The neighbor-stranger response difference, which serves as a fundamental social network relationship, plays a crucial role in establishing and expanding complex social networks. However, the underlying causes of this phenomenon have received limited attention in controlled indoor settings. This study focused on Portunus trituberculatus, a representative crustacean species in the Western Pacific Ocean. We analyzed the behavioral responses of crabs towards intruders of varying familiarity and threat levels. Additionally, we quantified various parameters such as territory size, behavior quantification, time allocation, and territorial behavior score. The results showed that with increased familiarity, there was a decrease in the frequency of occupiers’ aggressive dash and aggressive wave. As the threat from the intruder decreased, occupiers displayed fewer territorial behaviors and engaged in fewer bouts, while the success rate in fights improved and the territorial behavior score declined. The results indicate a clear dear-enemy effect in the territorial defense of P. trituberculatus, and demonstrates that crabs adjusted the defense strategy according to the relative threat level of intruders. We verified the formation hypothesis of dear-enemy effect in crabs. In the future, we will expand the research from individuals to populations, analyze crustacean social networks from the perspective of group decision making, and provide more support for population dynamic analysis and decision evolution research of crustaceans.
{"title":"When neighbors become family: the dear-enemy effect of swimming crab and the verification of the formation hypothesis","authors":"Boshan Zhu, Hanzun Zhang, Xin Wang, Yunliang Lu, Fang Wang, Dapeng Liu","doi":"10.1007/s00265-024-03460-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-024-03460-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The neighbor-stranger response difference, which serves as a fundamental social network relationship, plays a crucial role in establishing and expanding complex social networks. However, the underlying causes of this phenomenon have received limited attention in controlled indoor settings. This study focused on <i>Portunus trituberculatus</i>, a representative crustacean species in the Western Pacific Ocean. We analyzed the behavioral responses of crabs towards intruders of varying familiarity and threat levels. Additionally, we quantified various parameters such as territory size, behavior quantification, time allocation, and territorial behavior score. The results showed that with increased familiarity, there was a decrease in the frequency of occupiers’ aggressive dash and aggressive wave. As the threat from the intruder decreased, occupiers displayed fewer territorial behaviors and engaged in fewer bouts, while the success rate in fights improved and the territorial behavior score declined. The results indicate a clear dear-enemy effect in the territorial defense of <i>P. trituberculatus</i>, and demonstrates that crabs adjusted the defense strategy according to the relative threat level of intruders. We verified the formation hypothesis of dear-enemy effect in crabs. In the future, we will expand the research from individuals to populations, analyze crustacean social networks from the perspective of group decision making, and provide more support for population dynamic analysis and decision evolution research of crustaceans.</p>","PeriodicalId":8881,"journal":{"name":"Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140580967","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-04-11DOI: 10.1007/s00265-024-03462-7
Guilherme Augusto-Alves, Gerlinde Höbel, Luís Felipe Toledo
Abstract
Anuran communication is largely based on acoustic signals, but different sensory modes are also widespread, including visual communication using body color traits as a way of signaling. The Brazilian treefrog, Boana albomarginata, has a complex behavioral repertoire presenting several call types and performing gestures as visual signals. This species has a greenish body color with orange patches on the flanks and thighs. These patches become visible when males are in a calling posture or performing visual signals such as leg kicking and limb lifting, suggesting that they might use the patches as visual cues. We sampled seven populations, using call recordings and photographs to access males call and color traits. We demonstrate that there is variation in color and call properties across populations. Additionally, we observe variation in the relationship between color traits and call properties in different populations, revealing that only two populations exhibit a significant correlation between color and call traits. Further, while call properties and color traits were not related with individual body size, they were associated with body condition. The results indicate a universal pattern across populations for call properties, wherein males in better condition consistently displayed lower-pitched calls, longer calls, and shorter intervals between calls. Regarding color traits, males in better condition in four out of the seven evaluated populations exhibited larger orange patch sizes, lower orange hue values, and higher hue contrasts. Although we observed some level of relation among color, call, and body traits, there is not a universal pattern across all populations.
Significance statement
Animal social interactions are mediated by signals transmitted through different sensory modes (i.e., acoustic, chemical, tactile, and visual), and more than one of these modalities can compose the behavioral repertoire of one species. Using photographs and acoustic recordings of Boana albomarginata males in natural environments, we documented geographic variation in both signals, call and color, and investigated their potential to convey individual body size and condition. Our findings reveal that both signals were correlated with individual body condition. In addition, color traits were associated with call properties in some populations.
