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Urban Sea Turtles
Green sea turtles usually make their homes in tropical waters, however there is a group of "odd ball turtles" that have turned an area of the San Gabriel River (more than a mile upstream from the beach) into their regular stomping grounds. Scientists are stumped by the behavior of the seven turtles that have been discovered living in this 100-yard-wide river channel at the Los Angeles County-Orange County line. Green sea turtles are an endangered species and date back as far as 30 million years. Green sea turtles usually make their homes in tropical waters, however there is a group of "odd ball turtles" that have turn... more
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Way to reveal the genesis of all life devised
A new way to reveal the genesis of all life, the deepest question in biology, has been devised by scientists.
Many experts believe that the first kinds of life depended on RNA, a more flexible kind of genetic material than the DNA that today carries genes for most life on Earth.
Now an American team proposes that a study be carried out of proteins that viruses and other parasites use to pirate DNA, and convert it into RNA, to reveal details of the kind of RNA genetic machinery that must have been present in the first life, which is estimated to have emerged about four billion years ago.
The team at The Pennsylvania State University, Penn State, focuses on proteins such as the enzyme reverse transcriptase, which is used by the Aids virus (written in RNA) to alter the DNA or genetic material of an infected cell to produce more virus particles.
There are many more examples, since half the human genetic code, previously thought to be meaningless junk, is actually composed of sequences for these related ancient proteins, called retroelements.
Aside from the reverse transcriptases of viruses, there are retrotransposons, which are virus like genetic elements that are thought to play a role in evolution by generating diversity in the genetic code, as well as telomerases, enzymes that play a basic role in the ageing of animals.
By tracking the similarities between these proteins, which sit at the boundary between the RNA world, and the one written in DNA, has the potential to trace the evolutionary histories of proteins all the way back to either cells or viruses, thus settling the debate once and for all over which of these life forms came first, RNA based or DNA based.
"We have just begun to tap the potential power of this method," said Dr Randen Patterson. "We believe, if it is possible at all, that it is within our grasp to determine whether viruses evolved from cells or vice-versa."
The new computational method is described in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and creates a tree-like diagram, called a phylogenetic tree, based on the retroelements' similarities to one another.
According to Dr Damian van Rossum, coauthor, the new method can be used in conjunction with the conventional method to get a clearer picture of the evolutionary histories of proteins. "The more independent measures you have, the better view of the world you can get," he said.
The tree provides evolutionary distance estimates and, hence, relationships among retroelements: the more similar they are, the more recent the common ancestor.
By the same token, a survey of the most distantly related retroelements could help them estimate the age and the function of the most ancient, perhaps even at the moment of genesis. A new way to reveal the genesis of all life, the deepest question in biology, has been devised by scientists. ... more -
Bottlenose dolphins may be attacking other species over food shortages
Bottlenose dolphins suffering from food shortages may be killing their sibling species to take out the competition, scientists have warned.
A series of dead porpoises and young bottlenose dolphins washed up the country's coastline have borne the animal's teeth marks.
But the appearance of the body of a rare baby Risso's dolphin on a beach in the Scilly Isles has raised fears that bottlenose dolphins may be becoming more aggressive in its desperate search for food.
The latest victim, which washed up in St Agnes, was young enough to still be dependent on its mother for nourishment and researchers believe it was killed by an adult predator.
Risso's dolphins have tall dorsal fins, extensively-scarred, almost stripy black bodies and blunt heads. They are often seen around Cornwall although not as frequently as bottlenose and common dolphins. It is the first time one has been linked with a fatal attack by bottlenoses.
The baby dolphin has been brought back to the mainland where it will undergo a post-mortem examination.
Jan Loveridge, volunteer co-ordinator for Cornwall Wildlife Trust's Marine Strandings Network, said: "Despite their friendly image bottlenose dolphins can be aggressive towards one another and on the rare occasion that we see a dead bottlenose wash ashore it often has rake or tooth marks inflicted by its own species.
"But we have recently begun to see an increase in the numbers of young and female harbour porpoise that have clearly been attacked by bottlenose dolphins and results from the post mortems carried out on these animals confirm this.
"The discovery of yet another species that has suffered from these attacks is of particular interest especially as it was so young.
"The motives for such attacks are unclear, although scientists have considered that competition for declining food stocks may trigger the behaviour."
Dr Peter Evans, director of Sea Watch Foundation, said the Risso's dolphin may simply have been mistaken for a porpoise.
"Risso's dolphins feed on things like squid and cuttlefish and octopus, which are rarely eaten by bottlenose dolphin, which feed predominantly on fish," he said.
