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Meaning in Life Children Questionnaire (MIL-CQ) was developed with reference to Frankl's meaning triangle that has dimensions of Attitude, Creativity, and Experience. The current study translated MIL-CQ into Chinese (MIL-CQ-C), and evaluated its psychometric properties in a sample of 264 upper primary and secondary school gifted students in Hong Kong. Dimensionality of MIL-CQ-C was investigated via exploratory factor analysis using the robust weighted least square estimator. Measurement invariance across gender was investigated. Convergent validity was evaluated by testing MIL-CQ-C as the mediator of social connectedness in predicting presence of meaning in life and search for meaning in life. After removal of three items, exploratory factor analysis supported the original 3-factor structure with substantial factor loadings ([lambda] = 0.53-0.91) and good reliability ([omega] = 0.85-0.92). The MIL-CQ-C showed scalar measurement invariance across gender. The MIL-CQ-C was positively correlated with social connectedness, presence of meaning in life, and search for meaning in life. The MIL-CQ-C mediated the relationship between social connectedness and presence of meaning in life and search for meaning in life. The findings lend support to a valid 3-factor structure for MIL-CQ-C when completed by gifted learners in Hong Kong.

Knowledge of variation in population processes (e.g. population growth) across broad spatiotemporal scales is fundamental to population ecology and critical for conservation decision‐making. Count data from rigorous surveys (e.g. surveys with probabilistic sampling design and distance sampling information) can inform population processes but are often limited in space and time. Participatory science data cover broader spatiotemporal extents but are prone to bias due to limited to no sampling design and lack of distance sampling information, hindering their capability of informing population processes.Here, we developed an integrated dynamic N‐mixture model that jointly analyses rigorous survey and participatory science data to inform population growth at broad spatiotemporal extents. The model contains a flexible scaling parameter that allows fixed and random effects to account for biases and errors in participatory science data. We conducted simulations to evaluate the inference performance of this model across a broad range of spatial and temporal overlap between rigorous survey and participatory science data. We also conducted a case study of Baird's Sparrow (Centronyx bairdii), a species of conservation concern, to illustrate the application of the integrated model with rigorous survey data from the Integrated Monitoring in Bird Conservation Regions programme and participatory science North American Breeding Bird Survey and eBird data.Simulations showed that the integrated model improved precision without biasing parameter estimates, in comparison with a model informed by rigorous survey data alone. The case study further demonstrated the utility of the integrated model for quantifying range‐wide, long‐term population processes and environmental drivers despite limited spatiotemporal extent of rigorous survey data. In particular, we found that population growth rate peaked under medium temperature, which were only apparent in the integrated model.The integrated model developed in this study is useful for understanding wildlife population processes at broad spatiotemporal scales with count data. The flexible structure of this model, in particular the scaling parameter, makes it highly adaptable to a broad range of ecological systems and survey procedures. These properties make this modelling approach highly relevant for both population ecology and conservation practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The neurogenomic mechanisms mediating male–male reproductive cooperative behaviours remain unknown. We leveraged extensive transcriptomic and behavioural data on a neotropical bird species (Pipra filicauda) that performs cooperative courtship displays to understand these mechanisms. In this species, the cooperative display is modulated by testosterone, which promotes cooperation in non‐territorial birds, but suppresses cooperation in territory holders. We sought to understand the neurogenomic underpinnings of three related traits: social status, cooperative display behaviour and testosterone phenotype. To do this, we profiled gene expression in 10 brain nuclei spanning the social decision‐making network (SDMN), and two key endocrine tissues that regulate social behaviour. We associated gene expression with each bird's behavioural and endocrine profile derived from 3 years of repeated measures taken from free‐living birds in the Ecuadorian Amazon. We found distinct landscapes of constitutive gene expression were associated with social status, testosterone phenotype and cooperation, reflecting the modular organization and engagement of neuroendocrine tissues. Sex‐steroid and neuropeptide signalling appeared to be important in mediating status‐specific relationships between testosterone and cooperation, suggesting shared regulatory mechanisms with male aggressive and sexual behaviours. We also identified differentially regulated genes involved in cellular activity and synaptic