Articles tagged with Animal Science
Researchers analyzed failed shark attacks on 120 Atlantic spotted dolphins off Bimini, Bahamas, and found that 14 dolphins exhibited signs of attack. The study provides insight into the predation pressure these dolphins face from sharks in the area.
Researchers at the University of East Anglia have found that cells in plants, yeast, and animals continue to perform reactions thought to be responsible for life's origin four billion years ago. These reactions involve iron, sulfur, and electro-chemistry, essential for functions like respiration and photosynthesis.
Scientists have found a mechanism that allows fruit fly cells to maintain coordinated biological processes despite temperature extremes. The discovery centers on a protein called Klar, which slows down raw material delivery to match the rate of protein building.
In a new study, researchers found that baboons groom each other early in the day to gain access to food and mating opportunities. The study suggests that social strategies of baboons can vary across short periods of time, optimizing certain elements for maximum fitness.
Researchers from Yale University analyzed the eye structure of an extinct sea scorpion, finding that it had a basic visual acuity level but worsened with size. The study suggests the creature was not a top predator but may have been a scavenger hunting at night.
A new species of spider wasp, the Bone-house Wasp, uses dead ants as a unique nest-protection strategy, resulting in lower parasitism rates. The study found that this behavior is likely linked to chemical cues emanating from the dead ants.
Scientists propose using eDNA sampling to monitor invasive species, save endangered ones and inform policy. The technique has the potential to overcome traditional sampling methods' limitations, including expense and focus on single species.
Tiny aquatic creatures called Cloudina built reefs in ancient seas using natural cement composed of calcium carbonate. Their fossilized remains are the oldest reefs of their type in the world, dating back to the Ediacaran Period.
Researchers at the University of Southampton are using fruit flies to study the internal circadian rhythms that control sleep, blood pressure, and metabolic rate. The findings could provide valuable insights into medical conditions and even help understand jet lag and temperature response mechanisms.
A group of over 100 biologists argue that collecting plant and animal specimens is essential for scientific research and conservation. They claim that alternative methods such as photography and DNA analysis cannot reliably identify or describe species. The authors emphasize the importance of preserved specimens in understanding evolut...
Scientists at Harvard University have identified a newly discovered compound that can slow the degradation of insulin in animals, potentially leading to a new treatment for diabetes. The compound inhibits insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE), elevating insulin levels and promoting insulin signaling in mice.
Researchers found that elephant seals have 10% carboxyhemoglobin, similar to someone smoking 40 cigarettes a day, and more than healthy humans. The study suggests carbon monoxide may be beneficial at low levels, preventing inflammatory responses and inhibiting cell death.
Researchers discovered that elephant seals have high levels of carboxyhemoglobin, similar to those found in heavy human smokers. The team suggests that this may provide protective effects against oxidative damage, potentially benefiting the animals' health. Further study is needed to fully understand the significance of these findings.
Scientists have discovered a new species of long-snouted tyrannosaur, Qianzhousaurus sinensis, which lived alongside deep-snouted tyrannosaurs but hunted different prey. The discovery confirms the existence of tyrannosaur species with long snouts and provides insights into the diversity of these fearsome carnivores.
Researchers found that the amounts of certain neuropeptides in bees' brains vary by time and location, mirroring their changing roles. The study suggests that these peptides have functions related to age-related division of labor in honeybees.
Researchers have identified a key gene in energy metabolism, revealing its crucial role in regulating fat storage. The Sirt7 gene plays a central role in the process, enabling mice to maintain normal weight despite high-fat diets, suggesting new therapeutic approaches for obesity and metabolic disorders.
Johns Hopkins researchers pinpoint the protein essential to the formation of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which coordinates sleep-wake cycles and other circadian rhythms. Disabling this protein in test animals led to disrupted SCN function, resulting in irregular sleep patterns and poor communication with the body's master clock.
The PETA science consortium will present a tiered-testing strategy for assessing nanomaterial hazards at the 7th International Nanotoxicology Congress. The proposed strategy involves multiple in silico and in vitro model systems, data sharing through web-based tools, and is cost-effective while reducing animal use.
Biologists at ASU and Plymouth University suggest non-lethal techniques like high-resolution photography, audio recordings, and DNA sampling can identify species without harming small populations. The researchers aim to minimize the impact of scientific research on endangered animals.
