bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of Social Environment on Play in Squirrel Monkeys: Resolving Harlequin's Dilemma
Authors: Biben Maxeen 
Published: May 2010

AbstractYearling‐male squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) were paired with play partners either matched or different from them in age and/or sex. The frequency of play was maintained at equally high levels with both matched and mismatched partners. However, play between mismatched partners was marked by an unusually high incidence of nondirectional wrestling, a less threatening form of playfighting, and an increase in role reversal, suggesting that youngsters had considerable flexibility in the use of alternate strategies to sustain play activity with partners who were atypical for them. These results also attest to the robustness of play and its importance in the behavioral repertoire. The technique of restricting youngsters to atypical play companions is suggested as an effective means of manipulating play, with minimal disruption of other social experiences, for long‐term studies of the developmental impact of social play.
Smashing Energetics: Prey Selection and Feeding Efficiency of the Stomatopod, Gonodactylus bredini
Authors: Full Robert J. , Caldwell Roy L. , Chow Shong W. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractThe simplest prey‐selection model predicts that predators select prey to maximize energetic benefit and minimize handling time. We tested whether or not energetic indices predict stomatopod preference for prey. The energetic indices included: 1) the ratio of energetic return (mass of prey tissue, M) per unit handling time (feeding duration, T); 2) the ratio of energetic benefit (caloric value of prey tissue, E) to energetic cost (caloric value of energy expended, C); and 3) the ratio of net energetic benefit (caloric value of food minus the caloric value of energy expended, NE) to handling time.Stomatopods, characterized by highly specialized raptorial feeding appendages, strike and smash the shells of prey such as snails. The prey‐capture strike is one of the fastest known animal movements. Stomatopods, presented with snail shells of three size classes (5–6, 8–9, 11–12 mm in length), preferred intermediate and small snails. Oxygen consumption increased an average 2.5‐fold above resting rates during feeding and increased linearly with strike frequency. The energetic cost per strike was 1.6 ± 0.2 μl O2. Stomatopods obtained more snail tissue from smashing larger snail shells. However, longer handling times were required to open shells of greater size. To obtain snail tissue, stomatopods struck larger shells a greater number of times. Strike frequency (0.72 strikes/min) was independent of shell size. The amount of snail tissue obtained per strike (0.044 mg/strike), M/T, NE/T, and E/C were all independent of snail size. The mean energetic benefit per strike (0.23 calories/strike) was 13‐fold greater than the energetic cost per strike (0.017 calories/strike). Energetic cost, energetic benefit and handling time appear not to be the sole variables that explain stomatopod prey selection.
Begging Behavior in Budgerigars
Authors: Stamps Judy , Clark Anne , Arrowood Pat , Kus Barbara 
Published: May 2010

AbstractFive hypotheses about relationships between begging rates, feeding rates and other variables were investigated in captive budgerigar nestlings from 23 days post‐hatch to fledge date (Period 4). Within families, nestlings that begged more frequently during Period 4 were fed more often by their parents, but there was no indication that nestling weight on day 23 was related to begging rates in the subsequent growth interval. Instead, last‐hatched nestlings begged more than their older siblings. Last‐hatched nestlings were not “undersized” at the beginning of Period 4 relative to their siblings, and they experienced less competition than their siblings had at comparable ages. Even so, last‐hatched budgerigars begged more often, were fed more often and fledged at heavier weights than their older nestmates.Across families, there was a strong positive relationship between average Period 4 begging rate and average parental feeding rate, but this relationship was much weaker when brood sex ratio was taken into account: female‐biased broods had much higher begging and feeding rates than male‐biased broods. Brood size was related to begging, with higher ratios of begging to feeding rates for family members than for single nestlings.Taken together, these results suggest that relationships between feeding and begging behavior in budgerigars are more complex than theoretical models have suggested. More studies of avian begging and feeding patterns are required before we can generalize about the control of parental food allocations in birds.
