Pub Date : 2020-10-29DOI: 10.1163/15707563-bja10050
M. Richards, T. Hesselberg
Among the most damaging anthropogenic effects for ecosystems is habitat fragmentation. One of its consequences is the creation of edges, which results in more exposed habitats that have different ecological and behavioural effects on the different species that live there. However, the nature and magnitude of these effects remain unknown for most of the animals and plants inhabiting these edge habitats. This study intends to determine if quantity of prey capture by a woodland population of the orb spider Metellina mengei is subjected to edge effects. By observing the prey capture of this species at edge and interior locations of a woodland, we found no significant effects of edge on the number of prey captured or the average prey length. Instead, we found that inclination of the web, but not web area or other measured web parameters, had a significant effect on prey capture. Therefore, this species of spider may be minimally affected by its location within the woodland and more affected by its surrounding microhabitat, which raises the possibility that non-specialised invertebrate predators could be less impacted by fragmentation than generally recognised.
{"title":"No edge effect on quantity of prey captured in the forest-dwelling tetragnathid orb spider Metellina mengei","authors":"M. Richards, T. Hesselberg","doi":"10.1163/15707563-bja10050","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/15707563-bja10050","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Among the most damaging anthropogenic effects for ecosystems is habitat fragmentation. One of its consequences is the creation of edges, which results in more exposed habitats that have different ecological and behavioural effects on the different species that live there. However, the nature and magnitude of these effects remain unknown for most of the animals and plants inhabiting these edge habitats. This study intends to determine if quantity of prey capture by a woodland population of the orb spider Metellina mengei is subjected to edge effects. By observing the prey capture of this species at edge and interior locations of a woodland, we found no significant effects of edge on the number of prey captured or the average prey length. Instead, we found that inclination of the web, but not web area or other measured web parameters, had a significant effect on prey capture. Therefore, this species of spider may be minimally affected by its location within the woodland and more affected by its surrounding microhabitat, which raises the possibility that non-specialised invertebrate predators could be less impacted by fragmentation than generally recognised.","PeriodicalId":7876,"journal":{"name":"Animal Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2020-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1163/15707563-bja10050","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43179596","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 : 2020-10-29DOI: 10.1163/15707563-bja10018
Maja Mohorović, M. Krofel
Scent-marking is a predominant form of communication among felids, with urine spraying having a key role. Detectability and longevity of scent marks are recognized as crucial for efficiency of scent-marking, but there is limited research that has tested scent persistence with respect to various environmental factors. We used an experimental framework to measure human-perceived strength of felid urine smell and determine the effects of substrate, tilt and aspect of marked surfaces on persistence of the simulated scent marks. We used area under the curve (AUC), calculated for the scent strength of each scent-marked surface over time, as a proxy for urine scent preservation. Thereafter, we used ANOVA, followed by analysis of differences of interest between the marking sites, to assess the effect of environmental factors on human-perceived scent mark persistence. Odour persisted significantly better on rough surfaces, surfaces covered with moss and on surfaces with overhanging tilts, while there was no significant difference between the northerly- and southerly-oriented surfaces. The results are generally in accordance with the use and selection of marking sites previously reported for wild felids throughout the world, confirming that in their marking behaviour felids strive to prolong the persistence of scent marks. This knowledge will help researchers in interpretation of data on scent-marking and to evaluate the adaptive significance of this behaviour.
