Animal behavior – envirobites

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Springtails stick the landing as the world’s tiniest acrobats

January 14, 2023January 14, 2023 Brandi Pessman 0 Comments aerodynamics, arthropods, locomotion, springtails

With one powerful flick of their tail, aptly-named springtails propel themselves from water to air. Though a close relative of insects, springtails can soar at heights 16 times the length of their body. No larger than a grain of rice, springtails are leaps and bounds ahead of cats when it comes to landing on their feet. Their controlled take-off, landing, and ability to right themselves in midair is unmatched and have caught the attention of scientists. These ancient acrobats may yield key innovations for robots with controlled landing.

Animal behavior

Why are zebras striped? – Biting flies read between the lines

December 20, 2022December 20, 2022 Brandi Pessman 0 Comments flies, stripes, zebras

Why are zebras striped? A simple question with a seemingly complex answer. The stark black and white striped pattern has mystified scientists as to why the animal developed such coloration. Researchers have tested ideas from individual recognition to camouflage from predators. Perhaps the stripes help zebras avoid attacks from a much smaller predator. A recent study adds a piece to the puzzle, though this research poses more questions that leave the stripes an enigma.

Animal behavior Case Studies Cities Ecosystems Environmental Science

What’s Right with Lights at Night?

December 2, 2022December 2, 2022 Cypress Novick 0 Comments human impacts, light pollution, sustainability; sustainable development; consulting; environmental business, Threatened Species

The varying effects of artificial light on the mating success of different firefly species

Animal behavior Case Studies Ecosystems Environmental Science

How Many Ways Can You Count Wolves?

November 10, 2022November 9, 2022 Lauren Otolski 0 Comments endangered species, wildlife conservation, wolves

Although radio-collaring is often used to monitor wolf populations, scientists are turning their attention towards methods that do not require live-capture of animals. What are some of these options, and how do they stack up against radio-collaring?

Animal behavior Case Studies Ecosystems Environmental Science

“Where Did the Turtles Go?”: How One Case Study Brings Perspective On How Endangered Species Populations Are Studied

November 2, 2022November 2, 2022 Cypress Novick 0 Comments endangered species, Environmental Monitoring, rivers, turtles, wetlands

Recent study highlights the unique difficulties involved in estimating the state of endangered species populations.

Animal behavior Ecosystems Remote Environments

Bubble, Bubble, Toil, and Trouble: Deep-sea ghost shark evolved a sixth sense

October 20, 2022October 20, 2022 Brandi Pessman 0 Comments deepsea, electroreception, senses, Sharks

Rising from the depths of the sea, bubbles signal trouble: a confrontation between a predator and its prey. A relatively unexplored and mysterious place, the deep-sea hosts creatures that have adapted to the darkness and silence of the ocean’s floor for hundreds of millions of years. Spending so much time in these harsh conditions has forced the ghost shark to develop a sixth sense – the ability to detect changes in the electromagnetic field. Scientists are starting to uncover this ghostly tale, but much of this story remains a mystery.

Animal behavior Climate

Vultures fight climate change, one carcass at a time

October 19, 2022October 19, 2022 Sam Schurkamp 0 Comments animals, carbon emissions, Climate Change

Vultures have a face only a mother could love, but their unsavory eating habits obscure a surprising benefit: lowering carbon emissions.

Animal behavior Climate Ecosystems Environmental Science Human Exposure and Public Health

Contagion: Staying Safe While Species Share Spaces

October 2, 2022October 2, 2022 Cypress Novick 0 Comments Climate Change, disease ecology, human health, infectious diseases, land use, public health, viruses, Zoonoses, Zoonotic

As climate change pushes species around the world together, cross-species viral infections become a growing concern.

Animal behavior

Soft Manatee, Warm Manatee? Understanding How Manatees Behave

October 1, 2022October 31, 2022 Andrea Valcarcel 0 Comments animal behavior, endangered species, manatees, marine biology, marine conservation, marine life, marine mammals, marine species, temperament

Antillean manatees are an endangered subspecies of manatee that live in the warm waters of the Caribbean, but little is known about their behavior, both in the wild and under human care. This is why scientists in France set out to better understand and define manatee behavior in captivity, identifying how bold or shy they were and how they acted towards novel and familiar stimuli.

Animal behavior Human Exposure and Public Health

Into the Brains of Mosquitoes – Finding out how they find us

August 20, 2022August 20, 2022 Brandi Pessman 0 Comments brains, Humans, mosquitoes, odors, viruses

It’s all fun and games outdoors until mosquitoes crash the party. Female mosquitoes need protein-rich human blood for energy to produce eggs. While an itchy bump follows most bites, some can transfer harmful viruses, like Zika and dengue. Mosquitoes are experts at finding human hosts, and now scientists have discovered how. Mosquito brains may give insights into new strategies to control mosquitoes and the diseases they carry.

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