Blue Planet II

Episode
Ep1 - One Ocean
Broadcast Info
2017 (57 mins)
Description
The first episode, One Ocean, takes us on a journey from the intense heat of the tropics to our planet’s frozen poles. Life has spread to almost every part of the oceans, but there are many different worlds here and each presents unique challenges.
In the tropics, dolphins surf for what looks like sheer pleasure. A baby dolphin learns how to rub against a particular coral which may have medicinal properties, a tusk fish uses an anvil to open clams and giant trevally fish leap clear out of the water to snatch birds on the wing.
In temperate seas, mobula rays create an enchanting display at night, as tiny organisms light up when disturbed by their wingbeats. Two separate species - false killer whales and bottlenose dolphins, gather together to make a formidable army. And a female kobudai wrasse changes sex to challenge an older male for his harem.
But our ocean system is changing. In the Polar north, the summer sea ice has retreated by 40 percent in the last 30 years, with profound consequences for its wildlife, including a walrus mother and pup. Ocean currents help maintain a climate favourable for life... but for how much longer?
Genre
Research; Biology; Natural History; Climate

How to cite this record

The Open University, "Blue Planet II". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/ou/search/index.php/prog/229084 (Accessed 10 Jan 2025)