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The appearance of the Caribbean Spiny Lobster, Panulirus argus, consists of a hard spine that covers its shell, a pair of sensory antennae that are folded along its side when not in use, and a mainly brown-gray body with stripes and yellow spots on the segmented tail. These lobsters can swim backwards to safety by rapidly moving their large tails. This spiny lobster has compound eyes that detect orientation, form, light, and color. The Caribbean spiny lobster does not have pinching claws.
The lobster can grow from a planktonic larva to be 60 cm in length. It can be found in tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico. It is a nocturnal species that inhabits coral reefs where it can hide during the day. The lobster feeds upon gastropods, chitons, bivalves, carrion, sea urchins, worms, crustaceans, and some sea vegetation. It is the prey of by moray eels and nurse sharks. The spiny lobster is a popular seafood and commercially fished.

• MarineBio.org. "Panulirus argus, Caribbean Spiny Lobster."
• http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=155

Long Spined Urchin (Diadema antillarum):
The Long Spined Urchin or "regular" urchin, as it is referred to, is a fair sized echinoderm residing in the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean. It is usually black, although, it can sometimes be white. Adults can be up to 50 cm in length and have painful spines. These spines are used as defense against predators. They live on hard and soft surfaces over the ocean bottom usually in shallow water. They have slow movements and eat algae.

• Farland, K.C. and J.B. Woods. "Marine Invertebrates of Bermuda: Long-spined sea urchin (Diadema antillarum)."
• http://www.thecephalopodpage.org/MarineInvertebrateZoology/Diademaantillarum.html
  

The spotted moray eel, or spotted moray, is a medium sized eel found around the Bahamas and the Atlantic Ocean. This eel grows 3-4 feet in length at adult size. It is referred to as a spotted moray due to the round overlapping dark brown or sometimes purplish spots which cover its white or yellow body. It is a solitary species residing in the benthic zone, preferring coral reef, shallow rocky and grassy bottom areas. It is mostly diurnal, active during the day, and may even work with other ocean predators to catch prey such as crustaceans and fish. It bites prey using sharp teeth and its bite is also dangerous to humans.

• Fishbase. "Gymnothorax moringa: Spotted moray."
• http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=7547

Ghost Crabs are found on sandy beaches all along the Eastern United States and Northern Australian coast. Their tan color allows them to blend in well with the sand which is where they burrow and hide during the day. At night, the omnivorous crab feeds on other crabs, clams, insects, vegetations and detritus. It uses its large eyes, characteristic larger claw and ability to scuttle across the beach as fast as 10 miles per hour to capture food and avoid predation. This crab's large eyes are sensitive to light and allow it to see 360 degrees. Younger crabs are found near the shore and older ones can be found further inland. Ghost crabs hibernate during the winter, holding their breath for six months in special sacs near their gills.

• Shields, J. Virginia Institute of Marine Science. "THE GHOST CRAB, Ocypode quadrata."
• http://www.vims.edu/~jeff/ghost.htm
• Knott, D. "Atlantic Ghost Crab: Ocypode quadrata." South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
• http://www.dnr.sc.gov/cwcs/pdf/Ghostcrab.pdf
  

Squirrelfish are found from North Carolina to East and West Florida. They are also found in Bermuda, parts of the Gulf of Mexico, West Indies and the Caribbean south to Brazil. They are dull red or pinkish in color and are sometimes blotched. They are spiny and most have a clear dorsal fin with yellow. They can reach up to about 12 inches in length. These fish are nocturnal and hide in coral during the day. At night, they swim over sand and grass beds looking for food. Their diet consists of mostly crabs but they also eat other crustaceans. This species is capable of producing sounds.

• MarineBio.org. "Species: Holocentrus adscensionis Squirrelfish."
• http://www.marinebio.com/species.asp?id=42
• FishBase.org. "Species Summary: Holocentrus adscensionis Squirrelfish."
• http://www.fishbase.org/summary/speciessummary.php?id=1061

With a long, narrow jaw and an elongated body, the common name "Needlefish" fits very well. They also have an abundance of very sharp teeth. They tend to inhabit marine environments in the tropics, but also can be found in temperate waters and have even adapted to freshwater and brackish environments.

