Lisa Gardiner

1 month ago | audubon.org | Lisa Gardiner

When marine ecologist Casey Benkwitt set out to study coral reefs, she never thought she’d spend so much time thinking about bird poop. Now, six years after she started exploring how seabird guano boosts these underwater biodiversity hotspots, she sees how important it is to look for unexpected links in ecology. “It's really intriguing and inspiring to think about how everything is connected,” she says.

Nov 1, 2024 | nautil.us | Lisa Gardiner

In the northern reaches of Russia, enigmatic craters have begun appearing in broad expanses of windswept tundra. These craters can reach 230 feet across and plunge more than 100 feet deep into dark frozen soils known as permafrost. Nautilus Members enjoy an ad-free experience. Log in or Join now . The first crater was discovered by a helicopter pilot in 2014 on the Yamal Peninsula, a finger of frozen land extending into the Arctic Ocean.

Sep 18, 2024 | theguardian.com | Lisa Gardiner

Young corals bred using in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and planted in reefs around the US, Mexico and the Caribbean have surprised scientists, after most survived last year’s record marine heatwave, while older corals struggled. A study has found that 90% of the young IVF-created corals surveyed remained healthy and colourful, holding on to the algae that live within them and supply them with nutrition. In contrast, only about a quarter of older non-IVF corals remained healthy.

Aug 10, 2024 | theatlantic.com | Lisa Gardiner

This article was originally published by Hakai Magazine. South of Tampa Bay, in Florida, wedged between a quiet neighborhood and a mangrove forest, custom-designed aquariums are home to thousands of sea-urchin larvae that tumble and drift through the water. Scientists with the Florida Aquarium and the University of Florida care for the little urchins, checking them daily under microscopes for signs that they’re maturing into juveniles, which look like miniature versions of the adults.

Aug 7, 2024 | smithsonianmag.com | Lisa Gardiner

This article is from Hakai Magazine, an online publication about science and society in coastal ecosystems. Read more stories like this at hakaimagazine.com. South of Tampa Bay, Florida, wedged between a quiet neighborhood and a mangrove forest, custom-designed aquariums are home to thousands of sea urchin larvae that tumble and drift through the water.