professor at California State University, Northridge. He is well known for is tropical coral research, chemical ecology research, & photographs of nudibranchs as well as other marine animals. His photographs have been featured in numerous naturalistic magazines, including National Geographic, Scientific American, & The New York Times. In addition to these, he is well known for his science communication efforts with young science students, including his Big Data in Biology project.  In this interview, we ask Professor Ritson-Williams about his research, outreach, underwater photography, successes, failures, & advice for new marine biologists in 28 questions. Please note that all answers have been edited for clarity, & that the opinions of our interviewee do not necessarily reflect the opinions of our newsletter. With that being said, let us delve into the contents of the Interview. The Contents Of The Interview Questions About His Passion for Marine Life: 1. What sparked your interest in marine biology? You know, I’ve always loved being outside. Just being outside & seeing all sorts of creatures & different landscapes have always, I’ve always enjoyed it. I was born in Santa Cruz, & my parents would take me tide-pooling as a young child. I used to think that it was so cool that all these little creatures lived in tide pools, & that sparked my interest. It inspired me to pursue marine biology multiple times in my education in high school, at one point I did a summer program in biology. Then in college, I tried to take more ecology & marine biology-focused classes. In the middle of my college career, I went scuba diving in Jamaica & Belize. The Caribbean is amazing for Scuba diving, it was gorgeous. I remember thinking right then “I want to study coral reefs”. That was a real turning point in which I pivoted away from general biology, & further into coral reef stuff. 2. Is there a specific person, place, or moment that made you realize you wanted to pursue marine biology? As a high school senior, I took this month-long summer class about marine life. We did lots of things during it, we trawled, we caught fish, and we even went snorkeling around Catalina Island. I just loved everything that we did during it, & was very fascinated. That cemented the idea that I wanted to be a marine biologist. The other students didn’t like it, they thought the fish was slimy, and it was not for everyone. 3. Do you have a favorite marine or terrestrial animal & if so, why?  Gosh, I’m not sure I have a favorite! I would say I like underappreciated things. For instance, when I was getting my master's degree, I studied flatworms. I didn't know anything about flatworms at the time until I started collecting them & studying them. Half the species I had collected were new to science!  I would say they are kind of like nudibranchs, they're a bit like nudibranchs in appearance. They're charming, very colorful, I love them, especially the tropical ones. So I would say my favorite animals are the underappreciated ones that are still super diverse.  I also do work in chemical ecology. I studied a compound called tetrodotoxin, so as a result, one of my favorite creatures is the Blue Ringed Octopus. In general, I think that one of the coolest creatures is octopi because they can change colors & swim in all of these weird ways. They're definitely some of my favorite creatures. 4. What sparked your interest in underwater diving? Gosh, I learned to Scuba Dive in the middle of college! It was just sort of a way to get underwater at the time & see different creatures. I would say the first 20 to 30 dives that I did, I felt like an alien in a different world. I didn't really know how to deal with being underwater, it was such a different place. I would say after the first 40 dives I became super comfortable there, & I sort of realized that it is not difficult to be a Scuba Diver. 5. How did you become interested in Science Communication & Outreach? My desire to be a teacher is sort of pushing my career, & my desire to do outreach. One of the hills that I may or may not die on is that scientists do a really bad job communicating science. Part of it is our training; we have to use these fancy words to communicate our science to other scientists -- but then that excludes 99% of humans! I think that's a flaw, to move forward with science we have to engage everybody. Some people deny all sorts of scientific things just because they don't understand it, & I worry that it is our fault. You know, I will say communicating science is a real challenge. It's like being a translator; you have to take scientific language & communicate it to normal humans properly. Questions About His Career: 6. How did you begin your career in marine biology? At the beginning of my career, I was fascinated with getting outside & doing fieldwork. When I visited Jamaica & Belize, I was just traveling around South America for a few months before graduation. I had the opportunity to volunteer while Scuba Diving, & I loved it. When I graduated from College, for my Bachelor's Degree. I was looking to do similar fieldwork projects, but everyone wanted to do fieldwork. Unfortunately, I didn't get a job in that, so I ended up working as a secretary because I am a very fast typer. It paid just fine, however I was incredibly bored. I was just putting away papers & alphabetizing files. It's fine if that is what you want to do, it pays alright & I could go home & have fun, but it was not fulfilling. 7. Which universities did you attend for your Bachelor’s & Masters Degree? I attended Evergreen State College in Washington for my Bachelor's Degree, & the University of Guam for my Master's. Both are in biology.  Evergreen State College is a state school in Washington, it was a really good choice at the time because I was living in Portland, Oregon. It had a very non-traditional academic culture, so you got to design your research projects and then get class credits for those. That appealed to me quite a lot. They had this fantastic marine biology program, so there were many classes about marine biology, which was amazing. They were also very focused on teaching, which is very important to me! At larger universities there is this sort of pressure to do research, which is absolutely important & integral, however, you are a professor at the end of the day & have to care about your students. I got my master's degree in Guam, which is this little island even further west than Hawaii. The advantage there was that I could jump off the island & be in a coral reef instantly. 8. How did you up studying at the University of Hawai’i for your PhD? After working in Florida after my master's degree, I wanted to get my P.hD in coral ecology, & there aren't a whole lot of places to do that in the United States. It was very important to me that I had access to a coral reef, so I ended up choosing Hawaii. There was also this one professor that I wanted to work with who left right after I arrived, so I ended up transferring to another person's lab & doing my P.hd under Ruth Gates. I'm not sorry that I changed to work in her lab, she was an amazing lady, & I can't say enough good things about her.  9. What was the subject of your thesis, did you have any advisors or mentors? I had the plan to do this really complex experiment that would look at multiple stressors & how they would affect the health of a coral colony, & how sediment, as well as temperatures, would interact with coral & affect its health. Then it was an incredibly hot year, & all the coral bleaching in Hawaii. My advisor, Ruth Gates, told me that they needed someone to go out & study this coral bleaching, & she looked right at me. I thought that was probably a hint, & it ballooned into my dissertation product.  I would argue that I am mostly an experimental ecologist, I enjoy designing experiments & testing things. In an experimental framework, you can control a lot of things. However, this project was out in the field. It was a change of pace for me in terms of, this was more observational than experimental. Often in science, you may have a clear picture of what you want to achieve, but don't ignore all the random obstacles that pop up. Because often, they lead to incredibly interesting projects. Don't limit yourself. 10. How did you become a professor at CSUN, & which courses are you currently teaching? It was a very long, windy road to professorship. I finished my P.hd in 2017, then I did a postdoctoral at the California Academy of Sciences. That was wonderful, the money dried up for that after 2 or 3 years. Then, I worked as an adjunct professor at Santa Clara University, as a lecturer. I found them through a posting for an ecologist to teach for a year, & responded. They thought I was a good teacher, & ended up renewing my contract for 3 more years. No one gave me a prescriptive about how to teach, so I got to try out many things on my own. I taught a flipped class at one point, in which students would watch their lectures at home & only do work while in class. That was an incredible way to teach certain topics.  I would say doing my postdoctoral program was very formative in terms of my projects now, I learned many new skills through it & I've gotten to apply those skills to so many new & exciting questions.  As for which classes I teach, I teach Biology 106 which is Introduction to General Biology, & this one upper-division class which is on experimental design & analysis. Next semester I will be teaching a graduate class on how to effectively use the computer program R. 11. How did you get the idea to do outreach & education involving marine biology & how exactly do you do it? I began doing outreach while I was in Hawaii. So in Hawaii, there is this kind of very complex invasive algae that made this network where marine animals could live. I love biodiversity, so I would hold outreach events where the children would just count how many different creatures there were. It was wonderful to show them, & super fun. 12. How did you begin developing lessons, how many lessons do you currently have on your website, & which lesson did you enjoy developing the most? I believe that I have 6 lessons online as of now, I wanted my website to be an outreach venue. When I built it, I envisioned it as a resource for teachers. I think that providing these lessons for free & in an accessible way introduces people to the field who would have never been interested otherwise.  13. What is your Big Data in Biology Project, how did you develop it, & how long did it take you to develop it? My Big Data In Biology Project was sort of an experiment, I held a ten-day long course in which I taught fifth graders how to use the Data Analysis Program R. I would argue that as we get older, we have more of a fear of using computers, & it gets harder to learn to code using a computer program. I think that if we can get students in this young, they won't be as afraid of it. I taught it twice to 2 different cohorts of students, with give or take 20 students in each class. About half class learned R just fine, with 1 to 5 students excelling at it. As students get older, they grow to be more afraid of failure. When they're younger, there is less of that. I would say that failure is a very important part of science, & not enough people acknowledge that. I would say that I failed at almost every experiment before getting it correctly, it's a valuable part of the learning process.  14. What was the proudest or most fulfilling moment in your career thus far? Gosh, I'd say the hardest thing that I have done in my career was getting this job! Maybe it is because I am so new, however, this is the proudest thing that I have done so far. I'm also quite proud of all the papers I have written, I would say I've written over 50. In my younger days, I used to keep track of this, & I knew exactly how many I had. Once you get past a certain number, it doesn't matter anymore. In the beginning, I wanted to have publications for credibility I suppose. In the last 10 years, however, my mindset has begun to change. Now I no longer publish something simply because I want credibility, I want it to matter & to mean something. That being said, I don't believe any of my early papers were bad, however they were written with a purpose. 15. What is the largest challenge that you encountered at any point in your career? This isn't really an issue related to me, it's more of a field-wide issue. However, I'm very concerned that the upper echelons of science, such as the level of being a professor, lacks diversity. That worries me, if you were to survey our departments there are very few people of colour, & very few women. There is also not much diversity in terms of the backgrounds of people who reach professorship, usually, those people come from an academically inclined family. Very few of us are first-generation professors.  I see that as a challenge not so much in my career, but as something that I am very concerned with, & I would like to address that. 16. What is your advice for new marine biologists beginning in this field? It's a very broad field. Many people go into it thinking that it is all swimming with dolphins when that is a very small percentage of the field. My advice for new marine biologists is primarily to learn as many skills as possible, & expand your tool belt. I think that is one of the major reasons I have been successful in science, I know how to do everything from measuring photosynthesis to doing organic chemistry. Do not limit yourself, don't think that you are only going to be a fish biologist or only going to study dolphins. Questions About His Research: 17. What was your first research project? My first publication was on Nudibranchs, & their interactions with corals. I was doing that project with one of my advisors, Valerie Paul, she paid me to do it, & it was fun! That was one of the things that got me interested in Chemical Ecology. 18. What inspired you to do research involving tropical coral reefs? I've always identified coral reefs as a threatened ecosystem, which has caused me to want to do research that would help corals persist in the future.  19. Do you do research involving Crustose Coralline Algae? Yes! In fact, that's a major aspect of my research program moving forward. So, when coral larvae are looking for a place to settle on the ocean floor, they use this particular kind of algae to signal to them that an area is safe for them to grow in. Coralline algae have similar requirements to coral, meaning that if coralline algae is thriving in an environment, coral is likely to as well. It's a very fascinating subject. In many ways, Coralline algae is tied to the oceanic ecology of California. I'm very interested in seeing how it interacts with other elements of our ecosystems, & how they impact other species. 