Marine Biology News - SciTechDaily

Hidden in Plain Sight: Marine Biologists Discover New Clam Species in South Africa

Pensoft Publishers — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 21:47:14 +0000

Researchers discovered a new species of marine bivalve in South Africa, providing new insights into the biodiversity of the region and emphasizing conservation. Galeommatoidean bivalves are a highly diverse, yet poorly known, group of marine mollusks. Now, a study led by Paul Valentich-Scott from the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, along with collaborators from [...]

The Quick and the Curious: Discover the Mysterious New Creatures of the Deep Sea

Pensoft Publishers — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 06:00:35 +0000

Ocean biodiversity is under significant threat due to global changes, but new initiatives like the Ocean Species Discoveries, coordinated by the Senckenberg Ocean Species Alliance, aim to rapidly describe and publish findings on marine species. This innovative approach reduces the usual decades-long delay in species description, directly contributing to the conservation efforts needed to protect [...]

Experimental Research on the World’s Longest-Living Vertebrate Reveals New Anti-Aging Secrets

Society for Experimental Biology — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 22:30:26 +0000

New research suggests that stable muscle metabolism is crucial to the Greenland shark’s longevity, offering insights into conservation and human health. Recent experimental research indicates that muscle metabolic activity might play a crucial role in the exceptional longevity of the world’s oldest living vertebrate species, the Greenland shark. These insights could be valuable for conserving [...]

New Research Unravels the Evolutionary Secrets of Ancient Seas’ Forgotten Rulers

University of Bristol — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 19:18:27 +0000

A new study indicates that despite significant evolutionary innovations post-extinction, brachiopods failed to match the species diversity of molluscs, challenging assumptions about their adaptive success and shedding light on the complexities of biodiversity evolution. Researchers from the University of Bristol, the Open University, and the China University of Geosciences have discovered that while brachiopods were [...]

Unexpected Discovery: Freshwater Flatworm Forms Complex Societies With Soldier Castes

University of California - San Diego — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 04:23:30 +0000

This species of freshwater flatworm has the potential to serve as a model for studying the evolution of social organization. New findings from UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography reveal that a small freshwater parasite, known for causing health issues in humans, protects its colonies with a unique class of non-reproductive soldiers. The discovery, [...]

Much Shallower Than Previously Thought: New Study Redefines Marine Boundaries in the Southwest Atlantic

São Paulo Research Foundation — Sun, 28 Jul 2024 17:01:08 +0000

Researchers have newly established the vertical boundaries of the subtropical ocean region along the South American coastline. They discovered that the upper boundary of the mesotrophic zone is actually located in shallower waters than previously thought. Researchers at the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) and the University of São Paulo (USP), funded by FAPESP, [...]

The Ocean Is Becoming Too Loud for Oysters

University of Adelaide — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 05:36:42 +0000

Research from the University of Adelaide reveals that human-generated noise is hindering baby oysters’ ability to use natural sounds to find habitats, affecting marine conservation efforts. Although acoustic technology helps in quieter areas, its effectiveness is reduced in noisy urban settings. New research from the University of Adelaide indicates that baby oysters, which depend on [...]

Turbulence Below: Scientists Discover Key to Deep Sea Health

Bangor University — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 22:14:52 +0000

New research shows that summer storms play a vital role in replenishing deep-water oxygen levels in the UK, which is crucial for maintaining marine health as global warming progresses. Recent research conducted by oceanographers at the School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, has demonstrated the critical role of oxygen ‘mixing down’ in sustaining healthy deep-water [...]

Survival at Extreme Depths: How Comb Jellies Defy Ocean Pressure

Michelle Franklin, University of California – San Diego — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 03:15:42 +0000

UC San Diego researchers discovered that ctenophores in the deep sea have unique lipid adaptations, called “homeocurvature,” allowing survival in high pressures. These findings might help understand diseases like Alzheimer’s, where similar lipids play a role. The deep sea is one of the most hostile environments on earth. The temperature is freezing cold, there is [...]

Surprise Discovery Could Rewrite the Global Carbon Cycle

University of California - San Diego — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 22:37:42 +0000

Ocean diatoms, like Cylindrotheca closterium, build biomass by both photosynthesis and consuming organic carbon, a finding that may change our view of the global carbon cycle. Recent research indicates that ocean-dwelling diatoms have more than one method for accumulating carbon. Besides photosynthesis, these single-celled plankton are also increasing their biomass by consuming organic carbon directly [...]

Scientists Unveil Mysteries of Newly Discovered Hydrothermal Vents at Jøtul Field

MARUM - Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 04:17:23 +0000

Hydrothermal vents are located globally at the boundaries of shifting tectonic plates, with many fields yet to be discovered. In a 2022 expedition aboard the MARIA S. MERIAN, researchers identified the first hydrothermal vent field along the 500-kilometer Knipovich Ridge near Svalbard. Led by Prof. Dr. Gerhard Bohrmann from MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental [...]

Biased Waters: The Skewed Science of Marine Conservation

CNRS — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 18:00:33 +0000

Research reveals that the most endangered reef fishes are often the least studied and appreciated, with public and scientific interest skewed towards commercially valuable or aesthetically appealing species. This oversight, highlighted through analysis of big data sources, underscores the need for a conservation strategy that realigns human interest with ecological importance. Overlooked Reef Fishes: A [...]

