A study published in Scientific Reports has uncovered that frequent mowing of Solanum elaeagnifolium, commonly known as silverleaf nightshade, may inadvertently promote the development of a more resilient “superweed.” The problem with silverleaf nightshade Silverleaf nightshade, a pervasive weed with distinct purple flowers, is notorious for its prickly spines and toxic berries. Its presence spans … Read more
Bats, as the main predator of night-flying insects, create a selective pressure that has led many of their prey to evolve an early warning system of sorts: ears uniquely tuned to high-frequency bat echolocation. To date, scientists have found at least six orders of insects—including moths, beetles, crickets and grasshoppers—that have evolved ears capable of … Read more
Aquatic biology is a branch of biology that focuses on the study of life in water environments, encompassing a wide range of organisms, ecosystems, and processes that thrive in aquatic habitats. From the smallest microorganisms to the largest marine mammals, aquatic biology explores the diversity, adaptations, interactions, and ecological dynamics of aquatic life across freshwater, … Read more
Evolutionary ecology is a multidisciplinary field that integrates principles from evolutionary biology and ecology to study the adaptations, evolutionary responses, and interactions of organisms within ecological contexts. It seeks to understand how ecological factors such as resource availability, environmental conditions, predation pressures, competition, and symbiotic relationships shape the evolution of traits, behaviors, and genetic diversity … Read more
Animal ecology is a branch of biology that focuses on the study of animals in their natural habitats, examining their behaviors, interactions, adaptations, and population dynamics within ecological systems. By understanding how animals interact with their environment and with each other, animal ecologists gain insights into the ecological processes that shape ecosystems and influence biodiversity. … Read more
Animal physiology is the branch of biology that focuses on understanding the biological functions and adaptations of animals, ranging from microscopic organisms to complex multicellular organisms. It encompasses a wide range of topics, including cellular processes, organ systems, homeostasis, metabolism, reproduction, behavior, and adaptations to diverse environments. By studying animal physiology, scientists gain insights into … Read more
If mice ever wonder what it’s like to experience the world as a rat, some are now able to live that dream, at least when it comes to the sense of smell. Researchers led by Columbia University’s Kristin Baldwin have created mice with hybrid brains—part mouse, part rat—that sense the odors of the world with … Read more
What can be done when one threatened animal kills another? Scientists studying critically endangered lemurs in Madagascar confronted this difficult reality when they witnessed attacks on lemurs by another vulnerable species, a carnivore called a fosa. This dynamic can be particularly complex when the predation occurs in an isolated or poor-quality habitat, according to research … Read more
Arachnophobia grips many humans when faced with spiders like the brown recluse or black widow, yet the intricate dance of deception between spiders and their predators remains largely unnoticed. Paleobiologist George Poinar Jr. sheds light on this covert world, revealing the evolutionary tactic of some spiders: masquerading as ants. In his recent paper published in … Read more
Scientists have discovered how female Diadem butterflies have evolved to look like African Queen butterflies to repel predators. African Queens are toxic, making them poor food for predators such as birds. Diadems are actually good prey for birds—but they have evolved colors and patterns that closely match those of African Queens, making them appear toxic. … Read more
When it comes to nurturing their young, mother chimpanzees go the extra mile, according to a new study. Using 10 years of observational data on wild chimpanzees, researchers found that while adults often play, and young chimps play a lot, when food gets scarce, the adults put mutual play aside and focus on survival. But … Read more
A new study led by palaeontologists at the University of Southampton suggests that bones found on the Isle of Wight belong to two new species of spinosaurid, a group of predatory theropod dinosaurs closely related to the giant Spinosaurus. Their unusual, crocodile-like skulls helped the group expand their diets, allowing them hunt prey on both … Read more
For years, controversy has swirled around how a Cretaceous-era, sail-backed dinosaur—the giant Spinosaurus aegyptiacus—hunted its prey. Spinosaurus was among the largest predators ever to prowl the Earth and one of the most adapted to water, but was it an aquatic denizen of the seas, diving deep to chase down its meals, or a semiaquatic wader … Read more
Paleontologists have discovered a strange new species of marine lizard with dagger-like teeth that lived near the end of the age of dinosaurs. Their findings, published in Cretaceous Research, show a dramatically different ocean ecosystem to what we see today, with numerous giant top predators eating large prey, unlike modern ecosystems where a few apex predators—such … Read more
Researchers Barry W. M. van Bakel from Utrecht University and Àlex Ossó, an independent enthusiast of ancient crustaceans, have unearthed a remarkable fossil claw belonging to what is now recognized as the largest known crab species in history. Their findings, documented in the prestigious pages of the New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, shed … Read more
Researchers have shown that inedible species of butterfly that mimic each others’ color patterns have also evolved similar flight behaviors to warn predators and avoid being eaten. It is well known that many inedible species of butterfly have evolved near identical color patterns, which act as warning signals to predators so the butterflies avoid being … Read more