Articles tagged with Mammals
A recent study by UC Davis researchers found that humans exhibit reproductive inequality similar to other mammals, challenging the notion of human exceptionalism. The study also revealed greater reproductive egalitarianism in societies allowing polygynous marriages, where women have equal access to resources and parenting help.
Researchers at Nagoya University have found that ATP, an energy 'currency' within cells, acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain and causes mammalian ovulation. Administering ATP to rats induced the LH surge leading to ovulation, suggesting a potential new treatment for infertility.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control highlights the rapid spread of avian influenza viruses worldwide, affecting wild bird populations and mammals. The authors warn that human infections with A(H5N1) can be severe and increase the risk of reassortment with mammalian viruses.
Scientists discovered that smaller brontotheres faced high extinction risk in crowded ecological niches, driving biased diversification towards larger sizes. This complex macroevolutionary pattern shows increased survival of larger species due to reduced competition.
A large-scale genomic study of 240 mammal species reveals previously uncharacterized regulatory elements in the human genome, linked to disease risks and distinctive traits. The research provides insights into the evolutionary development of mammalian genomes and their potential applications in medical research.
Researchers have created a new manual to study human diseases, using evolutionary genomics to analyze genetic risk. The manual reveals the importance of highly constrained genes that unite mammals, providing insights into neurological disorders and psychiatric conditions.
A recent study found that temperature and extreme drought drive movement among herds of Plains bison, posing challenges for managing the iconic species. The team analyzed GPS-backed evidence from 33 Plains bison across two sites in Oklahoma, revealing a strong link between air temperature and bison movement.
Early mammals reduced skull bones to redirect stresses during feeding, allowing brain size increase. The combination of miniaturization, reduced skull bones and insect-based diet enabled ancestors to thrive before dinosaurs' extinction.
Researchers developed a model that predicts which species are at risk of becoming threatened or extinct based on climate change, human population growth, and land use patterns. The study aims to shift conservation efforts from reactive to proactive, enabling the protection of species before they reach threatened status.
A new research approach suggests integrating biodiversity auditing into conservation plans to effectively support a wider range of important species. This method has been successfully tested in the UK's East Anglia region and could benefit biodiversity nationally, including the European Union's 2030 Biodiversity Strategy.
A study from the University of East Anglia found that environmental impact assessments often fail to account for species movement between sites, leading to underestimated impacts on wildlife. The research highlights a planned airport development in Portugal that could affect over 10 times the number of Black-tailed Godwits estimated by...
A new species of ancient beaver, Anchitheriomys buceei, has been discovered in Texas and named after Buc-ee's. The beaver lived about 15 million years ago and was about 30% larger than modern beavers.
A new study reveals that northern and southern resident orcas differ in their hunting behaviors, with males catching more salmon per hour than females. Southern resident males outperform females by 152%, highlighting a distinct pattern of foraging that may contribute to the population decline.
Research reveals island-dwelling mammal species face higher extinction risks, with those experiencing extreme size changes being particularly endangered. Human arrival on islands multiplies the probability of extinction by 16, contributing to a 'protracted extinction event' spanning over 100,000 years.
Researchers explore cellular senescence's complex relationship with growth stimulation and cell cycle arrest, revealing potential anti-aging drug targets. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing new treatments for age-related diseases.
Researchers developed an updated conservation metric, EDGE2, incorporating scientific uncertainty and status of related species. This approach identifies top-priority species for protection, preserving over 700 million years of evolutionary history, and allocates limited funds effectively.
A review of evidence suggests that increased parental energy investment in young offspring may have facilitated the evolution of larger brains in some species. This is particularly true for warm-blooded species, which tend to invest more energy in their young through actions such as egg production and lactation.
The Operation Pangolin project aims to save the world's eight pangolin species by generating data to inform conservation strategies and implementing wildlife crime prevention efforts in Central Africa. The team will use novel technology and artificial intelligence methods to address the illicit wildlife trade and prevent extinction.
A new study has identified the top factors that determine the success of large carnivore relocation efforts, highlighting the importance of protecting existing habitats. The findings could support global rewilding efforts and contribute to biodiversity conservation.
A team of scientists found a 16-year-old European hedgehog in Denmark, exceeding the previous record by seven years. The discovery contradicts previous studies suggesting that inbreeding reduces lifespan. The study's results provide valuable insights into the basic life history of hedgehogs and may improve conservation efforts.