{"title":"Geographic variation in acoustic and visual cues and their potential to signal body condition in the Brazilian treefrog, Boana albomarginata","authors":"Guilherme Augusto-Alves, Gerlinde Höbel, Luís Felipe Toledo","doi":"10.1007/s00265-024-03462-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-024-03462-7","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Abstract</h3><p>Anuran communication is largely based on acoustic signals, but different sensory modes are also widespread, including visual communication using body color traits as a way of signaling. The Brazilian treefrog, <i>Boana albomarginata</i>, has a complex behavioral repertoire presenting several call types and performing gestures as visual signals. This species has a greenish body color with orange patches on the flanks and thighs. These patches become visible when males are in a calling posture or performing visual signals such as leg kicking and limb lifting, suggesting that they might use the patches as visual cues. We sampled seven populations, using call recordings and photographs to access males call and color traits. We demonstrate that there is variation in color and call properties across populations. Additionally, we observe variation in the relationship between color traits and call properties in different populations, revealing that only two populations exhibit a significant correlation between color and call traits. Further, while call properties and color traits were not related with individual body size, they were associated with body condition. The results indicate a universal pattern across populations for call properties, wherein males in better condition consistently displayed lower-pitched calls, longer calls, and shorter intervals between calls. Regarding color traits, males in better condition in four out of the seven evaluated populations exhibited larger orange patch sizes, lower orange hue values, and higher hue contrasts. Although we observed some level of relation among color, call, and body traits, there is not a universal pattern across all populations.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Significance statement</h3><p>Animal social interactions are mediated by signals transmitted through different sensory modes (i.e., acoustic, chemical, tactile, and visual), and more than one of these modalities can compose the behavioral repertoire of one species. Using photographs and acoustic recordings of <i>Boana albomarginata</i> males in natural environments, we documented geographic variation in both signals, call and color, and investigated their potential to convey individual body size and condition. Our findings reveal that both signals were correlated with individual body condition. In addition, color traits were associated with call properties in some populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":8881,"journal":{"name":"Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140581097","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-04-10DOI: 10.1007/s00265-024-03461-8
Izaak R. Gilchrist, Jonathan M. Nixon, Riley R. Shultz, Matthew D. Ginzel, Brock A. Harpur
Abstract
Across the animal kingdom, males advertise their quality to potential mates. Males of low reproductive quality, such as those that are sick, may be excluded from mating. In eusocial species, there is some evidence that reproductive females gauge the quality of their mates. However, males often spend much more time with non-reproductive females when being raised or when returning from unsuccessful mating flights. Do non-reproductive workers evaluate the quality of male reproductives? Here we address this question using male honey bees (Apis mellifera), called drones, as a model. We generated immune-challenged drones by injecting them with lipopolysaccharide and tested: 1) do workers evict immune-challenged drones from their colony, 2) do cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles, body size, or mass change when drones are immune-challenged, and 3) are these changes used by workers to exclude low quality males from the colony? We found that an immune challenge causes changes in CHC profiles of drones and reduces their body mass. Workers selectively evict small and immune-challenged drones who, themselves, do not self-evict. This work demonstrates that some eusocial males undergo an additional layer of scrutiny prior to mating mediated by the non-reproductive worker caste.
Significance statement
Males of some species must advertise their quality to mates but, in the case of eusocial species, must they also advertise their quality to nestmates? By manipulating honey bee male quality, we found that small and immune-challenged drones are evicted from colonies overnight. Workers may not use a drone’s cuticular hydrocarbon profile to make this assessment. This is a new example of social immunity expressed against adult males and an example of worker involvement in reproductive decisions.
