bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Territorial Behaviour by a Clan of Spotted Hyaenas Crocuta crocuta
Authors: Henschel Johannes R. , Skinner John D. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractTerritorial behaviour of a clan of spotted hyaenas, Crocuta crocuta, was investigated in the Kruger National Park over a period of 27 months. These hyaenas were highly territorial, spending ⅕ of their total activities on territory patrol by scent‐marking intensively and monitoring 64 marking posts, particularly in border regions. Females, the more philopatric sex, were most active in territory defence. Local intensity of territorial activities by residents within their 130‐km2 territory was directly proportional to intrusion pressure by neighbours. When clan size was reduced, the ability to defend disputed land declined and larger neighbouring clans appropriated parts of the territory. We propose a relationship between resource distribution, intrusion pressure and territory defence.
The Effect of Parental Food Supply on Parental Feeding and Squab Growth in Pigeons, Columba livia
Authors: Mondloch Catherine J. , Timberlake William 
Published: May 2010

AbstractThe growth and survival of nidicolous birds is determined by variables affecting the frequency and allocation of parental feedings. We manipulated adult pigeons' food supply and measured the effect of food availability and hatching order on the frequency and allocation of parental feeding, squab growth, and parental weight loss. Food availability did not affect any of the dependent variables during the first week, when squabs are fed crop milk. Throughout the remainder of the nestling period, when squabs are fed foraged grain, parents in the food‐poor condition delivered fewer regurgitations and lost more weight, and then squabs gained less weight. Within broods, neither the allocation of parental feedings nor squab growth was differential, even in the food‐poor environment. Apparently, production of crop milk is buffered from the parents' food supply, thus allowing both squabs to grow rapidly during the first few post‐hatch days. The result is nondifferential feeding and growth within broods and delayed effects of food availability on the overall frequency of parental feeding, parental weight loss, and squab growth.
Differences in Aggressiveness in the Midas Cichlid Fish (Cichlasoma citrinellum) in Relation to Sex, Reproductive State and the Individual
Authors: Holder Jennifer L. , Barlow George W. , Francis Richard C. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractThe Midas cichlid, Cichlasoma citrinellum, is monogamous and biparental. Because of competition for limited spawning sites and intense predation on their young, vigorous defense of their territory is essential. Although both sexes engage in defense, they differ in aggressiveness.The aggressive responses of both sexes were measured by counting the number of bites and bumps each fish directed toward its own mirror image. The size of the fish's genital papilla was also recorded to estimate its reproductive state.Compared with females, males had higher median mirror scores with greater variance. The scores of individual males were also more consistent through time than were those of females. Females close to spawning had the highest mirror scores, whereas male scores were highest early in the reproductive cycle.Selection has apparently favored aggressiveness in both sexes. We argue, however, that differences in aggression are the result of selection acting dissimilarly on the two sexes.
Individual Behavioural Strategies Associated with Predator Inspection in Minnow Shoals
Authors: Murphy K. E. , Pitcher T. J. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractWhen confronted with a live pike, Esox lucius, European minnows, Phoxinus phoxinus, showed individual differences in rate of predator inspection. Predator inspection behaviour, in which single individuals or small groups approached the predator, was ordinated with several other behavioural parameters using principal components analysis. Individual minnows showed one of two strategies. Fish with high inspection rates were bolder, skittered more frequently and fed more persistently than fish with low inspection rates. Fish with low inspection rates showed the opposite strategy. Individuals did not show habituation of predator inspection during trials or over the experimental period.
Decisions during Phonotaxis in the Bushcricket Requena verticalis (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae): Do Females Change Direction to Alternative Male Calls?
Authors: Schatral Andrea , Bailey Winston J. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractFemale bushcrickets (Requena verticalis, Listroscelidinae, Tettigoniidae) show a preference between male calls that differ in three parameters, temporal structure, frequency and intensity. In a two‐choice speaker situation they prefer louder calls, songs in which the upper part of the frequency spectrum occupies higher frequencies and calls with short chirps rather than those with longer chirps. In an experiment females were offered an alternative call while orienting to a model of their conspecific song. The alternative call was demonstrably preferred by females when presented in a paired‐speaker trial. Two motivational states were identified where females moved slowly or quickly to a sound source. Movement patterns were associated with the form of stimulus and slow females were discriminatory of male calls while fast females were not. Slow females changed speaker preference when the alternate speaker broadcast a call model with the higher frequency peak or the song model with the shorter chirps. By comparison fast moving females only changed course when the alternative sound source was louder.
Loss of Nesting Behavior and the Evolution of Viviparity in Reptiles
Authors: Jones Richard E. , Propper Catherine R. , Rand Matthew S. , Austin Harriet B. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractPresence or absence of nesting behavior during spontaneous or hormone‐induced oviposition was determined in captive, oviparous lizards (Anolis carolinensis and Sceloporus undulatus). The occurrence of nesting behavior [digging of a nest cavity, covering the egg(s) with substrate] was determined directly by observation of ovipositing females as well as indirectly by whether eggs were covered (buried). Under uncrowded conditions in large terraria, most females of both species nested. However, under crowded conditions (S. undulatus), or in small cages (A. carolinensis), females oviposited without displaying species‐typical nesting behavior. Facultative suppression of nesting behavior during oviposition can occur in nature as well, and this inhibition of behavior may be adaptive. We hypothesize that the absence of nesting behavior in viviparous lizards may be controlled by physiological mechanisms similar to those that control facultative suppression in closely related oviparous species.
Language Acquisition and Form in a Bilingual Environment: A Framework for Studying Birdsong in Zones of Sympatry
Authors: Pepperberg Irene M. , Schinke‐Llano Linda 
Published: May 2010

