Aaron B. Judah🔱

Schematic diagram of the influence of seabirds on temperate and tropical near-shore marine systems. Temperatre systems: - Nutrient enrichment and predation on herbivorous invertebrates can lead to increased algal production - Phytoplankton communities change, featuring more large-celled species - Intertidal organisms incorporate seabird-enriched material by grazing on detritus and biofilm in tidepools - Macroalgae biodiversity and primary production are boosted Tropical systems: - Mangrove leaf nutritional quality increases - Corals recover faster after bleaching events - Fish biomass increases across different trophic groups - Pelagic and benthic consumers' foraging behaviour shifts - Parrotfish grazing and bioerosion rates increase - Fish grow larger

New in @natrevbiodiv.nature.com: our review of the influence of #seabirds, via their nutrient transfer, on islands & adjacent marine ecosystems 🐦🏝️🪸

We highlight knowledge gaps & future directions ✨

"The circular seabird economy is critical for oceans, islands and people": doi.org/10.1038/s443...

WOW!!! Congratulations to the authors on a timely and important perspective on how we move forward in coral reef conservation. A must read 🪸🐠

Schematic of two potential impact pathways (direct benthic impacts and midwater impacts) of deep-sea mining for polymetallic nodules, polymetallic sulphides, and cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts.

"Deep-sea mining risks for sharks, rays, and chimaeras" www.cell.com/current-biol...

@seaprinceaaron.bsky.social & colleagues
@currentbiology.bsky.social

A large intraplate hydrogen-rich hydrothermal system driven by serpentinization in the western Pacific: Kunlun A hydrogen-rich hydrothermal system in the western Pacific reveals potential for hydrogen resources and early life.

A huge field of hydrothermal vents - driven by serpentinization and formed by a massive hydrogen explosion - recently discovered in the western Pacific!

www.science.org/doi/full/10....

From gentle giants to ghostly hunters, sharks face an unseen peril New research reveals that deep-sea mining could dramatically threaten 30 species of sharks, rays, and ghost sharks whose habitats overlap with proposed mining zones. Many of these species, already at…

From gentle giants to ghostly hunters, sharks face an unseen peril | ScienceDaily

First observation of a leucistic false catshark Pseudotriakis microdon - Marine Biodiversity Marine Biodiversity -

First observation of a leucistic false catshark Pseudotriakis microdon link.springer.com/article/10.1...

"Overfishing the largest species in nearshore and pelagic habitats risks loss of ecomorphotypes and a 5 to 22% erosion of functional diversity."

Ecological erosion and expanding extinction risk of sharks and rays
Dulvy @nickdulvy.bsky.social et al 2024

Figure 1: highlighting various pathways through which mining can impact sharks, rays, and chimaeras including collector impact and plumes, and discharge plumes.

Figure 2: The diversity of sharks, rays, and chimaeras impacted by deep sea mining operations. Nearly 2/3 of these species are already at an elevated risk of extinction.

New paper led by @seaprinceaaron.bsky.social in @currentbiology.bsky.social looking at the threats deep sea mining poses for sharks, rays, and chimaeras. We found 30 species are threatened via various pathways including collector impact and plumes at depth and pelagic discharge plumes.

#deepseamining #polymetallicnodules #conservation #marineconservation #marinebiodiversity #mantaray #whaleshark #ghostshark #whiteshark #cookiecuttershark #chocolateskate #baskingshark #megamouthshark #sharkconservation #marinebiology #mining #ocean #deepsea #chimaera #marinelife #sharkscience

Great to team up with @cgmull.bsky.social @nickdulvy.bsky.social @britfinucci.bsky.social, Victoria and Jeff, to bring sharks, rays, and chimaeras to the larger discourse on deep-sea mining. This paper is also my first first-author publication and I am excited it could be this one!

a dolphin is jumping out of the water in the ocean ALT: a dolphin is jumping out of the water in the ocean

What we need:

1. Updates to ISA, IUCN, and other assessments incorporating the risks of mining to chondrichthyans.

2. Enhanced sampling and monitoring.

3. Spatial management tools to protect at-risk species.

4. A deeper discharge plume, but must assess biodiversity impacts and further risks

This figure shows the percentage of species richness present over the depth range in comparison to the discharge plume and benthic impacts. Species richness in most areas reaches 0 at 2,000 m or so, however in polymetallic sulphide areas, as many as 4 species remain at-risk in deeper systems. Figure 4 Vertical conservation benchmarks for discharge and mining depths based on the potential overlap of chondrichthyans with the mining footprint. Each line is a contractor (see Table S3), and dashed lines denote where 50% and 75% of assemblages no longer overlap by depth (i.e., 50% and 25% species richness remaining). An additional dashed line denotes 2,000 and 3,000 m and the number of species remaining at or below these depths. The dark gray areas refer to depths of direct benthic impacts, while light gray areas refer to discharge plume scenarios. Mining types are PMNs (polymetallic nodules), PMSs (polymetallic sulphides), and CFCs (cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts).

