marine biology research essay topics

77 Easy Marine Biology Research Topics

The marine habitat is a world of wonder, with more undiscovered mysteries than what we know. The curiosity born from these gaps in knowledge is enormous, so research is necessary to provide as much information as possible.

A sacrosanct part of this information is finding the right aquatic biology research topics to base your paper on. Whether you are a student, or looking to carry out research in the field of marine biology, having good marine biology research topics will be of immense help to you.

Interesting Marine Biology Research Topics to Explore

How do bioluminescent animals produce their light?
The adaptability of bioluminescent animals to their habitats
The relationship between the clownfish and sea anemone
How are pearls formed?
The impact of plastic wastes in marine habitats
Forms of pollution in marine environment
The four classes of marine biology
Effects of climate change in marine habitats
Phytoplanktons in the food chain
Immunity in fishes
Disease tolerance in oysters
The diversity of marine organisms
Parasites of aquatic organisms
Buoyancy in sharks
The marine food chain
Adaptation of aquatic organisms to salinity
Adaptation of aquatic organisms to fresh water
The current rise in sea levels, and the consequences
Effects of underwater movement of tectonic plates on marine life
Symbiotic relationships between marine animals
Parasitic organisms that affect whales
Adaptation of birds to marine environment
Mutation in aquatic organisms due to chemical spills
Effects of toxins in marine habitats
Melting glaciers and its effects on marine life
Causes of fish die-offs
Bioremediation in deep waters
Factors that contribute to changes in oceans
Aestivation in African lungfish
Factors that lead to depletion of oxygen in marine habitats
Causes of acidification in oceans
How greenhouse gasses affect marine life
The toxicity of sea anemones
Feeding and metabolism in starfishes
Reasons for dying of coral reefs
What whale migration says about their behaviour
Reasons for migration in dolphins
Food web in marine habitats
The contribution of microorganisms in marine environment
Behavioural adaptation of x-ray fishes to avoiding predators
Diversity of marine plants
Reproduction in marine animals
Different sources of pollutants in marine environments
Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus accumulation in marine environments
Microplastics: small objects, big problems
Migration of microplastic toxins along the food chain
Ways of reducing the problem of plastic in marine habitats
Marine dumping
Conservation of coral reefs
Control of water pollution
Distinctive features of marine fishes
Energy pyramids in marine environments
Relationship between selected marine organisms
Diversity of corals
Effets of ocean acidification on clownfish
Effects of ocean acidification on other marine forms
Ways of minimising ocean acidification
Formation and effects of marine snow
Camouflage in octopuses
Adaptation of squids to their habitat
Reasons for migration in albatrosses
Migration in zooplankton
Adaptive features of marine plants
The role of sargassum plays in marine habitats
Sinking of marine waste products
formation of calcium sediments
protection of marine habitats
Viral infections in primary producers of food in marine habitats
Importance of calcium carbonate to marine organisms
Relationship between climate change and ocean acidification
Heat waves in marine habitats
Impact of heat waves on marine life
Causes of harmful algal blooms in marine habitats
Relationship between ocean acidification and marine algal bloom
Effects of depletion of oxygen in marine ecosystems
Interaction between the atmosphere and marine habitats
Oxygen distribution along ocean depths.

These marine biology research topics are an accumulation of matters, questions and dark areas of knowledge in aquatic biology research. Your paper will provide the much needed knowledge to know more about what marine ecosystems offer.

Any of the topics you choose, you can rest assured that they are unique, interesting, and very engaging, no matter the audience. They are also easy to write about, no matter your level.

104 Marine Life Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best marine life topic ideas & essay examples, 👍 good essay topics on marine life, ⭐ simple & easy marine life essay titles.

