https://phys.org/biology-news/plants-animals en-us The latest science news on plants and animals Urbanization and human activities have transformed a significant proportion of the land on Earth, resulting in the formation of urban environments. These urban environments are man-made habitats that often impose several selective pressures on their inhabitants. https://phys.org/news/2023-10-urbanization-trigger-evolution.html Plants & Animals Evolution Fri, 20 Oct 2023 14:00:01 EDT news617009730 Often introduced unintentionally by human activities, invasive alien species can outcompete and overwhelm native flora and fauna, driving species to the brink of extinction and disrupting the balance of ecosystems. Understanding why exactly they establish in new locations and how they got there in the first place is crucial if we are to mitigate their destructive effects. Unfortunately, there isn't enough research on this, and the answers might not always be straightforward. https://phys.org/news/2023-10-soil-sea-freight-dangerous-pests.html Plants & Animals Ecology Fri, 20 Oct 2023 13:32:03 EDT news617027521 This year is the tenth annual Aussie Backyard Bird Count, which Professor Simon Griffith says highlights the important role citizen science projects play in our understanding of changes taking place in our world. https://phys.org/news/2023-10-chickens-kookaburras-lorikeets-backyard-birds.html Plants & Animals Ecology Fri, 20 Oct 2023 13:19:03 EDT news617026741 The ability of bisphenols and hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls to activate estrogen receptor α and β subtypes (bsERα and bsERβ) in Baikal seals (Pusa sibirica) was evaluated by both in vitro and computer-based (in silico) experiments. https://phys.org/news/2023-10-scientists-endocrine-disruption-environmental-contaminants.html Plants & Animals Molecular & Computational biology Fri, 20 Oct 2023 13:04:02 EDT news617025841 Recent collaboration between Bangor University and the UK Center for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) has shown that most people want more nature like trees and wildflowers in their towns and cities. https://phys.org/news/2023-10-people-trees-wildflower-meadows-townscapes.html Plants & Animals Ecology Fri, 20 Oct 2023 12:54:03 EDT news617025241 In an article published in the journal Flora, researchers at São Paulo State University (UNESP) in Brazil examine some of the strategies developed over eons of evolution by plants in the Cerrado, Brazil's savanna-like biome, to protect themselves and resprout quickly after fire. https://phys.org/news/2023-10-cerrado-combine-strategies-survive.html Plants & Animals Ecology Fri, 20 Oct 2023 12:49:04 EDT news617024941 The Baltic Sea Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) consists of both wild and hatchery-reared fish. As these salmon forage for food, they migrate through various areas of the Baltic Sea and are exposed to a variety of environmental stresses, including exposure to organohalogen compounds (OHCs). https://phys.org/news/2023-10-organohalogen-contamination-impact-health-baltic.html Plants & Animals Ecology Fri, 20 Oct 2023 12:06:03 EDT news617022362 The Kaokoveld region, covering north-western Namibia and south-western Angola, is one of the remotest areas in southern Africa. Although it's extremely dry, it is a center of species endemism: many species occur only there and nowhere else on earth. https://phys.org/news/2023-10-namibia-angola-remote-ovahimba-mountains.html Plants & Animals Ecology Fri, 20 Oct 2023 11:54:04 EDT news617021641 A team of marine biologists with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Alaska Fishery Science Center has solved the mystery of why approximately 10 billion snow crabs vanished from the Bering Sea back in 2018/2019—the water there was too warm for them. https://phys.org/news/2023-10-billion-crabs-starved-death-bering.html Plants & Animals Ecology Fri, 20 Oct 2023 10:16:05 EDT news617015762 Tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCIPP) is one of the organophosphorus flame retardants that has been detected in the environment, and in the eggs, feathers, and liver of birds. Early developmental avian embryos are known to be sensitive to chemical exposure, but knowledge regarding the effects of TCIPP on avian embryonic development is limited. https://phys.org/news/2023-10-results-organophosphorus-flame-retardants-malformations.html Plants & Animals Molecular & Computational biology Fri, 20 Oct 2023 09:32:04 EDT news617013122 As rising global temperatures push Arctic icecaps into retreat, large and small sea creatures and the commercial fishing boats that follow them are also migrating northward. https://phys.org/news/2023-10-arctic-pose-threat-pacific-whales.html Plants & Animals Ecology Thu, 19 Oct 2023 16:55:52 EDT news616953350 A new study used a novel technique to assess types of habitat provided by oyster reefs across 12 tributaries in the Chesapeake Bay. https://phys.org/news/2023-10-underwater-cameras-large-scale-oyster-reef.html Plants & Animals Ecology Thu, 19 Oct 2023 16:55:09 EDT news616953306 Cooperation between species to help each other's survival is known as mutualism. It is seen among many types of organisms, such as plants and fungi that exchange nutrients with one another, plants that provide bees with nectar in exchange for pollination, and sea anemones that provide protection for clown-fish in exchange for excreted nutrients. https://phys.org/news/2023-10-mutualism-invasive-species.html Plants & Animals Ecology Thu, 19 Oct 2023 16:54:53 EDT news616953291 Scientists and natural resource managers from Canadian First Nations, governments, academic institutions, and conservation organizations published the first results of a unique salmon population monitoring tool in Frontiers in Marine Science. https://phys.org/news/2023-10-nations-led-ai-technology-salmon-recovery.html Plants & Animals Ecology Thu, 19 Oct 2023 16:41:03 EDT news616952461 Growers want to produce wildlife-friendly plants, and consumers want to buy them, at least in theory, new University of Florida research