Pub Date : 2022-12-28DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2022.2152102
Santanu Mahato, Tanmoy Ghosh, S. K. Sinha, K. Yardi, E. Bharucha
Human-wildlife coexistence has increasingly been known for providing diverse ecological services to humans. However, the global repercussions of the Anthropocene epoch have changed the status and future of human-wildlife relationships. In this paper, we shed light on the significance of a positive attitude towards sharing space with animals in identifying and managing both conflict and ecological aspects of human-wildlife interactions in an agrarian landscape. We tried to understand how interactions between meso-carnivores like jungle cats (Felis chaus) and humans influence their survival in dense human populations. We evaluate the abundance and habitat use by jungle cats seasonally and diet, as well as their interactions with farmers in West Bengal, India. The mean encounter rate of jungle cats was assessed and used as a proxy for their abundance. Using a combination of direct sign surveys, we found that the habitat preference and seasonal distribution of jungle cats were influenced by the change in seasons with respect to different habitats. Our results indicate that jungle cats were more associated with human settlements during the monsoon. Scat analysis revealed the dominance of rodents in the diets of jungle cats. This activity helps to control the rodent population from destroying crops. However, our interactions with farmers showed their negative attitude towards the species due to the instances of livestock (poultry birds) depredation. We suggest that, more interdisciplinary researches are required to address how affectively socioeconomic structures shape up positive human-wildlife interaction. Planning and implementation of conservation education programmes are also necessary to help people for understanding the economic and ecological benefits provided by jungle cats and other wide-ranging carnivores. HIGHLIGHTS We chose an agrarian landscape to evaluate threats to jungle cats and their persistence with humans. The encounter rate of jungle cats indicated that the intensity of habitat use varies seasonally in different natural surroundings. People had a generally negative perception of jungle cats, despite the fact that they have been found to feed primarily on rodents in farmlands.
{"title":"Jungle cat (Felis chaus) in farmlands: potential benefits of coexistence and human-wildlife conflicts in West Bengal, India","authors":"Santanu Mahato, Tanmoy Ghosh, S. K. Sinha, K. Yardi, E. Bharucha","doi":"10.1080/03949370.2022.2152102","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03949370.2022.2152102","url":null,"abstract":"Human-wildlife coexistence has increasingly been known for providing diverse ecological services to humans. However, the global repercussions of the Anthropocene epoch have changed the status and future of human-wildlife relationships. In this paper, we shed light on the significance of a positive attitude towards sharing space with animals in identifying and managing both conflict and ecological aspects of human-wildlife interactions in an agrarian landscape. We tried to understand how interactions between meso-carnivores like jungle cats (Felis chaus) and humans influence their survival in dense human populations. We evaluate the abundance and habitat use by jungle cats seasonally and diet, as well as their interactions with farmers in West Bengal, India. The mean encounter rate of jungle cats was assessed and used as a proxy for their abundance. Using a combination of direct sign surveys, we found that the habitat preference and seasonal distribution of jungle cats were influenced by the change in seasons with respect to different habitats. Our results indicate that jungle cats were more associated with human settlements during the monsoon. Scat analysis revealed the dominance of rodents in the diets of jungle cats. This activity helps to control the rodent population from destroying crops. However, our interactions with farmers showed their negative attitude towards the species due to the instances of livestock (poultry birds) depredation. We suggest that, more interdisciplinary researches are required to address how affectively socioeconomic structures shape up positive human-wildlife interaction. Planning and implementation of conservation education programmes are also necessary to help people for understanding the economic and ecological benefits provided by jungle cats and other wide-ranging carnivores. HIGHLIGHTS We chose an agrarian landscape to evaluate threats to jungle cats and their persistence with humans. The encounter rate of jungle cats indicated that the intensity of habitat use varies seasonally in different natural surroundings. People had a generally negative perception of jungle cats, despite the fact that they have been found to feed primarily on rodents in farmlands.","PeriodicalId":55163,"journal":{"name":"Ethology Ecology & Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2022-12-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86592405","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-12-21DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2022.2152106
W. Eberhard
