Rare tiger kills prospective mate in London at first meeting
For 10 days, the London Zoo kept its newly arrived male Sumatran tiger Asim in a separate enclosure from Melati, the female tiger who was supposed to become his mate.Zoologists gave them time to get used to each other's presence and smells, and waited for what they felt would be the right time... (Source: Los Angeles Times - Science)
Source: Los Angeles Times - Science - February 8, 2019 Category: Science Authors: Associated Press Source Type: news
'Eavesdropping' technology used to protect one of New Zealand's rarest birds
(Zoological Society of London) Remote recording devices used to 'eavesdrop' on a reintroduced population of one of New Zealand's rarest birds have been heralded as a breakthrough for conservation. (Source: EurekAlert! - Biology)
Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - February 5, 2019 Category: Biology Source Type: news
Gideon Mantell: forgotten man who discovered the dinosaurs
A new play recalls the battle in the scientific establishment that denied a cobbler ’s son credit for a major discoveryHe was the scientist who made one of the planet ’s most significant discoveries: the existence of dinosaurs. Yet Gideon Mantell’s place in history has for two centuries been overshadowed by a rival who stole his thunder. Now, Mantell is finally set to get his moment in the spotlight, in a new play that charts the little-known story of a man t hat science left behind.Mantell ’s discovery, in 1822, of an enormous fossil during a dig in a Sussex quarry would later be classified as the first known Igua...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - February 3, 2019 Category: Science Authors: Rob Walker Tags: Palaeontology Dinosaurs Evolution Biology Fossils Zoology Science Stage Culture UK news Source Type: news
The week in wildlife – in pictures
Macaques adapt to city life, Andean condors are released back into the wild, and a lion catches a seal in this week ’s galleryContinue reading... (Source: Guardian Unlimited Science)
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - February 1, 2019 Category: Science Tags: Wildlife Birds Environment Animals World news Zoology Biology Science Source Type: news
Rewilding: Can it foster human coexistence with nature?
(British Ecological Society) Rewilding may have the potential to drastically improve biodiversity but remains a highly controversial and divisive topic. A new book edited by scientists from ZSL (Zoological Society of London) and Utah State University aims to build common ground and show how rewilding can foster human coexistence with wildlife. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - January 31, 2019 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news
Tiny but tough: the tardigrades
Heat, cold, vacuum … the microscopic creatures, found recently in a lake in Antarctica, show remarkable resilience to a wide range of normally lethal physical conditionsRemains of the minuscule organisms known as tardigrades have beendiscovered in a subglacial Antarctic lake. The creatures, ranging in size from 0.1mm to 1.5mm, are often called water bears or moss piglets. The remains were found when scientistsdrilled a kilometre under the ice; previously, only microbes have been found in these extreme conditions.Continue reading... (Source: Guardian Unlimited Science)
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - January 27, 2019 Category: Science Authors: Morfudd Owen Tags: Zoology Biology Science Space Technology Source Type: news
Scientists identify toxic antipredator defense mechanism in locusts
(Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters) A team of scientists led by Prof. KANG Le at the Institute of Zoology reported an unprecedented animal defense mechanism by which an olfactory aposematic (warning) signal can be converted to a hypertoxic chemical to facilitate an antipredator defense in locusts. (Source: EurekAlert! - Biology)
Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - January 24, 2019 Category: Biology Source Type: news
Mangrove patches deserve greater recognition no matter the size
(Zoological Society of London) Governments must provide stronger protection for crucial small mangrove patches, is the call led by scientists at international conservation charity ZSL (Zoological Society of London), which hosts the IUCN SSC Mangrove Specialist Group, in a letter published in Science today (18 January 2019). (Source: EurekAlert! - Biology)
Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - January 18, 2019 Category: Biology Source Type: news
Fruit fly promiscuity alters the evolutionary forces on males
(University of Oxford) Researchers in the Department of Zoology at Oxford University have demonstrated for the first time what effect female fruit flies having multiple partners has on sexual selection -- before and after mating. Sexual selection is the branch of natural selection concerned with obtaining mates and fertility, rather than survival. (Source: EurekAlert! - Biology)
Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - January 17, 2019 Category: Biology Source Type: news
Stick insect study shows the significance of passive muscle force for fast movements
(University of Cologne) Zoologists from the University of Cologne gain new insights into the motor function of limbs of different sizes. They have now published their results in 'Current Biology'. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - January 9, 2019 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news
Did a supervolcano cause the dinosaurs' demise? – Science Weekly podcast
Some scientists are beginning to question whether it really was an asteroid impact that led to the dinosaurs ’ extinction – instead, they think it may have been a supervolcano in India.Graihagh Jackson investigatesWhen we were children, many of us learned aboutdinosaurs and their demise. Amassive asteroid, larger than Mount Everest is tall, smashed into the Earth, causing chaos in the form of tsunamis, wildfires and earthquakes. Plumes of debris created a darkness so stifling that it caused up to 75% of all animals to become extinct.However, a small group of scientists is questioning this hypothesis and putting forward...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - January 4, 2019 Category: Science Authors: Presented and produced by Graihagh Jackson Tags: Dinosaurs Science Fossils Biology Evolution Zoology Source Type: news
Engineers, zoologists reveal how gulls 'wing morph' for stable soaring
(University of Toronto Faculty of Applied Science& Engineering) A unique collaboration between U of T Engineering's aviation expert Professor Philippe Lavoie and UBC zoologists provides new insights into how gulls configure their wing shape -- known as wing morphing -- to stabilize their flight. The findings could be used to design more efficient flying vehicles, including soaring drones for farming or environmental monitoring. (Source: EurekAlert! - Biology)
Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - January 2, 2019 Category: Biology Source Type: news
Blind creature that buries head in sand named after Donald Trump
Amphibian ’s behaviour compared to US president’s approach to global warmingA newly discovered blind and burrowing amphibian is to be officially namedDermophis donaldtrumpi,in recognition of the US president ’s climate change denial.The name was chosen by the boss ofEnviroBuild, a sustainable building materials company, who paid $25,000 ( £19,800) at an auction for the right. The small legless creature was found in Panama and EnviroBuild’s Aidan Bell said its ability to bury its head in the ground matched Donald Trump’s approach to global warming.Continue reading... (Source: Guardian Unlimited Science)
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - December 18, 2018 Category: Science Authors: Damian Carrington Environment editor Tags: Donald Trump Climate change Amphibians Environment Zoology US news World news Animals Biology Science Source Type: news
Set your teeth on EDGE: World's weirdest sharks and rays on the brink of extinction
(Zoological Society of London) Sharks that use a whip-like tail to stun their prey, rays with saws on their faces, and river rays half the length of a bus are among the most unique species at risk of extinction according to the latest ranking from international conservation charity ZSL's (Zoological Society of London) pioneering EDGE of Existence program. (Source: EurekAlert! - Biology)
Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - December 4, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: news
Week in Wildlife - in pictures
Red fody, beached whales and wildlife rescued from an Australian heatwave in this week ’s galleryContinue reading... (Source: Guardian Unlimited Science)
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - November 30, 2018 Category: Science Authors: Eric Hilaire Tags: Wildlife Environment Animals World news Zoology Biology Science Source Type: news
