Articles tagged with Marine Ecosystems
A NOAA-led research team discovered a new species of deep-sea coral and a catshark nursery area in the underwater canyons off the Sonoma coast. The team used innovative technologies to explore and film marine life in areas reaching 1,000 feet deep.
Allocating $45-76 billion to protected areas annually could help manage them effectively, ensuring their contribution to the planet's well-being is met. Many threatened species and plants rely on well-managed protected areas for survival.
Researchers have discovered that cold-water corals can fuse the skeletons of genetically distinct individuals, creating stable reefs in the dark depths of the ocean. This adaptation allows them to conserve energy and strengthen their habitats, potentially aiding their survival under future climate changes.
A recent University of Delaware study has found that Adélie penguin chick weights are most closely linked to local weather conditions, including high winds and precipitation. The researchers discovered a significant impact on chick weight variations over time, with even small changes in weather causing notable differences in chick mass.
Researchers at VIMS will develop tools to identify vulnerable headwater wetlands and provide climate-adaptation strategies for conservation. The project uses historical tidal-marsh observations to build a comprehensive picture of resilience.
A study on epaulette sharks reveals they are tolerant to elevated CO2 levels, which could help them survive ocean acidification. The findings suggest these sharks make physiological adjustments to cope with the changes, maintaining oxygen transport and energy without apparent harm.
A new study shows that jellyfish falls are rapidly consumed by deep-sea scavengers, revealing the importance of gelatinous material to food webs. The research challenges previous negative assessments and suggests that jellyfish blooms may provide essential nutrients to deep-sea ecosystems.
Research reveals that diverse guard-crab species and size classes offer different kinds of effective protection against coral predators. The study found that even small crabs defend against snails, while larger crabs ignore them.
The Mediterranean is invaded by over 1,000 alien species, including fish and algae, threatening native biodiversity. Invasive species disrupt delicate balances in ecosystems, causing devastating effects on animal species.
A recent study found that ocean acidification caused a significant decrease in calcification rates of the Great Barrier Reef, threatening its ecosystem. The research suggests that coral reefs are now producing less dense and fragile skeletons, making them more susceptible to erosion.
Phytoplankton are crucial for fish populations and Earth's carbon cycle, with a perpetual dance between predators and prey affecting their growth cycles. Tiny imbalances in this relationship cause massive phytoplankton blooms, impacting ocean productivity, fisheries, and carbon cycling.
A long-term laboratory experiment showed that young sea stars grow more slowly and eat less in acidic conditions, even after a prolonged acclimation period. The study suggests that young sea stars may not adapt to the effects of ocean acidification, potentially affecting entire ecosystems.
A recent study published in Applied Geography highlights the significant impact of oil discharges from human maritime activity on the Canadian coast. The research, led by University of Calgary geographer Stefania Bertazzon, shows that recreational activities such as boating and fishing are major contributors to ocean pollution.
Two tropical rabbitfish species are destroying algal forests in eastern Mediterranean, reducing large seaweeds and algae by 65% and 60%. Climate change is enabling their expansion, posing a threat to entire Mediterranean basin.
Research finds increasing variability in coastal upwelling currents linked to short-term declines in fish growth and seabird reproduction. Tree ring data reveals 4 out of 10 most extreme poor upwelling years occurred since 1950, highlighting the importance of upwelling for ecosystem conservation.
A new study reveals that marine viruses are more important to microbial ecology below sunlit surface waters than previously suspected. The research focused on a sulfur-oxidizing bacterium called SUP05, which is dominant in oxygen minimum zones and has not been successfully cultivated in a lab setting.
Researchers will deploy hundreds of robotic floats to study the Southern Ocean's carbon and heat uptake, as well as its importance in ocean ecosystems. The project aims to improve climate models and provide insights into the region's global significance.
A growing 'dead zone' in the Arabian Sea allows green Noctiluca scintillans to dominate the base of the food chain, potentially devastating fish populations that support 120 million people. The shift is linked to massive sewage flows and nutrient-rich waters.
The $21 million SOCCOM program will create a biogeochemical and physical portrait of the Southern Ocean using hundreds of robotic floats deployed around Antarctica. The project aims to improve our understanding of the ocean's carbon, nutrient, and oxygen content, and its importance to Earth's climate systems.
The National Science Foundation has awarded new grants totaling $11.4 million to research the impact of ocean acidification on marine environments and organisms. Ocean acidification affects marine ecosystems, organisms' life histories, ocean food webs, and biogeochemical cycling.
