ScienceDaily: Plants & Animals News


Why scientists want to solve an underground mystery about where microbes live

Posted: 04 Jun 2021 06:35 PM PDT

A team of biologists revealed, for the first time, that it is possible to accurately predict the abundance of different species of soil microbes in different parts of the world.

Beyond synthetic biology, synthetic ecology boosts health by engineering the environment

Posted: 04 Jun 2021 06:35 PM PDT

Researchers discovered that providing microbial communities with a broader variety of food sources didn't increase the variety of microbial species within their experiments, but more food did fuel more microbial growth. The team's ultimate goal is to learn how to direct microbiome behavior through environmental molecules like food sources.

Fungus creates a fast track for carbon

Posted: 04 Jun 2021 06:35 PM PDT

New research focused on interactions among microbes in water suggests fungal microparasites play a bigger than expected role in aquatic food webs and the global carbon cycle.

Bacteria are connected to how babies experience fear

Posted: 04 Jun 2021 10:54 AM PDT

Why do some babies react to perceived danger more than others? According to new research part of the answer may be found in a surprising place: an infant's digestive system.

Food scientists aim to make plant-based protein tastier and healthier

Posted: 04 Jun 2021 10:54 AM PDT

As meat-eating continues to increase around the world, food scientists are focusing on ways to create healthier, better-tasting and more sustainable plant-based protein products that mimic meat, fish, milk, cheese and eggs.

Genomics-informed decisions can help save species from extinction

Posted: 04 Jun 2021 10:54 AM PDT

Researchers have shown that harmful mutations present in the DNA play an important - yet neglected - role in the conservation and translocation programs of threatened species.

Self-excising designer proteins report isoform expression

Posted: 04 Jun 2021 09:27 AM PDT

Our proteome is much bigger than our genome because one gene produces several variants of proteins called protein isoforms, whose disbalance is implicated in many diseases. A new bioengineered reporter system now allows for the first time to follow protein isoform expression over time in live cells. The method helps to decipher the underlying regulatory mechanisms and enables screening for potential molecular interventions.

Plant competition during climate change

Posted: 04 Jun 2021 09:27 AM PDT

Researchers show how extreme drought and plant invasion impact ecosystems in the Mediterranean region.

A missing antibody molecule may indicate when dengue will become deadly

Posted: 04 Jun 2021 09:27 AM PDT

The antibody's altered structure helps explain an enduring mystery of dengue -- why only a fraction of those infected will develop severe disease.

Salt marshes trap microplastics in their sediments, creating record of human plastic use

Posted: 04 Jun 2021 09:25 AM PDT

Scientists report that microplastics have been accumulating in salt marshes for decades, creating a historical record of human plastic waste.

Corals tell Arabian Sea story of global warming

Posted: 04 Jun 2021 09:24 AM PDT

Coral insights into 1,000 years of seasonal changes in the Arabian Sea warn of significant impacts caused by global warming.

Arctic sea ice thinning faster than expected

Posted: 03 Jun 2021 05:10 PM PDT

Sea ice thickness is inferred by measuring the height of the ice above the water, and this measurement is distorted by snow weighing the ice floe down. Scientists adjust for this using a map of snow depth in the Arctic that is decades out of date. In the new study, researchers swapped this map for the results of a new computer model designed to estimate snow depth as it varies year to year.

70-year-old coffee-killing fungus brought back to life to fight the disease

Posted: 03 Jun 2021 05:10 PM PDT

Researchers have re-animated specimens of a fungus that causes coffee wilt to discover how the disease evolved and how its spread can be prevented.

Protect the sea, neglect the people? Social impact of marine conservation schemes revealed

Posted: 03 Jun 2021 02:13 PM PDT

Governments and international organizations are expanding targets to conserve marine spaces to stem the depletion of biodiversity and fish stocks around the globe. A new study demonstrates the wide range of unintended impacts that such conservation efforts have on affected communities. Published today in World Development, the research presents a ground-breaking case study of the Cambodian Koh Sdach Archipelago combined with a cross-country statistical analysis of the impacts of marine conservation across Southeast Asian communities.

