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A gorgeous photograph of Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada, during the summer. Credit to the government of Iqaluit. Today’s article shall be discussing the oceans surrounding Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut, Canada. Iqaluit is the capital of the Canadian province, Nunavut. Iqaluit is considered one of the most ideal places for fishing in the area. It is the only city in the entire province, with a minuscule population of 7,429 people. This is the lowest population of any provincial Canadian capital. Located on the Baffin Island, the city is close to the Arctic circle. Iqaluit was also known by the name “Frobisher Bay” from 1942 to 1987, at which the cities name was restored to its Inuktitut name. The city encompasses a 19.92 square mile area (51.592563 square kilometers). Outside of Nunavut, the city is not well known. The city is so small, that there is only 1 paved road in the entire town. The name “Iqaluit” is an Inuktitut name, meaning “Place Of Many Fish”. The reason for this name is that fishing is a long standing tradition of the Inuktitut people of the area. Though Iqaluit is not the most biodiverse land wise, it has some of the most magnificent marine life. One of the creatures that makes up their marine ecosystems, it the Beluga Whale. We covered this species in an article published 10 days prior to this one, which readers may view if they are interested. The majority of the marine species around the city, are marine mammals. Currently, Marine Species Management Services estimate that there are approximately 21 species of pinniped found around the Iqaluit, & the surrounding islands. In this article we will discuss the salinity, tides, temperatures, marine geography, & depth of the oceans surrounding Iqaluit, the most prominent marine ecosystems of the oceans surrounding Iqaluit, the documented marine flora & fauna of Iqaluit, & how ocean acidification & rising oceanic temperatures are affecting the oceans surrounding Iqaluit. With that being said, let us delve into the jewel of Nunavut! The Salinity, Tides, Temperatures, Marine Geography, & Depth Of The Oceans Surrounding Iqaluit The salinity of Iqaluit is currently unmeasured. Since Iqaluit is surrounded by the Arctic Ocean, the salinity of Iqaluit most likely rests between 30 & 34 Parts Per Thousand. Salinity is currently measured in 1000 gram increments of water. For example, 30 grams of salt per every 1000 grams of water would be expressed as 30 parts per thousand. Additionally, though parts per thousand is considered the proper name for the measurement, some sources will instead refer to it as practical salinity units. The tidal charts for Iqaluit can be found on a variety of websites, including: https://www.tideschart.com , https://www.tide-forecast.com , https://tides.today , & https://www.tidetablechart.com . The tides tend to not reach higher then 10.7 meters (35.10499 feet) tall, & no lower then 0.5 (1.64042 feet) meters. The oceanic temperature charts can be found on similar websites, a few of which are: https://seatemperature.info , https://seatemperatures.net , https://www.watertemp.org , & https://www.watertemperature.org . The average yearly oceanic temperature is approximately 31.02499999999995239° Fahrenheit (-0.54166666666667 Celsius). Using a wetsuit guide, at this temperature it is recommended that you wear a drysuit.  Iqaluit is not known to have any common riptides. Though the ocean around the city is safe for swimming, it never gets warm enough to swim without a drysuit. Pollutants are not found in the water, & the ocean water is rather clean & clear. There are very few oceanic activities to do around the area. Very few diving expeditions are launched here unless it is for a scientific purpose. The few that are, are highly structured & are usually hosted by travel agencies. There is very little tourism in the city, as the city is not very well known. Iqaluit has very few sea mounts around it, as the geography does not permit them. The oceanic floor around the city largely consists of rock. With all current research, the deepest oceanic point within a 5 nautical mile (5.7539 miles or 9.26 kilometers) radius of Iqaluit is 419.9 feet (127.98552 meters) deep. The Most Prominent Marine Ecosystems Of The Oceans Surrounding Iqaluit Ecosystem Type No. 1: Intertidal Zones Intertidal zones are located along the coastlines, & are areas which are exposed to air at low tide, as well as submerged at high tide. These zones are wear the ocean meets the shoreline, & contrary to popular perception, are absolutely teeming with oceanic life. From crabs to bivalves, this ecosystem has a unique variety of marine life, as well as a unique variety of features. These zones generally have species from the phyla Echinodermata, Arthropoda, & Mollusca in them. Additionally, these zones may have tide pools. The Documented Marine Flora Of Iqaluit Unfortunately, we cannot provide information on the marine flora of Iqaluit, as there is little to no data on them. The Documented Marine Fauna Of Iqaluit Though Iqaluit isn’t the most biodiverse, the city has a flourishing population of marine life. Unfortunately, due to the inhospitable environment, there is very little data on exactly which species inhabit the cities shoreline. Many marine species will migrate to Iqaluit as a part of their natural migrational process, & as a result, it is hard to track them. There are very few species that are found year round, with the most prominent one being the Ringed Seal. As of 2025, there are no known endemic marine fauna species that are endemic to Iqaluit. For the purposes of this article, we will not be including planktons, parasites, marine insects, or waterfowl. With that being said, below is a list of all the most prominent marine species known to be found around the city: Monoceros monodon (Narwhal), Delphinapterus leucas (Beluga Whale), Balaena mysticetus (Bowhead Whale), Pusa hispada (Ringed Seal), Odobenus rosmarus (Walrus), Salvelinus alpinus (Arctic Char). How Ocean Acidification & Rising Oceanic Temperatures Are Affecting The Oceans Surrounding Iqaluit 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. When the ocean has decreased Ph, it effectively acidifies. When this happens, it causes conditions that will eat at the shells of bivalves, stress out & eventually bleach coral, & utterly destroy seagrass patches. The effects of this are being seen the most dramatically in Arctic & Antarctic areas, which Iqaluit is located in. Ocean Acidification currently poses a massive threat to the hard shelled organisms of Iqaluit, & if not taken action upon, will eventually lead to ecological destabilization. As for rising oceanic temperatures, its affects are being seen now in Iqaluit. This form of climate change is affecting the migrational patterns of fish, which is & will affect the Inuktitut Communities. Many of these small communities rely on fishing & hunting to sustain themselves, & their local economy. If the fish, or seals become locally extinct, then it will have devastating economic, food security, & ecological implications for the Inuktitut Indigenous Aboriginals. For more information as well as ways to avoid this uninviting future, please visit https:// www.climatechangenunavut.ca . A photograph of Iqaluit in its snow-covered glory. Credit to the government of Iqaluit. Directories / Credits Citation No. 1: “Wetsuit thickness & temperature guide”, Written By Mark Evans, & Published On April 24th, 2023, at 3:05 PM. Published By Scuba Divers Magazine. Retrieval Date: February 26th, 2024. https://www.scubadivermag.com/wetsuit-thickness-and-temperature-guide/#Scuba_diving_wetsuits Citation No. 2: “Wildlife Viewing Animals”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published By Travel Nunavut. Retrieval Date: February 26th, 2024. https://travelnunavut.ca/things-to-see-do/wildlife-viewing/wildlife-viewing-animals/ Citation No. 3: “Species In Nunavut”, Written By Unknown, & Published At an Unknown Date. Published by Travel Nunavut. Retrieval Date: February 26th, 2024. https://travelnunavut.ca/things-to-see-do/fishing/species-in-nunavut/ Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Pitfire Artisan Pizza Olivenbaum Music Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

Today’s nautical chart is a 166-year-old nautical map of the Florida Keys, from Ramrod Key to Boca Grande Key! The Florida Keys are a magnificent set of islands off the coast of the Florida Panhandle in the United States. They are known for their distinctive wildlife, relaxing resorts, & beautiful beaches. They are located in the Gulf of Mexico, from The chart depicts the lower portion of the Florida Keys, known as the Southern Keys. The chart is in English, & contains a tremendous amount of information about seafloor depth, seafloor composition, lighthouses, information about when data was taken, & crash sites of unlucky ships. It showcases the names of various islands, including charming, idyllic destinations such as Summerland Key, & Key West. It is of fair size, being 31 inches wide, & 22.5 inches long. The chart is cream coloured, with islands being covered yellow to differentiate from the sea, & details being outlined in black. For the time, the depiction of the islands were fairly accurate, making them an incredibly useful resource to any sailor of the era who passed through the area often. In today’s article, we shall discuss this intriguing nautical chart, perform an analysis of it. With that being said, let us delve into the  warm, erratic waters of the Florida Keys! A beautiful aerial photograph of Ramrod Key, the island at the beginning of the map in the lower Florida Keys. This was taken on October 7th, 1987. Credit to the Federal Government of the United States of America. The Chart A gorgeous antique Nautical Chart designed by the United States Office in Coast Survey. Courtesy of Rare Maps. In the introduction, we discussed the subject of the map, an island chain known as the Florida Keys. The chart includes a variety of island names, from Boca Grande to Shark Key. The map is relatively undamaged, with the main visible flaws being yellowed marks running vertically & horizontally. As can be visualized by the numbers visible in the ocean, the chart also includes a vast amount of bathymetric data, meaning data about the sea floor. In addition to including information about depth, it also includes information about composition. A table at the bottom of the map explains that the chart has markers for different materials that the seafloor is composed of, including mud, sand, shells, coral, stones, rock, & marl. To the right on the table, we can also see that the chart gives information on the hardness of the sea floor, going from broken to rocky. This information would have been particularly useful to ships looking to anchor in the area, as composition of the sea floor affects what kind of anchor will be used. Also at the bottom, is a list of local lighthouses, as well as tidal information. An Analysis Of The Chart This chart was designed & manufactured in 1859, by the United States Coastal Survey. The United States Coastal Survey was founded in 1807 by Thomas Jefferson. During the War of 1812, many disagreements ensued over whether or not the office should be civilian, or military controlled. This eventually led to the agency being re-founded in 1832 by Rudolph Hassled as a civilian agency, although they still collaborated closely with the military, working closely with the army & navy for hydrographic as well as topographic work. Unfortunately, the agency was disrupted by the civil war, during which Alexander Dallas Bache, the grandson of Ben Franklin. Later, post-civil war, after the country began returning to a state of normalcy, the party began employing more scientists, & naturalists. The agency also had an active role in the second world war, manufacturing over 100 million maps for the allies. In 1970, the agency was merged with several other governmental institutions to form the modern National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. Considering the history of the United States Coastal Survey, this chart was likely manufactured for both military & civilian use. Upon reviewing the quality, & time that the map was manufactured in, the chart was most likely manufactured using lithography. Lithography is a method of printing that arose in the 1820s, & remained the most popular method of printing in both color & grayscale until the early 1960s, when more efficient methods became available. Although it has existed since the mid-1790s, it took a long time to gain popularity in Europe due to technical difficulties, & only began gaining commercial popularity in the early 1820s. It is still widely used for certain kinds of printing, such as fine art printing today, however, digital printing is far more common. 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 image 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 what was supposed to be printed is revealed. It is extremely useful for making high-resolution prints in high quantities. A serene photograph of Boca Grande, Florida. This is the furthest island away from the mainland depicted in the chart. Credit to photographer Rob Wiltse. Directories / Credits All credit for this map analyzed today goes to Rare Maps, a California rare & antique maps store. To purchase this chart, antique atlases, or other cartographic objects, please visit www.raremaps.com . To be clear, this is not an advertisement for Rare Maps, as we do not have a partnership with them. Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Pitfire Artisan Pizza Olivenbaum Music Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

Recently, we were fortunate to interview the extraordinary marine scientist, Dr. Richard C. Brusca. Dr. Brusca is a marine biologist, invertebrate zoologist, writer, researcher, and goldendoodle enthusiast known for his work with invertebrates, the Sea of Cortez, and Latin America. He is a prolific author, with over 200 publications and 16 books, and he has earned numerous prestigious awards such as the U.S.Department of Defence Award for Civil Service. Apart from his scientific ventures, he is also well known for his fiction novels, “In the Land of the Feathered Serpent”, 2019, and “The Time Travelers”, 2023, which led him to winning the 2024 Independent Press Award for Hispanic Fiction. In today’s interview, we sit down with Rick to discuss his long and extraordinary career in marine science, his science communication efforts, his novels, his passions, his nonprofit work, and his advice for new marine biologists and early career ocean professionals, in a comprehensive 27-question interview. Before diving into today’s interview, please note everything said has been edited for clarity, and that the opinions of our interviewee do not necessarily reflect the opinions and values of our organization. With that being said, let us delve into the contents of the interview!   A splendid photograph of Dr. Richard Brusca cruising in the Sea of Cortez.   The Interview   Questions About His Passion   1. What sparked your passion for marine biology, invertebrate zoology, and the ocean? I was fortunate to have grown up on the coast in California. In my youth I spent as much time as possible at the beach: tidepooling, body and board surfing, just exploring. The sea was in my blood right from the start. I would often cut a day of high school to hang out at the beach, surfing and just staring out at the broad Pacific and its hypnotic waves. I always had the notion of the Pacific Ocean being the largest thing on the entire planet and the enormity of it enchanted me. I knew it was over 5,000 miles of open ocean from my beach to the other side, to a beach in Japan where I imagined someone like me sitting and staring out across the Pacific thinking about how vast it is.   When I went off to college I started at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where I took every marine and invertebrate course they offered. I spent my weekends driving up and down the California coast looking for the greatest beaches to explore. I would visit the many marine labs along the coast and while away hours in their libraries. In my junior year, I got lucky andwas offered a job as a marine technician on the R/V Eltanin , a naval Arctic icebreaker that had been refitted as an Antarctic research ship.  I spent seven months on the Eltanin, sailing into various ice packs in the Southern Ocean and learning the practical aspects of oceanographic sampling.  On that voyage, I read Sir Alister Hardy’s still unrivaled oceanography book, The Open Sea .  The book, and the experience, fixed in me forever a love of the ocean and a love for field work and travel.     2. What inspired your passion for the Sea of Cortez, also known as the Gulf of California? I really knew nothing about the Sea of Cortez, but after finishing my master’s degree at Los Angeles State University one of my instructors asked me if I might be interested in moving to Mexico to help out the University of Arizona.  They needed someone to build a small marine laboratory on the coast near a fishing village called Puerto Peñasco (a 4-hour drive from Tucson).  I spoke no Spanish, had been to the Gulf of California only once, and knew nothing about building marine labs; but the whole thing sounded like such an exciting adventure that I jumped at the opportunity.  He recommended me to the head of the U.A. Marine Biology Program, I flew out for an interview, and I got the job! Two months later I was living in Mexico, learning Spanish, and trying to figure out how to construct a simple marine lab (with a running seawater system, etc.).  Somehow I pulled it all off, and in the process discovered what an amazing body of water the Sea of Cortez is.   Near the end of my 2-year contract living and working in Puerto Peñasco, the great amphipod systematist J. Laurens Barnard took a sabbatical leave from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History to work at the U.A.  He hooked up with me and we spent many months traveling around the Gulf collecting his beloved amphipods and revisiting the old Ricketts-Steinbeck collecting sites from the 1940s.  By then I was so inspired by the beauty and rich diversity of the Gulf of California, I couldn’t imagine studying any other region of the world.  That’s when I decided to enter the PhD program at the U.A.  Jerry Barnard was my greatest mentor and inspired the entirety of my career.   3. What ignited your passion for the Southwestern U.S.? After completing a two-year contract job for the University of Arizona, living in Mexico on the shores of the Sea of Cortez, I decided I wanted to get a PhD and become a college professor.  I had already fallen in love with the Gulf and its desert shores, and the only university that had a marine program focused on that spectacular sea was the University of Arizona. I was admitted to the program and once I settled into Tucson began to discover the Sonoran Desert.  For me, it had many parallels with the sea, and even the intertidal zone: the challenging environment for the plants and animals, the extreme biodiversity, the endless complex relationships between the flora as well as fauna, its sheer, and often stark, beauty.  It would be nearly impossible to live in the Sonoran Desert & not fall in love with it.   4. What captivated you about the Madrean Sky Islands, andhow would you describe them to those who are not familiar? Moving to Arizona I was struck by the pattern of the landscape, which consists of a series of isolated mountain ranges separated by low valleys. It is the overarching pattern of the terrain as far as the eye can see.  I learned that this region was part of the great Basin and Range Geological Province that runs from southeastern Oregon all the way to Sonora and the Central Plateau of Mexico. Tucson is surrounded by four of these isolated ranges, the most well-known being the Santa Catalina Mountains. The Catalinas are one of 65 of these Basin & Range mountains that just happen to span the gap between the Colorado Plateau/Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Madre Occidental of Mexico—sometimes called the Cordilleran Gap.  These 65 ranges are known as Sky Islands because they harbor unique higher-elevation plant and animal communities that are separated and isolated from other ranges by sprawling low desert valleys.  Most of the ranges harbor endemic species in their oak woodlands and pine forests.  Not only that, but they also serve as stepping-stones for temperate species from the north, and tropical species from the south, which gives these Sky Island ranges an enormous andinteresting mix of biodiversity. It’s what makes southeastern Arizona a global biodiversity hotspot.   Exploring these ranges around Tucson, one quickly learns that as you travel up in elevation the changes in plant communities mirror those seen driving north in latitude. This is a biogeographic relationship first described by the great explorer Alexander von Humboldt in the early 19th century, based on his work in the Andes.  In the 1960s, the pioneering ecologist Robert Whittaker documented these vegetational changes in the Santa Catalina Mountains in great detail.   While working on a project developed by my wife, U.A. professor Wendy Moore—the Arizona Sky Island Arthropod Project (ASAP)—I totally fell in love with the Catalina Mountains.  She was collecting arthropods all over the range, so I decided to use the same transects to document the plants, with the idea of comparing them to what Whittaker had found 60 years earlier.  It turned out to be quite interesting because over those six decades a warming and drying climate had been established.  We predicted that all of the plant species might have moved upslope to avoid these climate changes.  Many had done so, but we also discovered that many hadn’t.  Some had compressed their elevational range, others changed only their lower range limit, and so forth.  Overall, the varied responses of the plants led to changes in community composition that were unpredictable at the outset of the project.   5. Was there any major person, place, book, or media franchise that assisted in the sparking of your passions for these subjects? I was fortunate to have had some great mentors.  As an undergraduate, Professor David Montgomery solidified my interest in invertebrate zoology and it was then that I began reading books by the great zoologist Libbie Hyman.  I so admired Hyman that I wanted to accomplish similar feats of synthesis.   My MSc advisor, Dick Allen, taught me systematics, and we ended up publishing a number of papers together on mayflies. Those were my first scientific publications and Dick helped me learn the convoluted process of writing and publishing one’s research.   During my PhD work, I was inspired and mentored by the Gulf of California fish expert, Donald A. Thomson, and the wonderful amphipod biologist J. Laurens Barnard . Jerry Barnard was far and away the most important mentor in my life because he taught me how to have fun and do serious biology at the same time.   6. Across your career, you have worked with a plethora of different species. What is your favorite species that you have worked with?  Generally speaking, what is your favorite marine or terrestrial animal? It would be impossible for me to pick favorites (aside from my 85 lb. Goldendoodle, Marley).  I find all of life utterly fascinating, and the world of invertebrates is so unimaginably diverse that every year new creatures are discovered that defy our imagination.  Some of my colleagues and I have puzzled over invertebrate specimens for years before finally figuring out what phylum they even belong to (in some cases, a new phylum had to be erected to accommodate them).   