20. What research are you currently conducting at CSUN & how are you involving students? I'm currently looking at Coralline algae along the California Coastline & seeing exactly how many species there are, as they are all physically very similar & you must use genetics to tell certain species apart. I would like to involve more students in that, I'm currently looking into involving a few undergraduate students. 21. How do you get funding for your current research? As a new professor, I have a small research budget given to me by my university. For the first 2 years, I get some money, however, after that, I'm responsible for getting grants on my own. Honestly, I like to write grants, I think that it is such a magical thing that as a scientist I can write a 15-page grant & the National Science Foundation will send me a million dollars.  You've got to stand out to get funding, their funding rate is incredibly low at 5%, maybe 10%. You have to be more than just a smart person to get a grant, you have to be interesting. 22. What exactly do you do in your capacity as a research fellow at the California Reefs Initiative? The research that I did at the California Reefs Initiative was a part of the Post-Doctoral Program I did with the California Academy of Sciences. They got a large donation to study coral reefs while I was there, so I worked on a project similar to my dissertation studying the difference between bleached & unbleached corals. I worked with them for a year or two, it was very fulfilling. Questions About His Scuba Diving & Underwater Photographs: 23. How did you begin Scuba Diving, & how did you earn your certification? I first learned to Scuba dive in Santa Cruz, as I was there for a summer & had some time. Usually over the summer, I would work a job, this year I worked this random construction job. I had a little bit of extra free time on the weekends, & decided to take a Scuba-diving class because that was always something that I wanted to learn! I would learn about it in this classroom in Santa Clara, & do open water dives in Monterey. It was very cold, you've got to be comfortable with being cold to dive. 24. How did you begin doing underwater photography, & what is your underwater camera? I believe I got my first Camera during my Master's Degree. One of the professors that I was working with in Guam wanted us to photograph everything that we collected, & he had this fantastic underwater housing setup, & taught me as well as a friend how to properly photograph things underwater. My first camera was a Nikonos 5 underwater slide camera, I got it around 2006. I learned some very important lessons by starting with slide photography, as I only had 36 slides in every roll of film. It caused me to be very judicious about what deserved to be photographed.  I intend to purchase a new camera soon, I feel like I'm at a place now where I could use a larger camera to take more impressive & interesting pictures. I've yet to decide on a model though.  25. What is your favourite animal to underwater photograph, & do you have a favourite underwater photograph? I really enjoy clownfish! There is something about clownfish in an anemone that is so fascinating, I must have a thousand pictures of Clownfish at this point. The texture of an anemone is also amazing, I'm very interested in capturing texture in my photographs. My favorite photograph as of now is on this massive print at my house, it is of this photograph that I took in the Caribbean of this fish called a Flamingo Tongue. It's pink with little spots all over it, & it is on a purple gorgonian coral. The fish is sitting front & center, & the coral makes this beautiful texture. I believe the photograph is on my website, it is one of my favorites. 26. Although you may not keep track of this, how many estimated dives have you been on? Gosh, somewhere on the scale of 1,000.  27. What is your favourite place that you have dove, & when do you intend to dive again? I love the Caribbean & the Pacific Ocean, however, there is something about the Gorgonian corals of the Caribbean that I just love. Unfortunately, I have not done any dives this year, & have only done a few since the COVID-19 pandemic.  28. Do you have any final words about marine biology, tropical reefs, climate change, or science communication? No, I think I’ve said enough! Directories / Credits http://www.raphswall.com/ Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast StemScribe Our Loyal Patrons P. R Ochoa

Today’s map is an antique map of Puget Sound, Washington. Puget Sound is a sound in northern Washington, with several large cities such as Tacoma and Seattle along its coastline. The sound is comprised of a very complex network of waterways going between Washington and Canada. The sound is quite large, with an area of approximately 1,020 square miles (2641.788 square kilometers).  The map is in great condition, apart from some small stains on the upper part of the map. The dimensions are approximately 40.5 inches wide, & 32.5 inches long.  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 interesting & biodiverse area of Puget Sound. The Chart Itself An Antique Nautical Chart of Puget Sound, Washington, USA. Credit to Maps of Antiquity. As the map is in English, there is no need for translation. The chart is centered around Puget Sound, & lacks colour. It has much detail with almost every curve in the shoreline, each peninsula, & each island outlined perfectly. The names of various areas of Puget Sound are clearly outlined on the map, with most areas marked.  The map has 3 different compasses on it, which would point the reader wherever they wish to go, no matter where they are in Puget Sound. These compasses are located in the upper left corner, the middle of the chart, and the upper right corner. An Analysis Of The Chart This chart was designed in 1891 by the United States Coast & Geodetic Survey,  one of the precursors to the National Atmospheric & Oceanic Administration. The United States Coastal & Geodetic Survey was the first scientific Agency made by the United States Government, established in 1807. The Agency was unfortunately abolished in 1970 when it was merged with several other agencies to create the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. The map is fairly accurate as to how Puget Sound appeared at the time. Although it was made for militaristic use, it was likely also used by civilian sailors. It is not clear how this map was made, however, the most popular method at the time was Lithography. The lithographic method was most popular for map making between the early 1820s, & the early 1930s. 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 Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

The Documented History Of Vancouver Island Today’s article will discuss the oceans surrounding Vancouver Island. Vancouver Island, Canada is an extremely southerly Island belonging to Canada, very close to Washington State. It is the world’s 43rd largest Island, & it belongs to the country of Canada. It is across the Strait of Georgia from the metropolitan area of Vancouver. Its capital is Victoria, which resides on the southern tip of the island, in the administrative district known as the “Capital Regional District”. It has an approximate population of 864,000. The highest elevation on the island is the Golden Hinde Mountain, In the Vancouver Island Ranges. It is approximately 7,201 feet (2,194.865 meters) in height. The island itself is approximately 10.73 Nautical Miles (12.347863 miles or 19.87196 kilometers) from the nearest mainland area, that area being Washington State. The island is famed for its untamed beaches, beautiful rainforests, & fascinating wildlife. The island has a beautiful mountain range that blends in with the coastline, & the temperate rainforests, which creates a unique clash of terrain. Additionally, its proximity to both Washington State, & Canada, makes it so that creatures from both can migrate over from each area quickly. This creates a strange ecological environment, which can attract some of the strangest species. In this article, we will discuss the Documented History Of Vancouver Island, the Aboriginals of the Island, the Most Destructive Man-Caused & Natural Disasters of the Island, & finally the Economic state of the Island. With that being said, let us delve into the rich history of this temperate island.  The Documented History Of Vancouver Island  Before Colonization Vancouver Island was formed approximately 150 million years ago, when Volcanic activity pushed sedimentary rock upwards from the sea floor, & thus the island was born. It was much different geographically, & possibly larger, due to rising the fact that sea levels were much lower. Vancouver Island has been populated for at least 13,800 years, by three main Aboriginal Groups, those being the Coastal Salish, the Nuu-Chah-Nulth, 7 Kwakwaka’wakw.  After Colonization  History From The 1700’s In 1778, the esteemed Captain James Cook made contact with the island, & made its existence known on a map. In 1788, John Meares began trading in the region of otter pelts, & seal pelts. The island began to be geographically surveyed by George Vancouver, a British naval officer, in 1792. However, The mapping of the island was not completed until 1795, due to the sheer size of the island. Soon after, the island was acquired by the Hudson’s Bay Company, & was held by said company up until it was made a British Colony in 1849.  History From The 1800’s  During the early 1800’s, whaling became extremely popular & profitable among many hunters. Whales specifically were popular for their oil, which was used in a variety of cosmetics. In 1843, Fort Victoria was built, which reinforced the fur industry as it was an incredibly large fur trading outpost. It also boosted the economy on the island by a fair amount. In 1849, Vancouver Island was made a British Crown Colony, independent of British Columbia. In 1853, a few large coal mines opened in Nanaimo Harbour, which is on eastern Vancouver Island. This brought an entirely new industry to the island, & along with it came a new age of innovation. In the year 1860, the first sawmill on the island saw its first export, which began a boom in the lumber industry on the island. This also caused a mass influx of immigrants who were seeking the Canadian dream, & seeking stability. A surprising amount of Chinese immigrants came in during this period as well, but the majority of European immigrants wouldn’t come until a few years down the line. In 1866, Vancouver Island was absorbed by mainland British Columbia, & stopped being its province. The first medium-sized wave of European Immigrants came to Victoria in 1874, largely from Scotland. In 1904, the islands ' renowned gardens were built by Jennie Butchart, who along with her husband sculpted a limestone quarry, into a beautiful green oasis.  History from the 1900’s In the 1900s many naturalist projects took place, which made the island much prettier generally. The first of which, was in 1904. In 1904, the islands ' renowned gardens were built by Jennie Butchart, who along with her husband sculpted a limestone quarry, into a beautiful green oasis. Soon after in 1911, construction on the Strathcana Provincial Park, which was the first nature preserve on the island. Beginning in 1938, Salmon fishing became an extremely popular leisure activity on the island, which attracted many tourists from both Canada & America. As the influence of Hollywood grew, many actors would have summertime or part-time residences on the island. One of the most famous of these celebrities was Bing Crosby, who often Salmon fished on the island. In 1958 the destruction of Ripple Rock caused the largest man-made non-nuclear explosion at the time. On the morning of April 5th, 1958 at 9:32:02 AM, Ripple Rock was destroyed. 699,998.547 US tons (635,028 tonnes) of rock erupted to a height of 1,000 feet (304.8 meters), in a spectacular sight of human innovation. All debris took about 10 seconds to fall into the water, leaving a smoke cloud behind. Thankfully, this did not cause any major issues. In 1960, a growing need for public transportation between the mainland & the island began becoming very apparent, so a ferry service formed. The first ferry trips were in 1960, & have been in regular service ever since. Unfortunately, in 1964, disaster struck the island with devastating effects. In 1964, in the south-central area of Vancouver Island, Port Alberni was struck by 2 tsunamis, which destroyed about 50 homes, & injured countless other homes. Many residents were displaced, & many commercial buildings were damaged. Thankfully though, there were no direct deaths as a result of the tsunamis. In 1970, the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve was established, bringing a more optimistic future for the island as a whole. Additionally, in 1974, The Islands Trust was formed to manage Vancouver Island, as well as the hundreds of small surrounding islands. This trust's Office is located at 1627, Fort St. Victoria, BC V8R 1H8, Canada. Additionally, the island's first ski resort was opened in 1979, at Mount Washington. This brought a whole new industry to the island, which made the island even more economically prosperous.  The Aboriginals Of Vancouver Island It is important to know, that there are many more Aboriginals on Vancouver Island, & these are just the 3 main groups of Aboriginals. We cannot cover all of the groups in this article, due to informational constraints.  No. 1: Coastal Salish Aboriginals  The Coastal Salish Aboriginals are a group of indigenous peoples found on southwestern Vancouver Island. They are also found in British Columbia & along Puget Sound. They seem to have inhabited the area for at least 8,000 years, alongside others. There are 3 distinct subdivisions, & 9 distinct dialects of said languages. These subdivisions are Nuxalk, Coast Salish, & Interior Salish. All of these languages are incredibly endangered, & only have 3-4 native speakers each at any given time. Before Colonization, they primarily sustained themselves by fishing. The majority of their inland villages were along rivers, to fish more easily. They would often construct houses out of logs, & build permanent winter lodging instead of going south. Their basic familial unit is centered around the extended family, rather than the nuclear family. Usually, all family members would just live in one large house. They often held ceremonies in the winter, which would consist of dancing. It seems that these ceremonies were often very individualistic, & differ between different families, but this is unconfirmed. Their modern population estimates are at 25,000.  