{"title":"To house or oust: Honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies can evaluate and evict drones of low quality","authors":"Izaak R. Gilchrist, Jonathan M. Nixon, Riley R. Shultz, Matthew D. Ginzel, Brock A. Harpur","doi":"10.1007/s00265-024-03461-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-024-03461-8","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Abstract</h3><p>Across the animal kingdom, males advertise their quality to potential mates. Males of low reproductive quality, such as those that are sick, may be excluded from mating. In eusocial species, there is some evidence that reproductive females gauge the quality of their mates. However, males often spend much more time with non-reproductive females when being raised or when returning from unsuccessful mating flights. Do non-reproductive workers evaluate the quality of male reproductives? Here we address this question using male honey bees (<i>Apis mellifera</i>), called drones, as a model. We generated immune-challenged drones by injecting them with lipopolysaccharide and tested: 1) do workers evict immune-challenged drones from their colony, 2) do cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles, body size, or mass change when drones are immune-challenged, and 3) are these changes used by workers to exclude low quality males from the colony? We found that an immune challenge causes changes in CHC profiles of drones and reduces their body mass. Workers selectively evict small and immune-challenged drones who, themselves, do not self-evict. This work demonstrates that some eusocial males undergo an additional layer of scrutiny prior to mating mediated by the non-reproductive worker caste.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Significance statement</h3><p>Males of some species must advertise their quality to mates but, in the case of eusocial species, must they also advertise their quality to nestmates? By manipulating honey bee male quality, we found that small and immune-challenged drones are evicted from colonies overnight. Workers may not use a drone’s cuticular hydrocarbon profile to make this assessment. This is a new example of social immunity expressed against adult males and an example of worker involvement in reproductive decisions.</p>","PeriodicalId":8881,"journal":{"name":"Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140581098","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-04-06DOI: 10.1007/s00265-024-03464-5
Kevin A. Adeli, Sam J. Woods, Steven J. Cooke, Chris K. Elvidge
The shy-bold behavioral continuum is an element of animal behavior which is often studied for its ecological relevance, particularly in the context of predation risk. How individuals respond to various predation cues is well studied at the individual level, but relatively little is known about how these responses can differ among closely related species. We exposed individual wild-caught juvenile bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) and pumpkinseed (L. gibbosus) to kairomones of a common predator (Northern pike, Esox lucius), conspecific alarm cues, or a lake water control in a Z-maze trial commonly used to assess relative levels of bold and exploratory behaviors. Neither species exhibited any significant behavioral responses to either predation cue, but bluegill consistently displayed more bold-type behaviors than pumpkinseed. Although the lack of a behavioral response to predation cues in this study is equivocal, we identify clear differences in boldness between these two congeners and discuss the possibility of ecological niche differentiation driving these behavioral differences.
害羞-大胆行为的连续性是动物行为的一个要素,它经常被用来研究其生态相关性,尤其是在捕食风险的背景下。个体如何对各种捕食线索做出反应在个体水平上已经有了很好的研究,但对于这些反应在近亲物种之间如何不同,人们的了解相对较少。我们将野生捕获的幼年蓝鳃鱼(Lepomis macrochirus)和南瓜籽鱼(L. gibbosus)个体暴露于共同捕食者(北方梭子鱼,Esox lucius)的凯尔蒙、同种警报线索或湖水对照中,并进行了常用于评估大胆和探索行为相对水平的 Z 型迷宫试验。两种鱼对捕食线索都没有表现出明显的行为反应,但蓝鳃鱼始终比南瓜籽鱼表现出更多的大胆型行为。尽管这项研究中缺乏对捕食线索的行为反应,但我们发现这两种同源鱼类在大胆程度上存在明显差异,并讨论了生态位差异驱动这些行为差异的可能性。
{"title":"Boldness and exploratory behaviors differ between sunfish (Lepomis spp.) congeners in a standardized assay","authors":"Kevin A. Adeli, Sam J. Woods, Steven J. Cooke, Chris K. Elvidge","doi":"10.1007/s00265-024-03464-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-024-03464-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The shy-bold behavioral continuum is an element of animal behavior which is often studied for its ecological relevance, particularly in the context of predation risk. How individuals respond to various predation cues is well studied at the individual level, but relatively little is known about how these responses can differ among closely related species. We exposed individual wild-caught juvenile bluegill (<i>Lepomis macrochirus</i>) and pumpkinseed (<i>L. gibbosus</i>) to kairomones of a common predator (Northern pike, <i>Esox lucius</i>), conspecific alarm cues, or a lake water control in a Z-maze trial commonly used to assess relative levels of bold and exploratory behaviors. Neither species exhibited any significant behavioral responses to either predation cue, but bluegill consistently displayed more bold-type behaviors than pumpkinseed. Although the lack of a behavioral response to predation cues in this study is equivocal, we identify clear differences in boldness between these two congeners and discuss the possibility of ecological niche differentiation driving these behavioral differences.</p>","PeriodicalId":8881,"journal":{"name":"Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-04-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140580963","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-04-03DOI: 10.1007/s00265-024-03458-3
Abstract
Fission–fusion dynamics describe the tendency for members of some animal societies to associate in subgroups that change size and structure fluidly over time. These dynamics shape social complexity and social structure, but are difficult to study because they unfold simultaneously over large spatial scales. Here we use simultaneous, fine-scale GPS data from spotted hyenas to examine fission–fusion dynamics through a dyadic analysis of merge-split events between pairs of individuals. We introduce a species-agnostic framework for identifying merge-split events and discretizing them into three phases (merging, together, and splitting), enabling analysis of each phase as well as the connections among phases. Applying this framework to the hyena data, we examine the temporal and spatial properties of merges and splits between dyads and test the extent to which social encounters are driven by key locations. Specifically, we focus on communal dens—shelters for juvenile hyenas where classical observational studies often report large aggregations of adults. We find that overall, 62% of merges occurred at communal dens, supporting the idea that dens facilitate meet-ups and subsequent social behavior. Social encounters most commonly involved close approaches within a few meters between hyenas, while co-travel together occurred in only 11% of events. Comparison to permutation-based reference models suggests that independent movement decisions structure broad-scale patterns of social encounters but do not explain the fine-scale dynamics of interactions that unfold during these encounters. We reflect on how physical features such as dens can become social hotspots, causing social and spatial processes to become fundamentally intertwined.
