Energy Without Sunlight: Chemosynthetic Communities
Immense pressure, extreme temperatures, and resource scarcity have stimulated numerous adaptations in deep-sea fauna that allow them to withstand highly…
The Plight of Seagrass Meadows
The ocean is full of diverse habitats, ranging from lush kelp forests to coral reefs, but one that is often…
The American Lobster: A Conservation Success Story
Lobsters are one of the most sought after food sources in the United States, as well as a cultural icon…
Biodegradation of Microplastics by Microorganisms in Marine Environments
Did you know that recent have studies found evidence of microorganisms capable of breaking down microplastics in marine environments? Marine…
Sunscreen vs. Coral Reefs: The Negative Impact of Sunscreen on our Reefs
Sunscreen, as many people know it, is a useful tool that keeps us from burning under the sun’s harsh UV…
Rice’s Whale: New to the Scene, Dangerously Close to Extinction.
Full body photograph of a Rice’s whale from above via drone. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Ocean Alliance (Permit # 21938)
The Silent Killers of the Sea: Ghost Gear
Ghost fishing gear is turning into one of the oceans most devastating threats. Year after year, hundreds of thousands of…
Gentle Giants; the Beluga Whale
This past week, our marine biology lab had the pleasure of going to the Mystic aquarium. I got to see…
Should we mine the sea floor for polymetallic nodules?
What are polymetallic nodules? Polymetallic nodules are a newfound hot spot for economists around the globe at the moment, why?…
How do a hundred separate animals form one that can be larger than a whale – meet the giant siphonophore – the deep seas highly specialized cluster.
Siphonophores are large colonies of small zooids—individual animals that must live together to survive—which gives them their alien-like appearance in…