{"title":"The scent world of cats: where to place a urine scent mark to increase signal persistence?","authors":"Maja Mohorović, M. Krofel","doi":"10.1163/15707563-bja10018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/15707563-bja10018","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Scent-marking is a predominant form of communication among felids, with urine spraying having a key role. Detectability and longevity of scent marks are recognized as crucial for efficiency of scent-marking, but there is limited research that has tested scent persistence with respect to various environmental factors. We used an experimental framework to measure human-perceived strength of felid urine smell and determine the effects of substrate, tilt and aspect of marked surfaces on persistence of the simulated scent marks. We used area under the curve (AUC), calculated for the scent strength of each scent-marked surface over time, as a proxy for urine scent preservation. Thereafter, we used ANOVA, followed by analysis of differences of interest between the marking sites, to assess the effect of environmental factors on human-perceived scent mark persistence. Odour persisted significantly better on rough surfaces, surfaces covered with moss and on surfaces with overhanging tilts, while there was no significant difference between the northerly- and southerly-oriented surfaces. The results are generally in accordance with the use and selection of marking sites previously reported for wild felids throughout the world, confirming that in their marking behaviour felids strive to prolong the persistence of scent marks. This knowledge will help researchers in interpretation of data on scent-marking and to evaluate the adaptive significance of this behaviour.","PeriodicalId":7876,"journal":{"name":"Animal Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2020-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1163/15707563-bja10018","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47587867","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 : 2020-10-16DOI: 10.1163/15707563-bja10025
A. Altunışık, Halit Eksilmez
We investigated age structure, age at sexual maturity, lifespan, growth and survival rate and adult life expectancy (as demographic life-history traits) as well as body size of two Darevskia derjugini (Artvin lizard) populations from different altitudes, using skeletochronology. Our findings indicated that age upon attaining sexual maturity was two or three years in the low-altitude population (Fındıklı) while it was three years in the high-altitude population (Murgul) for both sexes. The maximum longevity was seven years in the high-elevation site while it was six years in the low-elevation site. As reported for many lizards, we found a significant positive relationship between age and body size within each sex of Artvin lizard at both altitudes. High- and low-altitude populations did not differ in age structure, survival rates, adult life expectancy and body size. Rather than the effect of altitude, which is hard to compare without replication of other low and high altitude populations, the fact that these two populations have similar growth rates and the similarity of local conditions (food availability and predator density) may indicate similarity between the two regions.
{"title":"Age, growth and survival rate in two populations of Darevskia derjugini (Nikolsky, 1898) from different altitudes (Squamata: Sauria: Lacertidae)","authors":"A. Altunışık, Halit Eksilmez","doi":"10.1163/15707563-bja10025","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/15707563-bja10025","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000We investigated age structure, age at sexual maturity, lifespan, growth and survival rate and adult life expectancy (as demographic life-history traits) as well as body size of two Darevskia derjugini (Artvin lizard) populations from different altitudes, using skeletochronology. Our findings indicated that age upon attaining sexual maturity was two or three years in the low-altitude population (Fındıklı) while it was three years in the high-altitude population (Murgul) for both sexes. The maximum longevity was seven years in the high-elevation site while it was six years in the low-elevation site. As reported for many lizards, we found a significant positive relationship between age and body size within each sex of Artvin lizard at both altitudes. High- and low-altitude populations did not differ in age structure, survival rates, adult life expectancy and body size. Rather than the effect of altitude, which is hard to compare without replication of other low and high altitude populations, the fact that these two populations have similar growth rates and the similarity of local conditions (food availability and predator density) may indicate similarity between the two regions.","PeriodicalId":7876,"journal":{"name":"Animal Biology","volume":"1 1","pages":"1-15"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2020-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1163/15707563-bja10025","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48721308","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 : 2020-10-13DOI: 10.1163/15707563-bja10046
Hang Zhao, Gao Yaping, Q. Jiang, Jinpeng Wang, Liu Wenhao, J. Zhihua, Xiuge Wang, Wei Xiaochao, Gao Yundong, Jinming Huang
Under extreme environmental conditions such as hypoxia, insufficient nutrition, and glucose deficiency, the acetyl-CoA synthetase 2 (ACSS2)-mediated acetyl-CoA synthesis pathway plays an alternative role to ensure the normal operation of metabolic activities. To investigate the potential effect of the ACSS2 gene on hypoxic adaptation and its regulatory mechanism of gene expression in high-altitude cattle breeds, we analyzed the genetic variations of the ACSS2 gene in five Bos taurus taurus, Bos taurus indicus, hybrid Bos taurus taurus × Bos taurus indicus Chinese cattle breeds, and two Bos grunniens (yak) breeds distributed at different altitudes (95-3850 m). A total of 58 SNPs was detected in seven populations, and abundant genetic variation was found in high-altitude breeds. We identified the bovine ACSS2 core promoter region between g.-682 and g.-264 by using the luciferase assay in FFB and HepG2 cells. We also identified that the high-altitude hypoxia-specific haplotype (CAGTCT) was composed of six highly linked SNPs. The tagSNP g.-473 T>C (rs23) is located in the core promoter of ACSS2 in the Bos taurus taurus and yak breeds. The recombinant plasmid containing rs23 and analyses of luciferase activity of different genotypes showed that the activity of ACSS2 promoter increased significantly when T was mutated to C. We also found a yak-specific SNP rs20 that consists of 12 base insertions (g.-562 ins GAAAGGACCCTA) in the promoter of yak breeds. Luciferase activity analysis showed that the insertion mutant significantly decreased the promoter activity of ACSS2. Hence, ACSS2 may play an important role in the adaptation to high-altitude hypoxia by generating adaptive alleles to influence gene transcription in cattle. These results signify that different genetic variants and haplotypes affect the activity of the core promoter to regulate ACSS2 gene expression and subsequently overcome and adapt to a high-altitude environment within different cattle breeds. Our findings may have important implications for understanding the mechanism of adaptation to high altitude and for application of molecular breeding in Bos species.
