Vocal negotiation over parental care? Acoustic communication at the nest predicts partners' incubation share

In species with biparental care, individuals adjust their workload to that of their partner to either compensate or match its investment. Communication within a pair might be crucial for achieving this adjustment. Zebra finches, Taeniopygia guttata, form life‐long monogamous pair bonds, in which partners are highly coordinated and both incubate the eggs. When relieving each other during incubation, partners perform a structured call duet at the nest. If this duet functions to coordinate incubation workload, disrupting the pair's usual nest‐relief pattern by delaying the male's return to the nest should affect the structure of the duet. Using domesticated birds breeding in a large aviary, we found that delaying the male's return induced shorter duets with higher call rates. In addition, we tracked the location of individuals with a transponder at the nest and the feeder, and showed that these accelerated duets were associated with an increased haste of the partners to take turns incubating and foraging. Females also spent less time incubating during their subsequent shift, and females' time off‐nest was best predicted by their mate's calling behaviour in the previous duet. Taken together, these results suggest that duets may function as ‘vocal negotiation’ over parental care.     

Testosterone and Partner Compatibility: Evidence and Emerging Questions

In socially monogamous species pair partners often form and maintain long‐term pair‐bonds. Relationships between pair partners are dynamic and driven by both cooperation and conflicts between the sexes. Successful reproduction depends on behavioural coordination and cooperation, which includes continuing mutual responsiveness between the pair partners, as well as conflicts, for example, over parental investment. Gonadal hormones, such as testosterone, centrally regulate reproduction and are potentially involved in the formation and maintenance of pair‐bonds. In greylag geese ( Anser anser), a positive within‐pair testosterone co‐variation (TC) among pair partners has been observed at the seasonal level. Goose pairs with a higher TC have a higher reproductive output and long‐term success than pairs with lower TC, but it is still not clear whether TC is cause or consequence. In this article, I (i) summarize the evidence for hormonal partner compatibility in geese, (ii) ask whether TC is restricted to monogamous and biparental systems and (iii) synthesize open questions or new aspects of information we may draw by studying hormonal partner compatibility. From longitudinal studies in geese, we know that TC decreases with pair‐bond duration. This indicates some form of ‘attritional effect’ over the years rather than an improved breeding performance with increasing familiarity between the partners (the ‘mate familiarity hypothesis’). Under certain circumstances, for example, during ageing, selection may not act in the same direction for males and females. Partner preference increased female androgen levels during laying and social instability may impinge on the pair's TC. Data from other species show that TC is not restricted to monogamous species, but presumably the link between TC and reproductive output may be primarily relevant in species with biparental care. This article surveys the major unanswered questions relating to hormonal partner compatibility and previews potential future work for addressing those open issues.     

Flexible Social Organization in Hyrax1)

Antiphonal duets have often been regarded as playing a key role for pairbond maintenance in many tropical songbird species. To test this in the robin chat (Cossypha heuglini) we impaired the exchange of vocal signals between mated individuals by (1) modification of a male's vocal outputs (hypoglossus sectioning), or (2) climination of a female's auditory inputs (deafening). Results showed that auditory signals are not crucial prerequisites for the maintenance of pair bonds, but may well affect a pair's reproductive behaviour.     

Individual Consistency in Parental Effort Across Multiple Stages of Care in the House Sparrow, Passer domesticus

In many avian species in which biparental care is provided to offspring, substantial variation exists within members of each sex in the level of effort contributed to various forms of parental care. Questions remain as to whether individuals that contribute more toward one parental activity also contribute more toward other activities in which they participate. We examined the contributions of male and female house sparrows (Passer domesticus) to three forms of parental care: incubation, nestling provisioning, and nest defense, and compared the investments made by individuals at each stage of care relative to other same‐sexed parents. In both males and females, nestling feeding rates were positively associated with time spent incubating, but no relationships were found between measures of nestling feeding and nest defense. The predictability of an individual's feeding behavior based on earlier incubation efforts may make incubation a good stage for individuals to evaluate the parental abilities of their partners.     

Mutual ornamentation and the parental behaviour of male and female Collared Flycatchers Ficedula albicollis during incubation

One of the benefits of mate choice based on sexually selected traits is the greater investment of more ornamented individuals in parental care. The choosy individual can also adjust its parental investment to the sexual signals of its partner. Incubation is an important stage of avian reproduction, but the relationship between behaviour during incubation and mutual ornamentation is unclear. Studying a population of Collared Flycatchers Ficedula albicollis, we monitored the behaviour of both sexes during incubation in relation to their own and their partner's plumage traits, including plumage‐level reflectance attributes and white patch sizes. There was a marginally positive relationship between male feeding rate during incubation and female incubation rate. Female but not male behavioural traits were associated with the laying date of the first egg and clutch size. The behaviour of the two sexes jointly determined the relative hatching speed of clutches and the hatching success of eggs. Females with larger white wing patches spent less time incubating eggs and left the nestbox more frequently. Males with larger white wing patches fed females less frequently, whereas males with brighter white plumage areas visited the nestbox more regularly without feeding. Females tended to leave the nest less often when mated to males with larger wing patches, and females spent less time incubating when males had more UV chromatic plumage. The behaviour of both partners during incubation therefore predicted hatching patterns and was correlated with their own and sometimes with their partner's plumage ornamentation. These results call for further studies of mutual ornamentation and reproductive effort during incubation.     

内蒙古草原布氏田鼠与绵羊的营养生态位研究

放牧活动对小型啮齿动物种群数量的影响是草原生态系统研究中的热点问题,确定绵羊和小型啮齿动物的营养生态位关系对于草原生态系统的管理具有重要的作用。运用粪便显微分析法分析了内蒙古草原动物生态研究站大型野外围栏内布氏田鼠和绵羊在6—9月份的食谱组成,确定两种草食动物食性选择和营养生态位的变化,从食物利用途径揭示放牧活动对布氏田鼠种群数量的影响方式及二者之间的竞争与共存关系。研究结果表明：围栏中共有23种植物,其中糙隐子草、克氏针茅、羊草和刺藜是围栏中的优势植物;布氏田鼠共取食10种植物,绵羊共取食8种植物,禾本植物为两种动物的主要采食植物。布氏田鼠和绵羊的喜食植物种类都存在季节性变化;除7月外,两种动物的食物多样性与围栏植物多样性有显著的正相关关系,表明动物的食性选择受植物资源变化的影响。布氏田鼠和绵羊具有很高的营养生态位重叠度,除8月(0.691)外,6、7、9月份的营养生态位重叠度均高于0.9,表明二者之间存在激烈的食物竞争;放牧活动极显著地降低了禾本科植物的地上生物量,导致布氏田鼠的食物数量减少;放牧处理下布氏田鼠的喜食植物的物种数和营养生态位宽度(除9月)增加,导致布氏田鼠的食物质量...     

Genetic and behavioural evidence of monogamy in a mammal,Kirk's dik-dik (Madoqua kirkii).

Little is known about the mating behaviour of monogamous mammals. Here, we present behavioural and genetic evidence of fidelity in a socially monogamous dwarf antelope, Kirk''s dik-dik. DNA microsatellite analysis revealed no evidence of extra-pair paternity (EPP) in dik-diks: mothers'' partners matched the paternal genotype in all 12 juveniles tested. One likely reason for the absence of EPP is that males guard their mates closely during oestrus and over-mark all female scent, thereby reducing the likelihood of other males attempting to mate. In addition, males may be limited in their ability to search for extra-pair populations (EPCs) by activities associated with pair-bond maintenance. Year-round, males maintained proximity within pairs, followed their females'' activity patterns, and spent approximately 64% of their time with their partners. However, males did attempt to obtain EPCs when the opportunity arose, and genetic monogamy in dik-diks is probably best explained by the behaviour of females: in contrast to many monogamous female birds, female dik-diks do not appear to seek EPC partners. We propose that females avoid extra-pair males because they are unable to mate with them without instigating a potentially dangerous conflict.     

