Nekton are actively swimming aquatic organisms that can move independently of water currents, distinguished from plankton by their ability to control horizontal and vertical locomotion. This assemblage is defined functionally rather than taxonomically and includes many fishes, cephalopods, marine mammals, and some crustaceans. Nekton occupy diverse trophic levels, often serving as key meso- and top predators that structure food webs and mediate energy transfer between pelagic and benthic systems. Their population dynamics, migratory behavior, and physiological adaptations (e.g., buoyancy control, hydrodynamic body forms) are central topics in marine ecology, fisheries science, and ecosystem modeling.
New research from James Cook University has made the extraordinary discovery that epaulette sharks can reproduce and lay eggs without any measurable rise in energy use.
Plants & Animals
Jan 19, 2026
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238
A new study from the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science and the Marine Megafauna Foundation finds that young Caribbean manta rays (Mobula yarae) often swim with groups of other ...
Plants & Animals
Dec 15, 2025
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43
If you've ever wondered how and why "sucker fish" hitch a—usually—wild ride with a humpback whale on the move, new footage captured from camera-tagged whales reveals the secret lives of remoras, and just how dedicated these ...
Ecology
Nov 5, 2025
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48
In a surprising discovery, a new study reveals that among seven species of baleen whales, only the humpback is capable of the high-performance turns required for its signature bubble-net feeding strategy. The research, led ...
Plants & Animals
Aug 19, 2025
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114
A study published in the journal Oceans details the remarkable chance encounter between a group of citizen scientists on a snorkeling expedition in the Kvænangen fjords of Norway and a pair of killer whales (Orcinus orca).
Researchers have discovered the unique nanostructures responsible for the electric blue spots of the bluespotted ribbontail ray (Taeniura lymma), with possible applications for developing chemical-free coloration. The team ...
Nanomaterials
Jul 4, 2024
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