The frequent use by humpback whales of remote seamounts has important implications for conservation and management.

Seamounts important for humpback whales

Satellite telemetry suggests that seamounts represent an overlooked cryptic habitat for humpback whales

Seamounts probably serve multiple and important roles as breeding locations, resting areas, navigational landmarks or even supplemental feeding grounds for this species, which can be viewed as a transient component of the seamount communities.

(Filephoto). White shark eyeballing divers in a cage off Guadalupe

Shark cage diving not a risk to other water users

Residents of Stewart Island, New Zealand have pleaded for politicians to halt shark cage diving in their waters. The residents and paua divers have expressed fears that the cage diving is attracting great white sharks to the area and putting them at risk, saying they live in fear of a fatal shark attack.

The silver moonfish or “look-down”, Selene vomer
The silver moonfish or “look-down”, Selene vomer

Fish camouflage themselves by manipulating light reflections

The researchers found that lookdown fish camouflage themselves through a complex manipulation of polarized light after it strikes the fish's skin. In laboratory studies, they showed that this kind of camouflage outperforms by up to 80 per cent the "mirror" strategy that was previously thought to be state-of-the-art in fish camouflage.

The open ocean represents a challenging environment for camouflage,There are no objects to hide behind in three-dimensional space, so organisms have to find a way to blend in to the water itself.

Maritime Archaeology Program at University of Southern Denmark

Divers build a frame, which they will later bring to the surface with the help of a lift bag. Photo courtesy of the Maritime Archaeology Program at the University of Southern Denmark.

In 2006, a postgraduate program in maritime archaeology was established at the University of Southern Denmark. Based in Esbjerg, on the west coast of the Jutland Peninsula in southwestern Denmark, it is a one-of-a-kind university program in this centuries-old seafaring nation. The program is designed for students who want to pursue a professional career in maritime archaeology and heritage management.