Researchers develop site-specific mitigation strategy for wind turbines, significantly reducing bat fatalities. The approach uses wind speed, temperature, and rainfall data to adapt curtailment strategies, resulting in a 86% reduction in bat deaths.
Researchers found that primary cancer tumors have a sluggish conversion of nutrients to usable cellular energy, conserving energy for growth and metastasis. The discovery has vast implications for anti-cancer strategies, directing attention to slow energy metabolism.
A study by Chinese Academy of Sciences researchers found that group-living mammals live longer than solitary ones, with a 100-fold variation in longevity among species. The team identified 31 genes and pathways linked to both social organization and lifespan.
Biologists found songbirds can assess when predation risk from northern pygmy owls is highest and when there's safety in numbers. Mobbing behavior peaked in late summer and autumn when young birds are most vulnerable.
A new study predicts that by 2099, future extreme heatwaves will expose up to 11% of land vertebrates to temperatures beyond their historical levels. However, a low-emissions scenario greatly reduces animals' exposure to heat extremes.
Researchers from DePaul University studied small mammals in eastern Paraguay's Atlantic Forest remnants to understand biodiversity and its relation to forest edges. They found that species richness and abundance increase closer to the edge, while phylogenetic diversity is higher in interior sites.
Establishing ecological corridors among western US national parks can enlarge mammal populations and allow species to shift geographic ranges in response to climate change. This could increase the long-term persistence time of mammal species by a factor of 4.3, compared to fragmented individual parks.
A study by Colorado State University found that over 10% of adult female golden-mantled ground squirrels are killed annually along rural roads in the Gunnison Valley. The researchers suggest reducing personal vehicle numbers and using digital signs to alert drivers, as males are also vulnerable during mating season.
A rare fossil discovery provides new insights into the diet of Microraptor, a bird-like dinosaur with four wings. The find suggests that Microraptor was an opportunistic predator feeding on various species, including fish, birds, lizards, and small mammals.
The expansion of forests in Central Europe, circa 11,000 years ago, led to the decline and eventual extinction of large Ice Age mammals such as mammoth and bison. The growth of trees deprived these herbivores of their main food source, grass.
A study by McGill University researchers found that Northern Tree Shrews' body size increased with warmer climates, contradicting Bergmann's rule. The team analyzed museum specimens and historical climate data, revealing a reversal of the Island rule as well, highlighting the complex interaction between ecological factors.
Researchers found a close correspondence between bat species' wing shapes and their echolocation vocalizations, with both linked to foraging ecology. The study reveals distinct 'foraging syndromes' that have evolved repeatedly in each family, matching optimal evolutionary solutions for different habitats.
Researchers used computer simulations to show that SARS-CoV-2 variants can attach to host cells in both bats and humans using their spike proteins. The study's findings suggest a significant risk of mammalian cross-species infectivity, contradicting initial expectations of reduced transmission.
A study by the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research found that cheetah marking trees serve as hotspots for communication among multiple mammalian species. These trees were visited more frequently by some species, such as black-backed jackals and warthogs, suggesting they gain important information from the scent marks. In co...
Researchers studied the larynx of Daubenton's bats and found that different structures are used for high-frequency echolocation calls and lower-frequency social calls. The study reveals that bat vocalizations can be compared to death metal growls, highlighting the animals' unique ability to produce a wide range of sounds.
Researchers analyzed 3,114 mammal species across Asia and adjacent continents to understand the origin and timing of its rich biodiversity. The study found that tropical forests are a major center of diversity, while Himalayan and Hengduan Mountains are accumulation centers with lineages migrating from other regions.
A new study compiled data on over 3,000 species to show how climate and geologic changes across Asia influenced the evolution of mammals. The research found clear links between changes in Earth's climate and the distribution of mammals in different regions.
Researchers found evidence of fibrolamellar bone in early tetrapod Whatcheeria, suggesting rapid juvenile growth. This contradicts the long-held assumption that slow growth was ancestral for tetrapods, and instead reveals a more complex life history.
A team of scientists found that bats have multiple copies of the PKR gene, allowing them to develop an antiviral repertoire. This adaptation enables bats to defend themselves against a wide range of viruses.
University of Copenhagen researchers made a groundbreaking discovery about the mammalian brain, finding that a vital enzyme that enables brain signals is switching on and off at random intervals. This challenges the long-held assumption that these enzymes are active at all times to convey essential signals continuously.
