Recreational activities on mountain trails are pushing large carnivores like grizzly bears and wolves away from their native habitats, even when those trails lie hundreds of meters from where the animals roam.&nbsp;



A new study from the <a href="https://www.ualberta.ca/en/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Alberta</a> highlights the need for improved land management practices that allow people and wildlife to peacefully coexist. 



This issue is particularly pressing in the Bow River Valley, long recognized as a natural corridor linking the prairies to the Continental Divide.



Over the past 15 years, a team of researchers led by Peter Thompson set up camera traps at more than 1,600 sites in the Bow River Valley and surrounding areas. 



These traps were in place between 2007 and 2022, capturing over a million images of humans and tens of thousands of images of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/grizzly-bears-help-huckleberries-thrive-in-a-changing-climate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">grizzly bears</a> and wolves.



The scientists then used statistical models to assess the relationship between human activity and carnivore presence on the landscape.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-recreation-and-large-carnivores-nbsp">Human recreation and large carnivores&nbsp;</h2>



Upon examining the images and activity patterns, the researchers discovered a significant disturbance effect from busy trails, extending far beyond the immediate path.&nbsp;



The results showed that wolves and bears did not merely avoid the immediate vicinity of high-traffic areas; they stayed away from locations hundreds of meters away as well.



Thompson, formerly a postdoctoral fellow with Colleen Cassady St. Clair in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alberta, is now a postdoctoral fellow at <a href="https://www.sfu.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Simon Fraser University</a>.



“We initially thought bears might use hiking trails as efficient routes when humans weren’t around, but they actually avoid these areas altogether,” said Thompson.



“Our results show that human recreation has significant effects on wildlife, substantially influencing their behaviour even hundreds of meters away from the trail.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-widespread-displacement-of-large-carnivores-nbsp">Widespread displacement of large carnivores&nbsp;</h2>



For grizzly bears, half of the displacement effect from high-use trails remained in effect up to 300 meters from the trail. For wolves, this displacement was observed up to 600 meters away. Thompson noted that the phenomenon is considerably more extensive than was previously believed.



“When trails become busier, people may not realize the extent to which they are disrupting wildlife movement and habitat security,” Thompson added.&nbsp;



This finding demonstrates that outdoor enthusiasts using high-traffic trails, especially in popular regions, could unknowingly be displacing wolves and bears from substantial parts of their natural habitat.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-effects-of-recreation-on-wolves-nbsp">Effects of recreation on wolves&nbsp;</h2>



While grizzly bears are visibly impacted by busy trails, the displacement effect was even more pronounced for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gray-wolves-are-a-crucial-component-of-the-american-west/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wolves</a>. Their avoidance of human activity at distances of up to 600 meters likely relates to their year-round activity cycle, which intersects with winter recreation such as skiing and snowmobiling.&nbsp;



This further highlights how multiple forms of recreation can compound the stress on top predators.



“Wolves are even more affected by human recreation than grizzly bears, and they are active year-round, coinciding with winter recreational activities,” said St. Clair, Thompson’s former supervisor.&nbsp;



“This research highlights the critical need to manage human use in a way that allows people to share the landscape with these wary predators.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mitigating-the-impacts-on-large-carnivores-nbsp">Mitigating the impacts on large carnivores&nbsp;</h2>



The Bow River Valley is particularly significant for wildlife, functioning as a key passageway for many species.&nbsp;



Shifts in animal movement due to human traffic on trails could compromise the valley’s role as a corridor for genetic exchange and resource access.&nbsp;



If large carnivores are consistently deterred from these areas, the consequences could include altered feeding patterns, reduced breeding success, and changes in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/danger-zones-climate-change-is-altering-predator-prey-dynamics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">predator-prey dynamics</a>.



Land managers in this region may consider strategies such as creating buffer zones, limiting trail access during peak activity times, or issuing guidelines that reduce disturbance in critical wildlife areas.&nbsp;



Such steps might help maintain the valley’s ecological function and ensure that grizzlies, wolves, and other species can continue to move freely.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-need-for-thoughtful-recreation-planning">Need for thoughtful recreation planning</h2>



The paper’s authors emphasize that as recreational use of mountain trails grows, the effects on wildlife will likewise increase.&nbsp;



Raising awareness about how trail use displaces animals, even far from the trail itself, could encourage more responsible behavior among outdoor enthusiasts.&nbsp;



Measures such as seasonal trail closures, visitor education programs, and designated wildlife corridors could help minimize the disruption to grizzly bears, wolves, and other sensitive species.



The findings in the Bow River Valley also reflect broader challenges faced worldwide as conservation areas strive to balance human recreation with wildlife protection.&nbsp;



By taking preemptive steps - whether through trail design, user quotas, or educational outreach - policymakers and conservation managers can better safeguard critical habitats for large carnivores and foster a more harmonious coexistence between people and nature.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reevaluating-our-use-of-mountain-trails-nbsp">Reevaluating our use of mountain trails&nbsp;</h2>



This study provides actionable insights into how recreational activities influence the distribution and well-being of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/apex-predators-can-help-restore-ecosystems-but-not-immediately/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">apex predators</a>.&nbsp;



With wolves and bears essential to ecosystem balance, preventing their displacement has ecological significance beyond individual species.&nbsp;&nbsp;



According to Thompson, these results show that human recreation has significant effects on wildlife, and these findings are a call to reevaluate how we manage and use mountain trails.&nbsp;



Through careful planning and targeted conservation efforts, there is hope that humans and large carnivores can continue to share these magnificent landscapes for generations to come.



The study is published in the <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.14837" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Applied Ecology</a>.



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Mountain recreation displaces large carnivores from their habitats

Recreational activities on mountain trails are pushing large carnivores like grizzly bears and wolves away from their native habitats, even when those trails lie hundreds of meters from where the animals roam.&nbsp; A new study from the University of Alberta highlights the need for improved land management practices that allow people and wildlife to peacefully coexist. This issue is particularly pressing in the Bow River Valley, long recognized as a natural corridor linking the prairies to the Continental Divide. Over the past 15 years, a team of...

