By: Dana Sackett A sea star is not usually the first example that comes to mind when picturing a voracious and fearsome top predator. However, many sea stars, the star-shaped echinoderms colloquially called “starfish” and often found in beach-motif decor, are just that: awesome top predators. Moreover, many sea star species are keystone species, or…
Category: The Fisheries Blog
Good addition? Or bad invader? Chinook Salmon in South America
Throughout North America, ongoing resource management and restoration projects aim to conserve Chinook Salmon because their populations have been threatened by many ecological factors, including habitat change, high harvest rates, and hatchery influence. In contrast, these fish are known as an invasive species in the Southern Hemisphere, having been introduced (and continuing to spread) to rivers of the Patagonia and Magellan regions of Chile and Argentina…
Pet Fish or Alien Invader?
Although dogs and cats are the most recognizable pets in the United States, did you know, freshwater fishes are the most popular pets by number?
Q-n-A: Fly Fishing for Redeye Bass
Last summer, I picked up a new book: Fly Fishing for Redeye Bass: an Adventure across Southern Waters by Matthew R. Lewis. I grew up fly fishing for native Smallmouth Bass in the Ozarks, and have been interested in going after our local Bartram’s Bass in the upper Savannah. I enjoyed the book immensely, and was just sitting down…
Some unexpected consequences of hurricanes
By: Dana Sackett Hurricanes can devastate a coastline for all who reside there, people and fish alike (see previous articles by The Fisheries Blog, which detail these impacts here and here). Despite the devastation that hurricanes can leave in their wake, there are some species that, surprisingly enough, flourish as a result of these massive…
Stalking the Elusive Shoal Bass
Guest Author: Amy Cottrell Editor: Solomon David The sun began creeping up over the tree tops and casting morning shadows and specks of daylight on the water surface, slowly lighting up more and more of the heavily vegetated creek bank. We paddled the quiet corridor, antenna rotating side to side in front of me as…
The New Rules of Science Communication
If these rules are followed, your impact will grow, interest in your work will increase and so will your network of like-minded people. Fishery Scientists can take on this responsibility and run with it, and the time is now.
Halloween’s greatest hits
It’s hard to believe we’ve been writing The Fisheries Blog for over six years. Over the years, we’ve been known to do a holiday-themed post or two. This week, we skip the traditional Monday post for a special wrap-up of Halloween-flavored posts over the year. Scary stuff! Way back in 2013, one of the first…
Fun Fish Festivals: year-round edition
By: Dana Sackett Since moving to Germany, I have loved attending the near endless number of festivals that seem to fill the calendar year round. Summer fests turn into fall wine fests, which then seamlessly transitioned into various harvest, pumpkin, and beer festivals (including the famous Oktoberfest in Munich). Next will be the winter festivals…
SciComm, the Next Generation: #GARkansas
Science communication is surprisingly diverse, a necessity in order to be effective. “Scicomm’ers” engage diverse audiences (e.g. students, stakeholders, other scientists) using diverse methods (e.g. journals, social media, town hall meetings), but communicators themselves come from a variety of backgrounds, including ages. Over the past year I’ve been inspired by one of the next generation’s…