No. 2: Nuu-Chah-Nulth Aboriginals The Nuu-Chah-Nulth Aboriginals are an indigenous peoples group, who hunted whales along the Pacific Coast for years. They were primarily found along the western coast of Vancouver Island. They were formerly referred to as the Nootka, which is what gave Vancouver Island the original name of, Nootka Island. The Nuu-Chah-Nulth is about 15 different tribes of closely related people, instead of just one group. They used to have a very plentiful population, but when they made contact with settlers, massive smallpox outbreaks caused the majority of them to die. This also caused the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Language to become extremely endangered. Their culture is one of the few northwestern traditions in which whaling is practiced. Whaling is an important part of their spirituality, as can be seen in their songs, folklore, names, & territorial names. The most popular example of this being reflected in their spirituality, was prayer houses, such as the Yuquot Whalers Shrine. These temples were used to undergo spiritual preparations before going on a whaling expedition. They have hunted whales for at least 4,000 years, primarily of the grey & humpback species. They also seem to have hunted Orca on occasion, as it was regarded as high quality. Additionally, Social status affected whether or not you were allowed to join the whaling hunt. If you were not in a high social position, you would not be allowed to join the hunt, nor would you get much of the whale blubber. To join the whaling hunt was seen as an honor by the Nuu-Chah-Nulth, which is why the hunts were primarily led by the chief or head of the village. Their diets primarily were fish & crustacean-based, these fish included Herring, Rockfish, Salmon, & Halibut. They also seemed to have clams, mussels, & sea urchins as a large part of their diet. Berrying was also common practice, with the most popular berries being huckleberry, & blueberry. A few tribes would also pick crabapples, but that was much less popular. Lots of oral history about the traditional diets of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth has survived to this day, & been published as a 90-page cookbook. For their choice of wood for housing, it was often red or yellow cedar wood trees. This wood was also used for carvings of statues, & shrines. No. 3: Kwakwaka’wakw Aboriginals  The Kwakwaka’wakw are a group of indigenous peoples who inhabit Vancouver Island, as well as the nearby British Columbia region. Their current population census is estimated at 3,665 individuals. They currently have 13 organized band governments. Their lifestyles are very ocean-oriented, & whaling is an important part of their tradition. Their songs, traditional dances, folklore, & ceremonial rituals reflect their cultural emphasis on oceanic life, & connection with nature. Aside from whaling, they often would hunt salmon & oolichan, a kind of silvery fish. The Kwak’wala language contains 43 alphabetical characters, & unfortunately is endangered. Their complete alphabet is linked here: https://umistapotlatch.ca . There are currently about 14 communities that still speak the Kwak’wala language. Currently, there are approximately 585 native speakers of the Kwak’wala language. The Kwakwaka’wakw celebrate a large cultural gathering known as a potlatch. In this gathering, they will gather, feast on many different dishes, exchange gifts, & perform dances. This tradition has persisted into the modern day, & is still extremely commonplace among these individuals. They share this tradition with the Nuu-Chah-Nulth, & many others. Currently, the U’mista Cultural Society works to preserve the Kwakwaka’wakw heritage & culture.  The Most Destructive Man-Caused & Natural Disasters To Affect Vancouver Island No. 1: The Port Alice Landslide Of 1975 On a November Morning of 1975, major rains affected the area of Port Alice, & caused a massive landslide. Port Alice had a population of about 1,500 people at the time, but due to a local lumber company, they had many people traveling through for work. Many people in Port Alice didn’t listen to any warnings telling them to not build their houses on cliff-sides, so there was much more to destroy than there should have been. There were thankfully no casualties, but it did cause many displacements of families.  No. 2: The Vancouver Island Earthquake of 1946 On June 23rd, 1946, at 10:13:26 AM, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Vancouver Island. This was the largest onshore earthquake to affect Canada at the time. The earthquake was felt as far as Portland, Oregon, & knocked down approximately 75% of the chimneys in the surrounding area. Unfortunately, 2 deaths happened as a result of the earthquake, & 1 person drowned due to their small boat capsizing. Another person died indirectly as a result of the earthquake, from a heart attack in Seattle, Washington. Many people were displaced as a result of the earthquake, & it took many months to fully recover. As a result of the earthquake, many schools & commercial were seismically reinforced, to protect civilians.  No. 3: The Alberni Valley Tsunami Of 1964 The Alberni Valley Tsunami was caused by the great Alaskan earthquake, which measured 9.2 in magnitude. The tsunami was not just 1 gargantuan wave, instead, it was 6 big waves. The tsunami waves cost about 5,000,000 million U.S.D in 1964, which adjusted for inflation is approximately 49,305,000.00 U.S.D. Thankfully, there were no casualties as a result of the tsunami.  No. 4: Columbus Day Storm Of 1962 The Columbus Day Storm was a typhoon that affected the Southern Coast of Canada, & the Pacific Northwest of America. It lasted from September 28th, 1962, to October 27th, 1962. It first made landfall on Vancouver Island & Washington on October 13 of 1962, before curving northwestern. The storm caused 46 casualties across Oregon, Northern California, Washington, & British Columbia. One reason for its massive power is that it absorbed another storm before hitting Washington. The total damage caused was approximately 230,000,000 U.S.D at the time, which adjusted for inflation is 2,328,110,264.90 U.S.D.  The Economic State Of Vancouver Island Vancouver Island’s economy is extremely diverse, with thriving Aquaculture, Manufacturing, Software, Tourism, Agriculture, Finance, Forestry, & Construction industries. Vancouver Island’s GDP per Capita is approximately 46,250$ as of 2024. The total GDP of Vancouver, is roughly 37 Billion, despite only having 870,000 people. The average townhouse on Vancouver Island costs approximately 561,500 U.S.D. There are usually between 200 to 300 homes on the market that are on the island at any given time.  Directories / Credits Citation No. 1: “Vancouver Island”, Written by the Editors Of Encyclopedia Britannica, & published first on July 20th, 1998. Published by the Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieval Date: September 7th, 2023.  https://www.britannica.com/place/Vancouver-Island Citation No. 2: “History & Heritage Of Vancouver Island”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Bluewater Adventures. Retrieval Date: September 7th, 2023.  https://vancouverisland.com/about/history-heritage/history-heritage-of-vancouver-island/ Citation No. 3: “Vancouver Island - An In-Depth History”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Nanaimo Yacht Charters. Retrieval Date: September 7th, 2023.  https://www.nanaimoyachtcharters.com/vancouver-island-depth/ Citation No. 4: “Coast Salish”, Written by Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the First Nations Website. Retrieval Date: September 7th, 2023.  http://www.firstnations.de/development/coast_salish.htm Citation No. 5: “Coast Salish”, Written by the Editors Of Encyclopedia Britannica, & First Published on July 20th of 1998. Published by Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieval Date: September 7th, 2023.  https://www.britannica.com/topic/Coast-Salish Citation No. 6: “Nuu-Chah-Nulth”, Written by Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Museum Of Natural History. Retrieval Date: September 7th, 2023.  https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent/northwest-coast/nuu-chah-nulth Citation No. 7: “Our People: People Of The Potlatch”, Written by Unknown & Published at an Unknown date. Published by the Virtual Museum Canada. Retrieval Date: September 7th, 2023.  https://umistapotlatch.ca/notre_peuple-our_people-eng.php Citation No. 8: “Kwakwaka’wakw (Kwakiult)”, Written by Gloria Cranmer Webster, & first Published on November 21st of 2006. Published by the Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieval Date: September 7th, 2023.  https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/kwakiutl Citation No. 9: “5 Natural Disasters On Vancouver Island To Remember”, Written by Dave Flawse, & Published July 5th, 2022. Published by Vancouver Island History. Retrieval Date: September 7th, 2023.  https://www.vancouverislandhistory.com/p/5-natural-disasters-on-vancouver-island Citation No. 10: “The M7.3 Vancouver Island Earthquake 1946”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Government Of Canada. Retrieval Date: September 7th, 2023.  https://earthquakescanada.nrcan.gc.ca/historic-historique/events/19460623-en.php Citation No. 11: “Landslide That Hit Port Alice 1975 ‘All We Saw Was Mud’”, Written by Sandra McCulloch, & Published on March 23rd, 2014, at 2:28 PM. Published by Times Colonist. Retrieval Date: September 7th, 2023.  https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/landslide-that-hit-port-alice-in-1975-all-we-saw-was-rock-and-mud-4607075 Citation No. 12: “The Alberni Valley Tsunami Of 1964”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Alberni Valley Tourism. Retrieval Date: September 7th, 2023.  https://albernivalleytourism.com/the-alberni-valley-tsunami-of-1964/ Citation No. 13: “Columbus Day Storm (1962)”, Written By Jeff LaLande & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Oregon Encyclopedia. Retrieval Date: September 7th, 2023.  https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/columbus_day_storm_1962_/ Citation No. 14: “An Evolving Economy”, Written By Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance. Retrieval Date: September 7th, 2023.  https://viea.ca/economic-sector/economic-overview/ Citation No. 15: “What Vancouver Island Would Look Like As An Independent Country”, Written By Tristan Hopper, & Cameron Welch, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published By The Capital Daily News. Retrieval Date: September 7th, 2023.  https://www.capitaldaily.ca/news/independent-vancouver-island Citation No. 16: “Vancouver Island Real Estate Board”, Written By Unknown & Published, at An Unknown Date. Published By the Canadian Real Estate Association. Retrieval Date: September 7th, 2023.  https://creastats.crea.ca/board/vani Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast StemScribe Our Loyal Patrons  Ms. Paloma Rodriguez Ochoa

The Oceans Surrounding Vancouver Island, Canada Today’s article will discuss the oceans surrounding Vancouver Island. Vancouver Island, Canada, is an extremely southerly Island belonging to Canada, very close to Washington State.  It is the world’s 43rd largest Island, & it belongs to the country of Canada. It is across the Strait of Georgia from the metropolitan area of Vancouver. Its capital is Victoria, which resides on the southern tip of the island, in the administrative district known as the “Capital Regional District”. It has an approximate population of 864,000. The highest elevation on the island is the Golden Hinde Mountain, In the Vancouver Island Ranges. It is approximately 7,201 feet (2,194.865 meters) in height. The island itself is approximately 10.73 Nautical Miles (12.347863 miles or 19.87196 kilometers) from the nearest mainland area, that area being Washington State. The island is famed for its untamed beaches, beautiful rainforests, & fascinating wildlife. The island has a beautiful mountain range that blends in with the coastline, & the temperate rainforests, which creates a unique clash of terrain. Additionally, its proximity to both Washington State, & Canada, makes it so that creatures from both can migrate over from each area quickly. This creates a strange ecological environment, which can attract some of the strangest species. We managed to find approximately 75 of the most prominent marine animal species that live in the Vancouver Island Region. 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 Vancouver Island. The Tides, Temperatures, Salinity, Marine Geography, & Basic Information Of The Oceans Surrounding Vancouver Island The island is located in the lower area of the British Columbia province, in Canada. It is extremely close to the American-Canadian Border, namely the state of Washington. It is in the Pacific Ocean. The salinity of Vancouver Island has been measured, but we cannot find the exact number available to the public domain. What we can tell, is that the salinity does not differ from the surrounding Pacific areas, & there is no gradient. Additionally, there are no known large salt deposits that would affect the salinity. There are no circumstances that would cause the salinity level to change, such as marshes. Vancouver Island is safe for swimming, & is known for its rugged beaches & cliffside coasts. Unfortunately, we are unable to confirm whether or not strong riptide events occur in this area. The temperature charts for Vancouver Island can be found on a plethora of websites, a few of which are https://seatemperatures.net , https://seatemperature.info , & https://beach-weather.com . The average yearly water temperature for the coastal waters of Vancouver Island over the last few years has been approximately 50° Fahrenheit (10° Celsius) & it most likely won’t change by much. At that temperature, it is recommended that one has a 7-millimeter full scuba suit, to stay insulated. The tidal charts can also be found on many websites as but not limited to: https://www.tideschart.com , https://www.tide-forecast.com , https://www.windfinder.com , & finally https://www.tidetime.org . Generally, the tides do not go over 15.5 feet (4.7244 meters) at their highest. The deepest oceanic point within 5 nautical miles of Vancouver Island is 1092.5 feet (332.994 meters) deep. The oceanic floor mainly consists of coral, sand, & occasionally rock. The pollution around the island is very bad the closer you get to Victoria Harbour. Evidence suggests that Victoria Harbour is British Columbia’s most polluted body of water, for various reasons. There are still many unpolluted oceanic areas around Vancouver Island that one can swim in, & generally, pollution is not a threat to swimmers, but it is still dangerous to wildlife. The main pollutant in the water is polychlorinated biphenyl, which is used in coolants.  