Sponges: Oldest Creatures in the Sea?

22nd June 2016 Season 8 Episode 1

Until recently there was scientific consensus that sponges were the first animals to branch off the “Animal Tree of Life,” a kind of family tree for all living and extinct animals on earth. But recent DNA research has cast doubt on that theory, with some scientists suggesting that ctenophores, also known as comb jellies, are an older lineage.

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Season 8 · Episode 2

Manatees: Conserving a Marine Mammal

Every winter, hundreds of manatees aggregate at Crystal River, Florida, attracted by the warmer, spring-fed clear waters. This sanctuary is also a treasure for scientists, who take advantage of these manatee gatherings to study them. From decades of visual ID studies to the most cutting-edge DNA research, experts hope that science will help conserve this beloved marine mammal.

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