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Scientists unravel the genetic secrets of nature’s master of mimicry

By Guest PostJuly 8, 2014Naturecognitive health, florian mehring, Germany, harro von senger, harvard konzept, imperial college London, jena, konflikte vermeiden, listiges verhalten, liu birong, michael forster, monarch butterflies, mysterious source, nairobi, Nature, Paris, professor, richard ffrench constant, scientists, sinologe, tanpan, university of exeter

Scientists investigating how one of the greatest shape shifters in the natural world is able to trick predators to avoid being eaten have identified the gene behind the fascinating feat.

The African Swallowtail butterfly, also known as the ‘Mocker Swallowtail’ or the ‘Flying Handkerchief,’ can appear to change both colour and shape.

Males of the species fly boldly around the tree tops, their rapid flight making them look like shaking handkerchiefs, however females lurk in the bushes and pretend to be examples of Monarch butterflies that are nasty to eat. (more…)

The People’s Choice: Americans Would Pay to Help Monarch Butterflies

By Guest PostOctober 31, 2013Natureamericans would pay, california, caterpillars, corn, economic valuation survey, genetically modified, herbicide tolerant crops, iconic butterfly, jay diffendorfer, karen oberhauser, Mexico, migratory species, monarch butterflies, North America, pollinators, soybeans, united states, university of minnesota, us households, usgs scientist

Americans place high value on butterfly royalty. A recent study suggests they are willing to support monarch butterfly conservation at high levels, up to about 6 ½ billion dollars if extrapolated to all U.S. households.

If even a small percentage of the population acted upon this reported willingness, the cumulative effort would likely translate into a large, untapped potential for conservation of the iconic butterfly. (more…)

Circadian Rhythms Spark Plants’ Ability to Survive Freezing Weather

By Guest PostApril 14, 2011Scienceabiotic stresses, agbioresearch, bioenergy crops, circadian clock, circadian cues, circadian rhythms, eva farré, freezing weather, malia dong, michael thomashow, microbes, molecular genetics, monarch butterflies, national academy of sciences, renewal biofuels, spark plants

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Just as monarch butterflies depend on circadian cues to begin their annual migration, so do plants to survive freezing temperatures.

All living things – humans, animals, plants, microbes – are influenced by circadian rhythms, which are physical, mental and behavioral changes that follow a 24-hour cycle. In the current issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Michael Thomashow, University Distinguished Professor of molecular genetics, along with MSU colleagues Malia Dong and Eva Farré, has identified that the circadian clock provides key input required for plants to attain maximum freezing tolerance. (more…)

Tag Archives: monarch butterflies

Scientists unravel the genetic secrets of nature’s master of mimicry

The People’s Choice: Americans Would Pay to Help Monarch Butterflies

Circadian Rhythms Spark Plants’ Ability to Survive Freezing Weather