A new study found that marine heatwaves impact the base of ocean food webs, changing carbon cycling in the process. However, the effects of the two heatwaves were not consistent, with one causing a 'conveyor belt' to jam and increasing the risk of carbon returning to the atmosphere.
Researchers at Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute used the EyeRIS camera system to track the movements of deep-sea pearl octopuses. The study revealed simplified control mechanisms in their arms, which could inspire the design of octopus-inspired robots.
International collaborations leveraging MBARI’s expertise and advanced technology better understand polar environments, including the Arctic seafloor and Southern Ocean. Researchers study seafloor processes, carbon and climate, and biodiversity in these regions.
Antje Boetius joins MBARI as president and CEO, expanding collaborations globally to advance marine science and engineering. She succeeds Chris Scholin, who will focus on further advances with the Environmental Sample Processor (ESP) instrument.
Researchers at MBARI discovered a remarkable new species of sea slug, Bathydevius caudactylus, that swims through the ocean's midnight zone. The creature has unique adaptations for life in this environment, including bioluminescence and a cavernous hood to trap prey.
Researchers have discovered large underwater ice formations at the edge of the Canadian Beaufort Sea, revealing an unanticipated mechanism for submarine permafrost ice formation. The newly formed ice is created by melting ancient permafrost and refreezing as brackish groundwater approaches the seafloor.
Research reveals that powerful sediment flows, not methane gas eruptions, maintain prehistoric seafloor pockmarks off the California coast. Sediment gravity flows have caused erosion in the center of each pockmark, maintaining these unique underwater morphologic features over time.
FathomVerse combines real underwater images, interactive gameplay, and AI training to improve ocean research. The game engages players in labeling images for machine learning models, contributing to a broader audience in ocean exploration.
Researchers found that deep-sea octopus gather at the Octopus Garden to mate and nest, with warmer waters accelerating egg development and reducing incubation time. The shorter brooding period boosts reproductive success and increases offspring survival rates.
A study published in Nature provides clear evidence that comb jellies are the sister group to all other animals, based on the mapping of gene linkages. This finding will lay the foundation for a better understanding of animal evolution and the development of key features such as the nervous system and digestive tract.
FathomNet aggregates images from multiple sources to create a publicly available, expertly curated underwater image training database. The database uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to alleviate the bottleneck for analyzing underwater imagery, accelerating important research around ocean health.
Researchers used directional hydrophones to track blue whale movements, revealing they respond to changes in the wind. The whales seek out cooler water plumes where krill are abundant, finding a crucial source of food.
Researchers at MBARI use eDNA and autonomous underwater robots to survey marine biodiversity, providing clues about changes in sensitive areas and the presence of rare species. The technology enables persistent monitoring of ocean ecosystems, supporting food webs and regulating climate.
A new study documents how thawing permafrost is affecting the seafloor in the Arctic Ocean, revealing dramatic changes including deep sinkholes and ice-filled hills. Researchers used advanced underwater mapping technology to track these changes, establishing a baseline for future monitoring.
A team of scientists at MBARI has developed an autonomous robotic rover, Benthic Rover II, to study the deep sea's role in cycling carbon. The rover provides long-term monitoring of the coupling between the water column and seafloor, critical for predicting climate change impacts.
The deployment of thousands of autonomous robots called BGC-Argo floats is transforming our understanding of marine primary productivity on a global scale. By measuring oxygen production over time, researchers can estimate net primary productivity and shed light on the ocean's role in storing carbon.
Researchers successfully tracked and sampled a moving microbial community using a trio of self-driving robots in an open-ocean eddy. The study reveals key insights into the behavior of phytoplankton biomass in these dynamic environments.
A new grant will enable scientists to deploy 500 robotic ocean-monitoring floats around the globe, collecting data on ocean chemistry and biology between the surface and 2,000 meters. The project aims to improve computer models of ocean fisheries and climate, and monitor the effects of ocean warming and acidification.
The deep seafloor is a largely unexplored habitat that plays a critical role in the Earth's carbon cycle. Long-term studies at Station M have dramatically changed marine biologists' perceptions of life in the deep sea, revealing dynamic changes and connections between surface and seafloor conditions.
A new laser-based system provides 3D models of diaphanous marine animals and their mucus structures, allowing researchers to understand how they function and what roles they play in the ocean. The study focused on larvaceans, which create complex mucus filters that remove vast amounts of carbon-rich food from the surrounding water.
Researchers measured high CO2 concentrations in air blowing out to sea from cities and agricultural areas, including Silicon Valley. This process could add 25 million tons of CO2 to the ocean annually, affecting acidity.
Researchers found that beaked whales prefer areas with dense patches of deep-sea squid, which are essential for their survival. In contrast, nearby sonar-free areas lack these prey hotspots, making it difficult for the whales to obtain enough food to survive.
A recent study found that pulses of organic carbon reaching the deep sea are not accurately represented in global climate models. The research, conducted at Station M off California's coast, showed a significant increase in pulse events between 2011 and 2017, with 40% of total carbon arriving during these episodes.
Researchers found that turbidity currents in Monterey Canyon involve large-scale movements of the seafloor, contrary to previous conceptual models. The dense layer of water-saturated sediment moves rapidly over the bottom, remobilizing the upper few meters of the preexisting seafloor.
Ocean microbes produce at least fifty percent of the oxygen in our atmosphere while removing large amounts of carbon dioxide. The new LRAUVs can transit for over 600 miles and use their own 'eyes and ears' to detect important oceanographic events like phytoplankton blooms.
