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Changing Seas
Whales in a Plastic Ocean
Season 17
Episode 1702
Far out in the eastern Atlantic, the Portuguese island of Madeira rises from the depths of the open ocean. Despite its remote location, the archipelago is impacted by floating plastic trash. Researchers with MARE-Madeira study the effects plastics, and their chemical compounds, have on the health of marine mammals that frequent local waters.
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26:43
Modern technology is making it possible to correlate dolphin sounds and behavior.
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27:13
Scientists experimant to see if giant manta rays are impacted negatively by microplastics.
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27:13
Changes to the ocean environment affect the way carbon is cycled through the seas.
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27:13
Lake Okeechobee, once the blue heart of Florida, now has putrid mats of blue green algae.
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26:43
Visit the remote Pacific, the islands of Maug - a natural laboratory for scientists.
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26:43
Some scientists are suggesting that ctenophores are the oldest sea animals.