Decoding a decade of grouper grunts unlocks spawning secrets, shifts
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 13-Oct-2025 23:11 ET (14-Oct-2025 03:11 GMT/UTC)
Each winter, red hind groupers gather under the full moon, grunting low-frequency calls to attract mates and defend territory. But a 12-year underwater audio archive – one of the most extensive ever for a reef fish – reveals those calls are changing. Courtship sounds are fading, aggressive grunts are surging, and spawning patterns are shifting – potential signs of deeper population changes. These underwater signals aren’t just fish talk – they’re vital clues, helping scientists track change simply by listening.
Chitons are marine mollusks that can scrape off and feed on algae from rocky surfaces using their ultrahard magnetic teeth. Mechanisms that drive iron deposition in chiton teeth remain elusive. Now, researchers from Okayama University, Japan, have identified a novel protein, radular teeth matrix protein 1, that regulates the deposition of iron oxide on chiton teeth. Their findings uncover novel molecular insights in cellular iron metabolism and mineralization.
Published in Mycology, research by an international team details the isolation (guided by molecular networking and SMART), structural elucidation, and biological evaluations for metabolites from the marine-derived fungus Aspergillus sydowii LF51, including new enantiomers (±)-aspersydonol A (1a/1b), aspersydonol B (2), and 12 known analogs (3–14).
New study reveals that corals in the Gulf of Aqaba have withstood four consecutive and intensifying marine heatwaves, including the world’s most extreme 2024 event, without suffering mass bleaching — a resilience unmatched elsewhere. This is important because coral reefs globally are collapsing under rising ocean temperatures, threatening ecosystems and human livelihoods. The Gulf of Aqaba may represent one of the planet’s last natural refuges for reef survival, offering a crucial model for understanding resilience and underscoring the urgency of protecting this unique ecosystem before even it reaches its limits. New study reveals resilience of Red Sea corals in the face of intensifying climate threats.
The kelp forest is ephemeral, yet foundational. Fronds of this fast-growing giant seaweed come and go with the seasons, storms and waves, supporting communities of fish, invertebrates and even mammals wherever they emerge. As dynamic as they are in the ocean, kelp forests are also essential for its nearby shoreline communities, as fronds of this seaweed wash up on the beach, providing sustenance for invertebrates and serving as the foundation of beach food webs.
A new study has observed marine temperatures too hot for clownfish and anemones to survive, providing vital insight for conserving reef ecosystems.