The return of apex predators such as sharks can restore critical ecological balance to coral reefs, creating healthier ecosystems. New research found a rise in the shark population on Ashmore Reef, ...

The return of sharks to Ashmore Reef after marine protection was enforced in 2008 shows how top predators influence not just what they eat, but how other species behave. New research reveals that ...

Crown-of-thorns starfish can detect chemical cues in water (chemoreception), allowing them to respond to predators like the giant triton. The giant triton is one of the few natural predators of the ...

While biological control (or biocontrol) is an established method for managing pest species in terrestrial systems, few successful applications have been reported for marine environments.

Shellfish beds or reefs, formed by mussels and oysters, have declined worldwide. Sterre Witte, who conducted her Ph.D. research at the NIOZ Coastal Systems department, has investigated how we can ...

Vulnerable, young corals in Florida's reef are being protected with biodegradable, 3D-printed cages in an effort to prevent lab-grown coral from being eaten by natural predators at sea. Keri O'Neil, ...

Oyster reefs aren’t random piles—they’re carefully shaped survival systems. Researchers discovered that certain geometric patterns, not just bigger or more complex structures, give young oysters the ...