科学者チームが、サンゴ礁にはこれまで知られていなかった多くの微生物の多様なコミュニティが存在し、それらが医学やバイオテクノロジーに応用可能な化合物を生成していることを発見した。この研究結果は、太平洋全域にわたる大規模な調査によって明らかになったものである。
国際研究チームは、太平洋の32の島々に点在する99のサンゴ礁から採取されたマイクロバイオーム（微生物叢）のサンプルを調査した。その結果、645種の微生物のゲノムを再構築することに成功したが、その99パーセント以上がこれまで遺伝子的に記述されたことのない未知の種であった。これらの微生物はサンゴの宿主と密接に関係して生息しており、海洋の他の場所で記録されたものよりも広範な生合成遺伝子クラスターを有している。
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A mother-and-daughter duo of citizen scientists has uncovered the largest known coral colony on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, measuring 111 meters across and covering nearly 4,000 square meters. The J-shaped formation of Pavona clavus was found during a dive as part of the Great Reef Census initiative. Advanced 3D modeling confirmed its size, highlighting the role of community involvement in marine conservation.
New research indicates that rising ocean temperatures may benefit Nitrosopumilus maritimus, a microbe essential for marine nutrient cycles. This archaea adapts by using iron more efficiently in warmer, nutrient-poor conditions, potentially sustaining ocean productivity. The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggest these microbes could play a larger role in ocean chemistry amid climate change.
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A team of international researchers has accused the US government of hastening the collapse of coral reefs around Guam through military expansions and proposed rollbacks to the Endangered Species Act. In a letter published in Science this month, they highlight how national security priorities are overriding conservation efforts. Without changes, these reefs face functional extinction similar to those in Florida.
A study from New York University Abu Dhabi has identified nighttime hypoxia as a key stressor for coral reef fish in the Arabian Gulf. This low-oxygen condition at night adds to concerns over extreme heat in the region. The research emphasizes an overlooked environmental threat to marine life.
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Researchers at MIT have discovered chemical evidence in rocks over 541 million years old suggesting that ancient sea sponges were among Earth's first animals. The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, identify molecular fingerprints matching compounds from modern demosponges. This builds on earlier work and confirms the signals originate from biological sources rather than geological processes.