Rochelle Constantine
@rconstantine.bsky.social
Always about the ocean, Professor, solutions focused, Aotearoa New Zealand is home
Reposted by Rochelle Constantine
Your 'bonus moment of doom' for today: In other words, about 8 billion Hiroshimas worth of heating.
"Ocean heat content (OHC) increased by around 500 zettajoules – billion trillion joules – since the 1940s."
www.carbonbrief.org/state-of-the...
"Ocean heat content (OHC) increased by around 500 zettajoules – billion trillion joules – since the 1940s."
www.carbonbrief.org/state-of-the...
State of the climate: 2025 in top-three hottest years on record as ocean heat surges - Carbon Brief
The year 2025 was in the top-three warmest years on record
www.carbonbrief.org
January 14, 2026 at 4:12 PM
Your 'bonus moment of doom' for today: In other words, about 8 billion Hiroshimas worth of heating.
"Ocean heat content (OHC) increased by around 500 zettajoules – billion trillion joules – since the 1940s."
www.carbonbrief.org/state-of-the...
"Ocean heat content (OHC) increased by around 500 zettajoules – billion trillion joules – since the 1940s."
www.carbonbrief.org/state-of-the...
Reposted by Rochelle Constantine
Not just sobering, but a kick in the goolies 😖
New national climate plans have done barely anything
@unep.org’s 2025 #EmissionsGap Report warns that even if all current targets are fully implemented, global temperatures still projected to rise 2.3–2.5°C this century
www.unep.org/resources/em...
New national climate plans have done barely anything
@unep.org’s 2025 #EmissionsGap Report warns that even if all current targets are fully implemented, global temperatures still projected to rise 2.3–2.5°C this century
www.unep.org/resources/em...
Emissions Gap Report 2025
UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report 2025: Off Target finds that available new climate pledges under the Paris Agreement have only slightly lowered global temperature rise over the course of this century, leav...
www.unep.org
January 14, 2026 at 4:25 PM
Not just sobering, but a kick in the goolies 😖
New national climate plans have done barely anything
@unep.org’s 2025 #EmissionsGap Report warns that even if all current targets are fully implemented, global temperatures still projected to rise 2.3–2.5°C this century
www.unep.org/resources/em...
New national climate plans have done barely anything
@unep.org’s 2025 #EmissionsGap Report warns that even if all current targets are fully implemented, global temperatures still projected to rise 2.3–2.5°C this century
www.unep.org/resources/em...
Reposted by Rochelle Constantine
The red dot is a baby North Atlantic right whale trying to migrate up the east coast of the United states.
The blue streaks are fast moving shipping vessels entering and leaving New York City harbor.
One collision and the whale is dead.
We need *mandatory* speed limits for these vessels! 🧪🦑🌍
The blue streaks are fast moving shipping vessels entering and leaving New York City harbor.
One collision and the whale is dead.
We need *mandatory* speed limits for these vessels! 🧪🦑🌍
January 14, 2026 at 4:34 PM
The red dot is a baby North Atlantic right whale trying to migrate up the east coast of the United states.
The blue streaks are fast moving shipping vessels entering and leaving New York City harbor.
One collision and the whale is dead.
We need *mandatory* speed limits for these vessels! 🧪🦑🌍
The blue streaks are fast moving shipping vessels entering and leaving New York City harbor.
One collision and the whale is dead.
We need *mandatory* speed limits for these vessels! 🧪🦑🌍
Reposted by Rochelle Constantine
Deep-Sea Mining Watch reveals where vessels are exploring deep-sea mineral sites, helping bring accountability to one of the ocean’s last frontiers.
@paulwoods.io , Global Fishing Watch Chief Innovation Officer, highlights the role of transparency in ocean governance.
🔗 https://bit.ly/4a1Qvex
@paulwoods.io , Global Fishing Watch Chief Innovation Officer, highlights the role of transparency in ocean governance.
🔗 https://bit.ly/4a1Qvex
January 14, 2026 at 5:50 PM
Deep-Sea Mining Watch reveals where vessels are exploring deep-sea mineral sites, helping bring accountability to one of the ocean’s last frontiers.
@paulwoods.io , Global Fishing Watch Chief Innovation Officer, highlights the role of transparency in ocean governance.
🔗 https://bit.ly/4a1Qvex
@paulwoods.io , Global Fishing Watch Chief Innovation Officer, highlights the role of transparency in ocean governance.
🔗 https://bit.ly/4a1Qvex
Reposted by Rochelle Constantine
Looking forward to reading this! I'm lucky to be making a small contribution to the volume: a piece discussing the unique perspectives bio-logging has provided on blue whales' lives. Can't wait to learn from the rest of the articles as well!
COMING SOON!!!!!! Entire volume on blue whales by Whalewatcher, that I have been given the great honor of guest editing! So many amazing articles in prep already.
January 12, 2026 at 10:06 PM
Looking forward to reading this! I'm lucky to be making a small contribution to the volume: a piece discussing the unique perspectives bio-logging has provided on blue whales' lives. Can't wait to learn from the rest of the articles as well!
Reposted by Rochelle Constantine
🧪New preprint! tinyurl.com/mr7km2pv
When & why do predators share social information? Blue whales produce foraging calls when prey (krill) are abundant & dense, conditions arising from physical oceanographic forcing across temporal scales. Variation in ocean physics shapes blue whale communication!
When & why do predators share social information? Blue whales produce foraging calls when prey (krill) are abundant & dense, conditions arising from physical oceanographic forcing across temporal scales. Variation in ocean physics shapes blue whale communication!
Biophysical ecosystem variation shapes oceanic predator communication
ecoevorxiv.org
January 7, 2026 at 5:32 PM
🧪New preprint! tinyurl.com/mr7km2pv
When & why do predators share social information? Blue whales produce foraging calls when prey (krill) are abundant & dense, conditions arising from physical oceanographic forcing across temporal scales. Variation in ocean physics shapes blue whale communication!
When & why do predators share social information? Blue whales produce foraging calls when prey (krill) are abundant & dense, conditions arising from physical oceanographic forcing across temporal scales. Variation in ocean physics shapes blue whale communication!
Reposted by Rochelle Constantine
"The International Visitor Levy was introduced to help manage the impacts of ballooning tourist numbers. So why is it instead funding millions in marketing to lure even more tourists, while DOC warns conservation is about to go backwards, and towns can't afford to upgrade overflowing toilets?"
The tourist tax that’s selling New Zealand, not supporting it
The International Visitor Levy was supposed to help manage the impacts of ballooning tourist numbers. So why is it instead funding millions in tourism marketing, while DOC warns conservation risks are...
www.thepost.co.nz
January 3, 2026 at 10:06 PM
"The International Visitor Levy was introduced to help manage the impacts of ballooning tourist numbers. So why is it instead funding millions in marketing to lure even more tourists, while DOC warns conservation is about to go backwards, and towns can't afford to upgrade overflowing toilets?"
😞 Vale Emma. An ocean woman who truly made a difference. Condolences to her family & to all who were privileged to know her. 🩵 theconversation.com/emma-johnsto...
Emma Johnston was a visionary scientist, environmentalist and leader, with an abiding hope for humanity
The University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor, who has died aged 52, was driven by a deep love of science and a desire to safeguard the planet’s future.
theconversation.com
December 30, 2025 at 6:15 AM
😞 Vale Emma. An ocean woman who truly made a difference. Condolences to her family & to all who were privileged to know her. 🩵 theconversation.com/emma-johnsto...
Reposted by Rochelle Constantine
Environmental defenders & conservationists who died in 2025
Environmental defenders & conservationists who died in 2025
I write short obituaries for people who spent their lives protecting parts of the natural world. I work on them in the margins of other responsibilities, yet they have become a constant. In 2025, I…
news.mongabay.com
December 22, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Environmental defenders & conservationists who died in 2025
Reposted by Rochelle Constantine
"Assumption of at least a moderate El Nino beginning in 2026 leads us to the projection in Fig. 5, with global temperature reaching a minimum at or above +1.4°C within several months and then rising to a record global temperature of about +1.7°C in 2027."
mailchi.mp/caa/global-t...
mailchi.mp/caa/global-t...
December 18, 2025 at 2:42 PM
"Assumption of at least a moderate El Nino beginning in 2026 leads us to the projection in Fig. 5, with global temperature reaching a minimum at or above +1.4°C within several months and then rising to a record global temperature of about +1.7°C in 2027."
mailchi.mp/caa/global-t...
mailchi.mp/caa/global-t...
Reposted by Rochelle Constantine
It looks like 2025 will end up at about 1.47°C above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial baseline, making it likely the third hottest year in the last 120,000+ years.
Meanwhile, the 3-year running average is going to end the year above 1.50°C for the first time.
Meanwhile, the 3-year running average is going to end the year above 1.50°C for the first time.
December 16, 2025 at 3:05 PM
It looks like 2025 will end up at about 1.47°C above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial baseline, making it likely the third hottest year in the last 120,000+ years.
Meanwhile, the 3-year running average is going to end the year above 1.50°C for the first time.
Meanwhile, the 3-year running average is going to end the year above 1.50°C for the first time.
Reposted by Rochelle Constantine
Since the deep-sea accounts for over half the surface of the planet and more than 90% of this world's biosphere, in a very really and quantified way, the unknowable wonders of the deep are the normal ones and us terrestrial outliers are the weird ones.
