Articles tagged with Foraging
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Researchers found that birds use olfaction to navigate over long distances, outperforming previous theories about the role of Earth's magnetic field. The study tracked Scopoli's shearwaters and showed that anosmic birds followed a different orientation pattern during their return journeys.
Two studies reveal that gut bacteria in fruit flies affect their foraging behavior and reproductive success, with beneficial microbes preferred over less-beneficial ones. The research also suggests that these effects can be passed down to the next generation.
Research reveals bark beetles create roosting and foraging opportunities for protected bat species like Barbastella barbastellus. The findings have important implications for forest conservation, highlighting the need to reassess standard management practices.
Researchers found that bumble bees create more efficient foraging routes when larger flowers are available, as they can quickly recognize and navigate to the next nearest flower. This study suggests that learning is a choice that foragers make based on the cost-benefit balance of learning, depending on circumstances.
Researchers tracked lesser kestrels with GPS and accelerometers, finding that birds adjust flight and hunting strategies in response to solar radiation, wind speed, and air temperature. Energy expenditure per foraging trip remained constant, suggesting kestrels have a fixed energy budget.
Research by Nicola Bryson-Morrison and her team found chimpanzees prefer mature primary forest for all behaviors, avoiding cultivated fields within 200m of human presence. They also did not avoid roads or paths with vehicle or human activity, suggesting a lower risk assessment.
Researchers found that guard bees are significantly larger and more robust than foragers in 10 out of 28 stingless bee species analyzed. The evolution of guards with increased size likely relates to the risk of attack by parasitic robber bees, which is a common threat to many stingless bee species.
Research by Tufts University shows that paper wasps facilitate grape sour rot disease, causing millions of dollars in losses. The study found that wasps carry polymicrobial communities and disperse live microorganisms, increasing disease incidence.
Fast-learning bumblebees collect fewer resources and have shorter foraging careers, according to a new U of G study. The researchers found that the energy demands of intelligence may eat up limited resources, leaving smart bees with less energy.
A Dartmouth study found that Batek hunter-gatherers in Peninsular Malaysia relocated their camps based on resource depletion, maximizing foraging efficiency. The findings support the marginal value theorem and highlight the importance of social cooperation and food sharing in group decision-making.
Researchers discovered that stingless bees have evolved larger guard bees to protect their nests from robber bees, leading to a more marked division of labor. This phenomenon is linked to the frequency of attacks by parasitic robbers, which has driven the evolution of this specialized caste.
A team of UA researchers used RFID tags to study bumblebee behavior, discovering that individual workers specialize on one food source per day. The results show vast variations in foraging activity among bees, with the most active foragers making 40 times more trips than less active workers.
Forage fish stocks, such as Pacific sardine and northern anchovy, have experienced boom-bust cycles for centuries, with fluctuations common in the past 500 years. The study found that these species were in collapsed condition 29-40% of the time from A.D. 1000 to 1500.
Research reveals African penguins forage in wrong places due to climate change and fishing, leading to low survival rates. Models suggest breeding numbers could be 50% lower if birds can escape the ecological trap.
Researchers found that tropical forests provided a stable source of subsistence for human hunter-gatherers in New Guinea. Stable isotope analysis revealed prehistoric diets and lifestyles, indicating that foraging continued alongside agricultural experimentation.
A new study published in Physical Review E presents an optimal search strategy for foragers to maximize resource efficiency. The model suggests that searching a current foraging ground for a time equal to the time it would take to set up and move to a new territory is the most effective approach.
Researchers found that nonresident seabirds concentrate their foraging efforts near Cordell Bank along the continental shelf break in Central California. This study identifies high-use foraging sites as a critical component of ocean conservation efforts.
Researchers at San Francisco State University developed a new study that models nonresident seabird foraging distributions to inform ocean zoning. The study could help protect foraging seabirds along the Central California coastline and prioritize conservation efforts.
Male bumblebees perform characteristic learning flights to find flowers but neglect their nest's location. Unlike females, males don't return to the nest after leaving and instead travel far to avoid breeding with relatives.
When southern elephant seals find dense prey patches, they adjust their diving behavior to remain in those areas. The seals dive at steeper angles and exhibit more sinuous movement during ascents and descents.