Ancient Myth Debunked: Ammonites Were Not Doomed Before Extinction Event

University of Bristol — Sat, 13 Jul 2024 12:36:13 +0000

Recent findings from the University of Bristol reveal that ammonites, ancient marine mollusks, were not necessarily declining before their extinction 66 million years ago. The research, utilizing a new fossil database, shows regional variations in ammonite diversity, indicating that their demise was due to a chance event rather than a gradual decline. Scientists have discovered [...]

Mysteries of the Deep: Tracking Whale Journeys After Death

Griffith University — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 15:00:10 +0000

Research on sustainable whale disposal methods reveals effective offshore strategies that help maintain marine ecosystem balance by utilizing deceased whales, aiding in nutrient cycling and biodiversity. The study involved tracking a deceased humpback whale, which offered insights into predicting drift trajectories and keeping the ecosystem benefits by preventing shoreline wash-up. Sustainable Disposal of Whale Remains [...]

Oceanic Mystery Cracked: Scientists Identify Secret Nitrogen Fixers

University of Vienna — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 11:16:19 +0000

New research reveals a symbiosis between a marine diatom and a Rhizobia-like bacterium, essential for nitrogen fixation in the ocean, which may also impact future agricultural practices by enabling engineered nitrogen-fixing plants. Scientists have discovered that Rhizobia bacteria, traditionally known for symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legumes, also partner with marine diatoms to fix nitrogen, offering [...]

Paleontological Mystery: New Study Reveals That Ammonoids Thrived Until Their Sudden Extinction

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 21:14:34 +0000

A recent study utilized museum collections to chart global ammonite diversity prior to their complete extinction. The findings reveal that ammonites were not declining before they perished alongside non-avian dinosaurs 66 million years ago. A new study published in the journal Nature Communications, led by paleontologists at the University of Bristol in collaboration with international [...]

A Stunning New Blue: Mysterious Origin of the Ribbontail Ray’s Electric Blue Spots Revealed

Society for Experimental Biology — Sat, 06 Jul 2024 14:32:21 +0000

Researchers have discovered the mechanisms behind the electric blue spots on bluespotted ribbontail rays, identifying nanostructures that reflect light to create vibrant colors. This finding has implications for developing chemical-free coloration technologies, with ongoing research into similar phenomena in other marine species. Discovery of Nanostructures in Stingray Skin Scientists have identified the unique nanostructures responsible [...]

Carbon Cataclysm: Scientists Shed New Light on Ancient Apocalypse That Affected the Entire Planet

California Institute of Technology — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 16:39:00 +0000

Around 183 million years ago, during the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event (T-OAE), volcanic eruptions in what is now South Africa released approximately 20,500 gigatons of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere and oceans over a span of 300 to 500 thousand years. This significant influx of CO2 led to severe oxygen depletion in marine environments, [...]

Warning From the Deep: Ancient Extinction Holds Clues to Today’s Climate Crisis

Duke University — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 13:26:03 +0000

Limestone from the Mercato San Severino area in southern Italy provides evidence of historical oceanic oxygen depletion. Researchers have uncovered a significant clue within Italian limestone that sheds light on a mass marine life extinction from millions of years ago. This finding could also offer insights into how current oceanic conditions might be affected by [...]

Scientists Discover “Invisible” Fish Parasite Hidden in Fish Across the Globe

University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 11:21:03 +0000

Scientists have used genome reconstruction to identify a previously “invisible” fish parasite, found globally in numerous marine fish species. This parasite, part of the apicomplexans—a critical group of clinical parasites—had been overlooked in earlier research. Its presence is widespread both geographically and across different fish species worldwide, which has significant implications for commercial fishing and [...]

Ocean Paradox: New Data Challenges Decades-Old Science

University of California - San Diego — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 07:36:30 +0000

Until now, large-scale ocean circulation involving deep water rising to the surface had never been directly observed. For the first time, researchers from the University of California, San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography have led an international team to directly measure the upwelling of cold, deep water through turbulent mixing along the slope of a [...]

Redefining Marine Evolution: Oldest Sea Reptile Fossil in the Southern Hemisphere Discovered in New Zealand

Uppsala University — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 20:36:36 +0000

Researchers have found the oldest Southern Hemisphere fossil of a nothosaur in New Zealand, dating back 246 million years, providing new insights into the early marine adaptations and migrations of these ancient reptiles. An international group of researchers has discovered the oldest fossil of a marine reptile from the Southern Hemisphere—a nothosaur vertebra on New [...]

550 Million-Year-Old “Lost Years” Fossil Challenges Current Evolutionary Theories

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 09:33:34 +0000

The discovery of the late Ediacaran sponge, Helicolocellus, offers new insights into early sponge evolution, suggesting non-biomineralizing forms existed about 550 million years ago and bridging a critical evolutionary gap between the Ediacaran and Cambrian periods. Prof. Yuan Xunlai and his team at the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, a part of the Chinese [...]

Alarming Consequences: Pacific Coast Gray Whales Are Shrinking

Oregon State University — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 04:11:05 +0000

A study from Oregon State University shows that gray whales off the Pacific Northwest have shrunk significantly since 2000, indicating potential broader environmental issues and underscoring the urgent need for further research into the factors affecting their decline. A recent study by Oregon State University has revealed that gray whales, which feed in the shallow [...]