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......»»
Sawfish tagged in Cedar Key for first time in decades
In 2003, smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) had the unenviable distinction of being the first native marine fish listed under the Endangered Species Act. The classification followed decades of declining populations due to habitat loss, overharves.....»»
Man-made materials in nests can bring both risks and benefits for birds
We all discard a huge amount of plastic and other man-made materials into the environment, and these are often picked up by birds. New research has shown that 176 bird species around the world are now known to include a wide range of anthropogenic ma.....»»
Beak shape can predict nest material use in birds, study finds
The material a bird selects for its nest depends on the dimensions of its beak, according to researchers......»»
Considerable but unsustainable water supply from thawing permafrost on the Tibetan Plateau in a changing climate
In a warming climate, the sustainability of cryospheric meltwater on the Tibetan Plateau has raised concerns because of its importance for the fragile ecosystem in the headwater regions and the dense populations in the downstream. Existing studies ma.....»»
Study results show lead hunting ammunition hinders bald eagle recovery, resiliency
A new published paper in the journal Wildlife Society Bulletin states that, despite the resurgence of bald eagle populations, exposure to lead ammunition fragments in wild game gut piles and carcass parts is not only sickening and killing bald eagles.....»»
Fossils reveal how ancient birds molted, could explain why modern birds survived while other dinosaurs died
Every bird you've ever seen—every robin, every pigeon, every penguin at the zoo—is a living dinosaur. Birds are the only group of dinosaurs that survived the asteroid-induced mass extinction 66 million years ago. But not all the birds alive at th.....»»
Biting flies are attracted to blue traps—researchers use AI to work out why
Flies which feast on blood—such as tsetse and horse flies—inflict painful bites and spread debilitating diseases among people and animals alike. So a lot of work has gone into designing the most efficient traps to control the populations of these.....»»
Rising monkey and pig populations pose human disease risk
Exploding populations of wild pigs and macaque monkeys in Southeast Asia are threatening native forests and disease outbreaks in livestock and people, according to research led by The University of Queensland published in Biological Reviews......»»
AI improving understanding of migratory birds" internal clock, map and compass
Different species of migrating bird have different genetically programmed procedures that signal when it is time to head off and when it is time to return. It may have to do with factors such as daylight, temperature, weather and the Earth's magnetic.....»»
Just add water: Garden ponds and bird baths help wildlife thrive, study finds
Providing water sources in residential gardens helps wildlife thrive, according to new University of Bristol-led research. The study, published in Urban Ecosystems, compared the quantity and variety of wildlife visiting urban lake water sources and r.....»»
Group sues over federal protections for snow-loving bird, "harbinger" of climate change
As climate change warms Washington's mountain ranges, environmentalists are suing the federal government to protect one snow-loving bird of the Cascades......»»
New study shows that the Bachman"s warbler was a distinct species
The Bachman's warbler, a songbird that was last seen in North America nearly 40 years ago, was a distinct species and not a hybrid of its two living sister species, according a new study in which the full genomes of seven museum specimens of the bird.....»»
Varroa mites and deformed wing virus make honeybees more susceptible to insecticides
Controlling for Varroa mites, the parasitic mites that feed on honey bees and serve as vectors for viral diseases like deformed wing virus (DWV), can help with improving honeybee populations and make bees less susceptible to harmful insecticides, acc.....»»
Global analysis on pollinators in cities: Wild bees and butterflies are at particular risk
Butterflies are being hit hardest by urban growth. Shrinking habitats and food availability are causing their populations to decline. The same applies to many wild bees that fly early in spring......»»
Green electricity won’t help with pollution disparities
US minorities are exposed to more pollution. Most climate plans don't change that. Enlarge (credit: dpullman / Getty Images) In the US, minorities are exposed to higher pollution levels than other populations. This is at.....»»
Biologists document genome-level climate adaptation in endangered bird species
As the climate changes, living things must adapt to new environmental conditions in one of two ways—either geographically or genetically. While it's relatively simple for scientists to track and record a species' geographic movements, proving their.....»»
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......»»
Facial tumors evolve to coexist with Tasmanian devil populations, shows new study
Research led by the University of Tasmania has found that the deadly devil facial tumor disease (DFTD) responsible for wiping out two-thirds of the species over the last 30 years is evolving to coexist with devil populations......»»
Cryo conservation: A cool solution to saving species from extinction
In the face of the biodiversity crisis, and alarming data showing a 69% decline in global animal populations since 1970, researchers are banking on a cool solution to help save species from extinction......»»
Cover crops contribute to soil health, study shows
Worldwide, farmers are being challenged with a variety of issues, including growing populations, a changing climate and soil degradation, among many others. To combat these challenges, researchers are looking for solutions and have begun to focus the.....»»