There remain infinite mysteries to be solved in the world of invertebrates and they can be found in virtually any tidepool or sample from the deep sea.  We know a lot, yet we still know so little. Not only that, but everyone knows invertebrates are spectacularly beautiful and far more charming than vertebrates!   Questions Regarding His Career In Marine Science 7. Where did you pursue your undergraduate degree, as well as your master’s degree, and was there any particular reason as to why you chose these institutions? I completed my bachelor’s degree at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where I knew they had a strong marine biology program.  I also knew it was a beautiful coastal region of California.  That took me nearly seven years because I kept taking time off to travel (Mexico, New Zealand, Chile, Antarctica on the R/V Eltanin , etc.). I did my master’s work at L.A. State University only because I was living there, had gotten married, and had a child.  I didn’t want to disrupt the family and my wife had a good job, but I got lucky and found a great thesis advisor, Richard K. Allen.   8. Which institution did you go to for your Ph.D. and what was your thesis topic? After completing my 2-year contract with the University of Arizona, living and working in Mexico, I enrolled in a PhD program at the University of Arizona. They had the only graduate program in the country focused on the Sea of Cortez, and my newly-discovered mentor and friend Jerry Barnard was a visiting professor there (from the National Museum of Natural History). I wanted to study crab systematics, but at the time Professor John Garth (at the University of Southern California) was the preeminent Eastern Pacific crab specialist and he was very possessive about his group, thus discouraging me from crabs!   Instead, I fell in love with marine isopods, those little marine “pillbugs” that are so diverse and common.  My PhD dissertation was a revision of a family of isopods that are parasites on marine fishes in the Gulf of California.  The number of specimens I had available was enriched by culling through the University of Arizona’s fish collection, where I found my parasites still attached to the bodies of their pickled host fishes. I worked on isopods for over 20 years but eventually became interested in so many other things, especially Sea of Cortez conservation issues, that I finally let them go. There is a bit of irony in all this, because after completing my PhD my first academic position was to replace the retiring John Garth at USC.   9. Do you mind speaking about the work that you have done in the Sea of Cortez? What has been your focus while in the Sea of Cortez? My work there began by simply documenting the vast invertebrate diversity, over 5,000 described species, of that poorly known region, including writing keys to identify the common species.  That grew into a body of systematic work describing the isopod crustacea of the Gulf, and that led to research on conservation ecology in the region.  I’ve published many papers, books, and editorials on the region over the 50 years I’ve worked there.   Among the paradigm shifts I’ve tried to instill is the fact that the Colorado River was never important to the ecology of the Upper Gulf, because it actually never delivered much freshwater to the sea.  There is ample evidence to support this, although for some folks it still seems so counterintuitive that they struggle with the idea. Another paradigm shift I’ve pushed is that the Sonoran Desert should be considered a maritime desert, because our summer monsoon rains come almost entirely from evaporation off the Sea of Cortez. It is this summer rainy season that makes the Sonoran Desert unique among American deserts, providing for two rainy seasons annually and driving our biodiversity to very high levels. I’ve worked with UNESCO for many years on projects to evaluate their Biosphere Reserves in the Gulf, andI’m currently working with a large group of other Gulf specialists to produce a detailed assessment of the overall health of the Sea of Cortez.   10. Early on in your career, you worked with a scientist known as Jerry Laurens Barnard . We recently published an article discussing his life, work, achievements, and accomplishments . What research did you conduct with Jerry and where did you primarily conduct it? Jerry took a 4-year sabbatical from the National Museum of Natural History to move to the University of Arizona as a visiting researcher.  One of his primary goals was to undertake a comprehensive survey of the Gulf of California’s amphipod Crustacea.  I was still living in Puerto Peñasco when he arrived, running a small marine lab that I’d built for the University of Arizona.  On Jerry ’s first visit to Peñasco we met and hit it off.   Subsequently, he and I undertook many expeditions around the Sea of Cortez, he collecting amphipods and me documenting the intertidal invertebrates for my then-forthcoming book, Common Intertidal Invertebrates of the Gulf of California (U.A. Press).  Once I decided to work on isopods for my PhD dissertation, Jerry was invaluable as a mentor because amphipods andisopods are very closely related.   11. How did you become the Curator of Crustacea and Head of the Invertebrate Zoology Section for the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History? I was on faculty at the University of Southern California, where I also served as Curator of Crustacea for the Allan Hancock Foundation Oceanographic Collections.  The Hancock collections were world famous and comprised the largest eastern Pacific collections in existence.   At one point in time, the U.S.C. administration made the bad decision to abandon the collections. They were actually considering trashing them. I managed to obtain sizeable funding from the National Science Foundation to transfer most of the collections to the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum, one of the best museums in the country.  Once the Crustacea collection was moved, which took about 18 months, the museum opened a position for a Curator of Crustacea.  I applied and was lucky enough to get the appointment. That collection, with approximately 130,000 lots (i.e., a single collection from one time and place) and millions of specimens, is second in size andimportance only to the Crustacea collection at the Smithsonian. The move was so complicated, I could never have done it without the help of a very smart and hard-working assistant, Regina Wetzer. Regina went on to get her PhD in invertebratesand is now a Curator and Director of the Marine Biodiversity Center at the museum.   12. What led you to become the director of the Graduate Marine Biology Program at the College of Charleston in South Carolina? There’s a bit of a story here.  I’d left the L.A. Natural History Museum for an endowed curatorship position at the San Diego Natural History Museum.  It was a great job, well-funded, in a very pleasant city.  However, the museum’s Executive Director turned out to be a bad guy and one day the Board of Directors discovered he had been mismanaging the museum’s finances quite badly.  All of a sudden, the auditors told us we were in big debt and would have to substantially reduce the budget.   A temporary new Executive Director was put in place with the charge to slash the budget. This fellow didn’t understand the role of science in natural history museums, so the first thing he did was start laying off science staff—curators, technicians, andcollection managers.  Although my position was safe because of the endowment, watching my close colleagues get axed was stressful. It was clear to me that science was being dismembered at the museum. Just then fate seemed to step in and I was recruited by the College of Charleston to take over as Director of their Graduate Program in Marine Biology.  It was actually one of the very best marine science graduate programs in the country.   I accepted the invitation and jumped into a high-level administrative position.  It took me a few years to get my feet on the ground, with nearly 50 students and 100 participating professors. Talk about herding cats!   13. What led you to become a Senior Research Scientist with Columbia University in New York, and what sorts of research or teaching did you conduct while at that university? This was another recruitment.  I had just moved to Tucson to be with my new bride (Wendy Moore), who had started her PhD program in entomology at the University of Arizona.  My friends and colleagues at the College of Charleston told me I was crazy to give up a good position with tenure, having no job waiting for me in Tucson. Yet, love prevailed.   I was initially offered a Research Scientist position in the UA’s Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Department and was about to transfer a very large National Science Foundation research grant I had from Charleston to the University of Arizona. Colombia University somehow found out about my situation and I was invited to visit their Biosphere 2 Center in Oracle, Arizona.  Columbia had just taken over the Biosphere and they were looking for “new talent,” especially people who could come with grants “in their pocket.”  They basically made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.   So instead of building a new lab at the UA, I did so at Columbia University’s Biosphere 2 Center where I continued working on isopod systematics and Sea of Cortez biodiversity and conservation.  Then, after just a couple of years, Columbia asked me if I would consider being Director of Education for the Center.  I liked the faculty there, and their teaching ideas were very creative as well as successful and strongly oriented toward field work.  I took the new position, but had to cut back on my research. I retained my Research Scientist appointment, unpaid, at the University of Arizona throughout all this.   14. How did you enter the role of Executive Director at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, and what work did you do with the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Press? Just four years into my job with Columbia University’s Biosphere 2 Center, I was invited to apply for a position at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.  Their Director of Science, Dr. Gary Nabhan, had left for a position at Northern Arizona University, and the museum needed to replace him.  I had to compete against a couple of other folks but got lucky and got the job! Then, after just a year or so, the museum’s executive director retired and the museum needed someone new.  The Board of Trustees came up with a clever and unique idea—there could be two Executive Directors, co-directors!  The Trustees knew me pretty well, and they knew the museum’s Director of Development (Robert Edison) quite well indeed.  Bob Edison and I deliberated on the idea and decided we could easily work together by splitting up responsibilities. I liked to joke that Bob raised the money and I spent it.  We got along well and both worked hard, and the museum thrived! The entire time I was at the Desert Museum I also ran the ASDM Press, which was a lot of fun.  We produced a good many books, almost all of which won national awards, from science tomes to children’s books, and even an award-winning cookbook.  I learned a good deal about the fascinating field of book publishing during that period.   15. Broadly speaking, over the course of your career what types of research have you done involving marine invertebrates? I’m one of those few invertebrate biologists who worked on many different groups, all the phyla really.  My textbook, Invertebrates , treats all of the invertebrates in great depth, including systematics, biology, ecology, and phylogenetics.  It’s hard to categorize my work on invertebrates because I’ve published on systematics, ecology, invertebrate conservation, biogeography, embryology, invertebrate archaeology . . . you name it. The textbook is now in its 4th edition, in four languages, and is the widest-selling text in the field. My online database of invertebrates in the Sea of Cortez (over 5,000 species) is a primary reference for anyone working in the region.   16. Your work has taken you all around the world, from Antarctica to the Tropics. How many areas have you researched and which ones were your most memorable? Well, that's a big question. I’ve organized and undertaken field expeditions all over the world.  Many of these were research-ship based, usually relying on scuba and occasionally using manned submersibles. My fieldwork includes most of the America’s: Guatemala, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil, Galapagos Islands, Peru, Uruguay, Chile, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Tierra del Fuego, throughout the Caribbean.   In the Old World, I’ve undertaken field work throughout the Western Mediterranean, Spain, Morocco, South Africa, Swaziland, Namibia, Madagascar, Taiwan, and Thailand.   In the Pacific, I’ve worked in Bora Bora, Moorea, Tahiti, Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Tonga, American and Western Samoa, Fiji, Guam, New Zealand, Hawaii, Antarctica, and extensively throughout Australia.   It would be hard to pick a favorite because so many of the places are simply spectacular in terms of invertebrate biodiversity andsheer beauty, but certainly the islands of the tropical western Pacific stand out on both counts.  I also favor Latin America because I’m a great fan of Hispanic culture and New World Indigenous history.   Questions About His Various Publications and Other Passions   17. How many books have you published thus far and what are subjects? I’ve published 16 books, several that have gone through multiple editions, on topics ranging from crustacean biology to Sonoran Desert ecology to Sea of Cortez natural history.  Some were bilingual (English-Spanish) and one has been translated into four languages (my invertebrate text: Invertebrates , Oxford University Press).   Two were novels.  My latest book was a look at the relationship between science and the humanities; an important subject that doesn’t get enough attention. I’m currently working with a Colombian-Mexican colleague, Omar Vidal, on a book about Mexican conservation issues (to be published in Spanish).   18. What attracts you to Latin American History, as well as culture? What sorts of publications have you done involving Latin American history? I’ve been attracted to Latin American culture and history for as long as I can remember. Perhaps it was growing up in Los Angeles, where Latino culture is hard not to notice. My love affair with Mexico, in particular, runs deep. Our southern neighbors are better educated than us (the literacy rate in Mexico is over 95%; in the U.S. it’s 79%, and 54% of U.S. adults read below a 6th-grade level), and they tend to make decisions based on facts and thoughtful consideration rather than ideology (as is so common among Americans).   Also, compared to Americans they have a stronger sense of social justice, are generally happier and maintain a healthier outlook on life, are more family-oriented and, importantly, are deeply connected to their roots, especially their Mexica ancestry and the great Aztec Kingdom which still survives in many forms in modern-day Mexico. Mexico never tried to force its Indigenous groups onto miserable reservations as we did in the U.S. They were left to live where they were and live the way they chose.  But, of course, almost every Mexican born in Mexico has indigenous blood in their veins and they are part Native American—they are Mestizos.  So it’s quite different from the U.S.   Another thing, my Mexican researcher colleagues don’t take themselves too seriously; unlike American scientists, who tend to delineate their entire identity as human beings by their career work. By the way, it’s not just Mexico: the literacy rate in Chile is 97%, Venezuela 98%, and Argentina 99%.  It’s always seemed easier to have meaningful conversations with Latinos than with U.S. citizens, because they are better informed, more broadly read, and are more adept at distinguishing between dogma andreality. Of course, that doesn’t mean Mexico doesn’t have its own set of problems, such as corruption and organized crime—both, by the way, descended from the era of unscrupulous Spanish colonial rule.   I’ve written a bit about the Mexican culture, and also the Maya culture of Guatemala. One of the more interesting studies I did, with a colleague in Mexico City—Omar Vidal—was an analysis of biodiversity and cultural diversity throughout Mexico (the two together are called “biocultural diversity”).  We found the two to be tightly correlated, with biological diversity andcultural diversity (i.e., Indigenous diversity) trends closely linked. Areas of high biodiversity are also areas of high cultural diversity.  There’s a lot of attention on stemming the loss of biodiversity, but very little on slowing the loss of cultural diversity.   With 364 living languages, Mexico is the world’s fifth most linguistically diverse country.  But, 64 of these languages are facing a very high risk of disappearance.  Thirteen languages have already gone extinct in Mexico in historic times.   Mexico is also the world’s 4th most biodiverse country, but over a thousand species are currently threatened with extinction.  These threat patterns among languages and species are directly linked to one another.   19. What interested you specifically about the United States’ government, particularly the CIA’s involvement in Latin American politics and general affairs? Additionally, how does this subject appear as a backdrop in your books? During the 1980s I was traveling a good deal in Central America, including a year-long sabbatical living in Costa Rica.  I was collecting invertebrates along the coastlines of Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Panama, as well as working on a guide to the isopods of Costa Rica. It was a turbulent time in the region, with civil wars going on in El Salvador and Guatemala. It was also the era of the Banana Wars and President Ronald Reagan’s illegal attempts to overthrow the new democracy of Nicaragua. The CIA was involved everywhere, mostly in unscrupulous ways.  I found it all fascinating and began keeping copious notes, newspaper clippings, etc.  I always had the idea of writing a novel about those years—historical fiction.  I carried around my boxes of notes for 40 years before I finally retired and had time to start working on the book.  My first novel, In the Land of the Feathered Serpent , is what came out of it.   The book has been a success and won several national literary awards, including the 2022 BIBA Award for Best Contemporary Fiction.  It’s largely a memoir of my life in the 80s but it's multi-layered and is also a Homeric epic-style novel. It’s a big readand not for the faint of heart.   20. One of your latest books, The Time Travelers , showcases your appreciation for Aztec history quite thoroughly. May I ask what inspired you to write The Time Travelers , what your goals were with the book, and what the subject of the novel is? You can’t spend time in central or southern Mexico without confronting its deep roots in the Aztec culture.  It’s everywhere you turn. The name Mexico itself comes from the Mexica people who controlled the great Aztec Empire and built the first Mexico City. Aztec emperors and motifs appear on the country’s currency, in government, on buildings and street signs, throughout their version of the Spanish language, and in all the school books.   The Mexican people are a mestizo culture, nearly everyone having indigenous blood, most notably Aztec, or more properly, Nahuatl.  Having a lifelong interest in cultural anthropology, writing a story about the Aztec empire came naturally to me.  The most widespread Indigenous language in the New World is Uto-Aztecan, and today the largest group of Uto-Aztecan speakers is the Nahua People with over 1.3 million Nahuatl speakers in Mexico alone. Many of my closest friends in Mexico are Nahua or Nahua-dominant mestizos. The idea for Time Travelers was to educate the reader about these things while simultaneously entertaining them with a fun story.  The book won several awards, including an IPPY (Independent Press Award) for best Hispanic fiction of 2024.   21. In many of your works, your passions for Latin American history and the ocean interact and blend beautifully. How have these two passions interacted andplayed off of each other throughout your life? Although I’ve worked all over the world, I’ve always found Mexico-Central America the most interesting region, both in terms of biodiversity and culturally.  When competing opportunities arose, I always defaulted to Latin America. From 1978 to 1985 much of my work was ship-based in the Caribbean, primarily on islands that offer some of the best scuba diving in the world.  Those projects, largely searching for bioactive compounds in marine invertebrates, also included a good deal of manned submersible work.  Importantly, I never traveled to these destinations without adding in a few weeks of solo travel to absorb the countryside and the local culture.  Most attractive to me was the high country of Guatemala, homeland of the Maya People, many of whom still live today as they have for thousands of years. It was my notebooks of those travels that eventually gave birth to my first novel.   22. Focusing on one of your other passions, on your website you discuss your appreciation of martinis, as well as fine wine. What captivates you about martinis specifically and do you mind sharing your favorite martini recipe with our readers? The best martini is the simplest martini.  Two shots (per serving) of a clean gin, such as Hendricks, Fifty Pounds, or Tanqueray in an ice-filled shaker.  Shake vigorously.  Swirl a bit of Noilly Prat dry Vermouth around the inside of martini glasses fresh from the freezer, then toss the Vermouth out.  Pour the shaken gin into the glasses through a martini strainer and add three pimento-stuffed olives.   23. You have had a lengthy, extraordinary career. Across all of it, what would you say is your most memorable moment? No doubt, the first time I ever saw Wendy Moore, who is now my wife of 30 years.  It was truly love at first sight.   24. What has been your biggest triumph or proudest moment across your career? Very hard question!  Perhaps when my invertebrate textbook became an instant success and I knew I’d achieved my goal.  It took 10 years to write the first edition of that book.  Or perhaps it was when my second novel won an IPPY for best Hispanic novel of the year, or perhaps being made a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.   25. I’m sure that you have faced just as many challenges andsetbacks as you have leaps forward. What has been the biggest hurdle or challenge that you have faced across your career and how did you overcome it? We all face so many challenges and setbacks in our lives. I don’t think I could single out any particular one but I do know that in every case I just dug down, worked hard, and did what needed to be done, knowing that it, like everything, would pass. The more risks we take, the more likely we are to get knocked down, but the real mark of success is getting back up and carrying on.   One of my favorite quotes comes from Helen Keller: “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.”  We will never achieve our potential, become the person we wish to be, unless we have the resiliency to overcome life’s adversity, be a mindful participant, and not just a passive observer, and to get back up on our feet when we’re knocked down.   26. Do you have any advice for new marine scientists, aspiring marine biologists, and young people with a passion? Work hard, as hard as you can.  Read books, as many books as you can, including good literature.  Identify your passions andstrive to follow them as much as possible; therein lies your wellspring of joy and self-satisfaction.  Never give up.   27. Do you have any final words about your work, marine science, marine invertebrates, the Sea of Cortez, Latin American history, and the Southwestern United States? Life is short, take big bites; and always try to follow your dreams.     A lovely photograph of Dr. Richard C. Brusca, & his Goldendoodle, Marley, exploring Puget Sound, Washington State, USA. Credit to Wendy Moore.   Directories / Credits https://rickbrusca.com/http___www.rickbrusca.com_index.html/Welcome.html https://www.featheredserpent.onlin Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Tides of Tomorrow Cash Daniels The Open Book, Topanga Olivenbaum Music Pitfire Artisan Pizza   Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

