Marine biology is the scientific discipline that investigates the biology of organisms inhabiting marine and brackish environments, encompassing molecular to ecosystem scales. It examines physiological, genetic, and behavioral adaptations to saline conditions, pressure, light regimes, and hydrodynamics, as well as population dynamics, trophic interactions, and biogeochemical roles of marine taxa from microbes to megafauna. Marine biologists employ field surveys, experimental manipulations, remote sensing, and omics-based approaches to quantify biodiversity patterns, primary production, nutrient cycling, and responses to natural and anthropogenic stressors, thereby informing ecosystem modeling, conservation strategies, and management of living marine resources.
On a spit of sand 12 miles north of Santa Cruz, a small, emaciated sea lion lay on its side. The only sign of life was the deep press of its flippers against its belly, relaxing for a few seconds, then squeezing again.
Ecology
Oct 6, 2025
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50
One of the most heartbreaking occurrences for nature lovers is to discover a beached marine mammal such as a dolphin or whale. If the animal is still alive, marine biologists assisted by citizen volunteers try to protect ...
Plants & Animals
Oct 2, 2025
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47
Snailfish living in deep-sea trenches in the Pacific and Indian oceans may have wider geographic distributions than previously thought, according to a researcher at The University of Western Australia.
Plants & Animals
Sep 30, 2025
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19
A Mexican marine biologist was seriously injured after he was attacked by a shark while working off Costa Rica's Pacific coast and transferred to a hospital in the country's capital on Monday, authorities said.
Plants & Animals
Sep 30, 2025
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21
An undersea submersible has spotted crabs, worms and fish thriving on the surfaces of World War II explosives thought to be toxic to marine life.
Ecology
Sep 28, 2025
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76
More marine life is living on some World War II munitions disposed of on the Baltic Sea's seabed than on the sediment surrounding it. The findings, reported in a paper in Communications Earth & Environment, show that some ...
Plants & Animals
Sep 25, 2025
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46
Vibrio vulnificus, a bacterium that is potentially very dangerous to humans, is a natural component of marine plankton. The Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW) has now presented the first comprehensive ...
Ecology
Sep 24, 2025
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29
They are beautiful, they are everywhere, and they are absurdly unknown: you are entirely forgiven if you've never heard of foraminifera before. But they play a huge role in the functioning of marine ecosystems, and they are ...
Plants & Animals
Sep 23, 2025
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106
Scientists observing from boats knew little of the underwater behavior of the world's smallest marine dolphin, the Hector's dolphin.
Plants & Animals
Sep 19, 2025
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141
Underwater cameras around the Isles of Scilly have given scientists a glimpse of how sea life can thrive in well-protected U.K. waters.
Plants & Animals
Sep 12, 2025
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43
