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.
Training animals in captivity is extraordinarily challenging due to a host of factors such as an animal's natural temperament and prior negative experiences with humans. But it is often essential in places like zoos and conservation ...
It's a scene fit for a nature documentary: In the frigid ocean surrounding Antarctica, the water boils over as seabirds dive from above and marine animals like seals and whales rise from the depths to all feast on krill.
Plants & Animals
Oct 8, 2025
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The days are getting shorter, the temperatures are dropping. Numerous animals are migrating south, others are seeking their hibernacula—including bats. However, while hibernation is becoming shorter and shorter for many ...
Plants & Animals
Oct 8, 2025
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Researchers have developed new software for exploring and communicating animal movements in the wild.
Ecology
Oct 7, 2025
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Even as autumn days grow shorter, a warming climate means Ohio winters aren't as cold as they were just a few decades ago, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data. This increasing mismatch between ...
Plants & Animals
Oct 7, 2025
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An international study led by the University of Portsmouth has revealed reluctance from industry scientists to test chemicals for their effects on human and wildlife behavior, despite growing evidence linking environmental ...
Environment
Oct 7, 2025
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From using moon rovers that encourage predators to hunt and forage in packs, to applying state-of-the-art algorithms to try and understand the facial expressions of Sumatran orangutans, artificial intelligence and robotics ...
Plants & Animals
Oct 6, 2025
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One of the most heartbreaking occurrences for nature lovers is to discover a beached marine mammal such as a dolphin or whale. If the animal is still alive, marine biologists assisted by citizen volunteers try to protect ...
Plants & Animals
Oct 2, 2025
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With their massive flapping ears and long trunks, it isn't hard to believe that elephants tend to rely on acoustic and olfactory cues for communication. They use gestures and visual displays to communicate as well, but we ...
Plants & Animals
Oct 2, 2025
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As sand temperatures continue to rise, concerns about the future of sea turtles are growing. Hotter nests not only skew sex ratios—producing more females—but also reduce hatchling survival, slow growth, and increase the ...
Plants & Animals
Sep 30, 2025
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