December 4, 2014
Ocean Roundup: Mechanisms behind Pufferfish Inflation Discovered, Critical Habitat Proposed for Ringed Seals, and More
– New research shows that healthy coral reef systems are actually quite noisy, but are quieting down after damage from acidification, harmful fishing practices, pollution, and more. Researchers looked at coral reefs in the Philippines and found that noise stemming from unprotected reefs was about a third of that in healthy reef communities. Grist
– Earlier this week, federal officials proposed designating 350,000 square miles around the Beaufort, Chukchi, and Bering Seas as critical habitat for ringed seals. If the area is approved, it will be the largest critical habitat designation in the U.S. ClimateProgress
– Scientists previously thought that pufferfish stayed inflated by holding their breath, but new research shows that is not the case. A new study that looked at black-saddled pufferfish found that the pufferfish still continued to take in oxygen through their skin when inflated. Popular Science
– Studying sea ice patterns around the Amundsen Sea in Western Antarctica was long difficult to study because of the extensive ice coverage, but new research shows that ice melt in the area has tripled over the past decade. Now, researchers are saying that the region melts a “Mount Everest-sized amount of ice every two years.” The Washington Post
– After thousands of barrels of oil spilled into the Niger Delta, Shell shut down a pipeline last month. Oil spills are common in the region, but this one spilled 3,800 gallons of oil and is already severely impacting fishermen. Reuters