The oceans are huge carbon sinks for the world. Fish and whales comprise only a tiny part of their overall biomass. Nevertheless, studies have shown that fishing and whaling by … [Read full article]
Tag: plankton
U.S. Businessman Conducts Massive and 'Illegal' Ocean Fertilization Experiment Off Canada's West Coast
[UPDATED: Oct. 18, 2012; see below] Geoengineering theories and experiments have received much attention in recent years, with one recent experiment in “ocean (iron) fertilization” successfully conducted off the coast … [Read full article]
Iron 'Seeding' of Ocean May Promote Toxic Plankton
In the constant interplay between Humans and Nature, everything is a trade-off. As our scientists begin to consider an intervention approach to climate change and conducting large-scale experiments, this trade-off … [Read full article]
'Harmless' Fish Species Survives 'Dead Zone', Turns Predator & Restores Ecosystem
The ‘bearded goby’ (Sufflogobius bibarbatus), a small, common, prey species of fish, has become adapted to the “toxic” conditions near the sea floor of this pelagic zone. Analysis of the fish’s gut has shown that up to 60% of its diet consists of jellyfish–a marine creature few animals prey upon due to their venomous stings. Remarkably, the fish has become the pivotal player in a newly emergent ecosystem.
World's Marine Plankton in Peril – 40% Decline Since 1950
Phytoplankton–tiny, marine plants that formthe basis of our oceans’ food chain–absorb and sequester large amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere and generate half of the world’s oxygen supply. Given such an important ecosystem service as this, one would hope that our oceans’ algae numbers stay high…but, the results of a three year data analysis are anything but encouraging.
Could the Melting of the Arctic be a Good Thing for Planet Earth?
By now, we’ve been well taught to view the steady decrease of Arctic ice as a bad thing; and for good reason, it is. But by now, I also hope … [Read full article]