Articles tagged with Marine Life
Scientists have discovered a new species of deep-sea worm, Pectinereis strickrotti, living near a methane seep off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The worm has an elongated body with feathery appendages and was named after Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution's Bruce Strickrott.
A group of marine biologists challenge the notion of a stable white shark population shifting eastwards along South Africa's coastline. They argue that data cannot support population stability or redistribution claims, citing issues with dataset presentation and the onset of declines predating orca appearances.
Researchers at Cornell University have devised a novel way to determine ocean temperatures of distant worlds based on the thickness of their ice shells. This technique can be used to enhance NASA's mission findings about Europa and Enceladus, two Jovian and Saturnian moons that could potentially support life.
A new analysis of 14,000 fish surveys in 216 MPAs across 43 countries reveals that no-take MPAs are effective in restoring fish populations but come at a cost to coastal communities. The study suggests multiple-use MPAs, where fishing is regulated, can be a more equitable alternative.
A new study found that striped marlin rapidly change color as they hunt in groups, potentially serving as a reliable signal of an individual's motivation to attack. This discovery suggests that marlins have more complicated communication channels than previously thought.
Sea cucumbers, known as the 'janitors' of the ocean, have been found to be a missing component in maintaining healthy coral reefs. Their removal due to overfishing has led to an increase in coral disease and a decline in biodiversity.
A new framework for marine biodiversity protection in US waters has been developed by an international team, including NSU researcher Tracey Sutton. The framework identifies significant gaps in current protection measures, reflecting the need for a more comprehensive approach to safeguarding ocean life.
Researchers found stable tuna mercury concentrations worldwide from 1971 to 2022, except for a slight increase in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. The team suggests upward mixing of 'legacy' mercury as a possible cause, which could take up to 25 years to influence oceanic levels.
A new study from the Stowers Institute for Medical Research has discovered that sea lampreys and humans share an remarkably similar molecular and genetic toolkit in their hindbrain development. The research found a crucial molecular cue, retinoic acid, to be involved in both species' brain stem formation.
Two prehistoric shark species, previously named the same, were given new names based on their discovery location. A wealth of fossil fishes discovered during the renaming process had been stored at an Ohio State museum for years but were largely forgotten.
Researchers have made groundbreaking discoveries about the reproduction of giant Antarctic sea spiders, a phenomenon known as polar gigantism. The study found that these creatures do not carry their young like most other species, but instead attach them to rocks for several months before hatching.
Researchers created a soft robot mimicking 500-million-year-old pleurocystitids, suggesting a sweeping motion helped them glide through the ocean floor. The design also indicates longer stems enabled faster movement without increased energy expenditure.
The Cabrières Biota, a new fossil site in southern France, has revealed unprecedented information on polar ecosystems during the Ordovician period. The discovery of over 400 fossils provides insights into the composition of southernmost ecosystems and serves as a refuge for species that escaped high temperatures.
A new study reveals tiny plankton (0.02mm) make up majority of ocean plankton, playing critical role in ecosystem health and oxygen production. The research emphasizes the need to take these tiny organisms seriously and incorporate them into global ocean policy.
A Brazilian researcher led a team that described a rare medusa, Santjordia pagesi, discovered at a depth of 812 meters in the Sumisu Caldera. The species has a unique bright red stomach and may possess an arsenal of venoms unlike those discovered to date.
Researchers observed that clown anemonefish colonies display the most aggressive behavior towards fish with three bars like themselves. The fish also recognize different anemonefish species based on the number of vertical white bars, leading to strict social hierarchies and upholding dominance.
Researchers have identified nanoplastics in ocean water off the coasts of China, South Korea, and the US, with surprising diversity in shape and chemical composition. The tiny plastic particles, originating from consumer products, were found to be more toxic than larger plastic particles due to their small size.
Wildlife filmmaker Carlos Gauna and UC Riverside student Phillip Sternes observed a 5-foot-long pure-white shark pup shedding its embryonic layer. The location off central California's coast is proposed as a potential great white breeding ground, which could help protect endangered species.
Researchers at Oregon State University discovered that marine heat waves trigger earlier reproduction and high mortality in early life stages of Pacific cod. The study found these changes persisted in subsequent years, potentially impacting the future of Gulf of Alaska's Pacific cod population.
A team of researchers tracked the rate at which great hammerhead sharks eat hooked tarpon in Florida Keys, finding a 15.3% depredation rate. The study urges ecological solutions that don't impact either species, as conservation efforts stabilize shark populations and angling becomes more popular.