shows. https://phys.org/news/2023-10-growers-consumers-wildlife-friendly.html Plants & Animals Ecology Thu, 19 Oct 2023 14:21:29 EDT news616944087 Every 13 or 17 years, billions of cicadas emerge from the ground to reproduce in eastern North American deciduous forests. One of the largest emergence events of these insects happened in 2021 when the Brood X cicadas emerged. Researchers who studied that once-in-a-generation event are now unveiling the impact this occurrence had on forest ecosystems, specifically on birds, caterpillars and trees. https://phys.org/news/2023-10-unearthing-ecological-impacts-cicada-emergences.html Plants & Animals Ecology Thu, 19 Oct 2023 14:00:01 EDT news616929643 With the help of three citizen scientists, an unknown Cryptocoryne population was found in one of the streams of Zamboanga del Norte province, Philippines, in March 2023. After careful morphological studies and literature review, researchers from Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and their collaborators confirmed the unknown species was distinctive and new to science. https://phys.org/news/2023-10-trumpet-species-philippines.html Plants & Animals Thu, 19 Oct 2023 12:51:02 EDT news616938661 An international team of biologists, animal management specialists, geneticists and forestry managers has discovered a new species of "dragon lizard" in Laos—one with very impressive camouflage capabilities. In their paper published in the journal Zoological Research, the group describes how the lizards were found and what they learned from two samples they captured. https://phys.org/news/2023-10-dragon-lizard-species-camouflage-capabilities.html Plants & Animals Ecology Thu, 19 Oct 2023 10:20:37 EDT news616929629 The next time you head to the coast to enjoy the Tampa Bay waters, you may stumble upon a Pierce's Cyerce—a recently-discovered sea slug species that is being named after Sidney "Skip" Pierce, emeritus professor of integrative biology at the University of South Florida. https://phys.org/news/2023-10-sea-slug-species-biology-professor.html Plants & Animals Ecology Thu, 19 Oct 2023 10:19:03 EDT news616929541 Scientists have discovered the deepest known evidence of coral reef bleaching, more than 90 meters below the surface of the Indian Ocean. https://phys.org/news/2023-10-scientists-deepest-evidence-coral-reef.html Plants & Animals Ecology Thu, 19 Oct 2023 10:02:04 EDT news616928521 The Seaquarium's beloved performing killer whale, Lolita, appears to have died of old age and multiple chronic illnesses, according to the executive summary of her necropsy released Tuesday afternoon to the Miami Herald. https://phys.org/news/2023-10-lolita-necropsy-seaquarium-beloved-orca.html Plants & Animals Wed, 18 Oct 2023 17:10:01 EDT news616867279 Invasive plant species management in India has historically been constrained by a lack of information regarding the spread of invasions. So to combat this, scientists from the Wildlife Institute of India were forced to come up with a unique solution. https://phys.org/news/2023-10-invasive-species-threaten-india-natural.html Plants & Animals Ecology Wed, 18 Oct 2023 16:50:04 EDT news616866602 New research has shed light on the importance of revolutionizing methods in entomology. A publication titled "The need for a (non-destructive) method revolution in entomology" has highlighted how to improve our understanding of insects without harming them. https://phys.org/news/2023-10-insect-non-destructive-methods.html Plants & Animals Ecology Wed, 18 Oct 2023 15:53:02 EDT news616863181 Good real estate is not easy to find, even for sea creatures. Sometimes, push comes to shove, and species resort to competition or conquering before weighing the benefits of sharing an ecosystem like housemates. https://phys.org/news/2023-10-exploring-limits-marine-burrow-cohabitation.html Plants & Animals Ecology Wed, 18 Oct 2023 15:52:03 EDT news616863121 An unexpected pregnancy is making history at SeaWorld Orlando. Three smalltooth sawfish pups, born this summer at the theme park, are now living backstage and providing data and mystery. https://phys.org/news/2023-10-delivery-endangered-sawfish-born-seaworld.html Plants & Animals Ecology Wed, 18 Oct 2023 13:45:03 EDT news616855501 Human noise pollution is taking its toll on the iconic Australian magpie, affecting the songbirds' ability to forage for food, communicate and respond to alarm calls—but smart birds are less affected than others. https://phys.org/news/2023-10-impact-man-made-noise-magpie-behavior.html Plants & Animals Ecology Wed, 18 Oct 2023 12:38:02 EDT news616851481 The devastating tsunami that hit Japan in March 2011 set off a series of events which have long fascinated scientists like me. It was so powerful that it caused 5 million tons of debris to wash into the Pacific—1.5 million tons remained afloat and started drifting with the currents. https://phys.org/news/2023-10-animal-traits-journey-species-globe.html Plants & Animals Ecology Wed, 18 Oct 2023 12:30:01 EDT news616850658 Recently, I encountered the thought-provoking expression "God is dead, Marx is dead and I don't feel so well myself." I wonder if it is now the time to update this by adding "Nature is dead." https://phys.org/news/2023-10-nature-relationship-environment-crisis.html Plants & Animals Ecology Wed, 18 Oct 2023 12:03:03 EDT news616849381 Purdue University scientists are unraveling the complicated toxicity of a mixture of what are often called "forever chemicals" found in many consumer products. https://phys.org/news/2023-10-bio-impact-toxic-chemical-cocktails-environment.html Plants & Animals Ecology Wed, 18 Oct 2023 09:44:04 EDT news616841041 Bachman's warbler, the southern acornshell and the upland combshell. Not long ago, those creatures called the rivers of Georgia and the skies above them home. But now, the federal government has confirmed a grim fact that scientists had long suspected: The songbird and two species of freshwater mussels will never be seen again. https://phys.org/news/2023-10-endangered-species-georgia-extinct-feds.html Plants & Animals Ecology Wed, 18 Oct 2023 06:50:00 EDT news616830596