Researchers discovered that female cave insects, Neotrogla, have evolved elaborate penis-like organs, reversing traditional sex roles during copulation. This unique adaptation may be linked to the resource-poor environment and advantageous mating strategies.
Researchers found that red panda skulls are better at distributing mechanical stress during chewing, while giant panda skulls can withstand greater forces. These differences reflect distinct bamboo feeding preferences, with the giant panda eating harder and larger pieces of bamboo.
Research reveals that wood-boring clams serve as 'ecosystem engineers,' making organic matter available to other colonizing animals. Larger logs support more diverse communities, while smaller ones have fewer inhabitants.
Fencing can disrupt predator-prey dynamics and limit access for migratory herbivores. The Zoological Society of London argues that fencing should be reconsidered as a conservation tool, prioritizing connected environments over physical barriers.
Scientists at the Max Planck Institute found that inhibiting insulin/IGF signalling improves sleep quality in fruit flies and reverses age-related sleep deterioration. The study suggests a potential link between aging humans' sleep problems and the insulin/IGF pathway.
New Caledonian crows demonstrate an understanding of water displacement similar to that of 5-7 year-old children, completing 4 out of 6 water displacement tasks. They were able to displace water to receive a reward and showed preferences for certain objects over others.
Wild salamanders in North America are getting smaller as their surroundings warm and dry, forcing them to burn more energy. The changes were most marked at low elevations, where detailed weather records show a warming and drying climate.
A recent study by University of Toronto researchers found that kids' books with anthropomorphized animals lead to less factual learning and misattribution of human behaviors in children. Using realistic animal portrayals can promote more accurate biological understanding.
Scientists are working on a device that can diagnose and monitor diabetes using volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in human breath. The technology was inspired by the need to suppress body odor for deer hunters, who have a keen sense of smell, five times more acute than humans.
Researchers mapped RNA activity in 29 tissue types, cell lines, and environmental conditions to understand gene expression in the nervous system and response to stress. The study identified new genes and rare RNAs involved in stress response and complex brain function.
A study on wild green anole lizards reveals that the link between muscle function and movement is more complicated than previously thought. The researchers found that changes in motion do not always correspond to changes in muscle activity, leading to new questions about animal ecology, evolution, and adaptation.
The University of Plymouth is developing a new technique using 'virtual fish' cells to study the toxicity and concentration of man-made chemicals. This method has the potential to significantly reduce the number of live animals required for scientific research, with promising results already shown in previous studies.
A new species of ancient porpoise has been identified with an unprecedentedly long symphysis, a structure analogous to the human chin, measuring 85 cm. This unique feature suggests that the animal used its chin to probe the seabed for food, contradicting modern porpoises' feeding habits.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory demonstrate a way to observe the activity of inhibitory neurons linking sense of smell with memory and cognition in awake mice. These granule cells provide feedback to alter sensory interpretation based on past experiences.
Scientists have observed intact protein interactions directly in a live animal's brain for the first time, using a novel imaging technique. The study reveals that proteins interact within neurons during brain development, forming complex networks.
Scientists studying jellyfish robots found common bending rules for wings, fins, and other propulsors across various animal species. These rules improve propulsion efficiency by increasing thrust.
An interdisciplinary team proposes a thought-provoking answer to how plants and animals evolved different forms in response to the same mathematical and physical principles. By applying a famous mathematical formula, the team explains decades worth of real-world observations, revealing why plants and animals have similar energy efficie...
A study of a sea sponge reveals that complex life can survive with extremely low oxygen levels, challenging the long-held theory that high oxygen levels were necessary for animal evolution. This finding suggests alternative ecological and evolutionary mechanisms may have played a role in the origin of animals.
The largest sequencing study to date reveals most higher animal genes are present in all sponge groups, challenging previous thought of complex structures being absent. The study provides a framework for posing new hypotheses on determining gene function in sponges and the evolution of animal complexity.
Scientists at Queen's University Belfast and the Irish Equine Centre are developing a new animal doping test that detects known biological effects of banned substances. The test has the potential to revolutionize animal drug testing by enabling quick and efficient screening of large numbers of animals.
Scientists have estimated that sauropod body temperature was around 28 degrees Celsius, contradicting the idea that their size was limited by overheating. The research also explores the reproductive biology of sauropods and the potential for convergent evolution in their bone structure.
The discovery of well-preserved pelves and partial pelvic fin material in Tiktaalik roseae reveals that the evolution of hind legs began as enhanced fins. This challenges the existing theory that large, mobile hind appendages developed after vertebrates transitioned to land.