Possible functions of several species-specific, sexually dimorphic male structures and of the male genitalia of Lytta eucera were deduced from observations of behaviour in the field and captivity, and were used to test theories of sexual selection. The male rubbed and tapped on the female’s antennae with sexually dimorphic segments of his antennae, and on her elytra with brushes of setae on his hind tarsi. He forcefully grasped the female’s prothorax and at least occasionally perforated the female’s prothoracic membranes with his modified middle tibiae, and her relatively uniform, membranous vaginal lining with his strong aedeagal teeth. His aedeagal teeth snagged her vaginal lining, and his gonostyli usually pressed against a featureless external female intersegmental membrane. None of these male structures was used as a weapon or in threat displays. No female structure fitted tightly in a “lock-and-key” manner with any of the male structures, nor was any female structure capable of selectively impeding their use, thus ruling out some hypotheses explaining their species-specificity in males. Female resistance to males, including occasional violent “tantrum” displays, was energetic, persistent, and highly effective; the functional significance of this resistance is unclear. If females distinguish the stimuli produced by species-specific traits of male genitalia, as supposed by some hypotheses, they likely use higher-level analyses in the central nervous system rather than the locations of the particular sense organs that are stimulated. HIGHLIGHTS The functional morphology of species-specific genital and nongenital sexually dimorphic traits of male Lytta eucera beetles was deduced using behavioural and morphological data. Two nongenital male traits function exclusively to stimulate females during courtship. Two other nongenital male traits may have mixed functions; one is unique in Meloidae in serving to grasp the female prothorax in a tong-like fashion. The traits were compared with predictions of hypotheses that have been proposed to explain species-specificity. No nongenital or genital trait fit well with mechanical versions of the species isolation or the sexually antagonistic coevolution (SAC) hypothesis. Inconsistency in the points of male–female genital contact indicated that stimulation versions of the cryptic female choice and SAC hypotheses could not be true unless female analyses of male stimuli occur not at the receptors themselves, but deeper in the female’s nervous system.
{"title":"The functional morphology of species-specific male structures and lack of female coevolution in Lytta (Adicolytta) eucera (Chevrolat 1834) (Coleoptera Meloidae)","authors":"W. Eberhard","doi":"10.1080/03949370.2022.2152106","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03949370.2022.2152106","url":null,"abstract":"Possible functions of several species-specific, sexually dimorphic male structures and of the male genitalia of Lytta eucera were deduced from observations of behaviour in the field and captivity, and were used to test theories of sexual selection. The male rubbed and tapped on the female’s antennae with sexually dimorphic segments of his antennae, and on her elytra with brushes of setae on his hind tarsi. He forcefully grasped the female’s prothorax and at least occasionally perforated the female’s prothoracic membranes with his modified middle tibiae, and her relatively uniform, membranous vaginal lining with his strong aedeagal teeth. His aedeagal teeth snagged her vaginal lining, and his gonostyli usually pressed against a featureless external female intersegmental membrane. None of these male structures was used as a weapon or in threat displays. No female structure fitted tightly in a “lock-and-key” manner with any of the male structures, nor was any female structure capable of selectively impeding their use, thus ruling out some hypotheses explaining their species-specificity in males. Female resistance to males, including occasional violent “tantrum” displays, was energetic, persistent, and highly effective; the functional significance of this resistance is unclear. If females distinguish the stimuli produced by species-specific traits of male genitalia, as supposed by some hypotheses, they likely use higher-level analyses in the central nervous system rather than the locations of the particular sense organs that are stimulated. HIGHLIGHTS The functional morphology of species-specific genital and nongenital sexually dimorphic traits of male Lytta eucera beetles was deduced using behavioural and morphological data. Two nongenital male traits function exclusively to stimulate females during courtship. Two other nongenital male traits may have mixed functions; one is unique in Meloidae in serving to grasp the female prothorax in a tong-like fashion. The traits were compared with predictions of hypotheses that have been proposed to explain species-specificity. No nongenital or genital trait fit well with mechanical versions of the species isolation or the sexually antagonistic coevolution (SAC) hypothesis. Inconsistency in the points of male–female genital contact indicated that stimulation versions of the cryptic female choice and SAC hypotheses could not be true unless female analyses of male stimuli occur not at the receptors themselves, but deeper in the female’s nervous system.","PeriodicalId":55163,"journal":{"name":"Ethology Ecology & Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2022-12-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74450028","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-12-20DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2022.2152104
C. Grueter, A. Ridley, B. Kaplin, Jaya K. Matthews
