Your Two Sea Fans are back—just in time to talk about tiny turtles! In this episode, Joe and Hayley catch up with Dr. Jake Lasala of Mote's Sea Turtle Conservation & Research Program in this midst of his busy fieldwork season, when he spends nights on the beach collecting and releasing sea turtle hatchlings various studies. One study is helping to …

Today’s episode makes us twice as happy because we have two excellent topics in store! Our guest, Jasmin Graham, has studied some of the most unusual-looking, endangered animals in the sea—sawfish, aka “danger snoots”—and she’s now advancing a critical mission: helping marine science become a more diverse field by increasing its accessibility to un…

Imagine a hole in the ocean floor with a bottom stretching to 350 feet deep, or deeper. That’s the type of environment Mote scientists and colleagues are exploring as they visit the Gulf of Mexico’s blue holes—underwater caves, springs and sinkholes. In this episode, one of our partnering scientists shares what lives in the depths of a blue hole. D…

___________________________________________________________Today we welcome back our favorite “ocean chemistry nut,” Dr. Emily Hall, manager of Mote’s Ocean Acidification Research Program and Chemical & Physical Ecology Program. Dr. Hall and her colleagues have been scoping out the challenges of acidification—water chemistry changes partly driven b…

Marine ecotoxicologists investigate some of the toughest challenges we must overcome to protect the ocean—in particular, how toxic substances harm marine animals and the ecosystem. Today we meet Dr. Aileen Maldonado, a Mote Postdoctoral Research Fellow who studies natural toxins and human-produced toxicants in the marine environment. In this episod…

In nature, many fish eat other fish—and some naturally engage in cannibalism, eating members of their own species. However, fish farming (aquaculture) operations strive to reduce that behavior and aim to raise as many healthy fish as possible to meet important needs for sustainable seafood and environmental restoration. Common snook, a Florida spor…

Sea turtles are currently nesting on southwest Florida beaches: laying eggs that will hatch to produce babies known as hatchlings. On April 15, as Mote began its annual routine of monitoring these nesting beaches for research and conservation, our new Postdoctoral Research Fellow Dr. Jake Lasala joined the "Two Sea Fans" team to describe the new re…

In this episode, Adam Dolman tells hosts Hayley and Joe about the continuing animal care duties Mote Aquarium biologists carry out even while the Aquarium is closed temporarily to protect public health amid COVID-19. In particular, he shares a few highlights on taking excellent care of corals, including the rescued corals Mote Aquarium is hosting t…

Our Medical Care & Rehabilitation Coordinator Lynne Byrd returns to the podcast to share stories of the sea turtles being treated in Mote Marine Laboratory's Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital!During this recording on March 31, 2020, many were working from home because of COVID-19, while marine wildlife responders like Lynne and her team continued …

Dr. Jim Locascio is studying common snook along beaches that experienced major fish kills due to Florida red tide in 2018, to help understand the status of these popular sportfish following this major challenge. Lately, that research has included an uncommon tool: a flying drone that offers a bird's-eye view of these fish in the shallows. In this e…

Dr. Hanna Koch has been given many nicknames, including "coral matchmaker" and "coral fertility doctor." She's conducting managed breeding efforts with threatened coral species, part of the coral reef science and restoration mission of Mote Marine Laboratory scientists in the Florida Keys. In this episode of "Two Sea Fans," Koch explains where cora…

Going green is one of our favorite subjects at Mote Marine Laboratory. Lately, a team of dedicated staff known as Mote's ECOmittee has been working to adopt and share best practices for environmental sustainability, to help inspire others lead by example. In this episode, Mote's ECOmittee member Greer Babbe tells hosts Joe and Hayley how the group …

In May and September 2019, Mote scientists and partners undertook their deepest explorations to-date into the Gulf of Mexico's blue holes, underwater caves, springs and sinkholes that attract diverse marine life. The team deployed a “benthic lander”—a framework holding multiple scientific instruments collectively weighing more than 600 pounds—into …

Florida manatees are iconic for the Sunshine State. They're on license plates, they're the focus of major conservation and management initiatives, and they delight residents and ecotourists who are lucky enough to watch these 1,000-pound-plus mammals from a safe distance in the wild. Mote's Manatee Research Program has studied wild manatees for dec…

After red tide caused serious fish kills along the Gulf of Mexico in 2018, three fish-friendly organizations joined forces in a science-based effort to help the popular sportfish common snook rebound faster in certain hard-hit areas. Mote Marine Laboratory, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and Coastal Conservation Associ…

Dr. Cindy Heil studies microscopic living things with huge impacts: phytoplankton. These ocean-dwelling, plant-like organisms are known for producing 50% of the oxygen we breathe along with food for other living things; a minority of species can produce toxins or have other negative impacts. Dr. Heil and her Mote colleagues focus on one of the most…

Mote Aquarium Biologist II Veronica Garcia just returned from an adventure in Argentina, where she assisted the program Proyecto Yacaré in their conservation and research efforts with broad-snouted caimans — reptiles related to alligators and crocodiles. Garcia tells hosts Joe and Hayley what it was like to visit Argentina, help incubate caiman egg…

