6,998 results on '"Behavioral Ecology"'
Search Results
52. Nesting behaviour and description of mature larva of Lindenius albilabris (Fabricius, 1793) (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae)
- Author
-
P. Olszewski, P. Bogusch, G. Hebda, and E. Budrys
- Subjects
Behavioral ecology ,digger wasps ,predators ,kleptoparasites ,larva ,Zoology ,QL1-991 - Abstract
Nesting habits of the digger wasp Lindenius albilabris (Fabricius, 1793) at two localities in Poland were studied. The female hunts nymphs or adults of plant bugs Lygus rugulipennis Poppius, 1911 and L. pratensis (Linnaeus, 1758), depositing up to 10 individuals per cell, depending on their size. Nests are built in a wide variety of sandy habitats, on dirt roads, and in wastelands. The nest consists of a 10–12 cm long main burrow and one to three cells. Males are usually found on flowers of wild carrots Achillea millefolium, Daucus carota, Peucedanum oreoselinum, Pimpinella sp. and Tanacetum vulgare. The nest kleptoparasite Metopia argyrocephala was recorded in nests of this species. The mature larva is first described in this study and its morphology is compared with other species of the genus.
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
53. Using Machine Learning to Identify Associations between the Environment, Occurrence, and Outcomes of Songbird Displacements at Supplemental Feeders
- Author
-
Conner S. Philson, Tara A. Pelletier, Sarah L. Foltz, and Jason E. Davis
- Subjects
aggressive behavior ,behavioral ecology ,computerized feeder ,displacements ,environment-behavior interactions ,feeding behavior ,Ecology ,QH540-549.5 ,Animal culture ,SF1-1100 - Abstract
The context and outcome of aggressive interactions between individuals has important fitness consequences. Displacements—an aggressive interaction wherein one individual is chased from a location by another—also have implications for social hierarchy formation and geographic distribution in songbirds. Morphological correlates, like body size, and social correlates, such as dominance rank, have been shown to mediate displacements in songbirds. However, the role of the physical environment, namely temperature, humidity, and time of day, which may influence an individual’s energy needs and thus displacement motivation, has remained understudied. We monitored songbird feeding and displacement behaviors using computerized automated feeders. We observed asymmetric differences across species in displacement involvement. To identify the conditions of the social and physical environment that are associated with the occurrence and outcome of songbird displacements at supplemental feeders, we use the machine learning approach, random forest, which is a novel method to the fields of ornithology and animal behavior. From our random forest models, we found that the attributes of the physical environment (i.e., humidity and the time of day) are associated with the occurrence of a displacement event, whereas the attributes of the social environment (i.e., species of the displacer and displaced individuals) are associated with which species are involved. These results provide context to develop further observational and experimental hypotheses to tease apart the inner workings of these multifactorial behaviors on a larger scale and provide a proof of concept for our analytical methods in the study of avian behavior.
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
54. Sharing is living: The role of habitat heterogeneity in the coexistence of closely related species.
- Author
-
Sanches, Fábio H. C., De Grande, Fernando R., Costa, Tânia M., and Barreto, Rodrigo E.
- Subjects
- *
COEXISTENCE of species , *FIDDLER crabs , *HABITATS , *HETEROGENEITY , *SPECIES , *THERMAL stresses - Abstract
In biologically diverse ecosystems, an essential process to support competing species to coexist is ecological differentiation. Habitat heterogeneity is, hence, important in establishing species abundance and richness, favoring the coexistence of species due to habitat partition. In this context, shading and species thermal tolerance can be good factors to elucidate the role of habitat heterogeneity in the habitat partition among closely related species. Herein, we study shading effects in microhabitat selection, behavior, and physiological limitation on two species of fiddler crabs (Leptuca leptodactyla and Leptuca uruguayensis). Indeed, shading conditions influenced fiddler crabs species proportion over time, with L. leptodactyla more associated with nonshaded/warmer areas while the L. uruguayensis to shaded/cooler ones. They also adjusted their behavior differently from each other to deal with thermal stress. Finally, we have demonstrated that these effects are related to species' physiological limitations. We conclude that biologically diverse ecosystems, such as intertidal regions from estuaries (e.g., mudflats and mangroves), support the coexistence between closely related species by reducing competition due to habitat partition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
55. Nest building in titmice Paridae: Selectivity in bryophyte use.
- Author
-
Rydgren, Knut, Indreeide, Bendik, Slagsvold, Tore, and Lampe, Helene M.
- Subjects
- *
NEST building , *BIRDHOUSES , *NESTS , *GREAT tit , *BLUE tit , *BRYOPHYTES , *PASSERIFORMES - Abstract
In many bird species, reproductive success is dependent on nest quality. However, detailed data on nest composition are scarce, and quantitative analyses have generally used only rough categories, without species identification. Bryophytes dominate the nests of many passerine bird species, but little is known about whether birds have preferences for certain species. In this study, we determined the bryophyte species composition in nests of blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus and great tits Parus major in a forest near Oslo, Norway. We also sampled the abundance of the bryophyte species in plots on the forest floor surrounding a subset of the great tit nests. Blue tits and great tits both used 15 bryophyte species as nest materials, mainly the same pleurocarpous species but in different proportions. The tits preferred highly branched bryophyte species, i.e., Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, and Sanionia uncinata but avoided common forest floor bryophyte species that are sparsely branched. Great tits clearly collected bryophyte species selectively. We also found that bryophyte species content in great tit nests in the same nest box in different years was very similar. Our results also indicated that the great tits collected bryophyte nest materials close to their nests, mostly within 5 m, supporting the view that collecting nest materials is costly. We review several hypotheses to explain why the tits prefer certain species of bryophytes as nest materials. These include handling costs and their suitability as structural materials. We recommend field experiments to test specific hypotheses and to study whether preferences are heritable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
56. Anecdotal Accounts of Manatee Behavior: Conservation and Management, Behavioral Ecology, and Cognition.
- Author
-
Reep, Roger L. and Bauer, Gordon B.
- Subjects
- *
MANATEES , *ANTIPREDATOR behavior , *SENSORY perception , *ANIMAL sexual behavior , *COGNITION , *PREDATION - Abstract
Herein, we report anecdotes of manatee (family Trichechidae) behavior based upon accounts made by experienced observers. We have categorized the anecdotes into the broad categories of Conservation and Management (interactions with boats, people, and capture nets; rehabilitation and release), Behavioral Ecology (navigation, mother-calf interactions, interactions with conspecifics, mating behavior and birthing, anti-predator behavior, foraging and eating), and Cognition (sensory perception; learning, memory, and knowledge; interactions with objects, other species, and people; and mimetic behavior). These are all subjects that pertain to the goals of the Florida Manatee Recovery Plan of 2001. We found that many accounts report similar behaviors, suggesting that these may be fruitful lines of further inquiry. One subcategory, Navigation, appears to offer many research areas amenable to systematic study. The apparent behavioral flexibility and knowledge shown in manatee actions in several domains suggest that investigations of manatee intelligence are likely to be revealing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
57. Bumble Bee Avoidance of Argentine Ants and Associated Chemical Cues.
- Author
-
Miner, Michelle Constanza and Wilson Rankin, Erin E.
- Subjects
- *
POLLINATION by bees , *BUMBLEBEES , *ANTS , *COMPETITION (Biology) , *BEE behavior , *FORAGING behavior , *ANIMAL aggression - Abstract
Bees provide pollination services in both agricultural and natural ecosystems. However, invasive ants that exploit floral nectar in these landscapes can compete with bees for resources, with implications for pollinator resource acquisition, plant fitness, and, ultimately, ecosystem function. While interference competition has been described between bees and nectivorous, non-pollinator antagonists, the behaviors and sensory mechanisms involved remain largely unresolved. Here, we studied the mechanisms by which invasive Argentine ants influence bee nectar foraging behavior. In a series of laboratory assays, we assessed the foraging behavior of bumble bees (Bombus impatiens) in response to live Argentine ants (Linepithema humile) or to a subset of ant chemical cues. Bees were clearly deterred by live ants at a nectar source: they consumed less, fed less frequently, and fed for a shorter duration when live ants were present. Bees were also deterred by a combination of olfactory and gustatory ant chemical cues, consistent with both innate and learned avoidance behavior. Naïve and ant-experienced bees were deterred through chemosensation of ants, feeding less from nectar infused with ant chemicals as compared to nectar lacking ants or their associated cues. Some ant-experienced bees showed a unique behavior, displaying aggression toward ants as well as in response to ant chemicals. The marked effects of this invasive ant on bee foraging behavior—through physical interaction and chemical cues—highlights Argentine ants as a serious pest whose control should be considered when developing pollinator conservation and management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
58. The effect of temperature on fish swimming and schooling is context dependent.
- Author
-
Kuruvilla, Maria, Dell, Anthony, Olson, Ashley R., Knouft, Jason, Grady, John M., Forbes, Jacob, and Berdahl, Andrew M.
