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Categories: Anthropology: Early Humans, Biology: Zoology
Published Early-nesting ducks at increased risk due to changes in climate, land use
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Each year approximately 10 million waterfowl fly north to their breeding grounds in the Prairie Pothole Region of North America, but the landscape that greets them has changed. Weather patterns and agricultural practices have significantly transformed the pothole-dotted native grasslands that waterfowl have used for thousands of years.
Published Ant mounds are more important for biodiversity than previously thought
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source The ant mounds on the heath, in the forest and in your garden are oases for life. The heat and nutrients from ant mounds make them the perfect home for unique plant and animal species, according to new research.
Published Male California sea lions are becoming bigger and better fighters as their population rebounds
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source California sea lions have managed to maintain -- and, in the case of males, increase -- their average body size as their population grows and competition for food becomes fiercer. This is in contrast to other marine mammals, whose average body size tends to decrease as their numbers increase. Researchers report that sexual selection was a strong driving force for males to grow bigger and to strengthen muscles in their neck and jaw that help them fight for mates. Both male and female sea lions evaded food shortages by diversifying their diets and, in some cases, foraging further from the shore.
Published Researchers explore techniques to successfully reintroduce captive birds into the wild
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Studies show that some species may require breeding in captivity within the next 200 years to avoid extinction. This reality places heavy importance on the reintroduction practices used to successfully transfer species from captivity to the wild. A new study looks at some of the most popular conservation techniques and identifies which have the highest likelihood of success for the reintroduction of bird species back into the wild.
Published Brain circuits for locomotion evolved long before appendages and skeletons
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Scientists found parallels between the neural circuitry that guides locomotion in sea slugs and in more complex animals like mammals.
Published Robot fish makes splash with motion breakthrough
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A coil-powered robot fish could make underwater exploration more accessible.
Published Woodpecker guides post-fire forest management
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source What's good for the Black-backed Woodpecker is good for restoration of burned California forests. The birds' unique relationship with fire underpins the latest research into improved post-fire management. A study describes a new tool that factors in how fires burn into forest management decisions and turns science into action for wildlife conservation.
Published Antimicrobial use in agriculture can breed bacteria resistant to first-line human defenses
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A new study has shown that overuse of antimicrobials in livestock production can drive the evolution of bacteria more resistant to the first line of the human immune response. Bacteria that had evolved resistance to colistin, an antimicrobial widely used in farming, also showed resistance to compounds that are key components of human and animal immune systems. The results indicate that farmed pigs and chickens could harbour large reservoirs of cross-resistant bacteria, capable of fuelling future epidemics.
Published Pet rabbits need freedom to exercise, study finds
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Pet rabbits have higher levels of the stress hormone -- corticosterone -- and show activity rebound when kept in small hutches with restricted exercise, new research has found.
Published Searching for ancient bears in an Alaskan cave led to an important human discovery
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Genetic analysis links 3,000-year-old bone found in cave to modern Alaska Natives.
Published For birds, blending in may result in more diversity
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source The adage 'birds of a feather flock together' is being given new meaning in a recent study. When multiple species join a single flock, they appear to mimic each other, with spectacular results. Researchers think this counterintuitively promotes diversity.
Published Neuroptera: Greater insect diversity in the Cretaceous period
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source An LMU team has studied the biodiversity of larvae from the insect order neuroptera over the past 100 million years.
Published Newly sequenced hornet genomes could help explain invasion success
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source The genomes of two hornet species, the European hornet and the Asian hornet (or yellow-legged hornet) have been sequenced.
Published Elephant seals drift off to sleep while diving far below the ocean surface
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source For the first time, scientists have recorded brain activity in a free-ranging, wild marine mammal, revealing the sleep habits of elephant seals during the months they spend at sea. The new findings show that while elephant seals may spend 10 hours a day sleeping on the beach during the breeding season, they average just 2 hours of sleep per day when they are at sea on months-long foraging trips. They sleep for about 10 minutes at a time during deep, 30-minute dives, often spiraling downward while fast asleep, and sometimes lying motionless on the seafloor.
Published Biologists discover bees to be brew masters of the insect world
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Scientists have made a remarkable discovery about cellophane bees -- their microbiomes are some of the most fermentative known from the insect world. These bees, which are named for their use of cellophane-like materials to line their subterranean nests, are known for their fascinating behaviors and their important ecological roles as pollinators. Now, researchers have uncovered another aspect of their biology that makes them even more intriguing.
Published Chitin from consuming insects can help both gut microbiota and global health
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Increased insect consumption by humans may be better for both gut health and planetary health. Chitin (kai'tin) and healthy fats from insects appear to contribute to healthy gut microbiota and are strong sources of protein and nutrients, according to a recent paper.
Published Chicken breeding in Japan dates back to fourth century BCE
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Conclusive evidence of chicken breeding in the Yayoi period of Japan has been discovered from the Karako-Kagi site.
Published African penguins: Climate refugees from a distant past?
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Imagine the view from the western coastline of southern Africa during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) over twenty thousand years ago: in the distance you would see at least fifteen large islands -- the largest 300 square kilometers in area -- swarming with hundreds of millions of marine birds and penguin colonies.
Published Scientists identify 2022 sea urchin killer
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A team of researchers has identified a single-celled organism called a ciliate as the cause of a massive die-off event to a marine animal vital to coral reef health.
Published Nature's chefs: Scientists propose food-making as means of understanding species interactions
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source An interdisciplinary group of researchers is proposing a new way to think of some interactions between species, classifying a variety of plants, animals and fungi as 'nature's chefs.' Specifically, nature's chefs are organisms that provide food -- or the illusion of food -- to other organisms. The concept offers a new perspective on species interactions, which can inform how people think about food across the tree of life as well as disparate research disciplines.