Ocean's Oasis’ Post

Meet the Shorthorned pygmy devil ray! 🌊 Shorthorned pygmy devil rays (Mobula kuhlii), with their triangular pectoral fins and relatively short cephalic fins, are extremely agile. These pygmy devils feed individually or in small shoals of 5-15 individuals (sometimes up to 50+ though) on swarms of mysid shrimps or larval fish fry. 🗒️ This species is not frequently encountered in fishery surveys outside of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Mozambique. However, because most survey efforts across the range of this nearshore species focuses on pelagic fisheries, landing by artisanal coastal fisheries are likely to be under-reported. Overall, an increase in fisheries data and key life history information for this species throughout its range means its status on the IUCN’s Red List of threatened species is defined as Endangered. Key Features: 🌊 Variable hues dorsally, from mauve, through dark to light grey and chocolate brown. 🌊 Dark ‘collar’ in half-moon shape from side to side above spiracles. 🌊 Pale grey stripe runs along the anterior dorsal margin of pectoral fins. 🌊 Often possessing a white-tipped dorsal fin. 🌊 Short-necked appearance 📸 Miriam Staiger #DevilRay #MantaTrust #Research #Conservation #MarineBiology #MarineConservation

🦈The short fin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) is currently assessed as Endangered, according to the IUCN Redlist (2018), and Critically Endangered in the Mediterranean Sea. ~ 🍖This shark is fished for human consumption. Fins, meat, liver, jaws are used. The meat of the mako is considered of high quality. ~ 🎣 The mako shark is caught as bycatch and also as targeted species. It can be fished with gillnets, longlines, purse seine, trawls. ~ 🌊The mako sharks are listed in the Appendix II of the CMS (Convention on Migratory Species), and in the Appendix II of the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species). Moreover, according to the GFCM (General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean Sea), the mako shark cannot be retained and has to be released, if caught. ~ 💪The implementation of these laws is too slow. Spain is one the world's main country that fishes the mako shark and exports it. The mako might also be fished in the Mediterranean Sea, and sold, but without controls, it is difficult to prove. People consume this shark, often not knowing it, as mislabeled or not labels at all. ~ #adrishark #makoshark #abreakformakos #marinebiology #sharks

The 🐂 Aurochs effect is coming to the Scottish Highlands, enter the Tauros. This extinct ancestor of all modern cattle, the last Aurochs was thought to have left the UK landscape around 4000 years ago most likely through habitat loss hunting and displacement by their domestic counterparts. However in mainland Europe the last record is thought to be from Poland in the 17th century. "Since the early 2000s, scientists in the Netherlands have sought to bring aurochs back to life by interbreeding ancient cattle breeds that are genetically closest to the aurochs. This has been aided by the first sequencing of the aurochs’ complete genome, in 2011. Tauros have been “back-bred” to genetically replicate, resemble and behave like aurochs as closely as possible." The functional effect of large herbivores in the landscape can't be understated and it will be exciting to follow this introduction on the Dundreggan estate. #rewilding #grazing #naturebasedsolutions #naturerecovery https://lnkd.in/eN9z87rV

Seabass fish with salad Seabass fish are fascinating creatures! Here are some interesting facts about them: 1. **Wide Distribution**: Seabass can be found in oceans around the world, inhabiting both temperate and tropical waters. 2. **Size Variability**: They come in various sizes, with some species growing as small as a few inches, while others can reach several feet in length. 3. **Popular in Cuisine**: Seabass is a popular choice in seafood cuisine due to its delicate flavor and firm texture. 4. **Protandrous Hermaphrodites**: Many seabass species are protandrous hermaphrodites, meaning they start as males and may later transition to females as they grow older. 5. **Ecological Importance**: Seabass play a crucial role in marine ecosystems as both predators and prey, helping to maintain the balance of the food chain. 6. **Aquaculture**: Some species of seabass, such as the European seabass, are commonly farmed in aquaculture due to their commercial value and relatively fast growth rates. 7. **Long Lifespan**: Depending on the species, seabass can have long lifespans, with some individuals living for several decades. 8. **Behavior**: Seabass are often solitary or found in small groups, and they are known for their ability to camouflage themselves among rocks and other underwater structures. These are just a few highlights of the many interesting aspects of seabass fish!

