Natural Environment Blog

Researchers have discovered giant marine life in the seas of the Antarctic.

The discovery was made during a 50 day voyage in the Ross Sea. New Zealand Marine Scientist, Don Robertson said that they found “Huge sea snails, jellyfish with tentacles up to four metres long and starfish the size of big food platters”.

The voyage, which covered 3,200 km, resulted in 30,000 specimens, making it the most comprehensive survey to date. Among the specimens, were about 90 different species of fish, eight of which could be a previously undiscovered species. There are at least eight new molluscs and a range of new invertebrates too. Analysis of all 30,000 specimens could take up to two years.

The survey covered all levels of the water, from the surface to the sea floor - 3,500 meters deep.

The survey is part of the International Polar Year program, which involves 23 countries and 10 other voyages around the Antarctic. The voyages will continue until July 2009.

The largest natural feature on earth is so large, that it can be seen from space!

Earth’s largest natural feature is the Great Barrier Reef.

The Great Barrier Reef is a massive collection of coral reefs located along the north eastern side of Australia. It is the world’s most extensive coral reef system and is one of the world’s richest areas in terms of faunal diversity.

The reef is part of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, which at 35 million hectares, is the world’s largest World Heritage Area. About 98 percent of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area is located in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, which was declared in 1975 with the purpose of preserving the area’s outstanding biodiversity whilst providing for reasonable use.

Here are some interesting facts about the Great Barrier Reef:

• There are more than 2900 coral reefs
• 600 continental islands
• 71 coral islands
• 300 coral cays
• 1500 species of fish
• 4000 species of molluscs
• 500 species of seaweed
• 350 types of starfish and various echinoderms
• More than 215 species of birds
• 1.9 million tourists visit the Great Barrier Reef each year
• The Great Barrier Reef is over 12,000 years old
• The reef itself stretches more than 2300 km from the northern tip of Australia’s Queensland to just south of Bundaberg (also in the state of Queensland)
• The Great Barrier Marine Park covers 348,000 square kilometers - that’s larger than the whole of the UK and Ireland combined!

The Great Barrier Reef is Under Threat

Unfortunately, the Great Barrier Reef is under threat from overfishing, land-based pollution and coral bleaching. Coral bleaching is exacerbated by increased sea temperatures due to global warming. As a result of public campaigning and pressure from WWF, the Australian Government has committed to protecting 33% of the reef where it can (previously, only 4% had been protected).

Regarding the impact of global warming on the reef, it’s not just affecting the Great Barrier Reef. To date, 10% of all reefs around the world have been destroyed due to coral bleaching. At the current rate, 70% of the world’s reefs will be destroyed over the next 40 years.

As hopeless as this may sound, there are things we can do to help. By developing greener habits, we can all do our part in reducing global warming. For example, here are 5 ways to reduce greenhouse gases. And here are some simple steps you can take to live sustainably.

New Scientist has just published an article regarding a study of fish living in the tropical waters of Australia. The study has found that there is an increasing number of fish being born deaf, with misshapen ear bones. This in turn, increases the likelihood that they will become lost and die.

Newly born reef fish tend to spend a few weeks out in the open seas before returning home. When they return home, it appears that they rely on sound to help guide them. The sounds include other sea creatures (such as sea urchins, shrimp, and other fish) as well as crashing waves in the distance. If they are deaf, they are less likely to be able to find their way back home.

In particular, Larval Ambon damselfish are more likely to be born deaf, with otolith asymmetry, if their parents are exposed to warmer, more acid seas. And this is exactly what’s happening around tropical waters such as Lizard Island and the Great Barrier Reef (where the study was undertaken). Increased acidification reduces the availability of calcium to be absorbed by fish to make bones.

However, Arthur Popper, director of the Aquatic Bioacoustics Laboratory at the University of Maryland, College Park, US points out that a direct link between otolith asymmetry and increased mortality hasn’t yet been proven. He also says that he’s not convinced that otolith asymmetry would affect a fish’s ability to locate a sound.

In any case, the study does demonstrate a strong link between warmer oceans and deaf fish - which is not a good thing.