Articles tagged with Aquatic Animals
A new model suggests that oxygen levels in oceans played a crucial role in the emergence of animal evolution, with early life forms surviving in areas with low oxygen concentrations. The research challenges conventional thinking and has implications for estimates of complex life on exoplanets.
Canada's northern indigenous communities are at risk of mercury exposure due to high fish and marine animal consumption. The Canadian Medical Association Journal provides guidance on managing mercury exposure in patients with diets high in fish and marine animals.
Researchers have created biohybrid robots that crawl like sea turtles on the beach, combining tissues from a sea slug with flexible 3-D printed components. The robots are designed to be compliant and interact with their environment, making them suitable for tasks such as searching for toxic leaks or lost flight data recorders.
New study reveals Arctic algae play a crucial role in the ocean's food web, with species at great depths relying on carbon from these algae. The decline of Arctic sea ice could have significant impacts on marine life, including fish, seals and polar bears.
Climate change is altering the UK's wildlife calendar, with plants and animals responding differently to temperature changes throughout the year. By 2050, primary consumers are forecasted to shift their seasonal timing by more than twice as much as other species, potentially disrupting relationships between plants and animals.
Researchers used high-resolution connectivity maps and satellite imagery to predict how future land-use change and climate change will alter landscape connectivity for six species, including black bear and red wolf. The study highlights the urgent need to protect and restore habitats to promote species survival.
A new study found that only 2% of the eastern US provides climate connectivity, compared to 51% in western states. Creating climate-specific corridors could improve connectivity to 65%, boosting survival chances.
A new study reveals that large marine and terrestrial species are in 'double jeopardy' of extinction, with economic value driving risk above a certain threshold. The analysis highlights the importance of considering trade and differences between terrestrial and marine animals when designing effective conservation strategies.
Archaeologists have published scans of prehistoric animal paintings from Abri Faravel in the Southern French Alps. The site's rock shelter has seen human activity from Mesolithic to medieval periods, featuring unique high-altitude Bronze Age structures and artefacts.
A new study from Ohio State University reveals rattlesnake venom's regional variations effectively counter squirrel defenses, indicating co-evolutionary adaptation. The research found significant variation in venom activity and resistance across populations, with snakes best suited to their local opponents.
Red knots migrate to tropical regions, where smaller size and shorter bills impede survival. Climate change disrupts the insect peak, leading to malnutrition and population decline.
Scientists reveal new insights into a crocodile-sized sea-dwelling reptile that lived 242 million years ago in southern China. The 'hammerhead' creature, Atopodentatus unicus, used its unique jaw to scrape and filter-feed on plants from the ocean floor.
Researchers found that both groups show a nested pattern of distribution, with narrow-ranging lineages concentrated in the tropics and broad-ranging lineages extending into higher latitudes. Species diversification drives expansion across climatic divides, increasing the likelihood of successful crossings.
Whitlow Au, a renowned expert in dolphin biosonar, receives the prestigious Gold Medal from the Acoustical Society of America. His research has focused on understanding why dolphin biosonar is superior to man-made sonar.
Research reveals half of farmed fish have hearing loss, which affects their survival in the wild, leading to compromised welfare standards. The study's findings suggest that deformed earbones are larger, lighter, and more brittle, resulting in significant hearing sensitivity loss.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have created a detailed map of the California sea lion's brain, highlighting its unique somatosensory system. The study revealed specific areas in the brain responsible for processing touch information from whiskers and flippers, similar to those found in mice and humans.
Researchers from Yale, Oxford, and Imperial College London describe a new species of ancient arthropod that carried its young in capsules tethered to its body. The creature, named Aquilonifer spinosus, lived about 430 million years ago and had unique brooding strategies to protect its eggs and embryos from predators.
A new study by UC Santa Barbara researchers finds that excess nutrient input leads to imbalances in mutualistic species interactions. This can have far-reaching implications for ecosystems, including decreased growth of fungal partners and increased growth of plant partners.
A NSU researcher is studying the evolution of bioluminescence and vision in deep-sea shrimp to better understand how they match light around them. The research will focus on the physiological control of this complex system, with the goal of bringing this knowledge to life for elementary through college-age students.
Research from the University of Exeter and Plymouth Marine Laboratory reveals that plankton ingesting microplastics produce faeces that sink more slowly, allowing plastic to be transported to deeper waters. This process could have significant implications for marine ecosystems and the removal of floating plastic litter.
