Articles tagged with Aquatic Animals
A new survey technique has led to a significant increase in estimated narwhal populations, now estimated to be over 60,000. The technique uses dive data and accounting for biases to improve accuracy and provides a more accurate picture of the population's size and distribution.
A new study reveals that deep-sea scavengers outcompete smaller animals for food in ocean canyons, leading to reduced biodiversity. Larger animals sense the presence of food and converge on the canyon floor, devouring all available nutrients and leaving little for other animals.
Scientists have found that blindsnakes, a group of worm-like snakes, are one of the few organisms that inhabited Madagascar when it separated from India 100 million years ago. The study reveals that continental drift played a crucial role in their evolution, with populations separating as continents moved apart.
Researchers from the University of Extremadura have discovered a new species of Cloudina, a small animal with an external skeleton, in Spain. The fossils show evidence of asexual reproduction, a rare phenomenon previously only described in Chinese specimens.
Researchers measured dolphin and rodeo bull head movements to study balance systems. Contrary to a leading theory, the findings show that dolphins have similar head motions as the cattle, defying expectations of smaller organs due to overwhelming senses.
Oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) support a variety of habitats and species, including brittle stars, spider crabs, and tube-living organisms. Global warming may exacerbate oxygen depletion and reduce biodiversity in these regions.
A new study proposes that slow-growing animals waste energy in two ways, making too much protein and then discarding excess. Fast-growing oysters, on the other hand, are more efficient at protein production, according to USC marine biologists.
Stanford biologist Steve Palumbi has discovered a species of coral that can survive in high water temperatures, offering hope for marine species struggling with climate change. The most effective marine protected areas balance preservation of species with human needs, presenting a challenge to designers.
Researchers at UF's College of Veterinary Medicine have discovered that dolphins can harbor multiple infections of apillomaviruses, which are linked to cervical cancer in humans. The study suggests that dolphins may be an ideal model for studying human cervical cancer due to their genetic similarity to humans.
Ron O'Dor will talk about the international Ocean Tracking Network's ambitious plans and how new tracking technologies can help manage sustainable fisheries. The Canadian initiative has committed $45 million to this global project.
A new model of ancient ocean chemistry suggests a stratified marine basin with oxygen-rich, sulfidic and ferruginous water layers. This discovery challenges traditional theories on early animal evolution and provides insights into the earliest life on Earth.
Scientists found conserved microRNAs in animals as diverse as sea anemones, worms, and humans, suggesting an early origin of these tissues in animal evolution. The discovery opens new avenues for studying the current functions of specific microRNAs.
A study confirms the long-standing idea that animals such as lemurs and flying foxes arrived in Madagascar via natural rafts blown out to sea. The research, published in Nature, uses a three-year computer simulation of ancient ocean currents to support the theory, which was previously introduced by George Gaylord Simpson.
New fossil footprints in Poland push back the origin of tetrapods by 18 million years, forcing a reassessment of their evolution. The discovery suggests that early tetrapods inhabited the marine intertidal zone during the early Middle Devonian period and may have first left water to feed on stranded marine life.
A new study in Journal of the American Chemical Society explains how sea urchins form hard, complex structures from calcium carbonate. The resulting calcite crystal is tough enough to grind away limestone or sandstone.
A study by Spanish researchers found that roe of hake, lumpsucker and salmon contains high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, essential for metabolic functions. Minimal consumption satisfies the body's requirements, preventing cardiovascular disease and other conditions.
Scientists at UC San Diego discovered a downward curve in the pitch of blue whale songs across the globe. The decline may be due to an increase in population size, allowing males to sing lower frequency songs that don't need to travel as far.
A comprehensive study of over 260 sub-fossil specimens reveals that moas should be grouped into three families and six genera, reducing the number of species to nine. The study also presents a new geological model suggesting that land-dwelling animals on the North and South Island were isolated for most of the past 20-30 million years.
Researchers have developed a tool to analyze marine mammal calls, finding that whales adjust click intervals to prevent cluttering echoes. This strategy enables groups of whales to explore more efficiently, suggesting a 'polite listener' behavior.
Researchers have discovered a new species of shell-covered animal from the Early Cambrian epoch, dating back around 520 million years. The fossils indicate that these early animals were larger than previously thought and provide valuable information on their evolution and relationships to other species.
