Articles tagged with Predators
A new dinosaur species found in Portugal is estimated to be the largest land predator in Europe, with blade-shaped teeth up to 10 cm long. The dinosaur, Torvosaurus gurneyi, could reach 10 meters long and weigh around 4-5 tons, making it one of the largest terrestrial carnivores from the Jurassic period.
Cornell research reveals that natural enemies like ladybeetles can delay pest resistance to Bt crops, reducing the need for multiple genes and refuge plants. This finding supports the use of Bt crops in agriculture while minimizing pesticide usage.
Sharks are tracked using instruments ingested by researchers gaining new awareness into their feeding habits and role in the ocean ecosystem. The 'shark's eye' view provides unprecedented understanding of shark behavior and movements.
Researchers have discovered that the oldest land predator, Dimetrodon, had 'steak-knife' teeth with serrated edges, allowing it to efficiently eat large prey. The study suggests a gradual change in feeding habits over 25 million years of evolution.
Two new studies have found that genetically modified, insect-resistant crops have no negative effects on beneficial insect predators or a beneficial, entomopathogenic nematode. The research demonstrated that Bt proteins used in corn and cotton crops do not harm two important insect predators that help suppress pest populations.
Researchers used DNA barcoding to dissect the complex interactions between predators and prey in a simple food web, finding three times as many interactions than previously thought. The study revealed that most predator-prey relationships are less specialized and more interconnected than initially believed.
A team of researchers found that island lizards exhibit reduced escape behavior compared to mainland lizards, suggesting a link between island isolation and tameness. The study also revealed that prey size is an important factor in determining escape behavior, with smaller prey having shorter flight initiation distances.
The study highlights the decline of large carnivore species worldwide, with 17 species occupying less than half of their former ranges. The authors call for an international initiative to conserve these species in coexistence with humans, citing the importance of their ecological effects and social benefits.
A four-year study tracked the migratory patterns of 33 tiger sharks across the Coral Sea. Coastal marine parks offer limited protection to these apex predators, whereas oceanic reefs are crucial for their ecology and require prioritization in conservation efforts.
A new study refutes the theory that lions are a major predator of cheetah cubs and finds that big cats can coexist in protected areas. Cheetah cub survival rates were found to be higher in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park than previously thought.
A legless, leaping fish that lives on land avoids predators by using camouflage to match its rocky environment, reducing attacks from birds, lizards, and crabs. The researchers found that the fish's unique colouration helped it survive in its new habitat, suggesting an evolutionary advantage.
Seahorses use their specially shaped heads to capture prey, including copepods, which are notoriously difficult to catch due to their speed. In calm conditions, seahorses achieve a 90% success rate in catching their intended prey.
Research shows that livestock guarding dogs can protect farm animals from predators, resulting in a 91% reduction in livestock losses. This leads to increased tolerance of predators among farmers, allowing for greater coexistence with threatened species like cheetahs.
A new, 30-foot-long dinosaur has been discovered in Utah, revealing a key gap in the fossil record of large predatory dinosaurs in North America. The discovery indicates that carcharodontosaurs dominated the ecosystem for longer than previously thought, before tyrannosaurs took over.
A recent study by Finnish scientists found that smaller island areas support fewer species and shorter food chains. The research team analyzed 20 islands off the Finnish coast and discovered that top predators were often missing from small islands, leading to a loss of control functions in local ecosystems.
A new species of carnivorous dinosaur, Siats meekerorum, was the apex predator of its time, competing with small-bodied tyrannosaurs for top roles. The giant carcharodontosaur lived alongside tyrannosaurs and filled a gap in the fossil record during the Late Cretaceous period.
A study found that green poison-dart frogs vary their mating calls according to the availability of potential mates, adjusting their behavior to balance the risk of predation and securing a mate. In certain contexts, green males appear more conspicuous to females than red males, but less visible to predators.
Scientists at EMBL discovered that different brain regions handle various fears, with mice displaying distinct brain activity responses to threats from same-species and predator species. This finding could lead to targeted treatments for specific phobias and panic attacks in humans.
A new study reveals areas of high human impact on marine predators such as whales, seals, and turtles along the US west coast. The research used tracking data and mapping to identify key habitats and areas for conservation efforts.
