News: February 2018
Starfish can see in the dark (among other amazing abilities)
If you go down to the shore today, you’re sure of a big surprise. Many will have witnessed the presence of a starfish or two when visiting the seashore or a public aquarium. Starfish come in an exciting range of colours and sizes, but have you ever given a thought to how this multi-armed wonder manages to exist in our oceans when it’s so unlike the other animals we know? This article by Coleen Suckling , Lecturer in Marine Biology, at the School of Ocean Sciences was originally published on The Conversation . Read the original article .
Publication date: 16 February 2018
Reviewing bioenergy resources for construction and other non-energy uses
Bangor University’s BioComposites Centre (BC) has been selected to lead a consortium to deliver a review on ‘The potential for using bioenergy resources for construction and other non-energy uses’ for the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), a non-governmental advisory body. This review will feed into the updated Bioenergy Review 2018, which will be published by the CCC in the autumn.
Publication date: 8 February 2018
Five ingenious ways snakes manipulate their bodies to hunt and survive
Do a quick search for “snakes” in the news and you’ll find people terrified, bitten or, sadly, killed by these creatures. Many of us fear their slithering ways and researchers have found evidence which suggests that humans have evolved a tendency to spot snakes more easily than other animals. But there are more than 3,500 species of snake in the world, and they have been around for 167m years – so they must be doing something right. This article by Tom Major , PhD candidate in Biological Sciences, Bangor University was originally published on The Conversation . Read the original article .
Publication date: 7 February 2018
Bangor University supporting beaver reintroductions for World Wetlands Day
Bangor University has thrown its support behind the reintroduction of beavers in Wales to mark World Wetlands Day (2.2.18). Scientists from the university are calling for more support of the Welsh Beaver Project which aims to bring back the iconic animal to the country.
Publication date: 2 February 2018
DNA pinpoints river animals in the here-and-now
New research proves that environmental DNA survives for less than two days in small fast-flowing rivers and so provides highly localised and current information on species composition. This is crucial new evidence as biologists turn increasingly to new DNA sampling techniques to assess aquatic ecosystem health.
Publication date: 2 February 2018