For the most part, needlefish stay in shallow waters; otherwise they stay near the surface. Getting up to 40cm in length, they feed on smaller fish, crustaceans, cephalopods, and plankton. When hunting, they catch their prey using a sideways sweep of their head. Freshwater needlefish may also find insects, tadpoles and frogs as their popular prey.

• Andrews University. "Organisms / Vertebrates / Atlantic Needlefish."
• http://www.biol.andrews.edu/everglades/organisms/Vertebrates/Fish/Atlantic%20Needlefish/atlantic_needlefish_index.html
• FishBase. "Species Summary: Strongylura marina Atlantic needlefish.
• http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=974
  

Such a magnificent, social mammal the Atlantic Bottle Nosed Dolphin is or otherwise known as Tursiops turcatus. They can be found in warm, shallow, inland temperate and tropical oceans or seas. This type of dolphin would be the largest of the beaked dolphins, with males being considerably larger.

In the wild, these dolphins eat squid, shrimp, eels, and varieties of fish and can swim up to 12mph. As social animals they hunt in teams and work in groups as many as a dozen. They don't migrate but travel widely to locate food or even seek out preferred water temperatures.

Males fight viciously to breed with females. Gestation period is 12 months and offspring in European waters are born in mid summer while by Florida, offspring are born between February and May. Lactation last 12-18 months, but young begin eating solid foods at less than 6 months old. Mother and calf remain close until the calf reaches 4 or 5 years of age, but until then, the bond is inseparable.

• National Aquarium in Baltimore. "Animals Index: Atlantic bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncates."
• http://www.aqua.org/animals_atlanticbottlenosedolphin.html
• Ballenger, L. and T. Lindsley. 2003. "Species: Tursiops truncatus bottlenosed dolphin." University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Animal Diversity Web.
• http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Tursiops_truncatus.html
• Sea World. "Animal Bytes: Bottlenose Dolphin."
• http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/Animal-bytes/animalia/eumetazoa/coelomates/deuterostomes/chordata/craniata/mammalia/cetacea/bottlenose-dolphin.htm
  

The Balistes vetula is distinguished by its two blue face lines, dorsal and tail fin streamers, and eyelash coloring around the eyes. It ranges in size from 8 to 24 inches. The Queen triggerfish navigates reef tops, coral rubble, and grass beds by swimming with its dorsal and anal fins. It is mainly found in tropical climates in the Eastern and Western Atlantic.
The Queen triggerfish can also be recognized by the behavior common to its family of extending out and locking its spine. It is a shy fish and when frightened or hiding from predators the fish can hide in rocks and lock its stout head spine upright against the rock. The Queen triggerfish feeds on a variety of invertebrates, mainly benthic, like sea urchins, clams, and crabs. It can puff water at sea urchins to flip them over and make the unprotected underbelly vulnerable. The eyes of the Queen triggerfish are also set farther back so as to protect it while finding food, like the sea urchin.

• California State University, Long Beach. "Species: Queen Triggerfish."
• http://www.csulb.edu/
  
• Fishbase. "Balistes vetula: Queen Triggerfish."
• http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=19
  
• Pamper, Keith. 2008. Personal Interaction. HSMB Pre-trip Classes.

The Red Mangrove is one of three mangrove species found in Bimini. Red mangroves serve as feeding, breeding, and a nursery for different fish, birds, and other wild life. They produce 3.6 tons of leaf litter per year. What identifies a Red mangrove is it's tall arching roots called pop roots. They also trap mud therefore increasing the soil around them. Red mangroves are found closest to the water, and can be used for fuel, and charcoal.

• University of Florida School of Forest Resources and Conservation. "Florida Forest Trees: Red Mangrove."
• http://www.sfrc.ufl.edu/4h/Red_mangrove/redmangr.htm

The Brain Coral, or Lobophyllia, get their name from the resemblance that they have to a human brain. Coral Polyps make up the brain coral and therefore form the grooves that make the coral look like the human brain. They are found in upper reef slopes and lagoons because they are able to stand up to strong currents. It takes hundreds of years to grow to maturity but it can reach a maximum size of 7 feet around. They eat zooplankton, tiny plants, and phytoplankton. The corals need a lot of light so they are nocturnal and eat at night.