Research suggests that moonlight affects prey species differently depending on their sensory systems, with some using vision as a backup defense. Moonlight benefits visually oriented prey, while negatively impacting predators' hunting success.
Scientists have re-examined the evolutionary origin of our skeleton and discovered that it originated from the armor of mud-slurping ancestors. The study found that conodonts evolved tooth-like structures within their own lineage, rather than inheriting them from a common ancestor with other vertebrates.
Male Bahamas mosquitofish develop longer, more elongated gonopodium tips when living with predators, suggesting an adaptation for efficient sperm transfer during rapid copulations. This study highlights the importance of ecological variation in generating genital diversity.
A study found that honey bees fear predators and avoid associated food sources, making colonies more cautious but individual bees more risk-tolerant. This strategy may help bees exploit all available food sources by having some foragers visit danger to allocate the colony's foraging efficiently.
Researchers found that predators can learn to find certain types of camouflaged prey faster than others. Moths with high contrast markings were initially better at evading predation, but humans learned to find them slower than those with low contrast markings that matched the background.
A University of Pittsburgh study reveals that the interaction between two species' personalities is key to predicting ecological outcomes. Researchers observed varying activity levels among jumping spiders and house crickets, finding that combined personality types best predicted survival for crickets and foraging success for spiders.
Researchers discovered that small damsel fish grow larger 'eye' spots near their tail and reduce the size of their real eyes when threatened with predation. This allows them to distract predators and increase their chances of survival.
A recent study by Rice University researchers found that altering the dynamics of a population can have measurable consequences on complex ecosystems. The study's results suggest that changing the structure of populations can alter entire food webs and ecosystems, highlighting their fragility.
Researchers discovered a 165-million-year-old fossilized skeleton of the ancient mammal Megaconus mammaliaformis in Northeast China. The animal had striking cusps on its teeth for crushing hard plant material and powerful jaws for eating tough plants.
A new University of New Hampshire study finds that online sex offenders operate similarly to offline ones, targeting teens through internet and cell phone communications. The research highlights the need for teaching children to resist sexual advances from adults, whether met online or in-person.
Research shows that Veeries eavesdrop on owls and adjust their evening songs to minimize risk of predation. The study found a significant reduction in extended singing bouts at dusk after playback of recorded owl vocalization.
Researchers used eye-tracking to investigate what attracts female peahens to male peacocks. The study found that peahens spend most of their time gazing at the lower portion of the train, rather than its showy upper feathers. This suggests that the lower train may be the primary attraction for females.
Native predators in the Caribbean cannot control the aggressive lionfish population growth, highlighting the need for human intervention. The study found that lionfish populations were lower in protected reefs due to targeted removal by reef managers.
Researchers found mangrove rivulus jumps with greater force on land than largemouth bass, utilizing horizontal and vertical movements. The rivulus's 'tail flip' technique allows it to efficiently locate food, avoid predators, and escape poor water conditions.
Researchers discovered that Sahamalaza sportive lemurs significantly increase vigilance after hearing alarm calls of nearby species, including the crested coua and blue-eyed black lemur. This study provides insight into the lemurs' ability to glean information on predator presence and type from referential signals.
Researchers found snails increased oxygen consumption 4-5 times during jumping to cope with rising temperatures. The study suggests the snails can maintain this strong increase in oxygen uptake even at high temperatures that would be lethal to fish.
A research report in Ecology suggests that climate change, exacerbated by droughts, is causing declining migration rates among Yellowstone's migratory elk. The study attributes this decline to the return of predators like bears and wolves, as well as human choices such as irrigation in nearby fields.
A recent study by UCSB researchers found that parasites add layers of complexity and density to food webs. Their complex life cycles and interactions with hosts also make them a crucial part of the food web ecosystem.
A new paper analyzed seven coastal estuary and marine food webs, including parasites, to understand their impact on network structure. The team found that most changes resulted from increased diversity and complexity, rather than unique parasite characteristics.
Researchers found that including parasites in food web models changes the distribution of feeding links per species, average shortest feeding chain between pairs of species, and proportion of omnivores or cannibals. Most changes occur due to increased diversity and complexity, rather than parasite-specific effects.
Researchers found that magpies take quicker decisions when humans are observing them, even if they don't perceive humans as a threat. This skill may have evolved to aid in survival near humans for centuries.
