Showing papers in "Behaviour in 2018"
TL;DR: The current literature on the interactions between maternal care, attachment formation, and the socialisation period and their potential consequences on adult dog behaviour are summarized and suggestions for future research are provided.
Abstract: Behavioural disorders are a major reason for euthanasia and sheltering of pet dogs. The prevention and treatment of behavioural disorders requires a better understanding of the underlying causes. Early life experiences, such as maternal care, attachment and socialisation, have long lasting and serious consequences for the behavioural and physiological development of an individual. The complex interplay between these factors is likely to have consequences for the future dog-owner bond and the vulnerability to develop behavioural disorders. Here, we summarise the current literature on the interactions between maternal care, attachment formation, and the sensitive socialisation period and their potential consequences on adult dog behaviour. Based on the findings we highlight gaps in knowledge and provide suggestions for future research which are necessary to formulate recommendations for pet dog breeding and socialisation.
53 citations
TL;DR: For example, this article found that a male with high Bonacich power formed coalitions with relatively many other males who were also central in the coalition network, i.e., he was strongly connected to powerful others.
Abstract: Male dominance hierarchies occur in many group-living primates and some non-primate mammals. Variation in aspects of agonistic relationships such as how many dyads show bidirectionality in aggression leads to variation in dominance hierarchies along a continuum from egalitarian (relatively small agonistic power differences between adjacently-ranked individuals, shallow hierarchies) to despotic (relatively large differences, steep hierarchies). Ranks usually depend mostly or entirely on individual characteristics that influence fighting ability (e.g., body size) and show inverse-U shaped relationships to age. However, coalitionary support sometimes also influences ranks. Chimpanzees ( Pan troglodytes ) form multi-male, multi-female communities within which males compete for status. Males typically form dominance hierarchies, and data from multiple study show that rank is positively related to paternity success. Males also often form coalitions and some dyads form long-term alliances. Effective coalitionary support can help individuals improve and maintain their ranks, and some evidence supports the hypothesis that coalitionary aggression generally, and the positions that males hold in coalitions networks specifically, influences paternity success. Hierarchy steepness varies among communities and within communities over time; variation in the number of prime-aged males per community is a likely source of this variation. Long-term data from an extremely large chimpanzee community with unusually many males, at Ngogo, Kibale National Park, Uganda, are largely consistent with previous analyses of male chimpanzee dominance hierarchies, but show several notable contrasts. Males at Ngogo formed significantly linear hierarchies and hierarchy steepness was greater than expected if the outcomes of agonistic interactions were random. However, variation in steepness did not show the significant inverse relationship to the number of “prime-aged” males documented for other chimpanzee communities and average steepness was high given the large number of males. Ranks showed an inverse-U shaped relationship to age, although individual rank trajectories varied considerably, but males attained their highest lifetime ranks at later ages and maintained relatively high ranks to later ages than those at other chimpanzee research sites. Two measures of coalition networks, strength and Bonacich power, showed significant positive relationships with male ranks. Strength is the rate at which males joined coalitions. Bonacich power is a measure of network centrality that assesses a male’s relational power, or influence (Bonacich, 1987): a male with high Bonacich power formed coalitions with relatively many other males who were also central in the coalition network, i.e., he was strongly connected to powerful others. On average, males also attained maximum values for these and other network measures relatively late and maintained relatively high values to relatively late ages. High coalition network strength, Bonacich power, and eigenvector centrality early in adulthood were associated with high peak ranks at later ages. However, the direction of causality between participation in coalition networks and ranks is not yet clear, and the effects of body size on dominance ranks and individual rank trajectories remains to be explored. Ngogo is a favourable habitat for chimpanzees and survivorship there is unusually high; this presumably facilitates the ability of males to maintain high competitive ability longer than at other sites and shifts rank trajectories toward older ages and leads to relatively steep hierarchies despite the fact that many male dyads have similar competitive ability. Future work will assess the impact of coalitions on dominance relationships in more detail and the relationship of coalitionary aggression to paternity success.
27 citations
TL;DR: This research surveyed birds of Altai Region, Northern Xinjiang during June-July of 1991 and recorded 120 species; among them 40 were new records of the region and Eurasian Honey Buzzard and Black-winged Pratincole were new record of China.
