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Knowledge of how animals respond to weather and changes in their physical environment is increasingly important, given the higher frequency of extreme weather recorded in recent years and its forecasted increase globally. 1,2 Even species considered to be highly adapted to extremes of weather, as albatrosses are to strong winds, 3,4,5 may be disadvantaged by shifts in those extremes. Tracked albatrosses were shown recently to avoid storms and the strongest associated winds. 6 The drivers of this response are so far unknown, though we hypothesize that turbulent storm conditions restrict foraging success, possibly by reducing the detectability or accessibility of food, and albatrosses divert toward more profitable conditions where possible. We tested the impact of the physical environment—wind speed, rainfall, water clarity, and time of day—on feeding activity and success of two species of albatrosses with contrasting foraging strategies. We tracked 33 wandering and 48 black-browed albatrosses from Bird Island (South Georgia) with GPS and immersion loggers, and 19 and 7 individuals, respectively, with stomach-temperature loggers to record ingestions, providing an in-depth picture of foraging behavior. Reduced foraging profitability (probability of prey capture and overall mass) was associated with stormy conditions, specifically strong winds and heavy rain in surface-seizing wandering albatrosses, and the probability of prey capture was reduced in strong winds in black-browed albatrosses. We show that even highly wind-adapted species may frequently encounter conditions that make foraging difficult, giving context to storm avoidance in albatrosses. [Display omitted] [Display omitted] • Albatrosses exploit wind for flight but seemingly avoid the strongest winds in storms • We use multi-stream biologging data to relate albatross foraging to the environment • Our two study species experience reduced foraging success in stormy conditions • Wandering albatross land repeatedly in very strong winds, possibly to avoid injury Strong winds reduce the energy required for flight and takeoff in albatrosses; however, little is known about how wind impacts other behaviors, such as foraging. Darby et al. combined at-sea behavior and stomach-temperature data from two species of albatross to demonstrate the negative impact of stormy weather on foraging behavior and prey capture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a Bengali tradition of consuming palm "jaggery" (unrefined sugar made from the sap of Indian date palms, Phoenix sylvestris) as a sweetener. To obtain jaggery, people tap Indian date palms to extract the energy-rich phloem sap during the winter. In Bangladesh, people commonly cultivate Indian date palms in traditional agroforestry. We explored which bird species capitalize on the jaggery tradition by consuming sap from tapped Indian date palms on Nijhum Dweep, an island in the Bay of Bengal. Once each day for 30 d between December 2019 and February 2020, we quantified the presence of birds on 120 tapped palms along a 1 km transect. We observed 37 bird species in the palms, and 18 of them (49%) were seen to consume sap. Seven species had not previously been recorded as sap feeders. Among the 18 sap-consuming species, we categorized 5 species (Chestnut-tailed Starling Sturnia malabarica, Asian Pied Starling Gracupica contra, Jungle Myna Acridotheres fuscus, Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer, and Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus) as constant consumers of date palm sap; 11 species as accidental sap consumers, and 2 species as accessory sap consumers. Insectivorous and omnivorous species accounted for 78% of the sap consumers (39% each), with granivorous and frugivorous species accounting for the remaining 22%. This study highlights date palm sap as a potentially significant winter food source for resident birds, and demonstrates birds' ability to utilize tapped palms as an anthropogenic food resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial patterns in topography and forage distribution significantly influence the movements and choices of large herbivores. However, understanding the foraging strategies of free-grazing herbivores at different temporal and spatial scales remains limited, as different behavioral decisions can apply at different hierarchical levels. This study investigates the fine-scale foraging strategies of the Plains Zebra (Equus quagga) in a South African savanna, with a specific focus on their selection of green vegetation at the plant and feeding patch levels. We used the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index as a proxy for vegetation productivity and quality. Our findings reveal that zebras adapted their foraging strategies according to scale and season. During the late-dry season and early-wet season, selection for greenness was at both the grass tuft and feeding site levels. In contrast, during the mid-dry season, selection was predominantly at the tuft level, focusing solely on greenness. These insights emphasize the importance of conducting multilevel studies when investigating factors influencing foraging decisions. Findings at 1 hierarchical level may not necessarily apply across other levels of investigation, highlighting the need for a nuanced and comprehensive approach to understanding the complex foraging behaviors of animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bees are essential pollinators for many plant species, but multiple threats exist to both managed and wild bee populations. Since bee nutrition is critical for hive and colony health, their innate foraging behaviors and food preferences are the subject of extensive study. Multiple approaches have been developed to assess bee foraging behavior and associated preferences, but these approaches are often labor-intensive and provide data on a limited number of parameters. In this manuscript, we present an improved method to quantify bee foraging preferences, including the design, build, and implementation of an inexpensive and automated feeding apparatus capable of recording (1) environmental conditions, (2) species and behavior through photos and videos, (3) foraging activity, and (4) food consumption. The efficacy of this apparatus is demonstrated through preference tests with artificial nectars, while also acknowledging the limitations of this approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The olfaction in batoids have an important role for initial detection of the chemical stimulus produced by prey during the foraging activities. The present study relates the morphology of olfactory rosettes to the habitat use and feeding habits in four potamotrygonin species. The morphological and histological descriptions of the olfactory structures are provided, using preserved olfactory rosettes. A simpler structure of olfactory organs in Paratrygon sp. does not indicate a primary sensory role during the initial phase of its feeding behavior. In Potamotrygon wallacei, the largest surface area of primary lamellae suggests enhanced olfactory sensitivity related to its generalist feeding habits and complex substrate exploration. Although the gross morphology is similar, histological analyses revealed that the sensory and non-sensory regions present differences in epithelial cell composition among species, with variations in the secondary folds shape and the distribution of mucus cells. The simplicity of secondary folds in both Paratrygon sp. and Potamotrygon orbignyi probably is related to their specialized feeding habits, requiring fewer adaptations to detect different types of chemical stimuli. These findings provide insights into the functional morphology of olfactory organs in potamotrygonin stingrays and their ecological implications, evidencing the intricate sensory adaptations crucial for foraging success in diverse freshwater habitats. Additionally, it becomes necessary to take into account the contribution of all sensory systems to understand their foraging behavior. Nonetheless, the generalization of the morphological characteristics of olfactory organ in a potamotrygonin species requires caution, since morphological variations can be found, especially to widespread species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces the Wolverine Optimization Algorithm (WoOA), a biomimetic method inspired by the foraging behaviors of wolverines in their natural habitats. WoOA innovatively integrates two primary strategies: scavenging and hunting, mirroring the wolverine's adeptness in locating carrion and pursuing live prey. The algorithm's uniqueness lies in its faithful simulation of these dual strategies, which are mathematically structured to optimize various types of problems effectively. The effectiveness of WoOA is rigorously evaluated using the Congress on Evolutionary Computation (CEC) 2017 test suite across dimensions of 10, 30, 50, and 100. The results showcase WoOA's robust performance in exploration, exploitation, and maintaining a balance between these phases throughout the search process. Compared to twelve established metaheuristic algorithms, WoOA consistently demonstrates a superior performance across diverse benchmark functions. Statistical analyses, including paired t-tests, Friedman test, and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests, validate WoOA's significant competitive edge over its counterparts. Additionally, WoOA's practical applicability is illustrated through its successful resolution of twenty-two constrained scenarios from the CEC 2011 suite and four complex engineering design challenges. These applications underscore WoOA's efficacy in tackling real-world optimization challenges, further highlighting its potential for widespread adoption in engineering and scientific domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

\nHIGHLIGHTSOver recent decades, the feeding strategies of the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) in the northern Chilean Patagonia have been studied mainly through visual observation and anatomical dissection, with limited direct behavioral analyses and measurements of prey distribution due to the difficulty of sampling. Here, we investigated the foraging ecology of this species during six annual research cruises (2014–2019) in the northern Chilean Patagonia, an important feeding and nursery area. We deployed 28 sound and movement recording tags (DTAGs), attached by suction cups, to measure fine-scale behaviors of this species. In addition, from 2016 to 2019, prey density and distribution were simultaneously recorded with tag data utilizing a scientific echosounder. A total of 949 foraging dives and 3,183 feeding events were detected from movement sensors throughout more than 190 hr of data, during both day and nighttime. Blue whales exhibited both shallow and deep foraging events utilizing different strategies in response to changing conditions of prey depth and density, with foraging dives recorded continuously for the whole duration of the deployments. Whales showed a higher feeding rate at night as they foraged on shallow and dispersed krill, but they exhibited a higher rate of foraging events per dive during the day, as they foraged on deep and dense krill patches. The whales used less energetically costly maneuvers when foraging near the surface, with lower values of pitch and speed. Both strategies are consistent with optimal foraging theory, as the whales minimizing energetic costs associated with feeding while simultaneously maximizing energy intake. These results provide valuable insights into the behavioral and foraging ecology of blue whales to promote specific conservation plans in the northern Chilean Patagonia.Blue whales in the northern Chilean Patagonia showed adaptive foraging behavior by aligning their feeding depth with the location of peak krill density when feeding in deep patches. By focusing on the densest aggregation of prey, blue whales optimized energy intake during each feeding lunge. These results underscore the importance of accounting for prey density, along with factors such as prey depth and diving behavior patterns, when evaluating optimal foraging models for whale feeding strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of intraregional conflict on food security and subsistence practices in the Central Illinois River Valley (CIRV) during the Mississippian period, particularly between AD 1200 and 1400, a time characterized by escalations in intergroup violence. Utilizing integrated faunal and botanical datasets from two critical archaeological sites – the Lamb site, representing the preconflict phase, and the C. W. Cooper site, indicative of the conflict onset phase – this research elucidates how prolonged warfare necessitated substantial adaptations in subsistence strategies among CIRV Mississippian communities. While much previous research has centered on elite aspects of Mississippian warfare, this study shifts the focus to the broader societal impacts on the daily lives of residents of the CIRV. Findings demonstrate significant shifts in foraging behaviors and resource utilization patterns, reflecting strategic responses to the challenges and hazards posed by persistent warfare. By highlighting the adaptability of these communities in the face of warfare and environmental stressors, this research contributes valuable perspectives to the anthropological understanding of the interrelations between warfare and food systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Short-term modifications to animals’ enclosures, stemming from zoo husbandry practices, can significantly impact animal behavior and, consequently, their welfare. In this case study, we examined a captive-bred population of 23 adult Chilean flamingos (Phoenicopterus chilensis) during a non-breeding season to evaluate whether short-term alterations in the spatial distribution of feeders would affect the birds’ feeding and agonistic behaviors. Initially, we developed an ethogram to establish baseline behavioral data. Subsequently, we assessed individual (latency to approach the feeders) and group (feeding and agonism) responses to feeder changes using an ABA-type experimental design (A1 and A2 feeders at the original location; B feeder location changed). Latency to approach feeders was also correlated with the birds’ sex and body weight. The results revealed that during and immediately after the alterations, agonistic behaviors at the most frequently used feeding site by the flamingos increased, while the use of alternative food sources decreased significantly. Latency was not influenced by the birds’ sex or body weight. These findings emphasize the importance of closely monitoring even seemingly minor changes in food spatial distribution to prevent negative impacts on the behavior, and presumably, the welfare of flamingos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The emergence of 6G wireless communications has brought numerous challenges and opportunities for meeting the growing demands of enhanced system capacity, higher data rates, lower latency, improved security, and stringent quality of service (QoS) requirements. One promising solution to tackle these challenges involves utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in conjunction with nonorthogonal multiple access (NOMA) and spatial modulation (SM). However, optimizing the performance of UAV‐based SM‐NOMA systems for both perfect and imperfect channel state information (CSI) over generalized fading channels (α–μ, k–μ and η–μ) while simultaneously considering multiple objectives is a complex task. To address these challenges, this paper proposes integrating the monarch butterfly optimization algorithm (MBOA) into UAV‐SM‐NOMA systems for 6G networks. Inspired by the foraging behavior of monarch butterflies, the MBOA aims to enhance UAV‐based SM‐NOMA systems' performance by optimizing resource allocation, increasing system sum rate, reducing outage probability (OP) and bit error rate (BER), improving spectrum efficiency (SE), and ensuring desirable signal‐to‐interference‐plus‐noise ratio (SINR) levels. Key findings include that the MBOA effectively improves performance metrics across generalized fading channels compared to existing UAV‐assisted NOMA and orthogonal multiple access (OMA) models. Simulation results confirm that the proposed UAV‐assisted SM‐NOMA model with MBOA significantly outperforms conventional approaches, demonstrating superior capacity, reliability, and efficiency in 6G network scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grazing livestock in grasslands face the challenge of obtaining sufficient nutrition due to uneven distribution of plant species and fluctuating vegetation productivity and nutrient levels. In northern China, Leymus chinensis and Stipa grandis are the dominant perennial species in native grasslands, but they provide limited nutrition compared to forbs with higher crude protein (CP) content. While dietary ingredients can affect the nutritional intake of grazing livestock, the influence of different grazing strategies on dietary selection remains unclear. In this study, three sheep grazing strategies (lambs alone, mixed lambs and ewes, and ewes alone) were used to explore dietary selection. We investigated the influence of vegetation characteristic (above‐ground biomass production, height, and species diversity) and foraging behavior (feed intake, organic matter digestibility, and daily grazing time) on the mechanisms of dietary selection (taxonomic family richness and composition). Forage consumption across the grazing strategies revealed that species from Poaceae, Rosaceae, and Cyperaceae families were frequently consumed. Both ewes and lambs in the mixed‐grazing strategy preferentially consumed forbs with diverse species composition (Jacob's D > 0), which contained higher CP than those available in the overall vegetation (p < 0.05). In addition, dietary richness was significantly (p < 0.05) influenced by vegetation species diversity except for animals in the lambs alone strategy. Compared to lambs in mixed‐grazing, lambs alone had both greater daily grazing time and consumption of grass with lower digestibility (p < 0.05). Our study is the first to demonstrate that lambs can develop a similar dietary selection and behavioral pattern when grazing with adult ewes in temperate grasslands. Our study indicates that the conservation of species diversity in native grasslands is critically beneficial to livestock nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Euphorbia L. includes 2055 species with native range of this genus being cosmopolitan. In the present study, we assessed pollen morphology of 18 species of this genus occurring mostly in northern Pakistan. Pollen morphology of Euphorbia species is poorly investigated for its taxonomic significance. Here, we examined quantitative characters, including polar diameter, equatorial diameter, P/E ratio. Exine thickness, colpi length, and width were also examined. Among the qualitative characters, pollen shape, type, exine sculpturing, and aperture features were determined. The main aim of this study is to determine and investigate the foraging behavior of the honeybees that interact with Euphorbia species. The current finding will be helpful in melissopalynological analysis for developing beekeeping practices and can be used in the authentication of honey. Pollen quantitative traits applied through a multivariate analysis and diverse sampling also improve botanical and geographical characterization of a particular region. In addition, it is concluded that some palynomorphs of Euphorbia species may contain secondary compounds and can promote signs of toxicity in honeybees. However, the beekeepers wrongly correlate the fact that milky latex from Euphorbia taxa has burning and skin irritation effects on other animals, particularly humans, with honeybee deaths, which might be due to other factors. Our observations indicate with the sense that actual forage plants may not poison their pollinators and honeybees might occasionally be dead due to unidentified factors. We have suggested that beekeepers should attempt to identify the root causes for occasional bee deaths in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Central place foraging may lead to local prey depletion as foragers select nearby prey ("Storer-Ashmole's halo"), causing individuals to forage progressively farther from the central place. We tested this idea by coupling GPS tracking (foraging behavior) and plasma metabolites (nutritional biomarkers) when studying thick-billed murres (Uria lomvia; N = 237), a colonial-nesting seabird where central place foraging constraints are expected to be particularly pronounced due to high transit costs. Foraging range decreased when birds were constrained to visit the central place several times per day (chick-rearing) compared to self-feeding (incubation), illustrating the constraint of central place foraging. Moreover, adult feeding frequency, as determined by plasma