Alien plants and animals threaten Antarctica
While scientists globally have been tracking the impact of introduced, non-indigenous species into environments—this collaborative research between La Trobe University, the Arthur Rylah Institute and Monash University is the first to document alien.....»»
Monkey fossils found in cave shed light on the animals" extinction centuries ago
By studying rare fossils of jaws and other skull parts of a long-extinct Caribbean monkey, a team of researchers that includes a Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine professor says it has uncovered new evidence documenting the anatomy and ecol.....»»
A leap in behavioral modeling: Scientists replicate animal movements with unprecedented accuracy
Scientists have developed a new method to simulate the complex movements of animals with exceptional accuracy. The research team set out to solve a long-standing challenge in biology—how to accurately model the intricate and seemingly unpredictable.....»»
Study finds Mexican free-tailed bats unlikely to spread Chagas disease in Texas
Bats are widely known around the world for their role in the spread of a number of zoonotic diseases—illnesses that can spread between humans and animals......»»
New super-Neptune exoplanet discovered
An international team of astronomers reports the discovery of a new super-Neptune exoplanet orbiting a solar-type star. The newly detected alien world, which received the designation TOI-5005 b, is about six times larger and more than 30 times more m.....»»
Synthetic modules boost production of animal-based nutrients in plants
It's important to eat your veggies, but some essential vitamins and nutrients can only be found in animals, including certain amino acids and peptides. Now, in a proof-of-concept study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, rese.....»»
Armyworms are invading North Texas: What are they?
They slither across lawns and pastures in a sort of formation, chewing grass, plants and even weeds. Only an inch or inch-and-a-half long, the caterpillars do not look particularly destructive......»»
Can music help plants grow? Study suggests sound may boost plant-promoting fungus
Playing a monotonous sound stimulates the activity of a fungus that promotes plant growth, according to a study released on Wednesday, raising the possibility that playing music could benefit crops and gardens......»»
Shrinking lake on Albanian-Greek border struggles to survive
Plants and reeds have sprouted up as the waters of Little Prespa Lake on the Albanian-Greek border recede, their beauty overshadowing a painful truth: the lake is slowly dying......»»
Are plants and fungi trading carbon for nutrients? Not likely, say researchers
Every year, plants move 3.58 gigatons of carbon to mycorrhizal fungi, their underground partners—enough, in fact, that if it were ice, it would cover 112 million NHL hockey rinks. However, a dominant scientific theory explaining that huge transfer.....»»
Pollination shifts in Caribbean after Hurricane Maria demonstrate ecological resilience
Most flowering plants depend on animals for pollination. In warm wet tropical regions, more than 90% of plant species are pollinated by animals. In Dominica, a Caribbean island country, researchers have identified a mutualistic relationship between t.....»»
Breeder who tried to create enormous trophy sheep jailed in US
A man who tried to breed enormous hybrid sheep using genetic material from endangered animals so he could sell them to trophy hunting ranches has been sentenced to six months in prison, the US Department of Justice said Monday......»»
For the first time since 1882, UK will have no coal-fired power plants
A combination of government policy and economics spells the end of UK's coal use. Enlarge / The Ratcliffe-on-Soar plant is set to shut down for good today. (credit: Ashley Cooper) On Monday, the UK will see the closure o.....»»
DNA technology enables molecular monitoring for marine change and threats
New DNA technology promises to improve efforts to monitor marine life in the Southern Ocean, and detect the presence of non-native marine species close to Antarctica......»»
"Vegetarian" possums eat meat when the weather"s cold
When dead animals are left lying around in nature, who takes advantage of the free feed—carnivores or herbivores? The answer may surprise you......»»
Reading desert sands—Indigenous wildlife tracking skills underpin vast monitoring project
As animals move across the desert, they leave tracks, diggings and droppings. For skilled trackers, reading these signs is like watching a movie. A story of who was there and what they were doing unfolds in front of them......»»
Elucidating the mechanism of cell division during plant self-healing
When the stem of a plant is injured, the surrounding cells proliferate to repair and fuse the damaged tissue, eventually restoring function. This self-healing property is utilized in grafting techniques to propagate fruit and vegetable plants......»»
Wall lizards shed light on how animals prevent harm in territorial disputes
A study appearing in Behavioral Ecology shows that in male wall lizards, certain behaviors have a greater influence on the way they resolve territorial disputes than their size and coloration......»»
Presence of bacteria in soil makes flowers more attractive to pollinators, study shows
Bacteria that live in soil and help roots fix nitrogen can boost certain plants' capacity to reproduce, according to an article published in the American Journal of Botany describing a study of this mechanism in Chamaecrista latistipula, a legume bel.....»»
Genetic rescue for rare red foxes? Research uncovers options to restore Lassen red fox population
A rescue effort can take many forms—a life raft, a firehose, an airlift. For animals whose populations are in decline from inbreeding, genetics itself can be a lifesaver......»»
Bulrush once kept NZ"s wetlands and lakes thriving—now it could help restore them
With about 90% of New Zealand's natural wetlands drained or severely damaged during the past decades, we need to understand the role of native plants in the restoration of these important habitats......»»