WLRN Public Media’s Post

Here we present the most complete coral bleaching timelapse sequence ever recorded underwater. Using the CCC, we've been able to document the terrible impacts of summer 2023's heat wave on Florida's coral reef environment. Starting on May 1st, the corals begin to grow well, but by mid-July warm water bleaching occurs rapidly in the transplanted staghorn corals, followed shortly by death, then overgrowth by algae, and finally eroding due to grazing by our local parrotfish. Fortunately the corals native to PortMiami survived the bleaching, and some resilient strains did not bleach at all. Interestingly, the timelapse reveals that the brain corals continued to grow despite being bleached, which was unexpected. The best news of the summer was that the two 'urban' strains of critically endangered staghorn and elkhorn corals native to PortMiami not only survived and didn't bleach, but grew considerably. We first introduced these corals to the world in 2011 TEDxMIA talk called 'Hybrid Future: the Corals of Miami', and have made it a mission to study their remarkable resilience given the heavy losses of their offshore counterparts. In the future we aim to incorporate these urban strains into breeding programs that can help repopulate Florida's reefs. Just in case, we brought back-up colonies from the CURES Nursery (Coral Urban Research Experimental Site) to NOAA's laboratory on Virginia Key over the summer. We just recently returned them back to CURES this week now that water temps have cooled below 80F. Thankfully the remaining clones never bleached and died, but in the event they did, we ensured they were safely arked at NOAA. The Coral City Camera provides not just community engagement and educational opportunities, but also serves as a powerful tool of science to document things that have never been recorded before.

Quantifying the linkages between California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) strandings and particulate domoic acid concentrations at piers across Southern California - Frontiers in Marine Science: Domoic acid-producing blooms of the diatom genus Pseudo-nitzschia are pervasive in coastal environments globally. Domoic acid, a neurotoxin, accumulates via trophic transfer into marine food webs and is often associated with mass marine mammal mortality and stranding events. In Southern California, California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) are an indicator species for food web impacts of domoic acid because they are abundant secondary consumers, sensitive to domoic acid intoxication, and are actively monitored by stranding networks. However, domoic acid exposure may occur a distance from where a sea lion ultimately strands. This spatiotemporal variation complicates coupling domoic acid observations in water to strandings. Therefore, we sought to quantify whether monitoring data from four pier sites across the region, covering nearly 700 km of coastline from 2015-2019, could be used to predict adult and subadult sea lion strandings along the 68 km Orange County coastline surveyed by the Pacific Marine Mammal Center. We found that increased sea lion strandings were often observed just prior to an increase in particulate domoic acid at the piers, confirming that clusters of subadult and adult sea lion strandings with clinical signs of domoic acid intoxication serve as indicators of bloom events. In addition, domoic acid concentrations at Stearns Wharf, nearly 200 km from stranding locations, best predicted increased total sea lion strandings, and strandings of sea lions with domoic acid intoxication symptoms. Particulate domoic acid concentrations greater than 0.05 μg/L at Stearns Wharf were linked to stranding probabilities in Orange County ranging from 2.2% to 55% per week, and concentrations of 0.25 μg/L resulted in weekly stranding probabilities ranging from 16% to 81% depending on the stranding scenario modeled. https://lnkd.in/e73AWKUx

What an interesting documentation of coral bleaching, initially concerning but the resilience of urban coral strains in PortMiami is worth looking into, like what contributes to this resistance, how this can be compared to other coral strains globally, also the breeding programs conducted, and just how the brain corals managed to continue growing despite being bleached.

🐍 Family Highlight! 🐍 Explore the fascinating world of the Viperidae family of snakes! 🌿 Did you know these serpents are renowned for their venomous prowess and diverse habitats? Here's a glimpse into their captivating realm: 🔍 Species Spotlight: Meet some iconic members of the Viperidae family: 1. Gaboon Viper: Known for its massive size and impressive fangs, this African species is a master of camouflage. 2. Rattlesnake: Found predominantly in the Americas, these snakes possess distinctive rattles at the end of their tails, serving as a warning signal. 3. Russell's Viper: A common sight in Asia, this snake's potent venom can cause severe tissue damage and even death. 🌿 Ecology: Vipers inhabit a wide range of ecosystems, from lush rainforests to arid deserts. They play crucial roles as both predators and prey, contributing to the delicate balance of their respective habitats. 🤓 Fun Facts: 1) Some vipers possess heat-sensing pits on their heads, allowing them to detect warm-blooded prey even in the dark. 2) The Gaboon Viper boasts the longest fangs of any snake, reaching up to 2 inches in length! 3) Contrary to popular belief, not all vipers use venom solely for hunting; some also employ it as a defensive mechanism. Expand your knowledge of these enigmatic creatures and discover the wonders of the natural world! 🌏 (Photo Credit: Picture of a Wagler's Pit Viper shot by Trent Adamson @tradamson_photography on Instagram) #Viperidae #SnakeEcology #WildlifeEducation

