What Can We Learn About Charleston’s Dolphins Through Local Fossils?
By Capt. Olivia I’m obsessed with evolution. The ways in which every living thing is linked, the similarities we share, and the fascinating differences that can make some of our distant relatives seem downright alien. One of the evolutionary stories that I find the most interesting is the one that leads to our local superstar…
What Makes South Carolina a Fossil Hotspot?
By Capt. Olivia The Lowcountry of South Carolina is known for its beautiful scenery, but it’s also one of the most accessible fossil-hunting regions on the East Coast. What makes it such a “fossil gold mine” comes down to a rare combination of geology, geography, and human activity. This landscape is built on layers of…
Where Life Thrives: The World’s Most Bio-Productive Ecosystems
By Capt. Olivia Biological productivity looks at how much biomass is being produced in a given area. Ecosystems with high bio-productivity appear as lush, thriving environments jam-packed with plants and animals. There are multiple ways to measure bio-productivity, which alter rankings slightly, but tropical rainforests, estuaries (including salt marshes), and swamps consistently rank among the most productive ecosystems on Earth. Tropical Rainforests Tropical rainforests (e.g. the Amazon) thrive due to consistent, year-round sunlight, heat, and rainfall. These conditions allow life to thrive, and decomposition to happen fast, so that nutrients are rapidly recycled within the system. Because of this they are home to the highest terrestrial biodiversity on the planet, and contribute a massive amount of carbon sequestration, which helps mitigate global climate change. Estuaries Estuaries are semi-enclosed areas where salt water from the ocean and fresh water from…
Love in the Estuary
By Capt. Olivia It’s almost Valentine’s Day, and there is romance to be found in the estuary. Spring is just around the corner, and with it comes mating season. Not all species reproduce in the spring, but many of them benefit from aligning with the influx of sunshine, warmth, food, and nutrients that is about…
Outer Banks, South Carolina
Outer Banks, North South Carolina By Capt. Olivia Most people associate the Outer Banks with North Carolina, but if you’re a fan of the Netflix show Outer Banks, you just may think of South Carolina first. From Folly Beach to Mount Pleasant and beyond, the Lowcountry has been the real-life stand-in for the fictional Kildare…