Melting Polar Bears

Global Warming is not a new phenomenon, and has been known for a long time. One of the major effects of Global Warming is the destruction of many diverse ecosystems across the world. In this case, the Arctic's cycle of melting/forming ice as a landscape for its inhabitants is changing. Many scientists predict that ice-free periods will continue to get longer, and displace many polar bears struggling to find homes right now. These changes will displace many bears that will have to compete for smaller swaths of land in order to survive. Those who refuse to adapt will suffer at the expense of the ocean and be swallowed up by it.
  





The studies done on the Canadian Arctic Archipelago between 2006-2010 suggests that before the end of the twenty first century, that the polar bears habitat could be severely damaged beyond repair. The areas effected will go through 2-5 months of no ice, which is immense for these arctic animals. For polar bears, scientists expect a shortage of food and decline in population for these animals. People can only hope that these changes aren't as drastic as predicted, but the facts speak otherwise.

"Arctic Conditions May Become Critical for Polar Bears by End of 21st Century." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, n.d. Web. 05 Jan. 2015.

Penguin chick weights related to weather?

At the University of Delaware, scientists have been observing the correlation between chick weights and the weather conditions. In the West Antarctic, where the study was conducted, scientists found a shocking correlation between the changing temperatures in Antarctic, and penguin chick weight. The penguins weight as a chick is considered a measurement of how well the chick is doing being raised, and living. A chick that weighs more has a greater chance of living compared to a smaller chick.

The scientists measured the change in temperature since 1950, and found that the temperature raised by 2 degrees Celsius every year. This change in temperature not only directly effects the penguins, but also local weather patterns. The environment is becoming increasingly dry, and making it harder to live for many Arctic creatures. Rains can also dampen chick plumage, and cause them to freeze to death, another danger from the elements. All theses elements account for the dangers of the penguin's changing environment.

"Penguin Chicks." UDaily. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2014. <http://www.udel.edu/udaily/2015/oct/penguin102414.html>. 

Sea Stars in Trouble

Off the Pacific coast, sea stars are in trouble. A virus has emerged that is killing a vast amount of the population of twenty different types of sea stars. Researchers know that the disease has been around for seventy two years, but before past year, it was never a threat to sea stars as a species. Studying the environmental changes of species is nothing new for scientists, who use older data/evidence to come to conclusions on the changes of species due to the environment (i.e. Bald Eagles). Three theories that scientists have on the emergence of the disease are: overpopulation, environmental changes, and the mutation of the virus to become more widespread/ dangerous. The virus is spread by the ocean currents, and sediment, which carry the virus to new ecosystems and immediately creating an impact on the local ecology. One scientist stated, "10 million viruses in a drop of seawater, so discovering the virus associated with a marine disease can be like looking for a needle in a haystack" (Sciencedaily), this means that detecting the specific type of virus causing the problem can be difficult because of all the possible combinations of viruses. 


"Virus Devastating Sea Stars on Pacific Coast Identified." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2014.

Amphibious Ichthysoaur discovered

Researchers at the University of California David recently discovered the first amphibious ichthysoaur fossil. This animal existed 250 million years ago, and there had never been a fossil seen of it before. It is one of the ancestors of marine reptiles, a link in their evolution to the sea. This ichthysoaur fossil has oddly large flippers for sea like movement on land. The length of the fossil is 1.5 meters long, and it is thought to be from the Triassic period. Its bones are also heavier than other ichthysoaur relatives discovered. This encourages the theory that these animals came from land before moving to the sea. Scientists say it is important also because this fossil is from four million years after the worst destruction of life on Earth. They believe that it indicates a time frame for theses animals to adapt and recover in different ways from the tragedy.





"First Amphibious Ichthyosaur Discovered, Filling Evolutionary Gap." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.

Sulfate in Ancitent oceans

Scientists have recently discovered that modern day sulfur levels (in the ocean) are way higher than in ancient times. This is important because sulfur is regarded as one of the key components for life, one of the most important biological components. Without sulfur, life is not able to grow and evolve as rapidly, or effectively. This would explain why the prehistoric oceans and its marine life were so different from our modern day oceans/marine life. Scientists found that sulfur levels were measured at 200 micro molar in certain concentrations vital to marine life. Compared to today's readings of thousands higher of micro molar. The researchers found this information by taking the fingerprints (weird!) of rocks that date back to prehistoric times. These rocks resonate sulfur isotopes and with the proper technology, can indicate levels of sulfur from thousands of years ago. This is helpful for scientists to understand the history of our oceans and how they changed/ grew over the Earth's lifetime.

 



"Life in Earth’s Primordial Sea Was Starved for Sulfate." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2014.

Breathing sand: New measurement technique detects oxygen supply to bottom of North Sea

Scientists have been examining the bottom of the North Sea for a while due to the almost zero life on the sea floor. More than two thirds of the bottom of the North sea are sand, leading to little oxygen being produced down blow. There has been evidence over the past few years of oxygen content decreasing, due to the little life at the bottom of the ocean, and the almost nonexistent plant life.What scientists couldn't count until now,  because their technology was not advanced enough, was the little changes at the bottom of the ocean. The ripple of shells as they moved with the current. They now use a technique called the "eddy-correlation". They have found that oxygen levels change the most when the important tides come in, changing the oxygen content with movement. Shifting the sand, and creating oxygen bubbles. With this new technology, scientists can now accurately measure the North Sea's oxygen levels.


http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/infopage/northsea.htm
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141020105329.htm

Impact of Offshore Wind Farms on Ocean Life

Wind farming is a very valuable renewable energy resource. One problem with it is many people's aversions as to how they look. Their size and appearance is ugly and obscuring the landscape to some. This is why scientists have been researching the possibilities of wind farming in the ocean. Where there is almost always a guaranteed breeze, and nobody to complain about the view, well almost nobody. The only thing we haven't taken into account is the marine life's reaction to the wind turbines, and their construction, which is loud. Many scientists believe that noises from construction could be so loud and foreign to fish, they could go deaf. But, the turbines could also be helpful in creating an environment for fish around the turbine. With boating/fishing restrictions all over the area, fish will be free to thrive and create their own little community.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141016123608.htm