November 25, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Since the deep-sea accounts for over half the surface of the planet and more than 90% of this world's biosphere, in a very really and quantified way, the unknowable wonders of the deep are the normal ones and us terrestrial outliers are the weird ones.
Reposted by Rochelle Constantine
New episode!! 🎙️🎉
A chat w/ @pbrakes.bsky.social about animal cultures and animal conservation.
Culture was once thought to be uniquely human. No longer. We now know culture is found throughout the natural world. How does this complicate conservation?
Listen: disi.org/the-value-of...
A chat w/ @pbrakes.bsky.social about animal cultures and animal conservation.
Culture was once thought to be uniquely human. No longer. We now know culture is found throughout the natural world. How does this complicate conservation?
Listen: disi.org/the-value-of...
December 8, 2025 at 7:03 PM
New episode!! 🎙️🎉
A chat w/ @pbrakes.bsky.social about animal cultures and animal conservation.
Culture was once thought to be uniquely human. No longer. We now know culture is found throughout the natural world. How does this complicate conservation?
Listen: disi.org/the-value-of...
A chat w/ @pbrakes.bsky.social about animal cultures and animal conservation.
Culture was once thought to be uniquely human. No longer. We now know culture is found throughout the natural world. How does this complicate conservation?
Listen: disi.org/the-value-of...
Reposted by Rochelle Constantine
This graph shows the average November volume of Arctic sea-ice. As you can see, November, 2025, set a new record low for sea-ice volume.
Volume, thickness and extent are all at record lows right now for the date. The Climate 8-ball is chanting, "Ice free by twenty-fifty."
Volume, thickness and extent are all at record lows right now for the date. The Climate 8-ball is chanting, "Ice free by twenty-fifty."
December 13, 2025 at 2:36 PM
This graph shows the average November volume of Arctic sea-ice. As you can see, November, 2025, set a new record low for sea-ice volume.
Volume, thickness and extent are all at record lows right now for the date. The Climate 8-ball is chanting, "Ice free by twenty-fifty."
Volume, thickness and extent are all at record lows right now for the date. The Climate 8-ball is chanting, "Ice free by twenty-fifty."
Reposted by Rochelle Constantine
Northern bottlenose whales have struggled to rebound even decades after whaling bans.
But a population off Canada’s east coast is finally recovering after the Gully submarine canyon became a Marine Protected Area in 2004 — a rare marine conservation success.
But a population off Canada’s east coast is finally recovering after the Gully submarine canyon became a Marine Protected Area in 2004 — a rare marine conservation success.
A rare bright spot for whales: Decades of conservation pay off for endangered population in Canada
Populations of northern bottlenose whales (Hyperoodon ampullatus), playful animals that resemble large dolphins, stretch across the Atlantic Ocean, with each group of whales living year-round in a…
news.mongabay.com
December 9, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Northern bottlenose whales have struggled to rebound even decades after whaling bans.
But a population off Canada’s east coast is finally recovering after the Gully submarine canyon became a Marine Protected Area in 2004 — a rare marine conservation success.
But a population off Canada’s east coast is finally recovering after the Gully submarine canyon became a Marine Protected Area in 2004 — a rare marine conservation success.
Reposted by Rochelle Constantine
“Silence fell across the court as the death of yet another hoiho was announced. It was a potent reminder of why we are here. We want to see hoiho stand a chance of surviving,”
-- ELI’s Senior Legal Advisor Megan Cornforth-Camden.
#hoiho #penguins #conservation
-- ELI’s Senior Legal Advisor Megan Cornforth-Camden.
#hoiho #penguins #conservation
December 1, 2025 at 3:33 AM
“Silence fell across the court as the death of yet another hoiho was announced. It was a potent reminder of why we are here. We want to see hoiho stand a chance of surviving,”
-- ELI’s Senior Legal Advisor Megan Cornforth-Camden.
#hoiho #penguins #conservation
-- ELI’s Senior Legal Advisor Megan Cornforth-Camden.
#hoiho #penguins #conservation
Reposted by Rochelle Constantine
Oceanic whitetip sharks are now listed under Appendix I, the highest level of protection offered by CITES, banning all trade. A victory for one of the most imperiled shark species on the planet newsroom.wcs.org/News-Release...
Historic Victory for Sharks as Oceanic Whitetips Upgraded to Appendix I at CITES Banning International Trade
Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Nov. 27, 2025 – CITES CoP20 Parties voted to list oceanic whitetip sharks on Appendix I, the highest level of protection offered by CITES. The vote marks a major victory for one...
newsroom.wcs.org
November 28, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Oceanic whitetip sharks are now listed under Appendix I, the highest level of protection offered by CITES, banning all trade. A victory for one of the most imperiled shark species on the planet newsroom.wcs.org/News-Release...