The $21-million SOCCOM program will provide unprecedented year-round coverage of biogeochemistry in the Southern Ocean, enabling top scientists to work together on research that was not possible before. The initiative aims to improve our understanding of the Southern Ocean's importance to the Earth's carbon and climate systems.
Researchers have adapted a biomedical technique to study ocean organisms, identifying and measuring proteins to understand biochemical reactions. The study reveals how microbes respond to environmental cues and ecosystem changes over large regions.
Researchers discovered that E. huxleyi can grow without thiamine and prefers precursor chemical HMP instead, re-evaluating the importance of vitamin B1 in regulating algal communities. This finding has implications for understanding climate change's impact on marine ecosystems and predicting global carbon cycles.
Derelict fishing traps are a significant problem in US waters, catching fish and other species beyond their target. Researchers recommend a collaborative approach to manage and prevent gear loss, involving the fishing industry and examining regional challenges.
Researchers from Louisiana State University have confirmed the existence of microbial life in a subglacial lake beneath the West Antarctic ice sheet. The discovery sheds new light on the potential for life in other extreme environments and has implications for our understanding of the planet's biosphere.
Researchers funded by NSF publish paper confirming presence of viable microbial ecosystems in subglacial Lake Whillans, 800 meters beneath the West Antarctic ice sheet. The discovery has implications for life in other extreme environments and may influence the chemical and biological composition of the Southern Ocean.
Princeton researchers find that bursting bubbles inject tiny oil droplets into water when covered with a layer of oil. The discovery provides new insight into the mixture of non-soluble liquids and has potential applications in industries such as drug manufacturing and oil spill cleanups.
The symposium highlights climate's effects on predators, leading to trophic cascades that alter ecosystem structure and function. Sea otters' keystone predator role maintains healthy kelp forests, supporting diverse marine species.
The report presents regional findings from ten regions, highlighting major impacts of climate change on ecosystems, including shifts in biodiversity and location of species. The assessment provides guidelines for how to respond and adapt to climate change, emphasizing the importance of protecting biodiversity and natural resources.
A recent study published in Conservation Biology found that the bumphead parrotfish, a major coral predator, has both positive and negative effects on reefs. The fish helps reduce algae abundance and disperse small coral fragments, but also consumes coral and reduces its diversity.
A new discovery expands the impact footprint of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, with multiple coral communities impacted up to 22 km from the spill site and at depths over 1800 meters. The study used a 'fingerprint' model to identify damage in newly discovered coral communities.
A collaborative research team published findings in Ecological Indicators on a new marine ecosystem support tool to improve decision-making by natural resource managers. The MARES project integrates ecosystem science and societal benefits into a management framework, providing exportable technology for other coastal ecosystems.
A new species of pontarachnid mite was discovered in a Caribbean mesophotic coral ecosystem, collected from nearly 70m depth. The study highlights the potential biodiversity hotspot for marine arthropods in these ecosystems.
The NOAA and its partners predict a significant cyanobacteria bloom in western Lake Erie, expected to be smaller than the 2013 bloom. The forecast uses satellite data, analysis of nutrient flow, and independent models to classify blooms by concentration and spread across the lake's western basin.
New research reveals whales have a powerful impact on oceans, global carbon storage, and commercial fisheries. The recovery of great whale populations may buffer marine ecosystems from climate change threats by recycling nutrients and enhancing productivity.
The Mediterranean Sea's iconic ecosystems, such as sea grass meadows and coral reefs, are facing rapid decline due to acidification and warming. Research suggests that human society worldwide must reduce fossil fuel emissions to save these ecosystems from extinction.
Researchers from the University of Bristol and China studied trackways formed on an ancient seabed to determine how nothosaurs, marine reptiles that lived during the age of dinosaurs, propelled themselves through water. The evidence suggests that these creatures moved over the seafloor by rowing their forelimbs in unison.
A historic epidemic of sea star wasting syndrome has exploded along Oregon's coast, with 30-50% of ochre sea stars affected and potentially leading to local extinctions. The outbreak could disrupt the marine intertidal ecosystem, causing widespread damage.
A new study has overturned the long-used 'Neutral Theory of Biodiversity' by revealing its flaw: it fails to capture the crucial role of abundant species. The research, covering a vast array of marine ecosystems worldwide, found that these dominant species deliver essential ecosystem services.
A study reveals that bottom trawling causes intensive biological desertification of sedimentary seabed ecosystems, leading to a 50% decrease in meiofauna abundance and 25% decline in nematode species. The practice also depletes organic matter and carbon content, threatening ecosystem functioning.