Where should the discharge plume go? Some results:

1️⃣ Deeper than 2000 m where there is limited chondrichthyan overlap. But ecosystem impacts remain.

2️⃣ At the seafloor to limit pelagic disturbance BUT this will further threaten benthic biodiversity (inc. chondrichthyans, see sulphide mining - PMS)

This figure shows the depth ranges of species in relation to the discharge plume and benthic impacts from mining. Species vary in their overlap but 25 overlap vertically in depth and 17 of these species have > 50% depth overlap. Figure 3 Potential depth range overlap of chondrichthyans with the deep-sea mining footprint. Potential depth range overlap of chondrichthyans with (A) PMN, (B) PMS, and (C) CFC mining. Depth ranges are minimum and maximum depths of species, and overlap statistics are calculated based on the minimum and maximum depths of discharge plume scenarios and the mining type. The gradient in overlap for each species reflects a moving window where the discharge plume is moved 1 meter down with each scenario, and the overlap is subsequently recalculated at the meter scale. The dark gray areas refer to direct benthic impacts, while light gray areas refer to discharge plume scenarios. Numbers reflect species that have 50% or higher depth overlap for benthic impacts specifically.

Potential depth overlap:

🌊 25 species overlap directly with seabed impacts, 17 have > 50% of their depth range overlapping

🌊 All species overlap with discharge plume scenarios

🌊 The chocolate skate has a 75% depth overlap and is egg-laying and benthic (traits which elevate its vulnerability)

Figure 2 Phylogenetic tree and heatmap displaying the chondrichthyans (n = 30) that intersect with deep-sea mining areas. The heatmap shows the mining types within which each species occurs (PMNs, polymetallic nodules; PMSs, polymetallic sulfides; CFCs, cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts), whether they occur in the Areas of Particular Environmental Interests (APEIs) (located in the Clarion-Clipperton zone), whether they are Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) listed, their functional group, and their International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List status. An alternative color palette and extended trait data are available (Figure S1; Table S1).

30 species overlap:

🦈 Unique deep-sea species such as two chimaeras, the megamouth shark, great lanternshark, and cookiecutter shark

🦈 Deep divers such as devil and manta rays, the whale shark, and white shark

🦈 > 60% already threatened with extinction, 12-16 at-risk species per contractor

This figure illustrates two pathways for which deep-sea mining could impact sharks, rays, and chimaeras. The first pathway describes impact on the seabed, specifically through the collector vehicle and the plume generated from the vehicle. This pathway is especially of concern for benthic, benthopelagic, and egg-laying species and poses a threat to foraging areas and nurseries. The second pathway focuses on the midwater discharge plume. This plume will likely disrupt vertical migration and behaviour, filter feeding, and bioluminescence. Also, the plume may cause respiratory distress, reuslt in the accumulation of toxic metals in upper trophic levels, and further affect trophic functioning. Figure 1 Schematic of two potential impact pathways (direct benthic impacts and midwater impacts) of deep-sea mining for polymetallic nodules, polymetallic sulphides, and cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts. The discharge plume is depicted at a depth of 1,000 m for illustrative purposes. Illustration by Molly Wells (https://www.mollywells.ca/).

Mining poses risks via 2 pathways. 1) seabed impacts from the collector vehicle, especially to #nurseries and foraging areas. 2) impacts via the midwater #dischargeplume which could disrupt vertical migration, filter feeding, bioluminescence, and cause toxic metal accumulation.

🖼️Molly Wells

Mining in ABNJ could begin within the next few years, however #chondrichthyans have been left out of recommendations for environmental baselines, which are required by the #InternationalSeabedAuthority. This novel industry poses considerable risks to #biodiversity and #ecosystemfunctions

A world map showing the distribution of mineral resources considered for deep-sea mining.

