Articles tagged with Evolutionary Ecology
A CU-Boulder study finds that poorly camouflaged insects can affect their broader ecological community when the appearance of the bug is mismatched with the plant it's living on. This can lead to a cascade of ecological impacts, including increased predation by birds and a subsequent decrease in arthropod populations.
Research by UBC evolutionary ecologist Rob Colautti found that invasive plants can rapidly evolve to local climates, increasing reproduction and fitness. This adaptation allows them to thrive in northern Ontario and potentially respond to climate change.
Researchers developed a new state-space model to analyze fish movement data collected by marine observation networks. The model quantifies uncertainty associated with imperfect locating systems, providing better information for marine conservation activities.
In a study of gray tree frogs, females preferred calls that were longer and more frequent, which is a challenging task. The findings support the multitasking hypothesis, suggesting that high-quality males can produce multiple signals at once.
A University of Arizona-led study has provided the first on-the-ground evidence that Southwestern plants are being pushed to higher elevations by an increasingly warmer and drier climate. Plant communities were found to be different 50 years ago due to individual species shifting their ranges independently.
A new series of articles in the American Journal of Botany explores how plants respond to climate change, providing insights into plant biology, ecology, and evolution. The studies reveal complex relationships between plants and wide-scale biological changes.
A new study shows that fisheries-induced evolution can lead to faster growth and earlier maturation in fish, potentially harming or helping fisheries. Optimally harvesting Northeast Arctic cod stocks could increase sustainable yields over 30% greater than today by allowing evolution to aid the economic interests of fishers
Scientists discuss spillover of infectious diseases among wildlife, domestic animals and people; find links between environment and human health. The symposia will address human influences on viral and bacterial diseases through alteration of landscapes and ecological processes.
Researchers at Michigan State University developed comprehensive evolutionary case studies to improve student understanding of evolution. Students who grasped integrated scenarios performed better on tests about evolution in general, suggesting that this approach enhances overall knowledge.
Researchers at University of Arizona's Tumamoc Hill have digitized 106 years of growth data on individual plants, offering new insights into how ecosystems behave. The permanent research plots represent the world's longest-running study monitoring individual plants.
A recent study found that climate change disrupts the seasonal timing of songbirds, but density-dependent processes are helping to mitigate this effect by allowing some birds to survive and reproduce despite earlier or later food availability. This temporary rescue is buying time for evolutionary adaptation.
A UCI study has found that Southern California sagebrush populations are more adaptable to climate change than those in the north. The researchers transplanted sagebrush from sites along the California coast to a test garden, measuring its responses to altered precipitation and long-term climate data.
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.
A new research study published in Methods in Ecology and Evolution found that methods used by amateur citizen scientists compare well with traditional scientific methods for monitoring species diversity. The study detected greater marine diversity using a volunteer technique than traditional scientific surveys in the same waters.
Researchers developed a model that calculates how temperature changes affect parasite metabolism and life cycle, helping to predict disease ranges. The Princeton metabolic model can identify prospects for nearly any disease-causing parasite, even with limited knowledge of the organism.
To feed the world, Paul Ehrlich advocates for a bottom-up movement focusing on agricultural and demographic planning to address overpopulation and overconsumption. Giving women equal rights is a crucial first step in this effort.
Researchers predict significant changes in summer ranges of endangered Indiana bats due to climate change. Suitable habitats are expected to shift to the northeastern US and Appalachian Mountains.
A recent study finds that uncontrolled blazes in the Peruvian Amazon are driven by depopulation, increased road networks, and drought, leading to devastating forest, farm, and village losses. Researchers suggest that government policies promoting oil palm plantations could help mitigate these effects.
Entomologists at UC Riverside reconstructed the evolutionary history of assassin bugs using molecular, paleontological, behavioral, and ecological data. The new phylogeny reveals that kissing bugs originated around 27-32 million years ago, contradicting previous estimates, and suggests a single origin or two separate but close origins.
A 5-year study found that removing insects from the environment can cause plants to quickly lose defensive traits, such as anti-moth chemicals and temporal blooms. This rapid evolution is driven by natural selection, with successful varieties emerging when moths are absent.