Snorkeling is still very popular on the island & many snorkeling rental sites can be found along the coastline. Eco-tourism is extremely popular on the island, for both the rugged coastline, & the inland ecosystems as well. The most popular beaches tend to be the southern coast of Vancouver Island. These beaches are mainly Chesterman Beach, Saratoga Beach, Cox Bay Beach, French Beach, Schooner Cove, Sombrio Beach, Sandcut Beach, Cope Scott Park, Florencia Bay, & finally Juan De Fuca Park. There is currently 1 marine protected area around Vancouver Island, designated by the Tsawout Indigenous Peoples. It is approximately 155 square kilometers (59.8458 square miles) of land in the Salish Sea, close-by Vancouver Island. The Most Prominent Marine Ecosystems Of Vancouver Island Ecosystem No. 1: Fringing Coral Reefs Despite the cold climate of Vancouver Island, Fringing Coral Reefs are found commonly in the south of the island. These are the most biodiverse marine ecosystems by far on the island. These coral reefs can be found between 10 feet offshore, to miles & miles off the coast. These cold-water corals are made of calcium carbonate, & are hardened.  These coral reefs usually are used as breeding grounds, shelters, hunting grounds, & fish nurseries of sorts. These coral reefs are known to support 20% of all marine life around Vancouver Island. Unfortunately, there is currently no data on the various coral species found off the coast of Vancouver Island.  Ecosystem No. 2: Rocky / Sandy Barren Areas  This is the most common ecosystem surrounding the island. This ecosystem largely consists of rock formations, as well as compacted sand. These ecosystems are largely offshore, & not in the intertidal zones. These ecosystems are used as hunting, spawning, and shelter grounds. This specific kind of ecosystem is found all around the island. These areas are found between 25 to 300 feet deep.  The Documented Marine Flora Of Vancouver Island  The main marine species of Seagrass found around Vancouver Island is Zostera Marina, though Zostera Japonica is also found in the area. Zostera Japonica has only been recently introduced, & it is not native to the environment. Zostera Marina is native to the environment, & has had more time to develop colonies than Zostera Japonica. There are numerous macro algae species found around the island, whose names are as follows: Nereocystis Luetkaena (Bull Kelp), Fucus Distichus (Pacific Rockweed), Ulva Lactuca (Sea Lettuce), Saccharina Groenlandica (Split Kelp), Laminaria Saccharina (Sugar Kelp), & finally Wire Weed (Sargassum muticum). All of these plants are found within 20 nautical miles of the islands. Additionally, the majority of these plants were found in intertidal zones. None of these species are endemic to Vancouver Island, & can be found in many other places. The Documented Marine Fauna Of Vancouver Island Vancouver Island is not very biodiverse, but it still does have a flourishing marine population & general ecosystem. The reason for this is the climate, food options, & the amazing seagrass colonies. Pollution is high in certain areas, but most other areas are advancing. Additionally, efforts to maintain the seagrass colonies are underway & are funded. This makes the island more attractive to marine creatures. Currently, there are no known endemic marine creatures, that are incredibly hard to track, so they may just be undiscovered. Since Vancouver Island is a popular migrational destination, many marine populations do not live there year-round, & will instead migrate.  Now, for this article, we will not include nudibranchs, sea slugs, sea snails, planktons, lichens, limpets, sea worms, or sea urchins, as there are just too many of them. We will also not be counting waterfowl, or the Vancouver Island Coastal Sea Wolf, as neither lives primarily in the ocean. The list of the most prominent marine creatures of Vancouver Island are as follows: Megaptera Novaeangliae (Humpback Whale), Esrichtius Robustus (Pacific Grey Whale), Balaenoptera Acutorostrata (Minke Whale), Phocoenoids Dalli (Dall’s Porpoise), Phocoena Phocoena (Harbour Porpoise), Orcinus Orca (Orca / Killer Whale), Lagenorhynchus obliquidens (Pacific White Toothed Whale), Zalophus Californianus (California Sea Lion), Mirounga angustirostris (Elephant Seal), Phoca Vitulina (Pacific Harbour Seal), Hemigrapsus Nudus (Purple Shore Crab), Hemigrapsus Oregonensis (Green Shore Crab), Petrolisthes Eriomerus (Flattop Crab), Petrolisthes Cinctipes (Smooth Porcelain Crab), Lophopanopeus Bellus (Black-clawed Crab), Cancer Productus (Red Rock Crab), Cancer Oregonensis (Pygmy Rock Crab), Pugettia Producta (Kelp Crab), Oregonia Gracilis (Graceful Decorator Crab), Telmessus Cheiragonus (Helmet Crab), Hapalogaster Mertensii (Hairy Crab), Cancer Magister (Dungeness Crab), Phyllolithodes Papillosus (Heart Crab), Pandalus Platyceros (Pacific Prawn), Pandalus Hyposinotus (Humpback Shrimp), Pandalus Danae (Coonstripe Shrimp), Elassochirus Tenuimanus (Widehand Hermit), Pagarus Beringanus (Bering Hermit), Pagarus Samuelis  (Blueband Hermit), Cyancea Capillata (Lions Mane Jellyfish), Aequorea Victoria (Many Ribbed Medusa), Aurelia Labiata (Moon Jellyfish), Venerupis Philippinarum (Manilla Clam), Protothaca Staminea (Pacific Littleneck Clam), Nuttallia Obscurata (Varnish Clam), Saxidomus Gigantea (Washington Butter Clam), Crassadoma Gigantea(Giant Rock Scallop), Crassotrea Gigas (Giant Pacific Oyster), Macoma Nasuta (Bent-nosed Macoma), Entodesma Navicula (Northwest Ugly Clam), Gari Californica (California Sunset Clam), Penitella Penita (Flat Tipped Piddock), Mytilus Californianus  (California Mussel), Siliqua Patula (Pacific Razor Clam), Tellina Bodegensis (Bodega Tellin), Hatilotis Kamtschatkana (Northern Abalone), Nucella Lamellosa (Wrinkled Dogwrinkle), Nucella Ostrina (Northern Striped Dogwrinkle), Ceratostoma Foliatum (Leafy Hornmouth), Searlisia Dira (Direwhelk), Tegula Funebralis (Black Turban), Littorina Scutulata (Checkered Periwinkle), Olivella Biplicata (Purple Olive), Olivella Pedroana (Zigzag Olive), Nassarius Fossatus (Giant Western Nassa), Octopus Dofleini (Giant Pacific Octopus), Artedius Harringtoni (Scalyhead Sculpin), Ophiodon Elongatus (Lingcod), Platichthys Stellatus (Starry Flounder), Hippoglossus Stenolepis (Halibut), Liparis Dennyi (Marbled Snailfish), Liparis Pulchellus (Showy Snailfish), Liparis Florae (Tidepool Snailfish), Liparis Callyodon (Spotted Snailfish), Hydrolagus Collilei (Ratfish), Embiotoca Lateralis (Striped Seaperch), Sebastes Nebulosis (China Rockfish), Sebastes Melanops (Black Rockfish), Sebastes Miniatus (Vermilion Rockfish), Sebastes Ruberrimus (Yelloweye Rockfish), Sebastes Nigrocintus (Tiger Rockfish), Gobiesox Maeandricus (Flathead Clingfish), & finally, Squalus Acanthias (Spiny Dogfish).  How Ocean Acidification Has Affected Vancouver Island First off, Ocean acidification is caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.  Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have increased, largely because of human-caused burning of fossil fuels, and deforestation, for the past 150 years.  When carbon dioxide contacts sea water, it forms carbonic acid.  Carbonic acid gives off positive H+ ions, which causes increased oceanic H+ concentrations & decreased oceanic Ph. To be clear, ocean acidification is an entirely separate phenomenon from higher oceanic temperatures, & though they have similar effects & characteristics, they are not one in the same. This largely affects coral reefs, as it causes them to bleach. Now, there is no evidence that ocean acidification has affected the Vancouver Island coral ecosystems, but there is evidence that higher oceanic temperatures have. Due to rising oceanic temperatures, the coral ecosystems have decreased by nearly half. If this restoration is not completed, then coral reefs will continue to be depleted.  Directories / Credits  Citation No. 1: “New data suggests Victoria Harbour is B.C. coast's dirtiest body of water”, Written by Unknown, & Published on February 7th, 2018. Published by CTV News. Retrieval Date: August 18th, 2023.  https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/mobile/new-data-suggests-victoria-harbour-is-b-c-coast-s-dirtiest-body-of-water-1.3794385 Citation No. 2: “Coral”, Written by Bud, Published by at an Unknown Date. Published by GoHiking. Retrieval Date: August 18th, 2023.  https://gohiking.ca/animals/fish/coral/ Citation No. 3: “Eelgrass & Kelp Mapping & Monitoring”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Mid Vancouver Island Habitat Enhancement Society (MVIHES). Retrieval Date: August 18th, 2023.  https://www.mvihes.bc.ca/current-initiatives/58-eelgrass-mapping Citation No. 4: “Algae”, Written by Bud, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by GoHiking. Retrieval Date: August 18th, 2023.  https://gohiking.ca/plants/coastal-plants/algae/   Citation No. 5: “Welcome to the Salish Sea!”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Eagle Wing Tours.  Retrieval Date: August 18th, 2023.  https://www.eaglewingtours.com/marine-mammals-guide/ Citation No. 6: “The North Island Explorer’s Guide to Vancouver Island’s Marine Life”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the North Island Explorer.  http://northislandexplorer.com/marinelifeguide.htm Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast StemScribe Our Loyal Patrons Ms. Paloma Rodriguez Ochoa

Ode To Oceanography: A Vintage Nautical Chart Of Delaware Bay  This is the sixteenth article in our Ode to Oceanography Series. This series will publish on the 15th of every month, until we run out of antique nautical maps to analyze, though that will not be for many decades. Once that happens, we will keep the series running, but we will change the article format. In these articles, will take an antique nautical map & analyze it in its entirety. These maps will not strictly be on open oceanic waters, they may be on rivers or occasionally, bays. We will also discuss the methods that may have been used to make the map, considering the time period, & the country of origin. These maps will come from a variety of sources, though they will mainly come from Maps Of Antiquity, a wonderful New England map shop. These maps will come from varying time periods, & will not be in any particular historical order. Today’s map, is a vintage map of Delaware Bay, located in the Northeast of the United States. The bay of Delaware is a body of water in between the state of Delaware, & New Jersey. It is approximately 782 square miles in area, & is composed of both saltwater & freshwater. The map is in fantastic condition, with very little yellowing, folds, or damage. The chart is approximately 37 inches tall, & 30.6 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 serene area of Delaware Bay.  The Chart Itself As map is in English, there is no need for translation. The chart is centered around Delaware Bay. The map is coloured, with the land areas being coloured yellow or cream, while the areas with water are coloured white. The chart has much detail, with the names of various banks, rivers, & landmasses on it. Many terrestrial topographic features are also outlined. An Analysis Of The Chart This map was designed in 1926 by the United States Coastal & Geodetic Survey, one of the precursors to the National Atmospheric & Oceanic Administration. The United States Coastal & Geodetic Survey was the first scientific Agency made by the United States Government, established in 1807. The Agency was unfortunately abolished in 1970, when it was merged with several other agencies to create the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. The map is fairly accurate, with very few terrestrial or oceanic areas being left off. Although it was made for militaristic use, it was likely also used by civilians. It is not clear how this map was made, however the most likely method was Lithography. The lithographic method was most popular for map making between the early 1820’s, & the 1910’s. 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 Marine Enthusiasts Podcast StemScribe Our Loyal Patrons Ms. Paloma Rodriguez Ochoa

On November 2nd, 2024, our head writer conducted an interview with Samantha-Lynn Martinez, a Marine Biologist, Naturalist, Videographer & Graphic Designer from Washington. Samantha-Lynn Martinez is currently a student at the University of Washington, & is working on her Bachelor’s Degree of Science. She is well known for her various design campaigns such as We Love You Puget Sound, numerous short films, & work with the NOAA & aboard the EV Nautilus. In today’s article, we ask her 26 intriguing questions, & get many incredible answers. Please note that all answers below have been edited for clarity, paraphrased, & are not necessarily reflections of the beliefs or teachings of our newsletter. With that being said, let us delve into the contents of the interview. The Contents Of The Interview Question No. 1: What sparked your interest in marine biology? I think my interest in marine biology started when I was very young, I grew up in the Philippines, & then moved to Seattle, Washington when I was about three or four, so I’ve always been near & around the ocean. I’ve always been very fascinated by the ocean, & knew it was somewhere I wanted to be. So much recreational joy comes from the water, such as going fishing, going swimming, & all that jazz, & I knew that working with the marine environment or animals is something that I wanted to do someday.  The Philippines is made up of about 7,000 islands, & so much of the economy is built on fishing industries & things that are related to the water. Similarly in Seattle, we have Pike Place Market is huge, & in their fish market, they are throwing the fish across the counters. Overall, the ocean has always been part of my life, & it’s been wonderful to see how that connects my two homes across the Pacific.  Question No. 2: Do you have a specific moment, person, or place that inspired you to pursue marine biology? Yeah! I think that growing up in Seattle, you find a lot of people working in the field of Marine Biology in many different ways. Honestly, I could pinpoint a lot of different people who have inspired me over the past few years. There is one show that I grew up watching called The Brain Scoop hosted by Emily Grassle, she’s an incredible science communicator. Seeing her YouTube videos come out has been incredibly influential to how I approach science communication nowadays, & I’ve been joking that it is my dream to become a miniature Emily Grassle or Bill Nye for marine biology. One of my other biggest sources of inspiration lately is Erin Rainey, a wildlife cinematographer. She works here in Washington & Alaska, & she’s incredible! She was a video engineer on the EV Nautilus before I even found out about the Deep-Sea Exploration aspect of Marine Biology, but that is another can of worms.  Question No. 3: Do you have a favorite marine animal or terrestrial animal?  That is an incredibly difficult question because I tend to become attached to certain species if I have a personal story involving them. If you’d asked me before this Summer I would have said Steller Sea Lions, as I worked with them on my internship in the Aleutian islands last year. That was a fantastic experience, I got to incorporate all of my previous knowledge into things, work on drone surveys & photo identification surveys, & work with the pups! They are so massive, & can weigh as much as a small car.  