ScienceDaily: Top Environment News

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• Newt transcriptome offers insight into tissue regeneration
• Genetic variation controls predation: Benefits of being a mosaic
• How predictable is evolution?
• Mutant champions save imperiled species from almost-certain extinction
• New approach alters malaria maps
• Tool for reading the minds of mice developed
• Jurassic records warn of risk to marine life from global warming
• How seals sleep with only half their brain at a time
• Nesting site protection 'key to save turtles from climate change'
• When it comes to genetic code, researchers prove optimum isn't always best
• Raw meat diet may not be enough for cats (or tigers): Pet owners risk increased pathogens, nutrient imbalances
• Engineering cells for more efficient biofuel production
• Males' superior spatial ability likely is not an evolutionary adaptation; Testosterone 'side effect'?
• Russian fireball largest ever detected by Comprehensive Nuclear‑Test‑Ban Treaty Organization's infrasound sensors
• 'Growing' medicines in plants requires new regulations, experts say
• Effects of human exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals examined in landmark United Nations report
• New insight into dogs' fear responses to noise
• 'Uuneven' global sea-level rise predicted
• New scorpion discovery near metropolitan Tucson, Arizona
• Phosphorus starvation linked to symptoms of citrus disease Huanglongbing in new study
• Top predators have sway over climate
• How the whale got its teeth: Scientists explore development of unique dentition of 'toothed whales'
• Towards a new moth scent
• Horses don't get stage fright – but their riders do
• Diagnosis and treatment now possible for osteoarthritic cats
• Lake-effect snow sometimes needs mountains
• In tiny Amazon frogs, males observed extracting oocytes from females killed in mating struggles

Newt transcriptome offers insight into tissue regeneration Posted: 19 Feb 2013 05:15 PM PST Scientists have identified protein families expressed during tissue regeneration in newts, providing the groundwork for research into whether particular sets of genes are used for the purpose.

Genetic variation controls predation: Benefits of being a mosaic Posted: 19 Feb 2013 05:15 PM PST A genetically mosaic Eucalyptus tree is able to control which leaves are saved from predation because of alterations in its genes, finds a new study. Between two leaves of the same tree there can be many genetic differences – this study found ten SNP, including ones in genes that regulate terpene production, which influence whether or not a leaf is edible

How predictable is evolution? Posted: 19 Feb 2013 02:21 PM PST Understanding how and why diversification occurs is important for understanding why there are so many species on Earth. Researchers show that similar -- or even identical -- mutations can occur during diversification in completely separate populations of E. coli evolving in different environments over more than 1000 generations. Evolution, therefore, can be surprisingly predictable.

Mutant champions save imperiled species from almost-certain extinction Posted: 19 Feb 2013 01:13 PM PST Species facing widespread and rapid environmental changes can sometimes evolve quickly enough to dodge the extinction bullet. Scientists consider the genetic underpinnings of such an "evolutionary rescue."

New approach alters malaria maps Posted: 19 Feb 2013 01:12 PM PST Identifying areas of malarial infection risk depends more on daily temperature variation than on the average monthly temperatures, according to researchers, who believe that their results may also apply to environmentally temperature-dependent organisms other than the malaria parasite.

Tool for reading the minds of mice developed Posted: 19 Feb 2013 01:12 PM PST Scientists have developed a system for observing real-time brain activity in a live mouse. The device could prove useful in studying new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's.

Jurassic records warn of risk to marine life from global warming Posted: 19 Feb 2013 11:05 AM PST The risk posed by global warming and rising ocean temperatures to the future health of the world's marine ecosystem has been highlighted by scientists studying fossil records.

How seals sleep with only half their brain at a time Posted: 19 Feb 2013 11:02 AM PST Biologists have identified some of the brain chemicals that allow seals to sleep with half of their brain at a time.

Nesting site protection 'key to save turtles from climate change' Posted: 19 Feb 2013 09:16 AM PST International marine scientists warned it will be vital to protect key marine turtle nesting grounds and areas that may be suitable for turtle nesting in the future to ensure that the marine reptiles have a better chance of withstanding climate change.

When it comes to genetic code, researchers prove optimum isn't always best Posted: 19 Feb 2013 09:14 AM PST Imagine two steel springs identical in look and composition but that perform differently because each was tempered at a different rate. Molecular biologists have shown that concept -- that the speed of creation affects performance -- applies to how a protein they studied impacts an organism's circadian clock function.

Raw meat diet may not be enough for cats (or tigers): Pet owners risk increased pathogens, nutrient imbalances Posted: 19 Feb 2013 09:14 AM PST Should your cat eat steak? Researchers report that raw meat diets can lack important nutrients. Though raw meat is a good source of protein for felines, pet owners need to supplement diets.

Engineering cells for more efficient biofuel production Posted: 19 Feb 2013 09:13 AM PST Yeast research takes a step toward production of alternatives to gasoline.

