October 16, 2014
Ocean Roundup: Federal Agencies Called Out on Ocean Acidification Inaction, Steller Sea Lions May Have a New Predator, and More
– The Government Accountability Office has called out federal agencies for not implementing key parts of a 2009 law on ocean acidification, like estimating research costs. Some say that the news is troubling, especially since the federal government plays a key role in addressing ocean acidification. The Hill
– New research shows that shark’s habitat may help shield it from ocean acidification. Researchers specifically studied the epaulette shark, which inhabits and shelters within reefs, and found it had special adaptions to help protect it from climate change. Phys.org
– Louisiana has delayed the start of oyster season in some habitat that’s in the “long-term best interest of oyster conservation.” Some public harvest areas will remain temporary closed to allow young oysters to grow. The Times Picayune
– Researchers say that Pacific sleeper sharks—large sharks named for their sluggish behavior—may be preying upon Steller sea lions. Researchers looked at data from special tags deployed in Steller sea lions’ stomachs, and saw that these animals were undergoing rapid temperature changes—suggesting that cold-blooded sharks were pulling them underwater to prey on. Science Daily
– Though it’s been previously assumed that jellyfish blooms are bad for deep ocean ecosystems—smothering seafloor habitat and depriving it of oxygen when they die—new research shows that dead jellyfish may in fact play an important role in deep-sea ecosystems. Scientists found that hagfish, crabs, and other scavengers consumed both fish bait and dead jellyfish readily in experiments. EurekAlert