• John G. Shedd Aquarium. "Explorer's Guide: Brain Coral.
• http://www.sheddaquarium.org/sea/fact_sheets.cfm?id=91

The Spanish Hogfish, or Bodianus Rufus, can be found in the Atlantic Ocean from Florida to Brazil. They belong to the Wrasse family. They grow to a maximum of 10 inches. The fish has a vibrant yellow color with purple coloring at the top. They live in rocky or coral reefs. They are known to swim in pacts. The juvenile Hogfish helps to rid other fish of parasites by eating them. Over, as they become adults the Spanish Hogfish begin to eat crustaceans, mollusks, sea urchins and other invertebrates. The Hogfish is able to hyperextend its jaw in order to open its mouth much larger than normal. It can grow to a maximum of 8-10 inches.

• Fishbase. "Bodianus rufus: Spanish hogfish" Fishbase.org.
• http://www.fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=1067
  
• Sea World. "Animal Bytes: Spanish Hogfish."
• http://www.seaworld.org/wild-world/safari/virtual-aquarium/spanish-hogfish.htm

The Nurse Shark is a sea creature found most common in the Atlantic and eastern Pacific oceans. The nurse shark is nocturnal, which means it comes out at night and sleeps in caves in shallow waters during the day. Nurse sharks travel in packs of 40 very close together. The nurse shark typically feeds on fish, stingrays, and molluscs. There are no species that prey on the Nurse shark. Nurse Sharks are mainly non aggressive.

• Guarracino, Mario. "Biological Profile: Nurse Shark." Florida Museum of Natural History.
• http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/nurseshark/nurseshark.htm

The Pink Tipped Anemone, also known as the Haitian anemone, is found in the western portion of the Atlantic Ocean. This type of anemone can be found alone or communally, in small groups, in environments with good lighting and a reasonable current. It is relatively tough and sturdy and can anchor itself in rocky and sandy substrates.

The pink tipped anemone's thick, white or tan tentacles are commonly tipped with an obvious bright or light pink color hence its name. The base of this anemone is also the same white or tan color as the tentacles.

Generally, pink tipped anemones' diets consist of small fish along with shrimp and small invertebrates. Their tentacles do have the ability to sting, which can aid them in catching these small meals.

• CentralPets.com. "Fish and Aquatic inverts: Pink-tipped Anemone."
• http://www.centralpets.com/animals/fish/saltwater_inverts/swi1675.html
  
• Zahra, M. and J.B. Wood. "Marine Invertebrates of Bermuda: Giant Caribbean Sea Anemone (Condylactis gigantea)."
• http://www.thecephalopodpage.org/MarineInvertebrateZoology/Condylactisgigantea.html

The Foureye Butterflyfish gets its name from its unique false eyespots, dark black spots towards the rear end of the fish. These spots help to confuse predators into thinking that the rear of the fish is actually the front. The butterflyfish's real eyes are concealed by a dark, vertical bar, which can further mislead a predator. This fish can range from at least three inches up to about six inches in size, and its thin and oval shape helps it to move easily in the water through the flitting and beating of its delicate fins.

The foureye butterflyfish is almost always grazing on small invertebrates in small crevices and cracks in the reef using its small, specialized mouth. It is active during the day, and, at night, it shelters itself in the reef to keep out of the reach of predators.

The foureye butterflyfish is found primarily in the western areas of the Atlantic Ocean. It typically lives in shallower waters of these subtropical regions

• Patton, Casey. "Biological Profiles: Four-eye Butterflyfish." Florida Museum of Natural History.
• http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/ButterflyFour/ButterflyFour.htm
  
• Wu, Qing Quig. "Species: Chaetodon capistratus foureye butterflyfish." University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Animal Diversity Web.
• http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Chaetodon_capistratus.html

Vibrantly colored, these beautiful creatures in their adult stage are blue with yellow and green and live around coral reefs in the ocean. They tend to sleep in open spaces among the reefs to more easily escape from predators. In their initial state their colors are black with a full red underside. As juveniles have three bars of white scales along their black bodies. As adults they can reach up to 22 inches in length. They feed on coral and algae since they have beaks so if one hears a chomping noise while snorkeling, it is most likely some sort of parrotfish chewing on the corals.. As for reproduction these creatures can go through sex changes throughout their lives.

