News Focus Channel: Wildlife Channel Featured Story 2

New Regional Bird Guides Simplify Identification

Cornell University — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 10:50:45 EST

There's a brand-new series of seven field guides to help people learn about the birds found in their region of the United States and Canada.

Study Confirms SARS-CoV-2 Related Coronaviruses in Trade-Confiscated Pangolins in Viet Nam

Wildlife Conservation Society — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 00:05:00 EST

A new study in the journal Frontiers in Public Health led by scientists from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) confirms that pangolins confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade in Viet Nam host SARS-CoV-2 related coronaviruses.

Joro spiders likely to spread beyond Georgia

University of Georgia — Wed, 02 Mar 2022 11:05:22 EST

The Joro spider first arrived stateside around 2013 and has since spread across the state and Southeast. But new research from the University of Georgia suggests the invasive arachnids could spread through most of the Eastern Seaboard of the U.S.

Small Water Samples Can Find Really Big Animals

Wildlife Conservation Society — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 12:05:18 EST

A team of scientists used an emerging genetic tool that analyzes DNA in water samples to detect whales and dolphins in New York waters.

eDNA a useful tool for early detection of invasive green crab

University of Washington — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 12:35:26 EST

As the European green crab invasion in Washington state worsens, a new analysis method developed by University of Washington and Washington Sea Grant scientists could help contain future invasions and prevent new outbreaks using water testing and genetic analysis.

Birds Bring Us Together for the Great Backyard Bird Count

Cornell University — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 10:35:41 EST

For a quarter of a century the annual Great Backyard Bird Count has been a bright spot for nature lovers. The 25th edition of the event is coming up February 18 through 21.

Penguin Takes Astounding Selfie Video

Wildlife Conservation Society — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 11:55:44 EST

Just in time for Penguin Awareness Day (Thursday, January 20th), the Wildlife Conservation Society's (WCS) Argentina Program has released amazing underwater selfie video recently taken by a male Gentoo penguin fitted with a special camera.

Understanding human-elephant conflict and vulnerability in the face of climate change

Northern Arizona University — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 10:50:30 EST

How do climate change and human-elephant conflict affect household food security in Africa? NAU wildlife conservationist Duan Biggs spent three years with an international team of researchers investigating the dynamics between wildlife, people and the environment on the African savannah to better understand how both climate change and human-elephant conflict can impact household food insecurity in the region.

Scientists Find SARS CoV-2-Related Coronaviruses in Cambodian Bats from 2010

Wildlife Conservation Society — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 15:10:45 EST

A team of scientists have identified coronaviruses closely related to SARS-CoV-2 from two bats sampled in Cambodia more than a decade ago.

Mongooses give bullies the cold shoulder, scientists find

University of Bristol — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 04:00:00 EST

Dwarf mongooses remember which groupmates have picked fights with others during the day and later shun the aggressors during pre-bedtime socialising sessions, according to new research.

Climate change will triple impacts to world's "life zones" unless emission rates are dramatically reduced

Wildlife Conservation Society — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 15:30:49 EST

A new study from WCS and multiple partners that modeled changes in the world's 45 different "life zones" from climate change revealed that climate impacts may soon triple over these areas if the earth continues "business-as-usual" emissions.

Giant pandas' distinctive black and white markings provide effective camouflage, study finds

University of Bristol — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 05:00:00 EST

The high-contrast pattern of giant pandas helps them blend in with their natural environment.

First-Ever Africa-Wide Great Ape Assessment Reveals Human Activity, not Habitat Availability, is Greatest Driver of Ape Abundance

Wildlife Conservation Society — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 09:15:08 EST

The first-ever Africa-wide assessment of great apes - gorillas, bonobos and chimpanzees - finds that human factors, including roads, population density and GDP, determine abundance more than ecological factors such as forest cover.

The unknown consequences of plastic's legacy, found in seabirds around the world

Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 13:15:40 EST

Seabirds from Gough Island in the south Atlantic, Marion Island near Antarctica and the coasts of both Hawaii and Western Australia have a dangerous habit: eating plastic.

Researchers and citizen scientists complete first-ever Weddell seal count

University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 14:00:00 EST

A research team led by the University of Minnesota Twin Cities has completed a first-ever global population estimate of Weddell seals in Antarctica, showing that there are significantly fewer seals than previously thought. Documenting the seals' population trends over time will help scientists better understand the effects of climate change and commercial fishing.

Study reveals gophers' biofluorescence

University of Georgia — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 10:05:08 EST

Researcher discovers that the underground species has a secret glow

'Whoop' - New Autonomous Method Precisely Detects Endangered Whale Vocalizations

Florida Atlantic University — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 08:30:47 EST

One of the frequently used methods to monitor endangered whales is called passive acoustics technology, which doesn't always perform well.

'Octo Girl' Takes a Deep Dive to Discover How Diverse Octopus Species Coexist

Florida Atlantic University — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 08:30:37 EST

A first in situ, long-term study explored how the common octopus, a medium-sized octopus widely distributed in tropical and temperate seas worldwide and the Atlantic longarm octopus, a small species of octopus found in the Atlantic Ocean and elsewhere, coexist by examining their foraging habits and tactics, diet, behaviors and when they are active or inactive. Results show that their very different behaviors and habits is exactly how these two species coexist in a shallow Florida lagoon- even at high densities.

New beautiful, dragon-like species of lizard discovered in the Tropical Andes

Pensoft Publishers — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 14:20:49 EST

The Huallaga River in the Andes of central Peru extends for 1,138 km, making it the largest tributary of the Maranon River, the spinal cord of the Amazon River.

To Understand Future Habitat Needs for Chimpanzees, Look to the Past

Wildlife Conservation Society — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 13:25:28 EST

A new study provides insight into where chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) avoided climate instability during glacial and interglacial periods in Africa over the past 120,000 years.