Monthly Archive for February, 2008

Leaping Day, Top 8 Ways to Help Frogs in 2008

Published
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Jason
on February 29, 2008
in Uncategorized
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Year of the Frog, Cuban Tree Frog
Cuban Tree Frog (Osteopilus septentrionalis), a common but introduced species in Florida. Picture by J. Robertshaw

According to the Gregorian calendar, today is Leap Day. It is also the beginning of an amphibian conservation promotion by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums as part of their Year of the Frog campaign. Frogs and toads are the most numerous group of the amphibians, which also include the newts, salamanders and caecilians. But they are all in trouble.

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums will highlight 2008 as the Year of the Frog to mark a major conservation effort to address the amphibian extinction crisis. The Year of the Frog is also meant to engage the public in amphibian conservation and to raise funds for AZA amphibian conservation efforts into the future.

Find out the Top 8 Ways to Help Frogs in 2008

  1. Look, listen, and learn: educate yourself and your family about amphibians.
  2. Visit an Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited institutions near you and experience your very own amphibian adventure!
  3. Create amphibian friendly environments by providing clean water, hiding places, and insects to eat.
  4. Don’t pollute.
  5. Be a responsible pet owner.
  6. Conserve water at home, school, and work.
  7. Reduce the use of fossil fuels, such as oil, coal and natural gas.
  8. Be an amphibian champion.

Growing up on a lake in Florida, we had a lot of opportunities to witness amphibian activity. During the wet season there was a solid wall of noise coming from the passionate anurans in the pastures. It was not something you would hear so much as feel. Soon, the lake edge was strung with the black beads of toad eggs. And later, we could gather pollywogs by the handful. I have to wonder what it would be like if I ever went back there.

The difference between frogs and toads might seem obvious at first. Frogs are hoppers with long legs and wet skin. Toads are walkers with dry skin. But as my herpetology professor pointed out, there are exceptions to each of these and the distinction between frogs and toads amongst the experts is not so clear. For instance, the suborder of spadefoot toads (Mesobatrachia) also includes the parsley frogs.

Recently on This Week in Science, Justin and Dr. Kiki were commenting on the recent discovery of a very large amphibian fossil in Madagascar, appropriately dubbed Beelzebufo (at approximately minute 00:23:29). They ran into this same kind of consternation.

Death of a Gill Man, Ben Chapman R.I.P.

Published
by
Jason
on February 22, 2008
in Life Oddquatic
. 3 Comments

[via metafilter]

I wrote about the Creature from the Black Lagoon back in October. Sad to report that Ben Chapman, the actor that played the Gill Man, has passed away at the age of 79.

Ben Chapman, Gill ManChapman was a retired real estate executive. But his role as the Gill Man — the quintessential 1950s monster in Universal Pictures’ black-and-white film in 3-D — became his worldwide calling card and made him a darling on the collectibles and sci-fi circuit throughout the world.

The Gill Man’s place in the Universal monster lineage was a priority for Chapman, since he was the longtime lone survivor in a parade of horror monster flicks that dated to the 1920s. He cited predecessors Lon Chaney Sr. in “Phantom of the Opera” and “Hunchback of Notre Dame” in the 1920s, Bela Lugosi in “Dracula” and Boris Karloff in “Frankenstein” in the 1930s, and Lon Chaney Jr. in “The Wolf Man” and “The Mummy” in the 1940s.

Deep Earth Academy for Teachers

Published
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Jason
on February 22, 2008
in Uncategorized
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Deep Earth Academy logoThe Consortium for Ocean Leadership has a couple of interesting opportunities for teachers and students.

First, is the National Ocean Science Bowl. I will be volunteering at the regional Spoonbill Bowl competition this weekend and hope to report on that soon.

Second, is called the Deep Earth Academy, which is the education arm of their scientific ocean drilling program. In addition to resources to teach climate change and Activities of the Month, they have a free color poster for middle and high school students that shows what an oceanic survey cruise looks like and what kinds of information scientist gain from them.

…this (Anatomy of a Seamount Survey) poster shows the ship’s track, 3D bathymetry plots from the survey, and images from the ship’s dredging operations. On the poster’s reverse side are included: background information on site surveys, mini-profiles of some of the expedition’s key personnel, and four science challenges for middle school students.

Anatomy of a Seamount Survey poster

You can also request oceanic core samples for use at your school courtesy of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program.

Third, they have a fellowship for one lucky teacher to help them develop new content. Deadline is Monday, March 3, 2008.

Deep Earth Academy Teacher Fellowship 2008-2009

The Consortium for Ocean Leadership is seeking an enthusiastic teacher for a one-year fellowship in Washington, DC. The teacher will work with DeepEarth Academy staff to develop ocean science curricula, produce teacher-training workshops, maintain communication within a community of educators and assist with conference logistics. The position requires a minimum of 3 years classroom science teaching experience, a strong background in earth or ocean sciences, and temporary relocation to Washington, DC. Strong writing and computer technology skills are a plus. Salary will be commensurate to incumbent¹s current salary. Full time and part-time schedules will be considered.

To apply for the position, send a cover letter, resume, curriculum sample or list of professional development offerings and three letters of reference to learning@oceanleadership.org or mail to Deep Earth Academy, 1201 New York Avenue NW, 4th floor, Washington, DC, 20005 by Monday, March 3, 2008. For more information visit www.deepearthacademy.org

Finally, the COL is also hosting a number of events from February 25-29, billing it as 2008 Washington Ocean Week. This is not to be confused with the other Ocean Week in June.

With the release of the President’s budget earlier in the month and the appropriations season in full swing, this is a critical time for the oceanographic community to sound its voice in the nation’s capitol.

Carnival of the Blue

Published
by
Jason
on February 5, 2008
in Uncategorized
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Best of Ocean Blogging [75x75, 4.8K]Carnival of the Blue #9 is up at Kevin’s Other 95% blog. Billed as a “appreciation of the under-appreciated majority of life,” the blog is devoted to all the interesting things on earth that lack a backbone.

In addition to highlighting some of the best in ocean blogging this month, Kevin also reminds everyone to live blue in 2008.

Vent Nymphs of the Deep Seas of Second Life

Published
by
Jason
on February 5, 2008
in Second Science
. 2 Comments

I have an avatar in Second Life called Calamari Ricardo. He wandered into the lair of Grendel’s Children the other day and came across a new undersea option for avatars (see below).

Randy Olson cheekily suggested that the next Science Blogging Conference be conducted in Second Life. If so, maybe we could hold it on the newly expanded NOAA sim and all the ocean bloggers could go dressed up as Vent Nymphs.

Deep Sea Vent Nymphs of Second Life, by Flea BussyVent Nymphs
MiniHUD controls the black smoker effect & sound, and includes a unique skin and sculpted tubeworm growths! Both genders included. Created by Flea Bussy.

See also:

Daily Shark! Animation

Published
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Jason
on February 4, 2008
in Uncategorized
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[via Kasey]

I first came across Australian cartoonist Phil Watson back in late 2006. I reckon his work is on par with the likes of Toomey. Now it looks like he has since teamed up with the Mall of America and their Underwater Adventures Aquarium in Bloomington, MN. This must be a good thing because he is turning from one-off one-panels to full blown animated shorts. Some of them are quite topically amusing, managing to poke fun at Paris Hilton, Damien Hirst, Steve Jobs and the like. But here’s one of my favorites, since it also features a cephalopod:

A couple of other amusing ones include his movie parody called 20 Last Dates and Sharky in Lock Ness.