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IMAGE: A female (left) and male zebra finch. New U of A research shows that the birds prior experience raising chicks influences whether they stick with tried-and-true materials or try something. view more
Credit: Animal Cognition Research Group
When building a nest, previous experience raising chicks will influence the choices birds make, according to a new study by University of Alberta scientists.
The results show that birds that have successfully raised families stick with tried-and-true methods when building their nests, whereas less successful birds will try something new. We found that when presented with a choice between a familiar material, coconut fibre, and a never-before-encountered material, white string, zebra finches who had successfully raised chicks preferred to stick with the same material they had previously used. Birds who failed to raise chicks built nests with equal amounts of familiar and novel material, explained Andrés Camacho-A
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IMAGE: Researchers used genetic engineering to create a type of cotton seed without a substance that is toxic to humans. Now humans can eat these cotton seeds, which are a great. view more
Credit: Beth Luedeker
Your morning cereal or oatmeal. The bread on your sandwich. The corn chips for your snack, and the cookies for dessert. Not one would be possible with the humblest of ingredients: the seed.
Seeds such as wheat, rice and corn directly provide about 70% of the calories eaten by people every day. And they ultimately provide nearly every morsel of food, either by providing feed for livestock or by being grown into fruits and vegetables. It s no overstatement to say that without seeds, civilization would be impossible.