Turtles have roamed the oceans for hundreds of millions of years. In the coastal waters or the open sea of the Mediterranean, the survival of loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) is threatened by human activities. The Octopus Foundation has launched an innovative program to better understand these reptiles, in order to better protect them.
5000 years ago, men built wooden villages on the shores of alpine lakes. These “pile-dwellings” were eventually abandoned, their remains quickly covered by sediments deposited by rising water levels. Isolated from the air, fragile material such as wood has remained intact, representing an incredible source of information on the way our very distant ancestors lived. Today, some archaeological sites could be threatened by the joint effects of natural erosion and human activities.
The Mediterranean monk seal is on the “endangered species” section of the IUCN’s red list since 1986. Its population is down to only a few hundred individuals, mainly concentrated in Greece and Turkey.
This marine mammal has been hunting in Mare Nostrum since the Antiquity. Yet, it’s still one of the least known and studied seals in the world. The Octopus Foundation joins a program aimed at better understanding this key species.
5000 years ago, men built wooden villages on the shores of alpine lakes. These “pile-dwellings” were eventually abandoned, their remains quickly covered by sediments deposited by rising water levels. Isolated from the air, fragile material such as wood has remained intact, representing an incredible source of information on the way our very distant ancestors lived. Today, some archaeological sites could be threatened by the joint effects of natural erosion and human activities.
Hidden in seagrass beds of the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, the seahorses and Syngnathidae of France live a complicated life. Ironically, these icons of the marine world have always been largely ignored by the scientific community. It is urgent to study a family of fish that is today struggling in most places around the world.
Since Antiquity, the Swiss lakes have been used to transport people and goods. Many vessels were lost through the ages, to be forgotten under several meters of protective sediment. The constant erosion of our lakes reveals new remains, that must rapidly be studied before they are forever lost.