Category: Environment

The Animals That Disperse Seeds Are Disappearing, Spelling Trouble For Vital Plants

By sdmonitornews on January 23, 2022

An American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) eats hawthorn berries, beginning a process that will eventually spread the plant's seeds locally. The loss of seed-dispersing animals endangers the spread of plants in response to a changing environment. (Paul D. Vitucci)

Extinction and habitat loss have reduced seed dispersal for plants that need to be carried to new ranges as climate changes.
The post The Animals That Disperse Seeds Are Disappearing, Spelling Trouble For Vital Plants appeared first on Zenger News.

Archaeology Environment Science

Risky But Rewarding Food Strategies Gave Early Humans More Free Time

By sdmonitornews on January 19, 2022

Hadza women share a meal of roasted tubers. Combining hunting and gathering with food sharing, group members can risk spending a lot of energy to find food knowing they won’t starve if they return to camp empty-handed, researchers say. (Herman Pontzer, Duke University)

The biggest evolutionary benefit of early human food strategies may have been all the free time.
The post Risky But Rewarding Food Strategies Gave Early Humans More Free Time appeared first on Zenger News.

Environment Startups Tech Technology

9 Technologies To Help The World’s Trees

By sdmonitornews on January 16, 2022

Gene-editing technology can revolutionize the world of perennial crops such as apple and citrus trees. (Matthew Rumph/Unsplash)

Find out about the top ag-tech companies working to ensure the health and wellbeing of trees.
The post 9 Technologies To Help The World’s Trees appeared first on Zenger News.

Animals Environment Science

Shellfish Ships: Antarctic Species Under Threat From Crabs And Barnacles Clinging To Ships

By sdmonitornews on January 16, 2022

Non-native species have been getting attached to ships such as the British Antarctic Survey research ship Ernest Shackleton for a ride to Antarctica, posing a threat to local species. (Lloyd Peck)

Hitchhiking invaders are among “the biggest threats” to native marine life.
The post Shellfish Ships: Antarctic Species Under Threat From Crabs And Barnacles Clinging To Ships appeared first on Zenger News.

Animals Environment Science

Tarantula Discovered In Thailand Lives Its Best Life Inside Bamboo Stalks

By sdmonitornews on January 14, 2022

Found for the first time in the tropical forests of Thailand is Taksinus bambus, which is the first tarantula known to inhabit bamboo stalks. (JoCho Sippawat)

Related to other arboreal spiders of Southeast Asia, this tarantula makes silky nests high above the forest floor.
The post Tarantula Discovered In Thailand Lives Its Best Life Inside Bamboo Stalks appeared first on Zenger News.

Animals Environment Science

Moon Shiver: Terrifying Truth That Shark Attacks Peak During Full Moon

By sdmonitornews on January 13, 2022

Full moons have been found to have an effect on sharks, with a higher incidence of shark attacks being recorded during these lunar periods. (Phil Walter/Getty Images)

While it’s still unclear why, 50 years of global shark attack data show that more attacks occur under full moons.
The post Moon Shiver: Terrifying Truth That Shark Attacks Peak During Full Moon appeared first on Zenger News.

Animals Environment Science

Bowled Over: Goldfish Trained To Drive Their Mobile Tank

By sdmonitornews on January 11, 2022

In a recent experiment, six goldfish operated their own vehicle, proving that they were able to navigate even on land. (Ben-Gurion University)

Fish learned how to steer by adapting the way they swim, say scientists.
The post Bowled Over: Goldfish Trained To Drive Their Mobile Tank appeared first on Zenger News.

Environment Startups Tech Technology

The Startup Making Sense Of Carbon Credits

By sdmonitornews on January 10, 2022

Albo Climate uses satellite imagery to measure the carbon storage of farms and forests. (Courtesy of Albo Climate)

Albo Climate dispenses with manual measurements and uses satellite imagery to determine if a farm or forest is a carbon sink.
The post The Startup Making Sense Of Carbon Credits appeared first on Zenger News.

Animals Environment Science South America

Frogs And Toads From Over 70 Million Years Ago Are Almost Identical To Species Today

By sdmonitornews on January 9, 2022

An illustration of species of frogs belonging to the Calyptocephalellidae family and toads of the Kuruleufenia genus, which both lived more than 70 million years ago and managed to survive the impact of the Chicxulub asteroid. (University of Chile/Zenger)

Reasons species survived the mass extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs remain unclear.
The post Frogs And Toads From Over 70 Million Years Ago Are Almost Identical To Species Today appeared first on Zenger News.

Animals Environment Science

Four New Viruses Discovered In Galapagos Tortoises After COVID-Style Tests

By sdmonitornews on January 5, 2022

Scientists have discovered novel viruses in Galápagos giant tortoises similar to this one seen in a press release photo. (Juan Manuel García, Charles Darwin Foundation/Zenger)

Viruses found only on islands inhabited by people after tests on 454 animals.
The post Four New Viruses Discovered In Galapagos Tortoises After COVID-Style Tests appeared first on Zenger News.