INBREEDING IN DARWIN'S MEDIUM GROUND FINCHES (GEOSPIZA FORTIS)

We studied the frequency and causes of inbreeding and its effect on reproductive success in a population of Darwin's Medium Ground Finches (Geospiza fortis) on Isla Daphne Major, Galápagos, during four breeding seasons (1981, 1983, 1984, and 1987). Pedigree analysis showed that levels of inbreeding were low but comparable with those observed in other passerine birds. For pairs with at least half of their grandparents known, approximately 20% of all pairings were between detectably related birds. The frequency of pairings between closely related birds (coefficient of kinship [φ] ≥ 0.250) among all pairs was 0.6%. We detected no effect of inbreeding on reproductive success, although sample sizes were small. The observed reproductive output of related pairs was not significantly different from the output of unrelated pairs, and there was no correlation between a pair's kinship coefficient and an estimate of the potential magnitude of inbreeding depression. Comparisons with a study of Great Tits (Parus major) by van Noordwijk and Scharloo (1981) suggest that, even if present, the fitness costs of inbreeding in this population of G. fortis would be low. Observed levels of inbreeding in each breeding episode were accurately predicted by simulations of random mating in which relatedness had no influence on pairing between individuals. This result suggests that levels of inbreeding in this population are determined more by demographic factors than by behavioral avoidance of mating with kin.     

珠江口南沙河涌浮游植物群落结构时空变化及其与环境因子的关系

随着城市生态健康理念的提出,城市河涌生态健康也受到了前所未有的关注。为更好的了解河涌的水环境和浮游植物现状,于2015年3月至2016年2月对珠江口南沙河涌8个站位水环境和浮游植物群落结构进行调查。结果显示:共发现浮游植物164种(属),隶属7门73属,其中以绿藻种类最多,达33属79种,占48.17%;硅藻次之,17属41种,占25%。优势种为梅尼小环藻(Cyclotella meneghiniana)、假鱼腥藻属(Pseudanabaena sp.)和小球藻(Chlorella vulgaris)。浮游植物细胞密度在0.19×10~6—101.34×10~6个/L内变动,呈现单峰型,在4月发生拟菱形弓形藻(Schroederia nitzschioides)水华,14涌密度高达87.38×10~6个/L,随后因强降雨细胞密度骤降。浮游植物群落的季节演替基本符合PEG(Plankton Ecology Group)模型,从冬季的硅藻,到春夏季的绿藻,再到秋季的蓝藻。One-way ANOVA分析显示,各月份浮游植物细胞密度差异显著(P0.01)。Pearson相关性分析表明绿藻细胞丰度变化主导着浮游植物总丰度的变化(r=0.454,P0.01)。运用Margalef物种丰富度指数、Shannon物种多样性指数、Pielou均匀度指数对水体进行评价表明,调查水体呈中度污染。相关加权营养状态指数表明,河涌全年处于富营养化状态。浮游植物聚类分析表明,时间异质性较高,总体相似性较低;空间上相似性较高,人为活动可能是导致空间差异的关键因子。冗余分析显示,叶绿素a、溶解氧、盐度、水温、总氮和p H与浮游植物群落结构关系最为密切。p H对硅藻门浮游植物影响较大,碱性条件适宜直链藻生长,春季水华形成的驱动因子是盐度、温度和总氮。     

8. THE NIVEN FAMILY VISITS NYASALAND

Species worldwide are threatened due to various factors including habitat transformation and degradation. The Gurney's Sugarbird Promerops gurneyi is a bird species endemic to southern Africa. It is a nectarivorous species that is highly dependent on Protea woodland areas in the eastern parts of southern Africa and makes seasonal migrations between these localities. Although many of these habitats have been destroyed by human development activities, the start of commercial Protea farms in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands may provide alternative habitat and year-round food resources for sugarbirds. Presence/absence of Gurney's Sugarbird on seven KwaZulu-Natal Protea farms were recorded monthly for one year (2006–2007) and compared to past distributions from 1980 and 1992. Sugarbirds were found to be resident for the entire year on some farms and breeding. The total distribution of Gurney's Sugarbird has extended with the development of Protea farms, as has its seasonal distribution and its breeding range. Our results also highlight the reliance that sugarbirds have on Protea whether indigenous or exotic species. More research on the interactions between Gurney's Sugarbirds and the commercial Protea farms is needed.     

