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

Death is only the beginning: Birds disperse eaten insects' eggs      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Relationship patterns among flightless stick insects suggest that birds disperse the eggs after eating gravid females. Lab experiments previously suggested the possibility, but a new genetic analysis of natural populations in Japan now supports the idea.

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.

Biology: Zoology Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Nature Ecology: Research
Published

Tropical ecosystems more reliant on emerging aquatic insects, study finds, potentially putting them at greater risk      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have found that tropical forest ecosystems are more reliant on aquatic insects than temperate forest ecosystems, making them more vulnerable to disruptions to the links between land and water. This is a significant finding, as tropical forests play a vital role in global biodiversity and climate regulation. The study's authors warn that any disruption to the land-water connections in these ecosystems could have serious consequences for their health and resilience.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Marine Biology: Zoology Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Sea Life Environmental: Ecosystems
Published

Newly-discovered 'margarita snails' from the Florida Keys are bright lemon-yellow      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A newly-discovered, bright yellow snail has been discovered in the Florida Keys and named in honor of Jimmy Buffet's song 'Margaritaville.' The lemon-colored marine snail, along with its lime-green cousin from Belize, is the subject of a recent study ; researchers think these snails' bright colors might help deter predators.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: General Biology: Zoology
Published

Space weather disrupts nocturnal bird migration, study finds      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

It's well-known that birds and other animals rely on Earth's magnetic field for long-distance navigation during seasonal migrations. But how do periodic disruptions of the planet's magnetic field, caused by solar flares and other energetic outbursts, affect the reliability of those biological navigation systems?  

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Marine Biology: Zoology Ecology: Research Ecology: Sea Life
Published

Consistent metabolism may prove costly for insects in saltier water      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Increased salinity usually spells trouble for freshwater insects like mayflies. A new study finds that the lack of metabolic responses to salinity may explain why some freshwater insects often struggle in higher salinity, while other freshwater invertebrates (like mollusks and crustaceans) thrive. 

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Offbeat: General Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology Offbeat: Plants and Animals Paleontology: Fossils Paleontology: General
Published

Ginger pigment molecules found in fossil frogs      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Palaeontologists discover molecular evidence of phaeomelanin, the pigment that produces ginger coloration. Phaeomelanin is now toxic to animals – this discovery may be first step in understand its evolution. 

Offbeat: General Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology Paleontology: General
Published

Oldest fossil human footprints in North America confirmed      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New research reaffirms that human footprints found in White Sands National Park, NM, date to the Last Glacial Maximum, placing humans in North America thousands of years earlier than once thought.  In September 2021, scientists announced that ancient human footprints discovered in White Sands National Park were between 21,000 and 23,000 years old. This discovery pushed the known date of human presence in North America back by thousands of years and implied that early inhabitants and megafauna co-existed for several millennia before the terminal Pleistocene extinction event. In a follow-up study, researchers used two new independent approaches to date the footprints, both of which resulted in the same age range as the original estimate. 

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Biology: Zoology
Published

Researchers propose radical change in how animal facial expressions are defined and studied      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have developed a new method to analyze facial expressions, as part of efforts to better understand animal communication.

Biology: Zoology Ecology: Nature Ecology: Research
Published

Bewick's swans choose wintering areas based on the weather      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Bewick’s swans fly less far during their autumn migration when the weather is warm. Climate change has therefore led to a shift in their common wintering areas. Now, for the first time, bird researchers have been able to use long-term GPS data to pinpoint the specific choices that individual swans make.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: General Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Nature
Published

Fear of humans pervades the South African savanna      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Mammals living in South Africa's Greater Kruger National Park, home to one of the world's largest remaining lion populations, are far more afraid of hearing human voices than lion vocalizations or hunting sounds such as dogs barking or gunshots.

Biology: Botany Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Nature Ecology: Trees Paleontology: Dinosaurs Paleontology: Early Mammals and Birds Paleontology: General
Published

Survival of the newest: the mammals that survive mass extinctions aren't as 'boring' as scientists thought      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

For decades, scientists have assumed that mammals and their relatives that survived challenging times (like those during mass extinctions) made it because they were generalists that were able to eat just about anything and adapt to whatever life threw at them. A new study into the mammal family tree through multiple mass extinctions revealed that the species that survived aren't as generic as scientists had thought: instead, having new and different traits can be the key to succeeding in the aftermath of a catastrophe.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Nature
Published

Ruffed grouse population more resilient than expected, genetic study finds      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Despite decades of decline, a genetic analysis of ruffed grouse reveals that Pennsylvania's state bird harbors more genetic diversity and connectivity than expected. The findings suggest that the iconic game bird could be maintained in persistent numbers if appropriate protections are implemented.

Biology: Botany Biology: Microbiology Biology: Zoology Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Invasive Species Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: Water
Published

Meadow Spittlebug's record-breaking diet also makes it top disease carrier for plants      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New research fueled in part by citizen scientists reveals that the meadow spittlebug—known for the foamy, spit-like urine released by its nymphs—can feed on at least 1,300 species of host plants, more than twice the number of any other insect.

Biology: General Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Ecology: Nature
Published

Bird species changing faster than expected in protected areas      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A recent study has found that bird communities inside and outside protected areas are beginning to resemble each other as a result of climate change. In both areas, southern species increase in abundance, while northern species decrease.

Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Zoology Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Computer Science: General Ecology: Nature Ecology: Research Mathematics: Modeling
Published

Birders and AI push bird conservation to the next level      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Big data and artificial intelligence (AI) are being used to model hidden patterns in nature, not just for one bird species, but for entire ecological communities across continents. And the models follow each species’ full annual life cycle, from breeding to fall migration to non-breeding grounds, and back north again during spring migration.