Animal behavior is the scientific study of the observable actions, interactions, and behavioral patterns of animals, typically investigated within ethology, behavioral ecology, and comparative psychology. It encompasses mechanisms (proximate causes such as neural, hormonal, and genetic control), development (ontogeny and learning), function (adaptive value in survival and reproductive success), and evolution (phylogenetic history and divergence among taxa). Research on animal behavior quantifies activities such as foraging, mating systems, parental care, communication, social organization, and antipredator strategies, often integrating experimental, observational, and modeling approaches to understand how behavior emerges from organism–environment interactions and contributes to fitness and ecological dynamics.
A study of nine species of large mammals in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem has revealed that their behavioral responses to summer heat were influenced more by the structure of their environments than by their biological ...
Plants & Animals
Oct 29, 2025
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The hunt is on and a predator finally zeroes in on its prey. The animal consumes the nutritious meal and moves on to forage for its next target. But how much prey does a predator need to consume?
Plants & Animals
Oct 28, 2025
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37
What happens when cows are allowed to decide for themselves whether they want to be indoors or outdoors? When calves grow up with their mothers, can visitors observe the animals, everyday life in the barn and the research—without ...
Plants & Animals
Oct 27, 2025
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An increasingly concerned group of veterinarians has issued a stark warning about the rise of what they call "fur baby culture," suggesting the anthropomorphizing of animals is behind alarming animal welfare problems.
Veterinary medicine
Oct 27, 2025
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109
On Prince of Wales Island, Alaska, gray wolves are doing something unexpected: hunting sea otters. This surprising dietary shift appears to have notable implications for both ecosystems and wolf health, but little is known ...
Plants & Animals
Oct 23, 2025
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Understanding what the environment looked like millions of years ago is essential for piecing together how our earliest ancestors lived and survived. Habitat shapes everything, from what food was available, to where water ...
Ecology
Oct 23, 2025
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Even within a single species, animals don't all respond in the same way to environmental changes. A new study of reed frogs in East Africa reveals that understanding these differences could be key to protecting wildlife.
Evolution
Oct 23, 2025
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Do insectivorous animals perceive green, caterpillar-shaped clay as a tasty meal? Ecologists sometimes use plasticine models mimicking natural prey, such as caterpillars, fruit, bird eggs, snakes, and frogs, to record attack ...
Ecology
Oct 23, 2025
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46
Look up in the woods and you may see a familiar sight: squirrels using tree limbs like a leafy highway, crossing a patch of land without putting their paws on the ground.
Plants & Animals
Oct 22, 2025
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179
One of the enduring ichthyological mysteries is how migratory fish know when it is time to move from their winter to summer habitats. The ability to tell when the seasons are changing is crucial for a wide range of major ...
Plants & Animals
Oct 22, 2025
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