Investment in social interaction and affiliative behaviour is often related to variation in sex-specific dispersal patterns among species but can also vary within species in response to local environmental conditions and feeding competition. Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) association patterns have been studied primarily in low and mid-elevation tropical forests. This study adds to our understanding of association patterns in chimpanzees by presenting the first data on association patterns in a high-elevation population at Nyungwe in equatorial Rwanda. Using data on co-occurrence in social parties (party association) and calculating gregariousness indices, we quantified levels of associations among age-sex classes relative to food (fruit) distribution and the presence of oestrous females. Overall, adult females in Nyungwe are less gregarious than males. Female but not male gregariousness increased when feeding on clumped foods, indicating that resource characteristics impact female association tendencies more intensely than males. Despite high elevation forests representing a habitat with relatively fewer fruit resources for chimpanzees, at an edge of range location, we found that gregariousness patterns were driven by similar factors as those in mid and low elevation chimpanzee populations. HIGHLIGHTS – We quantified association patterns in a high elevation population of chimpanzees at Nyungwe (Rwanda) – Adult females were less gregarious than males – Female but not male gregariousness increased when feeding on clumped foods, indicating that resource characteristics impact female association tendencies more intensely than males
{"title":"Association patterns in a high-elevation chimpanzee community in Rwanda","authors":"C. Grueter, A. Ridley, B. Kaplin, Jaya K. Matthews","doi":"10.1080/03949370.2022.2152104","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03949370.2022.2152104","url":null,"abstract":"Investment in social interaction and affiliative behaviour is often related to variation in sex-specific dispersal patterns among species but can also vary within species in response to local environmental conditions and feeding competition. Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) association patterns have been studied primarily in low and mid-elevation tropical forests. This study adds to our understanding of association patterns in chimpanzees by presenting the first data on association patterns in a high-elevation population at Nyungwe in equatorial Rwanda. Using data on co-occurrence in social parties (party association) and calculating gregariousness indices, we quantified levels of associations among age-sex classes relative to food (fruit) distribution and the presence of oestrous females. Overall, adult females in Nyungwe are less gregarious than males. Female but not male gregariousness increased when feeding on clumped foods, indicating that resource characteristics impact female association tendencies more intensely than males. Despite high elevation forests representing a habitat with relatively fewer fruit resources for chimpanzees, at an edge of range location, we found that gregariousness patterns were driven by similar factors as those in mid and low elevation chimpanzee populations. HIGHLIGHTS – We quantified association patterns in a high elevation population of chimpanzees at Nyungwe (Rwanda) – Adult females were less gregarious than males – Female but not male gregariousness increased when feeding on clumped foods, indicating that resource characteristics impact female association tendencies more intensely than males","PeriodicalId":55163,"journal":{"name":"Ethology Ecology & Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2022-12-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79871911","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-12-12DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2022.2152105
A. Gagliardo, E. Pollonara, Giovanni Casini, V. Bingman
The left and right hippocampal formation (HF) of the avian brain have been reported to control some different aspects of homing in pigeons. In the current study, we employed GPS-tracking technology and unilateral HF lesions to further explore what if any aspects of a pigeon’s homing flight might be under dominant control by either the left or right HF. Pigeons were released from three locations prior to any experimental manipulation and released repeatedly from the same three sites as sham-lesioned control, right HF-lesioned and left HF-lesioned treatment groups. Analyses of homing performance and virtual vanishing bearings revealed no effect of either lesion treatment. A more in-depth analysis of path efficiency during the initial decision-making, en route and near home phases of a homing flight also revealed no effect of either lesion treatment. A last analysis on the learning and memory for positions along a previously flown route, a proxy for investigating the development of route fidelity, also revealed no effect of either unilateral lesion. However, independent of treatment group, some statistically significant effects were observed with respect to changes in performance across training and the different release sites. The current study revealed no detectable difference between the left and right HF-lesioned pigeons with respect to several navigational parameters of a homing flight. Although in need of supporting experimentation, the results are consistent with the hypothesis that both the left and right HF are similarly able to support several aspects of homing pigeon navigation. HIGHLIGHTS No effect of unilateral HF-lesions on pigeons’ homing was found. Both the left and right HF support local navigation and route fidelity development.