AbstractParallels drawn between critical variables (e.g., the effects of live input and social interaction) in first and second language acquisition and, respectively, species‐specific and allospecific song learning have led to insights into the vocal behavior of both humans and birds. We propose that these parallels can be extended further. Because studies of human behavior in multilingual environments suggest that the potential for bilingualism and the particular forms of bilingualism that develop may be attributed to specific contextual constraints, we suggest that contextual factors may similarly affect the singing behavior of birds in zones of sympatry. We therefore describe various types of human multilingual behavior, discuss factors that may contribute to the development of such behavior, and describe and predict some appropriate avian parallels.
Sources of Acoustic Variation in Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta))Vocalizations
Authors: Hauser Marc D. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractAll species in the genusMacacaproduce a set of harmonically rich vocalizations known as “coos”. Extensive acoustic variation occurs within this call type, a large proportion of which is thought to be associated with different social contexts such as mother‐infant separation and the discovery of food. Prior studies of these calls have not taken into account the potential contributions of individual differences and changes in emotional or motivational state. To understand the function of a call and the perceptual salience of different acoustic features, however, it is important to determine the different sources of acoustic variation. I present data on the rhesus macaques' (M. mulatta) coo vocalization and attempt to establish some of the causes of acoustic variation. A large proportion of the variation observed was due to differences between individuals and to putative changes in arousal, not to differences in social context. Specifically, results from a discriminant‐function analysis indicated that coo exemplars were accurately assigned to the appropriate individual, but vocal “signatures” were more variable in some contexts than in others. Moreover, vocal signatures may not always be reliable cues to caller identity because closely related individuals sound alike. Rhesus macaque coos evidently provide sufficient acoustic information for individual recognition and possibly kin recognition, but are unlikely to provide sufficient information about an external referent.
Social Organization of North Island Brown Kiwi: Long‐term Pairs and Three Types of Male Spacing Behaviour
Authors: Taborsky Barbara , Taborsky Michael 
Published: May 2010

AbstractWe observed 51 kiwi by radiotracking for an average period of 2.3 months each, in Waitangi State Forest, New Zealand. Spacing data for more than one reproductive season are available from 27 individuals, with intervals of up to six years for some of them. Females have a high potential for polyandry, especially in the Waitangi population with a male‐biased sex ratio of 1.4: 1. However, behavioural evidence suggests a monogamous mating system with long‐term pair bonds. Pair members tend to stay close to each other and nearly all observed social interactions were between them. We show that there are three types of male spacing behaviour, which are related to the pairing status. A surplus of fully grown males (22.1% in 1986, 37.3% in 1987) remained unpaired. About half of these bachelor males maintained territories, which were twice the size of paired males' territories. This probably serves to recruit mates. The other half of unpaired males used huge home ranges of six times the size of paired males' territories, overlapping several territories of conspecifics. We have no evidence that these floaters take part in reproduction.
Post‐conflict Behaviour in Long‐tailed Macaques (Macaca fascicularis)
Authors: Aureli Filippo , Schaik Carel P. van 
Published: May 2010

AbstractWe studied the occurrence of social interactions characterizing post‐conflict situations in a group of long‐tailed macaques. Victims of agonistic conflicts showed reconciliation: they had more affiliative contacts with the former aggressor after a conflict than in control periods. There was no evidence for consolation: victims did not contact other groups members than the former aggressor, or specific subsets of group members, earlier after a conflict than in control periods. Victims did not exchange more affiliative contacts with either their own kin or the aggressor's kin during post‐conflict periods. Even though the time spent in allogrooming did not increase after agonistic conflicts, former aggressors were the only group members with which the victim increased the grooming exchange relative to other group members. The victim characteristically showed an increase of agonistic behaviour in post‐conflict situations, a phenomenon labelled redirection. This increase was most pronounced in the first minute after a conflict. The aggressor's kin were targets of post‐conflict aggression relatively more often than other group members. We also examined the interdependence between the only two post‐conflict social events that we could operationally define, namely reconciliation and redirection. Reconciliation occurred more frequently after redirection had taken place, whereas redirection was less likely after reconciliation had taken place. These results indicate that (1) achieving reconciliation has the highest priority for the victim, and (2) aggressors are more likely to grant reconciliation after the victim redirected aggression.
Post‐conflict Behaviour in Long‐tailed Macaques (Macaca fascicularis)
Authors: Aureli Filippo , Schaik Carel P. van 
Published: May 2010