Abstract: Data collection was funded by Defra. MJS is funded by a Natural Environment Research Council grant (NE/M004546/1) awarded to RAM, DJH, DPC, MB and RJD.
24 citations
TL;DR: It is concluded that this fish species displays TIR and discussed that TIR is prevalent in territorial animals in which the dear enemy effect is common, and suggests that focal fish recognised neighbour N B as a familiar stranger but probably punished N B that moved beyond its territory.
Abstract: True individual recognition (TIR), the ability to distinguish multiple familiar members individually, is more elaborate than class-level recognition, and evidence for the ability to perform TIR is reported from primates, some other social mammals, birds and lizard in vertebrates. These animals exhibit a highly social structure, wherein TIR is essential for their social interactions. Such high sociality has been documented in fish, but clear evidence of TIR has been limited. The cichlid, Neolamprologus pulcher , a cooperative breeder that guards a territory, exhibits the dear enemy relationship. Here, we show that this fish distinguishes two familiar neighbours individually, i.e., TIR ability, using one-way mirrors in experimental tanks. Focal fish established the dear enemy relationship with two neighbours, N A and N B , and displayed limited aggression towards these familiar neighbours. However, their aggressiveness towards neighbour N B increased when they were shifted from the original side of the tank after N A was removed, suggesting that they distinguished N B from N A or regarded N B as a stranger. Interestingly, this aggression level against the shifted neighbour N B largely decreased within 1 min. This decrease contrasted with the longer and more frequent aggressiveness towards unfamiliar strangers. These results suggest that focal fish recognised neighbour N B as a familiar stranger but probably punished N B that moved beyond its territory, that is, betrayed the dear enemy relationship. We prevented the effects of the behavioural reactions of exposed individuals using a one-way mirror. Thus, we conclude that this fish species displays TIR and discuss that TIR is prevalent in territorial animals in which the dear enemy effect is common.
18 citations
TL;DR: A broad overview of how network and genomic approaches have each been used to address questions regarding the interaction of social behavior and infectious disease is given, and current work and future horizons for the merging of these techniques are discussed.
Abstract: Utilization of contact networks has provided opportunities for assessing the dynamic interplay between pathogen transmission and host behavior. Genomic techniques have, in their own right, provided new insight into complex questions in disease ecology, and the increasing accessibility of genomic approaches means more researchers may seek out these tools. The integration of network and genomic approaches provides opportunities to examine the interaction between behavior and pathogen transmission in new ways and with greater resolution. While a number of studies have begun to incorporate both contact network and genomic approaches, a great deal of work has yet to be done to better integrate these techniques. In this review, we give a broad overview of how network and genomic approaches have each been used to address questions regarding the interaction of social behavior and infectious disease, and then discuss current work and future horizons for the merging of these techniques.
18 citations
TL;DR: Evidence that mating preferences and personality traits can covary is provided, supporting evolutionary scenarios of assortative mating contributing to the maintenance of personality traits.
Abstract: Consistent individual behavioural differences (‘animal personalities’) are documented across a variety of animal taxa. Sexual selection, especially assortative mating has been suggested as a possible mechanism contributing to the maintenance of different personality types within populations but little is known about non-random pair-formation with respect to personality traits in unconstrained choice tests. We here tested whether female mating preferences were non-random with respect to male and female neophobia in zebra finches ( Taeniopygia guttata ), an important avian model of mate choice and animal personality research. Male and female neophobia was assessed by attaching novel objects to birds’ feeders. Females’ mating preferences were tested with randomly assigned, unfamiliar males in a four-way choice apparatus. Females associated most with males with neophobia scores similar to their own. These results provide evidence that mating preferences and personality traits can covary, supporting evolutionary scenarios of assortative mating contributing to the maintenance of personality traits.
15 citations
TL;DR: Extended maternal separation but not brief leads to adverse behavioural changes and influences the expression of HPA-associated genes in a brain region-specific manner and both groups, HD and MS, showed increased Avp mRNA in the hypothalamus.
