Articles tagged with Foraging Behavior
A new computer model, BEEHAVE, simulates the life of a honey bee colony over several years, investigating the losses of honeybee colonies and identifying key factors affecting their health. The model shows that food availability, mite infestation, and disease are critical to maintaining healthy hives.
Researchers found that waterbirds using different foraging strategies have evolved distinct tail shapes. Underwater foragers, such as cormorants and penguins, developed elongated tails with specialized vertebrae structures, while aerial birds had shorter, deflected tails.
Researchers at University of Toronto Scarborough discovered a genetic link between feeding behavior and animal dispersal, finding that active foragers disperse farther than less active ones. This study sheds light on the relationship between feeding activity and dispersal tendencies in nature, with implications for conservation efforts.
Great tits can recall the location of cached food hideaways after one or 24 hours, according to a Swedish study published in Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. This observational spatial learning ability may be more crucial for non-hoarders like great tits, as it helps them survive during harsh weather conditions.
A recent study by Mainz biologists has identified novel genes that determine the division of labor in ants, showing how gene expression differs between castes. The research found that queens express more known genes related to solitary insects, while workers have unique, modified or novel genes.
Researchers used animal-borne cameras to monitor alligator behavior, revealing that time of day significantly affects prey capture success. Alligators are most successful in the morning while attacking prey below the surface.
A study by University of Arizona anthropologist David Raichlen found that human hunter-gatherers use a Lévy walk pattern while searching for food, similar to sharks and honeybees. The pattern involves short movements in one area followed by longer treks to another area.
Research by Guy Beauchamp reveals semipalmated sandpipers feed differently depending on group position, with peripheral birds acting as sentinels. The study sheds light on the mechanisms behind group living and its benefits for survival.
Honeybees rely on floral odours to find and identify flowers. Diesel exhaust fumes alter the profile of these odours, affecting foraging efficiency and pollination. The study found that NOx gases, particularly nitrogen dioxide, are key facilitators of this change.
A recent study by researchers at the University of California, Riverside found that selenium, a naturally occurring metal, has toxic effects on honey bees. The study reveals that organic forms of selenium alter protein conformation and cause developmental problems, while inorganic forms cause oxidative stress.
A two-year experiment at Clemson University found that steers grazing on various forages showed significant differences in growth, carcass quality, and meat taste. Finishing on legumes like alfalfa and cowpea increased carcass quality, while bermuda grass and pearl millet improved healthy fatty acid levels.
A study found that shy male birds are more likely to join flocks of birds with similar personalities than bold males. Shy birds also have fewer social partners and tend to form more stable relationships.
Researchers from the University of California reveal that Emperor Penguins can dive to over 500m and stay underwater for up to 27 minutes. They also discover a unique heart rate response, slowing down to as low as 10 beats per minute to conserve energy.
Researchers found that reciprocity is a significant factor in food sharing, similar across humans, monkeys, and apes. Humans tend to exchange food for food, while primates barter for services like grooming or coalition support.
Researchers are tracking the movements of 10 Great Shearwater seabirds in the Gulf of Maine using satellite tags, providing insights into ecosystem health and food supply changes. The birds' feeding habits and reactions to changes in their primary food source, sand lance, will inform conservation efforts.
Three commonly used pesticides were found to be toxic to honeybees, even at sublethal doses. These pesticides modulated key enzymes that regulate physiological processes, affecting cognitive capacities and immune responses in bees.
A study using ant experiments and mathematical modeling reveals flexible resource management and characteristic responses by group-living animals. The findings suggest a regime of chaos offers more options for groups than following environmental cycles.
Researchers found that monkeys with strong social networks learned new foraging techniques faster, indicating a link between social ties and the spread of innovation. The study provides insight into how social networks may influence the emergence of cultural behaviors in non-human primates.
Researchers found that loggerhead turtles rely on sight to identify and move towards gelatinous, floating prey like jellyfish and other organisms. They can snack on these low-energy foods approximately twice every hour, suggesting they may rely on such prey for energy more than previously thought.
Researchers have identified a key gene in honey bees that enables them to learn and remember how to find food and navigate back to the hive. The Egr gene plays a crucial role in learning and novelty detection in both humans and insects.