For a terrestrial animal, that would be very hard to choose because I have so many experiences & stories with terrestrial animals. Last summer, before I went back to school, I got to see many Grizzly Bears in Alaska, so I would say Grizzly Bears are very high on the list. Question No. 4: You have recently begun doing more work relating to birds, what interests you about birds & what is your favorite species? I’m very glad you brought that up, I’ve recently been having this sort of internal battle with myself as to whether or not I want to focus purely on Marine Biology or open myself up to other animals that I like, such as birds.  I love birds, growing up I had birds as pets & it was the coolest thing ever. I loved Rio as a child as well.  During the first year of my undergraduate degree, I was looking through my email list & saw that someone had emailed me about a project in the Biology department about Hummingbird Ecology. They needed someone to review footage of Hummingbirds in Columbia & design behavior charts based on them, & I joined them. I had to assign different behaviors to them depending on what they were doing & figure out the intervals that they would do them.  It was very interesting to see how video technology was used in that project especially, & I got to work with an amazing graduate student friend of mine, Alyssa Sargent. She helped me figure out which path I wanted to take, & made me realize I didn’t have to choose one option. Question No. 5: What attracts you to science communication, & what is your philosophy regarding science communication? Bill Nye & Emily Grassle certainly helped push me toward Science Communication. I loved how they made others feel comfortable being curious, & encouraged it.  On the EV Nautilus, the vessel I returned from not very long ago, they livestream ROV dives all the time & have everyone wear Microphones so you can hear their live reactions.  My big philosophy when it comes to science communication is to make people unafraid to ask questions because sometimes science can feel very gate-keep-y. It can feel incredibly intimidating to ask a question to a group of people who have all the answers, & almost like they don’t want you to ask the question. At the end of the day, it’s that kind of curiosity that keeps the momentum going in the world of science.  In any way shape or form, I’ve tried to continue doing science communication through media & technology.  Question No. 6: How did you end up studying at the University of Washington? It’s kind of a funny story. When I moved from the Philippines to the United States, my parents would host a lot of international exchange students who would go to the university. So we would spend every weekend doing touristy things around Seattle with a new student that my parents were hosting for the quarter, & take them to the university, so the university has kind of always been in my life. It was just chance & luck that the University happened to be one of the focal points for marine biology, & happened to have an immense amount of resources & wealth of knowledge.  I’m very in my element here, & it is fantastic to be conducting research in what is basically my backyard! It is also sort of the perfect place for me, as it is so close to home.  Question No. 7: How did you get involved in the eco-physics laboratory at the University of Washington & are you currently conducting research? The Eco-Physics laboratory was the laboratory with the Hummingbird Ecology Research! As mentioned before, I worked with them in my first year as an undergraduate, & am still working with them as well as Alyssa on some more hummingbird research.  Question No. 8: What is your involvement in the University of Washington Annual Aquatic Open House Event, & how do you contribute to the event? We hold the Aquatic Open House Event Annually with the School of Aquatic & Fisheries Sciences. It’s wonderful to be working with this university & school because they are very outwardly encouraging of both formal & informal education about marine biology.  We organize a bunch of laboratories to have small workstations or tables at the event, & it is a community event. Some will organize small fake tide pools, while others will bring in miniature ROVs. One of my favorite parts about it is doing the chalk work on the South Campus, we need to lay the groundwork for where the check-in point is, & where the various stations are. I also do large chalk drawings, & draw these massive portraits of marine animals. Many children & their families come to the event & explore the world of aquatic & marine sciences.  I came here as a high-schooler, & remember it very well. Ultimately, it does have a very big impact on some people’s lives & it is a very special thing to be a part of. Question No. 9: What did you do in your role aboard the recent August-September EV Nautilus Mission in Samoa? How were you selected, & what was a day in the program like?   I recently came back from an expedition in American Samoa - which if you're unfamiliar with that imagine the intersection between New Zealand & Hawaii. It was a very fun & fulfilling expedition, & a massive full-circle moment for me. I remember watching live streams from the EV Nautilus as a teenager, & thinking about how interesting of a job that would be.  One of my close friends informed me of the opening of a Deep Sea Video Operator position on board, & told me that I should apply for it. So I did! I spent the most amazing magical 5 weeks out at sea. I got to work with some of the coolest scientists, & work with cutting-edge technology. It was very enjoyable to be a part of that. A day on board was very interesting because occasionally you don’t even know what day it is due to the shift changes.  The boat was operational 24 hours a day, & each crew member would have 4 hours of working, then 8 hours off, then 4 hours working, then 8 hours off again. So for me, my day would begin just before noon! I would wake up at around 11:30, which is Lunchtime for everyone on board. After waking up, I would get ready & into some warm comfortable clothing, because by the time noon hits, I have to start my day as a Deep Sea Video Operator. At around noon, I would trot up to our control room, & check on the ROVs, which stands for Remotely Operated Vehicles. I am not physically in any of the vehicles, however I am operating them from the control room. I like to say that it is like a video game! I control the direction that the camera is pointed in, the amount of light that is fed through the camera, & almost every aspect of the vehicle. It’s very tedious, almost like you are DJing. I would be in that chair from Noon to 4:00 PM, then do a shift change, & pass over responsibilities to the person relieving me.  Once I come out of the control room, I usually get a snack or socialize, then occupy myself until dinnertime. At dinner, I will chow down very quickly, then go up to the control van & relieve the new person of their duties so they can also have dinner. Question No. 10: How did you become an intern for the NOAA Marine Mammal Laboratory?  I got to do the internship through this very cool partnership between the NOAA’s Alaska Department Of Fisheries Science Center & the University of Washington. The internship was explicitly only offered to University of Washington Students. Some internships are blasted out to people across the world, which can make the application process feel very scary, however with this, it felt a lot less intimidating. It was a phenomenal time, it was my first time properly going out on a research vessel. It was interesting to learn how to deal with the challenges of being in a remote research station, & dealing with things such as lack of wifi, & only being surrounded by my science crew. I was surrounded by some of the most beautiful wildlife ever. It was amazing to really through myself into the deep end, literally.  Very few people are in that area other than researchers or commercial fishermen. Question No. 11: What did you do in your capacity as an intern with the NOAA? I worked on drone surveys, photo identification, & on a research vessel studying Steller Sea Lions. Question No. 12: How did you begin Puget Sound Live!, & who are your collaborators? What exactly does the project do & what are its goals? It’s funny that you mention that, because Puget Sound Live was an attempt at doing what the EV Nautilus Does, however at a much smaller scale, & in Washington. It was started by me & a very awesome friend of mine, Drew Collins. He is a marine scientist as well as an underwater photographer native to Washington. He reached out to me just before I had graduated High School, & pitched me the idea for the project. Puget Sound Live has divers, such as Drew, dive into Puget Sound while having a microphone, & being live-streamed while they do so. I was the person top side, who was in the boat. I managed the live streams & interactions between the audience & the divers. Question No. 13: What was your appearance on HiHo’s Children Meet a marine biologist episode, do you mind explaining what you did? Yeah! So recently HiHo Kids had an open call for someone who was a marine biologist in the Seattle Area.  One of my close colleagues who I had worked with at the Seattle Aquarium told me about the opening, & told me that I should apply. Originally one of my other friends wanted to do this, however, his schedule did not align unfortunately. So he shuttled all the information over to me, & I applied! It honestly feels like a fever dream now, I was originally worried that they would want someone more established in their career.  I didn’t hear back from the production company for a few months, however, eventually, they called me & said that they wanted to have me as the main host for the episode. I got permission to borrow some specimens from the Burke Museum, wrapped them in Bubble Wrap, & headed down to the studio for a day & taught these children about fish!  Question No. 14: What would you say was one of the largest struggles or hurdles that you have encountered in your career? That is a great question, I would say managing my time & learning to not over-commit myself. Our Field of work is so spontaneous & so much of the work is seasonal, that when you have multiple positions that you wish to have at once, you have to learn to not overcommit yourself.  This past spring I was at a field station for marine biology for 10 weeks, where I ate, slept, & breathed marine biology for my entire day. I went into it thinking that I could keep up my other outside commitments, however I was extremely wrong. I hurt myself, & many of my big network relationships. That is something that still haunts me. The moment that I realized that I was not fine, & that I did need help, hit me like a truck.  Question No. 15: What would you say is the most difficult thing for new marine biologists or marine ecologists? I think that in the first few years, you have to learn to overcome your imposter syndrome about getting into the industry. Tell yourself that you are fully capable of achieving your goals, & give yourself grace. Additionally, It is alright for your life plan to change from quarter to quarter or semester to semester, as you are still learning & figuring your career out!  Also, Sometimes you have to be the first one to take a jab at things, even if there is no application for something, consider shooting a cold email.  Question No. 16: What is your favorite kind of camera to use underwater? I use a Sony A7 as my primary camera, I’m trying to get underwater housing for it. It’s mildly annoying that if you don’t set things up properly, saltwater can flood your camera & destroy it.  Question No. 17: What attracts you to photography & videography? I think that it is just the fact that videography & photography is the most authentic way to capture the world. It is an incredibly important tool for science communication & showcases what is going on in real-time in the world around you. It is something that can make people interested in what you are doing like you can take a mushroom & make it look like the most beautiful glorious thing ever.  It’s a wonderful tool if you know how to balance the aesthetics & creative side of things, with the education & recording aspect.  Question No. 18: What is your favorite photograph that you have taken, & what is your favorite kind of animal to photograph? Honestly, I don’t know if I have a favorite photograph. When I took my camera up to the Aleutian Islands last summer, there were so many opportunities to film. I got to film a stellar sea lion & her pup, & just watch them interact for a long time. I believe one of them is on the front page of my website.  I also love photographing birds, especially hummingbirds. They are a very easy photo subject as they are everywhere, & they are very mobile. In terms of what my favorite animals to photograph are, birds are a very, very close second. Question No. 19: What was your inspiration for your short film “Behind The Waves: The Importance of Plankton”, & how did you make it?  I made Behind The Waves towards the end of my high school career, while volunteering at the Seattle Aquarium. My boss suggested that we do a 24-hour youth-a-thon in which anyone from around the world could contribute an hour’s worth of oceanic content, & they offered us a spot to contribute an hour’s length film.  So I & the other youth volunteers at the aquarium teamed up to make an hour-long film about the Importance of Plankton, & roped in a ton of educational elements. The cool thing about the film is that we did all of it, shot, edited, & published the film within two weeks. That includes recording time, animating parts of it, voiceovers, practically everything. Question No. 20: What is your latest film project?  I’m working on this Hummingbird research Documentary, the filming for it will take place in Columbia & filming will ideally begin in August 2025. There are talks of getting these expensive slow-motion cameras down there to capture these fast-paced animals in a new light. That is the big project that I am working on now.  The running title for it is “Hummingbird’s Eye View”, & there is going to be a lot of cool research equipment that we plan to test next summer. Apart from that, we want to focus on the scientists themselves working in their home base of Colombia. We want to show you that they are people too, & we want to show their stories. We want to tell stories about their families, & how they got involved in science. Scientists are people you know, we don’t just crunch numbers all day.  Question No. 21: How did you become interested in design & how did you begin doing graphic design commissions? I started designing these silly little club logos when I was in High School because there were a lot of clubs. Many wanted to create Instagram Accounts or have flyers, & on a whim, I thought “Hey, I like drawing”, & began designing things. Slowly my friends started picking up on it, & at first, I gave away designs for free, until many people were reaching out for custom designs. That slowly began to progress into legitimate commissions. During my first year of college, I jokingly brought in this pack of stickers that I had designed because we were doing a show & tell to a group of second graders, & everybody loved it.  