AbstractAfter being the victim of an agonistic conflict, long‐tailed macaques increased the rate of tension‐related activities such as scratching, body‐shake and selfgrooming. This increase indicates that they experienced physiological changes preparing them to cope with the uncertainty of the post‐conflict situation. Indeed, victims of agonistic conflict experienced a higher risk of renewed attacks. However, victims were also involved in social interactions characteristic of post‐conflict situations, namely reconciliation and redirection. These two post‐conflict social events reduced the rate of scratching, body‐shake and selfgrooming. This suggests a faster termination of the stress response. Indeed, the two social events also decreased the likelihood of renewed attacks, one of the causes of the state of uncertainty. Reconciliation is more effective than redirection in this process probably because the restoration of the relationship with the former aggressor allows the victim to resume control of the situation.
Laughter: A Stereotyped Human Vocalization
Authors: Provine Robert R. , Yong Yvonne L. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractLaughter is a common, species‐typical human vocal act and auditory signal that is important in social discourse. In this first quantitative description of laughter, we identified stereotyped features of laugh‐note structure, note duration (x̄ = 75 ms), internote interval (x̄ = 210–218 ms), and a decrescendo that contribute to laughter's characteristic sound. Laugh‐notes and internote intervals have sufficient temporal symmetry and regularity to pass the reversal test; recordings of laughter sound laugh‐like when played in reverse. The stereotypic, species‐typical character of laughter facilitates the analysis of the neurobehavioral mechanisms of laugh detection and generation and the more general problems associated with the production, perception, and evolution of human auditory signals of which speech is a special case.
Harassment of Immigrant Female Mountain Gorillas by Resident Females
Authors: Watts David P. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractResistance to immigration, at least into groups larger than optimum, is an expected manifestation of competition among females in mammals with female transfer and has been reported for several such species. Contrary to this expectation, it had not been seen in mountain gorillas. The transfer of a large number of females into an already large group in 1984–85, however, provoked frequent harassment of the immigrants by resident females. The rate of harassment gradually declined, but was still high compared to smaller groups after three years. The male responsible for most mating activity often intervened to stop harassment between females, and immigrants seemed to use him as a shield against harassment. All immigrants stayed with the group, but three residents eventually emigrated. Several factors probably contributed to the difference from earlier observations: the large number of females, the high degree of relatedness among residents and, perhaps most importantly, constraints on male ability to control female conflict. Several aspects of competition may underly harassment, but its significance for reproduction is unclear.
The Role of Cannibalism in the Reproductive Ecology of the Threespine Stickleback
Authors: FitzGerald Gerard J. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractThis essay describes the role of cannibalism in the reproductive ecology of the threespine stickleback. I describe the various types of cannibalism and discuss how cannibalism has influenced the evolution of male and female reproductive tactics. Differences in the patterns of cannibalism between the sexes, among populations, and between closely related species of sticklebacks are also discussed. Special attention is paid to filial cannibalism and its possible adaptive significance. I also examine the various tactics sticklebacks use to minimize cannibalism as well as the possible consequences of cannibalism for their population dynamics. Because cannibalism occurs in many other animals, I attempt to indicate how the findings of studies of cannibalism in sticklebacks relate to the reproductive ecology of other species.
Temporal Segmentation in Hand Movements of Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and Comparisons with Humans
Authors: Kien Jenny , Schleidt Margret , Schöttner Bernd 
Published: May 2010

