Learn more about Coral Reefs and Octopuses in Your Blushing Little Octopus!
Why Can't Cars Move Like Crabs -- Physicists Create Insect-imitating Robot To Scoot Over Unstable Surfaces Physicists studied the movement of animals that are mobile on loose surfaces like sand, mud, and gravel in order to design a robot capable of moving on shifty ground. The robot is based on a common cockroach and capable of navigating a variety of environments.
Once thought to be only the realm of the blue-ringed octopus, researchers have now shown that all octopuses and cuttlefish, and some squid are venomous. The work indicates that they all share a common, ancient venomous ancestor and highlights new avenues for drug discovery. All Octopuses Are Venomous: Could Lead To Drug Discovery
Seven New Species Of Deep-sea Coral Discovered
Scientists identified seven new species of bamboo coral in the deep waters of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. Six of these species may represent entirely new genera, a remarkable feat given the broad classification a genus represents. Scientists expect to identify more new species as analysis of samples continues.
Now You See It, Now You Don't: Scientists Unraveling The Mystery Of Camouflage
Marine biologists have discovered three broad classes of camouflage body patterns. This study of cephalopod camouflage has implications for analyzing camouflage tactics throughout the animal kingdom.
Octopus Family Tree Traced Using New Molecular Evidence
Many of the world's deep-sea octopuses evolved from species that lived in the Southern Ocean, according to new molecular evidence reported by researchers.
Turf Wars: Sand And Corals Don't Mix
When reef fish get a mouthful of sand, coral reefs can drown. "We've known for a while that having a lot of sediment in the water is bad for corals and can smother them. What we didn't realize is how permanent this state of affairs can become, to the point where it may prevent the corals ever re-establishing."
Giant Clams 'Secure For Another Generation' After Philippine Re-seeding
Re-seeding programs on over 50 reefs are securing the survival of the giant clam for at least another generation. The clams, the world's largest bivalve mollusks and the star of lurid but mostly imaginary literary and cinematic depictions of trapped divers, can live for over a century. They have been known to exceed 1.4 meters in length and weigh in at over 260 kilograms.
Eight-day Undersea Mission Begins Experiment To Improve Coral Reef Restoration
Scientists have begun an eight-day mission, in which they are living and working at 60 feet below the sea surface in an underwater "space station," to determine why some species of coral colonies survive transplanting after a disturbance while other colonies die. The team of "aquanauts" is to improve the restoration of damaged reefs.
New Research On Octopuses Sheds Light On Memory
Research on octopuses has shed new light on how our brains store and recall memory. Why octopuses? Octopuses and other related creatures, known as cephalopods, are considered to be the most intelligent invertebrates because they have relatively large brains and they can be trained for various learning and memory tasks.
Ancient Deep-sea Coral Reefs Off Southeastern US Serve As Underwater 'Islands' In The Gulf Stream
Largely unexplored deep-sea coral reefs, some perhaps hundreds of thousands of years old, off the coast of the southeastern US are not only larger than expected but also home to commercially valuable fish populations and many newly discovered and unusual species. Results from a series of NOAA-funded expeditions to document these previously unstudied and diverse habitats and their associated marine life have revealed some surprising results.
Will Corals Survive The Stormy Future?
Hurricanes and storms limit the ability of corals in Belize to "recruit" new coral into their
communities, according to a new study in Marine Environmental Research. Coral reefs -- which can
to be thousands of years old -- form and grow when free-swimming coral larvae in the ocean
attach to rocks or other hard surfaces and begin to develop. Intense storms can wipe out this
Coral Reefs And Climate Change: Microbes Could Be The Key To Coral Death
Coral reefs could be dying out because of changes to the microbes that live in them just as much as from the direct rise in temperature caused by global warming, according to scientists. Tropical ecosystems are currently balanced on a climate change knife edge.
Squid Beak Is Both Hard And Soft, A Material That Engineers Want To Copy
How did nature make the squid's beak super hard and sharp -- allowing it, without harm to its soft body -- to capture its prey? The question, considered has captivated those interested in creating new materials that mimic biological materials. The results are published in the journal Science. The sharp beak of the Humboldt squid is one of the hardest and stiffest organic materials known.
Rabbit Fish To The Rescue Of The Reef
While rabbits continue to ravage Australia's native landscapes, rabbit fish may help save large areas of the Great Barrier Reef from destruction. The reason, say scientists, is the same in both cases -- both rabbits and rabbit fish are efficient herbivores, capable of stripping an area of vegetation. However, in the case of the Reef, it is the vegetation that is the problem -- and the rabbit fish, the answer.
' Butterfly Fish 'May Face Extinction
A beautiful black, white and yellow butterflyfish, much admired by eco-tourists, divers and aquarium keepers alike, may be at risk of extinction, scientists have warned. The case of the chevroned butterfly fish is a stark example of how human pressure on the world's coral reefs is confronting certain species with 'blind alleys' from which they may be unable to escape, says one of the scientists.