Integration of “Innate” and “Learned” Components within the IRME for Mussel Recognition in the European Bitterling Rhodeus amarus (Bloch)
Authors: Heschl Adolf 
Published: May 2010

AbstractThe European bitterling (Rhodeus amarus Bloch) practises a rather unusual method of spawning by using the favorable conditions in the gills of a living freshwater mussel (genera Unio and Anodonta) for the embryonic development of its fry. The capacity of mussel recognition was studied in inexperienced individuals with the aid of simultaneous preference tests in which pairs of dummies with increasing similarity to mussels were presented to the animals. The frequency of mussel‐referred motor patterns, which were supposed to be species‐specific (Wiepkema 1961), supplied the evaluation criterion. The results revealed a hierarchy of effectiveness within the class of relevant stimuli and showed certain effects of additivity typical of an Innate Releasing Mechanism or IRM. By far the most effective stimulus consisted in the specific smell of the mussel which is composed of at least three constituents (protein, hyaluronic acid, ammonium). The water flow itself, produced by the mussel in order to maintain nutritive and respiratory functions, was effective depending on its velocity (3 < v < 12 cm/s), its orientation (suction produced no effect), its direction (vertical > horizontal) and the shape of its field (oval). Within the visual modality only two simple perceptory patterns could be detected (dark spot on a clearer surface, straight horizontal edge), but the visual shape of the mussel as a whole was ignored by inexperienced individuals. Nevertheless the bitterlings are able to learn the shape when exposed to a living mussel and, in addition, it was even possible to condition the animals to an artificial object (inverted pot of clay) by using the mussel‐smell flow as a reinforcing stimulus. The final discussion deals with the question of whether it is possible to interpret these “innate” respectively “learned” components of the IRME as sensory counterparts of behavioral structures which simply serve different functions by referring to correspondingly different sectors of the environment. In such a case the epistemological dichotomy regularly associated with the notions of “innate” (= “pre‐given phylogenetical knowledge”) and “learned” (= “cognitive increase during ontogeny”) would suffer incisive questioning.
Toward a Resolution of the Paradox of Aggressive Displays: II. Behavioral Efference and the Communication of Intentions
Authors: Bond Alan B. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractAn inference from game‐theory models of animal conflict is that adversaries should not inform one another about their level of aggressive motivation. This poses a paradox for the traditional ethological account of graded aggressive displays because it is usually assumed that the adaptive significance of these behavior patterns lies in their making such information available. To resolve the paradox, I propose that communication is only an incidental effect of displays, and that their primary adaptive function is regulation of the intensity of aggressive encounters through positive feedback on aggressive motivation, a process termed “behavioral efference.” Evidence in support of this hypothesis is drawn from studies of human facial expression, aggressive catharsis, and operant conditioning of aggressive behavior. Implications of the hypothesis and suggestions for further work are discussed.
Nest Entrance Marking with Colony Specific Odors by the Bumble Bee Bombus occidentalis (Hymenoptera: Apidae)
Authors: Foster Robin L. , Gamboa George J. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractWe investigated the ability of naturally foraging female bumble bees (Bombus occidentalis) to recognize their nest entrance in the field. In a blind binary‐choice paradigm, females discriminated between nest entrances tipped with caps from their own nest entrances and entrances tipped with caps previously associated with foreign heterospecific or foreign conspecific colonies. Washing caps in organic solvents eliminated the manifestation of this nest‐entrance recognition and significantly decreased the episodes of antennating caps. These results indicate that bees deposit colony‐specific chemicals on nest entrances that are later perceived via contact chemoreception. Females treated foreign heterospecific and foreign conspecific caps similarly, suggesting that bees may not assess or respond to the degree of similarity between their own colony odor and a foreign colony odor.
