The Ocean Brief
Ocean stories and insights covering science, policy, innovation, and the ocean community
Earth observations for eutrophication
A new case study highlights how Earth Observation can help detect, monitor, and forecast eutrophication status and risks.
Resilient urban economies need resilient oceans
For coastal cities, that framework for building resilient urban economies must also include the ocean.
Dolphins, seals, and whales managed by the US are highly vulnerable to climate change
As oceans warm, acidify, and lose oxygen, marine mammals likely to lose food, habitat.
Three things you (possibly) didn't know about weedy seadragons
A weedy whatnow? Come take a peek at the wonderful world of these ocean dragons
More than 90% of global aquatic food production faces substantial risk from environmental change
Despite their importance to global diets, the vulnerability of aquatic foods to environmental change has been vastly understudied, with the US and major producers in Asia most at risk.
Warming climate could turn ocean plankton microbes into carbon emitters
New research finds that a warming climate could flip globally abundant microbial communities from carbon sinks to carbon emitters, potentially triggering climate change tipping points.
Polar fish are less likely to die early, so they prioritize growth over reproduction
At the poles, marine fish reproduce later and produce more eggs, confirming model predictions
A popular compostable plastic doesn’t break down in the ocean
“Biodegradable” is a misleading term for plastic substitutes that require heat to break down or industrial compositing conditions
Sea butterfly’ life cycle threatened by climate change may impact Southern Ocean ecosystem
Scientists examining pteropod life cycles in the Southern Ocean find that some species might be more vulnerable to ocean change than others.