A gorgeous photograph of a Beluga Whale (Delphinapterus leucas). This month’s article series shall be discussing the elusive & frigid, Iqaluit. Iqaluit is the capital of the Canadian province, Nunavut. Iqaluit is considered one of the most ideal places for fishing in the nearby area. It is the only city in the entire province, with a minuscule population of 7,429 people. This is the lowest population of any provincial Canadian capital. Located on the Baffin Island, the city is close to the Arctic circle. Iqaluit was also known by the name “Froshbisher Bay” from 1942 to 1987, at which the cities name was restored to its Inuktitut name. The city encompasses a 19.92 square mile area (51.592563 square kilometers). Outside of Nunavut, the city is not well known for anything. The city is so small, that there is only 1 paved road in the entire town. The name “Iqaluit” is an Inuktitut name, meaning “Place Of Many Fish”. The reason for this name is that fishing is a long standing tradition of the Inuktitut people of the area. Though Iqaluit is not the most biodiverse land wise, it has some of the most magnificent marine life. One of the creatures that makes up their marine ecosystems, it the Beluga Whale. The Beluga Whale is a species of whale closely related to the Narwhal. This species of whale is well known for its pure white colouration, & large bulbous heads. Beluga whales are dispersed throughout Arctic & Sub-Arctic waters of the earth. They are found as far south as James Bay in Canada, & as far north as Thule, Greenland. The Beluga Whale is extremely important to the Inuktitut people culturally. Over hundreds of years, the Inuktitut have formed a sacred bond with this gentle beast. The Inuktitut people value this species for its intelligence, as it is considered to be sentient in this culture. Additionally, The Inuktitut population have hunted this species for its meat, as well as teeth. In this article we will discuss the discovery & life of the Beluga Whale, the mating strategies, tactics, procedures, practices, cycles, techniques, & habits of the beluga whale, the distribution of the beluga whale, the scientific detailings of the Beluga Whale, & the cultural significance of the Beluga Whale to the Inuktitut people. With that being said, let us delve into the melon-head whale. A photograph of Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada in its snow-covered glory. Credit to the Government of Nunavut. The Discovery & Life Of The Beluga Whale The Beluga Whale was discovered in the year 1776, by Prussian zoologist Peter Simon Pallas. Individuals in this species are approximately 10 to 15 feet (3.048 to 4.572 meters) in length. Female specimens are moderately smaller then males, as they rarely grow to be over 12 feet. Their weight ranges from 1,000 to 3,300 pounds (453.592 to 1,496.855 kilograms). There is sexual dimorphism in this species, with males being on average 25% larger. Their life span is between 35 & 80 years. This species has existed for at least 2.58 million years, according to current fossil records. This species is rather intelligent, & are able to be trained. Beluga Whales are not aggressive animals to either each other or humans, & are generally sweet mannered creatures. Individuals are not territorial, & migrate with the seasons. Of all the whales, Beluga whales are one of the most gregarious species. Individuals are known to form social groups of 10 or more. These social groups can include up to 1000 individual whales. These social groups may be with their maternal family members, or unrelated whales. They are loyal to these groups, & are known to support each other emotionally & physically. These bonds are not strictly for survival, & are to some degree, similar to human friendships. In addition to caring about each other, they are able to recognize different individuals calls. In the wild, Beluga whales will often engage humans, as they have a natural curiosity. Surprisingly, there are recorded cases of humans dropping electronics, or items into the ocean, & Beluga whales returning them to the humans. Generally, Beluga whales are extremely playful, curious, & intelligent creatures, who do not mean harm. Beluga whales are extremely agile creatures, & are able to navigate the water column with ease. Research indicates that they are able to swim at a maximum of 13.2 miles per hour (21.24334 kilometers per hour), though they generally swim at a comfortable 2 to 6 miles per hour (3.21869 to 9.65606 kilometers per hour). Strangely, they are able to swim both forwards & backwards. Individuals in this species are able to remain buoyant due to their thick, oily blubber. Like the majority of whales, beluga whales sleep by turning relaxing half their brain, while maintaining complete cognition in the other half. They do not completely sleep like humans, as this would put them at a massive disadvantage against predators. The diet of a Beluga consists of octopus, squid, crabs, shrimp, clams, oceanic snails, small fish, & sandworms. They are not cannibalistic at any stage in their life.  Depending on the size of the whale, it will consume 2.5% to 4% of its body weight in food per day. They use echolocation to determine where their prey is, & to hunt in general. With all current research, it is believed that Beluga whales have a relatively low metabolic rate. Due to the large size of the Beluga Whale, very few creatures are able to consume or harass it. The two primary predators of the Beluga whale are Orcas, & Polar Bears. Beluga whales are all white or grey in colour, & lack a dorsal fin. They are rather large, & muscular as well, with small heads. Atop their heads, there is a bulbous organ known as a melon, which is used for echolocation. Their teeth are small, white, & sharp. The IUCN Red List has acessed this species, & categorized it as vulnerable. The last population assesment occurred on January 9th of 2023. It is unknown what the population trend of this species is like. A lovely photograph of a Beluga Whale showcasing its white skin, fin-less back, muscular body, & melon-esque head. Credit to Ocean Info. The Mating Strategies, Tactics, Procedures, Practices, Cycles, Techniques, & Habits Of The Beluga Whale The Beluga whale breeds via sexual reproduction, & has two distinct sexes. Individuals are not usually hermaphroditic. Female Beluga Whales will sexually mature at 6 to 14 years of age, while males will mature slightly later. This species mating system is considered to be polyamorous. They do seem to have a specific breeding season, that being early spring or late winter. Their gestational period lasts 14 to 15 months under optimal circumstances. Beluga whales will gather in large groups in order to reproduce. In order to initiate copulation, individuals will rub each other, until both are in agreement. After this, they will copulate. After copulation, the male will not interact with the calf. The male will often mate with multiple females, however the females will only mate with 1 male. Only 1 calf is born at a time, & will be approximately 140 to 1,200 pounds (63.5029 kilograms to 544.3108 kilograms), & 5 feet (1.524 meters) long at birth. The delivery is quick, & often uneventful. The calf will nurse for 2 years off the mother, before beginning to consume solid food. Then, the calf will gain independence, & form its own social network. The calf may choose to stay with its mother longer, however they will often move away at this point, similar to young adults. Females will have an interval of 3 years in between births. Female Beluga Whales will stop breeding & having calves at or around the age of 49. The Distribution Of The Beluga Whale The Beluga Whale is primarily found around the Arctic Regions of the world. They are recorded as far north as Somerset Island, Canada, & as far south as Northern California, & New Jersey. Individuals seem to prefer shallow coastal waters in summer, & open ocean in the winter. Beluga whales have been recorded diving up to 1,000 meters deep to find food. The Scientific Detailings Of The Beluga Whale Unlike the majority of other ceteceans, the Beluga whale has a set molting schedule. Molting is when the Beluga Whale will shed its older, yellower layer of skin, for a lighter new layer. They will usually molt in the spring or summer, as they need warmer water to shed properly. While migrating through coastal waters, they will rub themselves up against rock & gravel. Their blubber is incredibly thick, accounting for at least 40% of their body weight. The Beluga Whale has 1 common parasite, which is known as Toxoplasma Gondii. This parasite is known to affect house-cats, & occasionally humans. It is known to parasitize the intestinal tract. Approximately 44% of all Beluga Whale Corpses recovered are known to have this parasite. It is unclear how it transfers from individual to individual. The teeth of the beluga whale are small, & conical in shape. They have between 20 & 40 teeth distributed evenly between their upper & lower jaw. Their phylum is Chordata, meaning that they developed these 5 characteristics all species under the phylum of chordata develop 5 similar characteristics either In adulthood or as juveniles. The characteristics that they develop include, a notochord, dorsal hollow nerve cord, endostyle or thyroid, pharyngeal Slits, & a post-anal tail. & three middle ear bones. Their class is Mammalia. Mammalia is classified by the production of milk by the mother for their child to nurse, a neocortex which is a region of the brain, some capacity of fur or hair, & three middle ear bones.  There are currently 6,400 species categorized under the class of Mammalia. Their order is Artiodactyla. which are even toed ungulates. Species categorized under Artiodactyla are ungulates, hoofed animals which bear weight equally on two of their five toes, these toes are the third & fourth toes. The other three toes are either present, absent, vestigal, or pointing posteriorly. Their infraorder is that of Cetacea. Key characteristics of this infraorder are their fully aquatic lifestyle, streamlined body shape, often large size & exclusively carnivorous diet. Another characteristic is their incredible social intelligence. There are roughly 90 species categorized under Cetacea. Their family is Monodontidae. This is a cetacean family that only comprises 2 living species, those species being the Beluga whale & the Narwhal. These 2 creatures are incredibly genetically similar. Their genus is Delphinapterus, which is monotypic. This species binomial name, is Delphinapterus Leucas. The Cultural Significance Of The Beluga Whale To The Inuktitut People The Beluga whale is extremely culturally, & economically significant to the Inuktitut people, who are the indigenous peoples group of Iqaluit. The Inuktitut people believe that the Beluga Whale is sentient, & value it greatly for its thick blubber, & intelligence. Preparing its meat is considered to be a cultural activity. Various recipes can be found on Inuktitut ways to prepare the Beluga Whale meat. The Inuktitut name for the Beluga whale is Qilalugaq. Directories / Credits Citation No. 1: “Nunavik Inuit Perspectives On Beluga Whale Management In The Arctic Circle”, Written By Martina Tyrrell, & Published in 2008. Published by Journal Storage. Retrieval Date: February 22nd, 2024. https://www.jstor.org/stable/44127357 Citation No. 2: “Belugas”, Written By Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the International Fund For Animal Welfare. Retrieval Date: February 22nd, 2024. https://www.ifaw.org/animals/belugas Citation No. 3: “Beluga Whale”, Written By Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published By Whale & Dolphin Conservation USA. Retrieval Date: February 22nd, 2024. https://us.whales.org/whales-dolphins/species-guide/beluga-whale/ Citation No. 4: “Beluga Whale”, Written By Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published By National Geographic. Retrieval Date: February 22nd, 2024. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/beluga-whale Citation No. 5: “Beluga Whale”, Written By Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published By The Alaska Department Of Fish & Game. Retrieval Date: February 22nd, 2024. https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=beluga.main Citation No. 6: “Beluga Whales Have Complex Social Networks-Study”, Written By Judy Shin, & Published on August 13th, 2020. Published By Earth.org . Retrieval Date: February 22nd, 2024. https://earth.org/beluga-whales-have-complex-social-networks/ Citation No. 7: “Resting metabolic rate of a mature male Beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas)”, Written By David A. S. Rosen, & Andrew W. Trites, & Published in January of 2013. Published by Research Gate. Retrieval Date: February 22nd, 2024. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235765602_Resting_metabolic_rate_of_a_mature_male_Beluga_whale_Delphinapterus_leucas?_tp=eyJjb250ZXh0Ijp7ImZpcnN0UGFnZSI6Il9kaXJlY3QiLCJwYWdlIjoiX2RpcmVjdCJ9fQ Citation No. 8: “Beluga Whale: Delphinapterus Leucas”, Written By M. Sharpe, & P. Berggen, & Last Updated On January 9th, 2023. Published by the International Union For The Conservation Of Nature. Retrieval Date: February 22nd, 2024. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/6335/219012513 Citation No. 9: “Deep dive…into Beluga Whales”, Written By Lisa Jewell, & Published on September 13th, 2023. Published By WeWhale. Retrieval Date: February 22nd, 2024. https://wewhale.co/2023/09/13/deep-dive-into-beluga-whales/ Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Pitfire Artisan Pizza Olivenbaum Music Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

Today’s article shall discuss the history of the Isle of Man. The Isle of Man is a self-governing British Crown dependency, located in the Irish Sea. It is between Great Britain, & Ireland. It is not owned by the UK, nor is it a territory, though those who are born on the island are entitled to British Citizenship. The island is most well known for its tax-free status, beautiful fields, sweeping coastlines, & gorgeous cliffs. Additionally, the island is home to the oldest continuous parliament, which dates back to at least 979. Since the island is not linked to the mainland by road, plane & boat are the only ways to access it. According to our measurements, the island is approximately 276.48 nautical miles (318.167502 miles or 512.04096 Kilometers) off the coast of mainland Europe. The island's capital is Douglas, which houses the majority of the 84,069 populous. The isle has a lot to offer naturally, with its large puffin population, mussel reefs, lichen colonies, & coastal grasslands. For its biodiversity, the entire island has been awarded biosphere reserve status. Additionally, the majority of the ocean surrounding the island is considered a marine protected area. The island was separated from the other British Isles approximately 8,500 years ago due to rising oceanic levels. Early traces of human civilization can be found as far back as 6,500 years ago. The history of the Isle of Man has been extremely well preserved, & dates as far back as the Iron Age. Across its long & tumultuous history, the isle has belonged to approximately 3 countries, those being Norway, Scotland, & England. The culture of the island is largely Celtic, though Norse influences can be seen. Though many people consider the Manx people to be just British, they are their own distinct nationality. Additionally, the Manx have their own distinct Gaelic language, known as Manx Gaelic. In this article, we will discuss the documented history of the Isle of Man, the aboriginals of the Isle of Man, the most destructive man-caused & natural disasters to affect the Isle of Man, & the economic state of the Isle of Man. With that being said, let us delve into the magnificent, beautiful, & powerful history of Ellan Vannin. The Documented History Of The Isle of Man Before Colonization The first humans arrived on the Isle of Man around 6,500 B.C. Due to the fact that it is located in the center of the Irish Sea between Ireland & the United Kingdom, the island got quite a lot of attention from sailors. The first people to arrive on the island were small Celtic groups, most likely from Ireland. Upon arrival, they named the island Manannán after a Celtic Sea God. These groups created an interesting creation myth for the island. This myth attributes the creation to the legendary hero Finn McCool. McCool was attempting to incapacitate a Scottish Giant, so he took a large chunk of land to do so. He then proceeded to throw this piece of land at the giant, however he missed. This piece of land landed in the Irish Sea & created the Isle. Historical Events From The 400’s To The 700’s The first Christian missionary to arrive is considered to be Saint Maughold, an Irish saint with a questionable history. He arrived on the isle in the 400s. Historical Events From The 800’s Vikings began visiting the island between the years 800 AD & 815 AD. These Vikings originally planned to steal everything they could, & redistribute it amongst themselves. However, they instead choose to build a settlement. This settlement appears to have been constructed between 815 & 850. For this reason, the island became a waypoint for ships passing from the English to the Irish outposts & vice versa. After Colonization By Norse Vikings Historical Events From The 900’s The Isle of Man was commandeered by the Scandinavian Kings of Dublin, who would in 979, establish the self-governing parliament known as the Tynwald. The Tynwald is still the governing body of the island in the modern day. After Colonization By Scotland Historical Events From The 1000s To The 1200s In the year 1266, the Treaty of Perth ended the conflict between the Norse Vikings & Scotland over who ruled the Hebrides, Caithness, & the Isle of Man. As a part of this treaty, Norway gave up any claim to the land in exchange for 4,000 marks & an annuity of 100 marks. From this point until 1290, or officially 1765, Scotland had all the rights to the Isle of Man. The English would first have a claim to the island in the year 1290 when King Edward the 1st took over possession of the island. Over the next few centuries, a power struggle for the island ensued between the Scottish & the English. Historical Events From The 1300s To The 1400s The island gained some political balance when in 1405 King Henry IV of England granted the rights of the island to Sir John Stanley on a feudal principle. So long as Stanley paid all the fees he needed to, to future kings of England, generational rule of the isle for the Stanley family was guaranteed. After Colonization By England Historical Events From The 1500s To The 1600s Due to the island's strategic placement & lack of major maritime policing, the island became the epicenter of illegal smuggling during the 1400s & 1500s. Historical Events From The 1700s Due to the high levels of illegal products passing through the isle, the government in Britain attempted to stop all illegal trade by passing the Smuggling Act of 1765. Historical Events From The 1800s The island began industrializing in the 1800s, with the pinnacle of which was constructed in 1854. In 1854, the world's largest water wheel was constructed on the isle. Standing at 72 feet in diameter, the Laxey wheel was built to pump excess water from lead mines. The Aboriginals Of The Isle Of Man The Celtic Manx Indigenous Aboriginals Of The Isle Of Man The Celtic Manx People were the primary indigenous group to inhabit the Isle of Man. It is believed that these people migrated from Ireland approximately 6,500 years ago. They spoke Manx Gaelic, a language in the Goidelic family. This language is closely related to Irish. Unfortunately, very little is known of their culture today, as so much of it has fused into British or Irish Gaelic culture over a long time. The Most Destructive Man Caused & Natural Disasters To Affect The Isle Of Man Disaster No. 1: USAAF Boeing B-17G Crash Of 1945 On January 8th of 1945, a United States Air Force Aircraft had just returned from a mission in Germany. As many mornings are, it was especially misty on the Isle of Man. This mist would lead 31 people to their deaths. The flying fortress was transporting 31 people from England to Northern Ireland for a week's vacation. The plane had 29 passengers, & 2 pilots. The aircraft took off at approximately 8:00 AM, flying from Ridgewell Base to Nutts Corner. Soon after takeoff, the plane reached its cruising altitude of 500 feet. The misty morning obscured the North Barrule Mountain, which the plane was supposed to fly past. Unfortunately, the plane wouldn’t realize this until it was too late. The plane collided with the mountain at a very high speed, killing all 31 people on board. Today, there is a memorial plaque on North Barrule Mountain, dedicated to those lives lost. This is by far, the deadliest aviation accident to affect the Isle of Man. Below, is a list of all the passengers & crew on board: Captain Charles E. Ackerman, Corporal Earl G. Ammerman, Corporal Edward G. Bailey, Private Andrew R. Barbour, 1st Lieutenant John P. Fedak, Corporal Thomas P. Flaherty, Technical Sergeant William  E. Geist, Master Sergeant Edward Z. Gelman, Staff Sergeant Ralph L. Gibbs, Technical Sergeant Joseph L. Gray, Corporal Herbert C. Gupton, Technical Sergeant Wesley M. Hagen, Sergeant Irwin R. Hargraves, 1st Lieutenant Wayne W. Hart, 1st Lieutenant James M. Hinkle, Flight Sergeant Edwin A. Hutcheson, Sergeant Michael J. Kakos, Technical Sergeant David H. Lindon, Staff Sergeant Wayne K. Manes, Sergeant Jose M. Martinez, Staff Sergeant Alfred M. Mata, 1st Lieutenant Martin M. Matyas, Corporal Leslie H. Maxwell, Fifth Grade Technician Walter A. McCullough, 1st Lieutenant Lawrence E. McGhehey, Fourth Grade Technician Andrew Piter, Private First Class Angelo Quagliariello, Corporal Merle L. Ramsowr, Technician Joseph W. Sullivan, Corporal Harry Super, & finally Sergeant Edwin C. Ullmann. Disaster No. 2: The Summerland Disaster The Summerland Leisure Center was an indoor leisure center on the Isle of Man, which opened on May 25th, 1971. The center was 5 stories tall, & designed with a bingo hall, multiple restaurants, bars, an underground discotheque, an indoor heated pool, saunas, & a children’s theatre. Marketed as the world's most innovative indoor entertainment center, the building had the capacity to host approximately 10,000 people. Due to the architects not cooperating fully on the designs for the interior & the exterior, the building had quite a few fire hazards. On the evening of August 2nd, 1973, a group of juveniles was smoking near the building. Instead of extinguishing their match, they dropped it near the ground floor of the building. The match quickly set a kiosk