An international team of biologists found an alarming pattern of population extinctions due to rising temperatures. The researchers developed a predictive model that accurately predicted specific locations where previously studied lizard populations have already gone locally extinct.
Scientists found pathogens thrive in marine snow aggregates, which can skew water sampling procedures and predict disease transmission to humans. The study applies island biogeography theories to microscopic drifting aggregates.
The Xenopus tropicalis genome has been nearly completely sequenced, providing a powerful model to study gene organization, regulation and function. The findings hold significant promise for improving human health by shedding light on the basic mechanisms of genetics.
A team of scientists, including IUCN and Conservation International experts, proposes expanding the IUCN Red List to include up to 160,000 species, enabling a better understanding of extinction rates and environmental health. The estimated cost is $60 million, with current efforts costing around $4 million per year.
A new study from Karolinska Institutet finds that the limbic striatum, an evolutionarily old part of the brain, is involved in implicit learning of motor sequences. This discovery sheds light on fundamental learning systems shared with primitive vertebrates and has implications for developing treatments for diseases like Parkinson's.
Researchers tracked salamander movements across all three life stages to understand population stability. The study found that overland movement increased the likelihood of population persistence under low to moderate extinction risk scenarios.
A team of scientists at TUM developed an artificial sensory organ inspired by the lateral-line system found in fish and amphibians, enabling the underwater robot Snookie to orient itself in murky waters. This technology aims to enable AUVs to work autonomously in operations ranging from deep sea exploration to inspection of sewer pipes.
A University of Montreal student is tracking the decline of frog species in Quebec, finding a slight decrease in frogs near Phragmites australis growth, but intact northern leopard frog populations. Experimental research aims to understand pH levels, oxygen, and temperature effects on amphibians in controlled water basins.
The IUCN has reclassified beluga sturgeon as 'critically endangered', with the Institute for Ocean Conservation Science applauding the move. This classification underscores the need for swift, international protection to help conserve this species from extinction.
Researchers from The Wistar Institute demonstrate that mice lacking the p21 gene can regenerate lost tissue, forming a blastema and replacing damaged cells with healthy ones. This discovery provides evidence of a link between cell division control and tissue regeneration, opening up possibilities for accelerating healing in humans.
A new genus and species of carnivorous amphibian, Fedexia striegeli, has been discovered in western Pennsylvania with a remarkably well-preserved fossil skull. The discovery provides evidence that terrestrial vertebrates first appeared on land 300 million years ago during a period of global warming and drought.
A new study finds that a pathogen, not climate change, killed the Monteverde golden toad. Researchers reconstructed moisture levels in the cloud forest over the last century and discovered that dry spells closely tracked El Niño events.
A new study by University of California, Berkeley biologists found that pesticide atrazine can turn three-quarters of adult male frogs into females, leading to a significant decline in reproduction. The study also showed that the altered sex ratios can have devastating effects on frog populations.
Leading researchers discuss challenges of identifying and protecting vulnerable species amidst unprecedented climate change, covering topics such as vegetation distributions, bird, insect, and marine populations. The collection provides insights into the responses of corals, amphibians, and other organisms to environmental changes.
Research reveals human Chlamydia pneumoniae originated from an animal source, specifically amphibians like frogs, and has adapted to infect humans. The study's findings emphasize the need for improved diagnostic tests, precautions, and vaccine development to combat this respiratory disease.
A study published in Global Change Biology found that the seasonal timing of biological events has become earlier by more than 11 days in the UK since 1976. This acceleration is most rapid for organisms at the bottom of food chains, such as plants and insects.
Climate change projections indicate major reductions in wetland volume, shortening of water retention time, and changes in vegetation dynamics in the prairie pothole region. This will negatively impact millions of waterfowl depending on the region for their life cycles.
A recent study found that midwife toads living in mountain regions are highly susceptible to a serious fungal infection called chytridiomycosis, which can lead to up to 100% mortality rates. Conservationists may be able to limit the impact of the disease by ensuring tourists do not transfer it between lakes.
Scientists have documented unprecedented biodiversity in Yasuní National Park, including 596 bird species, 150 amphibian species, and over 1,100 tree species. The park's extraordinary diversity is threatened by proposed oil development projects.
Yasuní National Park is home to an array of plant and animal groups, harboring extremely high numbers of animals and plants in small areas. The park's extraordinary diversity makes it a crucial area for sustaining biodiversity in the long term, with scientists recommending a moratorium on new oil exploration or development projects.
