By anders [dot] ortegren [at] biol [dot] lu [dot] se (Anders Örtegren) - published 2 February 2023 The songbirds’ direction of travel is determined by two areas in the genome. Photo: Harald Ris Since antiquity, humans have been fascinated by birds’ intercontinental migratory journeys. A new study from Lund University in Sweden shows that two areas in their genome decide whether a willow warbler fl

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/genes-decide-willow-warblers-migration-routes - 2025-07-05

By anders [dot] ortegren [at] biol [dot] lu [dot] se (Anders Örtegren) - published 10 February 2023 Many bird species in the tropics catch and eat damselflies and dragonflies. Here is a Rufous-tailed Jacamar that has caught a large dragonfly in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. Photo: Erik Svensson. The size of dragonflies and damselflies varies around the globe. These insects are generally larger in

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/size-insects-are-shaped-temperature-and-predators - 2025-07-05

By anders [dot] ortegren [at] biol [dot] lu [dot] se (Anders Örtegren) - published 27 February 2023 Photo: Theresia Krausl There is newfound evidence of how bees' pesticide exposure depends on their interaction with the environment. According to scientists from Lund University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, more agricultural land surrounding the bees increases their pesticide

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/bees-pesticide-risk-species-and-landscape-dependent - 2025-07-05

By anders [dot] ortegren [at] biol [dot] lu [dot] se (Anders Örtegren) - published 13 March 2023 The dunnock is one of the migratory bords covered in the study. Photo: Kathy Blücher. Exercising too much and not getting enough rest is bad for your health. A new study from Lund University in Sweden shows that the same is true for migratory birds. They need to rest not only to renew their energy leve

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/migratory-birds-take-breaks-boost-their-immune-system - 2025-07-05

By anders [dot] ortegren [at] biol [dot] lu [dot] se (Anders Örtegren) - published 19 April 2023 Small birds that are fed during the winter do not need to lower their body temperature at night as much as birds without access to feeders. Photo: Johan Nilsson. Seeds and fat balls do more than just fill small birds’ stomachs. New research from Lund University in Sweden shows that feeding during the w

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/bird-feeding-helps-small-birds-fight-infection - 2025-07-05

By anders [dot] ortegren [at] biol [dot] lu [dot] se (Anders Örtegren) - published 25 April 2023 Swedish lakes contain answers to important questions about evolution. Photo: Charlie Cornwallis. By studying green algae in Swedish lakes, a research team, led by Lund University in Sweden, has succeeded in identifying which environmental conditions promote multicellularity. The results give us new clu

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/algae-swedish-lakes-provide-insights-how-complex-life-earth-developed - 2025-07-05

By anders [dot] ortegren [at] biol [dot] lu [dot] se (Anders Örtegren) - published 9 May 2023 Scientists used modern technology to study the tiny bat in a wind tunnel. Photo: Anders Hedenström Small bats are bad at converting energy into muscle power. Surprisingly, a new study led by Lund University reveals that this ability increases the faster they fly. The researchers have studied the efficienc

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/bats-ability-convert-energy-muscle-power-affected-flight-speed - 2025-07-05

By anders [dot] ortegren [at] biol [dot] lu [dot] se (Anders Örtegren) - published 22 May 2023 Using samples from all across Europe, the researchers were able to show that microorganisms in soil can adapt to changes in temperature. Photo: Carla Cruz Paredes. A new study from Lund University in Sweden shows that the ability of microorganisms to adapt to climate warming will slow down global warming

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/microorganisms-climate-adaptation-can-slow-down-global-warming - 2025-07-05

By anders [dot] ortegren [at] biol [dot] lu [dot] se (Anders Örtegren) - published 29 May 2023 Weevils – one of the most specious clades of insects in the world – relies on bacteria for B vitamins that are missing from their plant-based diets. Insects heavily rely on bacteria for essential nutrients that are lacking in their diet. This has allowed insects to access a wide variety of food, leading

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/bacteria-are-vital-diversity-and-survival-insects - 2025-07-05

By anders [dot] ortegren [at] biol [dot] lu [dot] se (Anders Örtegren) - published 14 June 2023 Urban great tits do not experience anything like the distress of their rural cousins. Photo: Pixabay. Great tits in urban environments have lower levels of stress hormone than those living in woodland habitats. This according to a new study from Lund University in Sweden. Certain animals are able to adj

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/urban-great-tits-less-stressed-their-countryside-cousins - 2025-07-05

