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Mbari

All articles tagged with #mbari

science1 month ago•5 min saved

Massive Pearl Octopus Nursery Found Near California Deep-Sea Volcano

MBARI scientists documented more than 6,000 Muusoctopus robustus (Pearl octopuses) at the Octopus Garden, a deep-sea hub near a hydrothermally active volcano off California, with estimates up to 20,000 animals. Warmer, ~11°C patches around hydrothermal springs shorten egg development and boost reproductive success, turning a harsh deep-sea site into a dense nursery. The finding, published in Science Advances, highlights how subtle geology can create critical habitats and why such hotspots should be protected from climate change and human threats.

via Indian Defence Review|

#deep-sea-hydrothermal-habitat #mbari #muusoctopus-robustus

science1 year ago•2 min saved

Scientists Uncover Identity of Elusive Ocean Mollusk

Researchers from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute have identified a previously unknown deep-sea nudibranch, named Bathydevius caudactylus, which inhabits the ocean's bathypelagic zone at depths of 1,000–4,000 meters. This bioluminescent creature, observed over two decades, moves like a jellyfish and captures prey with an oral hood similar to a Venus flytrap. Its unique anatomy and genetic makeup have led to its classification in a new phylogenetic family, marking it as the first nudibranch known to live at such depths.

via Ars Technica|

#bioluminescence #deepsea #marinebiology

nature1 year ago•3 min saved

"Scientists Uncover Cause of Mysterious Seafloor Holes Off California Coast"

Researchers from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) have partially solved the mystery of ancient circular depressions off the coast of Central California, known as the Sur Pockmark Field. These depressions, which are around 150 meters wide and 5 meters deep on average, are maintained by sediment gravity flows, a type of underwater avalanche. However, the initial cause of these formations remains unknown. The study, which involved mapping and sediment sampling, provides valuable data for resource managers considering offshore infrastructure.

via IFLScience|

#california #mbari #nature