A new study integrates robotics into wildlife conservation, enhancing predator deterrents through automated movement and adaptiveness. The findings demonstrate improved survival times and increased efficacy of protection against livestock predation.
A new study published in PeerJ Life & Environment reveals that several distinct spinosaur groups inhabited Cretaceous Britain. The analysis of a British spinosaur tooth shows that these groups did not all live at the same time, but rather inhabited the region over more than 15 million years.
Researchers studied activity patterns and adaptations of sympatric sloth species, revealing flexibility in their behavior. This flexibility enables sloths to thrive in diverse environmental conditions, enhancing their chances of survival.
A recent study analyzed over half a million tweets from 2017 to 2022, finding that social media plays a crucial role in corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts. The study identified key topics, including sustainability, climate change, and waste management, as well as areas of growth and decline in CSR communication.
Researchers detected chicken, cow, and human eDNA at all altitudes, as well as common plant-based allergens and pathogenic bacteria. The sterilizable probe enabled mapping of genetic material from potentially all species using aircraft.
New research builds consensus around assessing and interpreting Symbiodiniaceae genetic diversity, a crucial step in protecting coral reefs. The study highlights accepted techniques and approaches to fill knowledge gaps related to diversity.
A new study explores the effects of ocean-surface macroplastic removal on sea surface ecosystems, finding that impacts depend on neuston life histories. The research emphasizes the importance of strong science and governance to mitigate risks to high seas ecosystems.
Research on 28 male chimps found that certain personality traits like dominance and low conscientiousness are linked to high rank and reproductive success. The study suggests that the best personality for males varies depending on environmental or social conditions, rather than being a fixed trait.
A new study challenges previous estimates of Dunkleosteus' size, finding that mouth dimensions of extant sharks do not reliably estimate body size. The research suggests arthrodires have larger mouths relative to their body length than sharks, leading to biologically illogical body shapes and likely suffocation due to small gills.
A new study assesses DNA metabarcoding's performance in identifying fish eggs on the West Florida Shelf, highlighting its value for long-term monitoring of spawning sites and habitats. The technique can identify multiple species from a single sample, but may introduce biases by excluding rare species.
A new study uses DNA-based identification to determine the identity of larvae found in 21 commercially available mezcals. The results suggest a single moth species, Comadia redtenbacheri, is being consumed, contrary to historical estimates of 63 species.
Researchers use advanced techniques to examine the middle Cambrian star-shaped fossil Brooksella, finding it lacks characteristics of sponges and glass sponges. Its internal structure and composition are similar to co-occurring silica concretions, leading to a reclassification as an unusual type of fossil.
African biodiversity data reveals significant shortfalls in species occurrence records and maps. The study highlights the importance of integrating ecological interaction data with species distribution modeling to improve conservation policies and public health guidelines.
A new study found a negative relationship between honey bee abundance and wild bee species richness, with small species being most affected. The research suggests that honey bee population increases may be threatening local wild bee communities in urban areas.
A new study published in PeerJ Life & Environment has found that hand-rearing affects kākāpō clutch fertility, particularly in males, while improving chick survival rates. The research emphasizes the importance of a balanced approach to conservation management, considering both short-term and long-term benefits.
New research from William & Mary reveals that applying bird decals to the outside of windows reduces collisions and avian mortality. The study found no effect when decals were applied to the internal surface of windows.
Researchers analyzed audio and motion-triggered video recordings to understand bird collisions with windows. Faster flights at angles of approach closer to perpendicular were more dangerous for birds.
The study found significant biases in research effort towards lions and against striped hyena, with African wild dogs also receiving less attention. The authors recommend increasing research in under-represented regions, particularly northern, western, and central Africa, to inform conservation decisions.
A recent study found that cats and coyotes share green spaces in Los Angeles suburb Culver City, leading to increased cat mortality. Cats displayed more nocturnal behavior than typical urban cats, explaining high rates of cat deaths. The study recommends restricting outdoor cat access to mitigate human-wildlife conflict
Researchers analyzed DNA from coyote fecal samples to understand their diet in NYC. They found that coyotes eat a variety of native prey species, including raccoons and deer, as well as human-sourced food items. Urban coyotes consumed ~60% human food, while non-urban coyotes ate a wider range of natural food items.
A study analyzing over 2 billion Reddit comments found that 16.11% of users publish toxic posts and 13.28% of users publish toxic comments, with a positive correlation between community growth and increased toxicity
A new species of large carnivore, Tartarocyon, has been discovered in the Pyrenees with a fossilized lower jaw weighing around 200 kg. The discovery provides insights into the development of European 'bear dogs' during the late Miocene period.
Researchers discovered a new spinosaurid dinosaur, 'White Rock spinosaurid', on the Isle of Wight, known for its impressive length and limited fossil material. The discovery supports previous findings that spinosaurids originated in western Europe.
A University of Michigan study predicts that expanding roads and a planned railway will dramatically increase tiger mortality, reducing populations from 130 to 50 animals over 20 years. Researchers urge Smart Green Infrastructure planning to minimize impacts on tiger biodiversity and prey.
A new study identifies Komodo National Park as a key location for the recovery of threatened manta rays. The research uses crowdsourced photographs and machine learning to track individual manta rays' movements and preferences, revealing some species have strong site loyalties despite short distances.
Researchers have re-examined ancient fossil material from Brazil, revealing two distinct species: Maehary bonapartei and Faxinalipterus minimus. The discovery contradicts previous assumptions that Faxinalipterus was a flying reptile, instead confirming it as a primitive reptile.