If you’re a fan of the Finding Nemo and Finding Dory movies, you’ll certainly remember Marlon. He’s the anemonefish who is also Nemo’s overprotective and loving dad. But as it turns out, Marlon’s parenting skills may actually be inherent. A new study has found that a specific hormone is the reason why anemonefish are the ultimate doting dads.

Males have such strong parenting instincts that they even bachelors will care for eggs from another nest as if they were his own, according to the study by the <a href="http://illinois.edu/">University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.</a>

The strong paternal instinct is triggered by in part by a signaling molecule almost identical to oxytocin -- known as the love hormone in humans and also associated with mothering, the study said. When researchers blocked this hormone, known as isotocin, in the male fish, the dads stopped tending to their young. It’s not the first st study to show that isotocin regulates <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/grown-penguins-mooch-parents/">paternal</a> care in fish, but is the first to focus on the anemonefish.

"Because the fish are so committed to their role as fathers, we're able in the lab to dissociate their parental behavior -- the fanning and the nipping-- from behaviors associated with courtship, territory defense and nest defense," said University of Illinois graduate student Ross DeAngelis, who led the study with psychology professor Justin Rhodes. "This allows us to look at how the brain regulates male parental care in isolation from other behaviors that occur simultaneously."

The researchers also analyzed how another hormone, arginine vasotocin, influences paternal care in anemonefish. Other studies suggest the hormone plays a role in regulating dominance, aggression and courtship.

When the researchers blocked vasotocin in one of a pair of male anemonefish, the treated males displayed significantly less aggression than the untreated counterparts. Blocking vasotocin in anemonefish fathers, however, made dutiful dads even more attentive to their offspring.

"We were surprised by this because these fish display such a high level of parental effort in the laboratory that it's hard to imagine there being an increase," DeAngelis said. "Our hypothesis is that by blocking vasotocin signaling, you're reducing vigilance and nest defense, allowing a greater allotted effort to be directed toward parental care."

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://illinois.edu/">University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign</a>

Finding Nemo called it: the reason why anemonefish are great dads

If you’re a fan of the Finding Nemo and Finding...

Using a new deep-sea technology, scientists at <a href="http://www.mbari.org/">Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute</a> have gained new insights into how giant larvaceans, a species of zooplankton, help transfer carbon from the atmosphere to the deep ocean.

The plankton, about the size of a pinky finger, live in the upper 400 meters of the ocean and build filtering "houses" that are so fragile that they can’t be removed for lab analysis. The particles contain organic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/carbon-emissions-income-gap/">carbon</a>, some of which originated as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

When the larvaceans discard their old, nutrient-rich houses, the structures sink to the sea floor, which contributes to moving organic materials into deeper water.

Once on the seafloor, the carbon is either consumed by animals or buried in sediment, making  it unlikely to return to the atmosphere for millions of years.

Instead of trying to build a tank large enough to harbor a giant larvacean and its house, MBARI Principal Engineer Kakani Katija has been investigating ways to study larvaceans in the open ocean, using a technique called particle image velocimetry (PIV).

The system includes  a laser that emits a thin sheet of light and a video camera that records tiny particles in the water, which are lit up by the laser.

Researchers tested the system, mounted on a small remotely operated vehicle, 4,000 feet below the surface of Monterey Bay.

“We were all shocked by how well it worked,” said Katija. “There was a lot of oohing and aahing in the control room. It wasn’t just the scientists who were shocked and amazed—it was everyone on the research vessel.”

Katija’s calculations showed that each giant larvacean in Monterey Bay could filter up to 76 liters (20 gallons) of water per hour.This is four times higher than previous estimates for giant larvaceans and five times higher than filtering rates by other gelatinous open-ocean filter feeders, such as salps.

“Now that DeepPIV is available to the oceanographic community it opens up all kinds of possibilities,” Katija said.

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://www.mbari.org/">Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute</a>

Deep dive discovers sea creature’s massive carbon impact

Using a new deep-sea technology, scientists at Monterey Bay Aquarium...

HIV DNA can be eliminated from the genomes of living animals to prevent further infection, according to a new study.

Researchers at <a href="https://www.temple.edu/">Temple University</a> and the <a href="http://www.pitt.edu/">University of Pittsburgh</a> “excised” HIV DNA in three different animals including a “humanized” model in which mice were transplanted with human immune cells and infected with the virus.

It’s the first demonstration that HIV-1 replication can be completely shut down and the virus eliminated from infected cells in animals with a powerful gene editing technology known as CRISPR/Cas9.

A permanent cure for HIV infection remains elusive due to the virus's ability to hide away in latent reservoirs. 

The new research, published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/molecular-therapy">Molecular Therapy</a>, builds on a previous proof-of-concept study that the team published in 2016, in which they used transgenic rat and mouse models with HIV-1 DNA incorporated into the genome of every tissue of the animals' bodies.

“Our new study is more comprehensive,” said lead researcher Wenhui Hu, associate professor at <a href="https://medicine.temple.edu/">Temple Medical School</a>. “We confirmed the data from our previous work and have improved the efficiency of our gene editing strategy. We also show that the strategy is effective in two additional mouse models, one representing acute infection in mouse cells and the other representing chronic, or latent, infection in human cells.”

In the new study, the team genetically inactivated HIV-1 in transgenic mice, reducing the RNA expression of viral genes by roughly 60 to 95 percent, confirming their earlier findings. They then tested their system in mice acutely infected with EcoHIV, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/scientists-reverse-paralysis-mice/">mouse</a> equivalent of human HIV-1.

The new research marks another major step forward in the pursuit of a permanent cure for HIV infection with the next stage to repeat the studies in primates.

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="https://www.temple.edu/">Temple University</a>

Scientists successfully eliminate HIV DNA in 3 different animals

HIV DNA can be eliminated from the genomes of living...

