bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Influence of Nest Deprivation on Behaviour, Hormonal Concentrations and on the Ability to Resume Incubation in Domestic Hens (Gallus domesticus)
Authors: Leboucher Gérard , Richard‐Yris Marie‐Annick , Chadwick Arthur , Guéméné Daniel 
Published: May 2010

AbstractIn this study, we investigated the influence of the length of nest deprivation period (3 vs. 6 d) on the ability to renest of incubating hens. We focused on the hens' behaviour, particularly on nesting and calls, on their prolactin, luteinizing hormone (LH) and oestradiol concentrations. Nest deprivation induced a drop of prolactin and an increase of LH plasmatic concentrations in hens. These changes in circulating pituitary hormones were followed by changes in ovarian function: the persistent rise of plasmatic oestradiol gave evidence of the resumption of ovarian activity. After nest deprivation, the number of clucks increased significantly and food calls appeared; these results demonstrate that ‘maternal’ calls can be emitted outside the maternal context. Our results suggest that the onset of typical maternal calling is strongly controlled by internal state such as plasmatic hormonal concentrations, independently of social stimulation. None of the 10 hens deprived for 6 d resumed incubation when given the opportunity, whereas, after a 3 d deprivation period, three out of 10 hens renested and two hens incubated sporadically and then gradually abandoned their nests. Long periods of nest deprivation appear to disrupt the habits of sitting and nesting. Before nest reopening, all the hens presented low levels of plasmatic prolactin. Plasma prolactin concentrations of the renesting hens increased after nest boxes were reopened and returned to levels found in incubating hens. We suggest that pituitary prolactin rather than plasmatic prolactin is responsible for the maintenance of incubating potential in hens deprived of their nests.
Ectoparasites, Fitness, and Social Behaviour of Yellow‐Bellied Marmots
Authors: Van Vuren Dirk 
Published: May 2010

AbstractParasites can cause a loss of fitness for their hosts, potentially influencing social behaviour patterns of the host that promote or hinder parasite transmission. I studied yellow‐bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventris) and their ectoparasites to determine if ectoparasites reduce the fitness of marmots and to test whether ectoparasite loads differ according to social behaviour. Three taxa of ectoparasites were identified, fleas (Oropsylla Stanfordi), lice (Linognathoides marmotae), and mites (family Dermanyssidae). High ectoparasite loads were related to slower growth, lower overwinter survival, and reduced reproduction, suggesting that ectoparasites are a fitness cost for marmots. Ectoparasite loads were not higher in colonial than in noncolonial marmots, nor in polygynous than in monogamous adult males. There was a trend, however, toward higher ectoparasite loads in marmots that were dispersing rather than philopatric. Further, ectoparasite loads differed among groups of marmots that nested or hibernated communally, indicating that spatial scale is important in understanding the relationships between parasites and social behaviour.
Playback Interactions with Great Crested Flycatchers, Myiarchus crinitus (Aves, Tyrannidae)
Authors: Smith W. John , Smith Anne Marie 
Published: May 2010

AbstractInteractive playback was used to test observational findings that different vocalizations uttered by singing great crested flycatchers, Myiarchus crinitus (Aves, Tyrannidae), each provide distinctive information about behavior. We present the results of these tests and interpret their significance in combination with the observations. The following predictions were confirmed: 1. Few weep or weeuh songs, and no thrr, were uttered by subjects that approached playback; 2. Churr, common during observations of more active and changing behavior, often predominated during subjects' initial approaches and searches for simulated intruders; 3. Churr was succeeded by wit, which had been found during confrontational behavior, and weihp, which came with movement near opponents or playback; and 4. Quick answers to vocalizations of mates, opponents, and playback were with rreet, also uttered during attack behavior. Functionally, birds uttering the unassertive vocalizations (weep, weeuh, and thrr) may have been taking only minimal initiative to interact, and simply advertising their presence and potential responsiveness. With increasing numbers of churr, subjects maintained social contact with mates or opponents or probed for responses from quieter birds. Wit and weihp may strongly provoke opponents to respond. Further escalation involved met, weed, and wi. In contrast, ch‐ee was a defensive threat. This species sings with more vocalizations than do other tyrannids we have studied. Its vocalizations correlate with relatively fine distinctions among behavioral categories. Yet the vocalizations, like those of the other species, provide information about different extents of initiative that a singer will show in interacting. Such information could be fundamentally important in shaping and stabilizing social relationships, not just of tyrannids but also of many other kinds of animals that use singing to interact with one another while at a distance.
The Adaptive Significance of Batesian Mimicry in the Swallowtail Butterfly, Papilio polytes (Insecta, Papilionidae): Associative Learning in a Predator
Authors: Uésugi Kenji 
Published: May 2010