- Subjects
- *
FISH schooling , *FISH locomotion , *EFFECT of temperature on fishes , *WATER temperature , *FISHERY products , *STARTLE reaction , *TEMPERATURE effect , *ANIMAL products , *LOW temperatures - Abstract
Temperature is highly influential on the physiology and behaviour of ectotherms. In fish, temperature affects social interactions such as schooling behaviour, a common defence against predation. However, the effect of temperature on the ability of schooling fish to collectively respond to a predator is unknown. Here we used a loom stimulus to simulate an approaching predator that elicited a fleeing response in schooling fish over a range of water temperatures (9–29°C) and group sizes (1–16 fish). While speed and acceleration always exhibited a positive curvilinear response to temperature, the optimal temperature at which performance peaked was different during the predation threat versus when they were unperturbed. Similarly, group‐level metrics were sensitive to temperature immediately after a loom stimulus but showed no response to temperature during unperturbed swimming. The time taken for fish to respond to the loom stimulus was minimal at 20°C. The proportion of fish that startled, during a loom, peaked at 13°C – around the same temperature at which speed, and acceleration was maximum. Taken together, our results suggest that ectothermic fish may be able to compensate for their slower swim speeds at lower temperatures during unperturbed swimming by increasing their sensitivity to startle in response to a predation threat. More generally, we show that in ectotherms the qualitative and quantitative effect of temperature on a behavioural trait may be dependent on the context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
59. Window films increase avoidance of collisions by birds but only when applied to external compared with internal surfaces of windows.
- Author
-
Swaddle, John P., Brewster, Blythe, Schuyler, Maddie, and Anjie Su
- Subjects
ZEBRA finch ,BUILT environment ,KNOWLEDGE gap theory ,DEMOGRAPHIC change ,WAVELENGTHS - Abstract
Window collisions are one of the largest human-caused causes of avian mortality in built environments and, therefore, cause population declines that can be a significant conservation issue. Applications of visibly noticeable films, patterns, and decals on the external surfaces of windows have been associated with reductions in both window collisions and avian mortality. It is often logistically difficult and economically prohibitive to apply these films and decals to external surfaces, especially if the windows are above the first floor of a building. Therefore, there is interest and incentive to apply the products to internal surfaces that are much easier to reach and maintain. However, there is debate as to whether application to the internal surface of windows renders any collision-reduction benefit, as the patterns on the films and decals may not be sufficiently visible to birds. To address this knowledge gap, we performed the first experimental study to compare the effectiveness of two distinct window films when applied to either the internal or external surface of double-glazed windows. Specifically, we assessed whether Haverkamp and BirdShades window film products were effective in promoting the avoidance of window collisions (and by inference, a reduction of collisions) by zebra finches through controlled aviary flight trials employing a repeated-measures design that allowed us to isolate the effect of the window treatments on avoidance flight behaviors. We chose these two products because they engage with different wavelengths of light (and by inference, colors) visible to many songbirds: the BirdShades film is visible in the ultraviolet (shorter wavelength) range, while the Haverkamp film includes signals in the orange (longer wavelength) range. We found consistent evidence that, when applied to the external surface of windows, the BirdShades product resulted in reduced likelihood of collision and there was marginal evidence of this effect with the Haverkamp film. Specifically, in our collision avoidance trials, BirdShades increased window avoidance by 47% and the Haverkamp increased avoidance by 39%. However, neither product was effective when the films were applied to the internal surface of windows. Hence, it is imperative that installers apply these products to exterior surfaces of windows to render their protective benefits and reduce the risk of daytime window collision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
60. High winds and melting sea ice trigger landward movement in a polar bear population of concern.
- Author
-
Kellner, Annie, Atwood, Todd C., Douglas, David C., Breck, Stewart W., and Wittemyer, George
- Subjects
BEAR populations ,POLAR bear ,GLOBAL warming ,HABITAT selection ,SEA ice ,CLIMATE change - Abstract
Some animal species are responding to climate change by altering the timing of events like mating and migration. Such behavioral plasticity can be adaptive, but it is not always. Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from the southern Beaufort Sea subpopulation have mostly remained on ice year‐round, but as the climate warms and summer sea ice declines, a growing proportion of the subpopulation is summering ashore. The triggers of this novel behavior are not well understood. Our study uses a parametric time‐to‐event model to test whether biological and/or time‐varying environmental variables thought to influence polar bear movement and habitat selection also drive decisions to swim ashore. We quantified the time polar bears spent occupying offshore sea ice of varying ice concentrations. We evaluated variations in the ordinal date bears moved to land with respect to local environmental conditions such as sea ice concentration and wind across 10 years (2005–2015). Results from our study suggest that storm events (i.e., sustained high wind speeds) may force polar bears from severely degraded ice habitat and catalyze seasonal movements to land. Unlike polar bears long adapted to complete summer ice melt, southern Beaufort Sea bears that summer ashore appear more tolerant of poor‐quality sea ice habitat and are less willing to abandon it. Our findings provide a window into emergent, climatically mediated behavior in an Arctic marine mammal vulnerable to rapid habitat decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
61. A rival for the guppy in behavioral studies: The pentamorphic fish, Poecilia parae Eigenmann, 1894.
- Author
-
Petrescu-Mag, I. Valentin
- Subjects
- *
POECILIA , *GUPPIES , *GENETIC variation , *SEXUAL selection , *AQUARIUMS - Abstract
Poecilia parae, or penta, stands out for its vibrant colors, livebearing nature, and ecological importance. Penta is important for understanding ecology, evolution, and behavior due to its adaptability, reproductive strategies, ecological role, genetic diversity, and relevance to conservation efforts. The knowledge gained from studying this species contributes to a broader understanding of freshwater ecosystems and the factors influencing the dynamics of aquatic communities. Understanding the diversity of body colors and morphs in P. parae provides valuable insights into the species' ecology, evolutionary history, and adaptation strategies. Additionally, the visual appeal of these fish makes them popular choices for aquarium enthusiasts, leading to further exploration of selective breeding and the development of distinct color variants in captivity. This paper presents the alternative of using a new poeciliid, in addition to the well-known guppy, for behavioral studies, behavioral ecology and evolutionary ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
62. Are yellow dung flies domesticated cow dung specialists?
- Author
-
Blanckenhorn, Wolf U. and Burkhard, Dieter
- Subjects
ANTHOMYIIDAE ,CATTLE manure ,GRASSLANDS ,BODY size ,DOMESTICATION of animals - Abstract
The theory of niche differentiation implies some extent of specialization of species with regard to key resources, notably food. Coprophagous (dung-eating) insect larvae play a critical role in the decomposition of livestock dung in modern and traditional agricultural grasslands. The yellow dung fly (Scathophaga stercoraria L.; Diptera: Scathophagidae) is one of the largest, most common and abundant dung decomposers on pastures in cold-temperate regions across the entire northern hemisphere. As this fly is often associated with domesticated cattle or dairy cows, which are commonly kept for human nutrition worldwide (beef, milk, cheese, etc.), it is sometimes suspected to be a cow dung specialist. However, yellow dung flies are regularly active on and around other dung types, and must have reproduced on dung of wild vertebrates before the domestication of cattle. We therefore experimentally studied the performance of yellow dung fly larvae on dung of various large domestic vs. wild mammals (cow, horse, wild boar, red deer) in the laboratory in Switzerland. Larval performance in terms of juvenile survival, egg-to-adult development time, growth rate, and final adult body size, the major life history indicators of individual reproductive success, did not vary greatly among the various dung types tested. Thus, yellow dung flies can successfully reproduce on multiple types of mammal (vertebrate) dung, wild and domestic, and are therefore dung generalists rather than specialists. We conclude that yellow dung flies are common in European low- and highlands because they could plastically shift to dung of common herbivorous livestock after their domestication without losing the ability to reproduce on dung of common wild mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
63. The evolution of the concept of sensory ecology and the influence of behavioral ecology
- Author
-
RODRIGO H. WILLEMART
- Subjects
historical context ,behavioral ecology ,ethology ,mechanism ,proximal ,Science - Abstract
Abstract The science of sensory ecology formally emerged in the book of Ali (1978), when behavioral ecology was gaining popularity. Until 2020, three main books were written on the subject, in 1992 (Dusenbery 1992), 2001 (Barth & Schmid 2001) and 2013 (Stevens 2013). The definitions of sensory ecology provided by Ali emphasize adaptation, optimality and fitness. These are main concepts of behavioral ecology but the last two are not necessarily fundamentals of sensory ecology. Here I looked at the evolution of the concept of sensory ecology and tried to understand whether there is evidence that the definitions given in 1978 had been influenced by behavioral ecology. I have counted the appearances of these three words (adapt*, optim* and fitness) in these books, divided by the number of words in each book, and compared the numbers to the definitions of sensory ecology given. Authors in Ali´s book often use adaptation but seldom deal with optimality or fitness. I suggest that the appearance of these keywords of behavioral ecology in the definitions of sensory ecology in Ali´s book was maybe a necessity to fit in the paradigms of that time. Sensory ecology was actually mechanistic in 1978 and 1992. Sensory ecology is now both mechanistic and evolutionary.
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
64. Editorial: Behavioral ecological insights into organismal responses to anthropogenic environmental change: a multi-stress perspective
- Author
-
Andrea S. Grunst, Melissa L. Grunst, Céline Arzel, and Marcel Eens
- Subjects
behavioral ecology ,multi-stress ,environmental change ,artificial light at night (ALAN) ,chemical contaminants ,noise pollution ,Evolution ,QH359-425 ,Ecology ,QH540-549.5 - Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
65. Editorial overview: "Dispatches from the field: insights from studies in ecologically diverse communities: Part 1".
- Author
-
Lukaszewski, Aaron W. and Pillsworth, Elizabeth G.
