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.
Dogs are humans' best friends in many places across the globe. But does a dog in New York City respond in the same way as a dog in Kyoto or Buenos Aires?
Plants & Animals
Jul 21, 2026
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Elephants living in modern zoos are living significantly longer than they did half a century ago, according to a study published in the journal Scientific Reports. The research—led by ZSL (the Zoological Society of London) ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 21, 2026
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113
Analysis of more than 3 million toad calls from locations across Australia gives rare insights into toad breeding behavior—and offers new hope for halting their advance. James Cook University ecology researchers discovered ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 21, 2026
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What determines which tasks bees perform in their colony? Biologists from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) and the universities in Cologne and Frankfurt/Main have investigated the role neural activity plays in this ...
Ecology
Jul 20, 2026
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564
Dragonflies are renowned for their remarkable flying abilities. Male dragonflies often compete for territory and mating opportunities, engaging in fascinating in-flight battles. Researchers at Imperial College London and ...
Researchers at Washington State University have discovered a molecular "winter lock" that keeps animals in a less active winter state until favorable conditions return, a discovery that could improve pest control and lead ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 18, 2026
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45
Neil the Seal became a social media sensation almost overnight. Neil is a 5-year-old male southern elephant seal who weighs roughly 1 metric ton (1.1 tons). He was born on the Tasman Peninsula in October 2020 and has made ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 17, 2026
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11
Social animals use a suite of preemptive behaviors in anticipation of conflict, including staying quiet, monitoring their surroundings, conducting raids and bonding through play. In a review published in Trends in Ecology ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 16, 2026
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As homelessness increases around the world, more unhoused people are turning to parks and other urban green spaces to seek shelter. However, these places are also home to animals that live in and around urban areas.
Ecology
Jul 15, 2026
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11
Large seabird colonies have a surrounding boundary known as Ashmole's halo, where food sources are depleted, forcing the birds to travel farther to gather the food they need. The reason seems obvious—the more birds, the more ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 15, 2026
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