158 posts · 174,040 views
GrrlScientist is the blog pseudonym for an evolutionary biologist/ornithologist who writes about E3: Evolution, Ecology and Ethology, and the subtle relationships between these phenomena, especially in birds.
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- January 7, 2012
- 05:12 AM
- 105 views
Hamster power to help solve energy crisis? [video] | @GrrlScientist
by GrrlScientist in GrrlScientist
Children's pet hamsters can help solve the world's energy crisis! ... Read more »
Yang, R., Qin, Y., Li, C., Zhu, G., & Wang, Z. (2009) Converting Biomechanical Energy into Electricity by a Muscle-Movement-Driven Nanogenerator. Nano Letters, 9(3), 1201-1205. DOI: 10.1021/nl803904b
- January 5, 2012
- 03:00 AM
- 123 views
Indonesia's underwater masters of disguise [videos] | @GrrlScientist
by GrrlScientist in GrrlScientist
Meet the fish that mimics the octopus that mimics scary sea creatures... Read more »
Rocha, L., Ross, R., & Kopp, G. (2011) Opportunistic mimicry by a Jawfish. Coral Reefs. DOI: 10.1007/s00338-011-0855-y
HUFFARD, C., SAARMAN, N., HAMILTON, H., & SIMISON, W. (2010) The evolution of conspicuous facultative mimicry in octopuses: an example of secondary adaptation?. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 101(1), 68-77. DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2010.01484.x
- December 23, 2011
- 05:24 AM
- 168 views
Hot? Or not? The economics of red-hot chili peppers
by GrrlScientist in Maniraptora
SUMMARY: Chilis that produce the hottest fruits grow best when they are given lots of water... Read more »
Haak, D., McGinnis, L., Levey, D., & Tewksbury, J. (2011) Why are not all chilies hot? A trade-off limits pungency. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2011.2091
Tewksbury, J., Reagan, K., Machnicki, N., Carlo, T., Haak, D., Penaloza, A., & Levey, D. (2008) Evolutionary ecology of pungency in wild chilies. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 105(33), 11808-11811. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0802691105
- Biology
- Ecology / Conservation
- Environment
- Agriculture
- Ecology
- Chemical Biology
- directed deterrence
- genetic correlation
- frugivory
- secondary compounds
- fruit chemistry
- chemical defence
- secondary metabolite
- capsaicinoids
- capsaicin
- natural selection
- chili peppers
- Evolutionary Biology
- Capsicum chacoense
- Botany
- December 22, 2011
- 01:03 PM
- 146 views
Hot? Or not? The economics of red hot chili peppers | @GrrlScientist
by GrrlScientist in GrrlScientist
Chilies that produce the hottest fruits grow best when they are given lots of water... Read more »
Haak, D., McGinnis, L., Levey, D., & Tewksbury, J. (2011) Why are not all chilies hot? A trade-off limits pungency. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2011.2091
- December 22, 2011
- 03:46 AM
- 159 views
The science behind Santa [video]
by GrrlScientist in Maniraptora
How does Santa visit billions of homes all around the globe in just one night? The last important scientific question in the world has been solved! ... Read more »
Billing, R. (2008) Harnessing the brane-deer. Nature, 456(7224), 1007-1008. DOI: 10.1038/4561007a
- December 22, 2011
- 03:00 AM
- 136 views
The science behind Santa [video] | GrrlScientist
by GrrlScientist in GrrlScientist
How does Santa visit billions of homes all around the globe in just one night? The last important scientific question in the world has been solved!... Read more »
Billing, R. (2008) Harnessing the brane-deer. Nature, 456(7224), 1007-1008. DOI: 10.1038/4561007a
- December 1, 2011
- 01:52 PM
- 77 views
The economics of tree swallow brood sex ratios
by GrrlScientist in Maniraptora
SUMMARY: Tree swallows reveal that brood sex ratios are an economic balancing act with far-reaching evolutionary consequences... Read more »