{"title":"Molecular characterization of the ACSS2 gene involved in adaptation to hypoxia in high-altitude cattle breeds","authors":"Hang Zhao, Gao Yaping, Q. Jiang, Jinpeng Wang, Liu Wenhao, J. Zhihua, Xiuge Wang, Wei Xiaochao, Gao Yundong, Jinming Huang","doi":"10.1163/15707563-bja10046","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/15707563-bja10046","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Under extreme environmental conditions such as hypoxia, insufficient nutrition, and glucose deficiency, the acetyl-CoA synthetase 2 (ACSS2)-mediated acetyl-CoA synthesis pathway plays an alternative role to ensure the normal operation of metabolic activities. To investigate the potential effect of the ACSS2 gene on hypoxic adaptation and its regulatory mechanism of gene expression in high-altitude cattle breeds, we analyzed the genetic variations of the ACSS2 gene in five Bos taurus taurus, Bos taurus indicus, hybrid Bos taurus taurus × Bos taurus indicus Chinese cattle breeds, and two Bos grunniens (yak) breeds distributed at different altitudes (95-3850 m). A total of 58 SNPs was detected in seven populations, and abundant genetic variation was found in high-altitude breeds. We identified the bovine ACSS2 core promoter region between g.-682 and g.-264 by using the luciferase assay in FFB and HepG2 cells. We also identified that the high-altitude hypoxia-specific haplotype (CAGTCT) was composed of six highly linked SNPs. The tagSNP g.-473 T>C (rs23) is located in the core promoter of ACSS2 in the Bos taurus taurus and yak breeds. The recombinant plasmid containing rs23 and analyses of luciferase activity of different genotypes showed that the activity of ACSS2 promoter increased significantly when T was mutated to C. We also found a yak-specific SNP rs20 that consists of 12 base insertions (g.-562 ins GAAAGGACCCTA) in the promoter of yak breeds. Luciferase activity analysis showed that the insertion mutant significantly decreased the promoter activity of ACSS2. Hence, ACSS2 may play an important role in the adaptation to high-altitude hypoxia by generating adaptive alleles to influence gene transcription in cattle. These results signify that different genetic variants and haplotypes affect the activity of the core promoter to regulate ACSS2 gene expression and subsequently overcome and adapt to a high-altitude environment within different cattle breeds. Our findings may have important implications for understanding the mechanism of adaptation to high altitude and for application of molecular breeding in Bos species.","PeriodicalId":7876,"journal":{"name":"Animal Biology","volume":"71 1","pages":"49-66"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2020-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1163/15707563-bja10046","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48219002","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 : 2020-10-12DOI: 10.1163/15707563-bja10047
L. Calvão, C. K. S. Paiva, J. Brito, A. Fares, Calebe Maia, T. Michelan, L. Montag, L. Juen
Abiotic and biotic factors play an essential role in the structuring of natural communities. Aquatic ecosystems have complex interaction networks, encompassing predator/prey relationships and structural support. Among aquatic organisms, the order Odonata is a model group for understanding those relationships since they can be both predators and prey. Our hypotheses were that Zygoptera are (i) influenced positively by Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) and the Habitat Integrity Index (HII), and negatively by fish and macrophytes; and (ii) Anisoptera are affected positively by EPT and macrophytes, and negatively by fish and HII. We found that Zygoptera were affected by the fish functional trophic groups, while Anisoptera were affected by macrophytes, EPT, fish and HII. Macrophytes affected anisopterans positively because they provide perching sites for adults. The results for EPT and HII may be related since these organisms are also sensitive to environmental changes. More open areas have lower HII values and the negative relationship with Anisoptera may be explained by physiological constraints. The negative relationship between EPT and Anisoptera could be explained by the low occurrence of EPT in open sites, which are the sites that were highly rich in Anisoptera. Finally, the dominance of specific functional trophic groups of fish influences Odonata suborders in different ways. In conclusion, the results show the importance of ecological interactions for Odonata in Amazonian streams in both direct and indirect ways.
