Animal Science Blog From Biology-blog.comAnimal science blog from biology-blog.com, the place for information.Odd-Looking Marine Animals- September 19, 2008 They exist. Don''t ask why, just accept their unbelievable strangeness and the fact that other surreal creatures may inhabit the oceanic depths, of which we have only explored a tiny fraction.Here are 10 odd-looking creatures, each one step short of an alien life form.http://www.biology-blog.com/blogs/permalinks/7-2008/odd-looking-marine-animals.html Greater bamboo lemur found in Madagascar- September 19, 2008 Scientists in Madagascar have confirmed the existence of a population of greater bamboo lemurs more than 400 kilometers (240 miles) from the only other place where the Critically Endangered species is known to live, raising hopes for its survival. The discovery of the distinctive lemurs with jaws powerful enough to crack giant bamboo, their favorite food, occurred in 2007 in the Torotorofotsy wetlands of east central Madagascar, which is designated a Ramsar site of international importance...http://www.biology-blog.com/blogs/permalinks/7-2008/greater-bamboo-lemur-found-in-madagasc... Animals adapt their vocal signals to social situations- September 19, 2008 A special recent issue of the Journal of Comparative Psychology, published by the American Psychological Association, presents a host of studies that investigate the way that animals adapt their calls, chirps, barks and whistles to their social situation. The special issue, Acoustic Interaction in Animal Groups: Signaling in Noisy and Social Contexts, reports on findings from the natural world such as:.......http://www.biology-blog.com/blogs/permalinks/8-2008/animals-adapt-their-vocal-signals.html Transcending Boundaries- September 19, 2008 From understanding climate change to predicting infectious disease outbreaks to engineering solutions to address disability, scientific research is increasingly crossing the boundaries between disciplines. Fostering interdisciplinary research, education and training as a means of developing the next generation of researchers is a key goal of the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Integrative Graduate Education Research Traineeship (IGERT) program. Through IGERT, graduate students work as part..http://www.biology-blog.com/blogs/permalinks/7-2008/transcending-boundaries.html Jamaican lizards' shows of strength mark territory at dawn, dusk- September 19, 2008 What does Jack LaLanne have in common with a Jamaican lizard Like the ageless fitness guru, the lizards greet each new day with vigorous push-ups. That's as per a new study showing that male Anolis lizards engage in impressive displays of reptilian strength -- push-ups, head bobs, and threatening extension of a colorful neck flap called a dewlap -- to defend their territory at dawn and dusk........http://www.biology-blog.com/blogs/permalinks/8-2008/jamaican-lizards-shows-of-strength.htm... Coating copies microscopic biological surfaces- September 19, 2008 Someday, your car might have the metallic finish of some insects or the deep black of a butterfly's wing, and the reflectors might be patterned on the nanostructure of a fly's eyes, as per Penn State scientists who have developed a method to rapidly and inexpensively copy biological surface structures........http://www.biology-blog.com/blogs/permalinks/9-2008/coating-copies-microscopic-biological-... Diversity among parasitic wasps- September 19, 2008 A tiny wasp that lays its eggs under the skin of unwitting caterpillars belongs to one of the most diverse groups of insects on Earth. Now researchers report that its diversity is even higher than previously thought. (To see an audio slide show on the research, please go to: http:publicaffairs.illinois.eduslideshowsMicrogastrine.)........http://www.biology-blog.com/blogs/permalinks/8-2008/diversity-among-parasitic-wasps.html Genetics reveals big fish that almost got away- September 19, 2008 Scientists from the University of Hawaii, the Wildlife Conservation Society, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, National Marine Fisheries Service and Projecto Meros do Brazil discovered a new species of fisha grouper that reaches more than six feet in length and can weigh nearly 1,000 pounds. This newly discovered species can be found roaming the tropical reefs of the Eastern Pacific Ocean........http://www.biology-blog.com/blogs/permalinks/8-2008/genetics-reveals-big-fish-that-almost-... Small males are more often meals- September 19, 2008 Female spiders are voracious predators and consume a wide range of prey, which sometimes includes their mates. Many hypotheses have been proposed for why females eat males before or after mating. Scientists Shawn Wilder and Ann Rypstra from Miami University in Ohio found, as per a research findings reported in the recent issue of the American Naturalist, that the answer may be simpler than previously thought. Males are more likely to be eaten if they are much smaller than females, which likely..http://www.biology-blog.com/blogs/permalinks/9-2008/small-males-are-more-often-meals.html Milkweed's evolutionary approach to caterpillars- September 19, 2008 The adage that your enemies know your weaknesses best is particularly true in the case of plants and predators that have co-evolved: As the predators evolve new strategies for attack, plants counter with their own unique defenses. Milkweed is the latest example of this response, as per Cornell research suggesting that plant may be shifting away from elaborate defenses against specialized caterpillars toward a more energy-efficient approach. Genetic analysis reveals an evolutionary trend for...http://www.biology-blog.com/blogs/permalinks/7-2008/milkweeds-evolutionary-approach-to-cat... |