Plastic waste in the water might be stopping - or interrupting - some shrimp-like creatures from reproducing. In a unique study, the ability of ‘shrimp like’ creatures to reproduce successfully was found to be compromised by chemicals found in everyday plastics.
Endangered turtle population under threat as pollution may lead to excess of females being born
Researchers from Australia studied the influence of pollution on the sex ratio of clutches of sea green turtles. This species is at risk of extinction from a current lack of male hatchlings. They concluded that exposure to the heavy metals cadmium and antimony, accumulated by the mother and transferred to her eggs, may cause embryos to be feminised. Pollution may thus compound the female-biasing influence of rising global temperatures on green sea turtles.
Seven (not so) spooky sea critters
From the seawire: ocean news in October 2023
Dive into one of these marine community science projects
The value of the ocean - a New Zealand perspective
Earth observations for eutrophication
Seafarers aren't fairing all that well
How the Dead Sea helps us understand coastal erosion
Coastal erosion is reshaping our world, threatening homes, industries and culturally important places. By taking advantage of the unique conditions in the Dead Sea and leveraging modern ADCP technology, scientists in Israel are exploring how wind-driven waves and currents shape the coastlines and transport sediments along shores.