Whale poop is vital to ocean's carbon cycle

Our friends at Henley Beach MDC alerted us to an article in NEWSCIENTIST; by Wendy Zukerman that gives a new ecosystem slant on the importance of whale conservation.

“Saving endangered baleen whales could boost the carbon storage capacity of the Southern Ocean, suggests a new study of whale faeces. Whale faeces once provided huge quantities of iron to a now anaemic Southern Ocean, boosting the growth of carbon-sequestering phytoplankton.”
“The amount of iron in whale faeces means that protecting Antarctic whales could swell populations of phytoplankton, which absorb carbon dioxide." 

(See the Scientist image showing krill circling the whale pooh)

"Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) feed on the phytoplankton, concentrating the iron in their tissue. And in turn, baleen whales eat the krill.”

To read the article in full click here

How common are tornadoes in Australia? ABC Science article

Ask an Expert (ABC Science) posted a timely article on tornadoes in Australia (click here for the article)

Included are two great images that tell the story -  one by Dirk Terrill and the other by Matt Walker.

ABC Science does an excellent job of providing a broad stroke of interesting and informative articles. Click here

OCEANS OF LIFE: WORLD OCEAN DAY June 8th, 2010

The Ocean Project (click here for events) has everything you need to know about World Ocean Day. Here is an excerpt taken from the website to whet your appetite.

"As a result of a United Nations General Assembly resolution passed in December 2008, World Oceans Day is now officially recognized by the UN as June 8th each year. The concept for a “World Ocean Day” was first proposed in 1992 by the Government of Canada at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, and it had been unofficially celebrated every year since then."

Since 2002, The Ocean Project and the World Ocean Network have helped to promote and coordinate World Oceans Day events worldwide. We help coordinate events and activities with aquariums, zoos, museums, conservation organizations, universities, schools, and businesses. Each year an increasing number of countries and organizations have been marking June 8th as an opportunity to celebrate our world ocean and our personal connection to the sea." 

AUSMEPA Bulletin Autumn 2010

AUSMEPA Bulletin Autumn 2010 is available
In this issue you will find the following articles:

• DEEPWATER HORIZON AND OIL SPILL UPDATES,
• PACIFIC ADVENTURER OIL SPILL REPORT,
• NEW MEASURES TO PROTECT THE GREAT BARRIER REEF,
• ALL SHIPS LOG,
• INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF BIODIVERSITY,
• WORLD OCEAN DAY EVENT,
• TORRES STRAIT MARINE LITERACY PROJECT,
• AUSMEPA's 10th Anniversary,

MORE FOR TEACHERS…..

Click here to view the full newsletter