bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ultrasonic Vocalizations of Six Taxa of Southern African Gerbils (Rodentia: Gerbillinae)
Authors: Dempster Edith R. , Perrin M. R. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractUltrasonic calling during male‐female encounters between individuals of the same species was investigated in six taxa of southern African gerbils, namely Tatera brantsii, Gerbillurus paeba paeba, G. p. cxilis, G. tytonis, G. setzeri, and G. vallinus. Vocalizations were detected by means of a bat detector utilizing a superheterodyne signal converter and a countdown circuit. Signals were recorded at audible frequencies and analysed with a sonograph.All taxa vocalized at ultrasonic frequencies by means of strongly modulated frequency “sweep” calls, which differed among taxa in duration, maximum and minimum frequency. “Clicks” were emitted by G. p. paeba and G. p. exilis, and G. tytonis emitted a “stutter” vocalization which consisted of a series of clicks. Long modulated “whistles” were identified from G. vallinus and T. brantsii at lower frequencies than “sweep” calls. Only one call type, a “sweep” call which differed in duration and frequency from all other taxa, was identified in G. setzeri.Cluster analysis was applied to the data using 7 acoustic characters. G. p. paeba and G. p. exilis displayed the highest similarity level between taxa and differed only in frequency of “sweep” vocalizations. G. paeba, G. tytonis and G. setzeri formed one cluster, while G. vallinus and T. brantsii formed a separate cluster.Numbers of calls in interspecific encounters were non‐significantly less than in intraspecific encounters in all taxa except G. p. paeba, in which more vocalizations were recorded in inter‐ than intraspecific encounters. It is not clear whether species discrimination, measured by numbers of vocalizations in interspecific encounters, occurs.
Exposure of Dunnocks (Prunella modularis) to their Previous Wintering Site Modifies Autumnal Activity Pattern: Evidence for Site Recognition?
Authors: Schwabl Hubert , Gwinner Eberhard , Benvenuti Silvano , Ioalè Paolo 
Published: May 2010

AbstractWe caught dunnocks at a wintering site near Pisa/Italy prior to their departure for breeding territories and held them indoors north of this site (Andechs/Germany) on a simulated photoperiod of 52.5 °N. After birds had gone through a reproductive cycle and postnuptial moult they developed migratory restlessness in autumn. At this time one group was transferred back to the previous wintering site (Pisa) where birds were held in individual activity cages in an outdoor aviary, allowing them to perceive as much environmental information as possible. A second group was transferred to a control site near Tour du Valat/France of approximately the same latitude and climate, but different longitude and held in an identical aviary. The diurnal activity pattern changed after transfer back to the previous wintering site, but not after transfer to the control site. Specifically, the amount of morning activity was reduced while afternoon activity was increased. This effect was restricted to those individuals that had been developing nocturnal migratory restlessness the previous spring. It was absent in individuals without migratory restlessness in spring, indicating that the different patterns were not due to unspecific effects from the testing sites. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that birds were able to derive information about their locality and to recognize their previous wintering site, resulting in suppression of migratory state by experience. The results are not definitely conclusive, however, because of several difficulties in the interpretation of perch‐hopping activity, which are discussed in detail.
Eco‐ethological Study on Raiding Behaviour of the European Amazon Ant, Polyergus rufescens Latr. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Authors: Mori Alessandra , Grasso Donato Antonio , Le Moli Francesco 
Published: May 2010

AbstractIn this paper we report the results of a detailed study on the behavioural ecology of slave raiding in the European amazon ant, Polyergus rufescens Latr. The field study, supported also by a video‐tape recording technique, was conducted over an unbroken period of 53 days, during which observations of the activity of the residents (both slave‐makers and slaves) were made for 10 h each day. It was possible to observe 38 slave raids distributed over 32 days, among which 27 were followed by the sack of 10 different nests of Formica cunicularia Latr., whereas 11 failed because of various reasons. Simple, compound and multiple raids occurred. We recorded the timing, frequency, distance, and direction of slave raids, including the number of participants and the type of captured brood. Moreover, particular attention was paid to the atmospheric conditions present at the moment of the raid onset. Information was also collected about the behaviour of the “activators” and the scouts before and during the movement of the storming column. Both dealate and winged P. rufescens queens, having emerged from the mixed colony during 6 sexual flights, were seen following the outbound raiding column during 4 raids. Finally, some peculiar behaviour, such as digging out the soil near the target nest to facilitate the entry of the raiding swarm, and the pillage of adult ants (eudulosis) was recorded and described. Data have been compared with what is known about the other species of the genus Polyergus.
Resource‐defense Polygyny and Male Territory Quality in the New Zealand Fur Seal
Authors: Carey Peter W. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractThe polygynous New Zealand fur seal, Arctocephalus forsteri, breeds in densely‐packed colonies with males defending exclusive territories. The distribution of individuals within a colony of these seals was monitored over three consecutive breeding seasons and behavioural thermoregulation was found to be an important factor influencing the site selection of both males and females. Shaded areas and pools of water were used by both sexes for cooling and use of these cooling substrates increased as rock surface temperature increased, resulting in a clumped distribution on hot days. Substrate preferences were tested experimentally by manipulating the availability of cooling substrates during two seasons. The number of females using an area increased significantly after shade or pools of water were added to that area. For males, pool additions resulted in increased use of those areas, while adding shade had no effect. Cooling substrates had a patchy distribution and could therefore be monopolised by territorial males. Using the number of females on a territory as a measure of male mating success, it was found that female numbers were most strongly positively correlated with the area of shaded substrate on a territory. Total territory area was also positively correlated with number of females. It is argued that thermoregulatory constraints are a major factor affecting female site choice, and that this in turn affects male mating success.
Persistent Intercolonial Trunkroute‐marking in the African Weaver Ant Oecophylla longinoda Latreille (Hymenoptera, Formicidae): Tom Thumb's versus Ariadne's Orienting Strategies
Authors: Dejean Alain , Beugnon Guy 
Published: May 2010

