bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Intraspecific Geographical Variation in Chemical Food Cue Preferences of Newborn Garter Snakes (Thamnophis Sir Talis)
Authors: Burghardt Gordon M. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractFour litters of garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) born to females captured in three different geographic areas were tested on their responses to an identical series of water extracts prepared from the surface substances of 15 small animals in addition to a distilled water control. Two of the litters came from northern Illinois; the others were from western Iowa and northern Wisconsin. From each litter 21 previously unfed snakes were tested on the fourth and fifth days after birth. The stimuli were presented on cotton swabs, and the number of tongue flicks, as well as attacks and their latencies, were recorded. The four litters shared a basic similarity in the kinds of extracts attacked. However, the relative effectiveness of the extracts varied considerably with the two Illinois litters most alike in their "ranking" of the various stimuli. Thus, geographical differences in responses to chemical cues within a species were shown. A good example of this was seen in the responses to the fish and earthworm extracts. While the two Illinois litters attacked both frequently, the Wisconsin litter attacked the fish much more than the worms and vice-versa for the Iowa litter. Correlations between the various response measures are presented also.
The Behavior of Stridulation in Orthoptera Ensifera
Authors: Nielsen Erik Tetens , Dreisig Hans 
Published: April 2008

AbstractIsolated males of the ensiferous Orthoptera stridulate under natural conditions with regular intervals. The main subject of the work described in this paper is an attempt to clarify the interrelationship between internal and external conditions activating this habit. To this end observations were made of several species both in the field and in the laboratory under controlled conditions, in order to establish the relation between the occurrence of stridulation - commencement, duration and intensity - and the prevailing environmental factors. During the work was established the following working hypothesis which covers all the observations: The stridulation is an effect of a continuously produced sensitizing agent which at a certain level releases the activity; the rate of increase of sensitization is correlated with temperature. The threshold of release is higher at high illumination and at high temperature than in darkness and at low temperature. During the activity' the sensitization is reduced to a low level. Reduction in illumination releases also spontaneous motoric activity and, at least in G. domesticus, also feeding. These activities prevail over stridulation, so that the song will first commence after a certain lapse of time, the period of latency. At the beginning of stridulation there is an increase in intensity during an interval of similar duration, the period of increment.
Effect of Flower Shapes and Nectar Guides On the Behaviour of Foraging Honeybees
Authors: Free J.B. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractI. Honeybees were trained to collect syrup from coloured discs and then presented with a choice of 'model' flowers. 2. The colour of a model was an important distinguishing feature, but its scent was even more important. A foreign odour made the models less attractive than no odour. 3. The size of a training model did not influence the size of model later chosen, but the bees preferred radially symmetrical to bilaterally symmetrical models, and models with a disruptive outline to circular models, even though trained to circular ones. 4. Adding nectar guides to a model increased its attractiveness, independently of conditioning ; dotted lines were more attractive than continuous lines, and a group of dots was more attractive than a black circle in the centre of a model. Adding a disruptive outline to a model similarly increased attractiveness and effects of a disruptive outline and nectar guide lines were additive. However, a limit was soon reached in which more guide lines or further segmentation failed to increase attractiveness. 5. Bees showed no preference to alight in the centres of circular models, and preferred the edges of the petaloid or star-shaped models. 6. Nectar guide lines had a directing function only when the bees had learned to seek food at a particular site in relation to them. Training to a point where nectar guide lines converged was quickly achieved, and could be transferred to models of other types. A nectar guide ring in the centre of a model sometimes slightly increased the proportion of visits to its centre, but conditioning was again necessary to obtain much effect. 7. Bees without previous training were attracted to a black central area, and this was still more effective after training. The bees' behaviour was not affected by attempts to give models an illusion of depth.
Interactive Behaviour of Puffins (Fratercula Arctica L.) and Skuas (Stercorari Us Parasiticus L.)
