Latest news with #marineecology
BBC News
3 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
How the seas could hold the key to climate change
Devon and Cornwall are at the global heart of finding sea-based solutions to climate change thanks to hundreds of scientists in the region, its universities have said. Their research has included restoring seagrass and oyster beds, looking into seaweed as a sustainable food source, and whether marine fungi can combat Martin Attrill, from the University of Plymouth, said scientists were working to understand our seas and how to protect them."When you look at Devon and Cornwall, and you add up everything we have, we're one of the global leads for marine science," he said. "We rival anywhere in California, or Australia, or Europe, for the actual amount of knowledge that is coming from this one region," he Attrill's research in marine ecology encourages the re-emergence of seagrass meadows in Jennycliff Bay, around Drakes Island, in Cawsand Bay, and opposite Devonport Dockyard, the university the University of Exeter said Dr Ruth Thurstan was part of an international collaboration exploring historic oyster beds lost during the Victorian said: "Oysters really tell us what our seas used to be like."In the past, we've discovered that they formed vast reefs, so going back and looking at sources about oysters tell us about the changes our marine environments have undergone as a result of our activities."She also said the research was helping to establish locations and aims for worldwide oyster bed restoration projects. 'Largest in Europe' The UK's first large-scale mussel farm is 3km (1.8 miles) off the coast of Sidmouth in Devon. It was developed with help from Dr Emma Sheehan from the University of said: "The way that mussels are grown and harvested is extremely sustainable, and, in addition, they're working hard on all these other environmental benefits - they're filtering our oceans."Lines of "mussel rope" are fixed to the seabed on a site that could "become the largest in Europe".Dr Sheehan said their mussel studies began in 2013, with data now showing the species could "restore and regenerate" also provided "incredible" habitats for species including lobsters, small sharks and rays and cabs."We're just now starting to track these animals to understand how they use the farm and whether they're spilling over and having benefits to the local fisheries," said Dr Sheehan. Research also includes technological innovations, including seaweed as a sustainable food Mike Allen, from the University of Exeter, has founded company SeaGen, saying: "We cannot hang around. "We need to make a difference and reverse climate change. All big ideas start somewhere."All the problems of the world - these global problems – they are all a series of local solutions."At the Marine Biological Association in Plymouth, Michael Cunliffe is looking at the potential of microscopic fungi in the sea to change our lives on ocean can serve as a "carbon sink", absorbing atmospheric carbon dioxide to slow the rate of global warming."The carbon cycling of the ocean is critical and it really matters for everybody on the planet," he said. "Fungi certainly have a role in processing of carbon in the marine environment."He also said he was investigating whether marine fungi might offer some help in countering viruses and and so-called superbugs - drug-resistant Ed Gasson at the University of Exeter is part of an international and interdisciplinary group of researchers exploring Antarctic ice sheets."It's incredible that... [a] beach here in north Cornwall actually tells us something about what was going on in Antarctica in the past – and in the future as well," he scientists' work is the subject of a new series developed and presented by Anna Turns from The Conversation, in partnership with BBC Radio Devon.
RNZ News
20-05-2025
- Science
- RNZ News
Scientists discover humpback whales are giving birth in New Zealand waters
Until now, researchers believed humpback whales gave birth in warmer waters. Photo: Humpback whale calves are being born much further south than scientists thought. Until now, researchers believed the whales gave birth in warmer waters. But a new study from the University of New South Wales - no pun intended - shows humpback calves have been spotted as far south as Kaikōura, and near Port Arthur in Tasmania. That's 1500km further south than usual. University of Auckland marine ecology Professor Dr Rochelle Constantine told Morning Report the finding shows humpback whales, which were once on the verge of extinction, are making a recovery. "That means we start to see these extraordinary events... with some calves being born on their migration north, rather then on their typical breeding grounds," Dr Constantine said. From April, humpback whales begin their northern migration, travelling up the eastern and western sides of Australia. They then return south between August and November. They were generally thought to give birth no further south then the Gold Coast, on the east coast, and near Exmouth, on the west coast. However, the study found over 200 new-born calves were recorded further south. The reason behind this may be due to a combination of things, Dr Constantine said. She said with more whales you get more of these unusual events, and in photos she has seen of whales further south, the calves are smaller and may be born prematurely. She also noted climate change warming the water could also play a role. Dr Constantine said the study shows the importance of keeping whales safe during their migration so their numbers can continue to stay healthy. "We came very close to extinction of these whales in our waters." The researchers compiled records of humpback whale calves from several sources including government agencies, annual migration surveys and opportunistic citizen science observations, primarily from tourism vessels.
