Marine Life
Marine life is the essence of MarineBio, so in this section we explore information on the science, biology, taxonomy, morphology, behavior, and ecological relationships of the fascinating marine life that inhabits the ocean.
What is Marine Biology?Learn all about the science of Marine Biology. |
A History of the Study of Marine BiologyCaptain James Cook (1728-1779) in 18th century Britain... |
The Naming of Life: Marine TaxonomyClassification of species into evolutionary relationships. |
Forests of the SeaPhytoplankton, diatoms, dinoflagellates, algae, sea grasses, and kelp... |
Coral ReefsShelter, recreation, medicines, sand... the work of millions of coral polyps... |
ZooplanktonBillions of tiny animals found throughout the ocean. |
Marine InvertebratesThese spineless animals include sponges, cnidarians, worms, mollusks... |
Marine VertebratesFrom polar bears to the 27,000+ species of fishes and counting... |
Structures & Adaptations to Marine LivingFins, scales, flashing lights... |
Grazers & PredatorsWe're familiar with grazers and predators on land, how do they behave in the sea? |
Marine Life CyclesFission, budding, eggs that hatch internally, eggs that hatch externally, live births... |
Symbionts, Parasites, Hosts & CooperationEvery form of interaction between species. |
Marine EcologyMarine life habitats, populations and interactions among organisms... |
Trophic StructureAll organisms can be placed in trophic levels depending what energy source they rely upon... |
 Biotic StructureThe way organisms interact within an ecosystem. Food webs vs food chains... |
Ecological RegulationComplex webs of factors that fit together to form balanced life systems... |
Marine Species DatabaseEndangered, threatened, and most common marine species. |
Marine Life PhotosBrowse photos from some of the world's best photographers and MarineBio staff... |
Marine Life VideosVideos from expeditions and across the Web of marine life... |
Marine Life ForumsThe latest research & news, marine conservation, marine animals & plants... |
What is Marine Biology?
- Marine biology is the study of life in the oceans and other saltwater environments such as estuaries and wetlands. All plant and animal life forms are included from the microscopic picoplankton all the way to the majestic blue whale, the largest creature in the sea—and for that matter in the world...
A History of the Study of Marine Biology
- It wasn't until the writings of Aristotle from 384-322 BC that specific references to marine life were recorded. Aristotle identified a variety of species including crustaceans, echinoderms, mollusks, and fish...
The Naming of Life: Marine Taxonomy
- Marine taxonomy and the science of naming life and evolutionary relationships...
Forests of the Sea: Phytoplankton and Marine plants
- Phytoplankton, Diatoms, Dinoflagellates, Algae, Seagrasses, and Kelp Beds: Forests of the Sea...
Coral Reefs
- Importance, variety and conservation issues...
Zooplankton
- Taxonomy, Nanoplanktonic Flagellates, Cnidarians, Rotifera, Chaetognatha, Marine Gastropods, Polychaeta, Copepods, Cladocerans, Krill, Insect Larvae, Tunicates...
Marine Invertebrates
- Sponges, Cnidarians, Worms, Lophophorates, Molluscs, Arthropods, Echinoderms, and Hemichordates...
Marine Vertebrates
- Fishes, Reptiles, Birds, and Mammals...
The Structures & Adaptations to Marine Living
- Here we look at the development and uses of marine body types, common characteristics like fins, scales and shells. We'll see how "different" marine life really is...
The Grazers & Predators
- Let's look at the different roles of marine life. We're familiar with grazers and predators on land, how do they behave in the sea..?
Marine Life Cycles
- We have fission, budding, eggs that hatch internally, eggs that hatch externally, live births, some start as plankton (zooplankton), some are born in fresh water, some are born on land...
Symbionts, Parasites, Hosts & Cooperation
- Every form of interaction between different species is seen in the sea. Some creatures depend on each other for food, protection or a just a safe place to lay eggs. A parasite isn't always bad... see examples of cooperation that we humans could learn from...
Marine Ecology
- Marine life habitats, populations and interactions among organisms and their environment...
Trophic Structure
- All organisms in an ecosystem can be placed in trophic levels depending what energy source they rely upon and how they provide energy for other organisms in the food web...
Biotic Structure
- The way organisms interact within an ecosystem. Food webs vs food chains, trophic levels, symbiosis, predators...
Ecological Regulation
- Complex webs of factors that fit together to form balanced life systems capable of withstanding most changes...
Marine Species Database
- Search/browse our growing database of endangered, threatened, and most common marine species...
Marine Life Photos
- Browse photos of marine life from some of the world's best photographers and MarineBio staff from around the world...
Marine Life Videos
- Watch videos from MarineBio Expeditions and across the Web of marine life and related movies and documentaries...
Marine Life Forums
- Join discussions involving the latest research & news, marine conservation, marine animals & plants, and much more...
Marine Biology News
Development of more muscular trout could boost commercial aquaculture
A 10-year effort by a scientist to develop transgenic rainbow trout with enhanced muscle growth has yielded fish with what have been described as six-pack abs and muscular shoulders that could provide a boost to the commercial aquaculture industry.
'Globetrotting' new worms discovered on Great Barrier Reef and Swedish coast
Between the grains of sand on the sea floor there is an unknown and unexplored world. Scientists have just found new animal species on the Great Barrier Reef, in New Caledonia, and in the sea off the Gullmarsfjord in the Swedish county of Bohuslan.
Deep sedimentation of acantharian cysts: a reproductive strategy?