Resilience Science Is Promising Approach To Marine Conservation
The fast-growing field of resilience science can produce more effective ocean protection policies than previous models. Resilience science is the study of how ecosystems resist and respond to disturbances, both natural and man-made. This increasingly influential area of environmental science is affecting marine conservation efforts from the Gulf of Maine to the Great Barrier Reef.
processes may prevent oceans from warming beyond a certain
point, helping protect some biologically diverse coral
reefs from the impacts of climate change. A new study finds
evidence that an ocean "thermostat" is
helping regulate sea-surface temperatures. This research
lends support to a much-debated theory that a natural
ocean thermostat prevents sea-surface temperatures
from exceeding about 88 degrees Fahrenheit (31 degrees
Celsius) in open oceans. If so, this thermostat would
protect reefs that have evolved in naturally warm waters
that will not warm much further, as opposed to reefs
that live in slightly cooler waters that face more
significant warming. Coral Reefs May Be Protected By Natural Ocean Thermostat
Humans Have Caused Profound Changes In Caribbean Coral Reefs
Coral reefs in the Caribbean have suffered significant changes due to the proximal effects of a growing human population. The study showed clearly that the number of people living in close proximity to coral reefs is the main driver of the mortality of corals, loss of fish biomass and increases in macroalgae abundance.
Two New Species Of Soft Coral Discovered In Caribbean
Two new species of soft corals were discovered during a recent expedition to Saba Bank, Netherlands Antilles, the largest atoll in the Caribbean. Marine biologists collected 40 species of soft corals and nearly 100 different species of crustaceans in just ten days of SCUBA diving and exploration. One of the likely new species was found in deep water (70 m), and the other, surprisingly, was found to be common in shallow water (20 m).
Parrotfish Critical To Coral Reefs: Permanent Damage Likely Unless Urgent Action Taken, Scientists Warn
Coral reefs could be damaged beyond repair, unless we change the way we manage the marine environment. New research shows how damaged Caribbean reefs will continue to decline over the next 50 years. Coral reefs conjure up images of rich, colorful ecosystems yet an increasing number of reefs are becoming unhealthy and overrun by seaweed.
ScienceDaily: Marine Catastrophe? Soft Corals Melting Away Due To Global Warming, Says Researcher
Coral extinction could mean a worldwide catastrophe impacting all marine and terrestrial life. Environmental stress is damaging the symbiotic relationship between soft corals and the microscopic symbiotic algae living in their tissues. There is no doubt that global warming is to blame, warns a prominent marine biologist, explaining that this symbiotic relationship is key for the survival of most soft corals.
ScienceDaily: Coral Reefs On Brink Of Disaster, Scientists Urge Action Now
The world has a narrow window of opportunity to save coral reefs from the destruction caused by extreme climate change, according to a unanimous statement issued today by leading Australian scientists. The call for action is the outcome of a National Forum on Coral Reef Futures, held at the Australian Academy of Sciences, in Canberra.
ScienceDaily: Ocean Life Fading: What Can Be Done?
Creating "national parks of the sea" may be the only effective way to reverse trends that have left 76 percent of world fish stocks fully- or over-exploited and marine biodiversity at severe risk, according to the new report, Oceans in Peril: Protecting Marine Biodiversity. The four environmental experts call for a radical change in fisheries management, from a single-species approach to one that is ecosystem based and also includes the use of precautionary measures to tackle pollution and to reduce carbon dioxide emissions that are changing the temperature and chemistry of the oceans.
ScienceDaily: Acid Oceans From Carbon Dioxide Will Endanger One Third Of Marine Life, Scientists Predict
Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is dissolving into the oceans, causing them to become
more acidic. The increased acidity will affect animals with chalky skeletons, like the hard corals
that make up coral reefs.
Bacteria living inside sea sponges may one day provide doctors with new ways to treat illness. So far, scientists have been able to recreate only a few of the thousands of new compounds they've discovered. ScienceDaily: Bacteria From Sponges Make New Pharmaceuticals
ScienceDaily: Innovative Tagging Technique May Help Researchers Better Protect Fish Stocks
Tagging fish may help researchers keep track of fish in Marine Protected Areas.
ScienceDaily: Indo-Pacific Coral Reefs Disappearing More Rapidly Than Expected Scientists have discovered that coral reefs in the Pacific Ocean are disappearing faster than thought. Half of the world's reef-building corals have already been lost.
ScienceDaily: Coral Reef Fish Need Decades Or Longer To Recover
A long-term study of coral reef ecosystems has shown that it can take 20–25 years for a species to recover from overfishing. It can take even longer to restore the balance of the ecosystem.
Corals That Can Fight Global Warming May One Day Help Fragile Reefs
Scientists have found that sea pens, unlike most corals, are able to handle warmer
Fishy Cooperation: Scientists Discover Coordinated Hunting Between Groupers, Giant Moray Eels
Groupers and giant moray eels join forces to hunt prey. The grouper covers the open waters of the reef and the eel hunts the reef crevices. Working together, they leave no place for their prey to hide.
Ongoing Collapse Of Coral Reef Shark Populations
The number of sharks in coral reefs is rapidly declining. Scientists are concerned about the effect this will have on the delicate balance of the coral reef ecosystem.
Coral reefs, already suffering from global warning, now face an added danger from increased carbon dioxide in oceans. The carbon dioxide slows down the coral's skeleton growth, the foundation of coral reefs. This means that the corals may be unable to build fast enough to keep up with the damage from erosion and global warming. Report Warns About Carbon Dioxide Threats To Marine Life
Bacteria In Small Sea Life Yield New Way To Make Potential Cancer Drugs
Scientists have found that bacteria living in sea squirts and sponges produce chemicals that may fight cancer and many other diseases. Researchers are studying ways to produce larger amounts of these chemicals for testing.
Tiny 'Housekeeper' Crabs Help Prevent Coral Death In South Pacific
Tiny crabs not only keep corals clean, they also help them stay alive. Read more: