Bright autumn colouration in trees - a warning signal to insects?
Research finds that brightly coloured autumn leaves in mountain birch trees signal reduced insect damage the following season, suggesting a warning system to deter egg-laying insects.
Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Are the bright colors of some avian eggs signaling female genetic quality to their mates?
Researchers suggest that vibrant egg colours advertise females' ability to defend against deleterious free radicals, indicating genetic quality. This hypothesis can be applied to all animals with colourful eggs and paternal care.
Gray wolves feed the masses while hunters feed the few
In a four-year study, scientists found that gray wolves consumed a diverse range of species, promoting ecosystem diversity and health. In contrast, hunter kills were dominated by less mobile scavengers, indicating that hunters have a smaller impact on the Yellowstone ecosystem.
Not batty conservation
The current reserve system in the New World is inadequate, with only a tenth of protected areas reaching Disney World's size. Conservation investments may yield greatest impact in ten regions where biodiversity losses can be prevented.
Attack of the crazy ants - invasional 'meltdown' on an oceanic island
The invasion of Anoplolepis gracilipes on Christmas Island leads to the displacement of a native keystone species, resulting in cascading effects on the food web. The ant's supercolonies extirpate the dominant omnivore, increasing seedling recruitment but slowing litter decomposition.
Researching drug supply and trafficking: Home Office highlights need for academic study
This special issue aims to expand knowledge on drug supply and trafficking by providing accessible information to academic researchers. The articles cover various aspects of the topic, including a case study of a middle market drug broker and a conceptual framework for action against drug supply.
New study rebuts claims about Icelandic genetic heterogeneity
Researchers from deCODE Genetics and the University of Oxford found that genetic drift, not admixture, has shaped Iceland's gene pool. The study suggests that small effective population size and relative isolation have contributed to Iceland's unique genetic characteristics.
Predators: an overlooked player in plant-pollinator relationships
A field study found that spiders ambushing pollinating insects decrease seed production in flowers. Ecologist Kenwyn Suttle suggests these interactions are common and overlooked by biologists. The research supports the idea that predation on pollinators can impact plant reproduction.
Introduced marine species get larger in the invaded region
In contrast to many other introduced species, most marine invertebrates increase in size after invasion. This size increase may have significant implications for the impacts of these species on native ecosystems. The study's findings highlight the need for further research into the effects of invasive species on non-native regions.
Predetermined winners and losers in the Ice Age extinction game
The study found that cold-tolerant genera are more likely to survive than drought-tolerant ones. Tree genera are expected to show limited evolutionary adaptability in the face of climatic changes.
The communication of risk
Risk experts address communication challenges in public health and policy contexts, discussing factors like perception, information quality, and industry influence. Effective risk communication is crucial for public health decisions and policy-making.
Making sense of bacterial biodiversity
Bacteria are a crucial component of Earth's biodiversity. Increasing primary productivity in experimental ponds results in changes to the number and types of bacteria present, with differences observed across various taxonomic groups.
Grazer diversity counteracts plant diversity effects on ecosystem functioning in seagrass beds
High grazer diversity enhances biomass production, a key determinant of fish yield in aquatic ecosystems. Complex interactions between consumer diversity and plant diversity lead to emergent consequences, cautioning against extrapolating conclusions from plant diversity experiments.
Habitat loss and reserve network selection
A novel method integrates habitat modelling and spatial population dynamics in reserve-network design to consider the impact of habitat loss on species survival. This approach represents a step towards more realistic consideration of species survival when selecting reserve networks.
Sneak copulations and the demise of the integrity of wild salmon populations
Farm-raised male salmon outcompete wild males in spawning events, fertilizing large numbers of eggs with their rapid maturity and high reproductive performance. This accelerates the gene flow into native populations.
Diversity hot spots at cold seeps?
Researchers at the College of William and Mary report that seep mussel beds exhibit higher diversity than vent mussel beds. This discrepancy may be due to a physiological barrier to invasion at vents, limiting dispersal and leading to lower biodiversity.
All species are not created equal when assessing the impacts of species loss on ecosystems
A more realistic extinction scenario shows that rare and uncommon plant species removal doesn't impact aboveground plant growth, but instead affects remaining rare species. Dominant species impart resistance to ecosystem change even in the face of a 3-fold decline in species.
An unexpected outcome of atmospheric CO2 enrichment
Researchers found that mycorrhizal fungi interactions with atmospheric CO2 and soil N led to distinct community formations. This study highlights the importance of considering these interactions in predicting plant responses to climate change.
Good housekeeping: why do shelter-dwelling caterpillars fling their frass?
Caterpillars reared in close contact with their own waste do not suffer ill effects. Selection by natural enemies likely drove the evolution of frass ejection behavior in skipper caterpillars to avoid wasp predation.
Human reproductive rates follow biological scaling rules
Reproductive rates in humans are linked to metabolic energy expenditure and body mass, with women in wealthy nations experiencing low birth rates due to high caloric intake. This relationship highlights the importance of considering biological scaling laws when understanding human reproductive patterns.
