Tag: Animal Behavior
-
Rare Polar Bear Cub Adoption Near Churchill Verified by Scientists
Introduction: A remarkable observation in the Arctic In mid-November, researchers tracking polar bears in northeastern Manitoba witnessed a scene that surprised even seasoned scientists: a polar bear mother with a cub appeared to adopt another cub. The sighting, later verified by multiple scientists and field teams, marks a rare behavioral event in the species and…
-
Chimps That Kill for Territory Gain Reproductive Advantages
Territorial aggression and reproductive payoff Chimpanzees are renowned for their complex social strategies, but a growing body of research suggests that lethal intergroup aggression—killing neighboring groups to claim more territory—may also confer a reproductive edge. A long-running field project led by primatologist John Mitani at the University of Michigan has tracked the Ngogo chimpanzees in…
-
How a Violent Clash Between Chimpanzees Ended in a Baby Boom
Overview: A clash that reshaped a chimpanzee community Chimpanzees are often portrayed as peaceful primates, but their societies can be brutal arenas where territory, mates, and dominance are constantly negotiated. A recent study conducted in Uganda examines a violent clash between neighboring chimpanzee communities and traces how the ensuing social upheaval led to a remarkable…
-
The Ancient Kiss: How Mouth-to-Mouth Kissing Traced to 21 Million Years Ago
Researchers Unveil the Deep History of the Kiss From humans to primates and even some marine mammals, the intimate act of kissing has long seemed uniquely human in its social meaning. A new study, however, pushes the timeline far back, suggesting that the mouth-to-mouth kiss evolved more than 21 million years ago. This discovery sheds…
-
Can Brainless Animals Think? Understanding Simple Nervous Systems
Intro: The Question at Hand The phrase “brainless animals” often conjures images of mindless creatures. Yet many animals such as jellyfish, sea stars, sea urchins, and sea anemones display complex behaviors: catching prey, avoiding danger, and reacting to changing environments. If they aren’t wired with a centralized brain, can we still say they think? The…
-
UM Students Eye Animal Behavior Through Camera Traps on a Montana Hillside
Fieldwork in Montana: UM students deploy camera traps to study wildlife behavior On a sunlit hillside in northwest Montana, a small team of University of Montana students gathers around a tree, threading a sturdy strap and adjusting the angle of a motion-activated camera. The scene could be mistaken for a routine nature hike, but for…
-
Splatatouille: A Squirrel Rather Than a Rat Debunked by Science
What was once a quirky urban mystery On a damp stretch of West Roscoe Street in Chicago, a peculiar imprint in the concrete captured the public imagination. Dubbed “Splatatouille” in a light-hearted public naming contest, the footprint-like mark suggested something extraordinary had fallen onto wet pavement. The image spread across social media in 2024, prompting…
-
Total Solar Eclipse Triggers Dawn Behavior In Birds: A New Look at How Light Disruptions Shape Avian Rhythms
How a rare cosmic event reshaped bird behavior When the April 2024 Great American Eclipse plunged midday into near-night across much of the central and eastern United States, it did more than dim the landscape. It provided scientists with an unprecedented, large-scale natural experiment to observe how quickly and dramatically birds respond to abrupt changes…
-
Flag-Waving Bugs Reveal Surprising Anti-Predator Strategy
Mystery Behind the Waving Flags What looks like a playful dance on the leaves is actually a survival tactic. For years, scientists wondered if the bright leg flags of matador bugs were a courtship display shaped by sexual selection. However, a study examining both male and female waving found no link to mating or competition.…
-
Birds’ Vocal Warnings Reveal Clues About Language Origins
Global parallels in nest-parasite warnings A sweeping international study finds that more than 20 bird species across four continents share an remarkably similar warning call when they spot a brood parasite near their nests. The whining vocalization, learned in the moment as birds listen to their surroundings, appears to be a common strategy across distant…