A new project in Spain shows how digital twins, which are virtual replicas of real environments, are becoming powerful tools for protecting ecosystems. Fujitsu and the BCN Port Innovation Foundation have announced a proof of concept to create an ocean digital twin at the Port of Barcelona. (Will they use Mirai robots at sea?)

The initiative will use underwater drones, artificial intelligence and advanced analytics to generate detailed digital models of the seabed and marine life. The goal is to support “the regeneration of the marine environment, the protection of biodiversity and the promotion of the blue economy.” Using non-destructive sensing, the system will visualize biodiversity, estimate vegetation coverage and calculate blue carbon stored in marine algae.

Digital twins work by collecting real-world data through sensors, drones or satellites and feeding it into a digital model that mirrors the real ecosystem. In Barcelona, autonomous vehicles will map the seabed while machine-learning systems translate the information into measurable indicators. According to the project description, “Machine learning models convert this data into quantitative environmental intelligence, estimating vegetation coverage, assessing habitat extent, and calculating blue carbon absorption.”

One powerful feature of digital twins is the ability to test future scenarios before action is taken. The platform developed by Fujitsu will allow environmental simulations to evaluate policy or infrastructure impacts. The system “enables the simulation of ‘what if’ scenarios, helping pre-verification of environmental measures before they are implemented to prioritize investments based on their real impact.”

Ángeles Delgado, president of Fujitsu Spain and Portugal, says the approach turns complex marine data into practical insight: “This project demonstrates how technology can become a true ally of sustainability. The ocean digital twin allows us to transform complex data from the marine environment into actionable information to protect biodiversity, promote blue carbon initiatives, and make evidence-based decisions.”

Ocean twins are part of a broader trend using digital replicas to manage environmental systems. Cities are building urban digital twins to model climate impacts, researchers are creating forest twins to track carbon storage and wildfire risk, and global projects such as Europe’s Destination Earth climate twin aim to simulate the entire planet to improve climate forecasting and environmental planning.

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Is Anyone Listening? A Marine Biologist’s 40-Year Conversation with Dolphins

In 1985, marine biologist Denise Herzing set out on a six-week research trip to the Bahamas to study wild dolphins. Four decades later, she’s still there—immersed in what has become a lifelong effort to understand how dolphins communicate. Herzing’s new book, Is Anyone Listening? (University of Chicago Press, 2024), distills this remarkable journey and argues that it’s time we meet animals not just as research subjects, but as potential conversational partners.

Herzing’s work with Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) through her nonprofit Wild Dolphin Project is among the longest continuous underwater studies of a single dolphin population in the world. She’s logged thousands of hours in the water and helped pioneer underwater keyboards and acoustic tools to investigate symbolic communication between humans and dolphins.

But not everyone is convinced the book qualifies as science. In a recent review for Nature, marine mammal expert Laela Sayigh praises Herzing’s “remarkable fieldwork” but warns that the book “lacks sufficient data and references,” leaving some claims unsubstantiated. “However, Herzing’s passion for nature and animals makes for a positive overarching message,” she writes.

Related: Saving Seychelles turtles – Jeanne Mortimer

Despite its speculative tone, the book opens important ethical questions: If animals are capable of language-like behavior, how should we interact with them?

Communication Underground, Underwater, and in the Canopy

Herzing’s work joins a growing body of research showing that non-human communication systems may be far more complex—and more meaningful—than once believed. At Green Prophet, we’ve followed this theme through the treetops, across deserts, and even underground.

Take frogs, for instance: scientists have shown that some species, like the red-eyed tree frog (Agalychnis callidryas), use seismic communication by shaking leaves beneath them to warn off predators or signal mates. These substrate-borne vibrations function like primitive Morse code, especially in low-visibility environments like rainforest understories.

And ants? Not to be outdone, recent soil science reveals how some tropical ant and termite species create micro-engineered soil structures, aiding water retention and plant growth. Their subterranean tunnel systems could inspire future architects and soil conservationists alike.

