Living Together: Estuaries: Productivity and Vulnerability
Estuaries and wetlands are among the most productive areas anywhere, literally teeming with life. But these environments are often threatened by nutrient discharge from agricultural or farm land, as well as the building of homes or other forms of de...
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...
Food for Thought: Global Patterns of Primary Productivity
Phytoplankton tend to concentrate in areas where the conditions for their growth and reproduction are optimal. Some of the most productive waters include the Antarctic and the North Atlantic during the springtime.
Food for Thought: Primary Productivity, Carbon Dioxide and the Role of Humans
Excessive amounts of nutrients applied to lawns, agricultural fields and farms can lead to what scientists call nuisance blooms of algae. When that matter decomposes and sinks into the deeper layers of the coastal ocean, it uses up the available oxy...