Marine Degradation and Solutions in the Pacific Region The second issue related to the degradation of marine resources in the Pacific region is the unsustainable use of marine resources, including destructive fishing, which leads to changes in the number and health of species.
Sea Otters’ Life Cycle From Birth to Death However, after the species had almost become extinct and their protection began, the species began to recover and towards the close of the 20th century, conservation had given rise to tens of thousands of sea […]
Climate Change Impacts on Ocean Life The destruction of the ozone layer has led to the exposure of the earth to harmful radiation from the sun. The rising temperatures in the oceans hinder the upward flow of nutrients from the seabed […]
Ocean Currents: General Information There are generally two types of ocean currents depending on the water level where the movement of oceanic water takes place and they are the deep ocean currents and the surface ocean currents.
The Ocean Pollution Problem Overview Ocean pollution is the unfavorable upshot due to the entrance of chemicals and particulate substances into the ocean. The land is the key source of ocean pollution in the form of non-point water pollution.
Plastic Waste and Its Effects on Marine Life However, many people do not appreciate the importance of oceans to human and marine life. Another effect of microplastics on the marine community is that they lead to uneven distribution of organisms.
Deep Sea Volcanoes and their Effects Deep sea volcanoes are present under deep sea ridges of the ocean floor and the above research has been based on the amount of carbon dioxide that is present in depths of four kilometers on […]
Living Resources of the Ocean The most commendable among the benefits of marine life to human life are the fact that marine life can act as food and the fact that some oceanic organisms have medicinal value.
The Aral Sea Problems, Their Causes and Consequences To identify and analyze the problems of the lake, its basin, and the entire region To discuss the causes and consequences of the lake’s destruction To evaluate the solutions proposed for ameliorating the consequences The […]
Marine Surveying, Inspection and Safety Practices The importance of these conventions and rules was to address the need to access different ports in different countries based on uniform rules and standards acceptable to destination ports or countries in addition to maintaining […]
The Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004 and Its Consequences The worst effects of the great wave were observed in Indonesia, where the death toll exceeded 160,000 people, and the overall damages almost reached $4.
Deep-Sea Currents and Upwelling Along Florida The thermohaline circulation influences the movement and population of the marine ecosystem and heat redistribution both in the sea and on the earth’s surface.
The Impacts of Oil Spills on Marine Life The intensity of aquatic effects is influenced by the nature and extent of the spilt oil. Besides, the severity might be influenced by the sensitivity and ambient state of the pretentious marine and their surroundings […]
High Seas Marine Protected Areas: Effective Legislation or Paper Parks This essay dwells on the definition and importance of MPAs, including the ones in the high sea. The goal of the alliance is to bolster international collaboration and exchange of knowledge.
Life in the Bottom of the Ocean and Its Protection While we all strive hard to detect and analyze the essence of life and the impact it has on our lives, we need to understand that life in itself is a big mystery, the truth […]
Sea Foods in the Environment Protection Context Further, the purpose of the website is to give information that seeks to reward the efforts of people who protect and safeguard the ocean and seafood supplies such as lobsters.
Non-trophic Interaction in Marine Species An example of non-trophic relationships between marine species is decorator crabs and sponges. Decorator crabs and sponges’ relations are an example of mutually helpful non-trophic interaction mutualism.
The Rising of Sea Level and Melting Glaciers: Analysis of the Issues In modern realities, the rate of warming of the World’s Oceans has increased. Global warming provokes the melting of ice in Greenland and Antarctica.
How the Ocean Current Affect Animals’ Life in the Sea Depending on the strength of the ocean current, sea animals along the path are flown along with the water, and the animals are moved to new regions that are sometimes thousands of kilometers away causing […]
The Aral Sea’s Environmental Issues Prior to its destruction, the Sea was one of the biggest water bodies, rich in different species of flora and fauna; a case that is opposite today, as the sea is almost becoming extinct.
Ocean Dumping Issue and Rhetorical Rationale Therefore, the goal of this paper is to prove that the poster in question manages to accomplish an impressive goal of subverting the audience’s expectation and encouraging them to shift from an ironic perception of […]
Marine Life in United Arab Emirates This report analyses the marine life in the UAE, covering detailed information about the various species of animals found in the region and their adaptation to the unique environment.
Marine Parks Concept Overview In terms of marine tourism, aquatic parks offer the best solution for tourists because they are cheaper than watching animals in the sea.
The Global Ocean Conveyor Belt This ocean water phenomenon is a result of the temperature difference in the ocean waters between the warm, salty surface water, and the less salty cold water in the ocean depths.
Ecotoxicology in the Marmara Sea: A Critical Review The importance and actuality of the paper can not be exaggerated, as the problem of toxic wastes is one of the most burning in Europe.
The Negatives of Fossil Fuel: Ocean Acidification and Human Health The adverse effects of burning oil are hard to overestimate. Unless specific and practical actions are taken to address the issues of global climate change and pollution issues and reduce reliance on oil, the future […]
Impacts of Climate Change on Ocean The development of phytoplankton is sensitive to the temperature of the ocean. Some marine life is leaving the ocean due to the rising water temperature.
Exploring Environmental Issues: Marine Ecotourism For marine ecotourism to succeed, it must thrive in a manner that accommodates the needs of both the current and future generations and safeguards the natural environment.
Autonomous Platforms in Marine Research One of the significant ideas that can increase the overall efficiency of the data collection process is the creation of networks of autonomous platforms.
The Sea Water Impact on the Human Cell Hence, consuming it causes a high amount of salt without the human cell, which leads to a steep concentration gradient within the cell, thereby causing water to be drawn out, which is detrimental to the […]
Ocean Sustainability and Human Economic Activity The world economy and the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people depend on the ocean. It is important to remember that the misuse of water resources and the effects of global climate change will […]
Integrated Coastal Zone Management in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden The role of the ICZM in the control of environmental, transport, industrial, and other types of safety is high, and the example of the RSGA region proves this.
Mining and Ocean Use in Canada Cobalt, nickel, manganese, and copper are among the metals deep seabed mining seeks to extract from the polymetallic nodules on the seafloor and seamounts.
Addressing Marine Debris: Causes, Effects, and Potential Solutions A major limitation that makes the eradication of the problem difficult is the fact that most of the debris contains microplastic.
How Deep Sea Discoveries Inspires Professional Creativity Limited technological access to the deep seas should inspire one to focus on the necessary technology to build the most efficient deep-sea robots.
Visiting San Francisco Bay as Marine Protected Area San Francisco Bay Bridge will become the central place for this trip because it is just in the center of this view.
Habitat and Ocean Life Considerations of Bottlenose Dolphins The temperate and tropical oceans of the world are home to bottlenose dolphins. On the American continent, bottlenose dolphins can be seen along California’s southern beaches and the eastern seaboard from Massachusetts to Florida, and […]
The Ocean Dumping Problem: A Visual Argument There is, however, less awareness of deep-sea drilling and the impacts on the habitat and human life in the oceans and along the coasts.
Australia’s Endangered Diverse Marine Ecosystem Climate Change and population increase are becoming increasingly difficult to perceive distinctly, especially when the question is about the loss of a diverse marine environment.
Marine Environment Protection and Management in the Shipping Industry Therefore, criminal penalties system in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency should reinforce legislations to protect sea creatures and humans from oil pollution or wastes from ships.
Marine Creatures and Terrestrial Animals in “The Wild West: Gold Rush” In fact, Californian nature is rich in various animal species that live to survive and pass their genes to the offspring.
Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 342 Such flows reduce the temperature of the planet’s core, change the composition of the foundation bedrock, and impact microorganism dispersion in the subterranean ecosystem.
Ocean Circulation and Biogeography, Species Distribution, Invasive Species The concept of ocean circulation refers to the movements of water in the oceans and seas. Surface ocean currents carry water from the poles to the tropics, where it is heated, and, afterwards, this water […]
“History of Ocean Basins” by Hess From the article it is vivid that the coming into being of oceans is subject to discussion since the previous knowledge is doubtful, and the existing framework is confusing.
Plastic Ocean and Its Effect on the Ecosystem The purpose of this essay is to present science-based facts in support of the author’s words to convince the reader of the criticality of the ecological problem.
Marine Protected Areas: Impact on Kelp Forest Recovery and Urchin Reduction The research aims to study the effectiveness of MPA for kelp forest recovery and urchin reduction. The research aims to study the effectiveness of MPA for kelp forest recovery and urchin reduction.
Environmental Marine Ecosystems: Biological Invasions One of the biggest hypoxic zones in the US is in the Gulf of Mexico. The condition of water in the area caused the decline of the shrimp industry.
Effect of Sea Water and Corrosion on Concrete On the other hand, substantial tautness, for instance due to meandering will shatter the tiny firm pattern, ending up in fracturing and disjointing of the concrete.
Effects of Global Warming on Marine Life Global warming has adverse effects on the marine life. It has led to the extinction of some of the animals and living things and has been necessitated by human activities.
Deep-Sea Biology: The Search for a Sea Monster This case study is about the attempts of Clyde Roper to find the giant squid. This canyon is known to be very deep and runs towards the Kermadec Trench which is also documented to be […]
Bacterial Diseases of Marine Organisms The striped dolphin is a highly susceptible host of the bacteria and poses and the most potent reservoir and source of transmission of the infectious agent.
How Climate Change Impacts Ocean Temperature and Marine Life The ocean’s surface consumes the excess heat from the air, which leads to significant issues in all of the planet’s ecosystems.
Dell’s Initiative to Recycle Ocean-Bound Plastics The innovation to use plastics from the ocean and areas where these materials had a high risk of moving to the water was presented to the company in 2015.
Intergovernmental Relations and Ocean Policy Change The administration of Ronald Reagan contributed to the Federal ocean policy in the 1980s. During this change, analysts believed the United States was making a shift from ocean protection of the 1970s to ocean management […]
Improving the Response to Marine Emergencies However, we still need to facilitate this process, for instance, by informing the National Fire Service about the implementation of this project and its results. These are the most objectives that have to be attained […]
A Benchmarking Biodiversity Survey of the Inter-Tidal Zone at Goat Island Bay, Leigh Marine Laboratory Within each quadrant, the common species were counted or, in the case of seaweed and moss, proliferation estimated as a percentage of the quadrant occupied.
Ocean Circulation in a Warming Climate These effects will enhance the development of reduced release of radio-carbon depleted carbon dioxide gas and thus the idea of the self-restoration mechanism of the earth to this global warming.
Protected Marine Areas: Great Barrier Reef To protect the Great Barrier Reef the administration has put in place several policies to protect this region. In this plan, A panel of scientists was to advise on the quality of waste.
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion The warm seawater is carried into a chamber and is used to produce vapor that, in turn, is used to rotate a turbine.
Review of the Quaternary History of Reefs in the Red Sea With Reference to Past Sea-Level Changes Some of the changes have occurred on the very grandest of scales, such as the Merging and ensuing breaking up of huge supercontinents, or the decimation of the dinosaurs by extra-terrestrial impacts.reefs are not invulnerable […]
Radiocarbon C14 Dating in Marine Geology The radiocarbon technique can say to be one of the most important inventions of the 20th century, especially in the field of human science.
Marine Biology: Polar Oceans as an Eco System The water in and around the Antarctic continent is referred to as the Antarctic or Southern Ocean. The Atlantic Water is situated between the Arctic Surface Water and the Arctic Deep Water.
Marine Pollution: Management and International Legislation Marine environment refers to: the physical, chemical, geological and biological components, conditions and factors which interact and determine the productivity of, state, condition and quality of the marine ecosystem, the waters of the seas and […]
Marine Pollution: Sources, Types, Pathways, and Status By examining sources, types, pathways, and status of water contamination in the context of the World Ocean, it is clear that most marine pollution caused by human actions, especially the mismanagement of plastic debris.
Concerns of Ocean Ecosystem Pollution The range of adverse outcomes for ocean ecosystems can be discussed in volumes; however, the current discussion will focus on trash in the ocean waters, acidification, and the disruption of the marine life cycles.
Hudson River’s Ocean Floor Investigation Mapping the ocean floor of the Hudson River would enable the analysis of sediments and the bottom surface hardness as well as would provide data on bottom features and the depth of the river.
Port Philip Bay and Sea Levels in Australia’s Geological History As the scientist explains, the phenomenon of the port’s emergence in the dry environment can be attributed to the fact that considerable water shrinkage could be observed in the area roughly 1,000 years ago.
Geology: Port Phillip Bay and Sea Level Changes Specifically, the fossils of specific creatures, such as the shells of tertiary foraminifera, as well as the meanders of the river channels, which were located in the area, are bound to bolster the hypothesis suggested […]
Marine Algae Associated Bacteria as Antioxidants The antinociceptive activity analysis involved comparing the reaction time of mice treated with the extracts and the controls. The authors conclude that the isolation and characterization of the bioactive principles from the potent strains could […]
Ocean-Plate Tectonics and Geology Bathymetry of the ocean seafloor refers to the measurement of how deep the sea is in relation to the sea level.
“Manifest Destiny”: Westward Expansion to the Pacific Ocean The concept of Manifest Destiny elucidates the states of mind of many expansionist principle makers of the period who worked hard in an attempt to push America’s borders towards the west.
Impact of Sea Transport on the Aquatic Environment The shipping companies also have a serious impact on the maritime environment in terms of the wastes often released into the water.
Climate Change Effects on Ocean Acidification The scientists realized that the crisis lasted for several millennia before the oceans could fully recover from the impacts of the drop in the pH level.
Marine Geology, Hydrology and Human Impact on Earth However, the implementation of the new technologies and practices in the process of investigation of the sea depths resulted in the appearance of the new meaning.
Marine Ecosystems, Human Dependence and Impact The growth of communities dependent on fishing is proportional to the destruction of marine ecosystems. The survival of the human race, and the survival of millions of species of wildlife is dependent on a healthy […]
The Northern Sea Route’ Safety Management The company discusses the opportunity to trade some of the vessels with the help of the NSR. The NSR is discussed as an attractive option to decrease the time spent in the voyage while comparing […]
Water Crisis, Oceans and Sea Turtles Issues In the case of Mexico, it appears that the past regimes have never put a lot of focus on the utilization of water resources.
National Marine Fishery Service Business Projects Within a fishery management context, the report primarily focuses on the provisions of the Magnuson-Steven Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act issues in 2006.
The Dead Sea Geochemical History Globally, the most saline location is found on the water surfaces and shores of the Dead Sea. On the other hand, the pattern of fluctuation in temperature and salinity in the Arctic Ocean is complex.
SOFAR Effects on the Marine Life The speed and energy of the sounds that are transmitted in the SOFAR channel are maintained without being altered because of the pressure, which increases with increase in depth.
Ocean Acidification Impact on the Sea Urchin Larval Growth Due to the carbon dioxide increase in the atmosphere, acidity in the oceans is increasing++ and a fast increase of change rate is experienced.
Deep Sea Mining: Salt Extraction This therefore shows how important the process of evaporation is in regard to extraction of salt from the sea. This therefore explains that sea water is a cheap source of salt in terms of time […]
Pacific Ocean: Essentials of Oceanography The ocean has about 25,000 islands which are in excess of the entire number islands in all the oceans across the world. The volume of water in the ocean is about 622 million km3.
Marine Pollution and the Anthropogenic Effects Upon It Marine pollution denotes the introduction of harmful materials or chemicals in our oceans which may disrupt the marine ecosystem, cause other harmful effects to marine life or change the chemical properties of the water.
Marine Biodiversity Conservation and Impure Public Goods The fact that the issue concerning the global marine biodiversity and the effects that impure public goods may possibly have on these rates can lead to the development of a range of externalities that should […]
El Niño’s Effects on Marine Life El Nino makes the winds of the east blow to the west and moves the layers of warm water in the Pacific Ocean.
Marine Ecosystems in Oceanography Studies While oceanography students need to understand these aspects of ocean management, this paper focused on marine ecosystems, as a broad and useful topic in oceanography studies.
Ocean Acidification: Marine Calcification Process This article correlates calcium with oceanography because the process of acidification, which causes the ocean’s pH to decrease because of excess carbon from the atmosphere, has impacts on calcifying organisms in the oceans.
Ecology Issues: Creatures of the Deep Sea Discuss the negative changes that are occurring and the cause of these changes In the recent past, the temperature on the earth has been rising steadily due to the effect of global warming.
Ocean Literacy and Exploration From the onset of “human-ocean interaction and exploration in the fifteenth century” and despite ocean being the largest feature of the earth, only 5% of the ocean is known.
Ocean and Atmosphere Circulation Oceanic and atmospheric circulation is the means by which heat is distributed on the surface of the Earth by large scale circulation of air.
The Role of Sea Power in International Trade The historical influence that the marines or the navy has had on international trade and the complications in comparing measures of sea power has been issues of discussion in the past.
Ocean Fisheries Sustainability Analysis It is necessary for fishing industries to use better fishing methods in the ocean to ensure that their activities do not endanger the ecological balance. Fish species do not get the chance to replenish and […]
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Reefs This essay addresses some of the disturbances which have been experienced in the coral reefs of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary together with measures which have been implemented to salvage the ecosystem.
Marine Conservation and Coastal Development The committee should comprise of a balanced membership for holistic review of the coastal development projects. The lack of legislation related to marine conservation is also a major setback.
The Problem of Ocean Pollution in Modern World Wastes such as toxic matter, plastics, and human wastes are some of the major sources of pollution in the ocean. Many people consume fish as food; when marine life is affected by toxic substance in […]
Plastic Ocean Pollution on Ocean Life in U.S. Ocean plastic pollution has had a great impact on a minimum of two hundred and sixty seven species across the world and these include forty three percent of all of the sea mammal species, eighty […]
Impact of the Toxic Substances on Marine Ecosystem The condition of hypoxia is created when algal biomass decompose leading to dissolution of oxygen in the water column. While, on the other hand, farming of Bluefin tuna leads to destruction of marine life as […]
Climate Shift Could Leave Some Marine Species Homeless This is very important as it helps put pressure on countries to reduce on carbon release, in order to conserve the environment and hence species at risk.
The Difficulties in Exploiting Sea Floor Massive Sulfide Deposits However, the difficulties involved in exploring the minerals have been the greatest obstacles to the full exploration of sea floor mineral deposits such as sulphide. The regulatory environment is the other issue of concern in […]
Global Warming Outcomes and Sea-Level Changes The outcome of global warming has been exhibited by the melting of ice and snows in areas such as the Antarctic which has changed the average sea level of the whole world because the ice […]
The Ocean’s Rarest Mammal Vaquita – An Endangered Species The vaquita looks like a curved stocky porpoise, and it is the smallest of all the porpoises in the world. This is a matter of concern and ought to be investigated if the survival of […]
Policy Change to Control Ocean Dumping Policies addressing the issue of ocean dumping and the need to curb it have been in place. Several factors fueled the change; for instance, change in the information concerning the effect of ocean dumping to […]
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128 Marine Life Biology Topics

Want to explore marine life? The captivating world of oceans and seas is full of marine biology research questions. Here, find marine biology topics about an array of species and habitats, the balance of Earth’s environment, and invaluable resources to humanity. Get inspired by marine ecosystems and the challenges they face due to human activities. Let’s dive in!

🌊 TOP 7 Marine Biology Topics

🏆 best marine biology research questions, 🎓 interesting marine biology topics, 👍 catchy marine biology research topics, 💡 simple marine biology topics, ❓ more marine biology research questions.