triglycerides, were higher during incubation, consistent with the longer fasts (incubation shifts) during that period. Transit time (foraging distance) increased with date during chick-rearing but not incubation, consistent with prey depletion due to central place foraging within the restricted chick-rearing foraging range. During late chick-rearing, when a diet switch to low-quality, smaller prey occurs, birds switched to foraging near the colony, consistent with the foraging range being overextended. Unlike other, smaller colonies where foraging success is higher due to a smaller halo, sexes had similar foraging behaviour in our study, except during early incubation when females foraged more (more flying, more swimming) as they overcame the cost of producing the egg. When we take our results with other lines of evidence (increased foraging distance with colony size, prey switching as birds "feed down the food chain"), we conclude that central place foraging seabirds may cause prey depletion at one of the world's largest murre colonies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benthic octopuses are well known generalist predators but the predatory behavior of juveniles is poorly understood. This study investigated prey choice by juvenile Amphioctopus fangsiao, a holobenthic species. Juveniles aged 0 to 50 d after hatching (0.1–5.2 g wet weight) were simultaneously offered seven individuals of each of three types of prey organism: clams, marine snails, and mysids. The juveniles consumed all three species from the day of hatching (0 d) but the energy intake of the early juveniles relied largely on snails. Juveniles could catch snails easily by detaching them from the bottom of the tank but required a longer time to feed on them. Their ability to pull open clam shells and to successfully catch mysids developed as they grew, and the grown juveniles chose mysids and clams as their main prey organisms. Early juveniles of < 2.5 g tended to choose prey individuals from which they could obtain more energy. However, grown juveniles of > 2.5 g changed the criteria of prey choice to attain a shorter time of prey consumption and a faster rate of energy intake. These suggest that A. fangsiao has a switching prey-choice strategy: early juveniles give priority to growth, but grown juveniles give priority to reduce time suffering predation risk while obtaining energy quickly as much as possible. Because early juveniles can develop the predatory capacity as they grow faster, they seem to take a strategy to invest growth to go through quickly the period of high risks of predation and starvation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organisms determine environmental quality using their senses and personal experience (personal information) but can also use byproducts of other individuals' activities (i.e. public information). The ability to use public information originating from both con- and heterospecifics gives an advantage over individuals relying only on personal information or conspecific cues. The role of public information in invasion ecology is of high concern, as any differences in this aspect between alien and native species may determine the success of the former. Here, we studied 2 pairs of sympatric invasive and native demersal fish species (racer goby Babka gymnotrachelus /European bullhead Cottus gobio ; monkey goby Neogobius fluviatilis/ gudgeon Gobio gobio) facing 2 types of public cues (associated with antipredatory and foraging behavior). We used them as a model to check if the invaders could use public information from more sources than the natives. Both invaders and the native gudgeon used cues from con- and heterospecifics, exhibiting antipredatory behavior, while the native bullhead failed to recognize such cues from heterospecifics. The monkey goby and both native species were attracted to foraging cues from donors less likely to exert competitive pressure on the observer (i.e. native species rather than potentially more aggressive invaders). On the other hand, the racer goby appeared unable to correctly recognize heterospecific foraging cues. Our results showed that public cues can enable invaders to read threat from a wide range of individuals and to find optimal food patches, which may contribute to their invasion success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modulation of predatory behaviors based on prey profitability can improve overall foraging efficiency by allocating energy reserves towards more valuable prey. Should the value of prey vary predictably across the landscape, predators could also benefit from the utilization of environmental cues to inform their foraging decisions. Here, we present data on context-dependent foraging behaviors of the wolf spider Pardosa milvina (Araneae: Lycosidae). Spiders underwent testing during which subjects were alternately provided cricket prey coated with either a favorable (sucrose) or unfavorable (quinine) solution. Each prey type was paired with 1 of 2 environmental odors such that one odor was always predictive of unfavorable prey and the other was always predictive of favorable prey. We found that P. milvina reduced their attacks over time while differing significantly in behavior towards the 2 prey types. The rate of nonresponses towards the unfavorable prey increased significantly over time compared to the favorable prey, suggesting that spiders were avoiding the former. Our findings indicate that P. milvina can differentiate between environmental odor cues associated with prey type. Additionally, we report on a novel prey handling behavior where spiders would repeatedly drag unfavorable prey along the arena floor between bouts of cheliceral grooming. We propose this behavior may have served to remove quinine from the prey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial ecology tends to focus on average movement patterns within animal groups; however, recent studies highlight the value of considering movement decisions both within and among individuals. We used a marked population of black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus), to assess the causes and consequences of within- and among-individual differences in chickadee space use. Individuals that used feeders in addition to their most-visited "core feeder" were defined as engaging in off-territory feeder use. We found that females were more likely than males to visit off-territory feeders as ambient temperatures decrease and energetic demands increase. This may be due to sex-related differences in dominance, where males which are the dominant sex in chickadees, have priority access to feeders, while females must increase their foraging areas to meet higher energetic demand. We also found that independent of temperature, adult males were less likely than juvenile males and both juvenile and adult females to forage off-territory. We suggest that this may be due to age-specific benefits of space use in males, where un-paired juvenile males may increase feeder exploration to gain information about potential mates. Finally, we found that chickadees that had a higher propensity to visit off-territory feeders were less likely to survive to the next fall. Overall, our results suggest that dominance hierarchies and individual energetics impact within- and among-individual variation in off-territory feeder use. We provide suggestions for future studies to further investigate fitness-related consequences of within- and among-individual variation in space use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Megaponera analis is an obligate termitophagous species endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. The species forages by sending out scouts to search for termites. Once termites are located, the scouts return to the nest and recruit nest mates. Scouts face unpredictable environmental conditions, including sudden flooding, temperature changes, high winds and predation by natural enemies. We observed 519 scouting trips from 18 different colonies over three years to determine how long it takes for the colony to replace a scout that has likely died while on scouting duty or is lost due to environmental perturbations. Study areas were at Maremani, Musina, Masebe and D'nyala Nature Reserves in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. We introduced definitions of scouting turnover, scouting trip, and scouting session. Scouting turnover is the time it takes a successive scout to leave the nest for a trip, whereas a scouting trip is the journey a scout takes from the nest in search of food. Since M. analis shows bimodal foraging behavior, the morning observations were recorded as the first scouting session, while the subsequent session, which starts in the afternoon, was recorded as the second scouting session. The mean scouting turnover for all 519 trips was 9.36 ± 0.64 (SD) minutes. When turnover was divided into sessions, the first scouting session lasted a mean of 7.77 ± 12.17 (SD) minutes, while the second had 10.34 ± 18.32 (SD) minutes. The minimum turnover was zero minutes, and the maximum was 124 minutes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cooperative foraging behavior can be advantageous when there is a common exploitable resource. By cooperating, members of the group can take advantage of the potential of increased efficiency of working together as well as equitable distribution of the product. An experimental signature of cooperative foraging is an Allee effect where at a certain number of individuals, there is a peak of fitness. What happens when there are intruders especially ones that do not contribute to any work required for foraging? Drosophila larvae secrete digestive enzymes and exodigest food. Under crowded conditions in liquid food these larvae form synchronized feeding clusters which provides a fitness benefit. A key for this synchronized feeding behavior is the visually guided alignment between adjacent larvae in a feeding cluster. Larvae who do not align their movements are excluded from the groups and subsequently lose the benefit. This may be a way of editing the group to include only known members. To test the model, the fitness benefit from cooperative behavior was further investigated to establish an Allee effect for a number of strains including those who cannot exodigest or cluster. In a standard lab vial, about 40 larvae is the optimal number for fitness. Combinations of these larvae were also examined. The expectation was that larvae who do not contribute to exodigestion are obligate cheaters and would be