Scientist Gives Chickens a Dinosaur Beak

A Yale researcher has successfully spawned chicken embryos with a snout reminiscent of early dinosaurs.

Paleontologist Bhart-Anjan S. Bhullar's work is detailed in a studypublished in the latest edition of the journal Evolution. He hopes that his work will help the scientific community better understand the evolutionary transition.

"Our goal here was to understand the molecular underpinnings of an important evolutionary transition, not to create a 'dino-chicken' simply for the sake of it," Bhullar said in a news release.

Bhullar's team analyzed both fossils and living animals to determine exactly how the transition from dinosaur to bird occurred. By examining the genetic makeup of crocodiles, turtles and lizards, with whom the chickens share a common ancestor, researchers were then able to identify the genetic code responsible for beak development.

Next, researchers used inhibitors to prevent the expression of that gene, and were able to "induce the ancestral molecular activity and the ancestral anatomy". Both the beak structure and the palatine bone in the mouth reverted to pre-evolutionary anatomy.

"This was unexpected and demonstrates the way in which a single, simple developmental mechanism can have wide-ranging and unexpected effects," added Bhullar.

Meet the World’s First Fully Warm-Blooded Fish

NOAA scientists have discovered the ocean's first fully warm-blooded fish. The opah, also known as the moonfish, maintains its body temperature by circulating warm blood through its body.

The opah roams the depths of the ocean, where most of its neighbors are slow and sluggish. Unlike its friends, the opah constantly flaps its fins, which heats up its body and fuels its metabolism. In turn, it also has a distinct predatory advantage, as the opah can move more quickly than other marine predators.

"Before this discovery I was under the impression this was a slow-moving fish, like most other fish in cold environments," said NOAA's Nicholas Wegner, the lead author of the new study. "But because it can warm its body, it turns out to be a very active predator that chases down agile prey like squid and can migrate long distances."

Wegner and his team unraveled the opah's mystery by attaching temperature monitors to opahs off of the western United States. As the fish dived to the depths of the ocean, their body temperature remained considerably warmer than the surrounding water temperature.

New research by NOAA Fisheries has revealed the opah, or moonfish, as the first fully warm-blooded fish that circulates heated blood throughout its body much like mammals and birds, giving it a competitive advantage in the cold ocean depths.

The silvery fish, roughly the size of a large automobile tire, is known from oceans around the world and dwells hundreds of feet beneath the surface in chilly, dimly lit waters. It swims by rapidly flapping its large, red pectoral fins like wings through the water.

Fish that typically inhabit such cold depths tend to be slow and sluggish, conserving energy by ambushing prey instead of chasing it. But the opah's constant flapping of its fins heats its body, speeding its metabolism, movement and reaction times, scientists report in the journal Science.

That warm-blooded advantage turns the opah into a high-performance predator that swims faster, reacts more quickly and sees more sharply, said fisheries biologist Nicholas Wegner of NOAA Fisheries' Southwest Fisheries Science Center in La Jolla, Calif., lead author of the new paper.

"Before this discovery I was under the impression this was a slow-moving fish, like most other fish in cold environments," Wegner said. "But because it can warm its body, it turns out to be a very active predator that chases down agile prey like squid and can migrate long distances."

Gills show unusual design

Wegner realized the opah was unusual when a coauthor of the study, biologist Owyn Snodgrass, collected a sample of its gill tissue. Wegner recognized an unusual design: Blood vessels that carry warm blood into the fish's gills wind around those carrying cold blood back to the body core after absorbing oxygen from water.

The design is known in engineering as "counter-current heat exchange." In opah it means that warm blood leaving the body core helps heat up cold blood returning from the respiratory surface of the gills where it absorbs oxygen. Resembling a car radiator, it's a natural adaptation that conserves heat. The unique location of the heat exchange within the gills allows nearly the fish's entire body to maintain an elevated temperature, known as endothermy, even in the chilly depths.

"There has never been anything like this seen in a fish's gills before," Wegner said. "This is a cool innovation by these animals that gives them a competitive edge. The concept of counter-current heat exchange was invented in fish long before we thought of it."

