Changing Seas

In the waters of the western Atlantic and Caribbean, a voracious alien predator has taken hold. Native to the Indo-Pacific, the invasive lionfish is a major threat to biodiversity and the health of already stressed coral reef ecosystems.

In the emerging science of coral reef restoration, marine biologists and resource managers are discovering naturally occurring mechanisms that promote coral growth and restore ecological balance in these gardens of the sea.

The oceans are part of America’s newest medical frontier. In Florida, scientists are testing sea sponges for their potential anti-cancer properties. These and other marine invertebrates may hold the key to unlocking the secrets of our own biology.

Last year’s catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico may no longer make headline news, but the story is far from over. Oceanographers continue to study the longterm effects this disaster might have on marine ecosystems.