• Bester, Cathleen. "Biological Profiles: Stoplight Parrotfish." Florida Museum of Natural History.
• http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/Sparrotfish/SParrotfish.html
  
• Leonard, Jared. "Marine Ecology Articles: Stoplight Parrotfish." Miami University (Ohio): Hays Cumins' Home Page.
• http://jrscience.wcp.muohio.edu/fieldcourses03/PapersMarineEcologyArticles/StoplightParrotfish.html

These interesting birds have a body that's all white with the exception of their head which switches from a white color in the summer to black in the winter. Juvenile body feathers are brownish but they also have the black and white head colors. The Laughing Gull will swoop down from the air to catch fish in their beaks and crabs found on shore but will eat anything to survive. They tend to eat at night but are active in the day and can usually be found in large colonies. These birds live along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and grow to about 13 inches long. They have a great tolerance for intense temperatures. The laughing gull makes a sound, "ha ha ha" thus the name "laughing gull".

• Cornell University Lab of Ornithology. "All About Birds: Laughing Gull.
• http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Laughing_Gull.html
  
• Honolulu Zoo. "Animal Info: Laughing Gull.
• http://www.honoluluzoo.org/laughing_gull.htm
  
• Audubon Society. "Project Puffin: Laughing Gull.
• http://www.audubon.org/bird/puffin/virtual/lagu.html

Soft Coral are members of the order Alcyonacea. These corals are found in all of the world's oceans being most abundant in tropical waters. They can be found as deep as 150 feet and can grow larger than 2 feet. Soft Coral differ from hard coral because they do not have stony outer skeletons. Therefore they are not reef building corals. Soft corals reproduce asexually which means they reproduce alone. This happens through a process called budding where the parent makes a smaller copy of itself that breaks away. Soft Coral uses chemicals to defend itself. The chemicals prevent the growth of other coral in the area. These corals may also use chemicals to clean bacteria and other elements near their bodies. This not only benefits them, but also the other organisms nearby.

• PetEducation.com. "Soft Corals, Stoloniferans, Gorgonians, Sea Pens.
• http://www.peteducation.com/category_summary.cfm?cls=16&cat=1926
  
• Milstein, Mati. July 13, 2007. "Soft Corals "Melting" Due to Warming, Expert Says." National Geographic News.
• http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/07/070713-corals-melt.html
  

Most Blennies reach the size of around 7 inches. These fish are closely related to the Gobi's. Blennies are usually recognized by the eye lashes that go over their eyes and nostrils. They are bottom dwellers and are usually near coral reefs and rocky areas. They are found in tropical and temperate waters around the world. Blennies spend most of their time grazing on micro algae and small crustaceans. There are no distinguishing facts present to help identify males from females, although the females are usually bigger than the males.

• Animal Planet. 2008. "Fish Guide: Blennies."
• http://animal.discovery.com/guides/fish/marine/blennintro.html

Sargassum is a phaeophyta that is located throughout various parts of the world, mostly in the Pacific Ocean. Nonetheless, it can also be found in the Caribbean. This is a type of phytoplankton because its root system is free floating and not anchored in the ground therefore this algae is at the mercy of the currents. It is able to stay afloat by long stringy blades and floaters. By staying near the surface of the water, it is able to carry out the process of photosynthesis much more easily. This seaweed is very important to the marine environment being both a source of food and providing shelter for many aquatic plants and animals. Conservation efforts have been put into place to limit or ban the harvesting of Sargassum. These efforts have focused around sea turtles because of its importance to hatchlings. Sargassum forests are important to sea turtle hatchlings by being a food source and as a nursery where they can find safety until they are large enough to move into the open ocean.

Phillips, N., Smith, C., Morden, C., and Fredericq, S. December 2000. GLOBAL "SYSTEMATIC AND PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF SARGASSUM IN THE GULF OF MEXICO, CARIBBEAN AND PACIFIC BASIN."

• Journal of Phycology. Volume 36, Supplement 3. pp. 55-55(1).
• http://www.ingentaconnect.com/
  
• Caribbean Turtle Conservation Corporation and Sea Turtle Survival League. "Help Ban the Harvest of Sargassum -- A Vital Habitat for Hatchling Sea Turtles."
• http://www.cccturtle.org/alerts/a_sargassum.htm

Found throughout Peru, the Caribbean, and Cuba, there are 28 species of Curly-Tailed Lizards. As adults, these lizards are between 6 to 14 inches in length, depending on species. They typically have large dorsal or top scales. The habitats of Curly-Tailed lizards can range from open forests and rocky steppes to sandy beaches. Their name derives from their action of whipping or curling their tails when they are excited or alarmed. Like most lizards, they lay eggs and are land-dwelling. The main source of food for Curly-Tailed Lizards is arthropods, which includes insects, crustaceans and arachnids. They are also diurnal, which means they are active during the day.

