Aquarium Audio
Hear Our Latest Aquacasts
Against the Flow
How fish larvae find a reef home.
Tiny drifters or determined swimmers? New research is discovering some startling information about how larval fish find and populate new reef ecosystems.
Cascade
The complex relationships between predators
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.
Minerals from the Deep Sea
From science fiction to commercial opportunity
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.
On a Rising Tide
Harvesting energy from tides
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.
Cleaning Symbiosis - Do Cheaters Prosper?
Are cleaner fish tempted to bite their clients?
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?
Black Sun, Blue Water
Atomic bombs and the life of a coral reef
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?
Living Camouflage
How some crabs avoid their predators
Some species of crabs utilize novel forms of camouflage, covering their shells with other living organisms to fool their predators.
Steller Visions
Georg Steller and the vanishing species which bear his name
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.
Corps of Discovery
The Corps of Discovery reaches the Pacific Ocean.
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.
Surging Seas
Storm surges in a warmer world.
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.
Goldeneye
Sea ducks drink seawater with help from a special gland
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.
They Came from the Bilge!
Managing ballast water to protect ecosystems
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.
Mountains, Rivers, Ocean
The Water Cycle, Watersheds, and Us
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.
Forests for Fish
Mangrove forests are essential for thriving fisheries
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 World’s Aquarium
Biodiversity and the Gulf of California
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.