Of ants and trees: "Evolutionary déjà vu" in the tropical rainforest
Ants are famous for their regimented and complex social behaviors. In the tropics, they are also famous for forming mutualisms with plants. Certain species of trees have conspicuous hollow swellings that house ants, often feeding the ants with specia.....»»
The Sea Is Swallowing This Mexican Town
Las Barrancas, in the state of Veracruz, has struggled for 10 years against the rising Gulf of Mexico waters. Its best hope may lie in mangrove trees......»»
Climate change is moving tree populations away from the soil fungi that sustain them
As our planet warms, many species are shifting to different locations as their historical habitats become inhospitable. Trees are no exception—many species' normal ranges are no longer conducive to their health, but their shift to new areas that co.....»»
Central Arkansas faces downed trees, power outages after Saturday morning storm
Central Arkansas faces downed trees, power outages after Saturday morning storm.....»»
Historical signs in the landscape: Investigating the practice of pollarding in Western Norway
In the lush landscapes of Western Norway, pollarded trees bridge the past with modern environmental concerns. In a recent study, researchers investigated what motivates farmers to continue this ancient tree pruning practice......»»
On repeat: Biologists observe recurring evolutionary changes, over time, in stick insects
A long-standing debate among evolutionary scientists goes something like this: Does evolution happen in a predictable pattern or does it depend on chance events and contingency? That is, if you could turn back the clock, as celebrated scientist Steph.....»»
Researchers reconstruct genome of extinct species of flightless bird that once roamed the islands of New Zealand
A team of evolutionary biologists at Harvard University, working with colleagues from the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, East Carolina University, Osaka University and the University of Toronto, has reconstructed the genome of an e.....»»
Researchers reveal evolutionary origins of appetite by studying simple nervous system of Hydra
Over the course of evolution, living organisms have gradually developed more complex nervous systems in order to coordinate increasingly complex sensory, motor and cognitive functions and to control the associated behavior......»»
Silky shark makes record breaking migration in international waters of the Tropical Eastern Pacific
In a recent study, researchers have documented the most extensive migration ever recorded for a silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis), revealing critical insights into the behavior of this severely overfished species and emphasizing the urgent need.....»»
Study finds Black and Hispanic Americans are disproportionately exposed to wider temperature swings
Extreme heat can harm human health, but so can extreme temperature swings. Large daily temperature variation (DTV) has been associated with elevated mortality in studies around the world. Trees and other vegetation can lower DTV, as trees reduce temp.....»»
Researchers discover distinct life cycle stages of the ectosymbiotic DPANN archaeon Nanobdella aerobiophila
Archaea are ubiquitous microorganisms whose evolution shaped the biosphere of Earth. Their evolutionary paths are truly fascinating. A great example is an ectosymbiotic lifestyle which is found among DPANN archaea......»»
New research into the secrets of the forest: Finnish tree population is made up of families and neighborhoods
The trees in the forest are not just a random group. Fascinating facts reveal pine tree family relationships. The pollen that floats in the air can spread for hundreds of kilometers, but the offspring are usually found in the neighborhood......»»
Australian study proves "humans are planet"s most frightening predator"
Australia lacks fearsome large carnivores like lions and wolves, and the relative lack of fear that marsupials like kangaroos and wallabies show to dogs (and other introduced carnivores) has been attributed to a lack of evolutionary experience with l.....»»
Volunteers race to save Mexico"s howler monkeys in heat wave
Volunteers are rushing to hoist food and water up into trees in sweltering southern Mexico, but help came too late for the howler monkeys whose lifeless bodies lay still on the ground......»»
Study explains regional differences in bird diversity in agroforestry systems
The diversity and ecological functionality of bird communities in tropical agroforestry systems are shaped by the surrounding landscape, in particular the extent and composition of the forest. An international research team led by the University of G.....»»
Researchers discover hidden step in dinosaur feather evolution
Paleontologists at University College Cork (UCC) in Ireland have discovered that some feathered dinosaurs had scaly skin like reptiles today, thus shedding new light on the evolutionary transition from scales to feathers......»»
Increasing drought puts the resilience of the Amazon rainforest to the test
Since 2015, the Amazon has been slower to recover from increasing drought events, but, overall, the rainforest still shows a remarkable resilience. New international research led by KU Leuven Earth and environmental scientists shows that forest degra.....»»
Researchers find that refrigerating or air-drying soil samples for future studies retains important microbial details
Post-doctoral researcher Joe Edwards and graduate student Sarah Love, both in the University of Tennessee at Knoxville's Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, have published published findings this spring that can save fellow researchers a.....»»
Floods in south Brazil have displaced 600,000—here"s why this region is likely to see ever more extreme rain in future
A mighty river is flowing out of the Amazon rainforest, and it's not the one you're thinking of. In the first kilometer above the forest canopy, a "flying river" is transporting moisture evaporated from Amazonian trees southwards along the Andes moun.....»»
Summer 2023 was northern hemisphere"s hottest for 2,000 years, tree rings show
The summer of 2023 was the warmest in the non-tropical areas of the northern hemisphere for 2,000 years, a new study has shown......»»
How saber-toothed tigers acquired their long upper canine teeth
An international team led by scientists from the University of Liège has investigated the evolutionary patterns behind the development of saber teeth, with some unexpected results along the way. Their study has been published in the journal Current.....»»