bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Social Organization of the Cape Ground Squirrel (Xerus inauris; Rodentia: Sciuridae)
Authors: Waterman Jane M. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractThe Cape ground squirrel (Xerus inauris) of southern Africa is a tropical species that does not hibernate. Field observations using scan and all‐occurrence sampling revealed that this species was highly social. Female Cape ground squirrels formed social units of related females and their subadult young, as is typical for other ground squirrels. Female social groups were usually composed of 2–3 adult females and 2–3 subadults of either sex. Members of these female social groups shared sleeping burrows and feeding ranges. Female social groups did not cooperatively defend their feeding ranges from adjacent groups in other burrow clusters. Interactions within female social groups were highly amicable, and no dominance hierarchy was evident. Males in this species also lived in groups. These all‐male bands of up to 19 individuals lived almost independently from female groups. The entire male band shared one home range, although ephemeral sub‐bands were formed daily. The composition and size of these sub‐bands changed daily. Interactions among males, which were largely amicable, included allogrooming and sleeping together. Analysis of interactions within the band indicated a stable, linear, dominance hierarchy among males. Dispersal in this species appeared to be male biased as is typical of other ground‐dwelling squirrels, with males dispersing at reproductive maturity. Males joining male bands were thus dispersers and were not likely to be closely related. Sociality in the Cape ground squirrel may be summarized as highly social female kin clusters and associated social non‐kin bands of males.
Do Fleas, and/or Old Nest Material, Influence Nest‐site preference in Hole‐nesting Passerines?
Authors: Olsson Karin , Allander Klas 
Published: May 2010

AbstractThis study examined nest‐site choice in a migratory population of pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) and sympatric populations of three resident tit species (Parus major, P. caeruleus and P. palustris) in central Sweden. All four species are secondary‐cavity nesters which naturally breed in pre‐formed tree cavities but readily use artificial nest boxes. We asked whether flycatchers and tits discriminate between nest boxes that: 1. Are ‘empty’; 2. Contain old nests without ectoparasites (fleas Ceratophyllus sp.); or 3. Contain old nests with ectoparasites. We found that pied flycatchers preferred nest boxes containing old nests, regardless of whether these nests held parasites. In contrast, tits did not discriminate between the three types of boxes. Tits may pay a cost for their lack of choosiness: after the breeding season, tit nests contained more fleas than flycatcher nests. Nevertheless, parasites did not affect the choice of a nest site in any of the species studied. We suggest that the migratory flycatchers are in a hurry to start breeding upon arrival and use the presence of an old nest as a shortcut cue to assess nest‐site quality. Also, they may save valuable time by copying the choice of previous breeders. Non‐migratory tits may have more time to inspect nest sites, but do not seem to use the same cues in nest‐site selection as the pied flycatcher.
Unattractive Males Guard Their Mates More Closely: an Experiment with Bluethroats (Aves, Turdidae: Luscinia s. svecica)
Authors: Johnsen Arild , Lifjeld Jan T. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractMate guarding by close following is assumed to function as a paternity guard in pair‐bonding birds. Although this behaviour has been described for many species, little is yet known about the variation in mate‐guarding intensity between males in a population and the reason for such variation. In this study, we wanted to examine how mate‐guarding intensity relates to the sexual attractiveness of the male. Male bluethroats, Luscinia s. svecica, have a bright throat patch, an ornament extensively displayed during courtship. Two experiments are reported. In the first, we show that males which had their throat patch blackened (with Nyanzol D) before pairing had a lower pairing success than control males. We conclude that the blackening of the throat patch reduced male attractiveness. In the second experiment, a group of males were blackened after pairing. These males guarded their mates more closely than did control males, and spent less effort advertising for secondary mates. Thus, we conclude that a male's mate‐guarding intensity is flexible and negatively related to his sexual attractiveness. The mechanisms by which a male can assess the likelihood of becoming cuckolded are discussed.
Ontogeny of Flehmen in Sable Antelope, Hippotragus niger
Authors: Thompson Katerina V. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractFlehmen, a conspicuous posture characterized by eversion of the upper lip, facilitates the transfer of nonvolatile urinary chemicals to the vomeronasal organ and therefore has been implicated in the control of reproduction in ungulates. The ontogeny of urine sampling and flehmen was investigated in semi‐free‐ranging sable antelope, Hippotragus niger, at the National Zoological Park's Conservation and Research Center because behavioural evidence suggests that flehmen is a mechanism of reproductive synchronization among females. During the first year of life, flehmen rates increased with age in both sexes. Flehmen rates of female calves equalled those of adult females by 4 months of age. Male calves first exhibited flehmen at younger ages than did female calves and showed greater increases in flehmen rate during development. Both sexes exhibited flehmen primarily after sampling urine of female conspecifics as it was being voided. During the first 2 months of life, sable antelope preferred to sample urine of other calves, but by 1 year of age adult females were the preferred targets. Females approaching sexual maturity preferred to sample urine from postpartum females (presumably resuming oestrous cycling) rather than from pregnant females, as expected if they were attempting to synchronize oestrus with experienced females. Results are consistent with the hypothesis that flehmen serves to coordinate reproduction among females and further suggest that flehmen may affect reproductive maturation.
Territoriality in Lake Eyre Dragons Ctenophorus maculosus: are Males ‘Superterritorial’?
Authors: Olsson Mats 
Published: May 2010

