Parasites which are passed on via the food chain often influence the behaviour of their host to their own benefit. One example of this is the tapeworm Schistocephalus solidus, which makes three-spined sticklebacks behave "carelessly." The infected fish venture more often into open waters, making themselves easier prey for piscivorous birds, e.g. kingfishers. This is...
Garden seed diet for threatened turtle doves has negative impact
Young turtle doves raised on a diet of seeds from non-cultivated arable plants are more likely to survive after fledging than those relying on food provided in people's gardens, new research into Britain's fastest declining bird species has shown.
Ecologists at the University of Lincoln, UK, investigated the dietary habits of adult and nestling European turtle...
BVA welcomes Cabinet Secretary’s statement on improving pet welfare in Wales
21 June 2018
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BVA Welsh Branch President has welcomed the announcement
Measures outlined in...
Neonics are being ingested by free-ranging animals
Health impacts of neonicotinoids may go well beyond bees, according to a new University of Guelph study.
U of G researchers found residues of the insecticides in the livers of wild turkeys, providing evidence that this common agrochemical is being ingested by free-ranging animals.
The researchers from the Ontario Veterinary College are among the first to study...
Scientists find evidence of 27 new viruses in bees
An international team of researchers has discovered evidence of 27 previously unknown viruses in bees. The finding could help scientists design strategies to prevent the spread of viral pathogens among these important pollinators.
"Populations of bees around the world are declining, and viruses are known to contribute to these declines," said David Galbraith, research scientist at...
The sounds of climate change
Spring is coming earlier to parts of the Arctic, and so are some migratory birds. But researchers have yet to get a clear picture of how climate change is transforming tundra life. That's starting to change as automated tools for tracking birds and other animals in remote places come online, giving researchers an earful of...