Researchers from CSHL have identified key circuit elements that contribute to 'stay or go' decisions in the anterior cingulate cortex. The activity of specific inhibitory neurons, SOM and PV neurons, correlates with start and end of foraging behavior in mice.
Ant colonies that restrain foraging except in prime conditions experience improved reproductive success. Natural selection favors regulating foraging to hold back when conditions are bad, shaping collective behavior exhibited by the entire colony.
Researchers used 'ethoinformatics' to analyze three years of migration data from miniature tracking devices attached to Manx Shearwater seabirds, revealing complex patterns of rest, flight, and foraging during migration. The study found that birds spent less time foraging in winter and more at rest in the southern hemisphere.
Scientists warn that a discard ban may negatively affect seabirds that have come to rely on fish waste from fishing vessels. A study found that 42% of northern gannets targeted fishing vessels for food, highlighting the need for sufficient forage fish to meet their needs.
A recent study published in PLOS ONE found that bats are neutral or positively impacted by moderate to high-severity forest fires. The research suggests that fires may create a habitat structure beneficial for various bat species, with some even preferring burned areas for foraging.
Researchers observed that bisphenol A exposure altered behavior in California mice differently for males and females. In females, BPA reduced exploratory behavior essential for foraging, while in males, it affected territorial marking crucial for defending a home range and mate.
Researchers are studying filter-feeding whales using multisensor tags, providing insights into their diving and foraging behaviors. The findings show that different whale species have distinct feeding strategies, with some catching elusive prey and others filtering slowly through large patches of water.
A University of Illinois study found that global warming could lead to increased nocturnal activity in ratsnakes, making them better adapted to warmer temperatures. This shift could result in a population expansion and altered ecosystem dynamics, with potential impacts on native bird populations.
Research suggests that reducing pavement and increasing natural habitat can improve nesting opportunities for wild bees. Bees will also forage further away from their home nest if the surrounding landscape is less heterogeneous, seeking out species-rich patches.
A new study finds that humpback whales sing while foraging in their Antarctic feeding grounds, showing a previously unknown behavioral flexibility. The researchers tracked ten whales and found that all ten sang while foraging, with some even singing intense, continuous bouts of song.
Researchers tracked humpback whales in Antarctic waters and found that they sang while foraging, suggesting a previously unknown behavioral flexibility. The study suggests that the widely held behavioral dichotomy of breeding-versus-feeding may be too simplistic.
Researchers studying grey-mouse lemurs have found evidence of paternal kin recognition through vocalizations in a small-brained, solitary foraging mammal. The study provides insight into early primates from which humans evolved and suggests that kin recognition through voice was important for primate evolution.
Researchers found artificial light from industrial areas influences the foraging behavior of common redshanks, allowing them to forage more efficiently at night. This contradicts previous studies that reported negative effects of light pollution on wildlife.
Researchers tracked emperor penguin behavior near sea and found they spent 30% of their time at sea resting on ice, which may help avoid predators. The study's monitoring technique will aid in understanding the relationship between sea ice conditions and penguins' foraging habits
A University of Toronto study demonstrates that early life adversity affects adult behavior and quality of life, with chronic food deprivation impacting foraging gene expression. The research also shows that nutritionally deprived fruit flies exhibit reduced reproductive fitness.
Research found that chronic exposure to two pesticides impaired natural foraging behaviour and increased worker mortality in bumblebee colonies. This led to significant reductions in colony success and increased rates of colony failure.
Researchers found that humpback whales use a unique tactic to lunge for krill, beating their tail fins twice as fast as normal and maintaining speed while gliding after opening their mouths. This discovery suggests that lunge feeding may be cheaper than previously thought, but still highly demanding.
A study by Dr. Grace Saba and professor Deborah Steinberg reveals that small forage fish can transport significant amounts of carbon from the surface to depth via their fecal pellets, which sink at rates of hundreds to thousands of feet per day.
Researchers at UC Berkeley have found that fox squirrels engage in a long-term savings strategy by diversifying their nut storage, with some nuts hidden up to 100 meters away. By studying this behavior, the team aims to understand how squirrels remember where they hide their nuts and develop insights into human decision-making.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that manta rays are more likely to gather together under new or full moons and when wind speeds are lower. The researchers used a citizen science approach involving volunteer divers and tour operators to monitor manta ray behavior at Lady Elliott Island.
