Articles tagged with Marine Biology
A new study reveals that conservation efforts are making an impact on silky sharks, with 99.8% of fins from Hong Kong and China originating from the Indo-Pacific Ocean. The research highlights the need for increased monitoring and better implementation of CITES regulations to combat illegal shark fin trade.
A team from Marine Biological Laboratory has confirmed that insect wings evolved from leg lobes on an ancestral crustacean. The study used genomic approaches and long-ago scientific papers to settle the controversy, revealing a 300-million-year-old transition to land-dwelling.
Researchers analyzed octopus arm movements, discovering all eight arms can perform diverse movements such as bending, twisting and elongating. This flexibility could inspire the creation of next-generation soft robots with greater agility and sensing capability.
A new model suggests that warm waters may limit the active metabolism of large fishes due to reduced aerobic capacity. The study indicates that oxygen availability constrains metabolic demands in fishes, particularly in larger species.
Researchers at MBL found that small marine animals with multiple propulsers create negative pressure behind them to propel forward. This phenomenon, dubbed 'suction thrust,' is common among animals with metachronal kinematics.
A four-year project aims to assess the breakdown of biodegradable plastics in open environments, exploring their impact on species and ecosystems. The study will also examine the effects of chemicals added to plastics on organisms and wider ecosystems.
A study analyzing snailfish and amphipods from deep-sea trenches found high mercury concentrations, suggesting human activity contributes to ocean pollution. Mercury accumulates in fish consumed by humans, posing a health risk.
Fowler leads a team of researchers collecting algae and invertebrates from 13 marinas along the East Coast to detect novel species invasions and monitor established invaders. The study aims to train the next generation of taxonomists through collaborations with local scientists and public outreach efforts.
Researchers found that in fights resolved by judges' decisions, winners tended to fight more vigorously than losers. Conversely, fighting skills were essential for winning in fights determined by knockout or technical knockout. The study suggests that the rate of attack is a dominant factor in determining success in combat sports.
Marine predators consume more bait in mid-latitudes than near the equator, according to a new study. The researchers found that feeding intensity declines with increasing distance from the equator, and that warmer waters have little impact on bait consumption rates.
A recent study using long-term ocean data from the North Atlantic Ocean reveals a decadal variability and recent acceleration of surface warming, salinification, deoxygenation, and ocean acidification. The data shows a significant increase in surface temperatures, salinity, and carbon dioxide levels, leading to an acidification trend.
Researchers from Cornell University and North Carolina State University are developing 'microcleaners' - self-propelled biomaterials that can capture and decompose microplastics in waterways. The project aims to design inexpensive, non-toxic microsystems to collect and break down microplastic particles.
Scientists analyzed deep-sea sediment cores to reveal changing climate-carbon cycle interactions. They found that the carbon cycle exerted control over climate at times of volatility, not stability, and provided new insights into their complex relationships.
Researchers analyzed ocean water samples from around the world using gene similarity networks, revealing over 2,000 unique sequences that are likely to represent unknown/uncharacterized unicellular Holozoans. The discovery provides new insights into the evolution of multicellularity and the origin of animals.
New research reveals laundry lint can cause significant tissue damage in Mediterranean mussels, including deformity, swelling, and digestive tubule loss. The study also finds reduced filtering ability and increased DNA strand breaks.
Research reveals Procerodes littoralis flatworm can regenerate and repair itself under changing sea water conditions. The species has extended its salinity tolerance range over the past century, suggesting evolutionary rescue in response to climate change.
Researchers found that spreading volcanic ash from a ship to an area of ocean floor could sequester up to 2300 tonnes of CO2, significantly cheaper than other methods. The technique is less invasive and doesn't require expensive technology or land repurposing.
A new USC-led study identified a critical genetic modification that enabled the emergence of gill covers in early vertebrates, allowing them to become top predators. The study found that changes in a gene called Pou3f3 led to the development of gill covers in some fish and their absence in others.
Researchers discovered neurons adjust neurotransmitter release via signal tone modulation, enabling rapid communication. This mechanism allows neurons to fine-tune their 'voice' in real-time.
A team of researchers from Columbia University and the Marine Biological Laboratory has made significant progress in cracking the neural code behind Hydra's contraction bursts. By manipulating water osmolarity, they found that it affects the activity of a neural circuit, triggering specific muscle cells to contract the torso.
A UC study found that steelhead migration in California's Santa Clara River is triggered by the lengthening daylight of spring, not recent rains. The study recommends limiting water extraction during migration months to allow late migrating fish to return upstream.
Researchers investigate freshwater discharge from Russian rivers, mapping its spread in the Kara and Laptev seas. The study reveals how river plumes interact with wind forces, affecting ice conditions and biological processes.
After a century of being ignored by scientists, the Black sea spider crab has been re-described by a research team led by Dr Vassily Spiridonov. The team analyzed molecular genetic barcode data to confirm that Macropodia czernjawskii is a distinct species with epibiosis, including a non-indigenous red alga species found in its epibiosis.
Researchers at Osaka University have developed polymer materials that combine self-healing with strength and recyclability. The materials were produced using planetary ball-milling, a method that efficiently mixed host and guest polymers, resulting in tough, self-healable, and recyclable supramolecular materials.
The Flamboyant Cuttlefish's skin is usually camouflaged nearly all of the time, but it flashes a dazzling display only on specific occasions, such as during courtship rituals, fighting over females, or when threatened. This unique display allows them to signal aggression or attract mates.
Scientists from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute have discovered a new species of mud-shrimp, Strianassa lerayi anker, and a highly mobile clam, in Panama's Coiba National Park. The discovery is part of a larger project to better understand the role of microbes in shaping tropical ecosystems.
A recent study found that coastal cities' street lights can permeate all areas of the water column, posing a significant threat to coastal species. Biologically important artificial light pollution reached 76% and 70% of the seafloor in green and blue wavelengths, respectively.
The team successfully knocked out a pigmentation gene in squid embryos, eliminating pigmentation in eye and skin cells. This milestone study opens avenues for research on cephalopods' unique features and potential applications in fields like medicine and artificial intelligence.
A new study reveals widespread illegal fishing by dark fleets operating in the disputed waters between Korea, Japan, and Russia. Hundreds of Chinese vessels were found to be fishing in North Korean waters, violating UN sanctions and catching nearly as much Pacific flying squid as Japan and South Korea combined.
Climate change is fueling the rapid expansion of invasive species like the Asian shore crab into previously unknown habitats. This study finds that climate warming can predict the speed and extent of these invasions by examining the early developmental stages of larvae, which are often more vulnerable to environmental fluctuations.
A new species of sea sponge, Desmacella hyalina, was discovered in glass reef habitats off the coast of British Columbia, making up nearly 20% of live sponges. The sponge's influence on reef function, recruitment, and ecosystem health is still being studied.
Researchers found that sea turtles do not arrive at their targets with pinpoint accuracy, but can make course corrections in the open ocean. They use a crude true navigation system, possibly using the earth's geomagnetic field, to guide them on their way.
Researchers found a unique arrangement of pigment-packed granules in the skin of certain deep-sea fish, enabling them to absorb nearly all light. This discovery may lead to the development of more efficient ultra-black materials for optical technology and camouflage.
Research reveals complex changes in the Arctic Ocean driven by anomalous influxes of oceanic water from lower-latitude oceans. This process, known as borealization, affects physical, chemical, and biological communities in distinct ways.
Research by Elena Lopez Peredo and Zoe Cardon found that desert green algae can become active again within seconds of receiving water, suggesting a unique adaptation for survival. The study also showed that these algae upregulate protective gene expression while downregulating metabolic genes during desiccation.
A new study reveals that offspring of older mothers are less fit to survive and reproduce, affecting their health, lifespan, and fertility in humans and other species. Mathematical modeling suggests a decline in natural selection pressure with maternal age may contribute to the persistence of this phenomenon.
A team has devised deep-learning and other computational approaches that dramatically reduce image-analysis time by orders of magnitude. They report their results in Nature Biotechnology, accelerating image analysis in three major ways: deconvolution, 3D registration, and complex deconvolution.
George Mason University Associate Professor Cristiana Stan will collaborate with the US Department of Energy on a climate modeling project. She will provide program expertise in E3SM, a state-of-the-science Earth system model addressing energy sector challenges.
Russian scientists have discovered four new steroid substances extracted from starfish that target human breast cancer and colorectal carcinoma cells. These non-typical derivatives of polar steroids may also help nerve cells survive distress, suggesting potential applications in Alzheimer's disease prevention.
Researchers found evidence that there are significantly fewer of the single-celled algae that produce harmful toxins in an area more than 45 feet around an eelgrass bed. Eelgrass wards off toxin-producing algae, providing a natural defense for marine species and shellfish harvests.
Scientists have discovered four new genera and four new species of giant single-celled xenophyophores in the Pacific Ocean. The newly described species provide insights into the ecology and importance of these organisms in deep-sea ecosystems, which could be impacted by seafloor mining.
A recent study found that seasonal sea ice growth and destruction increased biological productivity in the Southern Ocean, extracting carbon from the atmosphere and storing it in the deep ocean. This process helps explain a long-standing question about a 1,900-year pause in CO2 growth during the Antarctic Cold Reversal.
A theoretical model suggests that slowing Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation leads to reduced northward nutrient transport, suppressing Subarctic Atlantic Ocean biological productivity. This finding may improve marine biogeochemistry projections for the next century.
New study analyzes nearly 60 infographics and documents on plastic lifetimes, revealing inconsistencies in reported estimates. Researchers found varying numbers of years, from one to hundreds of years, and even a striking uniformity in fishing line degradation estimates at 600 years.
Atmospheric scientists at Colorado State University discovered a region of the Southern Ocean with clean air free from aerosols produced by humans, providing a rare example of an environment minimally affected by human activity.
Scientists have discovered that a mutant protein associated with familial ALS disrupts neurotransmission at the squid giant synapse. Intermittent high-frequency stimulation restores synaptic function, suggesting a new approach to therapeutic intervention for ALS. This study provides insights into fundamental synaptic physiology and off...
Research reveals that deep-diving southern elephant seals exploit the bioluminescent flashes of squid and fish to locate prey. The flashes serve as a warning signal for the prey, allowing them to distract potential predators and escape.
Researchers found that mussel reefs slow sea water flowing over them, increasing turbulence and tripling the amount of ingested plastic. The study suggests natural reef structures are natural sinks for plastics, posing a problem for commercially valuable species like blue mussels.
Boreal peatlands are losing more water than previously thought due to climate change. This increase in evapotranspiration will amplify the effects of global warming, releasing more CO2 into the atmosphere and intensifying fires.
A study found that large striped bass from Chesapeake Bay migrate to ocean waters when they reach 32 inches in length, while smaller fish remain resident. This new understanding can aid fisheries management by providing tailored catch and size limits.
Adult skates have a specialized type of progenitor cell that creates new cartilage. Newly healed skate cartilage does not form scar tissue. This discovery may lead to better understanding of how to stop human stem-cell therapies from differentiating into bone, offering hope for cartilage repair therapy.
Scientists have found life bubbling up from deep beneath the ocean floor along with petroleum fluids, diversifying microbial communities and impacting carbon cycling. The study reveals a two-way street between sedimentation and microbial exchange, offering insights into the vast subsurface realm.
Researchers assessed 1062 Mediterranean marine protected areas and found that 95% lack regulations to reduce human impacts on biodiversity. Effective levels of protection represent only 0.23% of the region.
Researchers have found that tuning the thickness of butterfly wing scales' bottom layer creates iridescent colors, a process known as structural coloration. The study reveals a consistent relationship between lamina thickness and scale color in various species.
Researchers have documented seasonal migrations of deep-sea fish across the seafloor, linking surface-ocean productivity to observed behavioral patterns. This study provides evidence of cycles of movement in deep-sea fish and suggests reasons for their behaviors, potentially mirroring great migrations on land.
A new study found that chlorhexidine mouthwash significantly increases the abundance of lactate-producing bacteria, leading to lower salivary pH and buffering capacity. This may increase the risk of tooth damage. The research also showed reduced microbial diversity in the mouth.
Researchers analyzed climate data from 1951-2018 and found changes in the Pacific Decadal Oscillation and North Pacific Gyre Oscillation indices. These changes resulted in reduced relevance of these indices to ecological variability in the Pacific Ocean.
Researchers have found that squid edit their genetic instructions outside the nucleus, in the axon, allowing for localized protein function adjustments. This discovery has implications for understanding neurological disorders and potentially harnessing natural RNA editing processes for therapeutic benefits.
A study on three-spined stickleback fish found that epigenetic modifications affect adaptation to salinity changes, but inducible markers improve response to environmental change. The research suggests organisms will eventually reach their limits to respond to climate change despite epigenetic modes of adaptation.
Researchers have found that Giant Clam shells from the western Pacific have clear and continuous daily growth bands, allowing them to record past extreme weather events. These ultra-high resolution records can provide valuable information on Paleoweather occurrences in days or even hours and minutes.