Articles tagged with Marine Biology
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 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.
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.
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.
A new study found that urbanization of coastal areas in New England leads to smaller size and poorer health in migratory alewife populations. The researchers examined nine coastal ponds and sampled alewife born in 2008, finding that those from more developed watersheds were nearly half as long and up to 10 times lighter.
HKU researchers reconstruct water depth changes in Svalbard using fossil Ostracoda, revealing a sudden temperature rise and abrupt sea-level change due to warm Atlantic waters. The study provides the first solid evidence of MWP-1B's relative sea-level change in ice-proximal areas.
Researchers found that sea turtles respond to odors from biofouled plastics in the same way they respond to food odorants. This 'olfactory trap' explains why sea turtles ingest and become entangled in plastic debris. Biofouling, the accumulation of microbes on wet surfaces, is a major factor contributing to this attraction.
A new model by Catalina Chaparro-Pedraza and André de Roos shows how small environmental changes can induce slow evolutionary changes in species, leading to delayed regime shifts. This research has implications for understanding complex systems beyond ecosystems, including financial markets.
A team of marine scientists has called on the UK government to overhaul its approach to marine conservation management, citing declining biodiversity and the need for more effective habitat repair and integration with fisheries management. The researchers recommend four key changes to increase ambition and support the UK's target of be...
Researchers used soft robotic fingers to study deep-sea jellyfish, finding they expressed fewer stress-related genes when handled gently. This technology allows for less invasive and more accurate collection of ecological data in the ocean.
Scientists found that at least 30% of oceanic dimethyl sulfide is transformed into hydroperoxymethyl thioformate (HPMTF), a previously unknown atmospheric compound. This discovery suggests reevaluation of marine sulfur's impact on cloud formation and climate.
A group of marine scientists, including Stony Brook University's Oliver Shipley, is calling on governments to establish larger spatial protections for sharks in the Greater Caribbean. The region boasts high marine biodiversity and contains many migratory shark species, but has been overlooked in conservation efforts.
A new study reveals that 70% of the world's population lacks sufficient omega-3 fatty acids, primarily EPA and DHA, found in fish and seafood. The researchers suggest optimizing existing sources, such as improved fisheries management and recycling of by-products, to boost supplies.
Researchers used radar technology to quantify mayfly swarms in the Upper Mississippi River and Western Lake Erie Basin, estimating up to 88 billion mayflies can swarm annually. A 50% decline in population was observed between 2012 and 2019, raising questions about causes of such reductions in mass emergence.
A Rutgers University-led study using robotic kayaks found layers of concentrated meltwater in the ocean, revealing significant ambient melting rates near glaciers. This challenges current frameworks for analyzing ocean-glacier interactions and has implications for sea-level rise.
Researchers equipped albatrosses with loggers to monitor over 47 million km2 of the Southern Ocean, finding over 1/3 of boats without AIS were unidentifiable. The Ocean Sentinel project aims to promote independent data collection for conservation through animal innovation.
A new study reveals that recreational catches of sharks and rays have grown to account for 54,000 tonnes of the total 900,000 tonnes caught every year. Many species are already threatened due to commercial fishing and illegal activities.
Tracking fishing vessels is challenging, especially in international waters. Researchers equipped 169 albatrosses with data loggers to monitor vessel locations and detect undeclared fisheries.
The giant squid's full genome sequence has been published, providing insight into its anatomy and evolution. The genome, similar to other animals, suggests that the squid did not get its massive size through whole-genome duplication.
A team of scientists has created the first living robots, 'xenobots', by assembling frog embryo cells into new life forms. These biodegradable organisms can move, heal themselves, and even carry payloads, promising advances in drug delivery, toxic waste clean-up, and more.
Researchers investigated how cuttlefish determine the best distance to strike moving prey and found that they use stereopsis to perceive depth. The study revealed that cuttlefish brains are significantly different from humans in processing vision, with a unique area comparing images from both eyes.
Researchers in a new study employ RNA sequencing techniques to classify brain cells in crabs, finding that single-method approaches yield inaccurate results. By combining multiple modalities of data, they reveal more accurate cell identities.
A team of researchers created a computer model that predicts the migration patterns of sea turtle hatchlings after they leave Florida's shores. The model takes into account ocean circulation data and sea turtle nesting and stranding information to inform conservation efforts and guide policies.
A team of mathematicians has discovered a new phenomenon that generates a fluidic force capable of moving and binding particles immersed in density-layered fluids. This breakthrough offers an alternative to previously held assumptions about particle accumulation in lakes and oceans.
