Biology

Grasslands in danger

Grassland is increasingly degraded here, too. (Photo: Peter Manning / Senckenberg) When it comes to threatened habitats, tropical forests or coral reefs are among...

Beetle with Teflon effect in the knee

The black beetle is on the move with sophisticated synovial fluid in its knee. (Photo: Konstantin Nadein) Well lubricated for animals: Researchers report on...

How beneficial insects keep pests at bay

Various predatory insects are the natural enemies of aphids and the like. In a research project, biologists are investigating why equilibria in field ecosystems...

Origins of photosynthesis dated

Cyanobacteria of the genus Nostoc. (Image: Elif Bayraktar / iStock) When did bacteria acquire the ability to generate energy from light and release oxygen...

Why not all tropical forests are equally rich in species

Toucan in the Amazon rainforest. (Image: agustavop / iStock) The tropical rainforests are hotspots of biodiversity, but there are differences. Researchers have now...

Hope in the fight against bee virus

Bees have to find their way back to the hive after their excursions - an ability that can affect a viral disease. (Image:...

Eagle look at stressed trees

Even forest trees that appear healthy to the naked eye can already suffer from stress. (Image: ViktorCap / iStock) Subtle stress signals made visible:...

Lost sea centipede rediscovered

The marine centipede Strigamia maritima was thought to have been lost in Germany for a long time. (Image: Hans Reip) The marine centipede Strigamia...

Coordination among vampire friends

Vampire bats are known for their amazingly complex social behavior. (Image: Michel VIARD / iStock) Quirky and amazingly social: Researchers have gleaned new insights...

How bacteria “zombify” plants

A test plant under the spell of the manipulative active ingredient of phytoplasms forms a bushy structure known as a witch's broom. (Image:...

Loss of biodiversity in literature

How did the literary treatment of living beings change parallel to the real extinction of species? (Image: Gabriele Rada / iDiv) Oak, beech, fir...

What happens to the microplastics in the soil?

How do plastic particles behave in the soil? (Image: Gabriel Sigmund / EDGE) In agriculture, large amounts of nano and microplastics get into the...

Plant evolution took place in two stages

Individual parts of the flower of an African lily (Agapanthus africanus). (Image: Andrew Leslie) Plants today are of great diversity and complexity. It...

With an “intelligent fence” against the wolf

Wolf in Germany (Image: AB Photography / iStock) So far, fences have hardly been of any help against attacks by wolves on grazing animals: electric...

“Water dragons” are picky

A jagged "mane" is the trademark of the male of the northern crested newt. (Image: Burkhard Thiesmeier) Because of local crested newts: The celebrities...

With goats, sheep and the like against the risk of forest fires

Controlled burning of undergrowth in Sweden. (Image: Staffan Widstrand) In the face of increasing forest fires and bushfires around the world, new fire prevention...

Clever pig feeding: individual & ecological

In the RESAFE-Pig project, researchers are developing a sophisticated technical solution for needs-based pig feeding that enables resource and environmentally friendly husbandry. Source: TiHoVideos

Dogs distinguish intent from oversight

Unable versus unwilling test: dogs walked faster around a partition to reach pieces of food if they were inadvertently not given. (Image: Josepha...

“Vegetable thirst” recorded from space

Need-based irrigation is of great agricultural and ecological importance. (Image: ollo / iStock) When plants suffer from a lack of water, their leaves warm...

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