Authors: Grant P.R. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractPuffins fly to their burrows with food (fish) in their beaks for the single chick they raise. Skuas chase puffins and induce them to drop their food. If the skuas do not catch the falling food before it reaches the ground gulls drive the skuas away from the food and secure it for themselves. These interactions were studied quantitatively for two weeks at a breeding colony of puffins at Vik on the mainland of Iceland. The only conspicuous response of the puffins to the skuas was one of avoidance at the end of the breeding season when the frequency of arrival of breeding puffins at the colony was low; the puffins turned around in flight and flew back towards the sea. Some of the characteristics of chases which ended with food being released by the puffins were identified. Chases involving more than one skua tended to be more successful (i.e. food released) than those with one skua. Chases of puffins away from the colony were more successful than those towards the colony. Chases of incoming puffins were more successful when initiated far from the colony than when initiated close to it. Low flying puffins appeared to be chased preferentially. From these observations some idea can be gained of the way in which selection acts upon the puffins and skuas. For the skua there appear to be optimal positions from which to start chasing a food-carrying puffin, and selection acts against those skuas which choose incorrect positions and gain no reward after expending much energy in a chase. For the puffin there is a selective advantage when returning to the colony with food for the chick in flocking with non-breeding birds without food. This stratagem maximizes the difficulties of the skua detecting a food-carrying puffin early enough to start a chase with a chance of success. Late breeding by the puffin is selected against because, when the other parents have left the colony, it is comparatively easy for a skua to identify and successfully attack a food-carrying puffin. The difficulties of avoiding a chase by a skua under these conditions are reduced if the puffin delays its final flight to the colony until the skuas are either absent or 'out of position'. Selection acts against those puffins which do not take this avoiding action.
Individual and Breed Differences in Approach and Withdrawal in Dogs
Authors: Plutchik Robert 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe study was concerned with measuring patterns of approach and withdrawal in four breeds of dogs; namely: beagles, wire-haired fox terriers, basenjis and Shetland sheep-dogs. Each dog was exposed to a variety of stimuli including : a black rubber snake, a bone, a life-sized head of a clown, a mirror, a live puppy, etc. Behaviors of approach or withdrawal in relation to each stimulus were rated, and in addition, contact time, gridcrossings, latency and urinations were also recorded. Marked breed and sex differences were found on almost all measures. The beagles appeared to withdraw the most and the terriers were the most active and approachful. Most of the measures were found to show high retest reliability. The data support the view that temperamental differences may be determined to a considerable degree by hereditary factors, and that multiple measures are necessary for unambiguously assessing the behavior of organisms.
Ontogeny of Parent-Contacting in Young Cichlasoma Citrinellum (Pisces, Cichlidae)
Authors: Noakes David L.G. , Barlow George W. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAdult Cichlasoma citrinellum are polychromatic. About 92% of the adults of the population studied have a species-typical gray and black color pattern. The other 8%o are partially or completely xanthic. During the parental phase young nibble at the parents' bodies, apparently eating material from the surface. Such contacting behavior was also observed in nature as a regular phenomenon. Field observations suggested that the young were contacting the male parent more than the female, and that the amount of contacting was inversely related to the availability of food for the young. Contacting is not essential for survival in aquaria. Young raised in isolation from parents have survival and growth not significantly different from those raised with parents. The amount of contacting by young in aquaria is inversely related to their feeding: Hunger increases the amount of contacting. There is no apparent diurnal rhythm of contacting. Variations are related to the time of feeding. Contacting is shown by all young in aquaria. Initially young contact male and female parents about equally, regardless of color. At this stage contacting appears to be in proportion to the surface area available on each parent. Contacting changes with the age of the young. With increasing age, they contact a gray parent progressively more than a xanthic one. Also, they contact the male parent increasingly more than the female. These two preferences are apparently independent. Young, isolated from their parents in all respects but visually, did not develop preferences in contacting: When first exposed to parents, young fish, regardless of age, contacted each parent relatively the same amount. The continuous sight of their parents and of their siblings developing the contacting preferences was not sufficient for these semi-isolated young to develop the preferences. Hence, this development is not due just to changes in the young and/or the parents, but must involve direct experience. The experience of contacting a particular set of parents has an effect, of relatively short duration, on subsequent contacting preferences of the young. They learn the color and sex correlated factor of each parent. When tested against other parents, both sex and color play a role, but the natural banded color pattern appears to be more important than maleness. Parents, in pairs or individually, will accept other young of their species that are the same age or younger than their own. Older young are chased and eaten. Young can be raised in isolation and successfully re-introduced to their parents. And parents can be exchanged between families. In both such situations, both parents and young soon settle down and behave in typical fashion toward each other. The discussion centers on the possible bases for these preferences of the young and their development. Also considered are the origin of contacting as an alternate source of nutriment for the young, and its evolution within the Cichlidae.
The Importance of Mimic Pattern and Position in an Artificial Mimicry Situation by
Authors: Shideler Richard T. 
