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aquatic ecosystems

07/15/2018 / By Edsel Cook

U.K. scientists call on public to help track and map plastic pollution on local beaches

Britain’s coastlines are so polluted with plastics that researchers have turned to the public for assistance. An online interactive map of the U.K. will allow anyone to identify and map plastic garbage found on local beaches, reported The Guardian. Researchers from the British Science Association (BSA) cooperated with members of the charity The Plastic Tide […]

06/23/2018 / By Janine Acero

Fracking impacts water quality AND quantity downstream, raising concerns for aquatic ecosystems, recreation and drinking water

Studies have been conducted on the effects of fracking on bodies of freshwater, particularly the contamination of water with the oil extracted from the drilling process. One such study has highlighted the potential effects of fracking on the streams in Arkansas, where millions of gallons of water have been sucked up for use in the fracking […]

06/23/2018 / By Janine Acero

Chesapeake Bay estuary is recovering: The return of aquatic vegetation helps neutralize pollution, allowing ecosystems to re-establish

Vegetation is an essential part of any aquatic ecosystem. Sick or dying underwater vegetation, typically due to pollution, indicates that the ecosystem is in trouble, which leads to degradation of water quality. On the other hand, thriving vegetation is a sign of a healthier ecosystem. This is especially critical for the Chesapeake Bay estuary; underwater […]

06/11/2018 / By David Williams

Billions of microplastics flooding our seas, scientists warn that environmental pollution is worse than initially thought

It is well-known that plastic contributes a great deal to worldwide pollution problems, not just on land but also in the world’s seas and oceans. Now a team of researchers has revealed that the problem of plastic pollution in Earth’s bodies of water may be much worse than previously thought. To be more specific, a […]

05/15/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Study: Deep-sea trawling is extremely destructive for fish populations and has little economic benefit

Deep-sea trawling is not worth the fish hauled back to port. In an article from Mongabay, U.K. researchers said the technique did far too damage to the seafloor and populations of slow-breeding fish in exchange for meager amounts of consumable catch. In addition, the fishermen who practice this technique often under-report their actual catches. A lot of what they capture […]

04/22/2018 / By Jessica Dolores

Destructive fishing methods, like explosives and poison, are still being used in the Philippines; coral reefs in danger

Anyone who has tried snorkeling under the sea can attest to the breathtaking beauty that awaits them. Corals of different colors, shapes, and sizes are everywhere. Fish — striped, silvery, slim, fat, etc. — swim past. It’s an entire universe unto itself. Sadly, this underwater paradise is under extreme threat, no thanks to illegal fishing […]

04/12/2018 / By Janine Acero

San Francisco Bay shellfish found to be contaminated with four different types of toxins

An alarming number of different toxins was found in mussels collected from the San Francisco Bay, reported a Science Daily article. A research team determined four different kinds of toxins, including one located in freshwater environments, in a study published in the journal Harmful Algae. The team found that the San Francisco Bay now houses a […]

04/09/2018 / By Janine Acero

Plastic pollution being re-purposed to break down dyes from wastewater

People use plastic for a variety of reasons, which has given way to the production of different kinds of the material. However, one of the unintended consequences of such an expansion is that of improper disposal. Experts have developed recycling methods to reduce plastic waste, in an effort to mitigate environmental damage. Now a joint […]

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