News and Features by Research Area or Topic
Posted on May 8th, 2013 in Coastal Pollution, Pathogens & Microbes
Antibiotics may enter marine ecosystems from wastewater systems, agricultural run-off (particularly from concentrated animal farming operations), as well as direct release from aquaculture waters. NCCOS intern and University of South Carolina Masters of Public Health candidate, Keri Lydon presented findings from an NCCOS study focused on determining antibiotic resistance in the environment and overall risks to marine [...]
Continue reading
Posted on March 27th, 2013 in Chemical Contaminants, Coastal Pollution, Ecosystem Management, News Clips, Pathogens & Microbes, Protected Species
From the moment they are born, sea turtles fight to survive. Buried alive, they dig themselves out and evade hungry crabs and birds as they crawl to the ocean, where they begin a long and treacherous migration. One out of 1,000 will survive into adulthood. And those that do will bear a toxic burden. Scientists [...]
Continue reading
Posted on March 16th, 2013 in Coastal Pollution, Harmful Algal Blooms, Human Health, Outreach, Pathogens & Microbes, Physiology, Molecular Ecology
The North Carolina Biotechnology Center funded NOAA and academic researchers to develop a training facility for public health officials and resource managers in advanced molecular methods to detect pathogens and harmful algae species more quickly and effectively. The first workshop, held March 11 – 15, 2013, covered quantitative polymerase chain reaction techniques to detect Enterococcus, the [...]
Continue reading
Posted on January 14th, 2013 in Coastal Pollution, Human Health, News Clips, Pathogens & Microbes
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. [...]
Continue reading
Posted on November 28th, 2012 in Chemical Contaminants, Climate Impacts, Coastal Pollution, Hypoxia & Eutrophication, News Clips, Ocean Acidification, Pathogens & Microbes, Sponsored Research
The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center’s DOOM lab (Dissolved Oxygen and Oyster Mortality) is examining how oysters respond to sudden drops in oxygen levels in shallow parts of the Chesapeake Bay at night. These fluctuations are partially natural, but appear to be made worse by nitrogen and phosphorus pollution. Oxygen depletion may make oysters more susceptible [...]
Continue reading
Posted on October 31st, 2012 in Chemical Contaminants, Coastal Pollution, News Clips, Pathogens & Microbes
The dolphin was coming straight up out of the water, making pitiful moans and then going back down, slowly swimming around the Bushy Park Boat Landing. Cathy Murphy spotted it Friday. It looked like something might be wrapped around its tail, dragging it down. “ We’ve watched dolphins for years, and we knew something was wrong,” she [...]
Continue reading
Posted on September 28th, 2012 in Coastal Pollution, Harmful Algal Blooms, Human Health, Hypoxia & Eutrophication, Monitoring & Event Response, News Clips, Pathogens & Microbes
The repair of a massive pipe that carries wastewater to the ocean is inspiring one of the most elaborate scientific investigations in years along the Orange County coast. Missile-shaped robotic gliders, sensors tethered offshore and boats crisscrossing the ocean with instruments in tow – all are part of an attempt to learn which life forms [...]
Continue reading
Posted on September 18th, 2012 in Coastal Pollution, Harmful Algal Blooms, Human Health, Hypoxia & Eutrophication, Monitoring & Event Response, Pathogens & Microbes, Rapid Response
Beginning in mid-September, the California Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD) is temporarily diverting wastewater effluent from the main discharge pipe located 5 miles offshore (60m depth) of Los Angeles to a shorter pipe 1 mile offshore (17m depth) in order to evaluate the main pipe for maintenance. The diversion will last between 3-8 weeks. An [...]
Continue reading