From sea snakes in Australia to nurse sharks in the Dutch Caribbean, Dr. Rob Nowicki studies fascinating animals around the world, to better understand the ecology of natural communities and sometimes to solve immediate problems, such as how to keep nurse sharks out of lobster traps to benefit both the sharks and lobsters.With a case of self-descri…

Since 1968, passionate ocean educators have been joining the Florida Marine Science Educators Association (FMSEA). This episode features two of our favorite FMSEA friends — Jason Robertshaw of Mote’s Virtual Learning Program and Kasey Gaylord-Opalewski of EarthEcho International — sharing how they train teachers in safe, legal collection of aquatic…

The world's third-largest barrier coral reef is losing its battle with an unprecedented coral disease outbreak, and Mote Marine Laboratory scientists are determined to do something about it. Dr. Erinn Muller, Science Director of Mote’s Elizabeth Moore International Center for Coral Reef Research & Restoration, is on the front lines of the response …

Veterinarian Dr. Whitney Greene has worked with “all creatures great and small” – more than 100 species ranging from tiny frogs to massive elephants. She joined Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium in 2018 to apply her skills with marine veterinary medicine for the care of sea turtles, manatees, sharks and other species. Before working with Mote, she …

Today we meet Dr. Lee Fuiman, who investigates how fish "make a living" during the early parts of their lives. He is especially interested in how the diets of adult fish can influence their babies, or larvae. Dr. Fuiman was recently selected as the new William R. and Lenore Mote Eminent Scholar Chair in Fisheries Ecology and Enhancement, an award f…

Happy New Year from “Two Sea Fans” hosts Joe and Hayley! This year-in-review episode recaps and updates many of Mote Marine Laboratory’s stories from 2018. From the challenges of red tide and coral disease to the highlights of shark-tagging expeditions, sea turtle nesting and cool ocean chemistry studies, this special episode will help you catch up…

Marine animals run across many harmful, environmental contaminants. If they survive exposure, are they really "out of the woods," or will their health (and even their offspring's health) change? Mote Marine Laboratory Senior Scientist Dr. Dana Wetzel investigates the presence and impacts of contaminants — including oil from the Deepwater Horizon sp…

Mote Senior Scientist Dr. Bob Hueter returns to discuss a highly successful research expedition focused on great white sharks off Nova Scotia. Seven white sharks were caught, tagged, sampled and released, supporting 15 projects by 25 scientists at 18 institutions, during this expedition conducted by the organization OCEARCH with Hueter as Chief Exp…

Dan Bebak joined Mote Aquarium as an intern, and over decades he's advanced to lead its operations as Vice President of Mote's Education, Aquarium & Outreach Division. In this episode, he shares his memories from the early Aquarium along with Mote's vision for the Aquarium's future, which is tied closely to the future of the expanding research at M…

When a fishery declines, can you release fish to aid its recovery – without unintended consequences? Mote Senior Scientist Dr. Ken Leber investigates how to raise and release fishes in ecologically sound ways, a process known as responsible stock enhancement and codified by Leber and colleagues. Learn how stock enhancement took hold in the U.S., wh…

When we spot a female sea turtle on her nesting beach or care for patients in Mote's Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital, we get a snapshot of these animals' long, fascinating lives. However, once they return to sea, these turtles can migrate for hundreds of miles and are mostly hidden from humans. Mote Senior Biologist Kristen Mazzarella is sheddin…

Some coral reefs in the Middle East are strikingly beautiful and seemingly well-preserved, but will they stay that way as humans alter the environment? Dr. Emily Hall traveled to Israel to study stress on corals, including eutrophication – a big word you can say at parties to sound smart. But seriously, eutrophication (excess nutrients in bodies of…

School’s out for the summer — some students might take a vacation, but a select 10 college students have found their summer vocation at Mote: a 10-week independent research experience. Mote’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program, funded by the National Science Foundation, has educated and trained more than 150 aspiring scientists s…

From crocodilians to cuttlefish, Brian Siegel takes care of several species that capture our imaginations. Hosts Joe and Hayley especially wanted to hear about Brian's work with crocodilians - a group including alligators, crocodiles, caimans and gharials. Did you know that there are only two alligator species? Do you know how gators replace their …

Waterside residents: You probably have fishes in your backyard, whether you know it or not! Dr. Ryan Schloesser knows all about those fishes in southwest Florida, especially the treasured sport fish common snook. In this episode, he tells hosts Joe and Hayley how he and Mote colleagues release hatchery-reared snook to study their habitat preference…

How do Mote Aquarium staff develop exhibits healthy for animals and engaging for visitors? Mike Collins, Curator of Exhibits at Mote, tells Joe and Hayley about the excitement of developing a naturalistic home for Mote’s resident otters, the routine of cleaning fish habitats, and everything in between. How did Mike get involved in the professional …

Are you seeking a marine science internship? Or simply want to know how Mote works with students from various states, countries and backgrounds? Mote’s internship guru, Student Engagement Coordinator Gina Santoianni, tells Hayley and Joe how Mote interns participate in lab and field research, aid science educators, apply graphic design skills to oc…

Manatees can sicken or even die from cold-stress syndrome when winter temperatures plummet in Florida. Why are these big mammals so cold-sensitive, and how can we take their temperatures? On this episode, Dr. Nicola Erdsack shares some emerging answers; she and her colleagues are investigating new methods to detect temperature change in manatees, a…

Dr. Kevan Main is a global pioneer in aquaculture, often called seafood farming but encompassing much more. Want to know how much of your seafood is farmed? Curious about whether farmed fish are good for you and the environment? Main shares ideas and stories about aquaculture done right — using improved technology to make this rapidly growing pract…

Can you say “biogeochemistry” three times quickly? Great: Now can you define it? In this episode, Dr. Heather Page helps Hayley and Joe get their heads around this important subject, which affects all life whether you’re in a forest or on a coral reef! Heather, a Mote Postdoctoral Research Fellow, wants to understand how one biogeochemical issue, o…

Sarah Fangman, Superintendent of NOAA's Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS), and her team work to balance conservation with human enjoyment of Florida's natural treasure: 2,900 square nautical miles of FKNMS-protected ecosystems. There, vast coral reefs and thousands of wildlife species amaze visitors and fascinate scientists, including …

Conor Goulding is an underwater photographer who captures images of Mote Marine Laboratory's scientific research, related ocean environments and wildlife, along with the resident animals of Mote Aquarium in Sarasota, Florida. Though he makes photography look easy, it requires careful observation and knowledge of the subject, a good grasp of technol…

The beaches we visit during the day become turtle turf at night. Thousands of loggerhead sea turtles and smaller numbers of other species lay nests with 100-ish eggs apiece during southwest Florida’s yearly nesting season, May 1-Oct. 31. Melissa Bernhard, Senior Biologist with Mote’s Sea Turtle Conservation & Research Program — a friend to reptiles…

Mote Staff Chemist Camia Charniga loves getting out on the ocean and rivers, even in rough weather, to monitor the “health” of the water itself. Water clarity and quality, including nutrient chemistry, have an influence on seagrasses, fish and myriad other wild things we can’t live without. In this episode, Camia tells hosts Joe and Hayley how Mote…

We ring in 2018 by sharing the latest updates on many Mote projects from 2017. Listeners will learn: how far our tagged sea turtles and sharks traveled in the wild; how we improved systems to detect red tide; why our scientists patented new technology to distinguish male from female fish; how Mote's Florida Keys facility and coral restoration sites…

Wild horses couldn't drag us away from this awesome interview! Aquarium Biologist Amanda Hodo shares what it's like to raise and breed seahorses, based on her experience supervising the Seahorse Conservation Lab in Mote Aquarium. Hosts Joe and Hayley love learning how seahorses change color, grab things (and each other) with their prehensile tails,…

We’ve all heard about trash in the oceans, but how bad is it?Senior Biologist Kim Bassos-Hull shares why marine debris — even tiny bits of plastic — can threaten marine animals and ecosystems, and she offers simple ideas for reducing marine debris in our daily lives.Through years of marine research and youth education programs, Bassos-Hull has a we…

Happy Thanksgiving from "Two Sea Fans" hosts Joe and Hayley! In this special, short segment, the hosts share what they're thankful for, looking back at a great first year of podcast episodes and looking forward to upcoming discussions. In particular, Hayley and Joe are excited to talk about keeping the oceans trash free, as Mote prepares to host th…

Does a “virtual field trip” sound fun? Then dive deeper with Mote’s SeaTrek.TV! This digital learning program led by Kasey Gaylord-Opalewski and Jason Robertshaw uses video chat platforms like Skype and Zoom to share marine science with kids and adults around the world. SeaTrek.TV programs have ranged from live-streaming conversations with a shark …

Photo copyright: Mote Marine Laboratory.Meet a research pioneer with 38 years of history at Mote Marine Laboratory. In 1979, Dr. Carl Luer founded Mote’s Marine Biomedical Research Program, which investigates subjects such as cancer and infection using marine organisms — particularly sharks, stingrays and skates — rather than classic lab animals su…

Can you tell a river otter from a sea otter? Do you know if otters are related more closely to cats or dogs? Do you know what a watershed is, and why it matters to otters? If you answered no to any of these questions, or you simply want to learn more about otters in the wild and at Mote Aquarium, then join hosts Hayley and Joe as they interview Ama…

Mote Aquarium’s “jelly dude” – Aquarium Biologist Andrew Angelo – describes which sea jellies (aka jellyfish) live around southwest Florida, and he tells Joe and Hayley what it’s like to raise and breed jellies for Mote’s educational exhibits. If you’ve ever been curious about what jellies eat, who can eat them, how their alien-looking anatomy work…

Phytoplankton - sometimes called microscopic algae - can seem a bit like Jekyll and Hyde. Some produce much of the air we breathe and nourish the ocean's food chain, while others form harmful algal blooms that range from annoying to hazardous for people and animals. The fact is, phytoplankton are really diverse, with lots of scientific groupings ha…