Tag

Marine Ecology

All articles tagged with #marine ecology

conservation11 days ago•16 min saved

Southern Sleeper Shark Captured Off Antarctica, Redrawing Cold-Water Boundaries

Scientists using an undersea camera recorded the first footage of a southern sleeper shark in Antarctic waters near the South Shetland Islands at about 1,600 feet depth and 2°C. The sighting challenges the assumption that Antarctic seas are too cold for sharks and suggests a warm deeper layer may enable occasional southward incursions; climate-change–related warming could drive more sharks toward the region, but data remain sparse, underscoring the need for further study of the Antarctic ecosystem.

via Gizmodo|

#antarctica #climate-change #conservation

science21 days ago•4 min saved

Scottish Fairy Circles Hint at Seagrass Comeback

Aerial footage off Scotland’s Outer Hebrides captures enigmatic circular patterns thought to be formed by seagrass, highlighting the ongoing decline of seagrass meadows; despite past wasting disease and ongoing threats, NatureScot protections and localized recoveries in Loch Ryan, the Firth of Forth, and Solway Firth suggest a glimmer of revival, even as researchers probe the exact cause of the circles.

via Indian Defence Review|

#conservation #fairy-circles #marine-ecology

science1 month ago•3 min saved

Scientists Uncover How Cookiecutter Sharks Create Perfect Circles on Whales

Scientists from the University of Hawaii have identified the elusive cookiecutter shark as the predator responsible for the circular wounds on marine mammals and fish, using a decade of data to analyze its behavior, feeding patterns, and environmental influences, revealing its nocturnal, stealthy hunting tactics and traditional Polynesian knowledge supporting scientific findings.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#cookiecutter-shark #marine-biology #marine-ecology

science1 month ago•3 min saved

Scientists Uncover Secrets of Cookiecutter Sharks and Their Unique Biting Habits

Scientists from the University of Hawaii studied cookiecutter shark bite patterns using data from fisheries and environmental metrics, revealing that bites are most common at night and near the new Moon, providing insights to help avoid bites and better understand these elusive sharks.

via Gizmodo|

#behavior-patterns #cookiecutter-shark #fishing-industry

science2 months ago•2 min saved

Scientists Discover Missing Link in Deep Ocean

Scientists at WHOI used satellite tracking to discover that bigscale pomfret, a mid-sized fish, spend significant time in the ocean's twilight zone, acting as a crucial link between surface and deep ecosystems, and their behavior is influenced by environmental factors like water clarity, highlighting the importance of mid-sized predators in marine food webs.

via ScienceDaily|

#bigscale-pomfret #deep-sea-fish #marine-ecology

science4 months ago•3 min saved

Decades-Old Salmon Cans Reveal Unexpected Treasure

Scientists analyzed decades-old canned salmon containing parasites to study marine ecosystem health, finding that parasite levels in certain salmon species indicate ecosystem stability or recovery, demonstrating how preserved specimens can reveal ecological insights.

via ScienceAlert|

#archival-research #ecosystem #marine-ecology

science4 months ago•3 min saved

Decades-Old Salmon Cans Reveal Unexpected Treasure

Scientists analyzed decades-old canned salmon to study marine parasites, revealing insights into ecosystem health and parasite life cycles, with implications for understanding marine food webs and ecosystem stability.

via Yahoo|

#archival-research #ecosystem #marine-ecology

science6 months ago•11 min saved

Scientists Identify Bacterial Cause Behind Massive Sea Star Die-Off

Scientists have identified the bacterium Vibrio pectenicida as the cause of sea star wasting disease, a devastating condition that has wiped out millions of sea stars along the West Coast, by conducting controlled infection experiments. This discovery paves the way for better detection and management strategies to help restore affected sea star populations and their ecosystems.

