Green nesting material has a function in mate attraction in the European starling

The function of fresh green nest material has long been debated. It has been suggested that it reduces the number of ectoparasites in nests and on nestlings (nest protection hypothesis), or is used by males to signal condition and paternal quality (male quality hypothesis) or is used as a sexually selected ornament to attract females (courtship hypothesis). We simultaneously tested these three hypotheses in the European starling, Sturnus vulgaris, in the field. Green material was carried by male starlings only, and mainly during nest building. It was not used to reduce ectoparasites. Males nesting in nestboxes that were experimentally contaminated with ectoparasites did not carry more green nest material than males nesting in control boxes, and experimental removal and addition of green material had no effect on the number of ectoparasites on the nestlings or on their body mass. Furthermore, the amount of green material carried into a nestbox was not associated with male body mass, paternal incubation attendance or nestling food provisioning. There is two-fold experimental evidence that males use green plant material to attract mates. First, removal of greenery resulted in a significantly lower percentage of nestboxes containing a clutch than the control or addition treatment. Second, unpaired male starlings sang more and carried more greenery into a nestbox when a caged female was positioned adjacent to the nestbox than when a caged male or an empty cage was present. Paired males, when subjected to the same experimental design, did not respond.     

Effect of nestbox type on occupancy and breeding biology of Tree Sparrows Passer montanus in central Spain

Avian life-history studies are often conducted on populations nesting in nestboxes. However, the type of nestbox used is a potentially confounding variable, as each model shows specific characteristics. In recent decades, a new commercial model of artificial nestbox made of woodcrete, a mixture of sawdust and additives, has become popular owing to its better protection against predators compared with the classic wooden design. We assess the effect of nestbox type on the breeding ecology of Tree Sparrows Passer montanus , focusing on their thermal properties, an influential factor in nestbox selection. Occupancy rates and reproductive parameters of Tree Sparrows were compared between birds breeding in woodcrete and wooden nestboxes over 5 years. Woodcrete nestboxes had a higher occupancy rate and birds breeding in them had earlier clutches, a shorter incubation period and more reproductive attempts per season than birds nesting in wooden boxes. Clutch size and nestling condition did not differ between nestbox types, but reproductive success was higher in woodcrete nestboxes. The higher temperature in woodcrete nestboxes (1.5 °C higher on average) might explain these differences. Such differences may bias results obtained in comparative studies where more than one nestbox type is used.     

Short-term, postcopulatory changes in receptive and proceptive behavior in the female syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus)

The interactions between male and female hamsters were recorded in terms of proximity (approaching, leaving, and following by each member of the pair). The time spent sniffing the partner was also recorded. Mated and unmated females were tested three times on the day of estrus and once on the day following estrus. As expected, receptivity declined rapidly in mated but not unmated females. None of the proximity measures changed during estrus in the unmated females. However, female approaching (Ap% ≈ female approaches as percentage of all approaches) decreased 1–3 hr after mating and was associated with a decline in a number of measures of female proceptive behavior. Female leaving (L% = female leaves as percentage of all leaves) did not change. In unmated females Ap% has decreased and L% has increased by the day after estrus (Day 2 of the estrus cycle). In mated females the decrease in Ap% is accelerated (occurring within the 3 hr after mating) and precedes a change in L% which has occurred by the day after estrus (Day 1 of pregnancy). Thus, mating brings about not only a decrease in receptivity, as has been shown for several species, but also a change in female proceptive behavior and in her stimulus value to the male.     

Mating Behavior of Trissolcus basalis (Wollaston) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae): Potential for Outbreeding in a Predominantly Inbreeding Species

The mating behavior of the quasi-gregarious egg parasitoid Trissolcus basalis (Wollaston) was investigated under field conditions. Trissolcus basalis has female-biased sex ratios and is a protandrous species, with males emerging 1–2 days before females. Males competed aggressively for control of the egg mass, with one male assuming dominance and control of the egg mass, although changes in dominance occurred at least once on each egg mass observed. Typical mating behavior involved the dominant male mating his sisters immediately upon their emergence from the egg mass. These behaviors are characteristic of an inbreeding species that manifests local mate competition. However, several aspects of the mating behavior of T. basalis are inconsistent with that of an inbreeding species. Over 18% of emerging females were not mated by the dominant male upon emergence, 13% of females were not observed to be mated at all and may have left their natal site as virgins, 25% of females were mated multiple times and sometimes by multiple males, females remained near the natal site for up to several hours after emergence before emigrating, and males dispersed away from the natal site during female emergence. Trissolcus basalis may be a predominantly inbreeding species but its emergence and mating behavior suggest that low-frequency outbreeding is also likely to occur.     