"It was quite possible that it was quite vulnerable because of its size and was mistaken for a porpoise. Young Risso's look a bit like porpoises." Bottlenose dolphins suffering from food shortages may be killing their sibling species to take out the competition, scientists have wa... more -
Deep sea animals have human produced contaminants
"The fact that we detected a variety of pollutants in specimens collected from more than 3,000 feet deep is evidence that human-produced chemicals are reaching remote areas of the open ocean, accumulating in prey species, and therefore available to higher levels of marine life," says study coauthor Michael Vecchione. "Contamination of the deep-sea food web is happening, and it is a real concern."
Am I the only person who gets frustrated reading things like this based on studies that took years and thousands of dollars to publish reports, a 5 year old could have figured out, and still no action is being taken. "The fact that we detected a variety of pollutants in specimens collected from more than 3,000 feet deep is evidence that human-p... more -
Is there a solution to the "continent of plastic" that pollutes the Paci...
The UN Environment Program estimates that there are 46,000 pieces of plastic litter in every square mile of ocean, and a swirling vortex of trash twice the size of Texas has spawned in the North Pacific.
Plastic bags, once icons of customer convenience, cost more than 1.6 billion barrels of oil per year and leave the environment to foot the bill. Each year the world produces 500 billion bags, and they take up to 1,000 years to decompose. They take up space in landfills, litter our streets and parks, pollute the oceans and kill the wildlife that eat them.
Eco-friendly legislation that targets the production and distribution of plastic bags has been introduced in Israel, San Francisco, Ireland and China. Addiionally, a recent scientific discovery (see below) offers a potential long-term solution to the global plastic crisis.
Since stories have started surfacing more recently, many have wondered, if the rumors are true. Are there really 'continents', or massive floating garbage patches residing in the Pacific? Apparently, the rumors are true, and these unsightly patches are reportedly killing marine life and releasing poisons that enter the human food chain, as well. However, before you start imagining a plastic version of Maui, keep in mind that these plastic patches certainly aren't solid surfaced islands that you could build a house on! Ocean currents have collected massive amounts of garbage into a sort of plastic "soup" where countless bits of discarded plastic float intertwined just beneath the surface. Indeed, the human race has really made its mark. The enormous Texas-sized plastic patch is estimated to weigh over 3 million tons.
Follow the link for the Full Story The UN Environment Program estimates that there are 46,000 pieces of plastic litter in every square mile of ocean, and a swirling vort... more -
Seal tries sex with Penguin
A seal has been framed trying to have sex with a penguin. The roughly 240-pound seal subdued the 30-pound adult penguin by lying on it. The hapless bird of unknown sex struggled, rapidly flapping its flippers and attempting to stand and escape. A seal has been framed trying to have sex with a penguin. The roughly 240-pound seal subdued the 30-pound adult penguin by lying on it... more
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Disappearing sea plant
Check out the vanishing sea herb!
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First Ever Hexapod Discovered
"British marine experts have found what they claim is a world first -- a six-legged octopus, or 'hexapus,' whom they have christened Henry.
The unique sea creature, which has two limbs fewer than a normal octopus, is believed to be the result of a birth defect rather than an accident, say his keepers at the Blackpool Sea Life Centre in northwest England." "British marine experts have found what they claim is a world first -- a six-legged octopus, or 'hexapus,' whom they ha... more -
Texas Oil Reefs
A look at the abundance of life clinging to the legs of the oil platforms of the Gulf of Mexico. Shot in November 07 near Port Aransas, TX aboard the Orion. A look at the abundance of life clinging to the legs of the oil platforms of the Gulf of Mexico. Shot in November 07 near Port Aransa... more
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Reef Balls
"About 30% of the world's reefs have been destroyed in my lifetime," says the 43-year-old Mr. Barber. If current conditions continue, as many as 70% of the world's reefs could disappear within 50 years, according to NOAA. "About 30% of the world's reefs have been destroyed in my lifetime," says the 43-year-old Mr. Barber. If current condit... more
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He Sleeps With the Fishes
... Today, his remains are part of a concrete ball that helps make up an artificial reef seven miles southeast of Great Egg Inlet, where fish gather, plants grow and anglers fish. 'Green' Burials Try To Preserve Cycle of Life. ... Today, his remains are part of a concrete ball that helps make up an artificial reef seven miles southeast of Great Egg Inlet, whe... more
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New Sea Creatures Discovered
As our exploration of the deep sea continues we keep finding new and exciting creatures, like the ones most recently listed.
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