Marine tropical ectotherms don’t like warming either

Posted on December 30, 2011 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

Next time you fly to some tropical beach resort and step barefoot in a couple of sea urchin spines, you’ll know that’s karma.

For coral reefs it´s not just ocean acidification, but also local chemistry that counts

Posted on December 24, 2011 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

CO2 dissolves carbonate – so CO2 is bad. Sea cucumbers eat carbonate. But at least they do give something good back to the water.

Marine biodiversity driven by environmental changes

Posted on November 25, 2011 by Jorn van Dooren

Our most important source for knowledge about past life is the fossil record. But how exact is it in telling us about the history of life? According to a new study in Science the evolution of marine life over the … Continue reading →

Under climate shift marine species face similar migratory distances as land species – and not always a refuge

Posted on November 4, 2011 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

Coral is losing its chemical war with seaweeds

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Jorn van Dooren

As if anthropogenic pollution and overfishing isn’t damaging enough for coral reefs worldwide, now certain seaweeds seem determined to see the end of reefs as well. These macroalgae produce chemicals that inhibit the growth of reef-building coral or even kill … Continue reading →

Metastudy shows current climate change makes flora and fauna shrink

Posted on October 17, 2011 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

The paleoclimatic record shows it has happened before – and now two well-read researchers illustrate it is already happening again: species across life’s kingdoms are decreasing in size, due to warming, droughts and acidification. It’s a sign ecology is feeling … Continue reading →

Ocean anoxia more likely consequence than cause of Permian-Triassic mass extinction

Posted on October 11, 2011 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

When it comes to explaining Earth’s mass extinctions some scientists point to space. They could be close – but perhaps should consider pointing to the sky instead.

Ice age riddle: what burped CO2 and wasn’t ocean or Neanderthal?

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

During the Earth’s ice ages the Pacific Ocean stored large amounts of carbon, which for some reason it released again close to the last glacial period’s end, warming the world and melting most of the icecaps. That is how the … Continue reading →

Quick recovery of coral reefs possible

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Jorn van Dooren

Good news for coral reefs around the world. New research on the state of Hawaiian coral reefs and their relation to human activity over a 700 year time span shows that even strongly degraded reefs can recover, with the right … Continue reading →

Shark decline confirmed by demographic model

Posted on October 2, 2011 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

75% of cut-the-fin-dump-the-dying-shark fishery is illegal. Many sharks also die as by-catch of conventional fishing. These sharks never reach the shore either – and their deaths are also not documented.

Bits of Science

Tag Archives: oceans