Tybee Island Marine Science Center Podcast

Hermit Crabs and Sea Anemone: Nature's Sticky Survivors

Welcome to the award-winning Tybee Island Marine Science Center Podcast! We record our episodes on-location at Tybee Island Marine Science Center at 37 Meddin Drive on Tybee Island. 
On today's episode, Environmental Educator Alex Jones is taking us on a fascinating learning journey that focuses on Hermit Crabs and Sea Anemones. 
Starting with Hermit Crabs - fun fact - they are not hermits or true crabs! These crabs utilize empty snail shells or other hollow objects for shelter, providing partial containment and protection. Lacking a hard, protective carapace, they become extremely vulnerable to predators without such a shell.
Sea anemones are soft-bodied, predominantly stationary marine creatures that resemble flowers. They inhabit all oceanic tidal zones to depths exceeding 10,000 meters (approximately 33,000 feet). Some species can also be found in brackish waters. They tend to be larger, more abundant, and more vibrant in warmer seas.
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Learn more about Sea Anemone
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Sound Explorations: Making scientific discovery accessible to ALL

Welcome to a world of music, science, imagination, wonder, and discovery. We are on location at Tybee Island Marine Science Center experiencing an AMAZING project called "Whales in Motion" with an organization called Sound Explorations. "Whales in Motion" is a musical and sculptural experience for the blind and low vision community. 
Today, we have the pleasure of learning from our guest - Sound Explorations' Education Director Terry Wolkowicz - who has been designing innovative integrated arts educational curricula for more than two decades. 
Sound Explorations' Artist, Emilie Grossman has created a series of 3-d sculpture models that illustrate the locomotion and foraging behavior of Humpback and North Atlantic Right whales based on actual whale tag data obtained by NOAA researchers in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, and research from the 2018 paper, Foraging rates of ram‐filtering North Atlantic right whales authored by Julie Marie van der Hoop, Anna E. Nousek-McGregor, Douglas P. Nowacek, Susan E. Parks, Peter Tyack and Peter Teglberg Madsen.
Our visually-impaired participants today were able to run their hand across these sculpture models to perceive the whale foraging behaviors while a musician from the Savannah Philharmonic performs action-specific melodies that match the same contour and shape of the model. The musician watches closely to keep the musical contours at the same pace as the participant's hand. To say this is "moving" and "inspiring" to witness - would be an understatement. It's truly remarkable! 
Learn more about the voices and topics in this episode:
Learn more about SOUND EXPLORATIONS
Learn more about "Whales in Motion"
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The North Atlantic Right Whale: Georgia's State Marine Mammal

Meet the North Atlantic Right Whale on today's episode. Tybee Marine Science Center Educator Lindsay McGuire is back on the podcast to teach us all the "RIGHT Whale" details.
DID YOU KNOW? Georgia’s state marine mammal, the North Atlantic right whale, the most endangered large whale species on Earth.
In late November and early December, North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis), ready to calve, migrate from the cold waters of New England and Nova Scotia to the warmer Atlantic coast off Georgia and Florida. This region is the only known breeding ground for the species, where they give birth and nurture their young.
The existence of the North Atlantic right whale is perilous, with the primary causes of mortality being human-related activities such as collisions with vessels and entanglement in fishing gear.
Learn more about the voices and topics in this episode:
Learn more about the Right Whale
See the unveiling of the Right Whale Exhibit
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What's happening at Tybee Island Marine Science Center
Proudly hosted and produced by Dee Daniels Media
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Discovering the Shorebirds and Seabirds of Coastal Georgia

Allie Hayser is a Shorebird Biologist and an Educator for Manomet’s Georgia Bight Shorebird Conservation Initiative. Allie grew up on Tybee Island, Georgia. She joined Manomet’s Georgia Bight Shorebird Conservation Initiative to support and expand ongoing shorebird programs in outreach, education, and conservation. She is focused on projects that work to manage disturbance of migrating shorebirds, understanding horseshoe crab populations, education for ecotourism, and developing stewardship programs.
Check out the Facebook Group for Volunteers on Tybee Island: Georgia Coastal Bird Ambassadors | Facebook.  You can view upcoming events, take an online shorebird training, sign up for a bird walk, and post photos of birds from your beach walks and learn more about these amazing coastal bird species. 
 
Learn more about the voices and topics in this episode:
Meet Allie Hayser
Learn more about Manomet Conservation Sciences
Follow Manomet on Instagram
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What's happening at Tybee Island Marine Science Center
Proudly hosted and produced by Dee Daniels Media
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We're at the TOUCH TANK at Tybee Island Marine Science Center

We're getting out of our comfort zones and we're getting our hands INTO the TOUCH TANK! We're inside Tybee Island Marine Science Center for this episode with Executive Director Chantal Audran and Ocean Advocate Hero Liddy Clever.
Today we are touching and holding AND learning about Echinoderms. FACT ATTACK: Echinoderms are a group of animals that include starfish, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, brittle stars, sea lilies and feather stars.  Echinoderms are characterized by their distinctive, five-point radial symmetry, unique water vascular system, tube feet, and the ability to regenerate lost body parts.
Learn more about the voices in this episode:
Meet Liddy Clever
Listen to Liddy's Podcast "Save Sea Life"
Follow Tybee Marine Science on Instagram
What's happening at Tybee Island Marine Science Center
Proudly hosted and produced by Dee Daniels Media
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Feeling Crabby: Horseshoe Crabs are NOT True Crabs, but they are Living Fossils!

