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Ground Squirrels

All articles tagged with #ground squirrels

science29 days ago•113 min saved

Ice-Age DNA Vault: Arctic Squirrel Poop Reveals Mammoths, Bison and More

A Yukon permafrost study shows 700,000-year-old Arctic ground-squirrel coprolites preserving a rich environmental DNA record, enabling reconstruction of mitochondrial genomes for woolly mammoths, steppe bison and other Ice Age species (including horses, wolves, a big cat, and plants), offering a detailed snapshot of ancient Beringia and its ecosystem while noting that some signals may come from the burrow contents rather than direct predator DNA.

via Live Science|

#ancient-dna #coprolites #ground-squirrels

science1 month ago•5 min saved

Ancient ground squirrels feasted on megafauna carcasses, DNA study uncovers

A 700,000-year-old DNA analysis of fossilized coprolites from the Klondike region reveals that after torpor, ancient ground squirrels ate a diverse diet including megafauna such as woolly mammoths, bison and big cats, and it uncovers a previously unknown ground-squirrel lineage along with what may be the oldest mammoth DNA.

via Nature|

#ancient-dna #coprolites #ground-squirrels

science9 months ago•3 min saved

Understanding Thirst: Causes and Significance

The article explores the biological mechanisms of thirst and salt regulation in humans and animals, highlighting how different species, like hibernating ground squirrels, suppress their thirst signals during certain conditions, and how taste and brain reward pathways influence salt intake. It emphasizes that thirst and salt needs vary widely across species and situations, with complex neural circuits involved in maintaining water and salt balance.

via WIRED|

#ground-squirrels #homeostasis #neuroscience

animal-rescue1 year ago•2 min saved

Rescued Baby Squirrels Freeze When People Enter

Nine baby thirteen-lined ground squirrels rescued from a backyard were initially very weak and scared, and they exhibited a unique freezing behavior as a defense mechanism when frightened. After receiving care at Oaken Acres Wildlife Center, they are recovering well and continue to display their adorable freeze responses, with plans for eventual release back into the wild.

via The Dodo - For Animal People|

#animal-rescue #baby-squirrels #freezing-behavior

science1 year ago•3 min saved

Scientists Discover Squirrels Hunting and Eating Meat

Scientists in California discovered that ground squirrels, previously thought to be herbivores, actively hunt and eat voles, revealing unexpected dietary flexibility that may help them adapt to changing environments and impact local ecosystems.

via ZME Science|

#behavioral-flexibility #california #carnivory

science1 year ago•2 min saved

The Secret to Squirrels' Thirst-Free Hibernation

Researchers at Yale University have discovered how thirteen-lined ground squirrels manage to suppress thirst during their long hibernation periods. The squirrels maintain ion levels in their blood and use hormones as antidiuretics to conserve water. Despite being offered water during brief awakenings, the squirrels show no desire to drink, indicating a brain mechanism that prevents thirst signals from being processed. Understanding this mechanism could have implications for human space travel and medical procedures.

via Phys.org|

#ground-squirrels #hibernation #physiology