Rising Sea Levels: History, Causes and Effects
North Sea and Baltic Sea Meeting Phenomenon
Resolute Marine Energy: Power in Waves
Chilean Sea Bass on the Menu and Its Impact on the Environment
Impact of Human Activities on Marine Ecosystems
Rising Sea Levels: Solutions to Global Concern
Marine Pollution: Causes and Consequences
Marine Pollution in Australia This paper will set out to engage in a detailed discussion about marine pollution in Australia. It will begin by highlighting the major sources of marine pollution.
Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea: Captain Nemo’s Changes Captain Nemo is a sea researcher, inventor, and owner of the “Nautilus” submarine. This character is the embodiment of a true hero, courageous, decisive, and fair.
Ocean Research vs. Outer Space Exploration Both the study of the outer space and the research of the processes that take place on Earth, particularly, in the ocean, are crucial for facilitating the safety of the humankind.
The Problem of Ocean Pollution Today One of the main causes of the oceans being polluted is trash that includes various manufactured products like plastic bottles, shopping bags, food wrappers, and cigarettes.
Protection of Marine Environment Under International Law: Treaties and International Legal Instruments Laws touching on the protection of the marine environment have evolved. The evolution is made evident in this paper by analyzing the various international legal instruments.
Cyclone Asani in the North Indian Ocean Area Asani is the first cyclone to develop in the North Indian Ocean area of the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea in 2022.
Marine Sediments Types: Lithogenous, Biogenous, Hydrogenous, and Cosmogenous Sediments Modern science determines four basic types of sediments. These are lithogenous, biogenous, hydrogenous, and cosmogenous. They all have unique characteristics that determine their structure.
Description of the Pacific Ocean The paper states that the Pacific Ocean is tranquil, yet it forms one of the world’s largest homes and assists in regulating the global climate.
How El Niño Affects Ocean Circulation and How Climate Is Impacted Climate change research has progressed to the point that paleoclimatic data may now provide trustworthy information on the responses of the climate system.
Environmental Issues: Plastics in the Ocean The circular economy encourages recycling and reuse and this approach could be used effectively to mitigate the problem of plastic marine pollution in the long term.
The Turtle-Headed Sea Snake’s Habitation Areas The paper aims to know the exact areas that turtle-headed sea snakes inhabit and quantify the number of such species within that vicinity.
Analysis of Sea Lampreys Problem Sea lampreys reduce the fish population, which affects the livelihoods of people. They negatively influence economic activities such as tourism and fishing in lakes.
Marine Transport System Efficiency Increasing The paper takes an in-depth look into the steps and measures that can be taken to enhance the efficiency of maritime transport. Such strategies can be used to avert the looming transport crisis.
Marine Environmental High Risk Areas Definition Marine Environmental High risk Areas was first used by Lord Donaldson in Report titled Safe Ships, Clean Seas.He defined these areas as locations with high environmental sensitivity.
Sea Dumping: Legal and Ethical Issues The paper explores legal and ethical issues regarding the sea dumping and examines the approaches used by cruise lines to increase the social responsibility.
Floating Cities and Rising Sea Levels Global warming is an immense challenge in today’s society. The results of such an issue are the rising sea levels that make many communities flee their homes.
Impact of Marine Plastic Debris on Environment The prevalence of marine pollution by plastics makes the ecosystem dangerous for ocean creatures and human beings.
History of Sea Navigation This paper includes a brief description of major milestones in the history of navigation starting from ancient times up to modern days.
International Marine Pollution Law International Marine law is essential in governing the natural resources from illegal acts of pollution that poses dangers to marine life and the life depending on the waters of oceans or seas.
Sea Level Rise: Major Causes and Effects This paper includes a brief description of the major causes and effects of sea level rise, as well as measures people undertake to address the issue.
West Indian Ocean Coelacanth (Latimeria Chalumnae) Latimeria Chalumnae is an exception – a living fossil and a fish that is closer to tetrapods, including humans, rather than to the ray-finned fish, from an evolutionary standpoint.
Plastic Crises in the Ocean and Effects on Marine Ecosystems The accumulation of plastic waste in the oceans causes physical damage to marine species and habitats, leading to the spread of invasive species and diseases.
Teleological Insight Into Army of Sea Urchins The teleological argumentative construct focuses on the relationship between the design and the creator akin to the apt performance across the sea’s natural environment.
Impact of Human Behavior on Ocean and Ocean Acidification The paper states that the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere has been increasing over the years due to human behavior and actions.
The Ocean Clean Up Company’s Trial in Guatemala Ocean Clean Up has done an excellent job of creating the first scalable solution to efficiently intercept plastic in rivers before it reaches the oceans.
The Aral Sea Shrinking Process The Aral Sea is located in Central Asia, and it is a form of a large endorheic lake. The issue surrounding the given body of water is that it has been shrinking since the 1960s.
Aquaculture: Second Chance for Marine Life
How the Great Pacific Garbage Patch Affected Marine Life in the Surrounding Waters
Marine Pollution and Its Effect on Marine Life
Not Finding Nemo: How Climate Change Affects Marine Life
Environmental Degradation: Primitive Organisms vs Modern Day Marine Life
Marine Life and Its Systematic Evolution
Human Impact Upon the Environment: Ocean Pollution and Marine Life
Marine Life, Ocean Pollution, and Other Human Environmental Impacts
How You Can Help Protect Marine Life While Diving
Global Marine Life Affected by the Constant Rise of Water Temperature Due to Global Warming
10 Easy Ways to Help Protect Marine Life
How the Plate Tectonics Theory Help Explains the Existence of Fossilized Marine Life in Rocks Atop the Ural Mountains
Global Warming and Climate Change: Melting the Marine Life
Understanding the Detrimental Effects of Harmful Algae in the Scientific Study of Marine Life
The Alarming Danger Facing the Marine Life
Humans’ Impact on Marine Life and What We Can Do to Stop Environmental Cataclysmic Effect
How Water Pollution Affects Marine Life
Marine Life: Environments and Marine Animals in the Deep Sea
The Coral Reef Ecosystem: Marine Life and Surviving Underwater
Mass Extinction, Human Impact, and Effects on Marine Life
How Human Beings Have Destroyed Marine Life
The Importance of Marine Spatial Planning The paper states that improvements in marine spatial planning (MSP) can positively impact the economy, society, and the environment.
The Climate Change Impact on Sea Levels and Coastal Zones This paper summarizes the effects of climate change on seawater levels and subsequent effects on the coastal zones.
Dangers of Microplastics to Marine Ecosystems To reduce aquatic pollution and its impact, people should keep the environment clean by disposing wisely of the plastics they use.
The Raising of Sea Levels in Lithuania This study will explore climate change in Lithuania, providing ways in which a global citizen can help and the role of NGOs in elevating the issue.
Papahanaumokuakea Plastic Sea Pollution This paper discusses the article devoted to the plastic sea pollution affecting Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monuments.
Marine Resource Economics: Value Addition on Tuna Fish By-Products There is a very huge potential for value addition to by-products of Tuna fish around the countries surrounding the Pacific Ocean which is untapped.
The Consequences of the Ocean Acidification The paper aims to explore the phenomena of ocean acidification and define human-caused threats to the health of the world ocean and the corresponding consequences.
Marine Organisms an Adaptations The important aspects of marine biology is the study of how marine organisms exhibit a variety of physiological adaptation that makes them suitable for the marine environment.
Whirlpool in the Sea off the Coast of Scotland Near Ayrshire Due to Waste Water Stunning drone images near Lendalfoot in South Ayrshire captured a glimpse of a mammoth whirlpool off the Scottish west coast.
Trans-ocean Transportation: Environmental Study The ocean has always been an inseparable part of human existence. It serves as a source of food and a transportation network, linking all continents.
The Impact of Physical, Chemical, and Biological Agents on Marine Mammals The development of ecosystems is affected by various physical, biological, and chemical agents, and these effects can be both positive and negative.
Modelling in the Marine Environment With climate change rendering hurricanes more deadly, it is essential to gain a more in-depth understanding of such phenomenon as storm surge.
Marine Protected Areas: Sustain of the Marine Ecosystem The current research is expected to address the problem of overfishing and prove that MPAs help to sustain biodiversity.
Earth Science: The Deep Sea This article discusses the importance of the marine environment to life on the planet and the need to study the impact of deep-sea mining on the marine environment.
Marine Pollution and Its Anthropogenic Factors This paper examines the causes of the environmental problem of marine pollution, primarily related to anthropogenic factors, and considers its consequences.
Plastic Contamination and Marine Ecosystem Safety Every year humanity creates innovative technologies, some of which have the potential to change the order of life fundamentally.
Marine Habitats: Coral Reef Ecosystem The coral reefs’ biodiversity presents a specific interest as one of the most stressed world’s ecosystems with an intricate relationship.
Marine Biology: Description and the Key Features Marine Biology is an open area of the coast line that is exposed to ocean currents and tides. This is a backwater area with occasional flooding of sea water.
Law of the Sea Treaty: The Use of the World’s Seas The purpose of the treaty was to come up with a comprehensive rules governing the oceans and replacing the previous conventions of 1958 and that of 1961.
The WWF’s Environmental Advertisement on Marine and Ocean Pollution Visual image can also make a convincing point, and this is particularly applicable to social and environmental advertising.
Geologic Time and the World Ocean: Diving a Bit Deeper Studying the history of the Earth’s climate means analyzing the archaeological traces that the previous eras have left; and nowhere is the search for these traces is as efficient as it is in the ocean.
Saudi Marine Construction Projects and Risks The Saudi Arabian marine construction works revolve around the establishment of ports and harbors. The ports must be constructed to facilitate tourist arrival.
What Lurks in the Depth of the Ocean? A range of technological advances and solutions for economic issues pose a tangible threat to environment, and oceans are by far the most vulnerable element of the latter.
Archeological Discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls William Albright, who is one of the popular archaeologists claimed that the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls was one of the chief breakthroughs in the 20th century.
How Plastic Pollution Can Impact Both Marine Life and Human Health
Marine Life Can Bounce Back by 2050 — But Only if We Act Now
Lebanon Oil Spill Threatens Bird and Marine Life
How Will Marine Life Adapt to Warmer Oceans?
Creating Communal Value Through Marine Life Protection
Chasing the Future: How Will Ocean Change Affect Marine Life?
Factors That Threaten Marine Life and Solutions to It
The Structuring Role of Marine Life in Open Ocean Habitat
Maintaining and Protecting Marine Life
Pollution: Marine Life’s Number One Enemy Spreads Its Negative Effects on the Oceans
Marine Life Encounters: Whale Sharks of Isla Mujeres
How You Can Protect the Ocean and Help Save Marine Life From Home
Global Warming Hits Marine Life Hardest
Protecting Marine Life: 7 Reasons Why We Need to Act Now
Marine Life Is Fleeing the Equator to Cooler Waters: History Tells Us This Could Trigger a Mass Extinction Event
The Issue of Plastic Harming the Marine Life
Ocean and Marine Life Protection Acts and Treaties
Marine Life Is Facing Threats Never Seen Before: The Menace of Overfishing
Six Ocean-Friendly Habits to Help Protect Marine Life
The Protection of Marine Life and Its Legal Aspects
What Are the Threats That Marine Life Is Facing?
How Can You Protect the Ocean and Help Save Marine Life From Home?
What Marine Life Is Most Affected by Pollution?
How Much Marine Life Is Killed by Plastic?
What Is the Biggest Cause of Marine Life Death?
How Can We Save and Protect Marine Life?
What Is Marine Life Conservation?
Can We Survive Without Marine Life?
How Is Climate Change Affecting Marine Life in the Arctic?
What Is Marine Biology and Why Is It Important?
Will Marine Life Face Mass Extinction if Oceans Continue to Warm?
Is Marine Biology a Part of Environmental Science?
What Is the Biggest Threat to Marine Life?
How Does Marine Biology Affect the Environment?
What Caused the Extinction of Marine Life?
How Has Marine Biology Helped the World?
Why Is Marine Life Important to the Environment?
How Can Studying Marine Biology Help to Conserve Marine Diversity?
What Is the Greatest Contribution of Marine Biology?
Is Marine Biology Important to Humans?
What Types of Pollution Affect Marine Life?
How Does Marine Biology Affect Society?
What Is the Role of Ethics in Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology?
How Does Marine Biology Help the Environment?
What Are the Benefits of Marine Biology?

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These essay examples and topics on Marine Life were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

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Published by Robert Bruce at August 29th, 2023 , Revised On September 5, 2023

Biology Research Topics

Are you in need of captivating and achievable research topics within the field of biology? Your quest for the best biology topics ends right here as this article furnishes you with 100 distinctive and original concepts for biology research, laying the groundwork for your research endeavor.

Table of Contents

Our proficient researchers have thoughtfully curated these biology research themes, considering the substantial body of literature accessible and the prevailing gaps in research.

Should none of these topics elicit enthusiasm, our specialists are equally capable of proposing tailor-made research ideas in biology, finely tuned to cater to your requirements.

Thus, without further delay, we present our compilation of biology research topics crafted to accommodate students and researchers.

Research Topics in Marine Biology

Impact of climate change on coral reef ecosystems.
Biodiversity and adaptation of deep-sea organisms.
Effects of pollution on marine life and ecosystems.
Role of marine protected areas in conserving biodiversity.
Microplastics in marine environments: sources, impacts, and mitigation.

Biological Anthropology Research Topics

Evolutionary implications of early human migration patterns.
Genetic and environmental factors influencing human height variation.
Cultural evolution and its impact on human societies.
Paleoanthropological insights into human dietary adaptations.
Genetic diversity and population history of indigenous communities.

Biological Psychology Research Topics

Neurobiological basis of addiction and its treatment.
Impact of stress on brain structure and function.
Genetic and environmental influences on mental health disorders.
Neural mechanisms underlying emotions and emotional regulation.
Role of the gut-brain axis in psychological well-being.

Cancer Biology Research Topics

Targeted therapies in precision cancer medicine.
Tumor microenvironment and its influence on cancer progression.
Epigenetic modifications in cancer development and therapy.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors and their role in cancer immunotherapy.
Early detection and diagnosis strategies for various types of cancer.

Cell Biology Research Topics

Mechanisms of autophagy and its implications in health and disease.
Intracellular transport and organelle dynamics in cell function.
Role of cell signaling pathways in cellular response to external stimuli.
Cell cycle regulation and its relevance to cancer development.
Cellular mechanisms of apoptosis and programmed cell death.

Developmental Biology Research Topics

Genetic and molecular basis of limb development in vertebrates.
Evolution of embryonic development and its impact on morphological diversity.
Stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine approaches.
Mechanisms of organogenesis and tissue regeneration in animals.
Role of non-coding RNAs in developmental processes.

