Clownfish can’t adapt to rapid environmental changes
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Published: 26 November 2019
Clownfish lack the genetic ability to adapt to rapid climate change. Their survival depends heavily on the quality of their anemone habitat, making conservation of reef ecosystems critical to their future.
Keywords: clownfish, habitat loss, climate change, coral reefs, adaptation, WHOI
Whales may owe their efficient digestion to millions of tiny microbes
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Published: 4 December 2019
Whales digest wax esters—tough marine fats—efficiently thanks to gut microbes. These microbes help break down lipids from krill and copepods, revealing their vital role in whale nutrition and marine carbon cycling.
Keywords: whales, wax esters, gut microbes, digestion, WHOI
Underwater pile driving noise causes alarm responses in squid
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Published: 16 December 2019
Underwater pile driving noise triggers alarm behaviors in squid like inking and jetting, but they quickly habituate, possibly raising predation risk. Repeated exposure showed similar reactions, suggesting temporary memory of the noise.
Keywords: squid, pile driving, noise, behavior, habituation, WHOI