Even plants get in on the conversation. Some researchers suggest that root systems “communicate” chemically with fungi, triggering nutrient exchanges that resemble trading systems. Other researchers say they can pick up on the jabber. Whether we call it communication or co-evolution, it challenges long-held assumptions about intelligence.

While Is Anyone Listening? may not satisfy those looking for hard statistics, it’s a compelling read for anyone interested in the intersection of science, philosophy, and animal behavior. Herzing’s voice—at once personal, precise, and probing—asks us not just to decode dolphin sounds but to consider our role as co-inhabitants of a shared, noisy planet.

And with artificial intelligence now being deployed to analyze animal languages (see the CETI project on sperm whale communication), the field Herzing helped pioneer is more relevant than ever.

The post Want to speak “dolphin”? appeared first on Green Prophet.

Meet Andreas Weil, founder of EcoOcean, Israel’s leading marine conservation organization which has reached hundreds of thousands and brought the concept of Blue Flag beaches to Israel.

Under the blue, sparkling surface of the Mediterranean Sea lies an aquatic world teeming with life, history, and untold stories. For Andreas Weil, founder of the marine protection NGO EcoOcean, this vast marine expanse is more than just a sea; it represents a lifelong passion and mission. Growing up in Sweden, Weil has always had a passion for the environment. Weil explained his reasons for coming to Israel as “I’m going to have fun and do good for the country.”

He began his time in Israel studying Environmental Studies at the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies. He began to discover his purpose and his reason for being.

When Weil settled in Israel, he noticed a stark contrast between his homeland of Sweden and his new home of Israel. While Sweden was one of the first countries to expand, promote, and participate in green initiatives and recycling, Israel was lagging. There was no awareness, education, or environmental culture in the country. This troubled Weil. He saw that Israelis viewed the environment and climate change as a secondary issue. They disregarded the environment.

What troubled him also was the state of the Mediterranean Sea and the beautiful beaches of Israel being covered in trash. One point of emphasis Weil found was that Israelis did not take responsibility for the garbage that was in their seas. So, he decided to put down the facts. His initial research focussed on where the trash was coming from. He found that 80% of the garbage in the oceans was not from Gaza, Jordan, or any other country, as many had thought. It was from Israel. When framed this way, the Israelis realized that if they were to stop putting trash in the ocean, they would be 80% cleaner. Weil envisioned a new Israel, one where everyone was educated on the environment and the dangers of climate change.

Building EcoOcean

EcoOcean was born out of this vision to research, gather facts, and educate everyone. Central to EcoOcean’s success is the Mediterranean Explorer, the only privately operated marine research vessel in the region. Today, the level of research has increased, not without thanks to the Mediterranean Explorer and Weil himself. Armed with his ship and equipment, Weil set sail to find facts to bring back to Israel. The goal of the boat is to investigate water quality, marine life, trash, and other issues within the Mediterranean. With the information they collect, EcoOcean is not only well equipped to inform the public but also the government.

Discoveries are a commonality on board. While most are focused on climate research, they also have made discoveries outside the realm. One recent discovery made by the ship and its team is a sea sponge that possesses properties that could lead to a cure for Alzheimer’s.

Education is at the core of EcoOcean’s strategy. Starting with 10,000 students and evolving 20 years later to over 20,000, Weil and EcoOcean’s mission is to provide education to all on the topic of the environment and the looming climate threat. Weil has accomplished this with the help of others, starting with only two workers and evolving into a team of 18 full-time staff members and 25 freelance teachers.

They have a learning center called Seakura, located in Mikhmoret. Their center is only the start of it. They send their team of teachers to schools across Israel to provide constant, sustained education to the youth. Teachings focus on sustainability, climate change, and environmental ethics. Additionally, EcoOcean and its educators offer hands-on experiences, such as beach cleanups, that forge a strong, authentic connection to the issue at hand. “You are responsible as a citizen not only to pay taxes,” Weil says. “You’re supposed to clean and take care of your gift.” Israel.

