A coming boom in commercial shipping? The potential for rapid growth of noise from commercial ships by 2030
By Josh Ratay, SRC intern A coming boom in commercial shipping? The potential for rapid growth of noise from commercial ships by 2030 by Kaplan and Solomon is a new study examining potential increases in oceanic noise between 2016 and 2030. Reduction of anthropogenic (human-caused) sounds from commercial shipping has long been recognized as important […]
Ballast Water Management and Its Implications Regarding Invasive Species Introduction
By Casey Dresbach, SRC intern Ballast water, either fresh or salt water, and sometimes containing sediments, are held in tanks and cargo holds of ships to increase stability and maneuverability during transit. It’s advantageous in its means to stabilize, increase propeller immersion to improve steering, and to control trim and draft. Often times, cons outweigh […]
Fish Avoid Coral Habitats Due to the Presence of Algae
By Leila AtallahBenson, SRC masters student The issue Coral reefs are one of the most diverse, beautiful ecosystems in the world. They contain an array of marine life, swimming around magnificently colored coral. Unfortunately, due to climate change, these once thriving ecosystems are changing. Visible shifts in coral communities usually start with the increasing presence […]
Science, society, and flagship species: social and political history as keys to conservation outcomes in the Gulf of California
By Cameron Perry, SRC intern Effective conservation measures must incorporate all stakeholders in the decision making process as well as take into account the social and political atmosphere in which they are created. Conservation measures, even with the best intentions, will fail when they do not take into account these important factors. Montemayer and Vincent […]
To eat or be eaten
By Arina Favilla, SRC intern When we are hungry, all we have to do is open up the fridge and decide what we want to eat. On the other hand, when fish are hungry, they must leave the safety of their home to forage in areas where there are likely predators awaiting them. They must […]
Re-evaluating the health of coral reef communities: baselines and evidence for human impacts across the central Pacific
By Shannon Moorhead, SRC Masters Student In the past several decades, it has become clear to researchers that populations of reef-building corals have suffered significant declines worldwide. In the 1970s, coral covered on average,50% of benthic habitat (the sea floor) in the Caribbean; in the early 2000s, this was reduced to an average of 10%, […]