Abstract: Early life is an important period for the development of the nervous system and for the programming of behavioural phenotypes in adulthood. In our study, two types of early-life stress were used: prolonged separation of pups from their mothers (for 3 h/day, maternal separation (MS)) and brief separation (for 15 min/day, handling (HD)). We analysed the effects of early-life stress on behaviour and the expression of HPA-associated genes in the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and frontal cortex of male mice. Adult mice in the MS group demonstrated reduced locomotor activity and deficiencies in spatial long-term memory, while the HD showed no significant changes. Additionally, early-life MS resulted in reduced hippocampal Crhr1 mRNA, increased MR/GR mRNA in the hippocampus and hypothalamus. Both groups, HD and MS, showed increased Avp mRNA in the hypothalamus. Thus, prolonged maternal separation but not brief leads to adverse behavioural changes and influences the expression of HPA-associated genes in a brain region-specific manner.
13 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used clay models to test for differences in predation risk in caves vs. forests, and recorded locations of cave salamanders to assess vertical (i.e., wall) vs. non-vertical (e.g., ground) substrate selection in a cave.
Abstract: Habitat selection is driven by many factors, but no one location is likely to be best for all factors; thus, individuals are subject to trade-offs when selecting habitat. Caves provide a clear example of such trade-offs because these habitats are energy deprived. Cave salamanders ( Eurycea lucifuga ) commonly inhabit caves at least in part because this habitat is cool and wet. We tested the hypothesis that caves also provide cave salamanders with a reduction in predation risk. We used clay models to test for differences in predation risk in caves vs. forests and at low (e.g., ground) vs. elevated (e.g., cave wall) positions, and recorded locations of cave salamanders to assess vertical (i.e., wall) vs. non-vertical (e.g., ground) substrate selection in a cave. Overall, a mean of 3.2 models in caves were damaged and a mean of 8.2 were damaged in forests. Cave salamanders selected vertical substrate more often than non-vertical substrate (χ2=794.53, p<0.001), and in caves, low-positioned models were more likely to be damaged than models on walls, although there was no effect of model height in forests. This study suggests that caves provide salamanders a refuge from increased predation pressure, a benefit that likely compensates for the costs of moving between caves and the richer foraging grounds outside them.
12 citations
TL;DR: It is argued that knowledge of preceding ontogenetic conditions will help to elucidate the causes of variation in copulatory behaviour in the bruchid beetle, and that longer copulations are associated with reduced sperm transfer.
Abstract: The effects of temperature on cellular, systemic and whole-organism processes can be short-term, acting within seconds or minutes of a temperature change, or long-term, acting across ontogenetic stages to affect an organism’s morphology, physiology and behavioural phenotype. Here we examine the effect of larval development temperature on adult copulatory behaviour in the bruchid beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus. As predicted by temperature’s kinetic effects, copulation duration was longest at the lowest ambient temperature. However, where ambient temperature was fixed and developmental temperature experimentally varied, males reared at the highest temperature were least likely to engage in copulation, whilst those reared at the lowest temperature copulated for longer. Previous research has shown males reared at cooler temperatures inseminate fewer sperm. Thus, in this species longer copulations are associated with reduced sperm transfer. We argue that knowledge of preceding ontogenetic conditions will help to elucidate the causes of variation in copulatory behaviour.
12 citations
TL;DR: In this article, individual personality traits shape the retention of neophobic predator avoidance in wild-caught guppies, and personality did not influence the initial response of wildcaught Trinidadian Guppies to a novel odour.
Abstract: Neophobic predator avoidance allows prey to reduce the risk of predation but is costly in terms of reduced foraging or courtship opportunities if the novel cues do not represent an actual threat. Consequently, neophobic responses to novel cues should wane with repeated exposures in the absence of an actual threat. We tested the prediction that individual personality traits shape the retention of neophobic predator avoidance in wild-caught guppies. Using extinction trials, we demonstrate that personality (measured as latency to escape or approach a novel object) did not influence the initial response of wild-caught Trinidadian guppies to a novel odour; bolder and shyer guppies both exhibited similarly strong avoidance responses. However, after several exposures, shyer guppies maintain an avoidance response, and bolder guppies no longer respond. Our results highlight the complex nature of the antipredator algorithm of prey, whereby past experience, acute risk, and individual tactics shape neophobic predator avoidance patterns.
12 citations
TL;DR: Behaviour systems theory had its beginnings with Nikolaas Tinbergen's hierarchical systems as discussed by the authors. But this starting point has since been developed within psychology, where it has provided numerous advances.