EcoOcean doesn’t stop at education. It also works closely with the Ministry of Environmental Protection, local municipalities, and other NGOs to influence Israel’s environmental policies. One notable example of cooperation between EcoOcean and the Ministry is their “Disposable Dishes-Not in my Sea!” campaign, which educated the public on using reusable utensils, cups, and other kitchenware on the beach. The result was a visible reduction in single-use plastics on Israel’s sparkling, sandy beaches. As mentioned earlier, the Mediterranean Explorer is used to collect research for submission to the Israeli government. The abundance of information provided allows Israeli officials to identify and address clear problems.

Read related: This is the only government-funded sea turtle hospital in the world 

Environmental Unity in a Divided Region

Despite regional war and political tension, Weil sees marine conservation as a unifying force. EcoOcean and Weil are committed to providing the same level of education for all Israeli citizens. He says that “The environment does not have boundaries” and that, to have widespread change, the country needs “An Israel where people feel as one.” Nothing changes without cooperation.

You need a resilient population. He strongly believes in Tikkun Olam, the concept of repairing the world. Repairs can be done through education and information.

Looking ahead, Weil and EcoOcean’s ambitions are as expansive as the sea itself. He wants EcoOcean to one day reach 100,000 young people annually. Additionally, he aims to expand volunteer programs and enhance scientific contributions through blue ocean-based, tech, and climate research. Most of all, he wants all Israeli children to have access to marine education.

“If they approach us, we never want to say no,” he says. “We just need funding to say yes to everyone.”Weil’s vision extends far beyond Israel’s shores. “The environment and the threat of climate change can be the catalyst for Middle East peace,” he believes. “We are all part of the problem. We are all part of the solution. We can all fix it if we work together.”

Andreas Weil’s legacy is not about a single shoreline, beach, or sea. It is about a shift in attitude and consciousness. EcoOcean is a national leader in driving change, and its next goal is expansion to a broader area. “I want to go on a trip one day and hear everyone say, ‘I’d never throw trash in the ocean.'” This is when he believes he will have achieved his goals.

Until then, EcoOcean will continue to sail-chart a course for cleaner seas, educating citizens and working towards a future where the Mediterranean is a shared, thriving, and clean sea for all.

::EcoOcean 

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Washington State made history, becoming the first—and only—place in the world to successfully remove and permanently ban commercial net pen aquaculture.

Farmed fish can occur at sea and on land in pools, rainfed ponds, in tanks or in raceways. The approach is called aquaculture and for decades has been sold as a viable, and sustainable alternative to fishing from seas that are overfished. But not all environments are suitable for marine aquaculture, where fish live in cages and their effluent discharges at high concentrations in the coastal areas.

In addition to sea lice and viruses, a number of other pathogens found in farmed fish may pose a risk to wild salmon. Bacteria: Two bacterial diseases have the potential to impact wild salmon. The first, bacterial kidney disease (BKD) is caused by Renibacterium salmoninarum.

Because of the reduction of wild salmon in areas like Puget Sound, local orcas are starving as wild populations dwindle.

On January 7, the Washington State Board of Natural Resources cast a landmark vote to adopt a new rule prohibiting commercial finfish net pen aquaculture in all state-managed marine waters. Fish pens endandered Puget Sound’s ecosystems, and the activists who brought this decision to life say they are safeguarding the health of Washington’s public waters for generations to come.

Related: fishing for peace and fish farms for Gaza?

“This is a landmark moment for environmental protection,” said Emma Helverson, Executive Director of Wild Fish Conservancy who led the change in law. “Thanks to the commitment of the public and the leadership of Tribal Nations, we have achieved something extraordinary. This victory is not just for Puget Sound—it’s for every community, every species, and every ecosystem that has been impacted by the harmful practice of commercial net pens.”

Puget Sound is home to wild salmon and Southern Resident orcas.

This week’s victory is the direct result of Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz’s 2022 decision to deny the industry new decade-long leases for net pens, and her subsequent executive order directing the Department of Natural Resources to develop rules to permanently ban this practice.

These actions resulted in the complete removal of commercial net pens in Washington, making 2024 the first year in four decades that Puget Sound was free from daily pollution and the devastating impacts that net pens cause.

