Fish are the most diverse group of vertebrates and can live in almost any habitat imaginable, including underground caves where nutrients and light are rare to nonexistent. Living in such a harsh environment requires...
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are areas where human activities are restricted for conservation or historical purposes. These restrictions can include limitations on fishing, development, and anything that disrupts aquatic life. In the United States,...
Atlantic tarpon (Megalops atlanticus; Figure 1) are a popular recreational sport fish in the Gulf of Mexico as well as the sub-tropical and tropical Atlantic Ocean. Anglers love the athletic challenge of reeling in...
Proportionate to the area they cover, coral reefs support more fish biodiversity than any other habitat in the oceans. However, they are also among the most sensitive habitats to changes in climate. A phenomenon...
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...