Researchers found 155 regions of DNA with different tag patterns in bees, which were mostly regulatory genes known to affect other genes. The epigenetic marks were reversible and connected to the bees' behavior, with more than half of those regions already identified among the original 155 regions.
A recent study led by the Institute for Ocean Conservation Science provides a first-time analysis of the value of forage fish to both commercial fisheries and marine ecosystems. The research found that forage fish contribute significantly to global fisheries, with a total estimated value of $16.9 billion annually, representing 20% of g...
The Crop Science Society of America has selected 7 members for the 2012 class of Fellows, recognizing their professional achievements and meritorious service in crop science. The new fellows include experts from universities, government institutions, and private companies.
Research in southern Indian Ocean found increased bioluminescence correlates with higher foraging intensity in deep-sea predators, indicating that bioluminescence likely provides seals with valuable indications of prey occurrence. The study monitored diving behavior and light detector data from four female southern elephant seals.
Ants use an algorithm to determine how many foragers to send out based on food availability, similar to internet protocols discovering available bandwidth. The discovery could inform the design of networked systems with ant-inspired algorithms.
Research found that desert-like, or xeric, yards have a more even bird community and superior habitat compared to moist, or mesic, grass lawns. Native plants in urban yards offer birds 'mini-refuges' and help offset losses of biodiversity in cities.
A recent study suggests that yards with desert-like vegetation offer better habitat for native birds than traditional grass lawns or non-native plantings. The study used quantitative measures to assess foraging behavior of common backyard birds in Phoenix, Arizona.
A laboratory study conducted by Duke University psychologists found that the brains of humans, including radiologists and baggage screeners, evolved to solve foraging problems in similar ways. The researchers discovered that people with fewer targets to find gave up on a given screen sooner compared to those with more targets.
Critically endangered leatherback turtles show distinct travel modes in the North Atlantic and Eastern Pacific, with varying speeds associated with foraging and transit. The study suggests that Pacific turtles struggle to achieve high foraging success, hindering their population recovery compared to Atlantic turtles.
Researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, tracked nearly 300 elephant seals using satellite tags, revealing their movements and diving behavior. The study found that these animals target a specific boundary zone between two ocean currents, which supports a robust food web and drives the growth of phytoplankton.
A new study published in Psyche reveals that different butterfly species exhibit unique foraging behaviors, and the findings may be used to develop effective synthetic lures for understanding pollinators. Researchers used multi-colored landing pads and baits to determine that some butterflies rely on both sight and smell to locate food.
Researchers suggest increased predation by grey seals may be responsible for Atlantic cod's delayed recovery on the eastern Scotian Shelf. Further investigation is needed to identify underlying factors affecting high adult death rates.
Researchers found that high selenium concentrations in nectar and pollen had no effect on honey bees' foraging behavior, but affected their sucrose response and led to early mortality. The study suggests that selenium may not be the primary cause of Colony Collapse Disorder.
Researchers used robot squirrels to mimic tail flagging and heating behaviors, showing snakes respond to infrared signals. The findings help biologists better understand rattlesnake behavior and interactions with California ground squirrels.
A task force report strongly recommends implementing conservative catch limits for 'forage fish' like sardines and anchovies. These small species are crucial prey for larger species, including salmon, cod, tuna, dolphins, whales, penguins, and seabirds.
The Lenfest Forage Fish Task Force recommends reducing global fishing for forage fish by half to support larger species in the water. This would contribute an estimated US$11.3 billion to the economy by serving as food for commercially important fish, supporting industries and ecosystems.
A new study found that predatory mites who live among familiar neighbors are more efficient at finding food due to reduced stress. This social familiarity allows individuals to focus on other tasks, leading to increased productivity.
A recent study published in Global Ecology and Biogeography reveals that 35% of the world's green turtles inhabit Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), significantly higher than expected. The research also shows that older MPAs are more likely to contain turtles, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts.
Research published in PLoS ONE found that blue whales change their vocal behavior when exposed to man-made noise from sonar and ship sounds, regardless of frequency overlap. The study suggests a strong probability of noise affecting the vocal behavior of blue whales, with long-term implications unknown.
A study published in Psychological Review found that people with the best 'memory foraging' strategies are better at recalling items. Participants were asked to name as many animals as they could in three minutes and were compared to a classic model of optimal foraging, the marginal value theorem.