• Kaplan, Melissa. 2001. "Herp Care Collection: Curly -tailed Lizard.
• http://www.anapsid.org/curlytailed.html

The yellow stingray is a member of the Urolophidea. This ray can be found in Atlantic coastal waters from North Carolina to Florida and throughout the Gulf of Mexico. It is typically found in shallow water in sandy and muddy habitats, often buried in the bottom. The yellow stingray is characterized by a round body. It has a well developed caudal fin that extends around the tip of its tail. The tail spine is located just anterior or underneath the caudal fin.

• Florida Museum of natural History. "Biological Profiles: Yellow Stingray."
• http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/YellowStingray/YellowStingray.html

The Sphyraena Barracuda also known as the Great Barracuda is found in nearly all the warm seas. Most barracudas are found in the tropical regions of the Indo-Pacific and Atlantic oceans in and around coral reefs. The larval stages live in the reef margins and in the estuaries where they are protected. Great Barracudas are usually found in water temperatures between 74F and 82F, but have been found in much cooler water. Barracudas are characterized by their long silvery body with two wide dorsal fins. The Great Barracuda is a solitary animal which will sometimes school. When they school it is typically for hunting or protection. Barracudas are known to be vicious fish.

• Fuller, Brianne. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Animal Diversity Web. "Species: Sphyraena barracuda great barracuda."
• http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Sphyraena_barracuda.html

Green sea turtles live in warm tropical waters from South Africa to New England and in the Pacific from the Americas to West Africa. Green Sea turtles bury their eggs on beaches. After hatching only females will return to land and only to lay eggs. Females will return to the same beach, to lay eggs, where they hatched.

They are called green turtles because of the color of their green flesh. Their limbs are like paddles, which they use to swim. Males are larger than females and have a longer tail that extends well past the shell. The shell can vary in color, from brown to olive to even black, depending on geographic location. Green sea turtles cannot pull their head inside their shell. Certain green turtles can reach lengths of 153 centimeters and weigh up to 205 kg (451 lbs). There are two types (sub species) of green turtle- the Atlantic green turtle and the Eastern Pacific green sea turtle (sometimes called black sea turtle due to its dark carapace, and can be found along Alaska, California, and Chile). A couple of differences between the two are that the Eastern Pacific turtle has a higher set shell and it is also narrower.

They are herbivores. They are considered an endangered species and are on the US Federal List, as well as the IUCN (International Union fir Conservation of Nature). They have many predators including humans.

• Crite, Janel. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Animal Diversity Web. "Species: Chelonia mydas green sea turtle."
• http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Chelonia_mydas.html

Sea purslane, or sea pickle, is a member of the carpetweed family and is commonly found in the mangroves of south Florida. Its stem and leaves are edible but salty. In some areas, like Asia, it is grown and sold in markets. Medicinal uses include curing scurvy and kidney disorders. They bloom for the entire year. They have tiny star shaped flowers with no petals, but they have greenish sepals and a pink interior, making them appear dainty and delicate. It is about 6 inches long. Their leaves resemble the shape of a paddle or perhaps a spoon. The leaves are .5 inches to 2 inches long, are fleshy, and have smooth surfaces. Leaves are green with occasional red. The leaf bases are 'winged'. The red, fleshy stems are 8-20 inches long. The branches that come off the step are placed sparingly. As was said, they can be found in mangroves, but also beaches, salt flats, dunes, and marsh edges.

• Florida Museum of Natural History. "Coastal Prairies: native Flora."
• http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/southflorida/everglades/coastalprairie/flora.html
  
• University of Florida School of Forest Resources and Conservation. "Florida Forest Plants: Sea Purselane."
• http://www.sfrc.ufl.edu/4h/Sea_purslane/seapursl.htm

Scientifically known as Spirobranchus giganteus, the Christmas Tree Worm is a weird but very cool creature. It is found only on reefs, throughout the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Christmas Tree Worms grow at a very slow rate, but can live up to 40 years! They use a method also used by clams and other shellfish called filter feeding. This is where they filter out passing plankton and obtain their nutrients. An interesting and unique feature on Christmas Tree Worms is the branches off it. These extensions actually function as the worms gills, making it able to live and breathe underwater.

