Blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) are a species of crab native to estuaries along the western Atlantic coast from Nova Scotia to northern Argentina (Figure 1). They live on soft-bottom habitats and are omnivorous, feeding...
One of the most challenging periods of a fish’s life is centered around reproduction. Many species approach reproduction through nest building. It is generally the males that are tasked with finding territory, building a...
Green crabs (Carcinus maenas) are a relatively small species of crab that live in intertidal zones and shallow coastal waters (Figure 1). They are native to the Atlantic coast of Europe and North Africa...
If you have never seen a muskellunge (Esox masquinongy), they are magnificent, large, and powerful apex predators in the waterbodies they reside (Figure 1). Georgian Bay in Lake Huron supports a self-sustaining native muskellunge...
In many rivers throughout the world, dams have greatly altered the aquatic ecosystem. These structures block migratory routes for anadromous species that live in saltwater and migrate into freshwater to spawn, preventing them from...
Northeast of Italy’s stiletto heel, in the Southern Adriatic Sea, the continental shelf drops off into a submarine feature known as Bari Canyon (Figure 1). This undersea canyon is similar to one you might...
The round goby (Figure 1) is a relatively small fish species endemic to the Caspian and Black Seas. They have invaded North America and Western Europe, packing a nasty punch to native species. These...
How’d you like to spend Christmas on Christmas Island? To many of us during this time of year in the northern hemisphere, with our cold toes and grey skies, a warm tropical vacation is...
Oyster reefs are dense colonies made up of thousands of individual oysters attached to hard substrate (Figure 1). Because of their complex structures, oyster reefs provide important habitat for a variety of fish and...
Thousands of reservoirs have been constructed across the United States and Canada for water storage, flood control, generation of electricity, and recreation. Reservoirs are dammed rivers that have features (temperature, current, and habitat) that...
