bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Patterns of Urination of a Blind Subterranean Rodent, Spalax ehrenbergi
Authors: Heth Giora , Todrank Josephine 
Published: May 2010

AbstractUrination patterns of blind mole rats of the Spalax ehrenbergi superspecies of Israel were investigated in the laboratory under various conditions in various types of simulated tunnel systems. Behavioral responses to urine in these systems were observed. The results suggest that mole rats do not mark their tunnels or novel areas, either along the tunnel floor by dropping a urine‐trail or at the peripheral ends of the tunnel systems. Urination is not a fear response, and the urine does not contain a chemosensory releaser. Intruders respond (e.g. by sniffing, running away, aggressive threat displays etc.) to occupant's urine in a previously occupied system, and some occupants urinate at a border in ‘no‐contact’ encounters with a potential intruder. Male and female mole rats seem to use urine to advertise their ownership of resources by placing their sanitation areas in the vicinity of the nest and food store and may advertise their identity and occupancy at borders when there is potential contact with intruders. Likely similarities between urination patterns in the laboratory and in nature are discussed.
Social Organization in the Guest‐ant Formicoxenus provancheri
Authors: Errard Christine , Fresneau Dominique , Heinze Jürgen , Francoeur André , Lenoir Alain 
Published: May 2010

AbstractThe results of an investigation on the division of labour in the guest‐ant Formicoxenus provancheri, conducted by observing colonies containing individually marked adults, are presented. Five colories of Formicoxenus were installed in the laboratory with their hosts, Myrmica incompleta, in order to document, over 10 d, the location of individuals as well as individual and interactive types of behaviour. The results show that each colony of Formicoxenus consists of three groups: a group of nurses who remain in the Formicoxenus nest (some 21% of the colony's members); a group of scouts who spend most of their time in the external area (18%) and a very large group of individuals specialized in licking (‘shampooing’) the host to obtain regurgitations (61%), who essentially remain in the Myrmica nest. Division of labour in Formicoxenus appears to be a special adaptation to the xenobiotic way of life. The apparent link between social structure and the probability of profiting from trophallactic exchanges with the host species could lead to interesting predictions on the division of labour in other guest‐ants.
Effects of Temporal Sampling Patterns of All‐occurrence Recording in Behavioural Studies: Many Short Sampling Periods Are Better than a Few Long Ones
Authors: Zinner Dietmar , Hindahl Jutta , Schwibbe Michael 
Published: May 2010

AbstractAll‐occurrence recording is generally thought to yield unbiased results. However, its accuracy and power to detect real effects may depend on the temporal patterning of the observation periods. Although several studies evaluated the suitability of time‐sampling methods (one‐zero and instantaneous sampling), there has not been an evaluation of various temporal patterns of the ‘all‐occurrence’ method to date. Here we present an empirical comparison of time‐sampling and all‐occurrence recording methods, based on a large data set, with special reference to various temporal patterns of all‐occurrence recording. The three different sampling methods were imposed on raw data protocols. The scores, obtained by the use of each method and temporal pattern, were compared with true values from the corresponding continuous video recordings. The accuracy and power of each method was estimated by comparison of medians and magnitudes of effect (rm), respectively. We were able to confirm results of earlier studies on the suitability of time‐sampling methods (one‐zero and instantaneous sampling), but we found that different temporal patterns of all‐occurrence sampling yielded magnitudes of effect that differed from true value magnitudes. We conclude that behavioural studies may reveal different results, even when all conditions are the same, only because of power differences of different temporal pattern of the observation periods, for example 1 × 15 min versus 15 × 1 min. Recommendations are made about appropriate application of methods.