Lulu, one of the UK's last remaining killer whales who died after becoming entangled in a creel rope in Scotland, had one of the highest levels of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) pollution ever recorded in the species.

PCB concentrations in Lulu's blubber were 80 times higher than the accepted threshold, according to researchers from the <a href="http://www.strandings.org/">Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme</a>.

Although PCBs have been banned since the 1980s, experts say the Lulu’s levels highlight the long-lasting damage of PCBs on marine life.

Lulu, a member of the small West Coast of Scotland group of killer whales, died in January 2016 after being tangled in a rope. The PCB contamination was discovered over the past year by researchers.

Although Lulu was at least 20 years old, an analysis of her ovaries showed that she never reproduced, possibly due to the large amount of toxic chemicals in her body.

“We know Lulu died from becoming entangled, but, given what is known about the toxic effects of PCBs, we have to consider that such a high contaminant burden could have been affecting her health and reproductive fitness,”  said Dr. Andrew Brownlow, head of the <a href="http://www.strandings.org/">Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme</a>. 

He called Lulu's infertility “an ominous finding for the long-term survivability of this group; with no new animals being born, it is now looking increasingly likely that this small group will eventually go extinct.”

&nbsp;

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4469446/Washed-whale-Scotland-contaminated.html">Daily Mail</a>

Image Credit: John Bowler/RSPB Scotland/PA

Lulu the whale died with highest amount of pollution on record

Lulu, one of the UK's last remaining killer whales who...

The observation of dolphins off the coast of South Carolina and Florida is causing concern about their health, as well as that of the ocean. Researchers discovered two populations of wild dolphins that have more chronically activated immune systems than dolphins in human care. The study gives an unprecedented look at the prevalence of disease in wild dolphins compared to those in controlled habitats. 

Patricia Fair, PhD., is a professor at the <a href="https://www.musc.edu/">Medical University of South Carolina</a> and the lead author on the study. The research, published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE, revealed that immune system changes in wild dolphins were brought on by chemicals in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/oceans-heat-warming-planet/">ocean</a> and other environmental stressors that dolphins in human care do not have to contend with. 

Dr. Fair explained, “This is likely a result of encountering pathogens, parasites and anthropogenic pollutants in the ocean that do not exist in closely managed zoological habitats. The immune system is incredibly complex and so very important for health. Microbes are part of the natural world and help to develop the immune system. The key to a healthy immune system is a balance between being able to recognize harmful organisms and overstimulation and this study demonstrates the importance of the environment in these responses."

The analysis expanded upon research conducted by Dr. Gregory Bossart as part of the Health and Environmental Risk Assessment Project, or HERA. Bossart, a co-author of the current study and Chief Veterinary Officer at the Georgia Aquarium, has been collaborating with other experts to perform health assessments on more than 360 dolphins living in Indian River Lagoon and Charleston. The HERA researchers have recorded diseases, tumors, high levels of contaminants, and other disturbing health issues found in these wild populations of dolphins since 2003.

The resulting study focused on two wild populations of dolphins and two populations of dolphins that were living in human care. The samples from the Indian River Lagoon showed high levels of mercury, which could be a threat to humans as well. Near Charleston, high levels of chemicals that result from human activity were detected, such as oil and toxic chemicals that result from urbanization. Less than half of the wild dolphins in both populations were found to be in normal condition. The dolphins in controlled environments had less chronically activated immune systems.

"These wild dolphins are trying to tell us something and we are not listening. As a sentinel species, dolphins are an important way to gauge the overall health of our oceans. If wild dolphins aren't doing well, it could also indicate future impacts to ocean health and even our own health," said Bossart.

--

By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="https://www.musc.edu/">Medical University of South Carolina</a>

Polluted oceans are ruining the immune systems of wild dolphins

The observation of dolphins off the coast of South Carolina...

Fruit flies in the Drosophila buzzatii cluster can generally be found in South America, living in arid environments and dining on fermenting cacti (yum!). Although their lives may sound like a simplistic paradise, they wouldn’t have stuck around for this long if it wasn’t for the females’ ability to pick the right mates.

According to a new study published in the open-access journal <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLOS ONE</a> by Patricia Iglesias and Esteban Hasson of the <a href="http://www.uba.ar/">University of Buenos Aires</a>, Argentina, female Drosophila buzzatii fruit flies may be drawn to the specific courtship songs of males of their own species.

Male fruit flies in this cluster vibrate their wings to attract females, producing a distinct diversity of courtship songs. The researchers analyzed the role of courtship songs in female mate choice for four of the species in the D. buzzatii cluster, as well as one species in the D. martensis cluster that was used for comparison.

The study involved exposing female flies to wingless, silent males and observing their copulation choices during either silence, playback of courtship songs from their own species, or playback of songs from a different species. The researchers discovered that females from three of the species in the D. buzzatii cluster use courtship songs to ensure they pick mates of the same species, while one species in this cluster used the courtship songs as a way to rank <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fossilized-damselflies-mating-rituals/">mates</a>.

Female flies from the “same mate” species would only copulate with male flies during the playing of courtship songs from their own species, while females from the “ranked mate” species would reject males even while their own species-specific courtship song was being played. Neither of these effects were seen in the D. martensis cluster species.

The study also explains that the influence a courtship song had on mate choice tended to vary between individual females, so future research may be aimed at determining why females vary in their preferences and behavior.

Despite these differences, the overall data collected shows that D. buzzatii cluster females do use courtship songs to assist them in choosing a mate, with most preferring songs produced by their own species. The researchers believe that these female preferences could be an important factor in diversification and speciation within the D. buzzatii cluster.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLOS</a>

Image Credit: Iglesias et al (2017)

Female fruit flies pick their mate through a courtship song

Fruit flies in the Drosophila buzzatii cluster can generally be...

Migration is an enormous undertaking for many bird species, involving extended travel over vast distances and unpredictable weather conditions. In order to learn more about how these birds survive, it’s important that scientists understand how the ecosystems they pass through are able to sustain their populations.