{"title":"Influence of biotic and abiotic factors on adult Odonata (Insecta) in Amazon streams","authors":"L. Calvão, C. K. S. Paiva, J. Brito, A. Fares, Calebe Maia, T. Michelan, L. Montag, L. Juen","doi":"10.1163/15707563-bja10047","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/15707563-bja10047","url":null,"abstract":"Abiotic and biotic factors play an essential role in the structuring of natural communities. Aquatic ecosystems have complex interaction networks, encompassing predator/prey relationships and structural support. Among aquatic organisms, the order Odonata is a model group for understanding those relationships since they can be both predators and prey. Our hypotheses were that Zygoptera are (i) influenced positively by Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) and the Habitat Integrity Index (HII), and negatively by fish and macrophytes; and (ii) Anisoptera are affected positively by EPT and macrophytes, and negatively by fish and HII. We found that Zygoptera were affected by the fish functional trophic groups, while Anisoptera were affected by macrophytes, EPT, fish and HII. Macrophytes affected anisopterans positively because they provide perching sites for adults. The results for EPT and HII may be related since these organisms are also sensitive to environmental changes. More open areas have lower HII values and the negative relationship with Anisoptera may be explained by physiological constraints. The negative relationship between EPT and Anisoptera could be explained by the low occurrence of EPT in open sites, which are the sites that were highly rich in Anisoptera. Finally, the dominance of specific functional trophic groups of fish influences Odonata suborders in different ways. In conclusion, the results show the importance of ecological interactions for Odonata in Amazonian streams in both direct and indirect ways.","PeriodicalId":7876,"journal":{"name":"Animal Biology","volume":"71 1","pages":"67-84"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2020-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1163/15707563-bja10047","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"64955848","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 : 2020-10-01DOI: 10.1163/15707563-BJA10048
Yunjie Wang, Yajun Yin, G. Zheng, Hongxiang Yao
Flying animals can inspire practical approaches to a more advanced way of flying. Dragonflies demonstrate a special flapping pattern in which their wings perform torsional movement while flapping, which is different from that of birds. This flapping pattern is referred to as nonsynchronous flapping in this article. We present a hypothesis that nonsynchronous flapping provides a driving force for enhancing the haemolymph circulation inside dragonfly wings. To support this hypothesis, a controlled experiment was designed and conducted with living dragonflies. By observing the liquid motion inside the vein within free flapping wings and restricted wings of living dragonflies, this hypothesis was supported. A mathematical model of the flapping wing was built and numerically studied to further support the function of the nonsynchronous flapping pattern in driving the circulation. With these studies, a theoretical explanation for the mechanism of enhancing the haemolymph circulation by nonsynchronous flapping was provided.
{"title":"Driving mechanism of dragonfly’s wing flapping pattern for liquid circulation inside wing","authors":"Yunjie Wang, Yajun Yin, G. Zheng, Hongxiang Yao","doi":"10.1163/15707563-BJA10048","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/15707563-BJA10048","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Flying animals can inspire practical approaches to a more advanced way of flying. Dragonflies demonstrate a special flapping pattern in which their wings perform torsional movement while flapping, which is different from that of birds. This flapping pattern is referred to as nonsynchronous flapping in this article. We present a hypothesis that nonsynchronous flapping provides a driving force for enhancing the haemolymph circulation inside dragonfly wings. To support this hypothesis, a controlled experiment was designed and conducted with living dragonflies. By observing the liquid motion inside the vein within free flapping wings and restricted wings of living dragonflies, this hypothesis was supported. A mathematical model of the flapping wing was built and numerically studied to further support the function of the nonsynchronous flapping pattern in driving the circulation. With these studies, a theoretical explanation for the mechanism of enhancing the haemolymph circulation by nonsynchronous flapping was provided.","PeriodicalId":7876,"journal":{"name":"Animal Biology","volume":"71 1","pages":"85-101"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2020-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1163/15707563-BJA10048","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45655775","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 : 2020-10-01DOI: 10.1163/15707563-BJA10049
H. Takada
Like for many species, the timing of evening emergence of bats is an important behavioral aspect that affects their fitness and has been studied in various bat species. However, little is known about emergence timing of solitary bats that frequently switch day roosts, because they are difficult to observe. In this study, I examined the emergence timing of Hilgendorf’s tube-nosed bats (Murina hilgendorfi), which are solitary and frequently switch roosts, in relation to roost type and season over six years in Hayakawa, central Japan. The results show that the bats emerged after dusk when the light was weak. Later emergence may be related to the habits of this species, such as their solitary lifestyle, slow flight speed, and gleaning foraging strategy, which may enhance predation risk. Individuals roosting in dead foliage and on the outer wall of a building situated in closed forests emerged significantly earlier than those roosting in an old mine and tunnel located in open environments, suggesting that vegetation cover and/or lower predictability of roost location provide security for bats. Bats emerged progressively earlier from late spring (preparturition) to early autumn (late lactation or post-lactation), suggesting that the reproductive status of females or the growth stage of pups may influence emergence timing. To my knowledge, this study provides the first record of the emergence timing of Hilgendorf’s tube-nosed bat, and suggests that predation risk may impact the bats’ emergence behavior.