Dr. Douglas J. Futuyma, a renowned evolutionary biologist, will receive the Joseph Leidy Award for his outstanding research and ability to communicate complex ideas to scientists and students alike. The symposium on biodiversity will explore current and future research on the diversity of life with a focus on evolutionary biology.
James Elser, an ASU ecologist, has been elected president of the global aquatic sciences organization, ASLO. He will focus on addressing pressing issues related to freshwater sustainability and promoting sustainable agricultural practices to reduce pollution.
The Ecological Society of America honored eight scientists with prestigious awards for their outstanding contributions to ecology, including Robert Naiman and Janet Lanza. The awards recognize meritorious research, teaching, and service to the field of ecology.
A study published in PLoS Pathogens found that the rabies virus evolves nearly four times faster in tropical bats than in temperate bats. The rate of evolution depends on the bat's ecological traits, including its geographical location and behavior.
The Map of Life project demonstrates a Web-based endeavor to show the distribution of all living plants and animals on the planet. The database contains hundreds of millions of records on species abundance and distribution, enhancing knowledge of biodiversity.
Researchers at McGill University turned back the clock to understand the evolution of sex differences in water striders. They found that male traits, such as elaborate antennae, were shaped by a struggle between sexes during mating, leading to increased mating success.
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.
Researchers traced the evolution of mammalian diets across all species, including omnivores, and found that while some groups maintained steady diets, others changed their feeding strategies over time. Today's omnivores originated from ancestors primarily eating plants or animals but not both.
African monkey DNA analysis reveals population decline linked to warming climate and habitat loss. Conservation efforts urged to protect endangered drill species from poaching and habitat destruction.
Researchers found that older male white-crowned sparrows don't react strongly to young males singing in their territory, indicating they consider them less of a threat. In contrast, younger males within the same age group respond aggressively when hearing each other's songs.
Researchers tracked wolf characteristics in Yellowstone National Park from 1998 to 2009, finding that some traits are related to population ecology, while others are genetically determined. The study developed a new model to predict wolf responses to environmental conditions, which suggests that mean environmental changes impact wolf p...
A study of Yellowstone wolves has improved predictions of how these animals will respond to environmental changes. The research used a new model to compare data on wolf characteristics to environmental conditions, revealing that changes in mean environment conditions impact wolf population size more than variability.
Invasive false brome grass has spread rapidly in Oregon, thanks to its ability to evade fungal and mollusk enemies, with generalist insects being the primary attackers. The grass now threatens ecosystems and forests across the state, highlighting the need for public awareness and cleanup efforts to control its spread.
A new study examines the impact of climate change on amphibian species, finding that rapid temperature swings can trap species at different points in their travels. The research suggests that many species will become endangered due to their inability to tolerate unfavorable climate conditions for extended periods.
Researchers found that evolutionary changes in aphid populations led to rapid increases in population numbers, up to 42% faster than non-evolving populations. This rapid evolution has important implications for predicting pest densities and outbreaks in various applied areas.
California mussels are vulnerable to acidification due to climate change, which can weaken their shells and reduce body mass. This decline could have significant impacts on other organisms that rely on them for food and habitat.
The Ecological Society of America honored seven distinguished ecologists with awards, recognizing outstanding contributions to research, education, and public service. Thomas G. Whitham received the Eminent Ecologist Award for his work on individual variation in ecology, while Donald Strong was recognized for his editorial leadership a...
A UC Davis study of a tiny seashore animal found that climate change may already be pushing these organisms beyond their limits, despite potential for some adaptation. The study suggests many species face environmental stress due to fragmentation and climate change, making natural selection less effective.
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.
Researchers found tiger-parrots occupy a unique spot on the parrot evolutionary tree, contradicting long-held assumptions about their relationships. This discovery sheds light on the bigger picture of parrot evolution in Australia and New Guinea.
Researchers found that long-term mutations are advantageous over short-term fitness gains, leading to the survival of less fit organisms. This unique study provides unprecedented detail on the complexity of evolution and challenges the traditional view of evolutionary success.
