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Androgens like testosterone mediate suites of physical and behavioral traits across vertebrates, and circulation varies considerably across and within taxa. However, an understanding of the causal factors of variation in circulating testosterone has proven difficult despite decades of research. According to the challenge hypothesis, agonistic interactions between males immediately prior to the breeding season produce the highest levels of testosterone measured during this period. While many studies have provided support for this hypothesis, most species do not respond to male-male competition by elevating testosterone. As a result, a recent revision of the hypothesis ('challenge hypothesis 2.0') places male-female interactions as the primary cause of rapid elevations in testosterone circulation in male vertebrates. Here, we offer a test of both iterations of the challenge hypothesis in a tropical bird species. We first illustrate that male White-shouldered Fairywrens (Malurus alboscapulatus) differ by subspecies in plasma androgen concentrations. Then we use a social network approach to find that males of the subspecies with higher androgens are characterized by greater social interaction scores, including more time aggregating to perform sexual displays. Next, we use a controlled experiment to test whether males respond to simulated territorial intrusion and/or courtship competition contexts by elevating androgens. We found that males elevated androgens during territorial intrusions relative to flushed controls, however, males sampled during courtship competitions had greater plasma androgens both relative to controls and males sampled while defending territories. Ultimately, our results are consistent with challenge hypothesis 2.0, as sexual interactions with extra-pair females were associated with greater elevation of androgens than territorial disputes.

Hälsoundersökning av marina däggdjur

During winter, juvenile salmonids in boreal streams are vulnerable to predation, mainly from mammals and birds. Encounters with terrestrial predators can be reduced or avoided if fish limit activity to the darker periods of the day or to periods with surface ice. As piscivorous fish also are active in winter, they may be a threat under low light conditions when juvenile salmonids do not avoid terrestrial predators. Abiotic conditions, especially temperature, have major effects on fish in winter. High temperatures alter ice conditions in winter and lead to increased metabolism and physiological performance of fish. Water temperature also influences embryogenesis, with repercussions for fish throughout their life. Considering the rapid warming of winters in boreal regions, insights into how salmonids are adapted to winter conditions can aid in efforts to predict and mitigate anthropogenic effects that alter the winter environment. In this doctoral thesis, I explore anti-predator responses of brown trout (Salmo trutta) during its early life stages. I have examined the effects of predators, temperature, light and ice on the behaviour and physiology of juvenile trout during winter. In addition, I have studied how temperature and predators affect embryogenesis and the behaviour of fry after hatching. Anti-predator responses were evident in both the behaviour and physiology of juveniles and during embryogenesis. Trout exhibited diel behavioural changes when piscivorous fish were present, and were more vigilant towards piscivorous fish in darkness. Furthermore, temperature affected trout behaviour and physiology, with higher activity levels and lower mRNA expression of stress-related genes at higher temperatures. Trout also behaved differently depending on the temperature they experienced as eggs, as increased egg-incubation temperatures resulted in trout being more active and prone to risk taking., This thesis explores how winter conditions affect anti-predator responses of brown trout (Salmo trutta) during its early life stages. Salmonids in streams are vulnerable to predation from mammals, birds and piscivorous fish in winter. Abiotic conditions such as water temperature also affect the fish, and winters in boreal regions are getting warmer as a result of global change. Warmer winters are expected to increase the metabolism of fish, but also change the physical environment by reducing ice cover and altering light conditions. Eggs of salmonids are affected by warmer winters as well, with direct effects on embryos and indirect effects on the fish after hatching. I have examined how predators, temperature, light and ice affect juvenile brown trout during winter, and how temperature and predators affect embryos and the behaviour of fry after hatching. Anti-predator responses were evident in juveniles and during embryogenesis. Juvenile trout exhibited diel behavioural changes when piscivorous fish were present, and increased their vigilance towards piscivorous fish in darkness. Trout exhibited higher activity and lower expression of stress-related genes at higher temperatures. Increased egg-incubation temperatures resulted in trout being more active and risk taking., Abstract 2 är baksidestext.

Occupational enrichment emerges as a promising strategy for improving the welfare of farmed animals. This form of enrichment aims to stimulate cognitive abilities of animals by providing them with more opportunities to interact with and control their environment. Predictability of salient daily events, and in particular predictability of feeding, is currently one of the most studied occupational enrichment strategies and can take several forms. In fish, while temporal predictability of feeding has been widely investigated, signalled predictability (based on a signal, such as light or sound) has received little attention. Depending on the type of predictability used and the ecology of the species, the effects on fish welfare often differ. The present study aimed to determine which feeding predictability would be most appropriate for rainbow trout, the main continental farmed fish in Europe, and what the consequences might be for their welfare. We tested four feeding predictability conditions: temporal (based on time of day), signalled (based on bubble diffusion), temporal + signalled (based on time and bubble diffusion), and unpredictable (random feeding times). Behavioural and zootechnical outcomes recorded were swimming activity, aggressive behaviours, burst of accelerations, and jumps, emotional reactivity, and growth. Our results showed that rainbow trout can predict daily feedings relying on time and/or bubbles as predictors as early as two weeks of conditioning, as evidenced by their increased swimming activity before feeding or during feed omission tests, which allowed to reinforce their conditioned response. Temporal predictability alone resulted in an increase in pre-feeding aggressive behaviours, burst of accelerations, and jumps, suggesting that the use of time as the sole predictor of feedings in husbandry practices may be detrimental to fish welfare. Signalled predictability with bubbles alone resulted in fewer pre-feeding agonistic behaviours, burst of, Funding Agencies|French funding account CASDAR (Compte dAffectation Special "Developpement Agricole et Rural") [19AIP5919]

Global warming challenges the persistence of local populations, not only through heat-induced stress, but also through indirect biotic changes. We study the interactive effects of temperature, competition and parasitism in the water flea Daphnia magna. We carried out a common garden experiment monitoring the dynamics of Daphnia populations along a temperature gradient. Halfway through the experiment, all populations became infected with the ectoparasite Amoebidium parasiticum, enabling us to study the interactive effects of temperature and parasite dynamics. We combined Integral Projection Models with epidemiological models, parameterized using the experimental data on the performance of individuals within dynamic populations. This enabled us to quantify the contribution of different vital rates and epidemiological parameters to population fitness across temperatures and Daphnia clones originating from two latitudes. Interactions between temperature and parasitism shaped competition, where Belgian clones performed better under infection than Norwegian clones. Infected Daphnia populations performed better at higher than at lower temperatures, mainly due to an increased host capability of reducing parasite loads. Temperature strongly affected individual vital rates, but effects largely cancelled out on a population-level. In contrast, parasitism strongly reduced fitness through consistent negative effects on all vital rates. As a result, temperature-mediated parasitism was more important than the direct effects of temperature in shaping population dynamics. Both the outcome of the competition treatments and the observed extinction patterns support our modelling results. Our study highlights that shifts in biotic interactions can be equally or more important for responses to warming than direct physiological effects of warming, emphasizing that we need to include such interactions in our studies to predict the competitive ability of natural populations experiencing glo

