Ocean Acidification Day of Action: Shell Shocked Virtual Field Trip

January 8, 2021 1:00 PM
(EST)

Summary

As part of the Ocean Acidification Day of Action, this virtual event focuses on the effects of ocean acidification on crustaceans. Amalia and Phil will first provide a brief overview of ocean acidification before discussing how their focal species respond to a changing environment. Phil will focus on the effects of acidification on the swimming behavior of larval stone crabs and spiny lobsters. Amalia will then discuss her work exploring the effects of acidification on the physiology and immune response in juvenile American lobsters. The speakers will then end the presentation with some suggestions for how audience members can get involved in climate action and how even small changes can make a difference. 


Panelists

Philip Gravinese

Assistant Professor of Marine Biology

Philip Gravinese is an Assistant Professor of Marine Biology at Florida Southern College. His research is focused on determining how different environmental stressors, like ocean acidification, impact the development, survival, and behavior of commercially important crustaceans including the Florida stone crab and the spiny lobster. Prior to joining Florida Southern College, he completed his postdoctoral research at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, and received his master’s degree from Florida Institute of Technology where he studied what environmental cues larval stone crabs use to find a home. He also received his doctorate from Florida Institute of Technology where he examined the effects of both elevated temperature and ocean acidification on the hatching success, survival, and behavior of stone crabs throughout their embryonic and larval development.

Amalia Harrington

Marine Extension Associate

Amalia Harrington is a Marine Extension Associate with Maine Sea Grant at the University of Maine. She is also the Northeast Regional Lobster Extension Project Coordinator, with her current work focused on increasing the American lobster industry’s resilience to the biological, economic, and social impacts of ecosystem change across the Northeast. Prior to joining Maine Sea Grant, she received a master’s degree from San Diego State University where she studied the habitat use and sheltering behaviors of the California spiny lobster. She also received her doctorate from the University of Maine’s School of Marine Sciences where she examined the physiological effects of climate change on multiple life history stages of the American lobster.


Classroom Resources

Shell Shocked: Saving Shellfish

Washington’s Puget Sound provides a look into the future of coastal habitats across the world, due to the natural cycle of upwelling that occurs here. Join Philippe Cousteau as explores the links between the organisms that we rarely consider, such as oysters, to those that are symbols of the vast unknown of the ocean, like orca.

Shell Shocked: Engineering Solutions

Go behind the scenes with Philippe Cousteau as he meets with scientists, judges, and semi-finalist teams for the multi-million dollar Wendy Schmidt Ocean Health XPRIZE. Pioneering the future of ocean acidification research, these teams of engineers have been challenged to "create pH sensor technology that will affordably, accurately, and efficiently measure ocean chemistry from its shallowest waters… to its deepest depths."

Shell Shocked: Not Just Chemistry

Ocean acidification is about more than just water chemistry. Climb aboard with Philippe Cousteau as he talks with students, scientists, and fishermen to explore how the people of Washington’s Olympic Coast are responding to changing marine ecosystems.

Science Standards