The Response of Asterropteryx semipunctatus and Gnatholepis anjerensis (Pisces, Gobiidae) to Chemical Stimuli from Injured Conspecifics, an Alarm Response in Gobies
Authors: Smith R. Jan F. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractAsterropteryx semipunctatus, a small Indo‐Pacific gobiid fish, shows reduced movement and increased bobbing behaviour in response to water that has contained injured conspecifics. This response is qualitatively similar to its response to water that has contained a predator, the lizardfish Synodus variegatus, or to visual contact with a predator. This alarm reaction does not occur in response to water that has contained uninjured A. semipunctatus, injured mollies, Poecilia mexicana, or injured Gnatholepis anjerensis, a sympatric goby. G. anjerensis does not show an alarm response to chemical stimuli from injured conspecifics or from injured A. semipunctatus.
Recruitment and Other Communication Behavior in the Ponerine Ant Ectatomma ruidum
Authors: Pratt Stephen C. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractThe ponerine ant Ectatomma ruidum, though previously reported to possess only rudimentary recruitment ability, was found to lay chemical trails for mass recruitment to rich or difficult food sources. The pheromone originates from the Dufour's gland, a new source of trail pheromones in the primitive ant subfamily Ponerinae. During nest emigrations, E. ruidum practices stereotyped social carrying in the myrmicine mode. The discovery of this form of social carrying and of a recruitment pheromone in the Dufour's gland secretions support the hypothesis that the subfamily Myrmicinae is derived from an ectatommine ancestor. Other communication behaviors exhibited by E. ruidum include exchange of liquid food carried between the mandibles, chemical alarm communication, nest entrance marking, and an additional social carrying posture previously unknown in ants.
Familiarity Breeds Tolerance: the Development of Social Stability in Flocking Siskins (Carduelis spinus)
Authors: Senar J. C. , Camerino M. , Metcalfe N. B. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractBehavioural integration associated with the fusion of two flocks is analyzed in captive siskins (Carduelis spinus) by quantifying changes in social behaviour with time since joining. In general there was an increase in the incidence of tolerant behaviour, supplanting attacks and hopping withdrawals with time since fusion of the flocks. However, the number of displays and flights showed the opposite, negative, trend. Taking dominance status into account, the greatest change in behaviour with time since joining is an increase in tolerance by dominants of new flock companions. Factorial analysis of correspondences was used to study how different birds changed their behaviour with time since joining a flock. This analysis showed that the introduction of new birds did not disrupt relationships with familiar birds, and that residents are dominant in interactions with the incoming new flock companions. The analysis also demonstrated that relationships within the new flock had stabilized 20 days after the flocks had joined. The characteristics of the socially integrated group of siskins are quite similar to those described by Rohwer & Ewald (1981) in their shepherds hypothesis: dominants tolerate their subordinates feeding in close proximity, offering them a profitable feeding area, but also supplant them to obtain food; both dominants and subordinates benefit from being in a flock. As a consequence, constant changes of membership in flocks is costly not only because birds lose dominance status, but also the advantages of clear dominant and subordinate roles.
Differences in Behavior and Social Organization of Female Guinea Pigs as a Function of the Presence of a Male
Authors: Thyen Yvonne , Hendrichs Hubert 
Published: May 2010

AbstractObject of the study was the variability of social behavior and organization in female guinea pigs as a function of the presence of a male. Four groups of 8 females were observed. Two of these groups were without a male, the other two had a sexually experienced, sterilized male. All females were about 20 d old at the beginning of the study. In the groups without a male the females formed clear and stable dominance relationships resulting in a linear rank order. The frequency of agonistic behavior was higher compared to the other groups. Some of these females displayed male‐like courtship behavior. Among the females in the groups with a male only the alpha and omega positions were stable, while the dominance relations between the other females remained unstable. These females directed about 40–50 % of their contact behavior towards the male. In relation to the presence or absence of a male the females differed in their social orientation: those who lived with a male were strongly orientated towards it, those living without a male were strongly oriented towards each other. The hypothesis is put forward, that the females in the two situations differed in their motivational states. For the females living with a male this animal was a stable point of social reference, while for the females living without a male their stable dominance structure — with more agonistic behavior — was the most important stabilizing factor.
