Remote Underwater Exploration
We already know that the world’s oceans absorb 90 percent of the excess heat trapped by our greenhouse gas emissions. A study in the journal Nature, published last Wednesday, suggests that oceans are warming far faster than the estimates laid out by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the global organization for climate data. Not good news for the world’s marine life…
Full article at: New York Times 31oct18
Kelp forests in Australia have been under attack for years and now similar ravaging is being seen in the USA. Sea urchins are the problem. On the East Coast of Australia, the long-spined sea urchin, Centrostephanus rodgersii, a native of NSW, has steadily moved southwards into Tasmania, leaving extensive urchin barrens in its wake.
Full article at: ABC Science 31jul13
The USA is having similar issues with kelp devastation. A severe decline in predator numbers (sea otter and sunflower starfish) and an oceanic “heat wave” has helped the purple sea urchin population to explode and they are fierce competitors for any available food. “They’re like cockroaches of the ocean,” Dr. Mastrup said. “They can endure starvation conditions much longer than most of the other critters.”
Full article at: New York Times 22oct18
Tasmania has been managing their long-spined urchin numbers by maintaining predator numbers, specifically large rock lobsters. California is having a tougher time controlling the damage…
We will be on North Stradbroke Island for the University of Queensland’s Moreton Bay Research Station Open Day on Saturday the 24th of November. Can’t wait to show off the BlueROV2!
Click here for more information about MBRS Open Day
Hard to decide… the sea cucumber Enypniastes eximia looks like a headless chicken monster sometimes and like a graceful Spanish dancer at others. Either way, it is a fascinating find in both Antarctica and the Gulf of Mexico.
Full article at: ABC News 21oct18
We had an awesome time at the 2018 Spark Festival STEAM Carnival today! Huge thanks to all the volunteers (UTS, CSIRO, Data61, etc) who pitched in to organise such a great event and a special thanks to Spark Co-Founder, Liz Jakubowski.