My professor of that class, which was a class based around Science Communication, told me that one of the observatories that he was working with was turning 50 that year, & they wanted some sticker & merchandise designs for it. That was my first very large commission where I was being paid by a large organization. So that got me thinking, “What if I offered this as a service?”, & I started taking myself a little bit more seriously.  Question No. 22: How many commissions have you done, & what was the largest commission you have ever done? That’s a really good question because I don’t keep track of it well! I have probably worked on more projects than I can recall, from sticker designs to logos, & even branding packages. I honestly have no idea, however, I’m sure that it is an exponential amount. I think my biggest long-term project & is also my favorite project due to the personal connection that I have with it. One of my good old friends, Natalie, from way back in Middle School & Early High School had a YouTube channel that she started back then. She stuck with it through high school, & committed herself to it. She made these awesome cinematic short films about her life & her own coming-of-age story. We fell out of contact for a little while, until my first semester of college she contacted me. She told me that she was doing this short film series about renovating a vintage camper van & traveling across the country, & asked for my help on it. I absolutely wanted to, so she commissioned me to do the animations & merchandise for her short series.  It was one of the most meaningful projects that I have ever done because I met so many other amazing talented filmmakers & small business owners who were only 1 to 2 years older than me. It kind of burst open this whole community of YouTubers & people in the short film industry, & I’ve been super-close to many of them to this day. I’m actually meeting up with a few of them in December for my Birthday! It took nine months all said & done.  Question No. 23: What was the Puget Sound: We Love You campaign that you designed? So during the COVID-19 Pandemic, all the aquariums closed & we couldn’t do in-person stuff anymore. But that left a lot of people, including me, who were very used to in-person science communication, kind of lost. We were all wondering, “How do we continue the thing that we love now that there is COVID?”. The Aquarium pitched an idea to the Youth of the Aquarium to reactivate their Instagram Account, as it hadn’t been active for a few years. So, Puget Sound We Love You is kind of the Aquarium’s way of reintroducing us to Science Communication, & allowing us to explore things that we wouldn’t get to in an in-person setting. You are actually quite limited when it comes to in-person things, because who can come to our events? People who live nearby, have the means to get to us, & can afford a ticket. In doing Puget Sound We Love You, we opened the door for so many more people to interact with us. I ran Puget Sound We Love You with a team of 5 others for the first year, and then for the second year, I came back in a senior position.  Question No. 24: Do you have any final words or things to say about photography, design, science communication, or the ocean? Truly listen to what makes you tick about Science Communication, or whatever field gets you excited. Also, advocate for yourself, no matter where you are in your career.  Directories / Credits https://samanthalynnmartinez.com/ Strategic Partnerships  Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast StemScribe Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

The Documented History Of The Isle Of Pines, New Caledonia, French Territory Today’s article will discuss the history of the Isle Of Pines, belonging to the French territory of New Caledonia. New Caledonia, is in the South Pacific just north of Brisbane, Australia. It is south of the country of Vanuatu, with its capital being “Noumea”. The Isle of Pines is south of mainland New Caledonia, & it has an approximate population of 2,000. It is approximately 26.91 nautical miles (30.967475 miles or 49.83732 kilometers) from mainland New Caledonia, 793.87 nautical miles (913.56928 miles or 1470.24724 kilometers) from Australia, & 3,784.67 nautical miles (4355.3204536 miles or 7009.20884 kilometers) from the mainland country of Malaysia. The island is famed for its beautiful coral reefs as it is surrounded by the New Caledonian Barrier Reef. It is also known for its beautiful forests of pine trees which contrast with the sea to make a beautiful landscape, which is the reason for its name. It is located in the commune of L'Île-des-Pins, which encompasses many islands, with The Isle of Pines being the largest. This Island has many interesting land, & marine flora, mainly due to its proximity to the New Caledonian Barrier Reef. Not only that, but the island has lush mangroves that directly connect lagoons & forests. The History Of The Isle Of Pines New Caledonia, French Territory Before Colonization By The French   History From 1500 B.C  There is evidence that the Lapita people either inhabited the island or were passing by in the year 1500 B.C. Evidence of their extremely distinct pottery style was found where nearby where the modern-day city of Vao. During the Lapita’s rule over the island, many migrants came from various other islands, & caused a diverse mix of cultures, thus giving birth to the Kanak Culture, as well as a few others. The Kanak are the most predominant modern ethnic group in New Caledonia to date. The Kanak Indigenous Peoples Culture has roots in the Lapita culture, however, it differs greatly from it. These Kanak people occupied the islands until the French government arrived on the island.  After Being Discovered By The French History From The 1700’s In the year 1774, Captain James Cook, the famed hydrographer, on his second voyage, went past the island & noted it down in his ship logs. He named it the “Isle of Pines”, as the most prominent feature of the island from afar is the large forest of pine trees, that contrast with the coast. He did not go ashore on the island himself, but he did see smoke coming from the island, so he rightly presumed that it was inhabited. This island would not be revisited until the 1800’s. After Colonization By The French   History From The 1800’s In the mid-1840s, Protestant & Catholic Missionaries arrived, in search of Sandalwood. This was a major selling point of the island, as Sandalwood can be used to make beautiful fragrances, as well as tables & such. In the year 1853, the French annexed the island, & it officially became French soil. In the year 1872, the island was officially turned into a Penal Colony, & at its peak had approximately 3,000 deportees.  History From The 1900’s  We unfortunately cannot find anything of major interest that happened in this century.  The Aboriginals Of The Isle Of Pines The Kanak Indigenous Peoples Of New Caledonia The Kanak Indigenous Peoples are the main ethnic group of New Caledonia. Currently, there are approximately 105,000 Kanak people or 41.2% of the total population. They originate from the Lapita, & various Polynesian migrants who came in during the early B.C. era. Currently, there are approximately 28 distinct languages spoken by the Kanak Indigenous Populations of New Caledonia. These languages are primarily spoken, & not written down usually. Unfortunately, at this time, there is extremely little information available about the Kanak culture. The Most Destructive Man-Caused & Natural Disasters To Affect The Isle Of Pines Disaster No. 1: Tropical Cyclone Erica  Tropical Cyclone Erica lasted from the 1st of March, 2003, to the 17th of March, 2003. The Cyclone peaked on March 12th, 2003. The island first made landfall in the Municipality of Iles Des Pins, close by to the Isle of Pines. It caused 2 fatalities, & left approximately 1,000 people without a home. It is estimated that during the storm, it left approximately 60% of the people on the western coast of Grand Terre without electricity. The highest wind speeds sustained for 1 minute were 240 kilometers per hour (149.129 miles per hour). The Cyclone mainly affected New Caledonia, The Solomon Islands, & Papua New Guinea. It left approximately 15 million dollars in damages.  Disaster No. 2: The Zika Virus Outbreaks Of 2013 to 2014 During the year 2013, the Zika Virus came from mainland Asia & infected New Caledonia, as well as the rest of French Polynesia. The outbreak lasted from approximately October of 2013 To April of 2014. In total, there were approximately 30,000 cases of the Zika virus in French Polynesia, although unfortunately, we were unable to determine how many of these cases were in New Caledonia. Additionally, only 8,477 cases were confirmed, so the numbers are not verified. The Zika virus is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito or transfusion of blood. It can also be transmitted through having sexual relations, or from a mother to her child while pregnant, which has been linked to birth defects. Once transferred the victim may experience eye redness, vomiting, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, joint pain, & headaches. It can on rare occasions cause muscle paralysis, & extremely rarely, death. Symptoms usually appear after 3-14 days, but those who contract this disease don’t always get symptoms. It can evolve into Guillain-Barré syndrome, which causes your immune system to attack your nervous system, although this usually happens with pregnant women & their babies.  The Economic State Of The Isle Of Pines Overall, the economic state of the Isle is decent. Unfortunately, there is extremely little data on the economic state of the Isle Of Pines. For this reason, we cannot properly evaluate the state of the economy on the Isle of Pines.  Directories / Credits Citation 1: “The Island’s History”, Written by Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by The Isle Of Pines. Retrieval Date: July 15th, of 2023. https://www.isle-of-pines.com/history.html Citation 2: “The History Of The Zika Virus” Written by Unknown, Published on February 7th, 2016. Published by the World Health Organization. Retrieval Date: July 15th, of 2023. https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/the-history-of-zika-virus Citation 3: “Zika Disease Infection Outbreak, French Polynesia”, Written by Unknown & Published on February 14th, 2014. Published by the European Center For Disease Prevention & Control. Retrieval Date: July 15th, of 2023. https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/media/en/publications/Publications/Zika-virus-French-Polynesia-rapid-risk-assessment.pdf Citation: “Transmission Dynamics of Zika Virus in Island Populations: A Modelling Analysis of the 2013–14 French Polynesia Outbreak” Written By Adam J. Kuchaski, Sebastian Funk, Rosalind M. Eggo, Henri-Pierre Mallet, W. John Edmunds, & Eric J. Nilles, Published Presumably after 2014. Published by the Public Library of Science. Retrieval Date: July 15th, of 2023. https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd . Citation 5: “Discover The Island Of Pines”, Written By Unknown, & Published on March 1st, Of 2018. Published by the My New Caledonia. Retrieval Date: July 15th, of 2023. https://www.mynewcaledonia.com.au/discover-isle-pines/ Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors Our Loyal Patrons Ms. Paloma Rodriguez Ochoa

Marine Biological Hall Of Distinction:  Melissa Cristina Marquez  This article is a part of our collection known as the Marine Hall Of Distinction. It is a different series from our main monthly series & has no connection to the main monthly series. 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 the astounding Melissa Cristina Marquez. Melissa Cristina Marquez is a Puerto Rican Marine Biologist, Children’s Book Author, Science Communicator, & Podcast Host. She is well known for her book series “Wild Survival!”, her podcast named ConCiencia Azul, & her impactful scientific work.  As of 2024, she has 5 published books, almost all of which are fiction & involve the ocean or wildlife. One of her most popular books, Mother of Sharks, follows her personal journey from a child who loved the ocean in Puerto Rico to a groundbreaking oceanic researcher in Australia. For this, she has earned the moniker “Mother of Sharks”.  As a Hispanic Marine Biologist, she wishes to promote intersectionality in science, & inspire people from all different backgrounds. One of her core principles is that quote “…All women of all backgrounds should have the freedom to live their lives as they choose.”  In this article, we are going to delve into the Formative Years & of Melissa Cristina Marquez, The Career of Melissa Cristina Marquez, & the Honorables, Awards, Accomplishments, & Achievements of Melissa Cristina Marquez. With that being said, let us delve into this magnificent shark biologist.  The Formative Years & Education Of Melissa Cristina Marquez  Melissa Cristina Marques was born in 1993, in Puerto Rico. Even as a child, she always has a fascination & enthusiasm for the ocean. Her passion for marine biology was sparked by watching documentaries about Sharks as a child, especially documentaries during Shark Week. Her childhood inspirations include Sylvia Earle, Eugenie Clark, & most strongly, David Attenborough.  She attended the New College of Florida for her Bachelor’s degree & the Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand for her Master’s Degree. As of 2024, she is at Curtin University, pursuing her Ph.D., & conducting research on Elasmobranches. The Career Of Melissa Cristina Marquez  In 2014, Marquez self-published her first book titled “Sharks, Skates, & Rays of Sarasota Bay, Florida”, which discussed the Chondrichthyans of Sarasota Bay.  While filming an episode for Shark Week, she was unfortunately attacked by a Shark. It seems that she has recovered, & didn’t sustain any critical injuries.  In 2021, she published the first 2 books in her Wild Survival Series, with the first book being titled “Crocodile Rescue”, & the second being titled “Swimming With Sharks”. The same year she visited Perth, Australia, to give a Ted Talk about Sharks & Female Scientists. This speech can be found on the official Ted Talk YouTube channel.  She added the third installment to the Wild Survival series in 2022, & has yet to add any more books. Her most famous book, Mother of Sharks, was published in 2023, chronicling her journey from a child who loved the ocean to a marine biologist.  