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Categories: Archaeology: General, Ecology: Animals
Published Long-term lizard study challenges the rules of evolutionary biology
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers measured natural selection in four Anolis lizard species in the wild for five consecutive time periods over three years. This long-term study in a community of lizards reveals how evolution unfolds in the wild across multiple species.
Published Natural GM crops: Grasses take evolutionary shortcut by borrowing genes from their neighbors
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Grass may transfer genes from their neighbors in the same way genetically modified crops are made, a new study has revealed.
Published Fear of humans pervades the South African savanna
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Mammals living in South Africa's Greater Kruger National Park, home to one of the world's largest remaining lion populations, are far more afraid of hearing human voices than lion vocalizations or hunting sounds such as dogs barking or gunshots.
Published Survival of the newest: the mammals that survive mass extinctions aren't as 'boring' as scientists thought
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source For decades, scientists have assumed that mammals and their relatives that survived challenging times (like those during mass extinctions) made it because they were generalists that were able to eat just about anything and adapt to whatever life threw at them. A new study into the mammal family tree through multiple mass extinctions revealed that the species that survived aren't as generic as scientists had thought: instead, having new and different traits can be the key to succeeding in the aftermath of a catastrophe.
Published Ruffed grouse population more resilient than expected, genetic study finds
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Despite decades of decline, a genetic analysis of ruffed grouse reveals that Pennsylvania's state bird harbors more genetic diversity and connectivity than expected. The findings suggest that the iconic game bird could be maintained in persistent numbers if appropriate protections are implemented.
Published Bird species changing faster than expected in protected areas
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A recent study has found that bird communities inside and outside protected areas are beginning to resemble each other as a result of climate change. In both areas, southern species increase in abundance, while northern species decrease.
Published Honeybees are more selective in their choices for nutrition than previously thought
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source An international research group examined which plants honeybees favor when collecting nectar and pollen. The choices honeybees make have an impact on their health and also on humans, as honeybees pollinate important crop plants.
Published Unique voice print in parrots
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Individual voice could help birds be recognized in a flock, no matter what they say.
Published Scientists investigate Grand Canyon's ancient past to predict future climate impacts
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A team explores relationship between warming post-Ice Age temperatures and intensifying summer monsoon rains on groundwater reserves.
Published To prepare for next pandemic, researchers tackle bird flu
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have developed an improved way to test potential vaccines against bird flu.
Published Genome study reveals 30 years of Darwin's finch evolution
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source An international team of researchers has released a landmark study on contemporary evolutionary change in natural populations. Their study uses one of the largest genomic datasets ever produced for animals in their natural environment, comprising nearly 4,000 Darwin's finches. The study has revealed the genetic basis of adaptation in this iconic group.
Published Explosion in fish biodiversity due to genetic recycling
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source The rapid formation of 500 different species of fish in a single lake, each with specialized ecological roles, resulted from a small but genetically diverse hybrid population.
Published Timing plant evolution with a fast-ticking epigenetic clock
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Recent discoveries in the field of epigenetics, the study of inheritance of traits that occur without changing the DNA sequence, have shown that chronological age in mammals correlates with epigenetic changes that accumulate during the lifetime of an individual. In humans, this observation has led to the development of epigenetic clocks, which are now extensively used as biomarkers of aging. While these clocks work accurately from birth until death, they are set back to zero in each new generation. Now, an international team shows that epigenetic clocks not only exist in plants, but that these clocks keep ticking accurately over many generations.
Published Wild Asian elephants display unique puzzle solving skills
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A new study has documented the abilities of individual wild Asian elephants to access food by solving puzzles that unlocked storage boxes. It is the first research study to show that individual wild elephants have different willingness and abilities to problem solve in order to get food.
Published Boo to a goose -- new animal behaviour tech aims to save wildlife
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Facial recognition software used to study the social behavior of individual Greylag Geese in Europe will soon be used to monitor one of the rarest geese in the world, the Cape Barren Goose in South Australia. The technology was used to assess how each bird responds to images of themselves, other flock mates or partners and researchers say it could be used by other scientists or in citizen science apps around the world to monitor and record endangered wildlife or even to promote the welfare of animals in captivity.
Published Why are killer whales harassing and killing porpoises without eating them?
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source For decades, fish-eating killer whales in the Pacific Northwest have been observed harassing and even killing porpoises without consuming them —- a perplexing behavior that has long intrigued scientists.
Published Caribbean parrots thought to be endemic are actually relicts of millennial-scale extinction
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source For the first time, researchers have extracted ancient DNA from Caribbean parrot fossils and archaeological specimens, showing that species thought to be endemic to particular islands were historically more widespread and diverse.
Published Pollen analysis suggests peopling of Siberia and Europe by modern humans occurred during a major Pleistocene warming spell
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A new study appearing in Science Advances compares Pleistocene vegetation communities around Lake Baikal in Siberia, Russia, to the oldest archeological traces of Homo sapiens in the region. The researchers use the 'remarkable evidence' to tell a compelling story from 45,000-50,000 years ago with new detail: how the first humans migrated across Europe and Asia.
Published Probing the deep genetic structure of Africa
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Using ancestry decomposition techniques an international research team has revealed a deeply divergent ancestry among admixed populations from the Angolan Namib desert. This unique genetic heritage brings the researchers closer to understanding the distribution of genetic variation in the broader region of southern Africa before the spread of food production.
Published Colorful primates don't have better color vision, study finds
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Primate species with better color vision are not more likely to have red skin or fur coloration, as previously thought.