Tag: ecology
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10 Animals That Reproduce in Massive Litters
Introduction: The Power of Numbers in the Animal World In the wild, not every offspring survives, but many species rely on sheer numbers to ensure the next generation. From ocean giants to tiny rodents, some animals release hundreds or even millions of eggs and offspring in a single reproductive event. Here are ten remarkable examples…
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Three-Legged Lizards Thrive, Challenge Evolution Assumptions
Introduction: A surprising clue from the Bahamian branches In the wild, lizards are famed for their speed, agility, and razor‑sharp ecological tuning. Yet a chance encounter in the Bahamas changed how some lizard biologists view adaptation. A typically uncooperative brown anole proved elusive, only to reveal a missing entire left hind leg after capture. That…
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Carpobrotus Invasion Tracked by iEcology: Longer Bloom
Tracking an invasive coastline plant with social media A recent study led by researchers at the University of Galway shows how a bright, holiday-photo staple—the carpobrotus plant—plays to its advantage in invaded regions by flowering for a longer period than in its native South Africa. Using more than 1,700 photos from Instagram and citizen science…
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Carpobrotus blooms longer where invaded, study reveals
New insights into a coastal invader A recent study led by researchers from the University of Galway and international partners reveals a surprising edge for the colorful coastal plant carpobrotus. By analyzing more than 1,700 photos from social media and citizen science platforms, the team found that carpobrotus flowers for a longer period in regions…
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112-Million-Year-Old Amber Time Capsule Reveals Insects
New Find in Ecuador: A 112-Million-Year-Old Amber In a discovery that reshapes our understanding of ancient life in the Southern Hemisphere, researchers have identified a 112-million-year-old amber sample from the Hollín Formation in Ecuador’s Oriente Basin. Amber, fossilized tree resin, becomes a rare window into the past when it traps organisms at a moment in…
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Molecular Phylogeny and Taxonomic Notes on Premna (Lamiaceae) in Thailand
Overview This study provides the first multi-locus phylogenetic framework for Premna species in Thailand, using four chloroplast markers. The results corroborate a monophyletic Premna within Premnoideae and its sister relationship to Gmelina L., while highlighting unresolved nodes within the Thai Premna lineage that require deeper genomic analyses. Phylogenetic framework and key findings Using four chloroplast…
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How a Total Solar Eclipse Reset Bird Clocks and Sparked a False Dawn Chorus
Overview: A Rare Natural Experiment The April 2024 total solar eclipse—often called the Great American Eclipse—briefly plunged much of central and eastern United States into near-night. The event offered scientists a rare, real‑world test of how birds respond when the light-dark cycle is suddenly interrupted. A team led by Liz Aguilar combined citizen science, machine…
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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…
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Burning Issue: Fire Has Mixed Effects on Global Bees, Study Finds
Overview: Fire’s uneven impact on bee biodiversity New Curtin University research reveals that fire—whether through wild bushfires or prescribed burns—has highly varied effects on global bee populations. Some species thrive in the open, sunlit environments that follow a fire, while others suffer from habitat loss and the destruction of essential food sources. The study, led…
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Why climate scientists spent 4 years tracking reindeer through Finland’s northern wilderness
Reindeer grazing as a quiet climate stabilizer In the vast, snow-blanketed forests of Finland’s north, a surprising ally in the fight against climate change wears antlers. A four-year research project published in Science of the Total Environment reveals that reindeer grazing helps stabilize the carbon stored in the understory and soil of northern coniferous forests.…