How microbes reflect the health of coral reefs
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Published: 19 December 2019
Protected offshore reefs in Cuba, like Jardines de la Reina, show greater microbial diversity and reef health than human-impacted reefs in Florida, due to lower nutrient and organic carbon levels from reduced pollution and development.
Keywords: coral reefs, microbes, Cuba, Florida Keys, pollution, protection
WHOI underwater robot takes first known automated sample from ocean
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Published: 8 January 2022
WHOI’s Nereid Under Ice (NUI) robot made the first autonomous robotic ocean sample at Kolumbo volcano, advancing AI-based deep-sea exploration vital for future missions to ocean worlds like Europa.
Keywords: ocean robotics, WHOI, Kolumbo volcano, AI, NASA
Study weighs deep-sea mining’s impact on microbes
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Published: 16 January 2020
Deep-sea mining threatens vital microbial communities that support ecosystem functions and biotechnological potential. Scientists urge evaluating microbial roles, not just presence, to guide sustainable policy and protect irreplaceable habitats.
Keywords: deep-sea mining, microbes, ecosystem services, hydrothermal vents, biotechnology, WHOI
