Data provided in this report is from the Manatee Sighting Network Program at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. Carmichael RH, Hieb E, Aven A, Taylor N, Seely C, Delo J, Pabody C, (2022). Dauphin Island Sea Lab’s Manatee Sighting Network Database ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Wildlife
In our last article we asked the question - “what are protozoans?” As we mentioned then the breakdown of the word includes “proto” which means “before”, and “zoan” which refers to animals. These are the “before animals” ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & MarineYou may ask – “what are protozoans?” It’s a good question. The breakdown of the word includes “proto” which means “before”, and “zoan” which refers to animals. These are the “before animals” – meaning animal-like ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural ResourcesMuch of the phytoplankton found in the waters for the northern Gulf of Mexico are diatoms and dinoflagellates. We wrote about diatoms in our last article, here we will meet the dinoflagellates. Like diatoms, dinoflagellates are ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural ResourcesRemaining in the world of the microscopic, in this article we look at small plant-like creatures called diatoms. Diatoms are single celled algae that float in the surface waters of the Gulf of Mexico in the billions. Being plant-like, they ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources
If you’ve spent any time on the coast, you know we’ve got plenty of marine mammals. Dolphins will surface in pods, delighting beachgoers; they’ll bow-ride along boats and occasionally treat onlookers to a full Sea World-style leap ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Water, Wildlife
Each year we conduct surveys, water quality is one of the top concerns of citizens. There are numerous water quality issues out there, but health advisories are ones that are of high interest. Health advisories are issued by the Department ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, WaterIn the first article in this series, we discussed whether viruses were truly living organisms. Well, bacteria truly are. They possess all eight characteristics of life but differ from other forms of life in that they lack a true nucleus. ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural ResourcesWe are going to begin this series of articles with a “creature” that some do not consider alive – viruses. While studying marine science in college, and my early days as a marine science educator, there was a debate as to whether viruses ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources
In a typical estuary you would find brackish water conditions throughout the system. The lower salinities (say 0-10 parts/thousand - ppt) would be found at the head of the bay – near the point where the river(s) discharge. Near the mouth ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources