September 23, 2014
Ocean Roundup: Polar Bears Turning to Snow Geese for Food, Arctic Sea Ice Found to Absorb CO2, and More
– Researchers say that sea otter populations, who have been slowly rebounding after recovering from near-extinction, did not increase from 2013. This is worrisome to scientists, who say that a lack of food, increased shark attacks, disease, and other factors are keeping them from recovery. SFGate
– Antarctic fish have special antifreeze-like proteins in their blood that help keep ice crystals at bay and help fish from freezing. But new research shows that these proteins don’t disappear in the summer, and could keep some ice crystals from melting. The Washington Post
– World leaders are converging today at the UN headquarters in its largest gathering to address climate change. Some leaders and conservationists, however, are concerned that the oceans is not one of the eight “actions areas” to receive focus, and that the oceans only may come up in the context of another climate issue. The Guardian
– It’s long known that the oceans absorbed atmospheric carbon dioxide, but new research shows that Arctic sea ice also removes CO2 from the atmosphere. Because of this, researchers say that Arctic sea ice melt could have a biggest impact on the planet’s CO2 balance than thought. Science World Report
Long Read:
– As Arctic sea ice melts and polar bears turn to land earlier in the season, researchers have noted yet another unsuspecting outcome of climate change. As polar bears come ashore hungry from a loss of their natural prey (seals), they’re foraging on snow geese around Manitoba, Canada. The New York Times