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.
Cyanobacterial blooms, like the ones that occur in Lake Geneva, are rapid, dense growths of photosynthetic bacteria in fresh and marine waters that can threaten the health of swimmers and their pets.
Environment
7 hours ago
0
6
Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus)—the world's biggest fish—are one of the most charismatic marine species. They connect with the hearts of anyone lucky enough to encounter them, making people deeply curious about their lives ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 25, 2026
0
378
Hyperiid amphipods are a small but anatomically diverse group of shrimp-like crustaceans with remarkable adaptations for life in the ocean's twilight zone. A team of researchers from MBARI, the Smithsonian National Museum ...
Evolution
Jul 15, 2026
0
50
New research reveals the unusual shape, size and pattern of the dermal denticles that cover basking sharks—thought to be unique to this species. Researchers propose that the shape and arrangement of the skin's scales protect ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 9, 2026
0
24
A night dive to study wild sharks that can walk on land has surfaced with something even rarer—a species unknown to science. "New shark species don't come along that often, and it's most definitely the first one named after ...
Plants & Animals
Jun 16, 2026
0
35
A young bottlenose dolphin has taken up residence in the waters of the French beach town of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, delighting locals and tourists while raising concerns about the animal's safety.
Ecology
May 26, 2026
0
112
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
0
239
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
0
44
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
0
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
0
115
