Ecosystems

Animals

How a snake named Hannibal led to a discovery about cobra cannibalism

Scientists discovered that cobras in southern Africa eat each other more often than thought. And that may be true for cobras in other places as well.

Genetics

In lab tests, this gene drive wiped out a population of mosquitoes

For the first time, a gene drive caused a population crash of mosquitoes in a small-scale test.

Ecosystems

Confused mayflies wreak havoc on a Pennsylvania bridge

Cleaning a river in central Pennsylvania brought back mayflies, which now pose a threat to motorists crossing a bridge.

Animals

A gentoo penguin’s dinner knows how to fight back

Cameras attached to gentoo penguins off the Falkland Islands revealed that, despite the birds’ small size, their lobster krill prey can sometimes win in a fight.

Ecosystems

A freshwater, saltwater tug-of-war is eating away at the Everglades

Saltwater is winning in the Everglades as sea levels rise and years of redirecting freshwater flow to support agriculture and population growth

Animals

In the animal kingdom, what does it mean to be promiscuous?

A review of hundreds of scientific studies finds that the label “promiscuous” is applied to a surprisingly wide range of mating behaviors in animals.

Animals

With one island’s losses, the king penguin species shrinks by a third

Once home to the largest known colony of king penguins, Île aux Cochons has lost most of its birds for unknown reason.

Animals

Got an environmental problem? Beavers could be the solution

A new book shows how important beavers have been in the past — and how they could improve the landscape of the future.

Earth

The giant iceberg that broke from Antarctica’s Larsen C ice shelf is stuck

A year ago, an iceberg calved off of the Larsen C ice shelf. The hunk of ice hasn’t moved much since, and that has scientists keeping an eye on it.

Oceans

Shallow reef species may not find refuge in deeper water habitats

Coral reefs in deep-water ecosystems may not make good homes for species from damaged shallow reefs.

Ecosystems

Bird poop helps keep coral reefs healthy, but rats are messing that up

Eradicating invasive rats from islands may help boost numbers of seabirds, whose droppings provide nutrients to nearby coral reefs.

Climate

Bloodflowers’ risk to monarchs could multiply as climate changes

High atmospheric carbon dioxide levels can weaken the medicinal value of a milkweed that caterpillars eat, and high temperatures may make the plant toxic.