expelled. Indeed, obligate cheaters gain greatly from the hosts but paradoxically, so do the hosts. Clusters that include cheaters are more stable. Therefore, clustering and the benefits from it are dependent on more than just the contribution to exodigestion. This experimental system should provide a rich future model to understand the metrics of cooperative behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf-cutting ants (Formicidae; Atta spp., Acromyrmex spp.) cut off pieces of leaves and other plant tissue and feed it to their symbiotic fungi. As this foraging behavior poses an imminent threat to agriculture, leaf-cutting ants are considered as pests of huge ecologically and economically importance. Consequently, research on leaf-cutting ants focused on their foraging decisions and interactions with their cultivated symbiotic fungi, whereas their effect on the attacked plants, apart from the loss of plant tissue, remains largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the consequences of an attack by leaf-cutting ants and analyzed the plants' defense responses in comparison to chewing caterpillars and mechanical damage. We found that an attack by leaf-cutting ants induces the production of jasmonates in several host and non-host plant species (Arabidopsis thaliana, Vicia faba, Phaseolus lunatus, Tococa quadrialata). Additionally, we showed in the natural host plant lima bean (P. lunatus) that leaf-cutting ant damage immediately leads to the emission of typical herbivory-induced plant volatiles, including green leaf volatiles and terpenoids. Further data exploration revealed clear differences in the defense-related phytohormone profile in plant species of Neotropical and Eurasian origin. Taken together, we show that leaf-cutting ant infestation and their way of clipping the plants' tissues induce jasmonate and jasmonates-mediated responses and do not differ from those to mechanical injury or larval feeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Defensive traits are hypothesized to benefit prey by reducing predation risk from a focal predator but come at a cost to the fitness of the prey. Variation in the expression of defensive traits is seen among individuals within the same population, and in the same individual in response to changes in the environment (i.e., phenotypically plastic responses). It is the relative magnitude of the cost and benefit of the defensive trait that underlies the defensive trait expression and its consequences to the community. However, whereas the cost has received much attention in ecological research, the benefit is seldom examined. Even in a defensive trait as extensively studied as vigilance, there are few studies of the purported benefit of the behavior, namely that vigilance enhances survival. We examined whether prey vigilance increased survival and quantified that benefit in a natural system, with white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) experiencing unmanipulated levels of predation risk from Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi). Deer that spent more time vigilant (as measured by head position using camera trap data) had a higher probability of survival. Indeed, an individual deer that was vigilant 75% of the time was more than three times as likely to be killed by panthers over the course of a year than a deer that was vigilant 95% of the time. Our results therefore show that within‐population variation in the expression of a defensive trait has profound consequences for the benefit it confers. Our results provide empirical evidence supporting a long‐held but seldom‐tested hypothesis, that vigilance is a behavior that reduces the probability of predation and quantifies the benefit of this defensive trait. Our work furthers an understanding of the net effects of a trait on prey fitness and predator–prey interactions, within‐population variation in traits, and predation risk effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biotic and abiotic factors can act as filters for determining the species composition of biological communities. We aimed to identify abiotic factors driving the assembly of bat communities in Eastern Mediterranean pine plantations along a north–south climatic gradient, as they are crucial forest habitats for the assessment and conservation of these communities. We expected that bat communities are predominantly shaped by environmental filtering. We conducted acoustic sampling in 35 pine plantations in Israel and analyzed recordings for species identification. We used the ESLTP analysis, an extension of the three‐table ordination (RLQ analysis), to explore relationships between environmental characteristics, species occurrences, and functional traits of species while accounting for phylogenetic relationships between species and spatial distribution of the communities. Communities showed phylogenetic and trait clustering. Climatic conditions and forest vegetation composition shaped communities of bats, affecting the distribution of traits related to foraging behaviors, vegetation clutter, and the ability of bats to maneuver in it. Maneuverable species were associated with the northern Mediterranean climatic zone, with a scarce cover of drought‐tolerant small shrubs and grassland. Fast flyers were associated with the center‐south semi‐arid area, with abundant drought‐tolerant small shrubs and grassland. These forces might have a predominant role in the assembly of these communities, presumably due to the stressful climatic conditions of the study area. The ESLTP approach can be extended to other taxa and environments to predict species responses to disturbance and environmental changes and give insights into environmental management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foraging behaviors often involve trade‐offs between predation risk and access to forage. Risk‐forage trade‐offs may be particularly acute for maternal female ungulates, whose nutritional needs are high and whose calves are highly vulnerable to predation. In moose, the selection of calving habitat is one way in which females can respond to these trade‐offs. Our objective was to compare among‐individual variation in selected habitat for maternal and nonmaternal female moose during the calving season. We hypothesized that, compared to nonmaternal females, maternal females would exhibit a greater range of variation among individuals, which may signal differential responses to risk‐forage trade‐offs. Meanwhile, we expected nonmaternal females to show comparatively less variation among individuals, consistent with a group primarily maximizing forage intake. To test our hypotheses, we used a path selection framework and a set of continuous remotely sensed map covariates to build predictive models and corresponding spatial predictions for maternal and nonmaternal groups. We then calculated the range of variation among individuals within each group along a relative unitless axis, which we call the "maternal difference index" and define as the divergence of predicted maternal habitat selection from nonmaternal habitat selection. We included 10,080 GPS collar locations for 24 female moose over three consecutive years. Our predictive models had high levels of accuracy (>75%) based both on independent test partitions of a nested cross‐validation and on independent very high frequency (VHF) location data, each including spatial and temporal replication. Both groups of females preferred areas where primary forage species were abundant, diverse, and within foraging height. Habitat selected by the maternal group both overlapped and was broader than habitat selected by the nonmaternal group. Based on the maternal difference index, maternal individuals were less consistent in their habitat selection than nonmaternal individuals. Given that habitat selection behaviors are one way in which animals respond to potential risk‐forage trade‐offs and that maternal individuals in our study differed along a continuum in their selection for primary forage species, we suggest that the concept of maternal trade‐offs, as it relates to habitat selection, is most useful when seen as individually determined and variable, rather than group‐determined and discrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the implementation of a camera trap‐monitoring protocol of interactions between cave bats and wildlife in the Republic of Congo, we identified sustained rusty‐spotted genet (Genetta maculata) activity in Boundou cave. This cave, consisting of a single chamber, is home to a colony of several species of insectivorous bats throughout the year. Between 2022 and 2023, we recorded four events of bat or rodent consumption, one hunting attempt on bats and three feeding behaviors on insects. We describe and discuss the various behaviors and briefly elaborate on the potential epidemiological implications of bat consumption. To the best of our knowledge, our videos are the first to depict the consumption of bats by rusty‐spotted genets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this review, we show that predatory ants have a wide range of foraging behavior, something expected given their phylogenetic distance and the great variation in their colony size, life histories, and nesting habitats as well as prey diversity. Most ants are central‐place foragers that detect prey using vision and olfaction. Ground‐dwelling species can forage solitarily, the ancestral form, but generally recruit nestmates to retrieve large prey or a group of prey. Typically, ants are omnivorous, but some species are strict predators preying on detritivorous invertebrates or arthropod eggs, while those specialized on termites or other ants often have scouts that localize their target and then trigger a raid. They can use compounds that ease this task, including chemical insignificance, mimicry, and venoms triggering submissive behavior. Army ants include 8 Dorylinae and some species from other subfamilies, all having wingless queens and forming raids. Dorylinae from the Old World migrate irregularly to new nesting sites. The foraging of most New World species that prey on the brood of other ants is regulated by their biological cycle that alternates between a “nomadic phase” when the colony relocates between different places and a “stationary phase” when the colony stays in a bivouac constituting a central place. Among arboreal ants, dominant species forage in groups, detecting prey visually, but can use vibrations, particularly when associated with myrmecophytes. Some species of the genera Allomerus and Azteca use fungi to build a gallery‐shaped trap with small holes under which they hide to ambush prey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studying movement patterns of individual animals over time can give insight into how they interact with the environment and optimize foraging strategies. Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) undertake long seasonal migrations between feeding areas in polar regions and breeding grounds in tropical areas. During the last decade, several individuals have had up to a 3-month stop-over period around specific fjord-areas in Northern Norway to feed on Norwegian spring-spawning (NSS-) herring (Culpea harengus L.). Their behavioral patterns during this period are not well understood, including why some whales seemingly leave the fjords and then later return within the same season. Methods: To investigate whale behavior during this seasonal stopover, we classified humpback whale tracks into five distinct movement modes; ranging, encamped, nomadic, roundtrip and semi-roundtrip. A behavioral change point analysis (BCPA) was used to select homogeneous segments based on persistence velocity. Then, net squared displacement (NSD) over time was modeled to differentiate movement modes. This study also manually identified longer roundtrips away from the fjords that lasted several days and examined movement modes within these. Results: Inside the fjord systems, encamped mode was most prevalent in December–January, suggesting the whales were mainly foraging on overwintering NSS-herring in this area. During the same winter seasons, half of the whales left the fjords and then returned. We hypothesize that these trips serve as 'searching trips' during which the whales seek better feeding opportunities outside the fjords. If better foraging conditions are not found, they return to the fjords to continue their feeding. The overall most common mode was ranging (54%), particularly seen during the start of their southwards migration and in areas outside the fjord systems, indicating that the whales mainly moved over larger distances in the offshore habitat. Conclusions: This study serves as a baseline for future studies investigating both the searching trip theory and humpback whale behavior in general, and confirms that this method could be useful to analyze local scale movement patterns of satellite tagged whales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nest predation is typically the main cause of nest failure in forest understory birds; thus, identification of primary nest predators is key to understanding nest predation patterns. Furthermore, the responses of predators are likely affected by vegetation structure, but predator responses to micro-scale habitat characteristics are largely unknown, especially in tropical forests. We used a long-term study with one of the largest datasets of its kind to investigate the extent to which micro-habitat structure (5-m radius surrounding a nest) can predict the likelihood of predation and by which predator. In a secondary evergreen forest in northeastern Thailand, 2013–2021, we found 1,016 active nests of 13 species and 24-hour video-monitored 500 of them. We recorded 336 predation events from 16 nest predator species. From this and previous studies at our site, we identified the top 4 predator species/species groups accounting for ~83% of predation events: Macaca leonina (northern pig-tailed macaque, 36% of predation events), cat snakes (Boiga cyanea [green cat snake] and B. siamensis [gray cat snake]; 20%), Lycodon cf. davisonii (Blandford's bridle snake, 18%), and accipiters (Accipiter trivirgatus [Crested Goshawk] and A. badius [Shikra]; 9%). These 4 predator species differed in their responses to vegetation structure likely reflecting differences in foraging behaviors. Macaque and accipiters, both diurnal and visually oriented, tended to depredate more visible/open nests, but macaque depredated nests surrounded by more trees and short woody stems (<3 m tall) compared to raptors. For snakes, both nocturnal, cat snakes depredated nests with higher numbers of both short woody stems and woody climbers, whereas bridle snake depredated nests with more trees and fewer climbers. As noted previously, nest predator identity is critical to understanding habitat-predation patterns. Our data suggest that nest site vegetation characteristics influence the likelihood of a given species of predator locating a nest and that even small changes in vegetation structure could significantly alter predation patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Group living is widespread and beneficial to metazoans. It improves protection and survival opportunities, reinforcing interspecific competitiveness. Benthic cnidarians often colonize large surfaces. Evidence of collective capture and exploitation of large prey by small, clumped polyps suggests that aggregation is functional to access food resources hardly achievable by isolated individuals. In turn, the chance to catch large prey may represents a driver of aggregation in polyps, whether beneficial to their fitness. Here, the effects of group foraging on aggregation, asexual reproduction, and growth rates of Aurelia coerulea von Lendenfeld 1884 polyps were experimentally tested by providing them with either small or large prey, or a mix of both to simulate the co-occurrence of preys at sea. As expected, some polyps were not able to reach the large prey. Hence, the population was a posteriori divided into group-foragers and solitary-feeders. In general, the large prey diet resulted in higher population fitness and when simultaneously supplied with the small prey represented an energetic booster resulting beneficial for all group-members. The decrease of interindividual distances was reported among group-foragers, that converged towards each other. Cnidarians are basal in metazoan evolution, and the comprehension of their collective foraging behavior, as well as the processes leading to the selective feature driving them to forage in group or not, may be essential to better understand the evolution and spread of social foraging in animals. Moreover, the access to large prey by sessile polyps of Aurelia coerulea could be pivotal in determining the increase in abundance of adult bloom-forming medusae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aphids, the important global agricultural pests, harbor abundant resources of symbionts that can improve the host adaptability to environmental conditions, also control the interactions between host aphid and natural enemy, resulting in a significant decrease in efficiency of biological control. The facultative symbiont Serratia symbiotica has a strong symbiotic association with its aphid hosts, a relationship that is known to interfere with host–parasitoid interactions. We hypothesized that Serratia may also influence other trophic interactions by interfering with the physiology and behavior of major predators to provide host aphid defense. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the effects of Serratia on the host aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum and its predator, the ladybeetle Propylaea japonica. First, the prevalence of Serratia in different A. pisum colonies was confirmed by amplicon sequencing. We then showed that harboring Serratia improved host aphid growth and fecundity but reduced longevity. Finally, our research demonstrated that Serratia defends aphids against P. japonica by impeding the predator's development and predation capacity, and modulating its foraging behavior. Our findings reveal that facultative symbiont Serratia improves aphid fitness by disrupting the predation strategy of ladybeetle larvae, offering new insight into the interactions between aphids and their predators, and providing the basis of a new biological control strategy for aphid pests involving the targeting of endosymbionts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial light at night is increasingly recognized as a cause of habitat degradation, and as a conservation threat to wildlife species. We studied the behavioral response of Pacific kangaroo rats (Dipodomys agilis) to natural and artificial light in coastal sage scrub in southern California, United States. We used digital trail cameras to monitor visits to seed trays in shrub and open, intershrub microhabitats. Under natural-light conditions, kangaroo rats were more active on full- than new-moon nights, and concentrated foraging beneath shrubs. Surprisingly, kangaroo rats frequently interacted with other rodents in seed trays. Near to an artificial light source, kangaroo rats removed fewer seeds, had fewer foraging bouts, and spent less time in trays—especially in brightly lit open microhabitats—compared to distances farther from the light. Differences between the first and second nights of trials during both experiments suggested that kangaroo rats learned locations of resource-rich seed trays and modified their behavior accordingly. Our results are similar to recent studies showing that artificial light depresses foraging activity of rodents in the areas of highest illumination, and adds to evidence of the need to mitigate impacts of urban lighting in fragments of coastal sage scrub, especially along the urban–wildland interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The neurexin superfamily, consisting of neurexins and Casprs, play important roles in the development, maintenance, function, and plasticity of neuronal circuits. Caspr/CNTNAP genes are linked to alterations in neuronal circuits and associated with neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative conditions. Casprs are implicated in multiple neuronal signaling pathways, including dopamine; however, the molecular mechanisms by which Casprs differentially alter specific signaling pathways and downstream behaviors are unclear. We find that the C. elegans Caspr nlr-1 functions in neurons to control foraging behaviors, acting in distinct monoamine neurons to modulate locomotor activity in the presence or absence of food. nlr-1 functions in dopamine neurons to reduce activity in the absence of food, similar to the role of dopamine, and regulates dopamine signaling through D2-like receptors. Furthermore, nlr-1 contributes to proper morphology and presynaptic structure of dopamine neurons, dopamine receptor expression and localization, and the behavioral response to dopamine. We find that nlr-1 similarly regulates another dopamine-dependent behavior, the basal slowing