Earth and Planetary Sciences · Oceanography
Heat stress before spawning changed reproductive traits in the coral Acropora aspera, but the effects depended on temperature and exposure time. Longer heat exposure increased egg volume while sperm production showed a more variable response.
Researchers used an AI image-recognition system to identify benthic foraminifera, tiny seafloor organisms used to assess ecosystem quality. It identified species and, in one low-diversity setting, whether specimens were living or dead, reaching up to 94.2% accuracy.
Ghana’s Keta Lagoon remains ecologically functional, but researchers found signs of nutrient enrichment, organic matter loading and habitat alteration. Water, sediment and bottom-dwelling animal communities varied across the lagoon, with more tolerant species dominant where nutrient and turbidity levels were higher.