In the present time of biodiversity crisis, assessing species diversity by accurate and accessible taxonomic revisions is more crucial than ever. Parasitoid wasps are considered as both one of the most diverse and under-studied groups in the tree of life. Dusona Cameron, 1901 (Ichneumonidae, Campopleginae) is with 442 species one of the most species - rich genera of Darwin wasps, but despite the existence of recent keys, species identification has proven difficult to impossible to non-specialists. In this study, we exam- ined about 1,500 Dusona specimens from recent and historical collections in Sweden and Switzerland. We provide a photographic guide to diagnostic characters and detailed plates for 57 out of 125 Western Palaearctic Dusona species, facilitating species identification based on existing keys. We add 11 and 3 species to the faunistic records of Sweden and Switzerland, respectively. Furthermore, we reconstruct the phylogeny of European Dusona based on four standard markers (COI, CAD, ITS2, 28S) for 45 species, complemented with a reliable reference barcode library for 46 species. Even though we can identify sev- eral morphologically distinct clades, we do not propose any new subgenera due to prevalent homoplasy of characters. While most species are well separated by barcodes, several morphologically distinct species have barely discriminatory barcode sequences (p-distances < 2%) or are even paraphyletic in this marker, indicating limitations in the applicability of barcodes for Darwin wasps. This study reveals severe gaps in the inventories of neglected taxa even for well-studied countries such as Sweden and Switzerland. As this study makes species determination for Western Palaearctic Dusona more accessible, we encourage more people, including non-specialists, to work with this genus., iadegma parasitoid wasps in Sweden (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae): unravelling the unknown

Many teleost fishes use acoustic and visual signalling during courtship. Such displays may convey information about body condition. Here we experimentally altered body condition of sand goby (Pomatoschistus minutus) males to examine effects on acoustic and visual courtship and subsequent spawning decisions. Over two weeks, males fed in excess were fed daily, whereas food-deprived males were fed once a week. Females only spawned with males that produced courtship sound. However, there were no treatment effects on the occurrence of spawning and males fed in excess did not invest more in visual or acoustic courtship than food-deprived males. That said, males fed in excess built more well-covered nests, with more sand piled on top, compared to food-deprived males. Male condition measured as lipid content differed significantly between treatments. However, only males fed in excess differed in lipid content from wild caught males, indicating that in nature, males are of similar condition to males in the low condition treatment group. Apart from the importance of courtship sound, the only male or female behaviour predicting reproductive success was if male displayed in the nest opening. Males often produce courtship sounds together with a visual display in this position. A female dark-eye display did not associate with reproductive success which, together with previous results, suggest a non-ornamental function of this trait. We conclude that male courtship sounds appear to be crucial in female mate choice, but the information content of the courtship sounds and how it relates to male condition remains elusive., Financial support was provided by the Graduate School in Marine Environmental Research at the Gothenburg Centre for Marine Research, Helge Ax:son Johnssons stiftelse, Herbert & Karin Jacobssons stiftelse (to ELB), the Science and Technology Foundation, Portugal, strategic project UID/MAR/04292/2020 (to MCPA) and the Centre for Marine Evolutionary Biology (http://www.cemeb. scien http://ce.gu.se) (to CK and OS). CeMEB was supported by a Linnaeus-grant from the Swedish Research Councils VR and Formas.

Ongoing climate change is leading to browning of many lakes and coastal areas, which can impair fish body growth and biomass production. However, whether and how effects of light limitation caused by browning on fish body growth vary over early ontogeny is unknown. In this study, we set up a mesocosm experiment to test whether roach (Rutilus rutilus) body growth responses to browning depend on body size, and if findings are robust over roach densities. We also studied a potential mechanism for size-specific responses by conducting an aquaria experiment to test if size-specific prey selectivity in roach changes with browning. We found that roach body growth responses to browning-induced light limitation vary over ontogeny (independent of roach density), negatively affecting body growth of young-of-the-year (YOY) but not of 1-year-old individuals. We also show that this difference in growth response is likely a consequence of browning-induced alterations in zooplankton community composition and variation in prey selectivity between YOY and 1-year-old fish. This suggests that we should account for the diverse effects of browning over fish ontogeny, mediated via altered prey composition and ontogenetic changes in prey preference, when assessing overall impacts of browning on aquatic ecosystems.

Despite lizards using a wide range of colour signals, the limited variation in photoreceptor spectral sensitivities across lizards suggests only weak selection for species-specific, spectral tuning of photoreceptors. Some species, however, have enhanced short-wavelength sensitivity, which probably helps with the detection of signals rich in ultraviolet and short wavelengths. In this study, we examined the visual system of Tiliqua rugosa, which has an ultraviolet/blue tongue, to gain insight into this species' visual ecology. We used electroretinograms, opsin sequencing and immunohistochemical labelling to characterize whole-eye spectral sensitivity and the elements that shape it. Our findings reveal that T. rugosa expresses all five opsins typically found in lizards (SWS1, SWS2, RH1, RH2 and LWS) but possesses greatly enhanced short-wavelength sensitivity compared with other diurnal lizards. This enhanced short-wavelength sensitivity is characterized by a broadening of the spectral sensitivity curve of the eye towards shorter wavelengths while the peak sensitivity of the eye at longer wavelengths (560 nm) remains similar to that of other diurnal lizards. While an increased abundance of SWS1 photoreceptors is thought to mediate elevated ultraviolet sensitivity in a couple of other lizard species, SWS1 photoreceptor abundance remains low in this species. Instead, our findings suggest that short-wavelength sensitivity is driven by multiple factors which include a potentially red-shifted SWS1 photoreceptor and the absence of short-wavelength-absorbing oil droplets. Examining the coincidence of enhanced short-wavelength sensitivity with blue tongues among lizards of this genus will provide further insight into the co-evolution of conspecific signals and whole-eye spectral sensitivity.

