Ecology
A Healthy Dose of Coral Mucus
Coral mucus is not like human mucus - it's actually good for the marine environment.
Tag: bacteria
Plastic
Chemicals released from plastic disrupt marine microbes
We know how plastic pieces affect ocean life, but do we think enough about “invisible” chemicals from plastic?
Microbiology
Larger than life- largest bacteria discovered in salt marsh
Scientists found the largest bacteria ever discovered, 50x larger than the previous record, in a tropical mangrove forest in Guadeloupe.
Oysters
Oysters, bacteria, and parasites, oh my!
How does infection with parasites influence levels of Vibrio bacteria in oysters?
Coastal Management Harmful Algal Bloom Human impacts Oysters
Shells and cells: Lack of oxygen and the presence of bacteria contribute to oyster mortality
Lack of oxygen for a long period of time is bad for oysters, but is that the whole story?
Biological oceanography Climate Change Evolution Human impacts Microbiome Plastic
Catching a ride on plastic: how dangerous bacteria might travel across oceans
Plastic is abundant in the ocean ecosystem. Not only is it harmful to marine animals, but as scientists discovered, it…
Atmospheric Science Biology Genetics Microbiology Physical oceanography
Me, Myself, and I: The Solitude of Bacteria above the Southern Ocean
Picture this: shrink yourself down to the 1/1000th the size of the period at the end of this sentence. You…
Biochemistry Biodiversity Biological oceanography Human Health technology
Let Marine Microbes Be Thy Medicine
The deep sea is a treasure trove of disease-fighting compounds--and is even helping us in the fight against the novel…
Biogeochemistry Climate Change Ecology Genetics genomics Microbiology
Think global, act local: how lake microbes respond to their environments
How do microbes in lake sediments respond to small and large scale influences, and what does it have to do…
Biology Climate Change Coastal Management Ecology
Jellyfish Blooms Could Increase the Risk of Bacteria-Spread Illnesses in Humans and Marine Animals
Happy Thanksgiving! With Black Friday right around the corner, it might be surprising to hear that humans aren’t the only…
deep sea
Zombie worms in whale bones
Looking for a cool Halloween costume? Dress up as a zombie worm that lives under the sea and injects acid…
Biology
How the anglerfish gets its light
Deep-sea anglerfishes are known for their prominent glowing lure extending from their heads. Bacteria are behind the scenes, enabling anglerfish…
Ecology Fisheries
SURFO Special: Keep clam and carry on! Comparing diet differences in awning clams and quahogs
Every summer, the URI Graduate School of Oceanography hosts undergraduate research interns called SURFOs. In this post, learn about Sommer…
Biology
Saving the Blue Bloods: Horseshoe Crab Edition
We use horseshoe crab blood to test every FDA approved drug given to humans. Yet with horseshoe crab populations dropping…
Hazards
Threats to Cetaceans: There’s More than Meets the Eye
Researchers spent seven years specifically studying deceased, stranded cetaceans along the coastline of the Canary Islands in Spain to figure…
Coral
Going viral: relationships between coral reef health and viruses
What organisms live in coral reefs? Corals (obviously), fish, snorkeling tourists...but some of the most important members we can't even…
Microbiology
A blanket of oil: the role of bacteria in cleaning up after Deepwater Horizon
Nearly one million barrels of oil landed on the seafloor after the Deepwater Horizon spill - a feast if bacteria…
Microbiology
Riding the phage wave: Emerging role of viruses in the ocean
Viruses live in the ocean, where they infect bacteria who also live in the ocean. Ocean viruses are crucial to…
Microbiology
Toxic living: finding the right home for sulfur-oxidizing bacteria
Hydrothermal vents are hot, dark, and toxic environments. But to sulfur oxidizing bacteria, they're home.
Book Review Pollution
Oil Spill Snorkels: Eating oil, breathing electrons, saving the world?
Oil spills are not great for the environment, but some bacteria thrive on eating oil. Scientists have been researching ways…