Reef Ecologic’s Post

Did you know? When referring to multiple individuals of the same species of fish, the correct term is "fish." For example, "I caught three fish." However, if you are talking about different species of fish, you would use "fishes." For example, "The aquarium has many different fishes from around the world." It might seem like a small detail, but precise language is crucial especially if you are in fisheries field. #Fisheries #FishingIndustry #Communication #MarineBiology #LanguageTips #IndustryInsight

🦈 I am currently in my hometown in Italy, and while doing the groceries, I wanted to check whether there were any sharks. And as I suspected, there were three Spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) fillets. ~ 🥩 This shark is globally assessed as Vulnerable according to the IUCN Redlist. As you can see from the label, the species has been caught in the FAO Zone 27.7, which represent the Northeast Atlantic. ~ 🎉Fishing bans have been implemented and in the Northeast Atlantic, the population did recover from the fishing pressure, thanks to the implementation of catch limits (max landing size of 100 cm) ~ #adrishark #spinarolo #spinydogfish #atlantic #fisheryscience #marinebiology

Although some may be a little creepy-crawly, macroinvertebrates (or tiny little water bugs), like this caddisfly larvae, can tell us a lot about the health of an aquatic ecosystem. An abundance and diversity of macroinvertebrates can be a sign of a healthy and high quality habitat, as they are a food source for many other animals. That’s why DNR fisheries scientists, biologists and technicians at the Northern Highland Fishery Research Area (NHFRA) not only count the fish, but also the bugs that feed the fish. At the NHFRA’s largest lake, Escanaba, bug surveys are conducted monthly during the warmer months of the year to monitor species abundance and the total number of macroinvertebrate species within the lake. These bug surveys help scientists better understand complex ecosystems and can serve as a reference point when conducting research on lakes across the state.

Last week, the CITES Animals Committee meeting reviewed two critical studies highlighting hundreds of endangered songbirds and marine ornamental fish species currently in international trade, but not yet protected by the treaty. Now, the fate of these species rests in the hands of the CITES Parties, who will decide which species may warrant listing on the CITES Appendices. This crucial decision will be made at next year's CITES COP meeting, but the preparation process is already beginning! I was proud to be part of these deliberations at the AC meeting, and now I'd be happy to help other Parties to analyze these lists and consider listing proposals. #biodiversity #wildlife #coralreeffishes #conservation #marinebiology #birds #tropicalbirds #endangeredspecies

A recent article co-authored by ISSF scientists and research partners published by Conservation Biology on drifting fish aggregating devices (dFADs) in the Pacific shares insights that may help to better protect sea turtles and their vital habitats in tuna fisheries. Read "Simulating drifting fish aggregating device trajectories to identify potential interactions with endangered sea turtles” to learn about this research. 🐢🌊 https://bit.ly/3yYod40

Protect forests = Protect animals Number of species in Canada assessed as extirpated, endangered, threatened, and special concern, by taxon (biological classification), as of May 2022. A key driver is the rapid loss of intact forests.

The most comprehensive guide to the otoliths of Southern Ocean lanternfish has recently been published. 🐟 NIWA fisheries scientist Darren Stevens compiled the guide that includes images and brief descriptions of the otoliths (ear bones) of 37 species of lanternfish in the Southern Ocean. 📝 Lanternfish are an important food source for marine mammals, fish and squid, and consequently play a key role in carbon export and energy transfer from primary consumers to top predators. However, identifying lanternfish during diet studies can be difficult because once they’ve made their way through a predator’s digestive system there’s often little left – except for a few bones and their otoliths. 👂 The otoliths can be used to identify the fish to species level, as well as find out other information including how long the fish was and how much it weighed. Previous studies describing lanternfish otoliths were limited to small sample sizes or focused on only a few species. Read the full paper here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eFbAnD9y  

🐛 Protect insects, protect birds 🐤 Insects are essential sources of energy for many migratory bird species, not only during the breeding seasons but also during their extensive journeys and greatly affect the timing, duration, and overall success of bird migrations. This #WorldMigratoryBirdDay, you can do your part by refraining from using pesticides and fertilisers and planting native vegetation that insects and birds rely on. Read more ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gZHFyBq 📸: Golden Cheeked Warbler, and endangered migratory species that breeds in Central Texas, by Peter Harris

This video by the ICES Working Group on Elasmobranch Fishes sheds light on the captivating world of elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, rays, and sawfish). Delving into their life histories and ecological significance, it highlights the crucial role these creatures play in ocean ecosystems. Moreover, the video underscores the challenges elasmobranchs encounter and the cutting-edge scientific efforts aimed at safeguarding their existence. #elasmobranchs #sharks #rays #fisheries #conservation

Happy #CitSciFri! New research has found that recreational divers can help collect valuable information on marine habitats! Habitat data are important to fisheries management, but are often difficult to gather. So researchers teamed up with recreational divers in Sydney, Australia to test if dive photos contain habitat information and if that information matches what’s found in standardized surveys. The photos and surveys identified the same kinds of habitats! This finding is exciting as the use of photos could open the door to greater insight into critical fish habitat. Learn more about the project in this Hook, Line and Science blog! https://lnkd.in/e-WqD5jU PC: Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary #CitizenScience #SAFMCcitsci