Grad Student Mahmud Makes Acoustics and Tracking Marine Mammals “Click”

Sakib Mahmud tests combinations of passive acoustic monitoring equipment to find the best method to detect and measure marine mammal populations affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. His findings will help improve our understanding of long-term environmental impacts of the spill on deep-diving marine mammals and aid in improving oil spill regulations, monitoring, and mitigation efforts.

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Maya presents her preliminary findings at the 2016 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science Conference. (Provided by Maya Morales-McDevitt)

Grad Student Morales-McDevitt Explores How Nutrients Influence Marine Snow Formation

Marine oil snow is the largest commuter of carbon to the seafloor and occurs when oil and marine particles aggregate and sink through the water column. Previous studies show that oil and dispersant significantly increased marine microorganisms’ production of exopolymeric substances (EPS), an extremely sticky goo that holds marine snow together. Maya Morales-McDevitt conducts mesocosm experiments investigating how certain naturally occurring nutrients influence EPS production and oil degradation.

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Scientists place satellite tags on mahi mahi to study their activity. Photo by RECOVER.

Smithsonian Highlights Oil Spill Research on Mahi Mahi

The Smithsonian recently published an article about research, funded by the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI), that investigates oil spill impacts on different life stages of mahi mahi. Highlights include what is involved in conducting this cutting-edge research, what is being discovered about mahi mahi that is not oil-spill related, and the multiple scientific perspectives that help develop a comprehensive understanding of these important fish.

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Spring 2017 – Note from the Research Board Chair

Spring 2017 – Note from the Research Board Chair – JUNE 8, 2017 (From Spring 2017 Newsletter) Dr. Rita Colwell, University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University April 20, 2017 marked the seventh anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Over the seven years since the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) was launched, extensive…

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Members of the GoMRI Management Team, the Sea Grant Oil Spill Outreach Team, and the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative Information and Data Cooperative attend the 2017 International Oil Spill Conference. From left to right: Rosalie Rossi (GRIIDC), Katie Fillingham (GMT), Kevin Shaw (GMT), Chuck Wilson (GMT), and Monica Wilson (Florida Sea Grant). Photo Credit: Katie Fillingham.

GoMRI Attends 2017 International Oil Spill Conference

GoMRI Attends 2017 International Oil Spill Conference – JUNE 18, 2017 (From Spring 2017 Newsletter) The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) attended the 2017 International Oil Spill Conference (IOSC) from May 15-18 in Long Beach, California. Members of the GoMRI Management Team (GMT), the Gulf Sea Grant Oil Spill Science Outreach Team, and the…

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CARTHE, RECOVER, and DEEPEND attend the Tortuga Music Festival. Photo Courtesy of Laura Bracken.

Spring 2017 – Education Spotlight

Spring 2017 – Education Spotlight – JUNE 8, 2017 (From Spring 2017 Newsletter) The Consortium for Advanced Research on Transport of Hydrocarbon in the Environment (CARTHE), the Relationships of Effects of Cardiac Outcomes in Fish for Validation of Ecological Risk (RECOVER) Consortium, and the Deep Pelagic Nekton Dynamics of the Gulf of Mexico (DEEPEND) Consortium attended the Tortuga Music Festival from April 7-9, 2017…

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