Olá da Madeira! The island – a green paradise in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean – has been home to us for almost three months already. How the time flies!
We are Lara and Karo, one of 8 teams that currently conduct experiments all over the world as part of this year’s GAME project. Lara is a Marine Biology student currently enrolled at the University of Rostock and she is collecting data for her master thesis within the project. When she heard about GAME from her professor, she knew she had to be part of it! Karo is studying Biological Oceanography in Kiel. She found her passion for marine sciences quite recently and has never lived close to the ocean on beforehand. It was a dream of them both to join this project!
This year’s aim is – like in the previous years since 2021 – to investigate the effects of artificial light at night (or ALAN for short). We want to see how this phenomenon affects macroalgae in their ability to photosynthesize, grow and defend themselves against grazers. After an intense planning phase in March, during which we decided on the design of our experiments, we were more than glad to leave cold and grey northern Germany behind and escape into the sunny, subtropical climate of Madeira.
Finding accommodation was not easy, but in the end, we found a nice flat in the capital city Funchal with (almost) an ocean view! More than this, we have a balcony where we’ve enjoyed many lengthy weekend breakfasts.
We had an enjoyable first week when we settled into our flat, scouted the city and tried to figure out the bus system, which proved to be kind of complicated, since there are so many different bus companies here. One thing we learned very quickly, though: walking on this island requires strong calves. Madeira is hills…hills…and more hills. This is why you hardly ever see local people walking here – sometimes you get funny looks when you are doing a typical German “Spaziergang” (which is more like a hike over here), and you really have to watch out not to get run over by a bus or a car.
Then, we finally met the team of the Marine and Environmental Science Centre “MARE”. In our first meeting, we sat together with our supervisors (who are all former GAME participants!) and discussed how we could make our experiments here successful. Everyone was excited and motivated to get our project started!
Not long after, we made our first trip to the laboratory where we are conducting our experiments together. It is located in Quinta do Lorde, a place on the easternmost part of the island. It is close to the peninsula “Ponta de São Lourenço” which offers stunning views over the rugged coastline of the volcanic island. This part of the island is very dry and it almost feels like you have stepped into a desert – quite the contrast to the rest of Madeira, which is a lush, green paradise.
It is also the perfect spot for investigating ALAN, since it is very isolated and therefore mostly uninfluenced by nighttime illumination. Hence, the marine life here is not already adapted to light at night. The only downgrade is: the lab is located quite far away from Funchal, where we live. Most days, we have to take a bus that takes the scenic route and drives 1.5 hours along the coast, up and down the hills. At least we are rewarded with pretty ocean views during the drive – or we go for a little nap, especially after a long day in the lab. Thankfully, we can sometimes catch a ride in the car with our supervisors.
In the first weeks, we worked hard to build up our experimental set-up. Thanks to the great work of former GAME students, our lab is already equipped with most of the materials that we need, so we could quickly set up a flow-through system to supply running water to our algae. But we celebrated too soon: The complete water system of the lab had to be cleaned with bleach due to some pesky epiphytic growth and that meant that we had to re-do the flow through system again from scratch. We patiently cut tubes, and more tubes and connected them with little plastic suppliers, which let out filtered seawater to each of our 72 experimental tanks.
To give our algae as much light as possible, so that they are able to happily photosynthesize, we decided to order more LED lamps. One thing we did not anticipate: Madeira is located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, around 1000 km from the European coastline (the African coast is actually closer!), so equipment can take a loooong time to arrive. We were lucky that our lamps arrived “only” 3 weeks later, but already we faced the next challenge: connecting our lights to the control unit, with which we want to regulate the light intensity that our algae will be exposed to, proved to be more difficult than we had previously thought. However, with the help of the lab technician Patrício we quickly found a solution!
When we weren’t diligently building our set-up, we spent our days snorkelling in different places on the south coast of the island, looking for algae “candidates” that we could use in our experiments. Easier said than done, because the waters around Madeira are depleted in nutrients and large macroalgae are rare to find. We quickly decided on using Halopteris scoparia, a brown macroalgae that is quite abundant in the upper subtidal and therefore possible for us to collect while snorkelling. Another (particularly interesting) candidate is Rugulopteryx okamurae, an invasive brown alga, that has first been introduced on the north coast of Madeira in 2021 and since then spread rapidly – it is even growing on the pontoons in the marina outside our lab. It could be especially interesting to investigate how this species reacts to ALAN in comparison to native algae.
Since we want to investigate how ALAN affects the defence capacity of our algae, we also had to find suitable grazers (=algae eaters). Our options were less than ideal: Should we use sea urchins (even though they are very hungry and consume our algae in too large amounts) or intertidal snails (even though this makes less sense ecologically, because our algae come from the subtidal). In the end, we decided on the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus, which we can easily collect in the tide pools next to our lab. Did we say easy? – To get the hang of how to sample these little algae eaters took some blood, sweat and tears. Equipped with forks and buckets; after waiting for low tide to arrive, we wade into the tide pools and try to gently (or not so gently) persuade our sea urchins to come out of the holes in the rock that they like to sit in. We always take good care not to injure or stress them too much, but some unfortunately have already met their fate.
