In a new study published in Nature Geoscience, researchers investigate the underlying geography of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet and identify fragments of a coastal plain that inform how these ice shelves could respond to warming global temperatures.
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Wildfires significantly impact water quality for up to 8 years post-burn, according to a new study that analyzes data from 500 watersheds across the western continental United States. This effort is the most extensive synthesis to date of large-scale, long-term trends in water quality in response to fires.
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Genetic analyses suggest that a population of island-dwelling iguanas in Fiji first arrived by rafting across 5000 miles of open ocean. Traveling from the homeland of their closest relatives in western North America, this journey breaks records for the longest known overwater dispersal of any land animal.
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Oceanic seabirds can spend weeks at a time traveling thousands of kilometers in search of food on the open ocean. A new study finds a perplexing and never-before-seen behavior in which birds intentionally follow cyclones across the north Atlantic. Researchers compared the trajectories of storms with GPS tracks of birds and examined how ocean conditions change in the wakes of cyclones. They conclude that cyclones enhance mixing of ocean waters and bring prey to the surface where they are easily accessible food sources for birds.
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A new study explores how grassland restoration can be limited by seed dispersal, plant competition, and environmental factors. Drawing from ecological theory to test the best restoration strategies, researchers recommend mowing to manage weeds and promote native plant success. In years with plenty of rain, adding seeds of small native plants to areas where grass has been removed is an effective strategy to increase native herbaceous plant cover.
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In a groundbreaking discovery, bumblebees have been shown to have a more sophisticated social culture than previously known. Bees could learn to solve a challenging puzzle through social interaction, demonstrating their ability to learn new and complex behaviors beyond their individual cognitive abilities. This study suggests that advanced social learning is not unique to humans, and encourages further exploration of collaboration and culture in the animal kingdom.
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Featured Image Caption: Bats like the Honduran White Bat (Ectophylla alba) pictured above eat fruits, primarily figs, using their short
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