ablaze, which then collapsed against the building. Now, the exterior of the building was covered in an acrylic sheet known as Oroglas, which is incredibly flammable. The fire quickly spread to the interior of the building, which was coated in a highly combustible material for soundproofing. Upon entering the building, it burned the wiring system that connected to the fire alarm. Locked fire doors caused people to look for other exit points, causing a stampede. It took approximately 20 minutes for the fire department to be called. At the end of it all, approximately 50 people were killed, & 80 to 100 were injured. The boys responsible were not charged, & were merely ordered to pay a fee of 3 pounds. The Economy Of The Isle Of Man The Economic State of the Isle of Man is relatively stable. The primary currency used on the island is the Pound Sterling. The Gross Domestic Product of the island was approximately 6,792,000,000 U.S.D in 2023, with a 2.2% growth rate. Due to the Isle of Man levying their own taxes, their tax rate is relatively low. The estimated labor force of the island is approximately 39,690 people. A photograph of lush, vibrant, rolling green hills along the shoreline of the Isle of Man. Credit to Alamy Stock. Directories / Credits Citation No. 1: “The Isle Of Man”, Written By Ben Johnson, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Historic United Kingdom. Retrieval Date: February 7th, 2024. https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryMagazine/DestinationsUK/Isle-of-Man/ Citation No. 2: “Isle Of Man History”, Written By Unknown & Published on May 19th of 2022. Published By the Isle Of Man. Retrieval Date: February 7th, 2024. https://www.isleofman.com/visitor-guide/6473/2986/isle-of-man-history Citation No. 3: “Ellan Vannin”, Written By Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published By The New World Encyclopedia. Retrieval Date: February 7th, 2024. https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Isle_of_Man Citation No. 4: “Isle Of Man”, Written By The Editors Of The Encyclopaedia Britannica, & Published on July 28th of 1999. Retrieval Date: February 9th, 2024. https://www.britannica.com/place/Isle-of-Man Citation No. 5: “The North Barrule Air Crash, 1945”, Written By Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Manx Heritage Foundation. Retrieval Date: February 9th, 2024. https://culturevannin.im/watchlisten/videos/the-north-barrule-air-crash-1945-681911/ Citation No. 6: “American Flag Flies On A Lonely Manx Hillside. The Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Crash On North Barrule”, Written By Alastair Kneale, & Published on September 18th of 2016. Published By Transceltic. Retrieval Date: February 10th, 2024. https://www.transceltic.com/blog/american-flag-flies-lonely-manx-hillside-boeing-b-17g-flying-fortress-crash-north-barrule Citation No. 7: “We Will Not Forget”, Written by Dr. Ian Phillips, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published By SummerlandFireDisaster.Co . Retrieval Date: February 10th, 2024. https:/ www.summerlandfiredisaster.co.uk/ Citation No. 8: “Summerland disaster: Families fight for justice after holiday paradise inferno killed 50 people”, Written by Amita Joshi, Published on August 4th, 2023. Published By Sky News. Retrieval Date: February 10th, 2024. https://news.sky.com/story/amp/summerland-disaster-families-fight-for-justice-after-holiday-paradise-inferno-kills-50-people-12931225 Citation No. 9: “On this day, forgotten disasters: Summerland disaster”, Written by Kristy Lavell, & Published on August 02nd, 2023. Published by the Fire Industry Association. Retrieval Date: February 10th, 2024. https://www.fia.uk.com/news/blogs/on-this-day-summerland-disaster.html Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Pitfire Artisan Pizza Olivenbaum Music Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

A splendid photograph of Richard C. Brusca & his hound, an 80-pound golden doodle named Alfred Russell Wallace. Credit to Wendy Moore. This article is part of our collection known as the Marine Hall of Distinction. In this special collection, we will discuss marine biologists who have made the most significant contributions to marine biology and oceanography. We do this to commemorate these marine biologists and show gratitude for everything they have contributed to our oceans. Today's marine scientist is Dr. Richard C. Brusca. Dr. Richard C. Brusca is a marine biologist, invertebrate zoologist, conservation ecologist, researcher, & professor with the University of Arizona. He is most well known for his work with invertebrates in the Southwestern U.S. He is one of the foremost Southwestern ecologists of the 20th century, & is the author of some of the most influential texts in naturalism. In today’s article, we are going to delve into his formative years & education, his personal life & career, his achievements, awards, & accomplishments. With that being said, let us dive into the contributions of Dr. Richard C. Brusca! His Formative Years & Education Richard C. Brusca was born on January 25th, 1945, in California, United States of America. Unfortunately, very little is known about his formative years, & the early beginnings of his passion for the natural world. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree of Science at California Polytechnic Institute, Pomona, in 1967. Upon receiving it, he quickly progressed to his Master’s Degree, completing it in 1970 at California State University, Los Angeles. He completed his P.h.D with the University of Arizona at Tucson in 1975. His Personal Life & Career Upon completion of his P.h.D, he would go on to join the University of Southern California as a tenured Associate Professor of Biology. During his time with USC, he would conduct research on a variety of different topics, including sponges, shrimp population dynamics, coral reef formation, kelp forest ecology, & isopods. He would also publish 2 books, respectively titled “ A Naturalist's Seashore Guide. Common Marine Life of the Northern California Coast and Adjacent Shores” , & “Common Intertidal Invertebrates of the Gulf of California” . Beginning in 1980, he became the Director of Academic Programs for the Catalina Marine Science Center, a Marine Science institute dedicated to the study of California’s underwater ecosystems. He remained in this role for 3 years. Upon exiting his role as Director of Academic Programs, he joined the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, as Curator of Crustaceans for their Invertebrate Zoology department. For those unfamiliar, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is one of the largest museums in the United States, & is dedicated to natural history as well as life. It covers over 4.5 billion years of history, with over 35 million specimens & artifacts. He left the role of curator in 1987, entering a new position as a Joshua L. Bailey curator with the San Diego Museum of Natural History in their Invertebrate Zoology section. He quickly moved up the ranks, becoming Chief Curator in 1988, & Director of Research & Collections in 1990, before leaving in 1993. Taking his expertise across the U.S, he joined the University of Charleston, South Carolina, as the Director of the Graduate Marine Biology Program, as well as a Professor of Biology. In this role, he published 10 publications, with the topics ranging from the Sea of Cortez, to tropical crustaceans, & temperate arthropods of the northeast. He would leave this role after 5 years, in 1998, this time heading north. Going north, Dr. Brusca soon became a Senior Research Scientist with the prestigious Columbia University, & a Research Scientist in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology with the University of Arizona at Tucson. Although he would leave Columbia in 2001, he has remained at the University of Arizona for the past 27 years, although he retired in 2024. Despite retiring, he retains the role of Designated Campus Colleague. Alongside his role as a Professor & Researcher, he became the Executive Director of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in 2001, before stepping back to become Executive Director Emeritus in 2012. Dr. Brusca is a prominent scientist, & one of the most influential zoologists of the 20th, & 21st centuries, however, we would be incorrect in solely portraying him as such. In addition to being a brilliant researcher, Dr. Brusca is also a fiction author, with 2 books titled “The Time Travelers” , 2019, & “In The Land of the Feathered Serpent” , 2023, both of which incorporate prominent Latin American cultural themes. For these titles, he has won the Biba Best Literary Fiction of 2022, 2023 Tucson Festival of Books Indie Author Experience Best in Adult Fiction, & the 2024 Independent Press Award for Hispanic Fiction. Dr. Brusca is currently conducting research related to the Biodiversity & Conservation of the Sea of Cortez, the Biogeography & Biodiversity of Arizona’s Sky Islands, & the Cultural Anthropology of Mesoamerica. He is still actively publishing papers as well as research, with his most recent publication at the time of publishing titled “Religion, science and common sense in times of global environmental crisis”, for El Universal. The career of Dr. Richard Brusca paints a story of determination, ambition, & extraordinary passion. May he continue to serve the field of marine science for many years to come. Dr. Richard C. Brusca hiking with his hound, Alfred Russel Wallace, in the Colorado Plateau. Credit to Dr. Richard C. Brusca. His Achievements, Accomplishments, & Awards He has written over 200 academic publications & published over 20 books, including Invertebrates , which is the largest-selling text in all of zoology. He has successfully published in a variety of fields, including fiction, invertebrate zoology, the Sea of Cortez, the intertidal zone, & desert ecology. He has been the recipient of over 100 research grants from the Charles Lindberg Foundation, National Science Foundation, National Atmospheric & Oceanic Administration, & the David & Lucile Packard Foundation. He has organized research expeditions in at least 50 countries, & on every continent, including Antarctica. He is a National Geographic Explorer, which is an award given to exceptional individuals in their field. He was awarded the Luminaria Award by the Arizona Desert Museum. He was awarded the U.S. Department of Defence Civilian Service Medal. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Linnaean Society of London, & the California Academy of Sciences. A photograph of Dr. Richard C. Brusca surfing in Playa Manuel Antonio in Costa Rica. Credit to Dr. Richard C. Brusca. Directories / Credits No. 1: “Richard C. Brusca”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Credit to National Geographic. https://explorers.nationalgeographic.org/directory/richard-c-brusca No. 2: “Richard C. Brusca”, Written by Richard C. Brusca, & Published at an Unknown Date. Credit to Richard C. Brusca. https://rickbrusca.com/http___www.rickbrusca.com_index.html/Welcome.html No. 3: “Richard Brusca”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Credit to The University of Arizona. https://www.water.arizona.edu/person/richard-brusca No. 4: “Richard C. Brusca”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Credit to PeerJ. https://peerj.com/rbrusca/ No. 5: “Richard C. Brusca”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Credit to the Marine Biodiversity Center. https://research.nhm.org/mbc/collections/collection.html?code=brusca No. 6: “Richard C. Brusca”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown. Credit to Conchology Inc. https://www.conchology.be/?t=9001&id=13840 Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Pitfire Artisan Pizza Olivenbaum Music Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

A scintillating photograph of spring in the Isle of Man. Credit to The Scottish Sun. This month's article series will be discussing the tranquil & beautiful, Isle of Man. The Isle of Man is a self-governing British Crown dependency, located in the Irish Sea. It is between Great Britain, & Ireland. It is not owned by the UK, nor is it a territory, though those who are born on the island are entitled to British Citizenship. The island is most well known for its tax-free status, beautiful fields, sweeping coastlines, & gorgeous cliffs. Additionally, the island is home to the oldest continuous parliament, which dates back to at least 979. Since the island is not linked to the mainland by road, plane & boat are the only ways to access it. According to our measurements, the island is approximately 276.48 nautical miles (318.167502 miles or 512.04096 Kilometers) off the coast of mainland Europe. The island's capital is Douglas, which houses the majority of the 84,069 populous. The isle has a lot to offer naturally, with its large puffin population, mussel reefs, lichen colonies, & coastal grasslands. For its biodiversity, the entire island has been awarded biosphere reserve status. Additionally, the majority of the ocean surrounding the island is considered a marine protected area. This has essentially made the island a safe zone for many marine mammals, as well as vertebrates. If the geological record serves as any indication, this ecological haven has always existed. Fossils of sea creatures dating back to the Ordovician period can be found both on & around the island in the oceanic sediment. Due to both the biodiversity, & the fossil-rich sedimentary deposit, a marine biology laboratory on the island was established on the island in 1896. Unfortunately, this laboratory was torn down between the years 2022 & 2023 to make way for commercial, & residential development. In this article, we will discuss the salinity, tides, temperatures, marine geography, & depth of the oceans surrounding the Isle of Man, the most prominent marine ecosystems of the ocean surrounding the Isle of Man, & the documented marine flora & fauna of the oceans surrounding the Isle of Man. With that being said, let us delve into the jewel of the Irish Sea. The Salinity, Tides, Temperatures, Marine Geography, & Depth Of The Oceans Surrounding the Isle Of Man The salinity around the Isle of Man has not had extensive information about it released to the public. The salinity of the Irish Sea is between 34 & 35 parts per thousand, so, likely, the salinity of the Isle of Man falls somewhere between those figures. Salinity is measured in 1,000-gram increments. For every 1000 grams of water, there will be a certain number of grams that are pure salt. This is how salinity or saline level is measured. There are also no ongoing factors that would lead to the salinity level being altered. The tidal charts for this island can be found on a plethora of websites, including: https://www.tideschart.com , https://www.tidetime.org , https://www.tide-forecast.com , & https://www.surf-forecast.com . The majority of these tides are estimates for Port Erin, however, a few are for Garnsey. Tides can range from 1.2 meters to 6.47 meters (3.93701 feet to 21.22703 feet) high. The oceanic temperature charts may be found on similar webpages, such as: https://seatemperature.info , https://seatemperatures.net , https://www.watertemperature.org , & https://www.watertemp.org . A few of these charts are based on data from Port Erin, while others are from Ramsey. The average yearly temperature is approximately 11.31666666666° Celsius (52.369999999988011° Fahrenheit). Using a Scuba Diving Wetsuit Guide, it is recommended that one wear a 7 or 8 millimeter full wetsuit, or a semi-dry suit. The island does not seem to have regular rip currents, however, it is still recommended to proceed with caution when a rip current warning is issued. Swimming is both safe, & a common practice for both tourists & Manx citizens.. Additionally, the island is currently having some issues with marine pollution. This does not mean that the island is not safe for swimming, however, it does mean that this should be addressed. The most suitable beaches on the island for both swimming & relaxation are usually considered to be as follows: Kirk Michael Beach, Ramsey Beach, Port Erin Beach, Laxey Beach, Peel Beach, White Strand Beach, Gansey Beach, & Port Cornaa. Both snorkelling & scuba diving are popular around the island, & multiple companies will host these types of excursions. Currently, the deepest oceanic point around the Isle of Man is believed to be 203.4 feet (61.99632 meters) deep. This is not abyssal by any means, & is surprisingly shallow for the Irish Sea. The most common substances to compose the ocean floor are sand, rock, & seagrass. The Most Prominent Marine Ecosystems Of The Oceans Surrounding The Isle Of Man Ecosystem Type No. 1: Intertidal Zones & Tide Pools Intertidal zones are located along the coastlines, & are exposed to air at low tide. These zones are wear the ocean meets the shoreline, & contrary to popular perception, are absolutely teeming with oceanic life. From Brittle Stars to bivalves, this ecosystem has a unique variety of marine life, as well as a unique variety of features. These zones generally have species from the phyla Echinodermata & Mollusca in them. Ecosystem Type No. 2: Seagrass Meadows Seagrass meadows are large patches of Seagrass found around the island, that oxygenate the water & provide shelter for marine organisms. These meadows are incredibly important to the oceanic ecosystem, as they provide a food source, oxygen source, shelter, & spawning ground simultaneously. These seagrass meadows may be composed of only 1 species, or mixed species depending on their depth. Typically, these meadows can be found from 0.25 to 190 feet (0.0762 meters to 57.912 feet) deep. The Documented Marine Flora Of The Isle Of Man The primary seagrass species around the Isle of Man is Zostera Marina (Common Eelgrass / Seawrack), though other species in the Zostera genus do grow around the island. Zostera Marina is a true Seagrass, in that it grows directly on the ocean floor, & is a photosynthesizing plant. It is extremely recognizable, with its bright green, & thin blades. They generally have 1 long stem that averages at 1 meter (3.28084 feet) long. The stem is often between 0.5 (0.19685 inches) & 1 centimeter (0.393701 inches) thick. This one is the one most often found on the coast as it grows along muddy & sandy shorelines. This seagrass is also most commonly found in marshes, which is most likely why it is such a popular food among wading birds. This seagrass is extremely important to preventing erosion, & to fish spawning. Often when they grow, they create dense patches that will shield the coastline from harsh currents, thus preventing the currents from affecting coastal buildings & shorelines. Aside from this, at least 14 other species of both seagrass & seaweed inhabit the water surrounding the isle. Below, is a list of said species: Padina Pavonica (Peacock's Tail), Cystoseira Tamariscifoila (Rainbow Wrack), Ulva Intestinalis (Gutweed), Ulva Lactuca (Sea Lettuce), Laminaria Digitata (Oarweed), Saccharina Latissima (Sugar Kelp), Pelvetia Canaliculata (Channelled Wrack), Fucus Spiralis (Spiral Wrack), Fucus Vesiculosus (Bladder Wrack), Porphyra Umbilicalis (Purple Laver), Irish Moss (Chondrus Crispus), Ascophyllum Nodosum (Egg Wrack), & Fucus Serratus (Serrated Wrack). The Documented Marine Fauna Of The Isle Of Man The marine fauna Isle of Man is diverse, as well as extremely well documented. This is largely due to the efforts of the Manx Wildlife Trust, which has catalogued these creatures on its website. The island's biodiversity is influenced by its geology, geography, & culture. Additionally, the government of the Isle of Man has instituted a Biodiversity Strategy, meant to ensure a high diversity of life forms on the island, & ensure the preservation of both the marine & terrestrial ecosystems on the Isle of Man. Creatures often migrate between the United Kingdom, Ireland, & The Isle of Man as they all provide unique ecological opportunities, & are relatively close by. The best places to observe these marine organisms are in remote or commercially undeveloped areas of the island. As of 2025, there are no endemic marine or terrestrial animals on the Isle of Man. To find a complete list of all documented marine animals around the Isle of Man, please visit https://www.mwt.im/wildlife-explorer/marine . A luscious green photograph of the rolling green hills next to the coastline of the Isle of Man. Credit to Parinya Suwanitch. Directories / Credits Citation No. 1: “ Wetsuit thickness & temperature guide ”, Written by Mark Evans, & Published on April 24th, 2023, at 3:05 PM. Published By Scuba Divers Magazine. Retrieval Date: February 1st, 2024. https://www.scubadivermag.com/wetsuit-thickness-and-temperature-guide/#Scuba_diving_wetsuits Citation No. 2: “Best Beaches In Isle Of Man” Written By Unknown & Published On November 28th, 2023. Published By The Beach Guide. Retrieval Date: February 1st, 2024. https://www.thebeachguide.co.uk/isle-of-man/isle-of-man/top-10-beaches Citation No. 3: “The 15 Best Beaches On The Isle Of Man” Written By Unknown & Published on October 9th, 2023. Published By Our Taste For Life. Retrieval Date: February 1st, 2024. https://www.ourtasteforlife.com/best-beaches-isle-of-man/ Citation No. 4: “Common Eelgrass (Zostera subg. Zostera Marina)” Written by Doctor Harvey Tyler-Walters, & Doctor Leigh Jones, & Published by The Marine Life Information Network. Retrieval Date: February 1st, 2024. https://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/detail/1282 Citation No. 5: “Marine Species” Written By Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Manx Wildlife Trust. Retrieval Date: February 1st, 2024. https://www.mwt.im/wildlife-explorer/marine Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Pitfire Artisan Pizza Olivenbaum Music Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