• Moorea Coral Reef LTER. "Coral Reefs of Moorea: Christmas Tree Worm."
• http://mcr.lternet.edu/education/encyclopedia/speciescard.php?refID=3&CreatureID=29
  
• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. "Beauty in the Bahamas: Christmas Tree Worm."
• http://www.whoi.edu/whoi_through_lens.do?clid=972&mainid=3517&p=3515&n=3519

Porcupine Puffers, also known as globefish, blowfish, balloon fish, and toadfish, are classified under the Family Diodontidae and the Genus Diodon. Its full scientific name is Diodon Holacanthus. Porcupine Puffers live mainly among coral reefs in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. Puffers are nocturnal, so you are more likely to see them out at night searching for food. The eat mostly clams, small squids, and sea-urchins.
They eat mostly clams, small squids, and sea-urchins. Porcupine Puffers are mostly brownish in color and grow up to 12 inches. It has a fan-like dorsal fin, and also scattered black or brown spots. They use inflating as a defense mechanism. When scared or harmed, puffers with inflate their body by gulping water. Another characteristic of Porcupine puffers is that their skin, intestines, gonads, and liver contain a deadly poison called detradotoxin. Despite being poison, they are still eaten in many Asian cultures, but must be prepared by highly skilled chefs so there is no poison in your food.

• http://www1.broward.edu/~ssimpson/Pearce..htm

The Flamingo Tongue Snail, like its name suggests, is a colorful species of invertebrate that resembles that of a tongue. With it's beautiful light-yellow skin and giraffe-like black-and-gold spots, this snail appears as though it is missing its shell. However, the shell is, in fact, internal, covered by the patterned skin of the organism. This skin covering the shell, called the mantle, can be moved, revealing the shell underneath.
This snail belongs to the class Gastropoda, which consists of marine snails with a and without a shell or having a reduced shell.
The Flamingo Tongue Snail resides in reefs, seeking the shelter and food they provide. They eat coral, which also provide them with a place to lay their eggs.

• Nahabedian, S., J.B. Woods and M. Parr.
• Marine Invertebrates of Bermuda: Flamingo Tongue Snail.
• http://www.thecephalopodpage.org/MarineInvertebrateZoology/Cyphomagibbosum1.html

At 10 to 24 inches long, the Grey Angelfish is a large and beautiful fish to see. Its color ranges from silver grey to charcoal grey. It has yellow pectoral fins and has faint, neon-blue tips to its tail and dorsal fin. Grey Angelfish reside in reef habitats, feeding on the sponges and algae that make their home there. The Grey Angels like the cover that the reefs provide them from predators and the reef habitat provides plenty of space and shelter for their young to grow up protected. Among the other colorful reef fish, it is a Grey beauty. The Grey Angelfish is often found in pairs, but not in schools.

• Bester, Cathleen. Florida Museum of Natural History.
• Biological Profiles: Gray Angelfish.
• http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/gallery/Descript/GrayAngelfish/GrayAngelfish.html
  
• California State University, Long Beach. "Marine Species: Gray Angelfish.
• http://www.csulb.edu/depts/biology/marine/species/Gray_Angelfish.html_f/Gray_Angelfish.html

BLUEHEAD WRASSE
Order - Perciformes
Family - Labridae
Genus - Thalassoma
Species - bifasciatum

Bluehead Wrasses typically are found in tropical waters of the western Atlantic Ocean. Living in coral and offshore reefs. They are found 100ft below the water surface. Blue heads swim in large schools. They are found in a variety of colors. They have a bright blue head with two dark vertical stripes separated with a white bar. The rest of the body is green. They have a pointed snout and a mouth with teeth. They swim with only there fins. Flapping of the pectoral fins helps them move among coral reefs. They can be a length of 25cm and have a maximum age of about three years. They eat zooplankton, worms, mollusks and other small crustaceans.

• Bester, Cathleen. Florida Museum of Natural History.Biological Profiles: Bluehead Wrasse.
  
• http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/gallery/Descript/Bluehead/Bluehead.html
• Estoff, Liz. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Animal Diversity Web.
  
• Thalassoma bifasciatum; bluehead.
  
