Biology Ecology
Moonrise Ecosystem: how intertidal seaweeds are influenced by celestial cycles
The moon does not sit still while orbiting the earth. Rather, it is constantly changing its position and angle relative…
Biology
The turtle skylight: looks great and helps with time management.
Leatherback turtles have a built-in skull skylight that registers light and helps tell them when to migrate.
Pollution
The first day after an oil spill
Crude oil is mostly composed of n-alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) which are toxic to organisms. After an oil…
Science Communication
Seven steps to better science communication, journalist-tested and -approved
Scientists are often called upon to present their research in a variety of formats, whether that be in a journal…
Biology Physiology
Suck It!: Why Octopus Arms Don’t Stick To Each Other
Many students have wondered why the sticky, sucker-covered arms of the octopus don’t stick to one another as the animal…
Science Communication
Marine Biologist in an Ocean of Journalists
Journalists are an interesting group of people. As a scientist and specifically, one who studies animal behaviour, I cannot help…
Biology Geology Physiology
A “Jaw-dropping” Cambrian Fish!
A 500 million year old primitive fish sheds light on vertebrate evolution and the emergence of jawed fish.
Chemistry Human impacts
Measuring “Roundup” in the Great Barrier Reef
Scientists estimated the degradation time for glyphosate, an herbicide in "Roundup", in the Great Barrrier Reef. This is the first…
Science Communication
Live from New Orleans, graduate students’ forays into environmental journalism!
Scientists are accustomed to a certain flow of work in daily life. We use logic and reasoning to formulate hypotheses,…
Ecology Fisheries Human impacts Pollution
Cartilaginous Conundrum: Are Sharks and Skates Safe to Eat?
While smooth dogfish may not be on your list of favorite seafood, cartilaginous fish (mainly sharks and skates) may increasingly…
Climate Change Ecology Human impacts Ocean Acidification
Damselfish in distress: on ocean acidification and suicidal reef fish
Fish are rebelling. What's the cause?
Biology Coastal Management Ecology Fisheries Human impacts Policy Pollution
The Ghastly Impacts of Ghost Fishing Gear
Derelict fishing traps, or DFTs, are abandoned traps that may still be actively capturing marine organisms, in a phenomenon known…
Climate Change Hazards
Cyclones move poleward as tropics expand
Tropical cyclones are escaping the hot tropics and intensifying closer towards the poles. The apparent expansion of the tropics helps…
Ecology Fisheries Human impacts
Are MPA’s the best way to conserve the seahorse population?
While Marine Protected Areas do a great job of preserving essential marine habitats, and decreasing fishing pressure, they may not…
Biology Climate Change Ecology Human impacts Physiology Pollution
Keep it Down!: Eels Having Problems Avoiding Predators in Noisy Waters
We don't traditionally think of our ships making noise that will disrupt animal behavior, but this study, looking at eels…
Climate Change Human impacts Pollution
An accidental find: Large quantities of microplastics are in Arctic sea ice!
Multiyear sea ice formation in the Arctic Sea uptakes microplastics from seawater, effectively acting as a sink for these man-made…
Biogeochemistry Chemistry
Understanding nitrogen loss from the ocean: Is it anammox or denitrification? It’s both!
Recent findings from the north east Pacific may have solved a major controversy in scientists' understanding of nitrogen loss from…
Biology Ecology Fisheries
Sunlight and Sex Determination: how environmental cues help shape sex ratios in larval fish
If you are a fish like the California grunion, environmental cues are going to play a role in determining whether…
Biology
Making the best of a bad situation: the upside of squid injury.
Injured squid are more vulnerable to attack from predators but stepping up their defensive behaviors gives them a fighting chance.…
Pollution
Fish don’t need to lineup at Starbucks to get their morning coffee – they’re swimming in it!
Pharmaceuticals, corrosion inhibitors, biocides and stimulants are some of the most frequently detected micropollutants in the aquatic environment. They are…
