Ultra-black Fish Are “Living Black Holes”

The ocean is full of mysteries, and nowhere is more mysterious than the deep sea. Because of its intense pressure, utter darkness and freezing temperatures, the deep-sea habitat is not for everyone. But from tube worms that thrive on toxic hydrothermal vents to entire communities that pop up around whale falls, animals have employed all kinds of strategies to survive there.

Scientists have discovered another weird and wild way animals survive in our ocean’s deepest depths: ultra-black coloring. A team of scientists discovered that 16 different species (that we know of!) use deep black coloring to stay hidden in the deep sea. They’re so dark that they resemble Vantablack, the manmade pigment that absorbs 99.965% of light that hits it. (If you want to go down a [black] rabbit hole, check out the MIT-created material that is apparently 10x blacker than Vantablack.)

Why be ultra-black in the dark deep sea?

Sunlight can travel only so far in the ocean. The sun’s rays can penetrate to a depth of about 1,000 meters, but only the top 200 meters—known as the photic zone—get enough light to support photosynthetic plant life. But sunlight isn’t the only light available: Bioluminescence, or chemically-produced light that comes from an organism, is common in the deep sea. The sudden bioluminescent light from a predator  can surprise and stun potential prey or illuminate them for easier visibility. Some animals definitely use their lights as lures in the deep sea to draw prey to them. Doing this can distract or misdirect a predator for a time, allowing the prey to quickly escape. A glowing light can also signal to predators that the potential prey is toxic and also serve as a warning sign for others that a predator is among them.

© Karen Osborn, Smithsonian

Sometimes, however, animals need to be stealthier. For some species that use lures, like the anglerfish, there needs to be a way that the lure brings prey in without lighting up the waiting predator behind it. That’s where ultra-black coloring comes in. “Ultra-black” means the material absorbs 95% or more of the light that hits it. There are a few other animals that fall in this category, including some insects and birds, but it’s relatively rare to find.

How do they do it?

It’s not easy to achieve ultra-black status which requires lots of energy and special traits. When the scientists looked at the skin of these fortunate fishes under a microscope, they found that their melanosomes, or specialized skin structures that store melanin, had a unique configuration. Rather than supported by collagen proteins, like other animals, the melanosomes in these species were packed incredibly tightly. This means that less incoming light is reflected straight back out to the observer.

© Karen Osborn, Smithsonian

With much of the deep sea still unexplored, we’re likely only scratching the surface of the strange and unusual ways animals survive there. But just because the deep sea is remote doesn’t mean it’s immune to human influence—help Ocean Conservancy protect the deep sea, and the animals that live there, from climate change and plastic pollution.

Can’t get enough weird and wonderful deep-sea critters? Learn about the dumbo octopus, the deep-sea lizardfish and the Pacific footballfish.

The post Ultra-black Fish Are “Living Black Holes” appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.

from Ocean Conservancy https://ift.tt/r3AtNbT https://ift.tt/7HCyGae

Building Power for the Ocean at the UN Ocean Conference

After a two-year delay due to the pandemic, the United Nations (UN) Ocean Conference returned to an in-person event this June. Thousands of people from around the world gathered in Lisbon, Portugal, to discuss the biggest challenges facing our ocean and how best to work together to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) are a set of global priorities to be achieved by 2030 to ensure a healthy and livable future for people and the planet with a specific focus on our ocean. Representatives from several Ocean Conservancy teams and our CEO, Janis Searles Jones, were there and ready to make a splash!

Ocean Conservancy’s presence throughout the UN Ocean Conference was robust, contributing our voices and expertise throughout the many action-oriented discussions, from delivering plenary remarks and organizing side events to participating in the interactive dialogue on marine pollution, the Youth Forum, the Blue Economy Investment Forum and bilateral meetings with public and private sectors. The conference also offered the perfect venue to meet with our partners in person, building and cementing relationships with critical stakeholders in ocean conservation.

