Scientists have developed an innovative tool to revolutionize ocean conservation efforts. The Migratory Connectivity in the Ocean (MiCO) database, created by researchers from The University of Queensland and Duke University, provides a comprehensive global map of marine migratory patterns. This groundbreaking interactive tool aims to bridge information gaps for policymakers and conservationists, ultimately protecting at-risk wildlife.

Dr. Lily Bentley, from UQ’s Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, explained that the online tool offers a freely accessible global view of marine migratory connectivity. “MiCO brings together thousands of records from over 1,300 sources to map how marine animals traverse the world’s oceans,” she said. The database covers 109 species, including birds, mammals, turtles, and fish.

Researchers discovered that many marine animals migrate through national waters and the high seas during their life cycles, exposing them to various threats across countries. Dr. Bentley highlighted the importance of cross-boundary cooperation in protecting these migratory species. “MiCO enables scientists, governments, and international organisations to understand how migratory marine species link regions and jurisdictions,” she said.

The intricate connectivity described in the system underscores the need for globally-aligned conservation efforts. Associate Professor Daniel Dunn, Centre director, emphasized that no country can fully protect migratory species on its own. “To protect these species effectively, nations must work together,” he said.

MiCO’s freely available models have already been identified as a valuable asset to inform the implementation of the recent High Seas Treaty, which seeks to safeguard biodiversity beyond national waters. The system also aligns with the Convention on Migratory Species’ goal of developing a global atlas of animal migration, an effort to which MiCO seeks to be a key contributor.

Researchers say more than two-thirds of marine migratory species are still unassessed and future expansions of MiCO are planned. Their ultimate goal is to provide the most comprehensive global baseline of connectivity generated by marine migratory species possible, so that conservation strategies are based on robust data. This research has been published in Nature Communications.

The study, published in Nature Cities, reveals that all 28 most populous U.S. cities are experiencing some degree of land movement, with the majority sinking at varying rates due to a combination of factors including groundwater extraction, climate change, and human activities such as construction and urbanization.

Lead author Leonard Ohenhen, a postdoctoral researcher at Columbia Climate School’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, notes that as cities continue to grow, subsidence can become more pronounced, producing stresses on infrastructure that may exceed safety limits. “We will see more cities expand into subsiding regions,” he says.

The study uses satellite data to map land movements in the 28 cities, including Houston, which is experiencing some of the most rapid sinking, with over 40% of its area subsiding more than 5 millimeters per year. Other Texas cities, Fort Worth and Dallas, are also among the fastest-sinking, while areas around New York’s LaGuardia Airport and parts of Las Vegas, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco are experiencing localized fast-sinking zones.

Researchers found that groundwater removal for human use was responsible for 80% of overall sinkage, with compaction below ground level causing subsidence at the surface. Climate-induced droughts in some areas will likely worsen subsidence in the future, says Ohenhen.

The study also reveals that natural forces are at work in some areas, such as the weight of ancient ice sheets that once covered much of interior North America. Even today, some cities like New York, Indianapolis, Nashville, Philadelphia, Denver, Chicago, and Portland are still subsiding due to these bulges, with rates ranging from 1 to 3 millimeters per year.

The researchers emphasize that continued population growth and water usage will likely exacerbate subsidence in the future. They recommend that cities focus on solutions such as land raising, enhanced drainage systems, and green infrastructure to mitigate flooding, and retrofitting existing structures to address tilting hazards.

Ohenhen concludes, “We have to move to solutions.” The study was coauthored by researchers from various institutions and provides a valuable resource for policymakers and urban planners to address the challenges posed by subsidence in major American cities.

In a groundbreaking study, researchers from the University of Exeter and Fishtek Marine have discovered that fitting fishing pots with LED lights can significantly increase catches of northern shrimp and other species. The findings hold promise for developing more sustainable and low-impact fishing practices.

The trial, conducted off Scotland’s west coast, showed that illuminated pots caught up to 19 times more northern shrimp than unlit ones. Moreover, the pots also attracted fish, which could lead to the development of new trap fisheries for larger species like cod.

According to Dr. Robert Enever from Fishtek Marine, “the light attracts zooplankton – like moths around a flame – which in turn attracts shrimp (which eat zooplankton), and that entices larger fish predators into the pots to gobble up the shrimp.” This “attraction cascade” creates a self-baiting pot, making it an attractive option for sustainable fishing.

While the trial’s catch rates were not commercially viable for northern shrimp, the authors suggest that this could change in areas with higher shrimp populations. Additionally, the high catch rates of fish, including juvenile poor cod, indicate that light-based traps could be used to develop low-impact fisheries for these species.

Dr. Tom Horton from the Centre for Ecology and Conservation on Exeter’s Penryn Campus in Cornwall emphasizes the importance of finding lower-impact alternatives, such as static gear like pots, to reduce bycatch and habitat disturbance associated with trawling. “Shrimp and cod are often fished by trawling, which can result in high bycatch (accidental catching of other species), and habitat disturbance,” he notes.

The study was funded by the UK Seafood Innovation Fund and Schmidt Marine Technology Partners. The research paper, published in Ocean and Coastal Management, provides valuable insights into the potential for light-based traps to enhance sustainable fishing practices.