June 12, 2014
Ocean News: Climate Change Making Penguins Hungry, Underwater Volcano Discovered, and More
– New research shows that three Antarctic penguin species—the Adélie, chinstrap, and gentoo—thrived during the last warming event 15,000 years ago, growing their populations as ice retreat opened bare ground for nesting. But this time, retreating sea ice is taking a toll on all but one penguin species by affecting their food supply. National Geographic
– The United Nations and Norway are building an advanced research vessel to study endangered fisheries. The vessel will host seven laboratories that research marine ecosystems, climate change, and pollution in an effort to inform sustainable fisheries management. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
– Scientists have discovered antibiotic-resistant bacteria for the first time in a food product: raw squid, according to a report published Wednesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cooking the squid will kill the bacteria, but it can still be spread through cross-contamination of kitchen products and counter surfaces. The Washington Post
– Scientists have found a new underwater volcano near the Hawaiian island of Oahu, meaning that this island is made of three—not just two—volcanoes. The newly-discovered Kaena volcano emerged from the sea around 3.5 million years ago and rose to more than 3,000 feet above sea level. The Huffington Post
– Scientists recently unearthed fossils of an early marine vertebrate that provides clues as to how other vertebrates—including our ancestors—evolved. The two-inch, 505-million-year-old creature, Metaspriggina, belonged to the lineage that would later produce sharks, eels, birds, reptiles, and mammals. The New York Times