Scientists are warning that coral reefs in the Aleutian Islands’ kelp forests are on the verge of collapse. This is due to climate change exacerbating the impact of sea urchins, and the loss of the urchins’ natural predator, the sea otter.
Rising temperatures caused by climate change have resulted in a shift in population sizes of marine species – in general, populations are growing at the poles and declining at the equator.
Scientists have used innovative ways to track female loggerhead turtles. The data reveals that return to the same nesting beaches to lay eggs year after year, therefore, these key locations should be a focus for conservation efforts.
Researchers in California have discovered an interplay between 3 species – due to invasive mice on the Farallon Islands are causing migrating burrowing owls to remain on the islands to eat them. But when the mice population crashes, they switch to preying upon the endangered ashy storm-petrel.
Placing LED lights along the top of floating gillnets (fishing nets that have notoriously high levels of bycatch) reduces the chances of dolphins and turtles being caught accidentally. And, they do not reduce the catch for fishermen.
New research shows that the greatest boost to the survival of killer whale calves is their grandmothers who are no longer breeding, because they are free to focus their time and resources on them. As salmon populations decline, the grandmothers will play an increasingly important role in killer whale population.
It may seem obvious but it has now been scientifically proven that green turtles eat plastic that closely resembles sea grass, their preferred food. This research is important, as it shows what kind of plastic pollution is a particular problem.
A new model has been created that can forecast the location of critically endangered Eastern Pacific leatherback turtles along the coast of Central and South America. This will aid efforts to decrease bycatch mortality.
New research in The Bahamas has proved that drones are effective tools for monitoring marine megafauna such as sharks and rays. They are effective even in shallow and murky water, and are much less invasive than alternatives.
By illuminating fishing nets in the waters off Peru with lights, researchers have shown that they reduce seabird deaths by 85%.