Biology
Scientists reveal a greasy discovery: swordfish lubricate their heads for speed!
Swordfish boast a variety of adaptations that makes them one of the fastest swimmers on the planet! Everything from their…
Author: Megan Chen
I'm a past oceanbites writer, occasional editor and guest poster. I graduated with a Masters of Coastal & Marine Management from the University of Akureyri in Iceland, and am currently working in marine conservation. In particular, I'm supporting an Indigenous-led initiative to safeguard the largest inland sea in the world (Hudson Bay & James Bay, Canada). I love weird ocean critters and *sigh...I really do enjoy long walks on the beach.
Conference
Marine Educator Conference Highlights: Glowing jellyfish, bad petitions, lost sharks & affordable VR
An ocean pharmacy made possible by jellyfish, the danger of bad petitions, the importance of understanding 'lost sharks', and affordable…
Conference
Green Eggs & Sand: A Horseshoe Crab Workshop
This month, a whole post about horseshoe crabs! How do they grow? How have they saved lives? The answer to…
Biology
How fish can help design better filters
This new study takes a closer look at the fluid dynamics happening inside filter-feeding fishes. How might this save industries…
Aquaculture
What happens to human health when we feed crops to farmed fish?
Feed for farmed seafood is relying on more land-based ingredients. As aquaculture production is projected to increase in response to…
Book Review
Ice-Proof Penguin Feathers Inspire New Material
Unlocking the secrets behind penguin feathers' ability to stay ice-free may help us make safer and better products. Read more…
Biology
Sea of (Unromantic) Love: Strange Mating Behaviours
Tired of being alone on Valentine’s Day? Well, picture yourself in any of these animals situations and well, maybe it’s…
Biology Chemistry Coastal Management
Whale earwax: a hearing aid & time capsule
How is whale earwax essential to whales, and how can it help whale conservation? Read more to find out!
Coastal Management Conservation Coral Fisheries
How to Stop Dragging Our Assets: The World’s First Fishery Habitat Quota
Setting limits on fish catch is standard practice in fisheries management. For the first time in history, limits on habitat…
Fisheries
Northern Atlantic cod make an epic comeback
The collapse of Northern Atlantic cod was the textbook example of how overfishing can lead to a population crash. Decades…
Climate Change Modeling Physical oceanography Science Communication
Oceanbites Mingles With ArcticMix (Part 1)
This is part 1 of 3 interview posts on the ArcticMix voyage. Scientists share their experiences with life aboard a…
Fisheries
Counterfeit fish: the extent of seafood mislabeling in the United States
Media coverage of a seafood mislabeling study in the U.S. has popularized the 2013 finding that one-third of U.S. seafood…
Biology
The Science Behind the Male Sea Sapphire’s Flash Dance & Disappearing Act
Male sea sapphires have the ability to flash brilliant colours, then seem to disappear. Read more about the science behind…
Biochemistry Biology Human impacts Ocean Acidification
Ocean acidification may make “peekaboo” harder for shrimp
What happens to a shrimp's shell when exposed to more acidic conditions? Read more to find out!
Conference Economy Fisheries Policy Science Communication
Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2015 Highlights
Capitol Hill Ocean Week (CHOW) is an annual event in Washington, D.C. that brings together a wide range of leaders…
Coastal Management Conservation
Taiwan creates “Facebook” for sea turtles!
Photo ID databases have been used to estimate population sizes for zebras, cheetahs, whales, sharks dolphins, turtles and more. This…
Coastal Management Ecology
Lethal Injection: Crown of Thorns Edition
Predation by crown of thorns sea stars (COTS) is one of the main causes of coral reef decline in Australia’s…
Climate Change Fisheries
Written in bone: what ancient Pacific Cod can tell us about sea level rise and mercury
Through biogeochemical analysis, researchers found that mercury levels in ancient Pacific Cod bones peaked at a time of deglaciation and…
Biology
Yee-haw! This jellyfish-riding lobster has special appendages to keep clean and be carried on
By riding jellyfish, this lobster larvae can travel the high seas, and have easy access to a convenient snack. But…
Biology Climate Change
Anemones can do the ‘symbiont shuffle’ in the face of climate change
The bubble-tip anemone can harbour several types of algae or 'endosymbionts' simultaneously. This raises the question: are there advantages to…