Articles tagged with Predators
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Researchers observed Herring Gulls developing a complicated behavior to 'skin' sea creatures, making them safe to eat. The birds grasp the sea squirt's tunic in their beaks, shake it to loosen the soft edible inner body, and then switch to hold and shake again until the inedible outer layer is removed.
Researchers discovered that deep-sea fish can see color in the dark by examining the genomes of 101 species. This ability may have evolved as a survival weapon to quickly detect predators or prey in low-light conditions.
Scientists discovered two instances of flightless rail species colonizing Aldabra island, evolving independently after tens of thousands of years. The study provides the first evidence of iterative evolution in rails, revealing how a single species from Madagascar gave rise to two distinct species on the island.
Historical records show that lions are injured by porcupine quills when they attempt to hunt them. Young male lions are more likely to be injured or killed, and their injuries can impair their hunting abilities and even lead to man-eating.
A new scat study provides insights into the diets of Humboldt martens, revealing a diverse range of prey species including voles, birds, and berries. The research suggests that vegetation in coastal forests offers an ideal environment for these martens, with less competition from predators.
The annual Winter Study report chronicles the effects of wolf reintroductions on the island's ecosystem, with 13 new wolves and 20 radio-collared moose providing valuable data. Researchers expect a slowing down of moose population growth due to severe vegetation damage, while wolf pups may be possible this year.
Research by the University of Saskatchewan found that fish release 'disturbance cues' to signal nearby dangers like predators. This voluntary chemical release can trigger a 'fright response' in fish, promoting defensive behavior.
A new study by Penn State researchers finds that male fence lizards' physical traits and behaviors used to attract mates remain unchanged under low levels of stress. This suggests that these traits are more resilient to stress than previously thought.
Research reveals that white sharks immediately vacate their preferred hunting grounds when orcas arrive, resulting in no shark sightings for up to a year. Elephant seal colonies also indirectly benefit from these interactions, with significantly reduced predation events during the orca presence period.
Researchers found that being part of a group provides safer protection from predators, with prey positioned in the middle of schools having the safest position. The study revealed that predators are more likely to attack isolated individuals than those in groups, highlighting the benefits of collective behavior.
Aphid soldiers expel lipid-rich fluids to create a soft clot around the gall wound, which is swiftly hardened and melanin-darkened through phenoloxidase. This collective action amplifies an immune response for social defense, providing molecular clues to altruistic social defense mechanisms.
A new study found that leaders in groups of animals are more vulnerable to attack from predators due to their riskier position within the group. Researchers used virtual prey in aquarium tanks and found leaders were more likely to be attacked than followers, with isolated individuals also being at higher risk.
Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan found that even tiny amounts of neonicotinoid pesticides can severely impact flying insects' motion detection abilities. The study's results suggest that very low doses of these widely-used neurotoxins can profoundly affect a flying insect's ability to detect movement, making it crucial for...
Researchers question the predictability of ecosystem changes when apex predators are reintroduced, citing climate change and invasive species as complicating factors. The study's findings have big implications for wildlife conservation in places like Yellowstone National Park.
Research reveals marine reserves increase predation rates, protecting predators that were heavily fished by humans, leading to greater impacts on prey species. The analysis highlights the importance of considering ecological processes in reserve design and management.
Researchers have captured high-speed videos of kangaroo rats defending themselves against rattlesnake attacks, showcasing their record-breaking reaction times and evasive maneuvers. The data suggest that the kangaroo rats' powerful legs and mid-air kicks allow them to avoid being envenomated.
Elk exhibit minimal avoidance of wolves due to philopatry, returning to familiar foraging areas despite small risk of predation. The study's findings suggest that wolves have negligible impacts on elk movements, contradicting previous theories.
A new study of eastern US deer numbers found that coyote predators did not significantly affect deer population sizes. Despite coyotes preying on vulnerable individuals, predation on healthy adults is uncommon and may not impact deer populations at large scales.
A new SDSU study reveals that California sheephead and spiny lobsters play a crucial role in controlling sea urchin populations in Southern California kelp forests. The research provides valuable insights into the complex predator-prey relationships in these ecosystems, which are essential for maintaining the health of kelp forests.
Mowing grasslands in June or July can increase monarch butterfly egg laying by 3-10 times, while also reducing predators. This strategy aims to provide a food source for the butterflies' larval stage and create a more favorable environment for their survival.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh found evidence that a juvenile T. rex fed on a plant-eating Edmontosaurus dinosaur, despite lacking adult bone-crushing abilities. The discovery provides insight into how T. rex developed changes in diet and feeding habits as it grew.
Researchers observed coyote families at a Utah facility during breeding seasons and found that parental influence plays a major role in shaping their behavior. Coyotes become bolder when parents are more fearless, and this trait is passed on to their offspring, which can lead to negative interactions with humans.
A new study on Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park shows that the loss of top carnivores can have far-reaching consequences for prey and plant populations, turning 'landscapes of fear' into 'landscapes of fearlessness'. However, carnivore restoration in these areas could help reverse any ill effects of human activity.
Researchers discovered that the removal of large carnivores like leopards and hyenas led to an expansion of antelope species into open plains. Reintroducing these predators reversed this effect, causing antelopes to retreat to wooded areas, while plants flourished in their absence.
A new study found little evidence of elk modifying their behavior to avoid grey wolves in Yellowstone National Park, contradicting earlier research on the topic. The study used GPS tracking technology to monitor elk and wolf movements between 2012 and 2016.
A University of Michigan-led team of biologists has documented 15 rare and disturbing predator-prey interactions in the Amazon rainforest, including images of tarantulas dragging opossums across the forest floor. The study highlights the importance of arthropods like spiders as a source of vertebrate mortality in tropical ecosystems.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati found that adult jumping spiders mimic two species of ants to deceive predators, but retain their spiderly figures to woo potential mates. The spiders' detailed mimicry involves waving forelegs like antennae and performing weaving behavior, but they have lost the ability to jump.
Research found that mule deer shift to higher, steeper elevations away from roads and toward brushy terrain when faced with wolves. White-tailed deer stick to normal behavior, sprinting across open terrain with good visibility. The changes may affect hunting opportunities and ecosystem dynamics.
Researchers from the University of Exeter found that lion killing by Maasai farmers increases when lions are identified as culprits of livestock death. This study challenges the common belief that lion killing is a retributive act caused by general loss of livestock.
New research finds humans struggle to accurately classify snail shells due to differences in colour perception. A study using spectrometry reveals distinct clusters for brown, pink, and yellow snails, providing a baseline measure for future studies on animal colour and genetics.
In a study published in Communications Biology, viceroy butterflies living in northern Florida have evolved to produce a foul-tasting chemical, making them unpalatable to predators. This discovery challenges traditional mimicry theories and suggests a continuum between Batesian and Mullerian mimicry.
Researchers developed a framework to detect species interactions using camera trap data, highlighting the need for standardized data collection and collaboration. The study found that many records are needed to produce trustworthy results, but standardization can achieve this by combining datasets from multiple studies.
A study published in Nature Climate Change finds that climate change can redistribute the strength of ecological interactions between predator and prey species. Higher temperatures lead to more intense predation pressure, while increased climate instability weakens predators' effectiveness in controlling pests.
A newly discovered tyrannosaur, Moros intrepidus, has narrowed a 70-million-year gap in the North American fossil record. The species, which lived about 96 million years ago, was small but exceptionally fast and had advanced sensory capabilities.
Zebras evolved striped coats to evade tabanid horse flies, which carry debilitating diseases. The study found that stripes don't deter flies at a distance, but disrupt their approach, making it harder for them to land and feed on zebras.
A new study published in PLOS One found that zebra stripes deter horse flies from landing on them by reducing the likelihood of a successful bite. The striped coat prevented flies from slowing down and failing to land, leading to fewer bites.
Researchers discovered that some Australian sea snakes can sense light on their tail skin, prompting them to withdraw their tails under shelter. This unique ability, found in only six species of sea snakes, helps protect their vulnerable paddle-shaped tails from predators.
A new study has documented the unexpected consequences of great white shark decline on an ocean ecosystem. Sevengill sharks, a top predator with unique characteristics, have emerged as a result of great whites' disappearance. The researchers observed sevengill shark sightings increasing in number after great whites vanished from surveys.
Spotted lanternflies modify their diet and coloration to become distasteful and signal this to predators. The insects accumulate specific chemicals from tree juices, making them toxic to birds, which learn to avoid them based on their bright colors.
A study by Oregon State University found that extreme draining of Fall Creek Reservoir helps juvenile spring chinook salmon migrate downstream, but also changes the aquatic food web and releases potential predators. The effects on the entire river system are uncertain, but the impacts for juvenile salmon are twofold.
