Moray Eels

 Moray Eels: Fascinating Predators of the Ocean

Moray eels look like snakes, but they are actually a type of fish. They live in narrow crevices. They are not completely snake-like. They have no scales on their body and possess a dorsal fin that runs the length of their back, joining with their caudal and anal fins. Moray eels have very poor vision and rely primarily on chemoreception to catch prey. They even have very visible nostrils.  

Many species of moray eels have large, pointy teeth, which they use to grab fish. Some, like the snowflake moray, have blunt teeth to help them crush shells, while others, like the leopard moray, have sharp, glass-like teeth. Morays have two sets of jaws: the main oral jaws with large teeth and a second set called pharyngeal jaws. These pharyngeal jaws are located in their throat and shoot forward to pull prey down when caught in the main jaws. This makes moray eels the only animal known to use this method of catching prey.  

Morays are mainly ambush hunters, waiting for prey to swim close. However, this can cause water displacement, potentially scaring prey away. To solve this, they have openings near their mouths that allow water to pass through quietly. Besides ambushing, some morays also chase their prey. Giant morays have been observed teaming up with groupers for hunting. The grouper signals the moray by shaking its head, and together they hunt collaboratively.  

Most moray species are covered in mucus, which protects them from sharp rocks and coral. Some even produce toxic mucus. Different types of morays have distinct features. For example, ribbon eels, which might belong to the moray family, have long nostrils to attract prey. They start as males and transition to females as they age, changing color during this process.  

The largest moray eel, the giant moray, can reach up to 2.5 meters in length and weigh as much as 30 kilograms. The smallest, Snyder’s moray, is only about 12 centimeters long. While morays mainly live in saltwater, they can sometimes be found in brackish or freshwater. In an amazing display of flexibility, morays can even tie themselves into knots to pull prey out from crevices.  

📝 Sahan Sandeepa  

      2nd Year (21/22)

#morayeel 

#AQUATICS

#ASA

#USJ

Read More

Wildlife conservation day

 Wildlife conservation is the practice of protecting, preserving, and managing wild species and their habitats to ensure their survival and maintain ecological balance.

✨Wildlife conservation day, observed annually on December 4th, serves as a global reminder of the importance of protecting the Earth's wildlife and their habitats. It emphasizes the need to combat the threats posed by habitat destruction, climate change, poaching illegal wildlife trade, and other human - induced pressures that endanger countless species.

✨ This day was established to raise awareness about the critical role wildlife plays in maintaining ecological balance and supporting global biodiversity. It also seeks to inspire individuals, communities, governments and organizations to take proactive steps toward sustainable practices and conservation efforts.  

 Caption by - Tharaka Nimsara 

Designed by - Dulani Anjula

#WILDLIFECONSERVATION

#AQUATICS

#ASA

#USJ

Read More

Water Has Memory!!

 Water Has Memory!!

What if water could "remember" interactions and respond to emotions or thoughts? The Japanese researcher Dr. Masaru Emoto discovered this mesmerizing idea through a series of experiments that remain a source of wonder.

In 1994, Dr. Emoto conducted an uncommon experiment to test water’s sensitivity to thoughts, words, and emotions. He started with tap water, freezing a few drops and examining them under a microscope. Surprisingly, he observed that these samples did not produce crystal structures. However, water collected from more natural sources like rivers and lakes from rural areas, exhibited beautiful and unique crystalline patterns when frozen. 

Emoto took his research a step further, labeling bottles of water with positive words like “love” or “gratitude,” while labeling other bottles with negative words like “hate.” He even exposed some water samples to classical music and others to emotionally charged words or positive messages. He then froze all the water samples, photographing the resulting crystals. His findings were astonishing. Water exposed to positive stimuli which are positive words, music, or even prayers showed beautiful symmetrical crystals that look like snowflakes, while water exposed to negative words formed distorted, asymmetrical, chaotic structures.

Even if Emoto’s research cannot be universally validated, his experiments still offer a huge metaphor: just as water may be shaped by its environment, humans, too, are shaped by words and emotions. In a sense, we are like water. When exposed to negativity, we might become “asymmetrical” and disordered, but positive reinforcement can bring out our best, helping us grow and mature.

If water, a simple substance, could "remember" and react to its environment, what does that say about us, beings made mostly of water? Can our interactions impact us at a fundamental level? Though, Emoto’s theories are scientifically controversial, his work subtly reminds us to be mindful of the energy we bring to our environments for our well-being.

There’s another thought-provoking metaphor in this story. Water that doesn’t move becomes stagnant. In our lives, too, when we stop growing, challenging ourselves, and embracing change, we risk becoming "stuck." Just as a river keeps flowing to stay fresh, we have to keep exploring, learning, and interacting to remain vibrant and adaptable.

Whether or not anyone believes that water has memory, Emoto’s work provides a beautiful, albeit speculative, lens through which to view ourselves and our surroundings. It reminds us of the influence of thoughts and words, not only on others but also on ourselves. As members of the Aquatic Students’ Association, let’s remember to flow with curiosity, stay open to new ideas, and never let yourself become stagnant. After all, we are water, malleable, resilient, and full of possibility.    