Researchers discovered a complex network of gene duplications and losses associated with tardigrade extremotolerance, highlighting the intricate genetic landscape driving modern tardigrade ecology. The study sheds light on the evolution of anhydrobiosis in tardigrades, revealing two independent transitions from marine to limno-terrestr...
Researchers found Megalodon had an elongated body form more similar to the modern great white shark than previously thought. The study suggests that previous estimates of its length may have been too high, with some fossil vertebrae suggesting a total combined length of 11.1m but estimated total length including head being only 9.2m.
A new study published in Palaeontologia Electronica shows the Megalodon was more slender than earlier studies suggested, changing our understanding of its behavior and impact on ancient ocean life. The revised model suggests a longer digestive canal, potentially leading to less predation pressure on other marine creatures.
A landmark study by National Geographic Pristine Seas finds that bottom trawling releases up to 370 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere annually. The research also reveals high carbon emissions in areas such as East China Sea, Baltic, and North Seas.
A team of researchers led by URI Professor Brennan Phillips successfully demonstrated new technologies for capturing preserved tissue and high-resolution images of deep-sea animals in minutes, preserving them for advanced genomic study. This breakthrough enables faster species discovery and can inform extinction prevention efforts.
A new study suggests that a cross-sectoral approach to marine protection can meet conservation targets at lower costs for all stakeholders involved. The approach minimizes the opportunity cost to each stakeholder simultaneously, resulting in more affordable protection of high seas biodiversity.
Researchers examined thresher shark vertebrae and found unique anatomical modifications supporting extreme body bending during tail-whipping behavior. These findings suggest the vertebral column is fortified along its length, enabling the tail to launch over the head.
A new database of marine microbes has been created, revealing insights into the ocean's diversity and its impact on climate change. The catalog provides unprecedented information on which microbes live where and what they do.
Ocean Networks Canada is establishing a new Antarctic Ocean observatory in partnership with the Spanish National Research Council. This initiative will provide year-round, near real-time data on ocean conditions, advancing scientific understanding of the Southern Ocean and Antarctic Ocean.
Researchers precisely dated some of the oldest fossils of complex multicellular life, tracking a pivotal moment in Earth's history when new lifeforms teemed in the seas. The fossils, including creatures like Aspidella terranovica, showcase early evidence of large-scale multicellular organisms.
Researchers tracked 87 Adélie penguins using electronic tags, revealing how they interact with sea ice during their long-distance migrations. The study highlights the interconnectedness of species in the Southern Ocean and how climate change may impact Adélie penguin populations.
A team of scientists sequenced the full genome of a sea cucumber collected at a hydrothermal vent, revealing expanded gene families involved in DNA repair and iron metabolism. The research provides valuable insights into the unique adaptations of marine animals to survive in extreme environments.
Scientists propose searching for depleted carbon dioxide in planetary atmospheres as a sign of liquid water and potentially life on other planets. A study suggests that low carbon abundance relative to neighboring planets could indicate habitability.
Researchers at Kiel University discovered that porpoises and sand eels create shallow pits in the North Sea seafloor when hunting for buried sand eels. The findings have significant global implications, suggesting that scouring of sediments by vertebrates could modulate the seafloor on a global scale.
A research team at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center discovered a unique sodium pump variant in brine shrimp that enables them to thrive in high-salinity environments. This NKA variant uses more energy than common variants, allowing the animal to maintain steeper Na+ gradients.
A comprehensive digital database has been created to document over 20,000 species known to produce sounds underwater, including 729 confirmed and 21,911 likely producers. This inventory can revolutionize marine science by providing valuable insights into species interactions and environmental impacts.
A modelling study published in Scientific Reports suggests that rising global temperatures could lead to an expansion of the green turtle's nesting range in the Mediterranean Sea. The authors found that sea surface temperature, salinity, and human population density most affect the suitability of a location as a nesting site.
Exposure to ocean acidification in red abalone can last across generations, affecting growth rates and reproductive potential. Scientists found that buffering the water chemistry at crucial life stages can help ease these effects for captive- and commercially raised red abalone.
The BioSPACE project aims to provide farmers, environmental agencies, and water-reliant industries with portable sensors to rapidly detect germs that threaten marine and freshwater life. The economic burden caused by waterborne diseases exceeds $3 billion in direct health care costs each year in the United States.
The study found that England's only resident population of bottlenose dolphins has declined to just 48 individuals due to various human impacts. The researchers call for urgent measures to protect the population and its habitats.
