Articles tagged with Predators
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Researchers at UC Santa Barbara found that coral predators have a significant impact on young coral growth and survival, even when protected by fish. The study suggests that density has little effect on predation, as corals are vulnerable to predators regardless of group size or protection.
A study at Tel Aviv University reveals that fireflies produce strong ultrasonic sounds that may serve as a defense mechanism against bats. The sounds are undetectable to the fireflies themselves but can be heard by bats, potentially keeping them away from poisonous fireflies.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University reconstructed the nutrition of stone age humans, finding they were specialized carnivores with a high-fat diet. The study used multiple lines of evidence, including genetics, metabolism, and archaeology, to conclude that humans evolved as apex predators for two million years.
In a groundbreaking study, researchers discovered that female putty-nosed monkeys recruit males to defend them from predators using alarm calls. The results suggest that females' general alarm requires males to assess the threat and ensure group defense.
A new study by psychologists at Emory University found that people can accurately discern most emotions tied to screams, but those of happiness are often misjudged as fear. Screams convey strong emotions, and researchers speculate that this may be an evolutionary carryover bias, where humans err on the side of caution.
A recent study reveals that coral-eating fish excrete symbiotic dinoflagellate algae by the millions, potentially keeping reefs healthy. This unexpected twist on coral reef symbiosis confirms that poop from coral-eating fish is an important environmental source of beneficial coral symbionts.
A camera-trap study found that black bears are adept at finding and stealing the remains of adult deer killed by pumas. This 'kleptoparasitism' reduces the calories pumas consume, causing them to hunt more often and eat smaller prey when bears are not active.
Researchers found that Amami tip-nosed frog altered its hind limb length in response to the invasive mongoose, with longer legs potentially aiding escape. The frog's endurance also increased under strong predation pressure from the mongoose, but not its burst movement ability.
Researchers found that increased deciduous vegetation leads to higher moose populations, which in turn affects wolves and ultimately caribou. Human land use, like forestry, significantly increases vegetation productivity, contributing to caribou declines.
Research found that Mexican wolves were 121% more likely to disappear when legal protections were weakened, contrary to theories that lethal removal would reduce poaching. The disappearances were likely caused by poachers hiding evidence of their activities, leading to underreported poaching.
Researchers found that birds can recognize and remember the wing patterns of artificial butterflies that evaded their attacks, as well as those with a foul flavor. The study suggests that being hard to catch may deter predators at least as effectively as chemical defenses.
A study found that sea otters in Monterey Bay are maintaining patches of healthy kelp forest despite a decline in overall kelp forests along the California coast due to an outbreak of sea urchins. Sea otters increase their consumption of urchins in the remaining kelp patches, but ignore those in barren areas with low nutritional value.
A new study reveals that the Anteosaurus, a 260-million-year-old predator, was capable of outrunning and tracking down its prey effectively due to its specialized nervous system and fine-tuned sensory organs. The research found that the animal's brain and balance organs were optimized for hunting swiftly and striking fast.
Researchers found that antlion larvae can remain motionless for up to 61 minutes by 'playing dead', confusing predators and encouraging them to search elsewhere. This clever tactic allows the larvae to stay alive in an arms race with their predators.
Researchers discover that male lyrebirds use mimicry to recreate the panicked alarm calls of a mixed-species flock during courtship and mating. This 'acoustic illusion' may be a crucial sexual behavior for males, helping them gain reproductive advantage by tricking females into responding as if they're at risk from a predator.
Researchers found that male superb lyrebirds create an acoustic illusion of a mobbing flock during courtship and copulation to trick females into staying with them. This complex behavior challenges traditional explanations of mimicry in biology, suggesting that elaborate bird songs can be driven by sexual conflict and deception.
A recent UNSW Sydney study pairs satellite imagery with site-based field research to show that removing dingoes leads to overgrazing and reduced soil quality. The effects of dingo removal are visible from space, with vegetation inside the fence having poorer long-term growth than outside.
Researchers found that zooplankton grazing on phytoplankton results in higher DMS concentrations, allowing marine predators to track their prey. The study suggests that large marine animals use DMS concentration gradients to find food sources.
A new study reveals that wolves have evolved specific ambushing tactics to catch and kill beavers by exploiting their poor eyesight and well-developed sense of smell. Researchers found that 89-94% of ambushing sites were downwind, allowing wolves to remain undetected.