AbstractThe Australian Lake Eyre dragon, Ctenophorus maculosus, lives on dry salt lakes in the Australian interior. An unusual characteristic of this habitat is that windblown insects are the major food resource, which makes it impossible for males to defend site‐related resources. Male territory size is not correlated to male size; thus, males do not seem to defend trophic territories in relation to their own energy demands. Instead, males with higher densities of lookout sites have larger territories, and males with larger territories have more mates. In consequence, males primarily seem to guard sexual resources on territories that are not economically defensible from a trophic point of view; males appear to conform to the concept of ‘superterritoriality’ (sensu Stamps 1983).
Persistence of the Attractiveness of Two Sex‐specific Scents in Meadow Voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus
Authors: Ferkin Michael H. , Burda Jeffrey , O'Connor Megan P. , Lee Christopher J. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractThe function of an odour may be reflected in its fade‐out time in the environment. In this study, we investigated fade‐out times of two specific odours, the anogenital area scent and that of the posterolateral region. These two odours support opposite‐sex preferences in male and female meadow voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus, but convey nonidentical information to conspecifics during the breeding season. The first experiment tested whether meadow voles respond preferentially to scents that were aged for 15 min (fresh) to 30 d. Males preferred female anogenital area scent to male anogenital area scent if both scents were ≤ 10 d old. By comparison, females preferred male anogenital area scent to female anogenital area scent if the scents were ≤ 25 d old. However, male and female voles preferred the posterolateral scent of males to that of females if the scents were ≤ 1 d old. Thus, fade‐out times for these two scents differ for males and females, suggesting different functions. In the second experiment, male and female voles preferred fresh anogenital area scent and fresh posterolateral region scent compared with those same scents that were older. This result suggests that older scents may have lost information over time about the sex of the donor. Overall, data from both experiments indicate that voles may use specific scents for communication in different social contexts.
Is Human Handedness Universal? Ethological Analyses from Three Traditional Cultures
Authors: Marchant Linda F. , McGrew William C. , Eibl‐Eibesfeldt Irenäus 
Published: May 2010

