https://phys.org/biology-news/ecology en-us The latest science and research news on ecology A town on northern Mexico's Pacific coast saw its beaches carpeted with dead fish after what experts describe as a toxic algae bloom. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-dead-fish-carpet-beaches-pacific.html Ecology Thu, 03 Aug 2023 04:00:00 EDT news610253996 When you are driving through a rain storm, traction is key. If your tires lack sufficient tread, your vehicle will slip and slide, and you won't have the grip needed to maneuver safely. When torrential rains hit near-shore, shallow water ecosystems, sea urchins experience a similar challenge. Heavy precipitation can alter the concentration of salt in the ocean waters, causing lower salinity levels. Even a slight change in salinity can affect the ability of sea urchins to securely attach their tube feet to their surroundings—like tires gripping the road. This becomes a matter of life and death for the small spiny creatures, as they rely on their adhesive structures to move in the wave-battered rocky area near the seashore. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-sea-urchins-struggling-climate-ecosystems.html Plants & Animals Ecology Wed, 02 Aug 2023 16:09:13 EDT news610211348 Interest in local bird feeding appears to have ramped up in countries all over the world during the pandemic lockdowns, even in countries not historically noted for bird feeding practices, according to a study published August 2, 2023 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Jacqueline Doremus from California Polytechnic State University and Liqing Li from Texas A&M University College Station, US, and Darryl Jones from Griffith University, Australia. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-bird-surged-countries-worldwide-covid-.html Plants & Animals Ecology Wed, 02 Aug 2023 14:00:01 EDT news610189622 It's a hot day at a Santa Monica beach, and the children splashing each other aren't the only youngsters in the water. Somewhere not far from the shore swims a group of five or more juvenile white sharks. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-attention-beachgoers-sharks-wrong.html Plants & Animals Ecology Wed, 02 Aug 2023 13:00:01 EDT news610199025 Earth's soil contains large stocks of carbon—even more carbon than in the atmosphere. A significant portion of this soil carbon is in organic form (carbon bound to carbon), called soil organic carbon (SOC). However, SOC has historically been greatly diminished by agricultural activity, releasing that carbon into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-method-accurate-efficient-soil-carbon.html Ecology Agriculture Wed, 02 Aug 2023 12:46:40 EDT news610199195 Cadmium naturally occurs in the soil of much of Latin America's cacao farms, and is absorbed by the plants. With EU regulations restricting the amount of cadmium allowed in chocolate imports, it is important for farmers to know where they can grow cacao that is fit for the global market. Researchers have compiled a map that aims to address this challenge. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-cadmium-cacao-problem-isnt-bad.html Ecology Agriculture Wed, 02 Aug 2023 12:45:57 EDT news610199139 New research published today in Nature has revealed the importance of mineral forms of iron in regulating the cycling of this bio-essential nutrient in the ocean. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-highlights-importance-mineral-iron-ocean.html Ecology Molecular & Computational biology Wed, 02 Aug 2023 12:31:48 EDT news610198302 Contributing to the pursuit of sustainable farming, especially sugarcane growing, Brazilian researchers have shown that water bodies such as ponds and even puddles can maintain ecosystem services, provided there are tolerant animals in the vicinity to replace those most sensitive to agricultural practices. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-substitution-tolerant-sensitive-species-ecosystems.html Plants & Animals Ecology Wed, 02 Aug 2023 11:23:07 EDT news610194183 For years, the Balkan lynx has struggled to survive as deforestation destroyed its habitat and poachers targeted the elusive mountain cat along with the animals it relies on for food. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-wild-stray-dogs-threaten-rare.html Ecology Wed, 02 Aug 2023 11:17:57 EDT news610193872 Humans have trained domestic animals for thousands of years, to help with farming, transport, or hunting. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-unique-wild-predators-alien-species.html Plants & Animals Ecology Wed, 02 Aug 2023 11:09:25 EDT news610193360 Owing to human activities and climate change, many animal species have invaded new habitats. Such biological invasion comes with devastating impacts on the local biodiversity and ecosystems. The red swamp crayfish—known to the scientific world as Procambarus clarkii (P. clarkii)—is no exception. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-tropical-red-swamp-crayfish-successfully.html Plants & Animals Ecology Wed, 02 Aug 2023 10:44:47 EDT news610191882 Dodging dog feces along the local path has become something of an Olympic sport of late. I thought I'd count path-side dog feces on my bike ride the other day and gave up after counting 30 piles in the first kilometer. It really does feel a bit out of control at the moment. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-dog-cat-feces-isnt-gross.html Ecology Veterinary medicine Wed, 02 Aug 2023 10:30:01 EDT news610190861 Humans typically reserve their practices of mourning for loved ones. But extending these rituals of grief and loss to non-human animals (and our shared habitats) can also help us appreciate being part of the natural world, not separate from it. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-huia-nz-bird-century-contest.html Plants & Animals Ecology Wed, 02 Aug 2023 10:28:43 EDT news610190870 Scientists from St Petersburg University as part of a research team have studied bones of hadrosaurid dinosaurs, or duck-billed dinosaurs, found in Chukotka. They were able to confirm that 66 million years ago the climate in the area was much milder than what had been previously believed. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-paleontologists-dinosaur-fossils-chukotka-russia.html Ecology Paleontology & Fossils Wed, 02 Aug 2023 10:23:02 EDT news610190578 A new invasive insect, the elm zigzag sawfly, has arrived in North Carolina. This sawfly, Aproceros leucopoda, is native to East Asia, was first seen in the U.S. in 2021, and it has been detected in five eastern states so far. The insect feeds on the leaves of elm trees, but long-term impacts on tree health and the best ways to manage the insect's spread are still unknown, according to a North Carolina State University forest health researcher. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-qa-track-invasive-insect-elm.html Plants & Animals Ecology Wed, 02 Aug 2023 08:36:29 EDT news610184150 A study led by The University of Western Australia has revealed a tool used by prey to conceal 3D body shapes in nature, providing a different perspective on how camouflage works. The findings have been detailed in, " Camouflage using three-dimensional surface disruption," and published in Biology Letters. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-depth-camouflage.html Plants & Animals Ecology Wed, 02 Aug 2023 07:51:35 EDT news610181489 The silver rice rat, an endangered species endemic to the Florida Keys, makes its home as close to the shoreline as possible for easy access to its low-tide marine species diet. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-sea-shifts-habitat-endangered-florida.html Plants & Animals Ecology Tue, 01 Aug 2023 17:01:40 EDT news610128095 In the peak heat of summer, beachgoers don't want their plans thwarted by harmful algal blooms (HABs). But current methods to remove or kill toxin-producing algae and cyanobacteria aren't efficient or practical for direct applications in waterways. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-sponge-algal-blooms.html Ecology Biotechnology Tue, 01 Aug 2023 17:00:07 EDT news610128005 Seeds are important in seedling establishment, community renewal and restoration of degraded vegetation in sandy grassland ecosystems. Understanding how temperature and precipitation changes affect physiological characters of desert plant seeds is essential for seed development. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-reveals-physiological-characters-seeds-drought.html Plants & Animals Ecology Tue, 01 Aug 2023 15:51:03 EDT news610123861 With mighty jaws and plate-like teeth, the whitespotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari) can pretty much crunch on anything. In fact, hard clam farmers in Florida's Indian River Lagoon have considered this species a threat to their production efforts and profit margin. This assumption, however, is mostly anecdotal. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-dna-decodes-dining-shell-shucking-whitespotted.html Plants & Animals Ecology Tue, 01 Aug 2023 15:10:12 EDT news610121401 A toxic red tide has returned to San Francisco Bay, raising fears of a reprise of last summer's unusually large fish die-off. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-red-tide-san-francisco-bay.html Plants & Animals Ecology Tue, 01 Aug 2023 14:51:03 EDT news610120261 The lightning-sparked Lowline fire burning in western Colorado north of Gunnison has expanded to 1,331 acres as firefighters retreat and set deliberate backfires in an effort to reduce thick fallen trees in the forests. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-lowline-north-gunnison-firefighters-retreat.html Ecology Tue, 01 Aug 2023 14:50:02 EDT news610120201 Birds can be electrocuted if they come into contact with two energized parts of a power line at once—which can happen when they spread their wings to take off from or land on a power pole. Because of this, energy companies invest substantial time and money into making sure power lines are avian safe, installing safe perches and insulating energized elements. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-illegal-responsible-birds-dead-power.html Plants & Animals Ecology Tue, 01 Aug 2023 11:00:01 EDT news610100853 North Carolina State University researchers have identified the specific blend of pheromone chemicals—including a newly revealed aphrodisiac—used by male moths during courtship as they attempt to entice females to mate. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-male-moth-aphrodisiac-revealed.html Ecology Molecular & Computational biology Tue, 01 Aug 2023 11:00:01 EDT news610098586 Researchers often think how and when their results will be published. However, many research projects don't see the light until decades (or even centuries) later, if at all. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-year-old-tassie-tiger-brain-sample.html Evolution Ecology Tue, 01 Aug 2023 10:35:33 EDT news610104929 Researchers have revealed the unique 'cheating' strategy a New Zealand insect has developed to avoid being eaten—mimicking a highly toxic species. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-pays-survival-strategy-insect-uncovered.html Ecology Molecular & Computational biology Tue, 01 Aug 2023 10:17:03 EDT news610103821 South Africa said on Tuesday its world-famous Kruger park had witnessed a steady decline in rhino killings as better patrols and the onslaught it suffered in recent years pushed poachers elsewhere. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-safrica-links-fall-kruger-rhino.html Ecology Tue, 01 Aug 2023 08:53:22 EDT news610098798 There are now more golden lion tamarins bounding between branches in the Brazilian rainforest than at any time since efforts to save the species started in the 1970s, a new survey reveals. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-brazil-endangered-golden-monkeys-recovered.html Plants & Animals Ecology Tue, 01 Aug 2023 08:51:48 EDT news610098705 It's an elegant solution: Remove the habitat of a parasite-carrying aquatic snail and reduce the level of infection in the local community; all while generating more feed and compost for local farmers. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-nuisance-vegetation-senegalese-waterways-prevalence.html Ecology Agriculture Tue, 01 Aug 2023 03:51:56 EDT news610080705 The lakes in Wyoming's Wind River Mountains historically didn't contain fish, but stocking of trout that began in the early 1900s has created an environment in which hundreds of those lakes now have strong fish populations—some carried on by natural reproduction for decades. https://phys.org/news/2023-07-evolutionary-trout-wyoming-river-mountains.html Evolution Ecology Mon, 31 Jul 2023 16:59:03 EDT news610041541