Another reason to protect our oceans: they may help us medically! Science Daily writes: sea coral could soon be used more extensively in bone grafting procedures thanks to new research that has refined the material's properties and made it more compatible with natural bone. Read the full article here.
Global warming is causing a silent storm in the oceans by acidifying waters at a record rate, threatening marine life from coral reefs to fish stocks, writes The Sydney Morning Herald. Read the full article here.
Over the past decade, the giant Australian cuttlefish (Sepia apama) have declined in numbers off the coast of South Australia, dropping by an estimated 90 per cent! Researchers aren’t sure why. We need your help to track and record any sightings of the world's largest cuttlefish. Read the full article in ECOS Magazine here.
It's not all doom and gloom in the oceans! New research shows seagrass, mangroves and salt-marsh ecosystems can adapt to and help mitigate climate change impacts. Defences include being major CO2 sinks, dissipating waves and reducing coastal erosion, according to the University of WA. Read more.
Redmap has launched a free phone application to complement our website!
South Australian scuba divers are spoilt for choice, says veteran diver Steve Reynolds. He talks about his top SA dive spots and the marine life he’s spotted since taking his first plunge 35 years ago.
Chocolate rations, “crazy” fish and the spread of ancient diseases probably don’t spring to mind when you think of climate change. We scanned the news for reports of the more unusual impacts of rising temperatures.
About 75 per cent of Redmap photos are uploaded by scuba divers! Read these amusing dive stories from citizen scientists around the country.
Explore the Seafloor is asking for help to identify images of sea urchins and kelp during August. The project takes a 'crowd-sourcing' approach to a job normally done by research assistants! Read more at www.exploretheseafloor.net.au.
"Yes", writes National Geographic, "a billion years from now, as the sun gets brighter. But could we make it happen sooner through climate change?" Read the article here.