A team of researchers from the University of York conducted a first-of-its-kind study on Zanzibar's formation and fauna extinction. The study, which analyzed mangrove sediments and animal remains, found that large mammals like zebras and buffalo disappeared after sea levels rose and coastal cultures inhabited the island.
Scientists have discovered a distinct low-frequency hum associated with the daily migrations of deep-sea fish and squid. The sound could help scientists better understand this mysterious ecosystem and potentially inform our understanding of climate change's impact on ocean food webs.
New research documents high levels of algal toxins in Alaskan marine mammals, including whales, walruses, and sea otters. The study finds a major northward expansion of toxin-exposed areas along the Pacific Coast, with implications for human consumption.
Researchers found ichnites of temnospondyls, seymouriamorphs, captorhinids, and synapsids in the Manyanet Valley, providing insights into ancient tetrapod diversity. The study suggests climate changes influenced faunal distribution during the Permian Period.
A University of Exeter mathematician is studying the migration patterns of wildebeest, caribou, and salmon using state-of-the-art robotics and computer vision software. The research aims to understand how social influence impacts the stability and robustness of these migrations.
A Scripps-led team has discovered four new deep-sea worm species, expanding the diversity of known species from one to five. The discovery has significant implications for understanding early animal evolution and the development of organ systems such as guts, brains, and kidneys.
New research reveals biodegradable netting can outperform conventional nylon nets with similar catch rates while degrading over time. This sustainable alternative could help mitigate the impact of ghost fishing on marine ecosystems.
A new study found evidence of metazoans living in anoxic conditions using fluorescent tags and reproductive structures. However, no metazoans were alive or reproducing in the deepest part of the interface zone with minimal oxygen.
A team of scientists used a robotic vehicle to track and image white sharks in the ocean, providing critical data for conservation efforts. The research revealed that great whites hunt seals from below, using the clear waters off Guadalupe Island to ambush their prey.
A UCL-led study reveals that oxygen levels in oceans and atmosphere rose to support animal life 100 million years earlier than previously thought. This finding suggests that increased oxygen may have kick-started early animal evolution, rather than a change in animal behavior.
Researchers analyzed brain scans and behavioral tests of stranded sea lions to find correlations between brain damage and specific behavioral impairments. They discovered damage to the hippocampus, a key region for memory processes, and effects on interactions with other brain structures.
A new study reveals that exposure to algal toxin domoic acid impairs the memory of California sea lions, affecting their ability to navigate and find food. The researchers found structural abnormalities in the animals' hippocampal regions, which corresponded to poorer performance on spatial memory tasks.
A team of researchers has discovered fossils of kinorhynch worms, also known as mud dragons, dating back over 530 million years. The historic find provides crucial insights into the evolution of body segmentation among animals.
Researchers used CRISPR-Cas9 to knock out six Hox genes in a sandhopper, shedding light on the genetic mechanisms that determine leg anatomy and evolutionary patterns. By analyzing the resulting transformations, they identified which genes control specific appendages and gained insights into how evolution shapes animal body plans.
A recent study by an international group of evolutionary biologists has convincingly refuted the proposition that comb jellies are the phylogenetically oldest extant metazoan group. Sponges are now reaffirmed as the first phylum to diverge from the common ancestor of metazoans, restoring the classical view of early animal evolution.
A rare fossil from eastern North America of a dog-sized horned dinosaur has been identified by a scientist at the University of Bath. The discovery highlights an east-west divide in North American dinosaur evolution, suggesting that dinosaurs in Appalachia evolved differently from those in western North America.
Researchers have discovered a microscopic parasite in fish that's a close cousin to jellyfish, challenging current animal kingdom classifications. The study found that myxozoans, a group of parasites, are highly degenerated cnidarians, sharing essential genes with jellyfish.
Researchers sequenced acorn worm genomes to find similarities with human genes, establishing a distant connection. The study identified 8,600 shared gene families across deuterostomes, including humans, starfish, and frogs, suggesting a common ancestor that lived half a billion years ago.
A recent study found that high concentrations of carbon dioxide deter even small invasive carp from entering areas with elevated CO2 levels. The gas causes stress and avoidance behavior in fish as young as eight days old, providing a non-physical barrier against the species.
