Marine animals live where ocean is most ‘breathable,’ but ranges could shrink with climate change

The North Atlantic Ocean imaged from the International Space Station, showing portions of Cuba, The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

As oceans warm due to climate change, scientists are trying to predict how marine animals — from backboned fish to spineless jellyfish — will react. Laboratory experiments indicate that many could theoretically tolerate temperatures far higher than what they encounter today. But these studies don’t mean that marine animals can maintain their current ranges in warmer oceans, according to Curtis Deutsch, a professor of oceanography at the University of Washington.

Armored fish: the knights of the deep sea

Lateral scan of the north spearnose poacher

For centuries, armor has protected warriors in combat, providing a defensive barrier and preventing damage to whatever is underneath its protective shell. It has seen many iterations as the years go on, always improving and allowing for more agility while decreasing in weight with the advancement of technologies allowing for better materials. That is exactly how armor on fish has changed over time, evolving from the clunky thick head shields seen on the earliest fishes to the scales we now see on modern fish.

Case studies illustrate how water utilities may adapt to climate change

Changing climate has far-reaching impacts, and is testing parts of society’s ability to continue doing business-as-usual. Among these are water utilities, the entities responsible for delivering clean, fresh water to our nation’s households and managing wastewater and stormwater. Climate change affects not only rainfall and annual precipitation patterns—which has implications on the availability of freshwater—but can also stress the infrastructure and systems used to treat, deliver and manage water resources.

Bruce Nelson to serve as Associate Dean for Research

Department of Earth and Space Sciences Professor Bruce Nelson has agreed to serve as the College of the Environment’s Associate Dean for Research, effective September 16. In this role he will foster multidisciplinary collaborations, promote and support the range of basic and applied research programs across the College and University, and help faculty identify opportunities to partner and collaborate with universities and research organizations both in the U.S.

Fighting fire with fire in the Methow Valley

Editor’s note: Each year wildfires impact the landscape and change the way of life for many communities around the world. Last fall, UW News went to the Methow Valley — the heart of fire country — to learn more about how UW’s experts play a role in shaping how we fight and live with fires here in Washington. Here’s one story: WINTRHOP, Wash.