Ocean changes and their impact on marine life

by Wanjiru KamandeSeptember 27, 20266 links · ~34 min read · ~1 min for the TL;DR

Parts Per Million by Wanjiru Kamande: six links on Environment every week.

TL;DR

The Who Eats Whom platform allows citizen scientists to document wildlife interactions and feeding habits through submitted photographs.
Genetic evidence identifies four distinct gentoo penguin species, though warming oceans threaten to reduce suitable habitat for these populations by 2050.
An exceptionally strong El Niño has caused an unusual number of Pacific storms while keeping the Atlantic hurricane season quiet.
South African fisheries face potential closures to protect sardine populations, which serve as a critical food source for penguins.
Observational evidence indicates that a key part of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation has weakened over the last two decades.
Record-breaking El Niño conditions suggest the world will soon experience life on an even hotter planet.

From the curator

Shifting ocean conditions and climate patterns are creating significant challenges for marine ecosystems and weather stability. The ScienceDaily article reports that a weakening Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation could reshape global weather, rainfall, and sea levels. Meanwhile, the Guardian article notes that mass sardine die-offs are forcing a difficult choice between protecting penguin food sources and maintaining the livelihoods of South African fishers.

Wanjiru Kamande

Curated for this issue

Grist5 min readWhy scientists want your photos of wildlife eating lunch
With a new platform called Who Eats Whom, citizen scientists reveal the fascinating, sometimes shocking interactions between species.

Matt Simon · curated 1 time

ScienceDaily8 min readScientists discover first new penguin species in more than 100 years
Genetic evidence has revealed a previously unknown gentoo penguin species on the remote Kerguelen Islands and shown that gentoos actually consist of four distinct species. The…

NPR3 min readThe Pacific is churning with hurricanes. The Atlantic is quiet. Blame El Niño
The Pacific Ocean has had an unusual number of storms this year, while the Atlantic hasn't recorded a single full-blown hurricane. Scientists point to an exceptionally strong El…

the Guardian4 min readMass sardine die-off pits survival of South Africa’s penguins against fishers’ livelihoods
Known as the ‘energy bars of the sea’ the fish are a key food source for many species, but closing fisheries to allow numbers to recover would cost millions

ScienceDaily4 min readScientists say a critical Atlantic Ocean current is weakening and the effects could be global
Scientists have found strong observational evidence that a key part of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation has been weakening across a wide stretch of ocean for nearly…

Grist9 min readWhether it’s ‘super’ or ‘Godzilla,’ El Niño is already breaking records
In the coming months, the world will get a glimpse of life on an even hotter planet.

Frida Garza, Kate Yoder

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From the curator

Grist5 min readWhy scientists want your photos of wildlife eating lunchWith a new platform called Who Eats Whom, citizen scientists reveal the fascinating, sometimes shocking interactions between species.

ScienceDaily8 min readScientists discover first new penguin species in more than 100 yearsGenetic evidence has revealed a previously unknown gentoo penguin species on the remote Kerguelen Islands and shown that gentoos actually consist of four distinct species. The…

NPR3 min readThe Pacific is churning with hurricanes. The Atlantic is quiet. Blame El NiñoThe Pacific Ocean has had an unusual number of storms this year, while the Atlantic hasn't recorded a single full-blown hurricane. Scientists point to an exceptionally strong El…

the Guardian4 min readMass sardine die-off pits survival of South Africa’s penguins against fishers’ livelihoodsKnown as the ‘energy bars of the sea’ the fish are a key food source for many species, but closing fisheries to allow numbers to recover would cost millions

ScienceDaily4 min readScientists say a critical Atlantic Ocean current is weakening and the effects could be globalScientists have found strong observational evidence that a key part of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation has been weakening across a wide stretch of ocean for nearly…

Grist9 min readWhether it’s ‘super’ or ‘Godzilla,’ El Niño is already breaking recordsIn the coming months, the world will get a glimpse of life on an even hotter planet.