{"title":"Unilateral hippocampal lesions and the navigational performance of homing pigeons as revealed by GPS-tracking","authors":"A. Gagliardo, E. Pollonara, Giovanni Casini, V. Bingman","doi":"10.1080/03949370.2022.2152105","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03949370.2022.2152105","url":null,"abstract":"The left and right hippocampal formation (HF) of the avian brain have been reported to control some different aspects of homing in pigeons. In the current study, we employed GPS-tracking technology and unilateral HF lesions to further explore what if any aspects of a pigeon’s homing flight might be under dominant control by either the left or right HF. Pigeons were released from three locations prior to any experimental manipulation and released repeatedly from the same three sites as sham-lesioned control, right HF-lesioned and left HF-lesioned treatment groups. Analyses of homing performance and virtual vanishing bearings revealed no effect of either lesion treatment. A more in-depth analysis of path efficiency during the initial decision-making, en route and near home phases of a homing flight also revealed no effect of either lesion treatment. A last analysis on the learning and memory for positions along a previously flown route, a proxy for investigating the development of route fidelity, also revealed no effect of either unilateral lesion. However, independent of treatment group, some statistically significant effects were observed with respect to changes in performance across training and the different release sites. The current study revealed no detectable difference between the left and right HF-lesioned pigeons with respect to several navigational parameters of a homing flight. Although in need of supporting experimentation, the results are consistent with the hypothesis that both the left and right HF are similarly able to support several aspects of homing pigeon navigation. HIGHLIGHTS No effect of unilateral HF-lesions on pigeons’ homing was found. Both the left and right HF support local navigation and route fidelity development.","PeriodicalId":55163,"journal":{"name":"Ethology Ecology & Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2022-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78688151","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-10-18DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2022.2120085
Franco M. Valdez Ovallez, Ana Victorica Erostarbe, Rodrigo Nieva Cocilio, Rodrigo Gómez Alés, R. Fernández, Rodrigo Acosta, G. Blanco, J. C. Acosta, L. Corrales
Understanding a species use of space is important as it provides information about the potential resources available in its habitat. The objective of this work was to evaluate the use and selection of microhabitat as it relates to availability for Pristidactylus scapulatus in the Puna region of the Central Andes in Argentina. The work was carried out at Quebrada de La Puerta in the province of San Juan and data recorded for the species included microhabitat use and availability according to established categories. To assess microhabitat selection, we applied a design of usage vs availability and calculated the Manly index to obtain a function of resource selection. The species utilised the rock microhabitat in greater proportion with respect to its availability, and in lesser measure utilised shrub and bare soil, whereas it rejected the use of cactus and dead leaves substrate. The Manly index showed that the selection of rock substrate was significant with respect to the other microhabitats. We conclude that this population of P. scapulatus has clearly saxicolous habits, though it is necessary to be aware of other aspects of its natural history to truly understand how its microhabitat selection relates to feeding or reproduction in hostile environments like the Puna. In this way we contribute to the scarce existing knowledge of its biology and we provide an information basis for the creation of future priority areas for conservation and for habitat management plans in Puna environments. Highlights We evaluate the use and selection of microhabitat for Pristidactylus scapulatus in the Puna region of the Central Andes in Argentina. The species utilised the rock microhabitat in greater proportion with respect to its availability. The Manly index showed that the selection of rock substrate was significant with respect to the other microhabitats. We conclude that this population of P. scapulatus has clearly saxicolous habits and we contribute to the scarce existing knowledge of its biology.
