All articles tagged with #food chain
Aalborg Zoo in Denmark is requesting the public to donate unwanted pets like chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, and horses to feed its predators, aiming to mimic the natural food chain and provide a natural diet for animals such as lynxes, lions, and tigers. Donors can receive tax benefits for horse donations, and the practice is common and appreciated in Denmark.
New research suggests Neanderthals were not hypercarnivores but instead ate maggots from decaying carcasses, challenging previous beliefs about their diet and top predator status, and highlighting their opportunistic feeding habits.
Wienerschnitzel, a popular hot dog chain, is partnering with Walmart to open locations in Walmart stores across six states this fall, featuring its full menu including hot dogs and desserts, as part of its broader expansion strategy into unconventional venues.
Walmart is expanding its food offerings by introducing Wienerschnitzel into six stores by fall 2025, marking a new growth opportunity for the popular West Coast chain known for hot dogs and fries, although no locations are currently planned in Pennsylvania.
A new study reveals that killer whales, or orcas, in the western North Atlantic, including those in the Arctic, are significantly more contaminated with toxic chemicals than their counterparts in the east. The study suggests that their diet plays a major role in the level of pollutants, rather than their location. Orcas that consume top predators, such as marine mammals, are the most polluted due to the amplification of contaminants as they move up the food chain. These chemicals weaken orcas' immune systems, disrupt their endocrine function, impede growth and brain development, and interfere with reproduction. The study highlights the urgent need to address toxic waste and prevent the release of new contaminants to protect these majestic animals and maintain ecosystem balance.
Shoreline spiders, particularly long-jawed spiders, have been found to play a role in transferring mercury contamination from aquatic environments to land animals. Mercury, originating from industrial pollution, enters water systems and is converted into toxic methylmercury. This methylmercury accumulates in aquatic organisms and is consumed by spiders, which are then eaten by land animals. Researchers have demonstrated that long-jawed spiders can indicate the sources of mercury contamination in the environment, providing a new tool for monitoring and informing management decisions. The study also found variations in mercury sources among different spider species, highlighting the importance of feeding strategies in contaminant transfer.
Melosira arctica, a critical organism in the Arctic Ocean food chain, is now heavily contaminated with microplastics, with an average of 31,000 plastic particles per cubic meter found in the algae. The microplastics could harm the algae and interfere with photosynthesis and growth, as well as contaminate the food chain and interfere with carbon sequestration. As the Arctic warms and human activities increase, the problem is likely to worsen.
Fossils from the Paja Formation in Colombia are helping researchers understand the ancient ecosystem that supported a diverse range of apex predators, including massive marine reptiles. By analyzing the size and teeth of various species, researchers are reconstructing the trophic food web of the early Cretaceous period. The findings may offer insights into how the ecosystem flourished after a mass extinction event.