Living Together: Threats to Coral Reefs
Symbiosis within a reef community can be threatened by a number of factors. These include severe storms, nutrient discharge from farming and agriculture, and a process known as bleaching, which may be related to global warming.
Survivors: Intertidal Zonation
An organism's preference for the habitat to which it is adapted creates a mosaic of similarly adapted organisms clumped in recognizable bands along the shore. This is a phenomenon known as intertidal zonation.
Treasure Trove: Technology and Over-Fishing
Recent advances in fishing technology have brought about major changes in the way fishes are removed from the ocean. Improved trawls, dredges and baits have greatly advanced the efficiency of the fishing process. Unfortunately, this increase in effi...
Treasure Trove: Kelp: Its Varied Uses
Kelp is the common term for a group of brown seaweeds that have significant economic value and are used in a number of ways. They can be found in a variety of products, from ice cream to salad dressings and from shaving cream to tooth paste. In some...
Dirty Water: Oceanic Clues About Climate Change
Many scientists believe they can better understand today's climate patterns by comparing them to those from the past. One way to do this is by examining ancient sediment samples.
Building Blocks: Mass Extinctions
The ultimate example of an environmental change leading to the termination of a species is what's known as a mass extinction.
Building Blocks: Ancient Fossils, Modern Technology
As scientists work to answer vexing questions about the origins of life, they examine the fossilized remains of the primitive life forms which at one time populated early Earth. The challenge in doing this is not only a function of the age of the fo...
Beneath the Surface: Light in the Ocean
One of the defining elements that distinguishes one ocean layer from another is the presence or absence of light. The impact of light in the marine environment is significant. It affects the behavior of marine animals and has an impact on their anat...
Beneath the Surface: Ocean's Horizontal Layers, The
The area beneath the surface of the ocean is laid out in discrete zones and layers. These provide a convenient framework within which to analyze ocean structure.
Beneath the Surface: Using Sound to Study the Ocean's Interior
Sound is sometimes used to study the ocean's interior. For example, the speed of sound in the ocean can be used to measure the temperature between the source and the receiver.