了解一个物种对空间的利用是很重要的，因为它提供了关于其栖息地潜在可用资源的信息。本研究的目的是评价阿根廷中部安第斯山脉普纳地区毛头棘毛虫微生境的利用和选择，因为它与毛头棘毛虫的可利用性有关。这项工作是在圣胡安省的Quebrada de La Puerta进行的，记录的数据包括根据既定类别使用的微生境和可用性。为了评估微生境的选择，我们采用了利用/可利用设计，并计算了曼利指数，得到了资源选择的函数。该物种利用岩石微生境的比例较大，利用灌木和裸露土壤的比例较小，而拒绝利用仙人掌和枯叶基质。曼利指数表明，相对于其他微生境，岩石基质的选择是显著的。我们的结论是，尽管有必要了解其自然史的其他方面，以真正了解其微生境选择与在普纳河等恶劣环境中觅食或繁殖的关系，但该种群具有明显的萨奇习性。通过这种方式，我们对其生物学的现有知识做出了贡献，我们为在普纳环境中创建未来的优先保护区域和栖息地管理计划提供了信息基础。本研究评估了阿根廷中部安第斯山脉普纳地区肩胛骨棘毛虫微生境的利用和选择。该物种利用岩石微生境的比例大于其可利用性。曼利指数表明，相对于其他微生境，岩石基质的选择是显著的。我们的结论是，这个种群的P. scapulatus具有明显的沙栖习性，我们为其生物学的现有知识做出了贡献。
{"title":"Microhabitat use and selection by Pristidactylus scapulatus (Squamata Leiosauridae) in the Puna region of the Central Andes in Argentina","authors":"Franco M. Valdez Ovallez, Ana Victorica Erostarbe, Rodrigo Nieva Cocilio, Rodrigo Gómez Alés, R. Fernández, Rodrigo Acosta, G. Blanco, J. C. Acosta, L. Corrales","doi":"10.1080/03949370.2022.2120085","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03949370.2022.2120085","url":null,"abstract":"Understanding a species use of space is important as it provides information about the potential resources available in its habitat. The objective of this work was to evaluate the use and selection of microhabitat as it relates to availability for Pristidactylus scapulatus in the Puna region of the Central Andes in Argentina. The work was carried out at Quebrada de La Puerta in the province of San Juan and data recorded for the species included microhabitat use and availability according to established categories. To assess microhabitat selection, we applied a design of usage vs availability and calculated the Manly index to obtain a function of resource selection. The species utilised the rock microhabitat in greater proportion with respect to its availability, and in lesser measure utilised shrub and bare soil, whereas it rejected the use of cactus and dead leaves substrate. The Manly index showed that the selection of rock substrate was significant with respect to the other microhabitats. We conclude that this population of P. scapulatus has clearly saxicolous habits, though it is necessary to be aware of other aspects of its natural history to truly understand how its microhabitat selection relates to feeding or reproduction in hostile environments like the Puna. In this way we contribute to the scarce existing knowledge of its biology and we provide an information basis for the creation of future priority areas for conservation and for habitat management plans in Puna environments. Highlights We evaluate the use and selection of microhabitat for Pristidactylus scapulatus in the Puna region of the Central Andes in Argentina. The species utilised the rock microhabitat in greater proportion with respect to its availability. The Manly index showed that the selection of rock substrate was significant with respect to the other microhabitats. We conclude that this population of P. scapulatus has clearly saxicolous habits and we contribute to the scarce existing knowledge of its biology.","PeriodicalId":55163,"journal":{"name":"Ethology Ecology & Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2022-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86421735","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-10-10DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2022.2120084
O. Sørensen, P. Moa, B. Hagen, V. Selås
In recent decades, population fluctuations of microtine rodents have frequently faded out in parts of northern Europe, possibly because of climate change. Weather events may affect the rodents directly, but also indirectly, by acting on factors that generate population fluctuations. However, few studies have addressed the latter aspect. A species well suited for such a study is the bank vole (Myodes glareolus), which usually increases in number after a year with high seed production of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus). We analysed two snap-trapping time series of bank vole from Central Norway. When controlling for the impact of seed production of bilberry and Norway spruce (Picea abies), the number of bank voles trapped in the low-altitude area was negatively related to a summer temperature index of the two previous years, possibly because of the impact of temperature on the nutritional status of food plants. In the area situated at the highest altitude, there was a negative relationship with the winter NAO-index and a positive relationship with a snow depth index. Wet and mild winters are assumed to give unfavourable snow conditions, with alternating thawing and freezing, sometimes also creating an ice-layer at ground level, whereas a sufficient thick snow cover protects the rodents in periods with critical low temperatures. We conclude that an understanding of the ultimate cause of population fluctuations is needed to reveal the disturbing effects of weather events or other factors.