Hotter nests produce smarter young lizards

A hatchling reptile''s sex, body size and shape, and locomotor performance can be influenced not only by its genes, but also by the temperature that it experiences during incubation. Can incubation temperature also affect a hatchling''s cognitive skills? In the scincid lizard Bassiana duperreyi, higher incubation temperatures enhanced the resultant hatchling''s learning performance. Hence, factors such as maternal nest-site selection and climate change affect not only the size, shape and athletic abilities of hatchling reptiles, but also their ability to learn novel tasks.     

城市湿地公园使用者评价的影响因素及其行为偏好——以宜昌运河公园为例

城市湿地公园是城市水环境保护和市民活动的共同载体。如何达到保护城市水环境和满足使用者社会需求的平衡是本研究的关键问题。以景观绩效评价为基础,对宜昌运河公园的社会绩效进行了详细量化,并在调查结果上分析研究了影响城市湿地公园使用者评价的原因,以及在城市湿地公园内使用者的行为偏好和季节变化下使用者满意度和行为模式的变化情况,并提出了设计建议。结果表明,城市湿地公园的水环境治理目标与城市居民的公园服务需求是统一的。但是在公园生态和社会效益之间还是存在着冲突关系,如湿地面积和活动空间面积的权衡,消减河流污染物和维持公园水景质量的权衡以及湿地生境冬季景观效果不佳降低使用者满意度的情况。     

The interaction of temperature, water availability and fire cues regulates seed germination in a fire-prone landscape

Ambient temperature and water availability regulate seasonal timing of germination. In fire-prone landscapes, the role of fire-related cues in affecting the range of temperatures and water potentials (ψs) across which germination can occur is poorly known, especially in non-Mediterranean landscapes. We examined interactive effects of temperature (15 or 25°C), ψ (0 to −0.9 MPa), and fire-related cues (heat and smoke) on germination for seeds of three shrub species from fire-prone southeastern Australia. Incubation temperature affected germination of untreated seeds of Kunzea ambigua and Kunzea capitata (Myrtaceae) (reduction at 25°C), but germination was uniformly low in Epacris obtusifolia (Ericaceae). Decreasing ψ reduced germination across both incubation temperatures. Fire cues increased germination at both incubation temperatures and across ψs, although in Kunzea the increase was smaller and occurred over a narrower range of ψs at 25°C. Hydrotime analysis suggested that fire cues reduced the amount of water necessary for germination of Kunzea seeds. Post-fire germination of the three study species may occur during the warm season, although it is reduced and confined to wet periods for the two Kunzea species. Warm season germination of the study species is consistent with a trade-off between the increased risk of failure of a cohort of seedlings, and benefits of early establishment of a cohort that may survive in an environment with aseasonal rainfall.     

Female sexual behavior in the absence of male-male competition in captive Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata)

A captive group of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata). consisting of one adult male and three adult females, was observed for 88 hr during the 1988 mating season. We focused on the group's sexual activities because understanding how social dynamics affect reproductive behavior may enhance our ability to establish self-sustaining captive populations. The adult male exhibited distinct preferences in copulation partners, although all females were receptive and cycled during the study period. The dominant female participated in the most copulations and successfully harassed and disrupted copulations between the male and the other females. The alpha female, therefore, actively constrained the formation of mating pairs. Further, the male did not consort with his year-round female grooming partner. This female, the least dominant member of the group, engaged in the most autosexual and homosexual behavior. Birth season data show that only the dominant female bore offspring. This study emphasizes the influence of social dynamics on a group's reproductive potential and suggests an alternative means by which females can influence consort formation.     

