Biogeosciences

Imaggeo On Monday: A drift of sea-snail shells

Pontus Lurcock June 28, 2021

A drift of sea-snail shells. Credit: Pontus Lurcock (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu)

A collection of washed-up shells on a beach on the south island of New Zealand. Shore transport processes have produced a well-sorted drift of similarly sized (approx. 1-2 cm) shells and shell fragments. The main species represented are the common turret shell (Maoricolpus roseus) and wheel shell (Zethalia zelandica), both sea snails endemic to New Zealand. Description by Pontus Lurcock, af ...[Read More]

Pride on board: working on an ocean-going research vessel as an LGBTQI+ person

Huw Griffiths June 25, 2021

Progress Pride flag recreated by Huw Griffiths using close-up images of Antarctic animals.

Working from home during the pandemic has allowed many of us to look back on past experiences and to long for the days when our work in marine science took us to amazing places all around the world. Pride month is another great opportunity for reflection and to consider how things have changed for us as LGBTQI+ individuals and the community within STEM, including, on the International Day of the S ...[Read More]

Imaggeo On Monday: Giant Australian Cuttlefish in the Spencer Gulf, South Australia

John Counts June 21, 2021

Giant Australian Cuttlefish in the Spencer Gulf, South Australia. Credit: John Counts (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu)

In the shadow of the Santos oil and gas processing plant and export terminal lies the only place in the world where cuttlefish come together by the tens of thousands to mate every winter. The unique geology of the area, with a seafloor composed of bedrock and tabular quartzite blocks, makes for an ideal egg-laying habitat, and thus is an attractive breeding ground for the Australian Giant Cuttlefi ...[Read More]

Imaggeo On Monday: Studying shell morphodynamics to improve climate models

Jennifer Guarini June 14, 2021

Studying shell morphodynamics to improve climate models. Credit: Jennifer Guarini (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu)

Profile of a specimen of Arctica islandica, one of the longest lived marine bivalves known, undergoing a 3D scan. Their longevity is exploited for reconstruction of climate patterns in the North Atlantic. However, mathematical models of their morphodynamics are necessary to account for bias induced by their asymmetric growth (“morphodynamics” is the study of how an organisms’ gro ...[Read More]