A recent study by a MU researcher found that human occupation of an area may not contribute to population decline of endangered species. The study discovered a resident population of African forest elephants in an unprotected region, highlighting the importance of this habitat for conservation efforts.
The Global Invertebrate Genomic Alliance (GIGA) aims to promote comparative genomics and bioinformatics research on non-insect/non-nematode invertebrates. The consortium will facilitate comparisons of genomic studies across multiple labs, improving understanding of animal diversity and the tree of life.
Scientists at the University of Liverpool have developed a cheaper and more reliable alternative to animal testing, involving miniscule protozoa. The test showed significant variations in population growth according to mascara brand, with some killing the protozoa and others not harming them at all.
A new study found that agoutis in areas with limited food are more active at twilight and have a higher risk of being killed by ocelots. This increased predation risk affects seed dispersal by agoutis, who bury seeds as food reserves that may germinate into new trees.
Research suggests that killer whales eavesdrop on sounds generated by their marine mammal prey to locate and hunt them in dark waters. A two-year study in Alaska using acoustic recording tags found evidence of nighttime hunting, debunking previous assumptions about the animals' reliance on echolocation.
Researchers have created robotic devices that mimic the movement of clams and snails, enabling them to burrow into sand with reduced friction. These devices could find use in applications such as automatic tethers, anchoring systems, and underwater mining.
A team of scientists collaborated with local volunteers to measure dung decomposition across Finland. Large tunnelling Dor beetles were found to remove dung twice as fast as smaller dung-dwelling beetles and earthworms. Climate also played a significant role in dung disappearance.
A recent study by Vandenberg et al. found that bisphenol A (BPA) has significant effects on humans at incredibly low doses, often ten to forty times lower than previous toxicology studies. This new understanding of BPA's impact on human health and wildlife highlights the need for stricter regulations.
The research aims to identify and classify microscopic eukaryote species using new genome sequencing technology, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the vital environmental functions they play. The network will bring together researchers from different fields to study global patterns of biodiversity and ecosystem function.
A new research coordination network is working to study eukaryotic biodiversity using high-throughput DNA sequencing technology. Researchers will focus on microscopic organisms playing vital roles in ecosystems, such as breaking down organic matter and turning over soil nutrients.
A research team led by Johns Hopkins engineers discovered that animals use opposing forces in their movements to increase both stability and maneuverability. This biomimetic approach is found in fish, hummingbirds, and bees, and could simplify designs for small robots that fly, swim, or move on mechanical legs.
A team of bat biologists shed new light on the Mortlock Islands flying fox, revealing its first detailed observations of wild populations and a wider geographic distribution than previously thought. The species is facing threats from rising ocean waters brought on by climate change, posing a serious risk to its habitat and food resources.
A new collaboration describes a new centipede species using a holistic approach combining 3D imaging, DNA barcoding, transcriptomic profiles, and video of the living specimen. The 'cyber-type' allows for global access to the specimen's data, enabling faster conservation efforts.
A new algorithm based on the Parsons code successfully identifies individual dolphin whistles, reducing time and errors in classification. This innovation enables researchers to study dolphin social behavior and develop a better understanding of their communication.
A study by the University of Leeds found that Arabidopsis thaliana lacks a crucial protein called SMG1, which is essential for animal multicellular growth. This discovery challenges previous assumptions about plant genetics and highlights the importance of studying multiple models to avoid extrapolating from a single example.
Researchers from Brown University recruited frogs from the fair and compared their jumps to those in the lab. Most professional and rental frogs outperformed lab frogs, revealing a non-linear relationship between sample size and jump distance.
Two new species of southern Indian leaf beetles, Orthaltica eugenia and Orthaltica terminalia, have been discovered using existing holes in leaves to construct shelters. The beetles also modify and use artificially made holes, partitioning them with their own fecal pellets to create optimal hideouts.
The discovery of two new fossil jaws in Vellberg, Germany, provides evidence that the ancestors of lizards, snakes, and tuatara were alive during the Middle Triassic period. The findings suggest that lepidosaurs first appeared after the end-Permian mass extinction event, around 240 million years ago.
A new study reveals a 'cascade of events' triggered an early sea level rise, driving animal diversity and innovation during the Cambrian period. The explosion led to the origin of modern ecosystems, skeletons, and specialized modes of life.