Articles tagged with Wild Populations
A nationwide investigation found no presence of the deadly fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) in UK wild newt populations. To safeguard wild and captive amphibians, private owners are urged to enforce strict biosecurity measures.
Female spotted hyenas can increase their dominance rank by forming alliances with other females, ultimately improving their lifetime reproductive success. The offspring of these individuals inherit their mother's acquired rank, leading to a decline in individual rank within clans over time.
A recent study found that climate change is disrupting the complex systems underlying global fisheries, with 8% of fish populations experiencing significant negative impacts. The greatest losses in productivity were seen in regions such as the Sea of Japan and North Sea, while the Labrador-Newfoundland region saw significant gains.
Researchers debunk Burrows hypothesis suggesting researchers led to the demise of the Serengeti wild dogs. Instead, lions were a key reason for their departure from the park. Wild dog populations survived in other parts of the greater Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem.
A University of Southampton study reveals that salmon egg membranes adjust their structure to cope with reduced oxygen levels in rivers. This adaptation enables embryos to incubate successfully. The research found that membrane thickness, porosity, and permeability vary among different salmon populations.
A NUS study reveals that crossbreeding between milky storks and their cousins is threatening the species' conservation. The research found that more than half of the stork population in Singapore is genetically influenced by Painted Storks, posing a major threat to the species' survival.
The ESA releases new research on the Great Barrier Reef, where sharks are declining despite protected areas. The study suggests that illegal fishing is a major factor, while stricter regulations have led to fish population recovery in the Northeast Atlantic.
A new study by Swansea University suggests that Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) is unlikely to cause the extinction of the iconic species. The researchers found that the disease is more likely to fade out or coexist with devils in future, providing much-needed hope for the species' survival.
A study by University of Barcelona researchers found that the green turtle reintroduction program in Cayman Islands has successfully recovered the species' population, with a high genetic diversity. The program's success is attributed to careful management and monitoring, ensuring the long-term survival of the species.
Researchers studied wild crickets for ten years and found that those who invested more in reproduction showed signs of aging, including reduced chirping and increased fighting losses. The study suggests that aging may be driven by energy allocation towards reproduction rather than decline, challenging the idea that aging is inevitable.
A URI researcher found that oyster aquaculture can limit the spread of disease among wild oysters. Aquaculture operations can reduce disease by filtering parasites from the water and holding oysters long enough to prevent their development. Intensive oyster aquaculture, when done correctly, can be beneficial for wild populations.
Scientists have discovered red wolf genes in canids on Galveston Island, providing a potential reservoir for bolstering the North Carolina population. This finding is significant as it suggests that genetics from endangered species can be conserved through hybridization.
A new study from the University of Eastern Finland highlights the need to revise fish stocking obligations in hydropower operations. The research emphasizes that compensating harm to fisheries with fish farming is unsustainable, and natural reproductive cycles must be prioritized.
A study using animal-attached technology has revealed that animals using high-risk food-finding strategies are particularly susceptible to extinction. The research found that these animals fail to gather food for their young before they starve, leading to catastrophic results.
A study found that male birds' song complexity and frequency are linked to their early life conditions, with healthier nestlings producing more intricate songs as adults. Researchers monitored 18 wild white-throated dippers and discovered that better nutrition during the nestling period led to improved singing skills.
The survival of the Asian Houbara depends on regulating trapping and hunting to stabilise populations. Captive breeding can help but must be complemented by sustainable hunting strategies.
A recent study published in Current Biology found that orangutans are critically endangered and their numbers have not increased as reported by the Indonesian government. The research highlights the need for a new conservation approach given the ongoing decline of orangutan populations.
Researchers at Utah State University found that brucellosis causes a substantial decline in the probability of pregnancy among young adult elk. The disease has previously hidden consequences for the wild elk population, highlighting the need to quantify its effects on reproduction.
Researchers found that queens and males are greatly affected by low-dose neonicotinoid pesticide exposure, threatening the stability and survival of wild bee populations. The study also reveals that exposure alters genes regulating biological functions such as locomotion, reproduction, immunity, and learning and memory.
Nonmigratory Atlantic salmon can extract positional information from Earth's magnetic field, orienting themselves appropriately in response to different magnetic conditions. This skill may enable salmon escaping from aquaculture to better navigate and invade habitats, challenging previous assumptions about their navigational abilities
Researchers from Uppsala University have identified previously unknown retroviral insertions in European rabbits, shedding light on how ERVs spread in host populations. The study reveals substantial variation across ERV insertions in different rabbit populations, providing a genomic record of retrovirus-host associations.
