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Marine Ecology

All articles tagged with #marine ecology

Self-sustaining Sargassum Belt Could Make Beach Blooms a Permanent Challenge and a New Resource
environment27 days ago

Self-sustaining Sargassum Belt Could Make Beach Blooms a Permanent Challenge and a New Resource

A new analysis of the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt argues that vast floating mats of sargassum have created a self-sustaining ecosystem that fuels continued blooms along the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and tropical Atlantic. Wind-driven upwelling and nutrient recycling within the mats may keep the belt going for years, making it a chronic coastal challenge rather than a transient nuisance. Improved forecasting could give communities time to adapt, while researchers also see potential to turn sargassum into valuable resources such as biofuel, soil amendments, and construction materials, transforming a failing beach season into economic opportunity.

via The Conversation|
#biofuel#coastal-impacts#environment
Southern Sleeper Shark Captured Off Antarctica, Redrawing Cold-Water Boundaries
conservation6 months ago

Southern Sleeper Shark Captured Off Antarctica, Redrawing Cold-Water Boundaries

Scientists using an undersea camera recorded the first footage of a southern sleeper shark in Antarctic waters near the South Shetland Islands at about 1,600 feet depth and 2°C. The sighting challenges the assumption that Antarctic seas are too cold for sharks and suggests a warm deeper layer may enable occasional southward incursions; climate-change–related warming could drive more sharks toward the region, but data remain sparse, underscoring the need for further study of the Antarctic ecosystem.

via Gizmodo|
#antarctica#climate-change#conservation
Scottish Fairy Circles Hint at Seagrass Comeback
science6 months ago

Scottish Fairy Circles Hint at Seagrass Comeback

Aerial footage off Scotland’s Outer Hebrides captures enigmatic circular patterns thought to be formed by seagrass, highlighting the ongoing decline of seagrass meadows; despite past wasting disease and ongoing threats, NatureScot protections and localized recoveries in Loch Ryan, the Firth of Forth, and Solway Firth suggest a glimmer of revival, even as researchers probe the exact cause of the circles.

via Indian Defence Review|
#conservation#fairy-circles#marine-ecology
Scientists Uncover How Cookiecutter Sharks Create Perfect Circles on Whales
science7 months ago

Scientists Uncover How Cookiecutter Sharks Create Perfect Circles on Whales

Scientists from the University of Hawaii have identified the elusive cookiecutter shark as the predator responsible for the circular wounds on marine mammals and fish, using a decade of data to analyze its behavior, feeding patterns, and environmental influences, revealing its nocturnal, stealthy hunting tactics and traditional Polynesian knowledge supporting scientific findings.

via The Daily Galaxy|
#cookiecutter-shark#marine-biology#marine-ecology
Scientists Discover Missing Link in Deep Ocean
science8 months ago

Scientists Discover Missing Link in Deep Ocean

Scientists at WHOI used satellite tracking to discover that bigscale pomfret, a mid-sized fish, spend significant time in the ocean's twilight zone, acting as a crucial link between surface and deep ecosystems, and their behavior is influenced by environmental factors like water clarity, highlighting the importance of mid-sized predators in marine food webs.

via ScienceDaily|
#bigscale-pomfret#deep-sea-fish#marine-ecology
Scientists Identify Bacterial Cause Behind Massive Sea Star Die-Off
science1 year ago

Scientists Identify Bacterial Cause Behind Massive Sea Star Die-Off

Scientists have identified the bacterium Vibrio pectenicida as the cause of sea star wasting disease, a devastating condition that has wiped out millions of sea stars along the West Coast, by conducting controlled infection experiments. This discovery paves the way for better detection and management strategies to help restore affected sea star populations and their ecosystems.

via vox.com|
#conservation-efforts#disease-transmission#marine-ecology
Decades-Old Canned Salmon Unveils Unexpected Discovery
science1 year ago

Decades-Old Canned Salmon Unveils Unexpected Discovery

Researchers from the University of Washington have discovered that expired cans of salmon, dating back to the 1970s, serve as a valuable archive for studying marine parasites, specifically anisakid worms. These parasites, harmless to humans when canned, provide insights into the health of marine ecosystems, as their presence indicates a stable or recovering environment. The study found an increase in worm numbers in chum and pink salmon over time, suggesting a healthy ecosystem, while levels in sockeye and coho remained stable. This novel approach highlights the potential of using preserved food products for ecological research.

via ScienceAlert|
#canned-salmon#ecosystem-health#marine-ecology
Decades-Old Canned Salmon Unveils Unexpected Discovery
science1 year ago

Decades-Old Canned Salmon Unveils Unexpected Discovery

Researchers from the University of Washington have discovered that expired cans of salmon, dating back to the 1970s, serve as a valuable archive for studying marine parasites, specifically anisakid worms. These parasites, harmless to humans when canned, provide insights into the health of marine ecosystems, as their presence indicates a stable or recovering environment. The study found an increase in worm numbers in chum and pink salmon over time, suggesting a healthy ecosystem, while levels in coho and sockeye remained stable. This novel approach could lead to further ecological discoveries.

via Yahoo! Voices|
#canned-salmon#ecosystem-health#marine-ecology
"Baby Sharks Adapting to Coastal Environments, Study Finds"
science-and-nature2 years ago

"Baby Sharks Adapting to Coastal Environments, Study Finds"

Researchers have discovered that great white sharks exhibit flexible behavior, adapting their movements and routines to suit their local environment and exploit feeding opportunities. By tagging 21 sharks and analyzing their behavior in different environments, the study found that sharks adjust their activity based on the availability of prey, with variations in movements observed between sharks from different areas. This newfound understanding of shark behavior could provide valuable insights into marine ecology and pave the way for further research using advanced tagging technology.

via Newsweek|
#great-white-sharks#marine-ecology#research