June 1st, 2024 – Choosing Fish Wisely

Maureen Murphy, Stony Brook University. The story of mercury in the environment is complex. But the story is also fascinating in that mercury is a naturally occurring element. The story includes intriguing science on how mercury enters into the ecosystem and how it is transformed to more toxic forms by microorganisms, how it biomagnifies in the food chain, how that translates to levels of methylmercury in different fish species, and ultimately how it ends up inside of us. Meet with the project coordinator of The Gelfond Fund for Mercury Research & Outreach and learn about mercury cycles.

April 20, 2020 – Why Long Island scallops are dying?
Sivanna Trainer, Stony Brook University. Come join us to learn about the wonders of shellfish disease,
especially the parasite impacting our scallops on Long Island. The Marine Animal Disease Lab at
Stony Brook has been working diligently to learn about this parasite and how it impacts scallop health
with changing environmental conditions. Take a look through the microscope or mix/match scallop
shells and learn something new!

Photo credit: E. Pales Espinosa

March 23, 2024 – Sponges & Bryozoans of Long Island
Robert Thacker, Stony Brook University. Learn about the variety of sponges and bryozoans that live on Long Island. These sessile animals are part of a diverse community of benthic invertebrates found on our shoreline. We will explore how to identify these species and how they feed on phytoplankton and detritus.

Red Beard Sponge

Photo credit: Stephen Witzig, https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/81782-Clathria-prolifera

February 17, 2024

Meet with Dr. Joyce Lau from Farmingdale State College and learn all you need to know about oysters. These marine creatures are tasty but they are also ecological superheroes. They help clean the waters they live in and build homes for other organisms. Come unlock the mystery of oyster cleaning power!

Credit: Oyster Recovery Partnership/https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/habitat-conservation/oyster-reef-habitat

Such a great time listening to Dr. Matt Sclafani talking about the exciting life of horseshoe crabs! Thanks a lot to all the helpers from Cornell Cooperative Extension (Demetrios, Jordan, Kaitlin) and SoMAS @ StonyBrook (Sivanna and Elliot).

January 20, 2024 – Discover the Living Fossils on Long Island Beaches

Matt Sclafani, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Marine Program. Learn all about the amazing horseshoe crabs, creatures that survived five mass extinctions, lived alongside dinosaurs, and play a crucial role in human health today. These “living fossils” travel from the oceans to our local bays every spring, and our volunteers venture out at night to monitor them under the light of the moon. Visit us to learn more about these fascinating animals and find out how you can get involved.