Showing 20 articles starting at article 641

< Previous 20 articles        Next 20 articles >

Categories: Anthropology: Early Humans, Ecology: Animals

Return to the site home page

Biology: Marine Biology: Microbiology Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Ecology: Sea Life
Published

Bird flu associated with hundreds of seal deaths in New England in 2022      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have found that an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was associated with the deaths of more than 330 New England harbor and gray seals along the North Atlantic coast in June and July 2022, and the outbreak was connected to a wave of avian influenza in birds in the region.

Biology: Microbiology Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

High winds can worsen pathogen spread at outdoor chicken farms      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A study of chicken farms in the West found that high winds increased the prevalence of Campylobacter in outdoor flocks, a bacterial pathogen in poultry that is the largest single cause of foodborne illness in the U.S. Researchers found that about 26% of individual chickens had the pathogen at the 'open environment' farms in the study, which included organic and free-range chicken farms. High winds the week prior to sampling and the farms' location in more intensive agricultural settings were linked to a greater prevalence of Campylobacter.

Biology: Marine Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Environmental: Water
Published

Climate change alters a human-raptor relationship      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Bald Eagles and dairy farmers exist in a mutually beneficial relationship in parts of northwestern Washington State. According to a new study, this 'win-win' relationship has been a more recent development, driven by the impact of climate change on eagles' traditional winter diet of salmon carcasses, as well as by increased eagle abundance following decades of conservation efforts.

Biology: Botany Ecology: Animals Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Nature Environmental: Biodiversity
Published

Thousands of native plants are unphotographed, and citizen scientists can help fill the gaps      (via sciencedaily.com) 

New research finds almost 4000 Australian plant species have not been photographed before in the wild, which may lead to their extinction.

Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Ecology: General Ecology: Nature Ecology: Research Environmental: Biodiversity
Published

Swan populations grow 30 times faster in nature reserves      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Populations of whooper swans grow 30 times faster inside nature reserves, new research shows.

Biology: Marine Ecology: Animals Ecology: Nature Ecology: Sea Life Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: Water Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Oceanography
Published

Minke whales are as small as a lunge-feeding baleen whale can be      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A new study of Antarctic minke whales reveals a minimum size limit for whales employing the highly efficient 'lunge-feeding' strategy that enabled the blue whale to become the largest animal on Earth.

Ecology: Animals Ecology: Invasive Species
Published

Brown widow spiders' aggression likely driver of black widow decline      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Black widow spiders have earned a fearsome reputation for their venomous bite. But in parts of the southern United States these spiders have much to fear themselves -- from spider relatives who really don't like their company. In the past couple decades, researchers have noticed black widow spiders being displaced by the brown widow, a fellow species in the same genus. But new research suggests this isn't a simple case of one species winning the competition for food or habitat. Instead, a study shows brown widow spiders have a striking propensity to seek out and kill nearby black widows.

Biology: Microbiology Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals
Published

Looking for risky viruses now to get ahead of future pandemics      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Rather than let the next outbreak take the world by surprise, two virologists say that the scientific community should invest in a four-part research framework to proactively identify animal viruses that might infect humans.

Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Invasive Species Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Remarkable squirting mussels captured on film      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have observed a highly unusual behavior in the endangered freshwater mussel, Unio crassus. The jets disturb the river surface and attract fish. Mussel larvae in the jets can then attach to the gills of the fish and complete their metamorphosis into adults.

Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals
Published

Migratory birds take breaks to boost their immune system      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Exercising too much and not getting enough rest is likely bad for your health. A new study shows that the same is true for migratory birds. They need to rest not only to renew their energy levels but also in order to boost their immune system.

Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Nature Environmental: Biodiversity Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Island-inhabiting giants, dwarfs more vulnerable to extinction      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Island-dwelling mammal species often expand or contract in size, becoming giant or dwarf versions of their mainland counterparts. A new Science study from a global team shows that those giants and dwarfs have faced extreme risk of extinction -- an existential threat exacerbated by the arrival of humans.

Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Botany Biology: Microbiology Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Nature
Published

eDNA holds the key to safeguarding pollinators amid global declines      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have uncovered new evidence of western pygmy possums interacting with native flowers, providing an eDNA study to simultaneously detect mammal, insect and bird DNA on flowers.

Biology: Marine Ecology: Animals Ecology: Sea Life
Published

Does current shellfish anti-predator gear curb 'crunching' rays?      (via sciencedaily.com) 

It's not just humans who enjoy eating shellfish, so do marine rays. They like to 'crunch' on clams, which can sometimes take a big bite out of clammers' profits. Using aerial and underwater videos, researchers assessed the ability of the whitespotted eagle ray to interact with clams housed within a variety anti-predator materials. Whitespotted eagle rays have strong jaws, plate-like teeth and nimble pectoral fins, which make them formidable and highly maneuverable predators of clams.

Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Botany Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Ecology: Animals Ecology: Endangered Species Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Wheat's ancient roots of viral resistance uncovered      (via sciencedaily.com) 

The DNA sequence of a gene in wheat responsible for resisting a devastating virus has been discovered, providing vital clues for managing more resistant crops and maintaining a healthy food supply.

Biology: Marine Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Ecology: Sea Life Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Toothed whales catch food in the deep using vocal fry      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Toothed whales, such as dolphins, killer whales and sperm whales communicate and catch food exclusively with sound. Now researchers have for the first time found they evolved a new sound source in their nose that is functionally the same as the human larynx.

Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals
Published

Animals best to suppress personalities for group efficiency      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Social animals should limit individuality to conform with the behavior of the group, a study suggests.

Ecology: Animals Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Nature
Published

Case study of rare, endangered tortoise highlights conservation priorities for present, future World Wildlife Days      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Though wildlife trafficking has been effectively disrupted since the first World Wildlife Day -- established 50 years ago today via the 1973 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora -- a newly published case study on one of the world's rarest tortoise species, the ploughshare tortoise, highlights how much room for improvement still exists.

Biology: Microbiology Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Ecology: Extinction
Published

Bald eagles aren't fledging as many chicks due to avian influenza      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Bald eagles are often touted as a massive conservation success story due to their rebound from near extinction in the 1960s. But now a highly infectious virus may put that hard-fought comeback in jeopardy. New research showed highly pathogenic avian influenza, also known as H5N1, is killing off unprecedented numbers of mating pairs of bald eagles.

Anthropology: Early Humans Anthropology: General Archaeology: General Paleontology: General
Published

Waxing and waning of environment influences hominin dispersals across ancient Iran      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A world-first model of paleoclimate and hydrology in Iran has highlighted favourable routes for Neanderthals and modern human expansions eastwards into Asia. The findings reveal that multiple humid periods in ancient Iran led to the expansions of human populations, opening dispersal route across the region, and the possible interactions of species such as Neanderthals and our own Homo sapiens.

Ecology: Animals
Published

Flamingos form cliques with like-minded pals      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Flamingos form cliques of like-minded individuals within their flocks, new research shows.