Salmonids are ideal models as many species follow a distinct developmental program from demersal eggs and a large yolk sac to hatching at an advanced developmental stage. Further, these economically important teleosts inhabit both marine- and freshwaters and experience diverse light environments during their life histories. At a genome level, salmonids have undergone a salmonid-specific fourth whole genome duplication event (Ss4R) compared to other teleosts that are already more genetically diverse compared to many non-teleost vertebrates. Thus, salmonids display phenotypically plastic visual systems that appear to be closely related to their anadromous migration patterns. This is most likely due to a complex interplay between their larger, more gene-rich genomes and broad spectrally enriched habitats; however, the molecular basis and functional consequences for such diversity is not fully understood. This study used advances in genome sequencing to identify the repertoire and genome organization of visual opsin genes (those primarily expressed in retinal photoreceptors) from six different salmonids [Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), brown trout (Salmo trutta), Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytcha), coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka)] compared to the northern pike (Esox lucius), a closely related non-salmonid species. Results identified multiple orthologues for all five visual opsin classes, except for presence of a single short-wavelength-sensitive-2 opsin gene. Several visual opsin genes were not retained after the Ss4R duplication event, which is consistent with the concept of salmonid rediploidization. Developmentally, transcriptomic analyzes of Atlantic salmon revealed differential expression within each opsin class, with two of the long-wavelength-sensitive opsins not being expressed before first feeding. Also, early opsin expression in the retina was located centrally, expanding dor

Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is known to affect developing organisms. Utilization of different omics-based technologies and approaches could therefore provide a base for the discovery of novel mechanisms of PAH induced development of toxicity. To this aim, we investigated how exposure towards two PAHs with different toxicity mechanisms: retene (an aryl hydrocarbon receptor 2 (Ahr2) agonist), and fluoranthene (a weak Ahr2 agonist and cytochrome P450 inhibitor (Cyp1a)), either alone or as a mixture, affected the cardiac proteome and metabolome in newly hatched rainbow trout alevins (Oncorhynchus mykiss). In total, we identified 65 and 82 differently expressed proteins (DEPs) across all treatments compared to control (DMSO) after 7 and 14 days of exposure. Exposure to fluoranthene altered the expression of 11 and 19 proteins, retene 29 and 23, while the mixture affected 44 and 82 DEPs by Days 7 and 14, respectively. In contrast, only 5 significantly affected metabolites were identified. Pathway over-representation analysis identified exposure-specific activation of phase II metabolic processes, which were accompanied with exposure-specific body burden profiles. The proteomic data highlights that exposure to the mixture increased oxidative stress, altered iron metabolism and impaired coagulation capacity. Additionally, depletion of several mini-chromosome maintenance components, in combination with depletion of several intermediate filaments and microtubules, among alevins exposed to the mixture, suggests compromised cellular integrity and reduced rate of mitosis, whereby affecting heart growth and development. Furthermore, the combination of proteomic and metabolomic data indicates altered energy metabolism, as per amino acid catabolism among mixture exposed alevins; plausibly compensatory mechanisms as to counteract reduced absorption and consumption of yolk. When considered as a whole, proteomic and metabolomic data, in relation to apical effec

Reproduction is an energetically costly event across vertebrates and tightly linked to nutritional status and energy reserves. In mammals, the hormone leptin is considered as a link between energy homeostasis and reproduction. However, its role in fish reproduction is still unclear. In this study, we investigated the possible role of leptin in the regulation of reproduction in zebrafish, using a loss of function leptin receptor (lepr) strain. Impaired leptin signaling resulted in severe reproductive deficiencies in female zebrafish. lepr mutant females laid significantly fewer eggs, with low fertilization rates compared to wild-type females. Folliculogenesis was not affected, but oocyte maturation and ovulation were disrupted in lepr mutants. Interestingly, the expression of luteinizing hormone beta (lhb) in the pituitary was significantly lower in mutant females. Analysis of candidate genes in the ovaries and isolated fully grown follicles revealed differential expression of genes involved in steroidogenesis, oocyte maturation and ovulation in the mutants. In conclusion, our results show that leptin deficiency does not affect early stages of follicular development, but leptin might be essential in later steps, such as in oocyte maturation and ovulation. To our knowledge, this is the first time that leptin is associated to reproductive deficiencies in zebrafish.

Över 1 miljon arter riskerar att dö ut i världen enligt WWF (2022) och inom Sveriges gränser klassas 2249 arter som hotade enligt den svenska rödlistan (2020). Om alla arterna försvinner leder det till stora konsekvenser både för människan och andra arter i världen som idag inte är hotade. För att kunna vända den här negativa trenden är det viktigt att arterna och hotet mot dem uppmärksammas. Genom att skapa information om arterna ökas folks medvetenhet om problemet vilket i sin tur kan leda till större stöd för att lösa problemet. Informationen måste också kännas intressant och relevant för att folk ska uppmärksamma informationen. Syftet med det här arbetet har därför blivit att undersöka hur informativa bilder föreställande djur kan skapas på ett sätt som väcker målgruppens intresse och ökar deras empati till de hotade arterna. Arbetet undersöker också hur känslosamma bilder behåller sin trovärdighet och informativa förmåga riktat till en vuxen målgrupp. Med stöd i teorier som visuell retorik och färg samt användning av metoder som informationsinsamling via enkät och utprovning av bildmaterialet kunde jag komma fram till ett resultat. Arbetet gestaltades som en informationsgrafik och handlade om hotade djur i Sverige. Resultatet av arbetet indikerade på att för att kunna skapa empati till djur i bilder så är det till en fördel om de illustrerade djuren har någon likhet till oss människor, i utseende eller beteende. Att använda sig av djurfamiljer och djurungar i bilderna gör det lättare för målgruppen att relatera till djuren och skapa empati för dem. Speciellt empatisk blir det om djuren upplevs vara i en hotfull situation. Bildernas färger, ljussättning och bakgrunder kan också påverka hur mycket empati man känner till djuren. För att behålla en trovärdighet i materialet bör bildmanéret sträva efter realism och text som presenteras tillsammans med bildmaterialet kan både stärka trovärdigheten och empatin till innehållet. Slutligen så kan bilder tolkas väldigt ol, More than 1 million species are at risk of extinction in the world according to WWF (2022), within Sweden's borders 2249 species are classified as endangered according to the Swedish Red List (2020). If all species disappear, it will lead to major consequences for both humans and other species in the world that are not endangered today. An important part of being able to reverse this negative trend is that the endangered species and their threats are paid attention to. More information about the species can increase people's awareness of the problem, which in turn can lead to greater support for solving the problem. Information that are spread about the species must also feel interesting and relevant for people to care. That’s why this study focus on how informative images depicting animals can be created in a way that peaks the main demographics interest and increase their empathy for the endangered species. The work also examines how emotional images can maintain their credibility and informative ability to an adult demographic. The visual work in this project is made as a infographic about endangered swedish animals. With the support of theories from visual rhetoric and color as well as the use of methods such as surveys and interviews with the main demographic, I was able to arrive at a conclusion. The result showed that in order to create empathy for animals in pictures, it is an advantage if the animals used have any similarities to us humans, in appearance or behavior. Using animal families and young animals in the pictures makes it easier for the target group to relate and create empathy for the animals. The empathy is increased if the animals are exposed to unnatural threats. By also exaggerating the situation the animal is in, with the use of color, lighting and backgrounds, the emphatic feeling can be increased. To maintain a credibility in the material, the illustrations should strive towards realism and text presented together with the can increase th