{"title":"Timing of the evening emergence of Hilgendorf’s tube-nosed bat (Murina hilgendorfi) in relation to roost type and season","authors":"H. Takada","doi":"10.1163/15707563-BJA10049","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/15707563-BJA10049","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Like for many species, the timing of evening emergence of bats is an important behavioral aspect that affects their fitness and has been studied in various bat species. However, little is known about emergence timing of solitary bats that frequently switch day roosts, because they are difficult to observe. In this study, I examined the emergence timing of Hilgendorf’s tube-nosed bats (Murina hilgendorfi), which are solitary and frequently switch roosts, in relation to roost type and season over six years in Hayakawa, central Japan. The results show that the bats emerged after dusk when the light was weak. Later emergence may be related to the habits of this species, such as their solitary lifestyle, slow flight speed, and gleaning foraging strategy, which may enhance predation risk. Individuals roosting in dead foliage and on the outer wall of a building situated in closed forests emerged significantly earlier than those roosting in an old mine and tunnel located in open environments, suggesting that vegetation cover and/or lower predictability of roost location provide security for bats. Bats emerged progressively earlier from late spring (preparturition) to early autumn (late lactation or post-lactation), suggesting that the reproductive status of females or the growth stage of pups may influence emergence timing. To my knowledge, this study provides the first record of the emergence timing of Hilgendorf’s tube-nosed bat, and suggests that predation risk may impact the bats’ emergence behavior.","PeriodicalId":7876,"journal":{"name":"Animal Biology","volume":"1 1","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2020-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1163/15707563-BJA10049","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44664715","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 : 2020-09-29DOI: 10.1163/15707563-BJA10019
M. Seiter, Marie Christine Moser, T. Schwaha
Whip scorpions are an enigmatic group of terrestrial raptorial arachnids that show remarkable mating and courtship behavior in which the male forms a complex spermatophore. While whip spiders (Amblypygi) are relatively well-studied, whip scorpions (Uropygi) are poorly known. The two orders form the Pedipalpi, whip scorpions (Uropygi include Thelyphonida and Schizomida) and whip spiders (Amblypygi). Two major groups have been described based on the mode of sperm transfer that differ in the duration and mode of the typical female–male tandem mating dance. Because comprehensive studies are lacking, in this study we add to our knowledge of the reproductive biology of whip scorpions by analyzing the mating behavior and spermatophore morphology of the previously unstudied species Typopeltis dalyi Pocock, 1900. Our observations show that this species belongs to the second group and supports the hypothesis of P. Weygoldt that their mode of sperm transfer appears more effective than that of the first group and that sufficient sperm can be supplied with one mating. The mating behavior and spermatophore morphology in T. dalyi are similar to those of closely related species and add additional characters applicable for species classification and phylogenetic inferences.