Renaud Baeta, Marc Bélisle, & Dany Garant. (2011) Importance of breeding season and maternal investment in studies of sex-ratio adjustment: a case study using tree swallows. Biology Letters. info:/10.1098/rsbl.2011.1009
Griffith, S., Owens, I., & Thuman, K. (2008) Extra pair paternity in birds: a review of interspecific variation and adaptive function. Molecular Ecology, 11(11), 2195-2212. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-294X.2002.01613.x
Peter O. Dunn, Linda A. Whittingham, Jan T. Lifjeld, Raleigh J. Robertson, & Peter T. Boag. (1994) Effects of breeding density, synchrony, and experience on extrapair paternity in tree swallows. Behavioral Ecology, 5(2), 123-129. info:/10.1093/beheco/5.2.123
John P. McCarty. (2001) Variation in growth of nestling tree swallows across multiple temporal and spatial scales. Auk, 176-190. info:/10.1642/0004-8038(2001)118 [0176:VIGONT]2.0.CO;2)
Whittingham, L., & Dunn, P. (2000) Offspring sex ratios in tree swallows: females in better condition produce more sons. Molecular Ecology, 9(8), 1123-1129. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-294x.2000.00980.x
- Biology
- Ecology / Conservation
- tree swallow
- Environmental Health
- Molecular Biology
- Tachycineta bicolor
- CHD gene
- Reproduction
- Avian Breeding Systems
- body condition
- Zoology
- Extra-pair Paternity
- nestling mortality
- Ornithology
- Monogamy
- sex ratio
- Conservation
- Polygyny
- survival
- Ecology
- Breeding density
- birds
- DNA fingerprinting
- breeding season heterogeneity
- Extrapair paternity
- sex allocation
- breeding synchrony
- Evolutionary Biology
- sex-ratio
- tree swallows
- Behavioral Biology
- December 1, 2011
- 10:19 AM
- 135 views
The economics of tree swallow brood sex ratios | @GrrlScientist
by GrrlScientist in GrrlScientist
Tree swallows reveal that brood sex ratios are an economic balancing act with far-reaching evolutionary consequences... Read more »
Renaud Baeta, Marc Bélisle, & Dany Garant. (2011) Importance of breeding season and maternal investment in studies of sex-ratio adjustment: a case study using tree swallows. Biology Letters. info:/10.1098/rsbl.2011.1009
Griffith, S., Owens, I., & Thuman, K. (2008) Extra pair paternity in birds: a review of interspecific variation and adaptive function. Molecular Ecology, 11(11), 2195-2212. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-294X.2002.01613.x
Peter O. Dunn, Linda A. Whittingham, Jan T. Lifjeld, Raleigh J. Robertson, & Peter T. Boag. (1994) Effects of breeding density, synchrony, and experience on extrapair paternity in tree swallows. Behavioral Ecology, 5(2), 123-129. info:/10.1093/beheco/5.2.123
John P. McCarty. (2001) Variation in growth of nestling tree swallows across multiple temporal and spatial scales. Auk, 176-190. info:/10.1642/0004-8038(2001)118 [0176:VIGONT]2.0.CO;2)
Whittingham, L., & Dunn, P. (2000) Offspring sex ratios in tree swallows: females in better condition produce more sons. Molecular Ecology, 9(8), 1123-1129. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-294x.2000.00980.x
- Biology
- Ecology / Conservation
- tree swallow
- Environmental Health
- Molecular Biology
- Tachycineta bicolor
- CHD gene
- Reproduction
- Avian Breeding Systems
- body condition
- Zoology
- Extra-pair Paternity
- nestling mortality
- Ornithology
- Monogamy
- sex ratio
- Conservation
- Polygyny
- survival
- Ecology
- Breeding density
- birds
- DNA fingerprinting
- breeding season heterogeneity
- Extrapair paternity
- sex allocation
- breeding synchrony
- Evolutionary Biology
- sex-ratio
- tree swallows
- Behavioral Biology
- December 1, 2011
- 03:59 AM
- 101 views
Let's talk about evolution
by GrrlScientist in Maniraptora
SUMMARY: Prominent female role models in science and science communication talk about evolution and its importance to science, medicine and society... Read more »
Jon D. Miller, Eugenie C. Scott, & Shinji Okamoto. (2006) Public Acceptance of Evolution. Science, 313(5788), 765-766. DOI: 10.1126/science.1126746
- December 1, 2011
- 03:00 AM
