Fact Friday
Animals have different defense mechanisms to help protect themselves from predators. The balloonfish is no exception. When an enemy attacks, this fish responds by puffing itself out and filling its stomach with air or water. The balloonfish expands its body to look larger in order to intimidate predators. In addition to their puffed-up status, their body is also covered in spines that make them look quite menacing.
Photo Credit: Andrew Bruckner
May 2, 2025
Coral Nursery
Scientists are trying to mitigate the decline of corals. One way to do this is to grow and “plant” them. Coral ecologists grow corals in nurseries created either on land or in the ocean. As with most plants, you can break a leaf off and grow it into a whole new plant. The same process can be used to grow coral. When a piece of a coral is broken off, it can be regrown into another coral, and when they are large enough, they are transplanted from the nursery to the coral reef.
Photo Credit: James Byrne
