Just one year after invasive rats were removed from Ulong Island in Palau, researchers discovered that returning seabirds are supplying marine nutrients via guano, driving unexpected coral reef and fish population recovery.
Removal of invasive rats from Ulong Island in Palau leads to swift return of seabirds, which in turn accelerates coral reef recovery through nutrient transfer, increasing fish populations within just one year.
A study by Lancaster University and the University of Texas found that invasive rats on tropical islands decimate seabird populations, leading to nutrient loss in surrounding coral reefs. This nutrient reduction alters the balance of cryptofauna (tiny fish and invertebrates), favoring invertebrates over fish, and consequently rewires the entire reef food chain, with significant conservation implications.
DEEP's Vanguard, the first US open-ocean subsea habitat in 40 years, is deployed in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, enabling long-duration underwater research for up to 4 aquanauts, focusing on marine science, human health in extreme environments, and astronaut training.
British and Australian scientists conducted an experiment in Australia's Great Barrier Reef, using underwater loudspeakers to play healthy reef sounds in damaged areas. This artificial soundscape successfully doubled fish numbers and increased species diversity, suggesting a novel approach to coral reef restoration by influencing fish behavior.
A coral reef off Benin, presumed dead for over 60 years, has been rediscovered thriving at 54 meters depth. An expedition using sonar and underwater cameras revealed a lively mesophotic ecosystem with undocumented fish and coral species, prompting conservation efforts.
A deep-water coral reef off Benin, believed dead for 60 years, has been rediscovered alive and thriving over 50 meters below the ocean surface by the COREB project. Using sonar and deep-sea imaging, researchers found a healthy mesophotic ecosystem with various fish and coral species.
New research from Stockholm University and Project Seagrass indicates that fish from seagrass meadows offer a superior nutritional profile compared to those from coral reefs, potentially aiding millions in coastal East Africa facing malnutrition and poverty.
New research indicates seagrass meadows provide fish richer in essential nutrients than those from coral reefs, potentially combating malnutrition in coastal communities along East Africa. The study highlights seagrass as 'food infrastructure' vital for local diets.
Chinese researchers have discovered a unique marine blue hole in the Scarborough Shoal lagoon, formed by coral reef growth and dating back at least 3,200 years. This discovery is expected to provide fresh insights into the shoal's geological evolution and environmental history.
Coral researcher Anne Cohen has found a thriving "super reef" in the Marshall Islands, offering hope for coral survival amidst global bleaching events. The discovery is part of an initiative to identify and protect heat-tolerant reefs that could help restore damaged ecosystems.
Ecosystems are often described using functional language, implying they have purposes they can fail to perform. This essay argues that ecosystems lack intrinsic ends and cannot truly "break down," challenging the "ecosystem services" framework and advocating for clearer thinking about environmental crises.
Marine heatwaves have tripled since the early 1990s, signaling the ocean's strain from absorbing over 90% of Earth's excess heat. The Earth's energy imbalance, a key climate change indicator, has doubled, leading to rising temperatures, melting ice, and intensified weather extremes. Monitoring systems are under threat, just as clarity is most needed.
Cuban scientists and conservationists are facing significant challenges in protecting the island's marine ecosystems due to economic scarcity, US sanctions, and the climate crisis. Despite limited resources, they are employing innovative methods like coral farming and relying on local volunteers to mitigate damage from pollution, invasive species, and coral diseases.
Hong Kong authorities have assured that a planned marine park around Sharp Island will protect most coral reefs, addressing Greenpeace's concerns about insufficient coverage. Underwater mapping confirmed major coral spots fall within the proposed 63-hectare boundary.
Mainland Chinese tourists visiting Hong Kong's Sharp Island for its tombolo also gained an appreciation for local coral reefs and marine life, thanks to increased government promotion and protection efforts.
