New research and developments, in depth.
THE BELIZE BARRIER REEF, the second-largest reef system in the world, has been removed from the United Nations list of endangered world heritage sites. The U.N. agency UNESCO voted Tuesday to remove the reef from its list of threatened sites, citing significant progress by the Belize government in protecting the reef, according to an article in the New York Times. UNESCO placed the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (BBRRS) on the endangered list in 2009
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A VIDEO OF A STRIPED DOLPHIN IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA remaining with its dead female companion prompted a new study on the question of whether dolphins feel grief, reported on in Science Magazine’s daily news feed. It’s been a mystery for a good half-century. There are plenty of reports of dolphins exhibiting grief-like behavior, like mothers (and some males) carrying dead infants in their mouths for days. In this case, the male dolphin pushed, nudged and
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DESPITE A REPUTATION AS TASTY CRUSTACEANS, GOOSENECK BARNACLES have not exactly been a staple of seafood menus in the United States. But new project in the Pacific Northwest may bring them to your local dining establishment. With a mild, salty-sweet, nutty flavor, they’re already considered a delicacy in parts of Europe. And gooseneck barnacles have long been part of the diet of the First Nations on the Canadian Pacific coast, according to “Budding Barnacle Bonanza,” in Hakai
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THE “LONELIEST WHALE IN THE WORLD” HAS GAINED FAME AS A LEVIATHAN that travels the world’s oceans emitting a unique call in an unrequited search for another of its kind. At least, that’s the legend surrounding the “52-Hertz Whale,” so-called because his whale song is so different from those of other whales. Although similar to blue whale calls, they come at a frequency of 52Hz, much higher than blue and fin whales. UNSEEN BY HUMAN EYES
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“INCONSPICUOUS BATTLEGROUND” bioGraphic.com An area off South Australia may seem like a mundane stretch of coastline but beneath the waters a spectacular event takes place each year – normally solitary giant Australian cuttlefish (Sepia apama) gather to compete for mates. The event is spectacular and so is the photography by Justin Gilligan (the image above is by a different photographer). “THIS IS THE SOUND A DOLPHIN MIGHT HEAR IF IT’S ABOUT TO BECOME DINNER” News
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“WE HAVE UNREALISTIC BEAUTY STANDARDS FOR CORAL, TOO” Hakai Magazine Encouraged by enhanced videos and PhotoShopped images in ads and travel magazines, we’re conditioned to think that vivid colors are a sign of healthy coral reefs. But beautiful doesn’t necessarily mean healthy. Bright coloring may be the first sign of bleaching. “THE WORLD’S FIRST UNDERSEA VILLA IS SET TO OPEN IN THE MALDIVES” The Globe and Mail You can brush your teeth while eagle rays
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“THE LEGEND OF THE ARGONAUT” New Zealand Geographic Rare, open-ocean octopuses who make their own paper-thin shells, lay their eggs in them and use them for propulsion. Unlike other octopuses, they never touch the sea bottom. And, they’re absolutely amazing. “INSIDE CORAL BLEACHING” bioGraphic This nonprofit magazine, “powered” by the California Academy of Sciences, shows what happens when corals experience bleaching. While coral bleaching has been happening for thousands of years as natural, localized occurrences,
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“SWARMS OF HUGE SHARKS DISCOVERED, BAFFLING EXPERTS” National Geographic Scientists studying aerial photos to look for endangered whales have discovered massive aggregations of basking sharks, normally solitary filter feeders, off North America’s Atlantic coast. In an article published in the Journal of Fish Biology, NOAA researchers documented 10 sightings of large aggregations of basking sharks, including one of some 1,400 gathered off the coast of southern New England. “MINI-ANTIBODIES DISCOVERED IN SHARKS AND CAMELS COULD
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“DAREDEVIL DOLPHINS” Hakai Magazine (Separate YouTube videos featured) Dolphins are famed for riding the bow waves of boats. There’s no clear reason, and it’s basically risky behavior. It was long thought they did it for additional propulsion. But, perhaps it’s play, perhaps it’s compulsive. Or, maybe they’re teenage kids out joyriding. “HUMPBACK BABY BOOM NEAR ANTARCTICA” New York Times Humpback whales that live and breed in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica are experiencing an increase
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“EARTH WEEK: GIANT GROUP OF OCTOPUS MOMS DISCOVERED IN THE DEEP SEA” National Science Foundation Scientists studying thermal fluids seeping from the ocean’s floor two miles deep discovered something that shouldn’t have been there: an enormous group of octopuses brooding eggs – hundreds of the previously unknown species occupying “every available rock in the area.” As surprising as the find was, it was sad, in that the location probably means the octopus nursery is doomed.
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