Articles tagged with Marine Ecosystems
A study finds that global warming is increasing unexpected ocean temperatures in large marine ecosystems, threatening their diversity and productivity. Forward-looking strategies are more advantageous for adaptation, suggesting that many LMEs will push to their limits due to extreme ocean temperatures.
The urbanization of Southern California's beaches has led to a loss of biodiversity, with some beaches showing up to half of their natural inhabitants missing. The disturbance caused by grooming and filling with the wrong sand further exacerbates this issue, impacting the ecosystem health and coastal ecosystems.
Researchers have developed a new approach to purging water sources of microplastics using tiny coil-shaped carbon-based magnets, known as magnetic nanosprings. These stable catalysts can remove a significant fraction of microplastics in just eight hours and are also magnetic, making them easy to collect for repeated use.
Researchers discovered that reactive oxygen species, once thought to cause cellular damage, actually protect phytoplankton cells from overproducing a compound used for photosynthesis. This finding challenges conventional wisdom and may have implications for understanding ocean resilience to climate change.
A Stanford-led study identifies shifting weather patterns and ocean conditions as contributing factors to the collapse of Mexico's jumbo squid fishery. The research found that warmer waters led to smaller, less profitable squid, shutting down the entire industry in the Gulf of California.
Researchers predict blue whales' most likely foraging areas and times using satellite tracking data and environmental factors. The model improves understanding of the species-environment relationship, helping inform population management decisions amid climate change.
Four sparrow species adapt differently to control water and salt balance, with Savannah Sparrows using channel-forming genes, Swamp Sparrows evolving gene changes, Song Sparrows reinforcing cell walls, and Nelson's Sparrows curbing thirst. The adaptations are rapid and accompanied by shared traits like larger bills and darker plumage.
Research on coralline algal diversity reveals fewer species and less diversity in urchin barrens compared to kelp forests with sea otters. The study suggests that cryptic species identification alters ecosystem dynamics perception.
Scientists have discovered a massive seaweed bloom stretching from West Africa to the Gulf of Mexico, dubbed the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt. The belt of brown algae is likely here to stay due to ocean currents and changing chemistry, potentially leading to ecosystem shifts.
Rowan Martindale received a $570,000 NSF CAREER Grant to study ancient ocean ecosystems' responses to rapid global change. Her research focuses on the Early Jurassic's Moroccan High Atlas Mountains ecosystem collapse, which parallels modern climate change impacts.
A study by FEFU ecologist Vasiliy Tsygankov reveals a significant decrease in pesticide concentrations in Russian Far Eastern mussels, suggesting a shift in the environmental situation. Pesticides accumulate in marine organisms' fat tissue and can lead to biomagnification, causing poisoning and genetic changes.
A newly identified genus and species of freshwater clam, Lithoredo abatanica, was found to eat rocks and expel sand as it burrows in the Abatan River. The shipworm's unique anatomy has revealed new information about its ecosystem engineering capabilities.
A €10 million, four-year project will assess the Atlantic's health using latest technologies, combining data on marine life, habitats, and human activities. The study aims to provide unprecedented insights into climate change's effects on plant and animal life in the Atlantic.
Researchers developed an algorithm using over 30 years of satellite data to isolate extreme warming events leading to documented coral bleaching in the Red Sea. The findings suggest that coral bleaching may have been greatly underestimated and indicate a emerging pattern of extreme warming events in the northern region.
An international team, led by Australian researchers, has published a first-of-its-kind study assessing the major drivers of global marine heatwaves. They found that known climate phenomena, such as El Niño and North Atlantic Oscillation, can increase the odds of marine heatwaves in other regions thousands of kilometres away.
Interannual fluctuations in phosphorus concentrations and iron-rich dust transport are reported in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. Climate variation leads to oscillations between iron-limited and phosphorus-limited states, with significant correlations observed with the Pacific Decadal Oscillation.
Research shows sediment stirred up by human activity is harming glass sea sponges in northern British Columbia. The sediment can smother sponges from the outside or clog their filtration system, leading to sponge death and ecosystem disruption.
A new study found that rain-filled tracks of Asian elephants provide temporary habitat for breeding and connect frog populations. The tracks can persist for a year or more, serving as stepping stones for the frogs during the dry season.
A mass die-off of puffins and Crested auklets was recorded in the Bering Sea due to climate-driven food shifts, with reduced prey resources potentially leading to starvation. The study suggests that future research should investigate seabird resilience in a changing environment.