AbstractThe territorial African weaver ant Oecophylla longinoda forages in a 3‐dimensional system when attending honeydew secreted by coccid colonies. The orienting strategy allowing workers to reach a static food resource was studied in laboratory conditions. Contrary to other studies devoted to territoriality in O. longinoda, our experiments show that, when moving off the nest, territorial faecal marking by the major workers is not randomly placed all over the home‐range area. The chemical trail leading from the nest to a given food site is reinforced by faecal materials both on the horizontal and the vertical planes. In addition to visual cues and chemical trails laid by the major workers (Holldobler & Wilson 1978), foragers use the territorial marking both to localize the food site and to come back to the nest. Thus, anal‐drop deposition in O. longinoda also has a clear dual‐purpose function: territorial and orientationai marking. The ecological value of such a discrete Tom Thumb's orienting strategy enables workers to quickly reach a food location even after more than 5 months of inactivity on this given site. The persistent marked trail also has an intercolonial effect. This could allow the keeping of exploitation of a definite food site by alien colonies of the same species by reducing time costs for new exploring phases or for learning new spatial cues when foraging on an unknown environment.
Mate Choice for Non‐siblings in Wild House Mice: Evidence from a Choice Test and a Reproductive Test
Authors: Krackow Sven , Matuschak Bernhard 
Published: May 2010

AbstractTwo experiments were designed to test whether wild house mice discriminate between olfactory cues from different kin and, if so, whether given preferences would relate to actual reproductive decisions. Experimental animals were mice born to the offspring of wild‐caught house mice. Litter‐mates stayed together until 60 d of age and were then housed individually. In a choice test, animals were placed in the middle of an arena with 4 openings which led to small cages containing bedding material from opposite‐sex animals of known kinship (full‐sib, cousin, unrelated) or clean material. Test animals (11 oestrous females, 11 males tested with oestrous females' bedding, 8 males tested with material from non‐oestrous females) preferred conspecific to control bedding. Males tested with oestrous females' bedding significantly preferred unrelated to full‐sib odours. In a second experiment, 34 males were each mated simultaneously to 3 females (sister, cousin, unrelated) and these groups were then housed together for 5, 10, and 15 d. Females were checked for litters during the next 20 d. Reproductive rate increased significantly in the 15 d cohabitation group, and significantly more cousin and unrelated females than sisters gave birth to a litter.
Recognition of Individual Males' Songs by Female Dunnocks: a Mechanism Increasing the Number of Copulatory Partners and Reproductive Success
Authors: Wiley R. Haven , Hatchwell B. J. , Davies N. B. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractPrevious studies have shown that a female dunnock Prunella modularis increases her reproductive success on average by copulating with more than one male resident on her territory and thereby obtaining extra help in raising offspring. Here we document behavior by females that affects which males copulate with them. During her period of receptivity to copulation, a female in a territory shared by two males often left the dominant (or alpha) male, which guarded her most of the time, and approached the subordinate (or beta) male when he sang. A female's responses to individual males thus tend to increase her own reproductive success by increasing her chances for copulation with both males sharing her territory. Playbacks of tape‐recorded songs in the field showed that females approached only songs of resident males, not neighbors. They can therefore discriminate individual males by their songs alone, a capability not previously established for female songbirds. Despite intensive guarding of females by males, mating success among male dunnocks depends in part on female choice.
Song Learning in Zebra Finches Exposed to a Series of Tutors during the Sensitive Phase
Authors: Slater P. J. B. , Richards C. , Mann N. I. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractYoung male zebra finches exposed to a series of adult males during their sensitive phase for song learning tended to learn from several of them, in contrast to those exposed to two or more tutors simultaneously. There is a tendency to learn more from later tutors, either because the memory of their elements over‐writes that of earlier ones or because sensitivity is greater at this stage. No clear relation could be found between features of the song or behaviour of tutors and whether or not they were copied. In common with earlier studies, tutor song output, beyond a certain minimum was found to be unimportant.
Egg Mimics in Haplochromine Cichlids (Pisces, Perciformes) from Lake Victoria
Authors: Goldschmidt Tijs 
Published: May 2010

