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Ecology news
Endangered whales—one a first-time mom—spotted with calves off Florida
Two rare female whales have been documented off the coast of Florida, each with a calf, marine surveyors said.
Plants & Animals
4 hours ago
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Breeding success: London zoo counts its animals one-by-one
With bunches of lettuce and bucketloads of nuts, London Zoo kicked off its annual animal count Friday, coaxing everything from goats to gorillas out of their enclosures for the celebrated stocktake.
Ecology
Jan 3, 2025
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Orca Tahlequah's new baby dies
In a day of sadness and surprise, researchers on Puget Sound on Tuesday found J61, the new calf born to mother orca Tahlequah, had not survived—and that a new calf had also been born to J pod.
Plants & Animals
Jan 3, 2025
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A new look at the peculiarities of crop-pollinator interactions could boost plant quality
Pollination by animals contributes to a third of global food production, but little research has been done into the extent to which the identity of pollinators, pollen and crop varieties influence fruit quality when it comes ...
Ecology
Jan 3, 2025
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43
Cover crops as living mulch boost soil health and nutrient cycling, study finds
Researchers have discovered that using cover crops as "living mulch" between rows of maize can significantly improve soil health and nutrient cycling, offering a sustainable approach to agricultural management.
Ecology
Jan 3, 2025
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125
Oysters once crowded Europe's coast—here's how researchers discovered these long-forgotten reefs
Six generations ago, Europe's seas possessed vast oyster reefs. Oysters were found in their millions, clustered together in reef systems that spanned hundreds of square kilometers. Now the reefs are gone and with them, our ...
Ecology
Jan 3, 2025
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Map shows how far Colorado's wandering wolves spread out in December
Colorado's eight collared wolves in the wild spread out in the northern and northwestern parts of the state in December, according to a monthly tracking map released by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Ecology
Jan 3, 2025
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3
Dungeness crab fishery delayed till after the new year as whale entanglements hit a six-year high
Preliminary data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports 34 whales were found entangled in fishing gear off the West Coast in 2024, the highest number reported since 2018.
Ecology
Jan 3, 2025
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Monarch butterflies are in decline in NZ and Australia—you can help to track where they gather
Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) appear to be declining not just in North America but also in Australasia. Could this be a consequence of global change, including climate change, the intensification of agriculture, ...
Ecology
Jan 3, 2025
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Small wins for mice in early life can lead to inequality in adulthood
Lucky breaks in a male mouse's youth can lead to large advantages in adulthood.
Plants & Animals
Jan 2, 2025
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86
Bats surf storm fronts during continental migration
Birds are the undisputed champions of epic travel, but they are not the only long-haul fliers. A handful of bats are known to travel thousands of kilometers in continental migrations across North America, Europe, and Africa. ...
Plants & Animals
Jan 2, 2025
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128
Opinion: In 2025, let's make it game on—not game over—for the natural world
It's just past midnight in the cool, ancient forests of Tasmania. We've spent a long day and night surveying endangered Tasmanian devils. All around, small animals scurry through bushes. A devil calls in the darkness. Microbats ...
Ecology
Jan 2, 2025
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Scientists reveal the distribution pattern of butterfly diversity in China
Wang Rongjiang's research group at the School of Life Sciences and the Center for Ecological Research of Peking University has published a study on the diversity pattern of butterfly species in China. The team collected 247,248 ...
Ecology
Jan 2, 2025
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Dogs sniff out devastating spotted lanternflies for early detection
Growers and conservationists have a new weapon to detect invasive spotted lanternflies early and limit their spread: dogs trained to sniff out egg masses that overwinter in vineyards and forests.
Ecology
Jan 2, 2025
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95
Can animals make 'art?' These examples from nature suggest so
According to Britannica, "art" can be described as something "consciously created through an expression of skill or imagination"—whereas Wikipedia defines it more narrowly as a human activity. But are humans the only species ...
Ecology
Jan 2, 2025
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Quantity over quality? Different bees are attracted to different floral traits
When it comes to deciding where they're going to get their next meal, different species of bees may be attracted to different flower traits, according to a study led by researchers at Penn State and published in PNAS Nexus.
Plants & Animals
Jan 2, 2025
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Mind-bending, body-snatching, blood-sucking: Parasites are bizarre yet vital for life on Earth
Parasite, zombie, leech—these words are often used to describe people in unkind ways. Many of us recoil when ticks, tapeworms, fleas, head lice or bed bugs are even mentioned. Coming across such unwelcome guests—in our ...
Ecology
Jan 2, 2025
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'Gitmo' in the Mojave: How the Marines are saving endangered desert tortoises
Two tiny tortoises emerged from their burrows as soon as they detected Brian Henen's footsteps, eager for the handfuls of bok choy and snap peas that would soon be tossed their way.
Plants & Animals
Jan 1, 2025
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Massachusetts beaches hit record-high for piping plovers: 'A species recovering at an encouraging rate'
Piping plovers are continuing their comeback story.
Plants & Animals
Dec 31, 2024
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More than 100,000 oysters were grown in Virginia this year: Why it matters
More than 110,000 oysters were planted and raised through oyster gardening in Virginia in 2024, a near-record, environmentalists said.
Plants & Animals
Dec 31, 2024
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More news
The secret world of plants living in our limestone pavements
Florida sea turtle conservation success story faces a new threat
Could captive breeding save this vanishing Everglades bird?
How monkeys recognize snakes so quickly
How do you 'grow' an endangered starfish? Scientists are finding out
Other news
Bezos's Blue Origin poised for first orbital launch next week
New research reveals RNA on leaves may impact microbial communities
Bioengineers develop construction kit for 'smart cell' design
Discovery of rare new fossil sheds light on New Zealand's extinct dolphin-like reptiles
Major new footprint discoveries on Britain's 'dinosaur highway'
Ocean showdown: How marlin and sardines outsmart each other
New wildlife model captures species interactions in New York State
What do insects do all winter?
Six new tree species named: Three from Panama, three from Colombia