The Gulf of Mexico is a major stopping point for birds that migrate between North America and the Neotropics, as almost all migrants need to go around or across it. These birds rely on the coastal habitats of the Gulf of Mexico in order to continue on their journey. Unfortunately, these habitats are becoming increasingly threatened by human activity.

A recent study published in <a href="http://www.americanornithologypubs.org/loi/cond?code=coop-site">The Condor: Ornithological Applications</a> reveals some new insight into the current state of this region’s ecosystems and the birds that pass through them. Emily Cohen of the <a href="https://www.si.edu/researchcenters/conservation-biology-institute">Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute</a> and lead author of the study explains, “Our focus is the Gulf of Mexico region because it’s a bottleneck for migratory land birds – a place they have to move through every spring and fall.” 

Migrating birds use a variety of these coastal habitats – which include large swaths of hardwood forests as well as small areas of vegetation found in agricultural or urban areas. But threats from forest clearing, wetland filling and dredging, tall structures such as cell phone towers and wind turbines, and climate change are decreasing these birds’ ability to complete a successful migration.

“Birds use these coastal habitats twice a year to eat and rest before and after their spectacular non-stop flight across the Gulf, which can take up to twenty hours!” says Cohen. Needless to say, a lack of food or a proper area to rest would be disastrous for anybody about to undertake a 20 hour flight – whether in a comfy jet or through flapping your own wings.

Currently, the Gulf of Mexico Avian Monitoring Network is undertaking the daunting task of coordinating monitoring across this region by combining the efforts of a many organizations and agencies. More data will be needed to get a clearer picture of the impact of habitat loss on migrating birds. This will also require close cooperation between the U.S., Mexico, and some Caribbean countries.

Erik Johnson of <a href="http://la.audubon.org/">Audubon Louisiana</a> and an expert on bird conservation in the region stressed the importance of this study: “As this paper makes clear, preserving this landscape is a tremendous responsibility shared across multiple countries, and our collective success has implications for how our descendants across North America will experience the amazing phenomenon of bird migration.”

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://www.americanornithology.org/content/aos-publications">American Ornithological Society Publications Office</a>

Birds facing increasing challenges in the Gulf of Mexico

Migration is an enormous undertaking for many bird species, involving...

When a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wild-chimpanzees-live-extra-long-lives/">chimpanzee</a> discovered that moss could be used as a sponge to soak up water, the idea spread to family members, new study has reported.

Three years after his observing the innovative behavior in Budongo Forest, Uganda, researchers returned to the area and found that moss-sponge use continued to spread and was mostly learned by relatives of the chimp who invented it.

The discovery reinforces previous evidence that for animals, culture is spread mainly through family.

The researchers performed an experiment in which they provided moss and leaves at the clay pit where the chimps had demonstrated the technique before.

This time, an additional 17 chimps used the moss-sponges. Moss-sponging was strongly correlated with having moss-sponging relatives, according to the the researchers who examined field data from other scientists who have been observing the chimps for long periods.

“This is a wonderful contribution to the study of animal cultures,” Andrew Whiten of the <a href="https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/">University of St Andrews</a> told <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/">New Scientist</a>. “The accumulated evidence suggests that chimpanzees pass on scores of different traditions across Africa, but being able to see any of them originate and then spread is very much rarer.”

The chimpanzees primarily learn from their parents and other family members. “It’s like the family is the [crucible] where the behaviour is transmitted,” says Thibaud Gruber of the University of Geneva, Switzerland, one of the study authors.

A previous study involving Japanese macaques on Koshima Island in the 1950s, found that when a young female chimp began washing sand off sweet potatoes in a river before eating them, her peers soon did the same. Since then, the behavior has spread from mother to offspring.

Moss-sponging seems to be following a similar pattern, says Frans de Waal of <a href="http://www.emory.edu/">Emory University</a> in Atlanta.

“Social closeness is most of the time a bias in social learning, so that individuals learn the best from those they hang out with and whose behaviour interests them,” he says. We learn more readily from those we can identify with, and so do animals, he adds

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/">New Scientist</a>, <a href="https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/">University of St Andrews</a>

&nbsp;

In chimps, learning is a family affair, research finds

When a chimpanzee discovered that moss could be used as...

A new study reports that female dragonflies have a not-so-subtle way of getting rid of unwanted suitors: they pretend to be dead.

While conducting research in the Swiss Alps, Rassim Khelifa from the <a href="http://www.uzh.ch/en.html">University of Zurich </a>watched female moorland hawker dragonflies crash- dive to the ground while being pursued by a mail and then lie motionless on the ground, New Scientist reported.

The females wait until the males leaves before ending the game of possum and flying away.

Unlike some other dragonflies, moorland hawker dragonflies aren’t guarded by their male mates. It only takes one sexual encounter to fertilize all the eggs and having more sex than necessary could damage their reproductive tract.

After their eggs are fertilized, females seek refuge in dense vegetation. When they emerge, they make it clear sex is out of the question.

Khelifa observed 27 out of 31 females plummeting and playing dead to avoid males, with 21 of these ploys successful.

Plunging at high speed is risky though, according to Adolfo Cordero-Rivera at the <a href="https://www.uvigo.gal/uvigo_en/">University of Vigo</a> in Spain.

 “Females may only behave in this way if male harassment is intense,” he told <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/">New Scientist</a>.

Khelifa is interested in finding out whether the behavior is unique to species that lay <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dinosaur-eggs-took-months-hatch/">eggs</a> alone or whether it is more widespread.  

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/">New Scientist</a>

Female dragonflies fake deaths to avoid unwanted suitors

A new study reports that female dragonflies have a not-so-subtle...

The rare great ape bonobos may be more closely linked, anatomically, to human ancestors than common chimpanzees, a new study found.

Modern humans and common chimpanzee/bonobo lineages split about 8 million years ago, scientists believe. Bonobo and chimps are believed to have split 2 million years ago

The study, published in <a href="http://www.nature.com/srep/">Scientific Reports</a> is the first to examine the muscles of humans and the two ape species. 

