 exploring, preserving and protecting the genetic diversity of the world's oceans
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OGL Newsletter
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Greetings!
Dead leaves, dead mosquitoes and the Day-of-the-Dead are all things we normally look forward to during the month of October. However, the "dead zones" of our world's lakes and oceans remain long after the last leaf has fallen, and are of ever-increasing concern as they contribute to the dwindling of marine life habitat. Read below as we talk about the causes and ramifications of the dead zones.
And, as always, follow our expeditions and other news from the marine world on our Facebook and Twitter pages!
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The Dead Zones: What Can We Do to Stop Eutrophication?
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The Missisippi River dead zone is overloaded with nutrients from upstream sources. This photo shows the color change between the hypoxic (brown) and oxygen-rich (blue) waters. Photo: NOAA
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If you look at satellite images of coastlines around the world, particularly around estuaries and river mouths, you will often see regions of dirty-brown coloring clearly demarcated from the clean blue of the surrounding waters. Drop a baited fishhook in these murky depths and it's likely to come back up untouched. That's because few fish or mollusks can thrive in these "dead zones".
Agricultural fertilizer, sewerage, combustion fumes and many types of industrial chemicals result in nutrients such as phosphates and nitrates running off into coastal waters.
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The eutrophication process.
Credit: Biosphere, Atmosphere and Hydrosphere Blog
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In a process called "eutrophication", phytoplankton, algae and bacteria thrive on these nutrients, creating enormous blooms. However, as these blooms die off and begin to settle and decompose in the water, oxygen is consumed in the
decomposition process, flow is reduced by the excessive debris, and sunlight can't reach
oxygen-producing plant life. The water becomes "hypoxic" - what in a healthy marine environment was 8-10 ppm of oxygen has been reduced to 2ppm, an amount insufficient to sustain most animal life. That means reduced biodiversity, and a reduced food
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This satellite image of the Gulf of Mexico shows oxygen content in coastal water. Low oxygen dissolved in the water(in red above) is often referred to as a "dead zone" because most marine life either dies, or, if they are mobile such as fish, leave the area. Habitats that would normally be teeming with life become, essentially, biological deserts. Photo: NOAA
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supply for your dinner table.
Anadromous species - those fish (such as salmon and herring) that live in the ocean but spawn upstream in fresh or briny water, are particularly impacted by this deadly phenomenon.
Over the past 50 years, nitrogen flow into coastal waters has doubled and phosphorus has tripled, according to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment.
What can we do to put the brakes on this vicious process? We can start by:
- Using fewer fertilizers and timing their application to reduce the amount of runoff into streams
- Keeping animal and human waste out of our waterways
- Monitoring septic, sewerage and industrial waste treatment systems to properly filter out nutrients and pollutants before discharging water or gas back into the environment
- Reducing our carbon footprint
- Restoring coastal wetlands to aid with filtering
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The Nicaraguan Marine Genome Sanctuary
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Thanks to Dr. Jorge Huete-Pérez and researchers at the Central American University (UCA) in Managua, Nicaragua, Ocean Genome Legacy has recently established a Marine Genome Sanctuary of the Estero Real and Estero Padre Ramos Natural Reserves in Nicaragua. To-date, more than 1150 specimens and 105 new species have been added to the Ocean Genome Resource as part of this special collection. Samples and DNA extracts are duplicated in a mirror collection of Nicaraguan biodiversity being established at UCA. These genomic materials and data are an indispensable resource for monitoring ecosystems and biodiversity in support of marine conservation efforts and other research. Find out more about our Marine Genome Sanctuary program at http://www.oglf.org/MarineGenomeSanctuaries.htm.
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The Shortjaw Leatherjack (Oligoplites refulgens); a shorefish of the tropical eastern Pacific found in the Estero Real. Photo: EOL
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| OGL 2012 Fall Fundraising Drive Continues | |
With cooler weather come changing colors in the leaves, the aroma of apple and pumpkin pie in the air, and the OGL Annual Fall Appeal. Please consider helping OGL to continue its good work in preserving and protecting the biodiversity of our world's oceans by contributing today. It's easy! Just visit our Donations page at http://www.oglf.org/Support.htm, where you'll find instructions on how to donate by check or by credit card.
Thanks in advance for your support!
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| Coming Soon... | |
Is polar ice melt clogging the arteries of our oceans?
The thermohaline circulation, the oceans' "conveyor belt", links the shallow and deep currents throughout the seven seas into a continuous chain of motion. Much like your own circulatory system, it helps to distribute nutrients and remove waste, balance temperatures and provide assistance for animal migration. Find out what climate change is doing to the lifeblood of our oceans.
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The Great Ocean Conveyor Belt
Image: Smithsonian Institution
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DONATE TO OGL
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Want to help OGL document and preserve the spectacular genetic diversity of our world's oceans? Visit http://www.oglf.org/Support.htm
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