Human Biology Research Topics

Genetic factors influencing susceptibility to infectious diseases.
Human microbiome and its impact on health and disease.
Genetic basis of rare and common human diseases.
Genetic and environmental factors contributing to aging.
Impact of lifestyle and diet on human health and longevity.

Molecular Biology Research Topics

CRISPR-Cas gene editing technology and its applications.
Non-coding RNAs as regulators of gene expression.
Role of epigenetics in gene regulation and disease.
Mechanisms of DNA repair and genome stability.
Molecular basis of cellular metabolism and energy production.

Research Topics in Biology for Undergraduates

41. Investigating the effects of pollutants on local plant species.
Microbial diversity and ecosystem functioning in a specific habitat.
Understanding the genetics of antibiotic resistance in bacteria.
Impact of urbanization on bird populations and biodiversity.
Investigating the role of pheromones in insect communication.

Synthetic Biology Research Topics

Design and construction of synthetic biological circuits.
Synthetic biology applications in biofuel production.
Ethical considerations in synthetic biology research and applications.
Synthetic biology approaches to engineering novel enzymes.
Creating synthetic organisms with modified functions and capabilities.

Animal Biology Research Topics

Evolution of mating behaviors in animal species.
Genetic basis of color variation in butterfly wings.
Impact of habitat fragmentation on amphibian populations.
Behavior and communication in social insect colonies.
Adaptations of marine mammals to aquatic environments.

Best Biology Research Topics

Unraveling the mysteries of circadian rhythms in organisms.
Investigating the ecological significance of cryptic coloration.
Evolution of venomous animals and their prey.
The role of endosymbiosis in the evolution of eukaryotic cells.
Exploring the potential of extremophiles in biotechnology.

Biological Psychology Research Paper Topics

Neurobiological mechanisms underlying memory formation.
Impact of sleep disorders on cognitive function and mental health.
Biological basis of personality traits and behavior.
Neural correlates of emotions and emotional disorders.
Role of neuroplasticity in brain recovery after injury.

Biological Science Research Topics:

Role of gut microbiota in immune system development.
Molecular mechanisms of gene regulation during development.
Impact of climate change on insect population dynamics.
Genetic basis of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Evolutionary relationships among vertebrate species based on DNA analysis.

Biology Education Research Topics

Effectiveness of inquiry-based learning in biology classrooms.
Assessing the impact of virtual labs on student understanding of biology concepts.
Gender disparities in science education and strategies for closing the gap.
Role of outdoor education in enhancing students’ ecological awareness.
Integrating technology in biology education: challenges and opportunities.

Biology-Related Research Topics

The intersection of ecology and economics in conservation planning.
Molecular basis of antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria.
Implications of genetic modification of crops for food security.
Evolutionary perspectives on cooperation and altruism in animal behavior.
Environmental impacts of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Biology Research Proposal Topics

Investigating the role of microRNAs in cancer progression.
Exploring the effects of pollution on aquatic biodiversity.
Developing a gene therapy approach for a genetic disorder.
Assessing the potential of natural compounds as anti-inflammatory agents.
Studying the molecular basis of cellular senescence and aging.

Biology Research Topic Ideas

Role of pheromones in insect mate selection and behavior.
Investigating the molecular basis of neurodevelopmental disorders.
Impact of climate change on plant-pollinator interactions.
Genetic diversity and conservation of endangered species.
Evolutionary patterns in mimicry and camouflage in organisms.

Biology Research Topics for Undergraduates

Effects of different fertilizers on plant growth and soil health.
Investigating the biodiversity of a local freshwater ecosystem.
Evolutionary origins of a specific animal adaptation.
Genetic diversity and disease susceptibility in human populations.
Role of specific genes in regulating the immune response.

Cell and Molecular Biology Research Topics

Molecular mechanisms of DNA replication and repair.
Role of microRNAs in post-transcriptional gene regulation.
Investigating the cell cycle and its control mechanisms.
Molecular basis of mitochondrial diseases and therapies.
Cellular responses to oxidative stress and their implications in ageing.

These topics cover a broad range of subjects within biology, offering plenty of options for research projects. Remember that you can further refine these topics based on your specific interests and research goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some good research topics in biology?

A good research topic in biology will address a specific problem in any of the several areas of biology, such as marine biology, molecular biology, cellular biology, animal biology, or cancer biology.

A topic that enables you to investigate a problem in any area of biology will help you make a meaningful contribution.

How to choose a research topic in biology?

Choosing a research topic in biology is simple.

Follow the steps:

Generate potential topics.
Consider your areas of knowledge and personal passions.
Conduct a thorough review of existing literature.
Evaluate the practicality and viability.
Narrow down and refine your research query.
Remain receptive to new ideas and suggestions.

Who Are We?

For several years, Research Prospect has been offering students around the globe complimentary research topic suggestions. We aim to assist students in choosing a research topic that is both suitable and feasible for their project, leading to the attainment of their desired grades. Explore how our services, including research proposal writing , dissertation outline creation, and comprehensive thesis writing , can contribute to your college’s success.

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Five ocean research topics to inspire your next paper [guide for students]

Beth Dempsey

Senior Manager, Content Marketing, Academia

Writing a great research paper is easier when you have a timely and focused topic. Our latest Global Research Report on ocean health by the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI)™ identifies compelling insights that can be explored for your next research paper. Keep reading for ocean research topics and keywords that branch across many different disciplines—from business to economics to the hard sciences.

According to data scientists at Clarivate™ and Oregon State University, ocean science research articles have increased threefold between 2000 and 2020, demonstrating a marked interest in ocean health.

You can use the insights from Ocean Science: sustainability concerns add urgency for research to identify focused, relevant and compelling ocean research topics for your next paper.

Why write about ocean health?

You will write a better paper if you care about the topic. If you need a little help getting on board with the importance of the planet’s oceans, read this passage from the introduction of our latest ISI Global Research Report :

Earth’s oceans cover approximately 70% of its surface and ultimately reach a depth of ~11 km in the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean. (Mt. Everest, for comparison, reaches a height of “only” ~9 km.) Most of the life on Earth is in its oceans, whether it is the fish that provide sustenance to coastal communities, or the plant life that supplies much of the air that we breathe (at least 50% of photosynthesis happens in the ocean). The oceans also mediate how Earth’s climate changes, for example, by exchanging immense amounts of thermal energy and gasses, such as carbon dioxide and oxygen, with the atmosphere, or through the impact that ocean conditions have on the fate of polar ice (this ice reflects many of the sun’s warming rays back to space and provides essential habitats).

You can also read our blog about how the research was conducted and its results .

Here are five ocean research topics and keywords for you to explore

Learn more about any of the following topics by using the suggested keywords in your literature search.

The impact of microplastics on ocean health

According to our ISI report, there is an “astonishing growth” of research on microplastics and oceans, providing a rich array of content for you to explore for a paper on the impact of microplastics on ocean health.

Keywords to search as you gather information: Microplastics; Nanoplastics; “Plastic debris”; “Marine litter”

Energy resources and plant life

Research growth is happening in other areas, too. What has researchers so interested in these two ocean research topics?

Gas Hydrates: They reside in some marine sediments. Pro: Their carbon content makes them a valuable energy resource. Con: decomposition can release greenhouse gases

Keywords to use in your search: Hydrate Formation; Methane Hydrate; Hydrate Stability

Seagrasses: These are flowering plants that grow entirely underwater and contribute to the ocean ecosystem.

Keywords to use in your search: food webs; herbivory; marine phanerogams; Biofouling; Marine macroalgae; Seagrasses

Ocean health’s impact on island nations

Ocean research is globally connected and includes significant collaboration with island nations and territories. Possible topic for your paper: “Ocean health’s impact on island nations.”

Keywords to use in your search: Ocean health; Socio-ecological assessment; “island nations”; Ocean Health Index (OHI); ocean, countries

Best practices for sustaining the Blue Economy

Sustainability of the “Blue Economy” is dependent upon finding balance between mitigating climate change and maintaining jobs and other essential components of this growing economy. Possible topic for your paper: “Best practices for sustaining the Blue Economy.”

Keywords to use in your search: “blue economy”; ocean economy; coastal blue growth

Next steps for your ocean health topic

Once you have your topic and are sufficiently inspired, check out “How to write research papers that impress your professors.” This blog breaks down the tricky aspects of writing a research paper. It explains where to start, where to look and top tips for a fast yet robust research process.

Get more ideas for research papers by exploring ISI’s Global Research Reports and Insights papers , which include a variety of important, timely topics like climate change , ethnic diversity in STEM and the research performance of the G20 nations . You can also find more tips and techniques for producing great research papers by checking out Clarivate’s Research Smarter series . Our series includes blogs about using reference management software , finding relevant papers in a research field and how to get noticed by journal editors .

Reimagining research impact: introducing web of science research intelligence.

Beyond discovery: AI and the future of the Web of Science

Clarivate welcomes the Barcelona Declaration on Open Research Information

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Marine Biology Essays

Marine Biology Essays (Examples)

84+ documents containing “marine biology” .

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Marine biology negative effects of artificial reefs.

Negative Effects of Artificial Reefs Artificial reefs are man-made habitats that are created from many different materials to build new marine life communities (Rodriguez, 2004). For many years, fish and shellfish habitats have been damaged or wiped out by the development of new coastal areas, accidents, and major storms. As a result, there has been a decline in different marine life populations. Artificial reefs provide food, shelter, protection, and spawning areas for many species of fish and other marine organisms. However, artificial reefs are not just used for fish. They are also created to provide areas for scuba divers and anglers to use, reducing the human pressures that natural reefs bear on a regular basis. Natural reefs can be looked at as the rain forests of the seafloor, supporting a broad diversity of species (ourjaily, 2000). Like many other things found in nature, they often take centuries to mature. Due to….

Bibliography

Bourjaily, Phil. (February 24, 2000). Rebuilding the ocean's rain forests. Environmental News Network.

Dixie Divers. (September 2, 2004). State debates tighter regulations for creating artificial reefs. Retrieved from the Internet at http://www.dixiediver.com/DixieWatchDogNews/state_debates_tighter_regulation.htm .

Goldschmid, A. Yip, M. (November 22, 1998). A Natural Reef System and a description of potential Damages: An overview of Artificial Reefs, Advantages and Disadvantages of Artificial Reefs.

Rodriguez, M. (2004). What are artificial reefs and why do we need them? Retrieved from the Internet at http://scuba.about.com/library/weekly/aa121799.htm.

Use of Drones in Field Biology

Marine Biology & Drones Drones are being used with increasing frequency in the study of marine life, including for population counts, and behavioral studies. The news media has offered up dramatic images of studies underway, for example of orca populations off the coast of British Columbia, but there are many studies around the world that are using drones. The advantage of drones is that they can fly above marine environments, providing an overhead view of those environments. This can be valuable in terms of counting animal populations for example, because with drones animals typically do not change their behaviors (Schiffman, 2014). Drones have become a popular tool for field biologists in part because drone technology is improving and the cost of these devices is falling (Schiffman, 2014). In some fields, such as the observation of marine life in Antarctic sea ice, it has been noted that the normal observation is risky, and….

Gremillet, D., Puech, W., Garcon, V., Boulinier, T. & Maho, Y. (2012). Robots in ecology: Welcome to the machine. Open Journal of Ecology. Vol. 2 (2) 49-57.

Kelly, N., Murase, H., Kitakado, T., Kock, K., Williams, R., Herr, H. & Walloe, L. (2012). Appraisal of methods and data used to estimate abundance of Antarctic minke whales within sea ice covered areas of the Southern Ocean. CSIRO/Australian Marine Mammal Centre. Retrieved November 1, 2015 from http://www.marinemammals.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/135615/SC-64-IA10.pdf

Schiffman, R. (2014). Drones flying high as new tool for field biologists. Nature. Vol. 344 (6183) 459

Vas, E., Lescroel, A., Duriez, O., Boguszewski, G. & Gremillet, D. (2015). Approaching birds with drones: First experiments and ethical guidelines. Biology Letters. Vol. 11, 1-4.

Marine Organism Common Name Dolphin

Dolphins commonly bear one calf at a time. Reproduction occurs every 2 to 3 years and as many as 8 times within their life span (each-Net Online). Feeding Fishes are the typical foods of dolphins. Calves (young dolphins) start to eat fish at 3 to 4 months. Adult dolphins can eat up to 14 pounds of fish in a day (each-Net Online). Predators Dolphins' predators are the sharks. Sometimes, killer whales also feed on dolphins. Are dolphins endangered? Dolphins are endangered. Their population is not yet known however because different types of dolphins can be found in different parts of water around the globe. Following is a list of the endangered species of dolphins. Pink dolphins River dolphins lack dolphins ibliography Common Dolphin. American Cetacean Society. http://www.acsonline.org/factpack/common.htm Dolphins: The Facts of Life. http://www.beach-net.com/dolphins/biology.html.