New fossil footprints in Poland push back the origin of tetrapods by 18 million years, forcing a reassessment of their evolution. The discovery suggests that early tetrapods inhabited the marine intertidal zone during the early Middle Devonian period and may have first left water to feed on stranded marine life.
Scientists have discovered a new type of stem cell in the skin that acts like embryonic stem cells, generating various cell types and aiding in hair growth and wound healing. The dermal stem cells may hold the key to treating baldness and other neurological disorders.
The $40-million-per-year frog leg trade may be a significant contributor to the spread of amphibian chytrid, a fungus causing respiratory and neurological damage. The Smithsonian team's research highlights the need for improved monitoring and regulation of the trade to mitigate disease risks.
A meta-analysis of over 28,000 toxicological tests challenges the notion that amphibians are uniquely susceptible to pollution. Researchers found that frogs range from moderately susceptible to 'bullet-proof' against environmental threats, with other factors contributing to their decline.
Natural historians can now share and manage their data using the Scratchpads platform, which serves over 1100 users across 100 sites. The system allows users to create virtual workbenches to study aspects of organisms, promoting biodiversity informatics approaches.
The Genome 10K Project aims to sequence the DNA of approximately one species per genus of living mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. This will help reconstruct the genetic changes that gave rise to diverse life forms on Earth, with potential benefits for human and animal health, as well as conservation efforts.
Researchers found that timber harvest has a negative effect on amphibians' later life cycles, causing them to die when they leave the pond, but has a positive impact on their aquatic larval stage, allowing them to grow and thrive in open areas.
Christine Bergeron, a Virginia Tech doctoral student, receives an EPA fellowship to study the impact of mercury on American toads' reproductive success. The research reveals that female toads transfer mercury to their eggs, affecting offspring viability and potentially long-term population health.
The study found that mammals are protected from the majority of fungal pathogens due to their elevated body temperature, which is too high for most fungi to survive. This theory could help explain why mammals rose to dominance after the dinosaur extinction event.
Researchers found geckos' severed tails exhibit complex movement patterns to distract predators, potentially leading to new insights into spinal injury recovery. The study's findings suggest central pattern generators can function without a brain or nervous system.
Gladstone scientists have found the first genetic link between reptile and human heart evolution, linking protein Tbx5 to the development of four-chambered hearts in turtles and humans. The study sheds light on the evolution of warm-bloodedness and provides insights into congenital heart disease.
The study reveals that fish and some amphibians use a unique sensory system to detect vibrations in water, allowing them to navigate and locate prey. Mathematical models developed by researchers demonstrate surprising accuracy in predicting nerve signals, enabling potential applications in robotics.
A recent Pitt study found that a four-day testing period for pesticide exposure may not account for long-term effects on humans and animals. The highly toxic pesticide endosulfan exhibited a 'lag effect' with delayed toxicity surfacing after direct contact had ended.
Researchers in China have discovered a new protein-based neurotoxin, anntoxin, found in the skin of the Chinese tree frog. This finding sheds light on the evolution of amphibians and poison, revealing a unique toxin that differs from other vertebrate animals.
A decade of research in the Eastern Himalayas has uncovered over 350 new species, including a prehistoric 100-million-year-old gecko and the world's smallest deer. Climate change threatens this biological treasure trove, putting cultural and biological diversity at risk.
Research by Stony Brook University researchers found that temperature explains much of the geographic variation in lifespan within species. For a diverse range of species, ambient temperature is the dominant factor controlling lifespan.
Researchers studied 35 ancient tetrapods to understand anatomical changes during the transition from fish to amphibians. They found that bones changed size at different rates, resulting in reshaping of body shape over time. This study supports the idea that modern amphibians evolved through paedomorphosis and miniaturization.
Over 40% of mangrove-restricted vertebrates are globally threatened, including birds, reptiles, mammals, and amphibians. The study urges research on predicting the impact of mangrove forest changes on these species.
A study on stickleback fish found that two related species evolved to lose their pelvises using different genes, contradicting earlier research. This discovery sheds new light on the mechanisms of evolutionary diversity and limb loss in nature.
Scientists have identified distinct genes responsible for the evolution of pelvis and body armor loss in two species of stickleback fish. The study, published in Current Biology, shows that different genes can have similar effects on evolutionary change, contradicting earlier research.
