Articles tagged with Aquatic Animals
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Fossilized burrows from the late Ediacaran period show earlier origins of animal behavior, challenging previous theories. The discovery of large-sized, penetrative trace fossils indicates a radical transformation in marine ecosystems during this time.
Researchers discovered that sea anemones change their venom multiple times over a lifetime, adapting potency and recipe to suit new predators and aquatic environments. This finding has significant implications for medicine, ecology, and our understanding of Darwinism.
Scientists at University of Illinois create artificially intelligent ocean predator called Cyberslug, which reacts to food and responds to its own kind like the actual sea slug Pleurobranchaea californica does. The virtual creature has simple self-awareness, relating motivation and memories to external world perception.
Researchers found that Risso's dolphins gather information from previous dives and combine it with present experience to optimize their dives. The dolphins adjust their strategy based on the depth distribution and availability of prey, showcasing advanced planning abilities.
A study mapped global movements of whales, sharks, sea birds, and polar bears to understand ocean travel patterns. Despite size differences, marine animals move similarly through the ocean.
Marine animals such as seals, whales, sharks, turtles, seabirds, and others exhibit similar movement patterns globally, despite differences in geography, phylogeny, or travel mode. In coastal areas, tracking data show complex search behavior, while open ocean movements are more predictable.
Scientists from the University of Bonn and the US study a newly hatched dumbo octopus for the first time, revealing surprising similarities with adult animals. The rare find provides valuable insights into the extraordinary habitat of deep-sea dumbo octopuses.
Researchers discovered that deep-sea skates are using hydrothermal vents to incubate their eggs, reducing the typical four-year-long incubation time. The unique behavior allows the fish to thrive in extreme conditions, providing new insights into conservation strategies for this poorly understood species.
A new study found that farmed fish and shrimp convert protein and calories in feed to edible products at rates similar to livestock. Researchers assessed feed composition, feed conversion ratios, and nutritional content to provide a more complete understanding of feed efficiency across species.
Scientists found little evidence of negative impact from two major mass extinctions on ray-finned fishes, with no significant changes in body shape or jaw shape. The group's remarkable modern diversity is attributed to 400 million years of evolution.
A slab of sandstone at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center contains over 70 preserved tracks of mammals and dinosaurs, including small theropods and pterosaurs, providing a rare glimpse of their interaction. The discovery sheds light on ancient times on Earth and offers insights into prehistoric life.
Researchers from the University of Leicester have discovered a unique 450-million-year-old fossil of a mysterious creature with soft body parts preserved. The discovery provides new insights into the life of the Ordovician period and expands our understanding of the planet's ancient world.
A study led by Lounès Chikhi found that Bornean elephants are likely a natural colonization of the island, dating back around 11,400 to 18,300 years. The research team used genetic data analysis and computational modeling to shed light on the animals' past demographic history.
Researchers used drones to count olive ridley sea turtles in Costa Rican waters, estimating densities of up to 2,086 animals per square kilometer. This method provides a safe and cost-effective alternative to traditional methods, revealing crucial insights for conservation and research.
Researchers discovered that cuttlefish can detect low-frequency vibrations from approaching predators, allowing them to avoid capture by swimming in the same direction as the water flow. In a controlled experiment, cuttlefish were found to be aware of the disturbance and changed their skin patterns in response.
The ocean is losing its breath, with low-oxygen sites increasing fourfold in the open ocean and tenfold in coastal waters since 1950. Climate change and nutrient pollution are driving this decline, which can stunt growth, hinder reproduction, and lead to disease or death.
Scientists warn that the world needs to address climate change and nutrient pollution to halt the decline of ocean oxygen. Low oxygen levels can stunt growth, hinder reproduction, and lead to disease or death in animals, while also triggering toxic chemical releases.
A recent study funded by the Morris Animal Foundation reveals that a decrease in wildlife populations leads to an increase in local tick populations, potentially threatening human and animal health. The research found that large mammals play a vital role in regulating tick numbers, with conservation efforts showing promise in reducing ...
A team of Uppsala researchers discovered a wealth of previously unknown microscopic animal fossils in Greenland rocks, dating back over half a billion years. The finds reveal a diverse array of soft-bodied organisms that likely made up the majority of ancient ecosystems.
NOAA scientists found that vessel traffic noise is reducing the distance over which Atlantic cod and haddock can communicate with each other. This may alter their daily behavior, feeding, mating, and socializing during critical biological periods.
Scientists analyze NASA data to investigate solar storm impact on cetaceans' internal compasses. While space weather is not primary driver of strandings, it may be one factor among several contributing to the phenomenon.
A new study reveals that extinct sauropterygians evolved inner ear proportions similar to those of modern aquatic reptiles and mammals. Researchers found similarities between the inner ears of ancient sea monsters like plesiosaurs and modern animals such as crocodiles, whales, and sea turtles.
East Greenland narwhals display paradoxical reactions when escaping from threats, including a downregulated heartbeat and increased swimming speed. This joint response puts extreme stress on the cardiovascular system, highlighting why deep-diving marine mammals are vulnerable to manmade disturbances.
Scientists have filled in key clues on the evolution of animals transitioning to aquatic life using a newly discovered reptile fossil. The study suggests that Vadasaurus, an ancient creature with features well-suited for aquatic life, is linked to modern New Zealand species and ancient sea-dwelling vertebrates.
