Statistical method for testing the neutral mutation hypothesis by DNA polymorphism.

Nine chapters on diverse topics that include: an analysis of whether sociobiology has killed ethology or revitalized it; aims, limitations, and the future of ethology and comparative ethology; the tyranny of anthropocentrism; psychoimmunology; gender differences in behavior; behavioral development.

Perspectives in Ethology

The new Conductivity Bridge derives its bridge source. voltage from a self-contained vacuum tube oscilltor adjusted to approximately 1,000 cycles. Voltage for the amplifier and null indicator tubes is provided by a.builtin D.C. power supply which operates directly from the A.C. power source. 9-324 Conductivity Bridge, without Conductivity Cell, for use with 110 volts 5060 cycle A.C. 9-351.Cosi~uCvity Cell, for use with Conductivity Bridge, constant 0.8, $20.00

The Vertebrate Eye and Its Adaptive Radiation.

The Study of Instinct

Handbook of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa: the Birds of the Western Palaearctic. Volume 2. Hawks to Bustards

Summary Themainpointofourhypothesis‘‘colorationundermines camouflage’’ is that many color patterns in plants undermine the camouflage of invertebrate herbivores, especially insects, thus exposing them to predation and causing them to avoid plant organs with unsuitable coloration, to the benefit of the plants. This is a common caseof‘‘theenemyofmyenemyismyfriend’’andavisual parallel of the chemical signals that plants emit to call wasps when attacked by caterpillars. Moreover, this is also a common natural version of the well-known case of industrial melanism, which illustrates the great importance of plant-based camouflage for herbivorous insects and can serve as an independent test for our hypothesis. We claim that the enormous variations in coloration of leaves, petioles and stems as well as of flowers and fruits undermine the camouflage of invertebrate herbivores, especially insects. We assume that the same principle might operate in certain animal– parasite interactions. Our hypothesis, however, does not contrast or exclude other previous or future explanations ofspecifictypesofplantcoloration.Traitssuchascoloration that have more than one type of benefit may be selected for by several agents and evolve more rapidly than ones with a single type of advantage. BioEssays 26:1126–1130, 2004. 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

/pdf/plant-coloration-undermines-herbivorous-insect-camouflage-391zh430mz.pdf

Plant coloration undermines herbivorous insect camouflage

Visual fields were determined in alert restrained birds using an ophthalmoscopic reflex technique. The region of binocular overlap is relatively small: maximum width of 20° occurs approximately 15° be

Visual Fields in Short-Toed Eagles, Circaetus gallicus (Accipitridae), and the Function of Binocularity in Birds

The response of six groups of captive, handreared jackdaws, Corvus monedula L. (Aves), to a novel space was tested. Birds were tested in groups and were free to make contact with the novelty or remain in a familiar area. The individual manner of response was related to the social position of the individual. i) Exploratory behaviour occurred in bouts. Familiarization with the novelty was mostly gradual, but in some groups after an initial delay, the entire group began to explore and then to enter the novel space very rapidly ("avalanche"). ii) In each group one or two birds performed most of the early exploration, and termed "initiators". iii) The initiator in each group was distinguished from all others by duration and by frequency measures. Both for approach and for entering of the novel space (a) birds that scored high on the frequency measure, scored high also on the duration measure, (b) birds that scored high on either measure, for the approach, were the most likely to score high on that measure for the entering. iv) In all six groups the "initiators" were sociall mid or low ranking birds. v) Top ranking birds were distinguished from all others by the combination of two features; (a) they did not act as initiators, and (b) they were not the last to peak in their duration inside the novel space. It is argued that top ranking birds are more conservative, and that it benefits them as they have relatively more to lose and less to gain by being exploratory. The converse is true for mid or low ranking birds, which may benefit by exploiting resources outside the reach of the high ranking birds.

Relationships Between Social Structure and Response To Novelty in Captive Jackdaws, Corvus Monedula L. Ii. Response To Novel Palatable Food

Restoration of coral reefs is generally studied under the most favorable of environmental conditions, a stipulation that does not always reflect situations in the field. A 2-year study (2005–2007), employing the “reef gardening” restoration concept (that includes nursery and transplantation phases), was conducted in Bolinao, Philippines, in an area suffering from intense human stressors. This site also experienced severe weather conditions, including a forceful southwesterly monsoon season and three stochastic environmental events: (1) a category 4 typhoon hit the Bolinao's lagoon (May 2006) impacted farmed corals; (2) heavy rains (August 2006) caused seepages of freshwater, followed by reduced salinity that impacted transplanted colonies; and (3) a bleaching event (June 2007) caused by warming of seawater, severely impacted both nursery and transplanted corals. This study analyzes the effects of these natural catastrophes on restoration efforts, and presents the successes and failures of recently used restoration instruments. Our results show that (1) in the nursery phase, consideration should be paid to depth-flexible constructions and tenable species/genotypes prioritization and (2) for transplantation acts, site/species deliberation, timing, and specific site selections should be taken into account. Only the establishment of large-scale nurseries and large transplantation measures and the adapting of restoration management to the frequently changing environment may forestall extensive reef degradation due to the combination of continuous anthropogenic and worsening global changes.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2009.00647.x

Coral Reef Restoration (Bolinao, Philippines) in the Face of Frequent Natural Catastrophes

SUMMARY In great cormorants ( Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis ), corneal
refractive powers, determined by photokeratometry, ranged between 52.1
diopters (52.1 D) and 63.2 D. Photorefractive reflexes, determined by infrared
video photorefraction, indicated that in voluntary dives the cormorants
accommodate within 40-80 ms of submergence and with myopic focusing relative
to the photorefractor attained when prey was approximately one bill length
from the plane of the eye. Underwater, the pupils were not constricted and
retained diameters similar to those in air. These results support previously
reported capacities of lenticular changes in amphibious birds yet do not fully
correspond with earlier reports in terms of the coupling of iris constriction
with accommodation, and time course.

/pdf/corneal-power-and-underwater-accommodation-in-great-51up51nle8.pdf

Gadi Katzir

Papers

Plant coloration undermines herbivorous insect camouflage

Visual Fields in Short-Toed Eagles, Circaetus gallicus (Accipitridae), and the Function of Binocularity in Birds

Relationships Between Social Structure and Response To Novelty in Captive Jackdaws, Corvus Monedula L. Ii. Response To Novel Palatable Food

Coral Reef Restoration (Bolinao, Philippines) in the Face of Frequent Natural Catastrophes

Corneal power and underwater accommodation in great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis).