August 28, 2014
Ocean Roundup: Florida Receives Federal Help for Oyster Recovery, Climate Change Linked to Iceland’s Puffin Decline, and More
– Florida is receiving $6 million from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for oyster recovery in Apalachicola Bay in northwest Florida—a fishery that crashed in 2012 and 2013. The money will go towards oyster recovery, oyster monitoring, community assistance, and other outlets. WCTV
– Researchers found that dispersants used in the BP oil spill lingered in the environment for years after the spill, one of which poses a risk to marine life. Dispersants were found in sediment and deep-sea coral six months after the spill and in oiled “sand patties” on the beach about two to four years later. Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative
Long Read:
– If you’re behind on the latest news about ocean acidification, this article provides a comprehensive overview of the latest science behind acidification and some of its greatest threats—like dissolving Pacific shellfish and impacting the Great Barrier Reef. The author advocates that all progress humans have made since the industrial revolution may be lost with rising CO2 levels and acidification. San Diego Free Press
– Iceland houses the world’s largest Atlantic puffin colony, but these birds have been in decline for years—so much so that nesting has been a “total failure” since 2005. Climate change and consequential changes in food webs, ocean chemistry, and pollutants are all suspected culprits for puffin, tern, and kittiwakes. National Geographic
Photos:
– Many beach-goers fear the famous Portuguese man-o-war, a siphonophore with tentacles that can extend for 165 feet. These photos may change your perception of man-o-wars by exposing the raw beauty behind those frightening tentacles. National Geographic