A study by Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research found that Lesser Black-backed Gulls rarely visit wind farms off the Zeeland coast, except for some male birds. Despite being attracted to fishing boats outside the wind farm, the gulls' behavior suggests they avoid entering the wind farm due to unknown reasons.
Seasonal sea level fluctuations are expected to intensify, affecting coastal ecosystems with prolonged submersion and changing flooding patterns. This can alter habitats for plants and animals living at the boundary between land and sea.
A 56-million-year-old study found that global warming caused by CO2 emissions led to widespread forest fires and soil erosion. The research team discovered that even small changes in temperature can have significant impacts on ecosystems, leading to the release of more carbon into the atmosphere.
Decades of dredging have reduced feeding grounds for birds and made the estuary more vulnerable to sea-level rise. The report highlights the need for policymakers to use dredged sediment strategically for nature restoration and climate adaptation.
A decade-long study found that cultured shellfish distribution determines spatial hotspots and seasonal peaks of shorebirds along China's coast. The research suggests managed mariculture is a better solution to food security for migratory bird protection than imposing a ban.
A recent Nature study reveals that complex life developed significantly earlier than previously thought, around 2.9 billion years ago. This challenges existing theories and proposes a new scenario for eukaryogenesis, where the nucleus and other internal structures evolved before mitochondria.
Researchers developed Xiriton, a biobased concrete substitute that captures CO2 and provides a natural boost to coastal restoration. The material is made from chopped grass, pozzolan, slaked lime, shells, sand, and seawater, and has been shown to be suitable for restoring tidal areas with high biodiversity.
Researchers estimate 27 million tons of nanoplastics in North Atlantic Ocean, shedding light on the 'paradox of missing plastic'. The discovery highlights the significant amount of plastic debris that has been underestimated and raises concerns about its impact on marine ecosystems.
A new study suggests that dedicating just 1% of global offshore wind investments by 2050 could fund the restoration of millions of square kilometers of marine ecosystems. This approach would not only support the energy transition but also make a net-positive contribution to large-scale ecosystem restoration.
Researchers found that providing hard substrate in deeper parts of the Wadden Sea actually discourages mussel and oyster settlement due to predation pressure. However, introducing substrates with high surface complexity can enhance shellfish settlement, offering shelter from predators.
A narrow coastline results in lower biodiversity, making it more vulnerable to sea level rise. Effective nature management and spatial planning can help boost biodiversity in these areas.
Researchers developed a new method to predict the effectiveness of mangroves in protecting coastlines against extreme weather events. The HU method uses wave non-linearity and can calculate wave height attenuation with ease, saving billions of dollars worldwide.
Research reveals that warmer conditions in Antarctic waters lead to changes in microbial community composition, with bacteria dominating over phytoplankton. This shift can decrease biological productivity and affect the global food web.
The Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) has made a comprehensive dataset on the tidal flats of the Dutch Wadden Sea available, providing valuable insights into biodiversity and ecosystem changes. The SIBES project has collected data since 2008, revealing shifts in benthic animal species due to climate change.
Research reveals that coastal waters are hotspots for methane emissions, with tides, seasons, and ocean currents playing key roles in dynamics.
Climate-induced changes in the Ocean impact how we live alongside it, with development and management plans struggling to keep up. Experts call for better understanding of links between the Ocean and climate to ensure adaptive management plans for housing, food, fresh water, and nature.
Researchers found that less than two percent of Dutch North Sea abandoned wells leak methane from shallow gas accumulations. The study alleviates concerns from earlier German research that suggested one-third of all wells would leak methane.
A new publication by European ocean scientists highlights the impact of sea-level rise on coastal freshwater systems and their interconnectedness with the Ocean. The study emphasizes the need for sustainable management of both components of the global water cycle to ensure resilience.
Research shows that methane fluxes in the North Sea vary with tidal pressure, with emissions potentially three times higher or lower depending on the tide. This affects climate science's understanding of methane emission from the seafloor.
A 45-year-old drill core extracted from the Pacific Ocean has revealed a strong relationship between past atmospheric CO2 levels and temperature. The study found that CO2 concentrations dropped by 650 parts per million over the past 15 million years, suggesting a potential impact on global temperatures.
A fungus living in the sea can break down polyethylene plastic when exposed to UV radiation from sunlight. The fungus Parengyodontium album can degrade particles of polyethylene, a common type of plastic found in ocean pollution.
A new study by Tim Grandjean establishes a crucial link between water turbidity and the growth of intertidal areas worldwide. With many coastal waters declining in turbidity over decades, these ecosystems are vulnerable to loss, threatening biodiversity and coastal safety.
Researchers discovered that certain archaea parasites selectively consume lipids from their host, altering its membrane structure. This change enables the parasite to survive while also affecting the host's response to environmental changes.
Long-term research reveals herring arrive at least two weeks earlier in the Wadden Sea due to climate change. The consistent measurement approach allowed scientists to detect this change over a period of over 60 years.
Professor Linda Amaral-Zettler is awarded a prestigious ERC-grant to investigate the interactions between biodegradable plastics and marine life. Her research aims to understand how these materials break down in the environment and potentially harm aquatic ecosystems.
A new analysis method reveals that climate change affects not only survival, metabolism, and skeleton health but also physiology, reproduction, behavior, and physical development in fish and invertebrates. The study suggests up to 100% of biological processes may be affected, with mitigation efforts potentially reducing impacts.
