Articles tagged with Aquatic Animals
A deep-sea squid, Grimalditeuthis bonplandi, has been found to use its long, thin tentacles with fin-like membranes to create the illusion of swimming clubs. This unique strategy may attract prey and deter predators by mimicking the movements of small animals.
Researchers found snapping turtles are surviving in urban areas with polluted or degraded habitats; stopping water pollution could restore suitable environments for the species. Engaging in environmental actions like reducing waste and chemicals can increase biodiversity and improve quality of life.
A new study by Alfred Wegener Institute researchers analyzed data from over 150 species, finding that most animal groups are affected negatively by higher carbon dioxide concentrations. Corals and echinoderms react sensitively to ocean acidification, while crustaceans may be more resilient in certain scenarios.
A recent review of research reveals that declining Arctic sea ice is leading to the greening of coastal areas, altering marine and terrestrial food chains. The study finds that changes in sea-ice cover are affecting animal migration patterns and plant growth, with some areas showing cooling trends and declines in vegetation productivity.
The ancient greenhouse world had few large reefs and a poorly oxygenated ocean, supporting minute picoplankton instead of larger diatoms. Large marine animals became abundant when algae became large enough to support top predators in cold oceans.
Sea-ice loss has widespread effects on Arctic wildlife, including disruptions to food chains, population mixing, and disease dynamics. The loss of albedo and increased warming accelerate melting, affecting critical habitats for species such as caribou, arctic foxes, and walrus.
The rotifer genome shows evidence of gene conversion and horizontal gene transfer, which help maintain healthy genes and viable lineages. This reproductive strategy, absent in most animals, may mimic some aspects of sex and provide a layer of protection from mutations.
Two species of small beach critters, cousins of the roly-poly, are suffering localized extinctions in Southern California. Their disappearance suggests a looming threat to similar sand-dwelling animals across the state and world. The research highlights the impact of development, climate change, and sea level rise on these ecosystems.
Scientists discover new clam species, Waldo arthuri, in the Northeastern Pacific Ocean. The species has a thin, translucent shell and long willowy tentacles, and lives on the spines of one type of sea urchin in a commensal relationship.
Research challenges conventional wisdom on giant sea creatures in polar seas, suggesting that large body sizes have an advantage in cold conditions by regulating oxygen uptake. This allows them to survive in environments with limited oxygen availability, contrary to the long-held idea that a superabundance of oxygen drives gigantism.
A new species of spoon worm, Arhynchite hayaoi, has been discovered in Japan with a distinctive elongated and spoon-like projection. The species was previously abundant but is now in decline, leading to its economic importance as a fish bait declining.
Researchers found that a type of predatory sea slug, Pleurobranchaea californica, has complex cognitive abilities allowing it to learn the warning cues of dangerous prey. The sea slug selectively avoids certain prey, such as Flabellina iodinea, and can remember this avoidance behavior even after several days.
A recent study by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) has mapped out areas of deep-sea debris in the ocean, revealing a significant accumulation of trash in Monterey Canyon. The researchers found that plastic bags and metal objects were the most common types of debris, with many pieces smothering or choking marine life.
Researchers propose keystone molecules as a key factor in structuring ecosystems. These molecules have powerful effects on bacteria, seabirds, fishes, and other species. Keystone molecules also influence predator-prey relationships and can be crucial for conservation efforts.
James Cameron will deliver a presentation on his DEEPSEA CHALLENGE expedition and donate an extreme-depth unmanned undersea exploration system known as a 'lander' to Scripps. The lander will be used for future deep-sea exploration endeavors, unlocking the mysteries of Earth's least explored environment.
A study published in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America uses seafloor seismic data to analyze fin whale calls, revealing new information on their movement patterns and communication habits. The research also sheds light on the animals' feeding behaviors and potential collisions with ships.
Researchers at UC San Diego have developed a flexible robotic arm inspired by the seahorse's tail, which can be compressed to 50% of its size without permanent damage. The design uses bony plates that slide past each other, providing exceptional flexibility and protection.
Researchers studied baby sea turtles and a flipper-driven robot to understand movement on sand. They found that flexible wrists allow for effective locomotion by minimizing material yielding, reducing drag from belly friction.
Researchers used PIV system to measure flow field around Heteroxenia coral, finding polyp motion effectively sweeps water away from coral tissues. The accumulated effect of uncoordinated polyp activity enhances flow around colony, reducing re-filtration and improving nutrient exchange.