Here are some of the highlights from our teams on the ground:

Fighting Climate Change in the Ocean

It was abundantly clear at the UN Ocean Conference that enabling ocean-based climate solutions is a priority on the global agenda. Ocean Conservancy advocated for the full range of ocean climate action—from developing renewable offshore wind energy to protecting blue carbon and decarbonizing maritime industries. These actions will be included in countries’ nationally determined contributions as part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process, particularly in the buildup to this year’s COP27. We also encouraged countries to meet their stated climate ambitions in all other UN fora including the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) and the High Seas Treaty. The mandate to address the climate crisis is too urgent for countries to support bold mitigation and adaptation pledges in one meeting and then potentially block progress in another. During the conference, Ocean Conservancy submitted voluntary commitments on climate action. We also co-organized a high-level dinner for Friends of Ocean and Climate parties, a group of nations committed to advancing ocean climate action, where our CEO was a featured speaker.

Promoting Ocean Conservancy’s Global Ghost Gear Initiative® (GGGI)

Ghost gear—abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear—is the most harmful form of marine pollution, and the need to reduce it intersects with many other sustainable development goals (SDGs), such as ensuring food security.  Our GGGI team participated in many events throughout the UN Ocean Conference, raising awareness for the importance of addressing ghost gear as a major pollutant of the ocean. The team called attention to the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) movement to make gear marking mandatory. GGGI also co-hosted a side event and panel in the SDG media zone, and announced at a plenary session that Walmart, the largest retailer in the world, has become a member of the GGGI. The GGGI team also hosted an informal member gathering that brought together 30 of its stakeholders after years of virtual-only meetings! Since February, the UN has been working on a legally binding international instrument to address ocean-plastic pollution. The GGGI took this opportunity to advocate with member states to include ghost gear in the negotiations.

Confronting Plastics Pollution in the Ocean

The problems caused by plastics in the ocean and other forms of marine debris were prominent themes across many events at the Conference. As the process to approve the international legally binding instrument to address ocean-plastic pollution continues, Ocean Conservancy was front and center. Here, we advocated for upstream and downstream actions to reduce plastic pollution, the inclusion and empowerment of the informal sector and waste pickers in these negotiations, and the development of policy measures for innovative financial instruments to reduce ocean debris. At the conference, Ocean Conservancy participated in the Plenary and co-hosted a side event to raise awareness on some of these topics. Furthermore, we also supported plastic production reduction as an important climate solution, given that plastic is made from fossil fuels which are responsible for increasing carbon pollution in the environment.

Reducing Shipping Emissions Around the Globe

Seen from almost any angle, the problems created by shipping emissions are at the heart of the challenges facing our ocean. A number of events at the Conference, including several co-sponsored by Ocean Conservancy, brought attention to the impact of shipping on climate. We advocated more adequate greenhouse gas reduction targets than those set by the IMO and called for green shipping corridors around the world, nowhere more critical than in the Arctic where we must mitigate the risks posed by shipping to marine ecosystems. During the conference, Ocean Conservancy announced that DHL, Hillebrand-GORI, Inditex, Fisker and FGI Universal are the newest signatories of the Arctic Corporate Shipping Pledge. Altogether, 27 leading entities have committed not to use the Arctic as a route for shipping goods. Keeping shipments out of the Arctic will lessen the stress on these fragile ecosystems so that they can adapt and survive in rapidly changing conditions.

The UN Ocean Conference is instrumental in elevating a healthy ocean on the global agenda. This meeting in Lisbon was a clear call to action, a mandate to work together to protect our ocean. Ocean Conservancy brought expertise to the table, raised the profile of the ocean as related to climate change and created lasting connections with ocean stakeholders, all in the name of progress in the fight for our ocean. We look forward to the next UN Ocean Conference!

The post Building Power for the Ocean at the UN Ocean Conference appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.

from Ocean Conservancy https://ift.tt/pxAlzR7 https://ift.tt/qPE032J

Sea Birds to See in Florida

“Florida and beaches” are like “peanut butter and jelly”—they just go together, a match made in heaven. Between the soft sand, unique seashells, warm waters and fascinating ocean animals, there are so many things to love about Florida beaches. One of the best perks to walking along a Florida shoreline is simple: sea birds.