Just days before the vote, Tahlequah (J35), the Southern Resident orca who made global headlines in 2018 after she carried her stillborn calf for 17 days straight, was observed once again grieving her newest dead calf. Recent research shows an alarming 69% of Southern Resident orca pregnancies end in miscarriage due to malnutrition and that miscarriages far outnumber births of endangered orcas. J35 “Tahlequah” (pronounced tah-le-KWAH) is a 25-year-old female Southern resident killer whale. She is the matriarch of the J17 matriline.

The stark reality of mother orcas losing their calves is a painful reminder that these whales are starving and struggling to survive due to the depletion of large, quality, and abundant wild Chinook salmon, their primary food source.

“I hope the public will join us in thanking Commissioner Hilary Franz and her committed agency staff. From the very first steps she took in response to the 2017 Cypress Island net pen collapse, Commissioner Franz has been a fierce and unwavering leader, holding the industry accountable for their harmful actions, listening to the public’s voices, and ultimately making this historic victory possible,” says Helverson.

In a conflicting report from 2011, Green Prophet reported that farmed fishing isn’t so evil after all.

The rule was adopted by a majority 4-2 vote, with Commissioner Franz, Skagit County Commissioner Lisa Janicki, University of Washington’s Dan Brown, and Governor Jay Inslee’s financial advisor Jim Cahill all voting to approve the ban. The decision was informed by overwhelming public support, with over 80% of public comments submitted in favor of the permanent ban and is a direct response to the ongoing crisis facing wild salmon populations and Southern Resident killer whales, which rely on healthy, abundant runs for survival.

“In casting their votes for the permanent ban, these leaders set a new standard of environmental stewardship for governments and leaders, emphasizing that merely minimizing risks isn’t enough given the crisis facing wild salmon and the orcas who depend on them, “says Helverson. “These leaders recognize completely avoiding risk and harm is the only way to prevent the further decline toward extinction for these iconic species and to protect the public’s immense sacrifices and investments in their recovery.”

Since 2017, Wild Fish Conservancy has led the Our Sound, Our Salmon (OSOS) campaign and coalition to protect wild salmon and Puget Sound from the harm of net pen aquaculture. Over the past decade, this dedicated coalition has worked alongside Washington’s Tribal Nations in the legislature, courts, and countless advocacy efforts.

Washington’s success will also serve as a powerful model providing important momentum for the global movement to eliminate open water net pens, an industry that poses a threat to marine ecosystems everywhere in the world they exist.

Similar efforts to protect public waters and ecosystems from this industry are already underway in countries such as British Columbia, Chile, Scotland, Norway, Finland, and Tasmania and through the Global Salmon Farming Resistance.

How we can help? According to the Global Salmon Institute, the farmed salmon industry has grown substantially in the past 60 years. Approximately 70% of salmon produced worldwide is farmed. In 2021, more than 2.8 million tons of farmed salmonids were produced. In comparison, only around 705,000 tons of wild salmonids were caught.

Outside the United States in developing economies in the Middle East like Saudi Arabia, farmed fishing is growing quickly and there are non-existent activist groups to protect nature. Saudi Arabia’s fish farming industry, the production of fish farmed in saltwater and inland waters has surged by 56.4% since 2021, reaching an unprecedented 140,000 tons in 2023. In addition to aquaculture, marine fisheries in the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf contributed 74,700 tons, which represents a 16.2% increase over 2022. This brings the total fish production from aquaculture and marine fishing to 214,000 tons in 2023 –– yet how many activists or researchers are documenting the harm to the whales and sharks in the Red Sea?

Meanwhile the goal in Saudi Arabia, according to its Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture is to increase the per capita fish consumption to 30 pounds annually. Popular fish varieties in Saudi Arabia include Nile tilapia, sea bass, dentex, and shrimp.

Over in Lebanon, the situation is bleak. Fishermen target Mediterranean fish using dynamite.

The post Washington bans marine aquaculture nets for farmed fish in world first appeared first on Green Prophet.

