Heather Spence, Marine Biologist » Photos

Snapping Shrimp in Puerto Morelos

Heather — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 21:53:19 +0000

On Tuesday, Patricia Santos (CONANP), Hitamar Palma Muñoz (CONANP), David Delaney (McGill Univ), and I, went for an evening dive in Puerto Morelos, looking – and listening – for snapping shrimp. We found a handful of Alpheus armatus, and here are the photos to prove it, thanks to Hitamar (Guardaparque, Parque Nacional Arrecife de Puerto Morelos)!

This species is distinctively bright red, as you can see.

Photo credit: Hitamar Palma Muñoz

They are very little, but make quite a racket.

Photo credit: Hitamar Palma Muñoz

Great snap.

Photo credit: Hitama Palma Muñoz

The shrimps are found hiding in curly sea anemones, with which they have a symbiotic relationship.

Photo Credit: Hitamar Palma Muñoz

Bats Sleeping In Tree

Heather — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:41:59 +0000

We were at a local elementary school (Cancun) when we noted students’ interest in a particular ‘tamarind’ tree – looked up and there they were! Very well camouflaged with the pods.

Bats Sleeping In Tree

Guardians of the Reef Video

Heather — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:53:13 +0000

Enjoy this new video about our presentations of Marine Life of the Mexican Caribbean in the local schools and recruiting the students as leaders of coral reef conservation!

http://video.google.es/videoplay?docid=-2416925349239031603&hl=es

Cut Six Pack Rings Video

Heather — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 14:34:27 +0000

I created this video for the Cancun campaign, so it is designed to work in English, Spanish, or really any language, by using puppets and videos to show why it is important to cut those rings. Please feel free to use this video to promote any campaigns against plastic pollution and to help native wildlife, just let me know so I can keep a record.

See the Video:

Cut Plastic Six Pack Rings

Production of this video was made possible by The George Washington University, Shapiro Traveling Fellowship

Marine Protected Area Rules – Video!

Heather — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 02:15:32 +0000

Rules of the Cancun National Park, explained through puppets and music.

Complete original production by Heather Spence, sponsored by Michelle’s Earth Foundation:

I made this video to be shared freely, if you would like to use it, please just let me know so I can keep a record.

Michelle’s Earth Foundation: www.MichellesEarth.org

Parque Reglas

Layer Cake

Heather — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 23:56:41 +0000

This is a concrete layer cake from Sac Bajo (Isla Mujeres), providing a structure on which corals can grow, and fish can find refuge.

Find the lobster

Heather — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 23:18:00 +0000

This lobster is hiding in a “layer cake” a type of artificial reef structure made out of molded concrete (at Sac Bajo site along the coast of Isla Mujeres -Quintana Roo, Mexico).