Pollution
A century-long record of mercury contamination in seabirds
Seabird feathers can tell us how serious mercury pollution in the ocean is.
Category: Pollution
deep sea Human impacts Plastic
Lebensspuren and müllspuren – the way trash is changing the sea floor
Artifacts from the deepest parts of earth are being shaped - literally - by plastic bags
Microbiology Plastic
Can we use bacteria to help clean up plastic in the ocean?
A "microbiosphere" could be engineered to introduce plastic-degrading bacteria to marine plastic pollution, but many questions still remain.
Plastic
Chemicals released from plastic disrupt marine microbes
We know how plastic pieces affect ocean life, but do we think enough about “invisible” chemicals from plastic?
Pollution
Coastal Erosion and Marine Litter Pollution
Coastal dunes, which are present along many coastlines, likely contain accumulations of litter that can enter the marine environment.
Plastic Pollution
How much lost fishing gear contributes to ocean pollution each year?
A realistic global estimate for derelict fishing gear in our oceans.
Pollution Remote Sensing
Silty Seas: A Look at Coastal Water Quality Following Wildfires
Wildfires may be impacting more than just air quality!
Pollution
Surgical masks flood the ocean: another wave of the pandemic
As covid-19 rages on the pandemic of surgical face masks in the ocean is just beginning. What will the effect…
Pollution
An alternative for Brita water filters may come from the ocean
Read about how diatoms (algae in the ocean) can be used to remove nickel from contaminated waters
Plastic Pollution
Life in plastic: Harmful bacteria and algae may hide in ocean plastic waste
Researchers from North Carolina investigate how many microbes can thrive inside a plastic bottle. Their findings may surprise you!
Plastic Pollution
Searching for microplastics: Scientists find a ‘missing’ piece
Researchers at FAU collected microplastics at different depths in the South Atlantic Subtropical Gyre. What they found will alter global…
Plastic Pollution
When microplastics go marshing in: A tale of two tidal marsh birds
As microplastic pollution continues to threaten coastal biodiversity, this study confirms its presence in tidal marsh birds.
Human impacts Plastic Pollution
Can citizen science improve marine debris monitoring efforts?
Public cleanup efforts should be useful for monitoring debris on our coastlines, but these efforts can lead to low-quality data…
Plastic Pollution
Mitigating microplastic pollution through ballast water treatment
By making a small change to existing ballast water treatment systems, we have a chance to tackle microplastic pollution.
Pollution
Plastic pollution in the time of COVID-19 pandemic
Impacts of COVID-19 pandemic are not just confined to public health and the economy, they extend to the environment.
Plastic
Scratching the surface: Microplastic distribution in the surface layer of the world’s ocean
Researchers have developed a dataset of microplastics in the ocean surface waters across the globe.
Biodiversity Biological oceanography Biology Human impacts Plastic Science Communication
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…