The world is becoming too bright for bats. Baby oysters, too, are finding that sounds from us humans are causing them stress and is preventing them from moving away from “home” to settle into new environments, finds a new study. Noise pollution in seas may also be responsible in part to the proliferation of the oyster parasite multinucleate sphere X, or MSX, rendering oysters weak.

According to scientists at the University of Adelaide, oysters need specific sound cues to migrate and move around. Though they don’t swim, baby oysters do need to find the right habitat and ecosystem for them to live inside:

“The ocean’s natural sound is gradually hushing due to habitat loss, leading to a quieter natural environment increasingly drowned out by the crescendo of man-made noise pollution,” explained lead author Brittany Williams.

“Numerous marine larvae rely on natural sounds to navigate and select their dwellings, so this interference poses a problem for conservationists aiming to attract oysters to restored reefs using natural sounds.”

We know that shipping noises after whales and dolphins but marine noise pollution affects the less known creatures, some which are keystone species: “Noises from shipping, machinery and construction, for example, are pervasive and pose serious environmental change that affects both terrestrial and marine animals,” says Williams.

According to the research, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, marine organisms appear particularly vulnerable to the intensification of human-made or anthropogenic noise because they use sound for a range of activities, including to sense their surroundings, navigate, communicate, avoid predators, and find mates and food.

The teams have used a special kind of habitat “speaker” to help the oysters: But, “Our previous work demonstrated that novel acoustic technology can bolster oyster recruitment in habitat restoration projects, but this new research indicates potential limitations of this speaker technology,” said Dominic McAfee, who was part of the research team.

In environments where there is a lot of human noise pollution, the speakers did not increase larval recruitment.

Scientists all over the world have been playing specific seascape sounds using a loudspeaker to attract baby oysters. In the big scheme of things if the oysters are being attracted to harvesting islands where they are culled we can assume that natural selection will eventually wipe out the oysters who come for the call.

Oyster reef restorations are taking place in countries like America. This image shows surviving oyster reefs in Virginia. Aileen Devlin/Flickr, CC BY

“This suggests that noise pollution might cloak the intrinsic sounds of the ocean, potentially exerting profound ramifications on marine ecosystem vitality and resilience,” said co-author Professor Sean Connell, from the University of Adelaide and the Environment Institute.

While acoustic enrichment may be less effective along noisy metropolitan coastlines and urbanised waterways, the researchers are still optimistic about the application of the technique in less trafficked areas.

Another option: stop eating too much shellfish, and let the ocean dwellers take their own course.

The post The ocean is too loud for baby oysters appeared first on Green Prophet.

In the realm of superfoods, one stands out for  detoxifying potential – dulse. Harvested from the cold waters of the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, dulse, scientifically known as Palmaria palmata, is a red seaweed gaining popularity for its impressive health benefits. It takes heavy metals from the body and people are snacking on the salty seaweed likes it’s a bag of chips.

Rich in vitamins like C, B-vitamins, and A, dulse plays a crucial role in supporting immune function, energy metabolism, and maintaining healthy skin. Dulse boasts a significant mineral content, including iodine, iron, potassium, magnesium, and calcium, making it a well-rounded addition to a balanced diet.

Dulse is believed to be an important detoxifying agent that can pull heavy metals from the body. Heavy metals, such as mercury, lead, and cadmium, can accumulate in the body over time, posing serious health risks. Dulse contains compounds known as polysaccharides, which have been studied for their chelating properties – the ability to bind to and remove heavy metals from the bloodstream and tissues.

By supporting optimal thyroid function, dulse indirectly contributes to the body’s natural detoxification processes.

Dulse is a rich source of antioxidants.The polyphenols, flavonoids, and carotenoids found in dulse contribute to its potent antioxidant profile.

Dulse promotes heart health through various mechanisms. The fiber content aids in cholesterol regulation by helping to lower levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol. Maintaining healthy cholesterol levels is crucial for cardiovascular well-being, reducing the risk of heart disease.

The mineral composition of dulse, particularly potassium, magnesium, and calcium, contributes to electrolyte balance in the body. Electrolytes are essential for proper muscle function, nerve communication, and overall cellular health.