Abstract: Behaviour systems theory had its beginnings with Nikolaas Tinbergen’s “hierarchical systems”, an aspect of his thinking and writing that he conspicuously left out of his very memorable 1963 manifesto. This starting point has since been developed within psychology, where it has provided numerous advances. Tinbergen’s aspiration for behaviour systems had been principled integration of ethology with physiology, but the bridge among sciences it ultimately provided led to psychology. To an ethology audience, this paper attempts to reintroduce behaviour systems as a part of Tinbergen’s legacy to make accessible the theoretical developments of behaviour systems theory that have occurred outside of ethology over the last several decades. To a psychology audience, the paper serves as a reminder of the ethological origins of behaviour systems. Both sciences and their integration stand to benefit from recognising this point of common heritage.
TL;DR: It is found that the leiothrix was the initiator in most experiments, being apparently dominant over natives, however, the invader was not more aggressive than natives.
Abstract: Behavioural dominance and aggressiveness may be crucial traits facilitating the establishment of invasive species. Few studies considered agonistic interactions between exotic and native bird species in feeding contexts, particularly when the exotic has social habits. We aimed to know if individuals of a social invasive species, the red-billed leiothrix Leiothrix lutea , are: more aggressive; the initiators of the first interaction; and dominant (i.e., won most interactions) over native opponents in a feeding context. We performed an experiment in a closed environment forcing dyadic interactions between an individual of a native species facing a leiothrix individual. We found that the leiothrix was the initiator in most experiments, being apparently dominant over natives. However, the invader was not more aggressive than natives. This can increase the risk of injury for natives because the leiothrix has a relatively larger body size. We discuss possible negative impacts of the leiothrix on native species.
TL;DR: It is found larger networks were more modular with higher subgroup cohesion, but the association’s strength varied by community detection algorithm and substructure measure, confirming that social substructure has epidemiological consequences.
Abstract: Social substructure can influence pathogen transmission Modularity measures the degree of social contact within versus between “communities” in a network, with increasing modularity expected to reduce transmission opportunities We investigated how social substructure scales with network size and disease transmission Using small-scale primate social networks, we applied seven community detection algorithms to calculate modularity and subgroup cohesion, defined as individuals’ interactions within subgroups proportional to the network We found larger networks were more modular with higher subgroup cohesion, but the association’s strength varied by community detection algorithm and substructure measure These findings highlight the importance of choosing an appropriate community detection algorithm for the question of interest, and if not possible, using multiple algorithms Disease transmission simulations revealed higher modularity and subgroup cohesion resulted in fewer infections, confirming that social substructure has epidemiological consequences Increased subdivision in larger networks could reflect constrained time budgets or evolved defences against disease risk
TL;DR: It was found that juveniles decreased activity rates immediately following fledging, likely to avoid detection by snakes and other predators, but increased activity levels throughout the rest of the post-fledging period.
Abstract: Logistical and technological limitations have constrained the characterization of behavioural development in songbirds, particularly during the post-fledging period. Recently, advances in radio-telemetry technology — automated radio-telemetry systems (ARTS) capable of recording continuous, high-resolution spatial-temporal data on radio-tagged birds — have opened the door to more comprehensive examinations of fledgling behaviour. We examined development of activity rates (number of times a bird was determined to have moved per number of detections, per hour) in fledgling Dickcissels using ARTS established at two grassland sites in east-central Illinois, USA. Specifically, we described general patterns of fledgling activity rates and determined the age at which fledglings began exhibiting activity rates like adults. We found that juveniles decreased activity rates immediately following fledging, likely to avoid detection by snakes and other predators, but increased activity levels throughout the rest of the post-fledging period. Peak hours of fledgling activity occurred around 0700 and 1800 h for all ages, with consistently low activity rates at night. On average, fledglings began exhibiting adult-like activity rates approximately 22 days after fledging, around roughly the same time they stopped being fed by adults. While our study provides important insights into development of fledgling behaviour in the Dickcissel, it remains unclear how patterns of behavioural development vary within and among species.
TL;DR: Results show that crayfish altered their behaviour in the presence of odours containing conspecific, as opposed to heterospecific diets, but only from familiar predators, and may be able to determine different threat levels based on the different dietary cues from a potential predator.