{"title":"Daily ranging and den usage patterns structure the spatiotemporal properties of social encounters in spotted hyenas","authors":"","doi":"10.1007/s00265-024-03458-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-024-03458-3","url":null,"abstract":"<h3>Abstract</h3> <p>Fission–fusion dynamics describe the tendency for members of some animal societies to associate in subgroups that change size and structure fluidly over time. These dynamics shape social complexity and social structure, but are difficult to study because they unfold simultaneously over large spatial scales. Here we use simultaneous, fine-scale GPS data from spotted hyenas to examine fission–fusion dynamics through a dyadic analysis of <em>merge-split events</em> between pairs of individuals. We introduce a species-agnostic framework for identifying merge-split events and discretizing them into three phases (merging, together, and splitting), enabling analysis of each phase as well as the connections among phases. Applying this framework to the hyena data, we examine the temporal and spatial properties of merges and splits between dyads and test the extent to which social encounters are driven by key locations. Specifically, we focus on communal dens—shelters for juvenile hyenas where classical observational studies often report large aggregations of adults. We find that overall, 62% of merges occurred at communal dens, supporting the idea that dens facilitate meet-ups and subsequent social behavior. Social encounters most commonly involved close approaches within a few meters between hyenas, while co-travel together occurred in only 11% of events. Comparison to permutation-based reference models suggests that independent movement decisions structure broad-scale patterns of social encounters but do not explain the fine-scale dynamics of interactions that unfold during these encounters. We reflect on how physical features such as dens can become social hotspots, causing social and spatial processes to become fundamentally intertwined.</p>","PeriodicalId":8881,"journal":{"name":"Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140581094","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Geographical variation in animals’ acoustic signals has received much attention. However, few studies have compared the patterns and underlying selective forces driving geographical divergence of vocalizations with similar and different functions within the same species. Also, the social consequences of geographical divergence in acoustic signals are still rather poorly understood. Here we recorded three types of social calls of male great Himalayan leaf-nosed bats (Hipposideros armiger) across eight colonies in China. Two calls share similar functions and the third has a function distinct from the other two. We examined the patterns and causes of geographical variation of each of these calls. We found that all three calls had significant geographic variation with similar patterns of spatial variation. Only one of the two social calls with similar functions was found to be affected by genetic drift, while the other two calls were not affected by selection, drift, or morphological constraints. Furthermore, we found that bats could discriminate between vocalizations of their own colony and those of an allopatric colony. Overall, these results suggest that acoustic signals with similar functions may be shaped by different driving forces and acoustic signals with different functions may exhibit similar geographical patterns. This study expands our limited knowledge of the patterns of geographical variation of vocalizations emitted at different emotional states and highlights the importance of comparing simultaneously patterns and causes of geographical divergence of vocalizations with similar and different functions.
{"title":"Geographic variation and discrimination of social calls in male great himalayan leaf-nosed bats: do functionally similar calls have similar patterns?","authors":"Chunmian Zhang, Ziqi Zheng, Jeffrey R. Lucas, Jiang Feng, Congnan Sun, Tinglei Jiang","doi":"10.1007/s00265-024-03459-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-024-03459-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Geographical variation in animals’ acoustic signals has received much attention. However, few studies have compared the patterns and underlying selective forces driving geographical divergence of vocalizations with similar and different functions within the same species. Also, the social consequences of geographical divergence in acoustic signals are still rather poorly understood. Here we recorded three types of social calls of male great Himalayan leaf-nosed bats (<i>Hipposideros armiger</i>) across eight colonies in China. Two calls share similar functions and the third has a function distinct from the other two. We examined the patterns and causes of geographical variation of each of these calls. We found that all three calls had significant geographic variation with similar patterns of spatial variation. Only one of the two social calls with similar functions was found to be affected by genetic drift, while the other two calls were not affected by selection, drift, or morphological constraints. Furthermore, we found that bats could discriminate between vocalizations of their own colony and those of an allopatric colony. Overall, these results suggest that acoustic signals with similar functions may be shaped by different driving forces and acoustic signals with different functions may exhibit similar geographical patterns. This study expands our limited knowledge of the patterns of geographical variation of vocalizations emitted at different emotional states and highlights the importance of comparing simultaneously patterns and causes of geographical divergence of vocalizations with similar and different functions.</p>","PeriodicalId":8881,"journal":{"name":"Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140313850","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-03-21DOI: 10.1007/s00265-024-03453-8