Published: April 2008

Abstract"Batesian" mimicry was studied in a laboratory situation using caged starlings as the predator and painted mealworms as the artificial prey. Various mimic patterns bearing imperfect resemblances to the model, with the patterns on segments of the mimic different from those of the model, were offered to the birds to test whether the birds responded differently to the various combinations of patterns and positions. The experimental procedure consisted of offering each bird 50 models, 50 mimics, and 100 edibles over ten-day period. Models were all painted with a uniform green pattern and dipped in quinine dihydrochloride. Mimics were painted green with one of eight patterns (seven imperfect, and one perfect imitation) and dipped into distilled water. Edibles were painted with colorless paint and dipped into distilled water. Each mealworm was presented singly, and the bird responded by pecking, eating or not touching the worm. The mimics were eaten significantly less than the edibles, and the birds were able to generalize from the model to the mimics. Even the least perfect mimic escaped some predation. The time required to eat mimics was significantly greater than the time required to eat edibles. The birds could discriminate between some patterns and positions which were eaten less often than were others. Three pattern groups (APBFC, DE, and G) resulted. Position was also shown to be important. The results of this study support the micromutational theory of evolution.
Stridulation and Its Significance in the Genus Cenocorixa (Hemiptera, Corixidae)
Authors: Jansson Antti 
Published: April 2008

Abstract1) In the genus Cenocorixa both males and females are able to produce stridulatory signals by rubbing specialized stridulatory pegs (pars stridens), located anterobasally on the fore femora, against sharp edges of the head (plectrum). 2) The stridulatory signals of Cenocorixa are species and sex specific. The main differences between the signals of various species are in the temporal pattern of pulse-trains and in the amplitude of the signals. 3) The male signal functions as an agonistic signal serving to space out individuals. Males in most species will answer to almost any stridulatory signals, and will usually approach the source of the sound, nudge the other stridulating specimen, and often chase the pursued specimen. Both intraspecific and interspecific, as well as inter-generic interactions between the males were observed. 4) Stridulation is important in behavior leading to successful copulations. Male stridulation, besides functioning as an agonistic signal, also functions as a calling signal facilitating pair-formation. Receptive females respond to the stridulatory signals from a conspecific male by remaining stationary and stridulating (= agreement signal). The males orientate directly towards the female according to the agreement signal; successful copulations were only observed after such signal recognition. No courtship display was observed in any of the species. 5) Both males and females of Cenocorixa are able to discriminate between the signals of the conspecific opposite sex and all other signals. Females answer only to the conspecific male call and males show both stridulatory response and directly oriented searching behavior only when induced by a conspecific female call. Thus, stridulation functions in the premating isolation of the species in this genus.
Effects of Parental Colouration On the Mate Preference of Offspring in the Zebra Finch, Taeniopygia Guttata Castanotis Gould
Authors: Walter Margaret J. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractA study was carried out to show the effect of early experience on later mate selection in the zebra finch, Taeniopygia guttata castanotis Gould. The morphological character, colour, was chosen and two colour types were used - the normal-coloured and the recessive mutant, white. Three crosses (normal by normal; normal by white; white by white) were established and the young from each cross were removed from their parents at the age of 28 days and placed in one of three experimental groups (visual-auditory isolation; visual isolation; sexual isolation) for a period of eight weeks. At the end of this period the birds were sexually mature and were given a choice test between a white and a normal-coloured bird of the opposite sex to that being tested. Results clearly show that the male zebra finch selects his mate on the basis of previous experience with respect to colour. All normal by normal cross males selected a nomal-coloured mate and all white by white cross males a white mate. Males from the normal by white cross showed a random choice of coloured mate. This is not a genetically determined characteristic since male zebra finches will imprint on a different species if reared by it (IMMELMANN, 1969). Female zebra finches do not imprint; regardless of parental colour they invited the normal-coloured male to court. It was found that where imprinting occurs its effects are absolute and are not altered by subsequent experience, and that domestication does not affect imprintability.
Habituation To Auditory Stimuli in Mice
Authors: Scourse N.J.S. , Hinde R.A. 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
Mice subjected to auditory stimuli (clicks containing ultrasonic components, tones, or combinations of the two) once every 30 seconds showed a variety of responses. The initial orienting response and static exploration waned in about 5 minutes. There was also a longer-lasting increase in exploratory behaviour, elicited by the clicks and/or the tones, which waned after 3 hours. Finally jerks and other movements elicited primarily during sleep by the click components (though they could also be elicited from waking animals with a more intense stimulus) laster for 49 hours or more. Thus the various types of response elicited by auditory stimuli wane at different rates: the variation in habituation rate appears not to be merely a consequence of stimulus intensity.
Hunger as a Catalyst in Aggression
Authors: Rohles Frederick H. , Wilson Linda M. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractUnder thermal conditions of 90° F 50% RH and a subject density of I subject per 0.125 sq. ft, two strains of inbred mice, C-57 (aggressive) and A/J (docile) were tested for aggressive behaviour following food deprivation periods of 0, 24, 36, and 48 hours. The greatest amount of aggression occurred in the 24 hours deprivation group of C-57 subjects whereas the 36 hour hungry A/J animals were most aggressive. Metabolism as evidenced by activity level and extent of food deprivation is suggested as the primary determinant of aggressive behaviour when temperature and subject-density are held constant.
