Scientists: Ancient Microbes Found In Salty, Ice-Sealed Antarctic Lake; 'New Boundary Conditions On The Limits For Life'
Chicago, Illinois - Nov 27, 2012 19:11 EST
Shedding light on the limits of life in extreme environments, scientists have discovered abundant and diverse metabolically active bacteria in the brine of an Antarctic lake sealed under more than 65 feet of ice. The finding, described in this week's issue...

Researchers Pitch Idea Of 'Wave Cloaking' To Shield Floating Objects
San Diego, California - Nov 26, 2012 18:07 EST
A new approach to invisibility cloaking may one day be used at sea to shield floating objects – such as oil rigs and ships – from rough waves. Unlike most other cloaking techniques that rely on transformation optics, this one...

Researchers: Eating Right Key To Survival Of Whales And Dolphins
Vancouver, British Columbia - Nov 21, 2012 17:27 EST
In the marine world, high-energy prey make for high-energy predators. And to survive, such marine predators need to sustain the right kind of high-energy diet. Not just any prey will do, suggests a new study by researchers from the University...

Researchers Studying 'Fingerprint' Left On Seafloor By Hurricane Sandy
Newark, Delaware - Nov 19, 2012 21:30 EST
Beneath the 20-foot waves that crested off Delaware's coast during Hurricane Sandy, thrashing waters reshaped the floor of the ocean, churning up fine sand and digging deep ripples into the seabed. Fish, crustaceans and other marine life were blasted with...

Metabolomics: Aquarium Researchers Identify New Biomarker For Whale Shark Health
Atlanta, Georgia - Nov 19, 2012 21:14 EST
New research from Georgia Aquarium and Georgia Institute of Technology provides evidence that a suite of techniques called "metabolomics" can be used to determine the health status of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus), the world's largest fish species. The study, led...

Scientists: Hard To Fish Areas Of The Seabed May Act As Refuges For Endangered Skate
Bangor, Maine - Nov 16, 2012 19:08 EST
Marine scientists working in the Celtic Sea have discovered a natural refuge for the critically endangered flapper skate. Many elasmobranchs (sharks, rays and skates) are highly vulnerable to over-fishing, but a new paper in the open access journal PLOS ONE shows...

Researchers: At Least One-Third Of Marine Species Remain Undescribed; No 'Formal Way To Register Species'
New York, New York - Nov 15, 2012 16:13 EST
At least one-third of the species that inhabit the world's oceans may remain completely unknown to science. That's despite the fact that more species have been described in the last decade than in any previous one, according to a report...

Researchers: Changing Climate, Not Tourism, Seems To Be Driving Decline In Chinstrap-Penguin Populations; 'It's Warmed By 3 Degrees Celsius'
Stony Brook, New York - Nov 14, 2012 20:31 EST
The breeding population of chinstrap penguins has declined significantly as temperatures have rapidly warmed on the Antarctic Peninsula, according to researchers funded in part by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The study indicates that changing climatic conditions, rather than the impact...

Despite Their Thick Skins, Alligators And Crocodiles Are Surprisingly Touchy
Nashville, Tennessee - Nov 12, 2012 20:18 EST
Crocodiles and alligators are notorious for their thick skin and well-armored bodies. So it comes as something of a surprise to learn that their sense of touch is one of the most acute in the animal kingdom. The crocodilian sense of...

Researchers: Corals Attacked By Toxic Seaweed Use Chemical 911 Signals To Summon Help
Atlanta, Georgia - Nov 8, 2012 16:26 EST
Corals under attack by toxic seaweed do what anyone might do when threatened – they call for help. A study reported this week in the journal Science shows that threatened corals send signals to fish "bodyguards" that quickly respond to...

Sitting Still Or Going Hunting: Which Works Better? 'Swimming Costs Matter'
Cambridge, Massachusetts - Nov 5, 2012 20:39 EST
For the kinds of animals that are most familiar to us — ones that are big enough to see — it's a no-brainer: Is it better to sit around and wait for food to come to you, or to move...

Research: Controlling Invasive Lionfish May Best Be Done In Targeted Areas
Gainsville, Florida - Oct 29, 2012 19:03 EST
nvasive lionfish may never be eradicated from Florida's coastal waters, but it's possible to keep them under control — in specific, targeted areas and using plenty of manpower, a new University of Florida study shows. Native to the Indo-Pacific, the spiny,...

Whale Racket: Sounding Out How Loud The Oceans Were From Whale Vocalizing Prior To Industrial Whaling
Lagunitas, California - Oct 25, 2012 14:19 EST
Concern is growing that human-generated noise in the ocean disrupts marine animals that rely on sound for communication and navigation. In the modern ocean, the background noise can be ten times louder than it was just 50 years ago. But...