{"title":"Mating behavior and spermatophore morphology of the whip scorpion Typopeltis dalyi Pocock, 1900 (Uropygi, Thelyphonida)","authors":"M. Seiter, Marie Christine Moser, T. Schwaha","doi":"10.1163/15707563-BJA10019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/15707563-BJA10019","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Whip scorpions are an enigmatic group of terrestrial raptorial arachnids that show remarkable mating and courtship behavior in which the male forms a complex spermatophore. While whip spiders (Amblypygi) are relatively well-studied, whip scorpions (Uropygi) are poorly known. The two orders form the Pedipalpi, whip scorpions (Uropygi include Thelyphonida and Schizomida) and whip spiders (Amblypygi). Two major groups have been described based on the mode of sperm transfer that differ in the duration and mode of the typical female–male tandem mating dance. Because comprehensive studies are lacking, in this study we add to our knowledge of the reproductive biology of whip scorpions by analyzing the mating behavior and spermatophore morphology of the previously unstudied species Typopeltis dalyi Pocock, 1900. Our observations show that this species belongs to the second group and supports the hypothesis of P. Weygoldt that their mode of sperm transfer appears more effective than that of the first group and that sufficient sperm can be supplied with one mating. The mating behavior and spermatophore morphology in T. dalyi are similar to those of closely related species and add additional characters applicable for species classification and phylogenetic inferences.","PeriodicalId":7876,"journal":{"name":"Animal Biology","volume":"-1 1","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2020-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1163/15707563-BJA10019","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44188233","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}
The evolution of sexual dimorphism has long fascinated evolutionary biologists and theory suggests that variation in sexual dimorphism is a consequence of selective forces acting differently on morphological traits in males versus females. Here, we analyzed sexual differences in size and shape of the Boulenger’s lazy toad, Scutiger boulengeri, based on the intersex variation pattern of sixteen morphometric traits including body size. The results suggested that sexual dimorphism was apparent in body size and some body shapes (e.g., head length and width, internasal space, interorbital space, diameter of lower arm and tibia width) of this toad. The bigger body size in females may be relevant to fecundity selection, a larger head in males as well as a broader internasal and interorbital space may be subject to male-male competition in combination with ecological selection, and both robust forelimbs and hindlimbs in males may be related to mating and competitive behaviors. These results are discussed with respect to the above selection procedures and possible sex differences in life history traits.
{"title":"Sexual dimorphism in Scutiger boulengeri, an endemic toad from the Tibetan Plateau","authors":"Lixia Zhang, Yongsun Sheng, Xiangyu Yuan, Fei Yu, Xueting Zhong, Xiaohong Chen","doi":"10.1163/15707563-bja10041","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/15707563-bja10041","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000The evolution of sexual dimorphism has long fascinated evolutionary biologists and theory suggests that variation in sexual dimorphism is a consequence of selective forces acting differently on morphological traits in males versus females. Here, we analyzed sexual differences in size and shape of the Boulenger’s lazy toad, Scutiger boulengeri, based on the intersex variation pattern of sixteen morphometric traits including body size. The results suggested that sexual dimorphism was apparent in body size and some body shapes (e.g., head length and width, internasal space, interorbital space, diameter of lower arm and tibia width) of this toad. The bigger body size in females may be relevant to fecundity selection, a larger head in males as well as a broader internasal and interorbital space may be subject to male-male competition in combination with ecological selection, and both robust forelimbs and hindlimbs in males may be related to mating and competitive behaviors. These results are discussed with respect to the above selection procedures and possible sex differences in life history traits.","PeriodicalId":7876,"journal":{"name":"Animal Biology","volume":"70 1","pages":"445-457"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2020-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1163/15707563-bja10041","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48786449","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 : 2020-09-15DOI: 10.1163/15707563-BJA10040
Jessica L. Williams, A. Behie
The tourism sector is a fast-growing contributor to the global economy, and nature-based tourism (NBT), particularly in Asia and Africa, is booming. Through the creation of jobs and revenue NBT has the potential to combat deforestation in regions that are economically poor, but of high biodiversity value. Inspired by the success of gorilla tourism in Uganda and Rwanda, several gibbon tourism projects have been initiated in Southeast Asia and China. Despite the existence of these programmes, no research has been done to investigate the impact of tourism on the behaviour of gibbons. To address this, we collected observational data on a group of northern yellow-cheeked crested gibbons (Nomascus annamensis) at Veun Sai-Siem Pang National Park (VSSPNP), Cambodia, in the presence and absence of tourists. We found there was a significant increase in the amount of time individuals spent scanning their environment and travelling at the cost of rest when in the presence of tourists. We also found that individuals were significantly more likely to self-groom in the presence of tourists. These results highlight the importance of scientific research in implementing successful, low-impact NBT programmes that consider animal behavioural changes. We are continuing to collect data on gibbons at VSSPNP and at Mt. Gaoligong National Nature Reserve, China with the aim of extending the IUCN’s best-practice guidelines for great-ape tourism to include the small apes.
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