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Category: Evolution and Climate
Disappointing season for beekeepers in South Australia
La Niña’s cool, but dry weather conditions provided less pollen and nectar for bees. University of Adelaide and Environment Institute member, researcher Dr Katja Hogendoorn said dry periods were having a “major impact” on feed availability for native and honey bees. “The very hot summers and heatwaves during spring cause the flowers to dissipate very […]
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Nature paper reveals platypus and echidna genomes feature mammalian biology and evolution
International researchers join Environment Institute members in solving the mystery of Australia’s most ancient living mammals The research featured in Nature. includes the first complete genetic code of the echidna and a better quality code for the platypus. Environment Institute member Professor Frank Grutzner said the two genomes would provide new insights into the unique biology […]
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Incredible vision in ancient marine creatures drove an evolutionary arms race
Ancient deep sea creatures called radiodonts had incredible vision that likely drove an evolutionary arms race according to new research. The international study, led by Professor John Paterson from the University of New England’s Palaeoscience Research Centre, in collaboration with the University of Adelaide, the South Australian Museum and The Natural History Museum (UK), found […]
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Research Tuesdays – Notifications from Nature with Prof Andy Lowe
We’re delighted to have our member Professor Andy Lowe speaking at this popular series. Digital technology is pulling us away from nature, the allure of screens entrancing young and old the world over. However ironically, it’s also becoming one of the environment’s most valuable allies. Date: Tuesday 10th November 2020 Time: 5:30pm – 6:30pm ACST Register: Zoom […]
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EVENT: Professor Sean Connell features in Ecology and Evolution Seminar
You’re invited to the first event in the Spring Series of the Ecology and Evolution Seminar. This event will be held online via Zoom and will be the beginning of Environmental Diversity theme for the Spring Series. This week, the free monthly Friday seminar series features exciting, cutting-edge science by Professor Sean Connell and PhD Candidate, […]
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Looking to the past to maintain future biodiversity
Researchers have found that in reliably identifying similar warming events of the past, future climate change effects can be forecast, helping predict the best way of protecting species and ecosystems. ”Reference periods in Earth’s history serve as natural laboratories for understanding biodiversity responses to climate change and improving strategies for conservation under ongoing and future climate […]
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Could chocolate be the answer to saving southern Australia’s most endangered wattle?
A partnership between the Natural Resources Eyre Peninsula and University of Adelaide is testing an innovative rotary hoe method to help save Whibley wattle. Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act protects 75 Acacia species or subspecies with two of these species deemed national priorities. The whibleyana only grows in southern Australia and protecting the Whibley wattle […]
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Marine food webs struggle as climate change increases sea temperatures
Scientists at the University of Adelaide have found growing evidence that marine ecosystems will not cope well with rising sea temperatures caused by climate change. “Healthy food webs are critical for ecosystems so that the world’s oceans can continue to provide an important source of food for humans,” says lead author Professor Ivan Nagelkerken, from the University […]
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Shape-shifting sea snakes – a dynamic story of powerful selection pressures and rapid evolution
Evolutionary biologists are tasked with understanding the great diversity of organisms around us. For all we have discovered about the natural world, there is still so much yet to be understood. Researchers at the University of Adelaide‘s Environment Institute are using comparative approaches to understand how phenotypic diversity evolves by the process of natural selection, […]
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Two PhD Scholarships available in global change ecology
Joint PhD Scholarships in Macroecology and Biodiversity Conservation available now. Two enthusiastic PhD students are required to work on a hot topic in global change ecology: How do biological mechanisms mediate responses of biodiversity to climate – and human-driven change? The successful candidates will be enrolled in a dual award PhD program recently established between […]
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