Nathan J. Robinson (biologist)

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Nathan J. Robinson
Nathan and Edie - Medusa.jpg
Robinson (right) and Edith Widder (left) with the MEDUSA - a deep-sea camera that recorded the first-ever footage of a live giant squid in the waters of Japan and the US
Born
Nathan Jack Robinson
Citizenship British
Education University of Southampton (MMarBiol 2009)
Purdue University (Ph.D. 2014)
Known forStarring in several viral videos, including removing a straw from a sea turtle's nostril and filming a live giant squid
Scientific career
FieldsMarine biology and science communication
InstitutionsInstitut de Ciències del Mar, Barcelona. L'Oceanogràfic
Thesis Migratory Ecology of Sea Turtles  (2014)
Doctoral advisor Frank Paladino

Nathan Jack Robinson is a marine biologist and science communicator from the United Kingdom. During his career, Robinson has been at the center of several viral videos. These have included videos of him removing a plastic drinking straw from the nostril of a sea turtle [1] as well as a plastic fork from the nostril of a different sea turtle, [2] and a video recorded by him and Edith Widder of a live giant squid. [3] This video is the first-time that a live giant squid has been recorded in US waters and is the second time this species has ever been caught alive on film.

Contents

Early life and education

Robinson grew up in the United Kingdom. He earned a Masters of Marine Biology at the University of Southampton in 2009, receiving the awarded for the highest achieving MSc student of his graduating class. Nathan's MSc focused on learning how shallow-water marine species might adapt to deeper habitats. While completing his MSc program, he also began volunteering with the ARCHELON, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece. He followed his interest in sea turtle conservation into a Ph.D. program at Purdue University under the mentor-ship of Frank V. Paladino. His Ph.D. thesis focused on understanding the factors driving the migratory behavior of sea turtles. [4]

Research and impact

In 2015, Robinson was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship through Purdue University Fort Wayne to manage the research activities of the Leatherback Trust in Costa Rica. During this fellowship, Robinson joined a Texas A&M research expedition collecting data in northwest Costa Rica to sample olive ridley sea turtles for epibionts. While Robinson was examining a turtle for epibionts, he discovered something in a turtle's nostril. [5] Upon removing the foreign object, it was revealed to be a plastic drinking straw. Expedition leader Christine Figgener recorded this video, which subsequently went viral and has inspired several anti-plastic straw campaigns worldwide. [6]

Two months after removing the straw, Robinson was again studying olive ridley turtles on Playa Ostional, Costa Rica and had a similar encounter. However, this time the object being removed was a plastic fork. This video, recorded by Sean Williamson, also went viral and prompted several other campaigns against single-use plastics. [7]

Following the impact of these two videos, Robinson began to focus his research activities on using novel visual technologies to generate engaging footage for the purposes of scientific discovery and environmental outreach. This has included projects using drones, [8] animal-borne cameras, [9] [10] and deep-sea cameras. [11]

In 2019, Nathan was working alongside Edith Widder in the Gulf of Mexico where they were able to film a live giant squid. [3] This video was the first-time that a live giant squid has been recorded in US waters, is the second time this species has ever been caught alive on film.

In 2022, Nathan was invited to present at Gresham College to give a talk entitled "Going Viral: An Environmental Activist's Story". [12]

In 2024, Nathan was nominated as one of the Explorer's Club 50: Fifty People Changing the World/ [13]

Career

Between 2015 and 1017, Nathan was Director of the Leatherback Trust in Costa Rica and a postdoctoral fellow at Purdue University Fort Wayne. Between 2017 and 2019, Nathan was Director of the Cape Eleuthera Institute in The Bahamas. Since 2019, Nathan has worked for L'Oceanogràfic and the Institut de Ciències del Mar, Barcelona.

Publications

Nathan is the author of several scientific publications, conference papers, and reports [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sea turtle</span> Reptiles of the superfamily Chelonioidea

Sea turtles, sometimes called marine turtles, are reptiles of the order Testudines and of the suborder Cryptodira. The seven existing species of sea turtles are the flatback, green, hawksbill, leatherback, loggerhead, Kemp's ridley, and olive ridley. Six of the seven sea turtle species, all but the flatback, are present in U.S. waters, and are listed as endangered and/or threatened under the Endangered Species Act. All but the flatback turtle are listed as threatened with extinction globally on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The flatback turtle is found only in the waters of Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giant squid</span> Deep-ocean dwelling squid in the family Architeuthidae

The giant squid is a species of deep-ocean dwelling squid in the family Architeuthidae. It can grow to a tremendous size, offering an example of abyssal gigantism: recent estimates put the maximum size at around 12–13 m (39–43 ft) for females and 10 m (33 ft) for males, from the posterior fins to the tip of the two long tentacles. The mantle of the giant squid is about 2 m long, and the length of the squid excluding its tentacles rarely exceeds 5 m (16 ft). Claims of specimens measuring 20 m (66 ft) or more have not been scientifically documented.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leatherback sea turtle</span> Species of marine reptile in the family Chelonioidea

