pull in your sails and move on

have you eaten today?

did you take any meds you need?

how about hydration?

maybe a nap if you need one

you are awesome

Part of socializing and having friends is being a good listener even when you don't actually give a shit about the subject.

Your are hurting other people's feelings when you bluntly respond with "Anyway..." and then change the topic.

It can not always be about your preferred topic.

By analyzing these traces, scientists from Citizens of the Sea were able to identify which species are present without needing to see or capture them. Results from the 24 samples found over 8.5 million DNA sequences and the detection of 2,365 types of bacteria and 785 plant and animal groups.

Among the most notable detections was the Mauve Stinger jellyfish, a species that is increasing due to climate change and overfishing. Most jellyfish monitoring happens close to shore, giving only a partial view of their movements, so samples collected offshore during the Race could prove invaluable in predicting future distribution and reducing the impact on tourism and fishing.

Species associated with harmful algal blooms (HABs), such as Alexandrium and Dinophysis were also found. While not indicating active blooms, their presence underlines the potential of eDNA as an early-warning tool, one that could be vital given that such blooms can produce dangerous toxins and cause harm to marine ecosystems, coastal economies, including fisheries, and human health.

Traces of the invasive Red Sea plume seaweed were detected offshore, despite it being a coastal species, a finding that shows it may have spread further than previously thought. This could negatively impact Mediterranean seaweed forests by blocking out the sunlight, which leads to a decrease in biodiversity.

Other non-indigenous species commonly associated with shipping and marine infrastructure, including barnacles, reef-building worms, and colonial tunicates were also detected. These findings underline the role of maritime activity in spreading invasive species and demonstrate how eDNA can help track these movements across large ocean areas.

“Climate change and human activity are driving new marine threats, yet scientists know surprisingly little about many of the species and their movements,” said Stefan Raimund, The Ocean Race Science Program Coordinator.