Being a good neighbor sometimes takes compromise — especially if you’re an eagle! Our Bird of the Week, the Crested Eagle, shares a habitat with the mighty Harpy Eagle. You might think these large forest raptors would clash over food and territory, but the species have evolved a strategy for coexisting despite their differences… and even their similarities. 🤝 🍽️Crested and Harpy Eagles co-exist by specializing in different prey types. Generally, the Crested Eagle feeds on smaller and more diverse prey than the Harpy Eagle, mainly snakes, small primates, and birds. The Harpy Eagle captures more sizeable prey, including sloths and larger primates. 🦥 A researcher once even observed a female Crested Eagle bringing food to a Harpy Eagle fledgling at its nest! Talk about a good neighbor! 🏘️ Crested Eagles require large areas of forest with big, healthy trees. ABC and Colombian partner Sociedad Ornitológica de Córdoba recently purchased land to create La Cristalina Reserve, where they’d located the first Crested Eagle nest ever recorded in Colombia in 2021. 🪹 ABC continues to support the development of tourism infrastructure at La Cristalina. 🏕️ Visit ABC’s Bird Library to learn more! 📚https://lnkd.in/gqrR2ar2 #CrestedEagle #BirdOfTheWeek #HarpyEagle #LaCristalina #ReservaLaCristalina #SOC #SociedadOrnitológicadeCórdoba #ABCbirding #RainforestExpeditions

Species profile: Puffin The Atlantic Puffin is an iconic species of Auk, often observed off the West coast of Ireland in the summer months. It is a small, stocky bird similar in build to a penguin. It has black upperparts and a white underside. In the breeding season, adult puffins have a very large, brightly coloured beak, which they use to attract mates and shed in winter. Because of their distinctive beaks, puffins are often affectionately nicknamed ‘the clowns of the sea’! Puffins spend most of the year in the open ocean, resting on the waves and diving for food (mainly fish). They are found across the Northern Atlantic Ocean, from the east coast of Canada and the US to the west coast of Scandinavia and Europe. Paying a visit to coastal cliffs between April and August is a brilliant way to see a puffin. They come onto land only to breed and form spectacularly large colonies of thousands of individuals! In Ireland, they can be seen on the Cliffs of Moher and many islands, such as the Saltees in Co. Wexford or Skelligs in Co. Kerry. The typical lifespan of a puffin is 20 years. They begin to breed after their fifth year. They dig burrows in the ground and line them with vegetation or nest in crevices in rock. They tend to mate for life and their courtship displays involve tapping and rubbing their beaks together. They also display a wide range of other social behaviours, which is a testament to their intelligence. Puffins are red-listed in Ireland. Rising sea temperatures and marine pollution have negatively impacted their numbers. There are several Special Protection Areas (SPAs) in Ireland which are dedicated to protecting seabirds, including the puffin. Therefore, we should also treat the sea to help preserve the lives of our great brightly brightly-beaked friends! Photo credit: Luke Lambert, MKO Ornithologist #MKO #Puffin #Ornithology #Birdwatching

The Incredible Disappearing Oriole Common throughout Saskatchewan, the Baltimore oriole is less so in Alberta, showing up in small pockets of natural lands here and there. When involved in a bird survey at Elk Island NP in 1989, it was argued that a Baltimore I observed was actually a Northern Oriole. I was less certain. The Baltimore Oriole is largely an orangey-yellow on it's lower body, from the throat to the vent (beginning of it's tail). The head is completely black, and the wings have thin white markings along the black primary wing feathers. A similar species, the Bullock's oriole, has similar colouring, but the orangey-yellow continues into the face, and at least half of the wings are white. The Bullock's oriole is common in Southern Alberta with the Leduc region being at it's Northern historical periphery. From 1973-1995, it was argued that a hybrid species had developed between the two, and named the Northern oriole. This "new" species shared enough characteristics to make positive identification as a Baltimore or Bullock's difficult, and most resource managers simply used the name of the hybrid. Subsequent research at the University of Toronto and the US showed that the two species did not interbreed significantly, and the "Northern oriole" moniker is now seldom used.