A research team has found the first evolutionary branching for bilateral animals, resolving a long-standing debate about a group of ancient flatworms called Acoelomorpha. The study reveals that Acoelomorpha is a sister clade to other bilateral animals, providing key insights into the most recent common ancestor.
A new DNA barcoding tool has been developed to track endangered sea turtles, distinguishing between species based on short genetic sequences. The research found that all seven sea turtle species can be consistently distinguished from each other by DNA barcodes.
Analysis of ancient rock isotopes reveals a rise in atmospheric oxygen 580 million years ago triggered the evolution of large complex animals. This discovery confirms oxygenation of oceans as a driving force for animal life.
A study analyzing bird persecution in Spain over 14 years reveals a significant decline in direct attacks on wildlife. The drop in hunting activities and increased awareness among urban populations have led to an end in the 'war' against wildlife in southern Europe.
Research at Virginia Tech suggests that the oldest complex life forms fed by osmosis, absorbing nutrients through their outer membrane. The two groups of modular Ediacara organisms grew and constructed their bodies in different ways to maximize surface-area to volume ratios necessary for osmosis-based feeding.
Researchers have identified the molecular basis of high-altitude adaptation in deer mice, discovering specific mutations in hemoglobin genes that enable them to tolerate chronic hypoxia. These mutations increase oxygen-binding affinity, allowing animals to survive in low-oxygen environments such as the top of Mount Evans.
Researchers from Caltech have discovered a mechanism that explains how tiny swimming animals can affect the ocean environment, creating instability and mixing large scales. The impact of biogenic ocean mixing is estimated to be comparable to wind forcing and tidal forcing.
Research by Stony Brook University researchers found that temperature explains much of the geographic variation in lifespan within species. For a diverse range of species, ambient temperature is the dominant factor controlling lifespan.
A UC Riverside-led study found that ancient lake deposits in South China harbor the first animal fossils, dating back 600 million years. The discovery raises questions about where early animals lived and how they adapted to their environment.
Researchers propose a Scottish Highland test case to reintroduce wolves and study their impact on red deer behavior and ecosystems. The goal is to restore landscapes of fear, controlling overgrazing and promoting biodiversity.
Seabirds face an 'energetic bottleneck' in winter, struggling to find enough food to survive harsh conditions. The study suggests that the birds' high energy demands may be too much to handle, leading to catastrophic losses during the winter months.
Over 40% of mangrove-restricted vertebrates are globally threatened, including birds, reptiles, mammals, and amphibians. The study urges research on predicting the impact of mangrove forest changes on these species.
A 16-nation research project is surveying the Mid-Atlantic Ridge for biodiversity, discovering potential new species and shedding light on deep-sea communities. The NOAA-led expedition aims to understand the ecosystem's structure and how it interacts with human activities.
Researchers found marine mammals have higher myoglobin solubility due to increased net positive charge, and stronger divers have more histidine, aiding lactic acid management. This adaptation helps marine mammals cope with aquatic life demands.
The National Resource for Aplysia, a world-leading facility for sea slug research, has secured a $2.7 million NIH grant renewal for five years. The facility will provide scientists with abundant Aplysia californica animals to study basic mechanisms of memory and learning.
A study published in the Journal of Experimental Biology found that manatees can probably hear which directions boats approach from. The animals were able to pinpoint sound sources, including both high- and low-pitched sounds, using a combination of time difference and intensity cues.
Researchers found that interglacial warming resulted in dramatic changes to the diets of animal groups, with some becoming mixed feeders that grazed on grasses. The study highlights the importance of the fossil record in understanding long-term ecological responses to climate change.
Historians from Census of Marine Life reconstructed ocean life in olden days, revealing past sea life was teeming with over 27,000 southern right whales around New Zealand. The findings are causing authorities to revisit marine baselines and provide a new context for contemporary ocean management.
Researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography describe a direct comparison between sperm whale clicking sounds and its physical features, including size and internal organ structure. The study provides a glimpse into a possible new approach for investigating the biology behind marine mammal sounds.
A study found high concentrations of pollutants in marine mammals' brains, including pesticides like DDTs and PCBs, as well as brominated flame retardants. The results have significant implications for the health of marine mammals, particularly their hearing and cognitive development.
Researchers will build an underwater virtual reality 'holodeck' to study cephalopod camouflage, measuring light fields and behavior in different environments. The goal is to understand the nature of their vision, color perception, and skin optical properties.