Researchers found that brittle stars, brainless marine creatures, can associate darkness with food and react accordingly, demonstrating classical conditioning. They retained this association even after a break from training, suggesting potential learning capabilities in these animals.
Rising sea temperatures in the Mediterranean may drive juvenile bluefin tuna out of their nurseries, where they'll be caught in existing fisheries, requiring adaptions to fishery methods. The research found that waters above 28 degrees Celsius will adversely impact bluefin growth.
Researchers have developed a fully-enclosed aquaculture system that can be completely controlled, eliminating water quality and food safety concerns. The system produces nutrient-rich protein-rich 'Naked Clams' that are faster-growing than mussels and oysters, with higher Vitamin B12 levels.
A recent study by RMIT University and the Marine Mammal Foundation has revealed alarming concentrations of PFAS chemicals in Burrunan dolphins off the coast of Melbourne and Gippsland, south-east Australia. The findings are the highest reported globally, with one juvenile dolphin found to have a PFAS liver concentration of 19,500 nanog...
A recent study found that half of commercial caviar products in Europe are illegal, and some don't contain any trace of sturgeon. The research analyzed DNA and isotope patterns on 149 samples of caviar and sturgeon meat, revealing widespread poaching and violation of trade laws.
A team of researchers found that host organisms control the initial bacterial colonisation, while bacteria regulate themselves later on. The study used the sea anemone Nematostella vectenis to investigate microbiome development and discovered that only the initial colonisers become well-established in adult polyps.
A team of international scientists cautions that reliance on mechanical cleanup devices to address plastic pollution is ineffective and may even harm marine life. They argue that reducing plastic production and consumption is the most cost-effective way to prevent further pollution.
Researchers from Utrecht University and Natural History Museum Maastricht studied wear marks on mosasaur teeth to understand dietary diversity. The analysis found differences in diet between smaller and larger species, including a preference for shellfish among one species and fish with strongly scaled bodies among another.
A new analysis of European Red List species reveals that 19% are at risk of extinction, including a large proportion of invertebrates. Agricultural land-use change poses a significant threat to these species, highlighting the need for conservation efforts to counter biodiversity loss.
A new study has found that a relatively ancient shark species, the smalltooth sand tiger, exhibits anatomic features suggesting regional endothermy. This discovery suggests there may be more warm-blooded sharks than previously believed, and potentially poses significant conservation implications for these species.
Researchers have discovered a potential bottleneck in Adélie penguins' annual cycle, which could be exacerbated as the climate continues to change. The study found that seasonal Antarctic sea ice plays a crucial role in the penguins' molting periods, with low sea ice concentration signaling extended gaps in post-breeding diving activity.
Researchers found 22 globally threatened elasmobranch species in Cyprus' coastal waters, with simple measures like limiting net lengths crucial for sustainability. Local authorities have banned trading of 15 species, and conservation efforts are underway to protect the marine ecosystem.
Researchers have made a breakthrough in studying species evolution by using robotic video microscopes and computer vision to measure embryo characteristics. The study found huge changes in an embryo's observable traits before and after developmental events, suggesting that measuring timings of development is just the tip of the iceberg.
Researchers found gene signatures associated with head development in juvenile sea stars, but expression of torso and tail genes were largely missing. The study suggests that over evolutionary time, sea stars lost their bodies to become only heads.
Researchers compared sea stars to other deuterostomes to learn about their unique body plan, finding that genes controlling development of the ectoderm were correlated with arm patterning in echinoderms. This suggests echinoderms may have evolved by losing trunk region of bilateral ancestors.
A new study led by FSU professor Mariana Fuentes found that shifting nesting timing may not be enough to counteract the impacts of climate change on sea turtle hatchlings. Warmer temperatures cause lower hatchling success and disrupt female turtle viability, threatening species viability.
A study found that invertebrate abundance and diversity decreased near human activities like shellfish harvesting and heavy metal pollution. In contrast, environmental factors like water temperature and salinity impacted invertebrates further away from human settlements.
An international research team discovered sharks have the lowest mutation rate between generations, enabling slow adaptation but also making them vulnerable to ecological changes and extinction threats
Researchers from the University of Plymouth discovered coral reef bleaching at depths previously thought to be resilient, highlighting the vulnerability of mesophotic coral ecosystems to thermal stress. The study suggests that climate change is causing a deepening of the thermocline, leading to increased bleaching in the deeper ocean.
A University of Otago study found biodegradable plastics can negatively impact wild fish, especially in terms of escape performance and aerobic metabolism. In contrast, bioplastics only affected maximum escape speed, highlighting the need for regulation and control of raw materials used.