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Categories: Biology: Zoology, Geoscience: Geomagnetic Storms
Published 'Lost' birds list will aid in protecting species
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A group of scientists has released the first comprehensive list of birds that haven't been documented with sound or video in more than a decade.
Published Ancient polar sea reptile fossil is oldest ever found in Southern Hemisphere
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source An international team of scientists has identified the oldest fossil of a sea-going reptile from the Southern Hemisphere -- a nothosaur vertebra found on New Zealand's South Island. 246 million years ago, at the beginning of the Age of Dinosaurs, New Zealand was located on the southern polar coast of a vast super-ocean called Panthalassa. 'The nothosaur found in New Zealand is over 40 million years older than the previously oldest known sauropterygian fossils from the Southern Hemisphere.
Published Is magnesium the sleeping potion that enables sandhoppers to survive cold winters?
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A new study has shown for the first time that when sandhoppers want to enter a period of deep sleep each winter they have the means through which to increase the magnesium levels in their bodies -- in some instances more than doubling them. Essentially acting as a natural narcotic, the magnesium puts the sandhopper into a torpid state and this enforced rest means that the creatures can stay hidden in burrows up to 30cm beneath the beach surface, to some extent buffered from wintry conditions.
Published Early Homo sapiens facilitated the establishment of the Bonelli's eagle in the Mediterranean 50,000 years ago
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Scientists have unraveled the ancestral history of one of the most iconic birds of prey in the current Iberian fauna: the Bonelli's eagle (Aquila fasciata). The study combines evidence from several disciplines, including palaeontology, genetics and ecology, to answer questions about when and why the Bonelli's eagle, a species primarily found in tropical and subtropical areas, colonized the Mediterranean Basin.
Published Tiny New Zealand bird delivers a lesson in birdsong evolution
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Scientists are rethinking the evolution of vocal learning in birds. New Zealand's smallest bird, the rifleman or titipounamu, may have a rudimentary version of the talent possessed by parrots, hummingbirds and songbirds.
Published Sweaty cattle may boost food security in a warming world
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Climate change is making it more difficult to raise cattle -- growth and reproduction are affected by heat -- so it's critical to breed cattle better adapted to a hotter and longer summer. A new study shows it's possible to identify the genes within breeds of cattle that would lead to the sweatiest, heat-tolerant offspring.
Published Only one in 20 therapies tested in animals reach approval for human use
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source An analysis of reviews of translational biomedical research reveals that just 5% of therapies tested in animals reach regulatory approval for human use. The umbrella review summarizes other systematic reviews and provides high level evidence that while the rate of translation to human studies is 50%, there is steep drop off before final approval.
Published Outdoor recreation noise affects wildlife behavior and habitat use, study finds
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source We may go to the woods seeking peace and quiet, but are we taking our noise with us? A recent study indicates that the answer is yes -- and that this noise can trigger a fear response, as if escaping from predators. This new science calls into question whether otherwise high-quality habitat truly provides refugia for wildlife when recreationists are present and underscores the challenges land managers face in balancing outdoor recreational opportunities with wildlife conservation.
Published Eating small fish whole can prolong life expectancy, a Japanese study finds
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A new study has found evidence linking the intake of whole-sized small fish with a reduced risk of all-cause and cancer mortality in Japanese women.
Published Dolphins with elevated mercury levels in Florida and Georgia
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Scientists found elevated mercury levels in dolphins in the U.S. Southeast. The highest levels were found in dolphins in Florida's St. Joseph and Choctawhatchee Bays. Researchers study dolphins because they are considered a sentinel species for oceans and human health. Like us, they are high up in the food chain, live long lives, and share certain physiological traits. Some of their diet is most vulnerable to mercury pollution and is also eaten by people.
Published Pacific coast gray whales have gotten 13% shorter in the past 20-30 years, Oregon State study finds
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Gray whales that spend their summers feeding in the shallow waters off the Pacific Northwest coast have undergone a significant decline in body length since around the year 2000, a new study found.
Published Soaring birds use their lungs to modify mechanics of flight
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source An air-filled sac within the birds' lungs is believed to increase the force the birds use to power flight muscles while soaring.
Published Ancient Syrian diets resembled the modern 'Mediterranean diet'
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Thousands of years ago, people in ancient Syria likely ate mostly grains, grapes, olives and a small amount of dairy and meat -- similar to today's 'Mediterranean diet,' according to a new study.
Published The gender gap in life expectancy: Are eggs and sperm partly responsible?
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have found that germ cells, which develop into eggs and sperm, drive sex-dependent differences in lifespan in vertebrates. Female and male germ cells increase and reduce lifespan, respectively. These effects are controlled via estrogen and growth factor hormones in females and vitamin D in males. Vitamin D supplementation extends lifespan in both males and females. The results clarify the link between reproduction and aging and show that vitamin D may improve longevity in vertebrates.
Published Cocaine trafficking threatens critical bird habitats
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source In addition to its human consequences, cocaine trafficking harms the environment and threatens habitats important to dozens of species of migratory birds, according to a new study.
Published No bones about it: 100-million-year-old bones reveal new species of pterosaur
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source New research has identified 100-million-year-old fossilized bones discovered in western Queensland as belonging to a newly identified species of pterosaur, which was a formidable flying reptile that lived among the dinosaurs.
Published Millions of insects migrate through 30-meter Pyrenees pass
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Over 17 million insects migrate each year through a single mountain pass on the border between France and Spain, new research shows.
Published Specialist and migratory birds at greater risk under climate change
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Following decades of decline, even fewer birds will darken North American skies by the end of the century, according to a new analysis. The study examines the long-term effects of climate change on the abundance and diversity of bird groups across the continent as a whole while accounting for additional factors that put birds at risk.
Published Haiku may shine a light on humans' relationship with insects
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Haiku poems have reflected humans' experiences in nature for hundreds of years, including observations of bugs and other wildlife. Recently, researchers analyzed which insects were mentioned the most in haiku -- with butterflies, fireflies and singing insects such as crickets topping the list.
Published Lazy predator: A new species of mountain pitviper from China
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have discovered a new species of medium-sized venomous snake in Yunnan, China. Ovophis jenkinsi is dark brownish-grey in color with trapezoidal patches on its back. It is endemic to China's Yingjiang County and is not difficult to find in the wild. In the future, researchers plan to collect more information about this new species, including its appearance, distribution, and habits.