"Bonobo muscles have changed least, which means they are the closest we can get to having a 'living' ancestor," said Bernard Wood, professor of human origins at the <a href="https://cashp.columbian.gwu.edu/">George Washington University Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology</a>.

The researchers  examined seven bonobos from the Antwerp Zoo that had died and were being preserved. 

As common <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wild-chimpanzees-live-extra-long-lives/">chimpanzees</a> and bonobos evolved after their split, they developed different traits and physical characteristics, even though they remained geographically relatively close, with their main division being the Congo River. By studying the muscles of bonobos the researchers discovered that they are more closely related to human anatomy than common chimpanzees.

"In addition, our study has shown that there is a mosaic evolution of the three species, in the sense that some features are shared by humans and bonobos, others by humans and common chimpanzees, and still others by the two ape species," said Rui Diogo, lead author of the paper and associate professor of anatomy at <a href="https://www2.howard.edu/">Howard University</a>. 

Earlier studies examined the DNA similarities and differences between bonobos and common chimpanzees.

Better Knowledge of what makes humans different from their closest ancestors could lead to new breakthroughs in human health, the researchers said.

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="https://cashp.columbian.gwu.edu/">George Washington University Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiolog</a>

Study: Bonobos closer to humans than chimps

The rare great ape bonobos may be more closely linked,...

Spider silk is one of the strongest natural substances on Earth, and it’s lightweight, flexible and tough, too. With genetics, for the first time scientists have been able to begin unraveling the secrets found in a spider’s web.

In a new study of silk spider genes, a team of scientists from the <a href="http://www.upenn.edu/">University of Pennsylvania</a>, <a href="http://www.ucr.edu/">University of California, Riverside</a>, the <a href="http://www.uvm.edu/">University of Vermont</a> and elsewhere have sequenced the full genome of the golden orb-weaver spider.

“There were so many surprises that emerged from our study: new silk genes, new DNA sequences that presumably confer strength, toughness, stretchiness and other properties to silk proteins; and even a silk protein made in venom glands rather than silk glands,” said senior author Dr. Benjamin F. Voight, an associate professor at Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine, in a press release. 

Among the researchers’ findings is that the golden orb-weaver spider – scientific name Nephila clavipes – can produce 28 varieties of silk proteins, and the spider’s full genome sequence is nearly as long as a human’s. The scientists used the genome to spot patterns that could explain the unique properties of each of the spider’s types of silk.

The genes that control silk protein production, known as spidroins, include silks the spiders use to tie up prey and rappel down from their webs. However, the researchers have discovered some new types of silk, and even found a gene they dubbed FLAG-b, which seems to be a silk produced in the spider’s venom gland.

The researchers also spotted repeated “motifs” in the genetic sequences linked to silk production that might prove useful to other researchers studying spider genetics.

“All this new information should greatly advance our efforts to capture the extraordinary properties of these silks in man-made materials,” Voight said.

Scientists have been studying spider silks for more than 50 years. Recent years have allowed researchers to study some of the genes linked to silk production, but without a full genome sequence, a full understanding of how different types of spider silk are produced was out of reach. 

The research will prove useful not just to engineers, but to medical researchers. Some types of spider silk have been discovered to have antibacterial or antifungal properties.

The study will be published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/ng/">Nature Genetics</a>. Research funding was provided by the <a href="https://sloan.org/">Alfred P. Sloan Foundation</a> and the <a href="https://www.nih.gov/">National Institutes of Health</a>. 

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By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com/staff">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Scientists are using genetics to unwind the secrets of spider silk

Spider silk is one of the strongest natural substances on...

Ocean acidification refers to the chemical reactions that happen when carbon dioxide is absorbed in seawater. In a new study, the <a href="http://www.adelaide.edu.au/">University of Adelaide</a> research team took an unprecedented approach to analyzing the effects of ocean acidification.

Ivan Nagelkerken, a professor from the <a href="http://www.adelaide.edu.au/">University of Adelaide</a>'s Environment Institute, led the study. "Our understanding of what's likely to happen has been hampered by an over-reliance on simplified laboratory systems centred on single levels of the food web. In this study, we created a series of three-level food webs and monitored and measured the results over a number of months to provide an understanding of future food webs under climate change," said Nagelkerken.

The researchers simulated marine food webs in 12 large aquariums, adding different species to represent seagrass, sand, and rocky reef habitats. They added currents that imitated tidal motion. The three food webs were based on plants such as algae, small invertebrates like shrimp, and fish that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sharks-hear-preys-heartbeat-important/">prey</a> on small invertebrates. 

The food webs were exposed to the levels of both ocean warming and acidification that are expected at the end of the century. The researchers analyzed the growth of organisms and the rates of feeding over the course of several months.

PhD student Sylvan Goldenberg explained the results. "Elevated carbon dioxide concentrations boosted plant growth; more plant food meant more small invertebrates, and more small invertebrates, in turn, allowed the fish to grow faster. However, ocean warming cancelled this benefit of elevated carbon dioxide by causing stress to the animals, making them less efficient feeders and preventing the extra energy produced by the plants from travelling through the food web to the fish,” said Goldenberg.

The study concluded that warming waters will negate any potential benefits of ocean acidification, and that the increasing temperatures of the water will overpower the balance of marine food webs.

"The consequences for marine ecosystems are likely to be severe," said Nagelkerken. Oceans in the future may provide less fish and shellfish for us to eat, and larger animals that are at the top of the food web, in particular, will suffer. We hope this study will provide predictive understanding which is critical for effective fisheries management."

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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://www.adelaide.edu.au/">University of Adelaide</a>

Increasing ocean acidification may devastate future marine food webs

Ocean acidification refers to the chemical reactions that happen when...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Nushagak Bay, a large estuary in southwest Alaska. Nushagak runs mainly north to south and exits in Bristol Bay, a large body of water in the Bering Sea.