Common Dolphin.

American Cetacean Society. http://www.acsonline.org/factpack/common.htm

Dolphins: The Facts of Life. http://www.beach-net.com/dolphins/biology.html

Biology Qs the Primary Source

Most fungi can also reproduce through sexual reproduction both with the same organism mixing gametes and with reproduction between two separate organisms. The cells of many fungi are primarily copies of each other, without differentiation of organs (except in the fruiting sections of the organism, such as the mushrooms and molds typically visible and known to humans). 6) Fungi are considered a separate kingdom for several reasons. They are different from plants in their inability to produce energy from sunlight, and in fact most grow in dark places. Unlike animals and many protozoa, they cannot move; unlike most protozoa, they exist almost entirely as multicellular and colonial organisms. 7) The various classifications of fungi are determined based on their method(s) of reproduction. Zygomycota produce both asexual and sexual spores, while Basidiomycota rarely produce asexually and produce a different type of sexual spore. Ascomycota produce asexual spores, and can also grow buds that break….

Biology Species Within a Given Population Will

Biology Species within a given population will differentiate due to a sudden and dramatic geological or climatological change. If a volcano erupted on an island like one of those on Vanuatu, the populations of local geckos would start to differentiate depending on where members of that population were before and after the eruption. Statement/Hypothesis: If a volcanic eruption led to lava flows on one side of the island, but not on the other side, then the gecko population would differentiate based on the availability of food sources and also based on the remaining predators. Geological Event: A volcano erupts on a small tropical island, part of the Vanuatu group. The types of observations necessary for the evaluation of the impact of the volcano on local lizard (gecko) species include size (length), coloration and visual patterns, and vocalizations. Behavioral observations would include territories occupied, feeding patterns, and mating patterns. Characteristics of the Two Environments: Before….

"Tiny Gecko Species Discovered in Vanuatu Rainforest," (2008). Retrieved online: http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/11/08/tiny-gecko-species-discovered/

Uthicke, S. (1999). Sediment bioturbation and impact of feeding activity of Holothuria (Halodeima) atra and Stichopus chloronotus, two sediment feeding holothurians, at Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef. Bulletin of Marine Science 64(1): 129-141.

Biology Genetics and Evolution UCLA

This discovery could lead to cleaner energy, including the technology that could be used by factories and cars to capture carbon dioxide before it reaches the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is polluting the Earth's atmosphere along with damaging coral reefs and marine life and has impacts that are irreversible. Scientists believe that this will be important for potentially getting to a viable carbon dioxide-capture material with ultra-high selectivity. They are optimistic that is within their reach. Potentially, they think that they could create a material that could convert carbon dioxide into a fuel, or a material that can separate carbon dioxide with greater efficiency (Chemists Create Synthetic 'Gene-Like' Crystals for Carbon Dioxide Capture, 2010). eferences Chemists Create Synthetic 'Gene-Like' Crystals for Carbon Dioxide Capture. (2010). etrieved February 16, 2010, from Science Daily Web site: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100211141144.htm.

Chemists Create Synthetic 'Gene-Like' Crystals for Carbon Dioxide Capture. (2010). Retrieved

February 16, 2010, from Science Daily Web site:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100211141144.htm

Environmental Biology

Environmental Biology: The Effects of Pollution in the Ocean The oceans are being contaminated by pollution caused by oil spills, tanker discharges, untreated municipal wastes and agrochemical residues. Pollution is known to have destabilized many coastal ecosystems and is believed to be responsible for the decline in phytoplankton and consumable shellfish which usually thrive further out to sea. Medical wastes, beach visitors' garbage, waterfront businesses account for most of the toxic and most dangerous pollutants that lurk below the surface of the ocean. Oil spills and medical wastes only play a small part in ocean pollution (Energy Intelligence Group, 2002). Plants and factories spew over thirty-two billion gallons of poisonous chemicals and sewage into the sea every day. The Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2000) states that eighty percent of pollution to the marine environment comes from land-based sources, such as runoff pollution. Runoff pollution includes many small sources,….

Works Cited

Adler, T. (1996, Feb.). The expiration of respiration; oxygen - the missing ingredient in many bodies of water. Science News, (149) 88.

Boukhari, S. (1998, July-Aug.). Marine blues. UNESCO Courier, (2) 47.

Conformer." Glossary of Marine Biology. Retrieved November, 7, 2002 from: http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/marinebio/glossary.c.html .

Energy Intelligence Group. (2002, May). Oil spills play small role in ocean pollution.

Ocean Marine Life Conservation

Conservation of ocean or marine life has attracted significant attention in recent years given the devastating impacts of human activities on these ecosystems. This paper examines a study conducted to promote conservation of marine or ocean life across the globe. The review demonstrates the significance of combining policy interventions and management interventions to achieve this. Background Ocean or marine areas cover approximately 71% of the Earth’s surface. Even though the depths of these areas are yet to be fully explored or exploited, they are habitats for a huge portion of the world’s biodiversity and essential in global climate change (Addis, p.5). Ocean or marine biodiversity is recognized across the globe as an essential component of life not only in the oceans, but also on Earth. The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development states that ocean or marine areas are key components of the Earth’s ecosystem to an extent that without them….

Meaning of Biology and Its Different Fields

Biology? The word biology means the study of life. It is a combination of "bio," which means "life," and "ology," which means "wisdom" or "science of." Thus, the term itself tells us what its meaning is: it is the science or study of life. However, there are many fields in biology, which look at specific sectors or areas of "life." Because life on this planet is abounding and so complex, it is required that there be several fields of biological science. For instance, marine biology studies life in water (such as in oceans or lakes). Human biology studies the complexities of the human body. Cellular biology takes an even closer look at biological studies by closing in on the activities and structures of cells, which are just one part of life. Advancements in biological knowledge have taken place over many centuries throughout the history of the world. In fact, all sciences owe….

Editorial Board. (2012). Biology, 1st Edition. IL: Words of Wisdom.

Woods, T. (2005). How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization. DC: Regnery

Publishing.

Biology Laboratory Report

Living organisms are subdivided into 5 major kingdoms, including te Monera, te Protista (Protoctista), te Fungi, te Plantae, and te Animalia. Eac kingdom is furter subdivided into separate pyla or divisions. Generally "animals" are subdivided into pyla, wile "plants" are subdivided into divisions. Kingdom of Protista Brown Alga Scientific Classification Kingdom Protista Division Heterokontopyta Paeopyceae Orders Dictyotales Desmerestiales Fucales Laminariales (kelps) etc. Te Brown algae are a large group of multi-cellular algae, including various sorts of seaweed. Teir distinctive greenis-brown color comes from te pigment fucoxantin. Well-known members include kelps and bladder wrack. Genetic studies sow teir closest relatives are te yellow-green algae. Red Alga Scientific Classification Kingdom Protista Pylum Rodopyta Classes Florideopyceae Bangiopyceae Cyanidiopyceae Te red algae (Rodopyta) are a large group of mostly multi-cellular, marine algae, including many notable types of seaweed. Most of te coralline algae, wic secrete calcium carbonate and play a major role in building reefs, belong ere. Red algae suc as dulse and nori are a traditional part of European and Asian cuisine and are used to make certain….

http://huskertsd.tripod.com/species_photos/grasshopper_sparrow_2.htm

http://community.webshots.com/photo/81120704/81121273fZHefA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lichen

Conservation Biology the Objective of

The role of the current in trajectory movements is significant, particularly in species such as the leatherback turtle, as it provides at times unexpected information regarding the animal's sense of direction and purpose in terms of its environment. In the conservation effort, it is therefore very important to consider the influence of current upon animal movement. 3) Conservation can only be effectively applied when behavior and movement are interpreted to the highest degree of accuracy. The study reveals the importance of current influence on marine life movement. Although larger and faster marine animals will not be as influenced by the current as the leatherback turtle, there will certainly be an impact. While important to study the movements of marine life, the influence of currents on the study of foraging behavior is even more important. This will determine the focus of conservation on specific foraging areas in order to ensure sustainability for….

Red Tides on the Gulf

brevis blooms are not a new phenomenon, and fish kills that result from red tides caused by K. brevis in the Gulf of Mexico have been described in the scientific literature since 1960 or so and have been reported anecdotally for more than two centuries (Naar et al. 2002). In this regard, Backer and her associates (2005) emphasize that, "The human health effects from consuming shellfish with high concentrations of brevetoxins in their tissues have been well documented. However, there is very little information describing human health effects from environmental exposures. It is ironic that we know the least about the aspects of the Florida red tide problem that poses the greatest public health hazard in terms of number of people affected" (645). Today, K. brevis blooms are monitored closely in order to mitigate the foregoing health hazards that are related to the consumption of shellfish and shellfish harvesting….

Aguirre, A. Alonso, Richard S. Ostfeld, Gary M. Tabor, Carol House and Mary C. Pearl.

Conservation Medicine: Ecological Health in Practice. New York: Oxford University

Press, 2002.

Backer, Lorraine C., Barbara Kirkpatrick, Lora E. Fleming, Yung Sung Cheng, Richard Pierce,

Fate of Carbon in a

The fact is that numerous rooted macrophyte structures are not full of naturally strong and healthy particles and sediments and nutrients. It is because of the restriction or absence of these particles, sediments and nutrients that the study of these systems has not been as extensive and thorough as the concentration on the terrestrial structures when understanding the fate, sources and sinks of Co2 levels in the ecosystems and the plants structures (e.g., Drake and Leadley 1991). Researchers assert that "rooted macrophyte systems can be sources of CO2, Chapter 4 and other gases through microbial processing of organic matter in the sediments and direct emission from leaves" (Delaune et al. 1990). Table 1. Total net primary production (NPP) from world systems (Modified from Valiela, 1984) Area NPP Tot. NPP1 % of Total % of Total 106 km2 gC m-2 y-1 X106mTC y-1 System Global Marine System: Open Ocean 46 15,355 74.1 24.1 Upwellings 0.4 74 0.4 0.1 Continental shelf 27 2,997 14.5 4.7 Algal eds & reef 0.6 2.7 0.9 Estuaries (exc. marsh) 1.4 3.7 1.2 Tot. Marine 57 20,726 32.5 Continental System: Terrestr. Env. 39,540 91.7 61.9 Swamp and Marsh 2 1,110 2,220 5.1 3.5 Lakes and Streams 2 0.7 0.5 Tot. Continental 43,112 67.5 Total Global 63,838 Total….

Abel K.M. (1984) Inorganic Carbon Source for Photosynthesis in the Seagrass Thalassia hemprichii (Ehrenb.) Aschers. Plant Physiology 76, 776-781.

Adam, P. 1990. Saltmarsh ecology. Cambridge Univ. Press. Cambridge. 461p.

Agren, G., R.E. McMurtrie, W.J. Parton, J. Pastor and H.H. Shugart. 1991. State-of-the-art of models of production-decomposition linkages in conifer and grassland ecosystems. Ecological Applications. 1:118-138.

Anderson, J.M. 1991. The effects of climate change on decomposition processes in grassland and coniferous forests. Ecological Applications 1:326-347.

Oceans & Plastic Pollution the

9% of the turtles" -- and "plastics" dominated the debris found (Katsanevakis, p. 75). The list of plastic trash found in those turtles is too long to include in this research. Seabirds (especially pelicans, gannets and gulls) often fall prey to "monofilament line"; albatrosses, petrels, penguins and grebes are not found entangled in plastic fishing line or other plastic debris as often as pelicans and gulls (Katsanevakis, 2008, p. 69). hat is particularly insidious about plastic is when it is ingested by marine animals is releases "toxic chemicals" due to the chemical additives that are added to the plastic during the manufacturing process. Once in the abdomen of the animal the toxic materials can block the digestive tract and block "gastric enzyme ingestion, diminished feeding stimulus, nutrient dilution, reduced growth rates, lowered steroid hormone levels, delayed ovulation and reproductive failure," Katsanevakis asserts (p. 71). There is lethal danger for small marine organisms….

Hill, Marquita K., 2010, Understanding Environmental Pollution, Cambridge University

Press, New York City, 585

Katsanevakis, Stelios, 2008, Marine Debris, A Growing Problem: Sources, Distribution, Composition, and Impacts, in Hofer, T.N., ed., Marine Pollution: New Research, Nova Publishers, Hauppauge, New York, p. 54-75.

