Habitat by Habitat- Mud - Dr Fiona Bird

It's cold - very cold. Bron has the temperatures from all around the State and it is generally cold (she slept in her trackies last night to keep warm). Anth's Dad have been working overtime on his rain gauge.

Collective nouns for Dolphins: Pod, school, team or flock (nobody believes the flock bit).

Someone sent in a video to show us a special marine tattoo. It was a "saucy" video - and Anth has identified the sea dragon on the inside of the actress's arm as a leafy sea dragon.

And what about those underwater valves on the Collins class Subs - which valves aren't underwater on a submarine - that is what the "sub" bit means in the name.

AMCS is having a preview screening of Finding Nemo on August 24th at Cinema Europa, the Jam Factory at 7pm. To book email AMCS or phone Angeline 0412 368 193 or Vicki on 0423 026 915. Tix a bargain at $13 each.

Watch out for the bottom of the Baltic sea - the allies and the Russians both dumped large amounts of WW I and II chemical weapons - they are deteriorating, leaking and being buried.

The South Aral sea in central Asia will be gone in 15 years - woops

My friend the jellyfish and other stories - an weekend session on what it is like to be a marine scientist- For info contact Elisa Bone on 8344 485 or Jan Carey on 8344 3336.

Mud is basically really small sand in low energy areas (where it is not stirred) - Western Port Bay and Corner Inlet are great spots to see this habitat. The oxygen supply in the sediment is very low - creating anoxic conditions. Many of the animals that live there are sulfate reducers, because the mud has little oxygen... and is very black and smelling like rotten eggs.

However, the anoxic bit is full of life - a range of burrowing crustacean. But all are things that don't need a hard substrate (- because the mud moves around). Some organisms are well evolved for low levels of oxygen, others flush water from the surface to keep themselves alive. This "bioirrigation" moves nutrients down to the subsurface and remobalises metals that are in the sediment.

Yes - it stinks, and it looks awful - but it is full and active ecosystem.

Mariculture (marine aquaculture) is growing - but needs to expand in conjunction with industry, government, environment and community groups. A conference is being held in Queensland to try and bring the different groups together. It is organised by the environment groups, and looking to avoid the mistakes made by other countries during the early development of the industry.

International experts are also attending and looking at novel ideas - such as polyculture - not just a monoculture in the farm A very sound approach given the typical monoculture thinking.

Call Natalie on 07 3221 0188 to take part on the 27th and 28th August in Brisbane.

"Chorus Line "

"I'm thinkin' Texas"

"Green"

The Pheasant Pluckers

Totally Gourdgeous