Researchers found hundreds of distinct genetic subpopulations within a single species of ocean microbe, Prochlorococcus, and discovered that these subpopulations are finely tuned for specific ecological niches. The study suggests that the remarkable diversity of Prochlorococcus is not random but rather a result of natural selection.
A Scripps Institution of Oceanography study finds that Alteromonas bacteria can consume as much dissolved organic carbon as diverse communities of organisms. This discovery sheds light on the complex mechanisms of ocean carbon cycling and highlights the importance of individual species in regulating atmospheric carbon dioxide.
The Mozambique Channel is identified as a priority for protection due to its high coral richness and sensitive species. The study found that northern reef systems in the channel are better protected from climate change and human pressures.
Researchers at the University of Missouri have developed new statistical models to increase the accuracy of ocean forecasting. The models improved predictability of sea surface temperature extremes, wind fields, and plankton distribution, ultimately benefiting fisheries and ecosystems.
A recent study by NOAA scientists reveals that the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands' deep coral reefs contain nearly 50% of fish species unique to Hawaii, surpassing any other marine ecosystem. The discovery highlights the need for further conservation efforts and exploration of these largely unexplored ecosystems.
Researchers propose a coordinated response plan to study the impacts of biomass burning and haze on Southeast Asian marine ecosystems. The study aims to gather baseline information to inform effective management of threatened marine ecosystems in the region.
Researchers found that oxygenating cyanobacteria first colonized the oceans around 800 million years ago, providing enough bioavailable nitrogen to facilitate the next 'great leap forward' towards complex life. This pivotal moment in evolution may have been triggered by changes in nitrogen fixation in the open ocean.
Sharks are tracked using instruments ingested by researchers gaining new awareness into their feeding habits and role in the ocean ecosystem. The 'shark's eye' view provides unprecedented understanding of shark behavior and movements.
A new study projects that Antarctica's Ross Sea will lose over half its summer sea ice by 2050 and nearly three-quarters by 2100. This change will significantly impact the region's pristine food web, affecting species such as whales, penguins, and seals.
Researchers have discovered that the Plastisphere, a community of microorganisms living on ocean plastic, can pose significant risks to invertebrates and humans. The study found that certain bacteria thrive on these plastic islands and may cause diseases in animals and humans.
Researchers found that flowing water impeds bacterial movement, making microbes more likely to attach to surfaces. This discovery has implications for studying marine ecosystems and preventing infections in medical devices.
Growing industrialization threatens deep ocean ecosystems, which provide vital functions such as carbon sequestration. Experts urge a new 'stewardship mentality' to balance human needs with ecological impact, highlighting the need for international cooperation, regulation, and research funding to protect the world's last frontier.
NOAA researcher Sue Moore says Arctic marine mammals respond to climate change by shifting their distribution, timing of movements, and feeding locations. This provides clues on how the ecosystem is responding to changes in sea ice, warming temperatures, and increased storminess.
Researchers have discovered an infectious form of the cat parasite Toxoplasma gondii in western Arctic Belugas, raising public health concerns. The discovery also highlights the impact of climate change on pathogen circulation, allowing previously isolated parasites to spread to new hosts.
A team of Canadian biologists developed a framework to protect fish and ecosystems, highlighting the importance of connecting waterways, protecting habitats, and adopting adaptive management strategies. The 9 guiding principles aim to promote sustainable fisheries and conserve biodiversity.
The Polytraits database provides a rich collection of morphological, reproductive, and behavioral characteristics of polychaetes, facilitating ecological research and conservation studies. The database's data are also integrated into the Scratchpads virtual research environment and accessible through Encyclopedia of Life's TraitBank.
New research finds that invasive snails eat 20% more juvenile oysters under ocean conditions forecast for the end of this century. The combination of climate change and invasive predators may make restoration of oyster populations increasingly difficult.
Scientists at MIT discovered that marine cyanobacteria continually produce and release extracellular vesicles, which serve as food parcels for other organisms. The vesicles contain DNA, likely facilitating gene transfer among similar bacteria and potentially acting as decoys to deflect viruses.
Giant underwater waves, invisible to the eye, are produced by temperature and salinity differences in ocean water. These internal waves, resembling surface waves in shape, play a key role in mixing ocean waters, driving warm surface waters downward and drawing heat from the atmosphere.
A recent study by Florida State University researchers reveals the domino effect of overfishing on ecosystems, where the loss of a key species can have far-reaching and devastating consequences. The research highlights the importance of understanding key linkages among species that set up tipping points in ecosystems.