A stunning photograph of the Jurassic Coast along Southern England. England is one of the primary subjects of today’s nautical chart. Credit to Yohantha Gunawarma. Today’s antique nautical chart is a 168-year-old chart of the British Isles! The chart depicts the entirety of the British Isles, Ireland, & the tides around said areas. The British Isles are the islands the administrative region of the Isle of Man, & the United Kingdom. The chart showcases the tides of Northwestern France, Norway, Northwestern Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, the United Kingdom, & the Isle of Man. It also depicts the Isles of Skye, Mull, Lewis, & Grimsay, which are a part of the Inner & Outer Hebrides. This tidal information is meant to be during the new & full moon, meaning these tides are spring tides. The map is in English, & it contains an immense amount of information about tidal, & depth information. In addition to this, it lists the names of numerous coastal towns, as well as various major cities, including Londonderry, Perth, & Edinburgh. This would have been valuable to any sailor of the era attempting to traverse the British Isles, especially one attempting to visit one of the non-major cities. The chart is fairly sized, at 23 inches wide & 19 inches long. It does contain some colour, with outlines of green, magenta, & yellow. The majority of the chart is some variation of grey, with lighter tones indicating lower tides & land. In today’s article, we shall discuss the map itself, & perform an analysis of it! With that being said, let us delve into the cool, unforgiving waters of the British Isles! The Chart An intriguing map of the British Isles, Northwestern France, & Southern Norway. Credit to hydrographers W. & A. K. Johnson. As discussed in the introduction, this map depicts the British Isles, the Hebrides, Northwestern France, Northwestern Germany, the Netherlands, & Southern Norway. It includes numerous town names along Great Britain, & Ireland, from Wickford to Dunbar. The chart is free of scratches or tears, with it being in pristine conditions apart from some minor spots & yellowing. The chart has small amounts of colour, particularly magenta, green, & yellow, outlining the shorelines of Norway, Northwestern France, & Great Britain. Apart from that, it is various shades of grey, with lighter shades indicating shallower depths. The chart contains a variety of bathymetric information, meaning information about the sea floor, particularly its depth. As was standard at the time, the information is in fathoms, which is an old nautical measurement (1 fathom = 6 feet). The chart is in pristine condition, with no rips, tears, or creases, although it does have some small dark spots. An Analysis Of The Chart This chart was constructed by W. & A. K. Johnston under the direction of J. Scott Russell. It was published in 1857, as No. 4 in their hydrography collection, under the title “Tidal Chart of the British Seas: Showing the Progress of the Wave of High Water, the Hour of High Water in Greenwich Time at New and Full Moon; and the Depth of the Sea”. William & Alexander Keith Johnston were a pair of brothers who were Scottish cartographers, hydrographers, & geographers. Together, they started their own cartography & engraving business in 1826, with the motto “Ready, Aye, Ready!”. Their offices were located at 4 St. Andrews Square in Edinburgh, where this chart was most likely manufactured. As mentioned in the introduction, it was constructed under the guidance of J. Scott Russell, a prominent oceanographer of the time. He partnered with the brothers Johnston, & assisted in gathering data for the chart. The chart fulfilled the massive task of giving sailors, merchants, biologists, & similar professionals of the time a grasp of what spring tides are, how they differ from regular tides, how they differ from neap tides, & what this all translates to practically. As far as records indicate, this chart was created for civilian use, for those who were navigating the British Seas. Considering the quality of the chart, & the time that it was manufactured in, it was most likely manufactured using Lithography. Lithography is a method of printing that arose in the 1820s, & remained the most popular method of printing in both color & grayscale until the early 1960s, when more efficient methods became available. Although it has existed since the mid-1790s, it took a long time to gain popularity in Europe due to technical difficulties, & only began gaining commercial popularity in the early 1820s. It is still widely used for certain kinds of printing, such as fine art printing today, however, digital printing is far more common. 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 image is inked, a 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 what was supposed to be printed is revealed. It is still useful for making high-resolution prints in high quantities, & is used in fine-art prints to this day. Directories / Credits All credit for this map analyzed today goes to Rare Maps, a California rare & antique maps store. To purchase this chart, antique atlases, or other cartographic objects, please visit www.raremaps.com . To be clear, this is not an advertisement for Rare Maps, as we do not have a partnership with them. Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Pitfire Artisan Pizza Olivenbaum Music Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

A photograph of a Brooding Snake Star sitting atop a rock. Credit to diverosa.com . This month's article series will be discussing the tranquil & beautiful, Isle of Man. The Isle of Man is a self-governing British Crown dependency, located in the Irish Sea. It is between Great Britain, & Ireland. It is not owned by the UK, nor is it a territory, though those who are born on the island are entitled to British Citizenship. The island is most well known for its tax-free status, beautiful fields, sweeping coastlines, & gorgeous cliffs. Additionally, the island is home to the oldest continuous parliament, which dates back to at least 979. Since the island is not linked to the mainland by road, plane & boat are the only ways to access it. According to our measurements, the island is approximately 276.48 nautical miles (318.167502 miles or 512.04096 Kilometers) off the coast of mainland Europe. The island's capital is Douglas, which houses the majority of the 84,069 populous. The isle has a lot to offer naturally, with its large puffin population, mussel reefs, lichen colonies, & coastal grasslands. For its biodiversity, the entire island has been awarded biosphere reserve status. Additionally, the majority of the ocean surrounding the island is considered a marine protected area. One of the creatures that is found both along its shore, & in its oceans, is the Brooding Snake Star, also known as the Dwarf Brittle Star. The Brooding Snake star is a small species of Brittle Star, found across the British Isles. It is closely related to a sea star, & has 5 cephalopod-like arms that it uses to swim around. Brittle stars get their name from the behaviour of shedding their arms when they feel threatened. They are known to be found under rocks, in seagrass meadows, & in rocky tide pools. Though they can be found in tide pools, they favour deeper environments. Brooding Snake Stars tend to be very shy creatures, & will avoid interaction with humans. In this article, we will discuss the life & discovery of the Brooding Snake Star, the Mating Tactics, Strategies, Cycles, Practices, Procedures, & Habits Of The Brooding Snake Star, The Distribution Of The Brooding Snake Star, & the Scientific Detailings of the Brooding Snake Star. With that being said, let us delve into this peculiar serpentine creature. The Life & Discovery Of The Brooding Snake Star The Brooding Snake Star was first described in the year 1829. The species was described by Stefano Delle Chiaje, an Italian Zoologist, Botanist, & physician. Individuals are determinate growers, & do not grow for their entire lives. Their disc, which is their center area, is between 3 & 5 millimeters in diameter, while their arms reach a maximum of 10 to 20 millimeters long. Their lifespan is between 1 & 5 years. This species' intelligence is very limited, as they don’t have a brain. Instead, they have nerve cords that extend down their arms, controlling movement & other bodily functions. The Brooding Snake Star is believed to have arisen in the Jurassic, which began 201.4 million years ago, & stopped 145 million years ago. As said in the introduction, this species tends to be very timid, & will not interact with humans, aggressively or otherwise. Individuals will migrate throughout their lives, & are not at all territorial. This species does not exactly swim, it instead wriggles along the ocean floor. They move by twisting their arms to help move them along the oceanic floor. It is unclear how fast they can move. Despite this method not being the most efficient, they are some of the fastest echinoderms. Due to the fact they they remain on the ocean floor, they do not need any organs or special features to help maintain buoyancy. It is not clear how this creature sleeps, or if it sleeps in the traditional ways that most other creatures sleep. Brooding Snake Stars primarily consume plankton, & organic particles. They usually do not practice cannibalism. Individuals are nocturnal hunters, & hunt by grabbing the particles with their arms, & dragging them towards their mouth. This species is able to locate its prey via odor. Individuals are known to be active predators, though many other brittle stars are scavengers. Brittle stars' most common predators include hermit crabs, sea stars, fish, & starfish. They are usually grey, yellow, white, blue, or some mix of these. The majority of individuals will have a mixed colour scheme. Additionally, they are phosphorescent. They have 5 arms, similar to a starfish, except thinner & attached to a central disc. Their mouth is located on the underside of their disc. This species has not yet been assessed by the IUCN Red List. The Mating Tactics, Strategies, Cycles, Practices, Procedures, & Habits Of The Brooding Snake Star Brooding Snake Stars Breed via both sexual & asexual reproduction. They primarily reproduce by spawning. This species is hermaphroditic, though they rarely self-fertilize. Individuals will sexually mature at the age of 2. When reproducing sexually, they will congregate in large groups in order to ensure genetic diversity. It is unclear how these groups form, however, when they do, many individuals will gather & release sperm as well as eggs. When the egg & the sperm come into contact, the egg fertilizes, & eventually a Brooding Snake Star will be born. It is unclear what the juveniles look like, how large they are, or how much they weigh. They do not have a specific breeding season, & groups seem to form throughout the year. When reproducing asexually, half or more of a single individual will be separated from the other half, & both will regenerate instead of dying. Thus, two new bodies will be created, & two new individuals will emerge. The Distribution Of The Brooding Sea Star The Brooding Sea Star is found all across the British Isles as well as the Baltic Sea, in both shallow & deep ocean environments. They are known to burrow in sandy environments. In both shallow & deep ocean environments, they are known to stay in rocky areas, sand-bottomed areas. & sea grass meadows. Currently, they are recorded to live in environments as deep as 800 meters (2,624.67 feet). Unfortunately, it is difficult to record all the coastal areas that they live in, as they often blend into the rocks. This species is not migratory, & tends to stay around the same area their entire lives. The Scientific Detailings Of The Brooding Snake Star The Brooding Snake Star has an incredibly simple body plan. They do not have a brain, eyes, an intestinal system, or an anus. Despite this, they have managed to utterly baffle scientists. Brittle stars seem to be able to learn via association, & have light sensitivity. They do seem to have learning abilities, & can associate the dimming of lights in their aquarium with feeding time. They have light sensitivity, as their chromatophores will signal changes depending on the environment that they are in. Most individuals are also able to react to the environment around them to a certain extent. Brittle Stars control respiration by small sacs known as bursae. These bursae are able to extract oxygen from the seawater. This species does not have a skeleton, nor does it have teeth. Currently, there are at least 2 known species of parasites that are associated with Brooding Sea Stars. These parasites are copepods known as Cancerilla Tubulata, & Parachordeumium Amphiurae. Their phylum is Echinodermata. Two universal characteristics of Echinoderms are radial symmetry, & a water vascular system. Their class is Ophiuroidea, commonly known as Brittle Stars. Individuals in this class are known for their 5-point radial symmetry, small discs that contain their internal organs, & lack of a brain. Their order is Ophiurida. This order is known using the bursae for respiration. They are currently categorized under the family Amphiuridae. Interestingly, this family is known for its behavioural habit of burrowing. Their genus is Amphipholis, also spelt Amphipolis. This genus is known for its bioluminescence. Their binomial name is Amphipholis Squamata. A photograph of a Brooding Snake Star atop a rock covered with algae & anemones. Credit to the UniProt Consortium. Directories / Credits Citation No. 1: “Amphipolis Squamata (Dwarf Brittle Star)”, Written By Unknown & Published on May 21st of 2012. Published By Between The Tides Of Nova Scotia. Retrieval Date: January 27th, 2024. http://intertidal-novascotia.blogspot.com/2012/05/amphipholis-squamata-dwarf-brittle-star.html?m=1 Citation No. 2: “Small Brittle Star (Amphipolis Squamata)”, Written By Sonia J. Rowley, & Published on June 9th of 2006. Published By The Marine Life Information Network. Retrieval Date: January 28th, 2023. https://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/detail/2071 Citation No. 3: “Amphipolis Squamata (Chiaje, 1829)”, Written by Bernard E. Picton, & Christine C. Morrow, Published in 2006. Published by The Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain & Ireland. Retrieval Date: January 28th, 2023. https://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/species.asp?item=ZB3000 Citation No. 4: “Species Information Sheet - Amphipolis Squamata”, Written by Unknown & Published in 2013. Published By HELCOM Red List Benthic Invertebrate Expert Group. Retrieval Date: January 28th, 2023. https://helcom.fi/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/HELCOM-Red-List-Amphipholis-squamata.pdf Citation No. 5: “Brittle Stars Can Learn Just Fine — Even Without A Brain”, Written By Julia C. Notar, & Madeline C. Go, Published on November 29th of 2023. Published by Duke Today. Retrieval Date: January 28th, 2023. https://today.duke.edu/2023/11/brittle-stars-can-learn-just-fine-even-without-brain Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Pitfire Artisan Pizza Olivenbaum Music Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

A serene photograph of Sanibel Island’s coastline. Credit to Florida Like A Pro. In today’s article, we will be discussing the documented history of Sanibel Island, Florida. Sanibel Island is an island on the Gulf Coast of southern Florida. The island is most well known for its sandy beaches, shells, & wildlife reserves. The primary wildlife reserve on the island, is J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. The scenery of the island is superb, & adds beautifully to the hiking paths of the island. The island is extremely close to the mainland, being only 1.75 nautical miles (2.013864 miles or 3.241 kilometers) away at its closest point. The western coast of the island is well known to contain whelks, bivalves, sand dollars, & scallops, which attract many tourists as well as recreational fishermen. Many seashell enthusiasts also enjoy the island for this reason, & can be seen gathering or admiring shells on early mornings. Additionally, these seashell enthusiasts have an entire museum to look into, as Sanibel Island has a museum dedicated to the study of seashells, conchology, & malacology. This museum is known as the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum. Off the coast of the island, divers & fishermen alike have something else to look forward to. This of course, is the vast marine expanse around the island. The original inhabitants of the island, the Calusa, would use this marine expanse for a variety of things. The Calusa would use conch, oysters, clams, & whelks as both food, & tools. After eating the meat, they would use the shells as tools, & use shell mounds for ceremonial, ritual, & burial purposes. Additionally, they would build small huts on top of large shell mounds, to add protection from the high tide. This shows that no matter the time, the ocean has transformed the culture of Sanibel Island. Modernly, the island has a population of 6,382 people. Additionally, the island is approximately 33.21 square miles (86.013505 square kilometers or 21,254.4 acres) in area. Similar to many small islands, the entire island is administratively 1 town. The largest settlement on the island is Sanibel. The official website of both the city & the island is https://www.mysanibel.com/ , & is controlled by the government of Florida. In this article, we will discuss the documented history of Sanibel Island, the aboriginals of Sanibel Island, the most destructive natural & man-caused disasters to affect Sanibel Island, & the economic state of Sanibel Island. With that being said, let us delve into the island of Sanibel! The Documented History Of Sanibel Island, Florida Before Colonization Historical Events From 500 B.C to 1513 Sanibel, as well as Captiva Island, were formed less than 10,000 years ago by rising sea levels cutting the area off from the mainland. They originally formed as one land mass, & remained so until a hurricane split them apart. The first group of individuals would not come to the island until approximately 500 B.C. This first group, was the Calusa Aboriginals. Upon arrival, they would build small villages around the waterways of the island. Their primary sources of protein were bivalves, & fish. After Colonization Historical Events From The 1500s The Spanish would not interact with the Calusa until explorer Juan Ponce De Leon found the island. He officially found the island in the year 1513, while on his journey to find the fountain of youth. He named the island Santa Isabella, after Queen Isabella of Spain. Leon & his sailors would battle the vicious Calusa for many years, until eventually, he was struck critically by one of their arrows in 1521. As a result of this, he retreated to Cuba, & then passed away from his injuries. The Spanish were unable to establish a permanent village in the area. Historical Events From The 1600s Disease introduced by the Spanish ravaged the Calusa People, & widespread epidemics killed many. This was the beginning of the decline of the Calusa people. Historical Events From The 1700s Due to a combination of Tuberculosis, Yellow Fever, & measles, the Calusa indigenous people, as well as their culture, went effectively extinct. The island would not be used for much of anything until the early 1800s. Historical Events From The 1800s During the Early 1800s, the island became a magnet for pirates. The infamous Jose Gaspar visited the island, where it is rumoured he buried treasure. On the adjacent Captiva Island, he built a prison for captive female prisoners. This is how the island earned its name. The Seminole Wars kept American settlers & fishermen hesitant to build any permanent settlements on the island. Even after Florida was admitted as a state to the Union in 1845, settlers still proceeded with caution. The civil war would further complicate things, & Americans would not attempt to settle the island until the war’s completion. In the year 1870, the U.S government ruled that Sanibel Island would receive a lighthouse. The famed lighthouse would be built on the eastern shore of the island, & was first lit in 1884. This lighthouse is still functional, & in use. The original settlement on Sanibel was located close-by the lighthouse, as it was the center of much island activity. According to a census conducted in the year 1889, there were approximately 40 families living on Sanibel Island, distributed throughout 21 houses. In 1892, the population rose to nearly 100, prompting the first schoolhouse to be built in order to educate the children of Sanibel. Historical Events From The 1900s In the year 1928, docks were constructed at the eastern end of the island, by the Kinzie Brothers. This made it possible for a ferry service to provide transportation to the mainland for the next 35 years. Many farmers began noticing the agricultural potential island, & began purchasing small plots of land to build homesteads on. The most common choices for a primary crop were grapefruit & watermelon. One of the most famous plantations from this era, was started by Clarence Chadwick, an American Inventor. This inventor turned the 330 acres of Captiva Island into a key lime plantation. Unfortunately, the hurricanes of 1921 & 1926 rocked the island, the former of which split Captiva Island from Sanibel. The agricultural industry never recovered, & was soon replaced by the tourism industry. Many influential people visited the island around this time, including the illustrious Henry Ford. The most influential of all of these people, was Jay Norwood “Ding” Darling. Jay Norwood Darling was a political cartoonist, as well as a conservationist. He first ventured to the island on a vacation in 1935. Charmed by the islands, he began wintering on Captiva Island, & continued this for many years. A devoted conservationist, he campaigned for island ecosystems to be federally protected. Eventually, this would come in the form of the J. N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. In 1945, 5,200 acres of mangrove, & estuary were designated as part of the J. N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge is now the heart of biodiversity on the island. The island has slowly risen to stardom amongst tourist destinations in America, largely due to its shells, & beautiful beaches. Sanibel Island is now one of the most popular Vacation destinations, as well as a biodiverse place in the state of Florida. The Aboriginals Of Sanibel Island The Calusa Indigenous Aboriginals of Sanibel Island The Calusa Indigenous Aboriginals are a group of Native Americans, who lived primarily in Southern Florida. They formed as a group between 2,500 & 2,000 years ago. Unfortunately, their population is completely extinct. They spoke the Calusa language, & is also extinct. There are very few records of this language, & it is extremely unclear how the language worked, or what it even looked like. Their population reached approximately 50,000 at its highest. Amongst the natives of Florida, they were described to have lots of power, & influence over other tribes. This influence stretched from the West to the East Coast, even though they did not live in that area. Their diets primarily consisted of fish, wild berries, roots, & nuts. They did not have farms, & instead would gather food naturally. Much of their fishing equipment was made out of either wood, or shell. Fishing would take place either on shore, through nets, or in a dug-out style canoe. Their fishing nets were constructed of Palm Leaves, & were used to catch pinfish, catfish, & pigfish. After eating the meat from the fish, they would take the bones & use them as arrowheads. These arrows were largely used to hunt deer, & fight the Spanish. To catch turtles as well as eels, they would construct to use shell spears. They were extremely adept sailors, & were known to sail as far as Cuba, which is approximately 194.42 nautical miles (223.73454 miles or 360.06584 kilometers) away from the island at their closest points. Very little is known about their clothing habits, or their footwear. Unlike nearby tribes, they did not make any ceramics. Much of their jewelry was made using shells, although very little of it has survived. The Spanish described them to be between 5 feet & 6 inches, & 5 feet & 8 inches, with tanned skin. Many of them would have long hair, & were generally muscular. It is unclear what their social & societal structures looked like. Their houses would be built on stilts, in order to provide protection from the high tide. Leaves from the Palmetto tree were woven into large sheets, & used as roofs. When the Spanish arrived near the island, they responded aggressively. They would often attack Spanish vessels anchored near the island, & would then salvage resources from the shipwrecks. What became of the Calusa, is utterly tragic. While fighting with the Spanish, many of them contracted diseases that their immune system had not yet developed protection against. This caused widespread epidemics, & killed the majority of the population. Those who remained, were sold into the slave trade by other Native American groups who came from Georgia, & South Carolina. The Most Destructive Natural & Man-Caused Disasters To Affect Sanibel Island Disaster No. 1: Hurricane Ian Of 2022 Hurricane Ian was an Atlantic hurricane that lasted from September 28th of 2022, to September 30th of 2022. It formed as a small tropical depression, & reached Category 5. It first made landfall as a Category 3 Hurricane, in Cuba. It claimed 3 lives on the island, & knocked out