Marine Ecosystems
- All
- News
- Videos
-
World's Largest Iceberg A23a Resumes Journey North After Months of Stagnation
A23a, the largest iceberg in the world, has begun moving again after being trapped in a vortex near the South Orkney Islands. Weighing nearly a trillion tonnes and twice the size of Greater London, the iceberg has been stuck in the Weddell Sea for over three decades. Now on its way north, scientists are studying its potential environmental impacts,...
-
Antarctic 'Plastisphere': A Unique, Potentially Hazardous New Ecosystem
Antarctica, the worlds most remote, harsh and pristine continent, is not free from marine pollution. Where human activity goes, plastic debris inevitably follows.
-
Ocean Acidification Study: Carbon Emissions Driving Deeper Chemical Changes in Oceans
A study in Science Advances by researchers from ETH Zurich highlights the escalating depth of ocean acidification, driven by carbon emissions since the industrial era. By 2014, acidification had penetrated to an average depth of 1,000 metres, with some regions affected as deep as 1,500 metres. Using a 3D model, the study explores the altered marine...
-
Sea Turtles Can Aid Scientists Map Under-Ocean Seagrass in an Attempt to Conserve Marine Ecology
A study in the Red Sea has shown that satellite-tagged green turtles can map seagrass meadows more accurately than conventional satellite imagery. By tracking 53 turtles, the researchers uncovered 34 new seagrass patches. This method not only overcomes the challenges of existing mapping technologies but also aids in conserving these vital ecosystem...
-
Scientists Discover World's Largest Coral Discovered in Solomon Islands
A giant coral reef, the largest ever recorded, has been discovered in the Solomon Islands, measuring 111 feet wide and 104 feet long. This reef is estimated to be 300-500 years old, offering a vital habitat for marine life. Scientists are concerned about the threats it faces, including overfishing and climate change, both of which could jeopardize ...
-
World's Largest Ocean Predator-Prey Marine Event Captured Off Norway's Coast
In a first-of-its-kind discovery, MIT scientists observed a massive predator-prey event in Norway, where millions of cod pursued spawning capelin. The event highlights the critical role of capelin in the marine food chain, providing sustenance for predatory fish like Atlantic cod. However, as Arctic ice retreats due to climate change, capelin face ...
-
Record-Breaking Marine Predation Event Provides Insights into Ocean Ecosystems
In a groundbreaking observation, scientists have recorded the largest marine predation event ever documented, offering unprecedented insights into ocean ecosystem dynamics. Using advanced sonar technology, researchers tracked interactions between capelin, a small forage fish, and their primary predator, cod, as part of a massive, coordinated predat...
-
How A Melting Iceberg Is Reshaping Marine Ecosystems
A massive iceberg, A-68, which broke off from Antarctica's Larsen C Ice Shelf in 2017, has created a distinctive marine environment during its four-year drift, according to recent scientific analyses.
-
Animal Life Discovered Underground Near Hydrothermal Vents in the Deep Pacific Seabed
Recent deep-sea explorations have unveiled a remarkable ecosystem thriving beneath the Pacific Ocean's floor. Scientists deployed a remotely operated vehicle to investigate hydrothermal vent sites along the East Pacific Rise, where two tectonic plates diverge. Beneath the seafloor, they discovered cavities harboring giant tubeworms—the largest wo...
-
Climate Change Could Make Earth's Oldest Microorganisms Dominant in Oceans, Study Reveals
New research highlights a significant shift in marine ecosystems due to climate change. Prokaryotes, the oldest and smallest microorganisms on Earth, are expected to become more dominant as ocean temperatures rise. These microorganisms, which include bacteria and archaea, play a crucial role in marine nutrient cycles and food chains. However, their...
-
Great Barrier Reef Faces Hottest Ocean Temperatures in 400 Years, Threatening Coral Survival
The Great Barrier Reef, one of Earth's most significant natural treasures, is currently experiencing its hottest sea surface temperatures in four centuries. According to a study published in Nature, the first quarter of 2024 recorded a temperature rise of 0.19°C above the previous peak. This extreme warming is directly linked to extensive coral bl...
-
Explained: Why Are Volunteers Guarding Oman's "Unique" Coral Reefs
On a sailing boat anchored off Oman's pristine Daymaniyat Islands, volunteer divers pull on wetsuits, check their scuba tanks and then take turns plunging into the clear turquoise water.
-
Microplastics Crisis Demands More Than Just Ocean Cleanups and Biodegradables, Says Expert
In 2004, Professor Richard Thompson, a marine biologist from the University of Plymouth in the United Kingdom, coined the term "microplastics."
-
Australian Scientists Find 'Lost World' Of Primordial Life In Billion-Year-Old Rock
The Protosterol Biota, a tiny organism that might have been the first predator on Earth, was discovered by a team from the Australian National University (ANU).
-
Warm Water Headed Towards East Antarctic Ice Sheet Might Accelerate Global Sea-Level Rise
A recent study has revealed that warmer water in the ocean is moving towards the East Antarctic ice sheets and is likely to accelerate the rise in global sea level. This, according to experts, will damage the marine life and threaten human coastal settlements.