Coral snakes in the genus Micrurus are venomous, aposematic organisms that signal danger to predators through vivid coloration. Previous studies found that they serve as models to several harmless species of Batesian mimics. However, the extent to which Micrurus species engage in Mullerian mimicry remains poorly understood. We integrate detailed morphological and geographical distribution data to investigate if coral snakes are Mullerian mimics. We found that coloration is spatially structured and that Micrurus species tend to be more similar where they co-occur. Though long supposed, we demonstrate for the first time that coral snakes might indeed be Mullerian mimics as they show some convergence in coloration patterns. Additionally, we found that the length of red-coloured rings in Micrurus is conserved, even at large geographic scales. This finding suggests that bright red rings may be under more substantial stabilizing selection than other aspects of coloration and probably function as a generalized signal for deterring predators.

Carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are a threat to public health globally, yet the role of the environment in the epidemiology of CRE remains elusive. Given that wild birds can acquire CRE, likely from foraging in anthropogenically impacted areas, and may aid in the maintenance and dissemination of CRE in the environment, a spatiotemporal comparison of isolates from different regions and timepoints may be useful for elucidating epidemiological information. Thus, we characterized the genomic diversity of CRE from fecal samples opportunistically collected from gulls (Larus spp.) inhabiting Alaska (USA), Chile, Spain, Turkey, and Ukraine and from black kites (Milvus migrans) sampled in Pakistan and assessed evidence for spatiotemporal patterns of dissemination. Within and among sampling locations, a high diversity of carbapenemases was found, including Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC), New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase (NDM), oxacillinase (OXA), and Verona integron Metallo beta-lactamase (VIM). Although the majority of genomic comparisons among samples did not provide evidence for spatial dissemination, we did find strong evidence for dissemination among Alaska, Spain, and Turkey. We also found strong evidence for temporal dissemination among samples collected in Alaska and Pakistan, though the majority of CRE clones were transitory and were not repeatedly detected among locations where samples were collected longitudinally. Carbapenemase-producing hypervirulent K. pneumoniae was isolated from gulls in Spain and Ukraine and some isolates harbored antimicrobial resistance genes conferring resistance to up to 10 different antibiotic classes, including colistin. Our results are consistent with local acquisition of CRE by wild birds with spatial dissemination influenced by intermediary transmission routes, likely involving humans. Furthermore, our results support the premise that anthropogenicallyassociated wild birds may be good sentinels for understand

Background Relatively few studies have examined the interactive effects of ecological factors on physiological responses in wild animals. Nearly all of them have been short-term investigations that did not include experimental manipulations, limiting our ability to understand how climate change will affect natural populations. Using a 10-year brood size manipulation experiment in wild blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus), we quantified the impact of weather conditions and brood competition on the body mass and structural size (tarsus length) of nestlings just prior to leaving the nest. Results We found that variation in nestling body mass on day 14 after hatching was explained by an interactive effect between average ambient temperature experienced during nestling period and brood size treatment. Specifically, in control broods nestling body mass was correlated with temperature in a non-linear manner (concave) with the vertex point (maximum body mass) at ca. 13 degrees C. In contrast, in enlarged broods nestling body mass permanently increased (also non-linearly) as temperature advanced. Conclusions Our results highlight the importance of considering the effects of brood rearing conditions alongside other environmental factors experienced during growth while investigating early-life environmental effects on body condition.

Genetic variation is often lower at high latitudes, which may compromise the adaptability and hence survival of organisms. Here we show that genetic variability is negatively correlated with northern latitude in European green toads (Bufotes viridis). The result holds true for both putatively neutral microsatellite variation and supposedly adaptive MHC Class IIB variation. In particular, our findings have bearing on the conservation status of this species in Sweden, on the northern limit of its distribution where local populations are small and fragmented. These genetically impoverished populations are closely related to other populations found around the Baltic Sea basin. The low neutral and adaptive variation in these fringe populations compared to population at central ranges confirms a pattern shared across all other amphibians so far studied. In Sweden, the situation of green toads is of concern as the remaining populations may not have the evolutionary potential to cope with present and future environmental challenges.

Fasting, i.e. depriving the animals of food prior to harvesting, has been practised in the production of house crickets (Acheta domesticus). However, the effectiveness of this method in reducing microbial loads is still unclear. In addition, there may be costs of fasting to the organism, which could compromise product quality and animal welfare. Here, we analysed spontaneous behaviour displayed after 0, 24 or 48 hours of fasting. We show that after 48 hours of fasting, shelter use was increased and the duration spent on the exposed area of the floor was decreased. The same trend was seen after 24 hours fasting. Moreover, in both fasting treatments, a strong reduction in grooming was seen. We conclude that, in the absence of a microbial lowering effect of fasting and considering the current finding that fasting induces behavioural responses in crickets, there is currently no scientific support for using fasting in cricket production.

In current times of global change, several sources of stress such as contaminants and high temperatures may act synergistically. The extent to which organisms persist in stressful conditions will depend on the fitness consequences of multiple simultaneously acting stressors and the genetic basis of compensatory genetic responses. Ivermectin is an antiparasitic drug used in livestock that is excreted in dung of treated cattle, causing severe negative consequences on non-target fauna. We evaluated the effect of a combination of heat stress and exposure to ivermectin in the yellow dung fly, Scathophaga stercoraria (Diptera: Scathophagidae). In a first experiment we investigated the effects of high rearing temperature on susceptibility to ivermectin, and in a second experiment we assayed flies from a latitudinal gradient to assess potential effects of local thermal adaptation on ivermectin sensitivity. The combination of heat and ivermectin synergistically reduced offspring survival, revealing severe effects of the two stressors when combined. However, latitudinal populations did not systematically vary in how ivermectin affected offspring survival, body size, development time, cold and heat tolerance. We also found very low narrow-sense heritability of ivermectin sensitivity, suggesting evolutionary constraints for responses to the combination of these stressors beyond immediate maternal or plastic effects. If the revealed patterns hold also for other invertebrates, the combination of increasing climate warming and ivermectin stress may thus have severe consequences for biodiversity. More generally, our study underlines the need for quantitative genetic analyses in understanding wildlife responses to interacting stressors that act synergistically and threat biodiversity.

