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Categories: Biology: Zoology, Geoscience: Earth Science
Published Turn off porch light to aid caterpillars -- and safeguard backyard ecosystems


Moderate levels of artificial light at night -- like the fixture illuminating your backyard -- bring more caterpillar predators and reduce the chance that these lepidoptera larvae grow up to become moths and serve as food for larger prey.
Published Researchers get to the 'bottom' of how beetles use their butts to stay hydrated


Beetles are champions at surviving in extremely dry environments. In part, this property is due to their ability to suck water from the air with their rear ends. A new study explains just how. Beyond helping to explain how beetles thrive in environments where few other animals can survive, the knowledge could eventually be used for more targeted and delicate control of global pests such as the grain weevil and red flour beetle.
Published New animal welfare scoring system could enable better-informed food and farming choices


Scientists have come up with a system of measuring animal welfare that enables reliable comparison across different types of pig farming.
Published Human and ocean health impacts of ocean plastics


Researchers from the fields of healthcare, ocean science, and social science have collaborated to quantify plastic's considerable risks to all life on Earth. The Minderoo-Monaco Commission on Plastics and Human Health report presents a comprehensive analysis showing plastics as a hazard at every stage of their life cycle.
Published 'Rock stars' solve long-standing diamond conundrum


Two researchers have used a standard laptop computer and a humble piece of rock -- from the 'waste pile' of a diamond mine -- to solve a long-held geological conundrum about how diamonds formed in the deep roots of the earth's ancient continents.
Published Going beyond English is critical for conservation


Research in languages other than English is critically important for biodiversity conservation and is shockingly under-utilized internationally, according to an international research team.
Published Biodiversity amid climate change


Fewer parasites in U.S. waters might be seen by many as a good thing, but a biologist says the trend signals potential danger for fish and other wildlife.
Published Jellyfish size might influence their nutritional value


Researchers confirmed what was already known: jellyfish eat bigger prey as they grow, which means they also occupy a higher position in the food web as they grow. They also found that some of the concentrations of 'healthy fats,' increase as jellyfish grow. These changes might be influenced by their diet, and as they feed on bigger prey with higher levels of fatty acids, the jellyfish accumulate more of these fatty acids.
Published Coffee plantations limit birds' diets


A new study explores a record of birds' diets preserved in their feathers and radio tracking of their movements to find that birds eat far fewer invertebrates in coffee plantations than in forests, suggesting that the disturbance of their ecosystem significantly impacts the birds' dietary options.
Published Inbreeding contributes to decline of endangered killer whales


The small size and isolation of the endangered population of Southern Resident killer whales in the Pacific Northwest have led to high levels of inbreeding. This inbreeding has contributed to their decline, which has continued as surrounding killer whale populations expand, according to new research.
Published Unraveling whale entanglement risk factors off Oregon Coast


New research is beginning to unravel the times of year and locations where whales are at greatest danger of entanglement in fishing gear on the Oregon Coast.
Published Parasites alter likelihood of fish being caught by anglers


Parasitic infections in salmonid fish can increase or decrease their vulnerability to angling, depending on their body condition.
Published Hummingbirds use torpor in varying ways to survive cold temps


Hummingbirds use the hibernation-like state of torpor in varying ways, depending on their physical condition and what is happening in their environment, according to new research.
Published New eyes discovered in trilobites


Researchers have detected previously overlooked eyes whose form and function could help to improve the evolutionary classification of archaic arthropods.
Published 3D radar scan provides clues about threats to iconic Alaskan glacier


Mapping a large coastal glacier in Alaska revealed that its bulk sits below sea level and is undercut by channels, making it vulnerable to accelerated melting in an already deteriorating coastal habitat.
Published Noise harming ocean invertebrates and ecosystems


Noise from human activities is harming ocean invertebrates and ecosystems, new research shows.
Published Mountain forests are being lost at an accelerating rate, putting biodiversity at risk


More than 85% of the world's bird, mammal, and amphibian species live in mountains, particularly in forest habitats, but researchers report that these forests are disappearing at an accelerating rate. Globally, we have lost 78.1 million hectares (7.1%) of mountain forest since 2000 -- an area larger than the size of Texas. Much of the loss occurred in tropical biodiversity hotspots, putting increasing pressure on threatened species.
Published Rivers and streams in the Andean Cordillera are hot spots for greenhouse gases emissions


Researchers show that rivers in the Andean mountains contribute 35% and 72% of riverine emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) and methane (CH4 ) in the Amazon basin, the world's largest river.
Published Fossil site is 'Rosetta Stone' for understanding early life


Leading edge technology has uncovered secrets about a world-renowned fossil hoard that could offer vital clues about early life on Earth. Researchers who analyzed the 400 million-year-old cache, found in rural north-east Scotland, say their findings reveal better preservation of the fossils at a molecular level than was previously anticipated.
Published Study shines new light on ancient microbial dark matter


An international research team produced the first large-scale analysis of more than 400 newly sequenced and existing Omnitrophota genomes, uncovering new details about their biology and behavior.