Articles tagged with Zooplankton
A study by Masumi Yamamuro and colleagues found that neonicotinoid pesticide use led to a 83% decrease in average springtime zooplankton biomass, causing the collapse of two commercial fisheries on Lake Shinji. The impact was felt throughout the aquatic food chain, with smelt harvests plummeting from 240 tons to 22 tons in just one year.
Researchers found elevated levels of DDT and its breakdown products in lake sediments, affecting zooplankton communities. The long-lived insecticide's persistence has altered aquatic ecosystems, with shifts towards more contaminant-tolerant species.
Researchers at the University of Alberta found alpine zooplankton to be excellent indicators of lake health, sensitive to climate changes. By analyzing over 1,200 lakes across North America, the team showed that these tiny organisms can assess ecosystem function based on their ecological traits.
Researchers found that slight changes in oxygen levels can push zooplankton beyond their limits, leading to potential population crashes and cascading effects on food webs. The study's findings highlight the importance of monitoring ocean oxygen levels due to climate change.
Research shows that salt-adapted zooplankton grow 65% slower than regular zooplankton, triggering algal blooms in polluted environments. Salt tolerance comes with a cost, including slower growth and reduced ability to control algal blooms.
Phytoplankton, tiny plant-like organisms, play a key role in removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. The EXPORTS team is studying the pathways, fates, and carbon cycle impacts of phytoplankton and zooplankton using advanced underwater robotics and satellite imagery.
Researchers analyzed basking shark aggregations off the northeastern US coast to learn more about their behavior. They found that these events occurred during summer and fall, when sea surface temperatures were between 55-75 degrees F, and are likely related to foraging and socializing.
Recent research reveals that even weak Moonlight and aurora-induced light can trigger a rapid migration of Arctic zooplankton to deeper waters. This phenomenon is caused by the animals' extreme sensitivity to light, which can be disrupted by light pollution from vessels or ocean structures.
Zooplankton respond to natural light cycles in the upper water column, but artificial light from research vessels disrupts this pattern. The researchers found that zooplankton migrated deeper into the water when exposed to artificial light.
Researchers discover active life in a frozen Quebec lake, with tiny red zooplankton buzzing in the dark water. The bright red coloration serves as protection against oxidative stress and helps the copepods accumulate essential fatty acids.
New research reveals that commercial seismic surveys cause a two to three-fold increase in mortality of adult and larval zooplankton. The study found significant negative impacts on zooplankton populations up to 1.2 kilometers away from the air gun signals.
A marine annelid zooplankton has been found to use its brain photoreceptor cells to detect UV signals. This helps the animal regulate its daily vertical migration behavior, known as DVM, and avoid damaging UV irradiation. The discovery sheds light on the molecular basis of this unique adaptation.
Researchers have found that giant larvaceans, tiny plankton that live in the upper 400 meters of the ocean, filter carbon particles at higher rates than any other zooplankton. These structures sink to the sea floor, significantly contributing to moving organic materials into deeper water.
A recent study analyzing 147 northern lakes reveals that many rely on nutrients from tree leaves, pine needles, and other land-grown plants to feed aquatic life. This underscores the importance of understanding how landscape changes impact lake food webs for effective freshwater management.
Researchers found that a common species of zooplankton can develop higher tolerance to road salt, which may help protect ecosystems from salt's impacts. This rapid evolution suggests that freshwater ecosystems possess some resilience amid rising deicing salt applications.
A new study reveals that 100 feet below the ocean surface is a critical depth for ecological activity in the Arctic polar night. Bioluminescence from marine organisms becomes the dominant light source at this depth, and changes in zooplankton composition are observed as depth increases.
Researchers found that zooplankton communities in the Southern Ocean migrate vertically to escape predators and feed on phytoplankton blooms at the sea ice edge. Long-term measurements revealed annual cycles of migration, with disruptions during the southern summer due to food abundance.
A new study reveals that invasive species in the Great Lakes have a much greater economic and ecological impact than previously thought. Researchers found that a single non-native species can rack up millions of dollars in damages, highlighting the need to recalculate the cost of invasive species.
Researchers found that marine creatures in Arctic fjords migrate vertically by moonlight to avoid predators, and this behavior is observed across the entire Arctic. The lunar cycle drives these migrations, with zooplankton sinking to depths of 50 meters every 29.5 days during full moon.
Researchers found that zooplankton copepods display energetic behavior in turbulent flows, amplifying the flow's intermittent properties. Their self-induced motion adds to fluctuations in speed, affecting feeding efficiency and ecological modeling.
Researchers discovered vampire squid alternate between reproductive and resting phases, a pattern common in fish, not other cephalopods. The slow metabolism suggests longer lifespan than shallow-water squid species, highlighting the need to enhance knowledge of deep-sea organisms.
UC San Diego professors Steven Cande, Trey Ideker, and Mark D. Ohman have been recognized as AAAS Fellows for their outstanding work in marine geology, bioinformatics, and marine plankton research. Their contributions have improved our understanding of plate tectonic processes, cancer genetics, and climate variability in ocean ecosystems.
Research reveals that debris from forests supplements the diets of microscopic zooplankton and fish that feed on them, leading to larger and stronger fish. The study found that areas with more forest cover have fatter fish, while those with less forest cover have smaller and weaker fish.
Researchers found that zooplankton species critical for Atlantic cod larvae have declined in abundance, affecting their survival and recovery after overfishing. The study highlights the impact of changing ocean temperatures on the food chain, with significant biological consequences.
Researchers observed phytoplankton fleeing from zooplankton and even from chemical scents of predators. Fleeing helps the alga survive and makes a difference between life and death.
Rhabdopleurids, tiny bottom-dwelling critters, have survived for over 500 million years by staying relatively unchanged. They predate ancient pelagic graptolites that went extinct 350 million years ago, highlighting the value of conservative evolution.