A Michigan State University team used a model system to show that predator confusion can evolve swarming behavior in prey, allowing groups to defend themselves against larger predators. This discovery provides insights into the evolution of intelligence and how it developed in nature.
Researchers discovered that female moths use changes in plant volatile compounds to guide ovipositing to unattacked plants, avoiding predators and competing caterpillars. This allows them to minimize the risk of newly laid eggs being eaten by predators.
Researchers at Wake Forest University found that tiger moths can detect an increase in a bat's cry rate and sound intensity, triggering the moth's defense mechanism. The study shows that the tiger moth's tymbal can jam the bat's sonar up to 93% of the time, allowing it to evade attack.
A new study reveals that bumblebees use a 'buzz' warning signal to scare away birds from their freshly built nests. The researchers observed that the birds were distressed and often flew out of the nest when exposed to the buzzing sound.
Climate change alters species interactions, potentially destabilizing entire ecosystems. The study reveals how temperature changes affect metabolic rates and consumer-resource interactions, leading to increased encounter rates between predators and prey.
Researchers found that wolves and bears were able to adapt their diets in response to changing environments, allowing them to survive after the last ice age. In contrast, large cats such as saber-toothed cats and cave lions were unable to adjust their diets, leading to their decline.
Researchers discovered that copepods switch to big power strokes in cold water, allowing them to overcome changing water temperature and viscosity. This adaptation helps copepods escape predators, but also makes them vulnerable to pollution-related changes in water viscosity.
Researchers found that social bees use chemical signals to mark flowers where they've been attacked, while solitary bees do not. The study suggests a link between sociability and the evolution of warning signals in bees.
A UF study found that a false head pattern on hairstreak butterflies is 100% effective against jumping spider attacks. The appearance of the pattern was thought to deter birds from attacking the butterflies, but the research suggests that small arthropods may influence butterfly evolution.
Researchers found that prolonged exposure to the stress hormone corticosterone enabled tadpoles to increase the size of their tails, improving their ability to avoid lethal predator attacks. The study provides new insights into the mechanisms of phenotypic plasticity and its role in animal survival.
A new study from Lund University in Sweden shows that roach fish migrate to surrounding streams and wetlands to escape cormorant predators, highlighting the first evidence of migration as a strategy to avoid predation. The researchers used innovative tracking methods to determine which fish were eaten by cormorants.
A study on oceanic whitetip sharks reveals they spend most of their time in Bahamian waters but roam long distances, highlighting the need for international conservation measures. The research provides key findings for protecting this species, which is listed as Critically Endangered globally.
Researchers observed wild meerkat groups in the Kalahari Desert, where dominant females yield to lower-ranked individuals to cross roads, revealing a complex adaptation mechanism. This phenomenon may be an innate response, allowing animals to cope with novel threats and minimizing group risk.
Removing top predators from freshwater ecosystems leads to a significant increase in carbon dioxide emissions, highlighting the crucial role of apex animals in regulating climate change. This study suggests that predator decline is having global implications for greenhouse gases and climate.
Fish can determine their size relative to others using chemical cues alone. This ability helps form groups with strength in numbers, reducing individual risk from predators. The study found that both species used chemical self-referencing to locate similarly sized fish of the same species.
Research suggests that meerkat predator-scanning behaviour is driven by a desire to protect the group rather than personal safety. When young pups are present, adult meerkats exhibit increased vigilance and sentinel behaviour, indicating a strong sense of cooperation and altruism.
Researchers found that pea aphids can land upright on their feet, using passive rotation to right themselves during free fall. The insects' ability to adapt to extreme situations has been studied in detail and published in Current Biology.
A new population modelling approach contradicts the widespread belief that disease must have been a factor in the thylacine's extinction. The study found that European settlement, including hunting and habitat loss, was powerful enough to drive the species to extinction without invoking a mystery disease.
A Dartmouth study suggests that increasing competitor and predator beetle populations can prevent population explosions of pine beetles, a major forest pest. The research confirms that some species, like the southern pine beetle, exhibit extreme fluctuations in abundance with no middle ground.
Researchers found that embryonic sharks can detect electric fields emitted by potential predators and respond by reducing respiratory movements. This innate avoidance response allows them to recognize dangers and try to escape, even in vulnerable egg cases.