Articles tagged with Animal Science
A large-scale analysis of over 2,700 species of anurans reveals that the vertebral stripe evolves repeatedly and is adaptive to the animal's habitat. The study identifies a key gene linked to the stripe pattern, which may allow species to adapt to environmental changes.
Researchers found that high oleic soybean oil improved growth performance and carcass characteristics in pigs, with minimal impact on fat thickness and lean percentage. The studies also showed that HOSO-fed pigs had thicker, firmer bellies and similar loin quality compared to DDGS-fed pigs.
Researchers have discovered that the flight patterns of birds can be used to estimate fine-scale environmental conditions and turbulence levels. The team measured bird altitude and motion using GPS and data loggers attached to pigeons, finding a correlation between the birds' behavior and turbulence strength.
Researchers found drastic differences in microglia marker Iba1 and factors influencing Sirt1 levels and activity between elder groups. Preserving microglia and Sirt1 functional efficiency is crucial for longevity.
Researchers discovered that cephalopods develop their large nervous systems using similar mechanisms as vertebrates, with a focus on the retina. This study provides insight into the developmental process of these intelligent creatures and could lead to new discoveries about human brain development.
A new study published in PNAS found that female and male Japanese termites can flip sex roles to form stable same-sex pairs. The researchers discovered that this 'sex role flexibility' allows same-sex pairings to evolve, enabling termites to survive and thrive.
A study of 104 domestic pigs found that a bystander pig can intervene to reduce aggressor attacks or victim anxiety after conflict. Reconciliation behavior was more common among distantly related pigs, indicating they may prioritize social support over family ties.
A study found that Eurasian jays with greater self-control can pass a version of the 'marshmallow test' and score higher on intelligence tests. The researchers believe that this self-control may have evolved as a result of the birds' need to delay gratification in order to plan for future meals.
Researchers from Humboldt University of Berlin and Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research examined the facial motor nucleus of African and Asian elephants. They found more facial motor neurons than any other terrestrial mammal, with African savanna elephants having up to 63,000 neurons.
A study of 16 cats found they can differentiate their owner's voice from a stranger's, even when tone is changed. This suggests that cats form strong bonds with their owners based on experience of the speaker's voice.
A joint study by TAU and Hebrew University accurately dated 21 destruction layers at 17 archaeological sites in Israel, using geomagnetic field reconstruction. The new data verify Biblical accounts of Egyptian, Aramean, Assyrian, and Babylonian military campaigns against the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah.
A University of Exeter graduate has discovered a new, animal-free method to create human neuron-like cells for studying brain development. The breakthrough could lead to better treatments for brain disorders and improve human quality of life.
A recent study found that cats and coyotes share green spaces in Los Angeles suburb Culver City, leading to increased cat mortality. Cats displayed more nocturnal behavior than typical urban cats, explaining high rates of cat deaths. The study recommends restricting outdoor cat access to mitigate human-wildlife conflict
Researchers found pelagic seabirds fly into the eye of a storm to reduce risk of injury or death. The birds' unique flight style allows them to navigate strong winds.
A team of scientists and high school students collaborated to study Hong Kong's soil biodiversity, collecting 3,588 individual samples and identifying 150 species. The project also raised public awareness about the importance of citizen science in understanding local biodiversity.
Researchers from Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University found that brain stimulation combined with a nose spray containing nanoparticles can improve recovery after ischemic stroke. The treatment increased cognitive and motor functions, and weighed more quickly than those treated with TMS alone.
A recent study found that cattle grazing with virtual fencing can create effective wildfire fuel breaks on sagebrush landscapes, reducing the risk of devastating wildfires. The technology uses collars to communicate with GPS and reception towers, forming a virtual fence to manage livestock distribution.
Researchers found that kinship dynamics vary across species and sex, influencing helping behavior. In spotted hyenas, females' relatedness decreases with age, while males' increases, affecting their willingness to help groupmates.
The study revealed an alternative pathway for cysteine biosynthesis in animals, using enzymes similar to those found in fungi and bacteria. This challenges the previous assumption that corals rely on symbiotic relationships with algae for cysteine production.
A recent Oregon State University study found that spent hemp biomass is a safe and nutritious alternative feed for lambs, with nutritional quality comparable to alfalfa. The findings provide evidence for the use of hemp byproducts as an animal feedstuff, potentially offering economic benefits for hemp farmers and livestock producers.