George W. Uetz, Rachel Gilbert, Rebecca Wilson, Jacqueline Mann, Joseph Macedonia, David L. Clark
We used video playback of courting male Schizocosa ocreata wolf spiders to examine responses of intended receivers (conspecific females) and eavesdroppers (competitor males, predatory spiders, toads) to manipulations of spider color (natural color, monochromatic gray, monochromatic RBG average) displayed against complex leaf litter backgrounds (color, grayscale). Models of chromatic and achromatic contrast between spider stimuli and backgrounds were used to predict receiver responses. The results support the hypothesis that interactions between spider and background coloration affect detection and recognition, although responses varied with receiver type. Detection responses of intended receivers (female S. ocreata) did not fit predictions of the chromatic contrast model in some cases, but showed a fair fit to the achromatic model. Detection responses of social eavesdroppers (male S. ocreata) fit the chromatic and achromatic contrast models slightly better than did female responses (poor fit and very good fit, respectively). Eavesdropping wolf spider predators (Rabidosa) exhibited detection responses that significantly matched predictions of the chromatic (very good fit) and achromatic (excellent fit) models. Whereas jumping spiders (Phidippus) showed a good fit to the chromatic and achromatic contrast models, toad predators had a good fit only to the chromatic model. Recognition responses revealed a different pattern of fit to the chromatic and achromatic models across receiver types, although Rabidosa again indicated a significant fit to both models. Taken together, the results of this study identify both chromatic and achromatic features of spider appearance as likely explanations for differences in behavioral responses of intended and unintended receivers. This outcome suggests the possibility that both sexual and natural selection likely target different features of male appearance during courtship.
我们利用狼蛛求偶雄蛛的视频回放,研究了目标接收者(同种雌蛛)和窃听者(竞争雄蛛、捕食蛛、蟾蜍)对复杂叶丛背景(彩色、灰度)下蜘蛛颜色(自然色、单色灰色、单色 RBG 平均值)的反应。蜘蛛刺激物和背景之间的色度和消色差模型被用来预测接收者的反应。结果支持蜘蛛与背景颜色之间的相互作用会影响检测和识别的假设,尽管反应随接收者类型的不同而不同。意向接收者(雌性 S. ocreata)的检测反应在某些情况下不符合色度对比模型的预测,但与消色差模型相当吻合。社会窃听者(雄性狼蛛)的探测反应与色度和消色差对比度模型的拟合程度略好于雌性狼蛛(分别为拟合程度较差和拟合程度很好)。偷听的狼蛛捕食者(Rabidosa)的探测反应与色度模型(拟合非常好)和消色差模型(拟合非常好)的预测非常吻合。跳蛛(Phidippus)与色度和消色差对比度模型的拟合度良好,而蟾蜍捕食者仅与色度模型拟合度良好。不同类型的接收者对色度和消色差模型的识别反应显示出不同的拟合模式,尽管拉比多萨(Rabidosa)再次显示出对两种模型的显著拟合。综上所述,本研究的结果表明,蜘蛛外观的色度和消色差特征都有可能解释有意接收者和无意接收者行为反应的差异。这一结果表明,在求偶过程中,性选择和自然选择可能会针对雄性外观的不同特征。
{"title":"Background contrast affects detection and recognition of courting wolf spiders by intended and unintended receivers","authors":"George W. Uetz, Rachel Gilbert, Rebecca Wilson, Jacqueline Mann, Joseph Macedonia, David L. Clark","doi":"10.1007/s00265-024-03453-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-024-03453-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p>We used video playback of courting male <i>Schizocosa ocreata</i> wolf spiders to examine responses of intended receivers (conspecific females) and eavesdroppers (competitor males, predatory spiders, toads) to manipulations of spider color (natural color, monochromatic gray, monochromatic RBG average) displayed against complex leaf litter backgrounds (color, grayscale). Models of chromatic and achromatic contrast between spider stimuli and backgrounds were used to predict receiver responses. The results support the hypothesis that interactions between spider and background coloration affect detection and recognition, although responses varied with receiver type. Detection responses of intended receivers (female <i>S. ocreata</i>) did not fit predictions of the chromatic contrast model in some cases, but showed a fair fit to the achromatic model. Detection responses of social eavesdroppers (male <i>S. ocreata</i>) fit the chromatic and achromatic contrast models slightly better than did female responses (poor fit and very good fit, respectively). Eavesdropping wolf spider predators (<i>Rabidosa</i>) exhibited detection responses that significantly matched predictions of the chromatic (very good fit) and achromatic (excellent fit) models. Whereas jumping spiders (<i>Phidippus</i>) showed a good fit to the chromatic and achromatic contrast models, toad predators had a good fit only to the chromatic model. Recognition responses revealed a different pattern of fit to the chromatic and achromatic models across receiver types, although <i>Rabidosa</i> again indicated a significant fit to both models. Taken together, the results of this study identify both chromatic and achromatic features of spider appearance as likely explanations for differences in behavioral responses of intended and unintended receivers. This outcome suggests the possibility that both sexual and natural selection likely target different features of male appearance during courtship.</p>","PeriodicalId":8881,"journal":{"name":"Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140199737","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-03-20DOI: 10.1007/s00265-024-03455-6