Abstract: Aquatic prey often alter their morphology, physiology, and/or behaviour when presented with predatory chemical cues which are heavily influenced by the diet of the predator. We tested the roles that diet and prey familiarity with predators play in the ability of prey to recognize predator threats. Odours from two fish, bass and cichlid fed a vegetarian, protein, heterospecific, and a conspecific diet, were collected and presented to virile crayfish in a choice arena. Our results show that crayfish altered their behaviour in the presence of odours containing conspecific, as opposed to heterospecific diets, but only from familiar predators. A reduced anti-predator response was measured with odours from an unfamiliar predator fed conspecific crayfish. Therefore, crayfish may be able to determine different threat levels based on the different dietary cues from a potential predator, but only when the prey have familiarity with the predators.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors tested whether cowbirds vary the intensity of their signalling across contexts like these, and found that high-intensity displays function within a larger, flexible signalling strategy in this species.
Abstract: Courtship-signalling theory often incorporates the assumption that males must consistently produce the highest-intensity displays they can achieve, thereby indicating their underlying quality to females. Contest-signalling theory, in contrast, assumes that flexible signal performance is routine. The two frameworks thereby suggest conflicting predictions about male flexibility when the same signal operates in both intrasexual and intersexual communication. Sexual competition often occurs within complex social environments where male displays can be received by potential mates, rivals, or both at once. In brown-headed cowbirds’ breeding flocks, for example, multiple males sometimes vie directly for a single female’s attention; at other times males have opportunities to sing to females without interference. We tested whether cowbirds vary the intensity of their signalling across contexts like these. We recorded songs from males courting females both with and without a male competitor in sight. We then played those recordings to solitary, naive females in sound attenuation chambers, and also to a naive aviary-housed flock. The songs males had produced when they could see their competitors were more attractive, eliciting more copulatory postures from naive females and more approaches from birds in the flock. Results suggest high-intensity displays function within a larger, flexible signalling strategy in this species, and the varying audience composition that accompanies social complexity may demand flexible signalling even in classic display behaviours such as birdsong.
TL;DR: How female platypuses demonstrate evasiveness and control of courtship and mating behaviours, and the importance of providing these opportunities in captivity to promote successful breeding are described.
Abstract: Opportunities for studying platypus courtship and mating behaviours in the wild are limited due to the nocturnal and cryptic nature of this species. We report on platypus courtship and mating behaviour from a successful breeding program at Healesville Sanctuary, Victoria, in which platypuses were held as either breeding pairs or trios over seven years. Behaviour was recorded daily on infrared cameras resulting in over 80,000 h of footage that was analysed for activity periods, and courtship and mating behaviours including non-contact and contact courtship, mating and avoidance. Our aims were to describe and quantify courtship and mating interactions between males and females, and to determine if either sex controlled the initiation and continuation of the behaviours. From our observations, we describe a new courtship behaviour, non-contact courtship, which constituted the majority of all mating season interactions between males and females. The time between first and last appearance of a courtship and mating behaviour was 41.0 ± 6.6 days, with the females showing behavioural receptivity for 29.6 ± 5.1 days. Female platypuses used three evasive strategies in relation to approaches by males: avoidance, flight and resistance. Females controlled the duration of 79% of encounters using resistance. For the first time, two females were seen competing with each other over access to the male platypus in their enclosure and for nesting material. Time investment in courtship and mating behaviours was a poor indicator of receptivity and breeding success, and we suggest that breeding failure is more likely to be associated with failure of fertilisation, nest building, embryonic development or incubation. We describe how female platypuses demonstrate evasiveness and control of courtship and mating behaviours, and the importance of providing these opportunities in captivity to promote successful breeding.
TL;DR: This may be the most extensive summary of evolutionary transitions in behaviour yet compiled, finding three major patterns of general evolutionary significance found in 69 phylogenetically independent transitions in 15 groups in 8 families.
Abstract: Imperfect knowledge of ancestral behaviour often hampers tracing behavioural evolution. This limitation is reduced in orb weaving spiders, because spider orb web construction behaviour and the cues used by modern orb-weavers are well-studied and highly conserved. Several species in orb-weaving families build non-orb webs that are clearly derived from orbs, allowing transitions from ancestral to modern behaviours to be described with high confidence. Three major patterns of general evolutionary significance were found in 69 phylogenetically independent transitions in 15 groups in 8 families: ancestral traits were often maintained as units; the most frequent of the eight different types of ancestral trait change was transfer of an ancestral behaviour to a new context; and ‘new’ traits that had no clear homology with ancestral traits were also common. Changes occurred in all major stages of orb construction. This may be the most extensive summary of evolutionary transitions in behaviour yet compiled.
