Articles tagged with Aquatic Animals
For the first time, researchers have found plastic microfibers in the stool of wild South American fur seals on Guafo Island. The discovery suggests that scat analysis could be an efficient way to monitor environmental levels of microfibers and microplastics.
Reducing shipping vessel speed by 10 knots may help alleviate the negative impact of noise pollution on Arctic cod, according to a study. The study found that slowing down cruise ships resulted in more substantial reductions in acoustic masking effects compared to container vessels.
New research by University of Plymouth scientists found that different oxygen levels in the marine environment can affect an individual's resources of strength and stamina, leading to changes in fighting ability. The study showed that conditions can prompt fights and alter an individual's motivation.
Researchers studied 34 right whale mother-calf pairs from 2011 to 2015, discovering that near-surface resting behavior increases the risk of ship strikes and low call-rates may be a defense mechanism. The study's findings emphasize the need for improved protection measures to prevent extinction
Researchers used playback experiments to assess harbour porpoise echolocation click detection ranges for underwater acoustic loggers. The maximum distance captured was 566m, but effective detection ranged from just under 200m to 72m, providing valuable insights for conservation efforts.
Researchers found sea snail shells were on average a third smaller and showed visible deterioration under predicted future CO2 levels, impacting thickness, density, and structure. The corrosive effects of ocean acidification threaten the survival of calcified animals like shellfish, which are crucial to coastal marine communities.
Researchers at Stanford University have found a unique way that animal cells stay intact in the marine organism Trichoplax adhaerens (Tplax), using fast contractions in its epithelial layers. This discovery could inform our understanding of complex animals and the creation of advanced materials.
University of Cincinnati biology professor Takuya Konishi proposes that mosasaurs hunted like killer whales by ramming their prey with their snouts. The young Tylosaurus mosasaur found in Kansas had a similar facial structure to orcas, with a protruding snout and robust cranial vault.
A new invasive species, Bugula neritina, has been detected in the Ketchikan region of Alaska, along with three other non-native species. The discovery highlights the importance of early detection and monitoring to control the spread of invasive species in Alaskan waters.
A new study reveals that Hox genes play a role in regulating the body plan of radially symmetrical animals like sea anemones. The research found that disrupting Hox gene function led to defects in segmentation and tentacle patterning, suggesting an ancestral role for these genes in controlling body development.
Researchers have identified biomarkers in Dickinsonia fossils, confirming it as an early animal and challenging previous interpretations. The findings suggest complex organisms emerged over 542 million years ago, paving the way for the Cambrian explosion of life.
Scientists have discovered molecules of fat in an ancient fossil, confirming that animals existed on Earth 558 million years ago. The discovery of the strange creature Dickinsonia, which grew up to 1.4 meters in length, reveals a long-standing mystery about its true identity.
Researchers found that hookworms feed at a constant rate in their hosts, leading to high levels of anemia and mortality. The worms' short lifespans have evolved to synchronize with the fur seals' reproductive cycles, allowing them to maximize egg production before dying.
Researchers analyzed fossilized Mesosaurus bones to determine the species' lifestyle and behavior. The findings suggest that mature adults spent more time on land, while juveniles were semi-aquatic.
Researchers discovered that sea otters rely on the sensitivity of their paws and whiskers to hunt for food, distinguishing between grooves as small as 2mm with remarkable accuracy. This unique ability enables them to quickly locate prey in cloudy Monterey Bay waters.
The Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument is a critical hotspot of biodiversity, with an aerial survey revealing over 600 animal sightings in just four hours. The monument's protected resource status is under review by the Trump administration.
The study highlights the critical ecological roles turtles play in maintaining healthy food webs, dispersing seeds, and creating habitats for other species. The decline of turtles could have far-reaching consequences on ecosystems and human populations.
Research team analyzed thousands of features across all living animal groups to create a 'shape space' for animal body plans. The results show that fundamental evolutionary change occurred in fits and starts, with animal designs continuing to evolve to the present day.
A study published in Scientific Reports found that young species of cupuladriid bryozoans can expand into new Caribbean habitats more quickly than older species, taking 2 million years longer to adapt on average.
Researchers found that periwinkles have developed a genetic toolkit with specific genes clustered on three chromosomes to help them adapt to environments threatened by crabs and waves. This rapid adaptation is thought to have occurred within 5,000 generations, enabling the snails to survive in rapidly changing coastal habitats.