"The bay is primarily fed by the Nushagak River, which begins in the Alaska Range and flows southwest approximately 450 km. The bay is also fed by several additional rivers including the Wood, Igushik, Snake and Weary rivers," says ESA.



"The dark colors of the Nushagak River are most likely due to tannins or lignins (chemical substances found in plants). Tannins and lignins from roots, leaves, seeds, bark and soil can leach into the water and give it a brown or even black colour. The sediments then flow southwards where it is mixed with the bluer waters of the bay."



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> (ACS) reveals that proteins on flu viruses are actually flexible, tilting and waving in a “breath-like” motion. According to the experts, these proteins could be used to better defend against the flu.



"The main antigenic targets of influenza virus are two surface glycoproteins, hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Whereas the structural and dynamical properties of both glycoproteins have been studied previously, the understanding of their plasticity in the whole-virion context is fragmented," wrote the researchers.



To investigate, the team conducted detailed simulations of the influenza A H1N1 virion, or the swine flu. The experts concluded that the visualizations show many new vulnerable states of flu viruses, which could improve future vaccines and antiviral drugs.



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Lake Trasimeno, which is located west of Perugia in central Italy. It is the fourth largest lake in the country. While Trasimeno’s water level varies, it has a maximum depth of approximately six meters.&nbsp;



"In this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image, captured on 6 August 2022, the lake’s emerald green colour is likely due to the presence of phytoplankton. Streaks in the water, particularly visible in the west, indicate the presence of soil and sediments which have been stirred up by winds. Dark colored waters in the southern part of the lake indicate a presence of submerged and floating macrophytes (aquatic plants) as well as algae," says ESA.



"Surrounded by hills on three sides, Trasimeno is subject to heavy storms created by winds, especially from the north and west. There are three islets in the lake: Maggiore, Minore and Polvese (the largest). The lake’s shores are sparsely inhabited with only two popular villages: Castiglione del Lago and Passignano sul Trasimeno."



"Italy is experiencing its worst drought in 70 years which has affected drinking water supplies, hydroelectric power and agricultural production. High temperatures, hot winds and lack of rainfall are the main causes of drought in the Umbrian region which saw Lake Trasimeno’s drop 1.3 m, reaching the limit of the hydrometric zero in July 2022."



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> describes a new self-powered nanosensor that can instantly detect mercury contamination with the tap of a finger.&nbsp;



The oxidized form of mercury can be harmful when it is ingested through contaminated water or food. This makes it necessary for experts to develop sensors that can quickly and accurately detect the presence of mercury.&nbsp;



Zong-Hong Lin and colleagues have now created a triboelectric nanosensor (TENS) that can detect mercury by simply by touching a sample. According to the researchers, their TENS could serve as the basis for similar devices to safely and remotely monitor other pollutants.



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



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Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> explores the ability of salt to transform the way that foods and beverages taste. Salt is known to cover up undesirable flavors, such as bitterness in coffee or beer, but how exactly does sodium chloride change the taste of other compounds?



One previous study showed that, not only does salt suppress bitterness, but also enhances sweetness and sourness. Another study revealed that bitterness reduction by salt seems to be happening at the tongue receptor level as well as in the brain.&nbsp;



While it is known that salt taste is mediated by the presence of sodium channels in the form of taste buds, experts believe that there is also an unknown receptor responsible for how we taste salt that has not yet been identified.&nbsp;



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

How does salt makes things taste better?

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Santiago, the capital city of Chile. The city is located in the center of the Santiago Metropolitan Region, which has a population of about eight million people.&nbsp;



'The weather of Santiago resembles the Mediterranean climate with dry and warm summers with temperatures reaching up to 35°C (from October to March) and cool and humid winters that can drop to 0°C (from April to September)."



"The city lies in the centre of the country’s central valley around 80 km from the Pacific Ocean to the west and borders Argentina to the east. A tiny part of Argentina is visible in the top-right corner of the image where the mountain crest of the Andes Mountains acts as a divider between the two countries," says ESA.



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Santiago, Chile in South America

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Spiral,Galaxy,,Illustration,Of,Milky,Way

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Astronomers at <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/">Johns Hopkins University</a> have created an interactive map of the universe, including the actual position and real colors of 200,000 galaxies. The map allows the public to access data that was previously only available to scientists.



The map was developed using data collected by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. For over two decades, a telescope in New Mexico was aimed at slightly different locations to capture the night sky.&nbsp;



"Growing up I was very inspired by astronomy pictures, stars, nebulae and galaxies, and now it's our time to create a new type of picture to inspire people," said map creator Brice Ménard, a professor at Johns Hopkins. "Astrophysicists around the world have been analyzing this data for years, leading to thousands of scientific papers and discoveries. But nobody took the time to create a map that is beautiful, scientifically accurate, and accessible to people who are not scientists. Our goal here is to show everybody what the universe really looks like."



"In this map, we are just a speck at the very bottom, just one pixel. And when I say we, I mean our galaxy, the Milky Way which has billions of stars and planets. We are used to seeing astronomical pictures showing one galaxy here, one galaxy there or perhaps a group of galaxies. But what this map shows is a very, very different scale."



"From this speck at the bottom, we are able to map out galaxies across the entire universe, and that says something about the power of science."



The <a href="https://mapoftheuniverse.net/">interactive map</a> is available online, where it can be downloaded for free.



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



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Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky" Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features northwest Lesotho in South Africa.



According to ESA, Lesotho is the only nation in the world that lies completely above 1,000 m in elevation. The country is famous for its tall mountains and narrow valleys, and is known as Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky."



Out of a population of around two million people, about 80 percent live in rural areas. More than 75 percent of these people are engaged in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-will-have-a-global-impact-on-agriculture/">agriculture</a>, including rainfed cereal production and animal grazing.&nbsp;



ESA reports that the country’s agricultural system faces a growing number of issues, with climate-related vulnerabilities such as drought, floods and extreme temperatures occurring more frequently. 



