oceanbites

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…

Behavior

To communicate with members of its own species, flashlight fish uses a special type of morse code

Below a flashlight fish’s eyes is an organ that provides the ideal conditions for a special partnership. Bioluminescent bacteria live…

Behavior

Science Reveals Sperm Whale Bro-Fest

In the mammal world, males tend to not like each other very much. Male-only social groups are rare. The…

Biodiversity Biological oceanography Biology Climate Change Coastal Management Conservation Ecology Fisheries Invasive Species

The Circle of Life: Understanding Lionfish Life Cycles

We know who's the king of the jungle, but who's the king of the reef? Lionfish may look cool, but…

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…

Conservation

The Regenerative Power of Whale Sharks

How fast can a whale shark heal from a wound? For the first time, researchers look deeper at the healing…

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,…

Conservation

Can a little bit of a good thing be worse than nothing at all?

The world’s oceans are increasingly managed as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) where human activities are carefully regulated to support ocean…

Biological oceanography Climate Change

Microbes pull nitrogen out of air to feed the warming oceans

Some ocean microbes can take nitrogen gas from the air and convert it to different forms that can be used…

Biochemistry Biological oceanography Physiology Remote Sensing

A View from Above: Determining Protein Concentration in Phytoplankton by Satellites

Every animal needs their essential nutrients to survive. If an animal eats phytoplankton, how do they know how much of…

Science Communication

Appreciation for the oceans & Oceanbites

Water: it's the substance we all have in common with each other, and with the oceans. This is my last…

Behavior Biology deep sea Physiology

Luminous luster…with teeth

Don’t worry—these glowing predators won’t harm you. They’re more interested in picking on someone their own size. Scientists take a…

Physical oceanography

Where Does Arctic Ice Melt Go?

Water in the Arctic Ocean is getting fresher as polar sea ice melts. But that fresher water doesn’t stay in…

Behavior Conservation

Mommy dearest: Female sperm whales are the pillars of their families

Still living with your mom? Nothing to be embarrassed about - especially if you are a sperm whale!

Climate Change Coastal Management Conservation Coral

Does coral size matter?

Nina Bean is a 2nd year master’s student at the California State University, Northridge in Dr. Peter Edmunds’ Polyp Lab.…

Human impacts

The killing of killer whales

Talking about killer whales may conjure images of Free Willy defying the odds and escaping captivity. However, in the wild,…

Biological oceanography Outreach

Black History Month: Celebrating Black Marine Scientists

Since Black History month is drawing to a close, here's a post celebrating two of the first Black marine scientists.

Coral

Giant clams share symbiotic algae with corals via poop

While some corals inherit their algae from their parents, the majority gain their algae over time. How do corals gain…

Biodiversity Biological oceanography Climate Change Ecology

The New Mollusk on the Block

Have you ever wondered about how marine animals travel to a new place, you know, when they can’t swim there?…