Marine heatwaves decimate sea urchins, mollusks and more at Rottnest
Curtin University researchers believe rising sea temperatures are to blame for the plummeting number of invertebrates such as mollusks and sea urchins at Rottnest Island off Western Australia, with some species having declined by up to 90 percent bet.....»»
Deciphering the intensity of past ocean currents
Ocean currents determine the structure of the deep-sea ocean floor and the transport of sediments, organic carbon, nutrients and pollutants. In flume-tank experiments, researchers from MARUM—Center for Marine Environmental Sciences at the Universit.....»»
Q&A: Nigeria"s new blue economy ministry could harness marine resources, moving the focus away from oil
Nigeria's President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced a new ministerial portfolio in August: Marine and Blue Economy. This was welcome news as it renewed hope for economic development outside the oil sector. We asked marine sustainability and blue economy.....»»
As heat waves warm the Pacific Ocean, effects on marine life remain murky
Scientists are pretty good at recognizing marine heat waves. A global network of thousands of oceanic buoys and orbiting satellites allow them to see, in real time, ocean surface temperatures, changing currents and storm systems as they develop, move.....»»
Accounting for oxygen in modeling coastal ecosystems
Driven by climate change and pollution, the decline of oxygen levels in oceans is altering biogeochemical cycles, threatening marine plants, animals and ecosystems. But how accurately are we projecting the fate of marine life? If models of marine eco.....»»
Study reveals how marine bacteria combat algae
Algae and bacteria are inseparable in ocean ecosystems, with bacteria playing a crucial role in regulating the growth and metabolism of algae. In addition to mutualism, bacteria have developed various molecular-based strategies to combat algae......»»
Effect of iron on the preservation of organic carbon in marine sediments and its implications for carbon sequestration
A comprehensive review article by Professor Hu Limin, Professor Yao Peng, Professor Liu Xiting, Professor Liang Yantao, Postdoctoral Fellow Zhao Bin, Postdoctoral Fellow Du Jiazong, and master candidate Ji Yuhan from Ocean University of China has bee.....»»
Fossils in Morocco reveal the astounding diversity of marine life 66 million years ago, just before the asteroid hit
Sixty-six million years ago, the Cretaceous period ended. Dinosaurs disappeared, along with around 90% of all species on Earth. The patterns and causes of this extinction have been debated since paleontology began. Was it a slow, inevitable decline,.....»»
Egyptian Mediterranean fisheries in urgent need of better management, says study
Egyptian fisheries must be better managed to secure the overall health of the Mediterranean Sea's marine living resources, new research has found......»»
Move over, highways. Now you can sponsor an ocean sanctuary
In a novel conservation strategy, the small South Pacific island state of Niue is offering individuals and institutions the opportunity to sponsor its marine sanctuary, home to pristine coral reefs, sharks, whales and hundreds of fish species......»»
Red Sea corals threatened by mystery sea urchin deaths
The Red Sea's spectacular coral reefs face a new threat, marine biologists warn—the mass death of sea urchins that may be caused by a mystery disease......»»
Crowdfunding conservation: A Pacific island"s plan to protect its waters
For a little under $150, you can now directly sponsor marine conservation across one square kilometer of the Pacific Ocean, through a novel scheme announced this week by the tiny island of Niue......»»
Environmental physicist discusses marine heat waves
An extraordinary heat wave is assailing the world's oceans with an intensity that is surprising climate researchers. Environmental physicist Nicolas Gruber provides some context......»»
Mussels able to adjust heart rate to cope with marine heat waves
Mussels are among the ultimate superfoods, high in vitamin B12, omega-3 and great for the heart. Now, new research shows they are also likely to withstand marine heat waves by adjusting their body functions......»»
Researchers study the depths of the Sierra de Atapuerca
Josep M. Parés, coordinator of the Geochronology and Geology Program at the Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH), is the co-leader of a geological study published in the journal Marine and Petroleum Geology. The rese.....»»
Tiny sea creatures reveal the ancient origins of neurons
A study in the journal Cell sheds new light on the evolution of neurons, focusing on the placozoans, a millimeter-sized marine animal. Researchers at the Center for Genomic Regulation in Barcelona find evidence that specialized secretory cells found.....»»
Turning the tide: Ghana"s innovative approach to tackle marine plastic pollution with citizen science
Working with IIASA researchers, Ghana has adopted a citizen science approach to addressing the problem of plastic pollution in marine environments, becoming the first country to integrate this type of data on marine plastic litter into its official m.....»»
Genetically modified bacteria found to break down plastics in saltwater
Researchers have genetically engineered a marine microorganism to break down plastic in salt water. Specifically, the modified organism can break down polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a plastic used in everything from water bottles to clothing that.....»»
Human emissions shown to drive changes in North Atlantic ocean temperatures, West African rainfall and hurricanes
A new climate study led by scientists at the University Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science found that temperature fluctuations in the tropical Atlantic Ocean temperature are largely driven by human-induced aerosol emiss.....»»
Six decades of plankton decline sparks call to protect the foundation of the marine food web
The decline in plankton abundance in the North East Atlantic over the past six decades should serve as a red flag to policy makers about the need to protect some of the planet's most critical forms of life, a new study has warned......»»
NZ"s vital kelp forests are in peril from ocean warming—threatening the important species that rely on them
Years of almost non-stop marine heat waves are stressing New Zealand's kelp forests. But as we show in our new research, ongoing ocean warming is only one of several threats to these unique and important coastal seaweed ecosystems......»»