Ocean Science Made Easy – Corals, Sharks, Microbes, and More!
– January 29, 2015
 (Click to enlarge) Florida State University graduate student Johanna Imhoff measures a large bluntnose sixgill shark (Haxanchus griseus) during a Deep-C Fish Ecology Cruise aboard the R/V Apalachee (October 2013). (Photo credit: Dean Grubbs, FSU Coastal and Marine Laboratory) |
Scientists studying oil spill impacts in the Gulf of Mexico are sharing their exciting ocean research with citizens of all ages.
The Deep-C education and outreach team partnered with their GoMRI-funded scientists to create six short and colorful science brochures, and several more are on the way.
Discover the secret garden of corals and find out what scientists are learning about their habitats and the threats they face. Read about one of the most important Gulf coral species here.
Dive into the cold, mysterious world of sharks and learn about the large six-gill Bluntnose shark that scientists are examining for oil toxins. Read more about Dr. R. Dean Grubbs’ research here.
Get to the bottom of the marine food chain as scientists study how oil may have entered the food web and learn about a rare plankton discovery. Read about Dr. James A. Nienow’s research here.
Zoom in on the tiny world of microbes and learn about the big job they are doing to clean up the oil spill. Read about Drs. Joel Kostka’s and Markus Huettel’s research here.
Track the surf-board sized SailBuoy as it goes out to sea and sends seawater data to scientists to learn how particles move in the ocean. Read about Drs. Nico Wienders’ and Lars R. Hole’s research here.
Be an oil spill detective to determine the source of oil, what happened to it after entering the environment, and what will likely happen as it persists. Read about Dr. Christopher Reddy’s research here.
Visit the Deep-C website to learn more about their work.
************
This research was made possible in part by a grant from BP/The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) to the Deepsea to Coast Connectivity in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico (Deep-C) consortium.
The GoMRI is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.
© Copyright 2010- 2017 Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) – All Rights Reserved. Redistribution is encouraged with acknowledgement to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Please credit images and/or videos as done in each article. Questions? Contact web-content editor Nilde “Maggie” Dannreuther, Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University (maggied@ngi.msstate.edu).
