Researchers found that shoreline spiders can move mercury pollution up the food chain to land animals like birds and bats. The study suggests these spiders can serve as a potential link between aquatic and terrestrial wildlife, informing management decisions.
Researchers found that springtail insects developed a small protein to prevent their cells from freezing more than 400 million years ago, predating other animals. This discovery challenges previous beliefs and highlights the adaptability of these tiny creatures in extreme environments.
Researchers have developed SMART-BARN, a cutting-edge technology lab for complex behavioral analysis. The facility can host hundreds of animals simultaneously and track their movements in 3D, allowing for unprecedented insights into collective behavior.
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen used a new method to collect airborne DNA particles and found evidence of 64 different animal species in a single football field-sized area. The findings suggest that this technique could be a valuable tool for monitoring biodiversity and tracking the spread of diseases.
A new study highlights the diverse impact of climate change on animal welfare across five domains: nutrition, environment, behaviour, physical and mental health. The review examines how animals respond to stress and provides a tool for researchers to evaluate the effects of climatic variability.
A review of animal evolution in response to fire may help inform conservation strategies, as changing fire regimes impact species. By analyzing nearly 100 papers, the authors identified various adaptations, such as infrared sensory pits and behavioral changes, that enable animals to survive fires.
A study by the University of Portsmouth and The Donkey Sanctuary found that working equids with emotional bonds to their owners had significantly better health and welfare outcomes. Animals whose owners believed they felt emotions or pain were less likely to be lame, highlighting the importance of owner attitudes on animal health.
A study by Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior found that American mink can regain almost full ancestral brain size within 50 generations after escaping captivity. This reverses the long-held assumption that domestication causes permanent brain size loss in animals.
A new study published in Trends in Ecology & Evolution suggests that animals first evolved around 574 million years ago. The researchers used advanced analytical techniques to investigate preservation conditions in Cambrian and Neoproterozoic rocks, finding that certain clays were essential for capturing early animal fossils.
Scientists tracked activity levels of southern African antelope species to understand their response to higher heat, finding that small springbok are most affected. The study highlights the importance of managing land sustainably to mitigate ecosystem changes.
A new study from the Gibson Lab at Stowers Institute for Medical Research sheds light on how some of Earth's earliest animals evolved. Researchers discovered that a common genetic toolkit is deployed in different ways to drive embryological development, producing diverse adult body plans.
During severe COVID-19 lockdowns, wild mammals in 43 species traveled up to 73% longer distances in a 10-day period compared to the previous year. This shift was likely due to reduced human presence allowing animals to explore new areas.
A study by Durham University and the Jane Goodall Institute has found that gradual release of mandrills into the wild with post-release support improves their stress response and overall well-being. The research tested this assumption for the first time, providing evidence for a carefully planned release.
The study found that poison frog tadpoles developing in clear environments can visually discriminate between predators, while those in darker environments exhibit weaker responses. This research provides insight into the visual plasticity of animals in response to environmental change and its implications for habitat disturbance.
Researchers found that animals using Lévy motion are targeted twice as often as those using Brownian motion by predators. This suggests that prey may use less efficient searching strategies due to potential costs.
A new study predicts that climate change will expose species to potentially dangerous temperatures, leading to an abrupt loss of habitat. The research found that up to 30% of species will be at risk of experiencing unfamiliarly hot temperatures across at least 30% of their geographic range in a single decade.
A study published in Nature provides clear evidence that comb jellies are the sister group to all other animals, based on the mapping of gene linkages. This finding will lay the foundation for a better understanding of animal evolution and the development of key features such as the nervous system and digestive tract.
Researchers use chromosome structure to determine that comb jellies were the first lineage to branch off from the animal tree, followed by sponges. This finding sheds light on how animals arose and evolved into the diverse species we see today.
A new study maps gene linkages to identify comb jellies as the sibling group to all other animals, providing a clear-cut evidence of their evolutionary relationship. The research sheds light on how key features of animal anatomy evolved over time.
A new holistic framework evaluates mental and psychological wellbeing in wild animals, including physical and behavioral indicators for positive and negative experiences. This approach has the potential to provide crucial early warning signals about species challenges and population declines.
Researchers discovered that Obamus coronatus, a half-inch long Ediacaran animal, preferred to live on specific parts of the sea floor in the company of other Obamus. This finding shows that even without modern descendants, ancient animals could exhibit sophisticated behavior and habitat selection.
