Education Audio

Clever, showy, and masters of disguise, these tiny predators may be unable to hide from their most serious threat.

Found throughout the western hemisphere, this elegant and graceful bird possesses some unique survival skills.

"Shark!" The mere word evokes fear in many people! In recent history, shark attack upon humans has been one of the most feared (and most misunderstood) natural dangers to man. In reality, it is the shark that has become the hunted.

The IUCN lists the Arctic Fox as one of the species most vulnerable to the effects of climate change in its environment.

Throughout history, penguins have captured the hearts and imagination of people of all ages. Comical and endearing, our perception of this awkward creature belies its amazing abilities to survive in the ocean and on land.

The largest geographic feature of our planet is the ocean, almost inconceivable in size to the imagination. It is in this vast environment that microscopic plants and animals make our planet habitable.

Scientists estimate sea levels could rise more than three feet by the end of this century. In California, that would mean the flooding of San Francisco International Airport, the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and much of the commercial and residential property along the coast. Find out more about this pressing issue and how to prepare through this special report by KFWB featuring Anchor Ron Kilgore and sea level rise experts: Aquarium of the Pacific President Dr. Jerry R. Schubel, Dr. Reinhard E. Flick of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and Dr. Robert S. Young of Western Carolina University.

Animal Care Series: Giving Marine Animals Annual Exams Learn how Aquarium Veterinarian Dr. Lance Adams closely monitors the health of the Aquariums 12,000 animals.

Yucky, stinky seaweed everywhere! We often think of seaweed as a nuisance on our beaches. In fact, it’s not just fish that need it, we do too! Discover the amazing story of seaweed!

Did you know that staff veterinarian Dr. Lance Adams has performed surgery on dozens of Aquarium fish? Learn the methods employed for this unique surgical patient.

Should we try to protect such a vast resource? Is it even possible, and what are some of the challenges we face?

Fish can become under the weather too! Learn how staff Veterinarian Dr. Lance Adams identifies and cares for sick fish.

Changes in the ocean and atmosphere impact all of our lives. From deciding where to vacation, to where we farm and what we plant, understanding the ocean's influence on climate and weather benefits us all.

Efforts in restoration are showing positive results for our giant kelp forests. Learn why and how it's done.

New animals that come to the Aquarium of the Pacific are quarantined and examined by the aquariums veterinarian before they are introduced to animals already on display.

Plastic garbage makes its way from our streets to the sea. Learn where many of these plastics end up, how they impact marine life, and what you can do to help.

Meet the Aquarium staff member tasked with giving proper veterinary care to our 11,000 animals.

Believe it or not, a shark’s mouth isn’t the only place it has teeth!

The fourth and final alternative set forth by the Reconnaissance Study does not actually alter the breakwater at all, but creates a training structure at the mouth of the LA river to push contaminates away from our shores.

Sharks are very successful and adaptive animals. They have been around for 400 million years. Learn more about their evolutionary history listening to the “Evolution of Sharks.”

The third alternative set forth by the Reconnaissance Study reconfigures the breakwater into three staggered sections. This increases the possibility for waves on the shore but also the likelihood of the need for mitigation for the Port and the THUMS Islands.

The second alternative set forth by the Reconnaissance Study removes the western third of the breakwater. This creates the possibility for waves to reach the shore and water quality improvements, but also the likelihood of the need for mitigation for the Port and the THUMS Islands.

The first alternative set forth by the Reconnaissance Study is proposed by long-time Long Beach resident and engineer Bud Johnson. This is the most cost effective alternative, but researchers think that it does not address the concerns for water quality, habitat improvements, and recreation.

Find out more about the science behind the phenomenon and how it may affect you.

Top predatory sharks play a crucial role in the oceans ecosystems. Their predatory behaviors on sick, injured, and lesser predatory animals keep ocean food webs thriving. When you remove top predatory animals, the results can be devastating.

Marine protected areas are found throughout the oceans of the world. They may carry different names – parks, refuges, reserves, sanctuaries – but all serve to preserve and protect the ocean’s biodiversity and ecosystems. The Aquarium of the Pacific and its sister institutions are assisting in the search for possible new marine protected areas along the southern California coast.

Besides hearing, smelling, tasting, seeing, and feeling the world around them, sharks are adapted with a sixth sense that allows them to use electroreceptors called Ampullae de Lorenzini. Learn more about this rare ability that aids sharks in the skilled predation of their prey.