the power grid for the entire island. At its peak, it reached approximately 155 miles per hour. The hurricane ravaged Sanibel Island, & caused approximately 12 feet of water to surge, & flood the island. Streets were inaccessible, & many could not get supplies. It is to date, the second deadliest hurricane of our century to make landfall in the continental United States since Hurricane Katrina. The hurricane claimed 101 lives directly, 92 of which were from Florida. It is estimated that the hurricane claimed upwards of 150 lives indirectly. Hurricane Ian is estimated to have caused approximately 112 billion U.S.D in damages. Disaster No. 2: The Tampa Bay Hurricane of 1921 The 1921 Tampa Bay Hurricane was an Atlantic Hurricane that split Sanibel Island from Captiva Island. At its maximum, it reached Category 4 level Strength. It hit Florida on October 24th, 1921. It hit at a moment's warning, & many counties were unable to issue evacuation orders quickly enough. Upon hitting, it immediately began causing flooding. Rain quickly flooded the ground floor of the Tampa Electric control complex. Thankfully, before leaving, the power workers at Tampa Electric cut off all electricity to the county, & a few towns in nearby counties. This was an incredibly important decision, as in the aftermath of the hurricane, cables & exposed wires littered the flooded streets. Had they not cut the power, the streets would have been effectively electrified. This would have caused injuries, & could have prevented emergency services from reaching civilians. It is unclear if the hurricane claimed any lives, or how many were injured as a result of the storm. In the aftermath of the Hurricane, the Captiva & Sanibel Islands were cut away from each other due to surges of water. This water never dissipated, & the islands remain separated. It is estimated that the hurricane caused approximately 10 million U.S.D in damages. Adjusted for Inflation, this would be well over 180 million U.S.D today. The Economic State Of Sanibel Island Sanibel Island is economically stable. The main industry of both Sanibel & Captiva Island, is Tourism. The island is known to be one of the top 100 destinations in the U.S, & has one of the best airports in the United States. Aside from tourism, Sanibel exports a fair number of products, ranging from pharmaceuticals to fish. This is usually through the large commercial harbour on the Northeast end of the island. The median household income is approximately 103,413 U.S.D, with a working population of 2.28 thousand. A photograph of the historic lighthouse on the coastline of Sanibel Island. Credit to Florida Like A Pro. Directories / Credits Citation No. 1: “History Of Sanibel Island”, Written By Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published By the Island Inn. Retrieval Date: January 24th, 2024 https://islandinnsanibel.com/sanibel-island-history/ Citation No. 2: “Sanibel Island & Captiva Island Area History”, Written By Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber Of Commerce Retrieval Date: January 24th, 2024. https://sanibel-captiva.org/sanibel-island-history-captiva-island-history/ Citation No. 3: “The Calusa Native Americans”, Written By Unknown, & Published at an Unknown. Published by the Florida Department Of Environmental Protection. Retrieval Date: January 24th, 2024 https://www.floridastateparks.org/learn/calusa-native-americans Citation No. 4: “The Calusa: “The Shell Indians”, Written By Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by The University Of South Florida. Retrieval Date: January 24th, 2024 https://fcit.usf.edu/florida/lessons/calusa/calusa1.htm Citation No. 5: “Hurricane Ian, Sept 28-30, 2022” Written By Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the National Weather Service. Retrieval Date: January 24th, 2024. https://www.weather.gov/mhx/HurricaneIan093022 Citation No. 6: “The 1921 Tampa Bay Hurricane” Written By Michael Bouth, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Tampa Historical. Retrieval Date: January 24th, 2024. https://tampahistorical.org/items/show/72 Citation No. 7: “Sanibel, FL” Written By Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Data USA. Retrieved January 24th, 2024. https://datausa.io/profile/geo/sanibel-fl Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Pitfire Artisan Pizza Olivenbaum Music Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

A distinguished photograph of Donald Putnam Abbott. Credit to Stanford University. This article is part of our collection known as the Marine Hall of Distinction. This special collection will discuss marine biologists who have served marine biology and oceanography the most. We do this to commemorate these marine biologists and show gratitude for everything they have contributed to our oceans. Today's marine scientist is Donald Putnam Abbott. Dr. Donald Putnam Abott was an American Marine Biologist, Invertebrate Zoologist, & Researcher known for his work on Tunicates, colloquially known as Sea Squirts. Tunicates are an interesting marine invertebrate that resemble a fleshy tube, & are surprisingly closely related to chordates.  In today’s article, we are going to delve into his formative years & education, his personal life & career, his achievements, awards, & accomplishments. With that being said, let us delve into the wondrous career of Donald Putnam Abott! His Formative Years & Education  Donald Putnam Abott was born on October 14th, 1920, in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Sadly, very little is known about his childhood or life pre-university.  His father, a physician & professor of medicine, passed away at the age of 52 in 1936. A few months after his death, Abbott would move away from Chicago. Upon graduating from University High School, he moved to Hawaii to attend the University of Hawaii at Manoa for his undergraduate degree in Zoology, beginning in 1937.  It was here that he met, the extraordinary Marine Scientist Isabella Aiona, later Isabella Abbott. She was a student of botany, & both adored biology as well as botany. They both were enrolled in all of the biology courses that the University had to offer, showcasing their commitment to science. The pair married on March 3rd, 1943, & went on to have 1 daughter, & at least 1 granddaughter.  Upon graduating in 1941, he remained an instructor at the University until the outbreak of World War II. Unfortunately, due to the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Dr. Abbott had to take a sabbatical from marine science, & enlisted in the U.S Chemical Warfare Service in 1943, shortly after his wedding. After the war ended, the newlyweds relocated to Berkeley, California, to attend the University of California, Berkeley. It was here that he earned his Master's Degree in Zoology, in 1948. The nearby Hopkins Marine Station had just seen a well-known marine scientist, Professor Tage Skosberg, retire, & was urgently attempting to fill the role. They attempted to recruit another marine biologist, C. M. Yonge, but failed. While on the search for a successor, the University discovered Abbott, & offered him an instructor position, to teach summer courses during the summer semesters of 1948, & 1949. Upon completion of his P.hD in zoology in 1959, he spent the rest of his career with the Hopkins Marine Station. His Personal Life & Career  Upon joining the faculty of the University of California at Berkeley in 1950, he rose to become one of the most prominent tunicate researchers of the era, & a respected scholar on invertebrates as a whole. He was well known as an extraordinary professor, with his summer courses in invertebrate zoology being some of the most popular at the institution, & his classes were always full of students. Students from other states, & even other countries joined the institute specifically to take his courses. Although he is often remembered as a taxonomist, this was not the only subject that he lectured about. He also discussed embryology, phylogeny, morphology, & generally systematics of various invertebrates in his lectures. His students were so greatly encouraged by his enthusiasm, that staff observed them working determinedly in the laboratory late into the night, or on days when they did not even have his course. Dr. Abbott was also well known for his thoughtful comments on his students' work, with him leaving long annotations on each of their workbooks. In 1953, he joined a scientific expedition to Micronesia, specifically Ifaluk Atoll. On the expedition, he caught a terrible case of Polio, a disease affecting the nerves in the spinal cord & brain. Paralysis, wasting, migraines, fatigue, vomiting, fever, & stiffness of the limbs are all associated with the disease. Although he recovered, he feared that like many who were afflicted by the disease, he would never regain control of his legs. He managed to make a stunning recovery, & re-learned to walk, though with a slight limp. In 1963, he began teaching a new course in a newly built building during the Spring Semester. The course recruited juniors & seniors at Stanford to design their own research projects in 8 weeks, & emboldened by his passion, the majority of them did. The course focused on the intertidal zone, teaching students about the wind, the waves, the tides, the troubles experienced by marine animals living in both the high & low intertidal zone, & the species that inhabited such environments. Unfortunately, after his retirement, the beloved summer invertebrate zoology course gradually declined in quality, & was eventually shelved. Many people have wondered why this occurred, & to quote his memorial resolution “One has to conclude the teacher was the message. Don’s tremendous enthusiasm, his desire to know everything about each species of invertebrate, fired his students to do the same”. Upon retiring in 1982, his wife, Isabella Aiona Abbott, was offered a faculty position at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. As such, the couple moved from Pacific Grove back to Hawaii. He stayed in Hawaii for the rest of his life. Unfortunately, Dr. Donald Putnam Abbott passed away on January 18th, 1986, at the age of 65, following a battle with cancer. He was survived by his wife, Dr. Isabella Aiona Abott, & his daughter, Annie Abbott Foerester. In honour of his passing, a symposium dedicated to invertebrate biology, & invertebrate zoology was held at Asilomar Conference Center in Asilomar, California, USA. It was held soon after his death, from November 20th, to November 23rd, 1987. His contributions to the field were significant, & his work will not be forgotten. He is remembered as one of the most extraordinary professors of Hopkins Marine Stations, & his enthusiasm for the field continues to drive marine scientists today. A photograph of Donald Putnam Abbott out in the field, date unknown. Credit to Gene Coan. His Awards, Achievements, & Accomplishments 1. He published approximately 14 publications over the course of his life, on a variety of different marine invertebrates, from sea urchins to tunicates. 2. He effectively advised 25 P.hD students, & 10 Master’s Degree Students, all of whom earned their degrees. Coxicerberus abbotti, Enteropsis abbotti, & Hastigerella abbotti. Directories / Credits Citation No. 1: “Memorial Resolution Donald Putnam Abbott 1920-1986”, Written by Lawrence Blinks, Arthur C. Giese, & Colin Pittendrigh, & published at an unknown date. Published by Stanford University. https://web.archive.org/web/20100705143303/http://www-marine.stanford.edu/memorials/AbbottD.pdf Citation No. 2: “Donald P. Abott”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Stanford University. https://seaside.stanford.edu/dpabbott Citation No. 3: “Abott, Donald Putnam (Professor; Phd)”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Conchology Inc. https://www.conchology.be/?t=9001&id=14106 Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Pitfire Artisan Pizza Olivenbaum Music Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

Recently, we were extraordinarily pleased to sit down with Dr. Alexandra Davis, a marine ecologist, marine biologist, diversity advocate, scientific diver, & professor! Dr. Alexandra Davis is an ocean researcher, invasive species expert, scientific diver, marine spatial ecologist, cat enthusiast, & Professor of Biology at California State University, Northridge. She is well known for her research on invasive species, her research on spatial ecology, & her nonprofit advocacy with BWEEMS. In today’s interview, we sit down with Alex to discuss her research in spatial ecology, her research with invasive species, her nonprofit advocacy, & her advice to marine biologists & ocean researchers early in their careers, in a comprehensive 18-question interview. Before delving into today’s interview, please note everything said has been edited for clarity, & that the opinions of our interviewee do not necessarily reflect the opinions & values of our organization. With that being said, let us delve into the contents of the interview! A marvellous photograph of Dr. Alexandra Davis standing near the sea. Credit to Dr. Alexandra Davis. Questions About Her Passion: 1. What sparked your passion for marine biology, & the ocean as a whole? I think it's a combination of a classic kind of both in the 80’s, & 90’s, & it’s a little bit of fascination with Lisa Frank Stationery. Just seeing dolphins, rainbows, & things like that. In addition to that, I was enthralled with National Geographic Specials, on public television, & PBS. I’m originally from New Mexico, so a desert state. Anytime some sort of special would come on TV that was focused on the water, specifically the marine environment, it always just captivated my attention because it was something so other than what I grew up around. 2. Was there any particular person, place, moment, or piece of media that assisted in sparking your passion? I suppose one of the things that got me interested was a series of magazines for kids that my mom would order. I think maybe it was Zoo For Kids, or Nat Geo For Kids? I remember that I got one of the sharks & that was just so fascinating to me. I vividly remember flipping through one. Also, when the TV guide would come out, I would see what National Geographic Special was on. Even though I don’t work with sharks or any large organisms now, that is kind of what drew me to marine science. Those charismatic megafauna, as we call them, do a really good job of drawing people in & having a connection to the ocean. 3. What is your favourite marine or terrestrial animal personally, & what is your favourite marine or terrestrial animal that you have worked on? My favourite animal is cats! I’m a big cat person, however, I don’t work with those in any way shape, or form. I do work with fish often, a lot of the work that I do now & in the past has been focused on fish ecology. Studying both how fish communities interact, & how fish are put together, as well as individual fish species has been a large part of my career. I also enjoy this group of fish colloquially known as damselfish. I like to think of them as what I call the old men of the sea. They’re often algal farmers, so they’ll have territories where they guard their algal patches, & they’re very aggressive. They are about the size of your hand on the larger end, & other times they’re only about 5 centimeters large. They’ll come out & bite you if you come onto their territory, so they’re like “Get off my lawn”! I just love what I’m assigning them as personalities, & their aggressive nature. I’ve done some studies with them, & I find them fascinating. 4. What sparked your passion for Diversity, & Inclusion, within Ecological, Marine, & Evolutionary sciences? I don’t know if anything sparked my passion, but I think the work that I do in that area was born out of necessity. Being someone who is often categorized as a marginalized person, nobody was doing the work in a lot of institutions that I was at. So, in order for me to feel as if I had a space in those places, or feel that I was being treated equitably, I would work with people who were of similar minds to create spaces. At first, it was a survival technique, “How do I make it through to the next week, month, or day? How do I make it to the next level of my career?”. It's building those support mechanisms, building those institutional policies, that make it so that you have equal or equitable chances to have the same opportunities that other folks do. Questions About Her Work in Marine Science: 5. Prior to entering marine science, you pursued your Bachelor’s degree in English. May I ask what inspired you to make the change, & leap into the field of marine science? Interestingly enough, it wasn’t a change into marine science, it was kind of an opportunity that I didn’t take advantage of. Early in my educational career, I had a bad experience with a science class. It basically turned me off from thinking that I could be a scientist, or that it was something that I wanted to do. So, I switched my degree to be in English, because that’s another passion of mine, English Literature. That was an easy switch for me. I did my bachelor’s degree at Cal State Monterey Bay, & I hold the bias that Monterey Bay is one of the most beautiful places on Earth, & one of the best places in the world to do Marine Biology. So when I graduated with my English degree, I thought there was no better place than to give this a try. I had some friends who were science majors, & they said “Yeah, just take some classes, see how you like it.” Instead of pursuing the next level of an English Degree, whether that be a master’s or teaching certificate, I decided to go back & give marine science a try. So far, it’s worked out! 6. How did you enter the field of marine science, & what was the first research project that you ever worked on? I will admit that when I went back to get my science degree, at first I was kind of stumbling around in the dark. At first, I said, “Maybe I’ll take a couple of classes, & then apply for a master’s program.”, I had no idea what I was doing. It’s a very low chance that a master’s program in Marine Science was going to admit an English Degree Student without a research background with only one science class. I had lofty goals when I first entered, & I was lucky that CSU Monterey Bay had a lot of field courses, & kind of research-based courses. So, by nature of these classes, I started getting more exposure to what it meant to he a scientist. You don’t just take a chemistry class, you have to do things in chemistry. You can’t just take a class on marine biology, you actually need to do marine biology. Getting experience in the classroom I would say was my first exposure, we would do class projects, group research projects. I was able to get connected to a program at CSU called the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Center. This was a center at CSU that was geared towards helping undergrads into research opportunities. They had a ton of ways to facilitate, whether it be helping to get funding so that you could work with a lab on campus, & they would help you apply for funding outside. They would also help with finding internships across the country. Through them, I was able to get into the Ronald E. McNair Achievement Program, which is set up for marginalized students to increase their representation in STEM, & get them into research programs. One of the classes I took was a seafloor mapping class, & we did a group research project for it. From my participation & performance, I then got to do an internship at the Seafloor Mapping Laboratory on campus, & I started to do independent research. From the work that I did there, I got to do my Undergraduate Thesis. All of it was born out of a field studies course as an undergrad that morphed into a lot of different opportunities with the professors on campus. 7. Which universities did you go to for your Master’s Degree & P.h.D, & what was the research topic for your thesis? I “skipped”, my master’s, although the work that I did as an undergraduate in the marine degree was kind of the equivalent to the master’s. I got a full publication out of that. Because of that, I felt prepared to go straight to a PhD program. I ended up going to Oregon State University, &, & my work there was centered on invasive Lionfish in the Bahamas. That seems like sort of a drastic switch, but I really wanted to do scientific diving for my thesis, & I wanted to do it in warmer water. I learned to dive at CSU Monterey Bay as one of the programs there. They had a fantastic scientific diving program as a part of the curriculum for their Marine Biology Degree, so it was a low bar for me to get that skill. With the skills of a Scientific Diver, you become highly marketable, it can be an expensive course, & it is a lot of your that you have to put in to be a competent diver. As I had that skill, I was able to hit the ground running as a PhD student, & then I realized I wanted to dive in warmer water. I wanted to wear a smaller wetsuit, & not be bundled up when I got in. That led me to choose Oregon State University, as they had a laboratory in the Bahamas which worked on coral reefs & invasive species. My thesis goes over the distribution, & habitat use of invasive Lionfish in the Bahamas. 8. Do you mind elaborating on your work to reduce invasive species, & create conservation strategies tailored around reducing them? A lot of my post-doctoral work was very focused on this. Towards the end of my PhD, I began thinking about how I could make my work more informative. If I can create maps where you can find Lionfish, it can be useful to more than just me. I wanted to find ways for managers & folks to use this in an applied way, that’s not just science for science's sake. For my post-doctoral work, I continued working on Lionfish, & I started on a project with Dr. Stephanie Green, who’s at the University of Alberta. She’s been working on managing Lionfish invasions in this region since she was a post-doc. I assisted her in finishing a few different projects. One of the biggest goals was you make the removal of Lionfish more efficient. (Editor’s Note: In Florida, it is common to do large-scale removal of Lionfish during the summer. This is supported by the government & is a highly important method of controlling their population.) What we did we collect data on how effective these individuals are at collecting Lionfish. You have to collect Lionfish by hand, using either spears or nets. You can’t fish for them traditionally using line & hook, & you can’t use trawls. It’s basically one Lionfish at a time, & it is rather labour-intensive. The whole purpose of the project was to study how you can reduce the labour, money, or effort you are putting into these removals for optimization. How can you get the biggest bang for your buck? How do you spend the least amount of time & get the most out of it? Let’s pose a scenario. You & I go out to catch Lionfish. I’ve been doing removals for decades, & you are brand new. How fast does it take me to remove a Lionfish versus you? How fast can I remove 10 Lionfish versus you? If we go out at a certain time of day, is it easier to find them? If we go to certain kinds of reefs where there is a lot of coral, that may change the results compared to if we do it in an area with lots of algae. How fast does environmental composition affect how fast we do this? The goal of the project was to see how we can be the most efficient at doing this. We were able to use all of these metrics that we collected to answer these questions. A stunning photograph of a Lionfish (Pterois)  lingering in a coral reef. Credit to Reimar Gaerter. We found that if you go out at dawn & dusk, when Lionfish are typically active, as they are crepuscular species, it’s much easier to catch them. Even though catching Lionfish is a rather easy skill to learn, experience does matter. You can learn how to catch a Lionfish, & once you have reached the level where you’re good at it, your ability to remove Lionfish from a reef goes up 4 times. In the time a novice is catching one: an expert is catching 4. The outcome of this is that if you are a manager, & you only have a limited amount of supplies, you’re going to send your best person out, & you’ll send them on a device at dawn or dusk. They’re going to do just as much work as if you send four people out during the middle of the day who don’t have much experience. As a result of the work that I was doing in Canada, one of my goals was to see if I could apply these concepts of efficient removal to other species. My second postdoctoral fellowship was geared toward seeing if I could create similar models of removal effort for the European green crab on the western coast of North America. As I always say, with a heavy heart, my fellowship started in March of 2020. All of the things I had planned to do with that, because I had a governmental partner & I was planning on working with some indigenous groups up there, practically all of my field work, got scrapped. That caused me to switch gears, & the project ended up turning out! We were able to get some cool stuff out of it, things such as “How do you become efficient at removing European Green Crabs?”, “What’s the best type of trap?”, “How long do you leave the traps in the water?”, “Is there a way to reduce bycatch?”, & such. A fearsome European Green Crab (Carcinus maenus). Credit to photographer Edwin Grosholz. 