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Changing Seas Season 8 Episodes
Season 8 Episode Guide
4 Episodes 2016 - 2016
Episode 1
Sponges: Oldest Creatures in the Sea?
Wed, Jun 22, 2016
They come in all different colors, shapes and sizes. Many of us have used them to bathe or clean with, and the most famous one is SpongeBob SquarePants, a cartoon character who entertains children from his pineapple in the sea. But have you ever given sponges much thought? Until recently there was scientific consensus that sponges were the first animals to branch off the "Animal Tree of Life," a kind of family tree for all living and extinct animals on earth. But recent DNA research has cast doubt on that theory, with some scientists suggesting that ctenophores, also known as comb jellies, are an older lineage.
Episode 2
Manatees: Conserving a Marine Mammal
Wed, Jun 22, 2016
The lovable Florida manatee draws thousands of tourists to Crystal River every year. This sanctuary is also a treasure for scientists, who take advantage of the winter gatherings of hundreds of manatees in the shallow, clear water to study this marine mammal. One particular research group is using cutting-edge technology to detect manatees in the water without even seeing them, using their DNA. The conservation of Florida's state marine mammal now relies on some fundamental scientific questions. What is a healthy population of manatees? And do we have enough habitat and food sources to support a growing population?
Episode 3
Maug's Caldera: A Natural Laboratory
Tue, Jun 28, 2016
In the remote Pacific, the islands of Maug rise out of the sea. Formed by an ancient volcano, shallow hydrothermal vents are found close to coral reefs inside the submerged caldera. These vents emit levels of CO2 that can be expected in the world's oceans by the end of the century, making these waters a natural laboratory for scientists studying the impacts of ocean acidification on coral reefs. A Co-Production with Open Boat Films.
Episode 4
Beneath the Bridge
Tue, Jun 28, 2016
The Blue Heron Bridge in Riviera Beach, Florida, is known as one of the best shore dives in the United States. What appears as an unlikely dive site at first is home to a rich variety of marine life, ranging from sea horses to manta rays. A scientist from Florida Atlantic University is studying the two species of octopus that live here, to better understand how these animals can co-exist in one area without competing with each other. In addition, a group of dedicated underwater photographers is contributing to scientific knowledge by documenting the large number of nudibranchs, or sea slugs, that live beneath the bridge.