The researchers collected temperature data from opah caught during surveys off the West Coast, finding that their body temperatures were regularly warmer than the surrounding water. They also attached temperature monitors to opah as they tracked the fish on dives to several hundred feet and found that their body temperatures remained steady even as the water temperature dropped sharply. The fish had an average muscle temperature about 5 degrees C above the surrounding water while swimming about 150 to 1,000 feet below the surface, the researchers found.

While mammals and birds typically maintain much warmer body temperatures, the opah is the first fish found to keep its whole body warmer than the environment.

A few other fish such as tuna and some sharks warm certain parts of their bodies such as muscles, boosting their swimming performance. But internal organs including their hearts cool off quickly and begin to slow down when they dive into cold depths, forcing them to return to shallower depths to warm up.

Warmth provides competitive edge

Satellite tracking showed opah spend most of their time at depths of 150 to 1,300 feet, without regularly surfacing. Their higher body temperature should increase their muscle output and capacity, boost their eye and brain function and help them resist the effects of cold on the heart and other organs, Wegner said.

Fatty tissue surrounds the gills, heart and muscle tissue where the opah generates much of its internal heat, insulating them from the frigid water.

Other fish have developed limited warm-bloodedness (known as regional endothermy) to help expand their reach from shallower waters into the colder depths. But the opah's evolutionary lineage suggests that it evolved its warming mechanisms in the cold depths, where the fish can remain with a consistent edge over other competitors and prey. Recent research has found distinctive differences among opah from different parts of the world, and Wegner said scientists are now interested in comparing warm-blooded features among them.

"Nature has a way of surprising us with clever strategies where you least expect them," Wegner said. "It's hard to stay warm when you're surrounded by cold water but the opah has figured it out."

NOAA research surveys off California have caught more opah in recent years, but biologists are not sure why. Current conditions may be favoring the fish, or their population may be growing. Opah are not usually targeted by fishermen off California but local recreational anglers and commercial fisheries occasionally catch the species. The opah's rich meat has become increasingly popular in seafood markets.

"Discoveries like this help us understand the role species play in the marine ecosystem, and why we find them where we do," said Francisco Werner, director of the Southwest Fisheries Science Center. "It really demonstrates how much we learn from basic research out on the water, thanks to curious scientists asking good questions about why this fish appeared to be different."

Georgia Aquarium Welcomes Baby Beluga Whale

A beluga whale at the Georgia Aquarium gave birth to a 126-pound female calf over the weekend, officials announced. Born to mom Maris, the calf is presently under 24-hour care as aquarium officials monitor its development.

"Our experienced team is providing the best care available to both calf and mom and will continue to provide 24-hour care as long as is required. Animal care is the top priority at Georgia Aquarium, and our team continues to fulfill our commitment to do whatever it takes to provide the finest care for our animals," said Eric Gaglione, director of zoological operations.

The aquarium's beluga whale exhibit remains temporarily closed as aquarium staff work to ensure the calf's well-being.

ATLANTA (May 11, 2015) – At 1:25 a.m. EST on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 10, Maris, one of Georgia Aquarium’s resident beluga whales, successfully gave birth to a female calf. Shortly after birth, the calf swam to the surface for its first breath, an important milestone. The calf is under 24-hour professional care as Aquarium experts constantly monitor mother and calf for bonding and nursing.

Through months of pre-birth preparations including routine health checks, fetal monitoring via ultrasound and intensive staff training, Maris and the team were well prepared for a smooth labor and delivery. Since mid-March, Georgia Aquarium’s passionate and dedicated animal care and veterinary teams have observed the expectant mother 24-hours per day to collect pregnancy information and to monitor Maris’s health and wellbeing during this very exciting time. Staff at the Aquarium have shared in some of Maris’ biggest moments, from her pregnancy to the special moment when she became a mother on Mother’s Day.

“Since the moment of birth, our animal care and veterinary teams have been giving around-the-clock care to Maris and her calf, taking every measure possible to ensure that the calf thrives,” said Dr. Gregory Bossart, senior vice president & chief veterinary officer. “Our team was able to give mom and calf physical exams. The calf weighs approximately 126.5 pounds and is 59 inches in length. Thus far, we are very encouraged by what we are seeing from both mom and calf.”

