Thriving Oceans

Currently reading “Tuna: A Love Story” by Richard Ellis and just had to post this quote I found quite humorous-

[Tuna] Does it contain  mercury? Well, yes, but the scientists and the tuna industry are still arguing about how much is bad for you, and that means you can keep eating it.

The above reminds me of something my organic chemistry professor once told all of us regarding carcinogens we just happened to be working with…they are only suspected carcinogens so just be a bit careful.  As for me [the professor] they were definitely not carcinogens when I was in college so they are perfectly fine for me to handle with no worries.

Should we be surprised that the polar oceans are not vast stretches of the non-living?  Personally I was not under that assumption and have always been amazed at the places that become critical habitats for biological diversity.  This especially became the case when ocean vents were found to support a host of thermophiles.  Thus, I have held that the Arctic and Southern oceans are no different in such respects for supporting an array of life.

Even though the Arctic Ocean is the smallest and shallowest of our world (covering ~4.6 million square miles), it provides the sustenance to support tiny planktonic organisms to large polar bears and megafauna like whales.  It is the unique Arctic conditions of cold oxygen rich waters complement the nutrient rich seabed , and the summer month permanent daylight that energizes the region with a vast supply of algae, and ice covered winter layers that enables success for foraging land mammals.

The Southern Ocean has been held as one of the most biologically productive seas in the world.  Krill often forming swarms estimated to weigh more than 10 million tons (and can be seen by satellites), are fueled by continual daylight in the summer.

With perfect conditions such as these it was just a matter of time before researchers had the hard evidence needed to proclaim the polar oceans are, if I may steal from the Blue Planet series, “Seas of Life.”

According to the AP, “A marine census released Monday documented 7,500 species in the Antarctic and 5,500 in the Arctic, including several hundred that researchers believe could be new to science.”

Check out the article here-  Study: ‘Astonishing richness’ in polar sea species

Well who knew that the first thoughts I’d transcribe under Thriving Oceans would be so politically charged. I guess it is perfect timing considering the upcoming elections as anti-this and pro-that rallies drift from state to state solely for the opportunity to discharge their nematocysts and hook passersby with talking points.

Additionally, environmentalists, conservationists, legislators, representatives, and citizens continue to spar over the safety and expansion of nuclear power plants. Even a few years back, Patrick Moore, co-founder of Greenpeace, declared in The Washington Post, “Nuclear energy is the only large-scale, cost-effective energy source that can reduce these emissions while continuing to satisfy a growing demand for power. And these days it can do so safely.” Such comments exploded like Chernobyl, setting off a chain of events that resulted simultaneously in condemnation and praise.

While our society still continues to swim amongst the fall out, a bloom of jellyfish managed to exercise their innate marine right to congregate and protest yesterday. The target of these activist cnidarians was the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant in California. Although they did not manage to shut down the plant completely, they were effective enough to force a reduction in operating power.

Now that we know the stance of jellyfish on nuclear power, it will be interesting to see how this floating “block” influences our future alternative energy decisions.