Today we're learning everything we can about HORSESHOE CRABS! Horseshoe crabs have been around for more than 300 million years, making them even older than dinosaurs. They look like prehistoric crabs but are actually more closely related to scorpions and spiders. 
Tybee Island Marine Science Center Educator Frank Wooldridge is with us on this episode to talk about these living fossils. 
Some interesting facts you'll hear in this episode: The body of a horseshoe crab is divided into three parts: the prosoma, opisthosoma and telson, or tail. The prosoma is the front, semicircular part and the opisthosoma, which protects the gills, is attached to the prosoma with a hinge. The top of the shell has ridges and spines.  Seven pairs of leg-like appendages are found under the shell.
Horseshoe crabs have contributed to the medical research community. A substance in their blood called Limulus Amebocyte Lysate is used to test for bacterial endotoxins in pharmaceuticals and for several bacterial diseases.
Learn more about the voices in this episode:
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TURTLE TALKS: Learn all about the Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Welcome to the Season 2 kick-off of the Tybee Island Marine Science Center Podcast! 
Welcome to our TURTLE TALKS! Today, we're learning everything we can about the fascinating Loggerhead Turtle. Worldwide there are seven species of turtles, and what's really cool is .... we see FIVE of those species on the Georgia coast. 
Tybee Marine Science Educator Lindsay McGuire is teaching us all about the Loggerhead turtle's size, diet, anatomy, and of course the OH-SO-IMPORTANT nesting season. We'll also talk about light pollution and the "lost years" for Loggerheads. 
Do you know what sea turtle tracks look like? Did you know one sea turtle Mom will lay about 75-125 eggs? Did you know that turtles are not able to see certain colors? Lindsay explains which colors turtles can and cannot see, and why it's so important to follow light pollution regulations. 
Learn more about the voices in this episode:
Follow Tybee Marine Science on Instagram
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Proudly hosted and produced by Dee Daniels Media
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It’s a Deep Dive with Birds and Dolphins, oh my!

Take a deep dive with us on this episode recorded on location at Tybee Island Marine Science Center. We're talking about the biggest pillars here at the Science Center - Education and Conservation. Program Director Allison Williford Caldwell is back to teach us all about two programs - Bird Rescue and Marine Mammal Stranding.
The team works closely with area veterinarians during bird rescue to assess and properly rehab injured birds. Alli also talks about the coastal birds you might spot in this region. 
When it comes to Marine Mammal Stranding - you'll learn about some of the work the Tybee Marine Science Center team does in the field with photo-identification with dolphins after a mass-stranding. And hold on tight for the tidal swings in Coastal Georgia. Because we have such a big swing in tides, most marine mammals in this region have adapted their routines. 
Learn more about the voices in this episode:
Follow Tybee Marine Science on Instagram
What's happening at Tybee Island Marine Science Center
Proudly hosted and produced by Dee Daniels Media
Resources:
Plan your visit to Tybee Island Marine Science Center
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Sea Turtles and Diamondback Terrapins: Rescue, Rehab, Protection and More

As we continue to talk about the conservation and education programs at Tybee Island Marine Science Center, today we focus on the Sea Turtle Project and Diamondback Terrapin Rescue and Release. Sarah Alley, who is part of the Curator Team at the Science Center, is here to educate us on Sea Turtle nesting season on Tybee Island. She also talks about how the population and tourist factors play a big part in the season. It's a team effort for sure with many team members and volunteers. 
When it comes to the Diamondback Terrapin Rescue and Release program, Sarah explains how the marshes throughout Coastal Georgia provide a great ecosystem for the Terrapins to live. When you stop in to visit the Science Center you can meet Ruby and Pearl, the resident Terrapins, who are there to educate. You'll hear about the importance of the Hatchling Headstart Program as well as the biggest threats for this magnificent species. 
Learn more about the voices in this episode:
Sarah Alley on Instagram
Proudly hosted and produced by Dee Daniels Media
Resources:
Learn about Diamondback Terrapin
Learn about Sea Turtles
Plan your visit to Tybee Island Marine Science Center
Volunteer at Tybee Island Marine Science Center
Partnership and Donation Opportunities

Education and Conservation - It’s WHO we are, and it’s WHY we come together

Settle in for a powerful one-on-one conversation with Executive Director Chantal Audran from Tybee Island Marine Science Center about the true heartbeat of the work they do with Education and Conservation. You will hear about the work that goes on in the field every day at the Science Center - including what happens during rescue missions. Chantal says, "feeling that connection to the organisms we are protecting is so important, not only for the growth of the scientists and marine educators but also for the species we are trying to understand and preserve".
Yes, the team is educating thousands of people who step into Tybee Island Marine Science Center - but it's really the conservation projects, the unseen work that they do, that they are so passionate about. 
There are four main conservation projects at the Science Center, all of which involve a species of concern - an animal that needs help from helpful humans.
Warning: you will get bit by the passion bug after listening to this episode! 
Conservation Projects to Learn About:
The Sea Turtle Project & The Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network
Sea Bird, Shore Bird Rescue
Marine Mammal Stranding
Diamondback Terrapin Rescue 
Learn more about the voices in this episode:
Support Tybee Island Marine Science Center
Proudly produced by Dee Daniels Media