Florida is known as an amazing state for bird watching with a multitude of species that live there, but you don’t have to be a hard knocks bird watcher to catch a glimpse of a few sea birds. Sitting on a Florida beach, you can see sea birds ranging from the tall, proud blue heron to the tiny, cute snowy plover.

With that in mind, let’s swan dive into the sea birds of Florida and meet just a few of these cute fellow beach lovers.

American Oystercatcher

© Miki Jourdan/ flickr

The American oystercatcher is one hard-to-miss sea bird. These birds have long bright orange bills and yellow eyes with a red ring around them that make them look like they mean business! This sea bird can reach up to about 18 inches in length with a wingspan of up to 32 inches. As its name might suggest, this bird really does catch oysters. American oystercatchers primarily feed on mollusks, worms and jellyfish, using their long beaks as a shucking device to open the shells. The oystercatchers tend to nest in the sand or among shells, leaving their nests at risk to be threatened by beachgoers and predators alike.

Snowy Plover

© Matt Knoth/ flickr

This tiny sea bird is distinguished by its Speedy Gonzales-esque run along the shoreline and its small puffy look. The snowy plover can reach around six inches in length and have a wingspan of about 13 inches. These birds have short gray legs, black bills and white and gray feathers. These plovers nest along Florida beaches, building small nests with twigs and shells in the sand. They are highly at-risk due to increased human disturbances, predators and habitat loss. Lounging on the beach, you might be able to see one of these sea birds or another species of plovers that love Florida beaches, like the black-bellied plover or the piping plover. These sea birds are small yet mighty. Remember, if you happen to catch a glimpse of one, make sure not to disturb its habitat!

Ruddy Turnstones

© FotoFloridian/ flickr

Fittingly named, this brightly-colored sea bird features reddish—almost muddy-looking—plumage, which explains one half of its name (ruddy). The other half of their name (turnstones) comes from the fact that they use their bills to turn over stones, rocks and pebbles in search of the perfect sea food! You can typically find these birds lurking along the shoreline where the waves have pushed together shells and seaweed. Like many vacationers, these birds only winter in Florida; they breed in the Arctic tundra and travel a long way to catch some rays and take in the sights.

Brown Pelican

© Rodger Evans/ flickr

This next sea bird is known to be goofy-looking and can be seen soaring just above the ocean waves as it scoops fish into its large beak pouch. Brown pelicans have wingspans of up to six feet. Their brown coloring, long skinny necks, large beaks and throat pouches all come together to make that signature pelican look. On a typical warm summer day, you can find a group of pelicans sunning along a fishing pier and plotting their next flights. These birds dive headfirst into the ocean from heights of up to 50 feet to scoop up fish swimming just below the surface. Once they’ve retrieved their meal, they tilt their heads and let out the water collected in their bill pouch so they can safely snack on their fish. Although once threatened by the use of DDT, since its ban, this sea bird has made a remarkable comeback.

Blue Heron

© Diana Robinson/ flickr

The great blue heron is hard to miss on a Florida beach; these tall fellows have long legs, necks and bills, all of which add up to create a can’t-miss kind of sea bird. Great blue herons can grow up to five feet tall and have a wingspan of almost seven feet! They have unmistakable grayish-blue plumage that gives them their name. The great blue heron tends to be found along Florida marshes, lakes and even the occasional shoreline looking for their next snacks of fish or invertebrates.

Laughing Gulls

© Andrew Cannizzaro/ flickr

If you’ve ever visited a Florida beach, the sound of the laughing gull call will not be unfamiliar to you. In fact, when you close your eyes and imagine the sounds of the beach, the laughing gull call is most likely a part of the soundscape. These sea birds are among many species of gulls that spend their days flying over beaches and hanging around docks in large numbers looking for aquatic invertebrates or handouts from beachgoers. Their signature black heads and grey and white bodies give them a distinguishable look to go along with their iconic “laugh”. Curiously enough, these sea birds are a bit mischievous as they’ve been known to steal food from brown pelicans right out of their pouches. Talk about rude!