The Guardian
16-05-2025
- Science
- The Guardian
Are surging shark sightings and strandings linked to South Australia's toxic algal bloom?
Shark sightings and strandings are unusually high across South Australia amid a prolonged toxic algal bloom, but scientists say it's too soon to link to recent shark incidents. On Thursday, a swimmer was bitten by a shark at Port Noarlunga beach, 30km south of Adelaide's CBD, one of a rising number of reported sharks swimming closer to shore – with some washing up dead on beaches. On Tuesday angel sharks were reported dead on the Yorke peninsula, adding to the 200-plus marine species reported killed by a toxic algal bloom that has affected large parts of SA's coastline since March. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email Scientists say it has been driven by a marine heatwave with water temperatures up to 2C hotter than usual. Such events have become more frequent and intense due to climate change, causing widespread damage to ecosystems and fish communities In May, a 3-metre-long white shark died on Adelaide's Henley Beach, after locals found it struggling in shallow water. It was the fourth reported white shark stranding, with others found at Port Willunga, Ardrossan and Aldinga. Charlie Huveneers, a professor at Flinders University and expert in shark ecology and their interactions with humans, said it was likely that the unusually high number of shark observations and stranding events was connected to biotoxins from the recent algal bloom. 'We will only be able to confirm this and understand which toxin might have led to these strandings once toxicology results come back,' he said. But Huveneers warned that while it might be tempting to try to link increased activity to the risk of shark bites, tracking data showed white sharks occurred along the metropolitan coast throughout the year, regardless of algal blooms. South Australia's Department of Primary Industries said while it was examining sharks and other marine life affected by the algal bloom, there was 'no scientific evidence before the government to indicate that the algal bloom might make a shark attack more likely'. 'Shark encounters have always been a small but real risk for anyone entering the ocean anywhere in the world,' a spokesperson for the department said. 'It is not uncommon for white sharks to utilise coastal waters in search of food, in particular juvenile and sub-adult white sharks who are primarily fish eaters. They use such near-shore areas to hunt for small sharks, rays and skates along with larger schooling fish species including salmon, mullet and snapper.' Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion In 2025, the state's marine environment has been affected by a combination of high water temperatures, lack of rain and the prolonged toxic algal bloom. 'There's been a lot of things going on, and we don't know currently what impacts that can have on things like shark behaviour,' said Dr Briana Le Busque, University of South Australia's environmental science program director. More broadly, she said, people were seeing first-hand how species were affected by these major ecosystem changes. 'It's being talked about a lot,' she said. Le Busque, a conservation psychologist who researches people's perceptions of sharks, said there had been a noticeable change in public attitudes as these events played out. When the white shark washed up on Henley beach, the response from the public was noticeably different, she said. There was still fear, but also concern for the animal. 'Even before it washed up – it was sort of in the shallows – we saw lots of the general population trying to help a species that, a lot of the time, people don't necessarily like.' The shark bite on Thursday followed a fatal shark incident in January on the state's west coast. While such incidents were 'absolutely horrible', Le Busque said, the number that have occurred in 2025 was currently aligned to the annual average.
South China Morning Post
14-05-2025
- Science
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong oyster reefs' decline and restoration charted in documentary
Think of oysters and most people picture them on a bed of ice at a seafood buffet. But apart from being a Sunday brunch delicacy, these shellfish are the ocean's unsung heroes. In their natural habitat, oysters are ecological superstars that are capable of improving water quality and stabilising shorelines. They are hard-working, too: a single oyster can, through its gills, filter 200 litres (52 gallons) of murky water a day, creating healthy environments for marine species. Oyster reefs – underwater structures formed by large populations of oysters that attach to hard surfaces such as rocks – once stretched along about 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) of coastline in southern China's Pearl River Estuary area, including Hong Kong. This documentary is not just about oysters, but the bigger picture of rebalancing our relationship with the ocean Mike Sakas, City of Shells director and producer But over the centuries, the reefs were decimated as a result of over-harvesting, reclamation projects and pollution. A thriving limestone industry also led to their demise. Oyster shells are 91 per cent limestone, which is used in cement and fertiliser. Limestone fuelled construction and agriculture during the 19th and 20th centuries.