{"title":"Possible impact of winter conditions and summer temperature on bank vole (Myodes glareolus) population fluctuations in Central Norway","authors":"O. Sørensen, P. Moa, B. Hagen, V. Selås","doi":"10.1080/03949370.2022.2120084","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03949370.2022.2120084","url":null,"abstract":"In recent decades, population fluctuations of microtine rodents have frequently faded out in parts of northern Europe, possibly because of climate change. Weather events may affect the rodents directly, but also indirectly, by acting on factors that generate population fluctuations. However, few studies have addressed the latter aspect. A species well suited for such a study is the bank vole (Myodes glareolus), which usually increases in number after a year with high seed production of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus). We analysed two snap-trapping time series of bank vole from Central Norway. When controlling for the impact of seed production of bilberry and Norway spruce (Picea abies), the number of bank voles trapped in the low-altitude area was negatively related to a summer temperature index of the two previous years, possibly because of the impact of temperature on the nutritional status of food plants. In the area situated at the highest altitude, there was a negative relationship with the winter NAO-index and a positive relationship with a snow depth index. Wet and mild winters are assumed to give unfavourable snow conditions, with alternating thawing and freezing, sometimes also creating an ice-layer at ground level, whereas a sufficient thick snow cover protects the rodents in periods with critical low temperatures. We conclude that an understanding of the ultimate cause of population fluctuations is needed to reveal the disturbing effects of weather events or other factors.","PeriodicalId":55163,"journal":{"name":"Ethology Ecology & Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2022-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78627680","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-10-07DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2022.2123860
D. F. Padrón, K. Mebert, Daniela Pareja-Mejía, Arthur Bauer, Laise D. Fernandes Vasconcelos, Diego Correia, G. A. Fernandez Giné, M. Solé
This is the first multiple months study on home range and habitat use by a small group of bushmaster (Lachesis spp.). Five snakes (natives and translocated) were intensively radio tracked in a mosaic of plantations and small fragments of Atlantic Forest in the Reserva Ecologica Michelin in Bahia, Brazil. The average home range was 9.47 ha (MCP 95%) and 44.11 (Kernel 95%) for bushmasters tracked for more than 6 months. The macrohabitats used were primarily composed of disturbed primary (partially logged) and secondary (originally cleared) forests, but also of rubber tree plantations with a dense understory vegetation. Activity centres were closer to the forest edge (~ 22 m) than the core of the small forest fragments. The snakes mainly occupied wooded microhabitats with complex vegetation structures, around 50% under- and mid-story cover. Nocturnal ambush differed from diurnal resting microhabitats on the surface mainly by being significantly closer to mammal trails and a more open understory space. While mammal burrows and refuges under roots and rocks have been used, diurnal resting was primarily on the forest floor (75%). Translocation from sites > 20 km outside the study site has produced little evidence of negative effect, as all individuals grew impressively, continued an apparently normal life and established a home range similar to native bushmasters.
{"title":"Living in a mosaic of Brazilian Atlantic Forest and plantations: spatial ecology of five bushmaster Lachesis muta (Viperidae Crotalinae)","authors":"D. F. Padrón, K. Mebert, Daniela Pareja-Mejía, Arthur Bauer, Laise D. Fernandes Vasconcelos, Diego Correia, G. A. Fernandez Giné, M. Solé","doi":"10.1080/03949370.2022.2123860","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03949370.2022.2123860","url":null,"abstract":"This is the first multiple months study on home range and habitat use by a small group of bushmaster (Lachesis spp.). Five snakes (natives and translocated) were intensively radio tracked in a mosaic of plantations and small fragments of Atlantic Forest in the Reserva Ecologica Michelin in Bahia, Brazil. The average home range was 9.47 ha (MCP 95%) and 44.11 (Kernel 95%) for bushmasters tracked for more than 6 months. The macrohabitats used were primarily composed of disturbed primary (partially logged) and secondary (originally cleared) forests, but also of rubber tree plantations with a dense understory vegetation. Activity centres were closer to the forest edge (~ 22 m) than the core of the small forest fragments. The snakes mainly occupied wooded microhabitats with complex vegetation structures, around 50% under- and mid-story cover. Nocturnal ambush differed from diurnal resting microhabitats on the surface mainly by being significantly closer to mammal trails and a more open understory space. While mammal burrows and refuges under roots and rocks have been used, diurnal resting was primarily on the forest floor (75%). Translocation from sites > 20 km outside the study site has produced little evidence of negative effect, as all individuals grew impressively, continued an apparently normal life and established a home range similar to native bushmasters.","PeriodicalId":55163,"journal":{"name":"Ethology Ecology & Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2022-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85258717","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-09-27DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2022.2120083
A. D. de Souza, E. F. Santos, C. F. Baptista, Glenda Dias, F. Nascimento, J. Lino-Neto
Diversification of sperm design is a common feature in animals. Considerable intra-individual variation has been detected even in species whose males produce a monomorphic sperm. The evolutionary forces that shape the variation in the gross morphology of these gametic cells are still not completely understood. Previous studies suggest that the intra-individual variation in sperm size reduces as a result of post-copulatory sexual selection. To our knowledge, for the first time, we provide evidence here that pre-copulatory sexual selection can also play a role. By studying the Neotropical paper wasp, Polistes simillimus, a monandrous species, we found reduced variation in sperm length in males bearing sexual ornamentation preferred by females. Besides, the female spermatheca contains a less variable sperm compared to that in the male seminal vesicles. Thus, the scope of selection, acting on this sperm trait, seems broader than previously acknowledged.
