Working/Planning!

As Christmas draws ever closer I am trying my best to remain focused on the work at hand rather than become distracted by exciting times ahead!

I am currently working on the final draft of a scientific journal submission provisionally called 'Extreme habitat specialisation and unusual population structure in two gorgonian-associated pygmy seahorses'. This is based on the work I have been doing at Wakatobi Dive Resort over the past few years. I have also begun reading for my next journal article/PhD chapter about the behavioural and reproductive observations I made on Denise's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus denise) also at Wakatobi.

It is only two weeks until I head to Maluku Divers in Ambon for Christmas and New Year and from there I am headed to Raja Ampat aboard the Peter Hughes vessel Paradise Dancer. I will be aboard the Paradise Dancer for two trips from 5-16th and 18-28th January, during which time I will be taking promotional shots of the boat and UW creatures as well as giving presentations about pygmies, conservation and biodiversity (if people are interested!). Of course I'll be taking the opportunity to look for the newly described Satomi's pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus satomiae) and searching for the stunning red and white colour morph of Denise's pygmy which appears restricted to the Raja Ampat region.

Meanwhile back to reading about seahorse operational sex ratios, potential reproductive rates and sex role reversal! All in a day's work for a marine biologist!