Researchers: Pacific Albacore Carry Barely Detectable Fingerprints Of Fukushima Disaster
Corvallis, Oregon - Oct 24, 2012 22:37 EST
Samples of albacore tuna caught off the West Coast of the United States show minute traces of radiation that can be traced to the Fukushima reactor disaster, according to an interdisciplinary team of scientists from Oregon State University and the...

Price Chopper Becomes First Supermarket To Voluntarily Test Seafood For Species Verification
Schenectady, NY - Oct 23, 2012 21:56 EST
Is the seafood you're buying what the label, sign or menu says it is? Concern is growing nationwide that restaurants, seafood markets and even some supermarkets are selling mislabeled seafood. Consumer Reports found that 18% of seafood samples its researchers collected...

Contact: Us Scientists Report Whale Making Human Voice Sounds; 'An Example Of Vocal Learning'
Washington, D.C. - Oct 22, 2012 20:37 EST
For the first time, researchers have been able to show by acoustic analysis that whales—or at least one very special white whale—can imitate the voices of humans. That's a surprise, because whales typically produce sounds in a manner that is...

Strong 2012 Nesting Season For Florida Loggerheads; 'Nesting Has Risen Over The Past Five Years'
Tallahassee, Florida - Oct 19, 2012 19:02 EST
Loggerhead sea turtle nesting was near a 24-year high along Florida beaches this year, according to data compiled by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) researchers. The loggerhead is listed federally as a threatened species. Trained surveyors from partners across...

Why Are Coastal Salt Marshes Falling Apart? 'There Are Limits To What Salt Marshes Can Do'
Woods Hole, Massachusetts - Oct 19, 2012 18:37 EST
Salt marshes have been disintegrating and dying over the past two decades along the U.S. Eastern Seaboard and other highly developed coastlines without anyone fully understanding why. This week in the journal Nature, scientist Linda Deegan of the Marine Biological...

Research: Dolphins Can Stay Awake For 15 Days Straight; 'True Unwavering Sentinels Of The Sea'
San Diego, California - Oct 18, 2012 00:07 EST
Dolphins sleep with only one half of their brains at a time, and according to new research published Oct. 17 in the open access journal PLOS ONE, this trait allows them to stay constantly alert for at least 15 days...

Scientists: Coral Diseases Might Not Be Contagious; No 'Clusters Of Sick Colonies'
Sarasota, Florida - Oct 17, 2012 00:47 EST
Sick corals might be stressed but not necessarily contagious — an important finding for predicting diseases outbreaks on threatened coral reefs, according to research by Mote Marine Laboratory and Florida Institute of Technology scientists who have completed the largest-ever study...

Undercover Investigation: Disease, Overcrowding, Neglect At Caymans Island Turtle Farm; 'It's Truly Horrific'
Boston, Massachusetts - Oct 15, 2012 23:55 EST
A year-long undercover investigation conducted by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) at the Cayman Turtle Farm, a popular tourist destination and the world's last remaining facility that raises sea turtles for slaughter, has revealed disturbing animal...

Experts: Florida's 'Mystery Eyeball' Appears To Be From A Swordfish; Likely 'Removed By A Fisherman And Discarded'
Tampa, Florida - Oct 15, 2012 20:54 EST
After examining an eye found on a south Florida beach this week, researchers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) believe the specimen came from a swordfish. Genetic testing will be done to confirm the identification. "Experts on site...

Study: Prenatal Mercury Exposure From Fish May Be Associated With Risk Of ADHD-Related Behaviors
Boston, Massachusetts - Oct 8, 2012 22:59 EST
A study of children in the New Bedford, Mass., area suggests that low-level prenatal mercury exposure may be associated with a greater risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-related behaviors and that fish consumption during pregnancy may be associated with a lower...

Countries Propose To List Ten Shark And Ray Species Under International Wildlife Treaty
Washington, D.C. - Oct 6, 2012 19:44 EST
At least 37 countries, including the United States and Mexico, have proposed protections for ten shark and ray species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). The U.S. will join Colombia in leading an effort to secure...

Study: Manatees Reflect Quality Of Health In Marine Ecosystems; 'Canaries In The Mineshaft'
Fairfax, Virginia - Oct 2, 2012 23:43 EST
A longterm study conducted by researchers at George Mason University may be a benchmark in determining health threats to marine mammals. Over ten years of research in Belize was conducted studying the behavioral ecology, life history and health of manatees in...

Researchers: Fish Getting Smaller As The Oceans Get 'Warmer And Less-Oxygenated Ocean'
Vancouver, BC - Oct 1, 2012 23:00 EST
Changes in ocean and climate systems could lead to smaller fish, according to a new study led by fisheries scientists at the University of British Columbia. The study, published today in the journal Nature Climate Change, provides the first-ever global projection...

Researchers: White Shark Diets Vary With Age And Among Individuals
Santa Cruz, California - Sep 30, 2012 17:20 EST
White sharks, the largest predatory sharks in the ocean, are thought of as apex predators that feed primarily on seals and sea lions. But a new study by researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, shows surprising variability in...

