A Halloween Post!

Happy Halloween!  I still have a little while to be able to say that. In honor of the holiday, I want to feature a little known and little appreciated sea creature: the vampire squid!

How'd it get that name?

The vampire squid gets its name because it drains the blood of its prey completely before consuming it!

Just kidding.  In fact, the vampire squid isn't even carnivorous.  The name comes from a behavior exhibited when the creature feels threatened.  When the vampire squid feels threatened, it inverts its tentacles over its head, making it appear as though it is wearing a barbed cape. 

How do they behave?

Unlike the mythological creatures they are named for, vampire squids are not very aggressive.  They spend most of their time floating around serenely and eating what is called "marine snow."  Marine snow is basically a floating collection of sediment in the ocean made up of dust, mucous, and dead organisms.  They have long, tentacle like appendages which they stretch out in order to "fish" for their food.  

Screenshot from The Biological Bulletin
All Rights Reserved

So they basically float around in the darkest parts of the ocean fishing and eating.

Could I go see one?

Unfortunately, vampire squids do not survive long when kept in captivity.  They tend to die within a few months, so scientists do not know very much about them.  

In Conclusion:

In conclusion, vampire squids are possibly the least spooky animals in the ocean.  In spite of this, their peaceful demeanor and efficient ways of life are rather enchanting, not to mention their lovely red bodies and brilliantly blue eyes.  They aren't scary, but they are certainly worth understanding!  

References: 

Fulton-Bennet, K. (2012).  MBARI researchers discover what vampire squids eat.  MBARI News Release.    

  

The Ocean: Kind of a Big Deal

The Ocean Makes Our Planet

Since this is blog with a focus on conservation, it may be important for me to explain what is so great about the ocean in the first place.  So everyone get comfortable.

The Ocean is Responsible For:

• Making the planet fit for life to thrive billions of years ago
• The climate of the planet
• Gasses in the atmosphere (or not)
• Providing some of humanity's major food sources
• Providing most of the rainfall of the planet

So, yes, the ocean is kind of a big deal.  But how is it possible that this body of water that some humans never have the fortune to see has such a huge impact on human life?

How does the ocean control gasses?

Much of the carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere is absorbed by the ocean.  Animals in the ocean utilize carbon dioxide to make stones such as limestone and marble when they die, drawing it out of the atmosphere.  Additionally, phytoplankton in the ocean use photosynthesis, absorbing sunlight and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and, as a result, producing the oxygen we breathe!  

How does the ocean control climate?

Lots of ways!  From the temperature of the planet to the amount of rainfall in a landlocked place, the ocean has a huge hand in climate.  First of all, the ocean absorbs most of the sunlight that hits the planet on any given sunny day.  This means that most of the heat of the planet is absorbed by the ocean rather than the atmosphere.  

Then, of course, there is rainfall.  Most people are probably familiar with the water cycle, but they may not be familiar with the fact that 97% of the water on earth is ocean.  This means that most of the rainfall on the planet, even in non-coastal areas, is from the ocean.  

What if there was no ocean?

If there was no ocean on our planet--assuming our atmosphere was still intact and as it is now--the earth's surface temperature would settle at about 153 degrees Fahrenheit.  This is because there would be nothing to absorb greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere and no convection or wind to transport heat, so they would remain near the surface.  

In Conclusion:

Even if you have never seen it up close, every time it rains, you experience it a little.  You have oxygen to breathe in part because there are little organisms floating around that make their own food with photosynthesis.  A hot day in Texas is 112 degrees and not 150+ degrees.  And we should love and appreciate the ocean! 

An Introduction: Why "Ocean People?"

What We Will Do: 

Hello!  Thank you for taking the time to check out "The Ocean People!"  This blog is dedicated to the exploration and protection of our planet's beautiful and mysterious oceans.  We will learn about different zones of the ocean, the various animals that call the ocean home, the dangers that ocean ecosystems face, as well as about conservation efforts.  I want to use this blog to bring the ocean to you.  I want to inspire people to care about the sea, and to show that the fate of the ocean is relevant to everyone on this planet.  

Who Needs This:

This blog isn't for "anyone" as much as it is for "everyone."  For readers who are already enchanted by the sea, this blog will be a feast for the eyes and mind--and hopefully offer some inspiration to get involved with conservation efforts!  However, there are certainly readers who have never seen the sea, and I hope to reach out to them in particular.  I want to impress upon everyone that the ocean everything--after all, it covers most of the planet.  In that way, even people who do not live on the coast are "ocean people."  I want to share and collect ideas and techniques that can help to protect the seas.  Not to mention, I want everyone to have some interesting trivia to whip out at parties.  Additionally, for people such as myself who are interested in pursuing marine biology as a career, I will be interviewing people with degrees on the subject and getting their perspective on conservation, as well as collecting information about how to get into the field and what to expect should you enter it.  

About Me:

I am a student in the wrong major, a lifeguard, and an ocean enthusiast.  I don't live on the coast, and this blog will be for myself as much as anyone.  I will be learning ad growing with my audience!

So, basically: 

This is a space dedicated to learning about the ocean, the plants and animals living in it, and how to protect it.  It will be educational, hopefully very beautiful, and hopefully also inspiring.  Everyone needs to know why the ocean is important, and why it deserves respect from humankind.  I want everyone to want to help.  I want everyone to feel a connection to this huge and mysterious body of water, because even if you have never set foot in it, you are an ocean person.