//www.koonmotors.com/news/plants_animals/wild_animals/ Wildlife news. Learn all about wild animals in their native habitats. Read current research articles on large land mammals, fish and more. en-us Mon, 16 Oct 2023 17:52:58 EDT Mon, 16 Oct 2023 17:52:58 EDT 60 //www.koonmotors.com/images/scidaily-logo-rss.png//www.koonmotors.com/news/plants_animals/wild_animals/ For more science news, visit ScienceDaily. //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231016122845.htm Populations of charismatic animals have recovered since hunting ban but now struggle to find enough food. Mon, 16 Oct 2023 12:28:45 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231016122845.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231012111739.htm 'Flagship' individual animals like Cecil the lion or Freya the walrus can boost conservation, new research suggests. Thu, 12 Oct 2023 11:17:39 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231012111739.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231011182232.htm Tens of thousands of endangered sharks and rays are caught by small-scale fisheries off the Republic of the Congo each year, new research shows. Wed, 11 Oct 2023 18:22:32 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231011182232.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231011182217.htm Both elegant and fierce, killer whales are some of the oceans’ top predators, but even they can be exposed to environmental pollution. Now, in the largest study to date on North Atlantic killer whales, researchers report the levels of legacy and emerging pollutants in 162 individuals’ blubber. The animals’ diet, rather than location, greatly impacted contaminant levels and potential health risks — information that’s helpful to conservation efforts. Wed, 11 Oct 2023 18:22:17 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231011182217.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231010201228.htm Relationship patterns among flightless stick insects suggest that birds disperse the eggs after eating gravid females. Lab experiments previously suggested the possibility, but a new genetic analysis of natural populations in Japan now supports the idea. Tue, 10 Oct 2023 20:12:28 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231010201228.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231010133543.htm Recent conservation efforts have proven effective at controlling wild pig populations in the Southeastern United States, according to new research. Within 24 months of the start of control efforts in the study area located around the Savannah River Site in Aiken, South Carolina, researchers found a reduction of about 70% in relative abundance of pigs and a corresponding decline in environmental rooting damage of about 99%. Tue, 10 Oct 2023 13:35:43 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231010133543.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231010105314.htm Due to the changing climate, the underwater world is getting ever noisier. Tue, 10 Oct 2023 10:53:14 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231010105314.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231009191625.htm Researchers measured natural selection in four Anolis lizard species in the wild for five consecutive time periods over three years. This long-term study in a community of lizards reveals how evolution unfolds in the wild across multiple species. Mon, 09 Oct 2023 19:16:25 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231009191625.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231005204059.htm Grass may transfer genes from their neighbors in the same way genetically modified crops are made, a new study has revealed. Thu, 05 Oct 2023 20:40:59 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231005204059.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231005110725.htm Mammals living in South Africa's Greater Kruger National Park, home to one of the world's largest remaining lion populations, are far more afraid of hearing human voices than lion vocalizations or hunting sounds such as dogs barking or gunshots. Thu, 05 Oct 2023 11:07:25 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231005110725.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231005110720.htm For decades, scientists have assumed that mammals and their relatives that survived challenging times (like those during mass extinctions) made it because they were generalists that were able to eat just about anything and adapt to whatever life threw at them. A new study into the mammal family tree through multiple mass extinctions revealed that the species that survived aren't as generic as scientists had thought: instead, having new and different traits can be the key to succeeding in the aftermath of a catastrophe. Thu, 05 Oct 2023 11:07:20 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231005110720.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231004201940.htm 尽管几十年的衰落,一个基因的分析ruffed grouse reveals that Pennsylvania's state bird harbors more genetic diversity and connectivity than expected. The findings suggest that the iconic game bird could be maintained in persistent numbers if appropriate protections are implemented. Wed, 04 Oct 2023 20:19:40 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231004201940.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231004132422.htm A recent study has found that bird communities inside and outside protected areas are beginning to resemble each other as a result of climate change. In both areas, southern species increase in abundance, while northern species decrease. Wed, 04 Oct 2023 13:24:22 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231004132422.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231004105159.htm An international research group examined which plants honeybees favor when collecting nectar and pollen. The choices honeybees make have an impact on their health and also on humans, as honeybees pollinate important crop plants. Wed, 04 Oct 2023 10:51:59 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231004105159.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231003202004.htm Individual voice could help birds be recognized in a flock, no matter what they say. Tue, 03 Oct 2023 20:20:04 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/10/231003202004.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230929171019.htm Researchers have developed an improved way to test potential vaccines against bird flu. Fri, 29 Sep 2023 17:10:19 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230929171019.