- 161 views
Let's talk about evolution [video] | @GrrlScientist
by GrrlScientist in GrrlScientist
Prominent female role models in science and science communication talk about evolution and its importance to science, medicine and society... Read more »
Jon D. Miller, Eugenie C. Scott, & Shinji Okamoto. (2006) Public Acceptance of Evolution. Science, 313(5788), 765-766. DOI: 10.1126/science.1126746
- November 11, 2011
- 06:30 PM
- 82 views
Bird-friendly California vineyards may have fewer pests
by GrrlScientist in Maniraptora
SUMMARY: Insectivorous cavity-nesting birds can be encouraged to occupy vineyards by giving them nest boxes. New research documents that these birds reciprocate by providing significant eco-friendly pest control services to winegrape growers... Read more »
Julie A. Jedlicka, Russell Greenberg, & Deborah K. Letourneau. (2011) Avian Conservation Practices Strengthen Ecosystem Services in California Vineyards. PLoS ONE, 6(11). info:/
Mols, C., & Visser, M. (2002) Great tits can reduce caterpillar damage in apple orchards. Journal of Applied Ecology, 39(6), 888-899. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2664.2002.00761.x
Mols, C., & Visser, M. (2007) Great Tits (Parus major) Reduce Caterpillar Damage in Commercial Apple Orchards. PLoS ONE, 2(2). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0000202
Germaine, H., & Germaine, S. (2002) Forest Restoration Treatment Effects on the Nesting Success of Western Bluebirds (Sialia mexicana). Restoration Ecology, 10(2), 362-367. DOI: 10.1046/j.1526-100X.2002.00129.x
- November 11, 2011
- 04:10 PM
- 159 views
Bird-friendly California vineyards may have fewer pests | @GrrlScientist
by GrrlScientist in GrrlScientist
Insectivorous cavity-nesting birds can be encouraged to occupy vineyards by giving them nest boxes. New research documents that these birds reciprocate by providing significant eco-friendly pest control services to winegrape growers... Read more »
Julie A. Jedlicka, Russell Greenberg, & Deborah K. Letourneau. (2011) Avian Conservation Practices Strengthen Ecosystem Services in California Vineyards. PLoS ONE, 6(11). info:/
Mols, C., & Visser, M. (2002) Great tits can reduce caterpillar damage in apple orchards. Journal of Applied Ecology, 39(6), 888-899. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2664.2002.00761.x
Mols, C., & Visser, M. (2007) Great Tits (Parus major) Reduce Caterpillar Damage in Commercial Apple Orchards. PLoS ONE, 2(2). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0000202
Germaine, H., & Germaine, S. (2002) Forest Restoration Treatment Effects on the Nesting Success of Western Bluebirds (Sialia mexicana). Restoration Ecology, 10(2), 362-367. DOI: 10.1046/j.1526-100X.2002.00129.x
- November 8, 2011
- 05:10 AM
- 114 views
The seventh starling (Murmuration)
by GrrlScientist in Maniraptora
SUMMARY: What do particle physics, statistics and poetry have in common? (includes videos)... Read more »
Cavagna, A., & Giardina, I. (2008) The seventh starling. Significance, 5(2), 62-66. DOI: 10.1111/j.1740-9713.2008.00288.x
Cavagna, A., Cimarelli, A., Giardina, I., Parisi, G., Santagati, R., Stefanini, F., & Viale, M. (2010) Scale-free correlations in starling flocks. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 107(26), 11865-11870. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1005766107
Hemelrijk, C., & Hildenbrandt, H. (2011) Some Causes of the Variable Shape of Flocks of Birds. PLoS ONE, 6(8). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0022479
- November 8, 2011
- 03:00 AM
- 889 views
The seventh starling (Murmuration) [video] | @GrrlScientist
by GrrlScientist in GrrlScientist
What do particle physics, statistics and poetry have in common? (includes videos)... Read more »
Cavagna, A., & Giardina, I. (2008) The seventh starling. Significance, 5(2), 62-66. DOI: 10.1111/j.1740-9713.2008.00288.x