• http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/
  

The lionfish-also known as the turkey fish, the dragon fish, and the scorpion fish is a venomous fish native to the Indo-Pacific waters. It lives in reefs and rocky crevices.
The fish usually grows to 1 ft (.3 m) in length, but has been recorded to grow up to 15 in (.4 m) in some cases. It has white and brown-red stripes across the body, as well as large pectoral fins, which can almost be as big as the fish's body in some cases. They deliver venom from their needle-like dorsal fins, though it is a defensive mechanism only, as they rely on camouflage and speed to catch shrimp and small fish.

They have recently found their way into Caribbean waters and have become an invasive species there.

• National Geographic. "Animals: Lionfish Pterois volitans (Red Lionfish).
  http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/lionfish.html

The Southern Stingray is a ray commonly found in the waters of the Atlantic ocean, ranging from as far north as New Jersey and as far south as Brazil. It grows up to 6 ft (2 m) from wingtip to wingtip, and can weigh as much as 300 lbs (136 kg).
They have a "typical" ray shape, consisting of a flattened disc-shaped body. They are a brown-gray on the top of the body, and are white on the underbelly. Their eyes and gill slits (called spiracles) are dorsal, while the mouth is ventral. They also have a whip-like tail armed with a barb, though this is only used in self defense

• In the wild, they have few natural predators, except fro the occasional large shark. They feed of a diet of small crustaceans, small fish, and clams.
  Dasyatis americana, Southern Stingray - MarineBio.org. Retrieved Wednesday, July 2, 2008, from http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=521.
  
• National Aquarium in Baltimore. "Animal Index: Southern stingray
  Dasyatis Americana." http://www.aqua.org/animals_southernstingray.html

An upside-down jelly doesn't have a central mouth, instead, has hundreds of tiny mouth openings. By pulsing its bell, it forces zooplankton into the nematocysts on its mouth openings. This zooplankton is its main food source. This jelly is a favorite meal for ocean sunfish and the endangered leatherback sea turtle. Upside-down jellies are more vulnerable than jelly species that live in the open ocean or the deep sea. They live in mangrove forests and shallow lagoons along tropical coasts. Mangrove forests are among the most threatened ecosystems on Earth; they're constantly under siege from coastal development. People clear mangroves to build hotels, housing and fish farms. Pollution flows into mangrove forests from these coastal developments, endangering all life in this rich forest habitat. The jellies can get 10 inches wide and 2 inches high. When very young, this unusual jelly flips upside-down and pulses to the seafloor. It uses its bell much like a suction cup to stick to the seafloor. The brown-green color is caused by symbiotic algae living inside the jelly's tissues.

• Waikiki Aquarium. "Marine Life Profile: Upside-down Jelly.
• http://www.waquarium.org/MLP/root/pdf/MarineLife/Invertebrates/Cnidarians/UpsideDownJelly.pdf

The Doctorfish, Acanthurus chirurgus, gets its name from a small, sharp spine-like structure that lies along each side of the caudal peduncle. This is referred to as a "scalpel", and is as sharp as its name suggests. It is used during fights with other fish for dominance and for defense against predators. The Doctorfish reaches lengths of 12 inches and can vary slightly in its overall color. It can change from blue-gray to dark brown. It has from 10-12 thin, dark, vertical bars visible on the sides. There is a faint blue ring that circles the scalpel on each side. The edges of the anal, dorsal, and caudal fins are blue, regardless of the body color. The Doctor fish lives in shallow areas of reef or rocky habitats. The Doctorfish is a daytime grazer, feeding on mostly algae and organic detritus. Its teeth, specialized for scraping algae, are spatula-like in shape, close together, and notched on the edges.

• Acanthurus chirurgus, Doctorfish - MarineBio.org. Retrieved Wednesday, July 2, 2008, from http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=27.

The purple sea fan, or Gorgonia ventalina, is a beautiful and unique coral that grows in the shape of a fan and has a distinctive purple coloring. They are found in a large number of habitats despite the old belief that their growth was limited to outer and rim reefs. They've now spread to shallow waters in Bermuda and the Caribbean. The reason for their expansion is that they flourish in constant flowing areas for feeding and respiration purposes. They can grow to be about 190 centimeters tall by 150 centimeters wide and are truly a breathtaking part of our ecosystem.

