Biological Information

UC Berkeley Leaping Lizard & Robot

cheyingtan — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:11:39 +0000

University of California, Berkeley, biologists and engineers studied how lizards leap successfully even when they slip and stumble. The lizards swing their tails upward to prevent them from pitching head-over-heels into a rock. After the team added a tail to a robotic car named Tailbot, they discovered that robots and lizards must actively adjust the angle of their tails just right to remain upright. This video shows, in normal and slow-motion, an Agama lizard after a leap from a surface with good traction versus a slippery surface, showing how the lizard uses its tail to prevent forward pitch, and Tailbot, a wheeled robot with a tail, taking a nose-dive off a cliff with a passive tail, but able to maintain its orientation with an actively controlled tail. Video courtesy of CiBER/UC Berkeley. For full story: newscenter.berkeley.edu

February 9, 2012 – Lily the Black Bear and Faith – Lily Grooms Faith

cheyingtan — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:15:00 +0000

Lily and Faith wake up after sleeping much of the day. While Faith nurses, Lily grooms herself and then Faith. After they settle back down, they get a little visitor! ~~~~~ At the Wildlife Research Institute, biologists Lynn Rogers, Ph.D. and Sue Mansfield, MS, along with their team of researchers, have spent over 44 years studying black bears and sharing their information with the public. Their work has been recognized as one of the four major studies of large mammals in the world. Using trust rather than traps and tranquilizers, they are conducting the longest, most detailed study of black bear behavior and ecology ever done. A focus is on reducing bear-human conflict. They share information with the public through publications, lectures, field courses, the Internet (bear.org and bearstudy.org), TV documentaries, and the North American Bear Center. The Center is dedicated to advancing the long-term survival of bear populations by replacing misconceptions with facts. Many people say these nonprofit organizations have changed their lives by giving them a better understanding about black bears and making it possible for them to fully enjoy living and hiking in bear habitat. Visit www.bear.org and http to learn more about the research and the bears who are part of it.

January 28, 2012 – Jewel the Black Bear – Highlights

cheyingtan — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:29:37 +0000

Jewel’s cubs are almost a week old today! ~~~~~ At the Wildlife Research Institute, biologists Lynn Rogers, Ph.D. and Sue Mansfield, MS, along with their team of researchers, have spent over 44 years studying black bears and sharing their information with the public. Their work has been recognized as one of the four major studies of large mammals in the world. Using trust rather than traps and tranquilizers, they are conducting the longest, most detailed study of black bear behavior and ecology ever done. A focus is on reducing bear-human conflict. They share information with the public through publications, lectures, field courses, the Internet (bear.org and bearstudy.org), TV documentaries, and the North American Bear Center. The Center is dedicated to advancing the long-term survival of bear populations by replacing misconceptions with facts. Many people say these nonprofit organizations have changed their lives by giving them a better understanding about black bears and making it possible for them to fully enjoy living and hiking in bear habitat. Visit www.bear.org and http to learn more about the research and the bears who are part of it.

Boneworms on dead whales in Monterey Bay

cheyingtan — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 17:33:00 +0000

It sounds like a classic horror story—eyeless, mouthless worms lurk in the dark, settling onto dead animals and sending out green “roots” to devour their bones. In fact, such “boneworms” do exist in the deep sea. After planting several dead whales on the seafloor, a team of biologists recently announced that as many as 15 different species of boneworms may live in Monterey Bay alone. For more information, see: www.mbari.org

Texas historian: Evolution is an established fact

cheyingtan — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 14:39:52 +0000

Professor Abigail Lustig of UT gives the board a history lesson on evolution–and details the consensus surrounding evolution. “I’m not a scientist. I’m a historian” says Lustig. “It was clear to all reputable biologists as early as 1873 that evolution was a fact, whatever the mechanism.”

Darwin’s Heretic: Did the Co-Founder of Evolution Embrace Intelligent Design?

cheyingtan — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:59:19 +0000

One of the most renowned biologists of the nineteenth century, Alfred Russel Wallace shares credit with Charles Darwin for developing the theory of evolution by natural selection. Yet one part of Wallace’s remarkable life and career has been completely ignored: His embrace of intelligent design. “Darwin’s Heretic” is a 21-minute documentary that explores Wallace’s fascinating intellectual journey and how it sheds light on current debates. The documentary features University of Alabama at Birmingham Professor Michael Flannery, author of the acclaimed biography, “Alfred Russel Wallace: A Rediscovered Life.” You can purchase a DVD of this video plus more than 30 minutes of bonus material at www.darwinsheretic.com.

That Fish Place Guide: Curing Aquarium Live Rock

cheyingtan — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:56:43 +0000

Not sure how to correctly cure the live rock for your new reef aquarium? This video is designed to give you a step-by-step guide on how to prepare your rock. Part of That Fish Place instructional video series, video features Sarah, an on-staff marine biologist at That Fish Place in Lancaster, PA. Anyone looking for more information on curing or establishing live rock in their aquarium, or similar aquarium questions, should visit thatfishplace.com or give us a call at 1-888-THAT PET. Our staff of marine biologists is on hand to answer any aquarium questions you may have.

The Logistic Equation and Models for Population – Example 1, part 1

cheyingtan — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:20:44 +0000

The Logistic Equation and Models for Population – Example 1, part 1. In this video, we have an example where biologists stock a lake with fish and after one year the population has tripled. Knowing the carrying capacity, I find a formula for the the population at time ‘ t ‘ using the analytic solution.

Dual Survival:Out of the Clouds (part 1)

cheyingtan — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:15:55 +0000

Cody and Dave take on the role of biologists lost in the wet cloud forests of Panama 7000 feet above sea level with only a poncho, specimen jar and a broken lighter to aid in their quest for civilization.

The Fierce Humboldt Squid – KQED QUEST

cheyingtan — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:22:24 +0000

A mysterious sea creature up to 7 feet long, with 10 arms, a sharp beak and a ravenous appetite, has invaded ocean waters off Northern California. Packs of fierce Humboldt Squid attack nearly everything they see, from fish to scuba divers. Marine biologists are working to discover why they’ve headed north from their traditional homes off South America.