Lionfish are a problem. They’ve been a problem in the Western Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico for at least 40 years. They’re a problem because, as an invasive species with no natural predators and voracious appetites, their population has boomed, and native species have suffered.
Keeping a saltwater aquarium is a beautiful and popular hobby. It’s also an expensive one. There’s the cost of the tank, the fish, the equipment, and of course, the coral. Aquarium coral can cost anywhere from $40 for beginner corals, up to $300 for exotic types.
Coral reefs are famous for their brilliant colours. What many people don’t realize is that the coral themselves are white. They get those fabulous colours via a symbiotic relationship with tiny plants called zooxanthellae that usually live inside the coral.
As a rule, coral eat tiny floating animals called zooplankton. It’s a pretty passive way of getting a meal. But there’s a new study that shows that some coral might be more aggressive about their dinner.
The Red Handfish is an extremely rare reef fish that doesn’t swim around the Tasman Sea (between Australia and New Zealand). Instead, it walks on its distinctively hand-like fins.
Offshore oil drilling has been a valuable source of income in many countries for decades. There are hundreds of oil rigs worldwide, generating billions of dollars in revenue.
