Articles tagged with Behavioral Ecology
Researchers at TUM found that when food is scarce, male pigeons spend more time incubating eggs, allowing females to forage and maintain high parental care levels. Females are affected most by local food availability and have lower energy reserves, but males compensate by increasing their share of incubation effort.
Research reveals that naturally laid oak silkworm eggs produce a volatile compound called 2-ethyl-1-hexanol (2EH) that acts as a natural repellent, reducing parasitism. This discovery provides a new perspective on how insects protect their offspring and could have practical applications for optimizing biological control programmes.
Researchers at the University of Warwick found that the indri, the world's only known singing lemur, uses a vocal technique similar to trained opera singers to hit high notes. The indri opens its mouth wider to project higher-pitched vocalizations through the forest, a process that may serve a similar purpose to formant tuning in humans.
Researchers found that adult chimpanzees in Senegal intentionally hand over tools to infants and youngsters, facilitating learning. The study, published in Frontiers in Psychology, reveals a unique form of teaching where adults deliberately provide tools and food to younger individuals.
Research from Eötvös Loránd University and the HUN-REN Research Centre suggests dogs exhibit brain activity similar to human self-control, potentially shedding light on ADHD and obesity. This study uses non-invasive EEG measurement to investigate canine brain activity during restraint commands.
Researchers observed a humpback whale mother showing prolonged post-mortem behavior and attention towards her deceased calf, indicating strong maternal attachment. This rare observation challenges current understanding of baleen whale behavior and cognitive-emotional responses to death.
A study from the University of California, Davis, shows that interacting with miniature horses and donkeys can improve adolescents' mood and reduce loneliness and sadness. Teens who recognized the animals' body language cues, such as lip-wriggling and walking away, showed bigger reductions in these emotions.
A new study by Max Planck Institute researchers found that shorebirds breeding in Arctic tundra return to breeding sites far less often than those in other habitats. The study, which analyzed decades of field data, suggests that geography plays a key role in a shorebird's decision to return or settle elsewhere.
Researchers found that sex does not determine who initiates fights, who is targeted, or who rises in dominance hierarchy in parakeets. The study also revealed that low-stakes squabbles can build a social hierarchy, preventing more intense fights.
Researchers found that ethinylestradiol increased competition around active nests, causing males to spend more time defending territories and eggs, leading to reduced parental care and population collapse. The hormone changed the social conditions in the lake, having ripple effects on reproduction across the population.
A new study found that horse personality is linked to daily management, riding, and care practices, with stable relationships and social housing considered crucial for welfare and behavioral development. Intrinsic factors like age, sex, and breed also play a role.
A new study published in the Journal of Experimental Biology suggests that gene activity in the nervous system is linked to rescue behavior in ants. The researchers found that ants that showed rescue behavior had 15 genes more active in their mushroom bodies, which are involved in learning and behavioral control.
A study by Queen Mary University of London finds that young chimpanzees develop distinct population-specific vocal patterns as they mature. This development is influenced by social interactions, environmental conditions, and other non-genetic factors, suggesting a more flexible and dynamic communication system than previously recognized.
Female Dotterels travel long distances to secure multiple mates, contradicting the traditional view of birds' migrations. They often visit three to five sites, with the most wide-ranging bird covering 1,343 km, before returning to a final site for an extended stay.
Researchers used infrared cameras to create a 3D view of biodiversity in the Congo Basin, revealing which mammals share the forest and how they use that space. The study identified 47 mammal taxa and found that 25% of arboreal mammals preferred the understory, highlighting the value of surveying the lower-mid forest strata.
A study found that yellow-morph green sea turtles in the Galápagos prefer to stay in shallow coastal waters and rarely venture far from a single island. The turtles' home ranges varied greatly, but most preferred to stay within 1,498 sq km of their starting point.
A new study from the University of Surrey finds that traffic noise disrupts the benefits of bird song and other nature sounds, with negative impacts on stress reduction and positive mood changes. Reducing speed limits near parks and increasing vegetation could help mitigate this effect.
A new study from Virginia Tech scientists reveals the complex relationship between temperature, photoperiod, and bear hibernation behavior. The research found that temperature and day length interact to shape hibernation behavior, potentially disrupting climate-driven changes in hibernation timing.
Research shows that young Bewick's swans that lose their parents during winter migration have a significantly lower survival rate, dropping from 86% to 40%. The study highlights the importance of family ties for migration and survival in these long-lived social birds.
