The Wandering Disciple

 The Gulf of Mexico is a vibrant and essential ecosystem, teeming with a breathtaking diversity of animal life. This vast marine habitat supports a busy and complex world beneath its waves, home to creatures of every size and niche.  At the lower end of the food chain, the Gulf's floor and coastal waters are populated by countless tiny invertebrates. Among these are the echinoderms, such as the familiar and radially symmetrical starfish (sea stars), which play an important role in the marine environment. They share this space with a multitude of crustaceans, mollusks, and worms that form the basis of the Gulf's trophic structure.   Moving up the complexity and size scale, the Gulf is a critical nursery and feeding ground for numerous species of fish, sea turtles, and marine mammals. Schools of baitfish provide sustenance for larger pelagic hunters, including various species of tuna and mackerel. The apex predators of this environment are truly formidable. The waters ...

The slow moving manatee enjoys a casual day of eating sea grass. It is this behavior that gives them the nickname, Sea Cow. But this behavior is also the cause of so many injuries to the mammal as it is unable to move out of the way of boats quickly resulting in deadly encounters with boat propellers. Mote Marine in Sarasota is home to two resident manatees as well as serving as a hospital for injured manatees. (Photo: May 7, 2015)

Why couldn't the clownfish afford a house? - Because he didn't have anemone! What did the shark say to the other when he was eating a clown fish? This tastes funny! While not exactly funny, the clown fish gets its name from the broad color strokes across its body which resemble the face paint of a clown. A fun fact about the clown fish, all clown fish are born male and can one time change their sex to female. This clown fish was part of a reef display at Mote Marine in Sarasota, Florida.

A colorful clown fish swims past a sea anemone in an exhibit at Mote Marine in Sarasota.  The clown fish gets its names from the bright colorful patterning much like that of the face paint of a circus clown.  A clown fish is also known as an anemone fish, as they are dependent on sea anemone as they use their stinging tentacles to protect the tiny clown fish and their eggs from other predators on the coral reef.  The clown fish was made popular in pop culture following the 2003 Disney-Pixar film Finding Nemo.  (Photo: May 7, 2015)

As you look closely, you begin to see the rock is not actually a rock but a rock fish.  This little guy uses his appearance to camouflage with the rocks to help protect itself from predators but more importantly lie in wait for its prey.  (Photo: April 29, 2007)

A lionfish on display at Mote Marine in Sarasota. The venomous saltwater fish is native to the Indo-Pacific region however they have become a problem in the warmer Gulf and Atlantic waters due to owners releasing pet fish into the waters when they can no longer care for them. (Photo: April 29, 2007)

A piece of brain coral is on display in an exhibit at Mote Marine Aquarium.  The small aquarium is the educational outreach program of Mote Marine Labratory as they continue to explore the aquatic life around us. Many species of marine life including a large group of sharks are on display at the aquarium.  (Photo: April 29, 2007)

A manatee swims near the glass at Mote Marine in Sarasota. Mote Marine is a non-profit research laboratory that operates an aquarium on City Island to educate the public about the marine ecosystem that surrounds the regions. (Photo: April 29, 2007)

A sea turtle swims in a tank at the Mammal Center of Mote Marine. Mote Marine provides a home for sea animals that they have rescued and are unable to rehabilitate for a return to the wild. (Photo: April 29, 2007)

Sarasota, Florida: The Ann & Alfred Goldstein Marine Mammal Center at Mote Marine is a dual purpose facility. Part aquarium, part animal hospital the center is a leader in mammal care throughout the state of Florida. The public potion of the center is geared toward educating the visitors about the lives of sea turtles, manatees and dolphins. As you enter the center, you pass through the home of a collection of sea turtles; Shelley, Montego, Harriet, Edgar and Hang Tough call the center home. These residents of Mote have been nursed back to health but due to their injuries can not be released back to the wild. Next up is two of Mote’s more famous residents, Hugh and Buffett. The adult manatees were brought to Mote Marine in 1996 from the Miami Seaquarium. Today the pair of manatees are used for research and are the only research manatees in the world. A short trip up the stairs and through the gift shop, you will be able to view the third and final exhibit, the dolphins. He...

Sarasota, Florida: For more then 50 years, Mote Marine has been one of the premier research labs in the world in the field of marine biology. The facility on City Island in Sarasota is part laboratory, part marine hospital, part aquarium and part classroom, all geared to the conservation of marine ecosystems and their inhabitants. To help educate the public in species conversation, the laboratory opened the Mote Aquarium in 1980. Today the aquarium and the Marine Mammal Center welcomes over 400,000 visitors a year. As you enter the main aquarium building, you will begin your journey from the Rivers to the Seas. Here you will see what animal live in freshwater Florida. Here you will see crawfish, snails and even stingrays. Next you will follow the trail into the bay. This mix of salt and fresh water is home to many fish native to the coastal areas. In this exhibit, you will see cowfish, puffers, snook, crabs and more. As the water gets deeper, we next encounter our reef inhabitan...