New Research

The ever-changing oceans have a rise of acidification occurring, which may propose a threat to many of the earth’s animals. The question many scientists are now asking is “Will the earths animals, especially oceanic, be able to survive these increases in ocean acidification?” While a tough topic to give a definitive answer, the problem occurring is proposing a threat to all animals, not just the ones in the ocean. While a definite threat, evolution tells us that it is possible to overcome such situations but it’s a matter of how fast they can adapt. At the University of California Santa Barbara, they have begun research on sea urchins to try and see fi they can adapt and survive in waters with higher acidity levels. They did specific research on the larvae of the sea urchins as well as fully-grown to compare the different tolerances and adaptations of them. As the urchin larvae’s grew in the higher acid water, researchers found that they developed smaller body sizes, which they can relate to the acid. This showed that something in the genetic makeup of the urchins, there is a tolerance for higher acidity. While this showed promise for certain species, they are not certain if it will apply for a majority of the oceans creatures. They believe that most can adapt but that most creatures will adapt too slow which can cause mass extinction of that animal. While it is interesting to view these tests, only time will tell which creatures will survive this difficult evolutionary segment.

http://www.popsci.com/article/science/can-marine-life-survive-more-acid-oceans-0

Marine Algae used for Biofuels

The Scripps Institute of oceanography at UC San Diego have developed ground breaking advances in a method to greatly enhance biofuel production in tiny marine algae. In order to obtain this feat they developed a method to genetically engineer a key growth component in biofuel production. These developments come from a need for everyone to depend on traditional bio fuels less. A large hurdle has been lipid production slowing advancements but Scripps has figured out a way to overcome that problem. They have used data of generic expression to target specific enzyme inside a group of microscopic marine algae known as diatoms. "These results demonstrate that targeted metabolic manipulations can be used to increase accumulation of fuel-relevant molecules. with no negative effects on growth," said Emily Trentacoste, a main developer on this. "We have shown that engineering this pathway is a unique and practical approach for increasing lipid yields." It is a huge scientific advancement. Just a few years ago it was said to be impossible to claim such a feat but it has been done now. As a main marine research institution in the US, it is fitting that Scripps is the school to develop such groundbreaking and innovative processes for the whole marine and fuel industry.

http://esciencenews.com/articles/2013/11/21/scripps.oceanography.researchers.engineer.breakthrough.biofuel.production

http://scoopsandiego.com/news/local/scripps-institution-of-oceanography-makes-advances-in-algae-to-biofuel/article_aa40ce4a-5233-11e3-a716-001a4bcf6878.html

A Glowing Worm

An example of a Chaeteopterus Variopedatus that grows green 

There is a strange sea worm that has a cool party trick that amazes anyone who sees it. The Chaeteopterus Variopedatus also known as parchment tubeworm because of the paper like tubes it builds itself then lives in. These worms emit bioluminescent mucus that glows a beautiful blue color. Scientists are now one step closer to understanding how these worms make the bioluminescent glow. These worms, found in shallow, sandy, seafloors around the world is get apart from other glow worms because of the unique glow they emit. Any parchment tubeworm that does possess bioluminescent at those depths glow green, not blue. "Shallow water is much more complex than deep water from a physical standpoint, and green is what organisms see best," Dmitri Deheyn, a biologist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography said. Until now, nobody has done real research into why these organisms glow blue. Deheyn is now conducting experiments to determine these causes. They initially found that these worms, unlike any other bioluminescent worms, do not need oxygen, Light is produced when two chemicals react with oxygen so when there is no oxygen it can contribute to the blue color. In a second experiment the scientists found that riboflavin plays an important roll in the light production however they do not know why yet. The team has yet to discover why or how these worms emit a blue like but research will continue.

http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/11/17/ocean-glow-stick-sea-worm-emits-strange-blue-glow/

New Discoveries

New research has gone into developments of discovering new species of life in the deepest and darkest parts of the ocean’s These animals scientists are discovering and researching have to deal with frigid temperatures, no sunlight, and absurd amounts of inward forcing pressure. There

are not many animals that can cope with such environments but there are many that actually can. In the Mariana trench approximately 6.8 miles down, there are life forms that deal with insane environments that most people once thought an animal could never survive in. "Special adaptations are 
needed for living things to survive the pressure, cold and low food availability of the deep sea," says Monash University marine biologist Richard Reina. "Despite this, there is a surprisingly large diversity of life – although at very low abundance." While there are these life forms in the oceans, these fish seem to be fairly simple and do not seem to swim very much. Most have bioluminetric abilities, which make them have a sit and wait approach to consuming food. The extreme conditions make finding out about new life forms at the bottoms of our oceans nearly impossible. It has been said that scientist’s today know more about the potential for life forms on other planets than they do about the trenches on our own planet. "The difficulties of surveying and sampling mean there are many undiscovered species waiting to be found," he says. "This project will greatly advance our knowledge of what lives in the deepest seas, as well as how they manage to survive in such an inhospitable environment." In the Kermadec Trench they have started research and slowly have descended to new depths surveying more and more areas. The technology these scientists are using is the newest and best they can but the sheer physics of the task is what stands in their way.

Citation:

http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/looking-for-life-at-the-bottom-of-the-sea-20131108-2x5d0.html#ixzz2kIN0r54N