Before we could start with the main experiments, we had to test a few things. For instance, how much and when the sea urchins eat and how much the algae photosynthesize. To find this out, we carried out some pilot studies – more or less successfully. During one of our pilot studies all our sea urchins mysteriously died, probably after some contamination[LM1] [LH2] of the water. In addition to this, our method for measuring the oxygen production initially did not work, because the oxygen values we measured did not stabilize and photosynthesized waaaay too slowly despite looking perfectly healthy. After many hours of trial and error, we fortunately found a way that should allow us to accurately assess the oxygen evolution. For this[LM3] , we increased the light intensity to help the algae photosynthesize more quickly and also got a multi-position magnetic stirrer where we can put multiple of our containers with algae on simultaneously. A little magnetic bar keeps the water in the containers in constant motion, resulting in more stable oxygen measurements.
Furthermore, we have another nice tool available here. It is a PAM, which is short for Pulse Amplitude Modulation. Behind this rather complicated name lies a technology with which we can assess how well our algae are absorbing sunlight for photosynthesis and ultimately determine their health status. Because no one in the institute had used the device before, we had to do a lot of headache-inducing reading (the 200-page manual is not easy to understand) and carry out some test runs to get prepared for the measurements. Our weekly meetings with the other GAME participants became crucial for discussing challenges and brainstorming solutions together – so far this project has been a huge learning curve for the both of us.
Our lunch breaks we share with the lizards. Fun fact: there are more lizards than mice on Madeira! They are called Madeira lizards (Teira dugesii) and they are endemic to some of the Macaronesian islands. They are very curious creatures – especially when we unpack our food. They sometimes even like to jump on our feet, but you have to watch out that they don’t crawl inside your backpack, and you accidentally take home a new pet.
When we are not in the lab, we also know how to have fun (not that being in the lab is not fun). Madeira is an island full of amazing places and activities, and it’s a hiker’s paradise! There are a lot of different routes to explore, very famous are “levada” walks here. Levadas are old, narrow water channels that wind through the mountains. They were constructed to carry water from the misty mountains down to the drier parts of the island to water the crops of the farmers. You can walk along these levadas and enjoy the views over the island!
Besides doing a lot of hiking and training our calves, we have spotted some dolphins, explored different beaches, and even got swept up in the European Championships fever. Since Madeira is Cristiano Ronaldo’s birthplace, people here (young and old) are fans, and we joined the locals cheering for the Portuguese soccer team. Of course, we also had to try Madeira’s famous “poncha”, a traditional drink with rum and fresh fruit juice – typically lemon, orange, or – our favourite – maracuja. Another drink is Nikita, which is a mixture of pineapple juice, ice cream and beer. It tastes… well… interesting, as Karo’s face in the picture shows.
Madeira’s climate is perfect for growing all kinds of tropical fruits and other plants. What people keep as house plants in Germany, grows here in ditches next to the road, or in the size of trees – Monstera leaves get almost bigger than oneself! We also tried some fruits here that we have never seen before in our life. Our flatmate’s supervisor even has avocado trees in his backyard, which we sometimes get a share of – a luxury we will sorely miss back in Germany.
Another thing we learned here: you can never trust the weather forecast. In Funchal, situated on the south coast, the weather is usually pretty dry and sunny. However, it’s a different story for the North coast, where it rains more frequently, and temperatures are cooler. But even here on the sunny south coast, you never know what to wear. You could burn under the African sun or in the next second freeze from the wind, especially in the evenings, when the sun is already down. The onion-principle (a German favourite) really proves best.
We have been really enjoying our time here so far and we are sure by the end of September we will not want to go back to Germany. We have finished the first experiment and are soon starting the second one, we are excited to see what happens!
Lights, Algae, Action! Researching light pollution in the middle of the Atlantic
Despite their dramatic name, false killer whales aren’t an orca species. These animals are dolphins—members of the same extended family as the iconic “killer whale” (Orcinus orca). Compared to their namesake counterparts, these marine mammals are far less well-known than our ocean’s iconic orcas.
Let’s dive in and take a closer look at false killer whales—one of the ocean’s most social, yet lesser-known dolphin species.
Appearance and anatomy
False killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) are among the largest members of the dolphin family (Delphinidae). Adults can grow up to 20 feet long and weigh between 1,500 and 3,000 pounds, though some individuals have been recorded weighing even more. For comparison, that’s roughly double the size of a bottlenose dolphin—and slightly larger than a typical sedan.