AbstractExperiments were conducted to examine the adaptive significance of Batesian mimicry in the swallowtail butterfly, Papilio polytes, with its model, Pacbliopta aristolochiae, an alkaloidal butterfly. The female of Pap. polytes is polymorphic, whereas the male is monomorphic. Two forms of the female, f. polytes mimic and f. cyrus non‐mimic, were used in these experiments. Naive birds, brown‐eared bulbuls Hypsipetes amaurotis pryeri, were trained to take food from two feeders in captivity, and then were offered Pach. aristolochiae in one of the feeders. After experiencing an uncomfortable encounter with this species, the birds reduced the frequency of taking regular food from the feeder where the butterfly had been placed. This result suggests that the birds can learn not only the model itself but also the place where they have experienced it. Thereafter, the birds also came to avoid the mimetic form of f. polytes. It is suspected that wild predators behave in the same way. These findings imply that it is adaptive for the mimic to overlap its habitats and daily activity with those of the model species.
Foraging Trade‐offs in Fathead Minnows (Pimephales promelas, Osteichthyes, Cyprinidae): Acquired Predator Recognition in the Absence of an Alarm Response
Authors: Brown Grant E. , Smith R. Jan F. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractPike‐naive fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) were fed ad libitum or deprived of food for 12, 24, or 48 h and then exposed to either conspecific alarm pheromone or distilled water and the odour of a predatory northern pike (Esox lucius). Minnows fed ad libitum or deprived for 12 h showed a stereotypic alarm response to the alarm pheromone (increased time under cover objects and increased occurrence of dashing and freezing behaviour); those deprived of food for 24 h showed a significantly reduced alarm response, while those deprived of food for 48 h did not differ significantly from the minnows exposed to a distilled water control. Upon subsequent testing in an Opto‐Varimex activity meter, all groups initially exposed to alarm pheromone and pike odour exhibited an alarm response when exposed to pike odour alone. Those initially conditioned with distilled water and pike odour did nor show an alarm response to pike odour alone. These results demonstrate that there exists a significant trade‐off between hunger level and predator‐avoidance behaviour in fathead minnows and that minnows can learn the chemical cues of a predatory northern pike through association with alarm pheromone even in the absence of an observable alarm response.
Pre‐oviposition Ejaculation in Externally Fertilizing Fish: How Sneaker Male Rose Bitterlings Contrive to Mate
Authors: Kanoh Yoshihiko 
Published: May 2010

AbstractPre‐oviposition ejaculation as a mating tactic of sneaker males in the rose bitterling, Rhodeus ocellatus, was studied under natural and artificial conditions. In a small pond in Yao city, Osaka, Japan, the operational sex ratio of males and females was found to be approximately 3.5:1 and the proportion of males to the mussels, which serve as spawning beds for the rose bitterling, was approximately 2:1. Competitively subordinate rose bitterling males which spawned into the mussels participated in mating by sneaking, because not all males could occupy territories around the mussels. The sneaker males often released sperm not only after but also before egg‐laying (this ejaculation movement by the male before egg‐laying is termed ‘pre‐oviposition ejaculation’). In pair spawning with sneaker, the sneakers frequently performed pre‐oviposition ejaculations, which territorial males never performed. In the field, pre‐oviposition ejaculations by sneakers coincided with the leading of females by territorial males. Under artificial conditions, I demonstrated by using electrophoretic paternal analyses that the pre‐oviposition ejaculations by the sneakers were more effective than the post‐oviposition ejaculations by the territorial males. In addition, there were negative size‐dependences in ejaculation achievement rate and fertilization success of the sneaker males.
Behavioral and Ecological Determinants of Home Range Size in Juvenile Pumpkinseed Sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus)
Authors: Coleman Kristine , Wilson David Sloan 
Published: May 2010