A study by Japanese researchers found that males who harass females during mating can cause a drop in reproductive ability and a decrease in population size. Females with long reproductive pockets are more resistant to male harassment, but populations tend to be smaller when males have longer genitalia.
Researchers genotyped 2,000 brook trout in Pennsylvania's Loyalsock Creek watershed and found that over 93% were of genetically wild origin. The study suggests that hatchery-raised brook trout have low fitness and survival rates due to high mortality, making it difficult for them to introduce their genes into the wild population.
A new study has detected BFDV in eight countries, raising fears for threatened species. The virus is believed to have originated in Australasia and can cause severe health issues in parrots.
A new study uses modeling tools to identify areas where forest conservation in Fiji can reduce harm to coral reefs and their fish populations. The research found that protecting or restoring native forests can provide the most benefit to downstream coral reef systems.
Researchers found low genetic diversity among ancient macaw skeletons from Chaco Canyon and the Mimbres region in New Mexico, dating back to 900-1200 CE. This suggests a translocated breeding population of macaws based on a small founder population.
A new study by Umea University researchers found that browning in lakes has a limited impact on fish populations, affecting only lakes with average depths of 2-3.5 meters. This suggests that the expected decline in fish populations due to browning is less severe than previously thought
A recent study published in Nature Communications reveals that capturing wild-caught elephants from the wild significantly reduces their lifespan compared to captive-born animals. The research analyzed data from timber camps in Myanmar and found that even years after capture, mortality rates remain increased.
A study analyzing records of timber elephants in Myanmar found that even years after capture, wild-caught elephants' mortality rate remains increased and their average life expectancy is several years shorter compared to captive-born animals. This highlights the negative effects of capture on the long-term well-being of elephants.
Male competition drives evolution of flashy color patterns in orangethroat darters. The males' ability to distinguish their own species from others favors the development of these flashier signals.
Researchers found that caught bluegills spend more time associating with others than uncaught ones. This sociability difference may impact the entire social structure of remaining fish populations.
Scientists estimate 84 remaining Amur leopards in the wild across southernmost border of Primorskii Province in Russia and Jilin Province of China. Camera traps provided more precise estimate, highlighting transboundary movements and differences in population dynamics between Russia and China.
A new study reveals that making changes to farmed fish and livestock diets can prevent the depletion of wild forage fish populations by 2050. Eliminating their use in food for farmed carp, pigs, and poultry would be most beneficial, reducing pressure on forage fish over time.
Researchers have linked the ecology of adult fish populations inhabiting coral reefs with the dispersal of baby fish between reefs, revealing a complex network called a marine metapopulation. The study found that successful larval dispersal was crucial for replenishing key reefs.
New research by University of Bristol researchers found that dwarf mongooses can quantify earlier acts of cooperation and provide suitable levels of delayed rewards. The study shows that mongooses have sufficient cognitive ability to trade goods and services with their groupmates, with grooming being traded for sentinel behavior.
Researchers from Arizona State University warn that human activities are influencing cancer rates in wild animal populations. Studies have shown that pollution, pesticides, microplastics, and artificial light pollution are contributing to the prevalence of cancer in various species.
A study found that pangasius contains high levels of mercury, exceeding European limits. Researchers recommend avoiding the fish due to its low nutritional value and potential health risks, especially in children.
A new WCS paper finds that global demographic and economic trends could create conditions for a possible renaissance of nature. The authors propose protecting threatened wildlife and wild places, creating sustainable cities, and inspiring consumer choices to conserve the natural world.
A new study warns of the high risk of extinction for rare coastal martens in Oregon and northern California within the next 30 years. The researchers estimated that only 87 adults remain in two subpopulations, with an extinction risk ranging from 32% to 99%. Habitat loss and human-caused deaths are major threats to their survival.
Researchers developed a new approach to measure the impact of natural disasters on wildlife populations, finding that frequent intense events exert strong selection pressures on species. The study suggests that the 2011 tsunami had a relatively small impact on organisms living in Japan's intertidal zone, comparable to a Pacific storm.
A team of researchers will create decision-support tools to help beekeepers and land managers maintain pollinator populations. The tools will assess landscape factors, predict bee health, and provide information on flowering plant species.