Eating dulse – tastes like bacon

Dulse has a unique, umami-rich flavor that can enhance the taste of various dishes. Vegans use it as a bacon alternative or as a meat substitute when added to curry or rice dishes. It gives off a wonderful flavour to many dishes: you can sprinkle dried dulse flakes onto salads, stir them into soups like you would use miso, or use them as a nutritious seasoning in any food for a savory kick. Our friends in the forest in Canada just munch on it like they are eating a bag of chips. It grows on you. 

“Dulse is a superfood, with twice the nutritional value of kale,” Chuck Toombs, a researcher on dulse who sees its potential in the human-food market.

“There hasn’t been a lot of interest in using it in a fresh form. But this stuff is pretty amazing,” said chief researcher Chris Langdon. “When you fry it, which I have done, it tastes like bacon, not seaweed. And it’s a pretty strong bacon flavor.”

Other detox foods forest friends suggest:

Barley grass juice extract powder

Wild blueberries frozen or fresh

Cilantro (organic)

Spirulina. dried or frozen

Burdock tea made from the roots of the plant

The post Why is dulse a superfood? appeared first on Green Prophet.

One of their most recent service internships, in the Dunwa Rai fishermen’s community in Nepal, brought 6 young Israeli and American Jews to help 30 local men and women rectify a polluted river situation.  The ecology of the river that the community had fished in for generations was disrupted, and so together all the volunteers dug a pool.

The Tevel b’Tzedek volunteers included a former officer in the Israeli army, an artist from Tel Aviv, and a recent graduate of UC Berkeley in Anthropology.

The project also developed an agricultural education center, and is bringing irrigation, fish farming (aquaculture), a vegetable nursery, greenhouses, bio-gas toilets and more to “a population whose struggle to improve their agricultural yield will mean the difference between whether they will be able to stay on their ancient lands or be forced to migrate to inner city slums.”  The project, then, achieves social improvement through environmental sustainability.

Tevel b’Tzedek operates a full volunteer program in Nepal, which takes place twice a year and is four and a half months long.  The program includes living in a house in Kathmandu for the first month, and being immersed in Nepali language and culture courses, as well as study of globalization, development, environmental issues, and Judaism’s social and environmental justice tradition.  Time is also devoted for the volunteers to examine their role in the world today as Jews – both collectively and individually.

The second part of the program includes volunteer work, with opportunities to volunteer in the fields of: environmental and agricultural development, formal and informal education, women’s empowerment, public health, and community empowerment.

Read more about other volunteer programs::

Bustan Qaraaqa: Permaculture and Empowerment for Palestinians in the West Bank

GoEco Pioneers Volunteer Eco Tourism in Israel

WWOOF Your Way to Organic Food in the Middle East

The post Israeli NGO Tevel B'Tzedek Helps Rectify Environmental Damage in Nepal appeared first on Green Prophet.

You have to hand it to those United Arab Emirates Gulf states. Their futuristic projects are simply something out of a popular science fiction novel; and 25 years or so ago, they definitely would have been. Just look at the towering Burj in Dubai, artificial islands, or their wind-powered rotating skyscraper to get a taste. Or how about cooled sand while you lay on the beach in Dubai?

Environmental projects including specially designed buildings, business parks and residential centers are years ahead of other countries. And now, a project in Dubai is developing something even more awesome: A vertical farm that looks like something out of Star Trek and will use sea water to cool and humidify the crops, while converting the humidity into fresh water.

The concept is still in the planning phase, but from a logical standpoint the project makes a lot of sense since it will supply fresh vegetables and other crops as well as provide fresh water for drinking and other uses.

In fact, the unique design of the farm, which will consist of several large round, covered platforms , branching tree-like from a central shaft, will bring the cooled sea water inside to create wet, humid air; that when mixed with warm, dry air will condense into trickles of fresh water and will then be collected in special tanks for both irrigation and drinking.

