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Warming of the oceans and acidification due to increased carbon absorption are destroying the world’s coral reefs and the diverse ecosystem they support. It has been estimated that coral reef habitats have already declined by an estimated 30 – 50 percent since the 1980s, and some coral reef researchers fear

Movies like Jaws and Deep Blue Sea have fostered an innate fear of sharks in many people, and shark researchers have now discovered new species of sharks that can walk! But don’t worry yet, these sharks are still very far from chasing humans through the waves and across the beach

Microbial communities have been examined on and near deep-sea shipwrecks, indicating how important these long-lost ships can be to marine life. The world was astonished in 2019 when the first crewed dive in nearly 14 years yielded startling new photographs of the Titanic’s wreckage. The famed ship’s two parts, which

Scientists have shown that ancient whale migrations have been recorded in the most unusual of places – in the shell plates of the little barnacle hitchhikers which commonly sprinkle the skin of these majestic creatures. These coronulid barnacles act as little time capsules which sequentially record the whales’ geographic location

Deep-sea mining is the process of retrieving mineral deposits from the ocean floor at depths below 200 m. As terrestrial resources are becoming scarcer and demand for precious metals is rising, especially in countries such as China, Japan, Korea and India, there has been an increasing interest in sourcing minerals

When people think of sharks, they conjure up images of the terrifying sharks in Jaws or Megalodon, or perhaps the ragged tooth sharks swimming stoically in their local aquarium. Sharks are synonymous with being the top predators in the ocean, fearing nothing and no one. Unfortunately, the tough exteriors of

Growing up can be challenging; aging can be another feat all on its own. New science is pioneering the way to assist with growing old and its impact on our bones and joints. Our twilight years can now start looking distinctly more silver lined! Joint Effort Aging is a very

On land, worms do not get the best reputation. Often seen as plant-eating pests, or unattractive and slimy creatures, worms are not many people’s favorite animal and most people do not view them as beautiful or ecologically significant. However, all of this changes when we go underwater. Deep-sea Scale Worms

An estimated three to six million sharks are killed every year to supply the beauty industry with “secret ingredient” squalane. Squalene Is Produced By All Animals And Plants Squalene is an organic compound, naturally produced by the body. In humans, an estimated 12% of squalene is found in the sebum

Ocean acidification is a major issue that threatens our ocean and way of life. It’s even been dubbed the “evil twin” of climate change. We now know more than ever about what causes ocean acidification, what its implications are, and how to prevent its worst repercussions, thanks to a growing

The oceans are a massive and unexplored ecosystem. We assume that humans have a thorough understanding of life on this planet and that there is very little possibility of new species being discovered, at least in densely populated regions. The oceans cover a gargantuan 71 percent of Earth’s surface and

While seafood has long been associated with improving mental health due to its nutrient rich nature and high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, researchers are starting to investigate the potential negative side effects of a seafood-rich diet due to increasing levels of marine pollution.  Marine pollution is a global issue,

When hearing the term ‘corals’, it is easy to slip into vacation daydream-mode, picturing warm waters, vibrant colors and an occasional turtle spotting. But what if we told you that more than half of all coral species alive today take residence in icy, and much deeper waters? That holiday dreamscape

A recently released 2020 scientific paper has identified key evolutionary traits among Scleratinian coral species, which have allowed them to survive Cretaceous-Tertiary (K-T) mass extinction event. The researchers then went one step further and compared these traits among modern species and their status on the IUCN Red List of endangered

Our oceans birthed all life on Earth. Some marine creatures are more than 200 million years old and hold bonds that have withstood many changes. A bond between two seperate species is rare. But a bond that spans several million years, is even rarer.  A group of microalgae classified as

Regarded as the easy-going, patient, and wise, sea turtles are an emblem of longevity and stability across many of the world’s cultures. Native American folklore declares that the Great Spirit created their homeland by placing the earth on the back of a giant sea turtle. In other mythological fables, the

Mystery Sharks The basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) is one of Earth’s gentle giants. They are the second largest shark, after the whale shark, and are one of three passive sharks that feed by filtering plankton from the water. Basking sharks used to be abundant in the oceans, but their numbers

Seagrass meadows are undeniably important in our oceans. Seagrass meadows are one of the most endangered and underappreciated ecosystems on the planet. These apparently innocuous aquatic flowering plants play a critical role in maintaining the health of our oceans and providing shelter for a diverse range of marine life. With