9. May I ask what your work within Spatial Ecology is, what sparked your interest in Spatial Ecology, & what you do within Spatial Ecology? I always say that I started my career in marine biology started studying sand! For the research project that I did as an undergraduate, what we did was study various sand bed forms that we saw along the coast, using different types of sonar & mapping devices that we have. You typically think of sand as being very movable & pliable. Through the quality, & massive amount of data we were collecting for this huge coastal project to map the continental shelf of California, we were able to see over the course of decades, that some of these features were remaining static. We were able to tell the difference through the composition of some of the sand, as different types of sand will give you different reactivity. Not all sand is equal. We were able to see that patches of coarse sand, which had larger grain sizes, were staying static over the course of a decade. So, the project for my undergraduate thesis, with the collaboration of another undergraduate student, we mapped these features along the entire coast of California. We saw where they were found, what types of features were more likely to be present, & how this influences conservation strategies. We managed to create maps of these features along 1,200 miles of coastline. It was a lot of algorithms, & a bit of colouring in between the lines. It was quite a fun project, because it gave me the opportunity to look at a statewide issue. 10. May I ask what inspired you to become a Scientific Diver, & what you enjoy about Scientific Diving? The cool thing about CSUMB (California State University, Monterey Bay, is that they have a wide variety of physical education classes for you to take, & one of them was diving! I remember, even though I’m an avid water person, I got recruited to play water polo for CSUMB which is why I decided to go, & I never had an inkling for diving. I like being on the water, I was a beach lifeguard for a long time, but being underwater with a contraption on my back was not something I thought I wanted. I had a friend who said “Let’s just take the dive class together! It’s the cheapest we will ever get to be certified.”, because we’re paying course fees instead of two thousand dollars to do an instructor. I thought “How bad can it be?”, & it blew my mind! It completely changed the way that I look at the ocean environment. Instead of being someone who swims on top, or is in a boat, I get to be underwater & see fish! I get to see all these things, & it was a natural progression because I took the open water course, & I took the advanced rescue course. After I was done with those courses, they started offering scientific diving, & I thought “Cool, great! This will be the third course I take. I’m just going to do all the classes that they offer.”, & it was really cool because it started to give me a way to think critically about what I was seeing underwater. As a diver, you see patterns, you see different things, & the scientific diving course taught me what to do with those patterns, how you measure those patterns, how you identify those patterns, how you begin identifying wildlife, & it truly changed how I navigated as a diver. Instead of looking at something & saying that it's cool, I know what it is, & I know what is interacting with it. It was really transformative in how I navigated underwater, & what I thought about while I was underwater. It’s interesting, as I don’t do many recreational dives anymore, & when I do, all I do is sit around & look at fish, count fish, see what is going on in the community, & see how things are interacting with each other! 11. On your website, you discuss coral reef ecology. May I ask broadly speaking, what work have you done within Coral Reef Ecology? It started when I was doing my PhD. So I did all of my work in the Bahamas, which is a coral reef ecosystem. Then I took a bit of a hiatus & went to Canada, & there I finished off some Lionfish work. I went on trips to the Gulf of Mexico, Belize, & places like that, all in the landscape of Lionfish management, & I taught some courses on how to conduct field surveys. Now I’ve switched to oceans, & do much more coral reef work. I’m currently proposing to do work on coral reefs out of Mo’orea, French Polynesia. I’ve been going there for three or four years in a variety of capacities. A lot of the things that I have done are facilitating educational programs where we take students & teach them how to dive & do research, so I’m co-doing research with them. They’re leading it, which is great for me because this is how I got my start with student-led research. For me, that’s amazing to be able to facilitate student-led research & be the mentor. The work that I’m doing with these students & the work that I’m doing with my laboratory is currently broadly in marine seascape ecology, which encompasses things like how fish communities are using their habitat. We look at different levels of degradation on the reef, whether it's live coral or bleached coral, & how that changes how fish & other organisms are using that habitat. Oftentimes, sheltered warm waters make fantastic nursery habitats for a lot of fish species. Baby fish are tiny in this area close to shore, while all the large predators are out on the reef. When they grow up, they’ll migrate out. This sort of life-stage habitat change is common in many important fish species such as parrotfishes, grouper, & the like. Myself & some of my graduate students are really interested in seeing where we can find these potential nursery habitats in the near shore areas, & if there are things that we are doing on land that are reducing the ability for these organisms to reproduce, if we are reducing the amount of habitat that they are able to reproduce in, & if we are having terrestrial outputs that are reducing near-shore areas as a habitat for important species. 12. Recently, in the fall of 2024, you began a tenure-track position with California State University, Northridge. May I ask what work you have been doing with them, how many students you have in your laboratory, & what the focus of your research has been? Also, what student-led projects are you assisting in with both your Master’s, & Undergraduate Students? Also, Congratulations! It is exciting for me, I feel like I’ve come full circle coming back to the Cal State system. For me, that is really meaningful to be able to do, even if it’s not through CSUMB, it’s still within the CSU structure & it is still student-forward. That sentiment resounds through the Cal State system. As a new professor who’s switching systems as I say, I’m starting to expand the places where I do research. A lot of what I’ve been doing now is building my capacity to do research, I’m writing grants, & I’m continuing some of the work that I’ve been doing at Mo’orea. A lot of what I’m doing now is trying to find funding in some capacity, & start research programs in California that I can build into the curriculum. One of my goals is to make opportunities for students in courses to come out & do research with me without having to go to a remote island location for the entire summer. You don’t necessarily have to have specific skills to participate in my lab. A lot of what I’m doing is kind of coming back to what I did as an undergraduate, which is looking at how different habitats can help facilitate fish communities in our benthic ecosystems down here in Southern California. We also want to look at biogenous environments, like kelp or sponges, & how they are providing habitat in areas with fewer rocky reefs. A lot of what I am doing is attempting to set up that program, & funding for it. I like to say that I have two half & two whole graduate students in my laboratory, where I am co-advising two. One of them finished her first field season, which is very exciting for her. She’s the one who’s kind of leading this near-shore juvenile fish nursery kind of project. It’s something she’s very interested in, especially looking at the anthropogenic terrestrial inputs & how those are affecting fish communities. Along with her, we went to a bunch of sites over the summer where she collected tons & tons of data on fish, sediment, & algae. That sets my laboratory up to go back & start getting time-series data on things, which relate to how things are changing through seasons, & how things are changing year-to-year compared to the baseline data collected with my graduate students. As for the two new students that I have in my laboratory, one of them is interested in large spatial ecological questions, which is lovely for me. She has a very GIS kind of spatial ecology background. She is likely going to see if she can use some large oceanographic models to help us think about fish populations. She is very interested in working where she lives, so she wants to work in California, & think about how she can incorporate citizen-science into monitoring. We’re still ironing out the details on that one. Questions About Her Work in Diversity in Science: 13. How would you describe your goals when it comes to creating an equitable & inclusive environment in the fields of Marine, Ecological, & Evolutionary Sciences? I always like to say my one truth that never changed is “Can I do things to make this easier for those coming after me?”, & that’s the basis for how I think about a lot of my inclusion & equity work. In the STEM fields, a lot of nuanced things give you a leg up, & so a lot of the work that I do is creating spaces where students have access to information, mentors, & a community that can support them in their decisions & give them information on how to make good decisions. I think I spoke earlier when I went back to get my marine science degree I was like “I’ll just take a couple of classes & apply for a master’s program”, & I never would have gotten in. I had no idea that was a terrible plan, so I was lucky enough to get into programs where I got mentors who told me how to apply to graduate school, & all the things I needed to be a good candidate for graduate school. A lot of what I do is provide spaces for people to meet people, to teach them how to be good candidates. At CSUN, my colleague whom I think you interviewed Dr. Raphael Ritson Williams ( We Did! ), is creating a marine biology club. It is going to be a centralized place where the undergraduates can come & get information, & they can interact with graduates. They can interact with professors & ask people questions without cold emailing people. We’re giving them that space, we’re lowering the bar for them to get that information. We are also working on creating a mentorship program for first-time attendees who have never been to an academic conference before. Their mentor can recommend talks to them, & introduce them to colleagues. At the core of it, it’s creating these spaces & connections with people so that regardless of where you started, you get information that gets you to the next level. It’s creating those equitable chances for everybody, giving everybody the same leg up, & same background information so that they make informed decisions that they get positive outcomes from. 14. You have done incredible work with a variety of organizations, notably BWEEMS. Do you mind elaborating on some of the work you have done with BWEEMS, which for the audience, stands for Black Women in Ecology, Evolutionary, & Marine Sciences? BWEEKS was born out of necessity, & it was also a COVID project. A lot of us were feeling isolated, alone, & disconnected from the world as well as science in general. It is really a community-based organization. Our main focus is supporting the people in our organization & what they do. As I said, it was born out of COVID desperation, & we started with community meetings. We provided a Zoom platform for people to talk about what’s going on at their institution, what’s going on in their personal lives, & how they are dealing with not being able to go into work & see folks, how they are dealing with the rollback, & when they are going to he able to go back to work. We gave people a safe place to talk about anything with like-minded people. From there, it’s grown into an incorporated nonprofit organization that has over 700 members worldwide. It has become a place for people to come & for support, advice, job opportunities, & such. We have all these systems in place, & it’s great. You can recommend people for positions, & now they have a job recommendation from somebody that they know & trust. You can also inquire about different schools or institutions. It’s provided this Global Network for our members to be able to get resources on a variety of different things, because we have people in academia, people in nonprofit, & people in government. We are putting people together in a collaborative space, it can be as trivial as people getting together for coffee, or people working on papers together. That for me is one of the greatest things that’s come out of this organization, the ability to gather as a group. We’ve had 2 conferences so far, & these conferences are just amazing in so many different ways where you get to interact with these people you’ve met online. You get to see all three of our disciplines, ecology, evolution, & marine science. You get to find potential people to collaborate with, you get to recruit grad students, & you get to find somebody to talk to about the job you are applying for. This type of networking which I believe has been available to people in STEM fields for hundreds of years, but as black women, it’s something new that we’re kind of building for ourselves. I believe that is a very powerful part of it. It’s giving ourselves this community that has existed for other demographics for a long time. There’s a lot of power in being able to know that you have 700 people around the world rooting for you. 15. What has been your biggest triumph or proudest moment across your career? There are a lot of them. Getting my PhD made me incredibly proud & feel triumphant. Getting my job at CSUN, & all of the connections I have made have also made me proud. The one that I cried for the most was when I was when we had our first conference for BWEEMS. I was one of the people who was on the committee that ran that. I always like to say I did a good job of keeping it together until I introduced our very last invited speaker. I was looking out at the crowd at a bunch of beautiful black women's faces, & I just thought “We did it! This is all I’ve dreamed of.”, That was a huge triumph for me because of the level of satisfaction that I got. 16. I’m sure that you have faced just as many challenges & setbacks as you have leaps forward, what has been the biggest hurdle or challenge that you have faced across your career, & how did you overcome it? There are so many to choose from. I believe that for me, & from a lot of people in a similar position is understanding is imposter syndrome. Back when I was a graduate student, people used to say “You’re not an impostor!”. I think that for me, one of the things that helped me overcome that, & this might become a meme I’ve seen online recently, is that you are an impostor! The academic system was not built for someone who looks like me. It was built for white, cisgender, heterosexual, men. I am not any one of those things, well I do apply to some of them but the point is the same. Understanding that the system that I am in, that I am thriving in, was completely built to actively exclude me, has been a huge challenge, but I think it has oftentimes been bolstering. Understanding why I didn’t feel like I belonged, understanding why I felt like my existing in a space was not appropriate, & feeling like I was a charity case, all of those things really bog you down. The system was built to make me feel like that. All of these things are going up against me, & I’m still here. I’m still going through it. The hard part about this is that the resilience that it takes to get through it is not something I wish on anyone. People should not be resilient to get a degree in academia, not the way that a lot of people go through this. Coming to terms with that is both really challenging, & knowing that the work that a lot of people have to put in is so much farther & above than some of their counterparts. It makes you stronger, but it also takes a toll. Coming back to some of the DEI work, how do I make it easier for people? How do I reduce that effort, reduce that toll that was taken out of me? How do I get back those years of enthusiasm? Understanding that you are in a system that is built to exclude you is tough, & choosing to go on & work in that field to try & include other people is tough. If I’m hot doing that, what else am I doing with my time? 17. Do you have any advice for new marine scientists, aspiring marine biologists, & young people with a passion? Don’t give up. Find people who support you. I would not be where I am now were it not for the community that I found & the community that has supported me. I am fortunate enough to have a family that supports me, & has supported me through this whole thing, regardless of whether or not they understand why I do the work. You know, they’d like me to live closer to them, but I live far away. They’re happy that I’m happy. Finding people who support your goals & dreams is just so, important. Also, keeping the relationships that you make with students is very important. Nobody can do this alone. If you try to do it alone, you’re not going to fail, but you’re going to have a tough time. Reaching out to that professor, talking to that student in your class, some of the most supportive people that I had during my PhD were the people at the gym that I attended. They didn’t have any connection whatsoever to the school, but they were there to support me every week & were stoked to see me when I came to practices. Those types of things are very transformative. Also, find people who care about you as a person, not just an academic. Both sides are very important. 18. Do you have any final words about your work, marine science, marine ecology, or diversity within science? I hope something I said resonates with somebody out there, whether it be my personal background, my science background, or something else. I hope that it brought you joy. That is literally the only goal that I have in my kind of working world. Even if it’s not a perfect fit sometimes finding those little things that resonate, & make a connection with somebody, I think they are super important. Hopefully, this brought joy to people on a bunch of different levels. Directories / Credits https://www.alexandracddavis.com Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Pitfire Artisan Pizza Olivenbaum Music Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