These animals are incredibly powerful swimmers with long, torpedo-shaped bodies that help them move efficiently through the open ocean in search of prey. Their skull structure is what earned them their name, as their head shape closely resembles that of orcas. With broad, rounded heads, muscular jaws and large cone-shaped teeth, early scientists were fascinated by the similarities between these two marine mammal species.
Although their heads may look somewhat like those of orcas, there are several ways to distinguish false killer whales from their larger namesake counterparts.
One of the most noticeable differences has to do with their coloration. While orcas are known for their iconic black-and-white pattern with paler underbellies, alternatively, false killer whales are typically a uniform dark gray to black in color—almost as if a small orca decided to roll around in the dirt. If you’ve ever seen the animated Disney classic 101 Dalmatians, the difference is a bit like when the puppies roll in soot to disguise themselves as labradors instead of showing their usual black-and-white spots.
Their teeth also present a differentiator. The scientific name Pseudorca crassidens translates almost literally to “thick-toothed false orca,” a nod to their sturdy, cone-shaped teeth that help these animals capture prey. Orcas tend to have more robust, bulbous heads, while false killer whales appear slightly narrower and more streamlined.
Behavior and diet
False killer whales are both highly efficient hunters and deeply social animals. It’s not unusual to see them hunting together both in small pods and larger groups as they pursue prey like fish and squid.
Scientists have even observed false killer whales sharing food with each other, a behavior that is very unusual for marine mammals. While some dolphin and whale species work together to pursue prey, they rarely actively share food. The sharing of food among false killer whales spotlights the strong social bonds within their pods. Researchers believe these tight-knit social connections help false killer whales thrive in offshore environments where they’re always on the move.
Maintaining these close bonds and coordinating successful hunts requires constant effective communication, and this is where false killer whales excel. Like other dolphins, they produce a variety of sounds like whistles and clicks to stay connected with their pod and locate prey using echolocation. In the deep offshore waters where they live, sound often becomes more important than sight, since sound travels much farther underwater than light.
Where they live
False killer whales are highly migratory and travel long distances throughout tropical and subtropical waters around the world. They prefer deeper waters far offshore, and this pelagic lifestyle can make them more difficult for scientists to study than many coastal dolphin species.
However, there are a few places where researchers have been able to learn more about them—including the waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands.
Scientists have identified three distinct groups of false killer whales in and around Hawaii, but one well-studied group stays close to the main Hawaiian Islands year-round. Unfortunately, researchers estimate that only about 140 individuals remained in 2022, with populations expected to decline without action to protect them. This is exactly why this group is listed as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and is considered one of the most vulnerable marine mammal populations in U.S. waters.
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Current threats to survival
False killer whales are currently listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. From climate change-induced ocean acidification and harmful algal blooms to marine debris and fishing bycatch, false killer whales face the same mounting pressures that are impacting marine ecosystems around the world. As their prey becomes scarce due to increasing threats, populations of top predators like these decline, serving as a powerful signal that the ocean’s overall health is in critical need of protection.
Here at Ocean Conservancy, we’re working daily to confront these threats head-on and protect the ecosystems and wildlife we all cherish so dearly. But we can’t do it without you. Support from ocean lovers is what powers our work to protect our ocean, and right now, our planet needs all the help it can get. Visit Ocean Conservancy’s Action Center today and join our movement to create a better future for our ocean, forever and for everyone.
The post All About False Killer Whales appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.
https://oceanconservancy.org/blog/2026/03/31/false-killer-whales/
A lot has happened in the meantime: I became an Associate Professor at the University of Southern Denmark, we all lived through the Corona period, then slowly adjusted to the post‑pandemic stability, only to find ourselves again in turbulent political times. I am now affiliated with the Marine Research Center in Kerteminde, a beautiful coastal town on the island of Fyn. My plan is to share small updates on my research and activities every now and then. So let’s start with yesterday’s sampling trip for benthic phytoplankton, carried out by my colleague, Prof. Kazumasa Oguri. The sampling will help prepare for the first‑semester bachelor students who will join his small but fascinating project. This project is all about the benthic diatoms that form dense, photosynthetic communities on tidal‑flat sediments. Their daytime oxygen production enriches the sediment surface and allows oxygen to penetrate deeper, supporting diverse organisms that rely on aerobic respiration. The project will explore how oxygen distribution and oxygen production/consumption in sediments change under different light conditions (day, night, sunrise/sunset). The team will incubate benthic diatom communities in jars and measure oxygen profiles using an oxygen imaging system under controlled light regimes.
Yesterday, we visited several potential sampling sites where students can carry out their fieldwork. I encourage all PIs in our group to define at least one small project related to Kerteminde Fjord, where our laboratories are located. Over time, I hope we can build a more integrated dataset describing the marine and coastal ecosystems of the area.