Her latest book, Sea Of Constellations, was published in 2024, & is a picture book that follows a young girl Maren & her whale Shark friend embarking on a quest to bring light back to the ocean. As of 2024, she is working on research about Elasmobranches in Sydney, Australia. She is also co-hosting the podcast ConCiencia Azul, which is a podcast that interviews Spanish & Hispanic scientists about marine life, & the unique struggles of various Hispanic countries.  Her contributions to marine biology are immense, & continue to be relevant as well as impactful. She frequently publishes short ocean-oriented videos or posts on her social media platforms, most of which can be found at “@melissacristinamarquez”. The Honorables, Awards, Achievements, & Accomplishments Of Melissa Cristina Marquez She has a fiction book series involving marine animals & terrestrial animals called “Wild Survival!”, with 3 books currently. These books are, in order of publication “Crocodile Rescue (Wild Survival #1)”, “Chasing Jaguars (Wild Survival #2)”, & “Swimming With Sharks (Wild Survival #3). She has published 2 other stand-alone books, both being fiction & involving the ocean.  She is an active contributor to Forbes in the Science sector.  She gave the TED Talk “Sharks & Female Scientists: More Alike Then You Think”, at the Perth Ted x Youth conference in 2021.  She created a series of lessons known as the Fins United Initiative Lesson Plans, with the goal of increasing knowledge & interest in Chondrichthyans. Directories / Credits Citation No. 1: “Meet Melissa Marquez, a shark scientist passionate about the diverse representation of sharks, their relatives, and the scientists that study them!”, Written by Melissa Marquez, & Published on June 27th, 2017. Published by The Female Scientist Magazine. Retrieval Date: September 9th, 2024. https://thefemalescientist.com/portrait/melissa-marquez/1048/meet-melissa-marquez-a-shark-scientist-passionate-about-the-diverse-representation-of-sharks-their-relatives-and-the-scientists-that-study-them/ Citation No. 2:  “Melissa Cristina Marquez: Marine Biologist & Shark Expert”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Ted & Kingspark. Retrieval Date: September 9th, 2024. https://tedxkingspark.org/person/melissa-cristina-marquez/ Citation No. 3: “Melissa Cristina Marquez”, Written by Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Homeward Bound Projects. Retrieval Date: September 9th, 2024. https://homewardboundprojects.com.au/profile/melissa-cristina-marquez/ Citation No. 4: “Author Feature: Melissa Cristina Marquez”, Written by Isabel Rodriguez, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by FEMINIST. Retrieval Date: September 9th, 2024. https://www.feminists.co/discover/author-feature-melissa-cristina-mrquez Citation No. 5: “Melissa Marquez”, Written by Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Australian Academy of Science. Retrieval Date: September 9th, 2024. https://www.stemwomen.org.au/profile/melissa-marquez Citation No. 6: “Melissa Cristina Marquez”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Forbes. Retrieval Date: September 9th, 2024. https://www.forbes.com/sites/melissacristinamarquez/ Citation No. 7: “Meet the Shark-a-holic: Melissa Cristina Marquez”, Written by Poornima Peiris, & Published on July 12th, 2018. Published by the Scientista Foundation. Retrieval Date: September 9th, 2024. http://www.scientistafoundation.com/women-in-science-news/meet-the-shark-a-holic-melissa-cristina-marquez Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast StemScribe Our Loyal Patrons  Ms. Paloma Rodriguez Ochoa

The Oceans Surrounding The Isle Of Pines, New Caledonia, French Territory  Today's Article will discuss the Oceans Surrounding The Isle of Pines, New Caledonia. New Caledonia, is in the South Pacific just north of Brisbane, Australia. It is south of the country of Vanuatu, with its capital being “Noumea”. The Isle of Pines is south of mainland New Caledonia, & it has an approximate population of 2,000. It is approximately 26.91 nautical miles (30.967475 miles or 49.83732 kilometers) from mainland New Caledonia, 793.87 nautical miles (913.56928 miles or 1470.24724 kilometers) from Australia, & 3,784.67 nautical miles (4355.3204536 miles or 7009.20884 kilometers) from the mainland country of Malaysia. Malaysia seems to be the closest mainland country to this island.  The island is famed for its beautiful coral reefs as it is surrounded by the New Caledonian Barrier Reef, as well as its excellent hiking trails. It is also known for its beautiful forests of pine trees which contrast with the sea to make a beautiful landscape, which is the reason for its name. It is located in the commune of L'Île-des-Pins, which encompasses many islands, with The Isle of Pines being the largest. This Island has many interesting land, & marine flora, mainly due to its proximity to the New Caledonian Barrier Reef. Not only that, but the island has lush mangroves that directly connect lagoons & forests. This makes it so that the clash of terrain can accommodate a wide variety of creatures, that it ordinarily would not be able to host. Many of these creatures are endemic or rare, making the Isle of Pines especially unique. Additionally, Since The Isle of Pines is in the southern Pacific, it is in one of the most tropical places on Earth. This isle has approximately 56 Kilometers of Coastline, which is not all documented. Certain parts of the wilderness have not been explored on this island, leaving the possibility for unknown species. 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 the Marine Resources of the island have been used, & how ocean acidification has affected the island. With that being said, let us delve into The Isle Of Pines.  The Salinity, Tides, Temperatures, Marine Geography, & Basic Information Of The Isle Of Pines, New Caledonia  Unfortunately, the exact salinity of The Isle of Pines or New Caledonia has never been measured. Since The Isle of Pines rests in the 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 southwestern Pacific is 35 parts per thousand at any given time, it can be assumed that the salinity level is somewhere around that. 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 of this island can be found on surprisingly few amount of websites, & the most user-friendly are https://www.tideschart.com , https://www.seatemperatu.re , & https://surf-reports.com . The Sea Temperature charts are also accessible at https://www.seatemperatu.re . The average yearly temperature is 24.9° Celsius (76.82° Fahrenheit). The high tide seems to never go over approximately 1.8 meters (5.90551 feet). The island is safe to swim around, with Oro Bay being the most attractive spot to do so on the island. A wetsuit is not needed to comfortably swim around the island. The water is clear & pristine, & free from pollutants. Eco-tourism is a massive industry on the island because of this lagoon, along with its astounding natural beauty. There are very few forming currents, & riptide is not common. This makes the island very safe, but you should always check for warnings from the French Coast Guard just to be safe. Many water-based activities such as kayaking, snorkeling, swimming, & wildlife watching are very accessible on the island, though this is not a very good place for surfing due to how small the waves are. The deepest oceanic point currently known to man within 5 nautical miles (5.7539 miles or 9.26 kilometers) of the island is 656.2 feet deep. There are very few oceanic mounds, & the lagoon is rather shallow making that virtually impossible. The oceanic floor of the island usually will consist of Sand, Rock, or most often, Coral. The island is not itself a part of the Natural Park of the Coral Sea, however, it is close to it. The Natural Park of the Coral Sea is the 5th largest marine protected area in the world & it is located around the greater New Caledonian area. The island is in the center of this marine park, but it is not a part of it. There is much government research going on due to the presence of the marine park, & many different stations to monitor various aspects of the marine environment.  The Most Prominent Marine Ecosystems Of The Isle Of Pines, New Caledonia  Ecosystem No. 1: Mangrove Forests As of 2024, there are Mangrove Forests found on all sides of the island. A mangrove forest is a place where the ocean, & the tree line meet, & saltwater mixes with the freshwater. This creates a mix of terrains, in which the salt water is interacting with the forest. Often, there will be some sort of stream, or river that will take saltwater further into the forest. In these forests, the trees will grow so that their roots elevate them out of the water, creating a cage-like underwater environment for species to thrive in. These mangrove forests are not restricted to any one area, but the most pristine mangrove areas are in the northern, & northeastern areas of the island. This ecosystem is considered one of, if not the most important ecosystem on the island. There currently is little to no data as to what creatures are found specifically in this ecosystem. Additionally, there is no data on the designated mangrove forests on the island. This is a very closed-off area, where animals usually live in instead of passing through it. Currently, 2 known species of mangrove trees grow in these forests. These mangrove trees are known as Rhizophora samoensis (Samoan Mangrove), & Avicennia Marina (Grey / White Mangrove). However, since there is such little data on the mangrove forests of the Isle of Pines, we may discover more species shortly.  Ecosystem No. 2: Rocky Lagoons & Caverns There is a massive lagoon on the Isle of Pines, which caused this kind of ecosystem to be formed. This type of ecosystem is most commonly found in the deeper area of the lagoon, which has little to no coral. In these areas, there are often small to mid-sized rock formations for animals to hide in. These areas are usually just a passing zone, & most creatures don’t live in these areas. Occasionally seagrass may grow here, but that is semi-unusual. These areas are usually the farthest from the coastline as well. Ecosystem No. 3: Fringing Coral Reefs Due to the Climate of the Isle of Pines, the coast of the island is covered in coral. These coral reefs are known as Fringing Coral Reefs, not barrier reefs. These Fringing coral reefs are found most commonly in the lagoons of the Isle of Pines & within proximity to the coast. Coral reefs tend to be found 3-50 feet deep, though they can be found deeper. These coral reefs usually are used as breeding grounds, hunting grounds, & fish nurseries of sorts. This type of ecosystem is incredibly common around the island, & is found on all sides of the island. Unfortunately, there is no data on what species of coral are found on the Isle of Pines, but there is data on the species of coral found on New Caledonia as a whole. This ecosystem is extremely important to the biodiversity of the island because it provides the most biodiversity of any ecosystem on the island.  The Documented Marine Flora Of The Isle Of Pines, New Caledonia  Unfortunately, data on all of the island's seagrasses are not available yet in the public domain. Currently, there are approximately 12 documented seagrass species on the main New Caledonian Island of Grand Terre. It is unknown whether or not all 12 of these seagrasses are found around the island as of now. As stated in the subsection titled “Ecosystem No. 1 Mangrove Forests”, there are currently 2 species of native Mangrove Tree. These species are Rhizophora samoensis (Samoan Mangrove), & Avicennia Marina (Grey / White Mangrove). There is no current data on the number of species of algae, or the kind of algae found around the isle. Surprisingly, a kind of beach flower known as Melanthera Biflora (Sea Daisy), is known to commonly grow on the island. Generally, there is just little to no data on what kind of marine flora are found on the island. The Documented Marine Fauna Of The Isle Of Pines, New Caledonia  The Isle of Pines is extremely biodiverse when it comes to marine creatures. The reason for this is due to their unique clash of terrain, their wonderful climate, & their large amount of plankton & nutrients. Additionally, the New Caledonian government outlawed single-use plastic bags, which helped to improve the quality of the oceanic water, to reduce pollution. Many animals will migrate throughout Oceania, & stop in the Isle of Pines & Surrounding New Caledonian, so the populations of certain creatures will vary throughout the year. Even though the marine creatures are flourishing, many conservation efforts are being made by both the New Caledonian government & locals. These efforts are largely centered on the coral reefs & the mangrove forests. 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 The Isle Of Pines is as follows: Hippocampus Spinosissimus (Hedgehog Seahorse), Osteohinchus Neotes (Miniature Cardinal-fish), Chrysiptera Leucopoma (Pacific Surge Demoiselle), Chromis Ternatensis (Ternate Chromis), Iracandus Signifer (Decoy Scorpionfish), Mahidolia Mystacina (Smiling Goby), Xiphophorus Hellerii (Green Swordfish), Charybdis Hellerii (Indo-Pacific Swimming Crab), Ablabys Taenianotus (Cockatoo Waspfish), Pentapodus Caninus (Canine-toothed Midwater Bream), Pomacentrus Imitator (Imitator Damsel), Stenella Longirostris (Spinner Dolphin), Tursiops Aduncus (Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin), Tursiops Truncatus (Common Bottlenose Dolphin), Arctocephalus Fosteri (New Zealand Fur Seal), Orcinus Orca (Orca / Killer Whale), Dugong Dugon (Dugong), & finally,  Megaptera Novaeangliae (Humpback Whale).  How The Oceanic Resources Of The Isle Of Pines Have Been Utilized & How Ocean Acidification Has Affected The Island  The marine resources of the Isle of Pines, have most often been used for ecological tourism. Fishing isn’t very common in the Isle of Pines, or New Caledonia for that matter. Mostly, the marine landscapes are used for ecological tourism. Ecological tourism is touring for the specific purpose of seeing the environment of the island, such as touring for the specific purpose of snorkeling. That is one form of ecological tourism. Ocean acidification does affect the island, specifically the coral reefs of the island. Ocean acidification is caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.  Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have increased, largely because of human-caused burning of fossil fuels, & deforestation, for the past 150 years.  When carbon dioxide contacts sea water, it forms carbonic acid.  Carbonic acid gives off positive H+ ions, which causes increased oceanic H+ concentrations & decreased oceanic Ph. The decreased oceanic Ph causes the coral to bleach, which in turn causes a decrease in biodiversity, & a decrease in nutrients. If we do not monitor ocean acidification, it could have devastating consequences.  Directories / Credits   Citation No. 1: “Mangrove Plants”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by newcaledoniaplants.com . Retrieval Date: July 5th, 2023.  https://newcaledoniaplants.com/plant-catalog/mangrove-plants/ Citation No. 2: “Where We Work: New Caledonia”, Written By Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Dugong & Seagrass Hub. Retrieval Date: July 5th, 2023.  https://www.dugongseagrass.org/where-we-work/new-caledonia/ Citation No. 3: “New Caledonia”, Written by Many, Published at various times. Published by iNaturalist. Retrieval Date: July 5th, 2023.  https://www.inaturalist.org/places/new-caledonia Citation No. 4: “Act in New Caledonia”, Written by Unknown, Published on the 27th of March, 2019. Published by Race For Our Water. Retrieval Date: July 5th, 2023.  https://www.raceforwater.org/en/news/act-in-new-caledonia/ Strategic Partnerships  Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast StemScribe Our Loyal Patrons  Ms. Paloma Rodriguez Ochoa