The Swedish fauna of thrips (Thysanoptera) in the family Phlaeothripidae consists of 49 species. A key to the species of Phlaeothripidae found in Sweden is provided. One species is recorded as new for the country, and 10 new regional records are presented. A checklist of all Swedish tubuliferan species with regional distributions is also given., The Swedish diversity of the thrips family Phlaeothripidae (Thysanoptera), and mitochondrial delimitation and identification of thrips species

In a recent experiment, we showed that horses are sensitive to pet-directed speech (PDS), a kind of speech used to talk to companion animals that is characterized by high pitch and wide pitch variations. When talked to in PDS rather than adult-directed speech (ADS), horses reacted more favorably during grooming and in a pointing task. However, the mechanism behind their response remains unclear: does PDS draw horses attention and arouse them, or does it make their emotional state more positive? In this study, we used an innovative paradigm in which female horses watched videos of humans speaking in PDS or ADS to better understand this phenomenon. Horses reacted differently to the videos of PDS and ADS: they were significantly more attentive and their heart rates increased significantly more during PDS than during ADS. We found no difference in the expressions of negative or positive emotional states during PDS and ADS videos. Thus, we confirm that horses perception of humans can be studied by means of video projections, and we conclude that PDS attracts attention and has an arousing effect in horses, with consequences on the use of PDS in daily interactions with them., Funding Agencies|IFCE [32 000809]

The cerebellum has a highly conserved neural structure across species but varies widely in size. The wide variation in cerebellar size (both absolute and in proportion to the rest of the brain) among species and populations suggests that functional specialization is linked to its size. There is increasing recognition that the cerebellum contributes to cognitive processing and emotional control in addition to its role in motor coordination. However, to what extent cerebellum size reflects variation in these behavioral processes within species remains largely unknown. By using a unique intercross chicken population based on parental lines with high divergence in cerebellum size, we compared the behavior of individuals repeatedly exposed to the same fear test (emergence test) early in life and after sexual maturity (eight trials per age group) with proportional cerebellum size and cerebellum neural density. While proportional cerebellum size did not predict the initial fear response of the individuals (trial 1), it did increasingly predict adult individuals response as the trials progressed. Our results suggest that proportional cerebellum size does not necessarily predict an individuals fear response, but rather the habituation process to a fearful stimulus. Cerebellum neuronal density did not predict fear behavior in the individuals which suggests that these effects do not result from changes in neuronal density but due to other variables linked to proportional cerebellum size which might underlie fear habituation., Funding Agencies|Swedish FORMASSwedish Research Council Formas [2019-01508]; European Research CouncilEuropean Research Council (ERC)European Commission [FERALGEN 772874]; Swedish Research CouncilSwedish Research CouncilEuropean Commission; Carl Tryggers Stiftelse; Linkoeping University Neuro-network

Arthropod herbivore assemblages are used to gain insight into questions about evolution, ecology, diversity, and conservation. However, determination at the species level of small arthropods may be challenging risking underestimating diversity. Here we suggest morphometric analyses as a supplementary determination method, and we demonstrate its use for a study of Chaitophorus species collected from Aspen trees (Populus tremula). Although sampled as one colony, the aphids represented three species. Rearing the species separately allowed us to get estimates characteristic of the developmental stages from each of the three species for morphometric comparisons. Recursive partitioning (RP) was used to create a decision tree for choice of morphometric parameters that with significance (p < 0.05) could determine the aphids by species and developmental stage; this insight could then be used as a key for determination. Eight of fifteen morphometric traits were selected by RP to be used in the key. Body length was responsible for nine splits and was consequently the more consistent morphometric trait used in the key.

The primary olfactory centers of metazoans as diverse as arthropods and mammals consist of an array of fields of dense synaptic neuropil, the olfactory glomeruli. However, the neurochemical structure of crustacean olfactory glomeruli is largely understudied when compared to the insects. We analyzed the glomerular architecture in selected species of hermit crabs using immunohistochemistry against presynaptic proteins, the neuropeptides orcokinin, RFamide and allatostatin, and the biogenic amine serotonin. Our study reveals an unexpected level of structural complexity, unmatched by what is found in the insect olfactory glomeruli. Peptidergic and aminergic interneurons provide the structural basis for a regionalization of the crustacean glomeruli into longitudinal and concentric compartments. Our data suggest that local olfactory interneurons take a central computational role in modulating the information transfer from olfactory sensory neurons to projection neurons within the glomeruli. Furthermore, we found yet unknown neuronal elements mediating lateral inhibitory interactions across the glomerular array that may play a central role in modulating the transfer of sensory input to the output neurons through presynaptic inhibition. Our study is another step in understanding the function of crustacean olfactory glomeruli as highly complex units of local olfactory processing.

Behavioural differences between and within individuals can greatly affect the outcome of behavioural studies. In addition, behavioural interactions between individuals can compromise the health and welfare of captive fish. In paper I, I investigate the relationship between locomotory activity, boldness and aggressive behaviour in ~2000 hatchery-reared Baltic salmon parr (Salmo salar L), with the aim to predict aggression level from activity and boldness displayed in the open field test. We found that activity and boldness were positively correlated while they were not correlated with aggression level measured in the mirror stimulation test. Surprisingly, medium and low aggressive fish were the most active, while highly aggressive fish showed only average activity. We conclude that the open field test, although efficient, does not accurately predict aggressive behaviour. However, the mirror stimulation test can be used for high-throughput aggression profiling of juvenile salmon. In paper II, I tested a subset of the salmon parr for a second time, to quantify behavioural consistency between trials and to investigate if phenotypic plasticity was related to aggression level. Our results show that activity was the most stable behavioural variable between trials. Even though aggression was not consistent between tests, we found that the fish displaying a low level of aggression in the first test were less consistent in their behaviour than highly aggressive fish. In paper III, we compared the behavioural development of zebrafish larvae of two strains, the AB strain and 5th generation offspring of wild-caught zebrafish from India. Individual larvae were screened for activity and boldness at the age of 5-, 7-, 12- and 30-days post fertilization using an open field test with alternating light and dark cycles. Furthermore, we analysed mRNA expression of genes encoding serotonin, dopamine, galanin and opioid receptor subunits, as well the peptide neurotransmitter spexin in who, Zoom länk för avhandling: https://uu-se.zoom.us/j/69884584393

Animals are often not growing at the maximum rate, but can compensate for a bad start of life by subsequently increasing growth rate. While this compensatory growth is widespread, its direct fitness consequences are seldom investigated and its genetic basis is unknown.We investigated the genetic regulation, as well as fitness and lifespan consequences of compensatory growth in response to temperature, using Caenorhabditis elegans knockout of the thermo-sensitive TRP ion channel TRPA-1, involved in temperature recognition. We exposed juvenile worms to cold, favourable (intermediate) or warm temperatures in order to delay or speed up development.Wild-type worms initially exposed to cold temperature experienced slower growth but after being switched to a more favourable temperature, they expressed compensatory growth and caught up in size. Those initially reared at warmer temperatures than favourable experienced slower growth and attained smaller adult size after being switched to the most favourable temperature.Compensatory growth also altered the reproductive schedule. While rate-sensitive individual fitness decreased by cold juvenile temperatures, as a direct effect of the substantial developmental delay, once worms returned to more favourable temperature, they shifted their reproductive schedule towards early reproduction. Therefore, when focusing on the post-treatment period, the reproductive rate increased even though lifetime reproductive success was unaffected. Surprisingly, compensatory growth did not reduce adult lifespan. In contrast to the findings for wild-type worms, juvenile temperature did not induce compensatory or slowed-down growth in the trpa-1 knockout mutants.We thus show that the trpa-1 is involved in the network regulating temperature-induced compensatory growth in C. elegans and that this compensatory growth can influence the reproductive rate.