via vox.com|

#conservation-efforts #disease-transmission #marine-ecology

science8 months ago•4 min saved

Jurassic Fish Died from Squid-like Cephalopods, Fossil Study Shows

A study of 4,200 Jurassic Tharsis fish fossils revealed that some attempted to swallow belemnites, leading to their choking and death, providing new insights into prehistoric marine predator-prey interactions.

via Phys.org|

#belemnites #fossils #jurassic

science8 months ago•4 min saved

Marine Snow Vital for Ocean's Survival

A new study reveals that marine snow, tiny drifting debris in the ocean, serves as a crucial habitat for bacteria that fix nitrogen, supporting ocean productivity and stability across various temperatures and oxygen levels, including in oxygen minimum zones, with implications for understanding climate change impacts on marine ecosystems.

via Earth.com|

#climate-change #marine-ecology #marine-snow

science1 year ago•3 min saved

Decades-Old Canned Salmon Unveils Unexpected Discovery

Researchers from the University of Washington have discovered that expired cans of salmon, dating back to the 1970s, serve as a valuable archive for studying marine parasites, specifically anisakid worms. These parasites, harmless to humans when canned, provide insights into the health of marine ecosystems, as their presence indicates a stable or recovering environment. The study found an increase in worm numbers in chum and pink salmon over time, suggesting a healthy ecosystem, while levels in sockeye and coho remained stable. This novel approach highlights the potential of using preserved food products for ecological research.

via ScienceAlert|

#canned-salmon #ecosystem-health #marine-ecology

science1 year ago•3 min saved

Decades-Old Canned Salmon Unveils Unexpected Discovery

Researchers from the University of Washington have discovered that expired cans of salmon, dating back to the 1970s, serve as a valuable archive for studying marine parasites, specifically anisakid worms. These parasites, harmless to humans when canned, provide insights into the health of marine ecosystems, as their presence indicates a stable or recovering environment. The study found an increase in worm numbers in chum and pink salmon over time, suggesting a healthy ecosystem, while levels in coho and sockeye remained stable. This novel approach could lead to further ecological discoveries.

via Yahoo! Voices|

#canned-salmon #ecosystem-health #marine-ecology

science-and-nature1 year ago•3 min saved

"Baby Sharks Adapting to Coastal Environments, Study Finds"

Researchers have discovered that great white sharks exhibit flexible behavior, adapting their movements and routines to suit their local environment and exploit feeding opportunities. By tagging 21 sharks and analyzing their behavior in different environments, the study found that sharks adjust their activity based on the availability of prey, with variations in movements observed between sharks from different areas. This newfound understanding of shark behavior could provide valuable insights into marine ecology and pave the way for further research using advanced tagging technology.

via Newsweek|

#great-white-sharks #marine-ecology #research

marine-biology1 year ago•4 min saved

"Orcas' Savage Tactics: Thriving as Apex Predators in the Open Sea"

Scientists have discovered a potential new population of killer whales, dubbed the oceanics, that thrive in the open ocean and hunt large whales and other sizable prey. These orcas, distinct from known ecotypes, have been observed in the North Pacific, displaying unique physical characteristics and feeding behaviors. The study suggests that the oceanics may have formed as prey drew them farther from shore, and further research is needed to understand this mysterious population's genetic makeup and ecological impact.

via National Geographic|

#killer-whales #marine-biology #marine-ecology

environment1 year ago•7 min saved

Sea Cucumbers' Role in Protecting Coral Reefs from Disease

A new study suggests that sea cucumbers play a crucial role in protecting coral reefs from disease by consuming microbes that can lead to coral mortality. Research conducted in French Polynesia and Palmyra Atoll showed that removing sea cucumbers led to a significant increase in coral tissue death. The decline in sea cucumber populations due to overexploitation may have contributed to the decline of coral reefs over the past century. The study highlights the importance of sea cucumbers in maintaining coral health and suggests the potential for conservation measures to allow their populations to recover and support reef ecosystems.

via NPR|

#coral-disease #coral-reefs #ecosystem