TL;DR: The ability to react with an intensive behavioural pattern to the chemical cues of their predatory snakes may prevent lizards from being detected, and, if detected, dissuade the predator from beginning a pursuit.
Abstract: The ability to early detect a potential predator is essential for survival. The potential of Iberolacerta cyreni lizards to discriminate between chemical cues of their two predatory snakes Coronella austriaca (a non-venomous active-hunter saurophagous specialist) and Vipera latastei (a venomous sit-and-wait generalist) was evaluated herein. A third snake species, Natrix maura , which does not prey on lizards, was used as a pungent control. Thus, the behaviour of I. cyreni was studied regarding four treatments: (1) C. austriaca scent, (2) V. latastei scent, (3) N. maura scent and (4) odourless control. Lizards showed antipredator behaviour (such as slow-motion and tail waving) to C. austriaca and V. latastei chemicals. The antipredatory response was similar for both predators. This ability to react with an intensive behavioural pattern to the chemical cues of their predatory snakes may prevent lizards from being detected, and, if detected, dissuade the predator from beginning a pursuit.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examine how perturbations alter the behaviour of individuals and how, in turn, disease transmission may be impacted, with a focus on the use of network models as a powerful tool.
Abstract: Wildlife are increasingly subject to perturbations, which can impact pathogen transmission and lead to disease emergence. While a myriad of factors influence disease dynamics in wildlife, behaviour is emerging as a major influence. In this review, we examine how perturbations alter the behaviour of individuals and how, in turn, disease transmission may be impacted, with a focus on the use of network models as a powerful tool. There are emerging hypotheses as to how networks respond to different types of perturbations. The broad effects of perturbations make predicting potential outcomes and identifying mitigation opportunities for disease emergence critical; yet, the current paucity of data makes identification of underlying trends difficult. Social network analysis facilitates a mechanistic approach to how perturbation-induced behavioural changes result in shifts in pathogen transmission. However, the field is still developing, and future work should strive to address current deficits. There is particular need for empirical data to support modelling predictions and increased inclusion of pathogen monitoring in network studies.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used behavioural measures collected from five commonly used behavioural tests targeting three personality traits, evaluated their convergence/discrimination through exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and then explored whether the identification of syndrome changed based on the approach we used to quantify personality traits.
Abstract: A multi-trait, multi-test approach to investigate the convergence or discrimination between behavioural tests putatively targeting the same or different animal personality traits has been recommended, yet whether and how the approaches affect the identification of behavioural syndrome(s), the suite of correlated personality traits, requires investigation. Here, we used behavioural measures collected from five commonly used behavioural tests targeting three personality traits, evaluated their convergence/discrimination through exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and then explored whether the identification of syndrome changed based on the approach we used to quantify personality traits. Our results indicated that tests presumably targeting the same personality trait actually measured distinct behavioural aspects. Syndrome defined using correlation changed due to how we identified personality traits, but not when using structural equation models (SEMs). Overall, this study emphasizes that it is critical to clarify the approach and terms we use for ‘personality traits’ in the field of animal personality.
TL;DR: This paper explored the effect of age and group size on vigilance in a precocial species, the domestic fowl ( Gallus gallus domesticus ), and recorded vigilance in groups of various sizes in juveniles and one year later in adults.
Abstract: Vigilance allows prey species to detect predators before it is too late to escape. While the adaptive value of vigilance has become clearer over the years, developmental questions have attracted little attention. I explored the effect of age and group size on vigilance in a precocial species, the domestic fowl ( Gallus gallus domesticus ). I recorded vigilance in groups of various sizes in juveniles and one year later in adults. Vigilance decreased with group size in juveniles and to a lesser extent in adults. Juveniles tested alone showed longer feeding and vigilance bouts than adults reflecting their inexperience with predation threats and more rapid satiation, respectively. Adults in larger groups were more vigilant reflecting the need to monitor aggressive conspecifics in addition to predators. Gradual acquisition of information about risk posed by predators and conspecifics and feeding constraints influenced the expression of vigilance as a function of age in this species.
