A lifelong New Yorker, the great-grandfather of Dr. Christian Heesch arrived in New York at Ellis Island. This famous port was the landing destination for more than 12 million immigrants. His father’s grandfather provided for his family as a fisherman. It seems that all the fingers of his destiny were pointed to marine biology in one way or another. Providing fellow human beings with the facts and figures regarding overfishing is just a part of his work as a marine biologist; but a part that deeply concerns him. His research and studies give great insight and have a profound effect on the rules and regulations guarding the wildlife fish of our waters. Many are not aware of how important the ecosystems of the ocean are to our very own ecosystem on land. Millions of jobs all around the world rely on the oceans and their inhabitants. Not just a source of economic prosperity, oceans also contain many mysteries, and have been a focal point of scientific exploration for many years. The unique creatures and plant life of the ocean has allowed scientists to create useful industrial chemicals, medicines, and more. Dr. Heesch’s research and contributions through marine biology impact regions of the United States starting with Alaska and continuing all the way to the Florida Keys. Dr. Christian Heesch and other professionals in his field aid scientific research and protection of waters throughout the world. Little did his great-grandfather know that his heirs in life would have such a great impact on the livelihood that provided for his family so many years ago. Dr. Christian Heesch is a recent graduate with a Ph.D. in Marine Biology. He vividly recalls the majestic appearance of whales in the 1993 movie “Free Willy”. This movie was an inspiration in his decision to become an active member in the New York Whale and Dolphin League.
The tragic accident that left 12 dead, and 8 rescued, involved a pod of dolphins. On Saturday, January 13, 2007, the dolphins became trapped in an East Hampton cove. At first, the dolphins seemed healthy to the thousands of people that flocked to the site, eager to catch a view of these amazing creatures. Within one day, rescue efforts to save the dolphins were in full swing. Unfortunately, the failure of rescue attempts left four of the pod of dolphins dead. By Friday, the death toll of the dolphins rose up to nine, and the grim reality of this event caused heartbreak to thousands. The aftermath of the accidental entrapment took 12 lives in the end but left 8 rescued and returned safely to open waters. No one knows for sure was caused the dolphins to come so close to shore, perhaps they were looking for food. The depleting food source of the ocean waters has become a serious issue over the years. The reduced numbers of plankton caused by Global warming affect oceans all over the world. Dr. Christian Heesch realizes the importance of protecting and improving the environment through his work as a marine biologist. He actively supports the efforts of the New York Whale and Dolphin League in their campaign to save these endangered species. Dr. Christian Heesch earned his Ph.D. in marine biology from The State University of New York at Stony Brook. An extraordinary marine biologist, a little bit tongue in cheek, we should ask whether perhaps he is a genius. His messy desk is one signifier, but let’s take a closer look at the common traits most geniuses seem to possess.
The most common signs of a genius are the following:
Geniuses are curious about everything. They want to understand everything from outer space to the bottom of the ocean. Their curiosity knows no limit. They always want to know the “why” and the “how” in everything they research. A genius enjoys reading. Readers are sometimes perceived as nerds, but in reality, reading is the greatest tool we have for gaining knowledge. Geniuses enjoy spending their time with their face in a book because they are able to learn new things. They find the answers to the questions in their mind through reading. A genius loves a good mental challenge. Geniuses love learning about new things and part of the learning process is having your knowledge tested. They tend to forget things. Forgetting things is a sign of a genius. Intellectuals tend to be preoccupied with other things. Forgetfulness is the sign of a brilliant mind. They talk to themselves. Talking to yourself helps to improve your memory. When you speak to yourself out loud it re-enforces ideas and it will become easier to remember. It is easier to maintain your train of thought when you speak loudly to yourself. Dr. Heesch demonstrates his extraordinary ability to achieve success in everything he does. From researching microscopic organisms to hiking the most intimidating trails, he loves anything that involves a challenge. His insatiable curiosity as a child is what led him into the world of science and the study of organisms in the earth’s waters. He is often spotted in the cafeteria with a book in one hand and a meatball hoagie in the other. His assistant in his lab has a spare set of keys to his car and office, in an effort to save time every day, as she continuously notices him struggling to remember where the heck he put his keys. The colleges of Dr. Christian Heesch often turn around, not wanting to disrupt the meeting behind his laboratory door, only to realize later, he was talking to himself. He may secretly be one of the cleverest creatures on the planet, having more brain power than the average person. True geniuses do have similarities in their genetics. As a marine biologist, Dr. Christian Heesch dives head first into his research and studies of plankton. Through such studies, he has discovered the amazing contributions these tiny organisms make to the oceans and other waters of our universe. A long time native of New York, he often ventures out to the harbor with his nets and bottles that aid him in his research. In a lecture today he shares important information that will educate you regarding plankton according to his findings.
