~ecology-news-biolog | Bookmarks (423)

Ancient DNA extracted from a sediment core from a high-altitude Pyrenean lake in Spain reveals that fish may have been added to the lake by humans as early as the 7th century CE. The findings, published in Nature Communications, suggest that fish were present in Lake Redon much earlier than previously suggested by historical evidence and provide further insight into the impact of human...

An international team of agronomists is calling for a new approach to estimate crop yield potential and gaps—information that is critical in planning how to meet growing food demand.

As coral bleaching and deaths become more widespread globally, experts are re-evaluating the benefits of restoration missions to reverse damage and protect some of the world's most species-rich ecosystems.

A study published in Scientific Reports reveals how birds responded to the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse across North America. The study finds bird vocalizations significantly declined only where more than 99% solar obscuration occurred. The study is titled "Continental-scale behavioral response of birds to a total solar eclipse."

Researchers at the University of Granada and the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence have demonstrated a link between urbanization and the plumage color of birds. Species that thrive in cities are less brown and sport more elaborate colors. These color differences are probably due to differences in habitat structure and predation pressure—cities are less forested, have different background colors and a lower number...

A team of international researchers has identified a new sex hormone that plays a crucial role in stimulating ovulation. Researchers have identified secretoneurin, a neuropeptide derived from the secretogranin-2 protein, as a critical hormone that stimulates ovulation in zebrafish.

Invasive species cause environmental mayhem when they establish themselves in a new ecosystem. But these interlopers can also impact human health directly. Deadly diseases can jump from animals to humans, as the COVID-19 pandemic illustrated.

A new study from Tel Aviv University reveals that the greater mouse-tailed bat (Rhinopoma microphyllum) uses its long tail as a natural tactile sensor to navigate backward in dark caves. The researchers discovered that the bat's long tail functions as a dynamic sensing tool, enabling it to avoid obstacles and orient itself in complex environments while climbing backward—especially when other sensory abilities like vision...

Climate change is creating new pathways for the spread of infectious diseases like brucellosis, tularemia, or E. coli in the Arctic, according to a broad international consortium of scientists with a wide range of expertise in human, animal, and environmental health in the North Pole.

A team of ecologists, climatologists and evolutionary specialists affiliated with several institutions in the U.S. has found that Gila monsters may find it difficult to survive in the face of climate change. In their study published in the journal Ecology and Evolution, the group compared data regarding Gila monster behavior with climate models showing increasing temperatures in Gila habitats.

The Last of Us is back on April 13 and this season is more realistic than ever.

In 2013, 8% of the bottlenose dolphins living in Florida's Indian River Lagoon died. Investigations have now revealed that the dolphins may have starved because key habitats for nutritious prey were destroyed by a phytoplankton bloom.

The life of a plant scientist involves long hours in the lab, thinking up, designing, and monitoring experiments that might tell us something new about how life works. But sometimes it helps to log off the computer, hang up the lab coats, and seek inspiration in nature.

Sitting atop the land of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, located on the eastern hills of the Santa Cruz Mountains and about five miles southwest of Stanford University's main campus, is one of its most beautiful classrooms: Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve ('Ootchamin 'Ooyakma). Since 1965, this site, a part of the School of Humanities and Sciences (H&S), has been the center of long-term scientific studies...

The scent of blooming flowers and fresh plant life is not just a perk of springtime; it is a key driver in the survival and evolution of butterflies and moths. New research led by scientists at Penn State reveals how the daily cycles of plant aromas are linked to the dietary habits and evolution of the winged insects collectively known as Lepidoptera.

New research from the University of Minnesota upends long-held understanding about how wolves, bears and cougars—three of Yellowstone National Park's most iconic carnivores—compete for prey.

Our environment is changing rapidly, largely as a result of human activities, leading to a significant decline in biodiversity. According to researchers from the University of Victoria and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, this decline does not only affect animal life, but also our understanding of their behavior, including tool use.

Insects are the dominant form of animal life on our planet, providing humans and wildlife with pollination, food, and recycling services but, despite concerns about population declines, little is known about how 99% of species globally are faring.

Why do some animals solve problems while others don't? The new study from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, now featured on the cover of Oikos, tackles this question with an unexpected star: the wild house mouse. This research dives into how different personality types—especially traits like boldness and shyness—influence innovation.

Commonly called the "corpse flower," Amorphophallus titanum is endangered for many reasons, including habitat destruction, climate change and encroachment from invasive species.

A new study has found that the world's finest yodelers aren't from Austria or Switzerland, but the rainforests of Latin America.

A study recently published in Nature indicates that human activities have a negative effect on the biodiversity of wildlife hundreds of kilometers away. A research collaboration led by the University of Tartu assessed the health of ecosystems worldwide, considering both the number of plant species found and the dark diversity—the missing ecologically suitable species.

Camouflage is a common defensive strategy among animals. By modifying their coloration and patterning, animals evade predators or ambush prey. Notably, more than 40% of alpine plant species in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and adjacent regions exhibit typical camouflage coloration.

An international team of researchers has found that climate change is negatively impacting the Californian wild salmon population, which should serve as a warning to Australia.