Researchers discovered that vampire squids use thread-like filaments to capture marine snow, a mixture of dead bodies and debris from the ocean surface. The study found that vampire squids do not hunt live prey but instead consume detrital matter, which is low in nutrients.
Researchers found that Antarctic icebergs enrich the Southern Ocean with iron-rich sediment, fertilizing microscopic algae that absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This process transfers carbon into the deep sea, potentially impacting global climate models.
A team of researchers from MBARI and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary will use a robotic submarine to study the biological impacts of a shipping container on the seafloor. The goal is to determine what effects, if any, the container has had on seafloor life.
Researchers have discovered a new group of algae, rappemonads, which thrive in both freshwater and saltwater environments. The findings suggest that these microorganisms may be widespread globally.
A recent study found that most deep-sea animals at Monterey Bay whale falls are not unique to these sites, but rather common in other deep-sea environments. However, certain species, such as Osedax worms and snails, play a crucial role in controlling community development.
The new LRAUV, Tethys, combines the best of propeller-driven and glider designs, allowing for rapid travel and extended hovering periods. With its sophisticated power-saving software and fail-safe systems, Tethys has shown promising initial results in oceanographic research.
Mid-ocean algae thrive in areas with little to no nitrate, an essential nutrient. Researchers found that these algae obtain nitrate from deep waters, using it for growth and reproduction near the surface.
The MBARI AUV is equipped with 'gulper' samplers that can collect up to ten 1.8-liter water samples while traveling through the water or within an oil plume. The vehicle's AI software helps it map boundaries and take samples outside the plume.
Researchers have discovered up to 15 species of boneworms in Monterey Bay, which feed on dead whales and exhibit unique life cycles. The worms' ability to adapt to different environments and find food sources has led scientists to estimate their evolutionary origins, suggesting they may date back to the time of dinosaurs.
Climate change impacts deep-sea ecosystems by altering food supply and community dynamics. Changes in ocean processes, such as wind-driven upwelling and nutrient delivery, can lead to dramatic year-to-year variations in organic material reaching the seafloor, affecting fish populations like grenadiers.
The Benthic Rover, a robotic explorer, is revolutionizing our understanding of life on the deep seafloor. By measuring oxygen consumption and studying sediment communities, scientists can better comprehend how organisms find food in low-nutrient environments.
Calculations suggest low-oxygen dead zones in the ocean will expand significantly over the next century. Marine animals will need more oxygen to survive as carbon dioxide levels increase, exacerbating the effects of 'dead zones'.
A team of scientists has sequenced the genomes of two tiny marine algae, revealing unexpected genes with functions similar to those found in land plants and bacteria. The findings highlight the complexity of these organisms and their potential role in shaping marine food webs and carbon cycling.
Researchers discovered that a deep-sea fish's tubular eyes can rotate within a transparent shield, allowing it to peer up at prey or focus forward to see its surroundings. This unique adaptation enables the 'barreleye' fish to capture small prey and navigate through the dark environment.
Research on seamounts reveals that many animals are not exclusive to these underwater mountains and can be found in other deep-sea areas. The study identifies distinctive groups of corals and sponges, as well as sea cucumbers, which are rare or absent on other seafloor areas.
The MARS Observatory is a deep-sea ocean observatory that allows researchers to continuously monitor the dark world of the deep sea. It enables real-time data and video transmission from instruments installed on the seafloor.
The world's oceans are becoming more acidic due to increased carbon dioxide levels, causing sounds to travel farther underwater. This change could improve communication for marine mammals but increase background noise, affecting their behavior.
Large Humboldt squid have invaded the sea off Central California, where they are feeding on commercially important fishery species like hake and anchovy. This shift may be linked to a decrease in large tuna and billfish populations in the Equatorial Pacific, allowing the squid to expand their range.
Researchers completed laying a 52 km cable for the Monterey Accelerated Research System (MARS) observatory, providing power and data connectivity to deep-sea instruments. The MARS system will enable continuous monitoring of ocean conditions, allowing scientists to track changes over time.
