Nature News

Climate Change drives early laying/hatching, but not only Temperature!

Climate Change drives early laying/hatching, but not only Temperature!

Posted Thu, 27 Apr 2017 07:16:00 GMT by Dave Armstrong

The tree swallow has magnificent migrations, like many of its ilk. The Alaskan warming however is more drastic than the rest of the continent, like Arctic regions elsewhere, so how does that influence the swallow’s “phenology?”

Climate Change drives early laying/hatching, but not only Temperature!

Bees succeed against the odds, even when solitary.

Bees succeed against the odds, even when solitary.

Posted Tue, 18 Apr 2017 08:16:55 GMT by JW. Dowey

What are those small fliers hanging about the wall or the bank? They are not hoverflies because they seem to have nest holes, yet they don’t sting or buzz much either! The solitary bees and the mining bees are just one branch of the great bankers of our fruit tree heritage. They, along with the humble Bumblers, form a major corporation of the pollinators. Here’s a (very) brief life of little Andrena, plagued by cuckoos who are fellow bees. This does remind you of the commercial world of grab and take when you can!

Bees succeed against the odds, even when solitary.

Fascination in rocky pools and their invertebrate inhabitants

Fascination in rocky pools and their invertebrate inhabitants

Posted Thu, 23 Mar 2017 11:25:01 GMT by JW. Dowey

The rocky pools of Maine are the centre of attention in the scientific world for once. How the many interactions work gives insight into the most complex ecosystems on earth, like the coral reefs or the terrestrial examples in rainforest. Crab and whelk, winkle and seaweed all collaborate in the winner eats all scenario of these wonderful pools. An artificial mesocosm provides the experimental basis for the investigation of real rock pools, with these food webs providing evidence of the full facts for the first time.

Fascination in rocky pools and their invertebrate inhabitants

Army ants tolerate multiple evolutions of beetle mimics

Army ants tolerate multiple evolutions of beetle mimics

Posted Wed, 15 Mar 2017 09:50:00 GMT by JW. Dowey

The daring explorer ventures near the dangerous predator at his peril, but this is the army ant, so there are fascinating “guests” and although the danger is real, we can avoid the worst of the bites. The reward is genomes that tell us new stories of parallels and evolutionary successes in these impenetrable, dense forests.

Army ants tolerate multiple evolutions of beetle mimics

Auks transform Arctic ecosystems.

Auks transform Arctic ecosystems.

Posted Wed, 15 Feb 2017 10:20:00 GMT by JW. Dowey

The great auk was gobbled up by sailors. Now the importance of such species is highlighted in a study proving how the barren wastes are transformed into a “green” land where Inuits and Vikings found a haven.

Auks transform Arctic ecosystems.

Tiger, leopard and dhole share resources in India

Tiger, leopard and dhole share resources in India

Posted Wed, 08 Feb 2017 10:28:00 GMT by JW. Dowey

Tiger, leopard and dhole! Carnivores, large and small, govern resources across the whole spectrum of natural habitats, whether terrestrial or marine. Here they interact to give real meaning to the word ecology. Camera traps are proving invaluable for relieving our ignorance of all communities of animals and plants, whether threatened like these, or simply our local wood. We love the tiger, Panthera tigris, the leopard, Panthera pardus and the dhole, Cuon alpinus, (http://www.earthtimes.org/conservation/dhole-cuon-alpinus/2076/ ) and you can read that from our frequent stories on them! Here we study them as an unusual grouping, now called a carnivore guild.

Tiger, leopard and dhole share resources in India

Intriguing leadership roles in orcas linked to evolution, even in humans

Intriguing leadership roles in orcas linked to evolution, even in humans

Posted Thu, 12 Jan 2017 09:40:00 GMT by Dave Armstrong

We rarely come across research that leads to true connections with human evolution in other animals, but menopause is an almost unique event that has deep meaning for survival. With these whales, we have a link to one of our own particular characteristics that can only be investigated in these species. Who knows what information we may find among orca ecotypes and even other unique species.

Intriguing leadership roles in orcas linked to evolution, even in humans

Social interaction in vervets/its relevance to humans.

Social interaction in vervets/its relevance to humans.

Posted Wed, 23 Nov 2016 10:35:00 GMT by JW Dowey

Do the sexes interact when battle is carried out in vervet monkeys and does this have any relevance to human warfare?

Social interaction in vervets/its relevance to humans.

Tremendous cognition in tool-making, etc., in a cockatoo.

Tremendous cognition in tool-making, etc., in a cockatoo.

Posted Wed, 16 Nov 2016 14:30:00 GMT by JW Dowey

The crow family, the apes and dolphins show us what they can understand, but who can beat this bird?

Tremendous cognition in tool-making, etc., in a cockatoo.

Whale cultures rule in Galápagos.

Whale cultures rule in Galápagos.

Posted Wed, 19 Oct 2016 11:30:00 GMT by JW Dowey

A revolution took place in the Pacific over a 30-year period. Between the 1980s and 2014, new groups of sperm whales replaced the thousands who had normally occupied the Galápagos Islands area. Who was who and where did they emigrate or immigrate? The answers are here.

Whale cultures rule in Galápagos.

