oceanbites

Of whales and cows: the baleen whale microbiome revealed

Scientists sequenced the microbiomes of several baleen whales that are strict carnivores and found some startling similarities to the microbiomes…

Behavior Biology Book Review Conservation Sea Turtles technology

For Sea Turtles, There’s No Place Like Home

Tagline: Sea turtles are occasionally released in locations that are not their home areas. But do they remain there? Find…

Behavior Biological oceanography

What’s up with Whiskers?

Whiskers are like finger tips for flipper-footed marine mammals, like seals, sea lions, and walruses. Learn more about how pinnipeds…

En Espanol

Las tortugas tornan el intercambio de calor al revez

Translated by Sandra Schleier — Original Post by BRITTNEY G. BOROWIEC Artículo: Davenport, J., Jones, T.T., Work, T.M., and Balazs, G.H. (2015). Topsy-turvy:…

Conservation

Unbelizeable, part II

A fieldwork faerie tale about an art/island paradise/conservation opportunity gone right

Physical oceanography

Ocean robots record California’s latest hot year

Using underwater gliders, researchers explain what caused the extremely warm ocean along the coast of California in 2014-2015 and what…

En Espanol

Solucionando Problemas Grandes: Las Represas

Translated by Sandra Schleier — Original Post by Derrick Alcott Artículo: Tonra, CM , Sager-Fradkin, K, Morley, SA, Duda, JJ,…

En Espanol

Contaminación de plomo en las aguas de Antarctica: Hemos aprendido?

Translated by Sandra Schleier – Original Post by Carrie McDonough Artículo: Ndungu, K.; Zurbrick, C. M.; Stammerjohn, S.; Severmann, S.;…

Modeling

Arctic could become more biologically productive as ice melts

As Arctic sea-ice melts away, organisms will be exposed to more light and, potentially, more nutrients. Recent model work suggests…

Conservation Ecology Human impacts

Are satellite tags the new dinner bell for harbor seals?

Satellite tags are being used to study the foraging behavior of fishes, but in the lab harbor seals have been…

Book Review

April Theme Week

We're already thinking ahead to April, so let us know what you'd like us to write about by taking our…

Behavior Biology Conservation Natural History

The Mystery of the Virgin Birth

A female eagle ray gives birth to two female pups. But she has been housed in a tank without any…

Book Review

Ice-Proof Penguin Feathers Inspire New Material

Unlocking the secrets behind penguin feathers' ability to stay ice-free may help us make safer and better products. Read more…

Biology Genetics

A cod by any other name would taste as sweet?

Seafood is a staple of the American diet, particularly on the coasts. Distributors frequently mislabel seafood, accidentally or fraudulently, because…

Physiology

Turtles turn heat exchange topsy-turvy

Counter-current heat exchange is a classic example of an elegant anatomical solution to this physiological problem. Leatherback sea turtles do…

Climate Change Ecology Sea-level Rise

Salt Marshes Resilient Against Sea Level Rise

Will salt marshes survive sea level rise? Previous studies have emphatically answered “No!” suggesting a 20-50% loss by the year…

Biogeochemistry Ecology Human impacts Restoration

Solving Big Dam Problems

The US has a lot of dams. Probably far more than you ever imagined possible. Many of these dams are…

Chemistry Climate Change

Lead Pollution in Antarctic Waters: Have We Cleaned Up Our Act?

Researchers traveled to the far reaches of Antarctica to determine whether lead levels there have declined since humans started cleaning…

Climate Change ocean engineering

A cloudy future for climate engineering

Pumping reflective aerosols into the atmosphere may hold promise for cooling the climate. But once we start, we won’t be…

Book Review

Seabird poop and coral reefs

Scientists have known for a long time that nutrient-rich guano can significantly change the ecology of areas where seabirds nest…