A new study has found that American alligator hatchlings are more active and exploratory than spectacled caiman hatchlings, reflecting the strength of maternal protection. This research has important conservation implications for increasing population sizes of endangered crocodilian species.
Researchers used passive acoustics to study shell-crushing behavior in whitespotted eagle rays, distinguishing prey types based on acoustic features. The study provides critical data for conservation efforts and ecosystem monitoring in Florida's coastal waters.
A new study by Queen Mary University of London and the University of Maryland challenges the idea that Spinosaurus was an active aquatic predator. Instead, researchers suggest it likely fed from the shoreline, snatching fish like a heron or stork, while also taking small prey on land or in water.
Research finds that flowers provide essential nectar and pollen for predatory insects, helping them survive up to 8 times longer. This can significantly reduce the need for agricultural pesticides, improving crop production while supporting biodiversity.
A new species of mosasaur with shark-like cutting teeth has been discovered in Morocco, highlighting the diverse range of predators that thrived in ancient seas. The discovery suggests that marine reptiles were expanding their diversity before they went extinct, contradicting previous assumptions about ecosystem decline.
Researchers investigated the flagellar arrangements of 15 unicellular species, revealing their impact on swimming speed and fluid flow architecture. Dinoflagellates were found to excel in both feeding and stealth behaviors due to their unique flagellar arrangement.
Researchers found that high cortisol concentrations in newborn fawns were associated with lower survival rates. Cortisol levels varied between study areas, suggesting other environmental factors may influence mortality rates.
After 40 years of civil war, Gorongosa National Park's animal population has rebounded, with most species returning to the park through conservation efforts. However, researchers found that large herbivores like zebra and wildebeest are rare, while baboons and waterbuck dominate the landscape.
UTA researchers resurrected preserved Daphnia eggs to investigate how species adapt to invaders, finding extensive genetic variation in responses to a novel predator. The team's work allows for real-time observation of evolutionary processes, shedding light on drivers of change in natural settings.
A study by University of California San Diego biologists demonstrates that honey bees use a contagious and honest visual signal to deter Asian hornet attacks. The 'I see you' (ISY) signal involves guard bees shaking their abdomens laterally, increasing in intensity as the threat intensifies.
Researchers found southern Australian long-finned pilot whales can mimic killer whale calls and engage in 'duetting' with other whales, revealing a complex acoustic communication system. The study's findings raise questions about the extent of home ranges for these whales.
A Cornell University research team will use acoustic technology to monitor and manage soil-dwelling pests, preventing damage from predators. The project aims to provide turfgrass managers with greater knowledge and decision-making power about pest distributions and management strategies.
Researchers found that flashier lizards are more likely to be attacked by predators due to their bright colors. However, females prefer brighter males because they may possess high-quality genetic material or resources.
A team of researchers from Penn State describes a system where oil droplets exhibit 'non-reciprocal' interactions, chasing down other droplets that flee like prey. The system is controlled by chemical signaling and can be tuned to understand interactions in many-body systems.
A new study uses transnational genetic monitoring to track population dynamics of brown bears, wolves, and wolverines in Norway and Sweden. The approach reveals evidence of recovery and highlights the impact of humans on apex predator populations.
Pumas and culpeo foxes can successfully coexist due to distinct diets, with pumas primarily feeding on introduced hare species and foxes on smaller mammals. This study sheds light on predator interactions and ecosystem balances in the Andes.
Researchers found that 84% of newly-created and recolonized beaver ponds remained occupied for more than a year. However, when a wolf kills the beaver, no pond remains active. This study suggests wolves can alter wetland creation without changing beaver abundance or behavior.
Researchers found that competing groups of insectivores consume the same type of food, such as chironomids, which could lead to an unprecedented ecocatastrophe. The study sheds new light on the decline in insect populations and highlights the potential cascading effects on ecosystems.
Research found that species-rich plant communities reduce herbivore impacts, supporting natural predators and providing less nutritious food for herbivores. This leads to increased plant biomass per square meter and lower damage from arthropod herbivores.
Researchers develop model that links movement of predators and prey to segregation of oil and vinegar, expanding theoretical framework from inanimate matter. The model reveals universal characteristics of active living matter, including bacteria, enzymes, and motor proteins.