Madagascar is known for its high endemism and as many as 90% of this unique diversity are forest-dwellers. Unfortunately, the forest cover of Madagascar is decreasing at an alarming rate. This decrease can also affect aquatic insects, but our knowledge on aquatic insect diversity and distribution on Madagascar are limited. Although the eastern rainforests are considered the most diverse, the Central Highlands of Madagascar also harbors unique microendemic fauna but has been less studied. Here, we analyze the aquatic Adephaga beetle fauna of three remaining protected forests of the Central Highlands. Diversity, abundance, and uniqueness are compared between and within natural forests and surrounding grasslands. At least 15 undescribed species were found, highlighting the Central Highlands as an important area for endemism. The natural forests and the surrounding grasslands differed significantly in species assemblages. Interestingly, the three remaining forests differed in their assemblages with the geographically more distant Manjakatompo Ankaratra having the most unique fauna but also the highest altitude span. By contrast, the species composition was similar between the peripheral zones of each of the three remaining forests. The similarity of the fauna in the peripheral open habitats illustrates how some local forest endemics are replaced with widespread generalists in degraded habitats. Our study shows that the remaining forests of the Central Highlands of Madagascar are important refuges of unique fauna at high risk of extinction.

The underlying molecular pathophysiology of feeding disorders, particularly in peripheral organs, is still largely unknown. A range of molecular factors encoded by appetite-regulating genes are already described to control feeding behaviour in the brain. However, the important role of the gastrointestinal tract in the regulation of appetite and feeding in connection to the brain has gained more attention in the recent years. An example of such inter-organ connection can be the signals mediated by leptin, a key regulator of body weight, food intake and metabolism, with conserved anorexigenic effects in vertebrates. Leptin signals functions through its receptor (lepr) in multiple organs, including the brain and the gastrointestinal tract. So far, the regulatory connections between leptin signal and other appetite-regulating genes remain unclear, particularly in the gastrointestinal system. In this study, we used a zebrafish mutant with impaired function of leptin receptor to explore gut expression patterns of appetite-regulating genes, under different feeding conditions (normal feeding, 7-day fasting, 2 and 6-hours refeeding). We provide evidence that most appetite-regulating genes are expressed in the zebrafish gut. On one hand, we did not observed significant differences in the expression of orexigenic genes (except for hcrt) after changes in the feeding condition. On the other hand, we found 8 anorexigenic genes in wild-types (cart2, cart3, dbi, oxt, nmu, nucb2a, pacap and pomc), as well as 4 genes in lepr mutants (cart3, kiss1, kiss1r and nucb2a), to be differentially expressed in the zebrafish gut after changes in feeding conditions. Most of these genes also showed significant differences in their expression between wild-type and lepr mutant. Finally, we observed that impaired leptin signalling influences potential regulatory connections between anorexigenic genes in zebrafish gut. Altogether, these transcriptional changes propose a potential role of leptin signa

Simple Summary The Egyptian honeybee (Apis mellifera lamarckii) is one of the honeybee subspecies known for centuries since the ancient Egypt civilization. The subspecies of the Egyptian honeybee is distinguished by certain traits of appearance and behavior that were well-adapted to the environment and unique in a way that it is resistant to bee diseases, such as the Varroa disease. The subspecies is different than those found in Europe and is native to southern Egypt. Therefore, a special care should be paid to the vulnerable A. m. lamarckii subspecies and greater knowledge about the risk factors as well as conservation techniques will protect these bees. Additionally, more qualitative and quantitative measures will be taken to obtain deep insights into the A. m. lamarckii products' chemical profile and biological characters. Egypt has an ongoing long history with beekeeping, which started with the ancient Egyptians making various reliefs and inscriptions of beekeeping on their tombs and temples. The Egyptian honeybee (Apis mellifera lamarckii) is an authentic Egyptian honeybee subspecies utilized in apiculture. A. m. lamarckii is a distinct honeybee subspecies that has a particular body color, size, and high levels of hygienic behavior. Additionally, it has distinctive characteristics; including the presence of the half-queens, an excessive number of swarm cells, high adaptability to climatic conditions, good resistance to specific bee diseases, including the Varro disorder, and continuous breeding during the whole year despite low productivity, using very little propolis, and tending to abscond readily. This review discusses the history of beekeeping in Egypt and its current situation in addition to its morphology, genetic analysis, and distinctive characters, and the defensive behaviors of native A. m. lamarckii subspecies.

Biodiversity is heavily influenced by ongoing climate change, which often results in species undergoing range shifts, either poleward or uphill. Range shifts can occur provided suitable habitats exist within reach. However, poleward latitudinal shifts might be limited by additional abiotic or biotic constraints, such as increased seasonality, photoperiod patterns, and species interactions. To gain insight into the dynamics of insect range shifts at high latitudes, we constructed ecological niche models (ENMs) for 57 Odonata species occurring in northern Europe. We used citizen science data from Sweden and present-day climatic variables covering a latitudinal range of 1,575 km. Then, to measure changes in range and interactions among Odonata species, we projected the ENMs up to the year 2080. We also estimated potential changes in species interactions using niche overlap and co-occurrence patterns. We found that most Odonata species are predicted to expand their range northward. The average latitudinal shift is expected to reach 1.83 and 3.25 km y(-1) under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios, respectively, by 2061-2080. While the most warm-dwelling species may increase their range, our results indicate that cold-dwelling species will experience range contractions. The present-day niche overlap patterns among species will remain largely the same in the future. However, our results predict changes in co-occurrence patterns, with many species pairs showing increased co-occurrence, while others will no longer co-occur because of the range contractions. In sum, our ENM results suggest that species assemblages of Odonata-and perhaps insects in general-in northern latitudes will experience great compositional changes.

