Just another National Geographic grant!
Dr. Aviad Scheinin and Dr. Leigh Livne are project team members *again* for another National Geographic grant, the Meridian grant, titled: "Integrating Research, Storytelling, and Education for Addressing Ecological and Human Dimensions of Shark Conservation.
Summarizing Guitarfish season 2023
Summarizing Guitarfish season 2023We are very pleased to finish the 2023 G. cemiculus (Blackchin guitarfish) season with 107 neonates measured, tagged, and sampled along both the Israeli and Cypriot coastline. Blackchin neonates are most prevalent from the end of August to the beginning of November in what is referred to as 'hot spots'.Thanks to a collaboration with Blue Marine Foundation and MER Research Institute we organized a research expedition in…
Guitarfish Project’s first expedition to Cyprus
https://youtu.be/r0ZO_eo8YO8A collaboration between the Apex Marine Predator lab of The Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, MER research institute , and ISea , funded by the Blue Marine Foundation executed a seven-day expedition to Larnaca in Cyprus.Sightings of blackchin guitarfish (Glaucostegus cemiculus) neonates from both the Israeli and Cypriot coastal waters brought the two research teams together to better understand the biology and population connectivity of this critically endangered species in…
Physeter macrocephalus
The largest-toothed whale. The Mediterranean population is thought to include fewer than 2,500 mature individuals that face numerous threats and are in decline. They are known to inhabit offshore and continental-slope waters, foraging almost exclusively on squids. There have been Anecdotal reports of sperm whales to the north of the Israeli EEZ on social media, but their distribution is still unknown in our region. Deep sea acoustic surveys started in…
Delphinus delphis
The common dolphin population inhabits the southern region of the coastline. They are mainly observed in the coastal waters off Ashdod and Ashkelon, at water depths of 15-30 meters. Data collection started in 2016 when the group included up to 37 mature individuals, though since 2020 only the same 15 adults have been observed. Overall, 64 individuals have been documented. According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species the…
Tursiops truncatus
The bottlenose dolphin population inhabits the entire coastline, mainly observed between bottom depths of 30-60 meters. Since 2005, when data collection began, 396 individuals have been documented. The local population's body size is relatively small, and their diet is mainly composed of fish. According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species the Mediterranean population is listed as “least concern.” Tursiops truncatus Adi First seen: 2000, Last seen: 2016, area:…
The Israeli Dolphins and whales’ catalogue
The Israeli dolphins and whales' catalogue collates data from our surveys since 2005 when digital cameras were incorporated into our protocols in Israel. Dolphins are classified as residents when they have been sighted on five or more occasions. Visitors are classified as being sighted less than five times.The study area is divided into three regions- North (N), from the Israeli-Lebanon maritime border to Hof-HaCarmel; Centre (C), from Hof-HaCarmel to Palmachim; and…
WHAT’S BEHIND UNPROVOKED SHARK ATTACKS?
Experts say sharks are the victims of disruption to their natural habitat and food supply due to overfishing, bringing them closer to the shore.
We are looking for you for an M.Sc./Ph.D. project
Chasing a storm! at the Water chemistry lab“The effect of major storms on the base of the food-web in the East Mediterranean Sea”The effect of extreme climatic events on oligotrophic ocean ecosystems is an important area of research, particularly with predictions of climate warming and increased storm frequency and intensity.The aim of this project is to characterize the nutrient dynamics and biogeochemical changes before, during and after major winter storms.…