Moore, Charles, 2003, Trashed: Across the Pacific Ocean, Plastics, Plastics, Everywhere,

Globalization on the Environment Are

This is true in fresh and well as salt wate, zinc seems to spread more rapidly in sea water, even affecting higher animals (Taban, Cathiene and Burkard, 1982). esearch Project - The term scientific method refers to a way of investigation or the acquisition of knowledge through the testing of a theory or hypothesis, then working through measurements (observation and empirical notes) to come up with a result, which should prove or disprove the original theory. Thus, the basic method consists of a) formulating a question or hypothesis, b) designing an experiment or means of collecting data, c) observation or experimentation, d) analyzing the results and considering the proof or disproof of the hypotheses, and e) suggestions for future research (Cary, 2003). In this case, and because invertebrates are relatively easy to access regarding zinc the following is a simple introductory examination on the topic: Freshwater crayfish, particularly the species of marbled….

Canicatti and Grasso. (1988). Biodepressive Effect of Zine on Humoral Effector of the Holothuria Polii Immune Response. Marine Biology, 99(3), 393-96.

Cary, S. (2003). A Beginner's Guide to the Scientific Method. New York: Wadsworth.

Emsley, J. (2001). Nature's Building Blocks. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Fosmire, G. (1990). Zinc Toxicity. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 51(2), 225-37.

Marine Biology & Drones Drones are being used with increasing frequency in the study of marine life, including for population counts, and behavioral studies. The news media has offered up…

Dolphins commonly bear one calf at a time. Reproduction occurs every 2 to 3 years and as many as 8 times within their life span (each-Net Online). Feeding Fishes are…

Most fungi can also reproduce through sexual reproduction both with the same organism mixing gametes and with reproduction between two separate organisms. The cells of many fungi are…

Research Paper

Biology Species within a given population will differentiate due to a sudden and dramatic geological or climatological change. If a volcano erupted on an island like one of those on…

This discovery could lead to cleaner energy, including the technology that could be used by factories and cars to capture carbon dioxide before it reaches the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide…

Transportation - Environmental Issues

Drama - World

Biology? The word biology means the study of life. It is a combination of "bio," which means "life," and "ology," which means "wisdom" or "science of." Thus, the term…

Living organisms are subdivided into 5 major kingdoms, including te Monera, te Protista (Protoctista), te Fungi, te Plantae, and te Animalia. Eac kingdom is furter subdivided into separate pyla…

The role of the current in trajectory movements is significant, particularly in species such as the leatherback turtle, as it provides at times unexpected information regarding the animal's…

Business - Miscellaneous

brevis blooms are not a new phenomenon, and fish kills that result from red tides caused by K. brevis in the Gulf of Mexico have been described in…

Literature Review

The fact is that numerous rooted macrophyte structures are not full of naturally strong and healthy particles and sediments and nutrients. It is because of the restriction or absence…

Business - Industries

9% of the turtles" -- and "plastics" dominated the debris found (Katsanevakis, p. 75). The list of plastic trash found in those turtles is too long to include in…

This is true in fresh and well as salt wate, zinc seems to spread more rapidly in sea water, even affecting higher animals (Taban, Cathiene and Burkard, 1982). esearch…

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Choose a topic to access related Top Stories, Advisory reports, journal articles, theses and dissertations, and a listing of affiliated labs, projects, and centers.

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15+ Research Ideas in Marine Biology for High School Students

As an ambitious high school student interested in marine biology looking to better your chances of getting into a prestigious program, you may consider different options — from internships to summer schools — to improve your knowledge. If this sounds like you, then consider undertaking a research project! Marine ecosystems are intrinsically linked to climate change and healthy oceans, as food, water, and shelter sources, are necessary to sustain life.

Marine biology is a vast field with multiple avenues for research. Not to mention, undertaking an intensive research project helps build skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication, and can go a long way in showcasing your demonstrated interest in a subject. Research experience will add value to your college application as it shows that you’re intellectually curious and have a great aptitude for learning.

Ambitious high school students selected for the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs work on a research area of their interest and receive 1-1 mentorship by top Ph.D. scholars .

Below are some marine biology research ideas for you to consider, some of which have been shared by our research mentors – we hope they inspire you!

Topic #1 - The Climate Crisis and its impact on marine biodiversity

Faced with climate change, our oceans are facing one of their most vulnerable moments in history. Understanding the intersection between climate change and marine biology is crucial to conserving and managing marine ecosystems. Global warming, ocean acidification, and deoxygenation — collectively known as the “deadly trio” — are making oceans increasingly inhospitable to life and inhibiting the functioning of marine ecosystems. As a researcher, you could conduct critical investigations within this field and suggest more sustainable practices to preserve the marine ecosystem. Depending on your research goals and how much time and resources you can commit, you could conduct either primary or secondary research.

Here are a few ideas you could choose from:

1. Investigate how rising temperatures are affecting the migratory patterns of fish within a designated zone. Research where these species go and how the composition of marine communities affects interactions between species.

2. How does ocean acidification — when oceans absorb more carbon dioxide from the air — harm different kinds of marine species? What knock-on impact does acidification have on coastal communities that depend on the ocean for food and their livelihood?

3. Examine how corals are responding to climate change, how the change in oceanic temperatures affects their reef-building capabilities, and the knock-on effects.

4. Research changing ocean currents and circulation patterns and how they can impact the distribution of nutrients, affecting the productivity of marine ecosystems

5. Dive into the correlation and causation between extreme weather events and climate change. How does rising temperature affect the frequency and intensity of cyclones, hurricanes, and other natural disasters?

Some of these ideas were contributed by Lumiere Mentors from the University of San Diego, California.

Topic #2 - Coastal economies and the marine ecosystem

Coastal economics and communities have a complex interaction with marine biodiversity, and their actions have both economic and ecological outcomes on the ocean . Marine and human health are closely connected — seafood is an integral part of coastal communities’ diet and marine-based products provide them with livelihood. As a researcher, you could investigate creating healthy marine socio-economic systems for the future, and consider diving deeper into some of the following ideas:

6. Review the effectiveness of different nations’ coastal zone management policies and how well they balance economic vs. ecological needs. You could then compile your findings into a best practices list and suggest improvements to existing policies

7. Make a valuation of the economic services of a designated coastal region. This can include a valuation of fishing activities, tourism, ocean-sourced products, etc, and their contribution to the economy

8. Examine how marine conservation and tourism can go hand-in-hand. Suggest ways to ensure the sustainable development of coastal economies

9. Explore innovative practices in sustainable seafood production and their economic implications for coastal communities

10. Suggest adaptation strategies for coastal communities facing frequent extreme weather events. What steps can be taken to protect their homes and their livelihoods?

11. Study how marine pollution impacts coastal areas, marine biodiversity, and communities’ livelihoods

Topic #3 - Exploring marine genomics

Marine genomics provides critical clues to understanding how life evolved underwater and how marine animals contribute to the ecosystem and create new chemicals and materials. Life has evolved from the ocean, and marine genomics has been used to study the short - and long-term effects of pollution on sea animals, their evolution, and genetic commonalities between fish in a particular region, to name a few. As a marine genome researcher, you could extract meaningful data about the origin and evolution of species and how they may adapt to changing environments.

Here are a few research ideas related to marine genomics that you could consider:

12. Examine how environmental DNA is found in aquatic ecosystems. Here, you can learn about different molecular techniques and use them in marine or freshwater invasive species management.

13. Study how human activity (pollution, fishing, habitat destruction) has impacted marine genomes and how other anthropogenic factors have influenced adaptation and genetic diversity in marine organisms.

14. Study the genome of an endangered marine species to understand what genetic factors contribute to its vulnerability. Suggest and develop conservation strategies.

15. Examine aquatic species that survive in extreme climates (deep-sea vents, polar regions, etc). Study their genomes to understand what genetic features allow them to thrive in such conditions.

16. Undertake a comparative genomics study: choose two organisms from different marine families and compare the similarities and differences in their genomes. Research into how their genomic variations could be due to their habitat, adaptations, and specific behavior.

Some of these ideas were proposed by independent Lumiere Mentors.

Topic #4 - Ocean-based solutions for global challenges

The ocean can address some of the world’s most pressing challenges, from reducing emissions to producing clean energy, improving food security, and much more. Further, studies show that ocean-based climate solutions can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 35%. As a researcher, you could help contribute to critical research that can help limit pollution and create sustainable practices.

Some research ideas you can consider include:

17. Investigate how introducing artificial coastal reefs and other techniques to restore habitats can help improve marine biodiversity.

18. Study the effect of plastic pollution on marine life and examine the benefits of adopting more eco-friendly and biodegradable packaging materials. Develop new methods to remove plastic from the ocean.

19. Study carbon sequestration, the process of capturing and storing excess carbon dioxide. How can coastal ecosystems like mangroves, saltmarshes, seagrasses, etc. help mitigate C02 emissions?

20. Study more sustainable and effective practices for ocean farming.

21. Research different marine organisms that have a positive environmental impact (for example, seaweed helps remove toxins from the water and has a negative carbon footprint).

The ideas offered here are by no means exhaustive, and you could come up with your own research interests once you’ve dug deeper into a topic that interests you!

Bonus — the Lumiere Research Scholar Program

If you are interested in doing university-level research in marine biology or other STEM subjects, then you could also consider applying to the Lumiere Research Scholar Program , a selective online high school program for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, over 4000 students applied for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.

Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation , a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students.

Kieran Lobo is a freelance writer from India, who currently teaches English in Spain.

Image Source: Unsplash

research ideas

Research Topics

Scripps researchers in the field and in the lab

Scripps Oceanography researchers work in a variety of fields in biology, earth science, and oceans and atmospheric science. Select any of the topics below for a sampling of researchers in that field, labs and centers associated with the topic, and news stories about the work.

Biological Impacts of Climate Change
Chemical Ecology
Coastal Ecology
Conservation Ecology
Coral Reef Biology and Ecology
Deep-Sea Biology
Developmental Biology of Marine Organisms
Ecosystem Dynamics and Theory
Environmental Toxicology
Fisheries Biology and Management
Genomics, Metagenomics, and Bioinformatics
Invertebrate Zoology and Parasitology
Life History Strategies and Behaviors
Marine Benthic Ecology
Marine Chemical Biology and Biotechnology
Marine Mammal Biology
Marine Microbiology
Natural Products Chemistry
Phylogenetics, Systematics and Biogeography
Physiology of Marine Organisms
Phytoplankton Biology and Algal Biofuels
Plankton Ecology and Food-Web Interactions
Polar Ecology
Population and Community Ecology
Population Genetics and Evolutionary Biology
Acoustics and Infrasound
Archaeology
Biogeochemistry
Coastal Processes
Cryosphere and Polar Science
Electromagnetism
Geodesy and Lithospheric Deformation
Geodynamics
Geomagnetism, Paleomagnetism
Geomorphology
High Temperature Geochemistry
Hydrogeology
Instrumentation and Observational Networks
Isotopic Geochemistry
Low Temperature Geochemistry
Marine, Atmospheric, and Aqueous Tracers
Marine Chemistry
Marine Geology and Geophysics
Mathematical and Theoretical Geophysics
Planetary Sciences and Meteoritics
Numerical Modeling
Paleoceanography and Paleoecology
Remote Sensing
Sedimentary Processes
Seismology and Earthquake Physics
Tectonics and Structural Geology
Volcanology
Applied Ocean Sciences
Atmospheric Aerosols and Chemistry
Autonomous Ocean Platforms and Global Observing Systems
Biogeochemistry and Greenhouse Gases
Climate Change and Health
Climate Sciences
Cloud Physics and Boundary Layer Processes
Coastal Oceanography
Environmental Justice
Global Hydrography and Circulation
Ice in the Climate System
Internal Waves and Ocean Mixing
Land Surface Hydrology
Modeling and State Estimation of the Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climate
Nearshore and Surf Zone Processes
Nonlinear and Surface Waves
Ocean Acidification
Ocean Acoustics
Ocean-Atmosphere Interactions
Ocean Instrumentation and Technology
Ocean Optics
Past Climate Change
Physical Oceanography
Public Health and Epidemiology
Remote Sensing and Satellite Oceanography
Southern Ocean and High-Latitude Climate Studies
Tropical Meteorology and Oceanography
Upper Ocean and Submesoscale Processes

"Biology of Sharks & Rays" on-line course |
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Shark evolution
Shark diversity
Shark Ecology
shark biology topics
Learning Resources

Topics in Shark Biology

Of all aspects of shark biology, behavior is perhaps the most fascinating. The essays collected here explore what sharks do and why they do it.

Distribution and Ecology

Where sharks live is shaped by their body form and feeding capabilities. The essays in this section explore aspects of how and why sharks live where they do.

Life History

How sharks earn a living in the sea is explored in this section, with particular emphasis on feeding and reproductive biology.

Scientific and vernacular names are conceptual 'handles' for making sense about the natural world. Although changes in usage may frustrate, they often point to some fascinating but little-known histories. Selected name histories are explored in this section.

