Author: mlmlblog

Another Thesis Defense, Another Skate Cake

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Megan with the cake version of her Master’s thesis subject (photo: E. Loury)

Congratulations to Megan Witnon, the latest Ichthyology Lab graduate from MLML!  Megan defended her thesis this week titled “Age, growth, and demography of the roughtail skate, Bathyraja  trachura, from the eastern Bering Sea.”  And her defense wasn’t complete without another amazing cake creation from MLML food art extraordinaire Diane Haas.

Though Diane has dabbled in dessert skates before, this one really takes the cake!  The butterfly shapes represent the vertebrae sections that researchers like Megan and Diane use to tell the age of  skate.  The purple vertebra represents the end product of a chemical process called histology that Megan used to better see the age bands in the vertebrae.   Now that’s a doubly sweet success!

The Roughtail Skate as interpreted by Diane Haas (photo: E. Loury)

MLML Garden Sprouts!

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The raised bed style garden is coming together.

In an attempt to follow the writings of Michael Pollan and grow our own food, Moss Landing Marine Lab has constructed a garden.  Hopefully our weekly seminars will soon have food grown 30 meters away in our own garden!  Now that is local produce!  Stay tuned for updates.  Thank you to our sponsors who have given generous donations!

This garden has brought the MLML students together already.

A Whale Tale (Well, Tail Actually)

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Humpback whale fluke (tail) damage due to collision with a boat's propeller.

Unfortunately for many marine mammals, vessels running on the water may not see the animals near the surface, and will collide with them.  If you are on the water make sure to have many people viewing the water for any obstacles and wear polarized glasses to reduce the glare!  The mammals swimming around will greatly appreciate it, like this Humpback whale shown here with damage to its fluke.  We are all trying to use the ocean together!

This humpback appreciates us boating by at a very slow speed.

The Pelvic Fin Ray is Connected to the What Now?

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photo: E. Loury

With another successful Open House behind us (thank you to all of you who joined us!), MLML students will be hitting the books for the next few weeks leading up to final exams and lab practicals.   These ichthyology students are dissecting fish specimens to better learn their bone and muscle structure – and maybe getting a little slimy in the process!

Drop-In to MLML Open House: Get Your Hands Dirty

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Head to the Geological Oceanography Lab to get dirty with science!

The Geological Oceanography lab rocks, literally.  The rhodolith pictured here is made from calcium carbonate much similar to the bone in our bodies.  This alga makes beautiful sand beaches we all enjoy.  To learn more about beach formation and the different organisms and rocks that make up the sand beneath your toes, stop by the Geology lab at Moss Landing’s Open House.

http://openhouse.mlml.calstate.edu

Drop-In to MLML Open House: Hang With a Scuba Diver

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The MLML Dive Program will be present sharing information about the program here.

Be sure to check out the SCUBA diver hanging somewhere in the MLML halls at Open House this weekend.  The MLML dive program will have a booth to discuss the program and classes offered here.  We will have SCUBA gear on display, and can share many stories of diving in the beautiful waters of Monterey Bay!

MLML Open House is Saturday, April 30 & Sunday, May 1.

Drop-In to MLML Open House: Algae are Tasty and Fun!

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Learn about algae and why we rely on it!

During Open House, you can come on down to the Phycology Lab  (from phykos, meaning seaweed) and check out different red, green and brown algae.  Learn about agar and carrageenan, which are polysaccarides or carbohydrates that come from algae.  They are in shampoo, diet shakes, soy milk, toothpaste and even ice cream!  We will most likely have some ice cream for people to see the carrageenan in the ingredients and do a taste test!

MLML Open House is Saturday, April 30 & Sunday, May 1.