Researchers identified 13 branched-chain fatty acids in cat urine that remain stable within individuals and among related cats. These compounds, stored in kidney lipid droplets, may help cats maintain a stable chemical
Dolphins use acoustic cues to navigate and find food, with whistles associated with social behavior and echolocation linked to sound-producing fish. The study reveals distinct patterns in dolphin communication, suggesting dolphins favor different habitats for socializing and hunting.
In a new study, researchers found that wild capuchin monkeys prioritize stones with proven track records of cracking nuts, even if they're not the mechanically optimal choice. This demonstrates that primates rely on durable physical traces to guide their tool selection.
A study found that pumas change deer behavior, reducing the likelihood of deer-vehicle collisions by 67%. Deer alter their use of space and time where pumas are present, overlapping less with roads.
Researchers found that male sperm whales emit slow, low-frequency clicks with extremely high source levels, which can be heard up to 70 kilometers away. These clicks are not used for echolocation but may serve as a form of communication or advertisement, potentially linking to honest signals of size.
Researchers found that queen pheromones inhibit daughters' ovarian development during a critical stage of development, while also indicating the queen's reproductive health, leading to more likely retention of helpers. This study provides new insights into how cooperation evolved in insect societies.
A field experiment on wild kittiwakes found that birds with high energy costs during breeding raised more chicks the next year, but at a cost to their own survival. The study reveals how flexible energy use can lead to hidden trade-offs in life-history strategy.
Researchers found that hummingbird hawkmoths prefer one side when extending their proboscis while inspecting flowers. The strength of this preference varies among individuals, but the alignment between the eye and proboscis is maintained even when part of the eye is occluded.
A study suggests that decentralized strategies of decision making are at least as good as centrally coordinated ones, especially in situations where a central coordinator's loss leaves the group vulnerable. The model found that leaderless groups can be more resilient by having multiple pathways for communication.
Researchers discovered that cyanobacteria band together into protective flocs when attacked by predators, a survival strategy that could influence how carbon is stored in the world's waters. This behavior helps explain why cyanobacteria invest energy in forming flocs despite the apparent cost to their growth.
A new study of penguins and krill found that repeated predator disturbance can alter prey behavior, leading to functional prey depletion. Penguins had to dive deeper and travel farther to encounter prey, but feeding rates remained unchanged once prey were encountered.
New research shows that tadpoles adapt their diet in response to rising temperatures, consuming more plant material and eating overall. However, this natural strategy becomes less effective as temperatures continue to rise, with consequences for growth, development, and survival.
A new study found that longer pair bonds in Florida Scrub-Jays independently increase reproductive success, with experienced birds producing more offspring. The research also showed that younger birds paired with older mates have lower survival odds.
A new study assesses how climate change affects predator-prey dynamics in a semi-arid ecosystem. Researchers found that during periods of low precipitation, owls shifted to different prey, increasing dietary overlap variability. Temperature was the strongest driver of these changes.
Research on burying beetles found that heat stress leads to an increase in same-sex mounting, contradicting initial assumptions. The study suggests a possible trade-off between heat-protection and social communication cuticular hydrocarbons may be involved.
Researchers at Göttingen University found that virtual fences lead to a more even distribution of animals across the pasture and reduced movement near edges. Virtual fences also elicit similar behavior from cattle as conventional electric fences.
Researchers at Utrecht University discovered that introducing multiple opportunities for cooperation in animals can change social dynamics and partner preferences. This challenges previous studies using single-location setups, suggesting a need to reconsider animal behavior experiments.
A study reveals that the rhythmic structure of laughter has remained constant in all living great apes, including humans, for at least 15 million years. This finding offers unexpected clues to the evolution of human speech, suggesting that sophisticated vocal control is a fundamental building block.
Researchers found that even morphologically similar pollinators can differ markedly in the diversity and heterospecificity of pollen they transport. This variation has important implications for understanding how different pollinators influence plant reproduction and evolution.
Researchers study blind Mexican cavefish to understand how evolution rewires the brain and shapes behavior. They found that cavefish become more active in light, a response believed to help them avoid predators.
A new review of interspecies cooperation reveals that animals use cues and signals to work together for mutual benefit. The study found commonalities in these interactions across various species, including fish, dolphins, birds, and butterflies. Researchers highlight the importance of communication in these unique team-based behaviors.