Researchers found that modern plankton communities are systematically different from pre-industrial times, reflecting global warming. The study suggests that species communities have shifted their distribution in response to temperature change.
Dr. Genin's selection recognizes his creative and comprehensive studies on bio-physical interactions and marine ecosystems. He has been a leading expert on coral reef ecology and oceanography of the Gulf of Aqaba and adjoining Red Sea.
A new Duke University-led study reveals that marsh plants killed by disturbances like the Deepwater Horizon oil spill can double shoreline erosion rates. The loss of wetland vegetation increases erosion on wave-stressed shorelines by 100%, according to researchers.
Tiny cryptobenthic reef fishes play a vital role in maintaining coral reef diversity and productivity by producing a steady stream of larvae to replace adults devoured by predators. These small fish contribute nearly 40% of reef-fish biodiversity and nearly two-thirds of near-reef larval fish pools.
NOAA has selected the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) to host the Cooperative Institute for the North Atlantic Region (CINAR). CINAR will conduct innovative, multidisciplinary research on climate change and its impacts on the U.S. Northeast continental shelf ecosystem.
Researchers from Singapore University of Technology and Design uncovered a negative feedback loop in terms of decentralization in public blockchain philosophy. The findings indicate that incentives for miners to merge and act as single entities contribute to centralization, revealing a need for further research.
Researchers investigated CO2 leakage through North Sea wells and found that it has detrimental effects on organisms living at the seabed. However, strong bottom currents disperse the dissolved CO2 quickly, limiting its impact.
The IPBES Global Assessment Report reveals an alarming rate of species extinction, with 1 million threatened, and ecosystem degradation worsening. Human activities, including land use changes, climate change, pollution, and invasive species, are driving these declines.
The Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute will survey an estimated 3 billion acres of US ocean territory over five years, utilizing next-generation instruments like ROVs and AUVs. The institute's telepresence technology will allow the public to interact with scientists in real-time, improving the efficiency of ocean exploration.
A new physical mechanism erodes seabed sediment at depths up to 20 meters, adding nutrients stirred by breaking surface waves. This process complements littoral drift and has significant implications for coastal sediment management practices like dredging.
A new study reveals how little energy survives from surface ocean plants and animals, with diatoms providing a robust ecosystem at the seafloor. These heavy, dead diatoms form a food web that includes tubeworms, crabs, and other organisms living in a 'feast-or-famine' existence.
A Princeton-led research team reconstructed ocean nitrogen levels from 70 million years ago to 30 million years ago, showing a significant increase in oxygen after the India-Asia collision. This finding reveals that plate tectonics had a major impact on ocean chemistry and life conditions.
A comprehensive survey of Pacific coral reefs has shown that green sea turtle populations are increasing, driven by warmer ocean temperatures and productivity. The study, published in PLOS ONE, provides critical insights into the density and drivers of sea turtle populations across the tropical Pacific.
A Rutgers-led study found that global warming causes twice as many ocean-dwelling species to disappear from their habitats compared to land-dwelling species. The research highlights the vulnerability of sea creatures to warming temperatures and the need for new conservation efforts.
Researchers found that coral reef halos are more likely to occur in no-take marine reserves and are influenced by species interactions between plant-eating fishes and invertebrate-eating fishes. The presence of halos may serve as an indicator of aspects of reef ecosystem health.
Researchers measured high CO2 concentrations in air blowing out to sea from cities and agricultural areas, including Silicon Valley. This process could add 25 million tons of CO2 to the ocean annually, affecting acidity.
Researchers at King Abdullah University of Science & Technology found that bacterial communities can homogenize even with slow flowing water and persistent conditions. They identified a precise flow rate of 3.85 microlitres per second for homogenization to occur.
A recent study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution found that exotic species do tend to disrupt marine ecosystems, reducing native species abundance. However, the team's meta-analysis revealed significant variability and context dependence in their impact.
Researchers discovered high concentrations of toxic heavy metals in blood samples from Great white sharks in South Africa. The study found no adverse effects on the sharks' immune system despite the presence of these toxins.
New research finds that sea anemones consume tiny fragments of plastic in the ocean along with their food. Bleached anemones retain these microfibers longer than healthy ones, highlighting the impact of plastic pollution and climate change on coral reefs.
A global team of scientists has measured the ocean's sink for man-made CO2 over a period of 13 years, finding that it takes up 34 gigatonnes between 1994 and 2007. The absorption rate is congruent with the increase in atmospheric CO2 levels.
