Deepwater Horizon Disaster Payout Announced by US Justice Department
A new cash settlement will be given to the Gulf of Mexico science and restoration project, due to the federal charges related to the 2010…
Ecology News
Birdsongs Elicit “Emotional” Response From Birds
Scientists indicate that birds listening to birdsong may be experiencing an emotional response akin to when humans listen to music. The study tracked the neural…
The Myth of Promiscuous Males & Choosy Females
Scientists think that a study, which has been a cornerstone in evolutionary biology for the last five decades, could be wrong. Ecologist and evolutionary biologist…
Darcin in Mice Urine Attracts Other Mice
Mice seem to be addicted to the scent of urine and repeatedly go back to spots where they found the excretions. Researchers have discovered that…
The Amazon Rainforest Could Be Drying Out
In the past few years, the Amazon rainforest in Peru’s Ucayali region has been hit by two severe droughts, one in 2005 and another in…
Orangutans Learn Tool Use Through Social Observation
A new study concludes that even very young Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii) start forming ideas about their world, and how and when to use certain…
Cloud Forest Trees Depend on Fog
Trees in Costa Rica, as well as a number of plant species, in the tropical cloud forests quench their thirst by directly ingesting fog droplets…
Periodical Cicadas Manipulate the Populations of Predatory Birds
Periodical cicadas emerge in North America every 13 or 17 years. Scientists think that the cicadas’ cycles are timed to “engineer” the number of predatory…
Data Shows 2010 Amazon Megadrought Caused Serious Devastation
A new study indicates that the megadrought that struck the Amazon in 2010 devastated millions of hectares of rainforest, shedding a new light over the…
Invasive Species King Crabs Could Wipe Out Antarctic Ecosystems
Colder temperatures have kept crabs out of Antarctic seas for 30 million years, but warmer waters from the ocean depths are now intruding onto the…
Homosexual Behavior Among Fish Increases Attractiveness to Females
In many species, females are attracted to large, conspicuous males. But among animals that mate with many partners, males that manage to mate with more…
An Invasive Grass Species Spreads Wildfires Quicker
New research indicates that an invasive species of grass is making wildfires in the western USA larger, hotter, and more frequent. A variety of grasses…
Changes in the Andes Cause Flood Risks for South American Cities
At more than 11,000 feet above sea level, very important ecosystems known as páramos exist. These kinds of ecosystems are only found in Central and…
European Catfish Learn to Catch Pigeons
A group of European catfish in Southwestern France has learned to catch pigeons, as they get close to the River Tarn. European catfish (Silurus glanis)…
Urban Birds Use Cigarette Butts to Get Rid of Pests
A team of ecologists discovered that city birds may be inserting cigarette butts into the lining of their nests in order to repel arthropods. The…
Eurasian Jays Aware When Others Are Listening
A new study indicates that Eurasian jays (Garrulus glandarius) are aware that others may be watching them while they hide away nuts and seeds for the…
Humans Are a Greater Disturbance to Elk Than Natural Predators
A new study has shown that elk become more fearful when people are around because they perceive humans as predators. The scientists published their findings…
“Coughing” Scallops Are Early Warning System for Worsening Water Quality
Scallops cough to expel feces and water from their central cavities. The friction between the mollusk’s two valves makes a sharp crack, followed by a…
