Juvenile polyps of staghorn coral
Q & A with Misha Matz, assistant professor of integrative biology
One of your main research interests is in fluorescence in corals and other marine organisms. What is your attraction to the study of fluorescent marine animals, beyond the “cool factor?” One of my projects is bioprospecting for new genetica...
PORT ARANSAS, Texas—A new electronic sentinel is on the lookout for dangerous algal blooms in Texas bays.
The new instrument, called the Imaging FlowCytobot, automatically takes images of and classifies species of phytoplankton in real-time. It heralds the development of a warning system for the presence of harmful algae, like those that cause red...
PORT ARANSAS, Texas— University of Texas at Austin marine scientists have been awarded $781,000 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) to better understand how nutrient pollution from the Mississippi River affects the large area of low oxygen water called the “Dead Zone” in the Gulf of Mexico, and consequently its impact on comm...
PORT ARANSAS, Texas—Dr. Rick Tinnin, director of marine education programs at The University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute (MSI), has been awarded the 2007 James Centorino Award from the National Marine Educators Association (NMEA).
This award is given for distinguished performance in marine education by a NMEA member who is a profess...
Focus on Science: The amount of freshwater in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans has been increasing. Why is that a big deal?
Jim McClelland: Changes in salinity of the oceans could alter ocean circulation patterns, and ultimately, climate. If you add more freshwater, you change the density of the ocean surface water such that it’s less like...
AUSTIN, Texas—A new analysis of 50 years of changes in freshwater inputs to the Arctic and North Atlantic oceans may shed light on what’s behind the recently observed increase in freshwater in the North Atlantic. University of Texas at Austin marine scientist Dr. Jim McClelland and his colleagues report their findings in the August 25 issue of the ...
A barracuda hunts around an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico. Photo by T. Villareal.
Gambierdiscus toxicus. Photo by Maria Faust.
The hunt for ciguatera is on in the Gulf of Mexico
Marine scientist Dr. Tracy Villareal has discovered that oil platforms peppering the Texas Gulf coast could be acting as the perfect incubator for ciguatera, the mos...
Read It Now
Read our publication, The Texas Scientist, a digest covering the people and groundbreaking discoveries that make the College of Natural Sciences one of the most amazing and significant places on Earth.