AbstractNumerous species of freshwater fish are known to be site specific, yet the ecological and behavioral factors influencing home range size have rarely been examined. In this study we examine aggression, predator avoidance and feeding rate in juvenile pumpkinseed sunfish as a function of location within their home range. We also compare the behavior of individuals within their home range with individuals that were displaced from their home range by being transplanted from one pond to another. Juvenile pumpkinseeds had a higher feeding rate in the center of their home range than on the periphery. Transplanted juveniles did not adopt a restricted home range over a 3‐wk period and had a lower feeding rate than residents in the same pond. Aggression and predator avoidance do not appear to be important determinants of home range size in our study.
The Social Systems of Gregarious Lemurs: Lack of Convergence with Anthropoids due to Evolutionary Disequilibrium?
Authors: van Schaik Carel P. , Kappeler Peter M. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractThe gregarious lemurs of Madagascar show a lack of convergence with anthropoid primates in several social, demographic, morphological and ecological features. They lack sexual dimorphism in canine and body size, and live in groups with equal adult sex ratios that can vary in composition from pairs to larger units. In most species, females dominate males, and have brief and often synchronized estruses. Finally, lemurs are often active during both day and night (i.e. cathemeral). Three hypotheses for this lack of convergence are discussed. The traditional explanation is that Madagascar's unique ecological pressures have forced females to exclude males from access to limiting resources, selecting for the other unique features as means to maintain female dominance over males. This idea is not logically consistent and is also poorly supported empirically. The second hypothesis claims that cathemerality imposes unique constraints on lemur social organization. The social behavior of cathemeral taxa is largely consistent with this idea. However, the social organization of the diurnal species is not. The third hypothesis claims that recent ecological changes, in particular the demise of large diurnal raptors, have produced a mismatch between current activity periods and adaptations to activity period. This idea is supported by a review of morphological adaptations to light conditions among lemurs, and, more generally, by a comparative analysis of cathemerality among tropical forest mammals. We conclude that the social systems of non‐nocturnal lemurs are best considered as groups formed by species adapted to live in pairs. However, we cannot conclusively exclude the possibility that cathemeral activity is an old and stable activity pattern among lemurs. We indicate which data would decide the issue, and discuss the implications for views of social evolution of lemurs and other animals.
Territorial Dominance of Male Laboratory Mice
Authors: Hayashi Susumu 
Published: May 2010

AbstractSocial interaction and spatial distribution among male mice (Mus musculus) were observed. The enclosure was divided into three compartments, left, right and center. Each side compartment contained two males for 3 d and then the doors that led to the center compartment were opened for 7 d. The dominant male was removed 3 d after the opening day. The results indicate that the dominant male monopolized its own territory including the compartment where it had dwelt before opening the doors. The other subordinates huddled together in the opposite compartment. The dominant male patrolled more frequendy than subordinates and sometimes attacked subordinates. One of the subordinates rapidly became dominant after the removal of the dominant male. The secondary dominant male monopolized the familiar area and attacked subordinates, as the dominant male had done.
Life History Dependent Behavioural Variation in Water Striders, Aquarius remigis
Authors: Blanckenhorn Wolf U. , Perner Dirk 
Published: May 2010

AbstractWe investigated behavioural consequences of life history states in Aquarius (Gerris) remigis, a hemipteran surface predator and scavenger of small North American streams. A repeated‐measures field study comparing reproductive and non‐reproductive first summer generation females and males during the same time in summer showed that non‐reproductive males and females, which were foraging to survive the winter, behaved essentially alike, often being territorial. In contrast, reproductives of both sexes were more mobile than non‐reproductives, reproductive males being much more mobile than reproductive females, always in search of and attacking potential mates. This resulted in reproductive males showing litde territoriality and having lower foraging success than all other categories, while reproductive females had higher foraging success than non‐reproductive females or males, thus likely increasing their fecundity. Many behavioural variables did not change with time. Exceptions were a decrease in the mating activity of reproductives of both sexes, the number of mating attempts, mobility, and the stride rate of reproductive males, and an increase in overall foraging activity of all individuals. This indicates that the behaviour of reproductive males converged towards that of non‐reproductive males as the season progressed. Individuals were assigned to either state post‐hoc according to whether they had been seen mating at least once during the study period (July and August). Females were further tested to ascertain if they laid eggs. These results support the hypothesis that diapause and reproductive state to some degree predetermine behaviour, thus constraining behavioural flexibility. Attributing behavioural variation to various proximate causes can be central to the interpretation of alternative strategies and tactics.
Ontogeny of Dominance in Free‐living Red Foxes
Authors: Meyer Sandrine , Weber Jean‐Marc 
Published: May 2010

AbstractWe established the ethogram of fox pups of free‐living foxes after emergence from the den. We recorded the reactions of the pups during encounters to determine their social status and documented the relationship between social status and social play. The ethogram comprised 12 behavioural classes including 64 behavioural acts. ‘Moving’ and ‘exploration’ were the most observed classes with a frequency of occurrence higher than 20%. Most behavioural acts occurred at frequencies ranging from 0.5% to 5%. The intra‐litter hierarchy was linear. Social play was the predominant type of social activity among pups, and induced the maintenance of dominance relationships among them. Adult—juvenile interactions (‘relation with an adult’ and ‘suckling’) could depend on the social rank of the juveniles. Juvenile‐juvenile contacts allowing strong social bonds to develop between littermates (‘tactile communication’ and ‘comfort social behaviour licking and nibbling fur’) were not correlated with the social rank of the juveniles.
Inhibition of Host Queen Reproductive Capacity by the Obligate Social Parasite Polistes atrimandibularis (Hymenoptera, Vespidae)
Authors: Cervo Rita , Lorenzi M. Cristina 
Published: May 2010

