Heather Spence, Marine Biologist

doen’t need self esteem training – the term “passive” distinguishes the approach from “active” acoustics, which includes SONAR and other methods of emitting sounds and receiving the echoes to collect information about the environment. Passive acoustic approaches do not emit sounds, but simply receive the sounds from the environment.

Much information can be gained through passively gathered acoustic information from the coastal environment, including calls made by marine animals, physical vibrations of water and natural phenomena, and anthropogenic noise such as from motor boats.

We can practice “passive acoustics” ourselves without any special equipment, just by using our ears to listen. With the emphasis we place on sight, we often overlook what we learn about our surroundings through hearing. While you are visiting the coast, try paying special attention to the soundscape – you might be surprised at the range of sounds and information you can piece together.

are like cellists

they have a very specialized parts of their antennae that they rub against their head like a bow on a string

check out their sounds as well as other sea creatures’ at – http://www.dosits.org/

In the middle of the Pacific Ocean is an island of trash the size of Texas.  Most of the trash is plastic.  And this is just the plastic that has yet to photo-degrade (break into smaller pieces, but never completely integrate into the environment) and floats – imagine the rest of the trash, that has sunk and smothered the marine life, or that has been eaten by and killed sea turtles, fishes and birds…

To read more about the dangers of plastics and the trash island in the North Pacific Sub-Tropical Gyre check out:

http://www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Ocean/Moore-Trashed-PacificNov03.htm

can be physical oceanographic research equipment

http://www.oceanmotion.org/html/research/ebbesmeyer.htm

We are filling our oceans with toxic plastic!  Many people now know that plastics are not biodegradable - they don’t rot like wood or rust like metal.  But who cares?  So there’s some plastic bottles and plastic bags floating in the water, oh well.  Maybe they’ll just sink and after a really really long time they’ll dissapear.  Well… not ok.  For one thing, animals mistake the plastic for food (classic example sea turtles think plastic bags are jellyfish) and when they eat them, they get sick and die.  Not just from the structure of the plastic, although that is a problem, but also from the toxins.  Plastics contain all kinds of toxins from how they are made, and also they absorb toxins from the environment.  While they do not biodegrade, over time they disintegrate into tiny toxic nuggets. 

Check out: 

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/pf/21642965.html

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex

Costco, of Cancun Mexico, has donated scissors for kids in local schools, to be used as part of a presentation about the importance of cutting six pack rings (which can kill marine life), and keeping our environment clean

Pages from MARINE LIFE OF THE MEXICAN CARIBBEAN are now available for download!  Just click on the marine life page and check it out!