TL;DR: It is able to confirm that kin discrimination is maintained, resulting in females showing more aggression towards heterospecific females and non-sister clones in a food-limited environment, and that this aggression scales with relatedness.
Abstract: Kin selection explains conditions under which closely related individuals should be less antagonistic towards one another. One benefit of kin selection is a reduction in aggression towards kin in various social contexts, such as foraging. In the gynogenetic Amazon molly, females have been shown to differentiate between clone types, preferring to associate with clonal sisters to non-sisters, regulating their aggressive behaviours accordingly. We ask if Amazon mollies in resource-limited environments retain the ability to regulate aggressive behaviours according to relatedness. We found that focal females regulated their aggressive behaviours depending on partner type. Females spent more time behaving aggressively towards the heterospecific females than either of the clonal lineages, and towards non-sister clones compared to clonal sisters. We are able to confirm that kin discrimination is maintained, resulting in females showing more aggression towards heterospecific females and non-sister clones in a food-limited environment, and that this aggression scales with relatedness.
TL;DR: For instance, this article found that when individuals join members of the opposite sex there is a clear tendency to stop holding mobile phones whilst walking, and they highlighted several possible explanations for holding the device, including the need to advertise status and affluence, to maintain immediate connection with friends and family, and to mitigate feelings related to anxiety and security.
Abstract: The development of mobile phones has largely increased human interactions. Whilst the use of these devices for communication has received significant attention, there has been little analysis of more passive interactions. Through census data on casual social groups, this work suggests a clear pattern of mobile phones being carried in people’s hands, without the person using it (that is, not looking at it). Moreover, this study suggests that when individuals join members of the opposite sex there is a clear tendency to stop holding mobile phones whilst walking. Although it is not clear why people hold their phones whilst walking in such large proportions (38% of solitary women, and 31% of solitary men), we highlight several possible explanation for holding the device, including the need to advertise status and affluence, to maintain immediate connection with friends and family, and to mitigate feelings related to anxiety and security.
TL;DR: The measured parental responses to live snake in 8 nests suggests that fledging in response to ‘jar’ call by old nestlings evolved later than the evolutionary emergence of referential snake alarm calls, and that the ancestral function of ‘Jar’call was probably not related to triggering of fledge inold nestlings.
Abstract: Predator-specific alarm calls may have a variety of context-specific functions. Parents of the oriental tit, Parus minor , use the ‘jar’ call in response to the presence of a snake near the nests, and the nestlings respond by escaping the nest cavity. This specific function can be observed only when nestlings are able to fledge. Do tits use the ‘jar’ call only in a situation when nestlings are physically able to jump out of the nest? We measured parental responses to live snake in 8 nests. The use of ‘jar’ call by parents was not modified by the ability of their nestlings to escape out of the nest. This suggests that fledging in response to ‘jar’ call by old nestlings evolved later than the evolutionary emergence of referential snake alarm calls, and that the ancestral function of ‘jar’ call was probably not related to triggering of fledging in old nestlings.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors performed two field experiments to test whether insectivorous adult birds are attracted to Pyrenean oak trees (Quercus pyrenaica ) treated with MeJa solutions.
Abstract: Plants emit herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) when they are attacked by herbivorous arthropods to attract natural enemies of the herbivores. Previous studies have suggested that insectivorous birds can detect the HIPVs for prey location. The production of HIPVs is partly mediated by the jasmonic acid signalling pathway. Methyl jasmonate is one compound involved in the jasmonic acid signalling pathway. Therefore, spraying of methyl jasmonate (MeJa) solution on plants can induce the emission of volatiles similar to the HIPVs induced by herbivory. We performed two field experiments to test whether insectivorous adult birds are attracted to Pyrenean oak trees ( Quercus pyrenaica ) treated with MeJa solutions. We used artificial larvae to measure bird predation rate. There were no differences in the predation rates of plasticine larvae between control and MeJa treatments, suggesting that insectivorous birds were not attracted to trees treated with MeJa. We also tested whether blue tit nestlings without previous experience in foraging respond to the scent of Pyrenean oak tree leaves treated with MeJa, to test whether the attraction to MeJa-treated trees is innate. A similar number of nestlings performed begging responses when exposed to the scent of leaves of MeJa-treated trees compared to the scent of leaves of control untreated trees. Furthermore, the duration of the first begging was similar in response to the volatiles emitted by MeJa-treated trees and untreated trees. Despite previous evidence suggesting that insectivorous birds are attracted to HIPVs, our results show that neither insectivorous adult birds nor inexperienced nestlings were attracted to trees treated with MeJa. Further studies are needed to disentangle whether the differences in the emission of volatiles between herbivore-infested trees and MeJa-treated trees can explain this lack of attraction to MeJa-treated Pyrenean oak trees.