Males' superior spatial ability likely is not an evolutionary adaptation; Testosterone 'side effect'? Posted: 19 Feb 2013 09:13 AM PST Males and females differ in a lot of traits (besides the obvious ones) and some evolutionary psychologists have proposed hypotheses to explain why. Some argue, for example, that males' slight, but significant, superiority in spatial navigation over females -- a phenomenon demonstrated repeatedly in many species, including humans -- is probably "adaptive," meaning that over the course of evolutionary history the trait gave males an advantage that led them to have more offspring than their peers. A new analysis found no support for this hypothesis.

Russian fireball largest ever detected by Comprehensive Nuclear‑Test‑Ban Treaty Organization's infrasound sensors Posted: 19 Feb 2013 09:12 AM PST Infrasonic waves from the meteor that broke up over Russia's Ural mountains last week were the largest ever recorded by the Comprehensive Nuclear‑Test‑Ban Treaty Organization's International Monitoring System. Infrasound is low frequency sound with a range of less than 10 Hz. The blast was detected by 17 infrasound stations in the CTBTO's network, which tracks atomic blasts across the planet. The furthest station to record the sub-audible sound was 15,000km away in Antarctica.

'Growing' medicines in plants requires new regulations, experts say Posted: 19 Feb 2013 09:12 AM PST Scientists say amending an EU directive on GMOs could help stimulate innovation in making vaccines, cheaper pharmaceuticals and organic plastics using plants.

Effects of human exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals examined in landmark United Nations report Posted: 19 Feb 2013 08:55 AM PST Many synthetic chemicals, untested for their disrupting effects on the hormone system, could have significant health implications according to the State of the Science of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals, a new report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and WHO.

New insight into dogs' fear responses to noise Posted: 19 Feb 2013 07:25 AM PST A study has gained new insight into domestic dogs' fear responses to noises. The study provides an important insight into dogs' fear of noises, and could improve our understanding of behavioral signs of fear or anxiety.

'Uuneven' global sea-level rise predicted Posted: 19 Feb 2013 07:24 AM PST Sophisticated computer modelling has shown how sea-level rise over the coming century could affect some regions far more than others. The model shows that parts of the Pacific will see the highest rates of rise while some polar regions will actually experience falls in relative sea levels due to the ways sea, land and ice interact globally.

New scorpion discovery near metropolitan Tucson, Arizona Posted: 19 Feb 2013 07:23 AM PST Zoologists have discovered a new species of Sky Island scorpion from the Santa Catalina Mountains of Arizona, less than 10 miles from metropolitan Tucson. Amazingly, the discovery was made by a biologist while looking for a completely different animal. The scorpion found "by mistake" adds a fascinating new species to the biodiversity of North America.

Phosphorus starvation linked to symptoms of citrus disease Huanglongbing in new study Posted: 19 Feb 2013 07:23 AM PST The citrus disease Huanglongbing is the most destructive disease threatening the citrus industry worldwide. Powerful diagnostic tools and management strategies are desired to control it. A new study profiled small Ribonucleic Acids from diseased and healthy plants and found that some could potentially be developed into early diagnosis markers.

Top predators have sway over climate Posted: 19 Feb 2013 06:10 AM PST Researchers have found that when the animals at the top of the food chain are removed, freshwater ecosystems emit a lot more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

How the whale got its teeth: Scientists explore development of unique dentition of 'toothed whales' Posted: 19 Feb 2013 06:10 AM PST Whales are mammals, but they don't look like the mammals living around us, as they have a triangular fluke for tail, no hind legs and no body hair. And inside their mouths, their teeth are unfamiliar too -- being much simpler and 'peg like'. Scientists have now married together the fossil record and the embryonic development process to investigate how the whale got its teeth.

Towards a new moth scent Posted: 19 Feb 2013 06:07 AM PST A single mutation in a moth gene has been shown to be able to produce an entirely new scent. In the long run, the researchers say that the results could contribute to tailored production of pheromones for pest control.

Horses don't get stage fright – but their riders do Posted: 19 Feb 2013 06:06 AM PST It is well known that horses show symptoms of stress when ridden but relatively little attention has been paid to the effects on their riders.  This is surprising, as equestrian sports rely on the close cooperation between the animals and their riders.  How does the horse-rider team cope with the stress involved in competing in an equestrian event?

Diagnosis and treatment now possible for osteoarthritic cats Posted: 19 Feb 2013 06:06 AM PST Scientists have found a way to recognize and treat osteoarthritis in cats – a condition that the owner might not notice and that can make even petting painful.

Lake-effect snow sometimes needs mountains Posted: 19 Feb 2013 06:05 AM PST Researchers ran computer simulations to show that the snow-producing "lake effect" isn't always enough to cause heavy snowfall, but that mountains or other surrounding topography sometimes are necessary too.

In tiny Amazon frogs, males observed extracting oocytes from females killed in mating struggles Posted: 18 Feb 2013 06:25 AM PST Sex is a risky business for many animals. Those who take part in 'explosive breeding' -- where many males gather and compete for a small number of females over a few days -- have it particularly tough. Males can become exhausted from the competition and search for a scarce mate, or from trying to dislodge other males from receptive females. The females themselves can be unintentionally crushed, drowned or simply exhausted under the weight of their many suitors.

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