The coelacanth genome confirms genes evolve more slowly than in other organisms, suggesting a specialized environment has led to minimal change. The study also sheds light on the water-to-land transition, identifying key genetic regions associated with tetrapod innovations and immune system adaptations.
A meta-analysis of 161 studies on prey diversity found that mixed diets enhance animal fitness, but not as well as specialized diets. Generalized diets may offer flexibility and less risk of predation, rather than nutritional benefits.
Researchers have mapped a two-year migration pattern of female white sharks in the Pacific Ocean, revealing widely separated nursery areas. The study highlights the need for conservation efforts to protect these vulnerable animals from commercial fishing and habitat disruption.
The launch of Animal Biotelemetry aims to provide a forum for discussion on telemetric techniques used in various animal species. Key findings include the two-year migration pattern of female white sharks and the use of UV radiation to prevent infections in tagged animals.
These tiny crustaceans feed on nuisance algae that grow on seagrasses, helping to maintain healthy seagrass beds and provide nurseries for commercially important fish and shellfish. Grazers also serve as a food source for larger animals in the ecosystem.
Researchers documented a California sea lion's ability to synchronize her head movements with music, challenging current theories on brain mechanisms that enable vocal mimicry. The study found that the sea lion could keep the beat even when metronome-like ticks missed a beat.
Researchers found that swallow-tailed gulls hunt most often under a new moon, when fish come to the surface under cover of darkness. The lunar cycle also influences the behavior of various marine species, including fish and squid.
Architected to tackle aquatic prey, archerfish possess exceptional resolving power in the upper part of their retina, far surpassing other freshwater fish. This impressive ability enables them to locate, identify, and accurately spit at aerial insects with remarkable precision.
Dolly Varden trout in Alaska's Chignik Lake watershed use their intestines to gorge on salmon eggs, doubling in size, then shrink back down after the food pulse ends. This adaptation helps them survive months of scarcity and thrive despite nutrient-poor environments.
Researchers found that tourist-fed stingrays at Stingray City show distinct patterns of activity, including daytime feeding and nighttime resting, compared to wild stingrays. Human interaction has drastically altered their behavior, with some stingrays abandoning their solitary nature and forming schools.
A study examining stomach contents of over 5,000 invasive American bullfrogs found they prey on nearly 18,814 identifiable animal remains, including insects, fish, frogs, salamanders, snakes, and small mammals. The invasive species are recognized as one of the world's worst alien invasions due to their rapid population growth.
A new species of acorn worm, Spartobranchus tenuis, has been discovered in Canada's Burgess Shale fossil beds, providing a crucial missing link in understanding hemichordate evolution. The discovery pushes the fossil record back 200 million years to the Cambrian period, shedding light on biodiversity during this time.
Carnivorous plants have evolved cup-shaped leaves to catch prey, allowing them to thrive in nutrient-poor environments. The study aims to uncover the rules of growth and evolution behind these complex forms, combining observations, 3D imaging, and genetic analysis.
Researchers reveal extraordinary fossil find of fuxianhuiid arthropod with legs used to shovel sediment into the mouth, shedding light on one of Earth's earliest evolutionary examples of complex animal life. The discovery also features the oldest known post-cephalic nervous system, dating back 520 million years.
Researchers discovered that ancient sea anemones use the same genes to form their heads as humans and other animals, providing insight into brain evolution. The study found that these 'head genes' control development of sensory centers in both sea anemones and higher animals.
Scientists have isolated oldest biomolecules directly from 350-million-year-old crinoid fossils in Ohio and surrounding areas. The findings suggest that complex organic molecules can survive fossilization, providing new insights into ancient life.
Researchers investigate coral specialization in the ocean, finding that habitat depth is a key factor in shaping different species. Coral larvae can disperse vast distances but small differences in survival rates at different depths lead to segregation over long generation times.
Contact with captive sea turtles poses a risk of exposure to toxic contaminants and zoonotic pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. The study highlights the importance of awareness among health-care professionals and the public to prevent and control the spreading of sea turtle-related disease.
Researchers have identified a new source of powerful antibiotics in shipworms, which could combat antibiotic resistance. Additionally, bacteria carried by cone snails produce neuroactive chemicals with promise for pain treatment. The discovery was made through the Philippine Mollusk Symbiont International Cooperative Biodiversity Group.
A team of Max Planck researchers discovered that sunken wood can serve as a temporary habitat for rare deep-sea animals. The wood's degradation by bacteria produces hydrogen sulfide, attracting species that rely on these compounds for energy, such as cold-seep mussels.