Beluga whale Maris and her newborn calf are closely observed by Georgia Aquarium animal care and veterinary staff during the first few hours after the calf’s birth.

Pregnancy and giving birth is a delicate process for all mammals, and the aquatic environment makes it even more so with marine mammals. For this reason, Georgia Aquarium remains prepared for many contingencies. While there are many milestones over the next several days and weeks that this calf must surpass to ensure its survival, the team is hopeful for a successful outcome. 

“Our experienced team is providing the best care available to both calf and mom and will continue to provide 24-hour care as long as is required. Animal care is the top priority at Georgia Aquarium, and our team continues to fulfill our commitment to do whatever it takes to provide the finest care for our animals,” said Eric Gaglione, director of zoological operations, mammals and birds, at Georgia Aquarium.

Georgia Aquarium is one of seven accredited North American aquariums and zoos committed to educational public display and conservation of beluga whales, and will continue to share the vital knowledge gained through this pregnancy and birth with the marine mammal community. Because of the extraordinary, long-term care beluga whales receive at accredited zoological organizations like Georgia Aquarium, this birth is significant as it is the first viable calf to be born from parents who were born in human care. Maris was born at the New York Aquarium in 1994, and the father, Beethoven, was born at SeaWorld San Antonio in 1992.

Members of Georgia Aquarium’s passionate and dedicated animal care and veterinary teams conduct a physical exam on Maris and the newborn beluga calf.

To allow our animal care and veterinary staff to focus completely on the comfort and well-being of Maris and her calf, the beluga exhibit, located in the Georgia Pacific Cold Water Quest gallery, will be temporarily closed until further notice. Updates about Maris and the calf can be found atwww.georgiaaquariumblog.org. To be among the first to receive announcements about the calf and other information from the Georgia Aquarium, sign up for e-newsletters at www.georgiaaquarium.org.

Click here to view beluga whale fact sheet. Additional photo assets can be viewed here. 

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ABOUT GEORGIA AQUARIUM

Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Georgia, is one of the world’s most dynamic aquariums—containing more than 10 million gallons of water and the largest collection of aquatic animals. The mission of Georgia Aquarium is to be a premier scientific institution delivering an awe-inspiring entertainment experience which supports animal research and conservation; inspires learning; and instills a passion for the aquatic world. Its exhibits and programs are of the highest standards, offering engaging guest encounters that promote the conservation of marine biodiversity throughout the world. Georgia Aquarium is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums.

Aquarium Rehabs & Releases Endangered Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles

South Carolina Aquarium

The South Carolina Aquarium released five rehabilitated endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtles into the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday through its Sea Turtle Rescue Program.

The turtles were originally recovered in November 2014; an unexpected cold front caused a massive stranding event in Massachusetts that left more than 1,000 sea turtles suffering from severe hypothermia.

After private citizens paid to have the turtles flown to South Carolina, the aquarium nursed the turtles back to health with a six-month regimen of with antibiotics, fluids and vitamin injections. After being given a clean bill of health, the turtles were released Thursday afternoon off of the coast of Isle of Palms, South Carolina.

Conservationists Call on Airlines to Refuse Shipments of Exotic Animals Killed for Trophies

Jeff Foott/DCL

South Africa is home to a booming trophy hunting industry. The African Wildlife Conservation Fund estimates that the 50,000 animals shot peach year in the country generate a whopping $100 million in revenue. Many of those animals are hunted by foreigners from North America and Europe, who stuff the animals' heads and keep them as trophies.

Animal conservationists, however, are taking a stand against the practice. A petition making the rounds on the web calls on Delta Airlines, the only carrier to operate nonstop service between South Africa and the United States, to refuse shipments of exotic animals hunted for trophies.

"By refusing to play a role in the wildlife trafficking supply chain, Delta Air Lines can demonstrate the strong and ethical leadership that has made it such a successful and respected company. More importantly, Delta will be preserving a valuable natural resource that provides one of the primary reasons customers choose to fly Delta to visit Africa and other wilderness destinations," said Chris Green, a Delta frequent flier who started the petition.