AbstractRight‐handedness inHomo sapiensis claimed to be qualitatively different from that of other primates, at species level, and to be universal across all cultures. Ethnographic indicators are sparse, however, being mostly indirect rather than direct observations of selected motor patterns. Ethological study of hand use, i.e. observation of a wide range of everyday behavioural patterns performed spontaneously, is missing. We coded such manual activity from cinematic archives of three traditional societies: G/wi San of Botswana, Himba of Namibia and Yanomamö of Venezuela. Results showed a consistent but weak right‐hand dominance across these three preliterate cultures. Most individuals showed mixed‐, rather than right‐handedness, irrespective of whether or not object manipulation was involved. The notable exception was tool use, which was markedly right‐handed, and only precision‐gripping tool use was normally performed exclusively with the right hand. Most questionnaires that measure handedness focus on precision tool use (and so are likely to be biased accordingly) rather than on more comprehensive ethological measures that include non‐object‐manipulatory, self‐directed and socially communicative patterns of behaviour.
Predator Avoidance and Alarm‐response Behaviour in Kin‐discriminating Tadpoles (Rana cascadae)
Authors: Hokit D. Grant , Blaustein Andrew R. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractWhen captured by predators, the tadpoles of some species of frogs and toads may release an alarm substance that alters the behaviour of conspecifics. Such ‘alarm response’ behaviour has been proposed as a potential mechanism whereby related conspecifics may ‘warn’ relatives of a predator's presence and thus, improve their inclusive fitness. We examined predator avoidance and alarm response behaviour in tadpoles of the Cascades frog (Rana cascadae) and tested whether such behaviour is influenced by kinship factors. Tadpoles reduced activity when in the presence of a predatory newt (Taricha granulosa). Individuals in sibling groups were more active than both solitary tadpoles and individuals in mixed groups of siblings and nonsiblings. However, we found no evidence of an alarm response in R. cascadae. Behaviour of tadpoles in groups exposed only to predators was not different from that of tadpoles in groups exposed to predators plus crushed conspecifics. Tadpoles in groups exposed to crushed tadpoles were as active as tadpoles in groups exposed to water controls, and some test individuals fed upon the dead tadpoles. Thus, while R. cascadae tadpoles reduce activity in response to newt predators, crushed tadpoles appear to initiate a feeding response rather than an alarm response as has been previously proposed.
Social and Spatial Segregation in Alpine Ibex (Capra ibex) in Bargy, French Alps
Authors: Villaret Jean Charles , Bon Richard 
Published: May 2010

AbstractOutside the rut, a gradual social and spatial segregation was observed between the sexes as male Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) aged. In addition, males joined similar‐age peer groups and segregated spatially as the age difference increased. The patterns varied seasonally, influenced by biological and ecological events. During the rut, males and females intermingled and used greatly overlapping ranges. Males ≥ 9 years first left female groups but social and spatial segregation were not complete until May. Younger males shifted to male groups more gradually. Females and males over 2 years of age used almost exclusive ranges in summer and early autumn. Social grouping and range overlap between ibex classes were correlated outside the rut. Grouping and spatial overlap between young and old males were negatively related to association with females.
Play as Indicator of Habitat Quality: A Field Study of Langur Monkeys (Presbytis entellus)
Authors: Sommer Volker , Mendoza‐Granados Domingo 
Published: May 2010

AbstractThe ecology and social behavior of two male bands of Hanuman langurs (Presbytis entellus) of similar size and age‐class composition were studied over 18 mo in Rajasthan, Northwest India. Play behaviour was tested as a reflection of environmental conditions. One of the bands lived in a poor habitat where food and water was often scarce, the other in a rich habitat with relatively abundant resources. For example, the proportion of fruit eaten was much higher for the rich‐habitat monkeys (RHM), whereas more than half of the diet of the poor‐habitat monkeys (PHM) consisted of leaves. The frequency of play‐fighting and locomotor‐rotational play correlated negatively with the amount of leaves eaten, probably because they are low in energy. Consequently, play rates for the RHM were not only 6–7 times higher than for the PHM, but play also lasted significantly longer. Play rates among PHM were reduced to zero during adverse environmental conditions but showed a dramatic increase when more plant food became available as a result of monsoon rains. The data provide considerable support for the hypothesis that play is a sensitive indicator of habitat quality.
Female Contests for Nest Sites and Mates in the Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca
Authors: Dale Svein , Slagsvold Tore 
Published: May 2010

