How do functional traits diversify and phylogenetically correlate for co-occurring understory species in boreal forests?
Determining the processes and mechanisms underlying community assembly is a favorite pastime for ecologists. During the past decade, functional trait-based approaches have been widely used to test mechanistic community assembly hypotheses through qua.....»»
Bizarre fish has sensory “legs” it uses for walking and tasting
Some sea robin species can use their legs to sense prey. Evolution has turned out bizarre and baffling creatures, such as walking fish. It only gets weirder from there. Some of th.....»»
Butterfly brains reveal the tweaks required for cognitive innovation
A species of tropical butterfly with unusually expanded brain structures displays a fascinating mosaic pattern of neural expansion linked to a cognitive innovation......»»
Q&A: Experts discuss the beaver, a controversial mammal
When an endangered species succeeds in repopulating its former habitat, the immediate reaction is one of joy. In the long term, however, its spread is often associated with conflict. One example is the beaver, a keystone species. Other keystone speci.....»»
The BC election could decide the future of the province"s species at risk laws
With British Columbians going to the polls this week, a whole host of key issues are on the agenda. Among these issues stands the future of species at risk legislation in B.C.—and perhaps with it Canada as a whole......»»
Resolving biology"s dark matter: DNA barcoding reveals hidden insect diversity
There are millions of species on Earth that we still know nothing about. Researchers call these species "biological dark matter," but new methods can provide us with a better overview more quickly......»»
Biofilms study reveals how multiple bacteria species manage to coexist
Biofilms—slimy communities of bacteria—grow on all sorts of surfaces: from glaciers and hot springs to plant roots, your bathtub and fridge, wounds, and medical devices such as catheters. Most biofilms are composed of multiple bacterial species,.....»»
Stem carbohydrate richness in two cycad species
Terrestrial plants have developed strategies to cope with suboptimal conditions. Storage of nonstructural resources is one of those strategies. Nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) of plants are primarily sugars and starch, and have been studied extens.....»»
Pathogenic system found on Providencia rustigianii has virulence gene akin to Salmonella"s
Salmonella and E. coli are well-known bacteria that cause food poisoning, but less understood are species of Providencia, another causative agent of serious symptoms......»»
Aquaculture could harm animal welfare or protect it, depending on what species the farms raise
The global aquaculture industry has tripled in size since the year 2000, with producers raising a mind-boggling diversity of species, from seaweeds and clams to carp, salmon and cuttlefish. Many of these creatures are undomesticated and lead complex.....»»
Human Origins Look Ever More Tangled with Gene and Fossil Discoveries
Fossil and gene discoveries paint an ever-more-intertwined history of humans combining with vanished species like Neandertals.....»»
Book Review: Inside the Global Movement to Protect Forests from Climate Change
Lessons from the people making forest ecosystems more resilient.....»»
Genome sequencing could unlock answers to yellow jacket behavior
The most recognizable yellow jacket at Georgia Tech is made of fabric and foam, but Professor Mike Goodisman and a team of researchers revealed a far more complex cellular structure by successfully sequencing the genome of two local species of yellow.....»»
New species of Lysionotus with unusual flowers reported from Yunnan, China
Lysionotus encompasses more than 30 species distributed from Himalaya to southern China, Indo-China and southern Japan. About half of the total 18 species are known from Yunnan, China......»»
Ship-mounted camera systems help increase protections for marine mammals
Vessel strikes and entanglement are some of the leading causes of injury and death to marine animals such as whales. Increasingly urbanized waterways, warming oceans, changes in prey distribution—and in some cases, increasing species populations—.....»»
To keep Miami"s tree canopy resilient, tropical species may be the best option for planting
In Miami—a place known for one of the most diverse tree canopies in the world—nearly half of the native trees may struggle to survive in the coming decades, a new University of Miami study indicates......»»
New venomous reptile species from the Late Triassic unearthed in Arizona
A new species of small, venomous reptile, Microzemiotes sonselaensis, has been discovered in the Late Triassic Chinle Formation in northeastern Arizona. The findings, recently published in PeerJ, shed new light on the evolution of venomous feeding st.....»»
From Northern Germany to Italy in five days: Tiny transmitters provide insights into precise migration routes of bats
Some bat species are among the world champions of seasonal migration in the animal kingdom. Leisler's bat, for example, which weighs between 12 and 22 grams, flies from central or Eastern Europe to the Mediterranean every late summer—and back in sp.....»»
Global study shows causes for the dominance of woody plants in drylands
Precipitation, temperature, and grazing have the greatest influence on whether woody or herbaceous species grow in dryland areas. This has been shown by a large global study that includes Potsdam researchers......»»
Airborne DNA tech transforms endangered wildlife monitoring
University of Queensland researchers have created new tools that could change how conservation experts monitor and protect some of Australia's most endangered species......»»
Canopy structure regulates autumn phenology by mediating microclimate in temperate forests, finds study
Autumn phenology serves as a sensitive indicator of temperate forests' response to climate change and is a key factor influencing forest carbon sequestration. Understanding the mechanisms driving the spatiotemporal variations in autumn phenology is c.....»»