Scientists have discovered two complete ichthyosaur specimens from the Solnhofen area, preserving outer body shape and skin. The fossils, dated to around 150 million years old, provide new insights into the anatomy of these marine reptiles.
A new large early ichthyosauromorph, Baisesaurus robustus, has been discovered in the Lower Triassic rocks of Zhebao, Guangxi Province, extending its geographic distribution. The fossil is estimated to be around 3m long and shares similarities with Utatsusaurus from Japan.
Researchers describe a newly discovered saber-toothed mammal from the Eocene Period, offering insights into the evolution of meat-eaters. The fossil, Diegoaelurus vanvalkenburghae, was found in San Diego County and features specialized teeth for slicing flesh.
Researchers have described two new species of hammerhead flatworms, Humbertium covidum and Diversibipalium mayottensis, found in France, Italy, and Mayotte. The species are small, iridescent, and potentially invasive, posing a threat to soil biodiversity.
Australotitan, the southern titan, is Australia's largest dinosaur, reaching heights of 5-6.5 meters and lengths of 25-30 meters. The fossilised skeleton was discovered in Eromanga, southwest Queensland, and its scientific description marks a 17-year-long collaboration between Queensland Museum and Eromanga Natural History Museum.
Researchers have identified five additional specimens of a 240-million-year-old ichthyosaur, named Besanosaurus leptorhynchus, providing new information on its anatomy, diet, and exceptionally large adult size. The species is the earliest large-sized marine diapsid with a long and narrow snout.
Research found that native milkweed cultivars planted by the public can attract and support monarchs, as well as other pollinators like bees. The study's results suggest that these cultivars are just as attractive and suitable for monarchs as their wild-type counterparts.
Research on ancestral wolf species reveals evidence of food-sharing and family care, as evidenced by healed injuries. Fossil specimens from China and California show similar dental infections and leg fractures to modern wolves.
Researchers found over 40 species of dragonflies and more than a year of effluent-fed river flow led to a biodiversity comeback in the Santa Cruz River. The river's return was attributed to upgraded wastewater treatment plants providing better reclaimed water quality, supporting high levels of aquatic life.
Researchers discovered a vestigial first metacarpal in African wild dogs, reorganizing associated muscles for proprioceptive functions. They also identified stout ligaments and muscular adaptations for long-distance running, enabling the species to pursue prey to exhaustion.
A new species of brittle star from the Cretaceous period has been identified as Ophiomitrella floorae, honoring Dutch metal vocalist Floor Jansen. The fossil was found in a shallow, warm sea that covered parts of present-day Netherlands during the Dinosaur Era.
Researchers studied captive African elephant trunk usage during feeding, finding varied strategies for manipulating different food types. The study revealed a correlation between food item shape and grasping strategy, allowing efficient feeding and increased food intake.
Researchers analyzed over 2,300 fossil bones and found over 400 marks left by insects and snails, shedding light on paleo diversity and climate of the Jurassic period. The high number of insect traces suggests that dinosaur carcasses remained unburied for an extended period, providing valuable insights into prehistoric stench.
A new study by Dr. Thomas D. Carr finds that the size and weight of Tyrannosaurus rex do not determine its age, contrary to long-held assumptions. The research reveals a high-resolution growth series for T-Rex, which shows that even small juveniles had powerful skulls and teeth, making them just as deadly as adults.
The invasive flatworm Obama nungara has been found across metropolitan France, covering three quarters of the country. Molecular studies reveal a single population originating from Argentina, posing a potential threat to European soil ecology.
The global consumption of food and natural resources drives primate habitat loss and degradation, threatening species with extinction. Researchers suggest changing consumer habits, creating an environmental fund, and holding corporations accountable to mitigate the impact of commodities trade.
Researchers used images from tourists to study the smalleye stingray, finding individuals migrated hundreds of kilometers along the coastline. The findings highlight the need for more knowledge about this endangered species' ecology and behavior to inform conservation efforts.
A new rat snake species, Elaphe urartica, has been identified in eastern Turkey and its range includes Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Iraq, Iran, and Russia. The discovery sheds light on the biogeography of the Blotched Rat Snake and fills an important piece of the Eurasian biota evolutionary puzzle.
Researchers evaluated four state-of-the-art tools for recognizing names in text and found solutions to boost accuracy from 7% to 90%. They also extracted social networks from novels to explore differences in story structure. The study highlights the challenges faced by NLP tools in handling names in popular fiction.
Researchers observed mountain gorillas gathering around the bodies of deceased group members, spending time in contact with their corpses, and even grooming them. These behaviors were surprisingly similar across different gorilla groups and suggest a complex understanding of death among these animals.
A new genus and species of ceratosaurian, Saltriovenator zanellai, has been discovered in the Lower Jurassic of Italy, dating back over 25 million years. The specimen is the world's largest predatory dinosaur and features a unique combination of ancestral and advanced anatomical features.
The newly described fossil, Mirarce eatoni, is the most complete enantiornithine bird skeleton found in North America, providing insights into the evolution of flight. Its unique features, including quill knobs and a deeper keel on its sternum, indicate that it was a strong flier.
Scientists replicate a landmark study to determine changes in coral sea temperature tolerance over time. The results show corals are becoming more tolerant of warmer temperatures, but the rate of adaptation is not keeping pace with rising ocean temperatures.
A new study tracked juvenile whale sharks across the Philippines, emphasizing the importance of the archipelago for the species. The study found that all tagged whale sharks stayed within the Philippines, with one individual traveling over 2,500 km through the Sulu and Bohol Seas.