response. Therefore, spatial manipulation of a broadly expressed neuronal gene is sufficient to alter neural circuits and behavior and uncovers important functions masked by global manipulation, highlighting the importance of genetic variation and mechanisms that impact spatial expression of genes to behavior. Removal of nlr-1/CNTNAP from monoamine neurons in C. elegans reveals neuron-specific roles in foraging behaviors, including a critical role for nlr-1 in dopamine neuron morphology, synapse structure, and synapse function that resembles loss of dopamine signaling itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary forage levels contribute to the performance of non-nutritive oral behaviors (NNOB) in cattle, yet the impact of varying forage levels on these behaviors is unknown. To evaluate the impact of dietary corn stalk inclusion (CSI) levels on NNOB, rumination time, and activity, pre-dominantly British-continental crossbred drylot-housed steers (n=27) were blocked by weight and randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments (5%, 10%, or 15%) of CSI on a DM basis. Animals were fitted with a rumination collar upon arrival that measured rumination time and activity and video recorded. Cattle that spent more time bar licking had greater DMI, tended to have greater ADG and be more active. CSI in this study did influence NNOB performance; however, the impacts observed were not as expected. Cattle fed the 10% CSI performed the most bar licking and tongue rolling. This pilot investigation suggest that these CSI were insufficient to have a meaningful impact on NNOBs. Cattle spending more time bar licking and bar licked more frequently may be more orally motivated as reflected in their increased DMI and activity levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The golden jackal (Canis aureus) has rapidly expanded its range in Europe, prompting questions about its ecological impact and management. The species' expansion strategy differs from other European countries. Despite its presence demonstrated for thirty years, it still has a limited presence in Austria; its successful reproduction has just recently been confirmed. Our study provides the first comprehensive insights into the dietary habits of jackals in Austria. The analysed jackal stomachs, with 48 food items, revealed a diverse diet. The primary foods were wild ungulates, mostly from scavenging, mostly cervids and partially wild boar, making up nearly half of their diet. Domestic animals and household food comprised secondary sources, while plant matter had tertiary importance. The consumption of small mammals, birds, and invertebrates had little importance. We detected the consumption of a smaller carnivore, a marten. Our findings align with observations from other central-southeastern European regions, indicating that jackals exhibit diverse and opportunistic foraging behavior. This adaptability will likely contribute to their continued expansion in Austria and Europe. Further research is needed to explore potential ecological implications. Addressing the golden jackal's expansion requires coordinated conservation and management to balance its coexistence with humans and local biodiversity preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of the brief and cryptic nature of predatory behavior, sentinel prey has been widely adopted as an indirect way to identify predators and understand trophic interactions. However, sentinel prey presents only static visual cues, potentially biasing toward visually oriented predators while ignoring those that utilize other sensory cues for foraging. Despite this, the effectiveness of sentinel prey has rarely been tested. In this study, we focused on the weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), a keystone predator widespread in the Asian and Australian tropics. As this species has large eyes and is known to visually navigate in its arboreal habitats, we hypothesized that it relies on visual cues to forage and that its predatory behavior will be captured by caterpillar‐shaped sentinel prey. Ants were collected as colonies, and preference trials on baits were conducted using combinations of olfactory and static visual cues, including the caterpillar shape. Surprisingly, O. smaragdina showed little or no preference for baits in the absence of olfactory cues and did not differentiate the shapes of baits regardless of olfactory cues. Our results indicate that O. smaragdina is likely to make predatory decisions based primarily on olfactory cues, whereas visual cues might be used for other behaviors. Furthermore, O. smaragdina is likely to be left out by the predation studies using sentinel prey models, which is particularly alarming considering the dominant role of this species in the trophic interactions of tropical rainforests. Our study demonstrates that morphological characteristics, arboreal habitats, and visually oriented behavior do not necessarily suggest the use of static visual cues for predatory decisions. We suggest that sentinel prey models should not be used alone when the dominant predators are unlikely to use visual cues to make predatory decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zoophytophagous predators can be beneficial for controlling crop pests in greenhouses. Yet, they can also cause significant economic damage. More zoophagous and effective predator lines can be developed by selectively breeding highly zoophagous individuals. Hence, artificial selection based on the degree of zoophagy in zoophytophagous predators can improve their efficiency as biocontrol agents while reducing the risk of crop damage. However, artificial selection on zoophagy could cause changes in other behavioral or life history traits due to genetic correlation or pleiotropy. These changes can affect the ecological conditions in which biological control agents work. We created highly and lowly zoophagous lines of Dicyphus hesperus Knight (Hemiptera: Miridae) using artificial selection. We tested genetic correlations between zoophagy and food patch exploitation equity in four generations of artificial selection. The results revealed that females were more zoophagous than males. The broad sense heritability (H2) of zoophagy was 0.38 in females and 0.29 in males. Artificial selection on zoophagy led to decreased food patch exploitation equity, yet the traits were not genetically correlated. Our results suggest that artificial selection can be used to develop lines of D. hesperus that enhance the benefits of biological control and modify ecological factors such as prey density and distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial and temporal distribution of food resources influences predatory insects' foraging and dispersal behavior. Orius insidiosus (Say) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) is a good biological control agent of western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), in the strawberry crop and consumes two‐spotted spider mite (TSSM), Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), and pollen as well. Augmentative biological control programs may fail if, following release, predators disperse from the crop. We studied the dispersal of O. insidiosus as a function of pollen availability, density of their main prey WFT, and the presence of the alternative prey TSSM, within and between strawberry plants. We found that O. insidiosus remained on the flowers during the 24 h of the assay. The dispersal of predators to a neighboring flower with thrips was approximately six times greater from a flower without pollen than from a flower with pollen. When TSSM was the only prey available, O. insidiosus colonized the leaves, and its dispersal within the plant was greater. At the plot scale, the predator dispersal from the release plant to other plants also depended on the presence of flowering plants and prey. Our results highlight the importance of flowering plants and pollen availability in enhancing the persistence of O. insidiosus in strawberry plants. Releases of this predator in the strawberry crop should be after the beginning of flowering, even at low WFT densities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficacy of meta-heuristic algorithms has been demonstrated in solving unconstrained optimization problems. Inspired by the food foraging behavior of beetles, we propose herein a model-free meta-heuristic optimization algorithm, referred to as the Beetle Antennae Search-Bellwether Swarm, which incorporates the schemes of adaptive antenna fiber length and direction vector. A joint annealing-heating scheme along with the re-initialization mechanism is proposed such that each antenna fiber length could simultaneously gradually decrease or increase in different circumstances. We also propose to adapt each individual antenna fiber length based on the best smell perception direction (bellwether). The proposed schemes of adaptive antenna fiber length yield the algorithm almost insusceptible to different initial antenna fiber lengths for a relatively large range of initial antenna fiber lengths. The softmax combiner is leveraged to obtain the direction vector such that the beetle would be steered to step toward the new randomly combined direction and arrive at a candidate position. The beetle position is further updated by evaluating whether the candidate position is conducive to minimizing the objective function. The illustrative simulations demonstrate the fast initial convergence, cost-effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interpreting animal behavior in the context of welfare can be inherently challenging given the limited behavior data available for many species housed in zoos. Describing common behavior patterns may help animal managers by providing additional background when assessing the individuals in their care. Although valuable, these efforts require a large, collaborative approach and have, consequently, been rare. Here, we share the behavior patterns of zoo-housed giraffes, an iconic and commonly housed megafauna in zoos. Behavior data were evaluated for 66 giraffes living across 18 AZA-accredited zoos using the ZooMonitor Community platform. Data were recorded during 10-minute observation sessions. Observations were conducted during daytime hours over the course of approximately one year at each zoo (mean total observed time per individual = 23.2 hr). The most common behaviors observed were feeding/ foraging behaviors, which accounted for 38.6% of the mean visible time budget across giraffes. Time spent in these behaviors varied by individual and ranged from 14.3% to 69.3% of visible time. Stereotypic behaviors occurred in all study individuals, with oral stereotypic behaviors being most common. Although prevalent, stereotypic behaviors varied considerably across giraffes, with some individuals exhibiting these behaviors only on a few occasions to an individual that exhibited these behaviors once every few minutes. This study provides a robust evaluation of giraffe behavior across zoos to present a picture of their common behavior patterns in managed care. We hope these multi-institutional behavior patterns can provide perspective to aid animal managers in evaluating giraffes in their care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides a study on the foraging behavior and habitat selection of harbor seals in the archipelago of Saint-Pierre-and-Miquelon in the Northwest Atlantic. The study used telemetry data from ten harbor seals to analyze their diving behavior, spatio-temporal trends at sea, and habitat selection. The results indicate that harbor seals primarily feed on benthic prey but can occasionally forage on pelagic prey. They exhibit nocturnal foraging behavior, with most foraging dives occurring at night. The study also found that harbor seals spend a significant amount of time at sea and tend to select habitats within 100 km of their haul-out sites, with a preference for shallow waters. This information is valuable for wildlife managers in understanding the foraging areas and rhythms of harbor seals in this region. [Extracted from the article]

