marine biology

A new study reveals that sea squirt oocytes use internal friction to undergo developmental changes post-conception, drawing an interesting parallel to a potter shaping clay. Ascidians, or sea squirts, serve as key models for understanding vertebrate development, sharing similarities with humans. Credit: SciTechDaily.comScientists examine how friction forces propel development in a marine organism.As the potter works the spinning wheel, the friction between their hands and the soft clay helps them shape it into all kinds…

New research reveals the significant impact of parasites on ecosystem dynamics, advocating for a paradigm shift in ecological studies to include the ‘parasitome’ – the complete range of an animal’s parasites – in understanding an animal’s role within its ecosystem. Shorecrab (Carcinus maenas) with yellow sack of the parasite (Sacculina carini). Credit: Hans Witte (NIOZ)A herring swimming in the North Sea, a crab scuttling across the Wadden Sea, or an anemone fish nestled among a coral reef… biologists often conceptualize…

The scientific study used satellite transmitters, population counts, and DNA analyses of tissue samples to describe the special Kangia ringed seal in Ilulissat Icefjord. Here, a seal has just had a satellite transmitter mounted on its back. Credit: Pinngortitaleriffik – Greenland Nature InstituteLocal hunters in the Icefjord near Ilulissat are familiar with a special variety of ringed seal known as the Kangia seal. Distinct in size and appearance, the Kangia seal is considerably larger and boasts a notably different fur…

A study by the University of Washington, analyzing an 800-year-old ice core, suggests that phytoplankton populations in the North Atlantic have remained stable since the industrial era. This finding challenges previous assumptions of a significant decline and highlights the impact of industrial pollutants on atmospheric chemistry. Credit: SciTechDaily.comNew research reveals that North Atlantic phytoplankton populations have been stable since the industrial era, contradicting previous studies of decline.To paraphrase Mark…

Believed to be predators in perpetual motion, grey reef sharks had previously only been observed in motion, leading most to believe they needed to swim in order to breath. Credit: © Christopher Leon A first report of grey reef sharks resting under reef ledges in Seychelles changes what we know about how they breathe (they don’t need to swim continuously to stay alive) – and re-opens the case for the science of sleeping sharks.Predators in perpetual motion. Sleepless in our seas. If that’s your image of sharks, you’re not…

Waveform visualizations of sound production of three species described by one of the project collaborators, Amalis Riera, during the work of Riera et al., 2018 and Riera et al., 2020.Scientists have developed an extensive inventory of underwater species known or suspected to produce sound. This groundbreaking work documents over 22,000 species, challenging the notion that aquatic life is predominantly silent and significantly advancing marine and aquatic sciences.Scientists looking to uncover the mysteries of the…

A Stanford study using genetic and molecular tools has unraveled the mystery of starfish anatomy, revealing that their “head” is distributed across multiple regions, including the center and each limb. This finding challenges traditional understanding and suggests a complex evolutionary history. The research, exploring the transformation from bilateral to pentaradial body plans, emphasizes the importance of studying diverse life forms to gain insights into evolutionary biology.If you put a hat on a starfish, where would…

A groundbreaking study links a 12-million-year-old genetic event to the proliferation of invasive mussels and inspires new sustainable material development based on mussel fibers. (Zebra Mussels.) Credit: US Fish and Wildlife Service Recent research has identified a key evolutionary event that has enabled the widespread impact of invasive mussels in North America. This discovery also paves the way for the development of sustainable materials inspired by mussel fibers. A recent study from researchers in Canada and Germany…

New research has uncovered the genetic connections of the legendary killer whale, Old Tom, to modern New Zealand killer whales, suggesting the local extinction of his kind. The study also decolonizes the history of Eden’s whaling, emphasizing the historic bond between Indigenous Australians and killer whales. Credit: SciTechDaily.com Evolutionary biologists have successfully unraveled the genetic lineage of a renowned killer whale in Australia for the first time. For the first time, evolutionary biologists have unraveled…

Researchers at Nagoya University discovered that electric eels, capable of generating up to 860 volts, can induce genetic modifications in nearby organisms through a process similar to electroporation. Credit: SciTechDaily.com Electric eels can naturally alter the genetics of nearby organisms, a discovery by Nagoya University researchers that highlights the role of natural electricity in genetic changes. The electric eel is the biggest power-making creature on Earth. It can release up to 860 volts, which is enough to run…