Another activity currently in preparation is a project on marine invasive species in Kerteminde, which will feed into a course I will run in July and a master’s thesis project. More will come later.
Let’s hope for a more continuous blog from here on, keeping track of our activities, with or without jellyfish!
You may have seen headlines recently about a new global treaty that went into effect just as news broke that the United States would be withdrawing from a number of other international agreements. It’s a confusing time in the world of environmental policy, and Ocean Conservancy is here to help make it clearer while, of course, continuing to protect our ocean.
What is the High Seas Treaty?
The “High Seas Treaty,” formally known as the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, went into effect on January 17, 2026. We celebrated this win last fall, when the agreement reached the 60 ratifications required for its entry into force. (Since then, an additional 23 countries have joined!) It is the first comprehensive international legal framework dedicated to addressing the conservation and sustainable use of the high seas (the area of the ocean that lies 200 miles beyond the shorelines of individual countries).
To “ensure the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity” of these areas, the BBNJ addresses four core pillars of ocean governance:
- Marine genetic resources: The high seas contain genetic resources (genes of plants, animals and microbes) of great value for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and food production. The treaty will ensure benefits accrued from the development of these resources are shared equitably amongst nations.
- Area-based management tools such as the establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs) in international waters. Protecting important areas of the ocean is essential for healthy and resilient ecosystems and marine biodiversity.
- Environmental impact assessments (EIA) will allow us to better understand the potential impacts of proposed activities that may harm the ocean so that they can be managed appropriately.
- Capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology with particular emphasis on supporting developing states. This section of the treaty is designed to ensure all nations benefit from the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity through, for example, the sharing of scientific information.
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Why is the High Seas Treaty Important?
The BBNJ agreement is legally binding for the countries that have ratified it and is the culmination of nearly two decades of negotiations. Its enactment is a historic milestone for global ocean governance and a significant advancement in the collective protection of marine ecosystems.
The high seas represent about two-thirds of the global ocean, and yet less than 10% of this area is currently protected. This has meant that the high seas have been vulnerable to unregulated or illegal fishing activities and unregulated waste disposal. Recognizing a major governance gap for nearly half of the planet, the agreement puts in place a legal framework to conserve biodiversity.
As it promotes strengthened international cooperation and accountability, the agreement will establish safeguards aimed at preventing and reversing ocean degradation and promoting ecosystem restoration. Furthermore, it will mobilize the international community to develop new legal, scientific, financial and compliance mechanisms, while reinforcing coordination among existing treaties, institutions and organizations to address long-standing governance gaps.
How is Ocean Conservancy Supporting the BBNJ Agreement?
Addressing the global biodiversity crisis is a key focal area for Ocean Conservancy, and the BBNJ agreement adds important new tools to the marine conservation toolbox and a global commitment to better protect the ocean.
Ocean Conservancy’s efforts to protect the “ocean twilight zone”—an area of the ocean 200-1000m (600-3000 ft) below the surface—is a good example of why the BBNJ agreement is so important. The ocean twilight zone (also known as the mesopelagic zone) harbors incredible marine biodiversity, regulates the climate and supports the health of ocean ecosystems. By some estimates, more than 90% of the fish biomass in the ocean resides in the ocean twilight zone, attracting the interest of those eager to develop new sources of protein for use in aquaculture feed and pet foods.
Done poorly, such development could have major ramifications for the health of our planet, jeopardizing the critical role these species play in regulating the planet’s climate and sustaining commercially and ecologically significant marine species. Species such as tunas (the world’s most valuable fishery), swordfish, salmon, sharks and whales depend upon mesopelagic species as a source of food. Mesopelagic organisms would also be vulnerable to other proposed activities including deep-sea mining.
A significant portion of the ocean twilight zone is in the high seas, and science and policy experts have identified key gaps in ocean governance that make this area particularly vulnerable to future exploitation. The BBNJ agreement’s provisions to assess the impacts of new activities on the high seas before exploitation begins (via EIAs) as well as the ability to proactively protect this area can help ensure the important services the ocean twilight zone provides to our planet continue well into the future.
What’s Next?
Notably, the United States has not ratified the treaty, and, in fact, just a few days before it went into effect, the United States announced its withdrawal from several important international forums, including many focused on the environment. While we at Ocean Conservancy were disappointed by this announcement, there is no doubt that the work will continue.
With the agreement now in force, the first Conference of the Parties (COP1), also referred to as the BBNJ COP, will convene within the next year and will play a critical role in finalizing implementation, compliance and operational details under the agreement. Ocean Conservancy will work with partners to ensure implementation of the agreement is up to the challenge of the global biodiversity crisis.
The post What is the High Seas Treaty and Why Does It Matter? appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.
https://oceanconservancy.org/blog/2026/02/25/high-seas-treaty/
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