In an email to DSCOVRD, Delta spokesperson Morgan Durrant responded to the petition: "Delta accepts hunting trophies in accordance with all U.S. domestic and international regulations, which prohibits the possession of trophies or other items associated with protected species. Customers are required to produce detailed documentation of trophies to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officials as their trophies undergo inspection."

Last month, South African Airways, South Africa's largest airline,announced an embargo on the transport of rhino, elephant, tiger and lion trophies. The embargo was imposed after game hunters disguised a shipment of elephant tusks as spare machinery parts. During a stopover in Australia, the tusks were discovered by customs agents and seized.

"We had to act swiftly to curb the problem of illegal transportation of animals," said spokesperson Tlali Tlali.

The issue of trophy hunting is highly polarized: critics cite the obvious animal rights issues involved, while proponents argue that trophy hunting is an effective population technique management.

Study: Baboons Are Cliquey and Promiscuous (Like Human Teenagers)

It just got a lot harder to make friends with a baboon.

A new study from Cambridge University reveals that baboons form tight-knit social groups with other baboons of similar social standing. Age, dominance and personality type all go into determining a baboon's social status; researchers call the behavior homophily, or 'love of the same'.

"This happens in humans all the time; we hang out with people who have the same income, religion, education, etc. Essentially, it's the same in baboons," said study lead author Dr. Alecia Carter.

The study focused particularly on measuring the varying stages of boldness in baboon personalities. Researchers placed unfamiliar foods near the baboon troops, and observed which baboons were bold and curious enough to venture after the unexpected snacks. Similarly curious baboons were more likely to associate with one another.

Researchers also found that gender played an interesting role in shaping the social interaction of baboons:

"Chacma baboon males will often commit infanticide, killing the babies of rivals. Female baboons try and get around this by being as promiscuous as possible to confuse the paternal identity - so males find it harder to tell if they are killing a rival's offspring or their own," added Carter.

Carter's study tracked two baboon traps during daylight hours in Namibia's Tsaobis Nature Park between 2009 and 2014, the longest-running study of its kind. The research is published in the current edition of the free journal

Fruit Flies Feel Fear — Sort Of

Researchers attempting to understand the inner workings of human emotion have made an interesting discovery: when threatened, fruit flies display a complex, fear-like response.

In a new study, researchers simulated overhead visual threats meant to mimic a possible predator; they passed a dark paddle over the flies' habitat and tracked the flies' response with advanced software.

As the paddle passed over the flies, the flies would consciously avoid the ersatz predator. During subsequent passes, the flies' reaction would progressively intensify, which indicates that the response was more than a simple reflex.

"For us, that's a big step beyond just casually intuiting that a fly fleeing a visual threat must be 'afraid,' based on our anthropomorphic assumptions. It suggests that the flies' response to the threat is richer and more complicated than a robotic-like avoidance reflex," said study author David Anderson.

Although there are closer relatives to humans than fruit flies, Anderson and his team studied the insects because of their comparatively simple neurological system.

Unique Ear Bone Tells Salmon’s Life Story

The ear bones of Chinook salmon develop a unique chemical signature that allow researchers track the fish's movement, a new study from the University of Washington finds.

Researchers say that the bone, known as an otolith, develops the same chemical signature as the water in which the fish swims. They compare the bone's signature to a tree's growth rings.

"Each fish has this little recorder, and we can reveal the whole life history of the fish from the perspective of the otolith. Each growth ring is a direct reflection of the environment the fish was swimming in at the time it was formed," said study lead author Sean Brennan.

The chemical signature reflects the amount of the trace element strontium found in the water. Strontium is gradually released into streams as moving water erodes bedrock, and eventually makes its way into the fish. The amount of strontium in the water varies significantly by location, making it a "strong" indicator of each fish's movement.

Researchers hope that their findings can help them explain dwindling chinook salmon population.

White House Gets on Board to Save the Bees

Gabriele Maltinti/Thinkstock

The White House today announced a plan to reverse the alarming decline in honey bee and monarch butterfly populations. The National Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinatorswas released by an inter-agency task force established by President Obama in June of last year.