Researchers discovered that ogre-faced spiders can detect both low- and high-frequency sounds using hairs and joint receptors on their legs. The spiders use these sensory systems to hunt flying insects by performing a choreographed backwards strike, which may be aided by directional hearing.
A new species of ancient marine reptile, Brevicaudasus jiyangshanensis, has been identified in China, featuring a short, flattened tail used for balance. This adaptation allowed the creature to float motionless underwater, conserving energy while searching for prey.
A new study maps the appetites of coastal predators, showing that rising temperatures can shape entire communities of predators and alter biodiversity. The global 'BiteMap' was created using handmade squid baits called 'squid pops,' which were used to entice fish and crabs to reveal their feeding patterns.
Marine predators consume more bait in mid-latitudes than near the equator, according to a new study. The researchers found that feeding intensity declines with increasing distance from the equator, and that warmer waters have little impact on bait consumption rates.
Researchers found that feeding animals is the strongest influence on animal activity in yards, with species like squirrels and raccoons being most common. The study confirms the urban-wildlife paradox, showing that suburban areas can have an abundance of wildlife compared to wild areas.
Research by the University of Göttingen found that vanilla plantations with more trees have higher predator activity, which can lead to better pest control. This study contributes to understanding the ecological function of species involved in agroforestry systems and supports the UN's ecosystem restoration goals.
A nearly 1.5-kilometer-long trackway of early-human footprints has been discovered at White Sands National Park, showing a woman or adolescent male carrying a toddler in their arms. The tracks, dating back over 11,500 years, suggest a perilous journey through mud and animal habitats.
A RUDN University mathematician has enhanced the standard predator-prey model to include nonlocal interactions, which affect system dynamics and lead to different patterns of predation and prey growth. This improved model will help ecologists better understand natural systems and predict their development.
A study found that carnivores near people consume over half of their diets from human food sources, disrupting ecosystems. This reliance increases competition among predators, potentially leading to conflicts and detrimental ecological consequences.
Researchers found that the formation of the Isthmus of Panama led to a significant reduction in native South American mammal diversity, allowing North American immigrants to thrive. The resulting asymmetry has lasting effects on modern species distribution.
Researchers modelled the changing ecologies of fossil reptiles in Mesozoic oceans, discovering six ecological categories that linked movement, habitat, and feeding styles. The study shows that these marine reptiles avoided competition with each other, with some groups conserving their ecological roles over time.
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 have identified a unique enzyme used by predatory bacteria to rupture the cell wall of its prey bacteria and exit without damaging its own cell wall. The discovery of this novel lysozyme holds promise for developing new therapies against antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
Researchers found that drought and flood conditions in bromeliad microcosms affected the functioning of aquatic ecosystems, particularly at the bottom of the food chain. The study showed that smaller organisms suffer more from rainfall instability than larger ones.
Researchers at the University of Queensland discovered that male funnel web spider venom is deadlier than female venom due to evolutionary adaptations. The study, published in PNAS, sheds light on the unique properties of delta-hexatoxins and their fatal neurotoxic effects on humans.
Researchers identified 22 additional δ-hexatoxins from 10 Australian funnel web spider species, suggesting the venom plays a defensive role. The toxins' high human toxicity may have emerged as a result of their original function against nonhuman vertebrate predators.
A team of researchers from the University of Portsmouth discovered over 1,200 dinosaur teeth that confirm Spinosaurus was a river-monster. The findings support the theory that dinosaurs were adapted to an aquatic lifestyle, with Spinosaurus being the most commonly found creature in the Kem Kem river system.
Researchers found climate change impacts parasitoid wasps and flies, altering ratios between warm- and cold-adapted species. This study provides insights into how global warming affects ecosystems, increasing understanding of ecology and potential solutions.
New research reveals that climate change is exacerbating the decline of sea otters, which in turn are destroying Alaskan kelp forests. The loss of sea otters is allowing sea urchins to overgraze the coralline algae that form the reefs.
A 40-year study reveals that the rise of sticklebacks, a key predator of algae, is driven by reduced numbers of larger fish species. This shift from predator-dominated to algae-dominated ecosystems has significant implications for ecosystem restoration and management.
The discovery of a fossilized ichthyosaur with a smaller marine reptile in its stomach provides direct evidence of megapredation during the Triassic period. The prey was likely a thalattosaur, a group of marine reptiles that were more lizard-like in appearance than ichthyosaurs.