Articles tagged with Marine Life
National Chemistry Week highlights the importance of polymers as natural insulators, found in products like umbrellas, sunglasses, and jackets. The week also explores fascinating chemistry facts about the weather, such as the transformation of nitrogen into a more user-friendly form by lightning.
Researchers confirm hazard posed by intraslab earthquakes in Pacific Northwest, which can cause significant damage and loss of life. A magnitude 7-7.5 intraslab earthquake could strike the region, posing a greater risk than larger offshore earthquakes.
The study found elevated levels of DDE and mercury in bald eagle eggs on Kiska Island, but not on other islands. Seabirds are thought to be the major source of contamination due to their diet rich in fish from contaminated water.
Researchers have reclassified animals into three primary evolutionary lines based on new molecular evidence, including a study of the Hox gene family. The findings support earlier genetic investigations and provide insight into animal development and evolution, with implications for our understanding of life's origins.
A new study reveals a common genetic theme in three distinct animal species, supporting a simplified three-limbed tree of life for nearly all animals. The findings provide powerful evidence to place mollusks to humans on the same evolutionary tree.
The California sea otter population has declined by 1.14% since the 1998 spring survey, with a disconcerting decline in independent adults, indicating a need for further investigation into the cause of this trend. The USGS is working to gather more information on disease, contaminants, starvation, and entanglement as contributing factors.
The QuikScat satellite, launched on June 19, will provide daily snapshots of ocean winds to improve weather forecasting. The satellite is controlled by students and faculty at CU's Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics.
Researchers have uncovered clues to the cause, timing and evolution of the massive East Asian summer monsoon. The study found a connection between the disastrous 1998 Yangtze River flood and the timing and strength of the summer monsoon.
A comprehensive review of 200 endangered species recovery plans aims to evaluate their effectiveness and inform future improvements. The study, led by University of Washington zoologist Dee Boersma, will analyze factors such as species type, region, and plan revisions to determine the success of these plans.
A new 400-million-year-old primitive shark relative from Bolivia named Pucapampella has been discovered, contradicting the belief that chondrichthyans are primitive due to their jaw characteristics. The fossil suggests that modern shark jaws are an advanced characteristic than the jaws of bony fish.
Researchers analyze patterns in animal aggregations, such as schooling fish and flocking birds, to understand how they behave in trying conditions. This knowledge can inform predictions about group behavior under various scenarios, including the impact of climate change on fish populations.
A team of scientists has determined that Acoela flatworms, previously thought to be part of a younger group, are actually the oldest living ancestors to all 'bilateral' animals. This finding implies that bilateral organisms began making their debut on Earth earlier than previously thought.
Research suggests that estuaries are vital habitats for juvenile fish in the Southeastern US, providing better sanctuaries and food supplies than offshore waters. Degradation of estuarine habitats due to human activities, such as overfishing and nutrient pollution, threatens the productivity of fisheries.
The Florida Regional Competition of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl will be held in Fort Pierce, with 25 teams competing for scholarships and awards. The competition aims to broaden awareness and understanding of ocean research among high school students.
The Europa Orbiter mission aims to find evidence of a liquid ocean on the moon, which could support life. If confirmed, Europa and Earth would be the only two worlds in the solar system with liquid water.
The article warns that unregulated shark-diving tours in South Africa may lead great white sharks to associate humans with food, posing a threat to conservation efforts. Inexperienced or irresponsible tour operators are putting people at risk by using rusty cages and introducing surfboards or children's toys into the water.
Researchers have found evidence of ancient worm-like animals in rocks dating back 1.1 billion years, challenging the traditional timeline for multicellular life. The discovery suggests that animal body plans changed little before the Cambrian period, and that soft-bodied animals may have existed even earlier.
Researchers investigated beaver pond succession and its impact on waterfowl productivity, finding that ponds in the old active stage created the most valuable habitat for waterfowl broods. Beaver ponds also support a wide range of bird species, including marsh and song birds.
The Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution is building a $1.5 million ocean sciences museum with a self-guided format, featuring interactive exhibits and displays on marine research, education, engineering, and ocean operations. The museum will open in late 1998.
A new study found that nearly all of Georgia's surviving least tern pairs are nesting on artificial sites, such as rooftops or man-made sand hills. The researchers warn that without further protection, the Atlantic least tern is vulnerable to decline due to habitat loss and human activities.
A team of researchers at the University of Washington has discovered that dissolved organic matter in oceans can form polymer gels, which provide an unexpected mechanism for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This process could potentially play a significant role in mitigating the greenhouse effect.
A team of marine scientists has discovered a massive influx of hydroids, tiny predators that eat most daily production of small crustaceans relied on by fish larvae. The hydroids' presence threatens the survival of already vulnerable cod and haddock populations.
Researchers have discovered powerful evidence that an ancient common ancestor invented a set of body-building genetic machinery that has survived to this day. This discovery revolutionizes our understanding of the origin of animal life, as it reveals that the development of appendages was solved just once in the distant past.
Geologists have discovered that the Ontong Java Plateau, a 40km-thick oceanic feature, formed from eruptions over just three million years, defying current geologic theories. The rocks' unique geochemical characteristics suggest they were created in high-pressure environments, with pressures potentially exceeding eight kilobars.
Dr. Patricia Gensel and her husband discover ancient arthropods in Canada, including scorpions and millipedes that lived on land over 200 million years before dinosaurs appeared. The fossils provide conclusive proof of large land-dwelling arthropods existing early in the Paleozoic era.
Researchers tracked eight female leatherback turtles using satellite transmitters and found they prefer specific ocean corridors extending from Central America to the Galapagos Islands. The discovery highlights the importance of considering these corridors in conservation efforts, as international fishing fleets threaten turtle survival.
The Central Park Wildlife Center will introduce a state-of-the-art electric-based water system using ozone to purify its aquatic exhibits. The ozone system destroys parasites, viruses, and bacteria, leaving cleaner water for the animals and better visibility for visitors.
Thrive estuarine habitats can absorb and reduce toxic chemicals' effects on aquatic creatures, according to South Carolina Sea Grant ecotoxologist Thomas Chandler. Chlorpyrifos, a common insecticide, is less harmful in natural environments due to water dilution and biological breakdown.