Researchers found woodpeckers have brain regions similar to those in songbirds that control vocal learning and production. The study suggests drumming is a learned behavior with complex motor movements and adaptations for territorial defense.
Researchers found that developing sea anemones use hydraulic muscles to regulate body pressure and sculpt tissue. The more active larvae are, the longer they take to develop, suggesting a trade-off between movement and growth.
A University of Missouri researcher and his team are using artificial intelligence to study anatomical research, creating detailed 3D computer models of muscles. This technology is advancing the field by enabling researchers to analyze muscle fiber orientation and develop a better understanding of motor control in animals.
A new study reveals that red-eyed treefrogs use bimodal acoustic calls, combining sound with plant-generated vibrations to convey messages. Female frogs prefer calls with both sound and vibration, while male frogs become more aggressive when feeling the vibrations of rival calls.
A study by MIT and WHOI scientists found that shy albatross males are more likely to divorce their mates, while bold males are more likely to stay together. This is the first study to link personality and divorce in a wild animal species.
Researchers Dr Zoe Doubleday and Dr Jasmin Martino created a map of ocean chemistry that distinguishes the origin of seafood between south-east Asia and southern Australia. The universal chemical fingerprints can track where individual seafood comes from, helping to combat seafood fraud and ensure consumer trust.
In southern Sydney, cockatoos have developed a unique behavior of opening garbage bins to eat food waste. Humans have responded by using various inventive methods to secure the bins, sparking an 'arms race' between the two species.
Paleontologists at Tübingen University's Senckenberg Centre have discovered a previously unknown genus and species of dinosaur, Tuebingosaurus maierfritzorum. The herbivore lived in the Swabian Alb region from 203 to 211 million years ago, displaying similarities with large long-necked sauropods.
Researchers found that mice from western sides of mountains in Patagonia were bigger due to increased food availability caused by higher rainfall. This discovery supports the rain shadow effect hypothesis, which suggests that precipitation patterns can impact mammal size.
A study by Nagoya University found that the quality of a thoroughbred's sire, not its broodmare's age, determines its racing success. The researchers analyzed data from over 15,000 horses and discovered that breeding older females with high-performing males resulted in lower win rates.
A study by Florida Atlantic University researchers compared the walking and swimming behaviors of neonate and juvenile epaulette sharks. Contrary to expectations, results showed that differences in body shape did not alter kinematics between early life stages, suggesting a consistent locomotor performance.
A large international team has reexamined the Saccorhytus microfossil and determined that it is actually a protostome, not a deuterostome as previously believed. This finding contradicts current understanding of animal evolution, suggesting a significant gap in the fossil record.
Researchers at Northwestern University found that a thermometer-like brain circuit promotes midday siestas on hot days. The study, which used fruit flies as a model organism, identified absolute heat receptors in fly heads, leading to increased midday sleep in flies and potentially humans.
A recent study found that isolating horses can lead to stress-related immunomodulations, weakening their immune systems. The researchers discovered that single housing caused these changes, regardless of the group composition, highlighting the importance of social interaction for horse health.
A new study published in the Journal of Dairy Science finds that feeding transition milk to neonatal Holstein calves instead of milk replacer improves health scores and stimulates intestinal development. The researchers found increased weight gain and improved gut health, with benefits seen in all sections of the small intestine.
A new study reveals sponges have a unique mechanism to clear their water channels: a sneeze-like process. Sponges release a type of mucus that is consumed by other animals, providing a food source inaccessible to most sea creatures.
A study led by UMD researchers found that hibernating big brown bats experience slower epigenetic aging, with their biological clock extending by nearly a year. The study established the link between hibernation and longer lifespans in small mammals.
A new study from the University of Illinois found that dog gut bacteria can change rapidly after introducing a new diet, with microbial turnover occurring in under a week. The research also confirmed previous findings on the health benefits of high-fiber diets over high-fat and high-protein diets.
A study found that bird photography decreases nest predation and boosts nestling survival in tropical forests. Researchers discovered a significant reduction in predation rate among photographed nests, with little effect on feeding rates.
Researchers discovered that whale sharks eat a significant amount of plant material, including Sargassum seaweed. This challenges previous assumptions about their diet, revealing they are not just filter feeders on krill.
Researchers examine the relationship between thermal biology and sexual selection, finding that animals often tolerate perilous temperatures during mating to increase reproductive success. The study highlights the importance of considering scale in understanding the impact of global warming on reproductive processes.