AbstractPolistes atrimandibularis is the obligate and permanent parasite of the social paper wasp Polistes biglumis bimaculatus. This parasite lives together with the host foundress for a considerable period on the invaded nest. Ovarian development was measured in females of the host species (foundresses and, when present, workers) from 18 parasitized and 14 non‐parasitized colonies. The reproductive capacity of foundresses from parasitized nests decreased faster than that of foundresses from non‐parasitized nests. These results indicate that the presence of the parasite lowers reproductive capacity of the host queen. Simultaneously, the fertility of the host worker is inhibited.
Correlates of Territoriality in Rutting Red Deer
Authors: Carranza Juan , Fernandez‐Llario Pedro , Gomendio Montserrat 
Published: May 2010

AbstractThe mating strategy most commonly reported for male red deer, Cervus elaphus, is the defence of females (harems), territoriality having been described only in Doñana, Spain. We observed rutting males at five different populations in Spain and during 4 consecutive yr in Doñana. Female defence was the only strategy observed in two of the populations, whereas territorial defence coexisted with female defence in the remaining three populations. Territorial defence appeared to be more costly than female defence, in terms of rates of aggressive interaction, and territorial males tended to gather more females per d than non‐territorial ones. Both mating strategies seemed to respond to local variations in habitat, which in turn affected female distribution. Females concentrated in areas with high‐quality forage, and most territories contained patches of high‐quality food (i.e. greater quality within boundaries) or were located along main routes used by females. The results are interpreted in the light of environmental conditions in southern Europe, where the rut coincides with the less favourable season for herbivores (in terms of food resources) after the hot and dry summer. Under such conditions of food scarcity coupled with patchy distribution, females tend to concentrate on the remaining patches of green swards, and males benefit from defending the food resources that attract females.
Individual Odours in Two Chromosomal Species of Blind, Subterranean Mole Rat (Spalax ehrenbergi): Conspecific and Cross‐species Discrimination
Authors: Todrank Josephine , Heth Giora 
Published: May 2010

AbstractMole rats from two chromosomal species (2n = 58 and 2n = 60) of the Spalax ehrenbergi superspecies of Israel were tested to determine whether they were able to discriminate differences in the odour of urine from same‐sex individuals of their own and of the other chromosomal species. An habituation‐discrimination apparatus was designed for use with these solitary and blind subterranean rodents. Animals habituated to the odour of urine from one individual presented for 10 min at a centre sniffing area in the roof of a 50 cm long Perspex tunnel. The odour of urine from the original donor and from a second individual were presented at two other sniffing areas in the tunnel roof during a 5 min discrimination phase. Significant differences in the time spent investigating the two odours demonstrated successful discrimination between them. The results indicate that male and female mole rats of both species can discriminate between the individual‐specific odour cues in urine from pairs of conspecifics and pairs of heterospecific mole rats.
Determinants of Dominance in the Tree Lizard Urosaurus ornatus: the Relative Importance of Mass, Previous Experience and Coloration
Authors: Zucker Naida , Murray Leigh 
Published: May 2010

AbstractA determination of some of the factors that predict the outcome of contests between male tree lizards, Urosaurus ornatus, was made using logistic regression modelling on matched‐pair data. Two‐day‐long encounters were staged between pairs of males differing in size (snout‐vent length and mass), previous contest status (previous winners and previous losers), and coloration (dorsal coloration during their previous contest and throat coloration, a fixed trait). Mass proved to be the best single predictor of contest outcome, resulting in an 80% correct classification rate for predicting winners and losers, far better than the less than 57% correct classification rate for snout‐vent length. Previous social status (winner or loser) also was a powerful single predictor of contest outcome with a 793% correct classification rate, as was previous dorsal coloration (76.7%). When combined, mass and previous status produced the strongest combination of predictors with a better than 86% correct classification rate. Contrary to several previous studies, which implicated throat coloration as an important status signal of dominance, our results failed to show that throat coloration is a strong predictor of contest outcome. Possible reasons for this discrepancy with earlier findings are discussed. The logistic regression models also allow prediction of the magnitude of difference in mass between two contestants for there to be an equal chance of winning, given a second asymmetry in contest predictors.