AbstractPredictions of game theory models about the outcome of animal conflicts have most often been tested using male contests for mates, territories or food. We studied female contests for nest sites and mates in the pied flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca, and asked which factors affect the outcome and duration of the contests. Conflicts over residency were experimentally induced, but natural cases in which both females regarded themselves as owners were also included in the analyses. The ensuing escalated contests involved physical fighting, defence of the nestbox of the male and alarm calling. Contrary to expectations from game theory, fighting seemed to occur most often at the start of conflicts, whereas alarm calling occurred towards the end and nestbox visits throughout the conflict. The outcome of the contests was not determined by asymmetries in body size or age, nor by a simple previous‐present owner asymmetry. Instead, it depended on the relative residence times of the opponents. The duration of the contests tended to increase with decreasing asymmetry in the residence times of females, whereas body size asymmetries had no influence. Because there is intense competition between females for a mate in the pied flycatcher, we suggest that females do not respect asymmetries in residency and body size, but fight in relation to the value of the mating opportunity. In particular, we point to the possibility that the value of a mating opportunity may increase with residence time because knowledge of other mating options may become outdated.
Dynamics and Consequences of Hierarchy Formation in the AntLeptothoraxsp. A
Authors: Ortius Diethe , Heinze Jürgen 
Published: May 2010

AbstractIn the Nearctic antLeptothoraxsp. A, aggressive interactions among wingless intermorphic queens and primarily winged gynomorphic queens lead to the formation of dominance hierarchies, in which the highest‐ranking individual is the only egg‐layer in a colony. Fighting occurs during two periods of the annual cycle: in late summer, newly adopted young queens are integrated into the colony's hierarchy; after hibernation, fighting resumes and the high aggressiveness of α‐queens may now lead to the emigration of β and other middle‐ranking queens. The α‐position appears to be very stable over successive fighting periods, though an estimate of nestmate relatedness by allozyme electrophoresis (Polyacrylamide gels and cellulose acetate plates) suggests that queen replacement occasionally occurs. The mean relatedness determined for adult workers in a functionally monogynous population ofLeptothoraxsp. A was 0.54 and their effective number of mothers therefore 1.5. This is lower than expected and found for monogynous colonies. Dominance rank is apparently not correlated with queen morph, weight, and size, but an influence of insemination, age, or previous reproductive experience is likely.
Imprinting Effects on Host‐selection Behavior of Slave‐raiding Chalepoxenus muellerianus (Finzi) Workers (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Authors: Schumann Ralf D. , Buschinger Alfred 
Published: May 2010

AbstractEarly experience is known to influence brood care behavior and to induce nesting preferences of several ant species. Scanty information is available with respect to imprinting effects on host selection of dulotic ants. In this paper we investigate host choice behavior of workers of the slave‐making ant, Chalepoxenus muellerianus. As in a corresponding paper (Schumann & Buschinger 1994) on host specificity of C. muellerianus young queens during colony foundation, we demonstrate that a blend of innate factors and effects of early experience also influences host species selection of slave‐raiding workers.
Sexual Imprinting in Zebra‐finch Females: Do Females Develop a Preference for Males that Look Like Their Father?
Authors: Vos Dave R. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractRecently, it has been proposed that through sexual imprinting on their parents, young birds learn to discriminate between males and females. Support for this suggestion was given by a study on zebra‐finch males Taniopygia guttata, which showed that males of this species develop a strong sexual preference for mother‐like females over father‐like females. The present study investigates whether zebra‐finch females also develop a sexual preference for mates resembling the opposite‐sex parent. The females used had been raised either by normal pairs, by white pairs or by pairs of both morphs. The preferences were tested by confronting these females with normal and white males, both in simultaneous two‐stimulus tests and successive one‐stimulus tests. In contrast to males, females raised by a pair of mixed‐morph parents did not show a preference for mating partners of the opposite‐sex‐parent's morph. Instead, they showed a preference for males of the mother's plumage type. It is suggested that the difference in which sexual imprinting proceeds in males and females may be related to the different role each sex plays in the pair formation.
Essay on Contemporary Issues in Ethology: Behavioral Ecology and the Study of Partner Choice
Authors: Dugatkin Lee Alan , Sih Andrew 
Published: May 2010

