Biodiversity
If the benthos could talk: the value of long-term biodiversity monitoring
The tiny critters that burrow, swim, and graze in the benthic (bottom) habitats of marine ecosystems are often monitored over…
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.
Remote Sensing
Monitoring the benthos by listening to photosynthesis
Even though the benthos is a largely unseen energy base for marine food webs, scientists are listening to benthic habitats…
Invasive Species
Navigating historical passages of marine invasive species
Invasive species are a persistent threat to marine ecosystems. In this post, authors explore the historical context of marine invasive…
Microbiology
Microbialites are the unseen power house for marine and inland sea ecosystems
Ever hear someone say, "Just because you can't see something, doesn't mean it's not there?" Well, microscopic bacteria and algae…
Fisheries
Hope in isolation: four small islands are defying current threats to ocean health
Would you believe me if I told you that the oceans still possessed pristine, unimpacted habitats? In an age where…
Biodiversity
Linking marine and human health in Hispaniola
Biodiversity is often associated with higher standards of human livelihood, but researchers have yet to draw a direct line between…
Behavior
Power by the numbers: tiny shrimp generate turbulence in the ocean
Imagine hundreds of thousands of tiny shrimp swimming in the ocean. Believe it or not, the combined swimming action of…
Fisheries
Honey I shrunk the….fish?
What we know about commercial fishing's repercussions on reef fish is more complicated than just reducing the size of their…
Ecology
Tracking predators in seagrass beds
Scientists have long recognized that predators are more abundant at lower compared to higher latitudes. Read more to find out…
Restoration
Restoring the links between land and sea
On February 2, we celebrated World Wetlands Day. Wetlands, some of the most productive ecosystems on earth, are threatened. Read…
Climate Change
Marine diatoms eat climate change’s dust
Multiple, interacting factors from climate change make it difficult for scientists to predict how marine life will respond to climate…
Coral Microbiome
Corals get their auras read
Corals, depending on dominant cover type, can influence the microbial community living in the surrounding water. Read on to find…
Coastal Management
Beyond word of mouth: How local knowledge can fill fisheries data gaps
How can we accurately assess the extent of population declines in marine organisms? Read on to find out how local…
Fisheries
How to model climate change in an Arctic food web
The climate is changing, and so are Arctic food webs. But our knowledge of how food webs respond to warmer…
Behavior
How to clean a sea turtle
Could you imagine if you had to actively seek out showering stations to stay clean? For sea turtles, they must…
Ocean Acidification
Wandering copepods can’t find their way home in acidic oceans
Journal source: Smith, J. N., C. Richter, K. Fabricius, and A. Cornils. 2017. Pontellid copepods affected by ocean acidification: A…
Coastal Management Plastic Pollution
Wake up and smell the marine awareness…on social media?!
Close your eyes and imagine your favorite beach, or a memorable coast you have visited, completely free of litter-that’s right,…
Paleoceanography
Paleoshorelines: Time capsules of the ocean’s ancient shorelines
In celebration of World Ocean’s Week, let’s take a moment to think about how far we have come in discovering…
Coastal Management Human Health Human impacts Pollution Toxicology
Tarballs invading our coastlines: Ghosts of oil spills past
We live in a world that is torn between reliance on fossil fuels and renewable energy. Although we have made…
Biological oceanography Physical oceanography
Best of both worlds: stromatolites of the intertidal zone
Did you know that the earliest form of life on Earth can still be found today? Read more to find…