Paleontology
Motion in the ocean: how did the earliest animals move?
Fossils over 500 million years old may give us insight into the evolutionary origin of animal movement. Reference: Wang, X.,…
Tag: Physiology
Biology
A “super simple” approach to immunity
This super simple animal has immune cells. What does it mean for biology? References: Mayorova, T.D., Hammar, K., Jung, J.H.…
Behavior
Fish Outta Water
Did you know, some fish can live in both water and land habitats? These amphibious fish are smarter than they…
Biology Chemistry Methodology Microbiology Physiology
Protist Factories: A Potential Way to Make Gold and Silver
Modern research is investigating the ability of organisms to make valuable products for us. A multi-national team examined the ability…
Biochemistry Biological oceanography Chemistry Human impacts Physiology Pollution
Living Life to the Fullest: Enzyme Activity of Two African Mussel Species
Every day, our body performs a plethora of activities. We breathe, exercise, eat food, think, and socialize. Behind all of…
Behavior Biological oceanography Biology Climate Change Evolution
One Fish, Two Fish, Climate Change, Who Lives?
There is variation within species, and this variation can lead to some individuals surviving better in the face of environmental…
Physiology
How to Stay Alive without Oxygen: Marine Mammals, Diving, and COVID-19
The unique deep diving ability of marine mammals may give researchers a clue into the damaging effects of COVID-19 on…
Human impacts
Crude oil cripples sandpiper flights
Maggini, I., L.V. Kennedy, A. Macmillan, K.H. Elliott, K. Dean, and C.G. Guglielmo. 2017. Light oiling of feathers increases flight…
Biology
Seaweed antioxidants protect fish too
A new study suggests that feeding fish small amounts of antioxidant-rich seaweed can protected them from environmental challenges.
Biology
Candidate compass genes in fish
A team of American researchers use next-generation sequencing to ask: "magnetoreception, how does it work?"
Atmospheric Science Biology Book Review Climate Change Conservation Ecology Evolution Human impacts Physiology Sea Ice
Throwing Babies out with the Sea Ice: Ringed Seals Response to Ice Decline
As the Earth warms, sea ice declines. What happens to those animals who rely on the ice? Today’s oceanbites looks…
Biology
Now we got bad blood: Oxygen binding is not affected by haemoglobin subtype in Atlantic cod
Why do northern and southern populations of Atlantic cod have different haemoglobin subtypes? A recent study upsets over 50 years…
Biology Book Review Physiology
The whirling world of starfish larvae whorls
A close look at starfish larvae reveals the beautiful patterns they create while moving through the water. These tiny vortex…
Biology
Warm water curtails sea snakes’ dives
Like frogs, sea snakes can uptake oxygen through both their lungs and their skin. How will these “bimodal breathers” cope…
Biology
Long-lived sharks challenge ageing theory
Greenland sharks can live to be over 400 years old. What can they tell us about ageing?
Biology
Young whales build baleen out of ribs
Juvenile bowhead whales put off gaining length and undergo severe bone loss to invest in growing their massive heads and…
Biology
With a little help from my friends: sea turtles hatch together to save energy
Sea turtle hatchlings face long odds when they emerge from their buried nests. But at least they don't have to…
Biology
Why don’t sharks go deep?
Happy Shark Week! Today we examine a persistent and interesting biogeographical puzzle: why are there so few deep sea sharks?
Physiology
Icefish can’t keep their cool in warm water
The Antarctic climate is changing, and the increasing temperature is wreaking havoc on the physiology of endemic species. Will icefish,…
Evolution
The coelacanth and its leftover lung
The coelacanth keeps surprising us! Rediscovered off the South African coast in 1938, these animals were once thought to have…