Exploring Marine Ecosystems and Native Plants: Insights from Coral Reefs to Backyard Gardens
One of my absolute favorite things I get to do as a volunteer at MOTE is watch the skate (atlantic guitarfish) and rays and talk to guests about them. Its difficult to avoid anthropomorphizing these adorable creatures. The skate seems particularly charismatic and spends most of his time swimming around the edge of the enclosure… Continue reading Atlantic Guitarfish and Cownose Stingray interact
Late January I wrote a post about cleaning stations and recently, at MOTE I got to see some cleaning behavior close up. It is utterly amazing to see these two species work together so well. The small blue fish is a Caribbean neon goby more commonly called a cleaner goby because of its cleaning behavior.… Continue reading Symbiotic Cleaning Relationships
Have you ever been snorkeling and seen something loaf shaped on the bottom and wondered what on earth that was? Well, most likely you were looking at a Sea Cucumber. Sea Cucumbers are in the same Phylum (Echinodermata) as sea stars - they have tube feet powered by a water-vascular system that they use to walk along the bottom of the ocean.
Sometimes, when it's quiet while I'm stationed at MOTE's Contact Cove, I like to show guests (especially older kids who have a bit more patience and ability to hold still for a length of time) a fun way to interact with the peppermint shrimp. I usually start by asking if they would like to get a "shrimp manicure"? If people are game, I show them how to place their hand in the enclosure and tell them to hold very still and wait.
I've been watching this blenny hiding in its shell in the MOTE grass flats exhibit for a few weeks now when another volunteer mentioned that it's a male guarding eggs. Once I heard that, I had to learn more. Florida blennies live in mangroves, seagrass beds, oyster reefs and rocky intertidal zones. This Florida blenny… Continue reading Florida Blenny Guarding Eggs
Erica Lauer Vose 