Researchers found that guppies with superior mathematical abilities were better at distinguishing between bigger and smaller shoals, as well as choosing larger food items. This enhanced cognitive ability led to increased survival rates and foraging success in the wild.
Researchers found that closely bonded mongooses are more likely to help attack snakes, improving survival chances for friends. Strong social bonds provide key anti-predator benefits, increasing the likelihood of being helped in the future.
A study on carpenter ants found that social information can override an individual's assessment of a food source as toxic. Ants will collect toxic food if it is associated with a familiar odor, despite their own evaluation of its toxicity.
A new study reveals that certain ants can rely solely on optic flow to find their way back to their nest when lost. This unique system allows them to calculate distance independently of their internal odometer mechanism, giving them two navigation systems.
A study of ancient dental calculus from the Balkans has provided direct evidence that Mesolithic foragers consumed domesticated plants, including wheat and barley, as early as 6600 BC. The findings challenge the established view of Neolithization in Europe and suggest a possible independent introduction of domestic cereals to the region.
Researchers tracked individual bumblebees throughout their lives using harmonic radar technology, revealing distinct exploration and exploitation flight patterns. The study provides insights into how to manage landscapes to benefit plants, insects, and agricultural crops, as well as understanding gene spread and parasite transmission.
A nine-year study by R. Howard Skinner found that multispecies pastures produce significantly more forage than two-species mixtures, with an average increase of 31%. This improvement is attributed to the enhanced carbon storage in the soil, allowing it to hold more water and mitigate droughts.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that little auks target the continental shelf and its edge for foraging, regardless of sea ice presence. The birds' diet varied depending on the location, with larger prey preferred at the shelf break when ice was absent.
Researchers observed wild boars and warthogs aligning themselves along the magnetic north-south axis, with a slight preference for east. The animals' internal compass helps them navigate while foraging for food and inhabiting new areas.
Researchers tracked fox squirrels in foraging tasks with locked containers, observing tail flicks as frustration increased. The study suggests that frustration may be necessary and beneficial for problem solving, leading to persistence and new strategies.
A Dartmouth-led study reveals that chimpanzees use advanced manual prehension to evaluate and select figs, demonstrating a significant foraging advantage over other primates. The findings provide new insight into the evolution of skilled forelimb movements and the ecological origins of human hands with fine motor control.
Human ancestors adapted to fire-prone environments by exploiting its foraging benefits, improving search and handling efficiency. This scenario provides a solution to the mismatch between fossil and archaeological records.
Researchers found that forager ants with less body fat died first from malnutrition when food was scarce. In contrast, stay-at-home workers could survive in the nest for up to 100 days without food, and even some foragers on a well-balanced thin soup diet survived for over 300 days.
Bumblebees are unable to share their pollinating knowledge with less experienced bees, according to a study published in PLOS ONE. The researchers set up an outdoor flight cage with artificial flowers and found that more experienced bees frequently attacked newcomers who tried to copy their foraging routes.
The New Caledonian crow's beak is shorter and blunter than regular crow bills, allowing it to hold tools in its binocular vision. This specialization led to the evolution of tool use in the crow's biology.
A decade-long decline in high-calorie fish prey, such as sardines and anchovies, has led to a decrease in the weight of California sea lion pups. This is because nursing females struggle to support their pups' nutritional needs with lower-calorie alternatives like market squid.
Researchers used tagged penguins and an autonomous underwater vehicle to study competition between Adélie and gentoo penguins for the same food resources. The study found that gentoo penguins shifted behavior to deeper depths when competing with Adélie penguins, suggesting a strategy to limit competition.
A Penn-led team has discovered that caste-specific behaviors in ant colonies can be directly altered by changing the balance of epigenetic chemicals. The study found that compounds inhibiting histone acetylation increased foraging behavior in minors, while injecting these inhibitors into young major ants also boosted foraging activity.
A study by Deakin University researchers found that little penguins associate with each other to hunt schooling prey, despite not being more successful individually. The birds may trade off solo hunting benefits for improved prey detection and avoidance of predation.
Researchers found that female raft spiders test males before attacking, rather than being inherently aggressive. The study suggests factors like male size and age may play a role in determining aggression.
