Articles tagged with Foraging Behavior
A study predicts that climate change will reduce the growth and stature of big bluestem grass by up to 60 percent in the next 75 years. The change is mainly attributed to altered rainfall patterns, which could lead to a fundamental shift in the Midwestern ecosystem.
Researchers studied dive patterns of five toothed whale species in the Bahamas and found that two beaked whale species took exceptionally long, deep dives for their size. This suggests that these whales may extend their foraging dives by shifting from aerobic to anaerobic respiration.
A new study by the University of Minnesota reveals that warm-season annual grasses have good potential for use in horse pastures. These grasses provide horses with more summer grazing options and offer improved nutritional profiles compared to cool-season grasses.
Researchers predict warming temperatures will alter forage growing season timing but have minimal effect on summer heat stress in dairy cattle. Poultry producers may benefit from lower energy costs, while beef cattle production could increase due to warmer conditions and more forage availability.
Researchers found that individual characteristics, such as speed and exploratory tendency, significantly impact the cohesion, movement dynamics, and foraging performance of schooling fish. The study provides insights into how inter-individual differences drive collective behavior and group functioning.
Research shows smooth-coated otters adopt a 'copy when young' strategy to solve puzzles, with young otters learning faster than parents. This social learning behavior may help improve reintroduction programs for endangered otter species.
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.
A UCLA study reveals that older, sociable capuchins invent more new social behaviors, while younger monkeys innovate in different categories. The research found 187 innovations, with most occurring in the investigative category.
The American pika's behavioral adaptations to climate change include shifting mating seasons, migrations, and adjustments in feeding and foraging strategies. However, these adaptations are limited by physiology and may incur costly trade-offs with other essential activities.
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.
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 found that foraging honeybees and nurse bees have synchronized circadian clocks, despite their constant activity. The study reveals that a functional clock is crucial for these animals, even in environments without day-night cycles.
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.
A study found that grizzly bears in Canadian national parks use railways as a food source, likely attracted by spilled grain and vegetation. The researchers recommend reducing grain spills and mitigating foraging areas to minimize the risk of train collisions.
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 found that meerkat calls vary with factors such as sex and social status, providing cues about the producer. Call rates were higher in dominant females and one-year-old males during foraging, but not linked to stress hormones.
Researchers found that migratory mule deer closely time their movements to track the timing of early spring green-up, allowing them to access high-quality forage. The study's findings highlight the importance of habitat corridors in enabling animals to move between winter and summer ranges.
Researchers found that neonicotinoid pesticide thiamethoxam impairs honey bee flight ability, affecting their ability to collect food and pollinate crops. Long-term exposure can be fatal, while short-term exposure increases activity levels but decreases accuracy of flight.
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.
Flowers that attract hummingbirds have specific characteristics that also deter bumblebees, with certain combinations of traits discouraging wasteful visits. Bees have difficulty learning to combine red with other sensory traits, making it economic sense for them to avoid bird flowers.
A study found that urban house finches are better at solving new problems than their rural counterparts due to adaptation to human presence. Rural birds who experienced high levels of human disturbance performed poorly on the problem-solving task.
Researchers found that competition among grazers, such as herbivorous fishes and algae, structures the space use patterns and feeding behaviors of bulletheads. The study suggests that predation risk has a limited impact on prey foraging behaviors in areas with high levels of competition.
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 mathematical model suggests that slime molds can find an optimal physical distribution through a maze when exposed to intermittent light, which mimics real-world changing conditions. This finding aligns with properties of self-organized systems and may influence adaptive abilities in biological systems.
A study by Ohio State University researchers found that honey bees favor agricultural areas over urban neighborhoods for nectar and pollen. The discovery suggests that farmland can be a superior source of food for honey bees, contradicting the assumption that urban areas are more attractive to them.
Early Mesolithic humans practiced selective hunting to conserve certain species, such as red deer, and hunted wild boars independently of age. A fish fermentation facility at the settlement revealed a more settled community than previously believed
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 University of Toronto study has identified a gene that may strongly influence obesity in humans, similar to the foraging gene found in fruit flies. The study reveals that the human version of this gene plays multiple roles in feeding and metabolism.
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.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that bottlenose dolphins near Savannah, Georgia are divided into six social clusters, with half following shrimp trawlers and the other half not. This suggests that foraging behavior around humans may be socially learned.
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 have discovered a permanent coastal home for endangered leatherback sea turtles in the Mozambique Channel, revolutionizing conservation efforts. The turtles, known for their open-ocean migratory nature, are now found clustering together year-round in this area.
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.
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.
Researchers found that gannets use shallow and short dives with less swimming when at ocean fronts, indicating abundant food closer to the surface. This study highlights the importance of these habitats for marine ecosystem functioning and could inform conservation efforts.
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 team of researchers found that marital bonds and cooperative activities play a crucial role in passing down plant knowledge among the BaYaka Pygmies. They discovered that certain plants were used to detect and punish cheaters, highlighting the social significance of plant use.
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.
Researchers tracked 75 Caspian seals using satellite trackers, uncovering surprising variation in their migration habits, hunting patterns, and food sources. The study provides vital information for conservation efforts, with potential applications in protecting seal habitats and planning human activities.
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.
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.
As air pollution increases, hydrocarbon molecules break down, confusing bees and increasing foraging time. This affects not only generalist but also specialist bees, impacting pollination and ecosystem balance.
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.
Research found that crows on a university campus carried high rates of Campylobacter jejuni, suggesting they could play a role in transmitting the bacteria to humans. The study tracked crow movements and behavior, revealing that their foraging habits often bring them into close proximity with livestock and humans.
A new study reveals that Port Jackson sharks have distinct personality traits, including boldness and handling stress reactivity. These differences are repeatable in juvenile sharks and may influence their interactions with habitat and other species.
Researchers tracked harbour porpoises with tiny computers, revealing they hunt small fish nearly continuously at ultra-high rates, catching up to 550 fish per hour. This success rate of over 90% makes them vulnerable to disturbances, as there's no room for compensation.
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.
New research reveals honey bee colonies adapt their diet to counter nutritional deficiencies, prioritizing diets that complement specific amino acid deficiencies. This ability allows bees to maintain a balanced nutrition level when alternative floral resources are scarce.
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.