New books present the PhyloCode, an evolution-based system for naming organisms
Move over, Linnaeus: There’s a new way of naming organisms. Scientists have formalized an alternative set of rules 285 years…
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Mice are shrinking, but are climate change and cities to blame?
According to a well-studied but controversial principle known as Bergmann’s Rule, species tend to be larger in cold climates and…
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Bulb size matters: Uncovering the evolution of the plant kingdom’s doomsday preppers
Botanist Cody Coyotee Howard compares bulbs to living bunkers. With an underground stockpile of resources, bulbs can hunker down during…
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Hot town, springtime in the city: Urbanization delays spring plant growth in warm regions
The first appearance of bright green leaves heralds the start of spring, nudging insects, birds and other animals into a…
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Museum team’s data tool wins second place in Ebbe Nielsen Challenge
A data citation and tracking tool created by Florida Museum of Natural History researchers has won second place in the…
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Extinct Caribbean bird yields DNA after 2,500 years in watery grave
Scientists have recovered the first genetic data from an extinct bird in the Caribbean, thanks to the remarkably preserved bones…
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Plant lineage points to different evolutionary playbook for temperate species
An ancient, cosmopolitan lineage of plants is shaking up scientists’ understanding of how quickly species evolve in temperate ecosystems and…
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New data platform illuminates history of humans’ environmental impact
The human environmental footprint is not only deep, but old. Ancient traces of this footprint can be found in animal…
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How to take a census of Earth’s biodiversity? One team of researchers has a plan
How do you monitor the number and location of Earth’s plants and animals at any given time? It’s a daunting,…
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Study provides road map for measuring animal, plant traits to meet global biodiversity goals
An international team of researchers has outlined a plan for how to measure changes in key traits of animals and…
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