Research by USGS scientists links estrogen exposure to reduced immune response in largemouth bass, potentially making them more vulnerable to diseases. The study reveals that estrogen blocks production of hepcidin, a hormone that regulates iron and has antimicrobial properties.
Researchers found a new frog species, Huia cavitympanum, with eardrums recessed in the skull, allowing it to detect and produce high-frequency ultrasounds. The frogs use both audible and ultrasonic calls for communication, which may have implications for improving human hearing aids.
Researchers at Uppsala University and colleagues analyze fossil upper arm bones from ancient vertebrates, revealing two distinct life histories. Ichthyostega, a more terrestrial animal, undergoes significant changes in limb shape and muscle attachments as it grows, while Acanthostega remains aquatic with less dramatic transformations.
Scientists found that 26-73% of fishers used tiger salamanders as bait and 26-67% released them into fishing waters. A quarantine program could help prevent the introduction of non-native pathogens into threatened populations.
Researchers found that individual amphibians can develop resistance to chytridiomycosis, a deadly fungal disease. Innate and acquired immunity play a role in fighting off the disease.
Removing non-native trout from mountain lakes reverses their impact on aquatic insect populations. Aquatic insect abundance increases quickly after trout removal, but suspension of stocking alone is ineffective in restoring insect numbers.
A team of researchers found evidence of widespread cooling in Antarctica around 35 million years ago, which was caused by a significant drop in greenhouse gases, particularly CO2. The study used computer modeling and temperature proxies to determine the cause of the cooling.
A new University of Florida study analyzing DNA from living flowering plants shows that the ancestors of modern trees diversified rapidly 90 million years ago. This event led to the formation of forests that supported similar evolutionary bursts in animals and other plants.
Scientists have discovered 10 new amphibian species in Colombia, shedding light on the country's remarkable biodiversity. The discovery was made during a Rapid Assessment Program expedition in the Tacarcuna area, where approximately 60 species of amphibians were identified, including three glass frogs and three poison dart frogs.
A new study reveals the global trade in frog legs is threatening their extinction. The annual global trade has increased over the past 20 years, with at least 200 million frogs consumed every year, according to Associate Professor Corey Bradshaw.
Researchers have identified three broad classes of camouflage body patterns in animals, including uniform, mottled, and disruptive coloration. These patterns are used by cephalopods to dynamically produce a wide range of visual disguises, making them one of the most changeable animal groups on earth.
Researchers found that global warming may not be the primary cause of widespread amphibian declines, contradicting previous widely-held views. The study suggests alternative factors, such as a fungal infection and pesticide use, may be driving these extinctions.
Genetic research reveals black rats carried a pathogenic protozoan that exterminated two endemic species on Christmas Island. The study is the first to demonstrate extinction in a mammal due to disease, contradicting most scientists' view of pathogens' effect on species.
Researchers found that environmental changes affect amphibian and bird communities rapidly, especially in mountainous regions like the Andes and Himalayas. Amphibians are more sensitive to environmental conditions due to their narrow distributions.
Stanford researchers found a catastrophic decrease in frog and salamander populations in Yellowstone's ponds due to high temperatures and drought. The amphibians need ponds for their young to hatch, but drying water kills eggs that are unsuitable for gestation on land.
A new study by Purdue University researchers found that inbreeding is not responsible for the high incidence of malformation among salamanders. The study of 2,000 adult and juvenile salamanders revealed an 8% rate of deformities, including missing or extra digits, similar to those seen in frog species.
Researchers found a greater diversity of animals in areas with deer populations than without. Higher deer activity creates nutrient-rich soil, attracting insects and larger predators like salamanders and snakes. This complex food web is often overlooked in traditional wildlife management practices.
Researchers sequenced the fungus's genome and compared gene expression in different stages to identify key genes involved in killing frogs. They hope this study will help combat the deadly chytrid fungus, which affects over 43% of frog species.
A comprehensive assessment of the world's mammals reveals that 25-36% of species are threatened with extinction, with habitat loss and overexploitation being major drivers. The study highlights the urgent need for conservation efforts to prevent further species losses and protect biodiversity.
Research found that malathion, commonly used to control mosquitoes and crop pests, can indirectly kill tadpoles by depleting their primary food source. The study suggests that even low concentrations of the insecticide can have devastating effects on amphibian populations.