Biology Conservation Human impacts
Big animals face big trouble in our oceans
Many believe we are in the midst of another mass extinction both on land and in the ocean. What marine…
Author: Sean Anderson
I am a first year MS candidate at the University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography. I am interested in plankton ecology and the dynamics within plankton food webs. My research interests include the behavioral and physiological responses of phytoplankton and heterotrophic predators.
Biology Book Review Conservation Fisheries Human impacts
Ancient swimmers: Greenland sharks live for centuries
Using radiocarbon dating, scientists have discovered that the Greenland shark can live longer than any other known vertebrate. How long…
Biological oceanography Biology Climate Change
Tiny but tough: calcification in marine phytoplankton
Coccolithophores stand out from other marine phytoplankton in their ability to form calcified plates. Why is it beneficial for coccolithophores…
Behavior Biology Climate Change Coral Fisheries
Changing with the environment: how resilient are coral reef fish?
Coral reef fish are some of the most sensitive animals to climate change. How will coral reef fish respond to…
Biological oceanography Book Review Climate Change Harmful Algal Bloom Human impacts Invasive Species
Aliens attack: Predicting the spread of marine invasive species
Species invasions have become serious issues in the marine environment, mostly as a result of increased ship traffic. Once a…
Behavior Biology Ecology
Cephalopods engage in colorful confrontations
Octopuses were once thought to be mostly solitary creatures, only worried about looming predators or potential mates. It turns out,…
Behavior Ecology
Killer food: the harmful effects of a diatom diet
What if a single bite out of your favorite cheeseburger was toxic to your health? In the ocean, copepods are…
Biology Book Review Ecology Evolution
Cuttlefish “freeze-out” their predators
Cephalopods such as cuttlefish are known to use camouflage behavior to avoid being eaten. Sharks are able to find disguised…
Biology Human impacts Plastic Pollution
Plankton are eating plastic!
Zooplankton, the tiny animals that make up the base of marine food webs, are ingesting microplastics. Given the widespread abundance…
Biology Book Review Ecology
Decomposition in the Deep Sea
Whale carcasses that fall to the seafloor provide large amounts of food to deep-sea environments. Though ecologically important, little is…
Biology Climate Change Conservation Coral Ecology Human impacts Pollution
Wake-up Call: Global Oceans in Big Trouble!
Our global oceans are in a state of crisis. A new report from the WWF paints a bleak picture: human…
Biology Climate Change Glaciers Sea-level Rise
Feeling the heat: how do plankton respond to glacial melting?
The current, and sometimes rapid melting of glaciers and ice sheets is a direct consequence of climate change. Glacial melting…
Biochemistry Biology Book Review Chemistry Climate Change
Carbon sinks: Diatoms in the deep sea
Fast-sinking phytoplankton particles deliver carbon from the surface to the deep ocean. Are plankton cells still able to survive when…
Biology Fisheries Human impacts
Untangling the issues with longline fishing
Longline fishing has been used for decades as a way to catch large amounts of commercial fish. Though effective in…
Biochemistry Harmful Algal Bloom Physiology
Toxic meal: Chemical cues from copepods increase red-tide toxicity
Yes, you can purchase a fuzzy red tide-forming algal cell. Aside from being much smaller and lacking any type of…
Biogeochemistry Biology Ecology Microbiology
Time to rethink the role of ocean’s microbes?
Have you ever wondered what may live inside the tiniest drops of seawater? Global oceans are dominated by organisms we…
Biology Coastal Management Harmful Algal Bloom Seagrass
Sewage pollution running amuck in Florida’s Indian River Lagoon
Harmful algal blooms are common events that occur in coastal waters. In Florida’s Indian River Lagoon, nutrient groundwater runoff initiates…
Biology Book Review Ecology Physiology
Crustaceans are smarter than you think
Ever wondered how your lobster behaves before it reaches your dinner plate? Caribbean spiny lobsters take advantage of a unique…
Biology Parasitism Physiology
Deadly Dino’s
Copepods dominate the world’s oceans. They are important in the marine food web and help to regulate the global carbon…