- Subjects
ETHNOPSYCHOLOGY ,EVOLUTIONARY psychology - Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
66. The behavioral origins of novelty: did increased aggression lead to scale-eating in pupfishes?
- Author
-
St John, Michelle E, McGirr, Joseph A, and Martin, Christopher H
- Subjects
Zoology ,Ecology ,Evolutionary Biology ,Biological Sciences ,Behavioral and Social Science ,Mental Health ,behavioral ecology ,ecological niche ,key innovation ,lepidophagy ,novelty ,transcriptomics ,Behavioral Science & Comparative Psychology ,Evolutionary biology - Abstract
Behavioral changes in a new environment are often assumed to precede the origins of evolutionary novelties. Here, we examined whether an increase in aggression is associated with a novel scale-eating trophic niche within a recent radiation of Cyprinodon pupfishes endemic to San Salvador Island, Bahamas. We measured aggression using multiple behavioral assays and used transcriptomic analyses to identify differentially expressed genes in aggression and other behavioral pathways across 3 sympatric species in the San Salvador radiation (generalist, snail-eating specialist, and scale-eating specialist) and 2 generalist outgroups. Surprisingly, we found increased behavioral aggression and differential expression of aggression-related pathways in both the scale-eating and snail-eating specialists, despite their independent evolutionary origins. Increased behavioral aggression varied across both sex and stimulus context in both species. Our results indicate that aggression is not unique to scale-eating specialists. Instead, selection may increase aggression in other contexts such as niche specialization in general or mate competition. Alternatively, increased aggression may result from indirect selection on craniofacial traits, pigmentation, or metabolism-all traits which are highly divergent, exhibit signs of selective sweeps, and are affected by aggression-related genetic pathways which are differentially expressed in this system. In conclusion, the evolution of a novel predatory trophic niche within a recent adaptive radiation does not have clear-cut behavioral origins as previously assumed, highlighting the multivariate nature of adaptation and the complex integration of behavior with other phenotypic traits.
- Published
- 2019
67. Sharing is living: The role of habitat heterogeneity in the coexistence of closely related species
- Author
-
Fábio H. C. Sanches, Fernando R. De Grande, Tânia M. Costa, and Rodrigo E. Barreto
- Subjects
behavioral ecology ,fiddler crab ,habitat partition ,heat stress ,spatial distribution ,sunlight shading ,Ecology ,QH540-549.5 - Abstract
Abstract In biologically diverse ecosystems, an essential process to support competing species to coexist is ecological differentiation. Habitat heterogeneity is, hence, important in establishing species abundance and richness, favoring the coexistence of species due to habitat partition. In this context, shading and species thermal tolerance can be good factors to elucidate the role of habitat heterogeneity in the habitat partition among closely related species. Herein, we study shading effects in microhabitat selection, behavior, and physiological limitation on two species of fiddler crabs (Leptuca leptodactyla and Leptuca uruguayensis). Indeed, shading conditions influenced fiddler crabs species proportion over time, with L. leptodactyla more associated with nonshaded/warmer areas while the L. uruguayensis to shaded/cooler ones. They also adjusted their behavior differently from each other to deal with thermal stress. Finally, we have demonstrated that these effects are related to species' physiological limitations. We conclude that biologically diverse ecosystems, such as intertidal regions from estuaries (e.g., mudflats and mangroves), support the coexistence between closely related species by reducing competition due to habitat partition.
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
68. Nest building in titmice Paridae: Selectivity in bryophyte use
- Author
-
Knut Rydgren, Bendik Indreeide, Tore Slagsvold, and Helene M. Lampe
- Subjects
behavioral ecology ,bird nests ,bryophytes ,cavity‐nesting birds ,nest material ,Ecology ,QH540-549.5 - Abstract
Abstract In many bird species, reproductive success is dependent on nest quality. However, detailed data on nest composition are scarce, and quantitative analyses have generally used only rough categories, without species identification. Bryophytes dominate the nests of many passerine bird species, but little is known about whether birds have preferences for certain species. In this study, we determined the bryophyte species composition in nests of blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus and great tits Parus major in a forest near Oslo, Norway. We also sampled the abundance of the bryophyte species in plots on the forest floor surrounding a subset of the great tit nests. Blue tits and great tits both used 15 bryophyte species as nest materials, mainly the same pleurocarpous species but in different proportions. The tits preferred highly branched bryophyte species, i.e., Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, and Sanionia uncinata but avoided common forest floor bryophyte species that are sparsely branched. Great tits clearly collected bryophyte species selectively. We also found that bryophyte species content in great tit nests in the same nest box in different years was very similar. Our results also indicated that the great tits collected bryophyte nest materials close to their nests, mostly within 5 m, supporting the view that collecting nest materials is costly. We review several hypotheses to explain why the tits prefer certain species of bryophytes as nest materials. These include handling costs and their suitability as structural materials. We recommend field experiments to test specific hypotheses and to study whether preferences are heritable.
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
69. High winds and melting sea ice trigger landward movement in a polar bear population of concern
- Author
-
Annie Kellner, Todd C. Atwood, David C. Douglas, Stewart W. Breck, and George Wittemyer
- Subjects
animal movement ,behavioral ecology ,climate change ,phenology ,sea ice ,time‐to‐event models ,Ecology ,QH540-549.5 - Abstract
Abstract Some animal species are responding to climate change by altering the timing of events like mating and migration. Such behavioral plasticity can be adaptive, but it is not always. Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from the southern Beaufort Sea subpopulation have mostly remained on ice year‐round, but as the climate warms and summer sea ice declines, a growing proportion of the subpopulation is summering ashore. The triggers of this novel behavior are not well understood. Our study uses a parametric time‐to‐event model to test whether biological and/or time‐varying environmental variables thought to influence polar bear movement and habitat selection also drive decisions to swim ashore. We quantified the time polar bears spent occupying offshore sea ice of varying ice concentrations. We evaluated variations in the ordinal date bears moved to land with respect to local environmental conditions such as sea ice concentration and wind across 10 years (2005–2015). Results from our study suggest that storm events (i.e., sustained high wind speeds) may force polar bears from severely degraded ice habitat and catalyze seasonal movements to land. Unlike polar bears long adapted to complete summer ice melt, southern Beaufort Sea bears that summer ashore appear more tolerant of poor‐quality sea ice habitat and are less willing to abandon it. Our findings provide a window into emergent, climatically mediated behavior in an Arctic marine mammal vulnerable to rapid habitat decline.
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
70. Window films increase avoidance of collisions by birds but only when applied to external compared with internal surfaces of windows
- Author
-
John P. Swaddle, Blythe Brewster, Maddie Schuyler, and Anjie Su
- Subjects
Window collisions ,Avian ,Sensory ecology ,Behavioral ecology ,Flight ,Conservation ,Medicine ,Biology (General) ,QH301-705.5 - Abstract
Window collisions are one of the largest human-caused causes of avian mortality in built environments and, therefore, cause population declines that can be a significant conservation issue. Applications of visibly noticeable films, patterns, and decals on the external surfaces of windows have been associated with reductions in both window collisions and avian mortality. It is often logistically difficult and economically prohibitive to apply these films and decals to external surfaces, especially if the windows are above the first floor of a building. Therefore, there is interest and incentive to apply the products to internal surfaces that are much easier to reach and maintain. However, there is debate as to whether application to the internal surface of windows renders any collision-reduction benefit, as the patterns on the films and decals may not be sufficiently visible to birds. To address this knowledge gap, we performed the first experimental study to compare the effectiveness of two distinct window films when applied to either the internal or external surface of double-glazed windows. Specifically, we assessed whether Haverkamp and BirdShades window film products were effective in promoting the avoidance of window collisions (and by inference, a reduction of collisions) by zebra finches through controlled aviary flight trials employing a repeated-measures design that allowed us to isolate the effect of the window treatments on avoidance flight behaviors. We chose these two products because they engage with different wavelengths of light (and by inference, colors) visible to many songbirds: the BirdShades film is visible in the ultraviolet (shorter wavelength) range, while the Haverkamp film includes signals in the orange (longer wavelength) range. We found consistent evidence that, when applied to the external surface of windows, the BirdShades product resulted in reduced likelihood of collision and there was marginal evidence of this effect with the Haverkamp film. Specifically, in our collision avoidance trials, BirdShades increased window avoidance by 47% and the Haverkamp increased avoidance by 39%. However, neither product was effective when the films were applied to the internal surface of windows. Hence, it is imperative that installers apply these products to exterior surfaces of windows to render their protective benefits and reduce the risk of daytime window collision.
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
71. Pace-of-Life Syndrome (POLS): Evolution of the Concept.
- Author
-
Vasilieva, N. A.