Researchers propose an alternative hypothesis for pingo-like features forming underwater: methane hydrate decomposing beneath the seafloor releases gas, squeezing up sediments. Geologic fieldwork and chemical analysis suggest warming seafloor sediment triggers decomposition of buried hydrates.
A study by Craig McClain and colleagues found that marine snails in deep sea areas tend to be smaller than their shallow-water relatives, while those less than 12mm long become larger. This suggests a compromise between different selection pressures.
A new species of deep-sea jelly has been discovered that attracts small fish with hundreds of glowing red lures. The lures are used as deception to capture prey in an environment where fish are scarce, forcing scientists to reevaluate the role of red light in the deep sea.
Deep-sea organisms rely on 'sinkers', discarded mucus nets of larvaceans, as a vital food source. Researchers found that these cast-off 'houses' carry large amounts of detritus and tiny animals towards the seafloor.
Researchers find two new species of worm that feed on whale bones, using symbiotic bacteria to digest fats and oils. The worms, Osedax frankpressi and Osedax rubiplumus, are closely related to hydrothermal vent worms and have unique features such as feathery plumes and green roots.
Researchers at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories have conducted an experiment that revealed iron fertilization can trigger massive phytoplankton blooms in the Southern Ocean. These blooms consume vast amounts of carbon dioxide, which is then potentially removed from the atmosphere, suggesting a potential solution to global warming.
Scientists at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute are studying the impact of carbon dioxide on the ocean, which could help predict global climate change. The research also explores the potential for iron fertilization to reduce atmospheric CO2 levels.
Researchers have discovered a new deep-sea jelly, Stellamedusa ventana, which uses its bell and oral arms to capture prey. The jelly's unique feeding strategy is unlike other species, as it prefers larger prey, with some individuals capturing creatures up to 5 cm across.
Marine biologists have discovered a unique undersea nursery off Northern California, where groups of fish and octopus brood their eggs. The discovery represents a new type of biological hot spot, with potential implications for conservation efforts.
The Pacific Ocean's sardine and anchovy regimes alternate every 25 years, affecting the marine food web and climate. These cycles are similar to El Niño events but take place over longer time periods.
A new undersea data network, MARS, will be deployed in Monterey Bay to provide real-time monitoring of ocean conditions. The network will support a variety of research devices and supply power to instruments, enabling continuous and long-term data collection.
Researchers found diverse bacterial photosynthetic genes in ocean plankton, actively harnessing energy from light, revealing new types of phototrophs. This discovery has significant implications for oceanic food web models and global carbon budget management.
A study shows that deoxygenating ballast water can prevent the introduction of non-native aquatic species, which are responsible for significant environmental problems. This technique also reduces ship corrosion costs, estimated to save nearly $100,000 per year.
A study by researchers at Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute exposes the potential biological impacts of deep-sea carbon sequestration on marine ecosystems. Decreased pH can lead to metabolic suppression, inhibiting growth and reproduction in sensitive organisms.
Researchers have discovered a way to link specific microbes to the oxidation of methane in anoxic marine sediments using molecular and stable isotope techniques. This partnership between archaea and sulfate-reducing bacteria extracts energy from methane, removing nearly 80% of the methane in marine sediments.
Researchers at Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute discover a novel light-absorbing pigment in oceanic bacteria, which can generate cellular energy using light. This finding suggests that a new type of microorganism is capable of harnessing light energy in the ocean's sunlit surface zone.
Researchers used molecular probes to identify a toxic diatom linked to the deaths of over 400 California sea lions. The DNA probe tests detected a short but significant bloom in Pseudo-nitzschia australis, allowing researchers to connect the sea lion deaths to the bloom.
A new study reveals El Niño dramatically reduced carbon dioxide normally released by the equatorial Pacific Ocean, while also causing extreme biological effects. The research uses data from buoys, ships, and space instruments to monitor ocean productivity and CO2 levels.
Researchers from Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute and Stanford University conducted experiments on liquid CO2 disposal in the deep ocean. The results show that liquid CO2 can react with seawater to form clathrate hydrate, expanding in volume and causing it to rise towards the surface.