Brainy worms: Scientists uncover counterpart of cerebral cortex in marine worms Unexpectedly, scientists have now discovered a true counterpart of the cerebral cortex in an invertebrate, a marine worm. Their findings give an idea of what the most ancient higher brain centers looked like, and what our distant ancestors used them for.Read more: ScienceDaily: Marine Biology News

Snail mail beats phones to help feds sustain ample fish stocks in US coastal waters Snail mail might be the answer to help federal officials protect US coastal waters from overfishing. Anglers say the feds currently rely on questionable data from a home phone survey to calculate recreational fishing volume and decide which locales to place off limits so stocks can rebuild. A new study...

Seafood stewardship questionable, experts argue The world's most established fisheries certifier is failing on its promises as rapidly as it gains prominence, according to leading fisheries experts.Read more: ScienceDaily: Marine Biology News

Historic high seas declaration at risk Hamburg, Germany: Last minute reservations from four countries may sink the historic announcement of a network of marine protected areas over key areas of the mid-Atlantic Ridge and basin which was scheduled for the North-East Atlantic environment summit later this month. The declaration, foreshadowed...

Extensive relict coral reef found in southern Pacific Coral reefs are sensitive to climate change and track sea level. New observations show that an extensive coral reef existed in the southern Pacific Ocean thousands of years ago. Researchers used multi-beam sonar, coring, and dating to examine a relict reef discovered in water about 20-25 meters (65-82...

Marine animals suggest evidence for a trans-Antarctic seaway A tiny marine filter-feeder that anchors itself to the sea bed offers new clues to scientists studying the stability of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet -- a region that is thought to be vulnerable to collapse. Scientists analyzed sea-bed colonies of bryozoans from coastal and deep sea regions around the...

Researchers develop simulation to better understand the effects of sound on marine life A combination of the biology of marine mammals, mechanical vibrations and acoustics has led to a breakthrough discovery allowing scientists to better understand the potential harmful effects of sound on marine mammals such as whales and dolphins.Read more: ScienceDaily: Marine Biology News

Acidifying oceans spell bleak marine biological future 'by end of century', Mediterranean research finds A unique 'natural laboratory' in the Mediterranean Sea is revealing the effects of rising carbon dioxide levels on life in the oceans. The results show a bleak future for marine life as ocean acidity rises, and suggest that similar lowering of ocean pH levels may have been responsible for massive extinctions...

Octopus mimics flatfish and flaunts it The mimic octopus, which can imitate flatfish and sea snakes to dupe potential predators, may well be the king of impersonation. By creatively configuring its limbs, adopting characteristic undulating movements, and displaying conspicuous color patterns, the mimic octopus can successfully pass for a...

Scientists bring new species of turtle out of its shell When scientists announce the discovery of a new animal species, we often imagine exotic, difficult to reach locations -- the untouched shore of a distant island, the forests of the rain-drenched Amazon or the darkest depths of the Arctic Ocean. But the recent announcement of a new species of turtle in...

Tiny gulf sea creature could shed light on oil spill’s impact A molecular biologist will soon bring dozens of tiny, transparent animals that live in Gulf Coast waters back to his campus laboratory as part of an effort to better understand the oil spill's long-term impact on the coastal environment and creatures living there.Read more: ScienceDaily: Marine Biology...

Stressed Baltic faces uncontrolled growth Stockholm, Sweden:  The Baltic, one of the world's most stressed seas, faces uncontrolled growth in demands for space and resources over the next 20 years, according to WWF projections released this week.  Future trends in the Baltic Sea details many sectors growing several hundred per...

Cement, the glue that holds oyster families together Researchers have shown that oysters produce a unique adhesive material for affixing themselves to each other, a cement that differs from the glues used by other marine organisms.Read more: ScienceDaily: Marine Biology News

Coral off Puerto Rico's coast 'ideal case study' for Gulf oil spill's impact Coral living off the coast of Puerto Rico may provide researchers valuable information about the potential impact of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.Read more: ScienceDaily: Marine Biology News

Supercomputers help track species affected by Gulf oil spill To establish a baseline for measuring and predicting the biological impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, an ichthyologist and a biomedical informatics researcher are using supercomputer systems to help map data on the extent of the spill and chemicals and the distribution of various fish species.Read...