Stripped of jargon, shark physiology is accessible and fascinating. The essays collected here explore the elegant ways in which sharks solve environmental challenges.

Record-Breakers

Everyone loves extremes the biggest, the smallest, the fastest, and so on. The essays collected here explore record-breakers among sharks and rays.

As dire threats to human life and limb go, sharks and stingrays are among the least of our worries. But there is no denying that we share a morbid curiosity about shark attack and stingray envenomations. Here's what you need to know to reduce your risk even further.

Sensory Biology

The sensory capabilities of sharks dwarf our own, often staggering the imagination. Sharks experience sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, and special senses completely alien to our experience. How sharks detect and respond to environmental cues is explored in this section.

Distribution & Ecology

Marine Biology

College of the Environment
University of Washington

Core Research Areas

There are many ways to focus your studies or research in marine biology, and it can be difficult to know where to start. The University of Washington has faculty with expertise in a diverse range of research areas related to marine biology. To help you explore these areas, we group many topics of interest into four ‘core research areas’. Click on a specific topic to find faculty who teach or research in the areas you’re interested in.

Many Marine Biologists research specific groups of organisms. How and why did they evolve? What is unique about this group of organisms? Many people have an early interest in sharks, whales and fish. Try exploring a group you aren’t as familiar with – lesser-known groups such as marine invertebrates or seaweeds may surprise you!

Marine Microbiology Salmon Sharks Fish Invertebrates Marine Mammals Seabirds

How do organisms in the marine environment move, get energy, or reproduce? How do they adapt to the stresses of their environment? How do they interact with each other? When we examine processes, we think about the physiology of an organism (i.e, how does it work?) as well as how that organism is similar to or different from other life in the ocean. This can advance our understanding of life in the sea, and may even have implications for human health or engineering.

Evolution & Adaptation Animal Behavior Genetics/Genomics

Habitats and Ecosystems

Marine life does not exist alone. It is part of a complex system of interactions with other organisms and the physical environment. Studying the ‘big picture’ through ecology or oceanography is a critical part of marine biology.

Salish Sea Ecology Tropical Ecology & Corals Oceanography Arctic Ecology Quantitative Ecology & Modeling

Changing Oceans

The oceans are constantly changing due to the natural cycles of tides or seasons to longer-term changes in global climate. Humans influence change in the oceans as societal and economic forces drive what we take out of the ocean and what we put in. Marine Biologists have an important voice in decisions about conservation and marine policy.

Image of the SSV Robert C. Seamans alongside Nikumaroro.

Science Communication Resource Management Climate & Global Change Conservation

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USF Research
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Digital Commons @ USF > College of Marine Science > Theses and Dissertations

Marine Science Theses and Dissertations

Theses/dissertations from 2023 2023.

Environmental chemical analysis method optimization and application to northwest Cuban marine sediment , Thea R. Bartlett

Exploring the Impact of Eddies on Southern Ocean Biogeochemical Structure using BGC-Argo Float Observations , Nicola J. Guisewhite

Meta-Analysis of United States Seabird Populations Based on Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS) Records (1965–2018) , Savannah Hartman

Stable Isotopic Investigation of the Hydrological Cycle of West-Central Florida , Toedsit Netratanawong

Examining paleoshorelines in the eastern Gulf of Mexico: Insights on sea level history and potential areas of interest for habitat management , Catalina Rubiano

Stable Isotope Analysis on Yellowfin and Blackfin Tuna Eye Lenses Reveals Life History Patterns in the Gulf of Mexico , Kylee M. Rullo

Stable Isotope Analysis of Doryteuthis (Amerigo) pealeii Eye Lenses to Determine Migratory Patterns in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico Using Statoliths for Age Determination , Hannah M. Schwaiger

Theses/Dissertations from 2022 2022

The effects of temperature and oxygen availability on aerobic performance in three coastal shark species; Squalus acanthias, Carcharhinus limbatus, and Carcharhinus leucas , Alyssa M. Andres

Continuous Effort Required to Maintain Populations of Outplanted Acropora cervicornis in the Florida Reef Tract, USA , Tiffany S. Boisvert

Elucidating the Sources Supplying Aerosol Iron, Zinc, and Cadmium to the Surface of the North Pacific Ocean with Stable Isotopes , Zach B. Bunnell

Quantifying Environmental Sensitivity of Marine Resources to Oil Well Blowouts in the Gulf of Mexico , Emily Chancellor

Zooplankton Biodiversity in the Northeast Gulf of Mexico and on the West Florida Shelf from 2005 - 2014 , Megan Ferguson

Coupling 210 Pb and 14 C to constrain carbon burial efficiency of blue carbon ecosystems , Tynisha R. Martin

Empirical and Modeled δ13C and δ15N Isoscapes in the Gulf of Mexico and their Application to Fish Eye Lens Migration Studies , Brianna Michaud

Interactions between juvenile estuary-dependent fishes and microalgal dynamics , Ian C. Williams

Theses/Dissertations from 2021 2021

Metabolic Rate, Critical Oxygen Partial Pressure, and Oxygen Supply Capacity of Farfantepenaeus duorarum at their Lower Thermal Limit , Alexandra L. Burns

From River to Sea: Improving Carbon System Measurement Methods for use in Rivers, Estuaries, and Oceans , Ellie Hudson-Heck

Riverine and Estuarine CO2-System Studies on the West Coast of Florida , Christopher S. Moore

Past Ice-Ocean Interactions on the Sabrina Coast shelf, East Antarctica: Deglacial to Recent Paleoenvironmental Insights from Marine Sediments , Kara J. Vadman

Investigating the Recent History of a Changing Planet with Innovative Isotopic Techniques and New Geologic Archives , Ryan A. Venturelli

Theses/Dissertations from 2020 2020

Testing the Efficacy of Recompression Tools to Reduce the Discard Mortality of Reef Fishes in the Gulf of Mexico , Oscar E. Ayala

Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Organochlorine Pesticides, and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Snapper (Family Lutjanidae) from Cuba and the Wider Gulf of Mexico , Brigid E. Carr

A Health Evaluation of Gulf of Mexico Golden Tilefish (Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps) and Red Snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) Following the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill , Kristina Leigh Deak

A Process-based Approach to Evaluating the Role of Organic Ligands in Trace Metal Cycling in the Marine Environment , Travis Mellett

Investigation of Retention Versus Export of Planktonic Fish Eggs in the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico , Bich Vi Viviane Nguyen

Development of a Benthic Foraminifera Based Marine Biotic Index (Foram-AMBI) for the Gulf of Mexico: a Decision Support Tool , Bryan O'Malley

Plio-Pleistocene Antarctic Ice-Ocean Interactions in the Ross Sea , Catherine Prunella

Mechanisms of Carbon Movement and Stabilization in Mangrove Wetlands , Carey Schafer

Hepatobiliary Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Pelagic Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico , Madison R. Schwaab

Analytical Methods and Critical Analyses Supporting Thermodynamically Consistent Characterizations of the Marine CO 2 System , Jonathan D. Sharp

Large Thecosome Pteropods of the Northern Gulf of Mexico: Species Abundance, Spatial and Vertical Distribution With a Temporal Comparison of Shell Thickness , Sarah M. Shedler

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Exposure, Hepatic Accumulation, and Associated Health Impacts in Gulf of Mexico Tilefish (Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps) , Susan M. Snyder

Investigating the Isotope Signatures of Dissolved Iron in the Southern Atlantic Ocean , Brent A. Summers

Modeling Early Life: Ontogenetic Growth and Behavior Affect Population Connectivity in Gulf of Mexico Marine Fish , Kelly Vasbinder

Isotope-Based Methods for Evaluating Fish Trophic Geographies , Julie L. Vecchio

Theses/Dissertations from 2019 2019

Use of Spectrofluorometry to Detect Petroleum Hydrocarbons in the Marine Environment , Mary Iris Abercrombie

Can Florida's Springs Coast provide a Potential Refuge for Calcifying Organisms? Evidence from Benthic Foraminifera , Kyle E. Amergian

Iron-Virus Interactions: Development and Testing of the Ferrojan Horse Hypothesis , Chelsea Bonnain

DNA Barcoding of Fish Eggs in the Gulf of Mexico , Makenzie Burrows

Ecological Responses of Seascape Heterogeneity , Dinorah H. Chacin

Species Abundance, Spatial and Vertical Distributionsof Large Heteropods (Pterotracheidae and Carinariidae)in the Northern Gulf of Mexico , Kristine A. Clark

Zooplankton Community Structure in the NE Gulf of Mexico: Impacts of Environmental Variability and the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill , Kate M. Dubickas

Life History Through the Eyes of a Hogfish: Evidence of Trophic Growth and Differential Juvenile Habitat Use , Meaghan E. Faletti

Population Demographics of Golden Tilefish Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps in the Gulf of Mexico , Greta J. Helmueller

Regeneration of Trace Metals During Phytoplankton Decay: An Experimental Study , Adrienne P. Hollister

Estimating Coastal Water Turbidity Using VIIRS Nighttime Measurement , Chih-Wei Huang

Untapped Potential of Gorgonian Octocorals for Detecting Environmental Change in Biscayne National Park, Florida, USA , Selena A. Kupfner Johnson

High-Resolution Investigation of Event Driven Sedimentation: Response and Evolution of the Deepwater Horizon Blowout in the Sedimentary System , Rebekka A. Larson

Variations of Sedimentary Biogenic silica in the Gulf of Mexico during the Deepwater Horizon and IXTOC-I Oil Spill. , Jong Jin Lee

Variations of Global Ocean Salinity from Multiple Gridded Argo Products , Chao Liu

Fish Communities on Natural and Artificial Reefs in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico , Elizabeth C. Viau

Reconstructing Geographic and Trophic Histories of Fish Using Bulk and Compound-Specific Stable Isotopes from Eye Lenses , Amy A. Wallace

Studies of the Long-term Change of Global Mean and Regional Sea Surface Height , Yingli Zhu

Theses/Dissertations from 2018 2018

Ecophysiology of Oxygen Supply in Cephalopods , Matthew A. Birk

Remote Estimation of Surface Water p CO 2 in the Gulf of Mexico , Shuangling Chen

Spatial Dynamics and Productivity of a Gulf of Mexico Commercial Reef Fish Fishery Following Large Scale Disturbance and Management Change , Marcy Lynn Cockrell

Quantifying the Probability of Lethal Injury to Florida Manatees Given Characteristics of Collision Events. , B. Lynn Combs

Diversity of ssDNA Phages Related to the Family Microviridae within the Ciona robusta Gut , Alexandria Creasy

Use of a Towed Camera System along the west Florida shelf: A Case Study of the Florida Middle Grounds Benthic Marine Communities , Katie S. Davis

Using Ecosystem-Based Modeling to Describe an Oil Spill and Assess the Long-Term Effects , Lindsey N. Dornberger

Extending Spectrophotometric pHT Measurements in Coastal and Estuarine Environments , Nora Katherine Douglas

Evaluating the use of larval connectivity information in fisheries models and management in the Gulf of Mexico , Michael Drexler

An Interdisciplinary Approach to Understanding Predator-Prey Relationships in a Changing Ocean: From System Design to Education , Ileana M. Freytes-Ortiz

Application of Image Recognition Technology to Foraminiferal Assemblage Analyses , Christian Helmut Gfatter

Evaluation of trace-metal and isotopic records as techniques for tracking lifetime movement patterns in fishes , Jennifer E. Granneman

The Stability of Sand Waves in a Tidally-Influenced Shipping Channel, Tampa Bay, Florida , John Willis Gray

Application of Modern Foraminiferal Assemblages to Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction: Case Studies from Coastal and Shelf Environments , Christian Haller

Integrating Towed Underwater Video with Multibeam Acoustics for Mapping Benthic Habitat and Assessing Reef Fish Communities on the West Florida Shelf , Alexander Ross Ilich

Evaluating Beach Water Quality and Dengue Fever Risk Factors by Satellite Remote Sensing and Artificial Neural Networks , Abdiel Elias Laureano-Rosario

Microbial Associations of Four Species of Algal Symbiont-Bearing Foraminifera from the Florida Reef Tract, USA , Makenna May Martin

Environmental controls on the geochemistry of Globorotalia truncatulinoides in the Gulf of Mexico: Implications for paleoceanographic reconstructions , Caitlin Elizabeth Reynolds

Dormancy in the Amphistegina gibbosa Holobiont: Ecological and Evolutionary Implications for the Foraminifera , Benjamin J. Ross

Optical Remote Sensing of Oil Spills in the Gulf of Mexico , Shaojie Sun

Spatial and Temporal Distributions of Pelagic Sargassum in the Intra-Americas Sea and Atlantic Ocean , Mengqiu Wang