Sperm Storage in the Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria: Identifying the Sperm of Competing Males in Separate Female Spermathecae
Authors: Otronen Merja , Reguera Piedad , Ward Paul I. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractWe examined the effects of male and female behaviour and morphology on the process of sperm storage in the yellow dung fly Scathophaga (Scatophaga) stercoraria. The larger of two males was more successful in transferring sperm to females' spermathecae the greater the difference in weight to his smaller competitor, as expected from previous studies by other authors. Sperm length, which is not correlated to body size, affected sperm access to the spermathecae, the female storage organs; longer sperm were more likely to be found in the spermathecae. A female typically had a singlet spermatheca and two spermathecae arranged as a pair, a doublet. However, there was variation from this pattern, which influenced the pattern of sperm storage. We measured the proportion of sperm from two competing males in females' singlet and doublet spermathecae. When the larger male's sperm were longer than his competitor's, they were more often in a female's singlet when he was her first mate and equally likely to be in the singlet or doublet when he was her second mate. When the larger male's sperm were shorter than his competitor's, the pattern was more complicated, principally because his sperm were not as successful at entering the female's doublet when he was her second mate. Counts of sperm, made using the same experimental procedure, showed that these effects were due to greater numbers of sperm entering the females' doublets when the larger male mated second. Sperm length was thus the factor with the largest single influence on the pattern of sperm storage. However, our most important result is that it was the interactions between male and female characters that were significant. Males mostly determine the early, especially precopulatory, events and females strongly influence the later ones.
Homing Experiments in the Tree‐climbing Crab Sesarma leptosoma (Decapoda, Grapsidae)
Authors: Cannicci Stefano , Ruwa Renison K. , Vannini Marco 
Published: May 2010

AbstractSesarma leptosoma an East African mangrove‐dwelling crab, migrates twice a day from a system of known dens among the roots to well‐defined feeding areas in the branches of trees, reaching 15 m high. Field experiments were performed to test whether chemical or visual cues are involved in the orientation and homing of this species to reach their feeding areas. Manipulation of the substratum at branch junctions, in order to alter possible chemical cues, did not affect homing ability in S. leptosoma. Moreover, crabs trained to cross an asymmetrical artificial wooden fork could still follow their preferred directions after (1) the fork branches had been switched, (2) the whole fork had been rotated around the trunk, resulting in a right‐left inversion, and (3) the inversion of two wide black and white screens hiding most of the canopy from view of the climbing crabs. These results suggest that S. leptosoma may not rely on reference systems such as chemical trail‐following and chemical or visual cues from the substratum, but probably depend on complex visual information from the surroundings trunks and/or from the sun's position integrated with junction sequence memory.
Mate Switching in a Non‐monogamous Species? The Case of the Common Quail(Coturnix coturnix)
Authors: Rodrigo‐Rueda Francisco J. , Rodriguez‐Teijeiro Jose D. , Puigerver Manuel , Gallego Secundino 
Published: May 2010

AbstractWe investigated the occutrence of mate switching in the common quail, a non‐monogamous species with a temporal pair bond but without either male parental care or territoriality. The study was carried out throughout the breeding seasons of 1993–95 in Mas Esplugues (Catalonia, Spain) by monitoring 28 radio‐tagged couples and 17 radio‐tagged unpaired males. Agonistic interactions between males inside funnel traps containing a female were also recorded. Mate switching within the laying period occurred in 72% of the females, and new partners always had a higher body condition index than old partners. Agonistic interactions inside the funnel traps also showed that successful males had a better body condition index than losers. These results, along with the observed mate‐guarding behaviour of females by their partners throughout the laying period, a highly male‐biased sex ratio (five males per female), the lack of territoriality of males and the expected difficulties which unmated males experience in finding pairs, suggest that mate switching is not induced by paired males. Moreover, the constant inflow of new males observed throughout the fertile period of the female and the low costs stemming from mate change strongly support the idea that it is paired females who induce mate switching, in order to improve their fitness by mating with the best quality male available at every moment of their fertile period.
