Ecosystems

Animals

Fewer scavengers could mean more zoonotic disease

Scavenger populations are decreasing, a new study shows. That could put human health at risk.

Plants

Cryopreservation is not sci-fi. It may save plants from extinction

Not all plants can be stored in a seed bank. Cryopreservation offers an alternative, but critics question whether this form of conservation will work.

Environment

Skyborne specks of life may influence rainfall patterns

A study of weather on a mountain in Greece reveal that bioparticles in the sky may drive fluctuations in rainfall patterns more broadly.

Animals

Ancient poems document the decline of the Yangtze finless porpoise

The porpoise is critically endangered. Ancient Chinese poems reveal the animal’s range has dropped about 65 percent over the past 1,400 years.

Animals

The axolotl is endangered in the wild. A discovery offers hope

Introducing captive-bred axolotls to restored and artificial wetlands may be a promising option for the popular pet amphibian.

Paleontology

These crocodile-like beasts reached the Caribbean, outlasting mainland kin

Knife-toothed reptiles called sebecids went extinct on the mainland 10 million years ago. New fossil evidence puts them on an island 4 million years ago.

Oceans

How will the LA fires affect the ocean? These researchers are racing to find out

Scientists aboard a research vessel near Los Angeles collected ash, air and water samples as fire blazed on the hills before them in January.

Animals

This caterpillar wears the body parts of insect prey

Dubbed the “bone collector,” this caterpillar found on a Hawaiian island disguises itself while stalking spider webs for trapped insects to eat.

Plants

Some tropical trees act as lightning rods to fend off rivals

Though being struck by lightning is usually bad, the tropical tree Dipteryx oleifera benefits. A strike kills other nearby trees and parasitic vines.

Animals

Plastic ‘fossils’ help scientists reconstruct the history of bird nests

Plastic waste has let common coots reuse nests year after year. Scientists have now used the trash layers to date how old nests are.

Animals

Hammerhead sharks’ diets may affect if they roam or stay home

Understanding hammerhead sharks’ food preferences could aid efforts to protect the critically endangered fish.

Animals

Stinky penguin poop strikes fear into the hearts of Antarctic krill

A chemical in Adélie penguin guano may have cued krill to take evasive maneuvers in lab tests.