Tag Archives: ocean

Memories of a Marine Biologist

Looking throughout old sketchbooks of rockfish and found these from my NOAA/NMFS days as a Research Fisheries Biologist. Fun, fun, fun…. contemplating Quillback Stock Assessment. oh the memories of analyzing all the West Coast spatially enabled trawl data for groundfishes, making conclusions about Rockfish Conservation Areas and other such mer-things.

IMG_4156Quillback Stock Assessment

RockfishFlag Rockfish

Watercolor of Sebastes rubrivinctus
Watercolor of Sebastes rubrivinctus

 

when you get a really good email….

Amidst the hustle bustle of everyday, there are fun moments so I’m sharing this one.

I received a lovely email from a lady who is currently hosting some of my fish art in a cute little SLO shop. As an ocean enthusiast, it warmed my heart and gave me a big silly grin.  It is probable that most followers of this little blog share this enthusiasm and would also appreciate getting this little message, so here it is. I just love it!

 

Hi Claudia

I hope all is well for you!
Here’s a story I think you’ll enjoy:   Earlier today, my son and I were walking at Cayucos beach, and we saw a sea lion at the the water’s edge.  It seemed like something was awry with this poor little soul, and so I called the Morro Bay Marine Mammal Center to ask for help. Several rescuers arrived shortly thereafter…They put a towel over her head, scooped her into a crate..and then whisked her off to be tested for what they said was possibly cumulative toxicity from the fish and sundry ocean critters that she eats:(
Before they took off with her, they asked me if I’d like to give her a name — Awwww..How sweet is that…. Yes indeed I’d be delighted to give her a name..was my answer..
I told them I’d like to name her CLAUDIA — in honor of a wonderful artist/marine biologist named Claudia Makeyev:):)
So, that’s the story:-)
A bientot,
xxxxxxxxxxxx
sea lion pup

Q is for Quinque

quinque-abc-makeyev snapper

Q is for Quinque

Scientific Name: Quinquelineatus

Common Name: Five-lined snapper

Tagalog:  Maya maya

A lot can be found in a name.

This is a school of Five Lined Snapper aka Lutjanus quinqueliniatus

We enjoy swimming and eating together over the coral reef.

Quinque means five.

Qunique is an important part of our scientific name.

It describes who we are and what we look like.

We have five of something, can you figure out what?

Hint: it’s long and blue.

O is for Octopus

octopus-abc-claudia makeyev

O is for Octopus

Scientific name:  Amphioctopus marginatus

Tagalog: Pugita

The Coconut Octopus of The Coral Triangle is a multi-talented mollusk. He can change color to tell you how he’s feeling, solve puzzles, catch fish, blow ink, swim, crawl, explore, befriend mermaids

AND, most impressively, he joins the elite group of species on planet earth who use tools. His favorites include coconuts and clam shells and uses them for protection. Like the nudibranch, he is a soft and squishy little guy who feels exposed and naked when walking across the ocean floor. A clam shell acts like an army helmet or bunker, making a safe place to hide when a hungry sea monster attacks.

Video:   http://bcove.me/u67wa3sj