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Australia
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Study Discovers Increased Unpredictability of El Niño-Southern Oscillation Due to Deforestation in the ‘Maritime Continent’
El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a recurring climatic phenomenon that takes place approximately every 2 to 7 years in the tropical Pacific Ocean. It is characterized by alterations in air pressure patterns from east to west. During El Niño events, the typical eastward-blowing equatorial trade winds weaken, leading to shifts in air pressure and wind speed. Consequently, warm surface waters move from the western Pacific eastward toward coastal South America. This leads to a deepening of the thermocline (the point at which sea temperature changes rapidly), which disrupts the normal upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich waters. This disruption can have severe consequences for marine ecosystems and communities reliant on the fishing industry in affected regions.
For the First Time, Scientists Unravel the Genetic Lineage of Australia’s Notorious Killer Whale, Old Tom
In a groundbreaking study, evolutionary biologists have unraveled the genetic lineage of a renowned killer whale and its pod, known for their collaboration with whalers off the Australian coast. Surprisingly, the findings suggest that Old Tom, the leader of this unique pod, shares genetic ties with present-day killer whales in New Zealand. Further analyses indicate a common ancestry between Old Tom and killer whales from Australasia, the North Pacific, and North Atlantic Oceans, while exhibiting the closest resemblance to contemporary New Zealand killer whales. Nevertheless, a significant portion of Old Tom's genetic code remains exclusive, hinting at the possibility of local extinction among the killer whales of Eden.