Scientists have discovered that baby dolphins and infant orcas are insomniacs. The newborn cetaceans remain active around the clock for the first month of their lives. As a result, their mothers are deprived of sleep as well. Gradually, over the course of several months, the newborns and their mothers both increase their sleep time until they reach a normal level of sleep.

There may be significant advantages to young cetaceans that remain active for the first few weeks after birth. Constant activity may reduce the dangers posed by predators—by not sleeping, the young simply do not let their guard down. It may also help to maintain high body temperature until the young animal can pack on a sufficient layer of blubber. Additionally, the young cetaceans must surface more frequently than adults to breathe and staying awake all night may ensure they are better able to surface as much as is needed. Finally, the extended period of wakefullness may enable the young cetaceans a period of rapid growth and development.

Dr. Jerome Siegel, professor-in-residence at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA and chief of neurobiology research at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System described the findings and their implications:

"Somehow these seafaring mammals have found a way to cope with sleep deprivation, facilitating rather than hindering a crucial phase of development for their offspring. Their bodies have found a way to cope, offering evidence that sleep isn't necessary for development and raising the question of whether humans and other mammals have untapped physiological potential for coping without sleep."

The research project was conducted by a group of neuroscientists from UCLA and the VA Greater Los Angeles Health Care System. The team observed two adult female killer whales and their calves and four dolphins and their calves; all of the animals that were studied were observed in captivity.

Find out more: Behavioral Aspects of Sleep in Bottlenose Dolphin Mothers and Their Calves (UCLA)

Photo © Debra McGuire / iStockphoto.

Scientists working off the coast of Bahia state in Brazil have discovered a vast region of previously unknown coral reefs. Surprisingly, the newly discovered reefs are not located in remote waters. Instead, they are nestled up against the South Atlantic's largest known coral reef system: the Abrolhos reef system. Despite their proximity to the well-known Abrolhos reefs, the newly discovered reefs are concealed in deeper waters and are therefore quite inaccessible. Scientists relied on side scan sonar (a type of sonar frequently used to create nautical charts) to construct a map of the newfound reefs.

The research team that made the discovery of the new reefs included scientists from Conservation International, the Federal University of Espirito Santo, and Federal University of Bahia. They

The previously known Abrolhos reef system consists of a collection of coral reefs, volcanic islands, and sandy shoals that are scattered over nearly 6,000 square kilometers. The islands in the Abrolhos region are referred to as the Abrolhos Archipelago and include Santa Barbara Island, Redonda Island, Sueste Island, Siriba Island, and Guarita Island. These islands are surrounded by fringing reefs. The Abrolhos reef system also includes two archs of reefs, the Coastal Arc and the Outer Arc. The newly discovered reefs nearly double the size of the existing Abrolhos reef system.

The Abrolhos reef system is ecologically unique. It is home to a wealth of marine animals—corals, mollusks, and fish—found nowhere else in the world. The endemic coral species Mussismilia braziliensis is the main reef building coral within the Abrolhos reef system. Additionally, the structure of the Abrolhos reef is quite different from reefs found in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean. Some regions of the reef consist of large mushroom-shaped coral formations know as chapeiroes. In some areas of the Abrolhos, the tops of the chapeiroes grow together and form bank reefs that span distances of between 1 and 20 kilometers.

Find out more:

• Scientists Discover New Reefs Teeming with Marine Life in Brazil (Eurekalert)
• Abrolhos: The South Atlantic's Largest Coral Reef Complex (SIGEP)
• Coral Reefs of the Abrolhos Bank, Brazil (Conservation International)
• Coral Reefs Dense with Unusual Wildlife (Treehugger)