Marine heatwaves decimate sea urchins, mollusks and more at Rottnest
Curtin University researchers believe rising sea temperatures are to blame for the plummeting number of invertebrates such as mollusks and sea urchins at Rottnest Island off Western Australia, with some species having declined by up to 90 percent bet.....»»
Underwater architects: The "burrowing effect" of foraminifera on marine environments
Dr. Dewi Langlet, a scientist at the Evolution, Cell Biology and Symbiosis Unit at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST), studies foraminifera, single-cell organisms with shells made of calcium carbonate. He and his collaborators hav.....»»
A global biodiversity tipping point as first marine fish extinction declared
A species of ray, so rare it has only ever been recorded once back in the late 1800s, has been declared extinct after an assessment by an international team led by Charles Darwin University (CDU). The loss of the Java Stingaree, a small relative of s.....»»
Beluga whales" calls may get drowned out by shipping noise in Alaska"s Cook Inlet
Beluga whales are highly social and vocal marine mammals. They use acoustics to navigate, find prey, avoid predators and maintain group cohesion. For Alaska's critically endangered Cook Inlet beluga population, these crucial communications may compet.....»»
Researchers: Frozen methane under the seabed is thawing as oceans warm, and things are worse than we thought
Buried beneath the oceans surrounding continents is a naturally occurring frozen form of methane and water. Sometimes dubbed "fire-ice" as you can literally set light to it, marine methane hydrate can melt as the climate warms, uncontrollably releasi.....»»
Coral reefs in peril from record-breaking ocean heat
Record breaking marine heat waves will cause devastating mass coral bleaching worldwide in the next few years, according to a University of Queensland coral reef scientist......»»
Research finds marine bacteria, atmospheric rivers can contribute to formation of ice clouds
Understanding cloud formation in polar regions is essential to discern the influence of solar radiation on the polar ice caps. Existing numerical models, however, struggle to replicate ice clouds accurately. Now, using real-world observations and cli.....»»
Adapting to hypoxia: Zooplankton influence efficiency of biological carbon pump in the Humboldt Current
Marine organisms play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle. Phytoplankton absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and sequester it in organic matter that sinks to the deep ocean where it can be stored for long periods of time. Until now, this.....»»
Study of Philippine sea cucumber shows it may have biomedical applications
A small team of marine scientists and chemists at the University of the Philippines, The Marine Science Institute, has found that a type of sea cucumber found locally may have biomedical applications. In their study, reported in the open-access journ.....»»
Forecasts may help protect marine life a year in advance
Marine management tools could be used to help avoid whale entanglements or sea turtle bycatch up to a year in advance, suggests a Nature Communications paper. The findings demonstrate that these tools (which already exist) could be used to forewarn o.....»»
As seas get warmer, tropical species are moving further from the equator
Climate change is causing tropical species in the ocean to move from the equator towards the poles, while temperate species recede. This mass movement of marine life, termed tropicalization, is leading to a cascade of consequences for ecosystems and.....»»
Toxic chemicals in UK whales and dolphins are exceeding safe limits
Almost half of marine mammals around the UK are being poisoned by banned chemicals......»»
Global climate change drives fish fitness zones in typical marine habitats, finds study
The tridentiger typically inhabits semi-saline and freshwater environments located in the tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions of the western Pacific Ocean. It occupies a crucial position in the food chain, making it ecologically important. A.....»»
Scientists raise alarm as bacteria are linked to mass death of sea sponges weakened by warming Mediterranean
Vibrio bacteria, named for their vibrating swimming motion, span approximately 150 known species. Most Vibrio live in brackish or salt water, either swimming free or living as pathogens or symbionts in fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and corals. Because.....»»
"Sea firefly" ostracods demonstrate collective synchrony with bioluminescent mating signals
A team of evolutionary biologists and limnologists affiliated with multiple institutions in the U.S. has described the synchronous bioluminescent signals they observed being produced by a type of marine ostracod (Crustacea; Luxorina). In their paper.....»»
Thirty years of data show persistent organic pollutants remain a threat to marine biodiversity
A team of zoologists, environmental scientists, marine biologists and life scientists affiliated with several institutions in Ireland and the U.K. has found that despite international bans, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) continue to be both wid.....»»
Marine biota birth new atmospheric particles in the South Pacific Ocean
An international team of marine biogeochemist and atmospheric scientists have made a rare discovery in the almost uncharted atmosphere of the South Pacific Ocean. They found that nocturnal nanoparticle bursts that contain nitrogenous compounds origin.....»»
Stones inside fish ears mark time like tree rings. How they"re helping us learn about climate change
As a marine biologist, I've always found it fascinating to learn about how animals adapt to their habitat. But climate change has made it more important than ever—wild animals' futures may depend on how much we understand about them......»»
Deoxygenation levels similar to today"s played major role in marine extinctions 200 million years ago
Scientists have made a surprising discovery that sheds new light on the role that oceanic deoxygenation (anoxia) played in one of the most devastating extinction events in Earth's history. Their finding has implications for current-day ecosystems—a.....»»
Study reveals how shipwrecks are providing a refuge for marine life
An estimated 50,000 shipwrecks can be found around the UK's coastline and have been acting as a hidden refuge for fish, corals and other marine species in areas still open to destructive bottom towed fishing, a new study has shown......»»
Some species of angelfish may spend their whole lives swimming upside down
A multi-institutional team of oceanographers and marine biologists has found evidence showing that some deep-sea species of angelfish spend their entire lives swimming upside down. In their paper published in the Journal of Fish Biology, the group de.....»»