Researchers create mathematical model of plant petals to understand iridescence and its role in attracting pollinators. The study, published in Journal of the Royal Society Interface, provides a first analysis of how petal surface patterns might be produced.
Two ocean-going robots, equipped with acoustic monitoring instruments, detected nine endangered North Atlantic right whales in real-time. The gliders' data helped NOAA establish a dynamic management area, asking mariners to slow their vessel speed to avoid striking the animals.
Researchers are studying filter-feeding whales using multisensor tags, providing insights into their diving and foraging behaviors. The findings show that different whale species have distinct feeding strategies, with some catching elusive prey and others filtering slowly through large patches of water.
The genomes of leeches, limpets and marine worms have revealed a deep connection between these diverse organisms, with similarities to humans and other animals. The analysis has also highlighted notable differences in immune systems and developmental processes.
Researchers have published the first genomic report on limpet, leech and worm species, shedding light on lophotrochozoans' evolutionary history and functional gene groups. The study's findings suggest that these ancient animals played crucial roles in marine ecosystems.
Researchers found that Galapagos giant tortoises have a partial migration system, where only adult animals wander and move up to 10 kilometers into the highlands during the dry season. The younger tortoises remain in the lower-elevated areas all year round.
Land-based hermit crabs remodel their shells to accommodate growth, but rare empty snails on land require them to kick others out of their homes. This unusual behavior is a result of the crabs' evolution to take advantage of a niche, leading to socialization in a typically solitary animal.
A new study of marine fossils reveals that ocean animals with small geographic ranges are more likely to go extinct, even when populations are large. The research found that habitat breadth played a secondary role in extinction risk, and population size had little effect.
Researchers discovered that Chinese soft-shelled turtles urinate primarily through their mouths, allowing them to conserve water in brackish environments. This unique adaptation enables the turtles to avoid problems associated with drinking salty water and excreting excess salts.
A collection of fossil animals discovered off the coast of Florida suggests that present-day deep-sea fauna may have evolved earlier than previously thought. The fossils show striking similarities to modern equivalents, indicating that ancestors of these animals lived in deep waters for much longer than believed.
Researchers discovered that vampire squids use thread-like filaments to capture marine snow, a mixture of dead bodies and debris from the ocean surface. The study found that vampire squids do not hunt live prey but instead consume detrital matter, which is low in nutrients.
A new study using the UW tags recorded over 28,000 interactions among 34 crows, showing a surprising number of contacts between non-related crows. The technology allows researchers to study animal social interactions on an incredibly fine scale, revealing key insights into bird behavior and social networks.
A UC Santa Cruz study finds that a thriving sea otter population can lead to the growth of kelp forests, which absorb 12 times more CO2 from the atmosphere than without sea urchin grazing. This phenomenon has significant implications for global carbon sequestration.
A Nova Southeastern University study reveals that deep-sea crabs have eyes sensitive to ultraviolet light, allowing them to distinguish between toxic corals and edible plankton. The crabs use their sensitivity to blue and ultraviolet light to color-code their food.
A new study examines the impact of natural gradients in food and temperature on deep-sea species across the globe. The results suggest that temperature has a bigger impact on individual-level parameters like metabolism and growth rate, while food is more important for higher-level parameters like abundance and species diversity.
In a surprising discovery, male marine whelks carry the eggs of other males on their backs, with only one in four belonging to them. This unusual behavior provides insight into the complex family dynamics of these snails.
Researchers found that nerves in squid skin control the animal's spectrum of shimmering hues, as well as their speed of change, creating spectacular optical illusions. The study provides evidence for neural control of iridescence in an invertebrate species.
Researchers warn of CNTs' potential harm to environment and human health due to toxicity in aquatic organisms like mussels, worms, and crustaceans. The study calls for proper waste management and monitoring to minimize risks associated with composite materials manufacturing.
A new international study found that increased acidity affects shell size and weight, with a trend observed across multiple marine species. The research suggests that these changes will have significant impacts on humans and the ocean's large animals.
Research reveals that voltage-gated sodium channels evolved independently twice in basal and higher animals, suggesting the evolution of complex nervous systems was a convergent process. This finding highlights the importance of ion selectivity for fast and accurate neuronal signaling.
Climate change, pollution, and invasive species are driving mortality in amphibians due to infectious disease, leading to extinctions rates 200 times higher than background extinction rates. Understanding these complex forces is crucial for addressing amphibian declines and emerging infections in humans.