https://phys.org/biology-news/plants-animals/ en-us The latest science news on plants and animals Restoring once abundant oyster reefs in temperate marginal seas such as the North Sea is a challenging task. New research by NIOZ marine ecologist Zhiyuan Zhao and colleagues shows that it is necessary to consider the short-term risk that introduced oysters will become buried by shifting sediment or will be dislodged by strong near-bed currents. For restoration success, these short-term physical disturbances can be more decisive than longer-term water-quality conditions. The results of pioneering experiments at 32 m depth, were published today in One Earth. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-oyster-reefs-site-dont-sand.html Plants & Animals Fri, 17 Apr 2026 15:20:01 EDT news695647106 Like many animals, parrots make sounds that suggest they are talking with each other, maybe even calling out to a specific parrot. But do they truly have names in the same way people do? To find out, Lauryn Benedict, a biology professor at the University of Northern Colorado, didn't set up shop in the tropics to record parrot chatter, as they've done in the past. She instead found birds who spoke her language—birds that live with humans and mimic what they hear, including people's names. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-parrots-mimicking-words-proper-humans.html Plants & Animals Fri, 17 Apr 2026 14:00:04 EDT news695636041 A new study on climate adaptation in the Pacific pocket mouse—North America's most endangered mouse has been published in Science Advances. The research highlights a major challenge for endangered species, as many lack the genetic diversity needed to survive changing climates. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-world-rarest-mouses-climate.html Plants & Animals Fri, 17 Apr 2026 14:00:03 EDT news695636102 A sprinkle of nutmeg powder on baked goodies or mashed potatoes can immediately lift the flavor with its warm and sweet aroma. Even though it is used globally, not much is known about the true origins of the nutmeg spice tree, Myristica fragrans. In an attempt to retrace evolutionary history, researchers traveled to five different islands in the Moluccas archipelago, Indonesia, traditionally known as the Spice Islands and collected leaves from 393 nutmeg trees to analyze their DNA. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-dna-nutmeg-hidden-revealing-south.html Plants & Animals Fri, 17 Apr 2026 09:40:03 EDT news695636402 Does a male bird with a long and complex courtship dance have superior cognitive abilities? Simply put, is a talented dancer a smarter bird? To answer the question, researchers at Université de Montréal studied the zebra finch, a small bird known for the dramatic differences between the male and female of the species. The scientists wanted to determine whether females choose males who perform elaborate dances because those displays reflect above-average intelligence. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-birds-dancers-smarter.html Plants & Animals Fri, 17 Apr 2026 09:20:02 EDT news695635683 A study conducted at the Institute of Science and Technology of São Paulo State University (ICT-UNESP) in São José dos Campos, Brazil, shows that Moringa oleifera, also known as moringa or white acacia, has the potential to remove microplastics from water. The study, titled "Removal of Microplastics from Drinking Water by Moringa oleifera Seed: Comparative Performance with Alum in Direct and in-Line Filtration Systems," is published in the journal ACS Omega. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-common-asian-brazil-potential-microplastics.html Plants & Animals Thu, 16 Apr 2026 17:40:01 EDT news695569201 Fish living downstream of wastewater treatment plants are accumulating antidepressants, opioids and other drugs of abuse in their bodies, according to a new study. Using a new analytical method they developed, a team of researchers from the University of Waterloo discovered that several substances that affect the central nervous system, including fentanyl, methadone and venlafaxine, were detected in small fish living in rivers that receive urban wastewater. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-wild-canadian-freshwater-fish-reveal.html Plants & Animals Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:40:07 EDT news695560982 Parasitic wasps of the genus Trichogramma are among the smallest insects in the world—yet they play an important role in natural ecosystems and agricultural landscapes as natural antagonists of pest species. Research teams from the Universities of Regensburg, Wageningen and Groningen have now identified for the first time the sex pheromone of a Trichogramma wasp. The study shows that unimaginably small amounts of the female pheromone are sufficient to attract males and trigger their courtship behavior. The findings are published in the journal Scientific Reports. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-sex-pheromone-sandgrain-sized-insect.html Plants & Animals Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:40:04 EDT news695568181 Plants are often seen as passive organisms, rooted in one place and largely unable to react to the world around them. But a new field of research is challenging these assumptions and showing that plants are as sophisticated as animals in detecting and adjusting to environmental signals. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-secret-sensory-life.html Plants & Animals Thu, 16 Apr 2026 15:00:01 EDT news695558103 A new study reveals that some of the ocean's most powerful predators are running hotter, and that they are likely paying an increasingly steep price for it. The significance of this headline finding is the "double jeopardy" in which it places these iconic animals, which have high fuel demands due to their lifestyle and physiology, as they now face a future of warming oceans and declining food resources. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-bodied-sharks-tunas-jeopardy-seas.html Plants & Animals Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:00:04 EDT news695547961 Yuji, a 6-week-old patas monkey in Mexico, wakes up every day clinging to a stuffed dog. More than a toy, this plush companion acts as a surrogate mom after the tiny primate was rejected by his own mother, Kamaria, a first-time parent unable to form a maternal bond. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-yuji-mexican-baby-monkey-comfort.html Plants & Animals Thu, 16 Apr 2026 13:39:54 EDT news695565540 As a part of a study testing out a new type of implanted brain-computer interface (BCI), three rhesus monkeys controlled movements in a virtual reality (VR) world using only brain signals. The study, published in Science Advances, demonstrates a major step toward practical BCIs that can work outside of lab conditions. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-monkeys-virtual-forest-thought-brain.html Plants & Animals Thu, 16 Apr 2026 13:30:01 EDT news695563610 The Gulf Coast is recognized worldwide for its exceptional fishing opportunities, offering anglers a wide variety of species such as trout, red snapper, and grouper. Recreational fishing represents a significant—yet historically undermeasured—aspect of overall fisheries pressure in the region, raising concerns about its impact on fish populations and the need for effective conservation and management. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-tracinganglers-gulf-coast-machinelearning-tools.html Plants & Animals Thu, 16 Apr 2026 10:00:03 EDT news695551187 In the largest genomic mapping of Africa's elephants to date, an international team of researchers shows that elephant history is defined by the ability to move across large distances and exchange genes throughout the African continent. But as the elephants' living space is becoming increasingly patchy, the study documents the visible genetic consequences of isolation—and points to approaches that help to incorporate genomics into current and future elephant conservation. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-african-elephant-genomes-reveal-continental.html Plants & Animals Thu, 16 Apr 2026 05:00:08 EDT news695477059 Coral reefs hide "scientific treasures" that have survived for centuries, yet many of these giant, ancient organisms remain largely unknown to science. A new study published in the journal Nature Conservation introduces "Map the Giants," a pioneering citizen-science initiative launched by researchers from the University of Milano-Bicocca to find these giant coral colonies before they are lost to escalating global pressures. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-giants-reef-citizen-science-document.html Plants & Animals Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:20:01 EDT news695487781 In efforts to better understand how plant photosynthesis is regulated, scientists are studying how Rubisco activity responds to light. In a new meta-analysis study, a team from the Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency (RIPE) project at Lancaster University have identified a potential link between photosynthetic pathway type and rates of dark inhibition. The findings are published in the Journal of Experimental Botany. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-photosynthetic-pathway-rubisco-dark-inhibition.html Plants & Animals Wed, 15 Apr 2026 18:40:01 EDT news695486282 A research paper led by William Paterson University environmental science professor Nicole Davi finds that coastal forests demonstrate incredible resiliency following major hurricane events, but these forests are increasingly at risk from storm damage and surges and continued sea-level rise. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-hurricane-resilient-coastal-forests-northeastern.html Plants & Animals Wed, 15 Apr 2026 18:00:07 EDT news695463917 High in the forests of Hawai'i, songbirds are stealing twigs and moss from one another's nests. UC Riverside researchers found this quiet canopy crime is surprisingly common and could threaten species already struggling to survive. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-hawaii-songbirds-raiding-neighbors-losses.html Plants & Animals Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:40:03 EDT news695476410 Placing small stones in a bug cage is beneficial when raising pill bugs, a type of woodlouse. Researchers at the University of Tsukuba have discovered that pill bugs do not directly incorporate ingested calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) minerals into their tergite cuticles. Instead, they undergo an energetically costly process to reconstruct these minerals within their bodies before forming their tergite cuticles. This finding helps explain how organisms biologically control mineral formation. The research is published in the Journal of Structural Biology. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-pill-bugs-dont-minerals-rebuild.html Plants & Animals Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:20:07 EDT news695473622 Naked mole rats keep kingdoms underground. One queen bears all the children, while others maintain complex subterranean tunnels, forage for food, take care of newborns, and perform other necessary upkeep. This society hinges on the central pillar of a singular queen. What happens when her fertility declines or is impaired? https://phys.org/news/2026-04-naked-mole-rats-peacefully-power.html Plants & Animals Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:00:10 EDT news695463721 In 1902, British explorer Robert Falcon Scott spotted a large group of large black and white birds at Ross Island, Antarctica. This was among the many milestones of Scott's famous Discovery expedition: the first breeding colony of emperor penguins. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-beloved-emperor-penguin-antarctic-fur.html Plants & Animals Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:00:01 EDT news695472362 A critically endangered Borneo orangutan has been born at Madrid's zoo, described by keepers as strong and developing normally. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-critically-endangered-orangutan-born-madrid.html Plants & Animals Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:40:07 EDT news695478354 Adelaide University and Kangaroo Island Research Station researchers have developed a simple, low-cost way to help wildlife survive in the critical days and weeks after bushfires, by delivering artificial nectar to animals struggling to find food. The study, published in the Australian Journal of Zoology, provides a proof of concept showing that a wide range of native animals will readily use specially designed nectar feeders following a bushfire. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-sweet-lifeline-wildlife-bushfires-ravage.html Plants & Animals Wed, 15 Apr 2026 12:00:06 EDT news695470022 In the summer, many people turn to mosquito repellents to reduce the insects' buzzing and bites. One solution that has become increasingly popular in recent years is the Thermacell device, which releases vaporized, pyrethroid-based insecticide prallethrin into the air. There has been much discussion in recent years about the effects of this substance on nature and pollinators in particular, but research data has been limited. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-backyard-bug-repellent-derailing-bumblebees.html Plants & Animals Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:20:06 EDT news695464741 Sperm whales produce powerful clicks to communicate. To our ears, they sound nothing more than a series of repetitive, mechanical taps. But we could be a step closer to understanding some of their complex communication, as scientists have discovered that the large marine mammals organize their sounds in patterns similar to those of human speech. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-sperm-whale-clicks-similar-human.html Plants & Animals Wed, 15 Apr 2026 10:50:01 EDT news695468227 Drought significantly reduces the reproductive success of bumblebee colonies, according to a new study conducted by a research team at the University of Würzburg and published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. This also has consequences for plant pollination. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-drought-heavy-toll-bumblebees.html Plants & Animals Wed, 15 Apr 2026 09:00:01 EDT news695461261 When she was a kid in the 1970s, Karen Terio wasn't allowed to watch much television, but wildlife specials were permitted. That was how she learned about the work of Jane Goodall, who was studying the behavior of wild chimpanzees in Gombe National Park, on the western edge of Tanzania. Watching National Geographic documentaries about Goodall's fearless and pioneering work with wild chimpanzees thrilled and inspired the young girl. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-footsteps-jane-goodall-wildlife-pathologist.html Plants & Animals Tue, 14 Apr 2026 22:00:01 EDT news695375478 Australia's animal sectors now have a comprehensive framework to help strengthen the industry's response to antimicrobial resistance. The Animal Antimicrobial Stewardship Framework helps animal sectors improve and verify day-to-day stewardship practices. The work was co-designed by veterinarians and animal managers based on the study led by CSIRO, Australia's national science agency. The corresponding paper is published in the journal Cambridge Prisms: Antimicrobial Resistance. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-national-framework-australia-antimicrobial-stewardship.html Plants & Animals Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:40:04 EDT news695402642 Among dog breeds, Nova Scotia duck tolling retrievers (tollers) have an unusually high rate of Addison's disease, a condition in which the adrenal glands do not produce enough hormones, notably cortisol and aldosterone. In humans, Addison's disease is thought to occur when the body's immune system attacks the adrenal glands, making it a type of autoimmune disease. Affected tollers typically develop Addison's disease at a young age and the condition appears to be inherited. Now scientists have identified a gene variant in tollers, RESF1, which is strongly associated with the disease in dogs. The research is published in the journal Scientific Reports. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-discovery-addison-disease-gene-dogs.html Plants & Animals Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:40:01 EDT news695398562 New research from the UBC-based Mother Tree Project is shedding light on how forests respond to harvesting and climate stress, including practices aimed at reducing wildfire risk. The work is published in the Canadian Journal of Forest Research. Dr. Suzanne Simard, a forest ecologist who leads the project, has spent more than a decade studying how Douglas fir forests recover after disturbance. The Mother Tree Project has produced multiple peer-reviewed studies, with more findings to come as the long-term research continues. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-qa-smarter-forest-british-columbia.html Plants & Animals Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:20:02 EDT news695399161