Scientists stunned by species' remarkable behavior after being moved from captivity to wild: 'This is pretty big news'
The axolotl — an often smiley-faced salamander known for its ability to regenerate limbs and organs — is showing new powers of adaptability, as individuals bred in captivity are surviving releases into the wild, according to a recent study.
The research has sparked optimism for protecting these unusual creatures that are critically endangered in their native habitat, NPR reported in early May.
Researchers tracked 18 axolotls that had been bred in captivity and released in artificial and restored natural wetlands in southern Mexico City in 2017 and 2018, per the news outlet. They found that animals in the study were hunting, eating, and avoiding predators. The axolotls weren't just surviving but thriving and gaining weight.
"This is pretty big news because when you have animals in captivity, they lose a lot of their behaviors," Alejandra Ramos, the study's lead researcher, told NPR. "Like, they don't know how to recognize a predator, they don't know how to catch prey, and so we were a bit nervous when we released them because we didn't know if they were going to be able to survive."
Axolotls — whose name is connected to Xolotl, the Aztec fire and lightning god — are sometimes called Mexican salamanders, water monsters, or water dogs. Native to lakes in the Mexico City area, they have caught the attention of animal lovers the world over for their distinctive colors and seemingly amiable expressions. They've even become popular pets.
Only about 50 to 1,000 axolotl adults live in the wild, though, according to the Natural History Museum in London. Their numbers have dropped significantly because of factors such as habitat loss and environmental change — sometimes connected to pollution and global temperature increases — as well as overfishing, collection by humans, and dangers from invasive species.
The discovery that captive-bred axolotls can be reintroduced to natural habitats offers hope that wild populations could be re-established. On top of this is the good news that the study's salamanders were able to survive in habitats created by and restored by humans — which bodes well for local preservation efforts.
"If axolotls could survive in man-made habitats, it could help scale back the damaging effects of habitat degradation and climate change," the NPR report summarized.
Saving axolotls could have specific benefits to people, as scientists are still working to understand the animals' cancer-resistant qualities and regenerative bodies. The hope is that studying their unique characteristics could lead to breakthroughs for human health.
Meanwhile, there is strong support for protecting axolotls for their own sake and as indicators of healthy, functioning habitats. There have even been programs to adopt axolotls to save them.
Should the government be paying people to hunt invasive species?
Definitely
Depends on the animal
No way
Just let people do it for free
Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.
In the NPR report, Ramos noted a special significance for the Mexican researchers. "They're part of our culture, they're part of our history. And that makes them really special to us," she said.
Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Medscape
5 hours ago
- Medscape
Global Warming May Fuel Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Potential climate change scenarios could nearly double the global incidence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), based on estimates from a new study presented at American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2025 International Conference. Although high ambient temperatures have been linked to negative health outcomes including reduced sleep duration and quality, the association between increased average ambient temperatures and the severity of OSA remains unclear, wrote Bastien Lechat, PhD, a research fellow in sleep health at Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia, and colleagues, in their abstract. Previous cross-sectional studies have shown an association between temperature and OSA severity, which prompted the idea for the current study, Lechat said in an interview. 'We have access to a consumer database (125,295 users) of an FDA-cleared wearable device validated to estimate OSA severity,' he said. Given the unique nature of this dataset (with approximately 500 repeat measurements per user), the researchers believed that the data would be ideal for estimating the effect of temperature on OSA severity, he said. 'Additionally, considering the impact of obstructive sleep apnea on health and productivity, we aimed to estimate the burden associated with a potential increase in OSA prevalence due to rising temperatures, and this novel contribution from our group allowed us to quantify the societal and economic costs for different climate scenarios from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change,' he noted. In their new cross-sectional study, the researchers reviewed data from 116,200 adults in 41 countries who used an FDA-approved under-mattress sensor to estimate the severity of their OSA. The dataset included a median of 509 OSA measurements per individual; these were compared against 24-hour ambient temperature data from climate models. The mean age of the study population was 49 years; 77% were men. OSA was defined as an apnea hypopnea index score ≥ 15. The prevalence of OSA ranged from 15% to 32% across the countries. Overall, temperatures in the 99th percentile vs the 25th percentile were associated with a 70% increased risk for OSA (mean odds ratio, 1.70) and a 45% increase in odds of having OSA on any given night (mean odds ratio, 1.45). The association was significant in 29 countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, but was stronger in European countries compared to the United States or Australia. However, across the 29 countries, the increase in OSA in 2023 associated with higher temperatures was estimated to account for an average of nearly 800,000 healthy life years lost because of death or disability, as well a mean loss of $32 billion USD in workplace productivity. The researchers also developed scenarios based on projected temperature increases of at least 1.8°C or higher above pre-industrial levels. They determined that this increase would result in an additional 1.5- to 3-fold increase in the global burden of OSA by 2100. 'We were surprised by the magnitude of the association between ambient temperature and OSA severity,' Lechat told Medscape Medical News . 'The effect size was higher than in previous studies, which we believe is likely due to our longitudinal data and robust time-series analysis design. This provides support for a potential causal association between high temperature exposure and OSA severity,' he noted. Takeaways and Implications Lechat emphasized the two main findings from the study: That extreme temperatures are associated with an increased likelihood of having OSA on a given night, and the burden of OSA on society in terms of wellbeing loss and economic loss. 'To put this into context, by 2100, under the most likely climate scenario, the wellbeing burden of OSA is estimated to nearly double in most countries because of rising temperature,' Lechat told Medscape Medical News . 