Ecology & Zoology

Green Paradox: Monarch Butterflies Turn Out To Be GMOs

Do monarch butterflies need mandatory labeling? New research proves that the favorite butterfly of anti-science activists is actually a GMO. Irony or paradox? Maybe both. In one of the more memorable original Star Trek episodes, Captain Kirk uses a parado ...

Article - News Staff - Sep 17 2015 - 7:14pm

Flower Declines Shrink Bee Tongues

Climate-related changes in flower diversity have resulted in a decrease in the length of alpine bumble bees' tongues, a new paper in Science says, leaving these insects poorly suited to feed from and pollinate the deep flowers they were adapted to pr ...

Article - News Staff - Sep 30 2015 - 5:54am

Wild Plants Use Carnivores To Get Rid Of Pests-- Could Crops Do The Same?

Rose gardeners have a lot to say about aphids. Some may advise insecticides as a way to manage an infestation, but others will swear by live ladybugs (natural predators of aphids). The latter is more environmental friendly, and once the ladybugs run out o ...

Article - News Staff - Oct 7 2015 - 11:00am

Wild Fish: It's Time For A Depth Limit On Trawling

Since publishing our study on “ A scientific basis for regulation deep-sea fishing by depth “ we’ve been subjected to criticism online and in print from fisheries organizations and most recently on this website in an article by Magnus Johnson. ...

Article - The Conversation - Oct 13 2015 - 6:30am

Inside/Out Plants Show How Cellulose Forms

Researchers have been able to watch the interior cells of a plant synthesize cellulose for the first time by tricking the cells into growing on the plant's surface. "The bulk of the world's cellulose is produced within the thickened seconda ...

Article - News Staff - Oct 16 2015 - 7:30am

Bees Love Caffeinated Nectar

Many humans like to start the day with a jolt of caffeine and it turns out bees do also. They may even select caffeinated nectar over an uncaffeinated but otherwise equal alternative. As a result, researchers say, plants may be lacing their nectar with ca ...

Article - News Staff - Oct 19 2015 - 2:14pm

How Plants Turn Into Zombies

When flowering plants are surrounded by a large number of insects, usually both sides profit from the encounter. Feasting on the plant juice and pollen, the insects pollinate the flowers and thus secure the survival of the plants. However, sometimes the i ...

Article - News Staff - Oct 25 2015 - 6:30am

Reading Bat Droppings

The Mediterranean Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus euryale) is a bat species that, which the name implies, occurs in the Mediterranean region and Balkan peninsula. Unfortunately, the populations of these bats are declining. Conservation efforts have so far focu ...

Blog Post - Chris Jacobs - Oct 17 2015 - 7:54am

Wasps Instead Of Pesticides: How Horse Owners Can Manage Flies

Horses need help when it comes to insect pests like flies but many horse owners are in the dark about how best to effectively manage it. A new overview of equine fly management in the latest issue of the Journal of Integrated Pest Management, an open-acce ...

Article - News Staff - Oct 25 2015 - 7:48am

Bees: 'We're More Complicated Than You Think'

Chemical signaling among social insects, such as bees, ants and wasps, is more complex than previously thought, according to researchers whose results refute the idea that a single group of chemicals controls reproduction across numerous species. ...

Article - News Staff - Oct 21 2015 - 1:07pm