THE coral wonderlands of the Abrolhos Islands off the Mid West coast, and the fishing industries that rely on them, are at worse risk of damage from climate change than previously thought. New research has shown that coral larvae carried on the Leeuwin Current from elsewhere are unlikely to bolster the fragile reef system which died off in vast quantities during the 2011 heat wave. The heat wave caused the first …
WARM sea temperatures have lured an assortment of unusual sea creatures to Tasmania in recent months – some slithery and others scrumptious. Anglers are buzzing over the larger numbers of sought-after table fish visiting the island, with catches of whopper yellowtail kingfish, snapper and broadbill swordfish. Read the full story in The Mercury.
A sea star disease epidemic of unknown magnitude decimated up to 90 percent of sea star populations in some parts of the Pacific Northwest between 2013-2014, and, while the epidemic has since slowed, sea stars are still dying. Read the full story at National Geographic.
It spans up to 3 to 4 metres, breaks the scales at 1000 kilos and resembles a giant flattened pufferfish minus spikes. Redmap has been receiving sightings of the unusual-looking ocean sunfish (Mola mola)! Read about the world's heaviest fish...
Sydney (AFP) - Scientists have warned coral bleaching was occurring on the Great Barrier Reef as sea temperatures warm, and it could rapidly accelerate unless cooler conditions blow in over the next few weeks. Read more at Yahoo 7 News.
The fixed division of labor between crested penguin parents increases their chicks' vulnerability to food shortages made ever more common by climate change. The parents have been unable to adapt their habits to the challenges of increasingly frequent years of limited food supply and, as a result, will become further threatened by extinction. Read more at Science Daily.
The D’Entrecasteaux and Huon Collaboration Report Card has been released - you can download it here. The report card focuses on water quality and sediment health, pollution types and sources, swimming and seafood safety, coastal and marine habitats, and climate. And it gives Redmap a good mention!
Human-induced climate change is triggering changes beneath the waves that could have a long-term effect on marine food webs, a study suggests. An assessment of phytoplankton in the North Atlantic found the microscopic organisms' pole-ward shift was faster than previously reported. Read more at BBC News.
A group of scientists says it has now reconstructed the history of the planet's sea levels arcing back over some 3000 years - leading it to conclude that the rate of increase experienced in the 20th century was "extremely likely" to have been faster than during nearly the entire period. Read more at The Sydney Morning Herald.
Do you have an idea for an online citizen science project? Inspiring Australia is looking for a great new idea for the 2016 National Science Week citizen science project. The chosen project will be built and produced by the ABC and promoted across their TV, radio and online channels. Read more here.