A new review highlights how animals exchange information through movements, visual displays, calls, and other cues to coordinate interactions and align interests across species. This cooperation enables individuals to access shared resources and exchange services, such as protection from predators.
Researchers tracked Arabian Sea humpback whales' movements, revealing the first direct evidence of a whale crossing the Arabian Sea. The study found that these whales have adapted to their habitat in a unique way, deviating from traditional migration patterns.
Researchers at Oregon State University found that bat rays produce a chemical cue to alert other rays of potential danger. The study used three tanks with individual bat rays and simulated a predator in one tank, causing the other rays to exhibit a flight response.
A study analyzing 21 pairs of wild red-crowned cranes found three specific behavioral elements: bill-stab, bow, and arch. The sequence and timing of these elements play a crucial role in pair communication, with males dancing longer than females and females taking the lead in determining dance content.
A new study reveals that honeybees can evaluate the reliability of their communication and adjust their dance vigor accordingly. Bees with verified, honest information increase their recruitment effort over time when advertising a new location, while unverified bees do not.
Citizen science data from iNaturalist has helped uncover the evolution of parental guarding behavior in harvestmen, doubling the number of documented cases. The study found that paternal care evolved independently, while maternal care followed a pattern seen in insects.
A new study suggests that environmental factors can influence which bird songs are passed down through generations. Common song types, with higher frequencies and broader frequency bandwidths, traveled more effectively through the environment than rare songs. This makes it easier for young birds to hear and learn these songs, potential...
Researchers used remote sensing technology to capture camera trap images of the short-eared dog, revealing its unique physical profile and activity patterns. The study found that this Amazonian predator is more abundant than previously thought, with a preference for intact forests and protected areas.
Adélie penguins use social information to acquire knowledge about food sources, often departing with multiple conspecifics to gather this info. This strategy helps unsuccessful foragers adapt their search strategies and increase their chances of finding food.
A study by Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research found that Lesser Black-backed Gulls rarely visit wind farms off the Zeeland coast, except for some male birds. Despite being attracted to fishing boats outside the wind farm, the gulls' behavior suggests they avoid entering the wind farm due to unknown reasons.
The Ecological Society of America publishes groundbreaking studies on the rights of nature, highlighting widespread support for conservation. Research also reveals owls' role in controlling rodent populations, while clownfish reveal the importance of partner relationships in shaping biodiversity.
Researchers found that pregnant Pacific pocket mice trained to fear snakes produce more vigilant offspring, which survive better in the wild. This method of antipredator training may improve conservation breeding and reintroduction programs.
Researchers from Finland discover that bumble bees can solve novel problems by combining objects in new ways, similar to the famous 'box-and-banana' experiment with chimpanzees. The bees were not trained and had no prior experience with the solution.
Scientists analyzed GPS tracking data from 37 animal species paired with cellphone location data to reveal how humans impact wildlife. The study found that 57% of species were impacted by human presence and landscape modification, with varied responses between species.
A new study found that wildlife responds to both direct human presence and landscape changes, such as agriculture and urbanization. The researchers tracked 37 species across the US using GPS devices and mobile phone data, finding that over 65% of species changed their behavior in response to human presence.
A new study found that urbanization-related changes in the song of European songbirds can have important consequences for birds living in noisy cities. While some species exhibit a broader dominant frequency range in their songs, others do not adapt to urban environments.
Scientists have documented humpback whales travelling over 14,000km between their breeding grounds in eastern Australia and Brazil, setting new records for the greatest distances ever confirmed. The findings highlight the value of citizen science and suggest climate-driven changes may be making such crossings more likely.
A global meta-analysis of animal behavior found that urban populations exhibit heightened boldness, aggression, exploration, and activity compared to rural counterparts. The findings highlight the need for urban planners to consider animal behavior in urban development.
A study by Iwate University and Nagoya University found that domestic cats respond more reliably to silver vine than to catnip when given the choice. Cats exhibited rubbing and rolling behavior towards silver vine in both free-choice outdoor experiments and captive laboratory tests, while responding less consistently to catnip.
Researchers observed a previously unknown strategy used by corioxenid parasites to overcome host-imposed barriers. By raising their host's wings, male parasites were able to emerge and mate. This finding expands our understanding of host range diversification within Strepsiptera.