Ashley Marranzino

Commercial fishing in Marine Protected Areas highlights the need for careful management

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) increase biodiversity and preserve ecosystem health when they are properly managed. But researchers have detected destructive…

Biology

Can you smell that? Oil spills change stingray’s sense of smell

It may have occurred 8 years ago, but scientists are still talking about the Deep Water Horizon Oil Spill. This…

Biology

When having babies, is quantity or quality better?

Evolution is riddled with trade-offs. One of the classic examples is how to spread maternal resources – is it better…

Human impacts

You are Now Entering the Twilight Zone: Exploring the Unique Realm of Mesophotic Reefs

200 feet below the surface of the ocean, light slips away from view. But even here, in the mesophotic zones,…

Economy

Losing Coral Reefs Will Cost Us More Money

Coral reefs are extremely important ecosystems. Sadly, climate change, pollution, and various other threats are causing us to lose some…

Biology

Sleeping with one eye open: fur seals may help us understand sleep patterns

Most mammals need to catch their zzz’s to function properly. Fur seals appear to naturally go through prolonged periods of…

Fisheries

Big Momma: bigger fish are better moms

What makes a fish a good mom? Read here to see why scientists now think that big fish moms are…

Fisheries Human impacts

Tracking Global Fisheries with the Help of Computer Neural Networks

Fisheries are vital to global economies and to the billions of people who rely on fish for their primary source…

Conservation Coral Human impacts Plastic Pollution

Plastics increase disease risks for corals

You have probably heard about the troubles coral reefs are facing and about the detrimental effects of plastic pollution in…

Biology deep sea Ecology

The backbone of an ecosystem: bone-eating zombie worms control biodiversity at deep-sea whale falls

Zombies are real - but they are nothing like the ones from The Walking Dead. No, these zombies are worms…

technology

That idea doesn’t suck: Hitchiking fish inspires a robotic suction disk

How do scientists build better suction cups? Turn to nature's hitchikers for inspiration! Read on to see how remoras inspired…

deep sea Methodology Ocean Exploration Science Communication

Science Behind the Scenes: A Tour of the Exploration Vessel Nautilus

What is it really like to do research out at sea? Last month oceanbites writers Megan Chen and Ashley Marranzino…

Conference

Shark Week For Scientists III: Notes from the Annual Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists

Love watching Shark Week to see how scientists study sharks? I just returned from the annual Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists…

ocean engineering

Ocean Tech: Using Robots to Conduct Deep-Sea Research

The deep sea is the largest habitat on Earth, but with freezing water and high pressures it is difficult for…

deep sea Evolution

Now You See Me, Now You Don’t: Using an Invisibility Cloak for Deep-Sea Camouflage

You may not have to go to Hogwarts to find an invisibility cloak of your own. Although, the trip to…

Biology deep sea Hazards Pollution Toxicology

Manmade Pollutants Plague Deep-sea Organsims

Scientists have found an alarming accumulation of certain persistent organic pollutants in an environment previously thought pristine and untouched by…

Behavior Biology Natural History

Heroic Humpbacks: Orcastrate an Escape

While watching a pod of killer whales attacking their prey, scientists noticed a small group of humpback whales come to…

Biology Genetics genomics Methodology

Exciting strides for eDNA: Insights into whale shark population genetics

In the past few decades scientists have found new and exciting ways to use DNA to answer scientific questions. There…

Archaeology deep sea Human impacts Ocean Exploration

The Rebirth of the “Mighty-I”

Happy Halloween! This is the true, spooky tale of life, death, and rebirth beneath the waves. To end off OceanBites’…

Behavior Biology

The Manta in the Mirror: Are Manta Rays Self-Aware?

Fish are not typically thought of as the most intelligent animals. Yet, new research on manta rays may revolutionize the…