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Ecology news
Stony coral tissue loss disease is shifting the ecological balance of Caribbean reefs
The outbreak of a deadly disease called stony coral tissue loss disease is destroying susceptible species of coral in the Caribbean while helping other, "weedier" organisms thrive—at least for now—according to a new study ...
Plants & Animals
13 minutes ago
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Rising mercury levels may contribute to declining Steller sea lion populations
A team of researchers from Texas A&M University and other institutions has made a surprising discovery about rising mercury levels in Steller sea lion pups that may have detrimental effects on the endangered species.
Plants & Animals
43 minutes ago
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Contemporary wildfires not more severe than historically in western US dry forests: Study
Wildfires have increased over the last few decades in dry forests, which cover 25.5 million ha (63 million acres) of the western U.S. But are high-severity fires that kill 70% or more of trees already burning at rates that ...
NASA is helping protect tigers, jaguars, and elephants—here's how
As human populations grow, habitat loss threatens many creatures. Mapping wildlife habitat using satellites is a rapidly expanding area of ecology, and NASA satellites play a crucial role in these efforts. Tigers, jaguars, ...
Plants & Animals
53 minutes ago
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NOAA reports continued drop in overfishing
In a report released May 2, NOAA Fisheries announced that 2023 saw a record low for the number of fish stocks subject to overfishing. The annual "Status of the Stocks" report is an assessment of the 506 stocks and stock complexes ...
Ecology
1 hour ago
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Hadeda ibises' 'sixth sense' works best in wet soil: New research is a wake-up call for survival of wading birds
Hadeda ibises (Bostrychia hagedash) are one of the most familiar species of birds across sub-Saharan Africa. They are large, long-legged birds with long, thin beaks for probing invertebrates out of soil, and though they appear ...
Plants & Animals
2 hours ago
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Lego-pushing bumblebees reveal insect collaboration dynamics
A new study reveals that cooperation by bumblebees isn't simply a result of accumulated individual efforts. Rather, these miniature-brained creatures are not just hard-working pollinators, but also show signs of being master ...
Plants & Animals
2 hours ago
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46
Study finds microbiome changes dynamically and favors important host-relevant functions
All multicellular organisms—from the simplest animal and plant organisms to humans—live in close association with a multitude of microorganisms, the so-called microbiome, which colonize their tissues and live in symbiotic ...
Ecology
3 hours ago
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Researchers determine large numbers of wild mountain goats are killed every year by avalanches
A multi-institutional team of animal behaviorists, snow impact specialists and biologists from Alaska, Montana, Switzerland and Canada has found that large numbers of wild mountain goats die every year in Alaska due to avalanches. ...
'Degree of Kevin Bacon' gene provides possible basis for central players in group connectedness
A team of biologists and geneticists at the University of Toronto at Mississauga has found a possible genetic basis for a central player in group connectedness. In their study, published in the journal Nature Communications, ...
Research shows bumblebee nests are overheating due to climate change, threatening future populations
As a result of the climate crisis, global warming is driving up temperatures around the world—and bumblebees, like humans, are struggling to cope with homes that can't beat the heat.
Plants & Animals
14 hours ago
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Study finds human noise negatively impacts cricket survival and reproduction
As the sun sets and the sweltering heat gives way to a balmy evening, there's one sound that fills the air, both beloved and bothersome: the rhythmic symphony of chirping crickets. However, human-generated noise can mask ...
Plants & Animals
21 hours ago
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Citizen science project finds that respectful boat users are rewarded with magical dolphin encounters
A citizen science project reveals that most boat users along the North-East coast in the U.K. do not disturb dolphins and are often rewarded with close-up encounters.
Ecology
21 hours ago
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Bigger brains allow cliff-nesting seagull species to survive and thrive in urban environments
Seagull species that have bigger brains are more likely to nest on coastal cliffs and may also be better adapted to breed in urban environments such as on the roofs of buildings.
Plants & Animals
21 hours ago
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Research explores energy and land-use practices on US golf courses
In 2018, golf was estimated to contribute significantly to the US economy, generating $84 billion, supporting 2 million jobs, and providing $59 billion in compensation. Given its prominence, golf holds a valuable position ...
Ecology
21 hours ago
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For microscopic organisms, ocean currents act as 'expressway' to deeper depths, study finds
Some of the ocean's tiniest organisms get swept into underwater currents that act as a conduit that shuttles them from the sunny surface to deeper, darker depths where they play a huge role in affecting the ocean's chemistry ...
Ecology
22 hours ago
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Artificial intelligence enhances monitoring of threatened marbled murrelet
Artificial intelligence analysis of data gathered by acoustic recording devices is a promising new tool for monitoring the marbled murrelet and other secretive, hard-to-study species, research by Oregon State University and ...
Plants & Animals
23 hours ago
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Life's insiders: Decoding endosymbiosis with mathematics
Endosymbiosis, the intimate and long-term relationship where one organism lives inside another, is a cornerstone of life as we know it, and a key to the emergence of complex life on Earth. Many of the mysteries surrounding ...
Ecology
May 2, 2024
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The COVID-19 pandemic changed our patterns and behaviors, which in turn affected wildlife
The Earth now supports over eight billion people who collectively have transformed three-quarters of the planet's land surface for food, energy, shelter and other aspects of the human enterprise.
Ecology
May 2, 2024
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Great white sharks off South Africa's coast are protected by law, but not in practice—this needs to change
In less than eight years, white sharks in South Africa have all but disappeared from their historical hotspots in False Bay and Gansbaai, on the Western Cape coast. These areas were once known as the "white shark capital ...
Plants & Animals
May 2, 2024
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More news
Marine sharks and rays 'use' urea to delay reproduction, finds study
Texans encouraged to turn off nighttime lights during bird migration
Other news
How E. coli get the power to cause urinary tract infections
Chemist explores the real-world science of Star Wars
Novel triple drug combination effective against antibiotic-resistant bacteria
New discovery of a mechanism that controls cell division
How mantle movements shape Earth's surface
Lake tsunamis pose significant threat under warming climate
Physicists pioneer new quantum sensing platform
Cold sintering may rescue plastic, ceramics, battery components from landfills