- Subjects
- *
LIFE history theory , *ANIMAL species , *PHENOTYPIC plasticity , *SYNDROMES , *POPULATION density - Abstract
The pace-of-life syndrome (POLS) hypothesis is a recent but very influential concept in life-history theory. Due to the extreme progress in research in POLS over the last decade, a review of the origin and development of this concept is topical. The roots of the POLS hypothesis go back to the r/K selection theory of MacArthur and Wilson, authors of the first idea of predictable correlations among life-history traits. Following r/K selection theory, the idea of a fast–slow life-history continuum appeared in ecology, suggesting that life-history traits covaried and formed axes from fast to slow life histories. Species physiology was soon incorporated into the fast–slow continuum theory. Thus, animal species were supposed to vary from fast species with an early development and maturation, a high rate of metabolism, a high mortality, and a short lifespan to slow species with a late development, a low metabolic rate, and a long lifespan. The theory was well supported by empirical studies in various animal species. In parallel, the concept of personality emerged in behavioral studies. The concept suggested consistent and predictable between-individual variations in behavioral phenotypes formed by syndromes of various correlated behavioral traits. More recently, the concepts of personality and fast–slow life-history continuum formed the joint and more complex POLS idea of a multivariate adaptive integration of behavior, life history, and physiology among individuals within and between species. The POLS concept suggests that various traits form a continuum from aggressive, bold, active explorers with fast life histories to shy, nonaggressive individuals with low exploration outfits and a slow life. The predictions were tested in numerous studies, and empirical data have extended the basic idea of pace-of-life: the relationships appeared to be more complex and multidimensional. The POLS hypothesis presently includes covariations among life-history, behavior, immunity, hormones, and metabolic rates, with these relationships being modulated by the environment, development, population density, and social conditions. The POLS ideas, being of great applied and theoretical significance, and long-term empirical studies in the wild populations are in high demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
72. Relationship between salmon egg subsidy and the distribution of an avian predator.
- Author
-
Yamada, Taihei, Katahira, Hirotaka, Miura, Kazuki, and Nakamura, Futoshi
- Subjects
- *
SPAWNING , *FISH spawning , *SALMON , *EGGS , *PREDATORY animals , *PACIFIC salmon , *SUBSIDIES , *ZOOGEOGRAPHY - Abstract
As a spatial subsidy, which is the phenomenon of transferring resources from a donor system to a recipient system, anadromous salmonids contribute to the supply of marine‐derived nutrients to freshwater and terrestrial systems. Live salmon and salmon carcasses and eggs are utilized by various organisms and affect their abundance and distribution. However, the evaluation of the effect of salmon subsidies on the abundance and distribution of terrestrial animals is biased toward predators or scavengers that utilize spawning adults and carcasses, and few studies have focused on the effect of salmon eggs as a subsidy. To avoid underestimating the function of salmon subsidies, the response to the availability of salmon eggs in various systems should be investigated. Here, we investigated the abundance and feeding behavior of the brown dipper Cinclus pallasii, as a consumer of salmon eggs, based on the hypothesis that the availability of salmon eggs affects the diet composition and stream distribution of this small predator. In addition, to test whether changes in the abundance of brown dippers are determined by salmon spawning, their abundance was compared upstream and downstream of the check dams in three streams during the peak spawning period. Brown dippers used salmon eggs during the spawning season (53.7% of diet composition), and their abundance increased as the number of spawning redds increased. In contrast, this pattern was not observed upstream of the check dam. These results suggested that the abundance and stream distribution of brown dippers vary according to the variation in the spatiotemporal availability of salmon eggs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
73. Nesting behaviour and description of mature larva of Lindenius albilabris (Fabricius, 1793) (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae).
- Author
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Olszewski, P., Bogusch, P., Hebda, G., and Budrys, E.
- Subjects
- *
LARVAE , *HYMENOPTERA , *MIRIDAE , *COMMON yarrow , *WILD flowers , *NESTS , *NEST building - Abstract
Nesting habits of the digger wasp Lindenius albilabris (Fabricius, 1793) at two localities in Poland were studied. The female hunts nymphs or adults of plant bugs Lygus rugulipennis Poppius, 1911 and L. pratensis (Linnaeus, 1758), depositing up to 10 individuals per cell, depending on their size. Nests are built in a wide variety of sandy habitats, on dirt roads, and in wastelands. The nest consists of a 10–12 cm long main burrow and one to three cells. Males are usually found on flowers of wild carrots Achillea millefolium, Daucus carota, Peucedanum oreoselinum, Pimpinella sp. and Tanacetum vulgare. The nest kleptoparasite Metopia argyrocephala was recorded in nests of this species. The mature larva is first described in this study and its morphology is compared with other species of the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
74. Fishing behavior in the red fox: Opportunistic‐caching behavior or surplus killing?
- Author
-
Tobajas, Jorge and Díaz‐Ruiz, Francisco
- Subjects
- *
RED fox , *ARCTIC fox , *FOXES , *FISHING , *WOLVES , *SINGLE-lens reflex cameras - Abstract
Behavioral ecology, Cyprinus carpio, diet, feeding behavior, fish, predation, Vulpes vulpes, canids, mammalian predators Keywords: behavioral ecology; canids; Cyprinus carpio; diet; feeding behavior; fish; mammalian predators; predation; Vulpes vulpes EN behavioral ecology canids Cyprinus carpio diet feeding behavior fish mammalian predators predation Vulpes vulpes 1 4 4 12/05/22 20221201 NES 221201 The red fox ( I Vulpes vulpes i ) is a mesocarnivore species that exploits opportunistically a wide range of prey items that are consumed as a function of their abundance and availability (Díaz-Ruiz et al., [3]). " Biogeographical Patterns in the Diet of an Opportunistic Predator: The Red Fox Vulpes vulpes in the Iberian Peninsula.". [Extracted from the article]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
75. Habitat use of south-eastern Pacific humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae; Borowski 1781) in Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica.
- Author
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Pelayo-González, L., Oviedo, L., Márquez-Artavia, A., Herra-Miranda, D., Pacheco-Polanco, J. D., Bessesen, B., and Guzmán, H. M.
- Abstract
Context: Golfo Dulce is a wintering ground of the south-eastern Pacific population of humpback whales. Habitat use and spatial preferences of whales during their reproductive season must be addressed to effectively conserve this species. Aims: This study aims to determine spatial segregation depending on humpback whale group composition (groups that included mother–calf dyads versus adult-only groups). Methods: Spatial aggregation was assessed using sightings per unit of effort from June to October, 2010–2019. The group preferences were analysed as a function of water depth and distance from the coast, and habitat use was characterised using behavioural data. Key results: Our SPUE analysis showed important locations used by humpback whales. The mother–calf groups were present in waters <80 m deep, and their main behaviour was resting (nursing and social). Adult-only groups were in the deeper waters, and the main behaviours were social breaching and travelling. Spatial preferences and behaviour data allowed the identification of critical nursing areas near potential mating grounds. Conclusions and implications: Our study has highlighted the need for inshore habitat protection, and these habitat-use patterns should be considered when designing effective conservation and management strategies for marine spatial planning. Golfo Dulce is a wintering ground of the south-eastern Pacific population of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). The aim of this study was to determine spatial segregation and habitat use depending on humpback whale group composition (groups that included mother–calf dyads v. adult-only groups) from June to October, 2010–2019. Spatial partitioning of habitat among humpback whale groups depended on group composition and reproductive behaviours. These habitat-use patterns should be considered when designing effective conservation strategies for marine spatial planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
76. How to define a dolphin "group"? Need for consistency and justification based on objective criteria.
- Author
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Syme, Jonathan, Kiszka, Jeremy J., and Parra, Guido J.
- Subjects
- *
DOLPHINS , *ANIMAL ecology , *SOCIAL structure , *SOCIAL ecology , *LITERATURE reviews - Abstract
Group living is a critical component of the ecology of social animals such as delphinids. In many studies on these animals, groups represent sampling units that form the basis of the collection and analysis of data on their abundance, behavior, and social structure. Nevertheless, defining what constitutes a group has proven problematic. There is inconsistency in the terms and criteria used and many definitions lack biological justification. We conducted a literature review and an online expert survey to assess various terms (group, school, party, and pod), and their definitions as applied to delphinids to identify issues to ultimately make recommendations. Of 707 studies analyzed, 325 explicitly defined one or more terms, providing 344 definitions. Additionally, 192 definitions were obtained from the survey. Among these definitions, group was the most common term used (review: 286 definitions, 83.1%; survey: 69 definitions, 35.9%) and the most familiar to the survey respondents (73 respondents, 100.0%). In definitions of group, spatial proximity was the most used criterion (review: 200 definitions, 71.2%; survey: 53 definitions, 81.5%) followed by behavior (review: 176 definitions, 62.6%; survey: 38 definitions, 58.5%). The terms and criteria used to define delphinid groups vary considerably. Rather than proposing a single formal definition, we instead recommend that the term group and spatial proximity criteria be used to define sampling units of individuals observed in the field. Furthermore, we propose a process for formulating definitions that involves analyzing interindividual distances to determine naturally occurring patterns that are indicative of group membership. Although this process is based principally on the spatial proximity of individuals, it could also incorporate the behavior of group members by evaluating the influence of behavior on interindividual distances. Such a process produces definitions that are biologically meaningful and compatible across studies and populations, thus increasing our ability to draw strong conclusions about group living in delphinids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
77. Does the same refuge signify the same reproductive tactics? Comparing the mating systems of two symbiont alpheid shrimps (Crustacea: Decapoda).
