DAME'S WILD WORLD

How do whales travel thousands of miles across the Pacific Ocean? Explore how whale migration works and the strategies behind long-distance navigation.

Marine Protected Areas, or MPAs, are regions of oceans, beaches, lakes, or other bodies of water that are protected for conservation, biodiversity, cultural importance, and marine resources. One of the main goals of Marine Protected Areas is to preserve or increase biodiversity within ecosystems that are affected by human activity. The more I researched Marine Protected Areas, the more I realized there are very different opinions about whether they are actually effective. Som

If you are learning about oceans, lakes, or other bodies of water, you may have heard about something called a dead zone. A dead zone, also known as hypoxia, is an area of water where oxygen levels become too low for most marine life to survive normally. The more I researched dead zones, the more surprising they became to me. At first, they sound like isolated environmental problems. But many dead zones are actually connected to larger systems involving pollution, agriculture

Many manmade structures that sink into the ocean are usually forgotten over time. But now, some marine scientists intentionally preserve or place structures underwater in order to create artificial reefs. Artificial reefs are human-made structures designed to support marine ecosystems by creating shelter, attracting marine life, and increasing biodiversity. The more I researched artificial reefs, the more I realized humans are not only affecting ocean habitats. In some cases,

Billions of years ago, the Pacific Ocean was a toxic wasteland. Now, it is home to massive ecosystems, marine life, and coastal cultures across the world. The Pacific Ocean is so large that even hundreds of years of research still do not fully cover everything inside it. According to NOAA, the Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest ocean basin on Earth, covering more than 155 million square kilometers and averaging a depth of around 4,000 meters. The more I researched the P

Kelp forests are some of the most important ecosystems on the West Coast. Even though they may not look as colorful or visually dramatic as tropical coral reefs, kelp forests are incredible in their own way. Many people have heard about coral reefs, but some may not even know kelp forests exist despite how important they are to California’s ocean ecosystems. The more I researched kelp forests, the more I realized they function almost like underwater forests filled with life,

Algal blooms are affecting marine mammals in unexpected ways. From toxic waters to unusual behavior, here’s how ocean ecosystems are being disrupted.