Follow MBARI on social media

When you realize you've been calling your neighbor the wrong name for years! 😱⁠ ⁠ A new paper is helping to clarify the names of the often misidentified little red jellies seen around Monterey Bay. ⁠ ⁠The researchers combed through MBARI’s database of video from ROV dives to find all of the little red jellies of Monterey Bay and determine which species were which. Then they used MBARI ROVs to capture additional video footage of the red jellies and collect a number of specimens for genomic analysis to confirm their true identities.⁠ ⁠ Though their similar appearances did pose a challenge, it was still possible to distinguish the species from one another based on their shape and form. The researchers validated nine species in Monterey Bay. This one falls into the genus Crossota. Jellies in this group sometimes boast wild-looking tentacles akin to exploding fireworks and swim via strong pulses followed by a peaceful drift.⁠ ⁠ #MBARI #deepsea #sealife #jellyfish

Count the little red jellies! ⁠ ⁠ MBARI biologist George Matsumoto is one of the researchers untangling the complicated red-jelly family tree. In this month’s issue of Frontiers in Marine Science, Matsumoto and his colleagues present a key to help scientists tell these look-alike species apart through their physical differences, depth distribution, and behavior. As the jellies were described (given scientific names) over the years, scientists corrected each other and renamed the species several times. The family tree became so convoluted that even experts were getting confused. Based on their identifications and analysis, the researchers created a new, tentative genetic tree for the little red jellies. But there are probably many new species still to be found outside of Monterey Bay.⁠ ⁠ Read more about this story on our website (link in bio). ⁠ ⁠ #MBARI #deepsea #sealife #jellyfish

A case of mistaken identity! A new paper is helping to clarify the names of the often mis-identified little red jellies seen around Monterey Bay. ⁠ ⁠ Little red jellies are common near the deep seafloor in Monterey Bay and around the world. Most of them are small—less than five centimeters (two inches) across—and a ruddy red color, but we know little else about them. Though MBARI researchers have observed them for decades, their role in the food web, what they eat, and what eats them, still largely remain mysteries. Now scientists are finding that even their evolution and relation to one another are probably incorrect.⁠ Read more about their most recent work on our website (link in bio). ⁠ ⁠ #MBARI #deepsea #ocean #oceanlife #jellyfish #deepsealife #underwaterphotography #marinebiology #wildlife #littleredjellies #research #MontereyBay

Last month, MBARI researchers discovered thousands of mysterious holes or pits on the deep seafloor off the coast of Big Sur. A closer look at these micro-depressions revealed a variety of objects like rocks, kelp holdfasts, bones, and lots of trash and fishing gear. ⁠ ⁠ Surprisingly large amounts of discarded trash end up in the ocean. Plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and fishing debris not only clutter our beaches but accumulate in open-ocean areas and along the seafloor. This footage was recorded at 985 meters (3,231 feet) deep, and most of the micro-depressions contained some kind of debris. The best solution to keep our trash out of the ocean and away from these seafloor habitats is to reduce our reliance on single-use, throw away items. Recycling, reusing, and properly disposing of trash items will help to keep litter from ever entering the ocean.⁠ ⁠ MBARI researchers are continuing their study of these interesting features to learn more about them. Read more on our website (link in bio). ⁠ #MBARI #deepsea #sealife #ocean #wildlife #mareindebris #pollution #oceanpolluiton #litter #oceanplastic #singleuseplastic #underwatervideo #reducereuserecyclerefuse

It's just another MARS Monday. ⁠ ⁠ The MARS observatory is connected to shore through a 52-kilometer (32-mile) seafloor cable that acts as a giant extension cord. At the end of this cable is a “science node” with eight ports that provide electrical power and a high-speed data connection between the observatory and instruments on the seafloor. Unfortunately, the waterproof power and data connectors used on MARS can cost up to $50,000 dollars each. This means that, historically, only well-funded researchers have been able to use the observatory. MBARI engineers have developed a new system, the Deep-Sea Connect, that addresses this issue and provides a low-cost alternative to connect deep-sea instruments. Read more on our website (link in bio). ⁠ ⁠ #MBARI #MARS #deepsea #ocean #underwatervideo #nature #explore #science #exploremore #wildlife⁠ ⁠#technology #techielife⁠

Breaking news: We believe that this tiny crab was indeed trying to hide from Monday. #wefeelyou⁠ ⁠ During ROV dives in the Monterey Bay, MBARI researchers have often observed small crabs riding on the backs or clinging to the bellies of Scotoplanes sea cucumbers, commonly known as sea pigs.⠀⁠ ⠀⁠ Flat, muddy plains cover much of the deep seafloor. In such areas, animals that can’t burrow into the mud have nowhere to hide. Some juvenile king crabs have evolved a unique solution to this problem—they hitch rides on wandering sea cucumbers. Researchers speculate that this may help young crabs evade predators.⁠ ⁠ #MBARI #deepsea #ocean #sealife #seapigs #underwaterphotography #nature #explore #science #exploremore #wildlife #crabs #hitchhikersguide #breakingnews⁠ ⁠