                

Minary Senarath 

1st year (22/23)

Read More

Hidden Worlds Beneath the Waves

 Hidden Worlds Beneath the Waves 🌊

                                                                                    The  majority of Earth's active volcanoes are situated underwater. Submarine eruptions, which most frequently take place around tectonic spreading centers, unleash molten rock from beneath the bottom. Underwater volcanoes are fascinating geological features that lie beneath the ocean's surface. These volcanoes can have significant impacts on both the marine environment and the Earth's atmosphere. 

One notable example is the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai eruption in January 2022. This underwater volcano in the South Pacific Ocean erupted with such force that it sent a massive plume of water vapor into the stratosphere, enough to fill more than 58,000 Olympic-size swimming pools. The eruption also caused a tsunami and a sonic boom that circled the globe twice.  

The eruption of the Krakatoa volcano in 1883 remains one of the deadliest underwater eruptions in history, highlighting the destructive power of these natural phenomena.

Over time, repeated volcanic eruptions can build up enough material to form islands. Famous examples include the Hawaiian Islands and Iceland, which were formed by underwater volcanic activity. 

Hydrothermal vents are fissures on the seabed from which geothermally heated water discharges. They form when seawater seeps into the Earth's crust, gets heated by underlying magma, and then rises back to the ocean floor, carrying dissolved minerals with it. The temperature of the water emitted from hydrothermal vents can reach up to 400°C (752°F). Despite this, the surrounding water, just a few meters away, remains near freezing due to the deep ocean's cold temperatures.

Vents that emit dark, mineral-rich water that forms chimney-like structures made of iron sulfide, giving them their black color are called black smokers, and vents that release lighter-colored minerals like barium, calcium, and silicon, resulting in white deposits, are called white smokers.

Volcanoes and vent sites, albeit they are in places too dark for sunlight to drive food production, extinct, or even moderately active, frequently harbor a variety of animal populations that have adapted to use chemical energy, a process known as chemosynthesis to make food. The base of the food web around underwater volcanoes is primarily composed of chemosynthetic bacteria and archaea. Also, hydrothermal vents release nutrient-rich fluids that support dense microbial communities. These microbes form biofilms and mats on the vent surfaces and in the surrounding sediments. Chemosynthetic bacteria use chemicals such as sulfides and methane as a source of energy to produce organic material. Chemosynthetic bacteria are then grazed on by heterotrophs, which in turn are eaten by larger predators. Some of these bacteria even live inside vent fauna (such as tube worms and Bathymodiolus mussels) or grow on specialized appendages.

Many larger organisms, such as tube worms, clams, and mussels, have symbiotic relationships with chemosynthetic bacteria. These bacteria live within the tissues of their hosts and provide them with nutrients. 

Green sulfur bacteria are unique among hydrothermal vent bacteria because they require both chemical energy (from hydrogen sulfide) and light energy to survive. Green sulfur bacteria contain chlorosomes, organelles that are so efficient at harvesting light that green sulfur bacteria can grow at much lower light intensities than other light-requiring microbes. There is no sunlight at hydrothermal vents and instead, they capture energy from the weak radioactive glow emitted from geothermally heated rock. 

Animals are present in very high abundances, but there tends to be lower diversity, with communities being dominated by only a few taxa.

The organisms living around underwater volcanoes and hydrothermal vents have developed unique adaptations to survive in high-pressure, high-temperature, and low-light conditions. For example, some species of shrimp and crabs have specialized heat-resistant enzymes. 

Underwater volcanic activity can have a significant impact on global ocean chemistry. Underwater volcanic activity releases carbon dioxide into the ocean. While some of this carbon dioxide is absorbed by seawater, contributing to ocean acidification, it also plays a role in the global carbon cycle, influencing the Earth's climate over geological timescales. The minerals and chemicals released by hydrothermal vents and underwater volcanoes can alter the chemical composition of seawater. This impact is particularly notable in the deep ocean, where these features contribute to the distribution of elements like sulfur, iron, and silica. Hydrothermal vents release a variety of minerals and gases, including iron, sulfur, and methane, into the ocean. These substances are critical for nutrient cycling in the deep sea, supporting the growth of microorganisms and, consequently, the entire ecosystem.

Many underwater volcanoes are found along mid-ocean ridges, where tectonic plates are moving apart. The volcanic activity here contributes to seafloor spreading, a process that constantly renews the ocean floor and plays a crucial role in plate tectonics. The unique organisms found in hydrothermal vent ecosystems produce novel compounds that have potential applications in medicine. For example, enzymes from these organisms have been used in biotechnology, and there is ongoing research into their potential use.

Exploring hydrothermal vents is so exciting because it teaches us about the limits of life, organisms living there have to deal with mind-boggling extremes of temperature and chemistry. 

📝Dilhari Pussawala 

3rd  year (20/21 batch)

#AQUATICS

#ASA

#USJ

Read More

Congratulations

 

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." – Lao Tzu

Heartiest congratulations to our brilliant seniors who have successfully graduated at the 50th Convocation of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura! 🌊🎓

Your dedication and hard work have brought you here, and we are proud to have been part of your journey. 

May your future be filled with endless blessings, joy, and the fulfillment of all your heart's desires.

#50THCONVOCATION

#AQUATICS

#ASA

#USJ

Read More