Foraging movements of Leach's storm‐petrels Oceanodroma leucorhoa during incubation

Knowledge of foraging movements during the breeding season is key to understanding energetic stresses faced by seabirds. Using archival light loggers (geolocators), a Bayesian state–space model, and stable isotope analysis, we compared foraging movements of Leach's storm‐petrels Oceanodroma leucorhoa during their incubation periods in 2012 and 2013. Data were collected from two colonies, Bon Portage Island and Country Island, which are 380 km apart along the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada. Based on allometry for procellariiform mass, predicted foraging ranges for Leach's storm‐petrels are 200 km; however, observed maximum distances from the colony were 3 to 5 times that. Storm‐petrels from Country Island travelled 1015 ± 238 km southeast to the Laurentian fan and south of the Grand Banks whereas storm‐petrels from Bon Portage Island travelled 613 ± 167 km southeast, beyond the continental slope, east of Georges Bank. The average distance travelled in a return trip was 2287 ± 603 km and 1303 ± 351 km for Country Island and Bon Portage Island, respectively. There were no differences between years in cumulative distances travelled within islands, but foraging trips did not last as long in 2013 (4.7 ± 1.5 d) as they did in 2012 (6.2 ± 2.1 d). Stable isotope analyses indicated that, during the incubation period, prey items from Country Island were from higher trophic levels and possibly had higher energy content than those from Bon Portage Island, perhaps explaining the more distant and longer foraging trips for Country Island birds.     

Pleiotropic Functions of Tumor Suppressor WWOX in Normal and Cancer Cells

WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (WWOX), originally marked as a likely tumor suppressor gene, has over the years become recognized for its role in a much wider range of cellular activities. Phenotypic effects displayed in animal studies, along with resolution of WWOX''s architecture, fold, and binding partners, point to the protein''s multifaceted biological functions. Results from a series of complementary experiments seem to indicate WWOX''s involvement in metabolic regulation. More recently, clinical studies involving cases of severe encephalopathy suggest that WWOX also plays a part in controlling CNS development, further expanding our understanding of the breadth and complexity of WWOX behavior. Here we present a short overview of the various approaches taken to study this dynamic gene, emphasizing the most recent findings regarding WWOX''s metabolic- and CNS-associated functions and their underlying molecular basis.     

Consultation for Teachers and Children's Language and Literacy Development during Pre-Kindergarten

MyTeachingPartner (MTP) is a teacher professional development program designed to improve the quality of teacher-child interactions in pre-kindergarten classrooms and children's language and literacy development. The program includes language/literacy activities and two Web-based resources—video exemplars of effective interactions and individualized consultation—designed to support teachers' high quality implementation of these activities. This study examined the impacts of the MTP Web-based resources on the language and literacy development of 1,165 children during pre-kindergarten. Children whose teachers were randomly assigned to receive access to both the video exemplars and participated in consultation (MTP Consultancy n = 65) made greater gains in receptive language skills during pre-kindergarten compared to children whose teachers were randomly assigned to receive access to the video exemplars only (MTP Video Library n = 69). Further, among MTP Consultancy teachers, more hours of participating in the consultation process was positively associated with children's receptive language development, and more hours implementing the language/literacy activities was positively associated with children's language and literacy development. Implications for improving children's school readiness and promoting teachers' participation in professional development programs are discussed.     

Why mutual helping in most natural systems is neither conflict-free nor based on maximal conflict

Mutual helping for direct benefits can be explained by various game theoretical models, which differ mainly in terms of the underlying conflict of interest between two partners. Conflict is minimal if helping is self-serving and the partner benefits as a by-product. In contrast, conflict is maximal if partners are in a prisoner''s dilemma with both having the pay-off-dominant option of not returning the other''s investment. Here, we provide evolutionary and ecological arguments for why these two extremes are often unstable under natural conditions and propose that interactions with intermediate levels of conflict are frequent evolutionary endpoints. We argue that by-product helping is prone to becoming an asymmetric investment game since even small variation in by-product benefits will lead to the evolution of partner choice, leading to investments by the chosen class. Second, iterated prisoner''s dilemmas tend to take place in stable social groups where the fitness of partners is interdependent, with the effect that a certain level of helping is self-serving. In sum, intermediate levels of mutual helping are expected in nature, while efficient partner monitoring may allow reaching higher levels.