A new study of Asia’s Coral Triangle, which contains nearly 30 percent of the world’s reefs, shows that when it comes to ensuring a rich and diverse range of species, size matters. “The study suggests that marine protected areas should be as large and diverse as possible,” Peter Etnoyer, a marine biologist at the US [...]
As part of a formal agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency, researchers from the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science are providing guidance for developing strategies and recommendations for future technology transfer activities on harmful algal blooms at the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Marine Environmental Laboratory in Monaco from 4-7 February 2013. By helping to build [...]
NOAA researchers discovered how a harmful algal toxin called domoic acid targets the brain to induce seizures. Using a rat epilepsy model for the California sea lion, a species susceptible to poisoning by the toxin, they showed that it causes extensive damage to the olfactory bulb, a specialized brain region responsible for the perception of odors. [...]
To better understand epileptic disease caused by an algal toxin in young California sea lions, researchers from the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science exposed pregnant lab rats to the substance and studied its movement. In the adult rats, the toxin—known as domoic acid—enters the brain and surrounding fluid quickly and exits from the cerebrospinal [...]
A recent study demonstrates a new approach that may allow scientists to better approximate the risks for bacteria to develop resistance to different families of antibiotics. In the study, conducted by NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science and the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina, resistance genes from E. [...]
To solidify the courtroom validity of wildlife forensic techniques, a scientific working group formed two years ago to standardize methodologies and establish best practices for handling many species and evidence types the discipline encounters. Last week the group convened to put final touches on the documents, which should address criticisms in a 2009 report by the National [...]
The National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science’s Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research (CCEHBR) recently repurposed one of its chemistry laboratories. Old copper tubing was dismantled and donated to Sea Island Habitat for Humanity. Instead of going to a landfill, the copper will be recycled, and the money will support home-building efforts. Sea [...]
The Republic of Korea hosted the 15th International Conference on Harmful Algae (ICHA), October 29 – November 2, 2012. The meeting featured the latest scientific research by the international harmful algal blooms (HAB) community on topics including population dynamics, toxins, modeling/forecasting, taxonomy, genomics, management, control and mitigation. NOAA representatives who gave presentations, chaired sessions and represented [...]