Clearly sea birds are sea-riously amazing animals that add an unforgettable signature on Florida shorelines.

If you ever find yourself strolling along a Florida beach, try to catch a glimpse of some of these amazing birds. Look down, and maybe you’ll see the speedy plover running across the sand, or look up, and perhaps a brown pelican will fly overhead searching for its next meal. These natural wonders are always in need of a little support to keep their beaches clean; visit Ocean Conservancy’s action center to advocate for the animals that rely on a healthy ocean like these spectacular sea birds.

The post Sea Birds to See in Florida appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.

from Ocean Conservancy https://ift.tt/37EWj19 https://ift.tt/70SvD4J

Meet the Real Ocean Animals of SpongeBob SquarePants

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? Well, you know the answer, I hope! The Nickelodeon show SpongeBob SquarePants has been adored by many since it first aired in 1999. While the species that inspired some of its characters, such as Mr. Krabs and Patrick Star, may be easy to identify, there are a couple of species in this Nickelodeon classic cartoon that may not be so obvious. (And I think you should know a bit more about them as well.) Jump on in and take a trip down to Bikini Bottom with us and meet some of the real ocean animals behind this world-renowned cartoon cast!

SpongeBob

© Bryan Winter

All right, I have to say it … since he’s square, it might be worth considering that SpongeBob is actually a dish sponge that somehow become lost at sea as marine debris. But, for the sake of this blog (and the fact that the series’ creator was a marine science teacher and thought sea sponges were super cool and underrepresented animals), let’s say he’s a sea sponge. While these multicellular animals are some of the simplest in the sea, they play a huge role when it comes to maintaining healthy ecosystems. They’re filter feeders, pumping water through the canals of their bodies and securing food before expelling the water. Their special collar cells also have little whip-like appendages that trap food floating by. There are around 5,000 living sea sponge species today!

Gary

© Microcosmic:iNaturalist

Onto SpongeBob’s loyal companion (and supposed pet), Gary, who is a sea snail. These marine snails are a diverse group of gastropods; they can spend time on land, in saltwater or freshwater, can come in various colors and can be carnivores, herbivores or omnivores. These mollusks are a very important food source for many marine wildlife and help keep marine ecosystems healthy by performing tasks such as removing algae and dead plant matter.

Pearl

© Douglas Kahle

This glamorous and giant character (compared to the other cast members of the show, that is) is a sperm whale. The largest of all toothed whales, sperm whales can grow to be longer than the typical transit bus. The cartoon depiction of Pearl is actually spot-on when it comes to the size of her head: Sperm whale heads measure up to one-third of their bodies! Yet, while they might have enormous heads, they have comparatively small eyes, so Pearl’s eyes probably could’ve been sized down quite a bit. Sperm whales get their name from an organ in their heads called the spermaceti organ, which holds a reserve of oil that could be used in echolocation or to help their buoyancy.

Plankton

© Dr. Mikhail Matz

You guessed it: Plankton is indeed a type of plankton. These itsy-bitsy organisms range in size from two micrometers to more than 20 centimeters, and there are two main types: phytoplankton (tiny plants) and zooplankton (tiny animals). The Plankton character we’re talking about falls into the zooplankton category and is specifically most likely a copepod. A wild stat about copepods: There are more copepods in the ocean than any other multicellular organism!

All in all, this entertaining animated series has undoubtedly sparked curiosity for the underwater world in the minds of many who’ve watched it over the years. Be sure to visit our Wildlife Fact Sheets to learn even more about the diverse array of fascinating wildlife species that live in the deep blue sea.

 

The post Meet the Real Ocean Animals of SpongeBob SquarePants appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.

from Ocean Conservancy https://ift.tt/5byYuz3 https://ift.tt/7QLhqsK