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Category Archives: Invertebrates
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Naval Jellyfish Coming to an Ocean Near You
In a $5 million dollar muilti-university project Virginia Tech University unveiled a life-sized robotic jellyfish late last month. Funded by the U.S. Naval Undersea Warfare and The Office of Naval Research the project was developed to explore ocean environments as well possible surveillance activities and other Naval operations. Dubbed “Cyro” (a derivative of cynea and robot) the 5 foot 7 inch 170 pound prototype of cyanea capillatta better known as the Lions Mane jellyfish, is completely autonomous and fully robotic. Modeled after the smaller “Robojelly” released early in 2012 Cyro is constructed of a rigid metal frame and a silicon body allowing it to mimic the natural movements of jellyfish. Alex Villanueva of St-Jacques, New-Brunswick, Canada, a doctoral student in mechanical engineering working under Priya on the subject: “A larger vehicle will allow for more payload, longer duration and longer range of operation, biological and engineering results show that larger vehicles have a lower cost of transport, which is a metric used to determine how much energy is spent for traveling.” Years away from testing in open ocean waters Cyro “showed its ability to swim autonomously while maintaining a similar physical appearance and kinematics as the natural species,” Priya said, adding “the operation in shallow water conditions is already a big step towards demonstrating the use of these creatures.” Read more here!… More:
Live bomb found in squid!
Possibly the best headline ever has been repeated across the web thanks to a fishmonger gutting a squid at his market stall in southern China who found the device inside a squid he was gutting.… More:
Posted in Funny, Invertebrates
Tagged 20cm, cephalopod, fishmonger, prawns, web thanks
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Treasure Trove of New Species Found in PNG
Researchers from the NOVA Southeastern University in Hollywood Florida, have uncovered a huge collection of previously unidentified marine taxon. “In the Madang Lagoon, we went a half mile out off the leading edge of the active Australian Plate and were in 6,000 meters of water,” said Jim Thomas, Ph.D., a researcher at Nova Southeastern University’s National Coral Reef Institute in Hollywood, Fla. Thomas led a team into the waters of Papua New Guinea (PNG) consisting of researchers from the Scripps Institute of Oceanography in San Diego, the California Academy of Sciences, and the National Botanical Gardens of Ireland. 
“It was once believed there were no reefs on the north coast of Papua New Guinea since there were no shallow bays and lagoons typical of most coral reef environments. But there was lots of biodiversity to be found” said Thomas. During a 3 week expedition, and joined by a contingent of French scientists from the Paris Museum of Natural History, the team was able to collect new species from the family of sea slugs (nudibranchs), feather stars (crinoids) and amphipods (genus Leucothoe). Ending late last year the study produced a “profound bounty” that will be further studied and categorized. Read more here!… More:
Posted in Conservation, Corals, Fish, Invertebrates, Science, Uncategorized
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MBI Hits 1000!
Since the Marine Breeding Initiative (MBI) was started in 2009 its goal has been to share breeding information openly and to award breeders for their accomplishments. Breeders create journals on the MBI site to keep track of their work with specific broodstock pairs. As breeders progress they can submit reports for several milestone events including: spawn, hatch, settlement, and 60 days Post-settlement. Each report is reviewed by the MBI Council and Report Review Board and must be approved by three people from that group before points are awarded. Late in the evening of March 16, 2013 the 1000th report was approved! The 1000th report was for the hatch of sea slug, Elysia diomedea, eggs by MBI breeder Gordon Greenley. Gordon’s breeding journal can be seen here: http://www.mbisite.org/Forums/tm.aspx?m=80762&high= Congratulations to Gordon for having the 1000th approved report and thanks to all of the breeders that have openly shared their breeding information as well as to the members of the MBI Council and Report Review board for all of their work. If you’d like to learn more about captive breeding please visit the MBI site: http://www.mbisite.org/Default.aspx The MBI will also be hosting the 4th Annual Marine Breeder’s Workshop in July: http://www.mbiworkshop.com/… More:
Posted in Invertebrates
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Cobalt Aquatics Makes Quite the Splash