Over the next five years, the task force will oversee the restoration of over 7 million acres of land for pollinators. The plan also calls for measures to boost butterfly and bee population and reduce colony losses. Over $80 million in federal funding will be allocated to the effort in 2016 alone.

The plan also underscores the importance of public outreach in establishing a long-term conservation effort. Through pollinator education programs targeted toward children, a beekeeper outreach program, a Smithsonian Institute exhibition and a public awareness campaign for National Pollinator Week, the task force hopes to establish a "multifaceted portfolio of public education".

"People of all ages and communities across the country can play a role in responding to the President's call to action. You can share some land with pollinators--bees, butterflies, other insects, birds, bats--by planting a pollinator garden or setting aside some natural habitat. You can think carefully before applying any pesticides and always follow the label instructions. You can find out more about the pollinator species that live near you," remarked John P. Holdren, of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Bees and other pollinators play an integral role in the agriculture; their economic value is estimated to exceed $15 billion annually.

Can Blood from a Younger Mouse Rejuvenate Ailing Older Mice?

Some scientists think they have discovered the fountain of youth - but there's still a great deal of controversy and mystery.

The more that researchers attempt to study a process known as "parabiosis", the more questions they have. Frequently studied in mice, parabiosis entails an exchange of blood between two animals. Several recent studies have focused on an older mouse's response to blood from a younger mouse.

A new study published in the latest edition of the journal Nature Communications shows that blood from a younger mouse helped bone fractures in older mice heal more quickly. Despite the aging mice's bodies' decreased ability to rebound from injury as quickly, older mice infused with young blood healed at similar rates to younger mice.

Scientists aren't exactly sure why the young blood was so effective in healing bone fractures, although they believe it could somehow be related to "hormones, small molecules, minerals or factors" produced by the mice's red blood cells. They did, however, identify the protein beta-catenin as somehow being related to the process.

According to Sara Reardon at Nature, a 2013 study from Harvard University seemed to offer another explanation, identifying a protein, GDF11, which becomes less abundant in a mouse's blood as it ages. An infusion of GDF11-rich blood bolstered the mouse's ability to regenerate muscle cells.

Subsequent studies attempting to recreate the 2013 results, however, showed completely contradictory results: increased amounts of GDF11 in an old mouse's blood severely inhibited its ability to recover from an injury.

Despite the myriad of conflicting information, researchers at various institutions are continuing full speed ahead investigating whether or not parabiosis could be a viable treatment for humans, and the practice has support throughout the medical community:

"We argue that parabiosis is a technique that should enjoy wider acceptance and application, and that policies should be revisited especially if one is to study complex age-related, chronic disorders," said the National Institutes of Health in a recent report.

Japanese Aquariums Break Ties with Town Known for Dolphin Slaughter

The Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA) has effectively voted to cease acquiring dolphins from Taiji, a small Japanese town infamous for its controversial dolphin hunting methods.

The Taiji dolphin hunt takes place annually over the summer, and involves a small group of fishermen who herd entire pods of dolphins into a secluded cove. After fisherman close off the entrance to the cove, they individually slaughter the dolphins by severing their brainstems with a pin, causing near-instant death.

Activism group whales.org estimates that up to 17,000 dolphins are killed annually as part of the practice, many for their red meat. Against the membership rules of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), however, JAZA member institutions habitually purchased exhibit animals from fishermen involved in the drive.

After negations to end the practice stalled, WAZA voted unanimously to suspend the JAZA's membership earlier this year, citing Japan's "cruel and non-selective methods of taking animals from the wild".

Earlier today, a majority of JAZA's membership voted to reaffirm the organization's membership in WAZA, The Guardian reports. Although no official announcement has been made regarding the Taiji drive, JAZA's vote effectively confirms that it will comply with WAZA's directive and cut ties with the town.

Ancient Snakes Had Ankles and Toes

Forget everything you thought you knew about snakes: a new study from Yale shows that early snakes had developed hind legs, fully equipped with ankles and toes.

Yale researchers analyzed snake genomes, modern snakes and fossils of ancient snakes to build a comprehensive reconstruction of the most recent common ancestor of the 3,4000 modern snake species. Their results are published in the latest edition of the journal BMC Evolutionary Biology.