Researchers found two E. coli strains resistant to colistin and third-generation cephalosporins in dogs and cats in Japan. The study highlights the need for 'One Health' approaches to understand companion animals' role in antimicrobial resistance transmission.
Researchers at Sainsbury Wellcome Centre found that instinctual exploratory runs enable mice to learn a map of the world efficiently. The study demonstrates how biological brains can learn faster and more efficiently than AI agents by focusing on salient objects.
Fungal spores found in dung indicate large animals went extinct in two waves in the Colombian Andes, with major impacts on ecosystems. The study reveals that megafauna existed for thousands of years before disappearing and reappearing again, highlighting the sensitivity of habitats to local herbivore declines.
A new study suggests that large animals are disadvantaged due to their limited traveling speeds, which can be attributed to their inability to effectively dissipate excess heat generated by their muscles. This limitation leads to slower travel speeds compared to medium-sized animals.
Researchers found that endotherms have well-developed turbinates and larger nasal cavities than ectotherms, helping to cool their brains. This discovery sheds light on the evolution of nasal cooling in warm-blooded animals from their theropod dinosaur ancestors.
A global study reveals a bi-directional relationship between antibiotic consumption and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) between humans and animals. The study finds that higher animal antibiotic use increases AMR in human pathogens, while higher human antibiotic use increases AMR in food-producing animals.
A Penn State-led research team developed a statistical method to predict the effects of climate change on cold-blooded animals. The Physiologically Guided Abundance Model (PGA Model) combines field and laboratory data to forecast species geographical distributions and abundance in response to warming temperatures.
Researchers developed a new method to collect data on animal behaviour and environment using drones and computer vision. The method allows for the extraction of information on spatial distribution, movement, and behaviour, providing rich insights into the social and environmental context of group-living animals.
A study from the University of Copenhagen found that extinct animal species on islands like Mauritius cannot be replaced, as they play a crucial role in seed dispersal and ecosystem balance. Reintroducing new species often causes more harm than good, highlighting the need for conservation efforts to protect native plants and animals.
Researchers found that newborn chicks prefer stimuli moving upward against gravity, even without prior experience. This innate preference suggests that animals are born with a predisposed knowledge of sensitivity to simple features guiding behavior from birth.
A University of Bristol study found that social animals limit individuality to conform with the behaviour of the group. Simple social behavioural rules can drive conformity behaviour in groups, eroding consistent behavioural differences shown by individual animals.
A study published in PLOS ONE analyzed a Bronze Age debris deposit in Mycenae, Greece, revealing the types of animals that lived there and how they were used as a source of subsistence. The analysis of animal remains and associated artifacts provides clues to the social dynamics of ancient settlements and responses to natural disasters.
Researchers analyzed cremated bone fragments from burial mounds in Derbyshire, UK, finding evidence that Vikings crossed the North Sea with animals from Scandinavia. The study suggests that most likely, they were travelling alongside humans on ships.
Researchers found solid scientific evidence that Vikings transported animals, including a horse and dog, across the North Sea to Britain. The analysis of human and animal remains from the Heath Wood cremation cemetery revealed that these animals originated from Scandinavia.
A recent study by a transdisciplinary research team found ample evidence of the negative effects of light pollution on migrating animals, but also areas where more data is needed. The researchers concluded that there's a need for more data to help protect migrating animals, particularly species other than birds.
Researchers studied deer and elk behavior around a wildlife tunnel, finding they were less likely to use the crossing after displaying a 'vigilant' response to passing vehicles. The study suggests designers should focus on animals' perceptions of their environment when building wildlife crossings.
A new report reveals that animals are key to forest recovery by carrying a wide variety of seeds into deforested areas. Animals disperse over 80% of tree species in the tropics, and their presence near old-growth forests can improve restoration efforts.
Scientists from the Australian National University have discovered that the world's oldest large organisms, Ediacara biota, ate bacteria and algae sourced from the ocean floor. The findings provide new insights into the physiology of our earliest animal ancestors.
A new study suggests that human activities such as burning forests for introduced grazing species led to the disappearance of Madagascar's large animals. The researchers found a drastic increase in charcoal and domesticated species like zebu cattle around 1,000 years ago, coinciding with the extinction of megafauna.
A new study by researchers at the University of Nottingham found that our ancient ancestors were more complex than originally thought. This challenges existing evolution theories and suggests that loss of features is a key driver of evolution.