The ‘three phase’ cooling and condensation process is described as follows by Ecofriend:

“The air going in the greenhouse is first cooled and humidified with seawater, providing necessary conditions for plant growth. As this air leaves the growing area it is mixed with warm dry air, making it more humid and more hot.

“This warm and humid air is then condensed, again using sweater, until condensed drops of fresh water appear. These drops are then collected in a tank and used to irrigate the crops.”

The idea of creating a very humid environment is also said to be enough to provide sufficient moisture for growing the plants as they will be growing in a “fresh and humid climate and not stressed by excessive transpiration.”

Many people wonder why such projects are being developed by countries who are extremely wealthy due to oil. The answer may be in that Dubai, Qatar, and others in the Persian Gulf region are very much aware that fossil fuels won’t last forever, and that with water scarcities and severe climate extremes in the region, environmental projects such as this one are an excellent way to deal with the realities of global warming and climate change – and help to find environmental friendly solutions while there is still time to do so.

::TreeHugger

More on Dubai:
Is Refrigerated Beach in Dubai One Excess Too Far?
Burj Tower A Steep Investment in Tough Economic Times?
Urban Islands Could Lead To Disaster in Persian Gulf

The post Futuristic Dubai Vertical Farm Uses Seawater to Sustain Crops appeared first on Green Prophet.

The earth is warming up. There is no doubt about that. And carbon dioxide levels are increasing too. New research from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and the Carnegie Institution in the US suggests that if things get worse, coral reefs will start to dissolve. That’s millions of years of evolution that will simply melt away. Even if corals can “get sexy on the seafloor” due to effects of greenhouse gases, as we reported earlier, the rise in CO2 might happen too fast for them to cope.

Rising carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the resulting effects on ocean water are making it increasingly difficult for coral reefs to grow, say scientists.

A study published in Geophysical Research Letters warns that if carbon dioxide reaches double pre-industrial levels, coral reefs can be expected to not just stop growing, but also to begin dissolving all over the world.

The impact on reefs is a consequence of both ocean acidification caused by the absorption of carbon dioxide into seawater and rising water temperatures. Previous studies have shown that rising carbon dioxide will slow coral growth, but this is the first study to show that coral reefs can be expected to start dissolving just about everywhere in just a few decades, unless carbon dioxide emissions are cut deeply and soon.

“Globally, each second, we dump over 1000 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and, each second, about 300 tons of that carbon dioxide is going into the oceans,” said co-author Ken Caldeira of the Carnegie Institution’s Department of Global Ecology.

“We can say with a high degree of certainty that all of this CO2 will make the oceans more acidic – that is simple chemistry taught to freshman college students.”

The study was designed determine the impact of this acidification on coral reefs.

The research team, consisting of Jacob Silverman, Caldeira, and Long Cao of the Carnegie Institution as well as Boaz Lazar and Jonathan Erez from the Hebrew University, used field data from coral reefs to determine the effects of temperature and water chemistry on coral calcification rates.

Armed with this information, they plugged the data into a computer model that calculated global seawater temperature and chemistry at different atmospheric levels of CO2 ranging from the pre-industrial value of 280 ppm (parts per million) to 750 ppm. The current atmospheric concentration is over 380 ppm, and is rapidly rising due to human-caused emissions, primarily through the burning of fossil fuels.

Based on the model results for more than 9,000 reef locations, the researchers determined that at the highest concentration studied, 750 ppm, acidification of seawater would reduce calcification rates of three quarters of the world’s reefs to less than 20% of pre-industrial rates.

Field studies suggest that at such low rates, coral growth would not be able to keep up with dissolution and other natural as well as manmade destructive processes attacking reefs.
Prospects for reefs are even gloomier when the effects of coral bleaching are included in the model.

Coral bleaching refers to the loss of symbiotic algae that are essential for healthy growth of coral colonies. Bleaching is already a widespread problem, and high temperatures are among the factors known to promote bleaching.

According to their model the researchers calculated that under present conditions 30% of reefs have already undergone bleaching and that at CO2 levels of 560 ppm (twice pre-industrial levels) the combined effects of acidification and bleaching will reduce the calcification rates of all the world’s reefs by 80% or more. This lowered calcification rate will render all reefs vulnerable to dissolution, without even considering other threats to reefs, such as pollution.