'These results highlight the critical urgency of limiting global warming in alignment with the Paris Agreement. Our findings also emphasize the immediate need for targeted measures to alleviate the health and economic impacts of the growing OSA prevalence associated with rising temperatures,' he said. The results highlight the urgency of limiting global warming to reduce the burden of warming-related increases in OSA prevalence, as well as the need for effective interventions to reduce the impact of high temperatures on OSA severity, said Lechat. The study findings also emphasize the importance of diagnosing and treating OSA in the community, as most of the burden stems from the high rate of undiagnosed and untreated patients, he added. The findings were limited by several factors including the cross-sectional design. 'Additionally, we had limited data from lower- and middle-income countries, so we plan to work towards collecting appropriate sleep and temperature data worldwide,' Lechat told Medscape Medical News . 'We would like to develop intervention studies to mitigate the effect of temperature on OSA, and we also would like to understand the physiological mechanisms that could explain the higher severity of OSA due to higher temperatures,' Lechat added. Informing Management of Global OSA Burden 'High ambient temperatures have been linked to reduced sleep duration, increased sleep fragmentation, and poorer sleep quality; however, the effect of rising temperatures on obstructive sleep apnea has not been studied,' said Arianne K. Baldomero, MD, a pulmonologist and assistant professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, in an interview. 'Investigating this relationship is important, as the global burden of OSA is already significant; with further temperature increases, we can expect this burden to grow even greater,' said Baldomero, who was not involved in the study. The difference in the magnitude of associations between European countries and the United States or Australia, with Europeans experiencing a stronger link between rising temperatures and OSA, was interesting and somewhat surprising, and warrants further investigation, Baldomero told Medscape Medical News . In the meantime, clinicians and public health officials should be aware that higher ambient temperatures are associated with increased OSA, she added. The current study highlights the importance of early diagnosis and effective management of OSA, especially during warmer periods, said Baldomero. 'Ongoing research is needed on sleep disturbances associated with these warming temperature trends,' she said. Limitations of the study included the reliance on under-mattress sensors that may not capture all OSA cases, Baldomero noted. 'Further research should explore physiological mechanisms, differences in magnitude of associations by region, and test interventions to mitigate temperature effects on OSA,' she said.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
'Secret' colony discovered hidden in impenetrable Aussie forest
High above steep ravines and unstable ground disturbed by years of underground mining, a "secret" population of endangered koalas has been discovered. Around 300 of the marsupials are estimated to be hidden in protected forest north of Newcastle, a bustling industrial centre that's Australia's seventh-largest city. It's only through the development of technology that University of Newcastle researchers were able to count the marsupials inside Sugarloaf State Conservation Area. 'Without drones there's no way we would have been able to get into Sugarloaf to survey. Trying to get ground search teams down into these areas would be virtually impossible,' PhD candidate Shelby Ryan told Yahoo News. The University of Newcastle's Dr Ryan Witt said there had been an odd report of koalas in the area, but no confirmation of a stable population. Because the drone-mounted cameras can record imagery with strong detail, the researchers were able to verify joeys were present in the forest, meaning they are successfully breeding. Related: Tiny speck in thermal photo confirms presence of increasingly rare animal 'The koala population at Sugarloaf seems to be a bit of a secret even though it's in close proximity to Newcastle,' he said. Gamilaraay and Wiradjuri man Daryn McKenny grew up in the area but never saw koalas until recently. 'It wasn't until about five years ago that I first spotted a koala at Sugarloaf,' he said. He's since been involved with helping the university team in their search for the marsupials. 'To know there's close to 300 is just incredible,' he said. The Sugarloaf project was part of a survey of 67,300 hectares of bushland in NSW. It used a newly created counting model that combined thermal drone searches, spotlight verification and statistical modelling. Funded by World Wide Fund for Nature-Australia and published in the journal Biological Conservation, the complete study estimated there were 4,357 koalas living across 208 sites. If money is secured for future surveys, then researchers will be able to track movements in population numbers. In the immediate future, it's hoped the work will lead conservation efforts to help preserve the landscapes where the koalas live. 'We can protect and restore habitat, and try to reduce the impacts of road expansion and other infrastructure. It can also help us manage the threats of bushfires,' Ryan said. In NSW and Queensland, experts predict koalas are on track to be extinct by 2050. In Victoria and South Australia, government surveys suggest koala numbers are stable and even overabundant in some areas. But there are concerns that development, habitat fragmentation, fire and the blue gum timber industry are creating a perfect storm that will soon see these populations also threatened. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Bemidji State students present groundwater research at National Conference
Jun. 8—BEMIDJI — Six students from Bemidji State University's School of Sustainability and Life Sciences traveled to Pittsburgh this spring to share original research at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research. The event was held April 6 — 9 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Four students presented poster projects focused on groundwater flow in the Shingobee River Watershed, a long-term research site near Akeley supported through a partnership between BSU and the University of Minnesota. The work is led by Dr. Miriam Rios-Sanchez, associate professor and graduate advisor. Ashley Crowl and Jordyn Harvey presented findings on aquifer layers and hydraulic properties of glacial aquifers. Their work identified multiple shallow and deep layers made up of sand and gravel, with evidence of vertical water flow and connections to nearby lakes and rivers. Mikenna Pattrin also contributed to the project but did not attend the conference. Sienna Houle and Parker Young presented research analyzing how aquifers respond to rainfall. Using 13 years of data, they found that both shallow and deep groundwater levels react to precipitation, though at different speeds and intensities. Their study confirmed that groundwater in the watershed flows toward Shingobee Lake. Both projects are part of a broader research initiative led by Trevor Wozniak, a master's student in environmental science. His graduate work uses environmental isotopes to study groundwater age and support future water management. Wozniak also mentors undergraduate researchers and attended the event. Also attending was Jerome Johnson, a BSU student scholar with the North Star STEM Alliance, who participated to explore STEM-related research and connect with peers. Hosted annually, the National Conference on Undergraduate Research provides students with opportunities to present work, network with fellow researchers and explore academic and career pathways.