- Author
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Guéron, Rodrigo, Alves, Douglas Fernandes Rodrigues, de Souza, José Roberto Botelho, and Almeida, Alexandre Oliveira
- Subjects
- *
SHRIMPS , *DECAPODA , *CRUSTACEA , *SEXUAL dimorphism , *ANIMAL populations , *BODY size - Abstract
Animal populations can present different mating tactics according to the number of mates males or females obtain. The limiting factors for copulation in symbiont crustaceans are the size, structural complexity, and density of refuge, in addition to predation risk outside their shelters. In this study, we aimed to investigate, comparatively, if the occupation of the same refuge leads to the same reproductive tactic in two symbiont species of alpheid shrimps. For this purpose, we described the population distribution of Alpheus estuariensis, a burrowing shrimp, and Salmoneus carvachoi, a tenant species, in an intertidal mudflat in Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil. Alpheus estuariensis experiences sexual dimorphism relative to body and cheliped size, where males present larger body sizes and allocate more resources to cheliped growth than females. However, both males and females presented positive allometric growth in chelipeds. In S. carvachoi, male‐phase individuals reach smaller body sizes than hermaphrodites. Male‐phase shrimps experience positive allometry in cheliped size, while hermaphrodites do not. Both species were found inhabiting burrows as sexual pairs more frequently than expected by chance. Paired females of A. estuariensis were found carrying embryos more frequently than solitary ones. We did not find a statistical difference between the frequency of single and paired ovigerous hermaphrodites in S. carvachoi. Our results indicate that A. estuariensis is social monogamous, while S. carvachoi is promiscuous. We argue that different biological and ecological aspects of these species could explain the distinct tactics adopted by them. Alpheus estuariensis digs its own refuge and is a much larger species, bearing a more robust cheliped than S. carvachoi. Thus, we argue that the burrowing species (A. estuariensis) should monopolize and defend their refuge, and S. carvachoi only takes advantage of this resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
78. Patterns of Learning in the Navigation of Selectively Foraging Mammals
- Author
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Vining, Alexander Q
- Subjects
Behavioral psychology ,Ecology ,Evolution & development ,Animal Behavior ,Behavioral Ecology ,Cognitive Maps ,Comparative Cognition ,Inference ,Kinkajous - Abstract
Memory and learning distinguish the movement of animals from other things, resulting in trajectories that change over time, but still repeatedly return to specific locations. The frequency and predictability with which animals return to favored locations, and the patterns of change in the paths they use to get there, offer insights into the cognitive systems of learning and memory that guide them. For animals that rely on resources that are concentrated in sparsely distributed, high value patches, these systems are particularly important for avoiding the costs of inefficient random-search foraging. In this thesis, I analyze the trajectories of such animals across multiple contexts and spatial scales, particularly the trajectories of primates and kinkajous (animals that look and behaves much like a primate, but are in fact *Carnivoran*). I find that most of these animals are quick to learn efficient paths between foraging locations, and some are able to generalize strategies for efficient navigation to novel contexts. There is some evidence that more selective foragers rely more on routine 'traplines' between multiple known locations, but are faster to deploy strategies that exploit changing resource distributions. Taken together, results of these studies suggest that diverse animal species integrate episodic-like memories into a cognitive map that helps them plan movements over large distances. Evidence that kinkajous flexibly use knowledge of detailed route-networks through complex canopy substrate to quickly find and exploit new resources, is particularly important because it highlights that the advanced development of these cognitive systems is not unique to primates and their socially complex groups, but may evolve readily in response to particular resource distributions and environmental properties.
- Published
- 2023
79. Evolution of social position and structure – a multilevel selection perspective
- Author
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Philson, Conner Steven
- Subjects
Zoology ,Ecology ,Animal Behavior ,Behavioral Ecology ,Multilevel Selection ,Social network analysis ,Social Structure ,Yellow-bellied marmot - Abstract
The extent the evolution of sociality was shaped by multilevel selection – a theoretical framework for natural selection occurring at levels of biological organization other than the gene – is a classic debate in biology. Though common examples are focused on social behavior, we do not know if multilevel selection significantly acts on social behavioral phenotypes in the wild. For multilevel selection to contribute to evolution, social phenotypes must be variable, replicable, and have unique fitness consequences from two or more discrete levels (e.g., the individual and the group). While the individual fitness consequences of the individual social phenotype (e.g., how connected or social an individual is) have been demonstrated, the individual fitness consequences of the group’s social phenotype (e.g., the structure and pattern of all social interactions in the group) for each individual who lives in the group is largely unknown. Here I quantify individual fitness consequences of the group social phenotype, providing evidence that the individual and group social phenotypes are discrete and quantifiable levels of biological organization. Chapters 2 and 3 show how residing in more connected social groups is associated with decreased individual reproductive success but increased individual winter survival in a wild, free-living population yellow-bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventer), a harem polygynous, facultatively social, hibernating rodent with variable and genetically heritable social behaviors. Not only does the type of group an individual resides in have fitness consequences for those individuals, but the fitness consequences of the group social phenotype are different than those of the individual social phenotype (e.g., less social individuals in more connected groups experience higher winter survival). Thus, chapter 3 quantifies the independent contributions of the individual and group social phenotypes to individual fitness by exploring the two phenotypes together in a unified, multilevel selection framework. We show that multilevel selection is indeed occurring, with selection for the group social phenotype stronger than selection for the individual social phenotype. Thus, given the social phenotype is variable, heritable, and under selection in this system, this work has shown that evolution (directly or indirectly genetic) for both social position and social structure as discrete phenotypes is possible.
- Published
- 2023
80. Behavioral variation, parasite transmission, and demography of isolated populations of Grauer's gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri)
- Author
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Iyer, Neetha Shankar
- Subjects
Wildlife conservation ,Behavioral sciences ,Animal diseases ,behavioral ecology ,conservation ,Democratic Republic of the Congo ,nematode ,population viability analysis ,primate - Abstract
Great apes have long lives, grow slowly, and reproduce late in life. This evolved life-history pattern now threatens many extant populations. Novel anthropogenic threats occur in tandem with ecological and demographic variation, which can have lasting impacts on population growth rates. Grauer’s gorillas (Gorilla beringei graueri) are among the most critically endangered subspecies among the extant great apes but have been relatively understudied. These group-living primates are found in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, a region experiencing rapid forest loss resulting in small, isolated gorilla habitats. In this dissertation, I explored three aspects of gorilla biology. In Chapter 1, I studied the effects of seasonal changes in food availability on within-group social interactions. I found that Grauer’s gorillas exhibit group-level changes in how spread out they are when they are foraging compared to when they are resting. However, in line with previous socioecological predictions, gorillas appear to be highly tolerant of group members while foraging, despite seasonal changes in the types of foods they consume. In Chapter 2, I conducted an exploratory analysis of the population-level transmission of nematodes found in Grauer’s gorillas. I used molecular methods commonly employed by parasitologists to identify the diversity of gastrointestinal nematodes found in multiple social groups living in the same habitat. I found that two of the most common taxa exhibited limited population structure, suggesting that gene flow for these nematodes among social groups may be quite high. I also discuss other explanations for this pattern, including parasite life history and development, abiotic factors, host movement, as well as alternative hosts in the habitat. Finally, in Chapter 3, I examined the effects of demographic stochasticity on the growth rate of a small, at-risk gorilla population (with only 2 adult females) in Mount Tshiaberimu, Virunga National Park. I used population viability analysis models to determine how random fluctuations in the number of births and deaths influenced growth rates. I identified the minimum number of female gorillas needed to reinforce the population to limit the effects of demographic stochasticity on the likelihood of extinction. The results of these studies offer insight into the natural history and ecology of Grauer’s gorillas. This work can help us understand how small, threatened populations are adapting to a rapidly changing landscape, which can improve conservation outcomes for this charismatic primate.
- Published
- 2023
81. Wildlife ecology in a human-dominated world: Insights from migratory animals, large carnivores, and ungulate prey
- Author
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Barker, Kristin Jennifer
- Subjects
Ecology ,Environmental science ,Wildlife conservation ,Behavioral ecology ,Human influence ,Migration ,Predator-prey ,Wildlife biology - Abstract
The ecological consequences of animal behaviors range from the fitness of individuals to the functioning of ecosystems. As historic patterns of animal behaviors change in response to changes in climate, land use, and human presence, there is a growing need to better understand the mechanisms by which wildlife perceive and respond to anthropogenic and environmental influences. Understanding how and why animals alter their behavior in anthropogenic spaces requires moving beyond general descriptions of behavioral patterns to investigate the biological mechanisms underpinning these behavioral responses. Such investigations would fill gaps in current theories of animal cognition and behavioral ecology while improving effectiveness of management and conservation efforts. In this dissertation, I aim to help fill these knowledge gaps by investigating the behavioral ecology of large carnivores, their ungulate prey, and migratory wildlife moving through areas where people live, work, and play. In chapter 1, I provide a brief introduction to key themes of wildlife behavioral ecology in the context of anthropogenic influence. In chapter 2, I work with collaborators to synthesize key insights from migration restoration efforts spanning diverse taxa and ecosystems. We use lessons learned to draw broad inference about the conditions under which lost migratory behaviors can be restored. In chapter 3, I use new data collected from wolf kill sites to investigate how humans change natural patterns of predation on native ungulates. Building on this work, chapter 4 investigates how ungulates perceive and respond to these human-influenced patterns of wolf predation risk. I conclude by discussing the considerable opportunities that exist to restore and facilitate the wildlife behaviors on which ecosystems are built. I urge ecologists, natural resource professionals, and policymakers to expand their concept of conservation beyond physical landscapes and species to include the behavior of wild animals moving through an increasingly human-dominated world.
