Zoology

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    ScienceDaily: Zoology News

  • Will earlier springs throw nature out of step?

    9 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am
    The recent trend towards earlier UK springs and summers has been accelerating, according to a new study. The research is the most comprehensive and rigorous assessment so far of long-term changes in the seasonal timing of biological events across marine, freshwater and terrestrial environments in the UK.

  • Evolution impacts environment: Fundamental shift in how biologists perceive relationship between evolution and ecology

    8 Feb 2010 | 11:00 pm
    The traditional view is that ecology shapes evolution. Some research has suggested, however, that evolutionary processes reciprocate by influencing ecology in turn. Now biologists present evidence that ecology and evolution are indeed reciprocally interacting processes, presenting a fundamental shift in our understanding of the relationship between evolution and ecology. The results represent a first significant step in showing that evolution cannot be ignored when studying ecological interactions.

  • 'Boutique' fish farms created for Ugandans to combat Lake Victoria's depleted fish supplies

    8 Feb 2010 | 11:00 pm
    In a unique project to combat depleted fish supplies in Lake Victoria, researchers have established 'boutique' fish farms in small villages around the Lake's shore in Uganda.

  • Great tits: Birds with character

    8 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm
    Gene variation is the reason that some great tit populations are more curious than others. In humans and animals alike, individuals differ in sets of traits that we usually refer to as personality. An important part of the individual difference in personality is due to variation in the underlying genes. One gene, the dopamine receptor D4 gene, however, is known to influence novelty seeking and exploration behavior in a range of species, including humans and birds. Researchers now show that the gene’s influence on birds’ behavior differs markedly between wild populations of great tits.

  • Like escape artists, rotifers elude enemies by drying up and -- poof! -- they are gone with the wind

    8 Feb 2010 | 5:00 pm
    They haven't had sex in some 30 million years, but some very small invertebrates named bdelloid rotifers are still shocking biologists -- they should have gone extinct long ago. Researchers have discovered the secret to their evolutionary longevity: these rotifers are microscopic escape artists. When facing pathogens, they dry up and are promptly gone with the wind.
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    Zoology News

  • Lionel Walter Rothschild

    8 Feb 2010 | 3:06 am
    Aspects of the topic "Lionel Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild" are discussed in the following places at Britannica role in Suez Canal Company : The second generation ) Places The following are some places associated with "Lionel Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild" Other The following is a selection of items associated with "Lionel ...

  • Tim Flannery

    28 Jan 2010 | 1:15 am
    IMAGES Tim Flannery, 2007.[Credits : Anoek de Groot - AFP/Getty Images] Places The following are some places associated with "Tim Flannery" Other The following is a selection of items associated with "Tim Flannery" ARTICLE Australian zoologist byname of Timothy Fridtjof Flannery born Jan.

  • Uzbekistan Renames Soviet-Era Streets

    27 Jan 2010 | 4:29 pm
    Authorities in the Uzbek capital have begun renaming some 150 streets and residential areas to deemphasize the city's Soviet heritage, RFE/RL's Uzbek Service reports.

  • Cryptozoology Enhances Zoology

    25 Jan 2010 | 2:21 pm
    Posted by: Loren Coleman on January 25th, 2010 Rob Voss, mammalogist, ponders a possum: he hopes to discover how many species of the animal there are.

  • Celebrity zoologists comes to Gloucestershire

    23 Jan 2010 | 12:38 am
    Celebrity zoologist Mark Carwardine will be giving a talk at the WWT's Slimbridge Wetland Centre.
 
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    MedWorm: Zoology

  • Contrasting object-based and texture-based accounts of same/different discrimination learning with trial-unique stimuli.

    9 Feb 2010 | 7:42 am
    Same/different discrimination is a classic task for investigating relational learning in animals. Recent research suggests that pigeons can learn a trial-unique same/different discrimination, which eliminates the opportunity to memorize the training items (Brooks & Wasserman, 2008). The authors conducted three tests to elucidate the role that item-based comparison plays in this trial-unique discrimination. In the first, the authors tested the possibility that pigeons’ same/different discrimination was based on textural features of the displays by creating a single, unitary texture from same…

  • Contrasting the edge- and surface-based theories of object recognition: Behavioral evidence from macaques (Macaca mulatta).

