Articles tagged with Aquatic Animals
Researchers have found that phytoplankton biomass in Narragansett Bay declined by 49% from 1968 to 2019, with the winter-spring bloom occurring earlier each year. The decrease in phytoplankton levels may indicate resilience in the face of climate change.
Researchers at the University of Oregon have discovered that salps, gelatinous marine animals, use coordinated jet propulsion to swim through the ocean in giant corkscrew shapes. This unusual locomotion could inspire new designs for efficient underwater vehicles and may even enable silent and less turbulent navigation.
Researchers have identified over 2000 protein-coding genes that change significantly between summer and winter in the starfish's reproductive process. This study provides a promising breakthrough in understanding how crown-of-thorns starfish communicate during reproduction, which could lead to the development of natural pest control me...
A young sperm whale's long-range migration across the Mediterranean poses significant threats to its survival due to busy straits and pollution. The study demonstrates the need for targeted protection at key locations to safeguard marine life in the region.
Researchers analyzed genome of Oikopleura dioica, finding it has wildly different languages despite identical physical characteristics. The 'scrambling' phenomenon suggests genes are regulated differently, challenging assumptions about species identity.
Mantis shrimp use their tail coils as shields to reduce the impact of rival blows, dissipated more energy than their armor can absorb. Researchers found that this behavioral adaptation increases energy loss by up to 90%
Scientists have discovered a previously unknown population of the Australian brook lamprey, an ancient and endangered species, in Queensland. The find expands the species' geographic range into truly tropical waters, highlighting the need for conservation efforts to protect this unusual fish.
A comprehensive analysis of over 200 scientific articles reveals the fundamental importance of scavengers and carrion in wetlands, benefiting soil, plants, birds, and mammals. The study highlights five different functions performed by scavengers during carrion consumption, including nutrient recycling and pathogen control.
A new study suggests that incorporating seafood rich in umami, such as fish and shellfish, into vegetable dishes can boost their flavor and make them more appealing. The research uses a mathematical equation to calculate the umami content of various seafood options, finding that even small amounts can greatly enhance the taste.
Researchers at University of Florida discovered a Florida bottlenose dolphin infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV), the first reported case in a mammal in North America. The team analyzed tissue samples and confirmed the presence of HPAI A(H5N1) virus subtype 2.3.4.4b.
Researchers have identified cocaine as a contaminant of concern in the Bay of Santos' water, sediments, and marine organisms. The drug causes toxicological effects in animals such as mussels, oysters, and fish, with severe bioaccumulation and ecotoxicological risks.
A new tagging method, Bioadhesive Interface for Marine Sensors (BIMS), provides a rapid, non-invasive way to track marine animal movements and behaviors. BIMS uses a soft hydrogel-based adhesive that forms strong bonds with animal tissues, allowing for long-term monitoring of fragile species.
High levels of plastic pollution can kill the embryos of a wide range of ocean animals, preventing healthy development in all seven tested species. This study highlights the
Researchers found DNA traces of placozoans in the stomachs of predatory snails that live in seabed sediments, contradicting previous theories. The discovery indicates a more diverse genetic makeup than previously thought, with five genetically distinct lineages identified in just two snails.
A team of Australian scientists has developed a step-by-step guide to ageing octopus, using growth rings on beaks and stylets to validate age. This tool helps estimate growth rates, reproduction, and maturity, ensuring sustainable fisheries and conservation.
A Mediterranean marine worm has evolved massive eyes, rivaling those of mammals, to see in the dark. The worms use their exceptional vision to detect bioluminescent signals and may have a secret language through light communication.
A study by researchers from the University of Gothenburg found that shy sea anemones can outlast bold ones during extreme heatwaves due to their slower metabolism. This survival strategy may be beneficial for other cold-blooded marine species exposed to rapid temperature changes.
A study predicts that climate change will lead to a major species turnover in North American cities by the end of the century. Cities with cooler and wetter climates are expected to gain new species, while warmer cities may lose many species.
Two well-known killer whale ecotypes in the North Pacific Ocean have been identified as separate species through genetic and behavioral evidence. The resident and Bigg's killer whales have distinct physical characteristics, diets, and cultural habits, justifying their recognition as distinct species.
Researchers simultaneously tagged many humpback whales from the same pod to analyze their vocalization and compare individual calls. This study provides new information about whale behavior and communication, crucial for informing future conservation efforts.
Researchers successfully carried out pioneering fecal microbiota transplantations on Navy bottlenose dolphins, showing significant improvement and increased microbial diversity. The study's findings have important implications for marine mammal medicine, highlighting a non-antibiotic option to treat gastrointestinal diseases.