A lot of new products and a lot of new coral will be showcased at this years MACNA but one company is hitting the ground running with a complete line of saltwater related products before the event even gets started. From foods to canister filters Cobalt Aquatics has been slowly leaking products and product info over the past couple of months with each leak wetting the pallet of many aquarists. Now a distribution schedule has finally come to fruition: Shipping from Cobalt week of April 1st
- Discus “Hans” Flake
- Mysis Flake
- Mysis Spirulina Flake Shipping from Cobalt week of April 8th
- Neo-Therm 150 watt Heater
- Neo-Therm 200 watt Heater
- Neo-Stat 300 watt Temperature Controller
- Neo-Therm Heater working “POP” display Shipping from Cobalt week of April 29th
- Discus “Hans” Pellet
- Mysis Pellet
- Mysis Spirulina Pellet
- Marine Vegi Flake and Pellet Food
- Marine Omni Flake and Pellet Food Shipping from Cobalt week of June 1st
- E-X-T Canister Filter (and media)
- E-X-T inline Pump
- Oxy-Pro Air Pump
- Neo-Flow DC Circulating Pump
- Duo-Filter LED-UV (and media)
- Micro-UV 3w The Cobalt Aquatics Vision Statement: On April 26th, 2011 Viral Surati, Randy Parham and Les Wilson set off for the adventure of a lifetime. The three hardcore fishgeeks set off to create an aquatics company of their own. Based in the values instilled in them by mentors of company’s past and lessons learned from a lifetime of fish keeping, Cobalt Aquatics and it sister brand Cobalt Pond were formed. Starting with a line of koi food proudly made in the USA and Equipment made in Italy, Cobalt Aquatics will always strive to bring the highest quality products to market. Check them out here!… More:
Posted in Corals, Equipment, Fish, Industry, Invertebrates, Seahorses, Tanks, Uncategorized
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Australian Clams Descend From Single Genetic Line
Researchers at the University of Michigan have found another piece to the evolutionary puzzle through studying clams along the rocky Australian coast. An infrequent climatic event coupled with the unique underwater geography of the Australian coast provided the necessary conditions for three species of clam to diverge from one single ancestral line more than 13 or 14 million years ago, says researchers from the University of Michigan. Using the massive climate event called the middle Miocene climate transition, the authors suggest that during this time the Australian coast was split into different environmental zones with very different conditions. This change caused the split of one ancestral line of clam into four genetically different species. 
The Australian southern coast has three evolutionary distinct collections of marine taxon known as biogeographic provinces, and within each province species can vary morphologically as well as genetically. Co-author Diarmaid O’Foighil on the three members of clam currently classified as Lasaea australis: ”You cannot tell them apart physically, but their genes indicate that their evolutionary divergence predates that of humans from chimpanzees.” Further strengthening their findings, “This study provides important clues about how marine regional biotas can evolve, including our observation that these processes can involve major global climate change modulated by local geography,” Jingchun Li, lead author of the report and a doctoral student in the U-M Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Read more here!… More:
Posted in Invertebrates, Science, Too Cute
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Underwater Photographer Mixes Miniature Figurings with Marine Life
Photographer Jason Isley is forging new ground with his latest session where he mixes miniature figurings from beach goers to army soldiers with live marine fauna. The interactive portrayals create scenes that seem like they are from Hollywood; with giant hermit crabs pursuing beach goers and a lady watering Christmas tree worms Jason’s photos are extremely captivating. Check out the series and other links to Jason’s work here! 
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Posted in Corals, Fish, Funny, Industry, Invertebrates, Photography, Too Cute
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Clownfish assist in Anemone Respiration
Anemones and anemone fish have long had a relationship based on things like protection and sustenance but the findings recently published by Dr. Joe Szczebak from Auburn University have provided a more intimate connection. Joe’s studies include researching the respiratory capacities of corals and due to the lack of photosynthesis occurring during the nighttime he found that some corals need a little help breathing while they sleep. Finding that the most common of anemone fish, the “Clownfish,” was active more than 80% of the night implies that the constant movement provides oxygen to both host and hostess. Dr. Szczebak’s findings conflict with current understandings that clownfish remain passive at night to avoid predation. 
