I plan to start each month with a breakdown of all the news and breakthroughs in marine science (and probably a little freshwater too) from the previous month. This month we have a newly confirmed whale species, an improved estimate of the size of a megalodon, success in the growth of lab-bred corals, and new seagrass and kelp initiatives to combat climate change.
Seagrass restoration off Wales
In a project launched by Sky Ocean Rescue, WWF, Swansea University, and Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum, 2 hectares (4.9 acres) of seagrass are to be restored in Dale Bay off the coast of Pembrokeshire. Around one million seeds will be planted in what is the UK's biggest seagrass restoration.
The seeds were gathered from existing seagrass meadows along the UK coastline. They were secured in hessian bags, which are both durable and eco-friendly, made from natural fibres that are 100% biodegradable. These will be planted this winter with the goal of restoring the meadow to its previous state.
Seagrass acts as a nursery for several marine species but, over the last 100 years, 92% of UK seagrass meadows have been lost. Seagrass meadows are also responsible for 11% of the ocean's carbon absorption, despite only covering 0.1% of the seafloor, and they capture carbon at a rate 35 times quicker than a rainforest.
It is hoped that this project will be the beginning of a larger scale seagrass restoration across the UK in a bid to help tackle climate change.
New species of beaked whale off Japan
The black Baird's beaked whale, which can be found off the coast of Japan, has been discovered to be a new species. These elusive whales have evaded researchers until recent years, but analysis of a dead specimen that washed up has finally confirmed that it is a species separate from other beaked whales.
Beaked whales are difficult to study as they prefer deep water of up to 3,000 m (9,850 ft). Up until now, it was thought that there was only one species in the North Pacific, the Baird's beaked whale (Berardius bairdii), which is a slate grey in colour.
This newly confirmed species is the black Baird's beaked whale (Berardius minimus). It is darker in colour, has a shorter beak, and is more spindle shaped than the known Berardius species. The biggest difference, however, is its size. The black Baird's beaked whale is around 6 m (20 ft) in length, while its grey counterpart is around 10 m (33 ft).
Further research will hopefully shed some light on this species and improve our understanding of its behaviour and ecology.
Latest estimate of Megalodon's size
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Otodus megalodon, more commonly known as megalodon or the megatooth shark, has an infamous reputation as a prehistoric giant that once terrorised the oceans. The shark lived around 15 to 3.6 million years ago and it was previously thought that it reached sizes of about 25 to 30 m (80 to 100 ft).
However, new research suggests that the maximum size for the species would have been roughly 15 m (50 ft). Dr Kenshu Shimada, professor of paleobiology at DePaul University in Chicago and research associate at Sternberg Museum in Kansas, reanalysed previously published data showing the relationship between tooth size and body size in the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias), the closest living analogue of megalodon. He compared this data to megalodon tooth sizes from museum collections.
The largest megalodon tooth at the Chicago Field Museum of Natural History measures 16.2 cm (6.4 inches). Dr Shimada has calculated that a tooth of this size would have come from an individual 14.2 to 15.3 m (47 to 50 ft) in length. Meanwhile, the largest teeth found so far could have come from individuals who were around 18 m (59 ft) in length.
The research suggests that individuals larger than 15 m would have been extremely rare. This improved understanding of megalodon's size will provide a better insight into the shark's behaviour and metabolism, as well as new insights into the marine ecosystem as a whole during that period in Earth's history.
Threatened coral successfully bred in a lab
Researchers at Florida Aquarium in Tampa have announced the first successful sexual reproduction of Atlantic coral in a laboratory setting. Corals are able to reproduce both asexually and sexually, but the method used by the researchers could help save the pillar coral (Dendrogyra cylindrus), which is native to the western Atlantic and is threatened with extinction.
Coral reefs are important as they support a wide variety of sea life and are often areas of high biodiversity. They also help to protect inland waterways. This is why breakthroughs such as this that could help protect or restore corals are so important.
While other countries have reported similar results from lab trials, this is the first example of such a success in the US. The research team collaborated with Horniman Museum and Gardens, who have already successfully induced spawning in Pacific corals.
By creating the right condition in the lab, this could be a real turning point for coral restoration. The team plans to use this method to spawn new coral colonies and help repopulate Florida's struggling reefs. Laboratory spawning certainly has the potential to make a huge difference to the current restoration efforts.
Campaign to save kelp forests off Sussex
The Help Our Kelp campaign by Sussex Wildlife Trust and the Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) has been launched to save kelp forests, which are an extremely important marine habitat.
Kelp forests are among the most biodiverse habitats on Earth. On top of that, kelp can absorb around 600 million tonnes of carbon a year, making it vital in reducing the impact of climate change. However, seafloor pollution and damage from fishing activities threatens these habitats.
This latest initiative will introduce an inshore trawler exclusion zone to protect Sussex's kelp forests and give them a chance to regenerate. They previously stretched along 40 km (25 miles) of the West Sussex coastline but, over the last 40 years, have diminished to almost nothing.
Restoring these kelp forests will bring back vital nursery and feeding grounds for many fish species. This, in turn, will bring back fish populations that have left the area, allowing several species to finally recover and thrive.
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