What does it take for a depleted fish species to make a comeback? A group of researchers reviewed abundance trends for over 50 populations of marine fish in attempts to determine what, if any, characteristics are common among species that have successfully recovered after overfishing. Their results suggest that recovery is related to a combination […]
Tag: marine biology
How plankton and bacteria shape sea spray
Did you know that the tiny bubbles that appear on the surface of waves as they break against the seashore help shape our climate? A new study has found the secret behind these bubbles’ atmosphere-changing power: molecules secreted by phytoplankton and tiny bacteria that live on the ocean floor. Sea spray aerosol, which is the […]
In changing oceans, cephalopods are booming
As climate change affects the ocean environment, many species are declining – but not the ocean’s cephalopods. Populations of these creatures, which include octopus, cuttlefish, and squid, have increased over the past 60 years. Researchers believe their characteristics, such as rapid growth and short life-spans, allow them to adapt to changing ocean conditions more quickly […]
Deep-ocean biodiversity follows a different set of rules 
The diversity of life in the deep ocean is driven by the availability of food and not the temperature, as it is in shallower waters. Understanding biodiversity in the deep sea becomes increasingly important as species on the seafloor face pressure from deep-sea fishing and mining. A team of researchers from Canada and Australia analysed […]
Rare seahorse spotted off Nova Scotia
Two divers recently spotted a lined seahorse (Hippocampus erectus) – rarely seen in Canada – off St. Margaret’s Bay, Nova Scotia. They uploaded the photo to iSeahorse, a smartphone app developed by an international team of seahorse scientists, including UBC marine biologist Amanda Vincent. The ‘citizen science’ initiative is critical due to the fact that […]