Black bears may play important role in protecting gray fox

Posted: 03 Jun 2021 02:12 PM PDT

Bears are known for being devoted and protective of their baby cubs, but research shows that they may also play a significant role in shielding gray fox from predators like coyotes, who compete with the fox for food and space. The research is one of the first studies to show how black bears provide a buffer to allow other, smaller carnivores to safely co-exist.

Nanoscale sensors measure elusive water levels in leaves

Posted: 03 Jun 2021 02:12 PM PDT

A breakthrough technology uses nanoscale sensors and fiber optics to measure water status just inside a leaf's surface, providing a tool to greatly advance our understanding of basic plant biology, and opening the door for breeding more drought-resistant crops.

Life stage differences shield ecological communities from collapse

Posted: 03 Jun 2021 02:12 PM PDT

A new study by ecologists shows that differences between juveniles and adults of the same species are crucial for the stability of complex ecological communities. The research represents a major advance in ecological modeling at a time when biodiversity is declining and species around the world are rapidly going extinct.

Researchers design simulation tool to predict disease, pest spread

Posted: 03 Jun 2021 02:12 PM PDT

Researchers have developed a computer simulation tool to predict when and where pests and diseases will attack crops or forests, and also test when to apply pesticides or other management strategies to contain them.

Scientists discover function of microbes living in oysters

Posted: 03 Jun 2021 02:12 PM PDT

Scientists have taken the first steps toward understanding the function of microbes that live on and in Eastern oysters, which may have implications for oyster health and the management of oyster reefs and aquaculture facilities.

Cultural, belief system data can inform gray wolf recovery efforts in US

Posted: 03 Jun 2021 02:11 PM PDT

The study reveals that Colorado's social environment is far more conducive to wolf recovery than states like Montana and Idaho, which currently have state legislative efforts to reduce wolf populations.

Cells reprogrammed to make synthetic polymers; also making them resistant to viruses

Posted: 03 Jun 2021 02:11 PM PDT

Scientists have developed the first cells that can construct artificial polymers from building blocks that are not found in nature, by following instructions the researchers encoded in their genes. The study also found the synthetic genome made the bacteria entirely resistant to infection by viruses.

New technology 'listens' for endangered right whales

Posted: 03 Jun 2021 02:11 PM PDT

Researchers have developed technology that will help to protect North American right whales, one of the world's most endangered marine species. The new techniques can remove unwanted noises from recordings, thereby increasing the reliability of detecting right whales before they reach close proximity to large vessels. This can both protect animals and avoid costly shutdowns of offshore operations.

Polar vortex, winter heat may change bird populations

Posted: 03 Jun 2021 01:58 PM PDT

Researchers set out to learn how extreme winter cold and heat affected 41 common bird species in eastern North America. They found that individual bird species respond differently to these weather events, and extreme winter heat may lead to longer-term changes in bird populations.

Mangrove root model may hold the key to preventing coastal erosion

Posted: 03 Jun 2021 08:19 AM PDT

How mangrove roots interact with water flow is believed to be a key element in mitigating coastal erosion. Researchers are the first to quantify the optimal mangrove root hydrodynamic with a predictive model, which provides insight into the sediment transport and erosion processes that govern the evolution of the shapes of shorelines. Results can provide useful guidance for coastal managers restoring estuarine mangrove forests or planting mangroves as part of living shoreline stabilization.

Scientists make powerful underwater glue inspired by barnacles and mussels

Posted: 03 Jun 2021 05:35 AM PDT

Scientists replicate the molecular properties of the natural cement used by barnacles and mussels to create a powerful adhesive using silk protein. The new adhesive can work well in both dry and underwater conditions.