Book Review
The Indian Ocean Dipole: How Climate Change affects South East Asia and Beyond
Extreme weather patterns in South East Asia and West Africa devastate local communities. Scientists study historical climate of the region to investigate if modern climate change is intensifying these disasters. Shawn WangI am a PhD student studying climate physics and marine geology at MIT and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. I am interested in using geochemical […]
Shipping traffic increases risk of alien invasion
The Research: Sardain, A., Sardain, E. & Leung, B. Global forecasts of shipping traffic and biological invasions to 2050. Nat. Sustain. 2, 274–282 (2019) Global Shipping Network Accounting for more than 80% of world trade, the global shipping network (GSN) is the primary transportation system of goods globally. The GSN is a known contributor […]
SURFO Special: How do we address the massive fluoro-pollutant crisis in the United States?
Every summer, the URI Graduate School of Oceanography hosts undergraduate research interns called SURFOs. In this post learn about how categories of water pollutants could affect regulation and Tobias Kochenderfer’s 2020 SURFO research in the Lohmann Lab. Samantha SettaI’m a PhD student in the Rynearson Lab at the University of Rhode Island (URI) Graduate School […]
Sharks Have Friends Too
Did you know sharks can be social? Researchers track and analyze grey reef sharks around Palmyra Atoll to learn more about how they rely on each other to hunt. Riley HenningI am currently a Master’s candidate in Environmental and Ocean Sciences at the University of San Diego, and I study the stickiness of phytoplankton using […]
Plastic Problems in Marine Pathways
What if I told you that the organisms in the ocean produce half of the oxygen we breathe? Then what if I told you that plastic in the ocean can affect these organisms and other parts of the environment? Pretty crazy right? Read on to learn more about how small plastics in the ocean can […]
Fisheries and Sustainability Certification: Do the benefits outweigh the costs?
What do sustainability certification labels on fish at the market mean? How do these measures impact fishers, industry, and governments? Read on to find out more. Samantha SettaI’m a PhD student in the Rynearson Lab at the University of Rhode Island (URI) Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO). My research interests are focused on human impacts […]
Jellyfish: Future Scientists of the Sea
Is there a way to increase measurements across oceans using a hybrid of robotics and biology? In a recent study, scientists sought to answer this question using jellyfish and an engineered small ‘controller device’. Samantha SettaI’m a PhD student in the Rynearson Lab at the University of Rhode Island (URI) Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO). […]
Coccoliths and Carbon
As the ocean warms and acidification increases, a certain phytoplankton may be more at risk than others. The authors of this paper explore how changes in the Southern Ocean could prevent coccoliths from sequestering carbon and disrupt the marine carbon cycle. Ashley MickensI recently graduated with a degree in Environmental Earth Science and Sustainability from […]
Christmas Tree….. Worms?
‘Tis the season for all things bright, colorful and decorative, and that makes me think of Christmas Tree Worms! Doesn’t everyone want Polychaetes for Hannukah? Just me? Maybe I can convince you.
Barnacles as a Forensic Tool
Barnacles are among the first organisms to colonize hard marine substrates. This means they quickly settle on rocks, ships, or even human remains! Find out how these small crustaceans help forensic investigators solve crimes. Constance SartorConstance is a graduate student at the University of Guam studying coral genetics. She also paints murals integrating art and […]
Sunlight May Stimulate Breakdown of Ocean Plastic
A new study suggests that one form of plastic might not take as long to break down in the ocean as previously thought. Emily ChuaI am a Ph.D. candidate at Boston University where I am developing an underwater instrument to study the coastal ocean. I have a multi-disciplinary background in physics and oceanography (and some […]
Surprise impacts of desalination
The World Heath Organization predicts that by 2025, half of the world’s people will be living in water-stressed areas. Desalination plants make drinkable freshwater from the ocean, but return hypersaline water to bottom-dwelling marine communities. Design changes have mitigated the salinity, but the impacts of these design changes have not been fully tested… until now!
Skin that Sees: Evolution and Mechanism of Phototaxis in Sea Snake Tails
Researchers have discovered light sensing abilities in the tails of sea snakes. This unique adaptation in one genus of snakes may allow them to sense and respond to impending danger. Crowe-Riddell, J. M., Simões, B. F., Partridge, J. C., Hunt, D. M., Delean, S., Schwerdt, J. G., … Sanders, K. L. (2019). Phototactic tails: Evolution and […]
Hijackers within the Sea: Catching a ride across an ocean
Did you know that organisms attached to marine debris can unintentionally cross ocean basins? Read more to learn how the tsunami of 2011 brought Japanese marine organisms to the coast of North America and what this means for the environment. Diana FontaineI am a PhD student in the Rynearson Lab studying Biological Oceanography at the […]
Tips from a workshop on Negotiating
Negotiating is a valuable skillset that many scientists are never formally trained in. This post highlights some of the take away messages from a Strategic Persuasion and Negotiating workshop I attended last week (November 13, 2018). Anne M. HartwellHello, welcome to Oceanbites! My name is Annie, I’m a marine research scientist who has been lucky […]
Productivity Comes In Waves
How do waves in the ocean affect phytoplankton? Check out this post to learn more! Melanie FeenI am a first year graduate student at the Graduate School of Oceanography at University of Rhode Island. I use robots and satellites to research the biological carbon pump, which is a series of processes that transfer carbon dioxide […]
Turtles of the North – Canadian Fishermen Help Scientists Study the Cryptic Leatherback
For most people, sea turtles evoke visions of white sand beaches, crystal clear waters, and boozy fruity drinks, the embodiment of a tropical vacation. They don’t usually bring to mind the rocky coasts of Cape Breton or the cold waters of the North Atlantic. In the fishing grounds of Atlantic Canada, June to October […]
Growing a Scientist: Undergraduate Research 2018, part 3
Check out these posts by guest authors Deborah Leopo, Mike Miller, Whitney Marshall, and Robert Lewis about deep sea snail species, sea level rise, and tectonic modeling–these students were part of the SURFO program at URI-GSO over Summer 2018, and have some really exciting research to share! Anna RobuckI am a third year PhD student […]
Preparing for Research at Sea: Behind the Scenes
Research at sea is no small feat! Read this guest post by URI GSO SURFO student Anna Ward about her experiences helping prepare for a cruise expedition! Anna RobuckI am a third year PhD student at the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography in the Lohmann Lab. My current research interests include environmental […]
Stuck in the middle with you: The trophic ecology of Caribbean reef sharks and large teleost coral reef predators
We often think of sharks as the top of the ocean food web, chowing down on seals and big fish to their heart’s content. That is often not the case! Where does the Caribbean reef shark fall in this hierarchy? Let’s find out. Grace CasselberryI am currently a Marine Science and Technology Doctoral student at […]
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