Mate availability contributes to maintain the mixed‐mating system in a scolytid beetle

We investigated the mating system and population genetic structure of the beetle, Coccotrypes dactyliperda, with life history characteristics that suggest the presence of a stable mixed‐mating system. We examined the genetic structure of seven populations in Israel and found significant departures from the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium and an excess of homozygosity. Inbreeding coefficients were highly variable across populations, suggesting that low levels of outbreeding occur in nature. Experiments were conducted to determine whether the observed high inbreeding in these populations is the result of a reproductive assurance strategy. Females reared in the laboratory took longer to mate with males from the same population (inbreeding) than with males from a different population (outbreeding). These results suggest that females delayed inbreeding, and were more inclined to outbreed when possible. Thus inbreeding, which predominates in most populations, may be due to a shortage of mates for outbreeding rather than a preference for inbreeding. We conclude that C. dactyliperda has a mixed‐mating system that may be maintained by a reproductive assurance strategy.     

Effects of age and experience on the responses of territorial and floater male Red‐winged Blackbirds to models of receptive females

The ability of sexually mature non‐territorial floaters to sire offspring affects the success of floating as a breeding strategy. Red‐winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) have second‐year (SY) and after‐second‐year (ASY) floater males, and genetic studies suggest that floaters may gain paternity. Despite these studies, we still know little about the fitness costs and benefits of floating in this species. By presenting taxidermic models of females in soliciting, precopulatory postures in territories of experienced (previously attracted at least one mate in the study area) and inexperienced (did not previously defend a territory in the study area) males, I was able to examine the copulation behavior and success of floater male Red‐winged Blackbirds as well as the effect of experience for territorial males. Floaters trespassed during 66.1% of presentations and 85.4% of trespassers were SY males. Experienced territorial males (92.5%) and neighbors (87.5%) were most successful in attempts to copulate with models, inexperienced territorial males (62.5%) and ASY floaters (50.0%) had intermediate success, and SY floaters (6.9%) were least successful. Experienced territorial males were more likely to approach models than inexperienced males, and floaters were more likely to approach models in territories of experienced than inexperienced males. These results provide further evidence that floaters trespass frequently, suggest that floaters sire offspring, and demonstrate that prior breeding experience affects the behavior and reproductive success of territorial male Red‐winged Blackbirds. Floating appears to be a conditional strategy for ASY male Red‐winged Blackbirds, but, because it is still not known if SY floaters sire offspring, these males may be trespassing to gain information or experience.     

Verhalten von Kranichfamilien (Grus grus) in Brutrevieren Nordostdeutschlands: Investition der Altv?gel in ihre Nachkommen

Zusammenfassung Junge Graukraniche haben einen weniger guten Jagderfolg bzw. eine geringere Rate bei der Nahrungsaufnahme als Altvögel. Dieses Defizit sollte durch die elterliche Investition bei der Jungenaufzucht kompensiert werden. Untersuchungen zum Zeitbudget und zum Aufwand aus dem Brutgebiet fehlen bisher. Mit Hilfe markierter Jungkraniche (Farbringe, Sender) wurde das Verhalten der Eltern und ihrer Nachkommen erfasst, um die Investitionen in Beziehung zum Reproduktionserfolg zu analysieren. Die Eltern sicherten mit 39,6% fast viermal so häufig wie Altvögel ohne Junge (Übersommerer). Bei Paaren mit zwei Nachkommen waren diese Aufwendungen höher als bei Paaren mit nur einem Jungvogel. Das Weibchen profitierte vom verstärkten Sichern des Männchens (Männchen: durchschnittlich 43,9%, Weibchen 35,3%) und konnte so vermutlich schneller seine Investition in die Gelegeproduktion ausgleichen. Die Revierverteidigung bzw. Feindabwehr übernahmen meist die Männchen. Die Beteiligung des Männchens förderte den Aufzuchterfolg, der auf zwei Junge begrenzt ist. Die Jungen profitierten von den Leistungen ihrer Eltern. Sie konnten mit geringem Sicherungsaufwand (11,9%) Nahrung suchen (67,7%, Eltern 42,8%) und so ihre geringere Aufnahmerate kompensieren. 77,9% der Jungkraniche überlebten vom Zeitpunkt des Markierens im Juni bis zum Abzug ins Überwinterungsgebiet im Oktober/November (84% der Einzeljungen und 75% bei Familien mit zwei Nachkommen).Junge Kraniche müssen einen wesentlichen Teil des Tages Nahrung aufnehmen, um den Energiebedarf für ein schnelles Wachstum sicherzustellen. Bei einer negativen Energiebilanz aufgrund zu vieler Störreize können die Erfolge bei der Jungenaufzucht sinken. Im Rahmen der Landschaftsplanung ist vor allem in Räumen mit einer hohen Siedlungsdichte des Kranichs auf eine stärkere Bebauung (z. B. mit Windkraftanlagen) oder Zerschneidung durch weitere Verkehrswege und Energieleitungen zu verzichten.

