Hi folks,
Happy April! There are a lot of good stories in this edition, so let’s go straight into it.
Let’s get on to the science!
Turning the Tide
Well-written popular articles in marine science
Have you ever found comfort in the quiet of a forest? How about in a kelp forest? Not many people are so lucky, but Kieran Cox specializes in these fascinating ecosystems. He paused one day while diving and noticed the stillness, and wondered if kelp could shelter marine critters from noise pollution. Since then he’s been studying noise and kelp, including which animals benefit, and what happens when kelp declines.
Ainslie Cruickshank, The Narwhal (Photos by Shane Gross)
As I mentioned in the last edition, Daniel Pauly and his colleague Rashid Sumaila won the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement. This interview with Pauly starts with his background in studying fisheries, and moves through how we should manage fisheries and what he thinks of the high seas treaty, from one of the top minds in the field.
Nicola Jones, Knowable Magazine
Maybe it’s because lawns are a common ground cover in yards and parks, but seagrasses are often ignored, and sometimes even considered a nuisance. But the more research is done on these seemingly unremarkable ecosystems, the more seagrasses reveal themselves as essential support systems for the rest of the ocean. With benefits as nursery habitat, water filtration, carbon sequestration, food for omnivores, and erosion prevention, we need to consider their value and prioritize them for management.
Joshua Sokol, bioGraphic (Photos by Shane Gross)
Some Science
Fresh discoveries and peer-reviewed papers
We often refer to the world’s oceans (e.g. Pacific, Atlantic, Arctic) as separate entities, but they are all connected through deep ocean circulation. Around Antarctica, a flow of cold salty water bigger than the Amazon River carries oxygen and nutrients north, supporting marine ecosystems globally. This circulation is being disrupted by increasing amounts of melting ice, which decreases salinity and therefore the amount of water contributing to the flow. If melting continues to increase, nutrients will be trapped and ecosystems downstream (aka much of the ocean) will suffer.
David Fogarty, The Straits Times
Sometimes, scientists just get it wrong. A research group published a study documenting a range expansion of the rare goblin shark, after they thought a citizen scientist found one washed up on a beach in Greece. Other scientists voiced concerns about the find, saying the photo didn’t look like a juvenile goblin shark but rather a plastic toy of one. The authors originally defended themselves, until enough reasonable doubt forced them to retract the paper. I’ve been following the drama of this on social media via shark conservationist and educator Dr. David Shiffman.
Annie Roth, The New York Times
Scientists have to make assumptions when doing studies, because there are just too many variables to control them all. For a long time, one of those was that northern and southern resident orcas in the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia have similar patterns in behavior. A recent study has shown that in reality, the two populations of orcas hunt differently, resulting in different levels of success. This is now the accepted explanation for why then northern resident orcas are doing so well and the southern ones are not, and suggests that the two groups should be managed differently.
James Urton, University of Washington News
Deep Dive
Book recommendation
The Brilliant Abyss by Helen Scales
Even though I’m a marine biologist, the deep sea is not my specialty and I don’t know much about it. But thanks to Helen Scales, I now have a multitude of facts and anecdotes about deep sea science to share! This book was a fun adventure through the deep, touching on biology, geology, medicine, mining, conservation, and more. Read my whole book note here.
Other Updates
I was interviewed last week by MiMoana co-founder Nikky. She is seeking to promote ocean awareness by having conversations with various ocean-focused people. We had a great conversation about marine biology, Reefs Unknown, scientific diving, and more! Check it out below:
Fun and Fascinating
When the clock turns 5 pm going into a 3 day weekend… Happy Easter!
Thanks for reading! Remember to drink water, eat plants, and don’t be too salty.
Til next time,
Sarah
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