Researchers have documented the first known migration of blue whales from California to British Columbia and the Gulf of Alaska since commercial whaling ended in 1965. The whales' return suggests a re-establishment of historical migration patterns, possibly driven by changes in ocean conditions.
Basking sharks, the world's second-largest fish, migrate through tropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean during winter, defying previous notions of their habitat. This discovery highlights the need for coordinated conservation efforts to protect this threatened species.
Researchers tested two dolphins' cognitive performance after 5 days of continuous auditory vigilance, finding no signs of sleep deprivation. The dolphins remained alert and responsive to both sound and visual stimuli throughout the 120-hour experiment, with their blood showing no physical signs of fatigue.
Researchers at Duke University unify biological and geophysical principles of nature's design using the constructal law, which predicts flow systems' evolution to balance imperfections. This new perspective offers a powerful tool for understanding variation in both animate and inanimate nature.
Researchers from Carnegie Museum of Natural History and Canadian Museum of Nature discovered a carnivorous animal fossil, Puijila darwini, which is believed to be the 'missing link' between seals, sea lions, and walruses. The fossil provides evidence that pinnipeds went through a freshwater phase in their evolution.
Researchers at Uppsala University and colleagues analyze fossil upper arm bones from ancient vertebrates, revealing two distinct life histories. Ichthyostega, a more terrestrial animal, undergoes significant changes in limb shape and muscle attachments as it grows, while Acanthostega remains aquatic with less dramatic transformations.
A recent study published in Science found that Ichthyostega, a four-limbed animal with backbones, may have been the more primitive form, acquired terrestrial habits later in development. In contrast, Acanthostega's limbs showed more similarities to earlier fish fins, indicating it may have returned to an aquatic lifestyle.
Calculations suggest low-oxygen dead zones in the ocean will expand significantly over the next century. Marine animals will need more oxygen to survive as carbon dioxide levels increase, exacerbating the effects of 'dead zones'.
A new study by researchers from the University of Melbourne and others has found that all octopuses possess venomous capabilities, with a common ancient ancestor producing specialized proteins. The team's findings also highlight the importance of cephalopod venoms in drug development for conditions such as pain management and allergies.
A comprehensive study resolves decades-long debates on early animal relationships, revealing that sponges and comb jellies share a common group with bilaterians. The research also sheds light on the evolution of nervous systems, suggesting they developed only once in animal history.
Fossil fragments of Hurdia victoria reveal a 500-million-year-old predator with a unique body structure, including a massive three-part carapace and intricate gills. The discovery sheds light on the evolution of key features in modern arthropods.
A North Atlantic right whale was administered a sedation mixture, allowing rescuers to remove 90% of the entangling gear. The new sedation delivery system enabled the team to successfully free the animal in two days, improving the chances of its survival.
Researchers discovered that a deep-sea fish's tubular eyes can rotate within a transparent shield, allowing it to peer up at prey or focus forward to see its surroundings. This unique adaptation enables the 'barreleye' fish to capture small prey and navigate through the dark environment.
Research on seamounts reveals that many animals are not exclusive to these underwater mountains and can be found in other deep-sea areas. The study identifies distinctive groups of corals and sponges, as well as sea cucumbers, which are rare or absent on other seafloor areas.
Researchers have recorded the earliest evidence of animal life using Hydropyrolysis technology, dating fossil steroids 635-750 million years old. This discovery suggests that simple multicellular animals existed in shallow waters before the Cambrian explosion.
A team of scientists has found the oldest evidence for animal life in fossil record, with steroids from sponges dating back 635 million years. The discovery suggests that multicellular animal life may have evolved earlier than previously thought, around 100 million years before the Cambrian explosion.
A tropical, freshwater turtle fossil discovered in Arctic Canada supports the idea of animals migrating from Asia to North America across a freshwater sea floating on top of the warm, salty Arctic Ocean. The find suggests a rapid influx of carbon dioxide led to a super-greenhouse effect creating extraordinary polar heat.
Researchers have identified three broad classes of camouflage body patterns in animals, including uniform, mottled, and disruptive coloration. These patterns are used by cephalopods to dynamically produce a wide range of visual disguises, making them one of the most changeable animal groups on earth.
The four-eyed spookfish uses mirrors to focus light in its eyes, producing bright and high-contrast images. This unique adaptation gives the fish an edge in the deep sea, where spotting brief flashes of bioluminescent light can mean the difference between eating and being eaten.