A new study shows that barn owls crossed the Atlantic Ocean from Europe to the Caribbean islands, where they diversified and evolved into giant forms, less than two million years ago. They've since dispersed from the Caribbean to the Galápagos and from the Caribbean to the mainland American continents. 

Less favorable ocean conditions mean marbled murrelet chicks take longer to leave the nest, making them more vulnerable to predation, according to a new study of the iconic Pacific Northwest seabird by Oregon State University scientists.

Dr. Sarah Hamer, a professor at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and member of the Canine Chagas Collaborative, explains what kissing bugs are, signs of illness to watch for, when pet owners should contact a veterinarian and how to reduce exposure around the home. 

A research team from FIU revealed an unprecedented decline in fishes, crustaceans and squid after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of America.  

Cephalopods, like the octopus, have specialized arms and suckers, but how these structures evolved from the simple bodies of their mollusk ancestors remains a mystery. Researchers from the University of Tokyo compared gene activity during embryonic development of cuttlefish, octopus and snail body parts. They found that several genes associated with appendage patterning showed expression along developing cephalopod arms, but no comparable patterns in developing suckers. Developing suckers instead expressed Ets1, a gene associated with early embryonic development in mollusks. The findings suggest cephalopods evolved suckers by reusing existing genes in new ways. 

The distinctive male pregnancy in seahorses is supported by specialized physiological adaptations as demonstrated by a new report showing the expression and localization of Rh glycoproteins in the brood pouch that nourishes the embryos. The study proposes that the metabolic waste, ammonia, is transported out from the brood pouch to the gills through the paternal bloodstream, via the Rh proteins, before being excreted into seawater. This improved understanding will benefit seahorse conservation and breeding efforts.