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Ecosystems

image: green sea turtle swimming.

Nov 13, 2023

Are Anglers and Commercial Fishers Accidentally Catching More Sea Turtles Than We Previously Thought?

A new model shows when and why turtles along the Southeast coast are at risk. 

image: Land Crab, closeup, by USFWS/Vieques National Wildlife Refuge.

Oct 9, 2023

What’s the Deal with that Weird Big Blue Crab on the Beach?

A new species of crab has arrived in North Carolina — and you might even find one in your garage.  

image: Styela plicata by Brenda Bowler, Texas PWD/CC-BY-SA-4.0.

Oct 2, 2023

Are Warming Waters Causing “Caribbean Creep”?

A large-scale Mid-Atlantic survey reveals the spread of new species. 

image: Andros Island Bahamas.

Sep 25, 2023

How Do You Generate Long-Term Support for Marine Conservation?

Researchers journeyed to a community that has protected marine areas for two decades to find the answers. 

Lionfish. Credit: NOAA.

Sep 18, 2023

Can We Use Deepwater Traps to Catch Lionfish?

Scientists compared how three different traps worked on the invasive species. 

Greater amberjack in ocean waters.

Aug 28, 2023

Can We Use Video to Estimate the Numbers of Amberjack?

With underwater cameras trained on various amberjack species in the Southeast, scientists tried to gauge population trends for the fish. 

image: black sea bass on a reef.

Aug 14, 2023

What’s the Best Way to Count Reef Fish?

Scientists compared two methods — high definition video and wire traps — to see which better sampled an array of fish off the Southeast coast. 

Jul 17, 2023

How Have Oyster Reefs Changed Over the Last Six Decades?

In a crucial North Carolina estuary, scientists combed through historical data to better understand how biodiversity and seafood supply have changed -- and will continue to change. 

image: dolphin at play.

Jul 10, 2023

Where Do Dolphins Live Year-Round in NC Waters?

They may cluster together differently than we thought. 

image: Hurricane Florence from ISS.

Jun 26, 2023

Can Fish Communities in Seagrass Weather Hurricanes?

These shallow water habitats withstand storm impacts, providing protection for juvenile fish.