Articles tagged with Aquatic Animals
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
New research suggests that corals build their hard, calcium carbonate skeletons faster and in bigger pieces than previously thought. This active construction method helps them grow much faster and with greater control.
A team of divers has discovered a wealth of fossil remains in Mexico's Hoyo Negro cave, shedding light on the region's ecosystem during the end of the last Ice Age. The finds include early human remains, giant ground sloths, and saber-tooth cats.
Scientists have discovered a new method to track penguin migration patterns using forensics, analyzing tail feathers for geochemical signatures. This approach can be applied to other marine animals and will help better understand and conserve charismatic species.
The Gulf of Mexico's unique flora and fauna are detailed in two open-access books compiled by editor C.H. Ward, covering topics such as water quality, oil seepage, and commercial fisheries. These studies provide an extensive baseline assessment of the Gulf's state and health before the devastating 2010 spill.
Researchers have documented a rare phenomenon where humpback whales flap their foreflippers like penguins or sea lions to move forward. This novel behavior helps scientists understand the abilities and anatomy of these mysterious animals.
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.
A recent study reveals that a third of marine megafauna disappeared around three to two million years ago, leading to a significant reduction in species diversity. The loss of functional entities resulted in an erosion of ecological functions, with 17% of total diversity disappearing and 21% changing.
The study found a strong correlation between predator size and the diameter of drill holes, suggesting that larger predators have hunted smaller prey in the past. The researchers believe that growing bigger predators may not need to switch to larger targets due to more nutritious small prey.
Researchers found that as predators grew in size, they targeted smaller prey rather than larger quarry, suggesting a shift in ecological dynamics. The study's findings support the escalation hypothesis, which posits that top-down pressure from larger predators drove key evolutionary developments in prey species.
A recent study found that polar bear mercury levels are declining, indicating a change in their diet and weight as they adapt to reduced sea ice. The researchers attribute the drop to increased consumption of lower-mercury prey, such as bowhead whales and bearded seals, in place of ringed seals.
Fossil evidence reveals a previously unknown east-west migration route for some mammals across North America, challenging previous hypotheses. Researchers propose that sea otters and potentially other animals traversed the northern edge of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt to reach California from Florida.