Skunk's Strategy Not Just Black and White Predators with experience of skunks avoid them both because of their black-and-white coloration and their distinctive body shape, according to UC Davis wildlife researcher Jennifer Hunter. view more (2009-11-11)
Tags reveal white sharks have neighborhoods in the north Pacific, say Stanford researchers The white shark may be the ultimate loner of the ocean, cruising thousands of miles in a solitary trek, but a team of researchers has discovered that the sharks have maintained such a consistent pattern of migration that over tens of thousands of years the white sharks in the northeastern Pacific Ocean have separated themselves into a population... view more... (2009-11-04)
Wolves, moose and biodiversity: An unexpected connection Moose eat plants; wolves kill moose. What difference does this classic predator-prey interaction make to biodiversity? view more (2009-11-02)
Wolves lose their predatory edge in mid-life, new U of Minnesota study shows Although most wolves in Yellowstone National Park live to be nearly six years old, their ability to kill prey peaks when they are two to three, according to a study led by Dan MacNulty and recently published online by Ecology Letters. view more (2009-10-27)
First 'mainly vegetarian' spider described The 40,000 or so spiders that have been described are generally known as strict predators, trapping their prey in elaborate webs or hunting them down directly. view more (2009-10-13)
Bizarre new horned tyrannosaur from Asia described Now, just a few weeks after tiny, early Raptorex kriegsteini was unveiled, a new wrench has been thrown into the family tree of the tyrannosaurs. view more (2009-10-06)
Loss of top predators causing surge in smaller predators, ecosystem collapse The catastrophic decline around the world of "apex" predators such as wolves, cougars, lions or sharks has led to a huge increase in smaller "mesopredators" that are causing major economic and ecological disruptions, a new study concludes. view more (2009-10-02)
UAB Research Team Working to Keep Terrapin Turtle Off Endangered Species List University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) researchers exploring strategies for conserving the Diamondback Terrapin along Alabama's Dauphin Island coastline are working to keep the once-celebrated turtle off the endangered species list. view more (2009-09-23)
Flips, flops and cartwheels Geckos and other lizards have long been known for their incredible ability to shed their tails as a decoy for predators, but little is known about the movements and what controls the tail once it separates from the lizard's body. view more (2009-09-09)
Arctic oil: A boon for nest predators A new study by the Wildlife Conservation Society, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other groups reveals how oil development in the Artic is impacting some bird populations by providing "subsidized housing" to predators, which nest and den around drilling infrastructure and supplement their diets with garbage - and nesting birds. view more (2009-09-09)
University of Hawaii at Manoa oceanographers examine mercury levels of pelagic fish in Hawaii In the open ocean, species of large predatory fish will swim and hunt for food at various depths, which leads to unique diets in these fish. view more (2009-09-01)
Small rodents encourage the formation of scrubland in Spain After two years of research over five degraded landscapes in the National Park of Sierra Nevada (Granada), scientists have established for the first time that field mice base their diet on holm oak and pine seeds, causing a deterioration of the habitats and an extension of scrubland in the forests. view more (2009-08-28)
The first gene-encoded amphibian toxin isolated Researchers in China have discovered the first protein-based toxin in an amphibian -a 60 amino acid neurotoxin found in the skin of a Chinese tree frog. This finding may help shed more light into both the evolution of amphibians and the evolution of poison. view more (2009-08-18)
Scientists Conduct Shark Survey off U.S. East Coast Sandbar, dusky and tiger sharks are among dozens of shark species living in the coastal waters off the U.S. East Coast. Little is known about many of the species, but a survey begun nearly 25 years ago is helping scientists and fishery resource managers to monitor shark populations and their role in marine ecosystems. view more (2009-08-14)
NOAA report finds flower garden banks sanctuary reefs among healthiest in Gulf Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary is among the healthiest coral reef ecosystems in the tropical Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, according to a new NOAA report. view more (2009-08-13)
Chicken-hearted tyrants Two titans fighting a bloody battle - that often turns fatal for both of them. This is how big predatory dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus are often depicted while hunting down their supposed prey: even larger herbivorous dinosaurs. view more (2009-08-07)
Researchers to study rebirth of an island after volcanic eruption When Alaska's Kasatochi Volcano erupted on Aug. 7, 2008, it virtually sterilized Kasatochi Island, covering the small Aleutian island with a layer of ash and other volcanic material several meters thick. view more (2009-08-07)
Bizarre walking bat has ancient heritage A bizarre New Zealand bat that is as much at home walking four-legged on the ground as winging through the air had an Australian ancestor 20 million years ago with the same rare ability, a new study has found. view more (2009-07-29)
Looking different 'helps animals to survive' In the animal kingdom, everything is not as it seems. Individuals of the same species can look very different from each other - what biologists term 'polymorphism.' view more (2009-07-24)
Noise pollution negatively affects woodland bird communities, says CU-Boulder study A new University of Colorado at Boulder study shows the strongest evidence yet that noise pollution negatively influences bird populations, findings with implications for the fate of ecological communities situated amid growing urban clamor. view more (2009-07-24)
| |