Researchers found that oxygen depletion in the Pacific Ocean off California's coast is linked to nutrient levels, not just temperature fluctuations. The study uses ancient molecules to warn of potential ecosystem disasters and fisheries impacts from increased nutrient input.
Researchers found that human infrastructure is generally located very close to the sea, with an average distance of 390 meters from the coastline. Designating nature reserves can help protect beaches and dunes from rising sea levels, flooding, and biodiversity loss. Currently, only 16% of the world's sandy coasts are protected.
Research reveals that red knot characters are formed in the first year of life, shaped by initial experiences in the Wadden Sea. Young birds exhibit more variable behavior and diet, while older birds have consistent food preferences and character types.
Researchers use molecular dating approach to estimate moment of LUCA's split into bacteria and archaea, as well as eukaryotes' emergence. The study reveals archaea are younger than previously thought, with some potentially living hidden on Earth.
Researchers found that mature mangroves can tolerate high rates of subsidence and sea level rise, but sediment availability is crucial for their effectiveness. In areas with insufficient sediment, mangroves' ability to stabilize coastlines will deteriorate, leading to inland migration of communities.
Researchers argue that considering an animal's entire 'parasitome' is crucial for understanding its place in the food chain. By analyzing stable isotopes, scientists can determine who is eating whom and how parasites affect behavior and metabolism.
Researchers studying foraminifers, tiny algae with calcareous shells, have discovered six different strategies under various environmental conditions. These strategies are crucial for predicting changes in the ocean's calcium balance and carbon cycle under climate change.
Researchers analyzed aerial images of seal colonies to study distribution patterns and found harbour seals stay at larger distances from conspecifics than grey seals, suggesting an evolutionary response to respiratory virus susceptibility. This finding provides opportunities to gather more information about pinnipeds in remote regions.
A new study found that Sahara dust can enhance the removal of methane from the atmosphere through a photocatalytic reaction. The reaction involves the activation of mineral dust and sea spray aerosols in the presence of sunlight, producing chlorine atoms that oxidize atmospheric methane and tropospheric ozone.
A laboratory experiment shows that bacteria can digest and break down plastic, producing CO2 and other harmless substances. While microbial digestion is not a solution to the massive problem of oceanic plastic, it may provide part of the explanation for where plastic 'missing' in oceans stays.
Experiments show that UV light from the sun breaks down plastics on the ocean surface, turning them into smaller, invisible nanoplastic particles. This process could account for a substantial amount of the 'Missing Plastic Paradox', where plastic waste in the ocean is only a fraction of what has been littered.
A new study reveals that certain types of lipids found in ancient fossils are produced by specific living bacteria. By identifying these microorganisms and understanding how they produce the lipids, scientists can create more accurate climate reconstructions. This discovery also sheds light on the early evolution of life on Earth.
Research reveals that microphytobenthos, a key component of the Dutch Wadden Sea food web, obtains its nutrients primarily from detrital nitrogen in pore water. This finding provides new insights into the ecosystem's dynamics and highlights the importance of considering all nutrient pools in models predicting future changes.
Researchers at the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research found an upward trend in skate populations in the North Sea, with a significant increase off Scotland's north coast. The study also revealed that skates mainly eat shrimp, providing ecological potential for more fish to thrive.
Researchers found that microbes detach from sinking plastic and attach to surrounding water, stopping their descent at a few meters below the surface. Microbial communities on floating plastic particles differ from those in deeper waters.
Researchers found that migratory birds, such as bar-tailed godwits and whimbrels, can fly for up to 9 days at a time, more efficiently than previously thought. The birds also demonstrate exceptional meteorological knowledge, adapting their routes to weather systems over long distances.
Scientists have developed a novel way to analyze nitrogen isotopes in whale baleen to reconstruct the animal's diet, trophic level, and migration pattern. The method reveals annual migration patterns between Arctic and North Atlantic oceans, providing insights into threatened population migration pathways.
Risso's dolphins employ a rapid sprint coupled with a spin when hunting deep-sea prey, allowing them to reach great depths in a shorter time. This specialized dive strategy enables the dolphins to exploit the deep scattering layer, a dense aggregation of prey including squid.
International researchers used machine learning to forecast marsh establishment under various environmental conditions, revealing that controllable local factors are more important than global climate change. The study suggests smart management of tidal flats can counteract threats and strengthen wetlands.
Millions of Europeans depend on fishing for food and livelihood, with ocean warming affecting fish distribution and abundance. Regional differences in climate risk highlight the need for locally adapted approaches, including social safety nets and income support.
A new study published in Environmental Research found that various dolphin species can coexist without competing for food, even though they hunt at the same depth. The researchers used stable nitrogen isotopes to determine the trophic level of each species, revealing surprising differences in their diets.
A new study found that aquaculture and fisheries have led to the loss of biodiversity along China's 18,000 km long coastline, with commercially exploited species dominating all regions. The study discovered that the uniformity of bivalve species is largely due to human activities, including intensive fishing practices.
Researchers have successfully resolved the 'Missing Ice Problem' by including crustal, gravitational, and rotational perturbations in their model. The new reconstruction reveals that the total mass of Last Ice Age glaciers was 20% smaller and accumulated faster than previously thought.
Researchers found 27 plastic items per square meter in mangroves, with plastics buried up to 35cm deep. Mangroves' resilience is threatened as trees suffocate when half of the forest floor is covered in plastic.