Researchers at the University of British Columbia have discovered a new population of killer whales in the Northeastern Pacific, with distinct physical characteristics and a diet that includes marine mammals and sea turtles. The orcas were identified through shark-bitten scars and observations by fishermen and birding enthusiasts.
A new study on sea anemones sheds light on the complex relationships between predators and prey in marine ecosystems. The research found that a native population of anemones lacking a key neurotoxin exhibited weakened defensive abilities, while its presence attracted natural predators of grass shrimp.
Researchers have created 3D images of over half of the world's animal groups using CT scans, making them accessible to scientists, researchers, students, teachers, and artists. The open-source repository MorphoSource allows users to share findings and improve access to material critical for scientific discovery.
Researchers observed an individual orca, nicknamed Starboard, killing a 2.5-meter juvenile great white shark within two minutes. The study challenges conventional cooperative hunting behaviors among killer whales, providing new insights into their predatory dynamics and potential impact on marine ecosystems.
A new analysis of Perucetus colossus, a 30 million year-old fossil whale, estimates its weight to be between 60-70 tons, significantly less than the original estimate of 180 metric tons. This revised size allows the whale to maintain neutral buoyancy in water and come to the surface to breathe.
Researchers mapped disease dynamics in foothill yellow-legged frogs, tracing patterns of infection across a large geographic range. The study found that drought, rising temperatures, and agricultural land conversion drive Bd infection, with the pathogen affecting nearly entire region from southern coast to central Oregon.
Researchers used movement behavior models to track leatherback sea turtles to previously unknown foraging locations along the US east coast. The study found that leatherbacks use specific areas in the South Atlantic Bight, Mid-Atlantic Bight, and southern New England as both migratory corridors and foraging grounds.
A Brazilian researcher led a team that described a rare medusa, Santjordia pagesi, discovered at a depth of 812 meters in the Sumisu Caldera. The species has a unique bright red stomach and may possess an arsenal of venoms unlike those discovered to date.
Researchers observed that clown anemonefish colonies display the most aggressive behavior towards fish with three bars like themselves. The fish also recognize different anemonefish species based on the number of vertical white bars, leading to strict social hierarchies and upholding dominance.
Wildlife filmmaker Carlos Gauna and UC Riverside student Phillip Sternes observed a 5-foot-long pure-white shark pup shedding its embryonic layer. The location off central California's coast is proposed as a potential great white breeding ground, which could help protect endangered species.
Sponges exhibit coordinated movements despite lacking muscles or neurons, attributed to relaxation of stress fibres triggered by an evolutionarily ancient inflammation-like mechanism. This process also regulates human blood vessel contraction, influencing blood pressure.
Sea otter recovery has buffered century-scale declines in California kelp forests, according to a new study. The research suggests that sea otters may be key drivers of changes in the ecosystem.
A team of researchers led by URI Professor Brennan Phillips successfully demonstrated new technologies for capturing preserved tissue and high-resolution images of deep-sea animals in minutes, preserving them for advanced genomic study. This breakthrough enables faster species discovery and can inform extinction prevention efforts.
New study reveals that kelp forests off the Pacific Coast were thriving 32 million years ago, with fossilized holdfasts showing evidence of ancient marine mammals and invertebrates. The discovery sheds light on the evolution of kelp ecosystems and highlights the importance of fossil hunting by amateur collectors.
A research team at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center discovered a unique sodium pump variant in brine shrimp that enables them to thrive in high-salinity environments. This NKA variant uses more energy than common variants, allowing the animal to maintain steeper Na+ gradients.
Researchers have found that Vibrio bacteria play a role in outbreaks of mortality among dark stinging sponges weakened by warming Mediterranean. The study suggests climate change may be impacting disease dynamics in sponges and their pathogens.
Researchers discovered bottlenose dolphins' ability to detect weak electric fields, which helps them search for fish hidden in sediment. This newfound sense also enables dolphins to navigate the globe using magnetic maps by sensing the planet's magnetic field at varying speeds.
The EUDTO-BioFlow project aims to establish a digital twin of the ocean by making critical marine biodiversity data publicly available. This will enable the simulation and study of 'what if' scenarios for effective conservation and management.
The study found that England's only resident population of bottlenose dolphins has declined to just 48 individuals due to various human impacts. The researchers call for urgent measures to protect the population and its habitats.