Researchers studied the lung immune responses of cave nectar bats to Malacca virus, identifying unique white blood cell behaviors and gene signatures that help limit inflammation. The findings could lead to better ways of combatting human viral infections.
Researchers have detected five emerging tick-borne pathogens in Central Canada, including those causing Lyme disease and babesiosis. Climate change and habitat fragmentation contribute to the spread of these pathogens, highlighting the need for increased awareness and protection measures.
Eastern red bats, now the most commonly detected bat in Midwestern forests, have a significant impact on tree regeneration due to their appetite for insect-damaging bugs. Forest managers can benefit from considering these bats' landscape preferences, particularly ponds and smaller forest openings.
A new study found that large river dams are significant barriers to platypus movements, leading to increased genetic differentiation and vulnerability to threats. This restriction of movement limits gene flow between groups, making separate populations more susceptible to inbreeding depression and loss of adaptive genetic variation.
Researchers found distinct gut microbiomes in wild marten from pristine and heavily impacted areas, highlighting a tool for assessing ecosystem health. The study's findings suggest that human disturbance affects carnivores' diets, reflected in their gut microbiomes.
Researchers found that 90% of surveyed individuals did not recognize six out of seven endangered species. Increasing public knowledge and recognition can boost conservation support for these vulnerable animals. The study highlights the need for targeted marketing initiatives to change people's perception of lesser-known species.
A study published by the University of Zurich has found that vocal communication in vertebrates has a common and ancient evolutionary origin, dating back to around 407 million years ago. The research used vocal recordings and contextual behavioral information from 53 species across four major clades of land vertebrates.
A new study reveals that losing endangered fruit-eating animals in the Atlantic Forest could severely disrupt seed-dispersal networks, leaving plants without an effective means to regenerate. Nearly 55% of specialist plant species rely solely on these frugivores for seed dispersal.
A new study reveals that European moles reduce their brains by 11% in winter and regrow them by 4% in summer to conserve energy. This phenomenon, known as Dehnel's phenomenon, is driven by cold conditions rather than food shortage alone.
A new noninvasive genetic survey technique allows researchers to identify salt marsh harvest mice and other small mammals without capturing them. The technique uses bait stations and genetics to collect fecal pellets from mice that come and go on their own.
Researchers used a random forest model to analyze hyena whoops and found that individual signatures are distinct enough for identification. Repeating calls can improve identification accuracy, peaking at seven repetitions.
Researchers found that male rock hyraxes with more precise courtship songs had higher reproductive success, while those who sang less frequently also performed better in terms of rhythm and song quality. This study suggests that high rhythmic stability may serve as an indicator of male quality for females.
Researchers found that bird neurons consume three times less glucose than mammalian neurons, allowing for high cognitive abilities and complex brain structures. This discovery sheds light on the evolutionary advantages of birds' brains.
A Tel Aviv University study challenges the widely-held assumption that COVID-19 originated from bats, instead highlighting their highly effective immune system. The researchers found that many reported findings on bat-borne viruses are based on antibody presence or PCR tests rather than actual virus isolation.
A team of scientists generated a molecular atlas of the Australian bearded dragon's brain, comparing it to mouse data. The findings suggest that both reptilian and mammalian brains evolved clade-specific neuron types from a common ancestral set, challenging popular views on brain evolution.
A new study reveals that the emergence of a new gene called PGBD1 is linked to the evolution of a new structure in nerve cells. PGBD1 controls paraspeckles, tiny structures that act like traps for RNAs and proteins, and its regulation is crucial for nerve cell development.
Researchers identified 15 instances of mucinization, where new mucins emerged from non-mucin proteins by adding repeating sequences. This process transformed the proteins into mucins with gooey consistency, contributing to their various biological functions.
New research from the University of East Anglia finds that hydropower developments lead to flooding forests, driving biodiversity loss and ecosystem disruptions. The study reveals widespread species extinction, especially among large-bodied species, highlighting the need for sustainable energy security and biodiversity conservation.
A study reveals that over 50% of mammal food web links have disappeared due to animal declines, leading to a collapse of global ecosystems. Restoring extinct species to their historic ranges holds great potential to reverse these declines and restore food web complexity.
Researchers have found a 30-million-year-old beaver fossil that challenges previous theories on the evolution of semi-aquatic beavers in North America. The discovery, published in Royal Society Open Science, suggests that these animals may have evolved to swim earlier than previously thought and were likely adapted for aquatic life.