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Stunning satellite photos reveal - often harmful blooms of phytoplankton have not only been expanding - but intensifying significantly in the world’s coastal waters this century.
Canada is not immune. by Larry Powell Intensifying phytoplankton blooms off the coasts of BC and Washington State, 2006. Credit: Lian Feng After pouring over almost 800 thousand NASA satellite images taken over almost two decades, a team of Chinese researchers has generated a map which paints perhaps the clearest picture yet of the extent of these blooms - organisms that can be agents of either good or ill. Their findings have just been published in the journal, Nature. Dr. Lian Feng of the Southern University of Science in Shenzhen, China and colleagues discovered, phytoplankton were affecting 8.6% of the entire global ocean area in 2020 - a stunning expanse of 31.47 million km2. That was an increase of 13.2%, or 3.97 million km2 from 2003. They found algal blooms in 126 out of the 153 coastal countries examined. Globally, both the size and frequency of blooms increased significantly over the study period, Phytoplankton are families of microscopic algae. Their blooms heave been ac
Almost two out of every three shark or ray species living in coral reefs are at risk of disappearing from the world forever
by Larry Powell Bull sharks in Fiji. This widely-distributed species is among the most at risk of extinction. The alarming study has just been published in Nature Communiciations. It finds, except for marine mammals, these coral sharks and rays are more likely to go extinct than any other wildlife group in th e world. The usual culprits behind this tragic state of affairs have, once again been found to be; overfishing, habitat loss and climate change. Bluespotted lagoon ray. Photos by Colin Simpfendorfer. There is a glimmer of hope amid the findings. The ray (above) is the only coral reef shark or ray with an increasing population trend.
UNSUSTAINABLE SAND MINING IN CHINA THREATENS A CRITICALLY-ENDANGERED CETATION
by Larry Powell The Yangtze finless porpoise feeds in Poyang Lake, where sand is heavily mined. Photo by Huigong Yu. A long-term assessment of theYangtze finless porpoise in a heavily mined lake in China, has made some disturbing discoveries. Sand mining boats, similar to those in Poyang Lake. Photo by Zhigang Mei. In only a decade, the mining has significantly restricted the porpoise’s habitat, compromised its population connectivity, and destroyed its nearshore habitats. The researchers hope their findings will promote government accountability and raise general awareness of the plight of the animal. Two porpoises leap from the water. Photo by Huigong Yu. Sand has for some time been second only to water as the planet's most heavily extracted resource, with huge implications for habitat and biodiversity health. The findings of the research team from the Chinese Academy of Science are now published in the proceedings of the Royal Socie