Articles tagged with Foraging
Dolphins use acoustic cues to navigate and find food, with whistles associated with social behavior and echolocation linked to sound-producing fish. The study reveals distinct patterns in dolphin communication, suggesting dolphins favor different habitats for socializing and hunting.
A new study of penguins and krill found that repeated predator disturbance can alter prey behavior, leading to functional prey depletion. Penguins had to dive deeper and travel farther to encounter prey, but feeding rates remained unchanged once prey were encountered.
Researchers analyzed DNA samples from foraging honeybees, hive workers, and their honey to understand plant-microbe interactions in honeybee ecology. The study found that these complementary sources provide distinct insights into the complex relationships between plants, microbes, and honeybees.
A study published in the Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology found that exposure to oleamide, a chemical additive in plastics, caused immediate changes in octopus prey choice and interactions with predators. The effects persisted for at least three days, suggesting a lasting impact on marine behavior and ecosystem dynamics.
A research team led by Göttingen University found that urban blue spaces play a critical role in food security and social inclusion in four major Indian cities. Women, the elderly, and marginalized communities most frequently collected, shared, cooked, and sold food products.
A new study by Florida Atlantic University reveals that every arm is capable of performing all action types, with front arms mainly used for exploration and back arms supporting movement. Octopuses demonstrated remarkable flexibility, showcasing complex motor control.
Researchers found that the island has enough trees, hedgerows, and seeds for the estimated 3500 red squirrels to thrive and grow. The study also discovered signs of genetic mixing between the east and west populations, suggesting a bright future for the island's squirrel population.
Researchers found that bat boxes can reach lethal temperatures if not designed properly. Simulations showed that adding insulation, light colors, and thoughtful orientations can make the boxes safer. The study's code is publicly available, allowing conservationists to tailor their solutions to specific climates.
Researchers from Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute have developed a multi-sensor biologging tag on the whitespotted eagle ray, enabling long attachment times and detailed data collection. The study provides insights into the rays' behavior, habitat use, and social interactions.
Researchers found that foraging behaviors, physical characteristics, and diet are more nuanced than previously thought. The birds partition their habitat by foraging in different areas of the tree, but diet differences are minor.
A new study found that football teams move as though they are a single person, displaying Lévy walk patterns while hunting for the ball. This collective behavior suggests that individual players complement each other's actions in response to the game.
New research reveals lyrebirds' 'farming' behavior creates ideal conditions for invertebrates, boosting size and diversity. The birds rake forest floors to alter microhabitats, shape plant germination patterns, and even lower bushfire intensity.
Scientists have found that Wrinkle-lipped free-tailed bats hunt at altitudes of up to 1,600m, restricting the spread of high-flying planthoppers. This crucial contribution to pest control and food security is attributed to the bat's impressive foraging range of up to 1,743km².
The study found that wind turbines hinder the ability of bat species to access drinking sites, particularly during hot and dry summers. This can lead to reduced survival rates among female bats and their young, highlighting the need for careful consideration in wind turbine siting to avoid conflicting with species conservation.
Researchers found Andean bears prefer to forage in dry season for young, tender bromeliad plants on east-facing slopes of puna grassland. They actively select specific food resources within the grasslands, indicating their nutritional importance, while avoiding areas with livestock.
Mother seals prefer stable, slower-moving bergs for giving birth and caring for newborn pups, while in the molting season, they favor speedier ice near the best foraging grounds. This study sheds light on how climate change affects harbor seal distribution and behavior.
A new study from Tulane University analyzed 260 honey samples from 48 states for toxic metals, finding regional differences in contamination levels. The highest arsenic and cobalt levels were found in Pacific Northwest and Southeastern honeys, respectively, while lead was detected in Carolinas honeys.
Research led by Penn State scientists found that indigenous hunter-gatherer practices played a key role in seed dispersal and genetic diversity of native plants. The study challenged the conventional notion of agriculture and suggested humans impacted plant populations long before farming began.
A new study published in PLOS ONE found that the diversity and abundance of flowers in a garden, rather than its surroundings, have a greater impact on attracting pollinators. The researchers discovered that providing blooms all season long is crucial for promoting local pollinator communities.
Researchers found that herring gull chicks fed a marine diet preferred fish over urban foods, indicating they may prioritize seafood for nutrition. The study suggests that early life dietary influences do not impact adult fish preferences in herring gulls.