TL;DR: The function of play bows in dingoes appears consistent with those observed in dogs and wolf puppies, but subtle intraspecific differences were apparent, and warrant further investigation in the genus Canis, as well as the Family Canidae more broadly.
Abstract: Play bows represent a common, highly stereotyped behaviour across the genus Canis . However, much of what we know is limited to the wolf and its domestic derivative, the domestic dog. Here we continue to look at the function of play bows among subspecies/variants of Canis lupus by including the dingo. Comparing dingoes to wolves and dogs may provide further insight into the impact of domestication on play behaviour. We analysed play bows in three-to-six month old dingo puppies and compared the results to previous studies of wolves and dogs. The function of play bows in dingoes appears consistent with those observed in dogs and wolf puppies. However, subtle intraspecific differences (such as the frequency and duration of play bows, and vocalizations during play) were apparent, and warrant further investigation in the genus Canis , as well as the Family Canidae more broadly.
TL;DR: This study contributes to a better understanding of the general antipredatory behaviour in this species of Andean lizard, and will assist in future decisions concerning its conservation.
Abstract: Predatory birds represent the greatest risk for many lizard species. However, little is known about the functional relationship between the escape distance and escape latency of lizards during a rapid bird attack. We hypothesised that escape latency and distance in the Andean lizard species Phymaturus williamsi would increase proportionally, but vary according to the means of escape. Over a three-year period we observed seven types of antipredatory behaviour in 98% P. williamsi lizards on simulated predatory bird attacks. Escape distance and latency were positively correlated. 65% of lizards emerged from their refuge within 2 min of an attack. All of these behaviours were positively correlated with escape latency and distance, although we found the former to be more precise. This study contributes to a better understanding of the general antipredatory behaviour in this species of Andean lizard, and will assist in future decisions concerning its conservation.
TL;DR: There were consistent behavioural differences, or personality, between individuals across time, for dispersal, aggression, and exploration, unrelated to size or sex, in juvenile progeny produced from wild caught rainbow trout.
Abstract: We evaluated the variation in dispersal, exploration, and aggression across time in juvenile progeny produced from wild caught rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) at a critical developmental shift associated with the highest mortality in fish. By testing multiple ecologically relevant behaviours repeatedly in the same individuals, we simultaneously tested multiple hypotheses regarding personality, plasticity, and behavioural syndromes to better understand the innate behavioural variation in a population containing both migratory and resident life histories. There were consistent behavioural differences, or personality, between individuals across time, for dispersal, aggression, and exploration, unrelated to size or sex. The significant repeatabilities (0.10–0.46) indicate that these traits are potentially heritable. Also, we found both habituation in all behaviours and significant differences between individuals in the rate of that habituation, despite no evidence of a behavioural syndrome. The identification of this individual level variation is a step towards understanding which heritable traits selection could influence.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors performed a speaker replacement experiment where red squirrels (N=41) were temporarily removed from their territories and replaced with a speaker broadcasting their own call, an unfamiliar call, or silence.
Abstract: Territoriality arises when the benefits of resources exceed the costs of defending them. The dear enemy phenomenon, where familiar territorial neighbours refrain from intruding on one another and mutually reduce their defensive efforts, allows for reduction of these costs but requires discrimination between conspecifics. We hypothesized that territorial vocalizations in red squirrels ( Tamiasciurus hudsonicus ) are used for this discrimination. We performed a speaker replacement experiment where red squirrels (N=41) were temporarily removed from their territories and replaced with a speaker broadcasting their own call, an unfamiliar call, or silence. Contrary to our prediction, there were no differences in overall intrusion risk among our three playbacks, but the identity of intruders did vary. Existing variation in familiarity within territorial neighbourhoods should be considered, rather than the binary classification of familiar or stranger, when studying dear enemy effects. We also discuss the variable importance of silence in acoustic territorial populations.