#Hypselodoris_infucata is a species of sea slug, specifically a dorid nudibranch, belonging to the family Chromodorididae. Hypselodoris infucata was first described by the French naturalist Félix Pierre Jousseaume in 1881. It belongs to the phylum Mollusca, class Gastropoda, order Nudibranchia, and family Chromodorididae. The species name "infucata" likely refers to the dark purplish coloration often observed on the dorsum of this nudibranch. Description: Hypselodoris infucata is characterized by its relatively large size compared to other nudibranch species, reaching up to 7 centimeters in length. It has a flattened body with a distinct mantle covering the dorsal surface. The coloration of H. infucata is highly variable but typically includes shades of purple, blue, orange, and white arranged in intricate patterns. Like other nudibranchs, H. infucata lacks a shell and has exposed gills and rhinophores on its back. Distribution and Habitat: Hypselodoris infucata is widely distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region. It is commonly found on coral reefs, rocky substrates, and other shallow marine habitats with abundant food sources. This species tends to prefer areas with high coral diversity and is often associated with its prey, which includes sponges and other small invertebrates.

🐍 Creature Feature: The Plain Bellied Water Snake (Nerodia erythrogaster)! 🌊 🔍 Visual Description: The Plain Bellied Water Snake is a sleek, non-venomous reptile with a slender body, ranging from 24 to 40 inches in length. Its dorsal coloration varies from olive-green to brown, with dark blotches along the back, and its belly is typically cream-colored or yellowish, hence the name "Plain Bellied." 🔬 Taxonomy: Nerodia erythrogaster belongs to the family Colubridae and the genus Nerodia. Within the species, there are several subspecies, each with its own geographic range and slight variations in appearance. 🌿 Ecology: These snakes are almost always found near freshwater habitats such as streams, rivers, ponds, and marshes across the southeastern United States. They are excellent swimmers and feed on a diet of fish, frogs, tadpoles, and aquatic invertebrates. Plain Bellied Water Snakes play a crucial role in controlling populations of these prey species. 🎉 Fun Facts: 1) Despite their name, Plain Bellied Water Snakes can display quite striking patterns on their dorsal surface, with variations including stripes, bands, and blotches. 2) They are often mistaken for venomous cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus) due to similar habitats and defensive behaviors, but Plain Bellied Water Snakes are harmless and prefer to flee rather than confront humans. 3) During the breeding season, males engage in combat rituals to establish dominance and mating rights, a fascinating behavior to observe in the wild. Let's continue to appreciate and learn about the fascinating biodiversity around us! 🌎 (Photo Credit: Tim Spuckler @timspuckler on Instagram) #Wildlife #Reptiles #EducationalPost #Herpetology101

Do you want to know your goldcrests from your firecrests? Joanna Peaker from our Montrose Basin Wildlife Reserve and Visitor Centre takes a look at some of the differences in her article for BBC Wildlife Magazine online. Goldcrests and firecrests are both members of the genus Regulus, hence the whole host of similarities in their appearance. But there are some very helpful differences in their plumage. Goldcrests have a bright yellow crest right in the middle of their head, with a dark black border. This is true for both the males and females, but the males have a thin line of even brighter orange feathers in the centre of the crest. They’ll puff these out during territorial displays. The goldcrest’s Latin name Regulus regulus (meaning ‘little king’) is fittingly inspired by their golden crests (or crowns!). But at a glance, especially when they’re quickly flitting about between branches, you may only notice their almost olive-green colour and pale fronts. Firecrests share this pale olive-green plumage – the most noticeable differences are on its face and its crest. The Latin name for the firecrest, Regulus ignicapilla, refers to its more ‘fiery’ crown (ignicapilla meaning ‘fire-capped’). Read more https://lnkd.in/eVjEzWRj #goldcrests #firecrests