By anders [dot] ortegren [at] biol [dot] lu [dot] se (Anders Örtegren) - published 17 August 2023 Urban great tits have paler plumage than their countryside counterparts – new research suggests that birds in the city are not getting the right diet. Photo: Caroline Isaksson. A new study conducted by researchers in Europe shows that urban great tits have paler plumage than their countryside counterp

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/urban-great-tits-have-paler-plumage-their-forest-living-relatives - 2025-07-05

By anders [dot] ortegren [at] biol [dot] lu [dot] se (Anders Örtegren) - published 22 August 2023 The mysterious microorganisms were named after Norse mythology's Asgard. IMage: RunwayML An international group of researchers has been studying a group of microorganisms called Asgard archaea for several years. According to the research, these unique organisms are the origin of all complex life forms

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/were-all-asgardians-mysterious-microorganisms-unveiled-key-origin-complex-life - 2025-07-05

By kristina [dot] lindgarde [at] kommunikation [dot] lu [dot] se (Kristina Lindgärde) - published 22 August 2023 Group A streptococci growing on a blood agar plate. Photo: Fredric Carlsson. Why are certain people more severely affected than others by invasive streptococcal infections? According to a new study from Lund University in Sweden, the answer lies in our genome. Carriers of a certain vari

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/why-killer-bacteria-affect-some-people-more-severely - 2025-07-05

By anders [dot] ortegren [at] biol [dot] lu [dot] se (Anders Örtegren) - published 6 September 2023 The ERC Starting Grant is aimed at younger researchers. Milda Pucetaite and Colin Olito were two of four researchers from Lund who received the starting grant. Photo: private. The biology researchers from Lund, Milda Pucetaite and Colin Olito, have been awarded starting grants from the European Rese

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/two-biology-researchers-receive-generous-starting-grants-european-research-council - 2025-07-05

By anders [dot] ortegren [at] biol [dot] lu [dot] se (Anders Örtegren) - published 7 September 2023 Even mild ailments and short disease spans can have far-reaching consequences for animals, not least because it affects their everyday life. Photo: Hermann Kneuwer. When humans are ill, we tend to be less active. This also applies to wild animals, but so far, it has not been known how long the reduc

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/disease-affects-blackbirds-more-previously-thought - 2025-07-05

By anders [dot] ortegren [at] biol [dot] lu [dot] se (Anders Örtegren) - published 25 September 2023 The Pied Flycatchers were transported by car from The Netherlands to Lund. Photo: Viiru Pesonen/Wikimedia Commons. One result of climate change is that spring is arriving earlier. However, migratory birds are not keeping up with these developments and arrive too late for the peak in food availabili

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/migratory-birds-can-be-taught-adjust-climate-change - 2025-07-05

By anders [dot] ortegren [at] biol [dot] lu [dot] se (Anders Örtegren) - published 25 October 2023 Plastic waste is a huge global problem, as large amounts of micro- and nanoplastics end up in our soils. Photo: Flockine/Pixabay. Using micro-engineered soil models, researchers at Lund University in Sweden have investigated the effect of tiny polystyrene particles on bacteria and fungi. While these

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/vacuum-cleaner-effect-fungi-can-hold-nanoplastics-bay - 2025-07-05

By johan [dot] joelsson [at] science [dot] lu [dot] se (Johan Joelsson) - published 17 November 2023 Pictured is the male, blue variant of the bluetail damselfly. Photo: Erik Svensson. For over 20 years, a research team at Lund University in Sweden has studied the common bluetail damselfly. Females occur in three different colour forms – one with a male-like appearance, something that protects the

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/scientists-have-solved-damselfly-colour-mystery - 2025-07-05

By anders [dot] ortegren [at] biol [dot] lu [dot] se (Anders Örtegren) - published 30 November 2023 Bumblebees are a key wild and commercial pollinator. Yet commonly used farmland pesticides continue to harm bumblebee colonies. Photo: Maj Rundlöf. A new study from Lund confirms that pesticides commonly used in farmland significantly harm bumblebees. Data from 106 sites across 8 European countries

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/commonly-used-pesticides-are-still-harming-bees - 2025-07-05

By anders [dot] ortegren [at] biol [dot] lu [dot] se (Anders Örtegren) - published 8 March 2024 "Our medium is open source," says Stina Oredsson, the researcher behind the breakthrough who chose to give away the "recipe" so that more researchers can work with more scientifically accurate and animal-free methods. Photo: Private. It is now possible to test chemicals and makeup without using products

https://www.biology.lu.se/article/she-has-developed-animal-free-preparation-cell-culture-and-giving-away-recipe - 2025-07-05