Daily non-political popular news in brief.
Uncertainty of rainfall breeds cooperation in birds, study finds
08-16-2007 · EurekAlert!For the first time, Cornell researchers have linked a specific aspect of the environment to the evolution of cooperative breeding in numerous bird species: unpredictable rainfall. Their findings on African starlings appear in the Aug. 21 issue of Current Biology.
Read more »
Keywords: uncertainty, rainfall, breeds, cooperation, birds, study, breed, bird
« Previous | Next »
Similar news on "Uncertainty of rainfall breeds cooperation in birds, study finds":
- Uncertainty drives the evolution of 'cooperative breeding' in birds
08-16-2007 · EurekAlert!
Rather than striking out to start a family of their own, members of some bird species will stick around longer to help a relative raise their young. Now, researchers report evidence that in African starlings such altruistic tendencies are most common among species that live in savannas, where the rainfall in any given year is virtually impossible to predict.
Similar news · Read more »
- Mother's little helpers
08-16-2007 · EurekAlert!
An Australian bird has been found to produce smaller, less nourishing eggs when it breeds in the presence of other "helper" birds that provide child-care assistance. This unique adaptation enables the birds to live longer and breed more often than females without helpers.
Similar news · Read more »
- ASU research shows connection between testosterone, dietary antioxidants and bird coloration
06-11-2007 · EurekAlert!
Mom may have been right all along, especially when we were hormone-raging teenagers: Eat your veggies and good things will happen. In a new physiological study of birds, a researcher at Arizona State University has found that carotenoids, the pigments that color carrots orange and corn yellow, have even deeper health benefits than originally thought. They appear to fight off the negative impacts that testosterone can have on an animal's health.
Similar news · Read more »
- Savanna habitat drives birds, and perhaps others, to cooperative breeding
08-16-2007 · EurekAlert!
Birds of a feather flock together, but for African starlings, this is true primarily in savannas, where cooperation improves survival in the unpredictable habitat, according to UC-Berkeley and Cornell researchers. Cooperative breeding, where helpers forego breeding to gather food for the offspring of other group members, seems to be a successful survival strategy with the highly variable rainfall of the savanna. Savanna habitats may have led to cooperative social behavior in other species also.
Similar news · Read more »
- Information on bird flu cases poorly recorded, scientists say
11-01-2006 · EurekAlert!
Critical information about cases of infection of wild birds by H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza is being recorded inaccurately or not recorded at all, according to scientists writing in BioScience. Species and sex of the bird as well as exact time and location of trapping or collection are among the data that have been improperly reported, compromising attempts to study the disease.
Similar news · Read more »
- Museum-fueled global study shows you can't judge biodiversity by its bird
11-01-2006 · EurekAlert!
The canary in the coal mine, the supposed harbinger of threat for all those around it, isn't as true as it seemed for biodiversity conservation, according to a sweeping study in which a Michigan State University ornithologist participated.A global group of scientists including MSU's Pamela Rasmussen, has done the most detailed study yet of how rare and threatened species of birds, mammals and amphibians are distributed across the globe.
Similar news · Read more »
- Land conversion and climate threaten land birds
06-04-2007 · EurekAlert!
Evaluating changes in range size of land bird species using Millenium Ecosystem Assessment scenarios reveals that land conversion, as well as climate change, will lead to the decline of many species, particularly those in the tropics.
Similar news · Read more »
- Birds take cues from their competitors
07-05-2007 · EurekAlert!
The idea that animals other than humans can learn from one another and pass on local traditions has long been a matter of debate. Now, a new study reveals that some birds learn not only from each other, but also from their competitors.
Similar news · Read more »
- In birds, expecting to mate leads to higher fertilization rates
10-04-2007 · EurekAlert!
A new study shows that species learn to adapt to their surroundings in order to increase their "reproductive fitness" -- the likelihood that they will successfully reproduce. In this experiment, the quail who knew they were going to have the opportunity to mate produced more offspring.
Similar news · Read more »
- Working parents concerned about after-school care, companies losing billions in job productivity
12-05-2006 · EurekAlert!
Millions of working fathers and mothers are less productive at work due to concerns about what their children are doing in the after-school hours, according to a new study released today by Catalyst, the leading nonprofit research and advisory organization working to build inclusive environments and expand opportunities for women at work. The report, entitled After-School Worries: Tough on Parents, Bad for Business, was conducted in cooperation with the Women's Studies Research Center at Brandeis University.
Similar news · Read more »
