Discoveries in Marine Science

• Jubilees• Hydrothermal vents• Chemosynthesis• Giant marine life off Antarctic

Jubilee

• Low levels of dissolved oxygen in the water can cause marine life to become very lethargic.

• Along the eastern shore of Mobile Bay, Alabama, many aquatic animals move into shallow waters to try to get more oxygen.

• Local communities refer to this phenomenon as "Jubilee." During a Jubilee, residents walk along the shore and fill their ice chests with crabs and flounders.

Hydrothermal vents

• Hydrothermal vents were first discovered near the Galápagos Islands in 1977 by scientists in the research submersible Alvin

• Spider crabs and other common deep sea animals commonly visit chemosynthetic communities and make up a unique ecosystem there

AMAZING OCEAN FACTS

Horseshoe crab bloodSponges fight cancerAlgae in your food

Horseshoe crabs in medicine

• Despite the fact that the horseshoe crab’s blood is so vital to medical science, much of the horseshoe crab’s population is being depleted due to over-harvesting. Fishermen have found that horseshoe crabs make excellent bait for conch and eels.

• The horseshoe crabs that are used for medical purposes are returned to the water. They will then survive to one day may supply more of their precious blue blood to medicine.