Biology

Decalcifying Calcidiscus: An effect of ocean acidification on plankton

The vastness of the ocean can be deceptive--you'd think that only big things would have an impact on something the…

Overfishing and climate variability interactions spell trouble for fast growing species

Rather intuitively, terrestrial ecosystems show that large, slow growing species are less adaptable in the face of environmental perturbations than…

Biology Developmental Biology Ecology Evolution

The Sting of Sex: odd mating adaptations of box jellyfish

It might be hard for a box jellyfish to buy into the old adage “sex sells,” especially when their gonads…

Biology Ecology

Diving birds find an abundant food source in a surprising place

Jellyfish have been getting some bad press recently, and for good reason. As temperatures warm, jellyfish increase in number, and…

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…

Biology Modeling Physiology technology

Science Says Fish Should Stay in School!

Is it cool for fish to stay in a school? Many do, but why? Avoiding predators is one reason, but…

Biology Climate Change Ecology

Corals better learn to keep up or they may drown!

The coral reefs protecting many islands in the Pacific need to grow quickly in order to keep up with the…

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…

Biology Conservation Ecology

Fear and Floating in the Atlantic

Does fear of predation alter sea turtle behavior? Researchers put an ecological model to the test by using large-scale movement…

Biology Ecology

Beyond the shell: What are hermit crabs really after?

A favorite activity for beachgoers is to comb the sand and tide pools for marine life, and one of the…

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 Climate Change Coastal Management Ecology Harmful Algal Bloom

Our Saving Grazers

Think critical ecosystems are threatened by an algal take over? Not so fast, grazers may have something to say about…

Biology Book Review Conservation

Using Robots to Track Sea Turtles

A new technique using underwater robots may be able to teach us about sea turtle behaviors in the wild.

Biology Evolution

The ‘Eyes’ Have It: Co-option of organelles led to the evolution of dinoflagellate eyes

The evolution of eyes has been the subject of debate for many years. Recent studies on a group of rare…

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!

Biology Climate Change Ecology Ocean Acidification

Giant Clams Catch a Giant Break

Most of today’s research into the effects of climate change and ocean acidification is all doom and gloom: this animal…

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…

Biology Book Review Evolution Genetics

Seeing with skin: the secret to octopus camouflage

Capable of blending into the environment in a matter of seconds, the octopus in no normal sea creature. But just…

Biology Coral Ecology Fisheries Human impacts

Sponges Out of Control: Another Effect of Overfishing

When you think about threats to coral reefs, you don’t think “Sponges!”, do you? But you might come up with…

Atmospheric Chemistry Biology

Marine microbial activity poses restrictions on cloud formation

Researchers from Scripps Institute of Oceanography have found that humble heterotrophic bacteria in the surface waters of the ocean can…