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Behaviour of Crane (Grus grus) families in their breeding territories in Northeast Germany: parental care and investment

Summary Juveniles and immature birds normally have less foraging ability and a lower food intake rate than adults. This — it has been presumed — is compensated for by parental care and investment during juvenile development. Studies of time budgets and parental investment of Common Cranes were carried out in the years 1995 to 1999 in Northeast Germany. Having first marked young Cranes (colour rings, radio transmitters), we analysed the behaviour of parents and offspring to correlate this with reproductive success. Parents with young (39.6%) were four times more vigilant than non-breeders. The investment of pairs with two young was significantly (p<0.001) higher than in pairs with only one young. Females profited from the high vigilance rate of their males (males mean 43.9%, females 35.3%) and were thus able probably to compensate for their investment in the clutch faster because of higher food intake. Defence of the territory against other cranes and defence against predators were tasks mostly undertaken by males. If the males participated in the rearing of the young, the pair were able to rear two juveniles to fleding.The young profited from parental care. They were able to feed most of the time (67.7%) with lower vigilance costs (11.9%; 27.7% less than parents), and thus possibly compensated for their lower feeding success. Rearing of two young, however, must be the upper limit of possible investment of adults. So far there has been no evidence of families with three grown-up young in a stopover region or on the wintering grounds. The survival of juveniles from the date of ringing in June up to the migration to the wintering sites in mid-November amounts to 77.9%, with 84% for families with one young and 75% for those with two young. Accordingly the reproductive success was higher for pairs with two young (1.32 juv./pair) than with one young (0.84 juv/pair).The long-term survival of the population in a man-made landscape is only possible with an appropriate reproductive success. The offspring of crane families have to feed throughout the major part of the day in order to gain their energy for the high metabolic rate during growth. With a negative energy balance because of too much disturbance, the reproductive success will decrease. Future landscape planning should avoid new traffic structures, buildings (e.g. wind turbines) or power lines at least in areas of high crane density.

     

Isolation of microbes associated with field-collected populations of the egg parasitoid,Trichogramma chilonis capable of enhancing biotic fitness

Four bacterial and one yeast species, cultured and identified as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Acinetobacter sp., Pseudomonas sp. and Ochrobactrum sp. and the yeast as Metschnikowia reukaufii, were isolated from the internal organs of four collections of field-sourced egg parasitoid, Trichogramma chilonis, obtained as parasitised Helicoverpa armigera eggs. Bacteria were identified through 16 rRNA amplification and sequencing. The single species of yeast was identified through internal transcribed spacer sequences. A single bacterial species could be isolated from each of the four T. chilonis collections; however, all four T. chilonis collections yielded the yeast, M. reukaufii. In order to study the influence of the association of each of the bacterial species and the yeast, microbe-free laboratory-bred populations of T. chilonis were fed with the individual cultures and fitness parameters as parasitisation vigour and female bias were studied in T. chilonis over 10 generations. T. chilonis fed with either S. maltophilia or Acinetobacter sp. and Pseudomonas sp. showed a mean percent increase in female ratio of 26.2%, 30% and 30.3% and mean percent parasitisation of H. armigera eggs significantly increased by 38%, 32.2% and 31.3%, respectively. However, T. chilonis fed with Acinetobacter sp. did not positively influence the two T. chilonis fitness factors. The ubiquitous yeast, M. reukaufii, which could be isolated from all four collections of T. chilonis, could significantly increase both female count and percent parasitism ratio by 22% and 65%, respectively. This study has opened the possibility of modulating the parasitisation fitness of laboratory-bred T. chilonis, prior to field release, using microbes associated with them in the wild.