• Baker, T.A. and J.B. Wood. "Marine Invertebrates of Bermuda: Common Sea Fan.
• http://www.thecephalopodpage.org/MarineInvertebrateZoology/Gorgoniaventalina.html

The yellow tail snapper, or Ocyurus chrysurus, are part of the Lutjanidae family. Their bodies are silver with a prominent yellow mid-lateral stripe which begins at the mouth and runs to their tail. Their back and upper sides have yellow spots while it's lower sides and belly have narrow, long pink and yellow stripes. They're found inshore on grass beds and back reefs as juveniles and near shore or offshore as adults. Their common size is about 3 pounds but the Florida State record is 7 pounds and 5 ounces. They're most commonly found in tropical waters and feed on small fish and invertebrates.

• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 199-2008. Fishing Lines.
• http://www.floridaconservation.org/marine/FishID/snapyt.html

Introduction

Covering upwards of 70% of the earth's surface the marine environment supports entire lifecycles of a multitude of organisms. Individual habitats which exist within the marine environment have unique biotic and abiotic features which affect their productivity and, their ability to support various forms of life. The characteristics of each habitat act as a major driving force in the evolution of the animals therein, providing selective pressures that lead to the differential survival within a population (Sumich, 1996). For this reason, one would expect to find, within each habitat, animals that are well suited to overcome the various challenges present and pass along their genes to the next generation.

To understand the inhabitants of any given habitat, one needs to assess the specific challenges present. By gaining an intimate understanding of these challenges, one may successfully comprehend adaptations possessed by different species and also why some species are found in on habitat and not found in another.

The Bahamas contain several different marine habitats. Two that are very important to marine life include a shallow, sandy bottom and a similarly shallow but grassy bottom habitat.

Research question:

Is there a difference in the number (and diversity) of organisms that can be observed in sandy vs. grassy bottom habitats?

Click here for additional information about our beach seine research project.

Introduction

Marine debris is any persistent solid material that is manufactured or processed and directly or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally, disposed of or abandoned into the aquatic environment. Every year, marine debris injures and kills marine life, interferes with navigation safety, has adverse economic impacts to shipping and coastal industries, and poses a threat to human health. Our oceans and waterways are constantly polluted with a wide variety of marine debris ranging from soda cans and plastic bags to derelict fishing gear and abandoned vessels (NOAA 2008).

Research question:

Which type of marine debris is most prevalent in Bimini, Bahamas?

Click here for additional information about our marine debris research project.

Introduction

Invasive species are organisms that spread rapidly and potentially cause harm to other organisms that naturally occur in a given area. Invasive species may also be called exotic, non-native or introduce species (Krasny, 2003).

Native to Australia, Southeast Asia and the south Pacific Islands, Australian pine (Casuarina equisetifolia) is an exotic inhabitant of the U.S. and Bahamas that was introduced in the 1800's to provide erosion control, windbreak and shade along beaches. This tree is not a pine but an angiosperm (flowering plant) and produces a thick layer of cover, casting a great amount of shade over surrounding plants (Sweringen, 2007).
In this project, we will assess the impact of the presence of Australian pine (Casuarina equisetifolia) by measuring Australian pine canopy cover and presence of native Bahamian plants.

Research question

Does the presence of Australian pine (Casuarina equisetifolia) impact the occurrence of native plant species in the surrounding area?

Click here for additional information about our vegetation survey.

Introduction

Plankton refers to free floating or weak swimming aquatic organisms that drift in water currents. They are distributed horizontally, vertically, and seasonally in water with the majority of plankton living in the photic zone, between 0-100m (Nybakken, 2001). The sunlight present in the photic zone is necessary for photosynthesis to occur in phytoplankton. In turn, zooplankton feed on plankton and other free swimming organisms feed on zooplankton. Therefore plankton is either directly or indirectly a source of food for most aquatic organisms and the base of the aquatic food web (Nybakken, 2001).

Plankton is primarily distributed by light but nutrient availability, climatic changes, and the presence of other plankton affect it (Nybakken, 2001). All of these factors result in the regional, climatic, seasonal, and time of day variance in plankton communities. Plankton thrives in specified conditions at the water's surface so these factors and the presence/ absence and abundance of plankton communities can be used as an environmental indicator.

To better understand the abundance and distribution of plankton communities in the Bahamas we will do several plankton toes during the day as well as at night to see how the time of day affects plankton.

Research question:

How do relative time and condition affect the population size and variety of plankton in any given sample?

Click here for additional information about our Plankton Tow research project.