Articles tagged with Aquatic Animals
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.
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.
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 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.
Geologist Dr Scott Bryan's research found plants and tiny animals including corals latched onto pumice as it traveled over 5000km from Tonga to north-eastern Australia. This journey provided concrete proof that pumice rafting is a significant factor in dispersing marine life.
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.
Scientists discover that ocean eddies, not sunlight, trigger the annual bloom of tiny plants in the North Atlantic, causing it to occur three weeks earlier than expected. This finding has significant implications for marine life, as many small sea animals rely on the phytoplankton for food and their timing is critical.
Research reveals that American water shrews heat their bodies immediately before diving into cold water, increasing foraging efficiency and potentially allowing them to survive longer underwater. This unexpected behavior challenges prevailing dogma on the physiology of divers.
Hyrax vocalizations encode information on identity, age, hormone levels, and social rank. Singing promotes self-presentation and facilitates communication among the group.
Researchers measured PFC concentrations in five sea turtle species and found high levels approaching toxic effects in other animals. Hawksbills had the second-highest PFOS concentration, while loggerheads and Kemp's ridleys approached levels linked to liver and neurobehavioral toxicity.
Researchers have discovered that ancient sea creatures like sponges and jellyfish possess the building blocks of striated muscles found in higher animals. Gene duplication is believed to be responsible for the emergence of muscle myosin, a crucial protein structure, which evolved independently in these organisms.
Barbara Block's research on large predators in the California Current has led to groundbreaking discoveries about marine hotspots and migratory highways. Her award-winning project aims to protect these areas by building 'predator cafés' and increasing public awareness through real-time tracking data.
Researchers found that estrogens convert from one form to another in anoxic conditions, stalling biodegradation and complicating detection. The study reveals a reverse transformation process, where estrone reverts to alpha- and beta-estradiols, inhibiting further degradation.
A major new study found that small marine snails have a profound impact on the marine ecosystem, removing almost 70% of plant material from the sea floor. The research, led by Associate Professor Alistair Poore, reveals that snails are a key driver of herbivory in marine habitats.
Researchers found that terrestrial species are less responsive to warm temperatures than marine species, which allows them to expand their ranges towards the poles. Climate change is also causing rare heat waves to set boundaries on where species can live.
A study by Johns Hopkins University and The National Aquarium found that captive dolphins have lower levels of mercury in their systems compared to wild dolphins. This difference was attributed to the diet of the captive animals, which consisted mainly of small fish from North Atlantic waters with lower mercury pollution levels.
Researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, tracked nearly 300 elephant seals using satellite tags, revealing their movements and diving behavior. The study found that these animals target a specific boundary zone between two ocean currents, which supports a robust food web and drives the growth of phytoplankton.
Researchers studied a giant pliosaur specimen from the Upper Jurassic and discovered signs of an arthritis-like disease that eroded its left jaw joint. The animal, believed to be an old female, lived with a crooked jaw for many years, still able to hunt despite its condition.
Despite lacking a brain, brittle stars exhibit coordinated movement by designating a central arm and two rowing arms to propel it along. They can also change direction by choosing a new central arm and moving its accompanying limbs.
Researchers highlight the importance of dry river ecology, which is under-researched but provides essential habitats for biota. Human societies use these areas for agriculture, recreation, and resource extraction, emphasizing the need to study intermittent river systems.
An amateur paleontologist has discovered a massive, roughly elliptical shape with multiple lobes, totaling almost seven feet in length, which is believed to be a biological organism. The team plans to reconstruct the timeline of the fossil's life and burial events to better understand its origins.
A team of scientists proposes that early four-legged creatures used dermal bones to neutralize acid buildup from breathing carbon dioxide on land. The bones, featuring complex ridges and furrows, may have helped these ancient animals buy more time on land by storing antacids.
The Atlas of Living Australia has added over half a million records, including those from 17th-century Dutch navigators, to reach its 30-millionth species occurrence record. This milestone is made possible through collaborative efforts between museums, universities, and the CSIRO.
Scientists at the University of Leicester discovered a correlation between tooth roughness and diet in animals. Tooth surfaces can reveal what an animal has been eating, providing a reliable method for studying wild diets.
Researchers at Oregon State University are exploring the role of viruses, particularly herpes, in coral decline. A comprehensive analysis of coral genomes reveals that herpes viruses constitute a majority of the viruses found in corals.
Researchers found that giant squids' large eyes are better suited for spotting large objects, like whales, rather than average prey. Their 10-inch eyes allow them to see predators from a distance despite the dim light of their underwater habitat.
Seven mammalian species have lost the sense of sweet taste, including strict carnivores like cats and sea lions, due to defects in their sweet taste receptors. This finding suggests that dietary specialization can lead to evolutionary trade-offs in sensory perception.
Researchers discovered a simple nervous system linking stinging cells and light-detecting nerve cells in Hydra magnipapillata, suggesting that light-sensing capabilities predated eye evolution. The study found that Hydras fire their stingers less in bright than in dim light, indicating the presence of light-sensitive neurons.
Researchers found at least 10 species of water fleas in northern lakes and ponds, including a new species from Alaska's Seward Peninsula. The discovery sheds light on the unique biodiversity of subarctic regions with vanishing waters.