    9 Feb 2010 | 7:42 am
    This study assessed the contribution of edge and surface cues on object representation in macaques (Macaca mulatta). In Experiments 1 and 2, 5 macaques were trained to discriminate 4 simple volumetric objects (geons) and were subsequently tested for their ability to recognize line drawings, silhouettes, and light changes of these geons. Performance was above chance in all test conditions and was similarly high for the line drawings and silhouettes of geons, suggesting the use of the outline shape to recognize the original objects. In addition, transfer for the geons seen under new lighting…

  • Contrasting predictions of extended comparator hypothesis and acquisition-focused models of learning concerning retrospective revaluation.

    9 Feb 2010 | 7:42 am
    Three conditioned suppression experiments with rats investigated contrasting predictions made by the extended comparator hypothesis and acquisition-focused models of learning, specifically, modified SOP and the revised Rescorla–Wagner model, concerning retrospective revaluation. Two target cues (X and Y) were partially reinforced using a stimulus relative validity design (i.e., AX–Outcome; BX–No outcome; CY–Outcome; DY–No outcome), and subsequently one of the companion cues for each target was extinguished in compound (BC–No outcome). In Experiment 1, which used spaced trials for…

  • Using context to resolve temporal ambiguity.

    9 Feb 2010 | 7:42 am
    Three conditioned lick suppression experiments with rats examined the role of the context in the selection and integration of independently acquired interval relationships. In Experiment 1, rats were exposed to separate conditioned stimuli 1 and 2 (CS1–CS2) pairings with 2 different interval relationships, each in its own distinctive context, X or Y. The resultant integration was determined by the training context (X or Y) in which unconditioned stimulus (US)–CS2 backward pairings occurred, as assessed in a third neutral context (Z). In Experiment 2, rats experienced CS1–CS2 pairings…

  • Inaugural editorial for Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal Behavior Processes.

    9 Feb 2010 | 7:42 am
    When applying for the editorship of the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal Behavior Processes, I was asked for my “vision” for the Journal, which I have outlined here as an inaugural editorial. My vision is in essence conservative in that I shall take the core of my brief to be that of maintaining the conception of the Journal established by Allan Wagner over 30 years ago and maintained so admirably by the subsequent editors over the intervening decades. I see this conception as having two main components, the first relating to content and the second to procedures. As far as the…
 
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    Tetrapod Zoology

  • Ahh, life is sweet

    27 Jan 2010 | 3:13 am
    I have to take a break. I may be gone for some time... I may not. Here are some cool photos. Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post...

  • 2009, a year of Tet Zooery

    23 Jan 2010 | 5:51 am
    So, if you read the previous article, you'll know that we're here because Tet Zoo was four years old on January 21st. In that article, I got as far as discussing blog-relevant events that happened up to the end of May or so. Time to crack on... Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post...

  • Tet Zoo = 4 years old today

    21 Jan 2010 | 3:55 am
    Today is January 21st which means, believe it or don't, that it's Tet Zoo's birthday, the 4th no less. Holy crap... have I really been blogging for four years? Yikes, and there is still so much to do, so little ground I've covered. This is despite more than 635 (count 'em) Tet Zoo articles here on ScienceBlogs alone. As on some (but not all) of the previous occasions, this article is going to be a personal look back at the year, not a proper review of all the Tet Zoo-relevant stuff that happened in 2009 (wow, wish I had time for that). Actually, this is just about the worst time to write a…

  • What to make of the Yowie?

    19 Jan 2010 | 2:54 am
    Like many people interested in cryptozoology (the study of animals - or alleged animals - known only from anectodal evidence), I'm of the opinion that the Australian Yowie is one of the most problematic of mystery beasts. It is, in fact, so ridiculous and inconvenient that it's difficult to take seriously. As if sasquatch, yeti and orang pendek aren't difficult enough*, what are we to make of antipodean reports of a hairy, bipedal, ape-like creature? Back in 2006 (oh my god, four years ago already), Tony Healy and Paul Cropper collated everything known about the Yowie for their book The…

  • Giant African softshells - wow!

