News by Subject Biology

A new Duke University-led study finds that the loss of marsh-edge salt grasses and mangroves due to disturbances such as heavy oiling from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill doubles the rate of shoreline erosion in hard-hit marshes.

Preventing the introduction of the mosquitofish and removing its population are the most effective actions to control the dispersal of this exotic fish in ponds and lakes, according to a study published in the journal Science of the Total Environment.

Crabs from a single species rely on different camouflage techniques depending on what habitat they live in, new research shows.

Michigan State University veterinarians used a creative approach to treat the burns of Stella, a 1-year-old Rottweiler puppy, who escaped a house fire. Smoke inhalation prohibited Stella from being sedated for skin grafts, so the team from the MSU Veterinary Medical Center used cod fish skins to help heal Stella's burns. This successful treatment could help other animals.

A new Tel Aviv University study finds that female Egyptian fruit bats form bonds with particular male bats to exchange mating for nourishment.

Fish on coral reefs manage to thrive in isolated areas where there are very low levels of nutrients for them to use. How? The answer may lie in the tiny fish that live in the gaps in the coral structure.

Orcas live in stable, structured social groups. And their survival directly depends on it. Scientists were able to show that surviving orcas from a decimated family adopted 'erratic' social behavior, moving from group to group. The weaker these social ties, the greater the animals' likelihood of dying. As these orcas are probably not completely accepted by the new groups they join, they are likely to be given less access to food than the regular members of the social unit and eventually die.

'Swarms' of wolf-dog crossbreeds could drive Europe's wolves out of existence, according to the lead author of new research.

Older male crickets are better at getting females to live with them -- but they mate less than younger rivals once they find a partner.