Researchers found that beetles have among the lowest family-level extinction rates due to their ability to adapt to changing environments. The study suggests that beetle diversity may be due to an historically low extinction rate rather than a high rate of new species emerging.
A research team analyzed body size data for 25 marine species, including whales, sharks, and squids, to correct inaccuracies and understand the challenges of measurement. The study found that some species exhibit significant size variation within a single species.
Scientists created a new modeling framework to study the relationships between different stages of a plant's life cycle. The study found that changes in environmental factors can affect the duration of subsequent stages. This research has the potential to improve crop yields and conservation efforts amid climate change.
A new study from NESCent suggests that societies with less access to food and water are more likely to believe in moralizing, high gods. Belief in these types of deities is strongly associated with political complexity and the practice of animal husbandry.
Researchers found that bright coloration preceded louder, more complex calls in certain species of poisonous frogs, which helped protect them from predators. This led to the development of unique vocalizations, with females preferring lower-pitch, pulsing calls.
Researchers found a strong correlation between Northern Hemisphere seabird diversity and environmental stressors, with puffins and auks serving as indicator species. The study suggests that climate change has shaped the geographic distribution and population size of existing species over the past 5 million years.
The Duke Lemur Center has made nearly 50 years of life history data for endangered primates available online. The database contains detailed records of over 3600 animals representing 27 species, including birth and death dates, breeding habits, and health information.
The fossilized remains of a giant bird were found to be an extremely efficient glider, using long slender wings to stay aloft for miles over the open ocean without flapping its wings.
A study published in the Journal of Ecology found that between 45-48% of the world's plants are woody, contradicting initial assumptions and expert opinions. The researchers developed a statistical method to account for sampling bias and made their data and methods openly available.
A recent study using nearly 600 animals across three dozen species found that those with bigger brains and more diverse diets outperformed others in self-control tests. The researchers suggest that brain wiring and dietary diversity may be key factors in explaining differences in animal intelligence.
A study analyzing ancient chicken DNA found that traits like yellow skin only became widespread in the last 500 years, contradicting previous assumptions about domestication. Researchers compared DNA from 81 ancient chickens to those of modern chickens, revealing significant genetic differences.
Researchers found that seed dormancy allows plants to adapt to their environment, resulting in increased species diversity. Plants with this ability are more likely to colonize new areas and thrive under changing conditions, a strategy that has been around since the earliest seeds.
Researchers constructed an evolutionary tree of flowering plants and found that many species acquired characteristics to thrive in colder climates before encountering freezing conditions. Plants like birches and poplars developed narrower water transport cells to protect themselves from blockage during freezing and thawing.
A new study reveals that biodiversity is higher in the tropics due to increased genetic diversity among subspecies, which are more likely to arise in harsher environments typical of higher latitudes. This counterintuitive finding suggests that species turnover and extinction rates may be balanced near the equator.
A study found that shorter plants have faster-changing genomes and evolve as much as five times faster than taller ones. This is due to the accumulation of genetic changes in actively-dividing cells at the tip of plant shoots.
Researchers discover nearly complete skeleton of ancient bird, Eocypselus rowei, which lived 50 million years ago. The fossil's well-preserved feathers reveal key characteristics of the bird's wing shape, providing insights into the evolution of swift and hummingbird flight.
Researchers propose a new theory of evolutionary development, suggesting that complex structures may emerge through the process of 'complexity by subtraction', where parts are lost or simplified over time. Computer models and trends in skull evolution support this idea, which challenges traditional incremental evolution.
Fossil finds in Africa have shed light on the evolutionary past of penguins, revealing that four species coexisted on the continent five million years ago. Rising and falling sea levels are believed to be responsible for the decline of African penguin diversity.
Researchers studying the endangered lemur found that females live longer than males, on average into their early 30s. The team's findings suggest that age-specific dispersal behavior may carry greater costs for males, leading to earlier mortality.
A study found that peacock courtship calls attract distant females, suggesting a potential advantage for males in securing mates. The calls may serve as a form of advertising, warning predators of the male's vulnerability and increasing his attractiveness to females.
Research identified genetic changes that enable Ethiopians to thrive in thin air, differing from those found in Tibetan populations. This discovery sheds light on how high-altitude populations worldwide have evolved differently from their low-altitude ancestors.
Researchers propose a mechanism by which life may have gotten its start in the early Earth's chemical environment. A mathematical model reveals that networks of molecules with self-perpetuating capabilities can give rise to complex systems and potentially life.
A new study of marine fossils reveals that ocean animals with small geographic ranges are more likely to go extinct, even when populations are large. The research found that habitat breadth played a secondary role in extinction risk, and population size had little effect.
A new study examines the impact of natural gradients in food and temperature on deep-sea species across the globe. The results suggest that temperature has a bigger impact on individual-level parameters like metabolism and growth rate, while food is more important for higher-level parameters like abundance and species diversity.
Researchers found that birds experiencing dramatic seasonal swings in temperature and precipitation sing more variable songs. This adaptability helps them communicate effectively across different habitats. The study analyzed over 400 male birds from 44 species, including orioles, warblers, and finches.
DataONE enables researchers worldwide to discover, integrate, and analyze massive amounts of diverse environmental and Earth science data. The platform facilitates universal access to data, addressing critical questions about the environment and human role within it.
