Marine biology

How a BGU researcher is manipulating crustaceans to protect the environment – and fight disease

Ben-Gurion University’s Prof. Amir Sagi is creating monosex crustacean populations to transform agriculture and protect ecosystems

A wild-type crustacean in molecular research at the Sagi Laboratory at BGU
The center cares for injured sea turtles, and works to rehabilitate sea turtle populations. Erez Erlichman, Israel Nature and Parks AuthorityPremiumPremium

450 female green sea turtles left in the Mediterranean – 27 of them chose Israel

Sea turtle rescued from fishing lines off the coast of Caesarea.

Marine researchers rescue sea turtle tangled in fishing line off the coast of Caesarea

 A free-diver swims next to Sandbar sharks in the Mediterranean sea near the northern Israeli coastal city of Hadera, on December 30, 2022.

'I noticed two shadows in the water': Two sharks spotted at Beit Yanai Beach


Chaos theory can be used to detect diving patterns in marine life - study

After monitoring an electronically tagged narwhal for 83 days, researchers noticed irregular diving and surface resting behavior.

 Narwhal (illustrative).

Meet the epaulette shark - the only shark species that can walk

Epaulettes have adapted and developed an ability to walk on land which helps them hunt for food in places other sharks cannot reach.

 Epaulette shark.

Scientists discover new species of mysterious deep-sea creatures

Bathynomus, a group of isopods that live in the deepest parts of the ocean, is distantly related to decapods, such as shrimp, crabs and lobsters.

Bathynomus

What could sea creatures teach us about engineering?

A new Technion study looks at how marine organisms produce hard tissues from the materials available to them, and under harsh and hostile conditions.

Eilat's Coral Beach Nature Reserve has stunning reefs and an abundance of marine and fish life.

New feeding spot for humpback whales discovered near South Africa

Whups, grumbles, whup-grumbles and tonals are the names of some of the whale calls picked up by researchers and serve as clues to understand the area's significance.

A humpback whale is seen breaching the water.

A small whiskered world: Facial hair across the animal kingdom

Which animals have facial hair, like whiskers or a mustache, and what do they do with it?

Cheerio the cat died in 2021 after living his life in a loving home, a fate millions of cats do not get to experience.

Sandbar sharks travel furthest than ever tracked

Sandbar sharks are known to have traveled to Cyprus and Egypt, but they were recently tracked in Sicily.

 Sandbar sharks

Marine protected areas harmed by overfishing, human pressures - TAU Study

The Tel Aviv University study pointed to a strong “edge effect” in MPAs, i.e. a sharp 60% reduction in the fish population living at the edges of the MPA compared to core areas.

“EDGE EFFECT” HARMS MARINE PROTECTED AREAS

Whales engage in social and cultural learning, study indicates

“We know that whales and dolphins are incredibly intelligent and must have complex social lives."

Carcasses of hunted Pilot whales lay on the quay in Jatnavegur, Faroe Islands

Sperm whale spotted off Israeli coast in rare sighting - watch

Steps are being taken to ensure that the whale was not harmed by the oil spill that brought tar to Israel's shores.

gray whale 311