E3, Trinity College Dublin’s Post

Amazing insights on shark behavior from an activity tag on a shark that was subsequently hit by a boat. Great example of new biodiversity monitoring methods that are transforming how we sense the natural world. I write about the need for monitoring & the potential of new methods in the Irish times Soundscapes of the natural world can tell us so much https://lnkd.in/ejxVZCt7 New tech is just part of the solution for a national biodiversity monitoring programme - loads of monitoring goes on as part of Environmental Impact Assessments & subsequent planning conditions but it goes nowhere. The data are not accessible & not used to trigger action.

Getting Marine Protected Areas right for large, mobile animals like #sharks #rays #whales #turtles #tuna is challenging but essential. Because the ocean is changing even faster than science predicted it would, #MPAs need to be assessed and effective today, not 10 years from now. Join us tomorrow where we’ll discuss these challenges but also solutions! Niru Neil Dorrian CMarSci CSci FIMarEST Liz Ferguson Patricia Puig, PhD Patrick Lyne Oceanogami Ocean Science Analytics Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology (IMarEST)

Last chance to register for this free webinar related to MPAs with an emphasis on how they pertain to #marinemammals and #elasmobranchs!

Partnership drives innovation

🌊 Exploring Marine Life 🌊 This time, I want to shine the spotlight on yet another fascinating marine creature. For those of us who regularly examine marine fouling samples, the usual suspects with their scientific Latin names become quite familiar. But occasionally, something extraordinary shows up. 🔬 During a recent session, we discovered a surprising number of flatworms (Lat. Turbellaria) on our samples - each measuring around 4 to 6 cm in length! While these creatures aren’t part of the typical fouling community, they certainly stood out. The challenge is that there aren’t many zoologists who specialize in this group of animals, so identifying the exact species or determining if they’re native to Helgoland is difficult. Could this be a variant of Pseudoceros maximus? 🧐 As carnivores, they prey on other marine animals, making them even more intriguing. Has anyone else encountered these flatworms on their samples? In the North Sea, the Atlantic, or elsewhere? ✨ And that’s the fascinating aspect of marine research - it never truly becomes routine. 📽️ P.S.: It was a windy day with rough seas, so my video is a bit shaky. But I think it's more exciting to see this creature in motion than in a still image! #marinebiology #biodiversity #marinefouling #flatworms #research #northsea #oceanexploration #science #FraunhoferIFAM #Helgoland #coating #testing #Fraunhofer

To have hope for the future and the health of our planet is important. That’s why the most recent Hope Spot from Mission Blue / Sylvia Earle Alliance is good news. Mission Blue is led by Her Deepness, renowned oceanographer Sylvia Earle. Mission Blue searches for ocean spots that are important to conserve and protect called Hope Spots. Hope Spots are found all over the world. Hope Spots work to become Marine Protected Areas, MPAs. MPAs are similar to national parks on land. They are no-take zones, meaning no fishing is allowed to help with population and biodiversity increase. The most recent Hope Spot at Canyon of Caprera near Sardinia, Italy is another example of possibility. The Canyon of Caprera Hope Spot is special because of the marine mammals that inhabit this area. Marine mammals such as Monk Seals (which are critically endangered), Risso’s dolphins, and Cuvier’s beaked whales are some of the key mammals. This area works to elevate its protection status to an Important Marine Mammal Area (IMMA). Hope Spots reminds us that protecting specific areas can lead to a healthier ocean and ultimately a healthier planet. To learn more about Hope Spots and where the other Hope Spots are around the world follow Mission Blue / Sylvia Earle Alliance. #ClimateSolutions #HopeSpot #MissionBlue #SylviaEarle #MPAs #OceanHealth

Where does the sunfish migrate? The iconic sunfish is the heaviest bony fish in the world. Travelling across the ocean, this gentle giant gets its name from “sunbathing” on the water’s surface. This curious behaviour, however, makes the sunfish particularly vulnerable to accidental fishing. Understanding the sunfish’s migratory routes is key to develop specific management plans to reduce the threats it faces in areas where it passes through. To do this, Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR) scientists have tagged young sunfish with small transmitters that send out regular acoustic signals. The sunfish were then released back into the ocean, to resume their long migrations. Only now, every time they pass close to one of the many European Tracking Network acoustic receivers spread across the Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea, the transmitting signals will be picked up, enabling our scientists to retrace their movements in space and time. This project is partly supported by the European Union Infrastructures, #STRAITSproject | David Abecasis 📸 Underwater Footage: Miguel Gandra #Protecting #BiodiversityConservation

🌊 The third part of the consultation within TSG 3: Construction Activities in the Sea and on the Seashore and Achieving Good Environmental Status of the Sea was titled 𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐀 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐄 📍A representative of the Morigenos – Slovenian Marine Mammal Society addressed the challenges of underwater noise by proposing the introduction of "quiet zones," reducing vessel speeds, and investing in technological innovations such as quieter ship designs and propulsion systems, as well as establishing noise standards. 📍 A representative from the National Institute of Biology emphasized the importance of understanding where we want to build and what our options and limitations are, stressing that the restoration of these habitats is often more expensive and complex than their protection. 📍 In this context, the Institute for Water of the Republic of Slovenia presented an analysis of benthic habitats burial in the study case of Koper bay. 📍It was noted that everything we build in or near the sea affects its dynamics, appearance, and our perception of space. #EnvironmentalQuality #EUSAIR #TSG3

With increasing documentation of orca predation events on sharks, I wanted to share my paper that was published at the end of last year on killer whales in The Bahamas! Orcas have always fascinated me, and my paper explores their world through the first-ever drone footage of orcas in The Bahamas, documenting their behaviour. While no predation events were observed, The Bahamas’ shark sanctuary offers intriguing possibilities for orca foraging. Recording these novel sightings and behaviours is crucial to advancing our understanding of these highly intelligent, top ocean predators. Linking the paper here: [Frontiers in Marine Science](https://lnkd.in/e-W4rgyb)

The combination of flight, speed, agility, camouflage, and social behaviour helps flying fish evade predators and survive in their marine environment.   Flying fish are a fascinating group of marine fish known for their unique ability to glide above the water's surface. They are found in warm oceanic waters worldwide, particularly in the tropical and subtropical regions. They typically inhabit surface waters near the ocean's surface. Flying fish are characterized by their elongated bodies and wing-like fins. They have a streamlined shape, which helps them move swiftly through the water. Their fins are specially adapted to allow them to glide through the air. They are capable of leaping out of the water and gliding through the air for considerable distances. They achieve this by rapidly beating their tail fins, which propels them out of the water, and then spreading their wing-like pectoral fins to glide. They can glide for over 100 meters at a time, with flights of up to 45 seconds. Flying fish primarily feed on plankton, small crustaceans, and other small organisms found near the ocean's surface. They are preyed upon by various marine predators, including larger fish, seabirds, and dolphins. Video source/courtesy: BBC Earth/ the owner of this video