-
World's Largest Iceberg A23a Resumes Journey North After Months of Stagnation
A23a, the largest iceberg in the world, has begun moving again after being trapped in a vortex near the South Orkney Islands. Weighing nearly a trillion tonnes and twice the size of Greater London, the iceberg has been stuck in the Weddell Sea for over three decades. Now on its way north, scientists are studying its potential environmental impacts,...
-
Antarctic 'Plastisphere': A Unique, Potentially Hazardous New Ecosystem
Antarctica, the worlds most remote, harsh and pristine continent, is not free from marine pollution. Where human activity goes, plastic debris inevitably follows.
-
Ocean Acidification Study: Carbon Emissions Driving Deeper Chemical Changes in Oceans
A study in Science Advances by researchers from ETH Zurich highlights the escalating depth of ocean acidification, driven by carbon emissions since the industrial era. By 2014, acidification had penetrated to an average depth of 1,000 metres, with some regions affected as deep as 1,500 metres. Using a 3D model, the study explores the altered marine...
-
Sea Turtles Can Aid Scientists Map Under-Ocean Seagrass in an Attempt to Conserve Marine Ecology
A study in the Red Sea has shown that satellite-tagged green turtles can map seagrass meadows more accurately than conventional satellite imagery. By tracking 53 turtles, the researchers uncovered 34 new seagrass patches. This method not only overcomes the challenges of existing mapping technologies but also aids in conserving these vital ecosystem...
-
Scientists Discover World's Largest Coral Discovered in Solomon Islands
A giant coral reef, the largest ever recorded, has been discovered in the Solomon Islands, measuring 111 feet wide and 104 feet long. This reef is estimated to be 300-500 years old, offering a vital habitat for marine life. Scientists are concerned about the threats it faces, including overfishing and climate change, both of which could jeopardize ...
-
World's Largest Ocean Predator-Prey Marine Event Captured Off Norway's Coast
In a first-of-its-kind discovery, MIT scientists observed a massive predator-prey event in Norway, where millions of cod pursued spawning capelin. The event highlights the critical role of capelin in the marine food chain, providing sustenance for predatory fish like Atlantic cod. However, as Arctic ice retreats due to climate change, capelin face ...
-
Record-Breaking Marine Predation Event Provides Insights into Ocean Ecosystems
In a groundbreaking observation, scientists have recorded the largest marine predation event ever documented, offering unprecedented insights into ocean ecosystem dynamics. Using advanced sonar technology, researchers tracked interactions between capelin, a small forage fish, and their primary predator, cod, as part of a massive, coordinated predat...
-
How A Melting Iceberg Is Reshaping Marine Ecosystems
A massive iceberg, A-68, which broke off from Antarctica's Larsen C Ice Shelf in 2017, has created a distinctive marine environment during its four-year drift, according to recent scientific analyses.
-
Animal Life Discovered Underground Near Hydrothermal Vents in the Deep Pacific Seabed
Recent deep-sea explorations have unveiled a remarkable ecosystem thriving beneath the Pacific Ocean's floor. Scientists deployed a remotely operated vehicle to investigate hydrothermal vent sites along the East Pacific Rise, where two tectonic plates diverge. Beneath the seafloor, they discovered cavities harboring giant tubeworms—the largest wo...
-
Climate Change Could Make Earth's Oldest Microorganisms Dominant in Oceans, Study Reveals
New research highlights a significant shift in marine ecosystems due to climate change. Prokaryotes, the oldest and smallest microorganisms on Earth, are expected to become more dominant as ocean temperatures rise. These microorganisms, which include bacteria and archaea, play a crucial role in marine nutrient cycles and food chains. However, their...
-
Great Barrier Reef Faces Hottest Ocean Temperatures in 400 Years, Threatening Coral Survival
The Great Barrier Reef, one of Earth's most significant natural treasures, is currently experiencing its hottest sea surface temperatures in four centuries. According to a study published in Nature, the first quarter of 2024 recorded a temperature rise of 0.19°C above the previous peak. This extreme warming is directly linked to extensive coral bl...
-
Explained: Why Are Volunteers Guarding Oman's "Unique" Coral Reefs
On a sailing boat anchored off Oman's pristine Daymaniyat Islands, volunteer divers pull on wetsuits, check their scuba tanks and then take turns plunging into the clear turquoise water.
-
Microplastics Crisis Demands More Than Just Ocean Cleanups and Biodegradables, Says Expert
In 2004, Professor Richard Thompson, a marine biologist from the University of Plymouth in the United Kingdom, coined the term "microplastics."
-
Australian Scientists Find 'Lost World' Of Primordial Life In Billion-Year-Old Rock
The Protosterol Biota, a tiny organism that might have been the first predator on Earth, was discovered by a team from the Australian National University (ANU).
-
Warm Water Headed Towards East Antarctic Ice Sheet Might Accelerate Global Sea-Level Rise
A recent study has revealed that warmer water in the ocean is moving towards the East Antarctic ice sheets and is likely to accelerate the rise in global sea level. This, according to experts, will damage the marine life and threaten human coastal settlements.
