Tiger breeding, exports flourish in S.Africa: charity
South Africa's legal lion breeding has spawned a tiger farming industry for commercial exports, potentially posing a threat to the species already in decline, an animal welfare group warned Tuesday......»»
Genomewide prediction: A promising approach for improving russet formation in apple breeding programs
A research team has demonstrated that genomewide prediction is a promising approach for targeting russet formation in apple breeding programs. This method effectively predicts the russet trait, which is a complex quantitative trait controlled by many.....»»
Innovative solutions for sustainability in the Zambezi River Basin
A new study addresses the urgent challenges in managing the water-energy-land nexus in the Zambezi River Basin, which is crucial for southern Africa's economic stability and environmental health. The authors of the article suggest strategies for econ.....»»
Hybrids between two species can produce “swarms” that flourish
Humans may be part of a hybrid swarm. And we’re making more of them. Enlarge (credit: Aurich Lawson | Getty Images) There are no wild ligers. Indeed, hybrids were once thought to be rare in nature—and of little conse.....»»
Mass breeding of desert locusts unlocks new food source
Mass breeding of desert locusts in a controlled environment could provide a sustainable source of protein for animals and humans as well as business opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa, researchers say......»»
Great news for the endangered tiger: A 250% increase in tiger numbers recorded in Thailand
There's phenomenal news for the Endangered tiger: There's been a 250% increase in tiger numbers in Thailand's Western Forest Complex (WEFCOM) over a 15-year period from 2007 to 2023......»»
Inbred-parent–based cassava hybrids promise enhanced efficiency and resilience
A research team has proposed inbred-parent–based hybrid cassava breeding to overcome the challenges of heterozygous parent use, aiming to transform cassava breeding by purging deleterious mutations and utilizing heterosis. This approach leverages s.....»»
Winter breeding offers lifeline for monarch butterflies in Northern California
Monarch butterflies in Northern California are adapting to a changing climate by embracing an unexpected strategy: breeding in the winter. The shift could be key to the survival of the iconic insect, according to a new study published in the Journal.....»»
From tree holes to trash—the breeding behavior of a frog endemic to the Andman Islands of India
A team of biologists from the University of Delhi and Zoological Survey of India, Harvard University, and the University of Minnesota has discovered a unique breeding behavior in a species of frog endemic to the Andaman Islands of India. In a new stu.....»»
Endangered gazelles find Libyan "safe haven"
Cocooned in white bags and nestled in the arms of volunteers, eight young rhim gazelles—an endangered species native to North Africa—have been transferred to an uninhabited Libyan island......»»
Outsourcing conservation in Africa: NGO management reduces poaching and boosts tourism, but raises risks for civilians
There's an experiment going on in conservation in Africa. With biodiversity imperiled, and nations facing financial and political crises, some governments are transferring the management of protected areas to private, non-governmental organizations (.....»»
Fossil algae show a lake once existed on Lesotho"s Mafadi summit, but it vanished about 150 years ago
Lesotho is a small, land-locked, mountainous country located in the middle of South Africa. Its Eastern Lesotho Highlands are often referred to as the region's "water tower" because they receive some of the highest rainfall amounts in southern Africa.....»»
New clam species discovered in South Africa"s kelp forest
A new study sheds light on the unexplored diversity of galeommatoidean bivalves, a little-known group of marine mollusks, from the western coast of South Africa......»»
Research team develops new antimalarial agent for combating drug-resistant parasites
Malaria remains a serious health issue globally, especially in Africa. The disease is caused by protozoan parasites in the Plasmodium genus. In 2021, there were 247 million cases of malaria and 619,000 deaths reported worldwide......»»
One elephant can sustain more than 2 million dung beetles in east African savannas, study finds
How many dung beetles are there in East Africa? That question inspired a research project more than 20 years ago when Frank Krell was a research entomologist with the Natural History Museum London. Throughout a three-year-long project along with his.....»»
Apple CSAM controversy continues: Charity says company under-reporting
The Apple CSAM controversy doesn’t appear to be going away, as a British children’s charity accused the company of under-reporting incidents on its platforms. However, the report appears to be based at least in part on a failure to understand.....»»
New liquid single nucleotide polymorphism chip can enhance rubber tree breeding
A research team developed and validated a liquid single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip named "HbGBTS80K," which includes 80,080 SNPs evenly distributed across 18 chromosomes. This SNP chip effectively distinguished 404 rubber accessions into four.....»»
Insect infestation ravages North African prickly pear
Amor Nouira, a farmer in Tunisia's Chebika village, has lost hope of saving his prickly pear cacti, ravaged by the cochineal insect spreading across North Africa......»»
Deeper down the rabbit hole: How technology conspiracy beliefs emerge and foster a conspiracy mindset
As technology proliferates, misinformation and conspiracy theories seem to flourish. Conspiracy beliefs specifically about technology include popular commercial technologies, such as Amazon Echo and Google Search, as well as non-profit technologies d.....»»
Enhanced information in national policies can accelerate Africa"s efforts to track climate adaptation
New analysis of African national adaptation policy documents finds that most fail to provide comprehensive and consistent information. But the authors also uncover compelling examples of robust plans that hold lessons for upcoming climate talks......»»
Scientists uncover the molecular mechanism behind pineapple peel coloration
Pineapple peel coloration, especially the red hue, significantly enhances its commercial and aesthetic value. However, the genetic mechanisms driving this trait are not well understood, complicating breeding efforts for red-skinned varieties......»»