Maternal protectiveness and response to the unfamiliar in vervet monkeys

Vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops sabaeus) show individual differences in approach-avoidance behavior when faced with an unfamiliar and potentially threatening situation. Prior research from our colony demonstrated that juveniles who had experienced high levels of early maternal protectiveness were more cautious in response to novelty, compared to juveniles who had had less protective mothers. The research reported here was designed to verify this result in a paradigm that experimentally varied maternal protectiveness through the introduction of new breeding adult males. Mothers responded to the presence of new males by increased maternal protectiveness toward infants born in the year following the introductions. Individual differences in response to the unfamiliar were later evaluated by measuring the latency to approach within 1 m of novel food containers placed into the home enclosure of four naturally composed social groups. Infants approached with the same latency and in the same order as their mothers. Juveniles approached sooner than, and independent of, their mother's current behavior, but their latency to approach could be predicted by the experimentally induced variation in maternal protectiveness they had experienced as infants. Immatures who had been born in New Male years, when maternal protectiveness was high, were more cautious and had significantly longer latencies to approach the novel stimulus compared to immatures who had been born in Resident Male years. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Comportements maternels chez la souris: Telle mere telle fille?

Relations between mother' and daughter' maternal behaviour were surched by continuous recording of locomotor activity and time spent in the nest during the first six days postpartum in two isogenic generations of mice. The first generation was composed of either heterozygous Fl or inbred C57BL/6 (=B6) dams, both giving birth after ovarian graft to B6 pups. In each litter the maternal behaviour of a female was studied in the same conditions as for her mother. Even in developing in quite different environments, both groups of B6 daughters did not differ for the behavioural patterns under study. Links between mother' and daughter' activity during the nursing period were shown in one group by important negative correlations suggesting a feedbak regulation mechanism. This illustrate a possible way of passive hereditary transmission of acquired behavioural characteristics.     

The effect of ovariectomy on reproductive behaviour and physiology of adult female ring-legged earwigs, Euborellia annulipes

The effect of ovariectomy on feeding, mating, Juvenile Hormone (JH) production, and maternal behaviour was assessed in female ring-legged earwigs, Euborellia annulipes (Lucas) (Dermaptera: Carcinophoridae), during the first 16 days of adult life (the first gonadotrophic cycle and early brooding). Ovariectomy of 2-day-old adults did not affect weight gain, nor did it alter mating behaviour on day 7. Similarly, ovariectomy did not prevent the increase in JH biosynthesis that accompanies vitellogenesis in this species, which suggests a cycle of JH production that is not dependent on the presence of the ovaries. Both ovariectomy and mating status affected feeding behaviour. Most introduced eggs were consumed (i.e. disappeared) within 24 h, and younger (7-day-old) females consumed more eggs than did older ones. However, 12-day-old intact virgins and 16-day-old ovariectomized, mated females consumed fewest eggs, and allowed some hatching. Thus, ovariectomy did not abolish changes in feeding behaviour that normally accompany reproduction but, instead, appeared to delay the reduction in feeding that normally accompanies the completion of the cycle of egg development. By contrast, mating enhanced the reduction in feeding late in the reproductive cycle. Mating significantly enhanced maternal behaviour in both ovariectomized and sham-operated females. Hatching success from egg clutches introduced to day 16 virgin or mated females that had been ovariectomized or sham-operated on day 2, was significantly greater in the mated groups.     

Small within-day increases in temperature affects boldness and alters personality in coral reef fish

Consistent individual differences in behaviour, termed personality, are common in animal populations and can constrain their responses to ecological and environmental variation, such as temperature. Here, we show for the first time that normal within-daytime fluctuations in temperature of less than 3°C have large effects on personality for two species of juvenile coral reef fish in both observational and manipulative experiments. On average, individual scores on three personality traits (PTs), activity, boldness and aggressiveness, increased from 2.5- to sixfold as a function of temperature. However, whereas most individuals became more active, aggressive and bold across temperature contexts (were plastic), others did not; this changed the individual rank order across temperatures and thus altered personality. In addition, correlations between PTs were consistent across temperature contexts, e.g. fish that were active at a given temperature also tended to be both bold and aggressive. These results (i) highlight the importance of very carefully controlling for temperature when studying behavioural variation among and within individuals and (ii) suggest that individual differences in energy metabolism may contribute to animal personality, given that temperature has large direct effects on metabolic rates in ectotherms.     

Hormone-mediated maternal effects in birds: mechanisms matter but what do we know of them?

Over the past decade, birds have proven to be excellent models to study hormone-mediated maternal effects in an evolutionary framework. Almost all these studies focus on the function of maternal steroid hormones for offspring development, but lack of knowledge about the underlying mechanisms hampers further progress. We discuss several hypotheses concerning these mechanisms, point out their relevance for ecological and evolutionary interpretations, and review the relevant data. We first examine whether maternal hormones can accumulate in the egg independently of changes in hormone concentrations in the maternal circulation. This is important for Darwinian selection and female physiological trade-offs, and possible mechanisms for hormone accumulation in the egg, which may differ among hormones, are reviewed. Although independent regulation of plasma and yolk concentrations of hormones is conceivable, the data are as yet inconclusive for ovarian hormones. Next, we discuss embryonic utilization of maternal steroids, since enzyme and receptor systems in the embryo may have coevolved with maternal effect mechanisms in the mother. We consider dose-response relationships and action pathways of androgens and argue that these considerations may help to explain the apparent lack of interference of maternal steroids with sexual differentiation. Finally, we discuss mechanisms underlying the pleiotropic actions of maternal steroids, since linked effects may influence the coevolution of parent and offspring traits, owing to their role in the mediation of physiological trade-offs. Possible mechanisms here are interactions with other hormonal systems in the embryo. We urge endocrinologists to embark on suggested mechanistic studies and behavioural ecologists to adjust their interpretations to accommodate the current knowledge of mechanisms.     

Release of PGF(2alpha) during parturition and the postpartum period in the ewe

Peripheral plasma levels of 15-keto-13, 14-dihydro-PGF(2alpha) were determined from one week before parturition until five weeks postpartum in six ewes. Starting at approximately 1 nmol/l one week before parturition, the prostaglandin metabolite levels rose successively during the week preceding parturition and peaked at 70 to 125 nmol/l during parturition. During the first three days postpartum the concentrations of the 15-keto-13, 14-dihydro-PGF(2alpha) decreased to 0.5 to 1 nmol/l. These levels were maintained for three weeks and low levels of 50 to 100 pmol/l were reached around four weeks postpartum. The ewe, as well as other ruminants, has a sustained release of elevated concentrations of PGF(2alpha) postpartum. It seems likely that PGF(2alpha) plays a role in uterine involution.