Biodiversity research highlights the importance of conserving rare and endangered plant species, as well as understanding patterns of species diversity in aquatic and terrestrial systems. New analyses suggest that modern ecosystems are a product of past events, with implications for present environmental conditions and future directions.
A study published in Biology Letters reveals a strong correlation between habitat change and significant adjustments in body size among turtles and tortoises. The research shows that chelonians living in marine or island habitats have an optimal body size several times larger than their cousins on the mainland.
A large-scale experiment by UC Davis ecologists shows that environmental changes can alter how intact ecological communities function, affecting plant and animal species interactions. The study, led by Jonah Piovia-Scott, used seaweed to imitate climate change effects on Caribbean islands.
A new appreciation of the ecology-evolution dynamic reveals that environmental factors can influence evolutionary changes and shape ecological traits. This emerging field of study highlights the interconnectedness between ecology and evolution, suggesting a feedback loop where ecological changes affect evolution and vice versa.
A new study reveals that a subspecies of grey wolf, previously thought to be a golden jackal, is actually a distinct species found in Africa. Genetic evidence confirms that the Egyptian jackal belongs to the grey wolf species complex.
A new study shows that even when a trait becomes sex-specific, knock-on effects can still disadvantage the other sex. Researchers found that in broad-horned flour beetles, larger mandibles in males were linked to increased mating success but also reduced female reproductive ability.
New experiments confirm dragonflies grow bigger with more oxygen, but cockroaches don't. Fossilized insects may serve as proxies for ancient oxygen levels.
A Tel Aviv University biologist challenges the idea that islands have unique evolutionary patterns, citing research that shows no extraordinary effects of isolation. He found that evolutionary processes on islands are not different from those on mainland ecosystems, contradicting popular myths about island-bred creatures.
A new study in the journal Evolution found that island lizards' body shapes and sizes are shaped by competition for resources. As species numbers increased on each island, finer evolutionary changes occurred, leading to fewer distinct body types.
A new study reveals that female jumping spiders fight with different rules than males, skipping preliminaries and engaging in all-out battles. The researchers found that the motivation behind a female's fighting behavior is her proximity to reproductive age and desire to protect her nest.
Researchers have discovered that Darwin's work on heterostylous flowers, a complex breeding system found in flowering plants, has significant economic implications. The study highlights the unique characteristics of heterostyly, which affects plant morphology, ecology, and evolution.
A new Excel-based application, Spatio-Temporal Animal Reduction (S.T.A.R.), aims to optimize culling strategies for invasive species in Australia. The model was developed by ecologists at the University of Adelaide to improve the success of wildlife managers tasked with eradicating feral animals.
Gardeners in the UK are encouraged to work together to protect vulnerable wildlife by creating a network of interlinking habitats. Collective action can make a real difference at the city scale, with top-down financial incentives and bottom-up community-driven initiatives supporting co-operation.
Scientists have discovered that the venom of isolated Florida cottonmouth snakes may differ from that of mainland snakes due to their diet of dead fish dropped by seabirds. A new technique for collecting venom, using a portable nerve stimulator, has also been developed as part of this study.
Scientists at the University of Toronto's Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology discovered a novel gene, Ultrabithorax, responsible for water striders' unique body form. The gene lengthens mid-legs while shortening hind-legs, allowing water striders to glide on water.
Dr. Jonathan Losos has made significant contributions to the knowledge of Caribbean ecosystems through his research on anole lizards. His work highlights the importance of natural selection, competition, and niche evolution in shaping assemblages of Anolis species.
A team of researchers from the University of Minnesota synthesized emerging work on phylogenetics to understand species interactions and biodiversity. The study provides a comprehensive overview of forces driving community organization and the role evolution plays in assembly of these communities.
Research synthesizes phylogenetic knowledge to understand species interactions and ecosystems, highlighting evolutionary processes as key drivers of biodiversity. The study provides a comprehensive framework for community ecology, essential for managing and restoring Earth's flora and fauna.
A new study on blue tits reveals that eggs fertilized by non-social partners tend to hatch earlier, with nearly 75% of extra-pair offspring produced in the first half of the clutch. This suggests that early hatching may be a key factor in the observed superiority of extra-pair offspring.