The leatherback sea turtle, sometimes called the lute turtle, leathery turtle or simply the luth, is the largest of all living turtles and the heaviest non-crocodilian reptile, reaching lengths of up to 2.7 metres and weights of 500 kilograms (1,100 lb). It is the only living species in the genus Dermochelys and family Dermochelyidae. It can easily be differentiated from other modern sea turtles by its lack of a bony shell; instead, its carapace is covered by oily flesh and flexible, leather-like skin, for which it is named. Leatherback turtles have a global range, although there are multiple distinct subpopulations. The species as a whole is considered vulnerable, and some of its subpopulations are critically endangered.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drinking straw</span> Thin tube for drinking liquids

A drinking straw is a utensil that is intended to carry the contents of a beverage to one's mouth. Disposable straws are commonly made from plastics. However, environmental concerns related to plastic pollution and new regulation have led to rise in reusable and biodegradable straws. Following a rise in regulation and public concern, some companies have even voluntarily banned or reduced the number of plastic straws used. Alternative straws are often made of reusable materials like silicone or metal or alternative disposable and biodegradable materials like paper, cardboard, pasta, or bamboo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olive ridley sea turtle</span> One of the most abundant living sea turtle in the world

The olive ridley sea turtle, also known commonly as the Pacific ridley sea turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Cheloniidae. The species is the second-smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world. L. olivacea is found in warm and tropical waters, primarily in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, but also in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Las Baulas Marine National Park</span>

Las Baulas de Guanacaste Marine National Park is a National Park of Costa Rica and a Ramsar Site. The park is managed by the Tempisque Conservation Area, and covers approximately a 167.3 square kilometres (64.6 sq mi) marine area of the Tamarindo Bay, next to the town of Tamarindo. It supports the largest nesting colony of leatherback sea turtles on the Pacific coast of the Americas. Female leatherbacks often come ashore at Playa Grande between October and May to lay their eggs.

Ostional Mixed Wildlife Refuge, is an 85.7 km2 (33.1 sq mi) Wildlife refuge of Costa Rica, part of the Tempisque Conservation Area, was originally declared a protected area in 1982, and its status has been changed several times since then, including covering a larger area both on land and out to sea. It was created to protect important nesting beaches of the Olive ridley sea turtle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicoya Peninsula</span> Peninsula

The Nicoya Peninsula is a peninsula on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. It is divided into two provinces: Guanacaste Province in the north, and the Puntarenas Province in the south. It is located at 10°N 85.4166667°W. It varies from 19 to 37 miles (60 km) wide and is approximately 75 miles (121 km) long, forming the largest peninsula in the country. It is known for its beaches and is a popular tourist destination.

Xeko is an out-of-print collectible card game revolving around endangered species. It was launched on Earthday 2006. It won the Creative Child Magazine 2006 Toy of the Year Award and the National Parenting Center's Seal of Approval in its first year. Four "Mission" sets have been released. Mission: Costa Rica and Mission: Madagascar, based on biodiversity hotspots were released first. Mission: Indonesia, was released in 2007, with the final release, Mission: China, was released July 19, 2008. A total of thirty more missions were planned but never developed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nosara</span> District in Nicoya canton, Guanacaste province, Costa Rica

Nosara is a district of the Nicoya canton, in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Galibi, Suriname</span> Resort in Marowijne District, Suriname

Galibi is a resort in Suriname, located in the Marowijne District. Its population at the 2012 census was 741. Galibi is a tribal area inhabited by an indigenous population of Kalina Amerindians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edith Widder</span> American oceanographer

Edith Anne "Edie" Widder Smith is an American oceanographer, marine biologist, author and the Co-founder, CEO and Senior Scientist at the Ocean Research & Conservation Association.

Ecology Project International is a non-profit organization based in Missoula, Montana, dedicated to developing place-based, ecological education partnerships between local experts and youth to address conservation issues. Ecology Project International (EPI) works with students and educators at seven program sites around the world: Belize, Costa Rica, mainland Ecuador, Galápagos Islands, Hawaii, Mexico, and Yellowstone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Threats to sea turtles</span>

Threats to sea turtles are numerous and have caused many sea turtle species to be endangered. Of the seven extant species of sea turtles, six in the family Cheloniidae and one in the family Dermochelyidae, all are listed on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. The list classifies six species of sea turtle as "threatened", two of them as "critically endangered", one as "endangered" and three as "vulnerable". The flatback sea turtle is classified as "data deficient" which means that there is insufficient information available for a proper assessment of conservation status. Although sea turtles usually lay around one hundred eggs at a time, on average only one of the eggs from the nest will survive to adulthood. While many of the things that endanger these hatchlings are natural, such as predators including sharks, raccoons, foxes, and seagulls, many new threats to the sea turtle species are anthropogenic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike deGruy</span> American documentary filmmaker (1951–2012)