"Our analyses suggest that the most recent common ancestor of all living snakes would have already lost its forelimbs, but would still have had tiny hind limbs, with complete ankles and toes," remarked study co-author Daniel Field, a Yale Ph.D. candidate.

While strange, the revelation isn't exactly surprising: many scientists believe that modern snakes evolved from a four-legged ancient lizard. Nonetheless, a snake with legs is a pretty surprising creature to visualize.

Field and his team also found that the ancestral snake was a nocturnal predator with a nasty set of hooked teeth, which allowed it to swallow its prey completely whole. It roamed the Earth's forests during the middle Early Cetaceous period, approximately 130 million years ago.

The ancestral snakes in the grass actually lived in the forest, according to the most detailed look yet at the iconic reptiles.

A comprehensive analysis by Yale University paleontologists reveals new insights into the origin and early history of snakes. For one thing, they kept late hours; for another, they also kept their hind legs.

“We generated the first comprehensive reconstruction of what the ancestral snake was like,” said Allison Hsiang, lead author the study published online May 19 in the journal BMC Evolutionary Biology. Hsiang is a postdoctoral researcher in Yale’s Department of Geology and Geophysics.

“We infer that the most recent common ancestor of all snakes was a nocturnal, stealth-hunting predator targeting relatively large prey, and most likely would have lived in forested ecosystems in the Southern Hemisphere,” Hsiang said.

Snakes have always captured the imagination of humans. Their long and sinuous body, fearsome reputation, and great diversity — with more than 3,400 living species — make them one of the most recognizable groups of living vertebrate animals. Yet little has been known about how, where, and when modern snakes emerged.

The Yale team analyzed snake genomes, modern snake anatomy, and new information from the fossil record to find answers. In doing so, the researchers generated a family tree for both living and extinct snakes, illuminating major evolutionary patterns that have played out across snake evolutionary history.

“Our analyses suggest that the most recent common ancestor of all living snakes would have already lost its forelimbs, but would still have had tiny hind limbs, with complete ankles and toes. It would have first evolved on land, instead of in the sea,” said co-author Daniel Field, a Yale Ph.D. candidate. “Both of those insights resolve longstanding debates on the origin of snakes.”

The researchers said ancestral snakes were non-constricting, wide-ranging foragers that seized their prey with needle-like hooked teeth and swallowed them whole. They originated about 128.5 million years ago, during the middle Early Cretaceous period.

“Primate brains, including those of humans, are hard-wired to attend to serpents, and with good reason,” said Jacques Gauthier, senior author of the study, a Yale professor of geology and geophysics, and curator of fossil vertebrates at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History. “Our natural and adaptive attention to snakes makes the question of their evolutionary origin especially intriguing.”

Support for the research came from the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Canadian Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council.

Additional authors of the study are Timothy Webster, Adam Behlke, Matthew Davis, and Rachel Racicot, all of Yale.

Harlequin Ladybird Declared UK’s ‘Fastest-Spreading Alien Species’

Despite their pleasant name, ladybirds (also known as ladybugs) are causing quite the headache in the United Kingdom.

In an interview with The Guardian, leading ecologist Dr. Helen Roy dubbed the ladybird the UK's "fastest-spreading alien species on record". In conjunction with the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Roy facilitates The Harlequin Ladybird Survey, which tracks the invasive species' movement throughout the United Kingdom.

In the past decade, the Harlequin has been blamed for declines in seven native species of ladybird across the country. According to the Survey's website, the Harliequin ladybird "has the potential to jeopardize many" of the remaining species of ladybird native to the UK.

The ladybird was originally introduced across Europe (though not in the United Kingdom) as a strategy to keep the growing aphid population in check. It was first discovered in the United Kingdom in 2003, and has been officially tracked since 2005.

Also known as the Multicolored Asian Ladybird and the Halloween Ladybird, the small creature's appearance can vary significantly, making identification difficult. Its wing case can be pale yellow, orange, red or black, and it can sport up to 21 spots.

The Harlequin Ladybird Survey relies on reports from citizens to track the ladybird's movement throughout the country. They recently launched a mobile app that allows nature enthusiasts to report sightings straight from their smartphone.