A new study reveals that exposure to algal toxin domoic acid impairs the memory of California sea lions, affecting their ability to navigate and find food. The researchers found structural abnormalities in the animals' hippocampal regions, which corresponded to poorer performance on spatial memory tasks.
A Newcastle University study found that stressed baby starlings grow into fat and greedy adults, changing their eating behavior as a result. The research showed that chicks that faced greater competition for food as juveniles tend to overeat when presented with freely available food.
Researchers at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture are conducting a four-year study on forage production for organic dairy herds in the southeastern US. The project aims to identify suitable forage combinations that promote productivity, animal health, and economic efficiency.
Scientists have determined a female bias of 2.83 females to each male among 69 green turtles sampled in San Diego Bay, revealing potential feminization due to climate change. The study provides a safe and effective method for determining the sex of immature turtles using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Researchers found that blue whales feed infrequently when krill are sparse and intensively when density increases, consuming more energy from the densest patches. This lunge-feeding strategy allows them to maximize energy gain while conserving oxygen, supporting their massive body size.
Researchers at Stanford University used thermal data and electronic tagging to identify the bluefin's favorite dining spots along the North American coastline. The study revealed that temperature changes impact energy intake, with tunas consuming prey on 90% of days observed.
In a study published in PLOS ONE, researchers found that barbastelle bats emit two different types of weak echolocation signals alternately through their nose and mouth. These 'stealth echolocation' signals facilitate prey detection while minimizing environmental disturbance.
A collaboration between UK, Colombia and Kenya institutions aims to improve Brachiaria forage crops with drought and pest-resistance. The project uses genomic technologies to develop new varieties under physical stresses.
Researchers found that stressed juvenile finches learn foraging skills exclusively from unrelated adult birds, ignoring their parents. This change may help avoid negative feedback loops and potentially more adaptive behaviors.
Recent studies published in Journal of Animal Science explore ways to boost beef and dairy production using marginal lands and fibrous byproducts. Benefits include reduced costs, improved ecological balance, and opportunities for new producers to enter the market.
Researchers argue that increasing the use of forages to feed livestock can enhance food security and improve productive capacity in poor producers. They suggest introducing new forage varieties and animal management practices to specific farming areas, as well as coordinated efforts by farmers, extension workers, and scientists.
In a surprising co-existence, Ethiopian wolves have adapted to forage among grazing gelada monkey herds, capturing rodents more successfully. The study found that geladas consistently avoid aggressive dogs but flee great distances when encountering Ethiopian wolves, suggesting a non-threatening behavior between the two species.
Research reveals chimpanzees have an innate predisposition to manipulate objects, while bonobos do not. Young bonobos spent more time with their mothers and had fewer social partners than young chimpanzees.
New research shows that chacma baboons associate with others of similar age, dominance rank, and even personality type. This homophily may limit the dissemination of new knowledge to the wider troop. The study tracked two baboon troops over several months and found bolder animals tend to spend more time with like-minded individuals.
Declines in Pacific herring and surf smelt have been observed in the most densely populated areas of Puget Sound, while jellyfish blooms have increased, diverting energy away from highly productive forage species. This shift may affect larger fish, birds, and marine mammals, highlighting the need for habitat protection and restoration.
A study by Denson McLain found that larger male soldier beetles exhibit a size-related preference for large females, resulting in stronger assortative mating. This preference increases their likelihood of encountering and mating with more fecund females.
Researchers used high-throughput sequencing to analyze fecal DNA of saddleback tamarins, identifying 20 families and genera of invertebrates consumed. This study complements behavioral observations and ecological sampling, providing insight into the monkeys' foraging strategies.
Researchers tracked loggerheads from Dry Tortugas National Park to Bahamas, finding they spend most of their lives there before returning to nest. This new information helps identify areas for conservation efforts to protect the threatened northwest Atlantic population.
A new study by Heather Mattila reveals that inadequate access to pollen during larval development has lasting effects on adult honey bees' performance and productivity. The study found that pollen-stressed bees were lighter, died younger, and had impaired foraging and waggle dancing abilities.
Researchers found that northern Europeans rejected farming during the Neolithic period, unlike southern and central regions which adopted it. This discovery reveals two cultural trajectories in Europe thousands of years ago.