Michael V. deGruy was an American documentary filmmaker specializing in underwater cinematography. His credits include Life in the Freezer, Trials of Life, The Blue Planet and Pacific Abyss. He was also known for his storytelling, including a passionate TED talk about his love of the ocean on the Mission Blue Voyage. His company, Film Crew Inc., specialized in underwater cinematography, filming for the BBC, PBS, National Geographic, and the Discovery Channel. His notable accomplishments include diving beneath thermal vents in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. He was a member of many deep sea expeditions and was a part of the team that first filmed the vampire squid and the nautilus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asociación Salvemos las Tortugas de Parismina</span>

Asociación Salvemos las Tortugas de Parismina (Spanish), is a community-based, non profit, conservation organization based in Parismina, Costa Rica, dedicated to protecting sea turtles and their eggs from poaching while initiating sustainable development and providing a viable alternative economy to poaching in the village.

The Leatherback Trust is a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and study of sea turtles and freshwater turtles, with special regard for the leatherback sea turtle. The Leatherback Trust was founded in 2000 to help consolidate Las Baulas National Marine Park, one of the last major nesting site for the critically endangered leatherback turtle in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The park protects Playa Grande, Playa Ventanas, Playa Langosta, the ocean out to 12 nautical miles, wetlands, highlands, and the coast inland to 125 m from the high tide line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Costa Rica Thermal Dome</span> Thermal dome in Costa Rica

The Costa Rica Thermal Dome, is an oceanographic feature and marine biodiversity hotspot that varies in size from 300 to 1,000 km in diameter. The dome is located off the western coast of Central America in the Tropical Eastern Pacific. Through the interaction of wind and ocean currents, deeper waters are drawn towards the surface in a dome-like shape at this location. These waters displace the warmer, nutrient-poor waters with colder, nutrient-richer waters. An investigation by UNESCO'S World Heritage Site and International Union for Conservation of nature (IUCN) in 2016 considered it eligible to become a World Heritage Site in the near future.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christine Figgener</span> Marine Biologist

Christine Figgener is a German marine conservation biologist, author, science communicator, and ocean advocate recognized for her work in sea turtle conservation, the fight against plastic pollution, and the empowerment of women in STEM. She is best known for documenting the removal of a plastic straw from a sea turtle's nose in a YouTube video that went viral in 2015. This video, which was featured in popular media outlets such as National Geographic, HuffPost, The New York Times, ABC News, and CNN, highlighted the dangers of plastic pollution on marine wildlife and was a catalyst for the global anti-straw movement that led to several straw bans by businesses such as Starbucks, Disney, and Alaska Airlines.

References

  1. Kirkpatrick, Nick (17 August 2015). "Sea turtle trauma: Video shows rescuers extracting plastic straw from deep in nostril". Washington Post. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  2. Guff, Samantha (17 Dec 2015). "This Sea Turtle With A Fork Stuck In Its Nose Is Exactly Why We Need To Recycle". Huffington Post. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  3. 1 2 Jarvis, Brooke (21 June 2019). "Giant Squid Reappears on Video, This Time in U.S. Waters". New York Times. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  4. Robinson, Nathan (October 2014). "Migratory Ecology Of Sea Turtles". Purdue University. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  5. Robinson, Nathan (2015). "Plastic Straw Found Inside the Nostril of an Olive Ridley Sea Turtle". Marine Turtle Newsletter. 147: 5–6. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  6. Houck, Brenna (12 July 2018). "Why the World Is Hating on Plastic Straws Right Now". Eater. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  7. Pragnell-Raasch, Hannah. "A Sea Turtle and the Ugly Journey of a Plastic Fork". Project Aware. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  8. Eysenck, Juliet (19 May 2016). "Beautiful drone footage shows endangered turtle returning to the sea after nesting". Telegraph UK. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  9. Robinson, Nathan. "Life From A Sea Turtle's Perspective". Paralenz. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  10. "Tracking Green Sea Turtles in the Bahamas with TurtleCams". www.greatbigstory.com. Retrieved 2020-01-20.
  11. Widder, Edith. "The Medusa". NOAA Ocean Exploration and Research. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  12. "Going Viral: An Environmental Activist's Story". www.greshamcollege.com. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  13. https://50.explorers.org/community/nathan-j-robinson/website=www.https://50.explorers.org/ . Retrieved 2024-03-17.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. "Nathan Robinson". scholar.google.com. Retrieved 2022-04-20.