{"title":"Sperm length variation is linked to sexual ornamentation in male paper wasps","authors":"A. D. de Souza, E. F. Santos, C. F. Baptista, Glenda Dias, F. Nascimento, J. Lino-Neto","doi":"10.1080/03949370.2022.2120083","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03949370.2022.2120083","url":null,"abstract":"Diversification of sperm design is a common feature in animals. Considerable intra-individual variation has been detected even in species whose males produce a monomorphic sperm. The evolutionary forces that shape the variation in the gross morphology of these gametic cells are still not completely understood. Previous studies suggest that the intra-individual variation in sperm size reduces as a result of post-copulatory sexual selection. To our knowledge, for the first time, we provide evidence here that pre-copulatory sexual selection can also play a role. By studying the Neotropical paper wasp, Polistes simillimus, a monandrous species, we found reduced variation in sperm length in males bearing sexual ornamentation preferred by females. Besides, the female spermatheca contains a less variable sperm compared to that in the male seminal vesicles. Thus, the scope of selection, acting on this sperm trait, seems broader than previously acknowledged.","PeriodicalId":55163,"journal":{"name":"Ethology Ecology & Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2022-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87909485","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-09-27DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2022.2120082
P. Diniz, J. Valls, D. Ramos
In mixed-species groups (MSGs), individuals from different species may locate and communicate about the presence of predators and prey quickly and accurately but may compete for food and favourable positions in the flock. Thus, foraging behaviour is likely to change when individuals participate in MSGs compared with single-species groups (SSGs). In a highly seasonal tropical environment, the foraging behaviour of omnivorous birds may also vary with fluctuations in food availability, weather, and breeding conditions. Here, we observed the foraging behaviour (food item consumed and foraging substrate) of an insectivorous-granivorous songbird, the Coal-crested finch (Charitospiza eucosma), in a savanna in central Brazil, while simultaneously sampling the grass seed production. Birds were more likely to consume grass seeds and forage on lower vertical strata (i.e., ground or herbaceous layers) in MSGs than in other social contexts (SSGs, pair or alone), suggesting they are facing interference competition from other species in MSGs or obtaining antipredator benefits in MSGs that enable them to explore preferred food resources in microhabitats more exposed to predators. As expected, Coal-crested finches were more likely to feed on grass seeds and forage on lower vertical strata when grass seed production is abundant, suggesting that they switch their diet according to the availability of their main food items: grass seeds and invertebrates. Weather and breeding seasonalities had small effects on foraging behaviour. Our results show that MSGs may have a major role in the foraging behaviour of omnivorous birds even considering the seasonal mismatching of their main food items. Highlights We studied the foraging behaviour of an insectivorous-granivorous songbird in a savanna in central Brazil. Coal-crested finches forage more on grass seeds and lower vertical strata in mixed-species groups than in single-species groups. Birds forage more on grass seeds and lower vertical strata during the circannual peak in grass seeds production. Foraging behaviour was weakly affected by weather and breeding seasonalities.