A new study by Virginia Tech geobiologists reveals that a major loss of diversity occurred during the Ediacaran Period, resulting in an 80% extinction of animals. The researchers attribute this event to decreased global oxygen availability, suggesting that environmental controls played a role in shaping animal life on Earth.
Scientists have discovered exceptionally well-preserved fossils in China that date back 514 million years, revealing the first animals to build hard and robust skeletons. The fossils show features characteristic of modern jellyfish and cnidarians, including a tubular structure made of calcium phosphate.
Researchers found that intensive physical therapy and implanted neural stem cells increased tissue growth, repair, and functionality in rats with cervical lesions. The combination of treatments outperformed each individual treatment alone, suggesting a new potential combination therapy for spinal cord injuries.
A review article by Osaka Metropolitan University researcher Professor Noritoshi Kawate explores the use of INSL3 as a hormone indicating gonadal functions in domestic animals. The study reveals that INSL3 secretions in bulls and male goats are stimulated by luteinizing hormone, making it a reliable fertility indicator.
Researchers developed a groundbreaking model to estimate bait vaccination effectiveness in wild animals by analyzing the proportion of immunized animals and vaccine applications. The study successfully tested the model using real data from Japan's CSF outbreak, demonstrating a measurable increase in immunized wild boars.
A 16-year-long study by Indian Institute of Science researchers found that large mammalian herbivores like yak and ibex stabilize soil carbon levels, which is crucial for offsetting climate change effects. The study showed that grazing animals reduce fluctuations in soil carbon, ensuring its persistence.
New research suggests that the first animals on Earth could have evolved earlier than previously thought. Polar marine creatures' survival strategies might hold clues to understanding this phenomenon. The study examines the evolution of life in extreme cold and icy periods, with implications for our understanding of animal origins.
The study found a significant need for stable and durable diagnostics to differentiate infected animals from vaccinated ones. The researchers propose five priorities: vaccinology, antimicrobial resistance, climate mitigation, digital health, and epidemic preparedness.
A study of over 15,000 individual animals found that ungulates' diets and mating strategies are linked to stress risk. Animals without constant access to food are prone to behavioral problems. The research highlights the importance of providing suitable conditions, including food and social organization, for improved welfare.
A team of scientists studied how relatedness to a social group changes with age in seven mammal species, finding that incentives to help or harm shift depending on the species' social structure and gender. This understanding can explain differences across species and sexes.
A study by Lauren Stanton and colleagues found that less bold raccoons learned faster than bolder ones. In a cognitive test, the calmer animals successfully navigated a cubicle to obtain rewards, outperforming their more aggressive counterparts.
A study from University of California, Davis, and Harvard Medical School reveals multiple new sirtuins in early branching animals like jellyfish, sea sponges, and sea anemones. These proteins are involved in metabolism and DNA repair, playing a crucial role in the unique longevity strategies of these animals.
Scientists reconstruct evolution of complex multicellular organisms using genomic data and computational models, revealing gradual changes that began early in evolution. The research reveals distinct paths taken by animal and fungal lineages, shedding light on their shared eukaryotic supergroup.
Computer simulations reveal that animals rearing up to smell the air is part of an efficient strategy for locating scent sources. Animals use physics to navigate turbulent environments, pausing and standing on hind legs to catch distant scents in the air.
Researchers at Linköping University developed a new analysis model to estimate the number of wild animals harvested through hunting in Sweden. The model provides a better estimation of wild animal populations and reduces uncertainty, making it easier to track changes in ecosystems.
A new study on parabiosis found that young mice exposed to old blood experienced a significant decrease in lifespan. The research suggests that aging factors in older blood can induce aging in younger animals, challenging the idea that 'young' blood holds anti-aging properties.
The first global dataset of SARS-CoV-2 infections in animals has been published, providing a comprehensive overview of the virus's impact on animal populations worldwide. The dataset shows an increasing number of reported cases globally, with high diversity of variants detected in various species.
Cognitive impairment can lead to population declines, particularly for species relying on learning and memory. Infections can impact cognitive abilities differently across animals, depending on their survival strategy and pathogen manifestation.
Researchers examine the relationship between thermal biology and sexual selection, finding that animals often tolerate perilous temperatures during mating to increase reproductive success. The study highlights the importance of considering scale in understanding the impact of global warming on reproductive processes.