Published by the Environmental News Service BERLIN, Germany, July 23, 2019 (ENS) – Climate change can threaten species and extinctions can impact ecosystem health, so it is of vital importance to assess how animals respond to changing environmental conditions, and whether these shifts enable the persistence of populations in the long run. Read the full […]
Published by Sea Shepherd Conservation Society Join Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s science research vessel Martin Sheen on a peaceful flotilla, as we venture north to Okisollo Channel in support of wild salmon. Wild salmon populations of the Pacific Northwest are in critical decline due to the impact of open net-pen salmon farms along wild salmon migration […]
Published by the World Wildlife Fund The sounds of Peru’s jungles are akin to those of a symphony. The high-pitched calls of toucans, the slow roar of howler monkeys, and the buzzing of insects together create unforgettable melodies. But these natural harmonies do more than simply please the ear—they provide us with valuable information about the […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy The Red List of Threatened Species, produced and managed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), is known globally as the world’s most comprehensive catalog of the current conservation status of living species. This morning, the publication was updated to reflect the latest assessments of plant and animal species worldwide, […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Calling all enthusiasts of the deep blue sea: Shark Week approaches! Are you ready? From July 28th to August 4th, sharks will be in the much-deserved spotlight. Whether you’re an aficionado or new to Shark Week (what, have you been living under an anemone?) this is the best week of the year, […]
Published by the World Wildlife Fund Would you rather pick a fight with a jellyfish or a plastic bag? For sea turtles, this question should be simple. Their scales protect them from the worst of a jellyfish’s venom, and the resulting meal is both tasty and nutritious. But a single piece of plastic can be deadly. The […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy When museum curator Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer found an unusual-looking fish in a South African fisher’s net, she wasn’t quite sure what she was looking at. After hauling the enormous fish to her office in the back of a taxicab, Courtenay-Latimer reached out to ichthyologist J.L.B. Smith to try to identify the animal. After […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Do you ever wonder what happens at the bottom of the ocean? Well, NOAA’s Ship Okeanos Explorer has been exploring the mysterious deep-sea areas along the southeastern U.S. Coast for the past three weeks. With the incredible livestream from their remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), we’ve been able to take a deep dive […]
Published by the World Wildlife Fund The climate crisis is increasingly distressing. Fortunately, there are many things we can do to ensure our future is as prosperous as possible. These actions fall into one of two broad categories: climate change adaptation and climate change mitigation. These terms go hand-in-hand while navigating through the climate crisis, but […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy We’ve all been there. Maybe you’re running late, or have a million things to do, or forgot something important at home today. Less than fantastic days happen to all of us, but there’s always a way to brighten up your smile and put some pep in your step. Well, friends, today that […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy You may not think about eels very much. And that’s OK, we can’t blame you—they’re not exactly the more charismatic critters in the ocean. It’s hard to compete with a fluffy otter or majestic whale when you are literally the villain in a Disney movie—I’m looking at you Flotsam and Jetsam. But […]
Published by the World Wildlife Fund The jaguar (Panthera onca) holds many titles; The main predator in the Amazon, it’s also the largest big cat species in the Americas and the third largest feline in the world, after tigers and lions. This iconic species plays a vital role in its habitat by controlling other species’ populations […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Summer can be a time of change, especially as people venture out on vacation or get out of school. It’s a time of change for the Arctic, too, especially when it comes to sea ice. As summer progresses, you might hear some talk about the Arctic sea ice minimum. Before the news […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy The world is an unbelievably colorful place, and with our ocean covering over 70% of Earth’s surface, it probably comes as no surprise that many of the magnificent creatures who call the seas home are vibrant beyond belief. From spectacular sea sheep to brilliant bobtail squid and beyond, these species are ones […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy The deep sea has captured our imagination for centuries—and for good reason. Once we venture past the zone where light penetrates the ocean, the dark depths of the sea are filled with strange and captivating critters (some of which have even inspired horror movie monsters). We know remarkably little about the deep ocean—in […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Yes, sea pigs are a thing. And they are quite the freakishly adorable deep-sea oddity. Sea pigs are not actually pigs, but sea cucumbers. While physiologically nothing like pigs, their translucent, pink-tinged bodies, accompanied by several pairs of elongated tube feet (some located on their heads), do show some resemblance to their […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Gather ‘round, ocean lovers…we found it. We found what we’re pretty positive could be the cutest cephalopod in the entire ocean, and its name is the Hawaiian bobtail squid (Euprymna scolopes). From their favorite foods to their BFF status with a special little set of bacteria, check out these six things to […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy How do you live forever? We humans have been trying to answer this question since the dawn of time. But, it turns out you don’t need a magic elixir or sorcerer’s stone to live in perpetuity. No, one humble ocean creature—the jellyfish—has known the secret all along. A very specific jellyfish to […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy As a kid, I had such an active imagination that as soon as my feet left the diving board at my neighborhood pool I would focus on one thing and one thing only: speed-paddling to the ladder for fear that something was lurking beneath. Looking back, I mostly chalk that up to […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy On a recent trip to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, I was faced with a display of a giant squid that was, well, GIANT. As a school field trip chaperone, I was quickly peppered with all sorts of questions about the giant squid from the knowledge-seeking students. What I learned and […]