A more extensive attack surface for cyber incursions has resulted from the fast expansion of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, calling for more stringent security protocols. This research introduces a new method for protecting Internet of Things (IoT) networks against intrusion assaults by combining Game Theory with Ant Colony Optimization (ACO). Various cyber dangers are becoming more common as a result of the networked nature and frequently inadequate security measures of IoT devices. Because these threats are ever-changing and intricate, traditional security measures can't keep up. An effective optimization method for allocating resources and pathfinding is provided by ACO, which takes its cues from the foraging behavior of ants, while Game Theory provides a strategic framework for modeling the interactions between attackers and defenders. Attackers and defenders in the proposed system are modeled as players in a game where the objective is to maximize their payout. Minimizing damage by anticipating and minimizing assaults is the defender's task. The monitoring pathways are optimized and resources are allocated effectively with the help of ACO. In response to changes in network conditions, the system dynamically modifies defensive tactics by updating the game model in real time. The results of the simulation show that the suggested method successfully increases the security of the Internet of Things. Compared to 87.4% using conventional approaches, the detection accuracy increased to 95.8%. From 10.5 seconds down to 7.3 seconds, the average reaction time to identified incursions was cut in half. Furthermore, there was a 20% improvement in resource utilization efficiency, guaranteeing that defensive and monitoring resources were allocated optimally. Internet of Things (IoT) network security is greatly improved by combining Game Theory with Ant Colony Optimization. In addition to enhancing detection accuracy and reaction times, this combination method guarantees resource efficiency. The results demonstrate the practicality of this approach, which offers a solid foundation for protecting Internet of Things devices from ever-changing cyber dangers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toe tapping is performed by certain anuran species while foraging for their prey. This behavior has been described in different frog families, with some hypotheses regarding its function, including predator-prey communication, still unverified. To understand the function of toe tapping and its potential relationship with foraging in anurans, the present research focuses on descriptive analysis of vibrational parameters of toe tapping produced during foraging in the poison dart frog Dendrobates truncatus. We implemented an experimentally designed arena that allowed us to record toe tapping vibrations using an accelerometer attached to an artificial substrate. Continuous recordings of toe tapping were obtained from 19 individuals, enabling us to identify and define the vibrational parameters, with reference to the time between attacks on prey. The average tap duration was 0.06 ± 0.01 s with an inter-tap interval of 0.15 ± 0.07 s. We also identified a pattern, displayed in 36.5% of the analyzed attacks, of progressive acceleration of toe tapping before an attack. Furthermore, we found that individuals with longer third toes were more likely to accelerate their taps. Lastly, we found no evidence of sexual dimorphism in the toe tapping behavior of Dendrobates truncatus. Describing the vibrational parameters of toe tapping in Dendrobates truncatus represents a new frontier of research in the field of foraging behavior and paves the way for hypothesis testing regarding its functionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces the African Bison Optimization (ABO) algorithm, which is based on biological population. ABO is inspired by the survival behaviors of the African bison, including foraging, bathing, jousting, mating, and eliminating. The foraging behavior prompts the bison to seek a richer food source for survival. When bison find a food source, they stick around for a while by bathing behavior. The jousting behavior makes bison stand out in the population, then the winner gets the chance to produce offspring in the mating behavior. The eliminating behavior causes the old or injured bison to be weeded out from the herd, thus maintaining the excellent individuals. The above behaviors are translated into ABO by mathematical modeling. To assess the reliability and performance of ABO, it is evaluated on a diverse set of 23 benchmark functions and applied to solve five practical engineering problems with constraints. The findings from the simulation demonstrate that ABO exhibits superior and more competitive performance by effectively managing the trade-off between exploration and exploitation when compared with the other nine popular metaheuristics algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Studying movement patterns of individual animals over time can give insight into how they interact with the environment and optimize foraging strategies. Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) undertake long seasonal migrations between feeding areas in polar regions and breeding grounds in tropical areas. During the last decade, several individuals have had up to a 3-month stop-over period around specific fjord-areas in Northern Norway to feed on Norwegian spring-spawning (NSS-) herring (Culpea harengus L.). Their behavioral patterns during this period are not well understood, including why some whales seemingly leave the fjords and then later return within the same season. Methods To investigate whale behavior during this seasonal stopover, we classified humpback whale tracks into five distinct movement modes; ranging, encamped, nomadic, roundtrip and semi-roundtrip. A behavioral change point analysis (BCPA) was used to select homogeneous segments based on persistence velocity. Then, net squared displacement (NSD) over time was modeled to differentiate movement modes. This study also manually identified longer roundtrips away from the fjords that lasted several days and examined movement modes within these. Results Inside the fjord systems, encamped mode was most prevalent in December–January, suggesting the whales were mainly foraging on overwintering NSS-herring in this area. During the same winter seasons, half of the whales left the fjords and then returned. We hypothesize that these trips serve as ‘searching trips’ during which the whales seek better feeding opportunities outside the fjords. If better foraging conditions are not found, they return to the fjords to continue their feeding. The overall most common mode was ranging (54%), particularly seen during the start of their southwards migration and in areas outside the fjord systems, indicating that the whales mainly moved over larger distances in the offshore habitat. Conclusions This study serves as a baseline for future studies investigating both the searching trip theory and humpback whale behavior in general, and confirms that this method could be useful to analyze local scale movement patterns of satellite tagged whales.

Abstract Background Parent-offspring conflict represents the sensitive balance of resource allocation between self-maintenance and reproduction. Two strategies have been proposed to better understand how species manage this conflict. In fixed-level feeding behavior, parents feed offspring consistent quantities of food; while flexible feeding shows plasticity in parental allocation based on offspring need. Life-history theory predicts that parents of long-lived species prioritize their survival and may favor the fixed-level hypothesis to maximize lifetime reproductive success. In this study, we highlight the natural variation of parent-offspring allocation strategies within a unique population of Leach’s storm-petrels (Hydrobates leucorhous), and through month-long food supplementation and restriction manipulations, we investigate how chick condition affects parental provisioning during the chick-rearing period of reproduction. Results We show that the parents upregulated chick feeding frequency of nutritionally deprived chicks, resulting in a larger total amount of food delivered during the study period. Additionally, the proportion of nights when both parents fed was highest in restricted chicks, and the proportion of nights when neither parents fed was lowest in restricted chicks, suggesting that storm-petrel parents shorten their foraging bouts to deliver food more often when their chicks are in relatively poor condition. Conclusions Our results support that Leach’s storm-petrels use a flexible-level feeding strategy, suggesting that parents can assess offspring condition, and respond by feeding chicks at higher frequencies. These data provide insight on how a long-lived seabird balances its own energetic demands with that of their offspring during the reproductive period.

