Bird Populations Are in Meltdown
Humans rely on birds to eat insects, spread seeds, and pollinate plants—but these feathered friends can’t survive without their habitats......»»
Australia has more native bird species than almost anywhere else. What led to this explosion of diversity?
When you went out today, did you see any birds? A galah perhaps, or a crow?.....»»
"Bluewashing": How ecotourism can be used against Indigenous communities
When the notion of "ecotourism" was introduced in the late 1970s, it was intended to be ecologically responsible, promote conservation, benefit local populations and help travelers foster a "reconnection with biocultural diversity." It's now more of.....»»
Improved algorithm enhances precision of pressure sensors for wild bird tracking
Researchers from the Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have proposed an improved algorithm called Dynamic Quantum Particle Swarm Optimization (DQPSO) to improve the accuracy and reliability of pre.....»»
Study analyzes differences in canine teeth between European and African populations
The Dental Anthropology Group at the Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH) has published a study in the journal Anthropological Science, in collaboration with the University of Bordeaux (France) and the University of P.....»»
New study using 3D scans of 85% of all known bird species sheds light on extraordinary avian diversity
A new study, using the digitized scans of beaks from over 8,700 bird species, is shedding light on how evolution changes at different scales. While the general principles of evolution by natural selection have been known for over 160 years, the 3D sc.....»»
Local adaptation may buffer some birds against climate change
North American song sparrows may be more resilient to climate change thanks to a remarkable adaptation: a stunning range of body sizes found throughout the bird's westernmost range......»»
Warmer, wetter winters bring risks to river insects
Research by Cardiff University has shown that the warmer, wetter winters in the U.K. caused by climate change are likely to impact the stability of insect populations in streams......»»
Q&A: Birds of East Africa—their extraordinary diversity and changing behavior
101 Curious Tales of East African Birds is a new book that uses academic research to tell fascinating stories about the tropical birds of east Africa, from well-known species to rare ones. It also explores changing bird behavior in the region. Its au.....»»
Arctic Ocean soundscapes reveal changes in mammal populations in response to climate change
While the sounds of our oceans may be familiar to us through the lens of nature documentaries, from the haunting calls of whales to the barks of some fish, this acoustic environment can provide a wealth of knowledge to scientists regarding the comple.....»»
Study shows how bird flu could be eradicated by editing the genes of chickens
Recent advances in gene editing technology could potentially be used to create disease-resistant animals. This could curtail the spread of avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu......»»
Study finds plant populations in Cologne are adapted to their urban environments
A research team from the Universities of Cologne and Potsdam and the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research has found that the regional lines of the thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana), a small ruderal plant which populates the streets of Co.....»»
Bird Flu Reaches the Antarctic for the First Time
As the first known cases of H5N1 are detected in the region, scientists fear for the isolated penguin and seal populations that have never been exposed......»»
Okinawa"s ants show reduced seasonal behavior in areas with more human development
Insects have an important role in maintaining the health of ecosystems, but our understanding of how human activities affect their populations is limited. This gap in knowledge is worrying because of the decline of insect populations and the severe c.....»»
Digital terrain models zero in on Martian surface
Picture soaring over a rugged canyon on another world, strapped into an imaginary hang glider. Or getting a bird's eye view of craters that stretch on for miles and following along the same paths as the robotic rovers that have explored the surface o.....»»
Tiny networks intertwine to mimic design of bird colors
The bright plumage of birds is often a feast for the eyes, but it has been a headache for scientists who have struggled to recreate the photonic nanostructures that generate those colors in the lab......»»
Bird flu kills more than 500 marine mammals in Brazil
At least 522 seals and sea lions have been found dead along the coast of southern Brazil, authorities said Wednesday, blaming the die-off on avian flu......»»
Study suggests climate change likely impacted human populations in the Neolithic and Bronze Age
Human populations in Neolithic Europe fluctuated with changing climates, according to a study published October 25, 2023 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Ralph Großmann of Kiel University, Germany and colleagues......»»
Geographers propose way for governments to help keep consumers" grocery costs down
Hikes in grocery prices—11% last year alone—often arise from factors outside of governments' control, whether it's bird flu driving up egg costs or heavy rain and flooding in California drowning crops of veggies, nuts and berries......»»
New deadly bird flu cases reported in Iowa, joining 3 other states as disease resurfaces
Two commercial turkey farms in Iowa have been hit by the reemerging highly pathogenic bird flu, causing about 100,000 birds to be killed to prevent the disease from spreading......»»
Q&A: Do we need a new approach to prevent bird window strikes?
In early October, nearly 1,000 birds perished after colliding with the windows of a convention center near Lake Michigan in Chicago, marking the largest mass bird die-off in decades. But bird window-strike fatalities are an ongoing threat. Illinois N.....»»