    16 Jan 2010 | 7:25 am
    If you're a long-time Tet Zoo reader you might remember the article about giant Asian softshell turtles from November 2007. That article - which mostly focused on the several Chitra species - was colourfully titled 'The goat-eating hot water bottle turtles'. As you may recall, the 'goat-eating' bit was inspired by a comment made in a turtle book (David Alderton's Turtles & Tortoises of the World): according to this source, Chitra 'may even attack goats, overturning them' (Alderton 1988, p. 165). That always seemed like a puzzling statement, but I decided to run with it. As kindly pointed out…
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    WebEcoist

  • Cycle Crazy: 16 Strange & Amazing Bicycle Concepts

    Steph
    8 Feb 2010 | 10:00 am
    [ By Steph in Art & Design, Technology & Gadgets, Transit & Auto. ]Invented in the 19th century, the bicycle hasn’t changed much since then, and it’s sorely in need of a 21st century makeover. Luckily, there are plenty of designers eager to jump in and do just that, with amazing concepts that fold into compact portable packages, harness solar energy, store kinetic pedal power and even allow amphibious travel. Some are ready for the assembly line while others will never be more than an idea, but all 16 of these designs are quite a departure from the ordinary. Laptop-Charging…

  • Eyes on the Prize: A Super Bowl of Incredible Animal Vision

    Chris
    7 Feb 2010 | 6:00 am
    [ By Chris in Animals & Habitats, Nature & Ecosystems, Science & Research. ](Images via: Sword Fishing Central, Molly O Brown, Kid Cyber, Take No Prisoners, One to Many, Xenophilius, Free Dog Listings)Roger Daltrey of The Who once sang that he could “see for miles and miles.” As the legendary British rockers prepare for tonight’s halftime show of Super Bowl XLIV between the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints, we thought it would be fun to look at animals with some unique and cool eyesight of their own. Just as Peyton Manning and Drew Brees are known for incredible…

  • Frozen Moments: Freaky, Funky Eco Art Installations

    Delana
    6 Feb 2010 | 10:00 am
    [ By Delana in Animals & Habitats, Art & Design, Nature & Ecosystems. ]It would be easy to see death and depression in Claire Morgan’s visual art installations. After all, they often feature dead bugs, taxidermy animals, and dead or dying plant matter. The components are arranged in visually stunning tableaux that impart a simultaneous feeling of wonder and horror. But at the heart of it, Morgan’s sculptures aren’t at all about the macabre; they’re about a celebration of nature, science, life and death.Born in Belfast and now living in London, Claire…

  • Welcome to Hell: Sand Demons of Dante’s Inferno [49 Pics]

    Angie
    4 Feb 2010 | 10:00 am
    [ By Angie in Art & Design, Geography & Travel, History & Trivia. ]It’s cold and snowy in many places throughout the world. So let’s think warm thoughts like warm summer sand and sandcastles. In fact, think hot. Burning hot, flames of hell hot, and mix that with sand. What do you get? Dante’s Inferno. What in hell is that? No, not the game. It is a sand sculpture opera based on the Italian classic masterpiece and produced by the City of Jesolo, Venice, Italy. Welcome to Hell and the sand demons of Dante’s Inferno in 49 photos.Welcome to Hell(image credits:Eternally…

  • Corrugated Art: Incredible Upcycled Cardboard Sculptures

    Delana
    3 Feb 2010 | 10:00 am
    [ By Delana in Art & Design. ]Environmental art can take many forms. One of the most striking is when an artist takes a mass-produced material that is usually discarded after one use and makes it into something enduring and entirely new. That’s exactly what Ohio artist Mark Langan does with cardboard: he transforms this interesting but often-overlooked material into works of art so unique and impressive that it’s hard to believe their origins.Langan’s goal is to encourage people to look at materials in a new way. He believes that corrugated cardboard has interesting…
 
 
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