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230929171007.htm An international team of researchers has released a landmark study on contemporary evolutionary change in natural populations. Their study uses one of the largest genomic datasets ever produced for animals in their natural environment, comprising nearly 4,000 Darwin's finches. The study has revealed the genetic basis of adaptation in this iconic group. Fri, 29 Sep 2023 17:10:07 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230929171007.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230929170932.htm The rapid formation of 500 different species of fish in a single lake, each with specialized ecological roles, resulted from a small but genetically diverse hybrid population. Fri, 29 Sep 2023 17:09:32 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230929170932.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230929131649.htm Recent discoveries in the field of epigenetics, the study of inheritance of traits that occur without changing the DNA sequence, have shown that chronological age in mammals correlates with epigenetic changes that accumulate during the lifetime of an individual. In humans, this observation has led to the development of epigenetic clocks, which are now extensively used as biomarkers of aging. While these clocks work accurately from birth until death, they are set back to zero in each new generation. Now, an international team shows that epigenetic clocks not only exist in plants, but that these clocks keep ticking accurately over many generations. Fri, 29 Sep 2023 13:16:49 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230929131649.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230928152537.htm A new study has documented the abilities of individual wild Asian elephants to access food by solving puzzles that unlocked storage boxes. It is the first research study to show that individual wild elephants have different willingness and abilities to problem solve in order to get food. Thu, 28 Sep 2023 15:25:37 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230928152537.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230928152127.htm Facial recognition software used to study the social behavior of individual Greylag Geese in Europe will soon be used to monitor one of the rarest geese in the world, the Cape Barren Goose in South Australia. The technology was used to assess how each bird responds to images of themselves, other flock mates or partners and researchers say it could be used by other scientists or in citizen science apps around the world to monitor and record endangered wildlife or even to promote the welfare of animals in captivity. Thu, 28 Sep 2023 15:21:27 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230928152127.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230928151003.htm For decades, fish-eating killer whales in the Pacific Northwest have been observed harassing and even killing porpoises without consuming them —- a perplexing behavior that has long intrigued scientists. Thu, 28 Sep 2023 15:10:03 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230928151003.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230925153825.htm For the first time, researchers have extracted ancient DNA from Caribbean parrot fossils and archaeological specimens, showing that species thought to be endemic to particular islands were historically more widespread and diverse. Mon, 25 Sep 2023 15:38:25 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230925153825.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230922110831.htm Primate species with better color vision are not more likely to have red skin or fur coloration, as previously thought. Fri, 22 Sep 2023 11:08:31 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230922110831.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230922110801.htm Artificial intelligence (AI) can help plant scientists collect and analyze unprecedented volumes of data, which would not be possible using conventional methods. Researchers have now used big data, machine learning and field observations in the university's experimental garden to show how plants respond to changes in the environment. Fri, 22 Sep 2023 11:08:01 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230922110801.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230921154458.htm Trees depend on fungi for their well-being. As climate change and global warming cause higher temperatures and amplified drought, little is known about how these important fungi will respond. To investigate this issue, a research team conducted a climate change experiment where they exposed boreal and temperate tree species to warming and drought treatments to better understand how fungi and their tree hosts respond to environmental changes. Their findings revealed that the combined effects of warming and water stress will likely result in major disturbances of ectomycorrhizal networks and may harm forest resilience and function. Thu, 21 Sep 2023 15:44:58 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230921154458.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230921105756.htm Scientists have mapped the reproductive strategies and life cycle of an endangered coral species, the purple cauliflower soft coral Dendronephthya australis. Lab-grown larvae have been successfully introduced back into the wild. Thu, 21 Sep 2023 10:57:56 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230921105756.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230921105748.htm New research has found that monkeys increase their use of scent markings to compensate for human noise pollution. The study has investigated how primates change their communication strategies in response to noise pollution. The researchers studied endangered pied tamarins (Saguinus bicolor), which use both vocal calls and scent markings. The researchers found that the frequency of scent marking directly increased in line with noise decibel levels. Thu, 21 Sep 2023 10:57:48 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230921105748.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230920111202.htm Biologists have discovered why an enzyme is important for the survival of fruit flies, even though it can shorten their lives under certain conditions. Wed, 20 Sep 2023 11:12:02 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230920111202.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230920111200.htm The bright lights of big cities could be causing an evolutionary adaptation for smaller eyes in some birds, a new study indicates. Researchers found that two common songbirds, the Northern Cardinal and Carolina Wren, that live year-round in the urban core of San Antonio, Texas, had eyes about 5% smaller than members of the same species from the less bright outskirts. Researchers found no eye-size difference for two species of migratory birds, the Painted Bunting and White-eyed Vireo, no matter which part of the city they lived in for most of the year. The findings have implications for conservation efforts amid the rapid decline of bird populations across the U.S. Wed, 20 Sep 2023 11:12:00 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230920111200.