AbstractAn ecomorphological explanation is given of the anal spots of haplochromine cichlids from Lake Victoria. Anal spots are ovoid orange‐yellow spots on the anal fins of these fishes. The possible roles of sexual selection and predation as determinants of the form of these spots are discussed. Evidence is given that the anal spots are egg mimics and thus examples of intra‐specific mimicry. Mimicking an egg to stimulate sexually active females presumably is an important demand on the form of the anal spots. However, no positive correlation was found between anal spot size and egg size. Light intensities of the habitat of the species investigated showed a negative correlation with anal spot size. In contrast to this, egg size did not show a negative correlation with light intensities. It is suggested that, besides mimicry, at least one more demand is involved in determining spot size: that of being conspicuous. Conspicuousness is likely to have a positive impact (benefits) on courting conspecific females, but a negative one (costs) with regard to predators who hunt visually for either adults or eggs. The actual appearance of anal spots may be a compromise. This may explain the mismatch between egg size and spot size in many species. Qualitative evidence is presented that predation pressures on adult haplochromines exerted by visually hunting predators are relatively high in lighter habitats, viz. near the rocks and near the surface. An alternative hypothesis that spots in dark surroundings cannot be seen unless they are supra‐normal is discussed.
Innate Flower Recognition in Bumblebees (Bombus terrestris, B. lucorum; Apidae): Optical Signals from Stamens as Landing Reaction Releasers
Authors: Lunau Klaus 
Published: May 2010

AbstractInnate behavioural reactions in bumblebees were observed in flower dummy experiments. In a previous paper, it was shown that the approach of flower‐naive, untrained bumblebees toward flower dummies is released by colour signals, i.e. a gradient of spectral purity. The bumblebees are directed toward that part of a flower dummy which exhibits the highest spectral purity (Lunau 1990). In the present work it is shown that the bumblebees, while still in flight, make contact with this part using their antennal tips. The antennae reaction is followed by a landing reaction which is released by olfactory and optical signals. The specific optical signals of the guide area which release the landing reaction were investigated. Since in the flower dummies which were used, the guide had the highest spectral purity, most of the antennae reactions were executed at the guide. The antennae reaction allows for a precise orientation and may involve the stimulation of a specialized area of ommatidia. Minute changes in optical guide parameters could thus be detected. The following features of stamens which most effectively released the landing reaction were: a minimum of 2 theca dummies; an oval shape of theca dummies which face each other along the longitudinal axis (both these characteristics are found in genuine stamens); 4 mm distance between theca dummies (this coincides with the distance between the antennal tips of bumblebees); two equally sized theca dummies each with an area of 7 mm2 (this size of theca dummies was preferred over larger or smaller ones; the latter parameter was not changed when the corolla size was varied). Colour parameters are not involved in releasing the landing reaction. Clearly, bumblebees possess an innate releasing mechanism (IRM) that responds to optical signals of anthers which release the landing reaction. The experimental results are in accordance with conclusions drawn from the comparative studies of Osche (1979, 1983a, 1983b) that many flower guides can be interpreted as stamen mimics. Therefore stamens as well as stamen mimics represent a highly standardized signal for the insect pollinators and they are well suited for innate orientation at flowers.
Male Mate Choice in Mixed Bisexual/Unisexual Breeding Complexes of Poecilia (Teleostei: Poeciliidae)
Authors: Schlupp Ingo , Parzefall Jakob , Schartl Manfred 
Published: May 2010

AbstractThe livebearing all‐female fish Poecilia formosa reproduces by gynogenesis, a modified form of parthenogenesis. P. formosa forms at least two breeding complexes: in its northern range it exists sympatrically with Poecilia latipinna and in its southern range with Poecilia mexicana. Differences between these complexes and their possible origin are discussed. Embryogenesis is triggered by sperm of males of these closely related sympatric species. Because inheritance is strictly maternal, from the male point of view energy and time invested are totally lost.In this study we wanted to elucidate whether males are able to distinguish between conspecific and parasitic females. It could be shown that males are able to distinguish females optically, but that this ability was obscured as soon as chemical and/or tactile contact was possible.Furthermore, we found that females in an attractive phase of their sexual cycle are always preferred, regardless of species. This is possibly the mechanism by which parasitic females obtain the matings they need to reproduce.
Parental Investment and Territorial/Sexual Behavior in Male and Female Reed Warblers: Are they Mutually Exclusive?
Authors: Dittami .John , Hoi Herbert , Sageder Gabriele 
Published: May 2010