- Published
- 2023
82. Fitness Consequences of Morphological and Behavioral Variation in Early Life in Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa)
- Author
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Scheck, David Francis
- Subjects
Behavioral sciences ,Ecology ,Wildlife conservation ,animal behavior ,behavioral ecology ,conservation ,ecology ,wildlife biology ,wood duck - Abstract
Individuals within a species or population vary considerably in morphology and behavior. For many species, the specific drivers of variation in these phenotypic traits and their influence on individual fitness are poorly known. In this study, we hatched and reared wood ducks (Aix sponsa) in a captive common garden environment and then released them into the wild shortly after fledging age. For each individual, we evaluated metrics of size, growth, and behavior across ontogeny to determine whether individuals vary in morphological and behavioral traits when raised in a controlled captive setting. These individuals (n = 106 females) were then released into wild study populations where we tracked first year survival and multiple longer-term measures of fitness through standard monitoring methods and radio frequency identification. Using multivariate statistics and generalized linear models, we analyzed early life variation in morphology and behavior and their influence on individual fitness. Despite identical rearing conditions, we found considerable inter-individual variation in both morphological and behavioral traits. Additionally, we found correlations among egg size, hatch size, and fledging size, although maximum growth rate was the strongest predictor of fledging size. Contrary to evidence in the literature, we found no indication that morphological traits had any influence on first year survival; however, there was some evidence that survival was positively influenced by tonic alertness. We found evidence that both morphology and behavior were influential in multiple measures of long-term success. Here, our strongest results showed a negative relationship between initial size and longevity, and a positive relationship between tonic alertness and number of years incubating. The results of this study shed new light on the development of phenotypic variation in precocial birds and its consequences for individual fitness, and provides insight for captive breeding programs and conservation efforts.
- Published
- 2023
83. Cost structures and socioecological conditions impact the fitness outcomes of human alloparental care in agent-based model simulations.
- Author
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Weitzel, Elic M., Wilson, Kurt M., Spake, Laure, Schaffnit, Susan B., Lynch, Robert, Sear, Rebecca, Shaver, John H., Shenk, Mary K., and Sosis, Richard
- Subjects
COST structure ,RESOURCE availability (Ecology) ,ECONOMIC structure ,DIRECT costing ,ECONOMIES of scale - Abstract
Alloparental care—care provided to children who are not one's offspring—is ubiquitous across human populations. Empirical research reveals socioecological variation in who cares for children, but less attention has been paid to the type of care provided. To better understand the fitness outcomes of different forms of alloparental care, or allocare, we categorize such care into two broad forms based on economic cost structures: additive cost and declining marginal cost allocare. Additive cost allocare requires alloparents to pay equal costs for each child to whom care is provided, while declining marginal cost allocare entails reduced costs for additional children beyond the first. Given this general typology, we investigate how fitness is impacted by the type of allocare provided in socioecological conditions of scarcity or abundance. Results of an agent-based model indicate that allocare has fitness benefits in nearly all circumstances, but the impact of cost structures depends on resource availability. In contexts of abundance, the cost structure of allocare does not matter as individuals' reproductive success is instead constrained by fertility and mortality more than the availability of resources or time. In conditions of scarcity, however, the greatest increases in reproductive success are achieved when allocare has a declining marginal cost structure. This is due to an economy of scale permitting alloparents to scale up their care at discounted rates. Consequently, we expect allocare practices to exhibit these patterns cross-culturally: in contexts of scarcity allocare is anticipated to be focused on practices with declining marginal cost structures and to be much less variable than in contexts of abundance. We discuss several ethnographic examples that are consistent with the overall findings of our simulations, and we conclude with recommendations for future modeling and empirical work on allocare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
84. Seasonal shifts in insect ephemerality drive bat foraging effort.
- Author
-
Kohles, Jenna E., Page, Rachel A., Wikelski, Martin, and Dechmann, Dina K.N.
- Subjects
- *
BATS , *AQUATIC insects , *FORAGING behavior , *BAT behavior , *INSECTS , *SWARMING (Zoology) , *FORAGE , *REPRODUCTION - Abstract
Animal foraging is fundamentally shaped by food distribution and availability. 1 However, the quantification of spatiotemporal food distribution is rare 2 but crucial to explain variation in foraging behavior among species, populations, or individuals. Clumped but ephemeral food sources enable rapid energy intake but require increased effort to find, 3 can generate variable foraging success, 4 and force animals to forage more efficiently. We quantified seasonal shifts in the availability of such resources to test the proximate effects of food distribution on changes in movement patterns. The neotropical lesser bulldog bat (Noctilio albiventris) forages in a seasonal environment on emerging aquatic insects, whose numbers peak shortly after dusk. 5,6 We GPS-tracked bats and quantified nocturnal insect distribution in their foraging area using floating camera traps across wet and dry seasons. Surprisingly, insects were 75% less abundant and swarms were 60% shorter lived (more ephemeral) in the wet season. As a result, wet season bats had to fly twice as far (total and maximum distance fromroost distances) and 45% longer (duration) per night. Within foraging bouts, wet season bats spent less time in each insect patch and searched longer for subsequent patches, reflecting increased temporal ephemerality and decreased spatial predictability of insects. Our results highlight the tight link between foraging effort and spatiotemporal distribution of food and the influence of constraints imposed by reproduction on behavioral flexibility and adaptations to the highly dynamic resource landscapes of mobile prey. 7,8 Examining foraging behavior in light of spatiotemporal dynamics of resources can help predict how animals respond to shifts in food availability caused by escalating environmental changes. [Display omitted] • Quantifying food distribution in nature is vital to understanding foraging behavior • We quantified coinciding shifts in insect ephemerality and bat foraging effort • Wet season insects were 75% less abundant and swarms 60% shorter lived • Wet season bats flew twice as far, searched 3× more, and foraged 45% longer per night Kohles et al. show that bats increase their foraging effort when swarms of tropical aquatic flying insects are less predictable and more ephemeral during the wet season. Food availability and bat foraging effort are tightly linked and driven by seasonal changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
85. Interactions Between Wasps and Other Animals: Associations and Natural Enemies
- Author
-
Barbosa, Bruno Corrêa, Maciel, Tatiane Tagliatti, Somavilla, Alexandre, Prezoto, Fábio, Prezoto, Fabio, editor, Nascimento, Fabio Santos, editor, Barbosa, Bruno Corrêa, editor, and Somavilla, Alexandre, editor
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
86. Evidence for encounter-conditional, area-restricted search in a preliminary study of Colombian blowgun hunters.
- Author
-
Ross, Cody T and Winterhalder, Bruce
- Subjects
Animals ,Humans ,Bayes Theorem ,Appetitive Behavior ,Predatory Behavior ,Feeding Behavior ,Ecosystem ,Movement ,Models ,Biological ,Anthropology ,Cultural ,Colombia ,Male ,Blowgun hunters ,Hunter-gatherers ,Search tactics ,Area-restricted search ,Optimal foraging theory ,Behavioral ecology ,Human behavioral ecology ,General Science & Technology - Abstract
Active search for prey is energetically costly, so understanding how foragers optimize search has been central to foraging theory. Some theoretical work has suggested that foragers of randomly distributed prey should search using Lévy flights, while work on area-restricted and intermittent search strategies has demonstrated that foragers can use the information provided by prey encounters to more effectively adapt search direction and velocity. Previous empirical comparisons of these search modes have tended to rely on distribution-level analyses, due to the difficulty of collecting event-level data on encounters linked to the GPS tracks of foragers. Here we use a preliminary event-level data-set (18.7 hours of encounter-annotated focal follows over 6 trips) to show that two Colombian blowgun hunters use adaptive encounter-conditional heuristics, not non-conditional Lévy flights, when searching for prey. Using a theoretically derived Bayesian model, we estimate changes in turning-angle and search velocity as a function of encounters with prey at lagged time-steps, and find that: 1) hunters increase average turning-angle in response to encounters, producing a more tortuous search of patches of higher prey density, but adopt more efficient uni-directional, inter-patch movement after failing to encounter prey over a sufficient period of time; and, 2) hunters reduce search velocity in response to encounters, causing them to spend more of their search time in patches with demonstrably higher prey density. These results illustrate the importance of using event-level data to contrast encounter-conditional, area-restricted search and Lévy flights in explaining the search behavior of humans and other organisms.
