Biology: General Biology: Marine Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Nature Ecology: Sea Life Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Oceanography
Published

Increasing risk of invasive species colonization on marine debris      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A groundbreaking scientific study conducted along the Southeast coast of India has unearthed a pressing environmental concern -- the increasing risk of invasive species colonization on marine debris. The research delves into the critical interplay between plastic pollution and the introduction of non-indigenous organisms into Indian waters.

Biology: Microbiology Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Trees
Published

Even treated wood prevents bacterial transmission by hand      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

According to a new study, surface treatment and moisture affect the antibacterial properties of wood. Based on the findings, treated wood should be increasingly used as surface material.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: General Biology: Marine Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Nature Ecology: Sea Life
Published

Tiny spirits roam the corals of Japan -- two new pygmy squids discovered      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Named after Japanese folklore, two cephalopod species have been discovered in the coastal waters of the Okinawa Islands.  

Anthropology: Early Humans Anthropology: General Archaeology: General Biology: Biochemistry Biology: General Ecology: Animals Offbeat: General Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology Offbeat: Plants and Animals Paleontology: Fossils
Published

Origin of ancient mummified baboons found in Egypt      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Primatologists are using genetic analysis to determine the geographic origin of ancient mummified baboons found in Egypt. The team finds evidence that the two legendary trading regions of Punt and Adulis may have been the same place separated by a thousand years of history.

Anthropology: Cultures Anthropology: Early Humans Anthropology: General Paleontology: General
Published

Challenging prehistoric gender roles: Research finds that women were hunters, too      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Anthropologists challenge the traditional view of men as hunters and women as gatherers in prehistoric times. Their research reveals evidence of gender equality in roles and suggests that women were physically capable of hunting. The study sheds light on the gender bias in past research and calls for a more nuanced understanding of prehistoric gender roles.

Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Marine Biology: Microbiology Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Nature Ecology: Sea Life Environmental: Biodiversity Environmental: Ecosystems Geoscience: Geography
Published

Soil carried on sea freight loaded with dangerous pests and diseases, research finds      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

While sea freight is recognised as a pathway for the movement of exotic organisms, there is little research that has quantified the risk. Soil collected from the external surfaces of sea freight was found to support live microorganisms, worms, seeds and insects, including various regulated biosecurity organisms. The research confirms that shipping containers provide a pathway for the movement of exotic species.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: General Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Nature
Published

Heat waves harm bird reproduction on agricultural lands      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The effects of extreme temperatures on avian reproduction can vary depending on the type of environment that birds call home. A new study found that extreme high temperatures significantly diminish bird reproductive success in agricultural landscapes.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Botany Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Trees Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Yeast speeds discovery of medicinal compounds in plants      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have harnessed the power of baker's yeast to create a cost-effective and highly efficient approach for unraveling how plants synthesize medicinal compounds, and used the new method to identify key enzymes in a kratom tree.

Anthropology: Cultures Anthropology: Early Humans Anthropology: General Offbeat: General Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology
Published

The encounter between Neanderthals and Sapiens as told by their genomes      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

About 40,000 years ago, Neanderthals, who had lived for hundreds of thousands of years in the western part of the Eurasian continent, gave way to Homo sapiens, who had arrived from Africa. This replacement was not sudden, and the two species coexisted for a few millennia, resulting in the integration of Neanderthal DNA into the genome of Sapiens. Researchers have analyzed the distribution of the portion of DNA inherited from Neanderthals in the genomes of humans (Homo sapiens) over the last 40,000 years. These statistical analyses revealed subtle variations in time and geographical space.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Botany Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Nature
Published

Orchid without bumblebee on island finds wasp, loses self      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Because the bumblebee that an orchid relies on for pollination does not exist on a remote island, the plant gets pollinated by an island wasp. Researchers found that this came at the cost of being hybridized with another orchid species adapted to being pollinated by the wasp. The finding showcases how plants in ecological relationships adapt to changing circumstances.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Nature
Published

Critical step made for managing brushtail possums      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers say mapping the genetic code of the brushtail possum will benefit those working to both conserve and control the animal.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Botany Biology: General Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Nature Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

How to help save plants from extinction      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Now is the time to identify the conditions that cause plants to die. Doing so will allow us to better protect plants by choosing conservation targets more strategically, botanists argue.

Archaeology: General Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Marine Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Sea Life
Published

Study reveals our European ancestors ate seaweed and freshwater plants      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers say they have found 'definitive' archaeological evidence that seaweeds and other local freshwater plants were eaten in the mesolithic, through the Neolithic transition to farming and into the Early Middle Ages, suggesting that these resources, now rarely eaten in Europe, only became marginal much more recently.

Anthropology: Early Humans Anthropology: General Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Ecology: Nature Offbeat: General Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology Offbeat: Plants and Animals Paleontology: Fossils Paleontology: General
Published

Extinct ape gets a facelift, 12 million years later      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study has reconstructed the well-preserved but damaged skull of a great ape species that lived about 12 million years ago. The species, Pierolapithecus catalaunicus, may be crucial to understanding great ape and human evolution.

Biology: General Biology: Microbiology Ecology: Invasive Species
Published

Endemic malaria found in high, dry northwestern Kenya      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Turkana County in northwestern Kenya was thought to be too dry for the mosquitoes that harbor malaria-causing parasites. But that assumption may have been wrong, according to a new study by malaria researchers. The arrival of a new mosquito and a more pernicious species of parasite could reverse the progress East Africa has made in controlling malaria.

Biology: General Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Nature Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Bouldering in south-central Madagascar: A new 'rock-climbing' gecko species of the genus Paroedura      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new Paroedura gecko species was reported at two small forest sites, Anja Reserve and Tsaranoro Valley forest, in the south-central plateau of Madagascar. Thanks to the recently collected samples, it was described and named after its preferred habitat, the boulders surrounded by the last remaining forests at these sites. Its conservation status was evaluated as Critically Endangered given its tiny distributional range.

Anthropology: Early Humans Anthropology: General Offbeat: General Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology
Published

Neanderthal gene variants associated with greater pain sensitivity      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

People who carry three gene variants that have been inherited from Neanderthals are more sensitive to some types of pain, according to a new study.