Correction to: Herding mechanisms to maintain the cohesion of a harem group: two interaction phases during herding

Journal of Ethology - The article Herding mechanisms to maintain the cohesion of a harem group.     

Evolution of a predator-prey Volterra-Lotka ecosystem with saturation effect

This paper has studied the evolution of a predator-prey Volterra-Lotka ecosystem with saturation effect for the general case where both predator and prey evolve. We have interesting results under the evolutional condition, as follows: (1) the predator population and the ratio of predator to prey populations increase; (2) the parameters of the prey drift in the direction of increasing multiplication rate and saturation level, while the parameters of the predator drift in the direction of decreasing death rate.     

Mitochondrial DNA haplogrouping of the brown bear,Ursus arctos (Carnivora: Ursidae) in Asia,based on a newly developed APLP analysis

Sequence analyses of the complete brown bear, Ursus arctos, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genome have detected scattered single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that define distinct mtDNA haplogroups in phylogeographical studies. The degraded DNA in historical samples, such as stuffed or excavated specimens, however, is often not suitable for sequence analyses. To address this problem, we developed an amplified product length polymorphism (APLP) analysis for mtDNA‐haplogrouping U. arctos specimens by detecting haplogroup‐specific SNPs. We verified the validity and utility of this method by analysing up to 170‐year‐old skin samples from U. arctos specimens collected widely across continental Eurasia. We detected some of the same haplogroups as those occurring in eastern Hokkaido (Japan) and eastern Alaska in continental Eurasia (the Altai and the Caucasus). Our results show that U. arctos in eastern Hokkaido and eastern Alaska descended from a common ancestor in continental Eurasia, and suggest that U. arctos occupied several refugia in southern Asia during the Last Glacial Maximum. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 111 , 627–635.     

Neotropical harvestmen (Arachnida,Opiliones) use sexually dimorphic glands to spread chemicals in the environment

Sexually dimorphic glands have convergently appeared in animals and are often responsible for the production of pheromones. In the suborder Laniatores of the order Opiliones (Arachnida), glands of such type are widespread, but there is not a single paper on how they are used. Using Scanning Electron Microscopy and a behavioral approach, we describe glandular openings and how these glands are used, in the harvestmen Gryne perlata and Gryne coccinelloides (Cosmetidae). Males of these two species have glandular openings on the metatarsi of legs I and on the metatarsi IV. Males were shown rubbing the glands of the metatarsi I against their other legs, whereas glands on the metatarsi IV are gently touched on the substrate or rubbed either against other legs, or against the substrate. Not all behaviors were seen in both species.     

Humans but Not Chimpanzees Vary Face-Scanning Patterns Depending on Contexts during Action Observation

Human and nonhuman primates comprehend the actions of other individuals by detecting social cues, including others’ goal-directed motor actions and faces. However, little is known about how this information is integrated with action understanding. Here, we present the ontogenetic and evolutionary foundations of this capacity by comparing face-scanning patterns of chimpanzees and humans as they viewed goal-directed human actions within contexts that differ in whether or not the predicted goal is achieved. Human adults and children attend to the actor’s face during action sequences, and this tendency is particularly pronounced in adults when observing that the predicted goal is not achieved. Chimpanzees rarely attend to the actor’s face during the goal-directed action, regardless of whether the predicted action goal is achieved or not. These results suggest that in humans, but not chimpanzees, attention to actor’s faces conveying referential information toward the target object indicates the process of observers making inferences about the intentionality of an action. Furthermore, this remarkable predisposition to observe others’ actions by integrating the prediction of action goals and the actor’s intention is developmentally acquired.     

Microorganism Capable of Decomposing N-Acetylglucosaminyl Ribitol Teichoic Acid of Staphylococcus aureus

Enzyme(s) capable of decomposing N-acetylglucosaminyl ribitol teichoic acid prepared from the cell wall of Staphylococcus aureus FDA 209 P was obtained from the culture supernatant of a gram-negative, rod-shaped, spore-forming soil bacterium. Properties of the bacterium were very similar to those of Bacillus circulans.