Sperm speed gene improves reproduction

Sperm speed gene improves reproduction

Posted Tue, 18 Oct 2016 13:43:26 GMT by Paul Robinson

Could humans benefit from a gene that speeds up the sperm as it swims? In a deer mouse, it works wonders for up to 14 litters per year and 9 offspring per litter! You do the math.

Sperm speed gene improves reproduction

Common dolphins adapt to bay life.

Common dolphins adapt to bay life.

Posted Wed, 28 Sep 2016 09:50:00 GMT by Dave Armstrong

Dolphin worlds are no longer circus-like recreation for humans, but one oceanic species has found it possible to settle down in a relatively restricted habitat. Here is the story of their novel world, with I’m sure, more evolutionary possibilities to come.

Common dolphins adapt to bay life.

Evolution of placental lizards gave us advanced skinks,

Evolution of placental lizards gave us advanced skinks,

Posted Tue, 23 Aug 2016 23:00:01 GMT by Dave Armstrong

It’s likely that these advanced vertebrates evolved extreme matrotrophy only once, but when we compare that habit with many other advanced features, it seems skinks come out top in adaptations for advanced life styles.

Evolution of placental lizards gave us advanced skinks,

Superorganism extraordinaire-a full expose on army ants.

Superorganism extraordinaire-a full expose on army ants.

Posted Mon, 08 Aug 2016 14:40:00 GMT by JW Dowey

We regard the most impressive living things as large animals, such as extinct giants, but to consider the life and influence of great trees or the efficiency of a spectacular army ant raid, killing everything in its path, can’t be disregarded. Maybe we have to have seen these species, or be taught about those that are extinct, to be able to appreciate how significant they have been Just hope they survive long enough for us to be able to see at least some natural wonders like these.

Superorganism extraordinaire-a full expose on army ants.

New Homes for Ants: socialism in insects!

New Homes for Ants: socialism in insects!

Posted Tue, 19 Jul 2016 21:05:00 GMT by Paul Robinson

We do need to study other organisms in order to improve our understanding of not only nature, but chemistry, sociability and simple organisation. You would think that a colonising ant would have little to show, but the way in which individuals are empowered, despite that despotic Black Queen, are very revealing !

New Homes for Ants: socialism in insects!

How is the goat a close human communicator?

How is the goat a close human communicator?

Posted Thu, 07 Jul 2016 12:40:00 GMT by Dave Armstrong

So much intriguing information is becoming available about our genetic links with the primates, but there is competition from those species who can signal to each other in devious ways, or even tell us a thing or two, checking us out and giving us an idea of what and how they think.

How is the goat a close human communicator?

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Bowhead whales rock- all winter long.

Posted Wed, 04 Apr 2018 08:39:22 GMT by Dave Armstrong

Untamed Travel Possibilities for your imagination or your future plans.

Posted Tue, 26 Sep 2017 09:34:49 GMT by Dave Armstrong

Sneeze to leave, and wild dogs vote for a hunt!

Posted Wed, 06 Sep 2017 07:15:00 GMT by JW.Dowey

Sheep hunted before domestication in the Middle East.

Posted Wed, 23 Aug 2017 09:25:00 GMT by JW. Dowey

Stream insects live well in Yorkshire

Posted Fri, 21 Jul 2017 10:55:00 GMT by JW.Dowey

Bees that buzz and those that help the economy!

Posted Fri, 23 Jun 2017 08:15:00 GMT by JW. Dowey

Climate Change drives early laying/hatching, but not only Temperature!

Posted Thu, 27 Apr 2017 07:16:00 GMT by Dave Armstrong

Bees succeed against the odds, even when solitary.

Posted Tue, 18 Apr 2017 08:16:55 GMT by JW. Dowey

Fascination in rocky pools and their invertebrate inhabitants

Posted Thu, 23 Mar 2017 11:25:01 GMT by JW. Dowey

Army ants tolerate multiple evolutions of beetle mimics

Posted Wed, 15 Mar 2017 09:50:00 GMT by JW. Dowey

DNA tests unravel a tricky tortoise mystery

Posted Wed, 29 Jun 2011 16:11:00 GMT by Ruth Hendry

Is camouflage cryptic or a masquerade?

Posted Wed, 24 Feb 2016 09:25:34 GMT by Dave Armstrong

Bear with us

Posted Tue, 10 Jun 2014 06:50:28 GMT by JW Dowey

There's a buzz in their air in London as urban beekeeping really takes off

Posted Thu, 14 Apr 2011 12:44:00 GMT by David Hewitt

Inuit insight into killer whale (Orcinus orca) predation and prey

Posted Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:08:00 GMT by Dave Armstrong

Salmon farming puts wild populations at risk

Posted Mon, 22 Aug 2011 19:44:01 GMT by Louise Murray

Cuckoos mimic hawks

Posted Fri, 18 Oct 2013 12:44:30 GMT by Colin Ricketts

Spot (or hear) the vole - in the snow

Posted Wed, 29 Oct 2014 00:00:00 GMT by Dave Armstrong

The Grey Whale in the Eastern Pacific

Posted Fri, 11 May 2012 10:51:02 GMT by Dave Armstrong

Smart, social bats use ring-tone cues

Posted Wed, 23 Oct 2013 08:00:00 GMT by Dave Armstrong