Regional warming-induced species shift in NW Mediterranean marine caves
Climate change is altering marine ecosystems in the Northwest Mediterranean. A study found that warmer temperatures are replacing cold-loving species with those better adapted to warmer conditions. This shift highlights the significant threat global warming poses to Mediterranean biodiversity.
Biodiversity and resilience of coral reefs
High fish biodiversity does not guarantee ecosystem resilience in coral reefs. Human activities negatively impact bioerosion rates, even on unexploited reefs.
Deep-sea ecosystem engineers
Tube worm aggregations, created by Lamellibrachia luymesi, provide habitat for deep-sea animals with lower sulfide tolerances. These ecosystems persist for centuries, taking up high quantities of sulfide from seep sediments.
Could Bt transgenic crops have nutritionally favourable effects on insects?
Toxin-resistant insects in Bt transgenic crops develop faster and have greater pupal weight, suggesting genetic benefits. Biochemical studies are needed to confirm potential nutritional effects of Cry toxins on resistant insects.
Indiscriminate nursing in communal breeders: A role for genomic imprinting
In polygynous species, males copulate with several females that may later breed communally. This leads to offspring being more closely related through the paternal line.
Canaries in a coal mine?
A comprehensive volume addresses key hypotheses for amphibian declines, including non-native species, UV radiation, and climate change. The study highlights the urgent need for conservation research to address this biodiversity crisis.
Genetic heterogeneity of Icelanders
A recent study reveals that Icelanders are more genetically diverse than previously thought, with higher rates of nucleotide differences and population admixture. This contradicts earlier claims of genetic homogeneity, which were largely based on flawed data and errors in publicly accessible databases.
Distant attraction
A study found that insect feeding by a spruce gall adelgid caused large galls to form, inversely correlated with distance from buds. Chemical stimuli were determined to be the cause of gall formation.
Synchronised swimming helps catch prey
Researchers found that school-forming goat fish synchronize their activity patterns to increase food catch. This synchronization strategy is effective even in chaotic systems, where individual behavior can vary wildly.
Mean population size increases with diversity
Research shows that population stability and size tend to increase with community diversity, likely due to variation in local productivity. This finding challenges ecological theory, which predicts a decline in population stability as community diversity increases.
Invariant properties in coevolutionary networks of plant-animal interactions
Researchers discovered a generalized topology characteristic of self-organized complex systems in community organisation of plants and animals. This finding has significant implications for biodiversity conservation.
Amazon wildfires contribute to carbon problem
Amazon wildfires contribute significantly to atmospheric carbon dioxide, reducing tree-life viability to less than half of unburned areas. Dr Barlow's research found that fires damage large, thicker-barked trees, leading to increased emissions and further loss of vegetation.
What are 3-D spider webs for?
Researchers found that three-dimensional spider webs reduce predation by mud-dauber wasps, allowing spiders to thrive in safer environments. This escape from predation is accompanied by a significant increase in spider species diversity and abundance.
Palm leaves act like flowers
Researchers discovered that palm leaves emit specific floral notes to attract pollinating weevils during the flowering season. This finding suggests a shift in flower-to-leaf function in plants, opening new questions about pollination system evolution.
A possible role for honey in the treatment of wounds
Research suggests that honey's antibacterial properties can inhibit a range of strains, including MRSA, VSE, and VRE. This study indicates a possible role for honey in the treatment of wounds colonised by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Slowing insect resistance to genetically modified crops
Mathematical theory explains how high dose/refuge strategy works, allowing farmers to protect crops in refuges. The analysis leads to unexpected results, including minimal impact of insecticides on refuge value for some Bt crops and pests.
Biodiversity conservation - no guarantee for shortcuts
A report highlights that protecting threatened and endemic species does not automatically ensure compliance with biodiversity conservation laws. The study found that this approach falls short in preserving other bird species, especially in their habitats of distribution.
Biodiversity hotspots, centres of endemicity, and the conservation of coral reefs
A new study reveals that coral reef biodiversity hotspots are not driven by local endemic species, but rather by the overlap of globally dispersed species. Conservation efforts should target both high and low biodiversity regions.
European seal plague may threaten population survival
A recent study predicts that the 2002 European seal plague outbreak may claim up to 10,000 harbour seals in Denmark and Sweden alone. The researchers used mathematical models to compare the 2002 findings to a previous 1988 outbreak, predicting similar impacts on the population.
Ecological significance of tool-use in the woodpecker finch Cactospiza pallida
Woodpecker finches rely on tool use to extract food from bark and tree-holes in scarce environments, outperforming conventional foraging techniques. This unique adaptation allows them to acquire larger, high-energy prey.
From parasitism to mutualism
A study by Johnstone and Bshary found that the threat of leaving by clients can prevent cleaners from exploiting them. In asymmetric interactions, this 'partner control' model matches existing data on cleaner and client behavior.