Threat Sensitivity in Bicolor Damselfish: Effects of Sociality and Body Size
Authors: Helfman Gene S. , Winkelman Dana L. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractThreat sensitivity involves graded antipredator responses that reflect the degree of predatory threat encountered. Models of predatory Atlantic trumpetfish (Aulostomus maculatus) were presented to differently sized juvenile bicolor damselfish (Pomacentrus partitus) that occurred singly or in small groups to test for threat sensitivity. Bicolor damselfish displayed threat sensitivity by responding more strongly: 1. To large models than to small models; and 2. As models were brought closer. Solitary damselfish showed stronger responses than did fish in small groups. However, no habituation to threat occurred, no correlation was found between response strength and fish size, and many individuals gave strong, ungraded responses to predator models. Comparisons between juvenile bicolor damselfish and threespot damselfish suggest that bicolor are weakly threat sensitive in that they respond strongly regardless of threat (hypersensitivity). Solitary fish are more hypersensitive than grouped fish. Threespot damselfish show a stronger influence of damselfish body size: small threespot exhibit graded responses in proportion to degree of threat (pure threat sensitivity), whereas large threespot show relatively weak responses (nonchalance). These interspecific comparisons indicate the potential range that characterizes threat sensitivity and the possible influence of social and ontogenetic factors on that range.
Aggregation in a Desert Tenebrionid Beetle: A Cost/Benefit Analysis
Authors: Rasa O. Anne E. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractParastizopus armaticeps (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), a nocturnal fossorial detritivore inhabiting southern Kalahari dunes, aggregates in burrows during the day. Group size increases during drought but 25% of beetles are still found alone or in pairs. During drought, beetles from large groups leave burrows after sunset synchronously and carlier than pairs and single animals and earlier than beetles of any group size after rain. Detritus from the beetles' major foodplant is scarce and food competition high. Beetles emerging early preferentially select and carry high‐quality transportable items into burrows to eat (forage); late‐emerging ones feed on the low‐quality large twigs on the surface. Foraging is shown to be a strategy to secure food items against surface competitors, not one to reduce body water loss during surface exposure. The costs and benefits of group vs. solitary lifestyles and alternate hypotheses for early and synchronous emergence were tested experimentally. Grouped beetles had lower body water loss rates but, due to competition with burrow mates, higher feeding costs than single ones. It is hunger that advances and thus synchronizes emergence time, not social facilitation. Field data support a model predicting that, for maximal benefits, beetles should alternate between solitary and group life at optimal time intervals.
Clark's Nutcracker (Aves: Corvidae) Spatial Memory: Interference Effects on Cache Recovery Performance?
Authors: Bednekoff Peter A. , Kamil Alan C. , Balda Russell P. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractClark's nutcrackers,Nucifraga columbiana, accurately v recover thousands of caches per year in the field. Previous experiments have confirmed that these birds possess excellent, long‐lasting spatial‐memory capabilities. We tested whether resistance to interference is one of the features of nutcracker spatial memory. Experiment 1 tested retroactive interference. Nutcrackers showed no decrease in accuracy overall but performed relatively poorly in their final recovery session. Interference is unlikely to have caused these sites to be poorly remembered because they had fewer neighbouring cache sites than better‐remembered sites. Experiment 2 tested for proactive interference. Interference would have caused the experimental birds to be less accurate than control birds. Instead then were slightly more accurate. In experiment 3, nutcrackers were allowed to repeatedly view their cache sites from a cage between caching and recovery. Nutcrackers were less accurate when recovering from cache sites they had viewed. This effect may be due to changes in motivation. Order of caching had no effect on accuracy but nutcrackers were more accurate when recovering caches from central than from peripheral areas of experimental rooms. In summary, these experiments provide further evidence of the remarkable spatial‐memory abilities of Clark's nutcrackers and demonstrate that these birds are highly resistant to interference effects on spatial memory. Comparative tests will be needed to test if specialized food storers are exceptionally resistant to interference in spatial memory.
