Scientists have long observed that roadways are attractive foraging grounds for American kestrels and other birds of prey. That's because shorter grass makes mice and other snack-sized rodents more visible, ...

Biology - Ecology

May 13, 2013 not rated yet 0

(Phys.org) —Caffeine is the naturally occurring drug most widely used by humans. In nature, though, it is reported to act as a bitter and toxic deterrent to herbivores, preventing leaves and seeds from ...

Biology - Plants & Animals

May 13, 2013 5 / 5 (2) 0 |

(Phys.org) —Sonar used by the navy may cause porpoises to get trapped in fishing nets and killed, according to a recent study.

Biology - Plants & Animals

May 13, 2013 2.3 / 5 (3) 2 |

A new study suggests that overgrazing and other factors increase the severity of cheatgrass invasion in sagebrush steppe, one of North America's most endangered ecosystems.

Biology - Ecology

May 13, 2013 not rated yet 0 |

The gardener's best friend, the earthworm, is great at protecting leaves from being chomped by slugs, suggests research in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Ecology. Although they lurk in the soil, they seem to pro ...

Biology - Ecology

May 12, 2013 not rated yet 1

Genes make up about 2 percent of the human genome. The rest consists of a genetic material known as noncoding DNA, and scientists have spent years puzzling over why this material exists in such voluminous ...

Biology - Biotechnology

May 12, 2013 4.7 / 5 (13) 8 |

The number of bears roaming the Pyrenees remained stable at a minimum of 22 last year, thanks largely to the continued virility of Pyros, the undisputed daddy of the colony.

Biology - Ecology

May 12, 2013 5 / 5 (1) 0

A sprawling landfill site containing 50 years of rubbish from six London boroughs has been transformed into a 120-acre nature reserve for rare birds, bees and reptiles.

Biology - Ecology

May 12, 2013 4.8 / 5 (4) 0

Cupping a tiny, translucent eel in the palm of his hand, New York environmental researcher Chris Bowser shook his head in amazement. "This is worth about one dollar," he said.

Biology - Ecology

May 11, 2013 4.5 / 5 (2) 0

A 13-year-old dolphin was Saturday being transported to an ocean pen off a South Korean island for training to prepare it for release back into the wild after four years in a Seoul zoo, officials said.

Biology - Plants & Animals

May 11, 2013 not rated yet 0

The sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) is a symbol of spiritual purity and longevity. Its seeds can survive up to 1,300 years, its petals and leaves repel grime and water, and its flowers generate heat to att ...

Biology - Biotechnology

May 10, 2013 4.4 / 5 (10) 1 |

Heavily armed poachers have killed at least 26 elephants in the Dzanga Bai reserve, a world heritage site in south-western Central African Republic, conservationist body WWF said Friday.

Biology - Ecology

May 10, 2013 5 / 5 (2) 0

Our ability to assess biological diversity, ecosystem health, ecological interactions, and a wide range of other important processes is largely dependent on accurately recognizing species. However, identifying ...

Biology - Plants & Animals

May 10, 2013 not rated yet 0

Although thousands of entire genomes have been sequenced, our understanding of their detailed workings remains far from complete. Researchers continue to find new genes, determine their function, and map ...

Biology - Biotechnology

May 10, 2013 not rated yet 0

The large-scale production of edible insects is unavoidable in order to continue feeding the ever-increasing global population and providing them with enough animal protein. Insect farming can be compared ...

Biology - Ecology

May 10, 2013 4.6 / 5 (9) 3 |