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Scientists Identify Core Skin Bacterial Community in Humpback Whales

By Guest PostApril 2, 2014Naturealaska, american samoa, amy apprill, bering sea, bugs, caroline albertin, clifton ragsdale, core, eleni panagopoulou, hawaii, hox genes, Humpback whales, mammals, marathousa, michael labarbera, michael moore, nicholas thompson, north atlantic, north pacific, oceanographic institution, octopus bimaculoides, octopus genome, South Pacific, tracy mincer, two spot octopus, vangelis tourloukis, whoi, woods hole

Results Could Aid Future Efforts to Monitor Health

Bacteria are invisible to the naked eye, but they reside on nearly every surface humans encounter—including the skin. Uncovering the role these microorganisms play in human health is a major focus of research in skin microbiology, but little is known about the identity or function of skin bacteria in other mammals.

In a paper published in the open access journal PLOS ONE, researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and colleagues identified a core skin bacterial community that humpback whales share across populations, which could point to a way to assess the overall health of these endangered marine mammals. (more…)

Kugelsichere Westen für Wölfe

By Guest PostApril 1, 2014Naturedeutschland, markus bathen, mateusz hoffman, nabu, nabu wolfsexperte, rueckkehr der woelfe, torres viasus, wolf

Unkonventioneller Schutz für Muttertiere

Nachdem seit der Rückkehr der Wölfe im Jahr 2000 bereits der achte Wolf illegal in Deutschland erschossen wurde, plant der NABU die Anschaffung von kugelsicheren Westen zum Schutz der streng geschützten Tiere. Damit sollen die Muttertiere der 26 in Deutschland lebenden Rudel für die nun anstehende Welpenaufzucht vor illegalen Tötungen geschützt werden. (more…)

Gericht legt Japans Walfangflotte an die Kette

By Guest PostMarch 31, 2014Naturebowhead whales, bruellaffen, crusty meals, gericht, gerichtshof, güterabwaegung, jacob dunn, Japan, kleine hoden, rip van winkle, risiko, sexuelle selektion, tecumseh fitch, tiefe stimme, tim packeiser, trent northen, walschutz, wwf deutschland

WWF begrüßt historisches Urteil des Internationalen Gerichtshof zum Walschutz

Japan muss seine umstrittene Waljagd im Südpolarmeer beenden. Das japanische Programm verstoße gegen das internationale Walfangmoratorium, das kommerziellen Walfang verbietet, und erfülle keine wissenschaftlichen Forschungszwecke. So entschied heute der Internationale Gerichtshof in Den Haag. Australien hatte 2010 vor dem UN-Gericht Klage gegen Japan erhoben. (more…)

What singing fruit flies can tell us about quick decisions

By Guest PostMarch 29, 2014Naturebuzzing sound, courtship behavior, fly songs, fruit fly, male fruit flies, mating song

You wouldn’t hear the mating song of the male fruit fly as you reached for the infested bananas in your kitchen. Yet, the neural activity behind the insect’s amorous call could help scientists understand how you made the quick decision to pull your hand back from the tiny swarm. (more…)

Wieder wurde in der Lausitz ein Wolf erschossen

By Guest PostMarch 29, 2014Naturebayern, goerlitz, jakob pietschnig, kadaver, markus bathen, martin voracek, michael zeiler, pkw, umwelt

NABU fordert Ermittlungseinheit beim Landeskriminalamt / Wolfsnachweis in Bayern

In einem Waldgebiet bei Weißkeißel im sächsischen Landkreis Görlitz wurde heute ein erschossener Wolf entdeckt. Laut Polizeibericht handelt sich um ein ausgewachsenes männliches Tier. Genauere Angaben werden durch eine Untersuchung des Kadavers im Auftrag der Kriminalpolizei erwartet.

Nach Angaben des NABU-Projektbüros Wolf befindet sich der Fundort im Territorium des Daubitzer Reviers. „Wir müssen davon ausgehen, dass es das Vatertier des Rudels getroffen hat. Die Zukunft des Familienverbandes ist damit ungewiss“, sagte NABU-Projektleiter Markus Bathen. Der Rüde übernimmt neben der Mutter die wichtigste Aufgabe bei der Aufzucht der Welpen. (more…)

Bucking Conventional Wisdom, Researchers Find Black Sea Bass Tougher Than Expected

By Guest PostMarch 28, 2014Natureatlantic coast, business decision making, cognitive environments, john kelly, north Carolina, ozonschicht, rensselaer, shirley ann jackson, sonnenschutz, state university, survival rate, uv strahlen

In a new study, fisheries researchers from North Carolina State University found that black sea bass (Centropristis striata) can usually survive the physical trauma that results from being hauled up from deep water then released at the surface. The finding is part of a larger study of the fish’s mortality rate, which will inform stock assessments designed to help ensure that the black sea bass fishery is sustainable.

Black sea bass are bottom-dwelling fish, and are often caught at depths of greater than 60 feet. When the fish are brought to the surface, the rapid change in pressure causes the fish’s swim bladder to expand. This forces other organs out of the way and can result in visible “barotrauma” – such as the fish’s stomach being forced partially out of its mouth. (more…)

Invasive Burmese Pythons Are Good Navigators and Can Find Their Way Home

By Guest PostMarch 25, 2014Natureburmese pythons, everglades national park, james coxworth, james oconnell, kristen hart, peter kim, south florida, usgs

Everglades National Park, Fla.— Invasive Burmese pythons in South Florida are able to find their way home even when moved far away from their capture locations, a finding that has implications for the spread of the species.

A multi-organizational team of scientists found that when six Burmese pythons were relocated 13-22 miles from their capture locations, the snakes headed straight back home, navigating to within 3 miles of their original capture locations in Everglades National Park. (more…)

Impersonating poisonous prey

By Guest PostMarch 24, 2014Natureaaron wagner, brian goldman, camouflage, color coded communiques, coral snakes, cycle, david bryson, ian dworkin, imitation, kenna lehmann, king snakes, michigan state university, nonpoisonous prey, poison, poisonous prey, predator, prey, reproductive rate, toxic animals

Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery – especially in the predator/prey/poison cycle.

In nature, bright colors are basically neon signs that scream, “Don’t eat me!” But how did prey evolve these characteristics? When did predators translate the meaning? (more…)

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