Ocean Sustainability

Over 70% of the earth is covered in water, which serves as a vital resource human subsistence. Contamination and acidification pose major threats to aquatic health and biodiversity. Microbes offer a promising solution in their ability to breakdown contamination from oil spills and plastics. Applied microbiologists can play a significant part in understanding biodiversity, contributing to solutions, and encouraging stewardship.

Professor investigates how symbiotic groups - like corals and biofilms - can behave like single organisms

2025-03-13T10:54:00+00:00By

UNCG philosopher of biology Dr. Derek Skillings is the lead investigator on a new, three-year, $600,000 grant from the John Templeton Foundation for a study of the emergence and evolution of goal-directed behavior in collective entities. 

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More Ocean Sustainability

Low-Res_1_Credit - Martin van Aswegen_Permit - 21476

Great whale pee funnel carries nutrients thousands of miles, boosting phytoplanktons

2025-03-10T15:38:00+00:00By

A new study shows that whales carry huge quantities of nutrients horizontally, across whole ocean basins, from rich, cold waters where they feed to warm shores near the equator where they mate and give birth.