Abstract
Island-mainland systems serve as natural laboratories for studying communication signals. We explored potential divergence in the song of the black-crowned antshrike between Gorgona Island, a land-bridge island off the Pacific coast of Colombia, and several mainland populations. We found that the perching song of this species, the so called loudsong, was distinctly different on Gorgona Island. This differentiation encompassed an increase in frequency bandwidth, a decrease in vocal performance, and a reduction in song duration. All are consistent with documented patterns of divergence observed in avian acoustic signals on oceanic islands. The observed distinctions in loudsong acoustics, including variations in frequency and temporal features, led to the inference that the population on Gorgona Island produces the least complex loudsong dialect across the entire species range. This pattern of how an innate vocalization manifests within a land-bridge island, which was connected to the mainland not long ago, lends support to the Character Release Hypothesis. To ensure an unbiased comparison, we considered genetic clusters and analyzed them by comparing ten acoustic signals between the land-bridge island and several mainland populations. Combined with the gene genealogy, this finding supports the validity of two geographic forms: Thamnophilus atrinucha atrinucha and Thamnophilus atrinucha gorgonae (island). However, they also reveal the existence of additional unrecognized dialects of loudsong that transcend current taxonomic classifications. We provide evidence that challenges the long-standing presumption suggesting minimal intraspecific geographic variation in the vocalization among non-vocal learning species.
Significance statement
Significant evolutionary implications exist for an intriguing pattern of variation of the loudsong behavior in the Black-crowned Antshrike over a land-bridge island. Our gene tree does provide evidence of the enormous haplotypic diversity accumulated in the trans-Andean region long after the final uplift of the northern Andes. The acoustic divergence of the loudsong suggests substantial geographic variation within a non-vocal learning suboscine. Genetic and loudsong divergence on a land-bridge island add to document that evolution of acoustic traits may be relaxed in islands as compared to those observed on the species-rich mainland. The island-mainland system is one of the few definitive biogeographic contexts for understanding evolution of acoustic behavior.
{"title":"Vocal and genetic variation between a land-bridge island and mainland populations of the Black-crowned Antshrike (Thamnophilus atrinucha)","authors":"","doi":"10.1007/s00265-024-03455-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-024-03455-6","url":null,"abstract":"<span> <h3>Abstract</h3> <p>Island-mainland systems serve as natural laboratories for studying communication signals. We explored potential divergence in the song of the black-crowned antshrike between Gorgona Island, a land-bridge island off the Pacific coast of Colombia, and several mainland populations. We found that the perching song of this species, the so called loudsong, was distinctly different on Gorgona Island. This differentiation encompassed an increase in frequency bandwidth, a decrease in vocal performance, and a reduction in song duration. All are consistent with documented patterns of divergence observed in avian acoustic signals on oceanic islands. The observed distinctions in loudsong acoustics, including variations in frequency and temporal features, led to the inference that the population on Gorgona Island produces the least complex loudsong dialect across the entire species range. This pattern of how an innate vocalization manifests within a land-bridge island, which was connected to the mainland not long ago, lends support to the Character Release Hypothesis. To ensure an unbiased comparison, we considered genetic clusters and analyzed them by comparing ten acoustic signals between the land-bridge island and several mainland populations. Combined with the gene genealogy, this finding supports the validity of two geographic forms: <em>Thamnophilus atrinucha atrinucha</em> and <em>Thamnophilus atrinucha gorgonae</em> (island). However, they also reveal the existence of additional unrecognized dialects of loudsong that transcend current taxonomic classifications. We provide evidence that challenges the long-standing presumption suggesting minimal intraspecific geographic variation in the vocalization among non-vocal learning species.</p> </span> <span> <h3>Significance statement</h3> <p>Significant evolutionary implications exist for an intriguing pattern of variation of the loudsong behavior in the Black-crowned Antshrike over a land-bridge island. Our gene tree does provide evidence of the enormous haplotypic diversity accumulated in the <em>trans</em>-Andean region long after the final uplift of the northern Andes. The acoustic divergence of the loudsong suggests substantial geographic variation within a non-vocal learning suboscine. Genetic and loudsong divergence on a land-bridge island add to document that evolution of acoustic traits may be relaxed in islands as compared to those observed on the species-rich mainland. The island-mainland system is one of the few definitive biogeographic contexts for understanding evolution of acoustic behavior.</p> </span>","PeriodicalId":8881,"journal":{"name":"Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140205580","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-03-20DOI: 10.1007/s00265-024-03457-4