Discussing Phytoplankton: The theme of the Dr. Heesch lecture today will include the terms; microscale, phytoplankton patchiness, and protozoa. The definitions of those terms are briefly described below to help you understand their meaning: Microscale: less than one meter. Patchiness: the spatial scales over which significant changes in organism density occur. Phytoplankton: single-celled bacteria and protozoa that fix organic carbon through photosynthesis. When you think of phytoplankton you mostly think of things like diatoms (single-celled organisms covered in a shell of silica), or dinoflagellates (these are the single-celled organisms covered with a very beautiful shell made of cellulose). Up until 1980, these were the phytoplankton marine biologists knew of in the ocean. Around 1980, they discovered the cyanobacteria, which included Prochlorococcus and synechococcus. These organisms are actually far more abundant and more important in terms of primary production than the diatoms and the dinoflagellates. These are single-celled protozoa with nuclei and are not all the same size. There are very numerous and very important. Phytoplankton (tiny plants) and zooplankton (weak-swimming animals) interact with each other. If they want to eat and mate, they have to find a mate and exchange information. Through his sampling and research using nets and bottles, Dr. Heesch uncovered that the food has to be patchy. It’s distributed in blobs that somehow these organisms are finding and exploiting to keep their growth up. Part of his research also includes the understanding of why there are so many species of plankton. Continued research and studies will help find the answer to this question. It appears as though all life form is somehow attached to the ocean. The research and studies of marine biologists are instrumental in finding the answers to life’s most intricate questions. Their wisdom and knowledge continuously open new doors and find important discoveries. Dr. Heesch has a never ending thirst for the knowledge and understanding of the common connectors in all life forms. Perhaps, through his continuing research, Dr. Christian Heesch will find the answers to all of his questions regarding plankton. Until then he keeps “swimming” forward with his studies of the mystical and wondrous tiny organisms in the world’s oceans and waterways. Dr. Christian Heesch - Mitigation Measures To Reduce The Effects of Military Sonar on Marine Life6/3/2016
Dr. Christian Heesch is interested in the protection and preservation of all forms of marine life, with one of the areas that he has taken particular interest in being the effects that military sonar can have on a number of animals, particularly whales. Thankfully, this is an issue that has been receiving greater attention in recent years and many navies have started defining their own mitigation methods in order to counteract the problem.
Not Operating In Specific Areas There are a number of areas of the world’s oceans that are considered sensitive, often due to the fact that they contain high concentrations of marine life that could be adversely effected by military sonar. Many navies have chosen to mark these areas out and ban the use of military sonar by vessels that are operating in them. Using Fish-Finders Military sonar can still cause issues in areas that are not considered sensitive. Many navies now use special fish-finders that are specifically designed to check if there are any whales in range before military sonar is used. This technology is still fairly new, so hopefully further advancements will make it even more effective in the future. Continued Investigation Even with these measures in place, Dr. Christian Heesch notes that there are still many instances of whale stranding every single year. Many navies have now started paying professional research teams to help them investigate the causes of each stranding, so that they can better regulate their uses of military sonar so it doesn’t happen again. Now the he is a more experienced hiker, marine biologist Dr. Christian Heesch has developed a passion for taking on longer and more challenging trails than the ones he faced when he first started hiking. Longer hikes present a range of challenges that you won’t face on shorter trails, so try to keep all of the following in mind to ensure you stay as safe as possible.
