Biosphere Expeditions Blogging from Wild-Life Frontline

Biosphere Expeditions -organization offering hands on wildlife volunteer expeditions around the world and recognized by National Geographic, UNEP- United Nations Environment Programme and IUCN - International Union for the Conservation of Nature among others is blogging from the wildlife conservation frontline.

Biosphere Expeditions posted on WordPress on September 10^th the latest of their reef survey dives comments. “By Monday 11:00 the team had already completed an invertebrate test and a substrate test, and dived to complete the third underwater ID test,” the group celebrated their busy morning dives.

The team assured that the full Reef Check had been completed by 19:00 and described the environment of the reef which is still recovering from the great late 90s bleach out.

The expedition oriented for the survey and safeguarding of coral reefs and whale sharks of Maldives archipelago takes volunteers on 26 breathtaking coral atolls.

The team is skilled and brief up to date to assist marine biologist in their study. Whale shark populations are considered local residents. The Maldives government identified a need for further research and monitoring work as far back as 1997.

Biosphere Expeditions trains all divers as Reef Check EcoDiver but assures that those wanting to get wet do not need to hold science degrees.

Living on a 115 feet live-aboard boat., diving, breathing in corals and coral life and witnessing the unique and elusive whale sharks is the largest payout of the expedition.

Catherine Edsell expedition leader for the Maldives and Dr. Matthias Hammer executive director are blogging from the frontline of the Maldives diary. Dr. Jean-Luc Solandt, scientist from the Marine Conservation Society and Reef Check’s Maldives coordinator is also in location.

On September 4^th the team got serious and took to solid land meeting with Hussein Zahir from LaMer, and with Shiham Adam from MRC (the government’s Marine Research Centre).

“In a nutshell, both are very happy that we are continuing our collection of Reef Check data here in the Maldives. Hussein feels that it is very valuable data and can be added to the National Coral Reef Monitoring Framework protocols,” data provided by the expedition will be used for the National Status Report Assessment of the Maldives compiled by the Government.

The team also met Shaha from Gemana, a local reef conservation NGO and Gabriel Grimsditch of IUCN as well as Rafil Mohammed from the Maldives Diving Association.

International press assure that the work of Biosphere Expeditions is key for the recovery of Maldives reef environment and marine life forms after the catastrophic bleaching event of 1998.

Ocean Life News in Brief

Ocean Level Increase Dropping Oceans Floor: International Press reported on December 5 on the findings of new research which assures that due to ocean level increase the ocean floor is sinking. The study published online in Geophysical Research Levels used mathematical equations to accurately measure the Ocean's floor impact driven by the increased of water volume weight. Using data from 1993 to 2014 researchers found that ocean level increase is causing the Ocean floor to drop globally by the milimeters. Ocean Dead Zones Up By Four: On January 8 New York Daily reported that Ocean Dead Zones have quadrupled.Researchers warned in a new study that oxygen-starved ocean dead zones, where animals and plants are struggling to survive, have increased fourfold and it may not be reversible. The new study was published in the Journal Science. The increase of Dead Zones was linked to climate change. La Niña´s Polar Wave Hitting Hard the US -Freezing Oceans: International Press reported on the Polar Wave hitting hard the US. The event is linked by experts to the influence of La Niña. “For the past couple of weeks, parts of North America have been chilling down to record temperatures, with massive snowfall and icy cold conditions putting life at a standstill for many,” media reported. The US East Coast has been particularly badly hit with the likes of Boston down to Philadelphia reaching bone-chilling lows of near 0°F , with icy winds making it feel closer to around -10°F to -20°F. Officially 18 were dead and 100 million affected. Government of Bali Declares a Garbage Emergency: On January 5 Ocean Conservancy reported on a New Waste Management Emergency in Bali. Massive amounts of ocean debri are affecting the island. The situation has reached its peak as the Government of Bali declared a “Garbage Emergency”. Clean up works have began. “Ivory Coast Village Swallowed by Ocean Increase,” Aljazeera Reports: On January 8 Al Jazeera reported that ocean increase levels are affecting infrastructure in the Ivory Coast. “Rising tides and more frequent, devastating storms are slowly destroying what is left of Lahou-Kpanda, the offshoot of what was once a major colonial town near the mouth of the Bandama River, the longest river in Ivory Coast,” Al Jazeera reported. Arctic Ocean Radioactive Levels on the Rise: IFL Science reported on January 3 on the findings of new report which assures that radioactive levels in the Arctic Ocean are on the rise. “Concentrations of radioactive radium-228 in the Arctic Ocean increased between 2007 and 2015,” the report reads. While levels have not yet reached a mark of concern the trend is worries experts. Lauren Kipp of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution addressed the issue. New World Wide Ocean Turtle Study Says 90% of Plastic Pollution Cases Result in Death: Earth Sky Org reported on January 7 that hundreds of marine turtles die every year after getting tangled in trash in oceans and on beaches. A research published in the journal Endangered Species Research took on a World-Wide Survey covering the major oceans where turtles live. They discovered that 91 % of the entangled turtles were found dead. They also suffered serious wounds from entanglement, leading to maiming, amputation or choking. Double Whirlpools Discovered for First Time: December 4 Press reported that Double Eddies have been registered for the first time in History. Tangled up Double Eddies can travel great distances affecting ecology significantly. Eddies are a natural part of the ocean environment but double whirlpools had only been theorized by mathematicians.