Aquarium Audio

Tiny drifters or determined swimmers? New research is discovering some startling information about how larval fish find and populate new reef ecosystems.

Sea otters, bald eagles, and orcas are all Alaskan marine predators. These three very different species are linked through a complex series of relationships that reach across ecosystems and species.

Deep sea mining, once the realm of science fiction, is now an impending reality. The impacts of mining on the organisms of the deep sea are poorly understood as fundamental research on this ecosystem remains to be done.

Tidal power provides a renewable energy source that is clean and reliable. Generators harvest the energy of moving water as tides flood and ebb. Tidal power generation requires suitable environmental conditions to be efficient and effective.

Parasites may be harmful to living organisms. A relationship called the cleaning symbiosis describes how some animals, the cleaners, remove parasites from other animals, the clients. Because of the close interaction between cleaner and client, a question arises: instead of picking off parasites, do cleaners ever bite their clients instead?

Between 1946 and 1958 the United States exploded nearly two dozen nuclear bombs at Bikini Atoll. How has this affected the life of the coral reef over the last half-century?

Some species of crabs utilize novel forms of camouflage, covering their shells with other living organisms to fool their predators.

The Gulf of California is home to a diverse assemblage of wildlife. This diversity is a reflection of the Gulf's distinctive geography. Impacts to wildlife from a variety of sources threaten many of the rare and endangered species that make the Gulf their home.

On November 15, 1806, the Corps of Discovery reached the mouth of the Columbia River, completing a 4,000 mile journey to the Pacific Coast. They would spend the next four months adding to science’s knowledge of the Pacific Ocean and its inhabitants before beginning their long journey home.

Since the middle of the nineteenth century scientists have recorded an increase in the global sea level. Higher sea levels may intensify the impact of hurricanes and typhoons to coastal communities. Preserving natural shorelines could be key to lessening storm damage in a warmer world.

The Common Goldeneye spends part of its year on freshwater lakes, and part on the coastal ocean. Like other sea ducks, they have an adaptation that allows them to drink saltwater safely.

Global trade is dominated by ocean transport, but along with goods and commodities ships may also transport biological invaders. Managing ballast water to protect ecosystems and ports from these alien stowaways is a critical tool.

A watershed is where rainwater and snowmelt collects and flows to the ocean. As the water flows down streams and rivers, it carries along part of what it touches, from sand and rocks to trash and pollution. A new Aquarium exhibit shows how a local watershed works.

Mangrove forests are a feature of tropical coastlines. In addition to protecting shorelines from erosion and waves, they support a thriving population of fish and invertebrates. The loss of mangrove forests to deforestation and development bodes poorly for shoreline protection and fisheries.

The Gulf of California is home to a diverse assemblage of wildlife. This diversity is a reflection of the Gulf's distinctive geography. Impacts to wildlife from a variety of sources threaten many of the rare and endangered species that make the Gulf their home.