marine biology

Left side full-body photo of the ginkgo-toothed beaked whale described in this study. Credit: Wojtek Bachara, Kuroda Mika, et al. Aquatic Mammals. July 9, 2023 The little-known ginkgo-toothed beaked whale has a wider range than previously understood, extending to the chilly waters of the North Pacific. Cetaceans, widely known as fully aquatic animals, encompass whales, dolphins, and porpoises. This group includes over 90 existing species, categorized into baleen whales (Mysticeti) and toothed whales (Odontoceti).…

New research reveals a correlation between the length of food chains supporting anchovy larvae and the boom-and-bust cycles of California’s anchovy populations. Shorter food chains are linked to population growth, offering insights for fishery management and conservation efforts. Despite the ecological and economic importance of anchovy off California, their population’s characteristic rises and falls have remained mysterious for decades. New research from Scripps and NOAA scientists has discovered ecological…

By Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University December 4, 2023 Hannan’s Pygmy Squid (Kodama jujutsu) with raised arms, photographed in the wild. Credit: Brandon Ryan Hannan In the coastal waters of the Okinawa Islands, researchers have discovered two species of cephalopods, named in honor of traditional Japanese folklore. The underwater landscapes near Okinawa, a Japanese sub-tropical island chain, are among Earth’s most diverse ecosystems. Boasting over 360 types of coral, these vibrant and…

Researchers discovered that bottlenose dolphins can detect weak electric fields using remnants of their neonatal whiskers. This finding, which shows dolphins can sense both steady and fluctuating electric fields, suggests a new understanding of how dolphins hunt and possibly navigate using the Earth’s magnetic field. Bottlenose dolphins’ electric sense could help them navigate the globe. Born tail first, bottlenose dolphin calves emerge equipped with two slender rows of whiskers along their beak-like snouts – much like…

Recent research led by Julia Notar at Duke University reveals that brittle stars, despite lacking brains, can learn through experience. These marine creatures, related to starfish, use their nerve cords to learn by association, a concept demonstrated in classical conditioning. Brainless brittle stars are capable of learning through experience, as demonstrated in new research. They exhibit classical conditioning by associating darkness with feeding, a significant discovery in understanding learning processes in brainless…

A study in Nature Geosciences reveals that oceanic anoxia significantly contributed to marine extinctions during the Triassic–Jurassic period, with current levels of deoxygenation mirroring those of the past. This discovery highlights the sensitivity of marine ecosystems to local and global environmental changes. Scientists have discovered a pivotal role of oceanic anoxia in the Triassic–Jurassic mass extinction, indicating that even localized deoxygenation can lead to widespread ecosystem collapse. This research…

A killer whale in the Salish Sea is observed harassing a porpoise, a behavior that has long perplexed scientists. A study from Wild Orca and UC Davis’ SeaDoc Society investigates what may be behind it. Credit: Wild OrcaScientists investigate a perplexing behavior.For many years, scientists have been puzzled by the behavior of Pacific Northwest fish-eating killer whales, who have been seen harassing and sometimes killing porpoises without eating them.A study recently published in Marine Mammal Science, co-led by Deborah…

University of Florida researchers have captured the unique development process of hammerhead sharks, showcasing the transformation of bonnethead embryos into their distinctive hammer-shaped heads. A baby hammerhead during development with a nascent hammerhead snout. Credit: Gareth FraserFor weeks, you’d be hard-pressed to tell if the rapidly growing animal was going to become a chicken, a fish, a frog, or even a human.Then out of nowhere: the hammer.In an unprecedented look at perhaps the strangest, most captivating…

A new study has uncovered the vital role of extracellular vesicles in horizontal gene transfer among ocean microorganisms. This finding challenges existing beliefs about gene exchange mechanisms and introduces ‘protected extracellular DNA’ (peDNA) as a new term to encompass the diversity of genetic carriers beyond viruses, setting a new direction for future research in various ecosystems.Extracellular vesicles significantly contribute more to horizontal gene transfer in oceans than previously thought.The oceans are…

Enypniastes eximia or headless chicken monster? You be the judge. Image: NOAAWhy leave Earth in search of aliens when you can just dive right into our oceans? No doubt, the seas are filled with all sorts of oddities that often defy description, from incomprehensibly shaped comb jellies through to gigantic isopods that more rightly belong in a 1960s B-picture. Case in point, these 12 bizarro sea animals, all of which will have you questioning reality.This article was originally published on November 12, 2020.…