Phys.org – Ecology

Few actions in nature inspire more fear and fascination than snake bites. And the venomous reptiles have to move fast to sink their fangs into their prey before their victim flinches, which may be as […]

Prominent research studies have suggested that our planet is currently experiencing another mass extinction, based on extrapolating extinctions from the past 500 years into the future and the idea that extinction rates are rapidly accelerating.This […]

Some ancient stony corals were able to survive extreme environmental changes, which suggests that some modern species could also possess some resilience to the effects of climate change, according to research published in Nature.This post […]

Look up in the woods and you may see a familiar sight: squirrels using tree limbs like a leafy highway, crossing a patch of land without putting their paws on the ground.This post was originally […]

University of Minnesota researchers studied the microbial degradation of the USS Cairo, one of the first ironclad and steam-powered gunboats used in the United States Civil War. Studies of microbial degradation of historic woods are […]

Just as the human body contains a multitude of symbiotic microbial companions, most plant species also live alongside microbial friends. Among these companions are mycorrhizal fungi, which help plants gather water and nutrients—particularly nitrogen—from the […]

One of the enduring ichthyological mysteries is how migratory fish know when it is time to move from their winter to summer habitats. The ability to tell when the seasons are changing is crucial for […]

Imagine a sloth. You probably picture a medium-sized, tree-dwelling creature hanging from a branch. Today’s sloths—commonly featured on children’s backpacks, stationery and lunch boxes—are slow-moving creatures, living inconspicuously in Central American and South American rainforests.This […]

A new study led by WCS, University of the South Pacific, and partners has found that coral reefs in Fiji showed remarkable resilience after being battered by Category 5 Tropical Cyclone Winston in 2016. Despite […]

Carpenter ants are not squeamish when it comes to caring for the wounded. To minimize the risk of infection, the insects immediately amputate injured legs—thereby more than doubling their survival rate.This post was originally published […]