A genus of deaf moth has evolved a novel sound-producing structure in its wings to warn bats of its presence. The discovery suggests that the moths are acoustically mimicking unpalatable, sound-producing moths to deter bats.
The ancient archosaur Smok wawelski exhibited bone-crushing behavior, consuming prey bones for their salt and marrow content. Researchers linked coprolites to the species through synchrotron microtomography and found crushed teeth and bite-marked bones.
A study by University of Delaware researchers reveals that larger-bodied fish, like juveniles, associate with anemones for protection, while smaller species partner with them throughout their lives. This mutualistic relationship is driven by predation and helps fish avoid predators in ocean reefs.
A new study reveals that polar marine predators have a metabolic advantage in cold temperatures, allowing them to thrive with greater species richness at the poles than in the tropics. This challenges the typical latitudinal gradient of increasing diversity towards the equator.
Researchers found that sharks can become giants by evolving two possible pathways: mesothermic adaptation for self-temperature control or filter-feeding pathway for plankton consumption. However, these giant sharks face risks such as prey scarcity and toxic microplastics threatening their extinction.
Researchers at the University of Queensland found that 94 species of animals in Australia's forests and woodlands attack bird nests. The top five nest predators were the pied currawong, square-tailed kite, tiger snake, laughing kookaburra, and grey strike-thrush, attacking prey from 40% of measured species.
Scientists reproduce pufferfish flavor using key taste-active compounds, revealing strong umami and kokumi components. The study contributes to a better understanding of the unique taste of pufferfish without the toxic effects.
Researchers from the University of Illinois discovered that the hagfish produces slime to clog predators' gills, increasing its volume by up to 10,000 times. The team found that fluid flow enables this process, allowing the slime to unravel and expand in a matter of milliseconds.
The stomach contents of Basilosaurus isis suggest it preyed upon smaller whales like Dorudon atrox. Fish remains also indicate that the ancient whale actively hunted its prey rather than scavenging.
A study by ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies found fish respond faster to simulated predator attacks in turbid water, indicating increased anxiety. This effect may stunt growth and damage health due to reduced visibility affecting energy allocation.
Researchers discovered that viruses associated with the varroa mite have spilled over into the western yellowjacket, a honeybee predator, causing a change in genetic diversity. This finding suggests that introducing non-native species can have far-reaching effects on ecosystems.
Male smooth guardian frogs of Borneo display extended parental care, staying with eggs for 11 days and transporting tadpoles through the forest. The males' selection of artificial pools is influenced by terrain steepness and presence of predators, indicating a unique strategy in frog parenting.
Male tungara frogs in urban environments produce more complex and conspicuous calls to attract females, which are preferred over those of forest frogs. This adaptation suggests that urbanization drives changes in sexual signaling to improve mating success.
Bacteria adapt more slowly and less efficiently when exposed to two stress factors, leading to smaller population sizes. This affects the evolution of antibiotic resistance, as bacteria are less able to protect themselves from predators, resulting in a stronger influence on their survival rate.
Research reveals that eastern fence lizards adapt their behavioral and physical traits to avoid being attacked by fire ants. As fire ants expand their range northward, lizards switch from relying on camouflage to twitching and fleeing to remove the ants, leading to significant changes in limb length and stress physiology.
A University of Queensland and Deakin University-led study reveals that predators drive the evolution of cooperative relationships between species like clownfish and anemones. The research found that fish-anemone mutualisms have evolved at least 55 times across 16 fish families over the past 60 million years.
Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum discovered that water fleas detect predator presence through a cocktail of signalling molecules secreted by Chaoborus larvae during digestion. The fleas respond by growing defensive features such as neckteeth and spines, making them harder to consume.
A team of biologists found that rodent mothers produce litters with about fifty percent more pups when exposed to chemicals from frightened males. This study bridges the proximate and ultimate explanations of small mammal behavioral responses, showing how fear drives reproductive compensation in response to predation.
A study analyzing population data over 70 years found that climate change is responsible for a substantial decline in shorebird populations. Rates of daily nest predation have increased threefold in the Arctic and doubled in the North Temperate Zone, leading to devastating effects on population numbers.
Climate change has led to a significant increase in nest predation rates among shorebirds worldwide, with Arctic regions experiencing higher rates than the tropics. This shift reverses the historical latitudinal gradient of predation, posing a critical threat to global shorebird populations.