Stories from the Seaside - The monthly E-Newsletter from the Gulf Specimen Marine Lab and Aquarium

Where the Sea Reveals its Secrets Mermaids, Mimosas & Sea Turtles—oh my!

Join us for our 3rd Annual Mermaids & Mimosas on April 19th from 4–7 PM for an unforgettable adults-only evening at Gulf Specimen Marine Lab! Every ticket sold helps support our Sea Turtle Hospital Fundraiser, meaning while you’re sipping, savoring, and celebrating—you’re also helping rescue and rehabilitate sick and injured sea turtles Here’s what you’ll enjoy: Live mermaids & a magical mermaid fashion show Live music to keep the vibes going A mouthwatering seafood boil Delicious hors d’oeuvres Refreshing mimosas & drinks Silent auction & unique finds Up-close encounters with our incredible marine life—including our beloved sea turtles! This is more than just a night of fun—it’s your chance to make a real difference for marine conservation while enjoying an incredible coastal experience. Tickets: $40  Come raise a glass, support sea turtles, and make waves with us—we can’t wait to see you there! Purchase Tickets Here!

Guest Professor comes to GSML! This month, we had the pleasure of hosting USC School of Medicine Greenville, Department of Biomedical Sciences medical students. They are conducting research using our long-spined sea urchin, Arbacia punctulata. Sea urchins are a great study specimen for embryology research. They have large, clear eggs, and the zygotes develop in a very short amount of time. They become free-swimming larvae within 24-48 hours following fertilization. Sea urchins are not sexually dimorphic, so to determine whether they are male or female, we have to observe them release their sperm or eggs. To make them release them quickly, they are injected with KCl, potassium chloride. The sperm and eggs are then harvested and placed in a petri dish with mineral oil, and are allowed to fertilize. The cells are then watched closely under a microscope, and all phases of the cycle can be clearly seen. We love being able to support hands-on research and scientific understanding through our biological supply!

Intern Spotlight Meet Livia Lampal, one of our amazing 6 month interns from Washington, DC! Livia has two bachelor's degrees in Environmental Science and Biology from Elon University. In her free time, Livia enjoys drawing, yoga, painting, crocheting, making jewelry, and singing. During her time at GSML, Livia is especially excited to gain hands on experience with aquatic life, learn all about the different little creatures in the lab. Livia's Goals: To save the ocean and the planet and save what's left of our ocean's coral reefs! Favorite Lab Species: Cownose Rays and the Mangroves! We are so thrilled to have her on as an intern!

X-Ray is up and running! Over the past six months, we’ve been incredibly excited to install and begin using our new X-ray unit here at the Gulf Specimen Marine Lab! This equipment was made possible thanks to funding from the Florida Sea Turtle License Plate Grant Program, and it is already making a huge difference in the care we can provide to sea turtles in need.  Since becoming operational, we’ve taken more than 20 X-rays, helping our team quickly diagnose injuries and internal issues so we can provide faster, more effective treatment. This has been especially important for some of our recent cold-stunned patients, including Cannoli and Bolognese, whose care benefited from being able to look inside and better understand what they were going through. Having on-site imaging allows us to expedite care and make better medical decisions, which can be the difference between life and death for these endangered animals. We are incredibly grateful to the Sea Turtle License Plate Grant Program for helping make this vital tool possible.

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