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Shrimp cocktails served in Japanese rivers

A study by Kyoto University found that migratory shrimp significantly enriched streams with nutrients, outperforming aquatic insects. The research highlights the crucial role of these small crustaceans in maintaining ecosystem balance and suggests integrating landscape management to support nutrient cycling.

SourceKyoto University·JournalOecologia·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 15, 2022

International team of researchers discover first dinosaur era crab fully preserved in amber

A team of scientists has discovered the oldest modern-looking crab, Cretapsara athanata, preserved in 100-million-year-old amber. The fossil is remarkably complete, including delicate tissues and well-developed gills, revealing an aquatic to semi-aquatic animal that defies explanation for its preservation in tree resin.

Seabed recovers more quickly following extreme storms than from the impacts of bottom-towed fishing

A study by University of Plymouth researchers found that seabed habitats and species recover more quickly following extreme storms than from the impacts of bottom-towed fishing. The research examined the impact of the 2013/14 winter storms on the Lyme Bay Marine Protected Area, off southern England's coast.

SourceUniversity of Plymouth·JournalFrontiers in Marine Science·TypeObservational study·DateAug 27, 2021

A new sensitive tool for the efficient quantification of plant disease susceptibility

A new light-producing bacterial reporter is being used to quantify plant resistance levels through imaging, allowing for the simultaneous analysis of over 30 Arabidopsis mutants. This novel method shows a high correlation with conventional culture-based techniques, demonstrating its robustness and potential applications.

SourceAmerican Phytopathological Society·JournalMolecular Plant-Microbe Interactions·DateJul 14, 2021

Loss of biodiversity in streams threatens vital biological process

The study found that streams with high detritivore diversity have higher rates of decomposition, but also discovered that the loss of these organisms can slow down this process. The researchers concluded that if detritivores continue to decline, ecosystems will struggle to sustain life due to reduced nutrient recycling.

SourcePenn State·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 6, 2021

Being social generates larger genomes in snapping shrimp

A study by Columbia University researchers found that eusocial snapping shrimp have larger genomes due to an accumulation of 'jumping' genes called transposable elements. This discovery has significant implications for understanding the relationship between genome evolution and social behavior in various species, including humans.

SourceColumbia University Irving Medical Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 7, 2021

Study shows optimized multi-scale structure and chemical gradients in exoskeletons of mantis shrimps

Researchers discovered a four-layered exoskeleton with distinctive micro-structure and chemical characteristics that restrict crack propagation and maximize strain energy release during deformation. Bio-mimetic structures fabricated via 3D printing demonstrated improved toughness and strength, guiding high-performance composites fabric...

SourceUniversity of Science and Technology of China·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateMay 18, 2021

Baby mantis shrimp don't pull their punches

Larval mantis shrimp display impressive accelerations despite being smaller than expected, highlighting the limitations of theoretical models. Their transparent exoskeletons allow researchers to study the inner workings of their spring-latch mechanisms.

SourceDuke University·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateApr 29, 2021

Mantis shrimp larvae punch just like Ma and Pa

Researchers discover that mantis shrimp larvae can unleash powerful punches as little as 9 days after hatching, with limb accelerations reaching blistering speeds. The tiny creatures' appendages operate similarly to those of adult mantis shrimp, but scaled down, and can hurl the limb at rotational speeds of ~16,500deg/s.

SourceThe Company of Biologists·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateApr 29, 2021

Bait and switch

A study by Arizona State University found that approximately 3.4% to 4.3% of consumed seafood is mislabeled, with substituted species coming from fisheries performing worse in terms of population impacts 86% of the time.

SourceArizona State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 22, 2020