Pollution – oceanbites

Are Diseases in Ocean Ecosystems Increasing?

Citation: Ward JR, Lafferty KD (2004) The Elusive Baseline of Marine Disease: Are Diseases in Ocean Ecosystems Increasing? PLoS Biol…

Plastic

Incidental Ingestion: Do fishes intentionally swallow microplastics?

Microplastics in our oceans are a growing problem, but how do fishes investigate and interact with these particles?

Biology Chemistry Hazards Human Health Plastic Pollution

How many microplastics are in your body? An insight into lifetime accumulation

Microscopic plastics have been found anywhere and everywhere, including in the food we eat. With plastic pollution on the rise,…

Pollution

Are biodegradable plastics too good to be true? Here’s what actually happens to them in the ocean

“Biodegradable plastics are better for the environment!” You might have heard this a lot, but is this true? Do biodegradable…

Ecology Hazards Human impacts Pollution

The disastrous effects of an oil spill: A tale of Mauritius vs. MV Wakashio

Does Mauritius ring a bell? This tiny Indian Ocean Island was hit by the worst oil spill it had ever…

Pollution

Sea lions and seals and PFAS, oh my: Location still matters for Australian pups

I recently found myself falling down a chemical pollutant rabbit hole. Every news source seemed to be shouting “PFAS chemicals…

Plastic Pollution

Let them eat plastic – Animals eating microplastic could choke the ocean

Plastic pollution may bring to mind big images - dead birds, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and beaches filled with…

Pollution

Fish feed on ocean plastic… but are they really only eating plastic?

Pretty much any plastic product is made from plastic pellets. However, billions of pellets have now made their way into…

Biochemistry Biological oceanography Chemistry Human impacts Physiology Pollution

Living Life to the Fullest: Enzyme Activity of Two African Mussel Species

Every day, our body performs a plethora of activities. We breathe, exercise, eat food, think, and socialize. Behind all of…

Biology Human impacts Lakes Plastic

Can Green Algae Capture Microplastics in the Great Lakes?

Microplastics (specifically microfibers) can adhere to the cell walls of the green algae Cladophora, potentially removing them from the water.

Biochemistry Biology Ecology Human Health Human impacts Pollution Toxicology

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes in Seahorse Hormones

While we already know that plastics are harmful to the environment, do you ever really think about how they can…

Pollution

The Otter Guys: How heavy metal pollution affects Alaskan northern sea otters

Most pollution is clearly visible in nature, but some types are very subtle. In the case of heavy metal pollution,…

Biology Climate Change Harmful Algal Bloom Pollution

Oxygen Minimum Zones: Should we be worried?

Reviews and syntheses: Present, past, and future of the oxygen minimum zone in the northern Indian Ocean It is no…

Biological oceanography Climate Change Evolution Human impacts Microbiome Plastic

Catching a ride on plastic: how dangerous bacteria might travel across oceans

Plastic is abundant in the ocean ecosystem. Not only is it harmful to marine animals, but as scientists discovered, it…

Pollution

Tiny Human-Engineered Particles Damages Marine Life

Nanoparticles exist everywhere in our lives – on the fabric of your clothing, the makeup you wear, the display of…

Coastal Management Plastic Pollution

‘Out of Sight’ Can’t Mean ‘Out of Mind’

Surface marine debris and microplastic pollution has received more attention recently—which is great—but there’s another garbage problem we are only…

Biology Human impacts Pollution

Do pesticides negatively affect moon jellyfish?

Do pesticides negatively affect the polyp life stage of moon jellies? Evidence suggests no, at least for tested pesticides.

Biological oceanography Biology Ecology Fisheries Plastic Pollution

Plastics and Colors and Fish, Oh My!

Have you ever wondered what happens to the garbage that ends up in the ocean? Or about what just might…

Pollution

Human mercury pollution found at the deepest ocean

For many decades, humans have been putting mercury into the ocean, contaminating big fish like tuna and swordfish. But we…

Coastal Management Plastic

The plight of the mangrove

Celine E.J. van Bijsterveldt, Bregje K. van Wesenbeeck, Sri Ramadhani, Olivier V. Raven, Fleur E. van Gool, Rudhi Pribadi, Tjeerd…