Current Event

     

Predators Drive the Evolution of Poison Dart Frogs' Skin Patterns

American Naturalist by University of Montreal biologist Mathieu Chouteau.

November 21, 2011

       Poison dart frogs develop different patterns in different areas to ward off predators. A scientist make little models of frogs of different patterns including that of the local frogs. The birds pecked primarily the strange patterns. They even pecked the pattern of frogs about 10 kilometers away. This was surprising for scientist Choteau. 

       I was surprised to learn that the frogs adapted differently from the frogs just 10 kilometers away. This goes to show you how amazing animals are. I notice that we seem to know less than we think about frogs, I see new discoveries all the time about frogs. There seems to be more to some animals than what we think. The frog's adaptation saves itself and any unlucky bird who would have otherwise ate it. That makes one lucky frog and several lucky birds.

Bibliography:

University of Montreal. "Predators drive the evolution of poison dart frogs' skin patterns."ScienceDaily, 21 Nov. 2011. Web. 23 Nov. 2011.

Current Event

Whiskers Mark Milestone in Evolution of Mammals From Reptiles 
by: University of Sheffield
written November 10, 2011


       Whiskers appeared on the first mammals to help them use touch to  sense things in their environment event in the dark. This is an advantage to reptiles who are whisker-less. Even though not all mammals today have whiskers most of us have evolved from the early mammals with whiskers. This is interesting to see how we adapted to our environments, we were unable to see in the dark so somewhere along the way we mammals grew whiskers, It is neat how animals adapt to survive. It made me wonder if the maggots/flies in my project will have different behaviors in the different environments.


Bibliography:University of Sheffield. "Whiskers marked milestone in evolution of mammals from reptiles." ScienceDaily, 10 Nov. 2011. Web. 16 Nov. 2011

Russian and US Veterinarians Collaborate to Solve Mysterious Wild Tiger Deaths
September 30, 2011
Wildlife Conservation Society




Distemper (a virus that affects dogs and some wild animals) is a growing threat to Siberian Tigers. Distemper in these tigers seems to cause them to wander into cities and villages. The reports of tigers being spotted in areas highly populated by humans started around 2000, this behavior was not recorded before previously. Distemper may be being spread by wild dogs or another wild animal who has a large population of infected organisms. One or both may be acting as some sort of reservoir for the virus to reproduce and spread. Attempts will be made to lower the rise in tiger mortality rate due to the virus.

The tigers are already endangered with dwindling numbers so distemper is causing a lot of concern from all sorts of scientists. I am also concerned about the tigers some main causes of their rarity are poaching are habitat destruction. I think the tiger being endangered because humans not thinking about their actions is a bunch of crap. I think that things like tiger fur coats and rugs are worthless and pathetic.




Bibliography:

Wildlife Conservation Society. "Russian and US veterinarians collaborate to solve mysterious wild tiger deaths." ScienceDaily, 30 Sep. 2011. Web. 2 Nov. 2011.