Researchers at the University of Kansas sequenced the genomes of microscopic parasites known as myxozoans, revealing they are highly reduced cnidarians. The findings challenge traditional definitions of an animal and could have commercial implications for aquaculture.
A study published in Journal of Experimental Biology found that hair allows animals to both get dirty and remain dirt-free. The research team found that a honeybee has nearly 10 billion hairs, while the human head has just 100,000, making their true surface area 100 times greater than their skin surface area.
Researchers found that ancient venomous groups evolve slowly under purifying selection, while recent lineages diversify rapidly under positive selection. This reveals a new theory of venom evolution, proposing a 'two-speed' mode where toxins expand and then are preserved through purifying selection.
Researchers unveil two archaic aquatic carnivorous amphibian species from northeastern Brazil, shedding light on animal dispersal during the Permian period. The discoveries reveal a previously unknown geographic gap in knowledge about ancient life.
The Vindel River LIFE project restored tributaries by creating more diverse aquatic habitats through wider streams and boulders. This led to increased water levels and variable currents, benefiting migrating salmon and trout, as well as other animals and plants.
Researchers found that these animals move forward by sucking water towards them using low pressure, rather than pushing against it. This discovery has significant implications for our understanding of evolutionary adaptation, functional ecology, and bio-inspired design.
A new study reveals massive declines and extinctions of whales, fish, seabirds have damaged the planet's nutrient recycling system. This has weakened ecosystem health, fisheries, and agriculture.
Researchers find hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (OH-BDEs) in San Francisco Bay, suggesting human activity enhances natural production. Elevated levels of OH-BDEs are linked to higher nutrients and water temperatures in populated areas.
A new study on plankton's jumping behavior shows that velocity is the primary factor determining whether an animal can break the water's surface. Only certain species of copepods with high impact speeds of around one meter per second can jump out of the water, suggesting they may be the smallest animals capable of this feat.
A new study suggests creating quiet marine zones to better understand the impact of human-generated noise on marine animals. The researchers mapped areas of high and low noise pollution in the oceans around Canada and found a correlation between noise levels and animal behavior.
Scientists have discovered a new species of the marine mammal group Desmostylia, which went extinct 23 million years ago. The new fossils reveal that desmos were unique in their diet and eating habits, using powerful muscles to suck vegetation from coastal bottoms.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have created a new flame retardant made from polydopamine, a natural compound found in humans and animals. The nanocoating reduces fire intensity by 67% and is about 20% better than existing flame retardants.
Researchers found that sensory feedback shapes motor variability, allowing for normal behavior and adaptation. The study suggests maintaining variability is essential, contrary to the common view of it as a problem to overcome.
Researchers developed a novel data-logging tag called ITAG to study small invertebrates' behaviors and physiology. The tag measures ocean conditions and animal responses at high resolution, providing valuable insights into their natural behaviors and adaptations.
Copepods, tiny crustaceans that form the base of marine food webs, rely on omega-3s to survive. The new study found that copepods are resilient to short-term climate change but their long-term survival is threatened by reduced food supply.
A study published in Nature has identified nearly 1,000 common protein complexes shared by most kinds of animals, revealing deep evolutionary relationships. These findings have significant implications for understanding the genetic basis of diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and cancer across different species.
The world's first known mass extinction, which occurred around 540 million years ago, is now believed to have been caused by the emergence of complex animals capable of altering their environments. These 'ecosystem engineers' changed the planet in ways that made it difficult for earlier multicellular organisms like Ediacarans to survive.
Trichoplax, a multicellular marine animal without organs, exhibits complex feeding behavior involving external digestion of algae. The organism's cells coordinate a sequence of behaviors, including gliding and secretion of granules that break down the algae, indicating local control and cellular communication.
Researchers study tiny jellyfish's coordinated multiple jets propulsion system, which could inspire a natural solution for multi-engine organization in underwater-distributed propulsion vehicles. The jellies' ability to turn and maneuver with relatively simple components could lead to more efficient and redundant designs.
A study by UC San Diego biologists found that black bears in Yosemite National Park primarily forage on plants and nuts, with acorns and pine nuts being their main food sources. The research also suggests that female bears tend to forage more heavily for high-fat seeds during reproduction.
A new study reveals higher concentrations of methylmercury in Arctic species compared to lower trophic levels, suggesting increased toxicity and potential protective effects of selenium. The research confirms previous suggestions that biomagnification may be more pronounced in Arctic systems.