A new study by researchers at the University of Oxford found that ageing female wild red deer on the Isle of Rum in Scotland tend to adopt a life of solitude as they grow older. They interact with fewer other individuals within their home ranges and shift to less populated areas of their habitat.
A study by scientists at the University of Texas at Austin found that the scaly-breasted wren's song consistently kept time for its duration, even as pauses increased in length. The results suggest that birds can track time more accurately than expected, challenging conventional wisdom on animal cognition.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems created a robot dog named Morti that can walk smoothly within an hour. The robot uses a Bayesian optimization algorithm to learn from sensor data and adapts its virtual spinal cord, allowing it to optimize its walking pattern and minimize stumbling.
A Tel Aviv University study reveals that corals' fluorescence serves as a lure for plankton, which are then consumed by predators like corals. The researchers found that green-fluorescent corals were 25% more preyed upon than yellow-fluorescent ones.
Researchers found that frog-eating bats could recognize ringtones indicating a food reward up to four years later. The bats learned to associate specific tones with rewards and were able to recall these associations even after long periods of time.
Scientists at the University of Bristol found that habitat differences in Amazonian rainforests predict changes in brain structure, particularly in areas processing visual information. The study used 160 samples across 16 species and highlights the importance of visual ecology in shaping entire animal communities.
Researchers at NIST found that gecko setae are coated in an ultra-thin layer of lipids, which repel water and help maintain grip on wet surfaces. This discovery could lead to the development of biomimetic products, such as gecko boots or gloves for improved traction.
A fossilized wrist bone from a 6-7 million-year-old giant panda ancestor reveals the earliest evidence of a bamboo diet and the evolution of its unique 'thumb' structure. The discovery sheds light on how this adaptation allowed ancient pandas to thrive on a low-nutrient bamboo diet.
Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign created a high-resolution map of the bearded dragon's brain, providing a standardized protocol for future clinical cases. The study identified nine anatomic structures in the brain and developed a safe and efficient MRI and sedation protocol.
A new study in Science found that many species of turtles and tortoises have slowed or switched off senescence, challenging evolutionary theories. Out of 52 species, 75% show extremely slow senescence, and 80% have slower senescence than modern humans.
Researchers developed live-cell imaging to study chromosome segregation errors and their impact on embryonic development. They found that micronucleus formation during early cleavage division is a potential hallmark of preimplantation embryonic loss in cattle.
A new study in the Journal of Dairy Science finds that dairy cows exposed to wildfire smoke experience reduced milk production and altered immune function. The researchers observed a decrease in milk yield for seven consecutive days during the smoke exposure period, which persisted for another seven days post-exposure.
A newly installed deep-water pipeline has led to a significant increase in the abundance and diversity of marine life on the Angolan coast. The study found that the pipeline provided shelter and trapped organic matter, which animals feed on, resulting in an immediate boost to sea-floor animals.
Researchers have found that deep-diving seals rely on their sensitive whiskers to detect water movement and capture prey in the absence of light. The study provides insight into the unique sensory adaptations of marine mammals and sheds light on how seals navigate and hunt in extreme environments.
A new study reveals that dogs think about their toys by imagining different sensory features, such as the way they look or smell. Gifted Word Learner dogs were able to recall the name of a toy even in the dark, using a multisensory mental image.
A new study finds that polar bears and brown bears have a complicated evolutionary history due to interbreeding. The analysis of modern bear genomes and ancient DNA from a 115,000-year-old tooth reveals gene flow from brown bears into polar bears, challenging previous hypotheses.
A study by Dr. Anja Weidenmüller reveals that glyphosate affects the collective thermoregulatory capacity of bumblebee colonies, impacting brood development and colony growth. This effect is particularly pronounced in times of resource scarcity, highlighting the need to reassess pesticide approval procedures.
Debilitating snare injuries in female spotted hyenas of the Serengeti delayed their age at first reproduction and reduced litter size, while also decreasing offspring survival rates. This long-term decrease in reproductive performance may result from increased inflammatory and immune responses to snare injuries.
Researchers found that hummingbirds experience a 37% drop in metabolic rate and become torpid for longer periods at high elevations, making it unlikely they can relocate to higher altitudes. The birds' physiological response suggests lower oxygen availability and low air pressure may be difficult challenges to overcome.