- Published
- 2018
87. How to define a dolphin 'group'? Need for consistency and justification based on objective criteria
- Author
-
Jonathan Syme, Jeremy J. Kiszka, and Guido J. Parra
- Subjects
behavioral ecology ,Cetacea ,Delphinidae ,group dynamics ,grouping behavior ,marine mammals ,Ecology ,QH540-549.5 - Abstract
Abstract Group living is a critical component of the ecology of social animals such as delphinids. In many studies on these animals, groups represent sampling units that form the basis of the collection and analysis of data on their abundance, behavior, and social structure. Nevertheless, defining what constitutes a group has proven problematic. There is inconsistency in the terms and criteria used and many definitions lack biological justification. We conducted a literature review and an online expert survey to assess various terms (group, school, party, and pod), and their definitions as applied to delphinids to identify issues to ultimately make recommendations. Of 707 studies analyzed, 325 explicitly defined one or more terms, providing 344 definitions. Additionally, 192 definitions were obtained from the survey. Among these definitions, group was the most common term used (review: 286 definitions, 83.1%; survey: 69 definitions, 35.9%) and the most familiar to the survey respondents (73 respondents, 100.0%). In definitions of group, spatial proximity was the most used criterion (review: 200 definitions, 71.2%; survey: 53 definitions, 81.5%) followed by behavior (review: 176 definitions, 62.6%; survey: 38 definitions, 58.5%). The terms and criteria used to define delphinid groups vary considerably. Rather than proposing a single formal definition, we instead recommend that the term group and spatial proximity criteria be used to define sampling units of individuals observed in the field. Furthermore, we propose a process for formulating definitions that involves analyzing interindividual distances to determine naturally occurring patterns that are indicative of group membership. Although this process is based principally on the spatial proximity of individuals, it could also incorporate the behavior of group members by evaluating the influence of behavior on interindividual distances. Such a process produces definitions that are biologically meaningful and compatible across studies and populations, thus increasing our ability to draw strong conclusions about group living in delphinids.
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
88. Using Machine Learning to Identify Associations between the Environment, Occurrence, and Outcomes of Songbird Displacements at Supplemental Feeders.
- Author
-
Philson, Conner S., Pelletier, Tara A., Foltz, Sarah L., and Davis, Jason E.
- Subjects
- *
SONGBIRDS , *ANIMAL behavior , *BIRD feeders , *SOCIAL factors , *POWER (Social sciences) , *MACHINE learning , *HUMAN-animal relationships - Abstract
Simple Summary: Animals interact with their environment via a wide range of behaviors. Thus, exploring the factors that influence the occurrence and outcome of these consequential behaviors is important to understanding how animals interact and are affected by the world around them. Displacements—an aggressive behavior wherein one individual is chased from a resource by another—have implications for social hierarchies and geographic distribution in songbirds. At bird feeders, factors like body size and dominance rank have been shown to mediate these displacement behaviors. However, the role of the physical environment, namely temperature, humidity, and time of day, which may influence an individual's energy needs and thus motivation to displace another individual, has remained understudied. We monitored songbird displacement behaviors using computerized bird feeders, which recorded who ate at the feeder, when, and under what environmental conditions. With these data, we used a machine learning algorithm to identify what social and environmental factors predict the occurrence and outcome of songbird displacement events. We found that the physical environment (i.e., humidity and the time of day) is associated with the occurrence of a displacement event, whereas the social environment (i.e., who's displacing and being displaced) is associated with who's involved in a displacement event. The context and outcome of aggressive interactions between individuals has important fitness consequences. Displacements—an aggressive interaction wherein one individual is chased from a location by another—also have implications for social hierarchy formation and geographic distribution in songbirds. Morphological correlates, like body size, and social correlates, such as dominance rank, have been shown to mediate displacements in songbirds. However, the role of the physical environment, namely temperature, humidity, and time of day, which may influence an individual's energy needs and thus displacement motivation, has remained understudied. We monitored songbird feeding and displacement behaviors using computerized automated feeders. We observed asymmetric differences across species in displacement involvement. To identify the conditions of the social and physical environment that are associated with the occurrence and outcome of songbird displacements at supplemental feeders, we use the machine learning approach, random forest, which is a novel method to the fields of ornithology and animal behavior. From our random forest models, we found that the attributes of the physical environment (i.e., humidity and the time of day) are associated with the occurrence of a displacement event, whereas the attributes of the social environment (i.e., species of the displacer and displaced individuals) are associated with which species are involved. These results provide context to develop further observational and experimental hypotheses to tease apart the inner workings of these multifactorial behaviors on a larger scale and provide a proof of concept for our analytical methods in the study of avian behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
89. A Deceptive Curing Practice in Hunter–Gatherer Societies.
- Author
-
Buckner, William
- Subjects
HUNTERS ,SOCIETIES ,SOCIAL evolution ,EVOLUTIONARY psychology ,HUMAN behavior - Abstract
The claim of possessing supernatural abilities is a commonly reported phenomenon across human societies. To bolster the credibility of such claims, performers may make use of illusions and sleight of hand to give the appearance of impressive powers. One common trick found among culturally independent hunter–gatherers on every continent they inhabit involves a healer ostensibly extracting from a sick person an object, such as a pebble or insect, that is supposedly causing the patient's illness. The use and functions of the 'extraction trick' are here explored across a global sample of hunter–gatherer societies (N = 74), with attention given to the possible costs and benefits accrued by performers and their patients or audiences. This and similar tricks can be highly deceptive, but they can also be undertaken for entertainment, symbolic reasons, their placebo-like utility to sick patients, or some mixture of each. The recurrent invention of the trick across independent societies, as well as its cultural inheritance and diffusion between groups, indicates that it likely appeals to certain universal facets of human psychology, where experiences of sickness and pain commonly induce one to seek interventive cures from specialists, who in turn may use deceptive displays to give the appearance of greater skill and powers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
90. Intimacy across species boundaries: Interspecific allopreening between Spot‐necked (Stachyris strialata) and Nonggang Babblers (S. nonggangensis).
- Author
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Zhou, Wenyi and Zhang, Zhuyang
- Subjects
- *
INTIMACY (Psychology) , *SPECIES , *SOCIAL dominance - Abstract
Allopreening occurs in many species of birds and is known for providing hygienic and social benefits. While this behavior has been extensively studied among conspecifics, its occurrence among different species remains little known. Outside of captive environments, only a few records of interspecific allopreening exist. In this study, we describe our observations of the interspecific allopreening behavior between Spot‐necked (Stachyris strialata) and Nonggang Babblers (S. nonggangensis) in a non‐captive environment in southern China. To our knowledge, these observations represent the first record of interspecific allopreening in the family Timaliidae. We suggest that this understudied behavior is most likely related to the dominant–subordinate relationship between these two species: either the dominant species preening the subordinate species to assert dominance or the subordinate species preening the dominant species to reduce tensions by appeasement. We also suggest interspecific allopreening may not be as rare as we thought if we study this behavior under circumstances where different species are close to each other. This study contributes to our understanding of not only the potential mechanism(s) behind interspecific allopreening but also the behavioral ecology of the vulnerable Nonggang Babbler. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
91. A case of playful interaction between Bolivian river dolphins with a Beni anaconda.
- Author
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Entiauspe‐Neto, Omar M., Reichle, Steffen, and de los Rios, Alejandro
- Subjects
- *
DOLPHINS , *ANIMAL behavior , *BOTTLENOSE dolphin , *AQUATIC mammals , *TOP predators , *CARNIVOROUS animals - Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
92. Seasonal Variations in Lemur Edge Proximity in South-Eastern Madagascar.
- Author
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Lehman, Shawn M. and Mercado Malabet, Fernando
- Subjects
- *
LEMURS , *RANDOM forest algorithms , *BIOGEOGRAPHY - Abstract
Edge effects are caused by the penetration of abiotic and biotic conditions from the nonforest matrix into forest interiors. Edge effects are particularly relevant to studies of lemur conservation biogeography due to the high levels of forest loss and fragmentation on Madagascar. Moreover, climatic seasonality has influenced many aspects of lemur evolutionary ecology (e.g., diet and ranging patterns). Although lemurs are strongly influenced by seasonality and edge habitats are an increasingly dominant feature of their forest habitats, there are few data on whether or not any species exhibit seasonal responses to edge effects. In this study, we evaluated for the first time whether four lemur species (Avahi peyrierasi, Eulemur rubriventer, Hapalemur griseus ranomafanensis, and Microcebus sp.) exhibited seasonal variations in their edge proximities in SE Madagascar. We conducted diurnal (N = 348) and nocturnal (N = 134) lemur surveys along six transects over 3 years in the Vohibola III Classified Forest. The four lemur species exhibited considerable interspecific differences in the overall distribution and shape of their seasonal edge proximities. A. peyrierasi aggregated significantly further away from the forest edge during the warm, wet season than during the cool, dry season. The combination of a highly selected diet in A. peyrierasi and anthropogenic depletion of their preferred food and sleeping trees in edge habitats may explain seasonal changes in edge proximity. Lack of a seasonal edge effect in the other three lemur species likely reflects their ecological flexibility and in H. g. ranomafanensis and E. rubriventer, active defense of home-ranges and territories, respectively, from conspecifics. Further research is needed to better understand this new described pattern of seasonal variations in edge responses in lemurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