Ode To Oceanography: An Antique Nautical Chart Of Cape Cod This is the sixteenth article in the Ode to Oceanography series. This series will publish on the 15th of every month, until we run out of antique nautical maps to analyze, though that will not be for many decades. Once that happens, we will keep the series running, but we will change the article format. In these articles, will take an antique nautical map & analyze it in its entirety. These maps will not strictly be on open oceanic waters, they may be on rivers or occasionally, bays. We will also discuss the methods that may have been used to make the map, considering the time period, & the country of origin. These maps will come from a variety of sources, though they will mainly come from Maps Of Antiquity, a wonderful New England map shop. These maps will come from varying time periods, & will not be in any particular historical order. Today’s map, is an antique map of Cape Cod. Cape Cod is a cape along the southern coast of Massachusetts, a state located in the north east area of the United States. It is approximately 70 miles in length, & extends 65 miles away from Massachusetts into the Atlantic Ocean. The map is in excellent condition, with all information clear & visible, & there being very few signs of damage. The map is approximately 29 inches tall, by 35 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 tranquil area of Cape Cod. The Map Itself As the Map is in English, there is no need for translation. The map is uncoloured, & has many terrestrial topographic features outlined. The chart is incredibly detailed, &  has the name of many small villages & towns that are located along Cape Cod outlined on it. It is centered around the cape itself. It does have some information regarding tides on it, along with information concerning the oceanic depths near Cape Cod. An Analysis Of The Map This map was designed & created in 1836, based off of information collected in 1833 & 1835. The chart was designed by the United States Topographical Engineers, a branch of the United States Military which officially existed from 1838 to 1863. The map was likely produced in New York State, as this is where many of the Topographical Engineers were located at the time. The map encompasses the entirety of Cape Cod, Cape Cod Harbour, & Provincetown. At the time, it was designed for use military use, specifically use by the Army & the Navy. The map does not have a particular name, & does not seem to be a part of any collection. This map was most certainly made via the lithographic process, due to its maker, & the time that it was manufactured in. The lithographic method was most popular for map making between the early 1820’s, & the 1910’s. 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 Marine Enthusiasts Podcast StemScribe Our Loyal Patrons Ms. Paloma Rodriguez Ochoa

On October 7th, 2024, our head writer conducted an interview with esteemed Cuttlefish Cephalopod & Visual Ecology Researcher, Dr. Lydia Mäthger. Lydia Mäthger is a German Cephalopod Researcher, Professor, & Children’s Book Author. She’s well known for her work with Squid & Octopus, Visual Ecology, & research at the Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Her personal website can be found at lydiamaethger.com . In this interview, we ask 21 insightful questions to Dr. Mäthger, & get equally insightful & intriguing answers. Please note that all answers below are not direct quotations, & have been edited for clarity. With that being said, let us delve into the contents of the interview. The Contents of The Interview 1: What sparked your interest in biology in general? It goes right back to when I was a kid, I basically at a very young age seemed to have known what I wanted to do. My mother told me that at the age of 5, that my dream was to become a zoologist. I’m German, & at the time that I was growing up there were 2 very well-known zoologists who were working as a father-son team, & had a TV show, so occasionally I would hear about them. That is why I wanted to become a Zoologist. I kind of stayed true to that dream & by the time I went to high school, I continued with Biology.  I ended up going to England for my undergraduate degree in Zoology.  2: What led you to marine biology? I was led down the path mainly by the people around me. I kept on meeting & interacting with people in the field, & before I knew it, I was doing my Ph.D. at a marine laboratory in England. While doing my undergraduate, one of my professors was John Messenger, & he was a very well-known scientist in the Cephalopod Biology realm. I met him through an undergraduate course, & then did a sort of undergraduate thesis with him. I got hooked on cephalopods that way, & he ended up being one of my Ph.D. advisors! The other advisor was Sir Eric Denton, who was also very well-known in marine biology. So that is how I ended up getting into marine biology.  3: Do you have a favorite oceanic creature or terrestrial creature? If so, what are they? I have to say, it would probably be the color-changing animals. It would have to be the color-changing Squid or Octopus. On land, it would also be the color-changing animals you know, the reptiles, & amphibians—those kinds of creatures. 4: What is your favorite species of Cuttlefish, & what is your favorite attribute of Cuttlefish? That’s very hard. I’d say Sepia Officinalis, just because I know so much about them. There are some very cool cuttlefish out there too, like the Flamboyant Cuttlefish, but I’d have to say Sepia Officinalis. Questions About Her Research In General: 5: How did you begin your career as a marine biologist?  Essentially, when you study whatever it is as an undergraduate, you become interested in a particular direction. I was led into academia at an early point in my undergraduate career by meeting people such as John Messenger. As a Ph.D student, you aren’t necessarily signing your life away to academia, some people get their Ph.D.s & go into teaching or industry, so you don’t have to stay in academia or research. I got my Ph.D at a laboratory dedicated to pure research, called the Marine Biological Association. There is not much teaching, they do run courses every once in a while, however, it is not a teaching institution. So, I was inspired by the people doing pure research, & that is how I discovered my passion for research. From there I went to Australia, & did two post-doctoral fellowships. 6: How many institutions did you work with in your career? I didn’t move around all that much! I did my undergraduate degree at Sheffield University in the UK, & my Ph.D. work was done at the Marine Biological Association as a joint degree with Sheffield University. After my Ph.D., I left for Australia.  I worked at the University of Queensland in an interesting institution that doesn’t exist anymore. There was a center at the time called the Vision, Touch, & Hearing Research Center, & it was led by some really amazing scientists in the field of vision. During my time there I worked with Justin Marshall, a very famous neuroscientist & ecologist. From there, I came to the United States & worked at the Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole where I stayed for almost 20 years. I am now primarily teaching courses at Roger Williams University, in Rhode Island.  7: How did you get attracted to the Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole? To tell you the truth, I was trying to stay in Australia, however funding wasn’t available. Roger Hanlon, another fantastic cephalopod biologist, had been watching my career unfold, & offered me a job, & I took it! I came to the United States without knowing very much about Woods Hole.  8: What were your first & last research projects? My first research project, my very first project was as an undergraduate looking at Zebrafish, for my undergraduate project with John Messenger. I believe we were testing them on learning and memory, & behavior, specifically spatial learning by putting them in very simple mazes. Unfortunately, I don’t recall it all that well. My first real research project was looking at Squid, with Eric Denton in Plymouth.  For my very last research project, I am currently working with a student at Roger Williams studying colorblindness in Peppermint Shrimp.  9: Do you have a most memorable moment from your career as a marine biologist? I had one thing jump into my head instantly when you asked that! My most memorable moment was probably while doing research on an island off the coast of Australia, called Stradbroke Island. One of my favorite colleagues that I have had who also was an examiner for my thesis, is Mike Land – he was one amazing and well-respected scientist – was on sabbatical when I started my post-doctoral fellowship in Brisbane. I worked with him for 3 months while he was there. The two of us were standing at this tank after being out on the boat all day & collecting specimens, & we were looking at these fish called Paradise Whiptails. It was late in the evening after we had all had dinner, & both of us at the same time looked at each other & said “Did you see that?!”. These fish were changing color right before us! So we stared at the fish for a while, & that led to a paper.  This goes back to one of the key principles of science, which is that we have to observe the world around us. Nothing beats going back to basics, & making observations when you are a scientist. I’m currently homeschooling my son & we recently came back from the beach, & collected a few crabs. He was observing them, & sure enough he was coming up with questions.  10: What attracts you to Visual Ecology & Camouflage? That was my time in Australia, as I was surrounded by Visual Ecologists. 11: What did you study in Cuttlefish? I primarily studied their color-changing attributes, & their eyes.  12: What was your work concerning birds & insects? We did some work on Birds of Paradise feathers, however unfortunately nothing got published on that. We collected a lot of data though. The same goes for insects, I always use bird feathers & insects in my teaching, especially with children. You can always use them to demonstrate pigmentation, & structural coloration principles.  Questions About Outreach With Schools & Local Programs: 13: How did you get the idea to do outreach with Schools? I think when your field is that specific it’s difficult to do continuous outreach. I think it's primarily because of my children, while communicating with them & their school teachers I realized that other people were interested in it. It's a subject that is so suited to visual learning & hands-on activities, which makes it easier to teach to children. There is an island just off the coast of Woods Hole, Penikese Island, & I have taught there almost every summer since the program started. I have also taught down in the Caribbean with places that have one-off programs.  14:  If there is one thing or group of things you wish to have children know about Visual & Sensory Ecology, what is that thing? Every organism that has eyes sees everything differently from the way we do. In terms of colors, spatial frequency, & everything else. Every eye is different.  Questions About Her Children’s Book & Passion For Illustration: 15: What attracted you to doing illustrations? As a child, I grew up in a very artistic family. My father was a singer, & my mother did a lot of artwork with us as children. This led to my love of art, I’ve always been an artist.  Even in my science work, I’ve always done my own illustrations whenever there was a need for them. I always do hand-drawn illustrations, I prefer them to computers. 16: What is your favorite thing to illustrate? Growing up on a farm, my favorite thing to illustrate was horses. Now I like illustrating just about anything. 17: How did you get the idea for your children’s book? For years, my children were bugging me to write a children’s book. I was busy for years until the Pandemic hit in 2020. I had just lost my funding for the laboratory, & everything fell perfectly into place.  Being home while my children were home was a blessing, if I had been forced to also run a laboratory, it would have been very, very difficult. I just used that time, I wrote primarily in the early morning hours before the children got up. I love writing, & the book sort of wrote itself in a way. 18: What is the story of Scholle und Timm - Unterwegs mit Janko? My children are very particular about the kinds of books they like, & don't enjoy books that are too gripping. They both enjoy books like Pippy Longstocking that are calm & pleasant, yet still have a storyline.  They were very specific about what they wanted; it had to have dogs, it had to have a farm & farm animals, & it had to have a veterinarian. So I pulled that all together for the book. The story revolves around a family who lives on a farm when this dog suddenly appears. The dog had been hit by a car so take him in & keep him. They do a lot of dog training & agility training with him, & he ends up being such a wonderful pet to them. 19: What are your plans for the remaining books in the trilogy? The second book is written but, I haven’t found time to edit it for publishing. I already have my plans for the third book, however I am quite busy right now. It’ll get done eventually, I’m hoping to finish at least 3 of them, but, I could keep going too. I’ll see!  This was primarily for my children, it wasn’t something I did for my career or anything.  Questions About Her Personally: 21: How did you get the idea to keep chickens? We’ve always had chickens, we’re vegetarian so we don’t have chickens for meat eating. Love the eggs, it's nice having the chickens around. My dogs are good with the chickens as well.  My neighbors are very appreciative of them as well, they get eggs every now & then.  22: Do the chickens influence your illustrations at all? Yes, they do! I love drawing animals. I think if there is going to be a chicken involved in one of the chapters of the next book, there will be a chicken illustration.  Directories / Credits https://lydiamaethger.com/english/ Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast StemScribe Our Loyal Patrons Ms. Paloma Rodriguez Ochoa