Cavagna, A., Cimarelli, A., Giardina, I., Parisi, G., Santagati, R., Stefanini, F., & Viale, M. (2010) Scale-free correlations in starling flocks. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 107(26), 11865-11870. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1005766107
Hemelrijk, C., & Hildenbrandt, H. (2011) Some Causes of the Variable Shape of Flocks of Birds. PLoS ONE, 6(8). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0022479
- November 2, 2011
- 11:26 AM
- 246 views
Hawaiian honeycreepers and their tangled evolutionary tree | @GrrlScientist
by GrrlScientist in GrrlScientist
Using a large DNA data set, researchers have identified the progenitor of Hawaiian honeycreepers and have linked the timing of their rapid evolution to the geological formation of the four main Hawaiian Islands... Read more »
Bock, W. (1970) Microevolutionary Sequences as a Fundamental Concept in Macroevolutionary Models. Evolution, 24(4), 704. DOI: 10.2307/2406551
JAMES, H. (2004) The osteology and phylogeny of the Hawaiian finch radiation (Fringillidae: Drepanidini), including extinct taxa. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 141(2), 207-255. DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2004.00117.x
- November 2, 2011
- 03:58 AM
- 226 views
Scientists reach new heights with gecko-inspired robot
by GrrlScientist in Maniraptora
SUMMARY: Engineers finally succeed at building a robot that climbs smooth walls with ease and shuffles across ceilings without crashing to earth -- just like a gecko! ... Read more »
J Krahn, Y Liu, A Sadeghi, & C Menon. (2011) A tailless timing belt climbing platform utilizing dry adhesives with mushroom caps. . Smart Materials and Structures, 20(11), 115021. info:/10.1088/0964-1726/20/11/115021
- October 25, 2011
- 04:45 AM
- 153 views
Jumping genes reveal birds and their sex chromosomes evolved together
by GrrlScientist in Maniraptora
SUMMARY: Avian retroposons -- "jumping genes" -- reveal that birds and their sex chromosomes evolved together, and provide us with important clues into the evolution of sex chromosomes and sex in general... Read more »
Suh, A., Kriegs, J., Brosius, J., & Schmitz, J. (2011) Retroposon Insertions and the Chronology of Avian Sex Chromosome Evolution. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 28(11), 2993-2997. DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msr147
Nam, K., & Ellegren, H. (2008) The Chicken (Gallus gallus) Z Chromosome Contains at Least Three Nonlinear Evolutionary Strata. Genetics, 180(2), 1131-1136. DOI: 10.1534/genetics.108.090324
Shetty, S., Griffin, D., & Graves, J. (1999) Comparative Painting Reveals Strong Chromosome Homology Over 80 Million Years of Bird Evolution. Chromosome Research, 7(4), 289-295. DOI: 10.1023/A:1009278914829
- October 25, 2011
- 03:00 AM
- 726 views
Can a Siphon Work In Vacuo? [video] | @GrrlScientist | Punctuated Equilibrium
by GrrlScientist in GrrlScientist
Video proof that siphons do not require atmospheric pressure to suck... Read more »
Boatwright, A., Puttick, S., & Licence, P. (2011) Can a Siphon Work In Vacuo?. Journal of Chemical Education, 2147483647. DOI: 10.1021/ed2001818
- October 24, 2011
- 06:39 PM
- 198 views
Siphons really do suck
by GrrlScientist in Maniraptora
SUMMARY: Video proof that siphons do not require atmospheric pressure to suck ... Read more »
Boatwright, A., Puttick, S., & Licence, P. (2011) Can a Siphon Work In Vacuo?. Journal of Chemical Education, 2147483647. DOI: 10.1021/ed2001818
- October 14, 2011
- 01:50 PM
- 217 views
The birds and the trees
by GrrlScientist in Maniraptora
SUMMARY: Gray jays hoping to survive and reproduce during Canada's harsh winters must store food in the right kinds of trees ... Read more »
Strickland, D., Kielstra, B., & Ryan Norris, D. (2011) Experimental evidence for a novel mechanism driving variation in habitat quality in a food-caching bird. Oecologia. DOI: 10.1007/s00442-011-2040-y
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