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.
Researchers decoded two worm genomes and found genetic similarities with vertebrates, including humans. They share genes involved in multicellularity and head development with deuterostomes, despite being distantly related. This discovery highlights the dynamic nature of animal genome evolution and our connection to ancient ancestors.
The LAB-IN-A-BOX portable DNA barcoding kit enables rapid species identification, improving enforcement responses against wildlife trafficking and invasive species. This technology has the potential to greatly impact conservation efforts in developing countries.
Most blue whales exhibit a lateralization bias, being 'right-handed' or 'left-handed,' with most feeding movements involving 90-degree side rolls. However, researchers found that these whales become left-handed when swimming upward at a steep angle to approach prey near the surface.
Researchers found that blue whales tend to be 'right-handed' when feeding, rolling about 90 degrees to the right side during most lunges. However, they roll to the left when approaching from below to target patches of prey, allowing for more efficient feeding.
A newly discovered fossil, Jablonskipora kidwellae, fills the missing evolutionary link in the history of bryozoans. The tiny marine creature lived 105 million years ago and evolved a unique structure to tap into flowing water, giving it a competitive advantage over other species.
Scientists have discovered a new type of cell in the eye of deep-sea fish that enables them to see in twilight conditions. This finding opens up new avenues of research into how animals adapt to extreme environments and challenges existing theories about photoreceptor cells.
Scientists from Moscow State University have discovered the evolutionary pathways of groups of invertebrates with specific tentacular apparatus - the lophophore. The study reveals that lophophorates are the closest relatives, with a common ancestral morphology.
Researchers discovered that fish respond emotionally to their environment, with brain areas linked to positive and negative emotions activated. The study suggests a simpler neurologic basis for emotional assessment than expected, potentially evolving around 375 million years ago.
Researchers discovered that adult sea turtles like Eleanor can survive and even thrive during tropical storms. The study found that sea turtles like Eleanor drastically change behavior when the storm strikes, using more energy than usual but still surviving without injury.
A new study finds that deep-sea mining of polymetallic nodules poses a significant threat to the Plenaster craigi sponge species. The removal of these metal-rich nodules disrupts the sponge's filtering habits, making it vulnerable to extinction.
A new Duke University study suggests that corals are attracted to plastics due to their chemical composition, which makes them taste good. Corals in the experiment preferred unfouled microplastics over fouled ones by a threefold difference.
Researchers have found that climatic changes related to the Permian-Triassic extinction event occurred 1 million years earlier than previously thought. The discovery was made in the Karoo Basin in South Africa, where fossils revealed a 'faunal turnover' indicating early signs of the extinction event.
Researchers from the NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center used a towed linear hydrophone array to document dive depths for Gervais' and True's beaked whales, two of the least known species. The study provides new insights into their behavior, revealing that they dive as deep as 870 meters in search of food.
A new species of stalked filter feeder has been discovered in the Cambrian Spence Shale in Utah, dating back 500 million years. The ancient creature, named Siphusauctum lloydguntheri, features a unique tulip-shaped body and variations in its digestive tract compared to similar known species.
A new study found a shared respiratory microbiome in healthy humpback whales, with 25 bacterial groups present across all samples. This discovery could serve as an important framework for monitoring whale health and detecting diseases.
Two mass extinction events led to the survival of a low number of 'weedy' species that spread globally, affecting ecosystems and biogeography. The findings shed light on modern high extinction rates and potential consequences for current biodiversity loss.
Researchers have identified proteins that control cell complexity in animals, revealing a key difference between humans and simpler organisms like fruit flies and sea urchins. The study found that specific genes interact with chromatin to regulate cellular processes, contributing to the increased complexity of mammals.
Researchers discover two new crustacean species in deep waters off the northwest coast of Spain, both blind and measuring just a few millimeters. The species are distinct despite sharing their lack of eyes, with one belonging to the Photidae family and the other to the Corophiidae family.
Scientists report that four penguin species target gelatinous animals for meals, providing a new link in the food web. The findings suggest that gelatinous organisms play an underrated role in the carbon cycle and can sustain large marine animals.
Researchers observed reduced pulsing activity at night and delayed responses to stimulation in the upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea. The findings suggest that jellyfish do indeed sleep, but the study also raises more questions about the origin of sleep and its relationship with neural systems.
Researchers from the University of Vienna have challenged a 150-year-old hypothesis on the evolutionary origin of the gut by studying sea anemones. Contrary to previous beliefs, digestive enzyme- and insulin-producing gland cells do not develop from endoderm but from the ectodermal part of the mouth in sea anemones.
Researchers discovered a bacterium that stimulates single-cell saltwater dwellers to form colonies and mate, providing insight into eukaryote-bacterium interactions. The study also revealed the production of chondroitin in primitive organisms, challenging evolutionary timelines.
Scientists have discovered that bacteria can act as an aphrodisiac for choanoflagellates, one-celled marine organisms notable for being the closest living relative of all animals. The discovery reveals how these eukaryotes regulate their life history in response to bacterial cues.
Researchers at the University of California San Diego have unlocked the mechanisms underlying animal kinship attachments and social attraction. The study found that neurotransmitters and microRNAs play a crucial role in regulating these behaviors, including the switching of neurotransmitters in response to olfactory cues.