The Florida Reef Tract is the third-largest barrier reef ecosystem in the world and is home to a rich assortment of over 6000 marine species, including a wide variety of over 65 species of stony corals. The high level of biodiversity associated with the reef makes it one of the

The popularity of mineral UV filter-based sunscreens is increasing because they offer protection across a broad UV spectrum. And there is a belief among the general public that sunscreens with mineral UV filters are less harmful to coral reefs than sunscreens that contain chemical UV filters. But is this really

Coral reefs aren’t just known for the amazingly colorful fish that inhabit them, but also for the beautiful colors of the corals themselves. The colors of the coral don’t just come from the corals alone, but from the combination of the colors of the corals and the little microalgae, or

Fabrics, storage containers, carrier bags and even airplanes – plastics have revolutionized our lives since the mass production of plastic polymers began in the 20th century. It is estimated that 9.1 billion tons of plastic was produced worldwide between 1950 and 2015, with only 10% of global production being recycled.

Whale Sharks are the world’s largest fish. Adored by millions due to their popularity in famous aquariums across the globe, the magnificent whale shark is an endangered species of fish that has held our fascination for a long time.  The unique name that sets them apart is derived from their

As more and more climate change impacts are being witnessed – from hurricanes increasing in frequency and intensity to ice caps melting over Greenland – the world is beginning to pay more attention to climate change and realize the severity of the situation. Not only are individual species disappearing in

When you think of rats (Rattus rattus), you might think of household pests or domestic pets. Rats are not creatures easily associated with coral reefs, but that is about to change. Ratty Islands Non-native rats that invade islands can cause a myriad of problems to the ecosystems they invade. Rats

Coral reefs are among the most productive and biodiverse ecosystems on earth. They are important habitat, spawning and breeding grounds for many important marine species, both fish and invertebrate species. Humans rely on coral reefs for many resources, such as seafood and new medicines, as well as a number of

Coral reefs are widely known for their incredible biodiversity and species richness. While many people associate coral reefs with their incredible fish diversity, the majority of species on coral reefs are actually invertebrates! What Is An Invertebrate? An invertebrate is an animal that does not have a vertebral column, derived

Coral reefs offer marine protection for communities, fish sanctuary and millions of dollars in conservation and tourism, among other benefits. Yet corals are also seriously endangered by increasingly deteriorating environmental conditions. Learn how Coral IVF is aiming to preserve these ecologically important ecosystems. Why Do We Need Coral Reef Restoration?

Our aim is to raise awareness of coral reefs and the threats they face. Coral reefs are bleaching and dying, and therefore so many delicate and diverse ecosystems around the world are under threat. But, in order to fully understand how significant this is, we need to understand the importance

Our goal is to raise awareness for coral reefs and the threats they face. We believe that it is so important right now to come together and work alongside each other with one common goal in mind; saving the planet and the amazing animals that inhabit it.  In order to

Sunscreen is super important when we are wanting to go out in the sun. It reduces UV exposure and lowers the risk of skin cancer and damage. However, did you know that some sunscreen can actually damage coral reefs?  In this article, we will look at the effects of some

Corals are not just warm-water animals. They also live at depths of 40 m, up to an incredible 2,000 m, at water temperatures as low as -1oC. While fishermen and several scientists have known about cold water coral for almost 250 years, it is only within the last few years that we have had

It is not a surprise that plastic is harmful to our marine ecosystems. According to the United Nations Environment, between 60% and 80% of the rubbish in our oceans is plastic. Furthermore, it impacts over 800 aquatic animals. Whilst floating plastic, such as those seen in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, are estimated to only make

When it comes to saving coral reefs, most of us feel pretty hopeless. Coral reefs are some of the most amazing and diverse ecosystems in the world, with a wonderful array of marine life in every individual reef. However, the majority of us are aware of the intense and overwhelming

We wish to support conservation organizations and spread the word about how we need to act now in order to save our coral reefs. They are under a huge amount of threat, with mass coral bleaching events occurring regularly, and reefs all across the globe dying.  We are at a

A new study that was recently conducted tested how well staghorn coral skeletons withstand the forces of nature and humans. This gives us information about how we need to keep this species of coral safe, and how to transplant coral into the wild. So, what did the team of researchers

Coral reef ecosystems are being damaged all over the world through a number of direct and indirect anthropogenic (i.e. human) threats, including coral bleaching, coral disease, coral predator outbreaks, ship groundings, and anchor damage, destructive fishing, and land-based runoff or sedimentation.  Almost 50% of all coral reefs are experiencing a