93. Listening to animal behavior to understand changing ecosystems.
- Author
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Oestreich WK, Oliver RY, Chapman MS, Go MC, and McKenna MF
- Abstract
Interpreting sound gives powerful insight into the health of ecosystems. Beyond detecting the presence of wildlife, bioacoustic signals can reveal their behavior. However, behavioral bioacoustic information is underused because identifying the function and context of animals' sounds remains challenging. A growing acoustic toolbox is allowing researchers to begin decoding bioacoustic signals by linking individual and population-level sensing. Yet, studies integrating acoustic tools for behavioral insight across levels of biological organization remain scarce. We aim to catalyze the emerging field of behavioral bioacoustics by synthesizing recent successes and rising analytical, logistical, and ethical challenges. Because behavior typically represents animals' first response to environmental change, we posit that behavioral bioacoustics will provide theoretical and applied insights into animals' adaptations to global change., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests No interests are declared., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
94. Exploring environmental measures in disability: Using Google Earth and Street View to conduct remote assessments of access and participation in urban and rural communities
- Author
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Tom Seekins, Meg A. Traci, and Emily C. Hicks
- Subjects
accessibility ,participation ,environment ,rural penalty ,behavioral ecology ,disability ,Other systems of medicine ,RZ201-999 ,Medical technology ,R855-855.5 - Abstract
The Americans with Disabilities Act has been in place since 1990. Yet, we still do not know the actual levels of accessibility in the nation, how access varies across communities or over time, or how it influences participation in community life. The present two studies explored the use of Google Earth (GE) and Google Street View (GSV) imagery as a database for examining the accessibility of rural and urban cities and towns in the United States. We developed procedures for selecting places in a community to observe multiple access features. Study 1 reports the findings from assessments of 25 communities across 17 states. We observed ≈50,000 m (31 miles) of pathways through the observed places. The Combined Access Score (CAS) averaged 65% across these communities. In Study 2, we evaluated 22 towns and cities in a large rural state. We observed ≈77,000 m (48 miles) of pathways through the Central Business Districts observed as core areas connecting people to community life. The CAS averaged 83.9% across these communities. We noted a Rural Access Penalty (RAP), such that rural areas tended to be less accessible, leading to less community participation. The method for using GSV to examine accessibility is discussed. This study demonstrates an inexpensive and reliable method for evaluating the accessibility of communities and participation in them. Future research should be conducted to gather a larger sample of communities in order to create a baseline from which to monitor changes in accessibility of infrastructure over time.
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
95. Intimacy across species boundaries: Interspecific allopreening between Spot‐necked (Stachyris strialata) and Nonggang Babblers (S. nonggangensis)
- Author
-
Wenyi Zhou and Zhuyang Zhang
- Subjects
behavioral ecology ,dominant–subordinate relationship ,interspecific allopreening ,Nonggang Babbler ,Spot‐necked Babbler ,Timaliidae ,Ecology ,QH540-549.5 - Abstract
Abstract Allopreening occurs in many species of birds and is known for providing hygienic and social benefits. While this behavior has been extensively studied among conspecifics, its occurrence among different species remains little known. Outside of captive environments, only a few records of interspecific allopreening exist. In this study, we describe our observations of the interspecific allopreening behavior between Spot‐necked (Stachyris strialata) and Nonggang Babblers (S. nonggangensis) in a non‐captive environment in southern China. To our knowledge, these observations represent the first record of interspecific allopreening in the family Timaliidae. We suggest that this understudied behavior is most likely related to the dominant–subordinate relationship between these two species: either the dominant species preening the subordinate species to assert dominance or the subordinate species preening the dominant species to reduce tensions by appeasement. We also suggest interspecific allopreening may not be as rare as we thought if we study this behavior under circumstances where different species are close to each other. This study contributes to our understanding of not only the potential mechanism(s) behind interspecific allopreening but also the behavioral ecology of the vulnerable Nonggang Babbler.
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
96. Overview of Current Research on Wolves in Russia
- Author
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Andrey D. Poyarkov, Miroslav P. Korablev, Eugenia Bragina, and Jose Antonio Hernandez-Blanco
- Subjects
wolf ,Canis lupus ,Russia ,population management ,behavioral ecology ,population genetic and morphology ,Evolution ,QH359-425 ,Ecology ,QH540-549.5 - Abstract
This paper provides an overview of wolf research in Russia at the beginning of the 21st century. Wolf research covered various directions, including population density estimation, management methods and minimization of human-wildlife conflicts, general and behavioral ecology, behavior, wolf population genetics and morphology, paleontology, dog domestication, helminthology and the wolves’ role in the rabies transmission. Some studies are performed with state-of-art methodology using molecular genetics, mathematical modeling, camera traps, and GPS telemetry.
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
97. Individual Variation in Parturition Timing within and among Years for a Bat Maternity Colony
- Author
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Julia Sunga, Jessica Humber, and Hugh Broders
- Subjects
behavioral ecology ,myotis lucifugus ,passive integrated transponder (pit) tags ,reproductive timing ,Biology (General) ,QH301-705.5 ,Biochemistry ,QD415-436 - Abstract
Background: In monoestrous species, the timing of reproduction can have important impacts on offspring survival. For heterotherms in temperate areas, parturition timing is constrained by cold weather survival strategies, such as hibernation and torpor. Female bats that are year-round residents of temperate regions, such as little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus), invest significantly in parental care resulting in sharp changes in behavior immediately following parturition. These behavior changes may include increases in nighttime roost revisits, which can be used to identify parturition dates for individual bats that have been passive integrated transponder (PIT) tagged and use monitored roosts. Methods: Using a system of tagged bats and monitored roosts in Pynn’s Brook and Salmonier Nature Park Newfoundland, Canada, we estimated parturition dates for 426 female M. lucifugus in at least one year, based on changes in nighttime roost revisit patterns, and quantified the variation in parturition dates within years among individuals, and within individuals among years. Results: Overall, we report on a wide variation in parturition dates within years among individuals as well as year-to-year variations, both across the population and within individuals. Spring weather conditions appeared to be important influences on parturition timing. Conclusions: Changes in spring and summer temperature and extreme weather events, as expected due to ongoing climate change, may impact parturition timing, and therefore, offspring survival of temperate bats.
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
98. Foraging behavior of migratory shorebirds during non-breeding periods in the Americas: a review
- Author
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Angarita-Báez, Jenny A. and Carlos, Caio J.
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
99. Movement, Home Range Size, and Habitat Use of Eastern Black-Tailed Rattlesnakes (Crotalus ornatus) in the Northern Chihuahuan Desert.
- Author
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Emerson, James D., DeSantis, Dominic L., Mata-Silva, Vicente, Wagler, Amy E., and Johnson, Jerry D.
- Subjects
- *
CROTALUS , *RATTLESNAKES , *PLANT litter , *LOGISTIC regression analysis , *DESERTS , *SNAKES , *HABITAT selection , *HABITATS - Abstract
Despite its wide distribution throughout the northern Chihuahuan Desert, extraordinarily little is known about the ecology or behavior of Eastern Black-tailed Rattlesnakes (Crotalus ornatus). The primary literature for Black-tailed Rattlesnakes was largely based on research conducted on the former conspecific (C. molossus); thus, the revalidation of C. ornatus widened the void in our understanding of the species. The aim of this study was to elucidate movement patterns, home range size, and habitat use by C. ornatus in the northern Chihuahuan Desert of far West Texas. Radiotelemetry was used to monitor individual snakes for at least one active season (March–October) from May 2015 through August 2018. Mean (±1 SE) home range size for all individuals was 22.84 ± 4.49 ha and mean daily distance moved was 9.28 ± 0.93 m/d. Male snakes had larger home range sizes, larger core use areas, and greater daily distance moved than did female snakes. On a monthly basis, male movement peaked in August and female movement was statistically similar throughout the active season. Multinomial logit models were used to analyze habitat use patterns of C. ornatus, while controlling for snake, habitat availability, and season. Despite limited availability within snake home ranges, most observations of snakes occurred in arroyos or on rocky slopes. Microhabitat was also used nonrandomly, with snakes seeking cover in rocky refugia or under dense vegetation, rather than in areas containing high proportions of gravel or plant litter. This study presents the first detailed information about habitat and microhabitat use, along with patterns of movement and home range size for the recently revalidated C. ornatus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
100. Commentary: New Directions in the History of Ethology.
- Subjects
ANIMAL behavior ,CHRONOLOGY ,AUXILIARY sciences of history ,ETHOLOGISTS ,ANIMAL specialists ,BEHAVIORAL scientists - Abstract
This welcome set of original and instructive papers illuminates and enriches the history of twentieth‐century ethology in multiple ways. It adds a wealth of actors, animals, methods, and places to those featured in previous treatments of ethology's development. Some of the papers extend the chronology beyond the heyday of ethology's disciplinary construction to consider exciting developments in the 1970s and beyond. Others consider animal behavior research programs pursued contemporaneously with but independently of mainline ethology's development from the 1930s through the 1960s. Another paper takes us inside an ethologist's archive of visual images to examine the importance of such images (and such a setting) for ethological practice. Collectively, the papers provide new opportunities to contemplate how research programs and disciplines evolve; the relations between concepts, practices, and places; ethology and politics, and much more. At the same time, the individuality of the papers is conspicuous. They have not been constructed on the same model. The authors have followed their own approaches, corresponding to their own, respective interests. A short commentary is not sufficient to do justice to each of them. Rather than attempt to review them one by one, I will consider a pair of themes that may help relate the papers to each other and to the history of ethology: (1) the ongoing challenge of defining ethology and identifying who the ethologists were (or are); (2) the practices and places of animal behavior study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
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