The Role of Eyespots in Predator Recognition and Antipredatory Behaviour of the Paradise Fish, Macropodus opercularis L.
Authors: Altbäcker Vilmos , Csányi Vilmos 
Published: May 2010

AbstractThe behaviour of the paradise fish in the presence of either a living pike or catfish or various dummies or a catfish equipped with a pair of artificial big eyes was studied. Analyzing the first encounter two separate periods of the predator recognition process could be identified. The primary form of the antipredatory reaction was orientation (looking at the object while keeping a constant eye and body position) which was elicited by any fish‐like bodies but not by bare eyes without a body. During orientation the presence of pike or catfish equipped with artificial eyes or a dummy with horizontal eyes elicited fin erecting display. This reaction was sporadic in the presence of a normal catfish which has very small eyes. The biological significance of this separate organization of exploration is discussed.
Effects of Exogenous Androgen and Antiandrogen on Territorial and Nonterritorial Red‐winged Blackbirds (Aves: Icterinae)
Authors: Beletsky Les D. , Orians Gordon H. , Wingfield John C. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractWe investigated the role of testosterone (T) in territory establishment and maintenance in male red‐winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) by implanting exogenous T or pharmacological agents that block the action of T in nonterritorial floaters and territory owners. Floaters with artificially elevated plasma T levels were unable to obtain territories. Territory owners implanted with T did not expand their territories, although they engaged in more aggressive behavior than did control males. Flutamide, which binds to T receptors in target areas, had no effect on territoriality. However, most territory owners given a combination of flutamide and ATD, an aromatization blocker, lost portions of their territories even though they actively defended them. Our results 1) suggest that, although T influences aggressive behavior, elevated plasma levels alone are insufficient to overcome previously‐established social relationships between territory owners or between owners and floaters; 2) indicate that impairing the action of T leads to reduced abilities of territory owners to maintain territories against vigorous challenges: and 3) support recent findings that T acts on reproductive behavior in birds through both androgenic and estrogenic metabolites.
Behavioural Variation in Echolocation Pulses of the Northern Bat, Eptesicus nilssoni
Authors: Rydell Jens 
Published: May 2010

Abstract17 northern bats, comprising a maternity colony, were observed and recorded in their natural feeding habitat in southern Sweden. They searched for insects in more or less open habitats, 2–50 m above ground, and usually established individual feeding territories, which were patrolled in straight or slightly curved flight paths at rather constant altitudes. Duration, bandwidth, amplitude, repetition rate and, to a lesser extent, terminal frequency of the echolocation pulses varied according to feeding habitat and situation. In general, long (13.0–17.7 ms), loud, shallow frequency‐modulated (FM) signals were used during search flight near treetop level (15 m) or above. At lower altitudes, steep FM‐components were added, and the terminal shallow‐sweep portions were shortened. These pulses were 6.3–13.4 ms long. Steep FM‐signals of short (0.4–8.4 ms) duration and relatively low amplitude were used in the vicinity of obstacles or targets.
Predicting Current Reproductive Success of Goose Pairs Anser indicus from Male and Female Reproductive History
Authors: Lamprecht Jürg 
Published: May 2010

AbstractA multiple regression analysis of current reproductive success (goslings fledged) on three male and female life‐history traits (age, previous breeding periods, previous successes) was carried out for 31 semicaptive pairs of barheaded geese Anser indicus. Of the female variables, age proved positively and the number of previous nesting periods negatively related to current success. The latter relationship suggests that incubation has costs in terms of future fecundity for the female. Of the male variables, age was negatively and the number of previous fledging successes positively related to current reproductive success. Attempts with additional data to explain these findings in the male either by a positive feedback of success on future success or by differences in male quality gave inconclusive results, as did earlier attempts to demonstrate reproductive costs in geese and swans. In monogamous species with long‐term pair bonds, where male and female share most of their life history but specialize in different activities, reproduction may affect the sexes in different ways. If the correlations between life‐history traits of mates are not accounted for, individual strategies or constraints may be obscured by opposing effects in the mate.
