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Hoopoes throughout Europe appear to be genetically identical, a new study reveals. This means the birds exchange readily between populations. In addition, genetic analyses show that although recently increased populations in Austria and Switzerland have overcome the risk of extinction, the breeding population from the Canary Islands may still face extinction.

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Different than expected, wild boars do not come to Berlin in order to use garbage or other anthropogenic food resources. In fact, also in the city they predominantly consume natural resources. The researchers analysed the stomachs of 247 wild boars from Berlin and the surrounding countryside. 

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Migrant birds that breed in the same area in Europe spread out across all of Africa during the northern winter. A new satellite-tracking study shows that the destination of individual birds is largely determined by the wind conditions they encounter during their first migration.

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Artificial light at night can have a disruptive effect on bats, but not if the light is red. Switching to red light may therefore limit or prevent habitat loss for rare, light-shy bat species. The latest issue of Proceedings of the Royal Society B publishes results from five years of pioneering research led by the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW).

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The future of the world’s coral reefs hangs in the balance, but it is not too late to save them, according to a major study published in the prestigious journal, Nature.

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Genetically identical Amazon mollies raised individually and under identical environmental conditions, nevertheless develop different personality types. Additionally, increasing the opportunity for social interactions early in life appears to have no influence on the magnitude of personality variation.

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