Diamonds are amongst the minerals found in the mountains. Indeed, Lesotho can truly be called the Kingdom in the Sky. Beautiful, culturally rich, safe, affordable, and easily accessible from Durban and Johannesburg, mountainous Lesotho is a vastly underrated travel destination. the Kingdom of Lesotho (Sotho: 'Muso oa Lesotho) is an enclaved country in southern Africa. It is just over 30,000 km2 (11,583 sq mi) in size and has a population of around 2 million.



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 



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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Dublin, the capital and largest city of Ireland. Beyond its pub culture, Dublin is known as a modern culinary destination and a UNESCO City of Literature.



"Dublin is located near the midpoint of Ireland’s east coast in the province of Leinster. The city, which covers an area of around 115 square kilometers, is bordered by the Dublin Mountains, a low mountain range to the south, and is surrounded by flat farmland to the north and west," says ESA.



"The city straddles the River Liffey, which rises in the Wicklow Mountains and flows around 80 kilometers eastwards through the city of Dublin, in which it is canalised and bordered with quays. It then empties into Dublin Bay, an arm of the Irish Sea."



Dublin has an abundance of green spaces, including one of the largest enclosed public parks in any European capital city. Phoenix Park, which was originally formed as a royal hunting park in the 1660s, includes 707 hectares of green space.



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain. The image was captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission.



"Together with the provinces of Huesca and Teruel, Zaragoza formed the old kingdom of Aragon. Its capital, also called Zaragoza (not visible in this image) is home to around half of Aragon’s population," says ESA.



"The Ebro River can be seen winding its way through the province from west to east in this image. Between its source in the Cantabrian Mountains in the northwest and its delta on the Mediterranean coast, the Ebro River is fed by more than 200 tributaries as it flows 910 km across much of northern Spain."



Since rainfall is very scarce in this region, irrigation in the Ebro basin is critically important. In the valleys surrounding the Ebro River, many fields are used for growing crops such as corn, wheat, and barley.



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



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The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> reveals the evolution of the Columbia Glacier in southeastern Alaska. Columbia is among the fastest shrinking glaciers in the world, and the video documents its rapid retreat over the years.&nbsp;



Columbia Glacier is a large, multi-branched calving glacier that flows out of the Chugach Mountains to the Prince William Sound.&nbsp;



According to USGS, Columbia had a long history of stability prior to 1980, with a length 41 miles, and small, short-lived advances or retreats.



In the years since 1980, however, satellite images have captured Columbia’s alarming retreat. By using false-color images, scientists can distinguish between snow and ice, open water, vegetation, and rocky debris on the glacier’s surface.



The series of false-color images featured in today's video were acquired over the span of 35 years. You can see that by 2021, the glacier’s main branch had retreated about 15 miles from its initial position.



The Columbia Glacier has also lost more than 50 percent of its volume, mostly due to calving. <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/nasa-reveals-3d-visual-of-an-atmospheric-river/">NASA</a> reports that while climate change likely started the retreat, mechanical processes kept the disintegration going.



The NASA images are provided by Jesse Allen, Robert Simmon, Joshua Stevens, and Lauren Dauphin using data from Landsat satellites, from the U.S. Geological Survey, and data from MODIS on NASA’s Terra satellite. The structure of Columbia’s moraine played a large role in the stability of the glacier before 1980. 



Like other tidewater glaciers, the Columbia built up a moraine over time, and the mixture of ice and rock functioned like a dam keeping out the sea. It was supported on one end by the shoreline and by the underwater terminal moraine at the other.



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory/&nbsp; NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the Pyrenees Mountains, which form a natural boundary between France and Spain in southwest Europe.



The mountain range is 430 kilometers in length. It stretches from the Mediterranean Sea on the east to the Atlantic Ocean on the west.



At an elevation of 3404 meters, Pico de Aneto is the highest mountain peak in the Pyrenees, and the third-highest peak in Spain. Pico de Aneto is located in the Posets-Maladeta Natural Park, which spans more than 82,000 acres.&nbsp;



"Geological studies have revealed that the Pyrenees Mountains have been around for longer than the Alps, with their sediments first deposited in coastal basins during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras," reports ESA.



"The entire mountain range formed due to the upwelling of large sedimentary rocks by the collision of the Iberian and the Eurasian plate around 100 to 150 million years ago, followed by intense erosion from ice and water."



The western Pyrenees receive more precipitation due to moisture blowing in from the Atlantic Ocean. The mountain range contains many lakes, several small glaciers, and some of the highest waterfalls in Europe.



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



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The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes two exoplanets that are orbiting a star 218 light-years away. A team of researchers led by the University of Montreal has found evidence that these planets are "water worlds."



The experts used data from NASA’s Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes. They discovered that exoplanets Kepler-138 c and Kepler-138 could be composed largely of water.



"We previously thought that planets that were a bit larger than Earth were big balls of metal and rock, like scaled-up versions of Earth, and that's why we called them super-Earths," explained study co-author Björn Benneke.&nbsp;



"However, we have now shown that these two planets, Kepler-138 c and d, are quite different in nature and that a big fraction of their entire volume is likely composed of water. It is the best evidence yet for water worlds, a type of planet that was theorized by astronomers to exist for a long time."



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and Leah Hustak (STScI)



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Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes Earth’s interconnected systems, and how this network is affected by rising temperatures.&nbsp;



During 2020, average global temperatures matched the hottest year on record. The hurricane season was also record-breaking, with many of the storms intensifying at extraordinary speeds. Hot water in the ocean is fuel for hurricanes. The satellite data shows that it's all one interconnected system showing how Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected.



According to NASA, dust swept up from Northern Africa plays a major role in the formation of hurricanes, and is also a key source of fertilization in the Amazon rainforest. As a result of<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seagrass-wasting-disease-is-fueled-by-climate-change/"> climate</a> change, dust plumes are expected to decline, which will have an effect on vegetation far away.&nbsp;



Images from Earth-observing satellites show how the world’s plant life is affected by natural disasters, fires, and deforestation. Satellites also reveal how widespread changes in vegetation impact waterways,&nbsp; the climate, air quality. Satellites communicate by using radio waves to send signals to the antennas on the Earth. "Earth From Space" is a groundbreaking two-hour special that reveals a spectacular new space-based vision of our planet. 