Spore-like reproductive cysts of enigmatic organisms called acantharians rapidly sink from surface waters to the deep ocean in certain regions, according to new research. Scientists suspect that this is part of an extraordinary reproductive strategy, which allows juveniles to exploit a seasonal food bonanza.
Warming coastal water, thinning marine populations: Tracking of 2010 El Niņo reveals marine life reductions
The ongoing El Niņo of 2010 is affecting north Pacific Ocean ecosystems in ways that could affect the West Coast fishing industry, according to scientists. Researchers report a stronger than normal northward movement of warm water up the Southern California coast, a high sea-level event in January and low abundances of plankton and pelagic fish -- all conditions consistent with El Niņo.
Mercurial tuna: Study explores sources of mercury to ocean fish
With concern over mercury contamination of tuna on the rise and growing information about the health effects of eating contaminated fish, scientists would like to know exactly where the pollutant is coming from and how it's getting into open-ocean fish species.
Hydrothermal vents discovered off Antarctica
Scientists have found evidence of hydrothermal vents on the seafloor near Antarctica, formerly a blank spot on the map for researchers wanting to learn more about seafloor formation and the bizarre life forms drawn to these extreme environments.
Participation important for healthy marine parks
The involvement of locals is a key ingredient in the success of marine parks which protect coral reefs and fish stocks. The largest-scale study to date of how coastal communities influence successful outcomes in marine reserves has found that human population pressure was a critical factor in whether or not a reserve succeeded in protecting marine resources -- but so too was local involvement in research and management.
Creating a dream breed: New way to farm prized Blackspot seabream fish
Blackspot seabream is a prized fish on many tables but it grows slowly at sea, is heavily overfished and is incredibly difficult to farm. No European company had successfully bred it until one Galician company teamed up with local partner and Norwegian nutritionists to develop a new method.
Sea squirt offers hope for Alzheimer's sufferers
Plaques and tangles in the brains of Alzheimer's patients mark its slow, inexorable progression. Finding new drugs to prevent plaques is currently the best hope for sufferers. However, efficient drug screens that detect plaque formation are often impossible due to their slow formation. Researchers have now identified the sea squirt, our closest invertebrate relative, as a potential new resource for drug development.
Red tide: Researchers issue outlook for a significant New England bloom of a toxic alga in 2010
Scientists have issued an outlook for a significant regional bloom of a toxic alga that can cause 'red tides' in the spring and summer of this year, potentially threatening the New England shellfish industry. This year's bloom could be similar to the major red tides of 2005 and 2008.
Marine spatial planning: A more balanced approach to ocean management
The old balkanized approach to ocean management, in which different resources and activities are governed by different laws and agencies, has failed to protect ocean ecosystems or reduce conflicts between ocean users, a panel of international scientists says. It should be replaced with a more balanced approach using marine spatial planning.
Endangered Species Research publishes theme section on biologging science
Biologging -- the use of miniaturized electronic tags to track animals in the wild -- has revealed previously unknown information about a wide variety of ocean animals. Biologging science is showing researchers how animals work in the furthest reaches of the ocean environs. A collection of papers on Biologging Science is being published in the scientific journal Endangered Species Research, which features a wide array of cutting-edge biologging research from around the world.
Ancient corals hold new hope for reefs
Fossil corals, up to half a million years old, are providing fresh hope that coral reefs may be able to withstand the huge stresses imposed on them by today's human activity. Reef ecosystems were able to persist through massive environmental changes imposed by sharply falling sea levels during previous ice ages, an international scientific team has found. This provides new hope for their capacity to endure the increasing human impacts forecast for the 21st century.
Understanding global climate change through new breakthroughs in polar research
Scientists have investigated the distribution and abundance of Antarctica's vast marine biodiversity with the Census of Antarctic Marine Life.
Barnacles prefer upwelling currents, enriching food chains in the Galapagos
The barnacle, a key thread in the marine food web, was thought to be missing along rocky coasts dominated by upwelling. Now a research team has found the opposite to be true: Barnacle populations thrive in vertical upwelling zones in moderately deep waters in the Galapagos Islands.
Giant plankton-eating fishes roamed prehistoric seas, fossil evidence shows
Giant plankton-eating fishes roamed the prehistoric seas for over 100 million years before they were wiped out in the same event that killed off the dinosaurs, new fossil evidence has shown.
Dolphin cognitive abilities raise ethical questions, says Emory neuroscientist
Many modern dolphin brains are significantly larger than those of humans and second in mass to the human brain when corrected for body size, says a scientist. Some dolphin brains exhibit features correlated with complex intelligence, including a large expanse of neocortical volume that is more convoluted than that of humans, extensive insular and cingulated regions, and highly differentiated cellular regions. This has ethical and policy considerations.
Climate change and coral reefs: Coral species has developed the 'skills' to cope with rising temperatures
Marine reserves are increasingly important for species that are being forced by climate change to move to a new home, adapt to new conditions or die. Biologists have now compared the relative benefits of large and small protected areas in perpetuating populations. Interestingly they have also found a coral species that has developed the "skills" to cope with rising temperatures.
Long-reigning microbe controlling ocean nitrogen shares the throne
Marine scientists long believed that a microbe called Trichodesmium, a member of a group called the cyanobacteria, reigned over the ocean's nitrogen budget.
How can accidental captures of loggerhead turtles be reduced?
Scientists have studied interactions between the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) and fishing gear such as longline hooks used at the water surface, mass beachings, and the effects of climate change on these animals. In order to reduce captures of this marine species without causing economic losses for fishermen, the scientists are proposing that fishing in the summer should only be carried out by night and in areas more than 35 nautical miles from land.