Researchers identified genetic determinants of the lateral plate ectoderm in Ciona intestinalis, showing interlocking regulatory interactions. The study suggests that the entire lateral plate may be the source of both placodal and neural crest derivatives in vertebrates.
Researchers identified 27 unique amino acid replacements in 27 different proteins of hot-spring snakes, which were associated with functions like immunity and DNA repair. These mutations enable the snakes to thrive under extreme conditions such as intense radiation and hypoxia.
A new study has proposed the maximum bioaccumulation level of 9 metals that poses no ecological risk to aquatic organisms. The study, conducted in mining areas in Asturias, has established ecological threshold concentrations for 7 metals and two metalloids, which are considered safe levels for conservation.
A new device inspired by origami design safely traps soft-bodied sea creatures and releases them unharmed. The Rotary Actuated Dodecahedron (RAD) sampler has been successfully tested in the ocean at depths of 1,600-2,300 feet, capturing squid and jellyfish without causing harm.
Researchers at Harvard University have developed an origami-inspired device, RAD, that can capture delicate sea creatures like jellyfish, squid, and octopuses without harming them. The device uses a folding polyhedral enclosure to trap organisms, allowing scientists to collect data and then release them unharmed.
Researchers at Harvard University's Wyss Institute develop a novel, folding polyhedron sampler that safely traps soft-bodied sea creatures like jellyfish and squid. The RAD sampler uses a simple, modular design to capture organisms in their natural habitats without harm.
Scientists have discovered over 100 different cell types in the sea anemone, including complex neuronal diversity. This finding adds to discussions on cell evolution and development, providing insights into the fundamental rules governing cell function across animals.
A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that narwhals, beluga, and bowhead whales are most vulnerable to vessel traffic in the Arctic. The researchers identified two 'pinch points' where ships and animals are most likely to intersect, including the Bering Strait and Lancaster Sound.
A study by Sebastian Brackhane reveals that saltwater crocodile attacks in East Timor have increased since the species' recovery under conservation. The research suggests that juvenile crocodiles migrate from Australia to find new habitats, highlighting a growing human-crocodile conflict in the region.
Researchers from Arizona State University study the Ediacaran-Cambrian transition and find a severe marine anoxic event coincided with the decline of early animals. The team integrated geochemical data and fossil records to precisely match evolutionary and environmental events, shedding light on this pivotal moment in Earth's history.
Researchers measured polar and grizzly bears' oxygen consumption while walking on a treadmill, finding they consume the same amount of energy as similarly sized animals. This challenges previous ideas that polar bears burn more energy due to their environment.
Researchers found that adult female great white sharks spend more time in warm-water eddies than cold-water eddies, particularly at depths of 450 meters. These preferences may be driven by the abundance of fish and squid in the warmer eddies.
Researchers discovered that pilot whales and Risso's dolphins can recognize the alarming calls of killer whales, leading to evasive actions such as fleeing. The team found unique features in the distressing calls that are not present in other whale species or human screams, suggesting a warning system for potential victims.
Researchers at Lund University have found that sea urchins can perceive objects within a limited range of sizes, up to 30-70 degrees around them. This ability is sufficient for the animal's basic needs and behavior, despite having poor eyesight compared to humans.
A new analysis finds that small, wild-caught fish and farmed mollusks have the lowest environmental impact, while industrial beef production and farmed catfish are the most taxing. The study used life-cycle assessments to compare environmental costs across various types of animal protein production.
A new study found that white shark activity increases dramatically when interacting with cage-diving operators, indicating potential behavioral changes. The researchers tracked ten white sharks at South Australia's Neptune Islands, showing a 61% higher dynamic body acceleration when interacting with tourists.
The discovery of ancient tetrapod fossils in South Africa suggests that four-limbed animals evolved in environments beyond tropical regions. The presence of these animals near the poles raises questions about the role of high-latitude environments in their evolutionary transition.
A new fossil study reveals that tiny babies of ancient giant predators were also proficient killers, challenging current understanding of their evolution. The discovery sheds light on the rapid evolution of the first animals over half-a-billion years ago, with implications for Cambrian marine food webs.
Researchers used a novel geochemical proxy to study the evolution of marine life and oxygen levels in the ocean. The findings suggest that upper-ocean oxygen levels did not stabilize until 200 million years ago, when larger eukaryotic plankton dominated the world's oceans.
Researchers found that mechanical cues contribute to the regulation of gene expression during early development. External pressure can activate or restore the expression of a crucial developmental regulator gene, brachyury. This mechanism is conserved across species, including zebrafish and fruitflies.
