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In a new study, researchers at the University of Würzburg are investigating the interaction of major global change drivers on insects. The number and diversity of insects is declining worldwide. Some studies suggest that their biomass has almost halved since the 1970s. Among the main reasons for this are habitat loss - for example through agriculture or urbanization - and climate change.

The behavior of Antarctic krill not only reacts to external environmental influences such as light or food. It also uses its internal clock to adapt to the extreme conditions of the polar environment. Individually, Antarctic krill ( Euphausia superba ) do not make much of an impression. With a maximum body length of six centimetres, a weight of just two grams and its transparent skin, it does not look very spectacular.

Agriculture's impact on insect diversity is more severe than previously thought, according to a new study from the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg. It has long been known that agriculture contributes to the decline in insect biodiversity. The loss of host plants, frequent mowing, and pesticide use all deprive many species of their habitats.

To the point Complex communication: Researchers studying the social networks of monk parakeets in Spain uncovered a link between an animal-s social ties and the calls that it makes. Levels of sociality: They spent two years recording the social lives, as well as all screeches, squawks and whistles, of over 300 parrots-linking what individuals say to very specific levels of sociality.

Bonn researchers develop method for describing and predicting critical transitions in networked systems The global climate is in an imbalance. Potential "tipping elements " include the Greenland ice sheet, coral reefs, and the Amazon rainforest. Together they form a network that can collapse if just one individual component tips.

The Go gRIEn project team at the Ilmenau School of Green Electronics (ISGE) is researching sustainability in microchip production. In future, fewer environmentally harmful chemicals are to be used in the microstructuring of glass. Whether electric cars, smartphones or smart homes - the demand for semiconductors is constantly growing and with it the ecological footprint of the electronics industry.

News from A new study published in PNAS, led by the United States Department of Agriculture and involving several researchers from the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) and Leipzig University, investigated how the relationship between mean annual precipitation (MAP) and grassland biomass changes when one or more nutrients are added.

A new study published in the journal PNAS examines how the relationship between mean annual precipitation and grassland biomass changes with the addition of one or more nutrients. Researchers from the German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) and Leipzig University were also involved in the global analysis, which was led by the US Department of Agriculture.

The pedunculate oaks typical of Leipzig's floodplain forest and other German oak forests are struggling to regenerate in the understorey due to a lack of light. One reason for this is the absence of flooding in floodplain forests. In a two-year oak experiment in Leipzig's floodplain forest, researchers from Leipzig University and the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) found that the current tree dieback - caused by drought and pest outbreaks - combined with the thinning of certain understorey species, can actually support oak regeneration.

The English oaks typical of the Leipzig riparian forest and other German oak forests can hardly rejuvenate due to a lack of light in the undergrowth. One reason for this is the lack of flooding in alluvial forests. Researchers from Leipzig University and the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) have discovered in a two-year oak experiment in Leipzig's alluvial forest that the current tree mortality as a result of droughts and the spread of pests can be used in combination with a thinning out of certain species in the undergrowth for oak regeneration.

A novel paper led by Ulrich Brose of the Friedrich Schiller University Jena and the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) is widening understanding of how species interact within ecosystems via the so-called ,Internet of Nature'. Published in 'Nature Ecology and Evolution', the paper reveals that species not only exchange matter and energy but also share vital information that influences behaviour, interactions, and ecosystem dynamics - revealing previously hidden characteristics of natural ecosystems.

Mediterranean hunter gatherers navigated long-distance sea journeys well before the first farmers To the point Malta reached earlier than previously thought: Researchers have found evidence that hunter-gatherers arrived on the island by boat as early as 8,500 years ago - around 1,000 years before the first farmers.

Isotope analyses of limestone cave deposits reveal recurrent humid intervals in the Saharo-Arabian Desert over the last eight million years. Dripstones reveal: The Saharo-Arabian Desert experienced repeated wetter periods over the past eight million years. Life-friendly desert: Wetter conditions favoured the exchange of mammals between Africa and Eurasia.

Iceberg armadas and altered river courses caused parts of the northern hemisphere to cool rapidly on several occasions Abrupt climate changes: From the peak of the last ice age to the Holocene, the North Atlantic and neighboring regions cooled rapidly again and again, temporarily. Revealing model simulations: Between 20,000 and 13,000 years ago, ice masses breaking off from the ice sheets of the northern hemisphere enriched the North Atlantic with fresh water and weakened the Atlantic overturning circulation (Amoc), which transports heat from the tropics to the north.

To the point Successful: Birds in the city are less likely to have brown plumage, and those with colorful plumage are more common. Differences between city and countryside: It is usually warmer in cities, there are fewer predators, but there is more artificial light and other background colors Advantages: Camouflage is not as important in the city because there are fewer predators than in nature.

In a study, it wasn't the bravest mice, but rather the shy ones, that proved to be the most persistent tinkerers To the point More successful: Shy mice visited problem-solving tasks more often than their bold counterparts, giving them more chances to succeed. Testing conditions matter: mice performed differently in natural environments compared to laboratory settings - and not always in predictable ways.

Alcohol in their food increases the production of sex pheromones in male fruit flies, making them more attractive to females A team of researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology has investigated why the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster drinks alcohol and has shown that alcohol has a direct and positive effect on the mating success of male flies.

In brief When sleep-deprived: European jackdaws tend to sleep with both halves of their brains deeply asleep rather than staying alert with one half - especially at the beginning of the night when the need for rest is greatest. Differences in the brain: Some brain regions sleep more deeply than others.

International research team investigates how environment and barriers to dispersal shape biodiversity Why do some plants thrive in specific regions but not in others? A study led by researchers at the University of Göttingen explores the factors shaping plant distributions and how these patterns have changed over millions of years.

A new study has revealed that African Elephants have an extraordinary ability to meet their colossal food requirements as efficiently as possible. Data from over 150 elephants demonstrated that these giants plan their journeys based on energy costs and resource availability. The findings - published in the "Journal of Animal Ecology" - could provide crucial information to help protect these animals and their habitats.