Researchers in Northern California discovered a hidden colony of 18 sunflower sea stars, offering hope for restoring the region's kelp forests a decade after a mysterious disease decimated over 99% of the species.
Researchers reconstructed 170 years of kelp forest history on Vancouver Island, finding 88% persistence in cooler, wave-exposed areas vs. 52% in warmer, sheltered ones, highlighting climate refuges and informing conservation strategies.
A 25-year-old US Masters student, Linnea Bird, is among six interns participating in a program at Eaglehawk Dive Centre to restore Tasmania's rapidly declining giant kelp forests. The project uses a technique developed by the University of Tasmania to reforest under the waves, addressing the impact of warming waters and sea urchin overgrazing.
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.