Coastal wetlands will retain their power as carbon sinks despite sea level rise due to sediment accrual rates outpacing sea level rise. The study found that salt marshes can sequester excess carbon in their sediments, acting as a vault for stored carbon.
Researchers have isolated six new biologically active compounds from a previously unknown strain of sea fungus Penicillium piltunense. The compounds have shown pronounced anti-inflammatory and herbicidal activity, which could lead to the development of new anti-inflammatory drugs and weed control chemicals. Fungi of the genus Penicilli...
Researchers used soundscape analysis to evaluate restoration efforts on Western Aleutian Islands, finding that acoustic diversity and complexity indicate ecosystem health. The approach could assess restoration outcomes at a fraction of the effort required for traditional methods.
Researchers have discovered a new fossil species of comma shrimp in Colombia, filling a 160 million-year gap in the evolution of these crustaceans. The fossils, which include hundreds of individuals, are remarkably well preserved and provide insights into the origins and relationships of these marine arthropods.
New research suggests that fish size, not bypass system route, affects Snake River salmon returns. Larger fish survive at a higher rate in the ocean and as adults in rivers. The study found little evidence of delayed mortality once fish reach estuaries and oceans.
Researchers at FEFU developed a method to synthesize biologically active derivatives of fascaplysin, a compound found in sea sponges. The new compounds, including 14-bromoreticulatine and 3,10-dibromofascaplysin, show selective effects on cancer cells, particularly Pseudomonas Aeruginosa bacteria and human prostate cancer cells.
UK researchers found significant increases in spring, autumn, and winter precipitation in upland areas, with winter increases consistent with national climate models. The study suggests caution is required when making assumptions on climate impacts based on climate models.
A new study by the University of Plymouth explores how wild fishes behave spatially when reacting to an artificial stimulus, such as a laser. Researchers found that certain species would 'chase' the lasers, up to five metres, and that there were differences based on size and gender within species.
Researchers at Harvard develop resilient RoboBee with soft artificial muscles that can withstand collisions and achieve controlled hovering flight. The breakthrough solves long-standing challenges in microrobotics, paving the way for potential applications in search and rescue missions.
A team of scientists has discovered 35 species of marine fungi with unconventional cell division cycles, challenging classical models. The study aims to understand how fungi interact with environments and potentially uncover new biology in the vast marine biosphere.
New research reveals fish are more resilient to low oxygen events than thought, with CO2 levels playing a key role in their ability to tolerate hypoxia. Sea bass shows a 20% increase in tolerance due to changes in blood chemistry, enabling haemoglobin to transport oxygen more effectively.
A team of engineers and marine biologists created a suction cup that clings to both smooth and rough surfaces, holding up to hundreds of times its own weight. The device was inspired by the clingfish's unique adhesive mechanism, which involves a soft layer and slits in the artificial suction cups.
The study's findings indicate that global tuna catches have increased by 1,000% in six decades, driven by industrial fisheries operating beyond capacity. The Pacific Ocean accounts for 67% of total catches, with many species, including bluefin and sharks, facing significant threats.
Researchers tracked 105 mako sharks over 12 years, finding that they return to the same productive waters in Southern California Bight each year. The study demonstrates impressive memory and navigation skills, with sharks traveling up to 90 miles a day and staying within specific temperature ranges.
New research reveals that microorganisms in the Pacific Ocean's oxygen-free zone remove up to 80% of the methane produced, reducing its release into the atmosphere. The discovery has significant implications for understanding the ocean's role in regulating greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers at the University of British Columbia have discovered three new viruses in endangered Chinook and sockeye salmon populations. The viruses are related to those causing serious disease in other species and may play a role in population dynamics and aquaculture threats.
A new study suggests that high levels of nitrate in salt marsh sediments stimulate decomposition, releasing CO2 and reducing the marsh's ability to store carbon. This finding has implications for climate change mitigation strategies relying on blue carbon habitats like salt marshes.
A network of national imaging centers is proposed to facilitate collaboration and innovation in biological imaging. The centers will provide spaces for interdisciplinary interactions, enabling the development, application, and teaching of advanced biological imaging techniques.
A new study has found that Atlantic coccolithophores are surprisingly scarce in fertile equatorial waters, despite being abundant in subpolar and temperate regions. This discovery sheds light on the inner workings of the ocean carbon cycle and raises questions about the impact of coccolithophore populations on global productivity.
Researchers tracked blue sharks using satellite tags and found they spent most of their days diving into warm-water eddies to forage for small fish and squid. The study suggests blue sharks prefer warm-water eddies due to their inability to regulate body temperature, shedding light on their unique feeding behavior