Sea Lab Notes
 

Kudzu Katarina displaying her foliage at Spooktacular (Photo courtesy of John Dindo)

NOAA, along with a consortium of universities and institutions, announced the creation of a new cooperative institute. The new Northern Gulf Institute will collaborate with NOAA scientists to study regional issues associated with coastal hazards, climate change, water quality, ecosystem management, coastal wetlands and pollution. The consortium of universities and institutions includes Mississippi State University, the University of Southern Mississippi, Louisiana State University, Florida State University and Alabama’s Dauphin Island Sea Lab.

About 500 parents and their children braved the rain and wind on Friday October 27 to come out for the fourth Spooktacular Halloween festival at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab Estuarium. The Adventures of Sharkman and Octoboy were featured in the Estuarium, and children of all ages enjoyed the environmentally themed games and Halloween entertainment.

The Dauphin Island Sea Lab Foundation appreciates the support of all the volunteers from the staff, scientists, grad students and docents at the Sea Lab. The Foundation also thanks Kyle Weise for designing the poster, The Joe Jefferson Players and Theatre Guild Actors, The Woman’s Club of Dauphin Island, the Dauphin Island United Methodist Church and our sponsors: Whitney Bank. HIS, Mobile Bay NEP and Wal Tech.
 

(Coastal Clean-up helped fill these two dumpsters in one day! (Photo courtesy of Alison Rellinger)

On Sept. 16, the Graduate Student Organization hosted the Dauphin Island portion of Alabama’s Annual Coastal Cleanup. The event drew nearly 800 people ranging from island residents to boy scout troops from Birmingham. Coastal Cleanup has been canceled the past two years due to hurricanes so the cleanup was long overdue and participants were very busy hauling trash from our beaches. After the cleanup, the graduate students cooked hundreds of hot dogs for the weary participants. All and all it was a huge success and we hope to see even more people next year!
 

Dr. Crozier (left) gives Dr. Schroeder a color illustration of the Sea Lab (photo courtesy of Melissa Mills).

The Sea Lab recently bid farewell to one of its founding faculty as Dr. Will Schroeder announced his retirement after 33 years at the DISL.  A rousing roast was held in his honor at the Estuarium, and Dr. Schroeder agreed with Dr. Cebrian that there is “no goodbye…only ‘hasta la vista.’”  Dr. Schroeder and his wife Beth are heading to Colorado to pursue interests that retirement will grant them the time to follow.

(Left to right) Nate, Andrea and Kevan prepare to tough it out in Alaska (Photo courtesy of Andrea Anton).

Master’s student Charlie Martin recently received a $2,000 scholarship from Legacy. Legacy’s Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to Alabama students who are pursuing environmentally related careers. His thesis is “The effects of invasive Eurasian milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) on trophic interactions of estuarine fishes.”

Graduate students Nate Geraldi , Andrea Anton and Kevan Gregalis went to Cordova, Alaska (SE Prince William Sound) this past September to conduct research in the Copper River Delta. The project, which is supported by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council, is one of the few ecological studies to be performed in this relatively pristine area. The delta is famous for its runs of sockeye, king and silver salmon, some of which found its way back to Dauphin Island.
 

Drake Bessant goes “in-seine” as part of Fresh Air Family.

Fresh Air Family, an organization devoted to promoting outdoor activities for all families, went “in-seine” at the Sea Lab recently. Over 30 participants went seining in the salt marsh, enjoyed a visit to the Estuarium and handled the specimens of the famed Touch Lab. Families came from as far away as Birmingham to enjoy the treasures of the coast.

Dr. Rich Aronson examines the corals off Moorea, French Polynesia.

Dr. Richard B. Aronson was recently elected President of the International Society for Reef Studies (ISRS).  His term will run from January 2007 to the end of 2010.  Founded in 1980, the principal objective of the ISRS is to promote for the benefit of the public, the production and dissemination of scientific knowledge and understanding of coral reefs, both living and fossil.