The Atlantic Stargazer Uranoscopus scaber gets its name from the way in which it buries itself in the sand with only its eyes and mouth pointing upward.  It is also a very well camouflaged fish, with its spotted, brown body resembling the sandy habitat in which it hides.  This burying behavior allows the Stargazer to ambush prey as they swim overhead!

This fascinating fish also has an unusual way of attracting its prey, which consists mainly of smaller fish and crabs.  By moving a small strip of skin in and out of its mouth, it tricks its prey into thinking the flesh may be a small piece of food.  Then when the small fish or crab approaches, the Stargazer lunges toward it, engulfing the prey completely with its large mouth!

Atlantic Stargazer. feo. Photo credit: Philippe Guillaume/Flickr, CC BY 2.0

And if ambush and trickery were not enough, the Atlantic Stargazer has more weapons at its disposal!  It even has the ability to stun its prey using electrical shocks, although at 50 volts these are likely too weak to harm humans.  These lethal predators also have a sharp, venomous organ called a humeral spine, which is used to defend the fish against predators.

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Learning about Ireland’s sea creatures at a public awareness event.

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A Mushroom Coral, one of the many species of marine life seen by volunteer divers surveying coral reefs in the Bahamas.  Photo credit: Jung Hsuan, Shutterstock

Sometimes volunteers are lucky enough to see sharks! Check out the video below:

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Photo credit: NOAA Photo Library, Flickr

This SCUBA diving citizen science expedition will take you to the United Arab Emirates and from there to the remote and mountainous Musandam peninsula of Oman. There you will study the diverse coral reefs fringing the areas where the mountains plunge into the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The reefs boast a rich mixture of beautiful corals and a multitude of fish and other animals. This pioneering study to map this unique underwater environment has already led to the creation of two protected areas. More data on the biological status of the reefs and of population levels of key indicator species are needed for educational purposes and to be able to put forward more ideas for more and larger marine protection areas. Data collection follows an internationally recognised coral reef monitoring programme, called Reef Check, and will also be used to make informed management and conservation decisions within the area. The expedition includes training as a Reef Check EcoDiver. With this you are also eligible to apply for PADI or NAUI Reef Check Speciality Course certification.

Go to Biosphere Expedition’s website to find out more about this project.

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The Maldives Marine Research Centre (MRC) of the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture identified a need for further research and monitoring work as far back as 1997. Biosphere Expeditions is addressing this need and is also working with Reef Check (RC) and the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) in order to provide vital data on reef health.

Data from the coral reef surveys will be used at international, regional and national levels to provide a ‘status report’ on the health of Maldivian reefs. At the national level, it will be used to help make informed management and conservation recommendations. Surveys will be carried out both inside and outside current Maldivian Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to continue the work of the Marine Conservation Society, which is investigating the impact of MPAs on fish and coral populations.

Go to Biosphere Expedition’s website to find out more about this project.

The post Little and Large: Surveying and Safeguarding Coral Reefs & Whale Sharks of the Maldives Archipelago appeared first on Marine Conservation Volunteer.com.

Photo credit: David Evison. Shutterstock

Fast Facts
A project offered by:	Karumbé
Based in:	Cerro Verde, Uruguay
Working with:	Green Turtles
Activities including:	Capturing and releasing sea turtles Assisting stranded turtles Community based education and outreach Turtle rehabilitation
Price*:	To be announced
Duration:	To be announced
*Please note that pricing may be subject to change (check with operator)

Karumbé has been monitoring this foraging and developmental area of juvenile Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) for more than 13 years.  At this site, the volunteers will carry out research and conservation activities, getting quite in touch with the fishing community where the field station is settled.  Volunteers will be working shoulder to shoulder with the two researchers who will be coordinating the fieldwork, getting involved in all tasks included in the project work.  It is not necessary to speak Spanish; however we encourage candidates to know at least the basics.

Go to Karumbe’s website to find out more about this project.

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Photo credit: Patryk Kosmider, Shutterstock

Three species of sea turtle live in the azure waters of Uruguay, where the juveniles come to forage and grow.  The area in which they are found is very precious in terms of biodiversity; some of the species that thrive here include Fransiscana and Bottlenose Dolphins, and consequently the area has been designated as a protected area.  This project involves important research that aims to conserve the sea turtles globally, by studying and protecting their feeding grounds, and observing their behaviours.  Join the Uruguay sea turtle project for an exciting conservation experience in a unique and fascinating destination.

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Photo credit: frantisekhojdysz, Shutterstock

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Photo credit: Achimdiver, Shutterstock

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Photo credit: Richard Whitcombe, Shutterstock

Fast Facts
A project offered by:	Working Abroad
Based in:	St. Eustatius, Dutch Antilles
Working with:	Hawksbill Sea Turtles Green Sea Turtles Leatherback Sea Turtles
Activities including:	Monitoring nesting sea turtles SCUBA diving Snorkelling
Price*:	from £720
Duration:	from 4 weeks
*Please note that pricing may be subject to change (check with operator)

Volunteer in the Caribbean on the stunning island of St. Eustatius, and join the St. Eustatius National Parks Foundation, helping to protect and conserve their National and Marine Parks.

During the turtle nesting season which runs from March to October, you may be assisting with night patrols on Zeelandia beach monitoring nesting sea turtles (not applicable for November to March groups).  Teams will be established and days rotated.  You will assist with gathering data from sea turtles that generally nest between dark and dawn.  Data gathered by the crew will be shared Caribbean-wide through a linked database which wildlife managers use to improve protective measures for endangered species.  In general, you will be monitoring Hawksbill, Green and Leatherback Turtles.  This programme may also be combined with beach sand monitoring.  Please note that turtles don’t nest every night and therefore you shouldn’t expect to see turtles during every patrol.  Please also note that the nesting population of turtles is small and therefore the beach is not patrolled every night throughout the season.  Outside of the turtle nesting season, there is an in-water survey in the Marine Park to observe turtle behaviour and volunteers may SCUBA dive and snorkel to assist on this survey (SCUBA qualification and 10 open water dives required).

Go to Working Abroad’s website to find out more about this project.

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