Researchers tracked free-ranging Egyptian fruit bats and found they possess high cognitive abilities, including episodic memory, mental time travel, and delayed gratification. The study revealed that older bats can estimate time passed since their last visit to a tree and avoid those with stopped bearing fruit.
Scientists identified plants that provide a complete and healthy diet for bees, including roses, clovers, red raspberries, and tall buttercups. The study found that a diverse floral diet is best for most bees, with no single plant species optimal for generalist wild bee health.
A new study found that market-ready steers can maintain high-quality beef even when fed lower-cost maintenance diets. The research showed no significant differences in meat quality between two diet groups, suggesting flexibility in feeding strategies.
Researchers found that intermediate doses of caffeine boost learning in Argentine ants, reducing foraging time by 28-38% and improving route efficiency. Caffeine did not increase speed but enhanced cognitive processing.
Research suggests that warmer fall seasons may lead to colony collapse in honey bees due to increased flying time. However, cold storage for colonies could help reduce the risk of colony collapse by allowing bees to cluster earlier and save workers.
Researchers used movement behavior models to track leatherback sea turtles to previously unknown foraging locations along the US east coast. The study found that leatherbacks use specific areas in the South Atlantic Bight, Mid-Atlantic Bight, and southern New England as both migratory corridors and foraging grounds.
Vittrup Man's genetic signature was distinct from local skeletons, suggesting a non-Scandinavian origin. His tooth enamel isotopes revealed a shift from coastal to farm food in late teens, indicating a transition to farming society in Denmark.
A recent study found that polar bears, closely observed by scientists, struggled to maintain weight when their preferred seal prey was out of reach during longer ice-free seasons. Despite trying various strategies, including resting and foraging, nearly all the bears lost weight rapidly, highlighting their vulnerability to climate change.
Researchers found that individuals who engaged in home and wild food production (HWFP) activities exhibited improved food security 9-12 months later. Those who were newly food insecure during the pandemic seemed to be the best at recovering from food insecurity with HWFP.
Fishing cats were observed raiding bird nests in tall trees for the first time, providing a rare and unusual behavior that sheds light on their ecology. This unexpected finding may help piece together the ecology of these elusive felines and contribute to conservation efforts.
Archaeologists have discovered that early human diets in the Andes Mountains were composed of 80 percent plant matter and 20 percent meat. This finding updates our understanding of earliest forager economies and the pathway to agricultural economies in the region.
Researchers improved biomass-related traits in sheepgrass using a custom genome editing system, revealing its potential for rapid genomic breeding. The study increased understanding of sheepgrass genomics and established a precedent for its genetic improvement.
Researchers found that bumblebees choose nectar sources based on their rate of energy return, not just energetic efficiency. This approach allows them to maximize their immediate benefit to the colony, even if it means working harder.
A new study found that bumblebees maximize nectar sugar collection per minute to provide an immediate energy boost for the colony. By trading off time and energy, they choose hard-to-access nectar sources with high sugar content.
Researchers found that wandering albatrosses orientate towards areas of 'loud' microbarom infrasound when flying on long distance foraging trips. This suggests that they may perceive and respond to microbarom infrasound propagated over long distances.
During the pandemic, New Yorkers increased their participation in wild and backyard food activities such as gardening, hunting, and foraging. Despite a general worsening of diets, these activities may have contributed to buffering those effects, with people consuming home-produced eggs and meat, and backyard-grown fruits and vegetables.
Moderately sized groups of hominins may have successfully scavenged carcasses, even competing with giant hyenas, according to a new study. The research suggests that scavenged remains were an important source of meat and fat for early humans.
A study by US Department of Agriculture scientists found that honey bees are more faithful to their flower patches than bumble bees. Honey bees returned to 76% of the same alfalfa flowers, while bumble bees visited only 47%. The difference may be due to honey bees' communication system and risk aversion.
A recent study analyzing data from 63 foraging societies worldwide reveals that women hunt in at least 79 percent of these societies, targeting game of all sizes. Women's involvement in teaching hunting practices and employing diverse weapon choices also challenges the long-held perception of men as primary hunters.
A longitudinal study using acoustic telemetry monitored rays in clam leases, finding that rays spent more time near sites than reported, but not necessarily preferring them. The study highlights the need to understand if clam leases are part of rays' natural foraging habitats and if they interact with the clams.
