A global analysis suggests that climate change could lead to the extinction of up to a third of parasite species by 2070. The study used museum collections and GPS coordinates to understand conservation risks. Parasite diversity is a key indicator of ecosystem health, highlighting their critical role in maintaining balance.
Scientists at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History discovered that Myrmoteras ants' jaws work independently of other known ant species. The study revealed that the ants' predatory strike takes only half a millisecond and reaches speeds of approximately 50 miles per hour.
A new public database, Genomic Observatories Metadatabase (GeOMe), provides contextual information for genetic data, enabling researchers to track biodiversity across time and location. The database aids in comparing biodiversity worldwide and tracking its impact on the planet.
Researchers analyzed projectile points to find evidence of increased experimentation in tool production, suggesting a decrease in social interactions among North American populations. The findings provide insights into the changing hunter-gatherer social dynamics during this period.
New research from the Smithsonian reveals that whales started bulking up around 2-3 million years ago, when increasing ice sheets concentrated prey in the oceans. This shift allowed for larger body sizes to evolve, as filter-feeding became more efficient with access to dense prey patches.
Ants cultivated and maintained vast subterranean farms producing fungi, dating back to 30 million years ago. These ancient agricultural ants have evolved complex societies, with crops dependent on ant farmers for survival.
Scientists analyzed seabird bones to find evidence of a significant change in the North Pacific's food web, likely caused by human activities such as industrial fishing. The study found that petrels' trophic level had declined over time, suggesting a shift in the structure of the ocean's ecosystem.
A newly discovered beetle, Darwinylus marcosi, provides direct evidence of a fourth major gymnosperm-insect pollination mode during the mid-Mesozoic era. The beetle's jaw-like mouthparts and chewing feeding style suggest that it was involved in pollination before flowering plants emerged.
Researchers from the Smithsonian and French Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle describe a complex, flexible head joint among fishes known to science. The discovery sheds light on the evolution of barbeled dragonfishes, a group of deep-sea predatory fishes with specialized traits for hunting.
A fossil discovered in the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History has revealed a new genus and species of dolphin, Arktocara yakataga, which lived in subarctic waters around 25 million years ago. The finding confirms that the South Asian river dolphin belongs to one of the oldest lineages of toothed whales still alive today.
Researchers found that Native Americans' method of selecting and hand-collecting oysters likely resulted in more consistent average sizes and fewer very small individual oysters. This approach may inform modern-day oyster restoration efforts, which face challenges such as disease, poor water quality, and overfishing.
A new study confirms that preserving marine biodiversity can benefit people as much as it benefits the oceans. Communities with more species are more productive and resilient to rising temperatures, while those with fewer species suffer significantly under fluctuating temperatures.
A new study finds that acidification can make low oxygen even more deadly for fish, forcing them to use coping mechanisms at higher oxygen levels. This doubles the threat, as fish are also vulnerable to predators and equilibrium loss when exposed to both stressors.
Researchers discovered that trap-jaw spiders can strike prey at incredible speeds, with some species closing their mouth-parts shut over 100 times faster than the slowest. The high-speed predatory attacks were previously unknown and may have evolved independently in different spider families.
A newly discovered dinosaur, Timurlengia euotica, lived about 90 million years ago and fills a 20 million-year gap in the fossil record of tyrannosaurs. The species had developed keen senses and cognitive abilities, including low-frequency hearing, which positioned it to take advantage of opportunities to reach the top of its food chain.
Scientists have discovered a butterfly-like fossil insect, Kalligrammatid lacewings, in the deep Mesozoic with striking similarities to modern butterflies. These ancient insects likely served as important pollinators during mid-Mesozoic times.
Smithsonian scientists have discovered a new genus and species of river dolphin, Isthminia panamensis, from a fossil specimen found in Panama. The ancient creature is estimated to be around 9 feet long and lived in the salty waters of a Caribbean Sea before the full closure of the Panama Isthmus.
A scientific review synthesizes decades of discoveries on the evolution of whales, dolphins, seals, and other species that adapted to aquatic environments. The study highlights how life in the ocean has responded to environmental change over time, informing an understanding of human impacts on marine species today.
Researchers reconstructed fetal ear bone development in whales using non-invasive imaging techniques, providing insight into how whales transitioned from land to sea and adapted to underwater hearing. The study's findings confirm changes in ear bone development parallelled changes throughout whale evolution.
A study by Smithsonian scientists found that oyster disease is more prevalent in areas with low oxygen levels at night, which can cripple the oysters' defense against the parasite. However, surprisingly, oysters' filtration powers flag during periods of low oxygen but recover afterwards.
New research reveals that Swainson's warbler populations are increasing in pine plantations, which could support majority of breeding populations by 21st century. The species, one of North America's rarest songbirds, has been found to thrive in a surprising new habitat, boosting conservation hopes.
Research reveals that diverse guard-crab species and size classes offer different kinds of effective protection against coral predators. The study found that even small crabs defend against snails, while larger crabs ignore them.
A team of researchers, including Smithsonian paleoanthropologist Richard Potts, suggests that human traits evolved separately and at different times rather than all together. This flexibility likely enhanced the ability of human ancestors to adapt to unstable environments and disperse from Africa.
The opening of new Arctic shipping routes poses significant risks to the north Atlantic and north Pacific coasts from invasive species. Scientists warn that unchecked commercial shipping could drastically alter the exchange of invasive species across the region.
A recent study reveals that human activities near Lake Malaŵi are driving a significant increase in urogenital schistosomiasis, a debilitating tropical disease. The research suggests that changes in land use, overfishing, and ecological alterations have created a favorable environment for the spread of the disease.
