Physical oceanography
El Niño forces Mexican farmers to roll the dice on crop production
Unusual cycles in the climate bring devastation to agriculture in central Mexico, but scientists have found a way to aid…
Author: Katherine Barrett
Kate received her Ph.D. in Aquatic Ecology from the University of Notre Dame and she holds a Masters in Environmental Science & Biology from SUNY Brockport. She currently teaches at a small college in Indiana and is starting out her neophyte research career in aquatic community monitoring. Outside of lab and fieldwork, she enjoys running and kickboxing.
Coral
Corals can’t take the heat
Coral reefs are incredibly important to humans and other species, but they are also vulnerable to the effects of climate…
Science Communication
Appreciation for the oceans & Oceanbites
Water: it's the substance we all have in common with each other, and with the oceans. This is my last…
Human impacts
The killing of killer whales
Talking about killer whales may conjure images of Free Willy defying the odds and escaping captivity. However, in the wild,…
Ecology
Scientists set sail to survey the ocean’s plankton diversity
If you gaze into the ocean, or a lake or stream, you may be surprised at the abundance and variety…
Glaciers
The Bellagio of the natural world: glacial fountains
Glaciers are sentinels of global change, yet there is still much to be learned about how glaciers melt, and in…
Behavior
Is Noise Pollution Causing Marine Mammals to Starve?
Noise surrounds our daily lives, and the oceans are no exception. Sonar is used by the Navy and oil industry,…
Aquaculture
Lessons from inland saline lakes: linkages between “extreme” systems and the ocean
What connections do inland salt lakes have with the ocean? Both are salty, and we can learn many important lessons…
Archaeology
Destruction in your backyard: why we need to keep industry accountable (Guest post by Meaghan Efford)
This is a guest post by Meaghan Efford. Meaghan is an archaeologist and historical ecologist looking at how Burrard Inlet…
Plastic Pollution
SURFO Special: Scouting out marine plastics on the shores of Guam
Plethora of plastic pollution! Every year, large amounts of plastic are being deposited into our oceans as a direct result…
Physical oceanography
SURFO Special: The Pettaquamscutt River Estuary (AKA Narrow River): A Body of Water with Unique Characteristics and Unknown Circulation Patterns
Estuaries are unique bodies of water with a mixture of fresh and salt-water that operate much differently when compared to…
Fisheries
What’s up, doc? How scientists are developing health charts for fish populations
Have you ever thought about how scientists may measure the health of marine fish? Just as we have our health…
Pollution
The lament of sediment: pesticide pollution hurts coastal biodiversity
Although seemingly far removed from the coasts, urban industries, agriculture, and daily human activities contribute pollution that can wind up…
Ecology
Prey variety is key to coexistence of octopuses and sea stars
At family gatherings, relatives often compete for that last bite of turkey or crescent roll. How do predators living in…
Conservation
Protecting marine ecosystems by tracking top predators
What do canaries have in common with polar bears, sea turtles, and sea birds? Read on to find out how…
Climate Change
Atmospheric traffic jams halt nutrient flow to ocean phytoplankton
It is known that climate change is influencing our oceans in many direct ways, but what about changes in atmospheric…
Ecology
Happy clams eat varied diets: seasonal changes in food resources for coastal critters
Between land and sea, coastal ecosystems receive seasonal varieties of food sources that impact organisms at the bottom of the…
Ecology
How does salinity impact fish grazing in seagrass meadows?
Seagrass meadows are widely recognized as one of the most productive and diverse marine ecosystems, as they provide a bounty…
Conservation
Great Salt Lake: a place migratory birds call home
Is Great Salt Lake America’s Dead Sea? Quite the contrary, as this inland sea is very much alive! Read on…
Ecology
Hydrothermal vents spew out tasty morsels for local marine consumers
Hydrothermal vents are not only cool structures where magma meets the sea; they offer a previously unappreciated food source for…