AbstractThe behavioral and endocrine changes from prenesting to feeding phases of reproduction were examined in free‐living reed warblers. Apart from the onset of feeding behavior, these changes in males are particularly evident in song, territorial behavior and circulating levels of testosterone. The interactions between an individual's physiology and behavior during these behavioral transitions were tested first by correlating song and feeding rates with circulating levels of testosterone and secondly by implanting feeding males with steroids and documenting the resulting effects on song, territoriality and parental behavior. The physiological mechanisms associated with the transition from the sexual phase (nest‐building and egg‐laying) to the parental (incubation and feeding) in females were also examined. In this case, estrogens were implanted during the parental phase to enhance sexual behavior. The results demonstrate an antagonistic relationship between sexual/territorial behavior and parental care in males which is mediated by changes in circulating androgens and no such antagonism in females. The effects of parental manipulation on the feeding rates of the partners and the growth rates of offspring have been examined to shed light on the necessity for male parental input.
Clicks and Communication: The Behavioural and Social Contexts of Hector's Dolphin Vocalizations
Authors: Dawson Stephen M. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractHector's dolphins (Cephalorhynchus hectori) have a simple vocal repertoire, consisting almost entirely of ultrasonic clicks. They produce no whistles, and very few audible sounds. To examine acoustic communication in this species I analysed the relationship between click types and behaviour. The proportion of complex click types was greater in large groups, suggesting that these sounds have social significance. Clicks having 2 peaks in their time envelope and two frequency peaks were strongly associated with behaviours indicative of feeding. High pulse rate sounds, in which the repetition rate of ultrasonic clicks was audible as a “cry”, were most strongly associated with aerial behaviours. These data suggest that echo‐location is not the sole function of Hector's dolphin clicks, and that echo‐location and communication are likely to be closely linked. I hypothesize that dolphins may have the ability to gather information from the echoes of each other's sonar pulses. This may reduce the need for a large number of vocal signals, and may explain the apparent simplicity of the acoustic repertoires of some odontocetes.
Male Mating Success in the Mountain Dusky Salamander, Desmognathus ochrophaeus: Are Small, Young, Inexperienced Males at a Disadvantage?
Authors: Verrell Paul A. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractYoung, small, sexually‐inexperienced males suffer lower mating success than older, larger, more experienced males in many species of animals. I compared the mating success of male Desmognathus ochrophaeus (Amphibia: Caudata: Plethodontidae) reared to maturity in the laboratory with that of males collected as adults in the field. Courtship trials were staged in the laboratory between single males and females. Laboratory‐reared males were significantly smaller in body size than adult males collected in the field, were certainly inexperienced sexually and were probably younger. No difference was found between laboratory‐reared males and field‐collected males in any measure of mating success, although the former apparently produced smaller sperm masses. I conclude that newly‐mature male D. ochrophaeus are not discriminated against by females in the context of mate choice, and do not need to “rehearse” courtship in order to obtain successful inseminations. However, newly‐mature males are probably at a disadvantage in terms of aggressive and sperm competition with larger males.
Interspecific Mate Choice Following Cross‐fostering in a Mixed Colony of Greylag Geese (Anser anser) and Canada Geese (Branta canadensis). A Study on Development and Persistence of Species Preferences1
Authors: Fabricius Eric 
Published: May 2010

AbstractThe role of early experience in mate choice and species preference of geese was studied in an experiment where young greylag geese (Anser anser) were cross‐fostered by Canada geese (Branta canadensis). In two successive years, all eggs from 9 nests of wild Canada geese were removed and replaced by greylag goose eggs. The young greylag geese then followed their Canada goose foster parents on their southward migration in autumn, to return with them in spring. Of 35 returning birds, all 16 females paired with greylag goose males (100%) whereas of 19 males 5 paired with Canada goose females (14%) and the remaining 14 with greylag goose females (74%).The pair bonds generally persisted as long as both birds were present, but after loss of a partner, the remaining bird usually re‐mated. Even when this happened several times during the lifetime of a male, the new mate was always a Canada goose female, showing that the males were sexually imprinted to this species. The Canada goose females which had mated with the greylag ganders also remated when widowed, but their new mate could be either a Canada goose or a greylag goose.