Abstract The electrical potential of the mycelia of a cord-forming wood decay fungus, Pholiota brunnescens, was monitored for over 100 days on a plain agar plate during the colonization onto a wood bait. Causality analyses of the electrical potential at different locations of the mycelium revealed a clear and stable causal relationship with the directional flow of the electrical potential from the hyphae at the bait location to other parts of the mycelium. However, this causality disappeared after 60 days of incubation, coinciding with the onset of slow electrical oscillation at the bait location, which occurred over one week per oscillation cycle. We speculated that the hyphae that initially colonized the bait may act as a temporary activity center, which generates electrical signals to other parts of the mycelium, thereby facilitating the colonization of the entire mycelial body to the bait. The week-long electrical oscillation represents the longest oscillation period ever recorded in fungi and warrants further investigation to elucidate its function and stability in response to environmental stimuli.

Male sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) are known to interact with and depredate from commercial longline fishing vessels targeting sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This study aims to better understand their movement patterns and diving behavior in this region, and in relation to depredation behavior. Between 2007 and 2016 a total of 33 satellite tags were deployed on sperm whales interacting with fishing vessels in the eastern GOA. A subset of these tags also collected dive characteristics. We used state space models to interpolate hourly positions from tags and estimate behavioral state from 29 usable tag records, 14 of which had associated dive information. Whales exhibited slower horizontal movement (1.4 km/hr) within GOA waters compared to south of the GOA (5.5 km/hr), indicating tagged whales sped up when they left the region. Behavioral states indicated primarily foraging behavior (82% of locations) in the GOA and primarily transiting behavior (74% of locations) when whales left the GOA. Dive data showed average (± Standard Deviation) maximum dive depths of 396 m (± 166), and dive durations of 32 min (± 9). Generalized additive models indicated that dives were significantly deeper and longer during the daytime than dawn, dusk, or nighttime, and dives were significantly deeper and shorter during quarter moons, when tidal currents are weakest. Maximum dive depth decreased in areas of higher sablefish CPUE, suggesting a potential link between the sablefish fishery and depredation behavior. As seafloor depth increased, up to 800 m, dives became deeper, indicating that whales were likely targeting both bathypelagic and mesopelagic prey. This highlights the importance of the GOA continental slope as a foraging ground for male sperm whales. This enhanced understanding of sperm whale foraging ecology informs management and conservation efforts in high latitude foraging grounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goose-beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) are deep-diving cetaceans known for their elusive nature and specialized foraging behavior. In 2019 and 2020, six telemetry tags were deployed on these whales in Southern California, resulting in 395 h of acoustic and diving data. Foraging dives were manually identified by the presence of echolocation pulses and buzzes, and generalized additive models assessed factors influencing foraging behavior. The median bathymetric depth at foraging sites was 1,419 m (IQR = 359), and the maximum dive depth was highly correlated with bathymetry depth. Individuals started echolocating on descent at a median depth of 410 m (IQR = 74); pulses were not observed shallower than 292 m. Echolocation ceased during the bottom phase for 81.6% of dives, at a median depth of 1,265 m (IQR = 472); pulses were not observed shallower than 587 m on ascent. The median depth of buzzes was 1,215 m (IQR = 479) with 63% occurring during the bottom phase. Deeper dives correlated with longer durations of diving and echolocation, greater echolocation end depths, and wider bottom phase echolocation depth inter-quartile range. The median difference between dive depth and bottom phase median echolocation depth was 98.3 m (IQR = 48.5), suggesting whales in this region forage in a narrow band close to the seafloor. In the San Nicolas Basin, individuals exhibited longer echolocation durations, produced more pulses, and started and ended echolocating at greater depths compared to adjacent regions. These records validate and expand upon previous studies, providing insights into factors influencing foraging behavior in an area with high anthropogenic disturbance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The Galapagos Marine Reserve supports cetaceans such as blue whales by providing essential foraging areas and resting areas. From 2021 to 2023, a study utilized satellite tags on 16 blue whales to monitor their movements and gain insights into their interactions with the marine environment. This involved the identification of their feeding grounds, indicated by chlorophyll levels, surface water temperature (SST), and ocean productivity. The study revealed that blue whales prefer areas with presumed increased prey abundance, cooler water temperatures, and specific underwater features such as ridges that likely enhance favored food sources. Most of the tagged whales remained in the Galapagos, particularly near Isabela Island, where there is an elevated risk of collisions with boats due to increased marine traffic. Some whales ventured into Ecuador's waters, and one even traveled to Peru. In 2023, an intense El Niño event led to changes in water temperatures and food availability, significantly impacting whale habitats. This research contributes to efforts to protect whales from ship collisions and understand and adapt to changes in their migration patterns due to climate variations. The Galapagos Marine Reserve is vital for cetaceans, serving as both a stopover and residency site. However, blue whales, occasionally sighted here, exhibit poorly understood migratory behavior within the Galapagos and the broader Eastern Tropical Pacific. This study, the first to satellite tag blue whales in the Galapagos (16 tagged between 2021 and 2023), explored their behavior in relation to environmental variables like chlorophyll-a concentration, sea surface temperature (SST), and productivity. Key findings show a strong correlation between foraging behavior, high chlorophyll-a levels, productivity, and lower SSTs, indicating a preference for food-rich areas. Additionally, there is a notable association with geomorphic features like ridges, which potentially enhance food abundance. Most tagged whales stayed near the Galapagos archipelago, with higher concentrations observed around Isabela Island, which is increasingly frequented by tourist vessels, posing heightened ship strike risks. Some whales ventured into Ecuador's exclusive economic zone, while one migrated southward to Peru. The strong 2023 El Niño–Southern Oscillation event led to SST and primary production changes, likely impacting whale resource availability. Our study provides crucial insights into blue whale habitat utilization, informing adaptive management strategies to mitigate ship strike risks and address altered migration routes due to climate-driven environmental shifts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freshwater macroinvertebrates can connect tropical forests and stream food webs by consuming both terrestrially and aquatically produced foods, but direct observations of nocturnal feeding behavior in these natural ecosystems are rare. Observational data on decapods feeding behavior are limited partly because they are cryptic and often forage at night to avoid predators and competitors. We hypothesized that freshwater decapods forage on riparian fruit fall based on its relatively high energy and nutrient content. We used underwater cameras to video record night-time foraging under dim red light. Palm fruits (Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. ex Mart.) were added to determine rates of feeding responses among crabs (Silviocarcinus australis Magalhães and Turkay, 1996) and shrimp (Macrobrachium amazonicum Heller, 1862) in a spring-fed, clear-water stream in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Within 30 min, shrimp located the fruit, and within 60 min, crabs began shredding the pulp of the palm fruit. Crabs fed on the palm fruits, on average five times longer than shrimp and produced pieces of palm fruit pulp that some shrimp consumed without aggressively interacting with the crab. Small fish also consumed some palm pulp particles. This interaction network is an example of fruit-fall processing based on indirect facilitation among different types of consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the adaptation of flowers for bat pollination. It discusses the traits associated with bat-pollinated flowers, such as wide corollas, dull coloration, musty odors, and copious pollen. The study experimentally tests the hypothesis that increased exposure decreases foraging times for nectar bats. The results show that long stems and complex backgrounds lead to decreased foraging times, suggesting that well-exposed flowers are easier for bats to detect and locate. The article also discusses the potential role of echolocation and other sensory modalities in bat foraging behavior. The study provides raw data, images, a video, and an R script for statistical analyses. [Extracted from the article]