Isabel Barja, Ana Piñeiro, Javier Talegón, Aritz Ruiz-González, Álvaro Navarro-Castilla, Amaia Caro, Toni Gago-Barja, M. Carmen Hernández
Abstract
Large predators are essential in maintaining ecosystem functioning, and comprehending how their feeding habits change across natural and human-dominated landscapes is crucial to preserve biodiversity. In this study, the diet of Iberian wolves (Canis lupus signatus) during pup rearing season (July to September) has been studied in relation to prey abundance and putting emphasis in the analysis of the differences between zones, wolf groups and individual factors (age, sex and social status). For this, non-invasive monitoring was carried out in three zones of Spain where nine different wolf breeding groups were detected (Galicia, n = 4; Zamora, n = 4 and Valladolid, n = 1). Faecal samples were collected near breeding sites for dietary and genetic analyses, registering if it was or not a scent mark to know the social status of the individuals. Prey availability was determined by camera trapping or requesting the official census of wild prey in the study areas. We found differences in wolf’s diet depending on the zone and the breeding group however, the diet did not vary depending on the age, sex and social status. In general, Iberian wolves mainly fed on wild ungulates (wild boar, roe deer and red deer), feeding on the most abundant prey, except for Baldriz group in Galicia which seems to be specialized in hunting roe deer. Domestic animals’ consumption (sheep, goat, donkey, pig) was not high, but it occurred specially in agriculture and livestock areas (Ferreras in Zamora and Valladolid) where wild prey were less available.
Significance statement
In this study, we shed light on the vital role of Iberian wolves in the ecosystem by investigating the dietary preferences during pup rearing season across different landscapes. Our research revealed differences in wolf diets based on geographic location and breeding groups, emphasizing their adaptability. We found that age, sex, and social status did not significantly influence their dietary preferences. Iberian wolves predominantly target wild ungulates, except for a specialized group in Galicia. Our study introduces a novel approach as it is the first to analyse wolf diet based on individual factors and using nitrogen analysis. Additionally, the study highlights previously overlooked dietary patterns of the Iberian wolf subspecies, despite its critical role in the ecosystem as a top predator. Furthermore, we emphasize the necessity of conserving wild ungulate populations to reduce livestock attacks by ensuring a stable supply of wild prey, promoting coexistence between humans and wolves.
{"title":"Iberian wolf’s diet and its quality during breeding season: exploring the influence of zone, wolf groups, prey availability and individual factors","authors":"Isabel Barja, Ana Piñeiro, Javier Talegón, Aritz Ruiz-González, Álvaro Navarro-Castilla, Amaia Caro, Toni Gago-Barja, M. Carmen Hernández","doi":"10.1007/s00265-024-03457-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-024-03457-4","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Abstract</h3><p>Large predators are essential in maintaining ecosystem functioning, and comprehending how their feeding habits change across natural and human-dominated landscapes is crucial to preserve biodiversity. In this study, the diet of Iberian wolves (<i>Canis lupus signatus</i>) during pup rearing season (July to September) has been studied in relation to prey abundance and putting emphasis in the analysis of the differences between zones, wolf groups and individual factors (age, sex and social status). For this, non-invasive monitoring was carried out in three zones of Spain where nine different wolf breeding groups were detected (Galicia, <i>n</i> = 4; Zamora, <i>n</i> = 4 and Valladolid, <i>n</i> = 1). Faecal samples were collected near breeding sites for dietary and genetic analyses, registering if it was or not a scent mark to know the social status of the individuals. Prey availability was determined by camera trapping or requesting the official census of wild prey in the study areas. We found differences in wolf’s diet depending on the zone and the breeding group however, the diet did not vary depending on the age, sex and social status. In general, Iberian wolves mainly fed on wild ungulates (wild boar, roe deer and red deer), feeding on the most abundant prey, except for Baldriz group in Galicia which seems to be specialized in hunting roe deer. Domestic animals’ consumption (sheep, goat, donkey, pig) was not high, but it occurred specially in agriculture and livestock areas (Ferreras in Zamora and Valladolid) where wild prey were less available.