Breaking Waves: Ocean News

More than 100 people killed and hundreds of thousands displaced in South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe Devastating floods have killed more than 100 people in southern Africa since the beginning of the year and displaced hundreds of thousands, as authorities and aid workers warn of hunger, cholera and attacks by crocodiles that have spread with the waters. More than 70 people have died in Zimbabwe and 30 in South Africa, where hundreds of people were evacuated from Kruger national park earlier this month after a deluge of rain. Continue reading...

Researchers observed the primates switching social groups and passing information on where to find the ripest fruit Spider monkeys share tips about where to find food by changing their social groups in a “clever system for sharing insider knowledge”, research has shown. They were observed to frequently switch subgroups of three or more individuals in a way that enabled them to share information about the location of fruit trees and timing of when they would ripen. Continue reading...

Death toll sparks calls for companies to be fined under animal welfare legislation over mass fish deaths Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast At least 4 million salmon died prematurely at Tasmanian fish farms in 2025, with new data from the state’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) suggesting about 500,000 fish died in November and December as ocean temperatures warmed. Scientific studies indicate Atlantic salmon are adversely affected when ocean temperatures approach 18C. At higher temperatures, salmon encounter less oxygenated water, suffer from liver and kidney damage, have less appetite and become more vulnerable to disease. This article was republished with permission from the Tasmanian Inquirer Continue reading...

After analyzing 40 years of tree records across the Andes and Amazon, researchers found that climate change is reshaping tropical forests in uneven ways. Some regions are steadily losing tree species, especially where conditions are hotter and drier, while others are seeing gains. Rainfall patterns turned out to be just as important as rising temperatures.