Parental Care in Burying Beetles: The Organization of Male and Female Brood‐care Behavior
Authors: Fetherston Isabelle A. , Scott Michelle Pellissier , Traniello James F. A. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractParental care in the burying beetle Nicrophorus orbicollis was studied by comparing the composition of male and female repertories and time budgets and by analyzing the pairwise transition frequencies of brood‐care acts performed by each sex. Males and females performed the same brood‐care acts, but the frequency and duration of several acts differed significantly between the sexes. Males spent more time guarding the brood chamber than did females and females regurgitated to larvae more frequently than did males. Transition frequencies between behavior acts were used to attempt to define roles to examine the organization of behavior. There were no important significant associations between acts suggesting that behavior is not organized into roles but remains flexible. The data support the hypothesis that brood provisioning and brood guarding both were important in the evolution of paternal care in this species.
The American Alligator Detects Food Chemicals in Aquatic and Terrestrial Environments
Authors: Weldon Paul J. , Swenson Daryl J. , Olson John K. , Brinkmeier William G. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractAmerican alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) were offered raw meat or animal carcasses under water or on land in experiments where only chemoreception could be used to discriminate between these and control materials. Alligators also were presented with aqueous extracts and airborne chemicals from meat. Juvenile alligators, tested in indoor tanks, opened more cheesecloth packets containing meat than control packets when these materials were placed under water and on platforms above the water surface. Adult alligators, tested in outdoor semi‐natural enclosures, removed more cheesecloth‐wrapped meat presented under water, and more of both meat and raccoon (Procyon lotor) carcasses placed under perforated baskets on land, than control materials. Juvenile alligators, tested in tanks partially filled with water, exhibited more lateral head movements and mouth‐openings to an aqueous beef extract than to water alone. Juvenile alligators, tested in an olfactometer, exhibited more gular pumps to airborne chemicals from beef than to distilled water. These experiments indicate that alligators may use chemical cues to locate food both on land and under water, and that they detect both water‐ and airborne chemicals from meat.
Spatial Dispersion and Nonmigratory Spawning in the Bluehead Wrasse (Thalassoma bifasciatum)
Authors: Tecumseh W. , Fitch S. , Shapiro Douglas Y. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractEarlier studies of the behavior of the bluehead wrasse Thalassoma bifasciatum have shown it to be a migratory spawner with large terminal‐phase males defending temporary spawning territories. We describe a variant social structure where fish occupy permanent home ranges, spawn within or near these home ranges, and are not territorial. Movements of identified terminal‐phase and intermediate males and females were mapped in the backreef areas of three coral reefs in Puerto Rico. Locations of spawns were then compared with these home‐range maps. All fish used most or all of their morning home range during the afternoon spawning period. Both terminal‐phase males and females spawned within or near their home ranges. Males were relatively tolerant of other males during the afternoon spawning period: only one in five encounters between large males resulted in aggressive chases. The location of chases bore no relation to spawning sites, areas of morning foraging, or to home‐range borders. A Monte Carlo computer simulation was used to measure home‐range dispersion of terminal‐phase and intermediate males at our main site. If males were territorial, we should expect their home ranges to be significantly overdispersed within the cumulative area they occupied. During the first year male home ranges were overdispersed but during the second year they were randomly dispersed, even though the same number of terminal‐phase males occupied the same study site both years. Differences in social behavior between backreef areas and other areas reported in the literature, and found in other portions of our reefs, may be related to differences in feeding ecology between populations and between different portions of the same reef.