Category: Conservation

New ‘pregnancy-style tests’ can detect destructive crown-of-thorns starfish on GBR

17th Sep 2020

A new testing kit created by researchers from Australia can detect the coral killing crown-of-thorns starfish in a similar way to a home pregnancy kit. Using a special dipstick researchers can detect microscopic amounts of their DNA at the surface, which could help control their destructive population outbreaks below. For well over 50 years the … More New ‘pregnancy-style tests’ can detect destructive crown-of-thorns starfish on GBR

Harmful light pollution reaches up to 75% of the seafloor surrounding coastal cities

25th Aug 2020

A ground-breaking new study has revealed for the first time the extent to which light pollution from coastal cities reaches nearby seafloor environments. It revealed that up to 75% of the 3D space surrounding the habitats can be exposed to light pollution, which can have highly damaging effects. Around 3/4 of world’s megacities are now … More Harmful light pollution reaches up to 75% of the seafloor surrounding coastal cities

Scientists discover new penguin colonies from space

19th Aug 2020

A new study using satellite mapping technology has revealed there are nearly 20% more emperor penguin colonies in Antarctica than was previously thought, which will help scientists accurately monitor the iconic seabirds in the future. Using Earth-orbiting satellites to locate and track marine animals is becoming an increasingly important study tool for researchers who are … More Scientists discover new penguin colonies from space

The effects of offshore wind farms on marine life

14th Aug 2020

Written by Owen Harris Increasing awareness about anthropogenic climate change and mounting public pressure has led to many countries committing to reduce their use of fossil fuels and increase their development of renewable energy sources. Although the switch to renewable energy will have an overall positive effect on the global climate and natural world, the … More The effects of offshore wind farms on marine life

Return to the big blue: a sea turtle’s release from rehab

7th Aug 2020

Written by Miranda S. Altice The adrenaline is still pulsing through my veins, making my hands tremble and my heart pound. A perma-grin is smeared on my face, “Probably for forever,” I had said earlier. Thinking back from just an hour before, I can still feel Evergreen’s smooth, scaley flipper flapping relentlessly against my arms… … More Return to the big blue: a sea turtle’s release from rehab

The first marine fish extinction of the modern era

29th Jul 2020

A new study has recently confirmed the extinction of the smooth handfish, the very first marine fish species to be declared officially extinct in the modern era. So what went wrong for these bottom-dwelling fish? And what lessons can we learn from their untimely demise? Unfortunately, extinctions of marine species are nothing new in our … More The first marine fish extinction of the modern era

Satellite-tagged seals and underwater robots uncover new ocean currents

14th Jul 2020

Two new studies from the University of Gothenburg, utilizing novel research techniques involving tagged elephant seals and robotic gliders, have uncovered new small-scale ocean currents in the Southern Ocean and highlighted their big importance. As the technology available to researchers has improved over time, the only limiting factor to what can be uncovered about our … More Satellite-tagged seals and underwater robots uncover new ocean currents

Book Club: ‘Vast Expanses’ by Helen M. Rozwadowski

1st Jul 2020

‘A timely and useful oceancentric natural history of the ocean-human relationship… Rozwadowski thoroughly brings readers up to date on the essential issues of marine exploration, research and the environment’ – Booklist In ‘Vast Expanses: A History of the Oceans’ author Helen M. Rozwadowski delivers a complete yet concise retelling of the human-ocean relationship through both … More Book Club: ‘Vast Expanses’ by Helen M. Rozwadowski

What is fisheries-induced evolution?

26th Jun 2020

Written by George Brett Since the concept of shifting baseline syndrome was first outlined in 1995, particular attention has been paid to the historical data regarding the size and levels of fish landings. Given the difficult nature of establishing accurate records, researchers have often turned to alternative means of gathering the data instead. One such … More What is fisheries-induced evolution?

The potential benefits of COVID-19 on marine wildlife

17th Jun 2020

Written by Rebecca Greatorex As we continue to experience a global pandemic on a scale many of us have never seen before, I would like to discuss a rather overlooked group of animals which have also been affected by this global crisis – marine creatures. However, unlike us, they are likely to be affected in … More The potential benefits of COVID-19 on marine wildlife