The brains of beached bottlenose dolphins in Indian River Lagoon, Florida, show the presence of both cyanobacterial toxins and Alzheimer's-like neuropathology. The concentration of the cyanobacterial toxin 2,4-DAB is 2,900 times greater during cyanobacterial bloom season than other times of the year. During blooms, 536 different genes associated with Alzheimer's are expressed in the dolphin brains. Since dolphins are sentinels for marine toxic exposures, there may be implications of this discovery for human health.

Rising sand temperatures threaten hatchlings by skewing sex ratios and increasing deformities. But could this heat also impair their brains? In a first of its kind study, hatchlings were trained in a maze using visual cues to test their learning and ability. Surprisingly, even those from hotter nests showed no cognitive deficits. In some cases, they adapted to changes faster than they learned the original task. This unexpected behavioral flexibility offers a rare glimmer of hope for their survival in a rapidly changing world.

What processes have regulated climate over the course of Earth’s history? Researchers are addressing this question in the face of anthropogenic climate change. Dr. Dominik Hülse of MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences at the University of Bremen, and Dr. Andy Ridgwell of the University of California (USA) have uncovered a previously missing part of the puzzle in describing the global carbon cycle and climate regulation. In a new issue of the professional journal Science, they introduce an expanded Earth System model that shows how global warming can be overcorrect into an ice age.

A study published in Science China Earth Sciences (Issue 9, 2025) has quantitatively reconstructed changes in nitrate availability in the Early Triassic ocean by systematically integrating global nitrogen isotope records and applying a nitrogen cycle box model. The research reveals significant temporal evolution and spatial variability in nitrate availability during this period. By correlating multiple paleoenvironmental proxies, the study uncovers the underlying mechanisms of the evolution of nitrate availability and suggests that prolonged nitrate depletion likely played a key role in delaying the recovery of marine ecosystems after the end-Permian mass extinction. These findings provide new insights into the processes governing ecosystem recovery following major extinction events, offering a clearer understanding of past environmental challenges.

New tool combines 360° video with spatial audio recording to accurately identify fish through sound.

Recordings are the most extensive bank of natural fish sounds published to date, including many sounds that have never been identified.

These sounds can be used to interpret soundscapes to monitor the health of threatened coral reefs to a new level of detail.

The project will transform sponge restoration in Florida Bay using advanced genetic tools to build ecological resilience. By analyzing genetic diversity in four key sponge species, the research aims to strengthen restoration efforts that currently rely on clonal transplants with limited adaptive potential. This marks the first genetic assessment of sponge recovery in the region, with broad implications for ecosystem health and fisheries. Sponges are essential to water quality, habitat structure, and the survival of economically important species like the spiny lobster.