{"title":"Foraging behaviour of an omnivorous bird varies in mixed-species groups","authors":"P. Diniz, J. Valls, D. Ramos","doi":"10.1080/03949370.2022.2120082","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03949370.2022.2120082","url":null,"abstract":"In mixed-species groups (MSGs), individuals from different species may locate and communicate about the presence of predators and prey quickly and accurately but may compete for food and favourable positions in the flock. Thus, foraging behaviour is likely to change when individuals participate in MSGs compared with single-species groups (SSGs). In a highly seasonal tropical environment, the foraging behaviour of omnivorous birds may also vary with fluctuations in food availability, weather, and breeding conditions. Here, we observed the foraging behaviour (food item consumed and foraging substrate) of an insectivorous-granivorous songbird, the Coal-crested finch (Charitospiza eucosma), in a savanna in central Brazil, while simultaneously sampling the grass seed production. Birds were more likely to consume grass seeds and forage on lower vertical strata (i.e., ground or herbaceous layers) in MSGs than in other social contexts (SSGs, pair or alone), suggesting they are facing interference competition from other species in MSGs or obtaining antipredator benefits in MSGs that enable them to explore preferred food resources in microhabitats more exposed to predators. As expected, Coal-crested finches were more likely to feed on grass seeds and forage on lower vertical strata when grass seed production is abundant, suggesting that they switch their diet according to the availability of their main food items: grass seeds and invertebrates. Weather and breeding seasonalities had small effects on foraging behaviour. Our results show that MSGs may have a major role in the foraging behaviour of omnivorous birds even considering the seasonal mismatching of their main food items. Highlights We studied the foraging behaviour of an insectivorous-granivorous songbird in a savanna in central Brazil. Coal-crested finches forage more on grass seeds and lower vertical strata in mixed-species groups than in single-species groups. Birds forage more on grass seeds and lower vertical strata during the circannual peak in grass seeds production. Foraging behaviour was weakly affected by weather and breeding seasonalities.","PeriodicalId":55163,"journal":{"name":"Ethology Ecology & Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2022-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82974574","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-08-09DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2022.2082538
R. Miranda, J. Klaczko, J. Tonini, Reuber A. Brandão
Lizards are commonly preyed by a great variety of predators, including vertebrates and invertebrates. Therefore, it is expected that lizards have developed a wide range of antipredator traits, increasing their chances of successful survival during agonistic events. Defence against predation involves two levels of behavioural strategies, commonly named primary and secondary defence traits. Primary defences relate to predator detection or interest and include as responses immobility, mimicry, aposematism, and cryptic colouration. Secondary defences occur after predator detection and attack, including traits that aim to prevent or interrupt predators. These defences encompass traits such as frightening (e.g., scratching or biting the predator), tail lashing, flouncing vigorously the body, cloacal discharge, agony vocalisations, and tail autotomy. In this review, we gathered information from 206 scientific publications, including peer-reviewed journals, short communications, scientific notes, and books. This compilation resulted in 22 defence traits, 23% passive and 77% active defences. Lizard species deal with a wide diversity of predators, but the number of field records, experiments, and antipredator studies remain scarce. We reviewed the defence traits presented by Neotropical lizards, using a phylogenetic approach in order to track evolutionary process behind these traits. Thanatosis, crypsis, and tail autotomy are symplesiomorphic for lizards, whereas venom and emetic substances are autapomorphic, and aposematism seems to be rare. We also present a novel case of defence trait where the dark colour helps lizards to be camouflaged in the burned vegetation. Our character mapping provides valuable information about the evolution of defensive traits in Neotropical lizards, combining natural history and phylogenetics. Trivial observations about any animal behaviour, including those provided by social networks and citizen science pages, might be important, and we strongly recommend that ethological observations describe the event in all possible details.
{"title":"Escaping from predators: a review of Neotropical lizards defence traits","authors":"R. Miranda, J. Klaczko, J. Tonini, Reuber A. Brandão","doi":"10.1080/03949370.2022.2082538","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03949370.2022.2082538","url":null,"abstract":"Lizards are commonly preyed by a great variety of predators, including vertebrates and invertebrates. Therefore, it is expected that lizards have developed a wide range of antipredator traits, increasing their chances of successful survival during agonistic events. Defence against predation involves two levels of behavioural strategies, commonly named primary and secondary defence traits. Primary defences relate to predator detection or interest and include as responses immobility, mimicry, aposematism, and cryptic colouration. Secondary defences occur after predator detection and attack, including traits that aim to prevent or interrupt predators. These defences encompass traits such as frightening (e.g., scratching or biting the predator), tail lashing, flouncing vigorously the body, cloacal discharge, agony vocalisations, and tail autotomy. In this review, we gathered information from 206 scientific publications, including peer-reviewed journals, short communications, scientific notes, and books. This compilation resulted in 22 defence traits, 23% passive and 77% active defences. Lizard species deal with a wide diversity of predators, but the number of field records, experiments, and antipredator studies remain scarce. We reviewed the defence traits presented by Neotropical lizards, using a phylogenetic approach in order to track evolutionary process behind these traits. Thanatosis, crypsis, and tail autotomy are symplesiomorphic for lizards, whereas venom and emetic substances are autapomorphic, and aposematism seems to be rare. We also present a novel case of defence trait where the dark colour helps lizards to be camouflaged in the burned vegetation. Our character mapping provides valuable information about the evolution of defensive traits in Neotropical lizards, combining natural history and phylogenetics. Trivial observations about any animal behaviour, including those provided by social networks and citizen science pages, might be important, and we strongly recommend that ethological observations describe the event in all possible details.","PeriodicalId":55163,"journal":{"name":"Ethology Ecology & Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2022-08-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84711827","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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