Reposted by Rochelle Constantine
On Monday, we begin our urgent hearing in the Wellington High Court, where we will be challenging the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries’ emergency set-net fishing closure. Why? We argue that the closure is inadequate to protect the critically endangered northern hoiho population.
#hoiho #penguins
#hoiho #penguins
November 26, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Reposted by Rochelle Constantine
1/3: Help us welcome Jelly to the world — a newly hatched endangered zebra shark pup in Indonesia! 🦈💙
Thanks to parents Peanut and Butter at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and our partnership with the global coalition ReShark, this tiny pup represents real hope for her species.
Thanks to parents Peanut and Butter at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and our partnership with the global coalition ReShark, this tiny pup represents real hope for her species.
November 27, 2025 at 2:43 AM
1/3: Help us welcome Jelly to the world — a newly hatched endangered zebra shark pup in Indonesia! 🦈💙
Thanks to parents Peanut and Butter at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and our partnership with the global coalition ReShark, this tiny pup represents real hope for her species.
Thanks to parents Peanut and Butter at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and our partnership with the global coalition ReShark, this tiny pup represents real hope for her species.
Beautiful ♥️
Moving, warm, rich, desperately sad but also, in a way that only death achieves, an uplifting insight into Rachel Cooke’s life as a writer, by her husband Anthony, in today’s Observer. Like a loving blanket thrown over her to warm all our hearts. RIP and respect
observer.co.uk/style/featur...
observer.co.uk/style/featur...
‘Her amazing smile was undimmed, and I would try anything to summon it’ | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Beautiful ♥️
Reposted by Rochelle Constantine
New paper on dolphin motor synchrony led by master's student Sam Hill-Cousins with a fantastic team of co-authors @danaipapageorgiou.bsky.social @emmachereskin.bsky.social @researchdolphin.bsky.social 🐬🐬🐬: Male dolphins use synchrony to both maintain and strengthen their social bonds
rdcu.be/eQ543
rdcu.be/eQ543
Allied male dolphins use synchronous displays to strengthen social bonds in a cooperative context
rdcu.be
November 21, 2025 at 3:30 PM
New paper on dolphin motor synchrony led by master's student Sam Hill-Cousins with a fantastic team of co-authors @danaipapageorgiou.bsky.social @emmachereskin.bsky.social @researchdolphin.bsky.social 🐬🐬🐬: Male dolphins use synchrony to both maintain and strengthen their social bonds
rdcu.be/eQ543
rdcu.be/eQ543
Reposted by Rochelle Constantine
South Georgia’s breeding population of female southern elephant seals may have been halved by highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, according to research in Communications Biology. go.nature.com/4hWKRMF 🧪
November 14, 2025 at 2:29 PM
South Georgia’s breeding population of female southern elephant seals may have been halved by highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, according to research in Communications Biology. go.nature.com/4hWKRMF 🧪
Reposted by Rochelle Constantine
Bad news in from South Georgia - the population of breeding female elephant seals has nearly halved following a bird flu outbreak on the sub-Antarctic island.
Here's what we know so far...
📸 Connor Bamford
Here's what we know so far...
📸 Connor Bamford
November 14, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Bad news in from South Georgia - the population of breeding female elephant seals has nearly halved following a bird flu outbreak on the sub-Antarctic island.
Here's what we know so far...
📸 Connor Bamford
Here's what we know so far...
📸 Connor Bamford
Reposted by Rochelle Constantine
What would New Zealand be without kiwi? Without Fiordland rainforest, or the haunting call of kōkako? If we run down our ecosystems, and thin out the ocean, is the weight of that loss not greater than the commodity value of the timber or tonnage of fish?
Measuring impact: Here’s the difference NZGeo makes
What would New Zealand be without kiwi? Without Fiordland rainforest, or the haunting call of kōkako? If we run down our ecosystems, and thin out the ocean, is the weight of that loss not greater than...
www.nzgeo.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:50 PM
What would New Zealand be without kiwi? Without Fiordland rainforest, or the haunting call of kōkako? If we run down our ecosystems, and thin out the ocean, is the weight of that loss not greater than the commodity value of the timber or tonnage of fish?
Reposted by Rochelle Constantine
one reason it will be hard for academics to take back uk/aus/nz universities from the business-brained folk who are in charge is that it's basically impossible to speak to them without going insane
September 9, 2025 at 4:27 AM
one reason it will be hard for academics to take back uk/aus/nz universities from the business-brained folk who are in charge is that it's basically impossible to speak to them without going insane