Deep-sea mining will target three primary mineral types: polymetallic nodules (abyssal seafloor), polymetallic sulphides (vents), and cobalt-rich crusts (seamounts). The goal is to extract rare earth metals for the green transition (eg. for batteries)

🖼️ Miller et al. 2018

The Pygmy Shark (Euprotomicrus bispinatus), the world’s second smallest shark species and one of the species with a high overlap with proposed deep sea mining. Credit: Blue Planet Archive / Masa Ushioda.

🚨 NEW PUBLICATION 🚨

Today in @currentbiology.bsky.social, we found that 30 species of #sharks, #rays, and #chimaeras overlap with proposed #deepseamining in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction #ABNJ - over 60% are already #threatened with #extinction 🦈

📸 Blue Planet Archive / Masa Ushioda

🧪🌏🦑🌊🦈 New paper alert #deepseamining #sharks

And for more on #shark #conservation, check out this well-aged review from @sharkcolin.bsky.social and colleagues

www.cell.com/current-biol...

Thank you so much Colin!!!

Deep-sea mining risks for sharks, rays, and chimeras Judah et al. identify 30 species of chondrichthyans that overlap with proposed deep-sea mining activities, nearly two-thirds of which are already threatened with extinction. Precautionary management o...

New #sharkscience out in @currentbiology.bsky.social by @seaprinceaaron.bsky.social and colleagues.
Deep-sea mining risks for sharks, rays, and chimeras. A must read for this looming threat to many already threatened species.
www.cell.com/current-biol...
@iucnshark.bsky.social

What's down there? Abstract. My career has been a series of adventures and occasional misadventures that have been both physically and intellectually challenging. I suspect t

Fantastic biography from Dr. Bruce Robison, a midwater researcher and one of the founding scientists of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI)

academic.oup.com/icesjms/arti...

Drag Queens Tag Sharks in Annual Florida Science Celebration The annual “Drag ’n Tag” expedition takes place amid a wave of antitransgender legislation

Today is “drag and tag,” tagging sharks with drag queens while raising money for LGBQT+ youth organizations in Florida!

www.scientificamerican.com/article/drag...

Shark National Geographic GIF ALT: Shark National Geographic GIF

First first-author paper just got accepted!!!! New deep-sea shark, ray, and chimaera science inbound 👻🦈

Outlasting the Heat: Collapse of Herbivorous Fish Control of Invasive Algae During Marine Heatwaves

🔗 buff.ly/YrXrJfn
@jeroenbrijs.bsky.social

🚨New PhD paper out today in @natcomms.nature.com with @renatoamorais.bsky.social and Dave Bellwood! 🚨

Marine fishes exhibit extraordinary patterns of diversity, but how does this diversity relate to their productivity? 🐟🐠🐡

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🦑🧪

🔗 nature.com/articles/s41...

Flyer from CSU Long Beach advertising for the position of Assistant Professor of Elasmobranch Biology. The flyer has a picture of a white shark in the banner. Application deadline is September 03, 2025. Christine Whitcraft can be contacted for details at Christine.whitcraft@csulb.edu Full job description can be found here: https://careers.pageuppeople.com/873/lb/en-us/job/549205/assistant-professor-of-biological-sciences-elasmobranch-biologist

The Biology Department at CSU Long Beach is now advertising for an Assistant Professor of Elasmobranch Biology. Refer to the attached flyer for details. @uwsafs.bsky.social @uwmarinebiology.bsky.social @misselasmo.bsky.social @whysharksmatter.bsky.social @official-bweems.bsky.social

🌊 This week, DOSI is in Kingston, Jamaica for Part II of the 30th Session of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) #ISA30

The focus? Continuing negotiations on #DeepSeaMining regulations—a pivotal moment for the future of the #DeepOcean.

What Ocean Ramsey does is not shark science or conservation: some brief thoughts on “the Shark Whisperer” documentary Netflix has a new (sarcastic air quotes) “documentary” out about Ocean Ramsey, who longtime readers and followers know is a serial wildlife harasser who also coordinates massive online …

Enough of you asked me about this that I wrote some brief thoughts on Ocean Ramsey's particular brand of pseudoscientific nonsense. I believe this addresses almost all of the frequently asked questions I receive, but as always I am happy to answer serious questions asked in good faith.

🧪🦑🌎🦈