Should the Long Beach breakwater be altered to bring back the popular beaches Long Beach enjoyed in the 1930s? A sea of debate surrounds this controversial issue.

The very body part that makes sharks so intimidating is also what makes sharks so fascinating: teeth! From sharks that filter their food instead of biting to sharks that have jaws much like a nutcracker, you can learn a tremendous amount about a shark just by looking at its teeth.

Sibling rivalry takes on a whole new meaning in the case of sand tiger shark reproduction. Discover how these embryonic sharks become experienced predators even before they are born.

Tiny drifters or determined swimmers? New research is discovering some startling information about how larval fish find and populate new reef ecosystems.

Sea otters, bald eagles, and orcas are all Alaskan marine predators. These three very different species are linked through a complex series of relationships that reach across ecosystems and species.

Deep sea mining, once the realm of science fiction, is now an impending reality. The impacts of mining on the organisms of the deep sea are poorly understood as fundamental research on this ecosystem remains to be done.

Tidal power provides a renewable energy source that is clean and reliable. Generators harvest the energy of moving water as tides flood and ebb. Tidal power generation requires suitable environmental conditions to be efficient and effective.

Parasites may be harmful to living organisms. A relationship called the cleaning symbiosis describes how some animals, the cleaners, remove parasites from other animals, the clients. Because of the close interaction between cleaner and client, a question arises: instead of picking off parasites, do cleaners ever bite their clients instead?

Between 1946 and 1958 the United States exploded nearly two dozen nuclear bombs at Bikini Atoll. How has this affected the life of the coral reef over the last half-century?

Some species of crabs utilize novel forms of camouflage, covering their shells with other living organisms to fool their predators.

The Gulf of California is home to a diverse assemblage of wildlife. This diversity is a reflection of the Gulf's distinctive geography. Impacts to wildlife from a variety of sources threaten many of the rare and endangered species that make the Gulf their home.

On November 15, 1806, the Corps of Discovery reached the mouth of the Columbia River, completing a 4,000 mile journey to the Pacific Coast. They would spend the next four months adding to science’s knowledge of the Pacific Ocean and its inhabitants before beginning their long journey home.

Since the middle of the nineteenth century scientists have recorded an increase in the global sea level. Higher sea levels may intensify the impact of hurricanes and typhoons to coastal communities. Preserving natural shorelines could be key to lessening storm damage in a warmer world.

The Common Goldeneye spends part of its year on freshwater lakes, and part on the coastal ocean. Like other sea ducks, they have an adaptation that allows them to drink saltwater safely.

Global trade is dominated by ocean transport, but along with goods and commodities ships may also transport biological invaders. Managing ballast water to protect ecosystems and ports from these alien stowaways is a critical tool.

A watershed is where rainwater and snowmelt collects and flows to the ocean. As the water flows down streams and rivers, it carries along part of what it touches, from sand and rocks to trash and pollution. A new Aquarium exhibit shows how a local watershed works.

Mangrove forests are a feature of tropical coastlines. In addition to protecting shorelines from erosion and waves, they support a thriving population of fish and invertebrates. The loss of mangrove forests to deforestation and development bodes poorly for shoreline protection and fisheries.

The Gulf of California is home to a diverse assemblage of wildlife. This diversity is a reflection of the Gulf's distinctive geography. Impacts to wildlife from a variety of sources threaten many of the rare and endangered species that make the Gulf their home.

Surgeonfish are colorful members of coral reef communities throughout the tropical Pacific Ocean, popular with divers and aquarists. Their brilliant colors are a warning to potential predators of their sharp defenses.

As kids head back to classes this September, they aren't the only ones in school. Most species of fish form large aggregations called "schools" as well. The reasons why range from safety in numbers to finding food more easily to saving energy while swimming.

Seabirds nest in remote rookeries, often on high cliffs. Their eggs are adapted to survive the sometimes harsh, highly vertical environment where the birds nest.

Check out our "kid friendly" podcast that's all about sharks! This exclusive podcast includes terms that people of all ages can understand. You'll learn how sharks use their senses of hearing, smell, touch, taste, and sight. They also have a sixth sense, the ability to sense electricity.

During the summer months above the Arctic Circle, the sun may stay above the horizon for up to weeks or months. Wildlife at these latitudes adapt to the absence of night.