potentiation, suggesting multiple mechanisms underpin these genomic states. Finally, we identified SDMN‐wide gene expression differences between territorial and floater males that could form the basis of ‘status‐specific’ neurophysiological phenotypes, potentially mediated by testosterone and growth hormone. Overall, our findings provide new, systems‐level insights into the mechanisms of cooperative behaviour and suggest that differences in neurogenomic state are the basis for individual differences in social behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In urban and human-modified landscapes, animals face novel selection pressures resulting from differences in habitat structure and increased anthropogenic noise. Urban noise pollution can negatively impact songbirds because low-frequency noise often masks portions of birds' mating signals and reduces signal transmission. Previous research has demonstrated that the songs of birds in more urban habitats have structural differences that can enhance signal transmission when noise is present. The majority of these studies have focused on species that deliver short, stereotyped songs and have limited repertoires. Gray catbirds (Dumetella carolinensis, family: Mimidae) sing long bouts containing imitated, improvised, and invented song elements, and therefore may have an increased ability to vary songs in response to noise. We hypothesized that aspects of developed habitats including loud anthropogenic noise and changes to land cover would impact catbirds' song structural parameters, including song minimum, peak, and maximum frequency, frequency bandwidth, and entropy. We recorded and processed songs from 42 male catbirds and analyzed over 18,000 song elements from sites along an urban gradient from western Virginia to the Washington, DC metropolitan region. We quantified the urban intensity at each site-centroid based on percent canopy cover, percent impervious surface, and noise level. Song features such as minimum, maximum, and peak frequency increased significantly as noise levels increased, demonstrating that catbirds in noisier areas sing higher frequency songs compared to individuals in quieter habitats. Land cover variables also significantly predicted certain song features such as maximum frequency (impervious surface) or entropy (canopy cover). These structural differences in catbird song can limit the negative effects of environmental noise-masking, even for their long song bouts, and suggest that vocal mimics respond to anthropogenic noise. Future studies could investigate repertoire size and composition along an urban gradient and if these structural differences lead to functional consequences for the songs of vocal mimics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meaning in Life Children Questionnaire (MIL-CQ) was developed with reference to Frankl's meaning triangle that has dimensions of Attitude, Creativity, and Experience. The current study translated MIL-CQ into Chinese (MIL-CQ-C), and evaluated its psychometric properties in a sample of 264 upper primary and secondary school gifted students in Hong Kong. Dimensionality of MIL-CQ-C was investigated via exploratory factor analysis using the robust weighted least square estimator. Measurement invariance across gender was investigated. Convergent validity was evaluated by testing MIL-CQ-C as the mediator of social connectedness in predicting presence of meaning in life and search for meaning in life. After removal of three items, exploratory factor analysis supported the original 3-factor structure with substantial factor loadings (λ = 0.53–0.91) and good reliability (Ω = 0.85–0.92). The MIL-CQ-C showed scalar measurement invariance across gender. The MIL-CQ-C was positively correlated with social connectedness, presence of meaning in life, and search for meaning in life. The MIL-CQ-C mediated the relationship between social connectedness and presence of meaning in life and search for meaning in life. The findings lend support to a valid 3-factor structure for MIL-CQ-C when completed by gifted learners in Hong Kong. (192 words) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bateman's principles, their corollaries and predictions constitute a paradigm for the study of sexual selection theory, evolution of mating systems, parental investment theory, and sexual dimorphism in male and female behavior. Some aspects of this paradigm have been challenged in recent years, while others have been supported by empirical and theoretical research. We re-examine Bateman's 1948 paper in detail, including some methodological problems. Additionally, we review three areas in which an over-reliance on Bateman's predictions about sexual dynamics hindered our ability to understand the potential importance of certain behaviors: 1) male mate choice and sperm allocation; 2) the role of females in initiating and soliciting extra-pair copulations and fertilizations; and 3) the role of females in lekking systems, in which recent evidence suggests that copulations with multiple males (polyandrous behavior) may be common. We conclude this introduction to the symposium by emphasizing the heuristic value of Bateman's contributions, as well as the problems that arise when Bateman's paradigm is viewed through the lens of modern behavioral ecology and evolutionary theory.