A mesmerizing photograph of the teal blue sea surrounding the coast of Sanibel Island, Florida, USA. Credit to photographer Vito Palmisiano. In today's article, we will discuss the oceans surrounding Sanibel Island, an island on the Gulf Coast of southern Florida. The island is most well known for its sandy beaches, shells, & wildlife reserves. The primary wildlife reserve on the island is J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. The scenery of the island is superb, & adds beautifully to the hiking paths of the island. The island is extremely close to the mainland, being only 1.75 nautical miles (2.013864 miles or 3.241 kilometers) away at its closest point. The western coast of the island is well known to contain whelks, bivalves, sand dollars, & scallops, which attract many tourists as well as recreational fishermen. Many seashell enthusiasts also enjoy the island for this reason, & can be seen gathering or admiring shells on the early mornings. Additionally, these seashell enthusiasts have an entire museum to look into, as Sanibel Island has a museum dedicated to the study of seashells, conchology, & malacology. This museum is known as the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum. Off the coast of the island, divers & fishermen alike have something else to look forward to. In the oceans, there are a variety of different marine organisms, ranging from dolphins to amberjacks. The island is in the Atlantic Ocean, in the Gulf of Mexico. This makes it a prime area for turtles to migrate to, & lay eggs. On the island, eggs from the following turtle species may be seen: Chelonia Mydas, (Green Turtle), Caretta Caretta (Loggerhead Turtle), Lepidochelys Kempii (Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle), Demorchelys Coriacea (Leatherback Turtle), & Eretmochelys Imbricata (Hawksbill Turtle). In this article, we will discuss the salinity, tides, temperatures, marine geography, & depth of the oceans surrounding Sanibel Island, the most prominent marine ecosystems of the oceans surrounding Sanibel Island, & the documented marine flora & fauna of the oceans surrounding Sanibel Island,, let us delve into the oceans surrounding Sanibel Island! The Salinity, Tides, Temperatures, Marine Geography, & Depth Of The Oceans Surrounding Sanibel Island Unfortunately, the salinity around Sanibel Island has yet to be measured. The salinity levels of the Atlantic Ocean at any given time are between 35.5 & 34.5 parts per thousand, so it can be assumed that the Salinity around Sanibel Island falls in between that. Salinity is measured in 1,000-gram increments. For every 1000 grams of water, there will be a certain number of grams that are pure salt. This is how salinity or saline level is measured. There are also no ongoing factors that would lead to the salinity level being altered. The tidal charts for the island can be found on a variety of websites, a few of which are: https://tides4fishing.com , https://www.tideschart.com , https://www.tidetime.org , https://www.seatemperatu.re . It seems that the tides around the island rarely get over 5.53 feet (1.685544 meters). The temperature charts can be found on similar websites, including: https://seatemperature.net , https://seatemperature.info , https://www.seatemperatu.re , https://www.watertemp.org , https://www.seatemperature.org , & https://tides4fishing.com . Currently, the average yearly water temperature is 76.533333333333° Fahrenheit (24.7407407407405344° Celsius), with the hottest month being August. In this temperature, a full-body wetsuit with 3 millimeters of thickness is recommended for swimming, or any oceanic activities. The water around the area is not very polluted, & is completely safe for swimming. On practically every day of summer swimmers, wind skiers, & surfers can be seen enjoying the beaches. There are occasional rip currents near beaches, though they rarely endanger swimmers. The deepest oceanic point within 5 Nautical Miles of Sanibel Island is 34.8 feet (10.60704 meters) deep. The ocean floor around the island is primarily comprised of mud, sand, rock, & shell. Due to the island being close to the mainland, there are very few seamounts near it. A few of the most popular beaches on the island are deemed to be as follows: Bormann’s Beach, Blind Pass Beach, Lighthouse Beach Park, Silver Key Beach, Algiers Beach, & finally Tarpon Bay Beach. The Most Prominent Marine Ecosystems Of The Oceans Surrounding Sanibel Island Ecosystem Type No. 1: Coastal Mangrove Forests Along the coasts of the island, Coastal Mangrove forests can be found. Coastal mangrove forests are a particular kind of forest, that adorn the shoreline of the island. These forests are incredibly important to biodiversity, for terrestrial, oceanic, & avian creatures. The forest provides shelter, food, & a spawning ground for many different species. The primary species of mangrove tree on the island are: Rhizophora Mangle (Red Mangrove), Avicennia Germinans (Black Mangrove), & Laguncularia Racemosa (White Mangrove). The largest areas of mangrove trees are found on the eastern side of the island, however, smaller parts are also found on the western side. In addition to being useful for the creatures, the mangroves shield the island from storms, & decrease the effects of shoreline erosion. For this reason, there is an Adopt a Mangrove program organized by the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation. By adopting a mangrove, one will contribute to the safety & biodiversity of Sanibel Island. The link to this program is as follows: https://sccf.org/adoptamangrove/ . Ecosystem Type No. 2: Rocky Reefs Rocky Reefs are some of the most common oceanic ecosystems near Sanibel Island. These oceanic ecosystems are similar in composition to Coral Reefs, except for the fact that they are made of rock. Generally, they are large rocky outcroppings on the ocean floor. These rocky reefs are often covered in bivalves, due to the fact that bivalves tend to prefer rocky bottomed areas as opposed to sand bottomed areas. Anemones are also commonly seen. Rock Reefs are also safe havens for juvenile fish, as well as juvenile octopi. These rocky reefs tend to be further out to sea, & not appear immediately along the coastline. The Documented Marine Flora Of Sanibel Island Unfortunately, we have very little information on the seagrasses, & algae of the island. For the purposes of this section, we will be focusing on the mangrove trees of the island. Below, we will go through each of the mangrove tree species found on the island. Each species will be getting its own subsection. With this being said, let us begin with Rhizophora Mangle (Red Mangrove). Mangrove Type. No. 1: Rhizophora Mangle (Red Mangrove) Rhizophora Mangle is a species of mangrove native to Florida. This species can grow to a maximum of 50 feet (15.24 meters) tall, & 40 feet (12.192 meters) wide. The bark of the tree is reddish brown in colour, though it becomes grey with age. The tree also produces small white flowers. When fully grown, it is an incredibly useful means of erosion control. The tree is incredibly saline-resistant, surviving up to 90 parts per thousand salinity. Once the tree dies, its branches will provide a home for microorganisms, which will then bring nutrients into the ecosystem. Mangrove Type No. 2: Avicennia Germinans (Black Mangrove) Avicennia Germinans is a species of Mangrove native to the southeastern coastal regions of the United States. This species can grow to a maximum of 40 feet (12.192 meters) tall, & 30 feet (9.144 meters) wide. This species is known for its long white flowers, silver leaves, & dark bark. They have a very high salinity tolerance, as Florida’s mangroves often flood. Mangrove Type No. 3: Laguncularia Racemosa (White Mangrove) Laguncularia Racemosa is a species of Mangrove native to Florida. They are known to grow to a maximum of 40 feet (12.192 meters) tall, & 30 feet (9.144 meters) wide. The base of the mangrove is white, however, it gets darker as further up the trunk. Their leaves are leathery, & rounded. This species is extremely saline-tolerant, & is able to survive in many different salinity levels. The Documented Marine Fauna Of Sanibel Island The marine fauna of Sanibel Island is incredibly diverse. With the water staying warm, marine mammals will often migrate here in the winter. Additionally, many species will migrate to the island, & then go back out into the gulf, or simply breed here. For this reason, tracking the population of oceanic creatures is extremely difficult. As of 2025, no marine creatures have been discovered that are endemic to the island. A list of the majority of marine species on the island can be found at https://www.inaturalist.org . A glorious photograph of the coastline of Sanibel Island, Florida, USA, with a sunset backdrop. Credit to Vito Palmisiano. Directories / Credits Citation No. 1: “Wetsuit thickness & temperature guide”, Written by Mark Evans, & Published on April 24th, 2023, at 3:05 PM. Published By Scuba Divers Magazine. Retrieval Date: January 18th, 2024. https://www.scubadivermag.com/wetsuit-thickness-and-temperature-guide/#Scuba_diving_wetsuits Citation No. 2: “Top 9 Beautiful Beaches On Sanibel & Captiva Island (2022)”, Written By Unclear, & Published in 2022. Published by the Sanibel Captiva Island Guide. Retrieval Date: January 19th, 2024. https://thesancapguide.com/beaches/top-9-beaches-on-sanibel-captiva-island/ Citation No. 3: “9 Best Beaches On Sanibel Captiva Island”, Written By Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Hotels.com . Retrieval Date: January 19th, 2024. https://www.hotels.com/go/usa/us-best-beaches-sanibel-captiva-island Citation No. 4: “About Mangroves”, Written By Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by The City Of Sanibel. Retrieval Date: January 19th, 2024. https://www.mysanibel.com/departments/natural-resources/vegetation-information/mangroves Citation No. 5: “Rhizophora Mangle (Red Mangrove)”, Written By Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Gardenia. Retrieval Date: January 19th, 2024. https://www.gardenia.net/plant/rhizophora-mangle Citation No. 6: “Rhizophora Mangle” Written By Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Animal Diversity Web. Retrieval Date: January 19th, 2024. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Rhizophora_mangle/ Citation No. 7: “Avicennia Germinans (Black Mangrove)” Written By Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Gardenia. Retrieval Date: January 19th, 2024. https://www.gardenia.net/plant/avicennia-germinans Citation No. 8: “Black mangrove, Avicennia germinans, Avicenniacea” Written by Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by The Institute for Regional Conservation. Retrieval Date: January 19th, 2024. https://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Avicgerm Citation No. 9: “Laguncularia Racemosa (White Mangrove)”, Written By Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Gardenia. Retrieval Date: January 19th, 2024. https://www.gardenia.net/plant/laguncularia-racemosa Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Pitfire Artisan Pizza Olivenbaum Music Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

Today’s vintage nautical chart is a 51-year-old chart of Santa Monica Bay, California, USA! This chart depicts the entirety of Santa Monica Bay, a well-known bay immediately west of Los Angeles known for its vibrant marine scenes, natural beauty, & economic importance. It showcases the developments around the bay as well, including Los Angeles International Airport, the Pacific Palisades, Palos Verdes, & El Segundo. However, these various developments have all proliferated since the chart’s publication, & in the case of the Pacific Palisades, have been impacted by horrific wildfires. The map is in English, although the script’s letters are thin in some places making it mildly difficult to understand. It contains a tremendous amount of information on different marine depths, coves, inlets, & harbours along the bay, making it an indelible resource for any sailor of the era. It also contains a magnetic compass rose, which would have been extremely useful for understanding the orientation of different features, the directions of different locations relative to one another, & generally navigation. The chart is also rather large at 27 inches wide by 33.5 inches long. Its condition is superb, with colours being clear as well as bright, no rips or tears, little yellowing, no folds or creases, & no cracks. In today’s article, we shall discuss the map itself, & perform an analysis of it! With that being said, let us delve into the mild waters of Santa Monica Bay! The Map A gorgeous colour print chart of Santa Monica Bay by the United States Department of Commerce’s National Ocean Survey. Printed in 1974. As mentioned previously, the subject of this map is Santa Monica Bay. Santa Monica Bay is a very prominent bay, located immediately west of Los Angeles. It has numerous prominent cities along its shores, including El Segundo, Pacific Palisades, Playa Del Rey, Malibu, & its namesake Santa Monica. The area is a highly economically prosperous area for the county of Los Angeles, & California as a whole. It is also rather culturally important, as it is closely associated with the local film, tourism, & fishing industries. The bay itself is approximately 385 square miles, & has roughly 55 miles of pristine coastline. The chart has a trichromatic colour scheme, sticking to yellow for land, light blue for the sea, & purple for details such as the compass rose in the center. The map has a variety of bathymetric information, with information about sea floor depth, in fathoms (1 fathom = 6 feet), pipelines, & information about coastal developments. This would have made it highly useful to any sailor who frequented the area. Although the information about coastal developments is long outdated, it was useful for its time. Small markings such as, “wreck”, “anchorage area”, & “fish haven”, are present on the chart. In this context, a fish haven is an area with rocks, concrete, or some other hard material that attracts fish, & sessile organisms such as bivalves. This likely would have been used by fishermen who purchased the map & wished to find plentiful areas. As mentioned prior, the chart is in lovely condition, with no visible rips, tears, creases, or folds. An Analysis Of The Chart This chart was designed & manufactured in 1974 by the United States Department of Commerce’s National Ocean Survey. The National Ocean Survey was created by the Department of Commerce to enhance, preserve, & better the marine ecosystems, & oceanic environment surrounding the US. Eventually, it was renamed to the National Ocean Service, & today has over 1,700 scientists on payroll. The agency is headquartered in Silver Spring Maryland, which is most likely where the map was manufactured. The map was made for civilian purposes, for sailors, fishermen, & merchants alike, who frequent the bay. Considering the quality of the chart, it was most likely manufactured using Lithography. Lithography is a method of printing that arose in the 1820s, & remained the most popular method of printing in both color & grayscale until the early 1960s, when more efficient methods became available. Although it has existed since the mid-1790s, it took a long time to gain popularity in Europe due to technical difficulties, & only began gaining commercial popularity in the early 1820s. It is still widely used for certain kinds of printing, such as fine art printing today, however, digital printing is far more common. 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 image 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 what was supposed to be printed is revealed. It is extremely useful for making high-resolution prints in high quantities. A marvellous photograph of Santa Monica Bay. Credit to photographer John Moeschler. Directories / Credits All credit for this map analyzed today goes to Rare Maps, a California rare & antique maps store. To purchase this chart, antique atlases, or other cartographic objects, please visit www.raremaps.com . To be clear, this is not an advertisement for Rare Maps, as we do not have a partnership with them. 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A photograph of a gorgeous pair of Greater Amberjacks, swimming near the sea floor together. Credit to John Turnbull. This month’s article series will be discussing the beautiful & tranquil, Sanibel Island. Sanibel Island is an island on the gulf coast of southern Florida. The island is most well known for its sandy beaches, shells, & wildlife reserves. The primary wildlife reserve on the island, is J.N “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. The scenery of the island is superb, & adds beautifully to the hiking paths of the island. The island is extremely close to mainland, being only 1.75 nautical miles (2.013864 miles or 3.241 kilometers) away at its closest point. The western coast of the island is well known to contain whelks, bivalves, sand dollars, & scallops, which attracts many tourists as well as recreational fishermen. Many seashell enthusiasts also enjoy the island for this reason, & can be seen gathering or admiring shells on early mornings. Additionally, these seashell enthusiasts have an entire museum to look into, as Sanibel island has a museum dedicated to the study of seashells, conchology, & malacology. This museum is known as the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum. Off the coast of the island, divers & fishermen alike have something else to look forward to. In the vast & beautiful rocky reefs of Sanibel Island, lay a fish known as the Greater Amberjack. The Greater Amberjack is an extremely popular finned fish, found all around the world. Specifically around Sanibel Island, the fish is found primarily around rocky outcroppings, caves, & generally deeper waters. Unfortunately, it is hard to confirm whether or not it is present in certain locations, due to its similar appearance to the species Seriola carpenteri. The Greater Amberjack is well known amongst both commercial, recreational fishermen for its importance to coastal communities. Its importance largely stems from its high quality & high protein meat. In this article, we will discuss the discovery & life of the Greater Amberjack, the reproductive strategies of the Greater Amberjack, the distribution of the Greater Amberjack, & the scientific detailings of The Greater Amberjack. With that being said, let us delve into this beautiful fish. The Discovery & Life Of The Greater Amberjack The Greater Amberjack was discovered by Giuseppe Antonio Risso, an Italian naturalist, in the year 1810. This species is able to grow to a maximum of 6 feet (1.8288 meters) long. On average, they will grow to be 40 pounds (18.1437 kilograms), however they may grow much larger, with a maximum of 156 pounds (70.7604 kilograms). There is little to no sexual dimorphism between individuals. Their current life span is 17 years. Unfortunately, their intellectual capability is unmeasured, & unclear. Though their age as a species is also unclear, we are able to trace their genetic order to the Late Palaeocene, which took place from 59.2 to 56 million years ago. They are known to be aggressive as juveniles, though they don’t generally interact with humans. If they see a human, they will usually swim away as fast as possible, instead of engaging in a fight. Greater Amberjack have been seen in small schools as juveniles, however they will slowly stop this behaviour as they age.  When seen schooling, it will usually be around large mats of Sargassum seagrass. This species is an astoundingly powerful swimmer, being able to swim at a maximum speed of 30 miles per hour (48.2803 kilometers per hour). Upon examining the fish, it can be seen that the body was designed for this, with a sleek & streamlined appearance. The Greater Amberjack is able to swim by contracting their muscles in a manner that moves them side to side, which then propels the fish forward. Their buoyancy is controlling by a specialized organ called the swim bladder.  The swim bladder is a two chambered organ that is filled with gas, that assists the fish in buoyancy, & stability. Unlike Humans, Greater Amberjack do not completely sleep. The majority of the time, they will simply turn off half of their brain, & slow their metabolism. This is so if a predator approaches, they are able to wake back up quickly to escape. Juvenile Greater Amberjacks will have a diet comprised primarily of crustaceans, fish & mollusc larvae, & plankton. As the fish ages, it will incorporate squid, crustaceans of various kinds, & sardines into its diet. At no time in their lives are they cannibalistic. They are diurnal hunters, & will eat between 2.5% to 7% of their body weight every day. Due to their fast swimming, their metabolic rate is slightly higher then the majority of other fish. They seem to locate food by chemosensory, & possibly sight. This fish is considered to be an extremely predatory species. The Greater Amberjack has a grey back & a white underbelly. They have a slender body & smooth body. Juveniles may be seen with clear fins, however most adults have fins that are white or grey. As of 2025, they are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. Their population as well as population trend is unclear, & understudied. The Reproductive Strategies Of The Greater Amberjack The Greater Amberjack breeds via sexual reproduction, & has two distinct sexes. This species is not generally hermaphroditic, & cannot self fertilize. Greater Amberjacks are monogamous, meaning that they will only take one mate each mating season. Both male & female individuals will become sexually mature between the ages of 3 & 4. This species is known to congregate in large groups, in order to find mates. Once a mate is found, the fish will copulate. After breeding, the female will swim away to find an area to spawn in. This area tends to be a rock reef, coral reef, shipwreck, or some area with cracks, crevices, & depth. The female will spawn between 18 & 59 million eggs, very few of which will survive to adulthood.  Spawning takes place from March to June in the northern hemisphere. Aside from this, the mother will have no part in their lives. At birth, the fish will be forced to fend for themselves. The eggs are 1.1 millimeters in diameter. The Distribution Of The Greater Amberjack The Greater Amberjack is found worldwide, in the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, & Atlantic Ocean. These fish are semi-coastal or neritic, in that they will not be found directly along the coast, however they can still be found near the continental slope. In these oceans, they are known to enjoy depths between 60 & 240 feet. This species is known to migrate from March To June, in order to find a suitable mate. Aside from that, they generally stay in 1 area for the year. The Scientific Detailings Of The Greater Amberjack Unfortunately, there are currently very few, or no fossils of the greater amberjack, whose records are in the public domain. The Greater Amberjack is known by many anglers to be absolutely riddled with tapeworms. Unfortunately, the Greater Amberjack is extremely susceptible to infestations of these worms. Typically, they will be found in the muscle of the fish. Individuals in North Carolina are particularly susceptible to these worms. Certain flatworms are also known to parasitize the gills of this species, making for an unsightly appearance. In regard to its anatomy, this species has very small teeth, on both its upper & lower jaws. Their phylum is Chordata, meaning that they developed these 5 characteristics all species under the phylum of chordata develop 5 similar characteristics either In adulthood or as juveniles. The characteristics that they develop include, a notochord, dorsal hollow nerve cord, endostyle or thyroid, pharyngeal Slits, & a post-anal tail, & three middle ear bones. Their class is Actinopterygii, this means that they are ray-finned fish. This also means that their actinopterygian fin rays attach directly to the proximal or basal skeletal elements. This class comprises over 50% of living vertebrate species. Their order is Carangiformes. This order has existed since the Late Paleocene. Their family is Carangidae. Carangidae is well known for their fast swimming predatory fish, categorized within it. Their genus is Seriola. A universal trait with this genus is all species are fast swimming, predatory fish. The majority of these fish are also commonly farmed by aquaculture farms. Their binomial name is Seriola Dumerili. A photograph of a shimmering Greater Amberjack swimming near an algae covered ocean floor. Credit to Sea Grant. Directories / Credits Citation No. 1: “Seriola Dumerili”, Written By Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by The Florida Museum of Natural History. Retrieval Date: January 15th, 2024. https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/seriola-dumerili/ Citation No. 2: “12 Facts About The Amberjack”, Written By Lu Lea, & Published In December of 2023. Published By Facts.Net . Retrieval Date: January 15th, 2024. https://facts.net/nature/animals/12-facts-about-amberjack/ Citation No. 3: “Seriola Dumerili (Greater Amberjack)” Written by Keston S. R. Paul, & Published in 2016. Published by The Online Guide to The Animals Of Trinidad & Tobago. Retrieval Date: January 15th, 2024. https://sta.uwi.edu/fst/lifesciences/sites/default/files/lifesciences/documents Citation No. 4: “Greater Amberjack - Seriola Dumerili” Written By Unknown, & Last Updated on November 7th, 2013. Published By The International Union For The Conservation Of Nature. Retrieval Date: January 15th, 2024. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/198643/115341394#population Citation No. 5: “Age, Growth, & Reproduction of Greater Amberjack off the Southeastern U.S. Atlantic Coast”, Written By Patrick Harris, Paulette T. Powers Mikell, David M. Wyanski, Patrick Harris, & D. Byron White, & Published In November Of 2007. Published By Transactions Of The American Fisheries Society. Retrieval Date: January 15th, 2024. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/D-White-3/publication/232973042_Age_Growth_and_Reproduction_of_Greater_Amberjack_off_the_Southeastern_US_Atlantic_Coast/links/5609914f08ae840a08d3b7ff/Age-Growth-and-Reproduction-of-Greater-Amberjack-off-the-Southeastern-US-Atlantic-Coast.pdf?origin=publication_detail&_tp=eyJjb250ZXh0Ijp7ImZpcnN0UGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uIiwicGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uRG93bmxvYWQiLCJwcmV2aW91c1BhZ2UiOiJwdWJsaWNhdGlvbiJ9fQ Citation No. 6: “Seriola Dumerili (Risso 1810”, Written By Jerez Herrera, S., & Vassallo Agius R., & Published In 2016. Published By The Cultured Aquatic Species Information Programme. Retrieval Date: January 15th, 2024. https://www.fao.org/fishery/en/culturedspecies/seriola_dumerili?lang=en Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Pitfire Artisan Pizza Olivenbaum Music Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa