Bottlenose dolphins in the English Channel have among the highest levels of toxic mercury ever recorded in their blubber and skin, scientists have found. They also have high levels of…
Posts Tagged ‘Research’
Public underrates crisis of the natural environment
Wednesday, September 11th, 2019The impact of global warming, plastic pollution and biodiversity loss is underestimated by the general public, a new study finds. Only a quarter of people correctly identified that all 20…
Number of stranded whales in the UK on the rise
Monday, September 9th, 2019The number of stranded whales and dolphins around the UK coastline has risen, according to new figures. In 2017 alone, 1,000 animals were stranded – more than in any year…
After bronze and iron, welcome to the plastic age
Thursday, September 5th, 2019Plastic pollution is being deposited into the fossil record, research has found, with contamination increasing exponentially since 1945. Scientists suggest the plastic layers could be used to mark the start…
Studies suggest that migrating salmon take group decisions
Monday, August 12th, 2019A series of studies suggests migrating salmon work together to find their way home—and get lost when there aren’t enough of them to make a decision. A baby salmon is,…
SharkCam to reveal the secret life of basking sharks
Wednesday, August 7th, 2019An autonomous “SharkCam” has been used in the UK for the first time to observe the behaviour of basking sharks off the Inner Hebrides. The ground-breaking technology is set to…
Rise of ocean heatwaves threatens Scottish marine life
Wednesday, July 31st, 2019As Scotland sweltered in record atmospheric temperatures last week marine scientists were investigating the rise of a lesser-known but equally life-threatening heatwave. Ocean heatwaves are a phenomenon which have, in…
North Sea cod at critically low levels, Ices report warns
Monday, July 29th, 2019North Sea cod could soon be coming off the menu for environmentally conscious diners as a decision is expected by the end of this month on whether fish populations are…
MPA benefits spill into neighbouring waters, study finds
Wednesday, July 17th, 2019A new genetic analysis demonstrates MPA benefits and their spill-over effect, showing that fish leave marine protected areas for fishable waters. When California implemented a string of marine protected areas…
International and geopolitical fisheries disputes on the rise
Tuesday, July 9th, 2019A new report shows that there is increasing competition between countries for access to seafood, which is leading to escalating fisheries disputes. The “mackerel war”—a bitter dispute between several European…