Animal Science Blog From Biology-blog.comAnimal science blog from biology-blog.com, the place for information.Lionfish decimating tropical fish populations- July 20, 2008 The invasion of predatory lionfish in the Caribbean region poses yet another major threat there to coral reef ecosystems a new study has observed that within a short period after the entry of lionfish into an area, the survival of other reef fishes is slashed by about 80 percent. Aside from the rapid and immediate mortality of marine life, the loss of herbivorous fish also sets the stage for seaweeds to potentially overwhelm the coral reefs and disrupt the delicate ecological balance in which..http://www.biology-blog.com/blogs/permalinks/7-2008/lionfish-decimating-tropical-fish-popu... Pregnant mice block out unwelcome admirers- July 20, 2008 Mouse mothers-to-be have a remarkable way to protect their unborn pups. Because the smell of a strange male's urine can cause miscarriage and reactivate the ovulatory cycle, pregnant mice prevent the action of such olfactory stimuli by blocking their smell. Scientists from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Monterotondo, Italy, have now revealed the nature of this ability. A surge of the chemical signal dopamine in the main olfactory bulb - one of the key brain areas for...http://www.biology-blog.com/blogs/permalinks/7-2008/pregnant-mice-block-out-unwelcome-admi... The genetics of the white horse- July 20, 2008 The white horse is an icon for dignity which has had a huge impact on human culture across the world. An international team led by scientists at Uppsala University has now identified the mutation causing this spectacular trait and show that white horses carry an identical mutation that can be traced back to a common ancestor that lived thousands of years ago. The study is interesting for medical research since this mutation also enhance the risk for melanoma. The paper is published on July 20...http://www.biology-blog.com/blogs/permalinks/7-2008/the-genetics-of-the-white-horse.html Dr. Andrew Bass about fish vocalization- July 20, 2008 Talking fish are no strangers to Americans. From the comedic portrayal of "Mr. Limpet" by Don Knotts, to the children's Disney favorite, "Nemo," fish can talk, laugh and tell jokes--at least on television and the silver screen. But can real fish verbally communicate Scientists say, "Yes," in a paper reported in the July 18 issue of the journal Science. Further, the findings put human speech--and social communications of all vertebrates--in evolutionary context........http://www.biology-blog.com/blogs/permalinks/7-2008/nemo-arent-the-only-fish-that-talk.htm... Predicting the distribution of creatures great and small- July 20, 2008 In studying how animals change size as they evolve, biologists have unearthed several interesting patterns. For instance, most species are small, but the largest members of a taxonomic group -- such as the great white shark, the Komodo dragon, or the African elephant are often thousands or millions of times bigger than the typical species. Now for the first time two SFI scientists explain these patterns within an elegant statistical framework........http://www.biology-blog.com/blogs/permalinks/7-2008/creatures-great-and-small.html |