Examination of Agonistic Behavior By Character Analysis I. the Spider Crab Microphrys Bicornutus
Authors: Hazlett Brian A. , Estabrook George F. 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
1) The influence of several classes of factors on the agonistic behavior of the spider Microphrys bicornutus were analyzed by character analysis. 2) Static factors (sex, size, color phase, hunger state) were found to have much less influence on the behavior patterns shown in a fight than the behaviors executed by the other animal. 3) The amount of communication between crabs during a fight ranged from 1.00 bits (act 2 to 3) up to 1.57 bits (act 4 to 5). The uncertainty about a given act was reduced by knowledge of the previous act (by the other animal) anywhere from 31% (act 2 to 3) up to 81% (next-to-last-to-last act).
The Social Organisation of Antelope in Relation To Their Ecology
Authors: Jarman P.J. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe types of social organisation displayed by the African antelope species have been assigned in this paper to five classes, distinguished largely by the strategies used by the reproductively active males in securing mating rights, and the effects of those strategies on other social castes. The paper attempts to show that these strategies are appropriate to each class because of the effects of other, ecological, aspects of their ways of life. The paper describes different feeding styles among antelope, in terms of selection of food items and coverage of home ranges. It argues that these feeding styles bear a relationship to maximum group size of feeding animals through the influence of dispersion of food items upon group cohesion. The feeding styles also bear a relationship to body size and to habitat choice, both of which influence the antelope species' antipredator behaviour. Thus feeding style is related to anti-predator behaviour which, in many species, influences minimum group size. Group size and the pattern of movement over the annual home range affect the likelihood of females being found in a given place at a given time, and it is this likelihood which, to a large extent, determines the kind of strategy a male must employ to achieve mating rights. The effects of the different strategies employed by males can be seen in such aspects of each species' biology as sexual dimorphism, adult sex ratio, and differential distribution of the sexes.
The Food Searching Behaviour of Two European Thrushes
Authors: Smith James N.M. 
Published: April 2008

Abstract1. The movement path of a predator will clearly be an important determinant of its ability to encounter and subsequently attack suitable prey items. Previous work on this aspect of searching behaviour has been mainly carried out on invertebrates, while this study describes the movement paths of two bird predators, the european blackbird and the song thrush (collectively referred to as 'thrushes') on a grass meadow in central Oxford. 2. The paths of foraging thrushes are divided up into natural units consisting of a series of alternating moves and pauses. A method of mapping these moves is presented (Figs 2, 3). 3. The large scale movements of the thrushes on the meadow was not uniform and this was probably related to non-uniformity in the environment, possibly including factors influencing feeding success (Figs 4, 6). 4. The durations of the moves and pauses were measured from cine film and video tape records. Only between one sixth and one tenth of the total foraging time was spent in actual movement, the remainder probably being spent largely in scanning for, or attacking, potential prey objects (Figs 7, 8). 5. Measures of the individual move lengths and angles. turned between successive moves were taken from the maps (Figs 3, 9), and the average speeds of movement were calculated for each track. Song thrushes and female blackbirds made longer moves than male blackbirds, and female blackbirds moved across the meadow at a higher overall speed than male blackbirds or song thrushes (Tables 1-4). 6. Methods are presented for describing the 'rules of movement' of the thrushes across the study meadow. When feeding mainly on earthworms, thrushes tended to make sequences of three, or possibly more, moves that were similar in length, and to make pairs, triplets, and possibly bigger groupings of alternating left and right turns. The size of each move was independent of the sign of the preceding turn and vice versa. The tendency of successive turns to alternate in sign, combined with the relatively restricted size of turns between moves, produced an ongoing search path, thus avoiding the pitfall of searching the same ground twice in a short time.
Social Interactions in the Solitary Wasp Cerceris Simplex (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) by
Authors: Alcock John 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe solitary wasp Cerceris simplex exhibits a variety of social interactions. In a nesting aggregation of this species females often abandoned old nests (voluntarily and involuntarily) and attempted to usurp burrows occupied by other females. These attempts were sometimes successful although they often failed forcing the searching female to hunt for still another burrow. Alternatively two or more wasps might provision the same nest for varying periods of time. It may be that nest-stealing behaviour has been, in some cases, a preliminary stage to the evolution of semi-social colonies in the Hymenoptera. This behaviour increases the probability that a female will try to enter and provision an already occupied nest; if the would-be parasite and the original occupant tolerate one another they could enjoy a variety of advantages through mutual occupation of a nest, including a reduction of the incidence of nest usurpation by other conspecifics.