Life

Ecosystems

Caviar Caveats

Caviar may become harder to find as a new trade ban goes into effect that's aimed at giving the most prized sturgeon a much-needed break from overfishing for their roe.

Animals

Cannibal Power: Mormon crickets swarm to eat and not be eaten

What keeps the great swarms of Mormon crickets rolling across the landscape may be a combination of nutritional deficits and the risk of getting cannibalized.

Ecosystems

Corals don’t spread far from their birthplaces

Creating a marine protected area might offer only limited benefits to vulnerable corals, because viable coral larvae don't appear to spread far from their points of origin.

Ecosystems

Saving Sturgeon

Sturgeon species around the world are in trouble, which is why humans will increasingly be stepping in to give them a big assist.

Animals

Killer Flatworm: New species hunts with puffer fish toxin

A newly described marine flatworm from Guam hunts with the same toxin that a puffer fish uses. With video.

Ecosystems

Forest Field Trip

Take a hike in the woods of Kentucky in this electronic field trip. The site offers an overview of forest ecology and management for grades 4 to 8. It includes video clips, an interactive game, a slideshow about the American chestnut, information about forest careers and tree products, activity pages, and a teacher’s guide. Go […]

Animals

Males as Nannies? First test for wasps’ hidden baby-care skills

Young male wasps, in the absence of females, can care for larvae.

Paleontology

Ancestor of Kings: Early progenitor of T. rex had a crest

Paleontologists have unearthed remains of the oldest known dinosaur of the tyrannosaur clan.

Animals

Hawk skin sends UV signal

The patch of skin above a hawk's beak looks orange-yellow to us, but to another hawk, it may broadcast ultraviolet sex appeal.

Animals

Cyber Salmon

To learn about chum, chinook, and coho salmon, try this Web site from the Alaska Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Learn about the people of Alaska, several salmon species, and salmon habitat. The site includes salmon-related activities and lesson plans for various grade levels. Go to: http://cybersalmon.fws.gov/index.html

Animals

Bird-Safe Rx: Alternative drug won’t kill India’s vultures

Researchers have found an alternative to the livestock drug that has accidentally poisoned a majority of the vultures in India and neighboring countries.

Animals

Poor Devils: Critters’ fights transmit cancer

Tasmanian devils transmit cancer cells when they bite each other during routine squabbles, producing lesions that are often fatal.