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Categories: Biology: Zoology, Offbeat: Earth and Climate
Published Blood fat profiles confirm health benefits of replacing butter with high-quality plant oils
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Switching from a diet high in saturated animal fats to one rich in plant-based unsaturated fats affects the fat composition in the blood, which in turn influences long-term disease risk. A study shows that it is possible to accurately measure diet-related fat changes in the blood and directly link them to the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
Published Air pollution harms pollinators more than pests, study finds
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Pollinators experienced a 39-percent decline in foraging efficiency after being exposed to elevated air pollution levels. In contrast, plant-eating aphids and other pests were not significantly impacted.
Published Urban seagulls still prefer seafood
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Seagull chicks raised on an 'urban' diet still prefer seafood.
Published A new species of extinct crocodile relative rewrites life on the Triassic coastline
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source The surprising discovery of a new species of extinct crocodile relative from the Triassic Favret Formation of Nevada, USA, rewrites the story of life along the coasts during the first act of the Age of Dinosaurs. The new species Benggwigwishingasuchus eremicarminis reveals that while giant ichthyosaurs ruled the oceans, the ancient crocodile kin known as pseudosuchian archosaurs ruled the shores across the Middle Triassic globe between 247.2 and 237 million years ago.
Published Lion with nine lives breaks record with longest swim in predator-infested waters
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A record-breaking swim by two lion brothers across a predator-infested African river has been documented in a new study. The researchers say the 1km swim is another example of iconic wildlife species having to make tough decisions to find homes and mates in a human-dominated world.
Published Researchers listen to the hearts of bats in flight
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Unique recordings show that bats can ramp up heart rate from 6 to 900 b.p.m within minutes.
Published Global database reveals large gaps in our knowledge of four-footed animals
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers developed TetrapodTraits -- a global database of animals with four feet -- which can now be applied for better ecology, evolution and conservation research.
Published First local extinction in the US due to sea level rise, study suggests
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source The United States has lost its only stand of the massive Key Largo tree cactus in what researchers believe is the first local extinction of a species caused by sea level rise in the country.
Published Whale remains tracked to highlight sustainable disposal benefits
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A new study highlights the sustainable, cultural and ecosystem benefits of offshore removal or decomposition of whale remains. The study tracked the remains of a humpback whale that was intercepted before washing up on the shoreline, then repositioned 30km offshore and fitted with a satellite tag that tracked its position as it drifted with the wind and currents for 6 days before falling to the seabed.
Published Groundbreaking study reveals oceanic seabirds chase tropical cyclones
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A new study reveals that the rare Desertas Petrels (Pterodroma deserta), a wide-ranging seabird in the North Atlantic, exhibit unique foraging behaviors during hurricane season. Contrary to other pelagic seabirds, these petrels do not avoid intense tropical cyclones but instead exploit the dynamic conditions for their benefit, providing new insights into the impact of cyclones on open ocean marine life.
Published Cracking open a tasty menu for captive marsupials to sink their teeth into
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source From sifting through topsoil for native truffles to cracking open hard shells of seeds and nuts to munch on the tasty kernels, Australia bettongs and potoroos are described as 'ecosystem engineers' in a two-way relationship between their rich diet and environmental health. However, with native ecosystems and potoroid marsupial numbers in decline, ecology and evolution experts are working to understand how difficult it is to bite into the foods these leading foragers seek out.
Published Life underground suited newly discovered dinosaur fine
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A newly discovered ancestor of Thescelosaurus shows evidence that these animals spent at least part of their time in underground burrows. The new species contributes to a fuller understanding of life during the mid-Cretaceous -- both above and below ground.
Published Study projects major changes in North Atlantic and Arctic marine ecosystems due to climate change
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source New research predicts significant shifts in marine fish communities in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans as a result of climate warming.
Published Scientists discover how to improve vaccine responses to potentially deadly bacterium
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have taken a leap forward in understanding how we might fight back against the potentially deadly MRSA bacterium. They have shown in an animal model that targeting a key suppressive immune molecule (IL-10) during the delivery of a vaccine improves the ability of the vaccine to protect against infection.
Published Restored oyster sanctuaries host more marine life
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Oysters sanctuaries in Chesapeake Bay are working for more than just oysters. Compared to nearby harvest areas, sanctuaries contain more abundant populations of oysters and other animal life--and the presence of two common parasites isn't preventing that.
Published Brain size riddle solved as humans exceed evolution trend
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source The largest animals do not have proportionally bigger brains -- with humans bucking this trend -- a new study has revealed.
Published Migrating starlings are no copycats
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Young, na ve starlings are looking for their wintering grounds independently of experienced conspecifics. Starlings are highly social birds throughout the year, but this does not mean that they copy the migration route from each other. By revisiting a classic 'displacement' experiment and by adding new data, a team of researchers have settled a long-lasting debate.
Published Pasteurization inactivates highly infectious avian flu in milk, study suggests
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers found no infectious virus in the sampled pasteurized milk products tested for H5N1.
Published Blue and great tits deploy surprisingly powerful memories to find food
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Blue and great tits recall what they have eaten in the past, where they found the food and when they found it, a new study shows. In the first experiment of its kind to involve wild animals, blue and great tits demonstrated 'episodic-like' memory to cope with changes in food availability when foraging. The same study may suggest that humans leaving out seeds and nuts for garden birds could be contributing to the evolution of these memory traits.
Published Giant salamander-like creature was a top predator in the ice age before the dinosaurs
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Meet Gaiasia jennyae, the swamp creature with a toilet seat-shaped head. It lived 40 million years before the first dinosaurs, and it was the top predator in its ecosystem.