Theses/Dissertations from 2017 2017

Packaging of Genetic Material by Gene Transfer Agents (GTAs) Produced by Marine Roseobacter Species and Their Effect on Stimulating Bacterial Growth , Shahd Bader Aljandal

Spatio-temporal Dynamics of Soil Composition and Accumulation Rates in Mangrove Wetlands , Joshua L. Breithaupt

Characterizing Benthic Habitats Using Multibeam Sonar and Towed Underwater Video in Two Marine Protected Areas on the West Florida Shelf, USA , Jennifer L. Brizzolara

Latitudinal Position and Trends of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and its Relationship with Upwelling in the Southern Caribbean Sea and Global Climate Indices , Kaitlyn E. Colna

Calibration-free Spectrophotometric Measurements of Carbonate Saturation States in Seawater , Erin E. Cuyler

Viruses in marine animals: Discovery, detection, and characterizarion , Elizabeth Fahsbender

Quantity Trumps Quality: Bayesian Statistical Accumulation Modeling Guides Radiocarbon Measurements to Construct a Chronology in Real-time , Devon Robert Firesinger

Characterizing Gross Lesions in Corals on Fringing Reefs of Taiwan and Hainan Island, China , Adrienne George

Reef Fish Biodiversity in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary , Megan E. Hepner

Investigating Marine Resources in the Gulf of Mexico at Multiple Spatial and Temporal Scales of Inquiry , Joshua Paul Kilborn

Southern Ocean Transport by Combining Satellite Altimetry and Temperature/Salinity Profile Data , Michael Kosempa

Role of viruses within metaorganisms: Ciona intestinalis as a model system , Brittany A. Leigh

Evaluating satellite and supercomputing technologies for improved coastal ecosystem assessments , Matthew James Mccarthy

Stable Isotopes in the Eye Lenses of Doryteuthis plei: Exploring Natal Origins and Migratory Patterns in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico , Brenna A. Meath

Genetic Identification and Population Characteristics of Deep-Sea Cephalopod Species in the Gulf of Mexico and Northwestern Atlantic Ocean , Amanda Sosnowski

Investigation of Sediment Ridges Using Bathymetry and Backscatter near Clearwater, Florida , Lewis Stewart

Resolving chronological and temperature constraints on Antarctic deglacial evolution through improved dating methodology , Cristina Subt

Subtropical benthos vary with reef type, depth, and grazing intensity , Kara R. Wall

Theses/Dissertations from 2016 2016

Diversity and Distribution of Diatom Endosymbionts in Amphistegina spp. (Foraminifera) Based on Molecular and Morphological Techniques , Kwasi H. Barnes

Abundance of Archaias angulatus on the West Florida Coast Indicates the Influence of Carbonate Alkalinity over Salinity , Sean Thomas Beckwith

Resource Use Overlap in a Native Grouper and Invasive Lionfish , Joseph Schmidt Curtis

Miocene Contourite Deposition (along-slope) near DeSoto Canyon, Gulf of Mexico: A Product of an Enhanced Paleo-Loop Current , Shane Christopher Dunn

Trophic Ecology and Habitat Use of Atlantic Tarpon ( Megalops atlanticus ) , Benjamin Neal Kurth

Characterization of Bacterial Diversity in Cold-Water Anthothelidae Corals , Stephanie Nichole Lawler

Whiting Events Off Southwest Florida: Remote Sensing and Field Observations , Jacqueline Long

Pollutants and Foraminiferal Assemblages in Torrecillas Lagoon: An Environmental Micropaleontology Approach , Michael Martinez-Colon

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The oceans are critical to human life, and ocean scientists are working to investigate the untapped potential of the sea in order to maximize these benefits.

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Articles on Marine biology

Displaying 1 - 20 of 173 articles.

Climate change is causing marine ‘coldwaves’ too, killing wildlife

Nicolas Benjamin Lubitz , James Cook University and David Schoeman , University of the Sunshine Coast

Sex, birth and whalesong: life on the humpback highway

Vanessa Pirotta , Macquarie University

As climate change and pollution imperil coral reefs, scientists are deep-freezing corals to repopulate future oceans

Mary Hagedorn , Smithsonian Institution

How do halibut migrate? Clues are in their ear bones

Charlotte Gauthier , Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC)

Surviving fishing gear entanglement isn’t enough for endangered right whales – females still don’t breed afterward

Joshua Reed , Macquarie University ; Leslie New , Ursinus College ; Peter Corkeron , Griffith University , and Rob Harcourt , Macquarie University

Rare access to hammerhead shark embryos reveals secrets of its unique head development

Gareth J. Fraser , University of Florida

‘Jaws’ portrayed sharks as monsters 50 years ago, but it also inspired a generation of shark scientists

Gavin Naylor , University of Florida

Not all underwater reefs are made of coral − the US has created artificial reefs from sunken ships, radio towers, boxcars and even voting machines

Avery Paxton , National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and D'amy Steward , University of Guam

I set out to investigate where silky sharks travel − and by chance documented a shark’s amazing power to regenerate its sabotaged fin

Chelsea Black , University of Miami

What happens to the ocean if we take out all the fish? A marine ecologist explains the complex roles fish play in their ecosystem

Kory Evans , Rice University

Shipwrecks teem with underwater life, from microbes to sharks

Avery Paxton , National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

As seas get warmer, tropical species are moving further from the equator

Karolina Zarzyczny , University of Southampton

Australian dolphins have the world’s highest concentrations of ‘forever chemicals’

Chantel Foord , RMIT University

Oxygen in the St. Lawrence Estuary is decreasing – and having a major impact on small animals living there

Ludovic Pascal , Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR) and Gwénaëlle Chaillou , Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR)

As the US begins to build offshore wind farms, scientists say many questions remain about impacts on the oceans and marine life

Erin L. Meyer-Gutbrod , University of South Carolina ; Douglas Nowacek , Duke University ; Eileen E. Hofmann , Old Dominion University , and Josh Kohut , Rutgers University

Fieldwork can be challenging for female scientists. Here are 5 ways to make it better

Sarah Hamylton , University of Wollongong ; Ana Vila Concejo , University of Sydney ; Hannah Power , University of Newcastle , and Shari L Gallop , University of Waikato

Nigeria’s new blue economy ministry could harness marine resources - moving the focus away from oil

Isa Olalekan Elegbede , Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg

Whales stop singing and rock lobsters lose their balance: how seismic surveys can harm marine life

Ryan Day , University of Tasmania ; Jayson Semmens , University of Tasmania , and Robert McCauley , Curtin University

Secrets of the Octopus Garden: Moms nest at thermal springs to give their young the best chance for survival

Amanda Kahn , San José State University and Jim Barry , San José State University

The secret lives of silky sharks: unveiling their whereabouts supports their protection

Shona Murray , The University of Western Australia and Jessica Meeuwig , The University of Western Australia

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Marine microbiology articles from across Nature Portfolio

Marine microbiology is the study of the microorganisms (bacteria, archaea, viruses and microbial eukaryotes) in the marine environment, including their biodiversity, ecology and biogeochemistry. The use of metagenomics has been fundamental in revealing the abundance and composition of marine microbial ecosystems.

Latest Research and Reviews

Ligand cross-feeding resolves bacterial vitamin B 12 auxotrophies

Two species of auxotrophic marine bacteria are shown to share precursors to synthesize the essential cofactor vitamin B 12 , and such ligand cross-feeding may be a common phenomenon in the ocean and other ecosystems.

Gerrit Wienhausen
Cristina Moraru
Meinhard Simon

Impact of the diet in the gut microbiota after an inter-species microbial transplantation in fish

Alberto Ruiz
Enric Gisbert
Karl B. Andree

Strong chemotaxis by marine bacteria towards polysaccharides is enhanced by the abundant organosulfur compound DMSP

The ability of marine bacteria to direct their movement in response to chemical gradients influences inter-species interactions, nutrient turnover, and ecosystem productivity. Here, Clerc et al. show that marine bacteria are strongly attracted to algal polysaccharides, and this chemotactic behaviour is enhanced by dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), a ubiquitous algal metabolite.

Estelle E. Clerc
Jean-Baptiste Raina
Roman Stocker

Metagenomic profiles of archaea and bacteria within thermal and geochemical gradients of the Guaymas Basin deep subsurface

The authors study microbial communities in hydrothermally heated, subseafloor sediment layers. They find that microbial abundance and diversity decrease with sediment depth and temperature, and provide evidence for the existence of a specialized deep, hot biosphere.

Paraskevi Mara
David Geller-McGrath
Andreas Teske

Taxonomic identification and temperature stress tolerance mechanisms of Aequorivita marisscotiae sp. nov

A novel Aequorivita bacterium isolated from deep sea sediments in Antarctica could increase cold tolerance of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii , transcriptomics revealed peptidoglycan rearrangement as key response to cold stress.

Bailin Cong
Linlin Zhao

Biodegradation of PET by the membrane-anchored PET esterase from the marine bacterium Rhodococcus pyridinivorans P23

A PET-degrading bacterium forming biofilms on PET surfaces was isolated from marine deep-sea sediment. The PET esterase localized at the cell surface was constitutively produced and also slowly degrading MHET to TPA under acidic conditions.

Jingjing Duan
Zongze Shao

News and Comment

Nitroplast organelle unveiled.

A recent study reports the existence of a nitrogen-fixing organelle called the ‘nitroplast’.

Ashley York

Culturing enigmatic marine bacteria

Bruno Francesco Rodrigues de Oliveira
Yahyah Yusuff

Bacterial collective harvests carbon

A study on a marine bacterium shows that it can form multicellular aggregates, which enable division of labour.

Ursula Hofer

Iron keeps Trichodesmium afloat

This study describes how a marine cyanobacterium carries out nitrogen and carbon fixation at the same time.

A probiotic for seaweed

This study shows that the application of probiotic bacteria to seaweed can protect from pathogen-induced bleaching.

Ciliate symbionts create the flow

This study shows that flagellate epibionts channel nutrient flows towards their large diatom host.

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Summers warm up faster than winters, fossil shells from Antwerp show

In a warmer climate, summers warm much faster than winters. That is the conclusion of research into fossil shells by earth scientist Niels de Winter. With this knowledge we can better map the consequences of current global warming in the North Sea area.

De Winter, affiliated with the Department of Earth Sciences at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and the AMGC research group at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, measured alongside colleagues from institutions such as the Institute for Natural Sciences in Brussels the chemical composition of fossil shells from Antwerp, Belgium. Those shells originate from molluscs such as oysters, cockles, and scallops found during the construction works of the Kieldrecht Lock. The molluscs lived lived during the Pliocene, approximately three million years ago, in the North Sea, which at that time also covered parts of Flanders and the Netherlands. The shells grew layer by layer, much like tree rings or fingernails, and stored very detailed information in their shell during their lifetime.

Snapshot of the seasons

During the Pliocene, the Earth was on average 2.5 to 3 degrees Celsius warmer than it is now. In their study, published in Science Advances , the researchers took a 'snapshot' of the climate at that time to gain insight into the difference between the seasons in a warmer climate.

Rare heavy isotopes

They use the 'clumped isotope analysis' method. With this method, researchers study the composition of shells in even more detail. They do this by measuring the extent to which rare heavy isotopes of both oxygen and carbon occur in the same carbonate from which shells are built. These isotopes are more common in shells that formed in colder waters. As a result, the measurements can be used to reconstruct the temperature in which the shells were formed. This method is more accurate than conventional methods for temperature reconstructions because it does not rely on assumptions about the composition of the seawater in which the mollusks grew.

Summers heat up more than winter

The key insight is that summers warm much more than winters in a warmer climate such as the Pliocene. While winters became about 2.5 degrees warmer, temperatures during summer were about 4.3 degrees higher. The researchers see a similar result in models projecting future climate, which predict roughly the same amount of warming for the year 2100.

The study gives us a glimpse of what the climate in Europe will be like if we continue our current trend towards a warmer world. De Winter: "We will likely experience stronger temperature differences between summer and winter, and the chance of heatwaves during the summer will increase."

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Story Source:

Materials provided by Vrije Universiteit Brussel . Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference :

Niels J. de Winter, Julia Tindall, Andrew L. A. Johnson, Barbara Goudsmit-Harzevoort, Nina Wichern, Pim Kaskes, Philippe Claeys, Fynn Huygen, Sonja van Leeuwen, Brett Metcalfe, Pepijn Bakker, Stijn Goolaerts, Frank Wesselingh, Martin Ziegler. Amplified seasonality in western Europe in a warmer world . Science Advances , 2024; 10 (20) DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adl6717

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