Science – Page 74 – Southern Fried Science

Crowdsourcing ConGen – A Reading List

May 18, 2010June 16, 2010 Andrew Thaler 1 Comment

This is a little different from my usual Crowdsourcing ConGen posts. I recently completed my qualifying exams for PhD candidacy, so have a very large reading list compiled for population and conservation genetics. So, if you’re interested in the field, you should check out some of these papers, and if you know of any others that should be included, please let me know in the comments.

Scientia Pro Publica #30

May 17, 2010 David Shiffman 5 Comments

Science

I am proud to host the latest edition of Scientia Pro Publica, a blog carnival that celebrates that best science, medicine, and nature writing aimed at the general public. Biology/Evolution/Conservation Melissa from Out Walking the Dog invites you to celebrate Bird Neck Appreciation Day. Learn how and why bird necks are so flexible and diverse. … Read More “Scientia Pro Publica #30” »

Monday Morning Blogaerobics – some advice for your first trip to sea

May 17, 2010May 20, 2010 Andrew Thaler 3 Comments

Science

Next week our own Bluegrass Blue Crab will be embarking on her first research cruise – out to the Sargasso Sea. Over the years I’ve compiled a list of advice that I send out to my colleagues for their first voyage. So here is some advice for your first trip to sea. Everyone gets seasick. … Read More “Monday Morning Blogaerobics – some advice for your first trip to sea” »

New Nicorette commercial perpetuates anti-shark stereotypes

May 14, 2010June 21, 2010 David Shiffman 32 Comments

Popular Culture, Science

A new commercial for Nicorette gum has been on the air for the last few weeks.

The Menhaden of History

May 13, 2010December 20, 2011 Andrew Thaler 8 Comments

Conservation, Science

Menhaden were the most important fisheries throughout American history. When the first settlers learn to farm corn, it was with menhaden that they fertilized the seeds. When the whaling industry reached its height, it was outweighed by menhaden oil. Menhaden ruled the ocean from the middle of the food chain, they were the dominant prey of most large predatory fish. They swarmed the sea in schools several miles long and millions of fish deep. Their huge biomass supported by plankton, they regulated algal blooms, mediated the transfer of primary production up the food chain, filtered the ocean.

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Biodiversity Wednesday: Deep Sea Biology at the Arctic’s Gakkel Ridge

May 12, 2010April 21, 2010 Andrew Thaler

Science

Are humans a keystone species?

May 11, 2010December 20, 2011 Bluegrass Blue Crab 12 Comments

Conservation, Science

“Humans are just a fossil-fueled outbreak that will go away”, stated one of my professors yesterday.

In the world investigating the human dimensions of natural resource management there’s two schools of thought as to how humans fit in: a) as just another particularly troublesome species in the ecosystem or b) a special kind of species with the ability to predict and change the future. This latter formulation hinges on humans as a species with “motivation” and “intent”, according to C.S. Holling.

Otherwise, however, humans should be able to fit into the ecological definitions and models we all learned in intro biology. At an extreme case, it means we’re the next trilobite or dinosaur, living in our 15 minutes of fame now but soon to disappear. In the process, we will pave the way for a new species to become dominant.

MISHAP in Antarctica

May 7, 2010May 7, 2010 Guest Writer

Science

Southern Fried Notice: Reny Tyson is a graduate student at the Duke University Marine Lab currently on location in Antarctica tracking Humpback Whales. The main expedition blog is Tagging Whales in the Antarctic Seas hosted at the Nicholas School of the Environment. Follow their adventure as they track Humpbacks through Antarctic Seas. Today we begin … Read More “MISHAP in Antarctica” »

What in the larval world is this?

May 6, 2010May 6, 2010 Andrew Thaler 6 Comments

Science

The following photo was taken near the Yadkin River in Davie, North Carolina. According to observers, there were millions of them attached to the sides of trees and undersides of leaves throughout the region. In some places they were hanging so thick they looked like tiny bats. Does anyone know what they are? ~Southern Fried … Read More “What in the larval world is this?” »

Social Science to the Rescue

May 4, 2010May 4, 2010 Bluegrass Blue Crab 5 Comments

Science

The cultural driver of shark killing - from topnews.in

Can social science save the sharks? A recent article in Progress in Oceanography by Peter Jacques seems to think so, calling for a “social oceanography”. In other circles, this could be known as the human dimensions of a marine ecosystem or the social side of a socioecological system. Either way, the field exists already. However, it’s small and generally not recognized outside of purely academic circles. It may be time for us to step outside of our comfort zone.