Background: Like most living organisms, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster exhibits strong and diverse behavioural reactions to light. Drosophila is a diurnal animal that displays both short- and long-term responses to light, important for, instance, in avoidance and light wavelength preference, regulation of eclosion, courtship, and activity, and provides an important model organism for understanding the regulation of circadian rhythms both at molecular and circuit levels. However, the assessment and comparison of light-based behaviours is still a challenge, mainly due to the lack of a standardised platform to measure behaviour and different protocols created across studies. Here, we describe the Drosophila Interactive System for Controlled Optical manipulations (DISCO), a low-cost, automated, high-throughput device that records the flies' activity using infrared beams while performing LED light manipulations. Results: To demonstrate the effectiveness of this tool and validate its potential as a standard platform, we developed a number of distinct assays, including measuring the locomotor response of flies exposed to sudden darkness (lights-off) stimuli. Both white-eyed and red-eyed wild-type flies exhibit increased activity after the application of stimuli, while no changes can be observed in Fmr1 null allele flies, a model of fragile X syndrome. Next, to demonstrate the use of DISCO in long-term protocols, we monitored the circadian rhythm of the flies for 48 h while performing an alcohol preference test. We show that increased alcohol consumption happens intermittently throughout the day, especially in the dark phases. Finally, we developed a feedback-loop algorithm to implement a place preference test based on the flies' innate aversion to blue light and preference for green light. We show that both white-eyed and red-eyed wild-type flies were able to learn to avoid the blue-illuminated zones. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate the versatility of DISCO for

Ett av de primära hoten mot biologisk mångfald och populationsnedgångar är utvecklingen av de moderna jord- och skogsbruket, där intensifierad markanvändning vidare har lett till förlust av lämpliga livsmiljöer för många organismgrupper, inklusive insekter. Nattfjärilar anses vara en indikatorgrupp för miljöförändringar och deras nedgång har dokumenterats i flera europeiska länder. Utvecklingen av infrastruktur som ytterligare bidrar till markanvändningen, till exempel kraftledningsgator, har fått ett ökat intresse att utforskas ur ett naturvårdsperspektiv. Studier har visat att insektsgrupper som till exempel vilda bin och dagfjärilar potentiellt kan använda kraftledningsgator som en möjlig livsmiljö, men liknande studier är bristfälliga för nattfjärilar. Kraftledningsgator löper genom landskapets varierande naturtyper och korsar därmed skogsbestånd påverkade av skogsbruket. Denna studie undersökte abundans och artrikedom av nattaktiva storfjärilar (Macrolepidoptera) i norra Sverige längs smala kraftledningsgator omgiven av olika successionsstadier av boreal skog och skog opåverkade av kraftledningsgator som kontroll. Samtidigt undersöktes effekter av säsong och nattlig temperatur på förekomsten av nattfjärilar i studien. Nattfjärilar samlades in genom ljusfångst under juli och augusti 2022. Vidare kunde ingen signifikant skillnad påvisas i artrikedom eller abundans av nattfjärilar mellan kraftledningsgator omgiven av olika tillväxtstadier av skogsbestånd och kontrollgruppen. Däremot observerades en varierad artsammansättning i vardera habitattyp. Resultatet kan vagt antyda att nattfjärilar i varierande skogsbestånd möjligtvis kan nyttja de smala kraftledningsgator som löper genom områdena om ledningsgatan innehar en gynnsam miljö med viktiga värdväxter. Men större studier behövs för att undersöka kraftledningsgator som livsmiljö och eventuella effekter av angränsande omgivning. Utöver påvisades skillnader i abundans och artrikedom av nattfjärilar mellan perioder, One of the primary threats to biodiversity and population declines is intensified agriculture and forestry management. Intense land use leads to loss of suitable habitats for many groups of organisms, including insects. Moths are considered an indicator group for environmental changes and their decline has been documented in several European countries. Furthermore, development of infrastructure, power line corridors for example, also contributes to land use. However, studies have indicated that insects such as wild bees and diurnal butterflies can potentially use power line corridors, but studies are lacking if this applies to moths. Power line corridors run through the landscape and their adjacent environment are thus very varied. This study investigates the abundance and species richness of moths (Macrolepidoptera) in northern Sweden, along narrow power line corridors surrounded by different successional stages of boreal forest, compared to forests unaffected by power lines. Mid- and late summer season and temperature effects were also investigated. Moths were collected in july and august 2022 by sampling at night with light traps. No significant difference could be demonstrated between power line corridors surrounded by different forest types and the control group, for either abundance or species richness. Even though there were no difference in species richness between sites, the species composition of moths in each habitat varied. The result may indicate that moths in different forest types potentially can use the narrow power line corridors that run through the area, if the local environment is favorable and vital host plants are present, but more studies are needed to investigate power lines as novel habitats and possible effects of the surrounding environment. Furthermore, abundance and species richness of moths were greater in late summer, and postively corellated with higher temperatures at nights, which indicates that these factors should be taken into ac

A honey bee colony's ability to grow and develop is dependent on adequate nutrition. Bees collect pollen from flowers as a source of protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals. The crude protein content of corn pollen is considered low, around 15%; however, bees frequently visit the male flowers of the tassels for pollen. In this study, we aimed for the first time to improve the nutritious value of corn pollen by mechanically crushing its external pollen wall. We then compared the effect of feeding crushed vs. non-crushed corn pollen grains on honey bee diet consumption, digestibility, hemolymph protein content, hypopharyngeal gland (HPG) size, and thorax weight under laboratory conditions. We found that crushing corn pollen grains increased diet digestibility and hemolymph protein content while decreasing honey bee pollen consumption (- 39.88%). Crushing pollen however had no effect on HPG size or thorax weight. These findings may be beneficial to beekeepers in areas where corn monoculture is prevalent. The effect of crushed corn pollen on larval development and growth, as well as colony development and vitality, should be investigated in future studies.

Title in Web of Science: Joint Species Distribution Modelling: With Applications in R. Ecology, Biodiversity and Conservation

The so-called extra-embryonic tissues are important for embryonic development in many animals, although they are not considered to be part of the germ band or the embryo proper. They can serve a variety of functions, such as nutrient uptake and waste removal, protection of the embryo against mechanical stress, immune response and morphogenesis. In insects, a subgroup of arthropods, extra-embryonic tissues have been studied extensively and there is increasing evidence that they might contribute more to embryonic development than previously thought. In this review, we provide an assessment of the occurrence and possible functions of extra-embryonic tissues in the closest arthropod relatives, onychophorans (velvet worms) and tardigrades (water bears). While there is no evidence for their existence in tardigrades, these tissues show a remarkable diversity across the onychophoran subgroups. A comparison of extra-embryonic tissues of onychophorans to those of arthropods suggests shared functions in embryonic nutrition and morphogenesis. Apparent contribution to the final form of the embryo in onychophorans and at least some arthropods supports the hypothesis that extra-embryonic tissues are involved in organogenesis. In order to account for this role, the commonly used definition of these tissues as 'extra-embryonic' should be reconsidered.This article is part of the theme issue 'Extraembryonic tissues: exploring concepts, definitions and functions across the animal kingdom'.