Researchers found that male sea lions have increased in size and strengthened muscles for fighting, while females' body size remained stable. They also diversified their diets to overcome food shortages and adapt to changing prey availability.
Researchers found that black and turkey vultures ingest more plastic in landscapes with more developed landcover and higher densities of commercial food providers. They may eat plastic thinking it's nutritious bone fragments or intentionally to collect bulk for vomiting up indigestible parts of carrion.
A recent study published in PLOS ONE found that smartphone plant identification apps are not accurate enough to rely on when it comes to identifying toxic plants. The researchers developed a repeatable scoring system to assess the accuracy of these apps and found them to be unreliable for this purpose.
A study found that honeybee hive debris contains diverse genetic information from environmental bacteria, fungi, and plants, indicating unique microbial signatures for each city. This could be used to assess the overall health of cities and honeybees.
Researchers have found that honeybees use linear landscape elements, such as irrigation channels, to guide their search flights when looking for their hive in new areas. The bees retain a navigational memory of their home area based on these elements, which they generalize to the new area to find their way home.
A study from Ohio State University reveals stark differences in avian functional diversity between the US East and West. Functional diversity patterns are highest in the West during breeding season, while in the East they are lowest despite high species richness.
Researchers found that the feathers of large seabirds contained nutrients from multiple ocean basins, while smaller birds had elements matching their local foraging environments. This discovery may explain the long-distance migrations of threatened species.
A new study found that children in a modern forager society developed specialized foraging skills from an early age, which may have enabled the human species to afford larger brains. The research also showed gender-specific differences in foraging skills, with girls collecting tubers and boys climbing trees to collect fruits.
Researchers at the University of Arizona found that rock ants follow a methodical search strategy, combining systematized meandering with random movement to efficiently explore new areas. This unique behavior may provide insights into the evolution of exploration strategies in other species.
A new study found that wandering albatrosses with older partners take shorter feeding trips and return to the nest sooner, benefiting both parents. This behavior helps them assess how much pressure their partner can handle, ensuring they don't overwork each other.
Researchers found a close correspondence between bat species' wing shapes and their echolocation vocalizations, with both linked to foraging ecology. The study reveals distinct 'foraging syndromes' that have evolved repeatedly in each family, matching optimal evolutionary solutions for different habitats.
In a surprising twist, researchers found that starving Argentine ants exercise caution when foraging in high-risk environments, unlike expectations. This counterintuitive strategy may contribute to their success as an invasive species and agricultural pest.
West Virginia University researchers, Ember Morrissey and Kinsey Reed, are working with private farms to diversify forage species and improve soil health. The project aims to increase economic gains for farmers while reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
Steaming hay kills harmful microorganisms, but damages proteins making them less digestible for horses. This can lead to impaired muscle development and nutrient deficiencies, affecting growth and coat health. Horses can be enriched with protein-rich feedstuffs to mitigate this risk.
Eastern red bats, now the most commonly detected bat in Midwestern forests, have a significant impact on tree regeneration due to their appetite for insect-damaging bugs. Forest managers can benefit from considering these bats' landscape preferences, particularly ponds and smaller forest openings.
A decades-long study found that cash changed the Ju/’hoansi economy, allowing individuals to keep their earnings and fill their own needs. The study also revealed a decline in the traditional system of gifting and sharing, which had previously distributed possessions throughout communities.
Researchers identified 39 wild edible plant species in Türkiye with high mineral content, particularly iron, zinc, and calcium. These findings highlight the link between local biodiversity and food and nutrition security, informing policy platforms and promoting youth engagement in foraging traditions.
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture has received a $750,000 grant to study native warm-season perennial grasses for organic livestock feed production. Researchers aim to improve soil health and agronomic practices in the southeastern US by integrating warm-season grasses into tall fescue systems.
A new study by University of Missouri and Webster University scientists finds climate change linked to decline of bumblebees in alpine regions. Warming temperatures are creating a longer growing season, allowing lower-elevation bees to migrate to alpine areas, where they struggle to adapt.
Common noctule bats form mobile sensory networks to optimize prey localization, reducing foraging time by 40%. This collaborative strategy enables bats to effectively control agricultural insect pests and contribute to ecosystem balance.