Orion Nebula

vdB 31

Hey!! I find marine biology super cool, but everyone tells me I won't get a stable salary from it. Any advice?

Hello!! So sorry about the late reply. Anyway, I understand your struggle with people constantly wondering about the financial stability of a scientific career. For some scientific careers, especially those relating to marine biology, it is hard to estimate earnings because there are so many different pathways to chose from. What I mean by this is that your could take your passion for the ocean and work in many different places doing vastly different things. For example, you could work at a university teaching students and researching, or you could work in an aquarium taking care of animals, or you could work at a private research company/consulting firm. Each of these paths have different salary ranges. Another thing about marine biology is that it is a highly competitive field (and may be one of the reasons why people see this career as less stable than others.) 

I will not lie to you and say that marine biology careers are the most lucrative option out there; however, this does not mean that you cannot make a stable salary! Marine science careers, in my opinion, are more about your passion and drive to discover, educate, or conserve. So my main advice would be to continue doing what you love. If you are passionate about marine biology you will find that the advantages far outweigh the few downfalls. Also if you are not quiet sure if a career in marine sciences is your calling then you still have plenty of time to figure it out. Try interning or volunteering where you may be able to earn some experience.

Sorry about my rambling!! I hope it helped at least. 

And if it didn’t I highly suggest you check out SciAll.org’s YouTube channel. He has some cool videos. The video I linked here may help to answer your question.

Thank you so much and have a Thresher Shark for the road!!

Rosette Nebula HaRGB by Neil’s Astro on Flickr.

Subphylum Urochordata

Subphylum Urochordata (also called Tunicata) includes tunicates, salps, and larvaceans. This subphylum, along with subphylum Cephalochordata, is informally classified under protochordates. Protochordates are “primitive” chordates that are not vertebrates. Most adult tunicates are sessile and do not show chordate characteristics. However tunicates have a free-swimming larval stage that exhibits all chordate characteristics. Tunicates get their name from the outer covering, called a tunic, which cloaks their body.

The first two photos show pictures of tunicate larva. The next three photos show pictures of adult tunicates.