Articles tagged with Marine Ecosystems
Climate change is expected to lead to a major ecological upheaval in Antarctica as predatory king crabs potentially invade the continental shelf. The invasion could disrupt the primeval marine communities that have lived there for millions of years, leading to a loss of unique biodiversity.
A new NOAA survey using the Seahorse instrument has confirmed high numbers of young sea scallops off Delaware Bay. The findings are promising for the future of the scallop fishery, with many juveniles showing potential to grow to commercial size in about three years.
The increasing concentration of atmospheric CO2 is impacting marine ecosystems, causing ocean acidification and warming. Unconventional conservation methods are necessary to save marine species from extinction.
The 2012 Marine Climate Change in Australia Report Card reveals climate change is altering the country's marine ecosystems. Key findings indicate warming sea temperatures are influencing species distribution and foraging patterns of seabirds.
A team of researchers, including UBC scientists, assessed global ocean health and created the Ocean Health Index, scoring countries from 36 to 86. Canada and the US performed well with scores of 70 and 63 respectively.
The Ocean Health Index assesses the benefits to people of healthy oceans, combining ecological, social, economic, and political conditions. It scores countries globally, ranging from 36 to 86, with densely populated nations like Germany and uninhabited islands leading the way.
Scientists analyzed 50 years of global carbon dioxide measurements and found that the planet's oceans and ecosystems are still absorbing about half of the emitted CO2. However, they expect this process to slow down gradually, and may eventually lose their capacity to absorb CO2.
A team of scientists has discovered a method of how carbon is drawn down from the surface of the Southern Ocean to deep waters, utilizing winds, currents, and eddies. This understanding improves knowledge of climate change effects on ocean carbon absorption.
Researchers will study Axial Seamount to understand subseafloor microbial processes, carbon cycle, and virus-microbe interactions. They aim to 'break open the black box' of deep-sea microbiology.
A Scientific Consensus Statement on Climate Change and Coral Reefs supports 2,400 scientists calling for action to safeguard valuable reef ecosystems. The statement highlights the impacts of rising sea levels, intense storms, and ocean pollution on coral reefs.
A new trigger for the North Atlantic plankton bloom has been discovered, revealing that swirling currents of seawater sustain phytoplankton in shallower waters. This phenomenon is crucial to the ocean's carbon cycle, absorbing vast amounts of carbon dioxide and emitting oxygen.
Researchers from Lund University call for abandonment of geo-engineering efforts to mix oxygen into the Deep Baltic due to unforeseen effects. The Baltic Sea is experiencing hypoxia, and while geo-engineering schemes promise short-term improvements, they are also potentially dangerous.
A recent study analyzed respiration rates across aquatic and land ecosystems, revealing that warmer climates may lead to more CO2 release from marine and freshwater environments. This finding suggests a stronger response of aquatic ecosystems to temperature changes, potentially increasing their carbon dioxide emissions.
Jan Vicente, a graduate student at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, has been awarded a NOAA Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship to investigate how ocean acidification affects sponge skeletons. The research will focus on two common Florida Keys sponges and their bacterial communities.
A review of global ocean commitments has shown little success over the past 20 years. Despite international agreements, governments have failed to meet targets for protecting vulnerable species and marine habitats, leading to increased fish stock depletion and ecosystem destruction.
The Marine Technology and Life Sciences Seawater Complex will study coastal structures, weather phenomena, and marine life impacting human health. The facility features a wind-wave-storm surge simulator capable of generating Category 5 hurricane force winds.
Researchers created a mini-lab in Australia's Great Barrier Reef to simulate predicted future ocean conditions and test the reaction of corals. The study, published in Scientific Reports, provides new insights into how reefs respond to ocean acidification and can inform conservation efforts.
The end-Permian crisis, the most dramatic biological crisis in Earth's history, lasted for around 10 million years to fully recover. Life recovered slowly due to intense environmental shocks and grim conditions on Earth.
Marine scientists discovered that deep-sea limpets can survive extreme pressure changes when transported by submersibles. This finding highlights the potential risk of human-driven change to hydrothermal vent ecosystems.
Researchers found that seagrass beds store up to 19.9 billion metric tons of carbon globally, more than temperate and tropical forests. Seagrasses can store up to twice as much carbon per unit area, mostly in their soils.
Scientists from WHOI conducted a new study measuring carbon levels at various depths in the Arctic Ocean. The data will help researchers understand how carbon cycles through the marine ecosystem and respond to rising global temperatures.