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230920013604.htm While many species are undergoing drastic declines in their numbers and geographic ranges, other species seem to be thriving. Researchers investigating the great-tailed grackle, a bird that has been establishing new populations across North America in the past few decades, reveal that behavior might play a key role in their success. They found that the population on the range's edge is more persistent and has more variability in flexibility, and that this species has shifted toward living more in urban, arid environments. Wed, 20 Sep 2023 01:36:04 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230920013604.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230920013557.htm A new study finds that most Rafflesia species, which produce the world's largest flowers, face extinction. Lack of protection at local, national, and international levels means that remaining populations are under critical threat. Wed, 20 Sep 2023 01:35:57 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230920013557.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230920012724.htm Living on a golf course dramatically changes alligator feeding habits. Wed, 20 Sep 2023 01:27:24 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230920012724.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230919154921.htm 新的研究描绘了一幅令人担忧的different species of bees that provide multi-million-euro pollination services in Ireland each yea. The work raises concerns about the potential wide-spread exposure to multiple chemicals from two pesticide categories (fungicides and neonicotinoid insecticides) and indicates that different bee species may be exposed differently to pesticides -- meaning that assessments of pesticide risk to honey bees may not be easily extrapolated to other bees. Tue, 19 Sep 2023 15:49:21 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230919154921.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230919153758.htm 一项新的研究显示的隔离和测序more than a century-old RNA molecules from a Tasmanian tiger specimen preserved at room temperature in a museum collection. This resulted in the reconstruction of skin and skeletal muscle transcriptomes from an extinct species for the first time. The researchers note that their findings have relevant implications for international efforts to resurrect extinct species, including both the Tasmanian tiger and the woolly mammoth, as well as for studying pandemic RNA viruses. Tue, 19 Sep 2023 15:37:58 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230919153758.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230918105202.htm Many pathogens, including the virus that causes COVID-19, are thought to have originated in wild animals before spilling into human populations. Mon, 18 Sep 2023 10:52:02 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230918105202.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230918105133.htm The research team generated a series of fire susceptibility maps. These show the proportion of Australia experiencing 'high' or 'very high' fire susceptibility increasing from 14.9% now to 15.66% by 2070 -- while fire susceptibility of areas suitable for the plants that koalas depend on is tipped to jump from 39.56% to 44.61% by 2070. Mon, 18 Sep 2023 10:51:33 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230918105133.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230915105618.htm A database tracking hospital admissions and deaths reveals the devastating impact cars, disease and dogs are having on the South East Queensland koala population. Fri, 15 Sep 2023 10:56:18 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230915105618.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230914224049.htm Ground-nesting birds called lapwings use the shape of their nests and surroundings to hide from predators, new research shows. Thu, 14 Sep 2023 22:40:49 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230914224049.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230914174738.htm The better a songbird is at working its way around obstacles to retrieve a snack, the more complex its vocal learning ability will be. Thu, 14 Sep 2023 17:47:38 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230914174738.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230914103337.htm To obtain the biggest cherry harvest, trees should be pollinated by both honey bees and mason bees. This new study shows yet another benefit of biodiversity. Thu, 14 Sep 2023 10:33:37 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230914103337.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230914103326.htm Most wild bees are solitary, but one tiny species of carpenter bees fastidiously cares for and raises their offspring, an act that translates into huge benefits to the developing bee's microbiome, development and health, found researchers. Without maternal care the pathogen load of these developing bees ballooned -- 85 per cent of were fungi, while eight per cent were bacteria -- which can impact their microbiome, a critical component of bee health, as well as their development, immune system and gene expression. Thu, 14 Sep 2023 10:33:26 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230914103326.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230913122706.htm 平静地坐在他们的网,许多蜘蛛等佛r prey to come to them. Arachnids along lakes and rivers eat aquatic insects, such as dragonflies. But, when these insects live in mercury-contaminated waterways, they can pass the metal along to the spiders that feed on them. Now, researchers have demonstrated how some shoreline spiders can move mercury contamination from riverbeds up the food chain to land animals. Wed, 13 Sep 2023 12:27:06 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230913122706.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230913122654.htm 新的研究表明,猫头鹰在德克萨斯州有高rates of anticoagulant rodenticides (AR) -- blood thinning rat poisons -- in their systems. Wed, 13 Sep 2023 12:26:54 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230913122654.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230912113544.htm Accelerometers reading the behavior of wild boars can pick up when animals are infected with a fatal virus. Tue, 12 Sep 2023 11:35:44 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230912113544.