Paleontology
Motion in the ocean: how did the earliest animals move?
Fossils over 500 million years old may give us insight into the evolutionary origin of animal movement. Reference: Wang, X.,…
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.
Ecology
Has eelgrass already adapted to warmer waters?
A study of eelgrass adaptive capacity indicates that they may be resilient to rising ocean temperatures.
Conservation
Good News for Green Turtles: 50 years of conservation gives huge boost to nesting population.
After fifty years of conservation, the green turtle population on the island of Aldabra has increased dramatically.
Climate Change Ocean Acidification
Does increasing ocean acidification mean sharks need a trip to the dentist?
How does ocean acidification affect shark teeth?
Ocean Acidification
A story of sacrifice in the deep sea
A recent study finds that certain seashells dissolve themselves to preserve their shelled siblings, with implications for Earth’s climate.
ocean engineering
Clouds, Marine Satellite Data, and Algorithms
Stock, A.; Subramaniam, A.; Van Dijken, G.L.; Wedding, L.M.; Arrigo, K.R.; Mills, M.M.; Cameron, M.A.; Micheli, F. Comparison of Cloud-Filling…
Behavior
Wandering Whales: How Mothers and Their Calves Communicate
The ocean is a dangerous place for whale mothers and calves. How do they communicate when trying to covertly travel?
deep sea
The deep-sea paradox: a vast desert-like habitat teeming with microscopic diversity
Animals smaller than a grain of sand dominate the diversity on Earth, especially in the world’s largest biome: the deep…
Biogeochemistry
Deep seafloor microbes are active at extreme temperatures
Researchers have discovered bacteria that redefine the temperature limit for sediment life.
Biology
Can octopuses see with their skin?
Octopuses can sense light with their skin and this ties directly into their ability to change colors!
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…
technology
Algal Automata
Unlike fictional cyborgs, this unlikely robot is powered by a biological process millions of years old. Reference: Phillips, N., Draper,…
Coastal Management
The intersecting issues of climate change and human-wildlife conflict
We have strategies to reduce human-wildlife conflict, but how are they holding up as conditions change?
Coastal Management
Mapping humanity’s impact on the coastal regions of the world
Pristine coastal regions are now rare and almost half of all coastlines are threatened by high levels of human pressure.
Atmospheric Science Biogeochemistry Biological oceanography
Forest fires: Can oceans help?
In a recent study, it was found that the aerosols released from recent Australian forest fires (September 2019-March 2020) fertilized…
Climate Change Seagrass
Can we forecast oceanic habitat changes in a transferrable way?
Folmer et al., 2016. E.O. Folmer, J.E.E. van Beusekom, T. Dolch, U. Gräwe, M.M. van Katwijk, K. Kolbe, C.J.M. Philippart.…
Evolution
Thanks to this newly discovered tissue baleen whales can eat by the thousands
Scientists found a unique tissue that prevents water from entering whales’ lungs
Human Health Seafood
The gendered effects of mangrove destruction
Shrimp aquaculture is changing coastal ecosystems as well as the lives and gender norms of those living at the interface.
Conservation
A Place for Orcas to Call Home
Orcas face increasing threats from human related activities and marine noise pollution. Is there somewhere quiet they can call home?