Hello Everyone,

Below are links to all the Grouper Moon education lessons.  As I said in the workshop, I am happy to work with any of you to adapt these lessons to better suit your students.

Cheers!

Todd

Grouper Moon Education Synopsis-13jjcce

Cooper The Grouper’s Life Cycle-2hr3nfo

Grouper Race Game Board-19pa4dq

Grouper Race For Survival Game-1phsdvg

Grouper Moon Scope And Sequence-1svleaz

Grouper Moon Pre-Activity 2-1r7okib

Grouper Moon Pre-Activity 1-26xb8qp

Grouper Moon Education Synopsis-13jjccn

Grouper Keystone Species Activity-1cxyv9m

Grouper Education Think About What You Eat Activity-rjr0xx

Field Guide Middle Grades-139s5v1

Field Guide High School-1da0y3i

 

 

Cayman Grouper Moon project Nov.2019

Hello Everyone!

The Nassau Grouper spawning event took place on Saturday evening, February 23rd!  I was on a plane flying back to the United States, however, DOE and REEF scientists were there at the site and recorded the video below.  You will notice divers swimming through the water column, collecting samples.  Can anyone tell me why we are doing this?

Hello Everyone!

Can you imagine what 7000 Nassau Grouper look like, all gathered together in one place?  It’s an awe-inspiring sight and something I could not conceive of until I actually saw it for myself.  Below are some videos that might help you to understand what an awesome sight it really is.  Remember, these are big fish, many of which are 3 feet or longer!

Grouper Aggregation -14uvofu

Grouper Aggregation -22g0ye0

Hello Everyone!

There are so many amazing and beautiful marine animals that make their home in the Caribbean coral reef.  However, one that blows my mind every time is the Juvenile Spotted Drum.  They look like something out of a fairytale.  Below is a clip filmed by the amazing, Anna DeLoach. Click on the link below to see!

 

Juvenile-Spotted-Drum-Little-Cayman-720-unmlf3-1wj870y-zco20k

 

Hello Everyone,

Ok, so Nassau Grouper may not ACTUALLY be magic, but they can do some pretty magical things.  This amazing fish can actually change its color, and they do it surprisingly fast.  Below is a picture of the Nassau’s different colors, or what the scientists, “color phases.”  Grouper can change their color for a number of reasons, such as communication and for camouflage.

Can you think of any other animals that have this unique ability?

 

Hello Everyone!

It was so great to see you all this morning on the live-feed!  As I promised, here is the video footage of our new Trident ROV.

Today on our Hangout, we mentioned that we have not yet come up with a name for our new research assistant.  We were hoping that you would be able to help us come up with a fantastic name for the ROV.  You can post your ideas in the comments below or you can email me at todd@reef.org

Go Grouper Moon!

 

Hello Everyone!

This year on the Grouper Moon Project we have a special new researcher working on the aggregation, in the form of an ROV.  Below is a picture of Dr. Brice Semmens having a chat with our new ROV last month on the spawning aggregation site. What types of tasks do you think an ROV could help with on the Grouper Moon Project?

Leave your comments below!

 

Hello Everyone!

After 24 hours of travel, I made it to Grand Cayman last night and now I am finally here in Little.  All of the Department of Environment & REEF researchers and scientists are arriving and preparing to head out to the spawning aggregation site.

In preparation for this year’s live feeds, I thought it would be good to test our FISH ID skills.  Can you identify any of the following marine species, commonly found on the reef here in the Cayman Islands?

1. #1

1.a (close-up)

2.

3.

4.

5.

Feel free to email your answers to me at todd@reef.org or you can leave comments directly on the blog.  If you do post on the blog, please use your first name only.

Cheers!

Todd