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230912110122.htm Peppers are a versatile, flavorful, and widely popular crop, used not only as a healthy food source but also for their medicinal properties. Scientists have now sequenced the genomes of key cultivated and wild pepper species, offering unprecedented insights into pepper evolution, domestication, and genetic diversity. Tue, 12 Sep 2023 11:01:22 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230912110122.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230911165851.htm Biologists have found evidence for evolutionary 'syndromes'-- sets of traits that occur together -- that help to explain how tomatoes first evolved their distinctive blend of color, sweetness, acidity and aroma. The research not only shines a light on how fruits evolve in the wild, but will also be valuable to crop-improvement efforts aimed at breeding more nutritious and appealing varieties of fruits. Mon, 11 Sep 2023 16:58:51 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230911165851.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230911141210.htm More than 400 million years ago, an insect-like animal called the springtail developed a small protein that prevents its cells from freezing. Mon, 11 Sep 2023 14:12:10 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230911141210.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230911141124.htm New results reveal that many of Africa's remaining lions live within small, fragmented populations at risk of disappearing. The researchers developed a new framework which integrates ecological and socio-political risk factors to better understand the fragility of these populations. Mon, 11 Sep 2023 14:11:24 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230911141124.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230911141056.htm A herring in the North Sea, a crab in the Wadden Sea or an anemone fish on a coral reef, ... biologists like to think in terms of individual species that all have their own place within food webs in ecosystems across the world. 'But that is surely too simplistic thinking,' researchers warn. Mon, 11 Sep 2023 14:10:56 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230911141056.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230911141028.htm Jackdaws ditch old friends and make new ones if it helps them get rewards -- but stick with family through thick and thin, new research shows. Mon, 11 Sep 2023 14:10:28 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230911141028.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230911141025.htm A new study presents genomic evidence of hybridization between two closely related species of sea stars -- Asterias rubens, the common starfish, and Asterias forbesi, known as Forbes' sea star. Mon, 11 Sep 2023 14:10:25 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230911141025.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230908130006.htm Researchers have shown that the shape, size, and geometry of carnivorous pitcher plants determines the type of prey they trap. Fri, 08 Sep 2023 13:00:06 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230908130006.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230907130427.htm New research explores the historical shifts in mammal traits and biodiversity loss in eastern Africa. The study reveals how environmental changes disrupted mammal communities and highlights the urgent need for targeted conservation efforts to protect vulnerable species. Thu, 07 Sep 2023 13:04:27 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230907130427.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230907130404.htm An international consortium of scientists is using an unprecedentedly large database of canine DNA to take an unbiased look at how our furry friends evolved into the various breeds we know and love. Thu, 07 Sep 2023 13:04:04 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230907130404.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230906135636.htm When humans are ill, we tend to be less active. This also applies to wild animals, but so far, it has not been known how long the reduced activity lasts or which activities are affected the most. New research shows that birds' activity decreases for up to three weeks when they become ill -- something that could mean the difference between life and death. Wed, 06 Sep 2023 13:56:36 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230906135636.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230905202500.htm Researchers report that the flexible shoulders and elbows that allow us to throw a football or reach a high shelf may have evolved as a natural braking system that let our primate ancestors get out of trees without dying. The researchers used sports-analysis software to compare the climbing movements of chimpanzees and small monkeys called mangabeys. While the animals climb up trees similarly, the researchers found that the shallow, rounded shoulder joints and shortened elbow bones that chimps have -- similar to humans -- allow them to fully extend their arms above their heads when climbing down, holding onto branches like a person going down a ladder to support their greater weight. When early humans left forests for the grassy savanna, these versatile appendages would have been essential for gathering food and using tools for hunting and defense. The findings are among the first to identify the significance of 'downclimbing' in the evolution of apes and early humans. Tue, 05 Sep 2023 20:25:00 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230905202500.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230905125052.htm Invasive alien species are animals that may pose a threat to biodiversity, but it's time to deal with that threat in a more ethical way. Tue, 05 Sep 2023 12:50:52 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230905125052.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230905124952.htm Elephants, buffaloes and other heavy herbivores are effective against invasive plants. This is the conclusion of a new study that used Indian data, including data from the world's largest survey of wildlife based on camera traps. But smaller animals can do the same: you don't need elephants to get the same effect, the researchers point out. Tue, 05 Sep 2023 12:49:52 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230905124952.htm //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230904151038.htm Diversified farming is an important complement to forest protections for reversing tropical biodiversity declines. Mon, 04 Sep 2023 15:10:38 EDT //www.koonmotors.com/releases/2023/09/230904151038.htm