The Role of Non‐reproductive Helpers in Infant Care in Captive Callithrix jacchus
Authors: Yamamoto Maria Emília , O.Box Hilary 
Published: May 2010

AbstractCallitrichids have been proposed as communal breeders, with non‐reproductive animals acting as helpers. Reports in the literature attest to the high variability in the behaviour of helpers. The present study assessed four proximate factors involved in helping in captive Callithrix jacchus: age, gender and experience of helpers and composition of their groups. Forty‐eight helpers from 15 families from Natal (Brazil) and Reading (UK) colonies were observed during the first 4 weeks of life of new‐born twins. Infant carrying, transfers and retrieval, and duration of carrying bouts were registered. Results showed that the presence of helpers decreased the costs of infant carrying, with a negatively significant correlation between group size and mean percentage of carrying. Age, but not gender, was a significant factor for infant carrying, transfers and retrieval, and mean duration of carrying bouts, with older helpers contributing more than younger ones. Singletons and oldest non‐reproductive offspring carried infants more, and longer, than twins and offspring with older siblings present in the group. Experience decreased motivation and actual carrying time, but not to a significant level. Age, experience and group composition appeared important factors in the display of infant care by helpers in captive Callithrix jacchus.
Precocious Courtship and Play in Emydid Turtles
Authors: Kramer Matthew , Burghardt Gordon M. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractIn many mammal species, precocious sexual behaviour is a component of play. A recent model for the evolution of play fighting behaviour in muroid rodents by Pellis (1993) proposes that social play in those species has its origin in precocious sexual behaviour. Captive juvenile emydid turtles perform precocious sexual behaviour. After reviewing its occurrence, we focus on detailed observations ofPseudemys nelsoni.Precocious sexual behaviour in these turtles is characterized by the striking ‘titillation’ display, usually observed only when adult males court females. In this display, the digits of the front feet are rapidly vibrated above the eyes of the female. In our observations, both sexes performed the display, which was energetic, spontaneous, and inconclusive (in that sequences of precocious courtship typically ended when either the displayer or recipient stopped and rested, left, or started some other unrelated non‐social behaviour). Displaying individuals clearly preferred conspecific recipients and often appeared to seek out specific individuals. We discuss several plausible explanations for precocious courtship in these turtles but find none entirely satisfying. The characteristics of the precocious courtship behaviour we observed most closely match those commonly listed for social play. Thus, we conclude that the most likely explanation for this behaviour is that it is a component of social play.
The Effects of Zinc Sulphate Anosmia on Homing Pigeons, Columba livia, in a Homing and a Non‐homing Experiment
Authors: Budzynski Cheri A. , Strasser Rosemary , Bingman Verner P. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractThere is debate over whether homing pigeons, Columba livia, use olfactory information as part of their navigational map. Antagonists of the theory argue that homing deficits noted in anosmic pigeons may be due to a non‐specific impairment in general information processing. In Experiment I, we present data from a modest investigation describing the typical navigational deficits that occur following zinc sulphate‐mediated anosmia. Our results are consistent with previous experiments that noted impairments in homing performance from unfamiliar locations of anosmic pigeons. Experiment II is a critical experiment that involved a spatial working memory paradigm; this paradigm consisted of testing zinc sulphate‐treated birds in a forced‐choice alternation task in a T‐maze. This experiment allowed us to determine whether anosmic pigeons were impaired in memory performance, a robust measure of general information processing. There were no differences between the last day of training and a subsequent‐test day when pigeons received an intranasal injection of zinc sulphate. This experiment suggests that zinc sulphate anosmia does not impair general information processing, supporting the hypothesis that homing pigeons use olfactory cues when homing from unfamiliar locations.
