baboons

The Sweet Spot: New Study Shows Optimal Group Size for Baboons

A new study on the Amboseli baboons of East Africa shows that there is a “sweet spot,” or optimal group size for surviving predators and gathering food.
Ghost fishing

“Ghost Fishing” Is Killing Coastal Wildlife

Ghost fishing is the process by which fishing equipment no longer under human control continues to trap and kill wildlife.
Katma Airfield Sandplain Grasslands. Photo courtesy of Christopher Neill/MBL

Why the Sandplain Grasslands Are So Special

Sandplain grasslands, a kind of East Coast prairie, are some of the rarest habitats in the world, and sheep-grazing may be key to their survival.
Goats at Dalkey Island

The Curious Case of Island-Dwelling Goats

Island ecosystems are precious, precarious beasts, easily overwhelmed by nature's hardiest predator: goats.
Mute swans

Are Mute Swans a Harmful Invasive Species?

Mute swans are the poster child for a harmful species protected by strong public goodwill.
Antique illustration of northern crested newt (Triturus cristatus)

The Age of Amphibians

Tracing the remarkable diversity of the early amphibians, creatures that spanned the globe and preceded the age of dinosaurs.
Sperm whale

What Is Ambergris and Where Does It Come From?

Ambergris, a waxy-like substance found in perfumes, has a unique origin.
Humpback Whale

The Importance of Whale Poop

Whales are an important part of ocean biodiversity. So is their poop.
Wolly Mammoth model at the Royal BC Museum

How Did the Pleistocene Support Such Large Herbivores?

How could the era have supported such massive herbivores?
Apatosaurus

Could the Apatosaurus’ Tail Break the Sound Barrier?

Research suggests that the apatosaurus' tail was an impressive appendage.