A two-year study in Monterey Canyon challenged existing paradigms on turbidity currents, finding sediment-transport events are more common and complex than previously thought. Researchers observed multiple turbidity currents with large-scale movements of the entire seafloor, which changed character as they moved down-canyon.
Researchers used video observations to reveal that deep-sea jellies are key predators and play a crucial role in forming the principal forage base for many commercially-important meso-predators and apex species. The study also found that gelatinous animals have complex food habits spanning the entire food web.
Whale sharks track ocean fronts for food and migration purposes, revealing a network of 'highways' across the Eastern Tropical Pacific. The study provides insights into whale shark behavior, informing conservation efforts and population estimates.
A new study by MBARI researchers reveals that giant larvaceans collect and consume microplastic particles in the deep sea. These particles accumulate in the animals' cast-off filters and are passed into their fecal pellets, which sink rapidly to the seafloor, potentially carrying microplastics to the deep seafloor.
A new study reveals that neighboring deep-sea vents host drastically different animal communities, contradicting the common assumption that similar habitats share animal species. The research highlights the significance of local geology and vent fluid chemistry in shaping these communities.
Researchers used a deep-diving robot to study deep scattering layers, finding that they contain discrete groups or 'schools' of squids, fishes, and crustaceans. These groups have distinct boundaries and are formed by similar-sized animals, with smaller animals staying closer together.
Researchers found that a low silicate-to-nitrate ratio in the bay's waters led to extremely high concentrations of domoic acid, causing the bloom. This unique combination resulted in dense populations of toxic diatoms, affecting wildlife and commercial fisheries.
Giant larvaceans play a significant role in moving carbon from the upper to deep sea through their 'houses,' which filter tiny particles. Laser technology enables researchers to visualize chambers and passageways inside these structures, revealing higher filtration rates than previously estimated.
A new study by MBARI researchers Séverine Martini and Steve Haddock found that three quarters of deep-sea animals in Monterey Bay waters can produce bioluminescence. The study revealed a surprising similarity in the proportion of glowing to non-glowing animals at different depths, with various groups of animals responsible for light pr...
Researchers have created a new seafloor map that provides detailed information about the 2015 eruption at Axial Seamount. The map reveals 14 separate lava flows containing nearly 156 million cubic meters of lava, as well as precise locations of eruptive fissures.
A team of scientists at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute has designed a new camera tag to track white sharks' behavior and habitat. The tag, called the 'Café Cam,' can capture video footage of the sharks for up to nine months, providing unprecedented insights into their lives.
The Coordinated Canyon Experiment is an international effort to study sediment movement in Monterey Canyon. Researchers will place dozens of instruments on the seafloor to measure currents, sediment concentrations, and physical properties of seawater, as well as track underwater avalanches and turbidity currents.
Researchers discovered a large field of deep-sea hydrothermal vents, the Pescadero Basin vents, which are the deepest high-temperature vents ever observed in the Pacific. The vents emit superheated fluids rich in hydrocarbons and support unique animal communities.
A five-year project aims to combine species counts and ecological data with newer data gathered using satellites, robots, and genetic analyses. The Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) will classify habitats and sample each area effectively using regional maps and environmental DNA.
Researchers found that animal communities in Sargassum rafts were significantly less diverse than those observed in the 1970s, with 13 species missing from recent samples. The study suggests that long-term shifts in ocean conditions may be contributing to the decline, but further research is needed to confirm this.
A deep-sea octopus species has been observed brooding its eggs for four and one-half years, a record-breaking duration. The female kept the eggs clean and guarded them from predators, while also ensuring the young octopuses developed fully within their eggs.
The public has its first view of a live vampire squid and other deep-sea cephalopods in the ongoing Tentacles special exhibition at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. A collaborative effort with the aquarium's partner institution, MBARI, this exhibit provides new scientific insights into these mysterious animals.
A sunken shipping container off the California coast is home to unique and diverse deep-sea animal communities. Researchers discovered differences in animal populations compared to surrounding areas, including increased abundance of certain species like Neptunea snails and rockfish.
Four new species of carnivorous sponges have been discovered in the deep sea, using intricate microscopic hooks to trap crustaceans and other small organisms. These 'killer sponges' thrive in the dark depths of the ocean, where energy is scarce, and rely on clever trapping mechanisms to survive.
Research reveals that wood-boring clams serve as 'ecosystem engineers,' making organic matter available to other colonizing animals. Larger logs support more diverse communities, while smaller ones have fewer inhabitants.
Researchers from Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute used underwater robots to survey a marked dump site off the coast of Southern California. The survey revealed numerous 55-gallon drums and other marine debris, but no chemical munitions were detected.
Researchers at Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute create detailed map of Campeche Escarpment, a steep underwater cliff near the impact site. The maps reveal that rocks formed before, during, and after the asteroid impact are exposed along different parts of the escarpment.
Researchers found that large pulses of organic material sink to the deep seafloor, providing enough food for years at a time. The study used multiple instruments to track marine snow and its impact on life in the deep.
A deep-sea squid, Grimalditeuthis bonplandi, has been found to use its long, thin tentacles with fin-like membranes to create the illusion of swimming clubs. This unique strategy may attract prey and deter predators by mimicking the movements of small animals.
A recent study by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) has mapped out areas of deep-sea debris in the ocean, revealing a significant accumulation of trash in Monterey Canyon. The researchers found that plastic bags and metal objects were the most common types of debris, with many pieces smothering or choking marine life.