Ocean Biology

Sea ice loss in the Arctic has triggered a critical tipping point that's destroying the food chain

Sea ice loss in the Arctic has triggered a critical tipping point that's destroying the food chain Researchers say the Arctic Ocean crossed a biological tipping point in 2009, when nitrate levels in the water suddenly started dropping due to a drastic reduction in sea ice extent. The Arctic Ocean has crossed a tipping point that is wreaking havoc on the region's food chain, with potentially dire consequences for commercial fishing and the ocean's capacity to soak up carbon, a new study...

Tump administration to remove 900 deep sea monitoring instruments that would have studied the collapsing Atlantic current

Tump administration to remove 900 deep sea monitoring instruments that would have studied the collapsing Atlantic current The Ocean Observatories Initiative has been collecting data on physical, chemical, geological and biological conditions in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans for the past decade The Trump administration is targeting one of the world's most trusted sources of climate and oceanic data — the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI). According to the New York Times, ships will be...

Fish-microbe partnership may influence ocean health by making carbon-trapping minerals

The article discusses a study that explores the relationship between the gut microbes of a fish and global ocean processes. The research suggests that symbiotic bacteria may support calcium carbonate precipitation in the Gulf toadfish, which could have implications for ocean chemistry and the marine carbon cycle. The study, published in PLOS Biology, provides new insight into how marine ecosystems help regulate ocean chemistry and the marine carbon cycle.

NASA satellites reveal major ocean nutrient stress

NASA satellites reveal major ocean nutrient stress Lisa Lock Scientific Editor Robert Egan Associate Editor A new study combining NASA satellite observations, ocean surveys and genetic testing of marine microorganisms found evidence that warming ocean waters may be limiting nutrient availability across much of the global ocean. The researchers report that this nutrient stress affects microscopic marine organisms and could influence marine ecosystems over time. The research, published June 5...

Cuts to US ocean programme will hinder monitoring of El Niño and AMOC

In the winter of 2013-2014, the strong winds of the jet stream shifted north, allowing a mass of warm water dubbed “the blob” to swell across more than 1500 kilometres of the north Pacific Ocean. Floating instruments moored to the seabed off Alaska, Washington and Oregon alerted scientists and the fishing industry to the arrival of this water, which was up to 4°C hotter than normal. They were part of the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI), five mooring arrays off the US west and east...

The ocean's health may depend on a tiny microbe inside fish

The ocean's health may depend on a tiny microbe inside fish A hidden alliance between fish and gut bacteria may be quietly helping regulate the oceans—and even the global carbon cycle. - Date: - May 31, 2026 - Source: - University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science - Summary: - A surprising new discovery suggests that tiny microbes living inside fish may be helping shape the chemistry of the world’s oceans. Scientists found evidence that bacteria in the guts...

Forever chemical reaches fish before they even hatch, new study reveals

Amplified Arctic iceberg traffic reshapes benthic biodiversity

Abstract The Arctic is undergoing rapid warming, resulting in retreating sea ice and glaciers1, yet how cryospheric changes propagate into the deep ocean remains poorly understood2. Here we identify a climate-driven mechanism linking accelerating glacier disintegration to an increase in deep-sea hard-bottom habitats far beyond calving fronts. Seafloor observations in Fram Strait show a localized increase in the density and patchiness of dropstones delivered by debris-laden icebergs.

Octopuses use mirrors to find food they cannot see

Octopuses use mirrors to find food they cannot see Octopuses just joined an exclusive intelligence club by learning to use mirrors to find hidden food. - Date: - June 5, 2026 - Source: - Dartmouth College - Summary: - Octopuses may be even smarter than we thought.

Eight metabolic niches reveal how ocean microbes recycle carbon worldwide

Eight metabolic niches reveal how ocean microbes recycle carbon worldwide Stephanie Baum Scientific Editor Robert Egan Associate Editor The ocean is full of invisible workers. Trillions of microbes quietly break down carbon-containing organic matter, which helps to regulate Earth's climate. But scientists have long struggled to understand how different microbes contribute to the process.