Time Bomb: Unexploded Military Ordnance In Gulf Poses Threat To Shipping; 'It's Been 40 To 60 Years'
College Station, Texas - Sep 28, 2012 18:21 EST
Millions of pounds of unexploded bombs and other military ordnance that were dumped decades ago in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as off the coasts of both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, could now pose serious threats to shipping...

Study: Vampire Squid Thrive On Feces And Ocean Debris
Monterey, California - Sep 26, 2012 22:21 EST
About 100 years ago, marine biologists hauled the first vampire squid up from the depths of the sea. Since that time, perhaps a dozen scientific papers have been published on this mysterious animal, but no one has been able to...

California Names Leatherback Sea Turtle As Official State Marine Reptile
Sacramento, California - Sep 26, 2012 22:14 EST
In a strong affirmation of the Golden State's commitment to the environment, Governor Brown today designated the endangered Pacific leatherback sea turtle as California's official state marine reptile by signing into law Assembly Bill (AB) 1776 by Assemblymember Fong (D-...

NOAA: Study Finds That Ocean Acidification Is Accelerated In Nutrient-Rich Areas
Silver Spring, Marlyland - Sep 24, 2012 21:01 EST
Carbon dioxide released from decaying algal blooms, combined with ongoing increases in atmospheric carbon emissions, leads to increased levels of ocean acidification, and places additional stress on marine resources and the coastal economies that depend on them, according to a...

Florida's Famed 'Beggar' The Dolphin Found Dead; 'A Local Icon And Tourist Attraction For Over Two Decades'
Sarasota, Florida - Sep 23, 2012 17:15 EST
One of Sarasota's most well known and ill-fed dolphins was found dead near the Albee Road Bridge in Sarasota on Friday, 9-21-12. Known as "Beggar," the bottlenose dolphin was one of the most studied wild dolphins in the world and...

Homeland Security Scientists Envision Protecting Our Harbors And Ships With A Robotic Tuna Fish
Waltham, Massachusetts - Sep 20, 2012 17:42 EST
No question about it… they're very good at what they do. But they don't take well to orders, especially those to carry out inspection work in oily or dangerous environments, or in any kind of harsh environment, for that matter....

The 'Slippery Slope To Slime': Researchers Confirm Overgrown Algae Causing Coral Reef Declines
Corvallis, Oregon - Sep 19, 2012 18:02 EST
Researchers at Oregon State University for the first time have confirmed some of the mechanisms by which overfishing and nitrate pollution can help destroy coral reefs – it appears they allow an overgrowth of algae that can bring with it...

Group Seeks Protection For Orange Clownfish; Iconic Fish Threatened By Ocean Acidification, Global Warming, Aquarium Trade
San Francisco, California - Sep 17, 2012 18:54 EST
The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal petition today with the National Marine Fisheries Service seeking Endangered Species Act protection for the orange clownfish — star of the movie Finding Nemo — and seven similarly coral-dependent damselfish threatened by...

'Narco' Sub Built By Homeland Security Mimics The Real Thing
Fort Walton Beach, Florida - Sep 14, 2012 20:57 EST
The erstwhile planet Pluto (now officially an asteroid) was known for decades as a small, dark planet—hidden, difficult to spot, and on a quiet, determined course all its own. And so, when the DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) needed...

NOAA, Partners To Document Civil War-Era Warship Sunk In Gulf Of Mexico Battle
Galveston, Texas - Sep 11, 2012 22:22 EST
A team of archaeologists and technicians assembled by NOAA will begin today to create a three-dimensional sonar map to document the storm-exposed remains of the USS Hatteras, the only Union warship sunk in combat in the Gulf of Mexico during...

Researchers: Deep-Sea Crabs Seek Food Using Ultraviolet Vision
Hollywood, Florida - Sep 8, 2012 13:14 EST
Some deep-sea crabs have eyes sensitive to ultraviolet light, which they may use to snatch glowing plankton and stuff it in their mouths, a new Nova Southeastern University study suggests. Tamara Frank, Ph.D., a marine biologist and associate professor at Nova...

Study Examines How Ocean Energy Impacts Life In The Deep Sea; 'Once Thought Remote And Buffered Against Climatic Change'
Durham, North Carolina - Sep 5, 2012 20:28 EST
A new study of deep-sea species across the globe aims to understand how natural gradients in food and temperature in the dark, frigid waters of the deep sea affect the snails, clams, and other creatures that live there. Similar studies...

Researchers: Less Is More For Reef-Building Corals; 'Exactly The Opposite Of What We Expected'
Manoa, Hawaii - Aug 28, 2012 23:06 EST
Researchers at the University of Hawaii – Manoa (UHM) School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) made a discovery that challenges a major theory in the field of coral reef ecology. The general assumption has been that the...