A groundbreaking study on manta ray migration patterns reveals feeding habitats and threats to the world's largest ray. The research found that manta rays spend most of their time in coastal areas with abundant zooplankton and fish eggs, but only 11.5% of locations occurred within marine protected areas.
A new study confirms that oil from the Macondo well made it into the ocean's food chain through zooplankton, with residues detected up to a month after the spill was capped. The oil's unique fingerprint was found in some zooplankton in the Northern Gulf of Mexico ecosystem.
Zooplankton have adapted to survive in low-oxygen areas by suppressing their metabolism and using anaerobic glycolysis. However, as climate change expands these zones, zooplankton will face increased predation risk, potentially leading to population crashes and cascading effects on the ocean ecosystem.
Zooplankton use adaptations to survive in low-oxygen areas, but climate change may force them into a narrow band of water making them susceptible to predators. Anaerobic glycolysis helps them conserve energy, but also leads to acid build-up that must be disposed of when returning to surface waters.
Algae crop failures cost millions in the emerging green industry, so researchers are seeking solutions. A recent $1 million grant from the USDA will help develop a Best Management Practices Plan (BMPP) to prevent zooplankton contamination and promote sustainable algal cultivation.
A new VIMS study finds that propeller-induced turbulence kills large numbers of copepods, tiny crustaceans crucial to marine food webs. The researchers warn that this could have significant impacts on local ecosystems and water quality.
Researchers have identified a small virus that targets and rescues infected zooplankton from death. The discovery sheds light on the evolutionary origin of jumping genes found in other organisms.
A new study reveals that nearly a third of zooplankton's diet comes from land-derived organic matter. The research provides insight into the complex interactions within aquatic food webs and the role of watershed inputs.
Researchers are collecting zooplankton in Antarctic waters to understand how climate change affects the food web and potentially helps move carbon dioxide into the deep sea. The team is also monitoring changes in Adélie penguin populations, which have declined by over 80% in 36 years.
Researchers found that colder temperatures in the Bering Sea led to an increase in larger zooplankton, such as copepods and krill, which pollock prefer to eat. This shift may impact the growth and survival of younger pollock fish.
A new study challenges the long-held critical depth hypothesis, which suggests that phytoplankton bloom in temperate oceans due to improving light conditions. Instead, researchers found that winter storms play a key role in creating blooms, and warmer ocean temperatures may actually curtail productivity.
Researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution developed two advanced broadband acoustic systems to improve interpretation of echoes. These systems measure sound scattering across a continuous range of frequencies, generating broadband acoustic spectra that can distinguish between different fish sizes and densities, as well as ide...
A new study found that fluctuating water chemistry and temperature variations in freshwater lakes can actually increase biodiversity, while a stable but variable environment can also be detrimental. Zooplankton populations respond quickly to changes due to their fast reproduction rate.
A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences challenges the long-held notion that fish obtain up to 50% of their carbon from terrestrial sources. Instead, researchers found that algae provide a much more nutritious and abundant diet for fish and other aquatic life.
Researchers measured carbon particles from plankton blooms in the Southern Ocean, finding most don't reach the deep ocean. Plankton blooms stimulate carbon capture, but carbon tied up in plankton doesn't sink far or fast.
The University of Washington's DEIMOS acoustic package has joined the Monterey Accelerated Research System (MARS) ocean observatory to monitor movements of fish and zooplankton in Monterey Bay. The system uses an echo sounder to reveal what's in a narrow cone of water above the instrument, providing insights into ocean life dynamics.
Research found that malathion, commonly used to control mosquitoes and crop pests, can indirectly kill tadpoles by depleting their primary food source. The study suggests that even low concentrations of the insecticide can have devastating effects on amphibian populations.
Dartmouth-led research reveals that animals fed nutritious food have lower concentrations of methylmercury, a neurotoxin that can accumulate to hazardous levels. This discovery suggests ways to slow methylmercury's passage up the food chain to fish, potentially reducing its toxicity.
On a landmark 20-day Atlantic cruise, scientists cataloged 500 species of tiny zooplankton, including new discoveries. The expedition, part of the Census of Marine Life initiative, aimed to illuminate these essential life forms in the ocean's lower layers.
Researchers tracked basking sharks using pop-up tags to study their diving behaviour. They found that sharks in shallow waters exhibit reversed behaviour compared to deep water, indicating a response to changes in zooplankton vertical migration.
A team of scientists from Israel, US, and Germany have found that tiny ocean animals called zooplankton can 'treadmill' against strong vertical currents to keep their depth. This remarkable behavior has significant implications for the survival of predators and humans.
A team of scientists used a 3D acoustic imaging system to track the swimming behavior of zooplankton in the Red Sea, revealing that they 'treadmill' against upwelling and downwelling currents. The study sheds light on the mechanisms behind zooplankton patchiness and its ecological implications for predators.
Climate changes impact North Atlantic right whales by affecting zooplankton abundance, a crucial food source. Warmer conditions in the Gulf of Maine boost copepod populations, leading to improved reproductive success.
Researchers found that losing species initially leads to reduced productivity, highlighting the importance of biodiversity in complex ecosystems. The study used a larger food web system, revealing a more dramatic effect than previously thought.
Researchers studied right whales' feeding grounds, finding they use prior experience, environmental cues, and tactile clues to locate dense zooplankton patches. This understanding may help address the decline of North Atlantic right whale populations by revealing key mechanisms for their survival.
A new study reveals that phytoplankton quality, rather than quantity, is a critical factor in supporting thriving fish populations and clear water in lake ecosystems. Phytoplankton with high concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids support higher zooplankton growth rates, leading to positive effects on both ends of the food chain.