National Geographic’s Post

It's time to zoom in on the boulder star coral with a close-up shot. This image perfectly captures the appearance of this coral when its polyps are not fully extended! Corals, such as this one, can extend their tentacles for actions like feeding and retract them in certain circumstances such as in response to threats. #coral #aquarium #ocean #nature #thereefinstitute #coralreef https://lnkd.in/g5ZPb_T4

"More Whale Falls Found off LA than in the Rest of the World Combined" - 7/3/2024. Hakai Magazine: Two scientific surveys off the coast of LA find: 1. "tens of 1,000s of naval weapons", and 2. "the remains of whales....almost certainly more than 60 total skeletons... a phenomenon known as 'whale fall'". > Eric Terrill and Sophia Merrifield, oceanographers from Scripps Institution of Oceanography "set out to assess waste scattered across 350 sq. km of seafloor encompassing the San Pedro Basin and part of the Santa Monica Basin". (The area was a 1900s industrial dumping ground). > Greg Rouse at Scripps Institution of Oceanography: "..the remains belong to gray, blue, humpback, fin, sperm, and minke #whales. **The number of skeletons is 'higher than I would have expected, based on our regional calculations,' by a factor of 3 to 5"** - Craig Smith, professor emeritus of oceanography. > "Researchers think it’s unlikely that the toxic waste and weapons dumped here played a part in killing the whales, but the area is heavily trafficked by ships, and it’s possible that more whales die here by ship strike than in other places." > "The U.S. two busiest ports, in LA and Long Beach, are just NE of the study site, with #shippinglanes extending throughout the region... thousands of gray whales migrate through each year, and blue whales feed here regularly" - John Calambokidis, marine biologist at Cascadia Research Collective. Full article: https://lnkd.in/gpNbe4gv #supplychainsustainability #shipping

A different approach to popularizing marine biology: I am telling you not what I know but what questions I have about the animals and the natural history I film. Enjoy! #scicomm #popularScience #ocean #marineBiology https://lnkd.in/gkaQ5Ct7

Daring and risky research under a Greenland ice shelf. An interesting read with potential to understand if underwater termination moraines can slow warm water ingress. 👇 https://lnkd.in/eSjcU_CB

Really interesting brief article discussing area of high number of whale carcasses and how it might offer a way to assess whale-ship collision fatalities. https://lnkd.in/ewJ5TEmy

I talked about my research using open-ocean diving to study subtle features of the marine ecosystem, about how scientists published a nonsense paper in "Nature" about life in superheated deep-sea hot springs, and about how an organism living in near-boiling sulfuric acid taught us that the "molecular chaperone" concept is wrong and misleading. Check it out: https://lnkd.in/gND928m3

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 Elusive Spade-toothed Whale: Unveiling Its Secrets 🌊🐋 . The spade-toothed whale remains one of the most mysterious creatures in the ocean, having been sighted only a handful of times. Discover what little is known about this elusive whale, including its habitat, behavior, and why it has managed to avoid detection for so long. . Explore the fascinating secrets of the spade-toothed whale and the ongoing efforts to study and protect this rare species here: https://lnkd.in/ePH98XJN . #MarineBiology #SpadetoothedWhale 🌐🔍

🌊🔊 Human Noise Threatens Baleen Whales' Communication! 🌊🔊 New research (Coen Elemans) highlights the critical impact of human-made noise on baleen whales, disrupting their vital communication. These majestic marine creatures rely on complex vocalizations for navigation, social interactions, and mating. The study reveals the unique evolution of their laryngeal structures, essential for producing their iconic low-frequency calls. Immediate action is needed to mitigate our acoustic footprint in the oceans to ensure their survival. Discover more here: https://lnkd.in/dZxeTqmM. #NovoNordiskFoundation #Sciencenews #MarineConservation #SaveTheWhales #OceanNoise #EnvironmentalResearch

The collapse of the "Double Arch" in southern Utah highlights the delicate balance between time, nature, and preservation. While this geological event is a natural process, it serves as a powerful reminder of the need for ongoing efforts to study and protect our natural landmarks. The loss of such a feature raises important questions about how we can better understand and mitigate the impacts of natural forces on our cultural and environmental heritage. https://lnkd.in/eeE74aQw