Light cues vary along the axis of periodicity, intensity and spectrum and perception of light is dependent on the photoreceptive capacity encoded within the genome and the opsins expressed. A global approach was taken to analyze the photoreceptive capacity and the effect of differing light conditions on a developing teleost prior to first feeding. The transcriptomes of embryos and alevins of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) exposed to different light conditions were analyzed, including a developmental series and a circadian profile. The results showed that genes mediating nonvisual photoreception are present prior to hatching when the retina is poorly differentiated. The clock genes were expressed early, but the circadian profile showed that only two clock genes were significantly cycling before first feeding. Few genes were differentially expressed between day and night within a light condition; however, many genes were significantly different between light conditions, indicating that light environment has an impact on the transcriptome during early development. Comparing the transcriptome data from constant conditions to periodicity of white light or different colors revealed overrepresentation of genes related to photoreception, eye development, muscle contraction, degradation of metabolites and cell cycle among others, and in constant light, several clock genes were upregulated. In constant white light and periodicity of green light, genes associated with DNA replication, chromatin remodeling, cell division and DNA repair were downregulated. The study implies a direct influence of light conditions on the transcriptome profile at early developmental stages, by a complex photoreceptive system where few clock genes are cycling.

Swedish National Monitoring program on harbour porpoises

Morphological and genetic analyses of species of Australoheros focusing on those distributed in coastal rivers from the Rio de La Plata north to the Rio Buranhém, support recognition of 17 valid species in the genus. Eight species are represented in coastal rivers: A. acaroides, A. facetus, A. ipatinguensis, A. oblongus, A. ribeirae, and A. sanguineus are validated from earlier descriptions. Australoheros mboapari is a new species from the Rio Taquari in the Rio Jacuí drainage. Australoheros ricani is a new species from the upper Rio Jacuí. Specimens from the Rio Yaguarón and Rio Tacuary, affluents of Laguna Merín, and tributaries of the Rio Negro, tributary of the Rio Uruguay are assigned to A. minuano pending critical data on specimens from the type locality of A. minuano. Australoheros taura is ajunior synonym of A. acaroides. Australoheros autrani, A. saquarema, A. capixaba, A.macaensis, A. perdi, and A. muriae are junior synonyms of A. ipatinguensis. Heros autochthon, A. mattosi, A. macacuensis, A. montanus, A. tavaresi, A. paraibae, and A. barbosae,are junior synonyms of A. oblongus. Heros jenynsii is a junior synonym of A. facetus.

Described from Namibia, Trichophiala devylderi Aurivillius, 1879 is a species for which, apart from the original description of female “types”, little is known. Building upon recent observations in the field, investigations in variousmuseums that preserve specimens, and a review of the literature, we describe for the first time the habitat, the knowndistribution, the morphology of both sexes including the presence of two phenotypes, and the genitalia of both male andfemale. We also provide genetic information from several specimens that reveal little variation in the standard animalDNA barcode. Finally, we designate a lectotype among the three specimens preserved at the Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet,Stockholm, Sweden

Specimens of Devario from a tributary to the Salween River in Myanmar initially identified as Devario browni but witha different colour pattern, were subjected to a comparative morphological analysis with syntypes and other specimens of D. browni from near its putative type locality. The Salween sample was recognised as representing a distinct species, here named Devario ahlanderi. No significant morphometric differences were found between D. ahlanderi and D. browni.The type series of Devario ahlanderi differed from D. browni and most other species of Devario in the presence of 14 vs 12 circumpeduncular scale rows. Devario ahlanderi, D. browni, and D. fangae shared subadult colour pattern. Adult D. ahlanderi differed from adult D. browni in the trunk colour pattern, consisting of rows of dark blotches or short vertical bars. In D. browni, the flank colour pattern consisted of horizontal dark stripes, the middle of which (the P stripe) frequently diverged anteriorly, enclosing a small light blotch. Specimens previously reported as D. browni from the upper Salween River basin in Yunnan differed slightly in colour pattern, and may represent a distinct species. Devario ahlanderi shared spotted colour pattern with that of one ontogenetic state in D. kysonensis, except that a row of spots marking the P-1 stripe in D. kysonensis was absent in D. ahlanderi. The minimum genetic distance between D. ahlanderi and congeneric species varied from 2.1 to 5% in the mt-coI gene.

An observation of a female leucistic Grass snake (Natrix natrix (L.)), found in Kungsängen, Uppland, Sweden on August 26, 2022, is discussed. The observation is the first for Sweden and possibly the first for the species.

Dominance-based social hierarchies are common among teleost fishes. The rank of an animal greatly affects its behaviour, physiology and development. The outcome of fights for social dominance is affected by heritable factors and previous social experience. Divergent stress-coping styles have been demonstrated in a large number of teleosts, and fish displaying a proactive coping style have an advantage in fights for social dominance. Coping style has heritable components, but it appears to be largely determined by environmental factors, especially social experience. Agonistic behaviour is controlled by the brain's social decision-making network, and its monoaminergic systems play important roles in modifying the activity of this neuronal network. In this Review, we discuss the development of dominance hierarchies, how social rank is signalled through visual and chemical cues, and the neurobiological mechanisms controlling or correlating with agonistic behaviour. We also consider the effects of social interactions on the welfare of fish reared in captivity.

Understanding the morphological and physiological correlates of competitive behaviours can provide important insights into the ecology of competition, home range size and resource consumption. Here we first estimated and defined sexual dimorphism in a poorly studied African cerambycid species, Cacosceles newmannii (Thomson, 1877). We then assessed morphological and physiological attributes of male beetles in relation to their fighting behaviour. Suites of morphological and energetic measurements were carried out on adult males, the latter before and after male-male interactions. Aggressive behaviour and the outcomes of male fighting trials were assessed under controlled conditions. The species is highly sexually dimorphic in relation to mandible size. During male-male interactions, a continuum of behaviours with an increasing risk of injury and metabolic cost was observed. Grasping was prolonged in males with larger fighting apparatus, who also tended to use more energy during the encounter than males displaying other behaviours. Our results indicate that the mandible size in C. newmannii serves as an honest signal of fighting ability in this species. Additionally, energetic assessments in preparation for fighting, costs during a fight, and persistence of metabolic costs postfighting may be useful for understanding the relative fitness costs of competition., Funding Agencies|Centre for Invasion Biology; South African Sugarcane Research Institute [S005221]