AbstractHand movement action units in chimpanzees show temporal segmentation similar to but shorter than that in humans; median durations are 0.9 s in non‐repetitive behaviour and 2.4 s in repetitive behaviour (vs. 2.0 s and 3.0 s in humans: Schleidt 1988; Feldhütter et al. 1990). In neither chimpanzees nor humans does one repetition of a movement within an action unit increase the duration of the action unit; each further repetition of movements in the action unit tends to prolong it by only 0.5–1 s. Thus, in both chimpanzees and humans, there appears to be some presyntactical planning in advance in repetitive hand movements. The quantitative differences in segment length may reflect uniquely human abilities of timing or sequencing muscle contractions. These findings fit well with current hypotheses that syntactical ability in language could have evolved from motor organisation.
Nursing Behavior in Mexican Free‐tailed Bat Maternity Colonies
Authors: McCracken Gary F. , Gustin Mary K. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractThe nursing behavior of Mexican free‐tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis mexicana) was examined in two large maternity cave roosts during six nursing seasons. After depositing pups in large creches, adults return to these creches two or more times daily to nurse. Densities, movements, and roosting associations of pups in creches were documented, and a night‐vision device and infrared‐sensitive video system were used to observe female‐pup reunions and nursing affiliations. Densities of young (< 15 d) pups in creches averaged 4000 pups/m2. Pups moved independently of one another between milk meals. Stable roosting associations among pups were absent, and females evidently could not predict where a given pup would be relocated. Upon returning to the creche, females searched for and relocated pups using vocal and olfactory cues. Experiments with marked individuals demonstrated that females nursed the same pups on subsequent nights. These same experiments indicated that female/pup recognition was mutual and that the pup participated in reunions by moving toward its putative mother. However, pups also attempted to suckle from other females and 35 instances of apparently successful milk “theft” were observed. Observed milk theft was insufficient to account for the frequency of alloparental nursing that was estimated independently using genotype tests. The high densities of bats within roosts and the lack of stable roosting associations among individuals argue against selection for shared nursing via kin selection and/or reciprocity. Errors in pup recognition, milk‐dumping by females, and adoption by mothers whose own pup had died may occur, but high pup survival to weaning suggests that adoption is rare. The estimate of alloparental nursing obtained from genotype tests may be inflated as a result of increased opportunities for milk theft caused by our disturbance of adults. Current evidence suggests that energetic costs to females of alloparental nursing and searching for pups are compensated by mutualistic benefits obtained from aggregative roosting.
The Response of the Tidepool Sculpin, Oligocottus maculosus, to Chemical Stimuli from Injured Conspecifics, Alarm Signalling in the Cottidae (Pisces)
Authors: Hugie Don M. , Thuringer Pamela L. , Smith R. Jan F. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractThe tidepool sculpin, Oligocottus maculosus, a small, cottiid fish of the Pacific coast of North America, shows reduced movement, less feeding activity, a greater tendency to attach itself to the substrate, and a shift from exposed areas to shelters and crevices when presented with water that has contained injured conspecifics. This alarm reaction does not occur in response to water that has contained uninjured, but disturbed, O. maculosus, or injured guppies, Poecilia reticulata, O. maculosus are not toxic or distasteful to piscine predators. They do possess large, epidermal sacciform cells that may contain the active chemical(s) released by injured individuals. This is the first report of chemical alarm signalling in Cottidae.
Visual Same‐Different Learning, and Transfer of the Sameness Concept by Coatis (Nasua Storr, 1780)
Authors: Chausseil Monika 
Published: May 2010

AbstractFour coatis were trained and tested on a relational concept of sameness‐difference involving two‐dimensional visual patterns. When exposed, after successful training, to a set of 18 novel stimuli all subjects showed significant above‐chance transfer. Performance with stimuli of distinctly different design from the training set was better than with stimuli of similar design. Responding correctly not only to “shape” but also to “color” the subjects applied the sameness concept to a further cue dimension as well. The results are discussed with respect to nonconceptual variables, and learning‐set formation.
Control of Winter Song and Territorial Aggression of Female Robins (Erithacus rubecula) by Testosterone
Authors: Kriner Eva , Schwabl Hubert 
Published: May 2010

AbstractFemale robins aggressively defend territories and sing during the non‐reproductive wintering phase. During this time plasma levels of testosterone are elevated in free‐living females. We investigated if testosterone activates aggression and song by application of the antiandrogen flutamide to captive females during the non‐reproductive wintering phase and of testosterone at the begin of the reproductive spring phase. Antiandrogen treatment during the winter phase did not inhibit aggressive behavior, and testosterone treatment during spring did not facilitate it. Although females were aggressive in winter they did not sing in the aviary. However, testosterone treatment in spring induced song. These results suggest that elevated winter levels of testosterone induce song but not defense of a territory in female robins.
Can Threespine Sticklebacks Learn when to Display?
Authors: Losey George S. , Sevenster Piet 
Published: May 2010

AbstractDevelopmental studies have indicated that experience is frequently required to produce coordinated agonistic behavior. Learning when to show a threat display could be the proximate mechanism. This paper examines the effects of punishing threat displays with an electric shock. We predicted that shocked fish should decrease their use of threat, but the prediction was not borne out. If anything, the incidence of threat may have increased with punishment, apparently due to an inherent motivational conflict. Constraints against learning not to show threat displays could have been favored by: 1) selection for truthful communication, 2) complexity of aggressive contests, and 3) parallel use of the threat action pattern as a manœvre to deflect bites and minimize damage during painful attacks.