Monitoring Bacteria on Whale Skin
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Published: 14 February 2018
A study of healthy humpback whales by WHOI and partners found seasonal changes in their skin microbiome, suggesting it could serve as a valuable health index to monitor whale nutrition, environment impacts, and effects of climate change.
Keywords: microbiome research, whale skin, environmental monitoring, health index, marine biology
Rare Find from the Deep Sea
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Published: 20 February 2018
Researchers, including WHOI scientists, observed a dumbo octopus hatching for the first time, revealing advanced development at birth and a preference for specific deep-sea corals—insights that underscore the need to protect fragile deep-sea habitats.
Keywords: marine research, MRI imaging, ocean exploration, deep-sea creatures, octopus development, biodiversity, conservation
Previously Unknown “Supercolony” of Adelie Penguins Discovered in Antarctica
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Published: 2 March 2018
Researchers discovered a supercolony of 1.5 million Adélie Penguins in Antarctica’s Danger Islands, challenging previous population decline assumptions and offering vital insights for conservation and climate impact studies.
Keywords: sea ice, marine protected areas, penguin population, conservation science, remote sensing, Dalio Ocean Initiative
