Blog Archives

Coral reefs and their associated animals are more sensitive to global warming than previously thought, according to a new study that shows how ocean acidification wipes out zooplankton populations, which are vital for coral survival. Researchers at the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) in Queensland studied zooplankton levels in the vicinity of underwater volcanic CO2 seeps to determine how they are affected by water acidity.

“Zooplankton gives corals vital nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen as well as important things like trace elements and essential amino acids...

Scientists working on a Nasa-led project are scanning large swathes of the Great Barrier Reef as part of the biggest assessment of the world’s coral reefs ever undertaken.

The US$15m three-year coral reef airborne laboratory mission promises to solve outstanding mysteries of what drives coral reef health and provide reef managers with better information about how to protect them.

Reefs around the world are still reeling from the worst global bleaching event in recorded history. On the Great Barrier Reef almost a quarter of the coral was lost, mainly in the remote northern sections.

Using a Nasa plane decked-out with a cutting-edge image sensor, Eric Hochberg from the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences and colleagues will examine how much of the area is covered by coral, sand and alga...

In the face of global warming and climate change, the world is experiencing the worst-ever coral bleaching event, and seems it won’t get better.

The WWF estimates that 50% of the world’s coral reefs has disappeared in the last 30 years.

In an effort to help sustain the coral reefs and their delicate ecosystems, scientists from around the world have tried a variety of innovative methods.

Most recently, one group of international experts – including D-Shape, Reef Design Lab and Reef Arabia – is using 3D printing to replace damaged reefs around the world.

Scientists claimed that the project, which is also the world’s first 3D printed reef, has already shown signs of success in Bahrain and Monaco, where it has been implemented.

“The 3D printer allows us to print an incredible range of differen...

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) recently raised over A$200,000 to buy shark fishing licences in Queensland’s waters. They estimate the licences, for operating nets in and around the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, could have been used to catch 10,000 sharks each year. Retiring these licences is a new development in Australian shark conservation, but may also limit locally caught seafood.

But do Australia’s sharks need saving, or can we eat them? It depends on where you look.

Sustainable sharks
Sharks in general are much more vulnerable to overfishing than other fish. Compared to most fish, sharks have far fewer offspring over their lifetimes. As a result, shark populations cannot tolerate the same levels of fishing that fish can sustain.

Globally, there is great reason for concern over ...

The dying coral reefs are the most burning topic these days and everyone is blaming climate change for this.

But, hang on. Climate change is not the only culprit. Overfishing another crucial factor which is not only hampering the marine ecosystem but also causing death of colorful corals.

A recent study showed that dwindling fish population is cutting an essential source of nutrient for corals- the fish urine. The study, published in Nature Communication, revealed that fish pee contains phosphorous. The combination of phosphorous and nitrogen, that comes from gills of fish, is very important for the survival and growth of coral reef environments.

Humans have long been sharks’ greatest danger, but a new study reveals a surprisingly potent threat against them — background music. University of California, San Diego visiting assistant researcher Andrew Nosal (UC San Diego, Ph.D. ’13) and Harvard marketing professor Elizabeth Keenan (UC San Diego, M.A. ’08, Ph.D. ’15) surveyed participants’ reactions to three videos of sharks swimming — not feeding, just swimming.

The only difference between the three videos was the background music.

One clip featured an ominous soundtrack, familiar to viewers of blockbusters and nature documentaries alike; another was accompanied by uplifting strings; and a third by silence...

In 2003, researchers declared Coral Castles dead. On the floor of a remote island lagoon halfway between Hawaii and Fiji, the giant reef site had been devastated by unusually warm water. Its remains looked like a pile of drab dinner plates tossed into the sea. Research dives in 2009 and 2012 had shown little improvement in the coral colonies.

-Sharks: 0

-Groupers: 0

-Lobsters: 6-20, looking for 45 minutes, found on rocky/shallow hard bottom habitats, species was spiny lobster, it was hiding because it’s nocturnal, and was in 3 ft. water

-Snappers: 1-5, looking for 45 minutes, found in rocky bottom, species was grey/mangrove snapper, the fish were swimming in around 5 ft. of water

-Lion Fish: 0

-No surface pressures, no evidence of fishing, no evidence of the illegal trade in endangered species

-Evidence of Coastal Development: Pigeon Key was in sight, snorkeling took place around 100 years away at most

-Boat Activity: there was a ferry boat coming in

-Subsurface Pressures: there was a glass bottle

4/8/16
Shore- Salt water
Recreational Dive
45 minutes
Max Depth- 8ft, Visibility- 8ft
Temperature: water- 77, air-81, sunny
strong current

0 sharks
0 groupers
6-20 lobsters (hiding under rocks @3ft, shallow hard bottom, spiny)
6-20 snappers (rocky bottom under dock @5ft, gray and mangrove)
0 lion fish

no surface pressures
boat activity
subsurface pressures (glass bottle, tire)
no evidence of fishing
evidence of coastal development