Researchers found that brittle stars, brainless marine creatures, can associate darkness with food and react accordingly, demonstrating classical conditioning. They retained this association even after a break from training, suggesting potential learning capabilities in these animals.
A new study found that sediment plumes from deep-sea mining can cause significant stress in midwater jellyfish, leading to excess mucus production and energetic costly responses. The researchers also discovered that the stress response is more severe than expected even for a four-degree rise in sea temperature.
A recent study by RMIT University and the Marine Mammal Foundation has revealed alarming concentrations of PFAS chemicals in Burrunan dolphins off the coast of Melbourne and Gippsland, south-east Australia. The findings are the highest reported globally, with one juvenile dolphin found to have a PFAS liver concentration of 19,500 nanog...
A new study reveals a network of genes that evolve differently in long-lived and short-lived bivalves, associated with longevity in other animals. This shared molecular framework suggests a common genetic basis for extended longevity across diverse animal lineages.
A new UniSA study reveals that over-represented sharks in 'creature feature' films contribute to excessive fear of sharks. Dr. Brianna Le Busque warns that safety measures should balance people's safety with access to the ocean, rather than exacerbating fear.
Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz discovered a unique cryptochrome protein in marine bristle worms that distinguishes between sunlight and moonlight. The protein's structure reveals an unusual light-induced change from dimer to monomer arrangements, allowing it to synchronize reproduction with lunar phases.
Researchers from Utrecht University and Natural History Museum Maastricht studied wear marks on mosasaur teeth to understand dietary diversity. The analysis found differences in diet between smaller and larger species, including a preference for shellfish among one species and fish with strongly scaled bodies among another.
A new analysis of European Red List species reveals that 19% are at risk of extinction, including a large proportion of invertebrates. Agricultural land-use change poses a significant threat to these species, highlighting the need for conservation efforts to counter biodiversity loss.
Researchers compared sea stars to other deuterostomes to learn about their unique body plan, finding that genes controlling development of the ectoderm were correlated with arm patterning in echinoderms. This suggests echinoderms may have evolved by losing trunk region of bilateral ancestors.
Researchers used genetic and molecular tools to create a 3D atlas of gene expression in starfish, revealing that the "head" is distributed across each arm and center. The study provides insight into the evolution of echinoderms, including sea stars, which have a unique body plan compared to humans.
A large USGS study assesses methylmercury in adult amphibians, finding it to be a toxic compound that bioaccumulates in animals as they feed. The study's results provide new methods and baseline data for assessing mercury risk in endangered species, including those listed under the Endangered Species Act.
A new study examines the life expectancy and lifespan equality of four marine mammal species in zoos and aquariums compared to their wild counterparts. The study found that marine mammals live longer in captivity, with a three-fold increase in life expectancy and a decline in deaths in the first year of life.
Purdue University scientists examine the bio-impact of toxic chemical cocktails in the environment, finding reduced growth in tadpoles exposed to PFAS mixtures. The study highlights the need for research on mixture toxicity in aquatic organisms, as each chemical interacts with others in complex ways.
A recent study found that Antarctic fur seal populations have declined by 7% each year since peaking in 2009, with krill numbers crashing in the last decade. The research suggests that rising sea temperatures may be the primary cause of the decline.
Researchers found tropical forest ecosystems rely more on aquatic insects than temperate forests, making them vulnerable to disruptions in land-water connections. This increased reliance poses a threat to tropical environments, which are already under pressure from human activity and climate change.
A new study from North Carolina State University finds that freshwater insects lack metabolic responses to salinity, unlike other aquatic animals like crustaceans and snails. Insects' constant metabolism in saline environments may be due to low demand for calcium, which can be toxic to them.
A new analysis estimates that switching all pet dogs and cats to vegan diets could spare nearly 2 billion land-based livestock animals yearly in the US, and nearly 7 billion globally. This could lead to significant reductions in environmental impacts such as land use, water consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers have pinpointed the crucial changes in a membrane protein that allow Antarctic octopuses to function normally in freezing temperatures. By swapping specific amino acids, scientists discovered three key modifications that together enable the pump to work efficiently, allowing the octopus's nervous system to adapt and thrive.
Researchers have sequenced the genomes of transmissible shellfish cancers, revealing high levels of genomic instability not seen in other cancers. The study focused on the common cockle, a species that belongs to one of the oldest groups of animals on Earth.
A new EWG study reveals that humans can serve as sentinels for understanding the impact of toxic PFAS on wildlife health. The study's findings show that over 625 species, including fish, birds, and mammals, are contaminated with PFAS, highlighting the need to tackle these persistent chemicals.