“Our fossil-fueled lifestyle is killing off coral reefs,” says Caldeira. “If we don’t change our ways soon, in the next few decades we will destroy what took millions of years to create.”

“Coral reefs may be the canary in the coal mine,” he adds. “Other major pieces of our planet may be similarly threatened because we are using the atmosphere and oceans as dumps for our CO2 pollution.

“We can save the reefs if we decide to treat our planet with the care it deserves. We need to power our economy with technologies that do not dump carbon dioxide into the atmosphere or oceans.”

This week is Earth Day on Thursday. Think of ways you can cut your greenhouse gas emissions, and offset when you can.

More on coral reefs:
Monitoring Stations in the United Arab Emirates Show Stressed Out Coral
Coral Reefs Get Sexy To Cope With Global Warming
Will Coral Reefs At Aqaba Be Destroyed By Litter?
Corals Cope With Rising Sea Temperature By Eating High Protein Jellies
Jellyfish Invade Lebanon
Corals Will Melt If CO2 Levels Double
New Research Ship To Paint Red Sea Green

The post Coral Reefs To Melt Away If CO2 Levels Double appeared first on Green Prophet.

No matter how sophisticated modern medicine becomes, common ailments like fungal infections can outrun the best of the world’s antibiotics. In people with compromised immune systems (like premature babies, AIDS victims or those undergoing chemotherapy for cancer) the risk is very high: contracting a fungal infection can be deadly.

Now Tel Aviv University zoologists are diving deep into the sea to collect unique chemicals — drugs of the future — to beat unnecessary death by fungal infection. And their secret weapon is the common marine sponge.

Prof. Micha Ilan from the Department of Zoology at TAU, who is heading the project, has already identified several alternative antibiotic candidates among the unique compounds that help a sponge fend off predators and infections. He and his graduate students are now identifying, isolating and purifying those that could be the super-antibiotics of the future.

The research group at TAU has found and isolated thousands bacteria and fungi, including a few hundred unique actinobacteria. So far, several tens hold promise as new drugs.

From the Sea to the Lab
“Resistance to antibiotics has become an unbelievably difficult challenge for the medical community,” says Prof. Ilan. “Sponges are known for hosting an arsenal of compounds that could work to fight infections. We’re now culturing huge amounts of microorganisms, such as actinobacteria, that live in symbiosis with marine sponges.”

Marine sponges were recently made famous by the popular Nickelodeon TV cartoon SpongeBob SquarePants, which features a sea sponge who lives in a pineapple beneath the ocean.

In real life, sea sponges are animals whose bodies consist of an outer thin layer of cells and an inner mass of cells and skeletal elements. The sedentary creatures don’t really have the sort of adventurous life that the cartoon depicts.

Marine sponges can’t move. Glued to the seafloor, they must rely on the flow of water through their bodies to collect food and to remove waste. This has led to a unique adaptive response to enemies and competition. Sponges don’t have teeth, or shells, but protect themselves by building associations and partnerships with bacteria and fungi. Tel Aviv University is tapping into these relationships — looking at the same chemicals that the sponge uses for defense to fight infection in humans.

Research Combines Several Fields of Study
Drug developers have known for decades about the potential goldmine of pharmaceuticals in the marine environment, particularly among sedentary life like marine sponges.

“One of the major problems is that these novel and natural compounds are found in very small quantities,” Prof. Ilan explains. Collecting and extracting such large amounts of these unique chemicals would require huge quantities of animals to be sacrificed, a practice which is not in line with zoological conservationist values.

So Prof. Ilan takes cultures from sea sponges with minimal damage to the natural environment. He then grows their symbionts and tests them in a “wet” laboratory. The methods Prof. Ilan has perfected can now be used by other scientists developing pharmaceuticals from marine sponges.

“Our research is unique in that we take both an agricultural and microbiological approach — not found often in the drug discovery community,” says Prof. Ilan.

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