What is nature based solutions? Using living organisms such as plants, animals and microorganisms, instead of chemicals and machines, for solving the problems of man, are the nature based solutions. How to develop nature based solutions? 1. Rating and ranking of the plant, animal and microorganism species of the world, on the basis of their ecosystem services (provisioning, regulating and cultural). 2. Breeding of the top plant, animal and microorganism species for development of better varieties.

*Unusual breeding site of frog* In a study, biologists have uncovered a remarkable and worrying shift in the breeding behaviour of the Andamanese Charles Darwin’s frog (Minervarya charlesdarwini), a species endemic to the Andaman Islands of India.The study revealed that these frogs are increasingly using artificial objects as breeding sites, such as plastic sapling bags, and human trash comprising discarded plastic, glass, and metal containers. This shift is likely a response to the loss and fragmentation of forest habitats, forcing the frogs to adapt to the rapidly changing environment on these small islands.However, breeding in these unnatural sites poses significant risks to the frogs' survival and development. Without sustained protection of its forest habitat and management practices ensuring suitable microhabitats, the number of Charles Darwin’s frogs would likely shrink, increasing its extinction risk.(Source TOI) #UnusualBreedingSite #Frog #BreedingBehaviour #Andaman #ArtificialObjects #PlasticSaplingBags #HumanTrash #MetalContainers #HabitatFragmentation #Environment #Island #UnnaturalSites #Microhabitats #Extinction

Suspicions confirmed as we document #invasive red-eared #slider successfully breeding in Romania (alongside several other European countries). In this NEW paper we describe their nesting ecology at a site near the Black Sea and argue that successful breeding means the management of invasive pond sliders in Romania needs to switch from passive to active. Allowing abundant non-native slider populations of multiple species to persist in various wetland sites in the country in the hope that they will naturally die out in time is not a realistic option if they reproduce in the wild. We also highlight that the #terrapin #importban in the EU has simply shifted the pet trade focus on other terrapin species and subspecies, some of significant establishment risk and many of which are now also illegally abandoned in nature by previous owners. Open Access https://lnkd.in/ekvPxE8e

#PacificFisheries | 🐙𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐮𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧? It is likely that we are currently underestimating the value of octopus fisheries in the Pacific. National studies emphasise their contributions to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), but we don’t often get the full picture. To improve the management of octopus fisheries in the Pacific, we need to increase knowledge about the stock status of octopuses in the Pacific. And we need data: ▶️ length, ▶️ weight, ▶️ maturity status ▶️ age 👇This neatly detailed and illustrated article outlines protocols to gather data and to build our understanding of octopus biology, ecology and identification. So you can get involved too if you are interested in this area! Read the article👉 https://bit.ly/3zSHoNm Full access of the SPC Fisheries Newsletter👉 https://bit.ly/FNL174

🐟🌊 So... why fish? The underwater world has always captivated me. It might be my scientific curiosity 🧐 driving me to delve deeper into the mysteries of these enigmatic creatures, often silent and seemingly expressionless. What fascinates me even more are their evolutionary traits—perfectly adapted to the aquatic environment 🌍, their diverse reproductive and survival strategies 🐣, and the sheer variety that exists beneath the surface. Despite the critical roles they play in ecosystems, many species remain poorly understood, presenting vast potential for research. Understanding these creatures better helps us to address future challenges and unlocks the potential of aquaculture as a sustainable 🌱 and healthy protein source. So really, the question isn't "Why fish?" but rather "Why NOT fish?" 🤷♂️ Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday! 😊🌟 #MarineBiology #Aquaculture #Sustainability #ScienceCommunication

Consequences of a warming ocean • Loss of breeding grounds on land and at sea • Impacts on breeding successes • Changes in foraging strategies • Sex ratio shifts • Seasonality shifts leading to mismatches in prey and predator occurrences • Poleward movement of fish shifting from 10s to 100s of km per decade • Species invasions and local extinctions • Shifts in community structure • Shifts in fishing grounds of target species • Reduction in the physical size of species in response to food and nutrient limitations • Reduction in size of fish leading to reduced fecundity, altered trophic interactions and decreased sheries yield • Potential increases in bycatch when overlaps of distributions of target and non-target species increases • Whole marine ecosystem shifts as species respond to shifting boundaries in ocean temperature and decoupling of community structure In Europe researchers found “a highly statistically significant relationship” between the number of asylum applications logged by the EU and average temperatures in the maize growing regions of countries like Pakistan. https://buff.ly/432Eb7W What is evident from recent research is that the ocean is already too warm (Figure 10) and tending towards acidic conditions that are too much for so…