Increasing global temperatures due to climate change have resulted in increases in the severity and frequency of coral disease events around the globe. Coral species have faced rapid declines due to disease outbreaks, so understanding immune responses and associated potential life-history trade-offs is therefore a priority. Researchers at The University of Texas at Arlington […]

In recent years, there has been growing concern in the scientific community that major tropical cyclones such as typhoons and hurricanes will increase with global warming. To better predict the frequency of these weather patterns, understanding typhoons in the past warmer periods of Earth’s history is particularly important. A new method of investigating these events […]

A fifth of the world’s biggest fisheries, such as Atlantic Cod and Walleye Pollock are reliant on healthy seagrass meadows, according to a study published this week. The study, entitled ‘Seagrass meadows support global fisheries production‘ published in Conservation Letters, also demonstrates the prevalence of seagrass associated fishing globally. Carried out in partnership with Dr Leanne […]

A study published this week in the journal Endangered Species Research has identified a local population of Blue Whales off New Zealand that is genetically distinct from other populations in the Pacific Ocean and Southern Ocean. This population, consisting of 700 pygmy blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda), have been found living between the North and South Islands of New […]

A study conducted by the Madagascar Whale Shark Project has revealed that juvenile whale sharks swim to Madagascar, particularly the island of Nosy Be, to feed.  This is the first major scientific survey of it’s kind in the area and shows it is a newly-identified hotspot for these fish. The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is the world’s largest […]

A new study led by the University of Leicester has given an insight into our planet’s climate over half a billion years ago. Using chemical analysis of small fossilised shells, combined with climate model simulations, the team of scientists from the University of Leicester (UK), British Geological Survey (BGS; UK), and CEREGE (France) found evidence […]

In turtles and other reptiles, whether an egg hatches male or female depends on the temperature of its nest. The phenomenon was first discovered in reptiles more than 50 years ago, but until now the molecular details were unknown. A study published this week in the journal Science has identified a critical part of the biological “thermometer” that […]

A new study has found that the majority of marine life in Marine Protected Areas will not be able to tolerate the increase in ocean temperatures associated with climate change. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have been established across the world’s oceans as a haven to protect threatened marine life. MPAs limit human activity  in an area […]

A new study released this week has revealed that some species of corals are able to combat the effects of ocean acidification by controlling their own chemistry. Researchers from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (Coral CoE) at The University of Western Australia (UWA) have identified marine species that are resilient to […]

Hawaii lawmakers passed a bill today banning the sale of sunscreens containing chemicals believed to be harmful to coral reefs, becoming the first US state to enact such a law The chemicals in question, Benzophenone-3 (BP-3; oxybenzone) and octinoxate are ingredients in sunscreen lotions and personal-care products that protect against the damaging effects of ultraviolet […]