A study published in ZooKeys reveals that a population of guppies was introduced to an oceanic archipelago in Brazil through human activity. The researchers suggest that the species was likely brought to the island as part of an effort to control mosquito populations, but cannot rule out natural dispersal as a possibility.
A recent study found that around 60% of Eurasian grey wolf genomes carried small blocks of DNA from domestic dogs, indicating centuries-long hybridization. The phenomenon has been less frequent in North American wild wolf populations.
Researchers use ordinary differential equation-based model to calculate effective method of introducing Wolbachia to wild mosquitoes, reducing spread of life-threatening diseases. The two-sex model accounts for aquatic life stage, heterosexual transmission, and multiple pregnant states, capturing entire transmission cycle.
A new UC Santa Barbara-led study found that ending overfishing can promote population recoveries for many endangered species caught incidentally as bycatch. In about half the cases, overexploiting these mammals, turtles and birds occurs because we're also overexploiting the target species.
A recent study by Elephants Without Borders and the University of Massachusetts Amherst reports that Angola's elephant population has declined by 21% since 2015. The researchers highlight the need for active protection measures, such as anti-poaching laws and habitat conservation, to prevent further decline.
The study found that WUI area in the coterminous US grew by 33% between 1990 and 2010, with a 41% increase in houses. The areas experiencing wildfires had fewer homes in 1990 compared to 2010, highlighting the growing wildfire risk.
Scientists have developed a new CRISPR/Cas9 system that can delete genes from mosquitoes, making them resistant to the malaria parasite. The FREP1 gene is identified as a malarial host factor and its deletion significantly reduces malaria parasites' ability to survive and multiply.
A University of Washington-led study found that Chinook salmon populations across the West Coast have declined in size, with Alaska and Washington showing the biggest reductions. Fishing pressure and marine mammal predation are believed to be contributing factors.
Researchers have found that the Botai horses from Kazakhstan are not the ancestors of modern domesticated breeds but rather the ancestors of wild Przewalski horses. The study also revealed that there are no surviving purely wild horses, and the earliest domestic horses gave rise to feral populations.
Research shows that Tasmanian devil populations are declining by 80 percent due to devil facial tumor disease, a rare and contagious cancer. Despite this, some wild populations are adapting with slight reproductive changes, such as younger breeding and more pouch young.
A new study found that individuals who choose to stay during wildfires have a higher tolerance for risk and believe they can prepare their property. Issuing voluntary or mandatory evacuation orders significantly decreases the odds of staying, while relying on physical cues increases the likelihood of waiting and seeing.
Researchers used hydroacoustics to compare fish abundance within and outside Mexico's Cabo Pulmo National Park, finding a four-fold increase in protected areas. The study demonstrates a cost-effective method for assessing fish populations and highlights the importance of marine protected areas for maintaining sustainable fisheries.
A recent study funded by the Morris Animal Foundation reveals that a decrease in wildlife populations leads to an increase in local tick populations, potentially threatening human and animal health. The research found that large mammals play a vital role in regulating tick numbers, with conservation efforts showing promise in reducing ...
A study published in PLOS One found that lions in the same conservation area as giraffes reduces calf populations by up to 82 percent. This has significant implications for giraffe population sustainability and conservation efforts. Giraffe populations have declined by 40 percent over the last 30 years.
A study by Nanyang Technological University found that oil palm production in Malaysia leads to a surge in wild boar population, damaging forest trees and preventing regeneration. The researchers suggest larger buffer areas around forest reserves to limit wildlife access to oil palm fruits.
A new review article challenges current methods for forecasting the persistence of slow-growing species, finding that reproductive success is a more reliable predictor. Researchers argue that conservation planners often get it wrong and suggest alternative tools based on realistic parameters.
The Dahl's Toad-headed Turtle is threatened due to small and fragmented populations and high levels of inbreeding. A genetic rescue strategy is recommended to save the species, including moving turtles between subpopulations and restoring its habitat.
Despite losing some 108 square kilometers of forest between 2001-2014, Mozambique's Niassa National Reserve has the potential to support large elephant populations. The reserve supports tens of thousands of elephants and 1,000 lions, making it one of the few places remaining on the planet with large wildlife populations.
Researchers found that hoverflies use a combination of visual, olfactory, and tactile cues to recognize flowers in different environments. The study's results suggest that pollinator preferences for flowers can vary significantly depending on the location and environmental conditions.