Social Behaviour of Individual Oval Squids (Cephalopoda, Teuthoidea, Loliginidae, Sepioteuthis lessoniana) within a Captive School
Authors: Boal Jean Geary , Gonzalez Susan A. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractThe social behaviour of individually identified squids was observed over a period of 4 mo. Squids were reared in captivity and maintained in a shoal of up to 18 animals. Distances between animals averaged 1.6 body lengths, similar to the 1.2 body lengths of wild teleost fish schools. Smaller animals schooled less frequently and were found at the periphery, and familiar and unfamiliar animals shoaled together. Eighty‐six apparent reproductive events were observed. This species of squid, Sepioteuthis lessoniana, is not sexually dimorphic to the human eye and male squids copulated with both males and females but they directed their attention disproportionately towards females. Most copulations occurred more than a month before spawning, lasted only a few seconds and, unlike field observations on spawning grounds, were not followed by mate‐guarding. Two body patterns are described that were used consistently in social interactions by both males and females; these patterns were both associated with reproductive behaviour but their exact function was unclear. A sister species, Sepioteuthis sepioidea, has been described as showing complex social behaviour; in S. lessoniana, no evidence for such behaviour was seen.
CbrAB‐dependent regulation of pcnB, a poly(A) polymerase gene involved in polyadenylation of RNA in Pseudomonas fluorescens
Authors: Zhang Xue‐Xian , Liu Yun‐Hao , Rainey Paul B. 
Published: May 2010

SummaryCbrB is a global σ54‐dependent regulator required for nutrient acquisition in Pseudomonas. Located downstream of cbrB on the Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25 chromosome is pcnB, a putative poly(A) polymerase gene. Presence of a σ54 promoter in the intergenic region of cbrB and pcnB led to the hypothesis that CbrB regulates pcnB expression in a σ54‐dependent manner. Here we show that transcription of pcnB is CbrB dependent. However, 5′‐RACE analysis of the pcnB transcript using primers located in the pcnB coding region shows that transcription starts immediately upstream of the putative ATG site at a σ70‐like promoter. Deletion of pcnB caused ∼80% decrease of ployadenylated 23S rRNA; growth of the pcnB mutant was compromised in a range of laboratory media and on sugar beet seedlings. Further 5′‐RACE analysis confirmed the existence of the predicted σ54 promoter. Genetic analysis showed that the σ54 promoter drives expression of crcZ, a homologue of the recently described small RNA from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in a CbrB‐dependent manner. Taken together, our data show that both pcnB and crcZ are part of the CbrB regulon. Moreover, the data draw further attention to the central regulatory role of CbrB and provides a link between mRNA degradation and cellular catabolism.
Hydrogen peroxide‐induced oxidative stress responses in Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough
Authors: Zhou Aifen , He Zhili , Redding‐Johanson Alyssa M. , Mukhopadhyay Aindrila , Hemme Christopher L. , Joachimiak Marcin P. , Luo Feng , Deng Ye , Bender Kelly S. , He Qiang , Keasling Jay D. , Stahl David A. , Fields Matthew W. , Hazen Terry C. , Arkin Adam P. , Wall Judy D. , Zhou Jizhong 
Published: May 2010

SummaryTo understand how sulphate‐reducing bacteria respond to oxidative stresses, the responses of Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough to H2O2‐induced stresses were investigated with transcriptomic, proteomic and genetic approaches. H2O2 and induced chemical species (e.g. polysulfide, ROS) and redox potential shift increased the expressions of the genes involved in detoxification, thioredoxin‐dependent reduction system, protein and DNA repair, and decreased those involved in sulfate reduction, lactate oxidation and protein synthesis. A gene coexpression network analysis revealed complicated network interactions among differentially expressed genes, and suggested possible importance of several hypothetical genes in H2O2 stress. Also, most of the genes in PerR and Fur regulons were highly induced, and the abundance of a Fur regulon protein increased. Mutant analysis suggested that PerR and Fur are functionally overlapped in response to stresses induced by H2O2 and reaction products, and the upregulation of thioredoxin‐dependent reduction genes was independent of PerR or Fur. It appears that induction of those stress response genes could contribute to the increased resistance of deletion mutants to H2O2‐induced stresses. In addition, a conceptual cellular model of D. vulgaris responses to H2O2 stress was constructed to illustrate that this bacterium may employ a complicated molecular mechanism to defend against the H2O2‐induced stresses.