AbstractFemale mate choice has been studied extensively by behavioral ecologists and ethologists. Mate choice is, however, only one form of 'partner choice'. Recent experimental work has demonstrated the existence of partner choice in many other contexts, for example, antipredator behavior, foraging behavior, mate searching, and anti‐parasite decisions. These studies have revealed important new insights for the study of partner choice. We review these studies, and suggest how they might both pave the way for future work in this area and provide the underpinnings for a comprehensive conceptual framework for studying partner choice.
Escape Tactics and Alarm Responses in Badgers Meles meles: A Field Experiment
Authors: Butler Juliana M. , Roper Timothy J. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractA typical badger (Meles meles) territory contains a primary burrow or 'main sett' plus several secondary burrows or 'outlier setts'. The main aim of our study was to test the hypothesis that outlier setts are used as emergency refuges, by subjecting foraging radio‐collared badgers to three levels of experimental disturbance (low, moderate and high). In addition, we recorded the occurrence of potential alarm signals. With low‐level disturbance, badgers usually returned to the main sett even when this was further away than the nearest outlier sett; with high‐level disturbance they always took refuge in the nearest outlier; and with moderate‐level disturbance they showed no clear preference. We conclude that outlier setts do act as emergency refuges, but only when an animal is badly frightened. Possible alarm signals (pilo‐erection, head‐flagging, snorting and growling) occurred mainly during moderate or high‐level disturbance but even then they were relatively infrequent. Signals were no more likely to be emitted when conspecifics were near by than when the signaller was alone, and when conspecifics were present they rarely reacted either to the flight of the disturbed animal or to any signals that it emitted. We conclude that such alarm signals as do occur constitute threats directed towards the predator rather than warnings for the benefit of conspecifics.
Navigation in Familiar Environments by the Weakly Electric Elephantnose Fish, Gnathonemus petersii L. (Mormyriformes, Teleostei)
Authors: Cain Peter 
Published: May 2010

AbstractGnathonemus petersii use electrolocation to navigate in unfamiliar environments. The goal of these experiments was to determine whether fish could learn the location of a fixed aperture after interference with selected sensory input. By manipulating environmental cues (aperture height and water depth) and comparing the fish's performance, the contributions of the electrosensory system, vision, and hydrostatic pressure were examined. The fish's task was to find a circular aperture in a wall dividing a 200‐litre aquarium into two equal compartments. In experiment 1, the position of the aperture was raised by 10.1 cm after the fish had become familiar with its original location. In experiment 2, the water level was raised by 10 cm (leaving the aperture unchanged). When the aperture was raised, intact fish found the new aperture with no difficulty, whereas blind, electrically 'silent', and sham‐operated fish were slow finding the new position. When the water level was raised, all fish increased the height at which they contacted the wall, increased their electric‐organ discharge (EOD) rate, and located the aperture. This increase, in response to the rapid change in water depth, suggests that all fish used hydrostatic pressure cues to maintain depth orientation, and that those fish that learned the aperture height had used hydrostatic cues to locate its position. The data suggest that G. petersii develop an internal representation based on an electrosensory central expectation and hydrostatic cues. The fish develop a sensory 'image' of their immediate environment and associate a specific image with a specific depth. As the environment becomes more familiar, the fish apparently attend less to electrosensory information and navigate according to the internal representation, relying primarily on hydrostatic pressure cues.