About.com Marine Life

Wordless Wednesday: Beluga Whale

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:08:24 +0000

Photo courtesy of NOAA

Wordless Wednesday: Beluga Whale originally appeared on About.com Marine Life on Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009 at 14:08:24.

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World Ocean Census - Great Gift Idea

Sun, 20 Dec 2009 23:19:31 +0000

I'm reading World Ocean Census, a book published in fall 2009 by Firefly Books, Ltd. about the Census of Marine Life, a huge 10-year study with the aim of cataloging past, present and future life in the oceans.

World Ocean Census uses easy-to-read text and stunning photographs to give us a behind-the-scenes look at the Census of Marine Life. You'll learn about how the idea for the Census came about, the innovative research techniques scientists are using, and some of the results they are achieving. If you haven't finished your Christmas shopping yet, this might be a great book to consider for someone on your list - it's an informative read for anyone interested in the oceans, and a great reference for a scientist.

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World Ocean Census cover image courtesy of Firefly Books, Ltd., 2009.

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World Ocean Census - Great Gift Idea originally appeared on About.com Marine Life on Sunday, December 20th, 2009 at 23:19:31.

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Blue Whale Sounds Getting Deeper

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:23:13 +0000

A new study reported that blue whale songs have gotten deeper over the last 40 years, with some whales singing with voices 31% deeper than they were in 1964.

Eight years ago, scientist Mark McDonald started listening to blue whale calls in the Pacific Ocean. He figured something was going on when he and his colleagues had to turn the frequencies of the sound detectors down each year in order to detect the sounds.

McDonald then analyzed recordings of 7 of the 10 known blue whale song types (each type is likely a different blue whale population) from the last 50 years. The songs of all of the whales decreased in pitch over this time.

The cause of this change is unknown - it's been speculated that since blue whale numbers have increased, they are closer to other whales, and don't have to call as far, or as loudly. It's also possible that their language is evolving over time, or another factor like ocean noise might be causing the change.

Blue whales are the largest animal in the world, growing to lengths of about 100 feet. They make deep, low-frequency sounds that travel long distances. Their sounds are usually at frequencies below our hearing range, but they are loud - over 180 decibels, causing researchers to speculate that they can travel thousands of miles.

Learn More:

Facts About the Blue Whale
Blue Whale Songs Get Even Bluer (MSNBC)
Listen to Blue Whale Sounds (Whale Acoustics Site)

Blue whale image: � Jennifer Kennedy, Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation

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Blue Whale Sounds Getting Deeper originally appeared on About.com Marine Life on Thursday, December 17th, 2009 at 22:23:13.

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Marine Life Gift Guide

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 12:24:30 +0000

Do you know someone who loves marine life? Check out my guide for ideas on gifts related to marine life, from donations to a charity and aquarium memberships to recommended reading.

Short on time? Don't worry, many of these can be bought at the last minute!

Thanks to Melissa Mayntz, the Guide to Birding and Wild Birds for contributing ideas for this article via the Marine Life Forum!

Image: Humpback whales feeding in front of a whale watch boat. A trip on a whale watch is one of the great ideas in the marine life gift guide! Photo © Jen Kennedy, Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation.

Marine Life Gift Guide originally appeared on About.com Marine Life on Tuesday, December 15th, 2009 at 12:24:30.

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Octopuses Use Coconuts to Conceal

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:41:03 +0000

A study revealed that octopuses in Indonesia use coconut shells to conceal themselves.

Scientists observed the small, 3-inch long veined octopus assembling the two halves of a coconut shell and using it to hide. Then, when they decided to move, the octopus carried the shell underneath its body, making for an awkward march across the sediment.

Biologist Mark Norman is quoted in National Geographic saying, "It was hard not to laugh underwater and flood your [scuba] mask" while watching the animals.

Read about the octopus and see a video of the coconut-carrying behavior here.

Learn More:

10 Facts About Octopi (Animals GuideSite)

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Octopuses Use Coconuts to Conceal originally appeared on About.com Marine Life on Monday, December 14th, 2009 at 22:41:03.

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Frozen Fish More Eco-Friendly?

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:43:04 +0000

I just read a brief, interesting op-ed piece about seafood. Astrid Scholz and colleagues contest that frozen fish is more eco-friendly than fresh fish.

Their reasoning is based on a study on salmon, in which they found that flash-frozen salmon has a "taste and quality practically indistinguishable from fresh," and also is more environmentally friendly. This is� because fresh salmon is usually transported long distances by air, which has a big carbon footprint.� According to National Geographic, a coast-to-coast passenger flight causes the emission of a ton of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases - per person.

Frozen fish can be transported in more environmentally-friendly ways, such as by rail or truck. The authors suggest we "get over our fetish for fresh" when it comes to eating seafood that isn't locally caught.

What do you think? Do you agree with this article? Do you make an effort to choose eco-friendly fish?

Learn More

Catch of the Freezer (New York Times)
How to Find Sustainable Seafood
Discuss This Article in the Marine Life Forum

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Frozen Fish More Eco-Friendly? originally appeared on About.com Marine Life on Thursday, December 10th, 2009 at 12:43:04.

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Drilling Ok'd in Arctic

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:10:48 +0000

According to this article, Shell Oil will be drilling 3 exploratory oil wells in the Chukchi Sea between Alaska and Russia.

Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski called the move "progress" and said it is an "encouraging sign that Alaska's oil and natural gas resources can continue to play a major role in America's energy security."

What do you think? Personally I think our energy security could be improved by decreasing our reliance on oil, especially because this development poses a threat of oil spills and noise pollution, which could impair populations of marine animals such as whales and pinnipeds. I'd love to hear your thoughts - leave a comment below, or discuss this issue with other readers in the Marine Life Forum.

Drilling Ok'd in Arctic originally appeared on About.com Marine Life on Thursday, December 10th, 2009 at 08:10:48.

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Wordless Wednesday: Florida Manatee

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:53:14 +0000

Florida Manatee and Diver

Courtesy James A. Powell, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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Wordless Wednesday: Florida Manatee originally appeared on About.com Marine Life on Wednesday, December 9th, 2009 at 12:53:14.

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Norway Increases Whaling Quota

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:34:20 +0000

Norway announced this week that it would be increasing its whale quota by 45% this year, despite the fact that during last year's whaling season, they killed a little more than half of their quota.

The new quota is for 1,286 minke whales. Last year, 484 minkes out of a quota of 885 were taken. Although there has been a moratorium on whaling in place since the mid-1980's, Norway still hunts whales because it registered an objection to this moratorium.

Environmentalists were angered by the announcement, saying there is no sense for the increase as demand for whale meat has dropped.

Minke whales are one of the smallest baleen whales and their populations are considered stable. What do you think of this increase in whale quotas? Does Norway have the right to hunt these minke whales?

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Minke whale image courtesy of Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation

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Norway Increases Whaling Quota originally appeared on About.com Marine Life on Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 at 22:34:20.

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Creature of the Week: Atlantic Cod

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:12:53 +0000

The Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) is one of the most sought-after fish in the Atlantic Ocean. It has a long fishing history in the U.S., starting with Native Americans fishing for cod with hooks made from bone and nets strung from natural fibers.

Later, Vikings, Basques and other Europeans traveled here and eventually settled, profiting hugely from the cod trade.

The cod's flaky white flesh and its combination of high protein and low fat content has been its downfall. Today, due to population crashes, cod fishing is severely restricted compared to the free-for-all that occurred when America was first settled.

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Cod image courtesy of NOAA

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Creature of the Week: Atlantic Cod originally appeared on About.com Marine Life on Friday, December 4th, 2009 at 10:12:53.

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