Two New Studies of Rocks Show Earliest Forms of Life in Antarctic Ice Caves and in South African Lava
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Published: 20 May 2015
Scripps geophysicist Hubert Staudigel's studies confirm fossilized microbial life in ancient volcanic rocks and show that Antarctic ice cave microbes survive using volcanic gases, shedding light on Earth’s earliest life in extreme environments.
Keywords: fossils, microbes, volcanic rocks, early Earth, Antarctica, biogeology, Scripps
Study Reveals Ocean Acidification's Effects on Shrimp Biology
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Published: 1 June 2015
A Scripps study shows ocean acidification increases calcium in shrimp shells and reduces transparency, affecting camouflage and predator avoidance. This is the first study to link acidity to changes in shrimp visual and structural traits.
Keywords: ocean acidification, shrimp, transparency, exoskeleton, camouflage, Scripps, crustaceans
New Study Could Pave Way for an Ocean Acidification Early Warning System for Coral Reefs
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Published: 3 June 2015
A Scripps-led study on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef found corals face low pH and high temperatures at different times, increasing stress frequency. This may affect recovery and reproduction. Results help improve coral reef climate stress predictions.
Keywords: coral reefs, Great Barrier Reef, ocean acidification, temperature, pH, climate change, Scripps, coral stress, carbonate chemistry, bleaching
