Welcome to the first edition of Submerged Science for 2023! The first time I typed that, I wrote 2021 (facepalm). What is time, anyway?
I took December off writing this newsletter to spend time with my parents, brother, grandmother, in-laws, husband, and puppy. It was a whirlwind, but I’m so glad I did it. Thanks for your patience as I got back into the writing and working routines.
Let’s get on to the science!
Turning the Tide
Well-written popular articles in marine science
Most people gravitate to animals that are relatable in size and evolutionary proximity, i.e. mammals. It takes a special kind of determination to dedicate your life to studying tiny mud dragons, or kinorhynchs. To become the “Lord of the ‘Rhynchs” and the “father of dragons”, Dr. Bob Higgins started out in 1952 at 35 cents an hour, looking for tiny tardigrades under a microscope. He only went up from there. This article is almost 5 years old, but resurfaced recently because of the passing of Dr. Higgins.
Adrienne Mason, Hakai Magazine
As land-dwelling creatures, humans tend to know more about terrestrial ecosystems than those under the sea. The balance is slowly shifting, however, thanks to big movies that increasingly incorporate the ocean. Popular culture can turn people’s attention to issues such as plastic pollution, industrial fishing, and more. Will franchises like Aquaman, Avatar, and Black Panther create a new generation of ocean activists?
Many coastal habitats provide natural protection of the land from storms and tides, however, many are threatened by sea level rise and human development. Cities like San Diego in California are forced to innovate to recreate that natural protection. Kendall Powell is leading efforts to deploy “reef balls”, made out of a concrete mixture of local sand and oyster shells, which attract wild oysters. The hope is that native oysters will cover the reef balls and do what oysters do best: filter water, store carbon, and form a reef that acts as a storm break.
Some Science
Fresh discoveries and peer-reviewed papers
Before we jump into more recent stories, let’s start with a recap of the best of 2022 in deep sea discoveries. Learning more about life in the deep ocean tells us more about ourselves, our world, and what we have to lose from climate change and deep sea mining.
Deep sea expeditions find new species all the time. A recent expedition to the Cocos Islands in the Indian Ocean captured gulper eels, which are an incredible inky black color and have enormous jaws that extend half the length of the eel’s body when folded up. They are also known as pelican eels because of the way they capture prey in their stretchy mouths.
It’s likely that you heard about COP27 in Egypt last November (I hope you did, because I mentioned it in a previous edition of Submerged Science!), but you may not have heard about its sibling: COP15, the biodiversity summit that took place in Montreal, Canada in early December 2022. The participants established four main goals to be achieved by 2050, and several targets to hit by 2030, including addressing nutrient pollution and pesticides.
Natasha Gilbert, Nature; Erik Stokstad, Science; Blanca Begert, Grist
Deep Dive
Book recommendation
The Last Resort: A Chronicle of Paradise, Profit, and Peril at the Beach by Sarah Stodola
Your beach vacation may be good for your mind, but is it terrible for the environment? There are many unseen consequences to your experience with your toes in the sand and head in the clouds: beach erosion, local economic impacts, and carbon emissions from far-flung air travel. Sarah Stodola documents her visits beach resorts all around the world to examine their history, consequences, and what will become of them going forward.
Fun and Fascinating
To kick of 2023, let’s take a moment of zen with a bunch of footage of skates and rays swimming around.
Thanks for reading! Remember to drink water, eat plants, and don’t be too salty.
Til next time,
Sarah
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