Life Sciences

‘Architect’ aquatic insects build perfect shelters out of tiny stones and they balance their two halves as a survival strategy

Larvae of caddisfly, aquatic insects of the order Trichoptera, using substrate particles, build tiny tubes where they protect their fragile bodies and carry out the metamorphosis which will transform them in adults Researchers from the University of Granada unveil a curious secret of Nature, unknown until now. When the time for pupation comes, larvae modify… Seguir Leyendo ‘Architect’ aquatic insects build perfect shelters out of tiny stones and they balance their two halves as a survival strategy

Life Sciences

Lizards are larger and retain heat longer in high-altitude habitats

Universityof Granada scientists confirm that ectotherms–like reptiles and amphibians–dofollow «Bergmann’s rule». The 19th-century naturalist posited thatanimals inhabiting colder climates have a larger body size The study has been published in the prestigious Journalof Evolutionary Biology Scientists at the University of Granada (UGR) have found that the long-tailed lizard, Psammodromus algirus, is larger when living at… Seguir Leyendo Lizards are larger and retain heat longer in high-altitude habitats

Life Sciences

New insights on why many similar species coexist within complex ecosystems—such as the Amazon rainforest or coral reefs.

Scientists from the universities of Granada (Spain) and Warwick (United Kingdom) suggest a possible reason for the coexistence of different similar species in a complex ecosystem without one of them prevailing above all the rest and displacing them The results of their research has just been published in the journal PNAS   Scientists from the… Seguir Leyendo New insights on why many similar species coexist within complex ecosystems—such as the Amazon rainforest or coral reefs.

Life Sciences

New research reveals that a species of bird ‘paints’ its own eggs with bacteria which protect the embryo

Researchers at the University of Granada and the CSIC have found that hoophoes (Upupa epops) cover their eggs with a certain fat which they produce themselves. This fat contains mutualistic bacteria, which protects them from infection by pathogens and increases their successful eclosion.  This sort of behaviour has only been detected in this species of… Seguir Leyendo New research reveals that a species of bird ‘paints’ its own eggs with bacteria which protect the embryo

Life Sciences

Seed dormancy, a property that prevents germination, already existed 360 million years ago

An international team of scientists, coordinated by a researcher from the University of Granada, finds this phenomenon to be as old as the seeds themselves.  Seed dormancy is a phenomenon that has intrigued naturalists for decades, since it conditions the dynamics of both natural vegetation and agricultural cycles An international team of scientists, coordinated by… Seguir Leyendo Seed dormancy, a property that prevents germination, already existed 360 million years ago

Life Sciences

Spanish scientist obtains international award for 3D video that recreates a journey through the interior of a cicada

Javier Alba-Tercedor, professor of Zoology at the University of Granada, has obtained an award at the “Bruker micro-CT user meeting”, which took place in Belgium, for a video produced with an innovative technique called microtomography A researcher from the University of Granada has obtained an award at the “Bruker micro-CT user meeting”, an international conference… Seguir Leyendo Spanish scientist obtains international award for 3D video that recreates a journey through the interior of a cicada

Life Sciences

Images of the inside of a fly filmed at the University of Granada win Best Film of the Year prize at an international conference of computed microtomography

The images were filmed by a Department of Zoology researcher using a microtomograph—a high-resolution scanner that facilitates the study of small animals Several thousand x-rays need to be taken to record images like these Images of the inside of a domestic fly taken at the University of Granada using a microtomograph—an instrument that produces high… Seguir Leyendo Images of the inside of a fly filmed at the University of Granada win Best Film of the Year prize at an international conference of computed microtomography

Life Sciences

Images of the inside of a fly filmed at the University of Granada win Best Film of the Year prize at an international conference of computed microtomography

The images were filmed by a Department of Zoology researcher using a microtomograph—a high-resolution scanner that facilitates the study of small animals Several thousand x-rays need to be taken to record images like these Images of the inside of a domestic fly taken at the University of Granada using a microtomograph—an instrument that produces high… Seguir Leyendo Images of the inside of a fly filmed at the University of Granada win Best Film of the Year prize at an international conference of computed microtomography

Life Sciences

Images of the inside of a fly filmed at the University of Granada win Best Film of the Year prize at an international conference of computed microtomography

The images were filmed by a Department of Zoology researcher using a microtomograph—a high-resolution scanner that facilitates the study of small animals Several thousand x-rays need to be taken to record images like these Images of the inside of a domestic fly taken at the University of Granada using a microtomograph—an instrument that produces high… Seguir Leyendo Images of the inside of a fly filmed at the University of Granada win Best Film of the Year prize at an international conference of computed microtomography

Life Sciences

Spanish Scientist Participate in the Most Comprehensive Study Ever Done on Ice

Researchers at the Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra and other CSIC institutes are co-authors of this article, which was recently published in the prestigious jorunal Reviews of Modern Physics. This study analyses all ice types and the structures and chemical and physical processes where ice is involved, from climate change and the origin… Seguir Leyendo Spanish Scientist Participate in the Most Comprehensive Study Ever Done on Ice