Evolution & Behaviour
Emergent division of labor among clonal ants
What are the benefits of living in society? Sociality has long been proposed to be beneficial because groups can divide labor among individuals to increase their efficiency. Some of the most sophisticated forms of division of labor are found in social insects, such as honeybees,... click to read more
Salmon are shrinking and you can see it in their genes
The environment in which we and other living beings reside has been quickly modified over the last decades due to climate change and the expansion of human activities. This can result in characteristics of individuals (for example, size at reproduction) that previously gave them the... click to read more
How Spiders Catch the Air for Their Flight
Bacteria or sperm cells can swim using a hair-like structure. Other organisms use similar structures to fly, like dandelion and thistle seeds with their parachute hairs. But this mode of flying is not limited to plant seeds. One weird aviator is the spider. Using their... click to read more
Marine mammals may suffer dire consequences of ancient gene loss
Have you ever lost something? Perhaps you have misplaced your keys or left an umbrella on the bus. Generally speaking, losing things has negative consequences. Without your keys, you might be locked out of your house or car, and without your umbrella, you might get... click to read more
The conundrum of spontaneous (un)cooperation in pine sawflies
It might seem that there is always someone who works a little less than others in a group. Especially if the participation in a collective effort comes with a price. This may be the case with groups of people aiming at a common goal and... click to read more
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