A new species of sea bass was discovered off the coast of Curacao after DNA barcoding revealed a match between its larval stage and adult, previously unknown species. The discovery highlights the importance of exploring underexplored deep-reef ecosystems in the southern Caribbean.
The loss of large wildlife has been directly correlated with a significant increase in rodents and zoonotic diseases dangerous to humans. The study suggests that conservation efforts could help mitigate the problem of rodent-borne diseases.
Climate change is allowing mangroves to thrive in new areas around northern Florida, with the species' range expanding by over 3,000 acres between 1984 and 2011. The growth of mangroves may pose challenges for other coastal ecosystems, such as salt marshes, which could face loss of habitat and biodiversity.
A team of bat biologists shed new light on the Mortlock Islands flying fox, revealing its first detailed observations of wild populations and a wider geographic distribution than previously thought. The species is facing threats from rising ocean waters brought on by climate change, posing a serious risk to its habitat and food resources.
Researchers have found a new, low-cost technology to reduce mercury contamination in soils and sediments, using activated carbon. The technology reduces methylmercury uptake by up to 90% without physical disturbance.
Researchers at the Smithsonian found that e-readers can improve reading speed and comprehension for individuals with dyslexia by displaying short lines of text. This is particularly beneficial for those with visual attention deficits, who struggle to focus on letters within words or words within lines of text.
The discovery of the olinguito reveals that the world is not yet completely explored, with many species still unknown to science. The team's findings also highlight the critical need to protect the cloud forests of Ecuador and Colombia, which are under threat from human development.
A Smithsonian scientist has found that similar color patterns in fish larvae indicate a closer evolutionary relationship among species than their adult forms. The research, published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, reveals phylogenetic connections between marine fish species.
Researchers at Smithsonian Institution and Natural History Museum confirmed the origins of remora fish's sucking disc as a modified dorsal fin through detailed study of larval stages. The findings suggest that small changes in fin development led to the formation of the disc, disproving previous theories.
Researchers have discovered that turtles began living in shells around 40 million years ago, challenging previous estimates of their evolutionary history. The study, published in Current Biology, suggests that the earliest known species of turtles, Eunotosaurus africanus, had a shell-forming mechanism similar to modern turtles.
Researchers analyzed Hawaiian petrel bones to determine the impact of industrial fishing on open-ocean food webs. They found a shift in diet from large prey to smaller fish and squid within a century, indicating profound changes in the Pacific's ecosystem.
Researchers found a surprising relationship between the oxidation state of iron in volcanic rocks and variations in the deep Earth's chemistry. The study revealed that lavas with lower iron concentrations are enriched in elements like barium and lanthanum, suggesting a role for carbon in the deep Earth.
Scientists used DNA extracted from insects' stomachs to identify the plants they eat, with results matching prior observations and taking significantly less time. This study provides a new method for understanding plant-herbivore interactions and has implications for biodiversity research.
Scientists have discovered buried flood channels on Mars using 3D reconstructions, suggesting recent hydrologic activity. The findings indicate that floods may have induced climate change in the past.
A new study published in PLOS ONE found that relocating elephants to national parks does not decrease human-wildlife conflict. In fact, the translocated elephants were involved in more conflicts and killed five people over a year, highlighting the need for alternative conservation strategies.
Researchers at the Smithsonian discovered that female giant wood spiders produce additional mating plugs, which harden to prevent excessive copulations. These plugs are a female adaptation to sexual conflict, preventing unwanted sex from multiple males.
A recent study found that rain affects waterbird communities in urban estuaries, influencing their populations and diversity. Heavy rainfall leads to increased nutrient runoff, reducing small invertebrate populations and changing the dynamics of waterbird communities.
A new sensory organ discovered in the chin of rorqual whales enables efficient lunge feeding by coordinating jaw position and throat expansion. This finding sheds light on how hyper-expandable throat pleats and other morphological specializations facilitate successful feeding in these ocean giants.
Researchers found that coral-dwelling crabs and snapping shrimp are more effective when fighting together than alone, with a 65% reduction in coral eaten by two pairs of crustaceans compared to one pair. This phenomenon, called the Multiple Defender Effect, highlights the importance of biodiversity in ocean conservation.
Scientists discovered a 3-4 million-year-old toothed whale species, Bohaskaia monodontoides, that lived in warm water regions and shared features with belugas and narwhals. The fossil skull found in Virginia suggests its modern relatives' Arctic adaptations evolved recently.
Smithsonian researchers found fossil evidence of three to four species of seacows living together in different time periods, suggesting unique food sources and habitat structures. The discovery sheds light on the evolution of seacow habitats and raises questions about competition for resources.
A recent study reveals a direct link between the presence of invasive European earthworms and reduced numbers of ovenbirds in mixed sugar maple and basswood forests. The worm's consumption of leaf litter leads to a decline in nesting sites, increased predation, and a shift in plant species composition.
Researchers found that older forests with specific fungi are essential for orchid survival and recovery. The study suggests that planting new forests may not be enough to save endangered orchids without the right fungal conditions.
Scientists used 700- to 1,100-year-old Hawaiian ibis feathers to confirm the bird's classification as a close relative of the American white ibis and scarlet ibis. The plumage coloration revealed the bird was brown-black to ivory-beige, providing new insights into prehistorically extinct Hawaiian birds.
Scientists discovered a 3-4 million year old fossil of a whale rib with three tooth marks from a large shark, indicating the whale survived the attack. The whale's death may have been unrelated to its injury and infection.