predators

Copper making salmon prone to predators
07/10/2012 - 08:16

Minute amounts of copper from brake linings and mining operations can affect salmon to where they are easily eaten by predators, says a Washington State University researcher. Jenifer McIntyre found the metal affects salmon's sense of smell so much that they won't detect a compound that ordinarily alerts them to be still and wary.

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Caterpillars more likely to vomit alone
04/12/2012 - 09:35

A type of caterpillar which defends itself by regurgitating on its predators is less likely to do so when in groups than when alone, a new study by researchers from the University of Liverpool and the University of Bristol has found. Such reluctance is sufficient to cancel out the benefits of being in a group. The study, published in Ecology Letters, will help in the design of more sustainable methods for reducing crop losses caused by caterpillars and similar pests.

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Researchers study parenting behaviors of stressed-out birds
02/08/2012 - 23:58

Imagine an environment filled with wind, storms, predators, noise, and limited food and shelter. Then imagine providing and caring for a tiny egg or peeping baby bird in those conditions. The tree swallow and most other wild birds face these stressful challenges on a day-to-day basis. 

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Prehistoric Predators With Supersized Teeth Had Beefier Arm Bones
01/04/2012 - 23:06

The toothiest prehistoric predators also had beefier arm bones, according to results of a study published today in the journal Paleobiology.

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Ancient meat-loving predators survived for 35-million years
12/06/2011 - 13:15

A species of ancient predator with saw-like teeth, sleek bodies and a voracious appetite for meat survived a major extinction at a time when the distant relatives of mammals ruled the earth.

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Marine predators in trouble: UBC researchers
12/05/2011 - 16:25

Iconic marine predators such as sharks, tunas, swordfish, and marlins are becoming increasingly rare under current fishing trends, say University of British Columbia researchers.

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