Exploring Marine Ecosystems and Native Plants: Insights from Coral Reefs to Backyard Gardens
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 regularly confuse gobies and blennies, so when I saw this amazing fish at Mote recently, I decided it was time to memorize their ID characteristics. I'm also excited learn a bit more about this goby.
Everyone loves dressing up for Halloween, even the urchins! At Contact Cove, the variegated urchins get little plastic cowboy hats and huge goofy eyeballs to wear. It is hilarious and adorable, but it also encompasses an important behavior trait of these urchins. They like to cover themselves in debris they find in their habitat.
I had been volunteering at MOTE for a while before I finally saw the calico crab in the grassflats exhibit. This is normal though since these small crabs only grow up to about 3 inches and prefer to bury themselves in the sandy or muddy substrate of their habitat so only their eyes are exposed. This behavior, along with their coloring helps them hide from predators.
Everytime I visit the Keys, I always try to work in some time learning about and doing coral restoration. On this trip, the Coral Restoration Foundation team was able to accomodate my family for the morning learning session.
Erica Lauer Vose 