Study Finds Bacteria Living in Marine Sponge Produce Toxic Flame Retardant-Like Compounds
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Published: 11 May 2017
Scripps-led researchers found marine sponges host bacteria producing toxic PBDEs, compounds nearly identical to man-made flame retardants. This discovery reveals their genetic origins and potential risks to human health.
Keywords: Scripps, marine sponges, PBDEs, flame retardants, toxins, bacteria, human health
Loss of Reef Urchins
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Published: 11 May 2017
Scripps scientists link overfishing of predators to poor recovery of Caribbean sea urchins, leading to algae overgrowth and coral reef decline since a 1983 mass die-off.
Keywords: Scripps, coral reefs, sea urchins, overfishing, algae, Caribbean, ecosystem decline
Biological Activity Found to Affect Aerosols Produced from Sea Spray
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Published: 11 May 2017
Researchers found sea spray aerosols are complex mixtures influenced by ocean biological activity, not just salt, improving climate model accuracy.
Keywords: sea spray aerosols, biological activity, UC San Diego, phytoplankton, atmospheric chemistry
