Cocaine is one of the most commonly used (and abused) drugs, but we have almost no modern information on how plants produce this complex alkaloid. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany, ...
Cell & Microbiology
Jun 6, 2012
9
0
A ladybird's colour indicates how well-fed and how toxic it is, according to an international team of scientists. Research led by the Universities of Exeter and Liverpool directly shows that differences between animals' warning ...
Plants & Animals
Feb 6, 2012
2
0
Microbes are omnipresent on earth. They are found as free-living microorganisms as well as in communities with other higher organisms. Thanks to modern biological techniques we are now able to address the complex communities ...
Biochemistry
Sep 1, 2011
0
0
In the battle between insect predators and their prey, chemical signals called kairomones serve as an early-warning system. Pervasively emitted by the predators, the compounds are detected by their prey, and can even trigger ...
Ecology
Jul 16, 2010
1
0
Two recently diverged populations of a southern California songbird produce unique odors, suggesting smell could contribute to the reproductive isolation that accompanies the origin of new bird species. The Indiana University ...
Plants & Animals
Mar 23, 2010
0
0
Desert ants are well-known for their remarkable orientation: they use a compass along with a step counter and visible landmarks to locate their nest. After researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology discovered ...
Plants & Animals
Mar 9, 2010
0
0
A longstanding and fruitful collaboration between researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology and the University of Neuchâtel in Switzerland, together with contributions from colleagues in Munich and the ...
Ecology
Aug 3, 2009
1
0
An international team of researchers has investigated the question of whether the chemical defenses of plants changes when they have established themselves in new geographical regions.
Plants & Animals
Mar 7, 2024
0
11
Recent advances in metabolomics are improving our understanding of the ecological impacts of plant chemical diversity. However, few studies have examined how phytochemical diversity affects herbivore damage at the community ...
Ecology
Oct 9, 2023
0
7
Discussions at the recent COP15 biodiversity conference in Montréal highlighted once again the impact of human activities on wildlife. Many species are forced to migrate, are seeing their populations declining, or worse, ...
Ecology
Jun 8, 2023
0
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