CSIRO; tagging a white shark

CSIRO are a truly wonderful Australian science research resource. Key result areas stretch across a wide spectrum and when it comes to the mysteries of the ocean they dive deep. They also help to educate the public.

www.ausmepa.org.au

CoralWatch Professional Development Workshops 3-6 October 2014 .

Learn more about coral reef ecology, reef health and the importance of reef conservation. Receive tools and knowledge to engage your students in a global reef monitoring program.

-          3-6 October 2014 - 'Caring for Corals' at Heron Island for senior science, marine & geography teachers

-          22 October 2014 – ‘Corals at Your Doorstep’ at Wellington Point for primary school teachers focusing on grade 4-7

Both workshops include practical, classroom & field activities. Registration costs include a range of take-home materials.

Download the EOI and register your interest today or contact CoralWatch to find out more: www.coralwatch.org or email info@coralwatch.org.
www.ausmepa.org.au

CSIRO report on Lionfish

CSIRO Double Helix is a fantastic site for students and teacher interested in how things work.  One recent article describes Lionfish hunting strategies including invisibility tactics.

Lionfish hunting party

4 July 2014 by Sarah Leave a comment

Lionfish wave their big side fins before a group hunt.
Image: Wikimedia Commons/Jens Petersen

In the warm tropical ocean around the Great Barrier Reef, the lionfish hunts. Venomous fins fan out to trap a school of smaller fish. The little fish look for an escape. But this lionfish is not hunting alone.

As we grow up, we learn to share, take turns and cooperate. Now it seems lionfish use the same skills for a more deadly purpose. New research shows lionfish hunt better when they cooperate with other lionfish, and that they share the meal evenly.

Lionfish are predators and use their long, stripy fins to corner prey. 

Click here to see more

www.ausmepa.org.au

Shoreham Beach

Enjoy the adventures of Ed the Bear and his partner, Steve Savage, at a beautiful shingled salt marsh in Shoreham, UK (below). Like saltmarshes in Australia the hardy plants that live there can have stunning colours as well as providing essential environmental services for us.

You can view many more of our friend Ed's adventures at http://adventuresofedthebear.blogspot.com.au/2014/06/shorerham-beach.html

Shoreham Beach

Hi All

Today I took Abby to my beach at Shoreham. I explained that the beach was a nature reserve because of the rare vegetated shingle habitat – special plants that grow in the pebbles. They can survive with little water, no soil and survive the strong winds, hot sun and salty sea spray.

Although Steve and the nature reserve team help to look after the plants and wildlife, they were concerned about how global issues such as climate change, sea level rise, increase in storms and other issues might affect this beach. This is why I started my global travels to visit scientists to find out what they know about the ocean and the damage humans are doing to the ocean. 

Off to Dungeness tomorrow to show Abby where some of the beach shingle travels to because of the sea and wave action. Sea defenses stop some the shingle moving so the beach doesn't get washed away

www.ausmepa.org.au