Pack Light Fatigue is going to become much more of a concern as your hikes get longer, so you need to make the effort to counteract its effects and keep yourself as healthy as possible. In addition to taking along all of the food and water you will need for the hike, it is also a good idea to pack as light as possible so that you don’t get overburdened during your trek. Take A Windshirt You will need to take into account the possibility of weather conditions changing during the course of your hike, so it is vital that you pack kit to account for this. A good windshirt is light and will protect you from the elements when needed, making it a much better option that heavier jackets if you are wary about the effects of fatigue while on your hike. A Flashlight If you anticipate hiking for so long that it gets dark, you must take a flashlight along. Dr. Christian Heesch points out that a good flashlight, which should have new batteries and a fresh bulb, will allow you to stay on the trail and also make it easier to read maps or find other items in your kit. As a marine biologist, Dr. Christian Heesch is concerned about the effects that overfishing can have, both on the species that are intended to be caught and the many wild fish that get killed and discarded as a result of fishing. He has noted that many wild species have been experiencing population decline due to the effects of overfishing. With that in mind, all of the below are things that the average person can do in an effort to counter the effects of this issue.
Know What You Eat There is plenty of information out there that will let you know about the impact various types of fishing have on marine populations. By taking some time to research, you will be able to choose to eat fish from suppliers who make efforts to keep their practices as sustainable as possible, or those who catch fish in areas where they will not leave a large footprint in terms of population impact. Consider Farmed Fish In an effort to conserve a number of species, some suppliers have taken to farming fish specifically for consumption. This reduces the possibility that other wildlife will be caught up in nets to practically nil, plus it is a sustainable practice in much the same way as most other methods of farming. Spread The Word Dr. Christian Heesch is quick to speak to anybody who shows an interest in the impact of overfishing. By spreading the word and informing people of your concerns, you make it more likely that others will consider the issues that overfishing causes. Working as a marine biologist, Dr. Christian Heesch understands that there are few ecosystems more important than the coral reefs that embellish the oceans and seas. Much of his practical education in graduate school was spent on the study of coral reefs, giving him a level of unsurpassed knowledge. Over the years, he has learned many unique and engaging facts about the coral reef systems.
There are few underwater environments with more biodiversity than what is found in a coral reef. This is one of the biggest reasons that coral reefs are so important to the oceans as a marine resource. More than an exciting recreational excursion for divers, coral reefs provide a home for many aquatic organisms, they offer potential medicines for the human population, they offer a buffer for many shorelines, and they create the sands for our beaches. A coral reef is built from a collection of millions of coral polyps that closely resemble upside down jellyfish. In fact, corals themselves are a member of the cnidaria phylum along with anemones and jellyfish. To form a reef, this grouping of coral polyps leeches the extra carbon dioxide from the water and air atmospheres to create limestone. It is only the hard corals that create coral reef ecosystems. These types of corals have a rigid skeletal system that is comprised of calcium carbonate or aragonite. This structural build gives them the ability to create and support the reef. Soft corals, such as sea fans, do not have a rigid structure. There are no soft corals that can create a coral reef, yet soft corals may certainly live on a coral reef with thousands of other organisms and animals. Corals are unique in their own abilities and methods of reproductions. Scientists find it amazing that coral reefs have a completely symbiotic relationship with algae, where both provide a measure of support for each other. Coral is also one of the fewer organisms that can reproduce sexually and asexually via brooding or broadcast spawning. Coral reefs are found in shallow and deep waters, in cold or warm tropical climates. The coral reefs that grow in shallow waters or warmer environments are usually more prolific as the tepid temperatures are a better environment for growth. Corals that are in shallow waters are also more exposed to sunshine. One of the biggest concerns faced by marine biologists and all other scientists is the delicate nature of the coral reef. These structures are easily harmed, by natural environmental changes as well as human behavior. Dr. Christian Heesch works with his colleagues to promote a better education regarding the coral reefs that are endangered by climate change and pollution. |
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