Joe summarizes his findings: “Many stony coral-dwelling fishes exhibit adaptations to deal with hypoxia among the branches of their hosts; however, no information exists on the respiratory ecophysiology of obligate fish associates of non-coral organisms such as sea anemones and sponges. This study investigated metabolic and behavioral interactions between two-band anemonefish (Amphiprion bicinctus) and bulb-tentacle sea anemones (Entacmaea quadricolor) at night. We measured the net dark oxygen uptake (
, μmol O2 h−1) of fish–anemone pairs when partners were separate from each other, together as a unit, and together as a unit but separated by a mesh screen that prevented physical contact. We also measured the effects of water current on sea anemone 
and quantified the nocturnal behaviors of fish in the absence and presence of host anemones in order to discern the impacts of anemone presence on fish behavior. Net 
of united pairs was significantly higher than that of both separated pairs and united pairs that were separated by a mesh screen. Anemone 
increased with flow rate from 0.5 to 2.0 cm s−1, after which 
remained constant up to a water flow rate of 8.0 cm s−1. Furthermore, the percentage time and bout frequency of flow-modulating behaviors by fish increased significantly when anemones were present. We conclude that physical contact between anemonefish and sea anemones elevates the 
of at least one of the partners at night, and anemonefish behavior at night appears to oxygenate sea anemone hosts and to augment the metabolism of both partners.” Read the full text study here!… More:
Posted in Conservation, Corals, Fish, Industry, Invertebrates, Science, Too Cute, Uncategorized
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Trop-Aquarium of Santa Cruz California Robbed
Last night my local fish store Trop-Aquarium of Santa Cruz California was broken into and robbed amongst the shooting of two local police officers. Thieves broke in through the front door of the establishment and went to a location where small amounts of cash were held for making change and paying vendors. Trop-Aqaurium and I ask anyone with information to please contact the local authorities or the local fish store directly. Trop-Aquarium of Santa Cruz1325 Mission St
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Phone: (831) 429-1242
Email: tropaquarium@yahoo.com 
… More:
Posted in Corals, Equipment, Fish, Industry, Invertebrates, Opinion, Tanks, Uncategorized
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The tale of a sea slug and its ‘disposable penis’
A sea slug that is able to detach, re-grow and then re-use its penis has surprised scientists. Japanese researchers observed the bizarre mating behaviour in a species called Chromodoris reticulata, which is found in the Pacific Ocean. They believe this is the first creature known that can repeatedly copulate with what they describe as a “disposable penis”.… More:
Posted in Invertebrates, Science
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Californian Fishroom Breeding of Rare Octopus
In the spare bedroom of a Californian home lies one of the rarest species of octopus just waiting to be reared. Richard Ross, a well known biologist from the Californian Academy of Sciences, is attempting to breed a species of octopus so rare it doesn’t even have a scientific name applied to it yet. In a barebottom 100 gallon acrylic aquarium Richard houses two females and three males. You might be wondering, with the cannibalistic nature of cephalopod mating behaviors, why Richard is keeping this large a group in one aquarium. That is because this particular species has been observed to be a communal and can “cohabitate in pairs, the females can lay clutches of eggs again and again, and they sometimes share the same den, while groups of them are reported to live in colonies of 40 or more individuals” said UC Berkeley Dr. Roy Caldwell one of Richards’ colleagues on the project.
Pic courtesy of sfgate.com
The temporary name given is the Larger Pacific Striped Octopus, however, the species tends to stay relatively small in comparison to other larger octopuses. These golfball sized octopuses have proved to be a bit of a mystery for Richard and his team over the past couple years as they have yet to successfully find a feeding preference for the hatchlings. Read more here!… More:
Posted in Conservation, Industry, Invertebrates, Science, Tanks, Too Cute
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New Study Shows Herbivorous Fish are Cereal Eaters
Reefs throughout the world are quickly becoming endangered with threats such as the crown of thorns, and in this case, algae that can proliferate too quickly suffocating other inhabitants such as coral. The threat of algae proliferation is becoming more and more of a factor as fishing all around the world has increased dramatically over the past 20 years and the removal of herbivorous fish that can naturally regulate algae growth is allowing some species of algae to grow out of control. Using underwater filming techniques researchers from Georgia Tech have discovered some herbivorous fish can be quite particular eaters, spelling yet another danger for recovering reefs. “Of the nearly 30 species of bigger herbivores on the reef, there were four that were doing almost all of the feeding on the seven species of seaweeds that we studied,” said Mark Hay a professor in the School of Biology at the Georgia Institute of Technology. “We did not see much overlap in the types of seaweed that each herbivore ate. Therefore, if any one of these four species was removed, that would potentially allow some macroalgae to proliferate.” “The patterns [of consumption] were remarkably consistent among the reefs in terms of which fish were responsible for removing the seaweed,” said Rasher. “Because different seaweeds use different defense strategies to deter herbivores from eating them, a particular mix of fish – each adapted to a particular type of seaweed – is needed to keep seaweeds off the reef.” Using a technique that is quite interesting the scientist were able to induce the particularity of consumption across species lines by removing a chemical indicator from one type of seaweed fish were attracted to, and then applying that signature to a different type of seaweed. This technique implies algae may emit a chemical signal warding off predators. Hoping to discuss their findings with local tribes fishermen, the team would like to limit fishing of the most important herbivorous fish. “Not fishing is really not an option for people in these communities,” Rasher said. “Giving the village leadership an idea of which species are essential to reef health and what they can do to manage fisheries effectively is something we can do to help them maintain a sustainable reef food system.” Read more here!… More:
Posted in Conservation, Corals, Fish, Invertebrates, Photography, Science, Seahorses
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