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"] Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected...

Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://welcome.miami.edu/">University of Miami</a> Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science explores how changes in water temperatures have affected tiger shark habitats and movements in the North Atlantic Ocean. The study reveals that rising temperatures have caused the sharks to shift toward the poles over the past 40 years.



“Tiger shark annual migrations have expanded poleward, paralleling rising water temperatures,” explained study lead author Neil Hammerschlag. “These results have consequences for tiger shark conservation, since shifts in their movements outside of marine protected areas may leave them more vulnerable to commercial fishing.”



The researchers analyzed nine years of tracking data from satellite-tagged tiger sharks, combined with four decades of conventional tag and recapture data provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Cooperative Shark Tagging Program.



The experts found that during the last decade of record heat, for every one-degree Celsius increase in water temperatures, tiger sharks migrated further poleward by over 400 kilometers. They also migrated two weeks earlier than usual to waters off the northeastern coast of the United States.



“Given their role as apex predators, these changes to tiger shark movements may alter predator-prey interactions, leading to ecological imbalances, and more frequent encounters with humans,” concluded Professor Hammerschlag.



Video Credit: University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

Today’s Video of the Day from the University of Miami...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> is focused on the melt ponds that emerge during the spring and summer on the Greenland Ice Sheet, which is the largest ice mass in the northern hemisphere.



"Melt ponds are vast pools of open water that form on both sea ice and ice sheets and are visible as turquoise-blue pools of water in this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image," says ESA.



"When snow and ice melts atop glaciers, water flows in channels and streams and collects in depressions on the surface. These melt ponds can speed up the melting of the surrounding ice since they greatly reduce the ice’s ability to reflect sunlight."



"This can create a positive feedback where an increasing number of melt ponds absorb more heat which causes ice cover to melt even faster."



According to ESA, Greenland has been hit with a late-season heatwave that began in early September. This caused the type of melt event that usually occurs in the middle of summer.



"In a recent paper published in Nature Climate Change, scientists found that major sea-level rise from the melting of the Greenland ice cap is now ‘inevitable’ even if the burning of fossil fuels were to halt overnight," says ESA. "Using satellite observations of Greenland ice loss and ice cap from 2000 to 2019, the team found the losses will lead to a minimum rise of 27 cm regardless of climate change."



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes a new map of Mars that is providing insight into the planet’s watery past. The map also reveals where future missions could safely land on Mars.&nbsp;



The map has been created over the last decade using observations of water-rich rocks and mineral deposits. The images were captured by ESA’s Mars Express and NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.



"A big surprise is the prevalence of these minerals, with the map revealing hundreds of thousands of water-affected locations in the oldest parts of the planet," says ESA. "The new data will help answer exciting questions about Mars’ climate history, whether water was globally persistent or confined to short, intense episodes, and whether the conditions were ever suitable for life."



"Specifically, the map shows the locations and abundances of aqueous minerals. These are from rocks that have been chemically altered by the action of water in the past, and have typically been transformed into clays and salts."



According to John Carter of the Institut d’Astrophysique Spatiale (IAS), our collective understanding of Mars has been oversimplified. He explained that planetary scientists have tended to think that only a few types of clay minerals on Mars were created during its wet period, then as the water gradually dried up, salts were produced across the planet.



The new map shows that the composition of Mars is much more complicated than what we thought. For example, while many salts formed after Martian clays, there are some salts that are presumed to be older than some of the clays.&nbsp;



“The evolution from lots of water to no water is not as clear cut as we thought, the water didn’t just stop overnight. We see a huge diversity of geological contexts, so that no one process or simple timeline can explain the evolution of the mineralogy of Mars. That’s the first result of our study. The second is that if you exclude life processes on Earth, Mars exhibits a diversity of mineralogy in geological settings just as Earth does,” said Carter.



Video Credit: ESA



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.stowers.org/">Stowers Institute for Medical Research</a> describes how cavefish adapted to a sedentary lifestyle over tens of thousands of years. 



The experts found that the muscle metabolism of cavefish has been genetically reprogrammed over time. As a result, the animals have experienced major changes in their morphology and behavior. Despite these changes, however, the cavefish remain healthy and fit.



The research may provide new clues about the evolutionary consequences of prolonged physical inactivity in humans.&nbsp;



“It’s no surprise that people are moving less and less as technology has advanced,” said Rohner. “With cavefish, we have a unique system where we can study what might happen if people remained couch potatoes over very, very long periods of time.”



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> some of the most incredible waves in the world, as seen by Landsat satellites.



"With more than 370,000 miles of coastline on Earth, there are plenty of places where epic waves build up, curl over, and hurtle toward the shore.- much to the thrill of surfers," says NASA. "There are some places where these waves are so magnificent that they can be seen from space."



"With the broad perspective of satellites, we can see how these iconic waves develop into the world’s tallest, longest, fastest, and heaviest."



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes why satellite images and measurements of our planet have become "essential to our survival, offering a new outlook of our world."&nbsp;



Rising sea levels pose one of the biggest societal threats associated with climate change. According to ESA, satellite altimeter missions such as Copernicus Sentinel-6 are essential in monitoring global and regional changes in sea level.



"Unbeknown to many, the island of Crete, Greece, plays an important role in the Copernicus satellite altimetry constellation and on an international stage," reports ESA.



"Satellite altimetry data have to be continuously monitored at the ESA’s Permanent Facility for Altimetry Calibration where different techniques have pioneered the use of transponders to provide the best measurements to validate satellite altimeters in space soon after launch."



Dr. Craig Donlon explains that, by understanding planet Earth through satellite measurements, we are able to find evidence of change.&nbsp;



Video Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Satellites have become essential to our survival

[sendtonews key="761m2QQvR1-2035772-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...