A new study found that each step of the marine food chain is controlled by the trophic level below it, with prey distribution playing a crucial role. The research reveals that the spatial pattern of resources, or patchiness, is more important than the overall abundance of food.
A new study finds that biodiversity loss can reduce plant growth by 5-10% in ecosystems, comparable to climate warming and pollution effects. Stronger efforts are needed to protect biodiversity and its benefits.
A new study estimates that reef shark numbers have dropped substantially around populated islands, with numbers declining by more than 90% compared to untouched reefs. The research uses towed-diver surveys to compare shark populations at reefs spanning from heavily impacted ones to pristine areas.
A global study by University of British Columbia researchers found increasing jellyfish populations in 62% of the world's coastal ecosystems, including East Asia and Antarctica. The study also notes decreases in jellyfish abundance in seven per cent of coastal regions.
The Hadal Ecosystem Studies program will conduct detailed studies of life in major deep ocean trenches, comparing findings between trenches around the world. Researchers aim to unravel how organisms have evolved to survive in extreme environments.
The TARA OCEANS expedition mapped marine biodiversity across the world's oceans, understanding how microscopic organisms interact with their environment. The project aims to build a global systems biology map of these interactions, using advanced DNA sequencing and microscopy techniques.
A new look-alike species of hammerhead shark has been discovered in Brazilian waters, raising concerns about its impact on the endangered scalloped hammerhead. The discovery confirms that the original finding was not a local oddity and highlights the need for further research to understand its population status.
A study reconstructing fisheries yields over seven centuries in Hawaii and Florida Keys reveals that Native Hawaiian societies managed fisheries sustainably through local regulations and community involvement. The authors argue that incorporating ancient techniques into modern policy may be key to sustaining coral reef fisheries.
A new Marine Board-ESF position paper highlights gaps in monitoring and regulating chemical pollution in Europe's seas. It calls for better coordination, cooperation, and harmonization among existing monitoring efforts to address the impact of human activities on marine ecosystems.
A scientific team reports that a 'balanced harvest' can achieve productive fisheries while conserving environmental factors, according to the journal Science paper. This approach maximizes production and minimizes ecological effects by targeting multiple species and sizes.
The US GEOTRACES initiative will conduct a grand-scale, coordinated experiment in the Arctic Ocean to better understand climate change impacts on ecosystems and geochemical cycles. The project aims to establish a baseline for future measurements and inform feedback mechanisms for Arctic change.
Coral reefs face a global warming threat, but some species may be able to adapt. A study found that corals in Singapore and Malaysia survived severe bleaching despite high sea temperatures, suggesting they have adapted to thermal stress.
A new ecosystem has been discovered in the deep sea, featuring a blend of hot and cold environments. The Jaco Scar site, located off Costa Rica, supports a vast array of species that thrive in both hydrothermal vents and cold methane seeps.
Researchers found a unique ecosystem where hot and cold habitats intersect, featuring tubeworms, fish, mussels, and crabs. The discovery reveals new species and potential communities in the deep sea, highlighting the need for further exploration of this largely uncharted environment.
Researchers at the University of Notre Dame have found that density stratification has a significant impact on small organisms in aquatic ecosystems. Organisms near pycnoclines experience reduced risk of predation, affording a competitive advantage, which can lead to an accumulation of particles and alter environmental processes.
The research reveals that ocean acidification is happening at a faster rate than in the past 300 million years, with severe effects on marine organisms. Acidification harms shell-building species like corals and molluscs, as well as phytoplankton species, which are essential to the marine trophic network.
Researchers assessed climate change events over 300 million years, finding current ocean acidification is potentially unparalleled. Laboratory experiments suggest impacts on marine organisms, including slower growth and dissolution of carbonate shells.
Research reveals that well-enforced marine reserves in the Mediterranean have recovered fish biomass five to 10 times greater than fished areas. However, 'protected' areas with allowed fishing saw no improvement over unprotected sites, highlighting the importance of full conservation measures for recovery.
A study on Kenyan reefs found that the loss of predatory fish leads to an explosion in sea urchin populations, damaging the reef structure and reducing crustose coralline algae growth. This reduces coral recruitment by lowering juvenile coral densities on fished reefs.
The US government has been slow to implement a ban on commercial fishing in the nation's protected Pacific Islands Marine National Monuments, threatening unique ecosystems and populations. The monuments, established in 2009, are home to rare species and sensitive habitats that could be damaged by fishermen.