Researchers at FAU have discovered that marine animals have been migrating for millions of years in response to changes in temperature. Coral, molluscs, and sponges have followed their preferred cold and warm zones for half a billion years, with isotherms shifting towards the poles or equator as temperatures rise or fall.
A study published in eNeuro demonstrates that memories can be transferred between organisms by extracting ribonucleic acid (RNA) from a trained animal and injecting it into an untrained animal. This finding provides new clues in the search for the physical basis of memory.
Researchers compiled a massive dataset of movement data for diverse marine megafauna, including whales, turtles, sharks, and birds. The study found that species-specific movement patterns are influenced by habitat, with open-ocean animals moving in straighter lines and coastal animals exhibiting more erratic behavior.
Researchers found that humans generate significant underwater noise when swimming, kayaking, or scuba diving, affecting marine life. Different activities produce distinct sounds, with some being loud enough for animals to detect.
Researchers found that the Ediacara Biota, soft-bodied ocean dwellers, lived off bacterial primary production and organic matter. This suggests they inhabited oligotrophic regions with sufficient nutrients for feeding.
A thin smart patch called Marine Skin can track an animal's movement and diving behavior in real-time, while also monitoring the health of the surrounding marine environment. The patch uses stretchable silicone elastomers to withstand high pressures and can be attached to a wide range of sea creatures.
Researchers find that many invertebrates, including corals and molluscs, can produce omega-3 fatty acids through enzymes called desaturases. This breakthrough challenges the long-held principle that marine microbes are responsible for primary production of omega-3.
Researchers used GPS tracking data to visualize and sonify elephant seal group dynamics, creating a 45-minute symphony that showcases remarkable coordination in their ocean exploration. The study successfully compressed 10 years of data into a condensed musical composition, providing new cutting-edge research opportunities at KAUST.
Researchers developed a new underwater geolocation technique that utilizes polarisation sensors to determine the sun's position in the sky and navigate accurately. This method enables long-distance navigation with greater accuracy than current techniques, such as GPS, which only work up to 20 centimeters below the ocean's surface.
Researchers at University of Illinois develop bio-inspired camera that uses polarization patterns to estimate sun's heading and elevation angle, allowing for accurate underwater GPS location. The technology has potential applications in marine navigation, pollution research, and studying migratory behavior of marine animals.
A University of Washington study analyzed audio recordings from bowhead whales, finding a diverse repertoire of over 184 different songs. The whales' singing behavior is distinct from humpback whales', with no song types repeated between years, and new songs emerging each season.
Researchers discovered a 500-million-year-old coprolite in the Ravens Throat River Lagerstätte, providing insight into the Cambrian food web. The fossilized feces of a primordial sea worm reveal its feeding strategy and predator-prey interactions.
The Digital Life team has released animated 3D models of loggerhead and green sea turtles, created using photogrammetry and software like Capturing Reality and Blender. The models can be used for educational purposes, scientific research, and conservation efforts, with over hundreds of hours invested in their animation.
Researchers analyzed basking shark aggregations off the northeastern US coast to learn more about their behavior. They found that these events occurred during summer and fall, when sea surface temperatures were between 55-75 degrees F, and are likely related to foraging and socializing.
Aquatic mammals are bounded by need to retain heat and difficulties gathering food, limiting their size. The study found that smaller ancestors like dog relatives increased in size more than larger ancestors like hippos to reach an optimal weight of around 1,000 pounds.
Research estimates vulnerability and extinction risk of migratory species from different regions and ecosystems worldwide. Migratory animals face barriers such as roads, dams, and urban development, which can lead to population decline and increased extinction risk.
Stanford researchers found that aquatic mammal size is bounded by the need to retain heat and difficulties getting enough food. The group analyzed body masses for over 3,800 species and found a convergent evolution toward around 1,000 pounds.
Scientists developed a first laboratory test to pick up traces of manatee's genetic material in waterways. The innovative environmental DNA test can reveal whether one or more of the elusive marine mammals has been in the area within the past month.
A study by the University of Plymouth reveals that exposure to moderate hypoxia can have different effects on metabolic performance in animals bred under chronic hypoxic conditions. This could result in underestimated vulnerability of species, leading to reduced biodiversity.
A study found that mites, pneumonia, and changing sea temperatures contributed to the die-off of South American fur seal pups. The research highlights the urgent need to study the connection between environmental factors and wildlife diseases.