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Significance statement</h3><p>In this study, we shed light on the vital role of Iberian wolves in the ecosystem by investigating the dietary preferences during pup rearing season across different landscapes. Our research revealed differences in wolf diets based on geographic location and breeding groups, emphasizing their adaptability. We found that age, sex, and social status did not significantly influence their dietary preferences. Iberian wolves predominantly target wild ungulates, except for a specialized group in Galicia. Our study introduces a novel approach as it is the first to analyse wolf diet based on individual factors and using nitrogen analysis. Additionally, the study highlights previously overlooked dietary patterns of the Iberian wolf subspecies, despite its critical role in the ecosystem as a top predator. Furthermore, we emphasize the necessity of conserving wild ungulate populations to reduce livestock attacks by ensuring a stable supply of wild prey, promoting coexistence between humans and wolves.</p>","PeriodicalId":8881,"journal":{"name":"Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140199702","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-03-19DOI: 10.1007/s00265-024-03456-5
Daniel R. Papaj, Avery L. Russell
It seems self-evident that generalist foragers switch more between resources than specialists but despite diverse ecological and evolutionary implications, how variation in switching relates to variation in preference warrants additional study. Here we tested predictions based on a simple probability model, using flower-foraging bees as a model system. In laboratory assays, we presented bumble bee (Bombus impatiens) workers with flowers of two species, Tecoma stans and T. alata, from which they could collect nectar and/or pollen. We quantified landing preference and occurrence of switching between species in successive visits. Bees varied greatly in floral preference. Almost half showed statistically significant preferences for one or the other species, while the rest were generalists in preference. As expected, generalists using both flower species switched more in successive visits than bees that were more specialized, a pattern fit to a quadratic function. However, generalist individuals switched more than expected based on null expectation. A Modified Jacob’s Index (MJI) of switching was significantly positively correlated with degree of preference: generalist bees had more negative MJI’s than specialist bees, indicating that even after the expected statistical effect of preference on switching was accounted for, they switched more than specialists. A simulation ruled out the possibility that the pattern was due to bias in MJI. Generalist-specialist differences in which food was collected (nectar versus pollen) were also ruled out. We offer possible explanations for our observed pattern and advocate consideration of preference and switching throughout behavioral ecology.
通才觅食者比专才觅食者在不同资源之间的转换更多,这似乎是不言而喻的,但尽管存在多种生态和进化影响,转换的变异与偏好的变异之间的关系如何还需要进一步研究。在这里,我们以觅食花卉的蜜蜂为模型系统,检验了基于简单概率模型的预测。在实验室试验中,我们向熊蜂(Bombus impatiens)工蜂展示了两种花(Tecoma stans 和 T. alata),它们可以从中采集花蜜和/或花粉。我们对蜜蜂的着陆偏好以及在连续访问中切换花种的情况进行了量化。蜜蜂对花的偏好差异很大。据统计,近一半的蜜蜂表现出对一种或另一种物种的偏好,而其余的蜜蜂则是偏好通才。不出所料,使用两种花卉的通才比专一性更强的蜜蜂在连续访问中转换的次数更多,这种模式符合二次函数。然而,基于空期望,通才个体的转换比预期的要多。切换的修正雅各布指数(MJI)与偏好程度呈显著的正相关:通才蜂比专才蜂有更多的负MJI,这表明即使考虑了偏好对切换的预期统计影响,通才蜂的切换也比专才蜂多。模拟排除了这种模式是由于 MJI 偏差造成的可能性。此外,还排除了普通蜜蜂与特种蜜蜂在采集食物(花蜜还是花粉)上的差异。我们为观察到的模式提供了可能的解释,并提倡在整个行为生态学中考虑偏好和转换。
{"title":"The relationship between preference and switching in flower foraging by bees","authors":"Daniel R. Papaj, Avery L. Russell","doi":"10.1007/s00265-024-03456-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-024-03456-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p>It seems self-evident that generalist foragers switch more between resources than specialists but despite diverse ecological and evolutionary implications, how variation in switching relates to variation in preference warrants additional study. Here we tested predictions based on a simple probability model, using flower-foraging bees as a model system. In laboratory assays, we presented bumble bee (<i>Bombus impatiens</i>) workers with flowers of two species, <i>Tecoma stans</i> and <i>T. alata</i>, from which they could collect nectar and/or pollen. We quantified landing preference and occurrence of switching between species in successive visits. Bees varied greatly in floral preference. Almost half showed statistically significant preferences for one or the other species, while the rest were generalists in preference. As expected, generalists using both flower species switched more in successive visits than bees that were more specialized, a pattern fit to a quadratic function. However, generalist individuals switched more than expected based on null expectation. A Modified Jacob’s Index (MJI) of switching was significantly positively correlated with degree of preference: generalist bees had more negative MJI’s than specialist bees, indicating that even after the expected statistical effect of preference on switching was accounted for, they switched more than specialists. A simulation ruled out the possibility that the pattern was due to bias in MJI. Generalist-specialist differences in which food was collected (nectar versus pollen) were also ruled out. We offer possible explanations for our observed pattern and advocate consideration of preference and switching throughout behavioral ecology.</p>","PeriodicalId":8881,"journal":{"name":"Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140166994","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}