Researchers analyzed ancient ocean fossils to understand ecological transformation after mass extinctions. The study found that survivors shared similar traits with predecessors, but had a surge in modern traits like mobility and diverse feeding habits, driving recovery.
During the 2014-16 marine heatwave, an unprecedented 37 tropical species were documented in California and Oregon, with many having never been seen so far north before. This shift is attributed to warmer ocean temperatures, which allowed southern species to track northward, adapting to climate change.
A study from Florida State University found that coral reefs change can trigger significant ecosystem shifts, but ecologists and local fishing populations perceive those shifts in fundamentally different ways. The findings suggest that local perceptions of change and ecosystem health differ from those of scientists and resource managers.
Researchers used environmental DNA to track Japanese eel populations in 10 rivers, detecting 91.8% of confirmed locations and providing insights into abundance and biomass estimation. This non-lethal method is ideal for monitoring endangered species, including invasive foreign eels.
A study has revealed a rare assemblage of sharks and rays from nearshore environments of Eocene Madagascar, including one new species, Carcharhinus underwoodi. The fauna shares similarities with ecosystems across North Africa but is uniquely lacking in sandsharks.
Researchers found that blue whales align their migration timing with historical averages of krill production, rather than responding to current prey patches. This suggests that blue whales rely on memory to locate stable, high-quality foraging sites, which could make adaptation to climate change more difficult.
A study analyzing Caribbean islands reveals that independent island nations like Cuba and Jamaica are less vulnerable to coral bleaching than territories like Saint Barthélemy. The study found that independent islands have lower social-ecological vulnerability due to their reduced economic dependence on reefs.
A new study published in Global Change Biology reveals that high CO2 concentrations cause significant harm to Atlantic cod larvae, leading to underdeveloped gills and developmental delays. The findings contradict previous assumptions that larvae could adapt to acidic conditions through acclimation of parental generations.
A cross-disciplinary study examines humans' interactions with plant and animal species across different cultures worldwide through time. The researchers found that humans can have a stabilizing effect on their ecosystems by providing ecosystem services such as lighting fires, while also playing a destructive role in other cases.
A new study has documented the unexpected consequences of great white shark decline on an ocean ecosystem. Sevengill sharks, a top predator with unique characteristics, have emerged as a result of great whites' disappearance. The researchers observed sevengill shark sightings increasing in number after great whites vanished from surveys.
New species of corals and animals found in Costa Rican waters, emphasizing the need for conservation efforts. The expedition highlights the importance of preserving these ecosystems before they face threats from human activities and climate change.
The eight largest countries account for 50 percent of Earth's land area but barely three percent of nations. Larger countries accumulate more ecosystem values, concentrating power in a few hands, and their domestic policies can have global environmental repercussions.
A new study predicts that over 50% of the world's oceans will shift in color by the year 2100, with blue regions intensifying and green ones deepening. The changes are caused by climate-driven changes in phytoplankton communities and can be detected using satellite measurements.
Researchers from Leipzig's TROPOS Institute are part of a Spanish Antarctic expedition investigating the influence of sugar compounds on cloud formation above the ocean. The team aims to understand feedback mechanisms that influence climate change, with implications for ecosystems in polar regions.
A new study finds that a sea star wasting disease and warmer sea surface temperatures led to the dramatic decline of sunflower starfish in both nearshore and deep waters. This collapse has broader effects on kelp beds and other marine ecosystems.
A new study found that microplastics reduce mussels' ability to attach themselves, potentially threatening their survival and the stability of ocean ecosystems. Mussels produce fewer byssal threads, which are essential for attachment, after exposure to non-biodegradable microplastics.
Modern-day crocodiles and alligators originated from various ecosystems over time, including land, estuarine, freshwater, and marine environments. This challenges the long-held assumption of a simple evolutionary path from a land-based ancestor.
Researchers discover coralline red algae fossils dating back 430 million years, challenging current classification. This finding sheds new light on the development of these algae, which play a crucial role in ocean ecosystems.
A new study reveals that even small changes in oxygen levels can have devastating effects on marine life, particularly tiny fish and zooplankton. These species are already pushed to their physiological limits in Oxygen Minimum Zones (OMZs) and may be forced into shallower waters with increased risk of predators.
A new study from Ohio State University finds that artificial light at night is detrimental to ecosystems, affecting species composition and food chain length. The research explores the impact of existing artificial light on streams and wetlands, revealing changes in energy flow and nutrient cycles.