How consciousness in animals could be researched
There are reasons to assume that not only humans but also some non-human species of animal have conscious perception. Which species have consciousness and how the subjective experience of various species could differ is being investigated by Professo.....»»
Global study: Wild megafauna shape ecosystem properties
For millions of years, a variety of large herbivores, or megafauna, influenced terrestrial ecosystems. Among many others, these included elephants in Europe, giant wombats in Australia, and ground sloths in South America. However, these animals exper.....»»
Ice ages were not as dry as we thought, according to surprising new Australian cave study
During ice ages, dry, frozen terrain extended over much of northern Europe, Asia and North America. Many plants and animals retreated from these desolate, harsh landscapes and sought refuge in pockets of more hospitable territory......»»
Helping predict cold-blooded animals" response to environmental shifts
Newcastle University researchers have developed a new tool to predict cold-blooded animals' responses to environmental change......»»
The social life of mouse immune systems
Hanging out a lot with the same crowd can make immune systems of individual animals similar, even if the crowd is not related. That's according to a recent paper published in Science Advances that teased out connections between social behaviors and i.....»»
Animals keep eating precious plants—we used "smell misinformation" to keep them away
In places where we need to protect valuable plants—whether for ecological or economic reasons—local herbivores can cause significant damage......»»
Training an animal? An ethicist explains how and why your dog, but not your frog, can be punished
People talk to their pets every day: offering praise when they're good, reassurance when they're confused and affection when they're cuddling. We also speak to animals when they misbehave. "Why did you do that?" someone might ask their dog. Or we mig.....»»
Horses, camels and deer bad rap for razing plants. New research shows they"re no worse than native animals
Large introduced herbivores such as feral horses and camels are often seen as "invasive" species which damage native plants......»»
Fooled: Herbivorous animals "led by the nose" to leave plants alone
University of Sydney researchers have shown it is possible to shield plants from the hungry maws of herbivorous mammals by fooling them with the smell of a variety they typically avoid......»»
New study suggests culling animals who "don"t belong" can be a flawed nature conservation practice
New research published today in the journal Science has concluded that eradicating animals on the basis that they are not native in order to protect plant species can be a flawed practice costing millions of dollars, and resulting in the slaughter of.....»»
Why don"t people care about Australia"s native rodents? The problem could be their ugly names
The common names of Australian animals often originate in Aboriginal languages, and beneficially so. Continuing use of names such as kangaroo and kookaburra helps to honor the wealth of knowledge possessed by First Nations peoples, to appreciate the.....»»
A 365-million-year-old fish with an extreme underbite showcases vertebrate diversity
Vertebrates are defined as all animals that possess a vertebral column, or backbone. Most living vertebrates also possess jaws, teeth and paired fins or limbs......»»
Researcher discovers how to predict movement for animals of all shapes, sizes and speeds
A West Virginia University mechanical engineer has developed a way to predict the neuron and muscle patterns controlling locomotion for animals of any size, moving at any speed......»»
Nature"s DNA traps: Spider webs put new spin on wildlife research
Spiders might be silent heroes in helping us understand and keep track of animals, with new Curtin research revealing their webs act like natural traps for tiny bits of environmental DNA (eDNA) from vertebrates, which could change how we learn about.....»»
Putting animals to sleep can give veterinarians suicidal thoughts
Helene Seljenes Dalum has carried out research on what causes veterinarians to have suicidal thoughts. In June, she completed her doctorate at IMB, which brought her a little nearer to discovering the reasons behind the statistics......»»
Endangered seabird shows surprising individual flexibility to adapt to climate change
How individual animals respond to climate change is key to whether populations will persist or go extinct. Many species are shifting their ranges as the environment warms, but up to now the mechanisms underlying this have been unclear. For Europe's m.....»»
Researchers map genome for cats, dolphins, birds, and dozens of other animals
Researchers mapped genetic blueprints for 51 species including cats, dolphins, kangaroos, penguins, sharks, and turtles, a discovery that deepens our understanding of evolution and the links between humans and animals......»»
Animals see the world in different colors than humans: New camera reveals what this looks like
If you've ever wished you could see the world though the eyes of another animal, we have good news for you. We also wondered about that and, being scientists who specialize in color vision, have created a solution: a camera system and software packag.....»»
Cultivated meat production costs could fall significantly: Bovine muscle engineered to produce their own growth signals
Cellular agriculture—the production of meat from cells grown in bioreactors rather than harvested from farm animals—is taking leaps in technology that are making it a more viable option for the food industry. One such leap has now been made at th.....»»
Environmental risks of new pesticides with nanoparticles insufficiently examined, say researchers
The environmental risks of new pesticides containing nanoparticles are inadequately researched, according to four Leiden University scientists, who have published an article in the journal Environmental Science & Technology. They call for an examinat.....»»
Here"s where Colorado"s new wolves have roamed over the last month
The 10 wolves released in Colorado last month and two wolves from a pack that migrated here from Wyoming have remained in the central and northern mountains, according to a map showing the general locations of the animals released Wednesday by state.....»»