Sardines, anchovies and mackerels play a crucial role in marine ecosystems, as well as having a high commercial value. However, the warming of waters makes them vanish from their usual seas and migrate north, writes Science Daily. Read the full story here.
Climate change might be destroying corals with ocean acidification and forcing dolphins to change their range, but some species are actually benefiting from it. Warming ocean temperatures off the coast of northern California, for example, have triggered a population explosion of bright pink, inch-long sea slugs in tide pools along California’s central and northern coastline, writes the Discovery Channel News. Read the full story here.
When it comes to immunisation, climate change or wind farms, people often form groups and reinforce irrational views, according to the ABC Science Show on Radio National. So why do the scientific facts not penetrate? Redmap features highly in this discussion with Annabel Crabb, Tanya Ha and Tory Shepherd as an example of communicating science by involving the community. Listen at around the 23 minute mark here.
Research released this week shows the oceans are continuing to warm steadily despite an a slowdown in the rate of warming at the earth’s surface, increasing the likelihood of extreme heat undersea, writes The Conversation. Sadly, these changes could spell the end for large swathes of Western Australia’s underwater forests and much of the marine life that depends on them for food and shelter. Read the full story here.
Australian scientists have assessed how 35 common fish species are coping with climate change, finding that most have to deal with new conditions and many are moving towards polar waters to find suitable habitats, writes The Guardian. Research led by the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) analysed the climate sensitivity of fish found off the south-east coast of Australia. Read the full article here.
Flathead is the top catch by Tasmanian fishers, according to a new recreational fishing survey by the University of Tasmania's Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies. Around one in four Tasmanians went fishing at least once in 2012; and mainly along the east or south-east coast. Read what Tasmanians are hooked on here.
THE world’s heaviest species of fish has washed up on the shores of the River Derwent, prompting a call for beach combers to be on the lookout for more unusual sightings, writes The Mercury newspaper.
A Queensland study which reveals why some coral reefs recover from destructive bleaching could help shape the way reefs are managed, writes SBS News. Read more here.
Scientists are shocked at the growing population of strange marine life in Sydney beaches, writes The Daily Telegraph. Read the story here.
Recreational fisher Paul Szymanowicz had no idea of the identify of the unusual fish that turned up alongside some nice pinkies he caught while fishing deeper waters off Garden Island near Perth recently. It was a Pinjalo, a tropical snapper, a very rare visitor so far south. Read about this unusual catch in WA's Coastlines magazine.