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.....»»
Baleen whales evolved a unique larynx to communicate but cannot escape human noise
Baleen whales are the largest animals to have ever roamed our planet and as top predators play a vital role in marine ecosystems. To communicate across vast distances and find each other, baleen whales depend critically on the production of sounds th.....»»
Antibiotic use on Kenya"s dairy farms is putting consumers and animals at risk
Farmers often use antibiotics to keep their livestock healthy. They're sometimes used as "quick fixes", to avoid more costly management measures like regular disinfection, waste management, routine vaccination or provision of clean drinking water......»»
Danish grasslands are behaving strangely and researchers don"t know why
Nature slowly begins to change if meadows and grasslands are allowed to grow wild without human interference or grazing animals. Weeds do well with disturbance from cows and sheep that graze and tramp on the soil, for example. However, weeds have a h.....»»
Unlocking the energetic secrets of collective animal movement: How group behavior reduces energy costs in fish
Many animals, including apex predators, move in groups. We know this collective behavior is fundamental to the animal's ability to move in complex environments, but less is known about what drives the behavior because many factors underlie its evolut.....»»
Bat "nightclubs" may be the key to solving the next pandemic
Bats carry some of the deadliest zoonotic diseases that can infect both humans and animals, such as Ebola and COVID-19. In a recently-published article in the journal Cell Genomics, a Texas A&M research team has revealed that some species of bats are.....»»
Men become less fertile with age, but the same isn"t true for all animals: Study
We take it for granted that humans find it more difficult to conceive as they grow older. But our recent study, which analyzed data from 157 animal species, found that male reproductive aging seems to be a lot less common in other male animals......»»
Q&A: Machine-learning model tracks trends in public finance research
What are the leading topics in public finance and budgeting, how have they changed, and what future topics should be more closely researched by professionals and practitioners?.....»»
Viewpoint: Migratory animals face mass extinction—but as a conservationist, I"m optimistic
The world is facing three planetary crises: biodiversity loss, climate change and environmental pollution. Recognized threats to biodiversity include habitat loss and overexploitation but new analyses suggest that migratory species are faring particu.....»»
Common mineral in red soils tends to lock away trace metals over time, study finds
Trace metals are nutrient elements, like zinc, that animals and plants need in small amounts to function properly. Animals generally get trace metals in their diets or through environmental exposures, while plants take their trace minerals up from so.....»»
Some pre-Roman humans were buried with dogs, horses and other animals
Some people from an ancient community in what is now northern Italy were interred with animals and animal parts from species such as dogs, horses and pigs. The reasons remain mysterious, but might indicate an enduring companion relationship between t.....»»
Dairy cows fed botanicals-supplemented diets use energy more efficiently
Supplementing the feed of high-producing dairy cows with the botanical extract capsicum oleoresin, obtained from chili peppers, or a combination of that extract and clove oil resulted in the animals using feed energy more efficiently and emitting les.....»»
Viewpoint: Wildlife selfies harm animals, even when scientists share images with warnings in the captions
One of the biggest privileges of being a primatologist is spending time in remote locations with monkeys and apes, living near these animals in their habitats and experiencing their daily lives. As a 21st-century human, I have an immediate impulse to.....»»
Pesticides to help protect seeds can adversely affect earthworms" health
While pesticides protect crops from hungry animals, pesky insects, or even microbial infections, they also impact other vital organisms, including bees and earthworms. Now, research published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters reveals that.....»»
Do apes have humor? Study shows that great apes playfully tease each other
Babies playfully tease others as young as eight months of age. Since language is not required for this behavior, similar kinds of playful teasing might be present in non-human animals......»»
"CSI-like" investigations into box jellyfish movements could soon keep swimmers safer
Work by a James Cook University researcher could soon keep swimmers safer, thanks to a revolutionary technology that can track one of the world's most venomous animals, the Australian box jellyfish......»»
Wild Animals Should Be Paid for the Benefits They Provide Humanity
Healthy ecosystems in developing countries sequester carbon, regulate the weather, and help plants grow thousands of miles away. Wealthier countries benefit from these services—and so should pay for them to be maintained......»»
Fungicide resistance: A threat to the health of humans, animals and plants
Fungi can cause disease in humans, animals and plants. Every year, 1.5 million people die from fungal infections, and fungal attacks in food crops threaten food production. To protect ourselves, we have developed chemical agents—in the form of medi.....»»
Surprising behavior in one of the least studied mammals in the world
Some animals live in such remote and inaccessible regions of the globe that it is nearly impossible to study them in their natural habitats. Beaked whales, of which 24 species have been found so far, are among them: They live far from land and in dee.....»»
Harry Potter and the Disenchanted Wildlife: How light and sound shows can harm nocturnal animals
Light and sound shows in parks can enthrall crowds with their color, music and storytelling. Lasting for weeks to months, the shows provide entertainment and can boost local economies. But unless they are well-located, the shows can also harm wildlif.....»»
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.....»»