The UBC research reveals areas with the highest risk of overfishing, including the northeastern coast of Canada, Pacific coast of Mexico, and Peruvian coast. This index will help conservation managers make targeted decisions to protect seafood and marine ecosystems.
A study of extreme coastal storms in the Western Mediterranean found that these events redistribute marine organic carbon, supporting life in deeper waters and enhancing carbon sequestration. The severe damage to coastal environments must also be considered when evaluating human-induced climate change's impact on ocean ecosystems.
Researchers gathered at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science to integrate and refine field measurements and computer models of carbon cycling in US East Coast waters. The goal is to create a single integrated carbon budget that represents the flow of carbon within and between coastal components.
A team of scientists has discovered communities of previously unknown species on the seafloor near Antarctica, clustered in hot, dark environments surrounding hydrothermal vents. The findings include new species of yeti crab, starfish, barnacles, and potentially an octopus.
Research by Carnegie Institution scientists found that sea cucumbers dissolve half of the calcium carbonate on coral reefs at night, contributing to their destruction. The team's findings highlight the importance of understanding marine organisms' roles in maintaining the balance of these delicate ecosystems.
A comprehensive study of ocean acidification has made key findings, showing that some marine ecosystems are already experiencing acidity levels not predicted to occur until the end of the century. The study used sensors developed at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and found variability in seawater pH within and across ecosystems.
A recent survey of Pacific sea turtles has identified 16 species of epibionts, including crabs and barnacles, that live on their shells. These organisms can cause drag and transmit disease, highlighting the importance of considering their impact on turtle health and ecology.
A recent study on Australian herbarium records found that up to 25% of temperate seaweed species may be headed to extinction due to ocean warming. The research reveals significant changes in seaweed communities over the past 50 years, with many species retreating south towards the Australian south coast.
A study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B found that land-based vertebrates suffered massive extinctions, with approximately 78% of genera perishing. The survivors formed 'disaster taxa' that dominated their ecological niches, leading to boom-and-bust cycles and instability in ecosystems.
A peer-reviewed study estimates the total economic value of Hawaii's coral reefs at $33.57 billion annually, demonstrating the ecosystem's significance to US residents regardless of location or usage
The NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science's Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research is initiating a 5-year project focused on the role that Pulley Ridge reefs play in replenishing key fish species and other organisms in downstream reefs. This research aims to develop more effective strategies to protect these ecosystems.
The project, SCALER, aims to apply small-scale ecological experiments to understand the behavior of entire ecosystems and predict characteristics of stream networks. Researchers will conduct field work in Puerto Rico and use modeling to scale measurements up to regional and continental levels.
Researchers will investigate the Hanna Shoal ecosystem in the Chukchi Sea to understand its high productivity and potential impact from climate change. The study aims to inform offshore oil drilling operations and protect the Arctic ecosystem, with data integration for future environmental assessments.
A study reconstructing 700 years of human-environment interactions in Hawaiian coral reefs found that historical changes in human societies led to degradation or recovery. While some reefs declined due to overexploitation and land-based pollution, others recovered through cultural protection and conservation efforts.
The number of sea turtles accidentally caught and killed in US fishing gear has declined by 90% since 1990, according to a new study. This drop is attributed to measures reducing bycatch in many fisheries and overall declines in US fishing activity, which have led to fewer turtle deaths annually, from over 300,000 to around 460.
The University of Miami is leading a consortium to investigate the fate of petroleum in the environment, aiming to improve risk management and response efforts. The project, CARTHE, will focus on accurately predicting hydrocarbon transport and development of new tools for responding to future spills.
A new study has found that soft corals, once believed to be minor contributors to coral reef structure, are actually a crucial component of the ecosystem. Soft coral skeletal elements called sclerites were discovered to make up massive parts of reefs in the South China Sea.
Researchers found that coccolithophores form thinner calcite skeletons in acidic ocean water, with significant implications for marine ecosystems and the global carbon cycle. However, some coastal areas exhibit highly calcified species, suggesting potential adaptations to environmental changes.
The study assesses the impact of ocean acidification on mollusk harvests worldwide, particularly in poor and developing nations. Nations with high dependence on shellfish and lack of aquaculture are most vulnerable, with Senegal, Madagascar, Gambia, Mozambique, and Haiti expected to be heavily impacted.