Scientists are building an evolutionary tree that connects all living things, from bacteria to trees. The Open Tree of Life project aims to create a central resource for synthesized phylogenetic data, enabling researchers to compare and download the entire tree.
A new mathematical model predicts that creatures will help each other differently depending on resource scarcity, with defense and food-focused behaviors favored during times of scarcity and care for young during abundance. The study's results suggest that the benefits of altruism vary across different behaviors.
A new study has traced the evolutionary history of mammal diets, revealing that omnivores, including primates, bears, and dogs, came from ancestors that primarily ate plants. The study found that diet is linked to species diversification, with plant-eaters proliferating faster than meat-eaters.
A new study finds that athletic frogs tend to have faster-changing genomes, with the rate of evolution correlated with physical fitness. The research suggests that free radicals produced during exercise may cause wear and tear on DNA, leading to genetic changes.
A study reveals that manmade noise has indirect effects on plants, with some species benefiting and others being harmed. Noise levels can influence the number of pollinator visits, pollen transfer, and seed production in certain plant species, highlighting the ripple effects of human activity on the natural world.
Coyotes in North America shrunk from 15-25 kg to 10-18 kg between 11,500 and 10,000 years ago. This sudden shrinkage was likely due to dwindling food supply and changing interactions with competitors, rather than warming climate.
Researchers found that birds in changeable climates are more prone to infidelity and divorce. This may be because unpredictable weather conditions make it harder for birds to predict the environment during breeding season, leading them to seek new partners for increased genetic diversity.
A devastating bird disease caused by Mycoplasma gallisepticum has spread rapidly across North America, with the bacteria evolving at a faster rate than previously estimated. The microbe has lost over 50 genes, including those that make up its immune system, since making the switch to its new host.
A recent study by researchers at NESCent found that larger plant size can lead to bigger, more plentiful blooms, but accounting for overall size differences is crucial in detecting tradeoffs. The study tested three hypotheses and concluded that flower size-number tradeoffs are harder to spot due to various reasons.
A new study found that prehistoric predators with large canines had beefier arm bones, a combination seen in sabertooth cats and other extinct mammals. The researchers discovered this pattern through the analysis of fossilized arm bones and teeth, finding convergence across multiple species.
A new study has discovered well-preserved fossil insect ears from 50 million year-old crickets and katydids, shedding light on the evolution of insect hearing. The findings suggest that these insects evolved their supersensitive hearing long before bat predators came to be.
A new grass family tree reveals that the C4 photosynthetic pathway has evolved in grasses over 20 times within the last 30 million years. The study suggests that once C4 evolution occurs, it's unlikely to reverse, making scientists interested in engineering this pathway into drought-tolerant crops.
A new model explains the emergence of complex insect societies by positing that workers' selfish interests drive colony formation. This hypothesis suggests that at the early stages of social evolution, workers and queens act primarily in their own self-interest, rather than altruistically helping relatives.
A growing body of evidence shows that man-made noise is bad for birds, particularly bigger birds with low-frequency songs. These species may be forced out of noisy sites because they can't hear each other over the din.
Researchers discovered that hummingbird beaks can 'snap-buckle' to catch insects in mid-air, using elastic energy stored in the bone. This phenomenon allows for faster and more powerful insect capture than could be achieved by jaw muscles alone.
A recent study by Dr. Heather Piwowar found that cancer research is less likely to make its raw data available for reuse compared to other fields. Only 45% of gene expression studies were deposited in public databases, despite the importance of sharing these datasets for future research.
Researchers found that closely related species respond similarly to noise by tweaking their songs in different ways, with plumbeous vireos raising the pitch of their lowest note and grey vireos adjusting the highest part of their song. The study provides insight into how birds cope with increasing noise levels in their environments.
A new study reveals that some species are adapting to rising temperatures by migrating northward and upward, while others are struggling to keep pace. The researchers found that predicting which species will thrive in a warming world is challenging, as general traits such as body size or diet may not be sufficient to determine success.
A new study of marine snails reveals a significant boost in metabolism between 200 and 80 million years ago. The researchers suggest that this change was driven by the shift from plant-based to predatory diets, which led to an evolutionary arms race.
New research reveals that tree leaves in different canopy positions respond to varying light conditions by changing shape and physiology. This adaptation allows trees to cope with stress and use resources more efficiently, with outer canopy leaves influencing the inner canopy's ability to utilize diffuse solar radiation.
A new study found that the most toxic and brightly colored poison frog species are also physically fit, with higher aerobic capacity than their non-toxic cousins. This is due to their specialized diet of ants and mites, which requires them to forage further and exercise more.
A new study has identified the reason behind the variability in gene transfer among bacteria, revealing that genes involved in core cellular functions are less likely to be acquired. The study found that well-connected genes, which interact with many partners, are less likely to be transferred into a new host.
A new study found that larger body size and earlier seasonal timing confer significant survival advantages in most plants and animals. This 'bigger is better' model of evolution is more common than the rare 'Goldilocks' model, where individuals with moderate traits tend to outperform those that are too small or too large.
A new study found that female birds' fertility declines less quickly if they choose mates who became first-time fathers at a young age. This suggests that the 'history' of a male's reproductive past plays a role in his ability to care for his partner and offspring.