猫蚤的交配习性及雄蚤对雌蚤提取物的反应

在人工饲喂系统上研究了猫蚤的交配习性及雄蚤对雌蚤化学提取物的反应,结果表明,当5雌1雄在饲养盒内时,该雄虫可与其他雌虫进行多次交配,连续8小时内交配达48次,交配时间平均持续6．6分钟,两次交配的间隔时间平均为2．5分钟,当1雌5雄时,交配时间平均持续11．1分钟,交配间隔时间为12．1分钟,连续7小时内,该雌虫与雄虫交配27次,新羽化的雌雄虫吸血前不能交配,当把用雌虫提取物处理过的黑色滤纸片放进只有雄虫的饲养盒时,雄虫接触纸片的次数及雄－雄交配企图明显增加。     

Temporal patterning of external stimuli and reproductive behaviour in female budgerigars

The role of stimuli from the nestbox, the male and breeding females in regulating the course of reproductive development in female budgerigars is examined. When females were paired with males but deprived of nestboxes no development of the overy, oviduct or brood patch occurred. Females visually and auditorily isolated from males entered their nestboxes, but fewer (8 per cent) laid eggs than females paired with males (75 per cent). More females (50 per cent) hearing only breeding females laid eggs than females (8 per cent) isolated from breeding females and males. The differential effects of the stimuli are discussed.     

Reduction in the attraction of males to females after mating in the rice leaf bug Trigonotylus caelestialium

The influence of mating on the extent to which males are attracted to females in Trigonotylus caelestialium (Heteroptera: Miridae) was examined. No differences in attraction of males to mated and virgin females were observed within 3–5 h of mating, but males became less attracted to females 1 to 2 days after the first mating. The difference in male attraction to mated vs virgin females disappeared at 4 days after mating. These results indicate that reduced attraction of males to mated females occurs after a certain time interval, and persists for a few days. Furthermore, males were less attracted to females that had mated with virgin vs recently mated males, i.e. males that had just mated with another female at 1 and 2 days after mating. The ejaculate expenditure of recently mated males was less than that of virgin males. Hence, the amount of male ejaculate transferred to females during mating, rather than the act of mating, might influence the attraction of males to females. The results demonstrate that mating reduces the attraction of males to females in T. caelestialium on the basis of direct observation of male behavior.     

MATING BEHAVIOR OF THE CAT FLEA, CTENOCEPHALIDES FELZS BOUCHE(SIPHONAPTERA:PULICIDAE) AND MALE RESPONSE TO FEMALE EXTRACT ON AN ARTIFICIAL FEEDING SYSTEM

Abstract  The mating behavior of cat flea, Ctenocepholides felis (Bouche) was studied on an artificial feeding device. Male and female can mate repeatedly with same partner or Merent ones. In the situation of male: female ratio of 1 :5, each mating lasted an average of 6.6 min, with a mean interval between matings at 2.5 min., compared to 11. 1 min and 12.1 min respectively in a cell with 5 males and 1 female. As many as 48 mating events were observed for one male during an 8 h period. One female mated 27 times in 7 h with 5 males in the same cell. Newly emerged males and females can not mate before blood meal and about 24 h blood feeding is rewuired for successful mating. Newly emerged males can not mate with fed females (fed for 48 h), but fed males can mate with newly emerged females who are feeding the blood. Significantly more male contacts and male-male mating attempts were observed after the paper treated with female extract was introduced into the cell. The paper contacts and mating attempts were 16.75–32.25 times and 15.75–31.38 times, respectively, on average during a period of 20 min when different doses (FE) of extract were provided.     

Mating plugs and sexual cannibalism in the Colombian orb‐web spider Leucauge mariana

In Leucauge orb‐web spiders, females form mating plugs, which play a part in cryptic female choice after they evaluate male performance during courtship and mating. Our aim was to assess sexual behavior and mating plug formation of Leucauge mariana from Colombia (CO). We carried out mating trials to describe in detail courtship and mating behavior of sexual pairs from the CO population, and then compared the results to previously collected data from a Costa Rican population (CR). In addition, we assessed the amount of sperm transferred during mating predict plug formation in CO pairs. All CO virgin females mated (n = 23), and mating plug formation occurred in only 11 cases (48%). In contrast, all CR virgin females mated (n = 43) and 74% formed mating plugs. None of the male courtship or mating behaviors that we measured in CO pairs predicted mating plug formation, in contrast to previous reports from CR. Mating plugs of CO consisted of a matrix of unknown composition (77.2%) and encapsulated and decapsulated sperm (22.8%). In CR, plug composition varied in color and consistency, but also comprised a matrix with encapsulated and decapsulated sperm. We observed female cannibalism of males in CO pairs, which had never been reported in CR pairs. Some female displays during courtship and mating were unique to each population. Different female preferences could explain the observed geographic differences between L. mariana in male traits and behaviors that could, in turn, promote reproductive isolation. More studies are needed to test this hypothesis.     

Postcopulatory female choice increases the fertilization success of novel males in the field cricket, Gryllus vocalis

Although recent studies have demonstrated that female crickets prefer novel males to previous mates, the relative contribution of pre- and postcopulatory behaviors to this advantage remain unknown, as do the reproductive consequences to males. I paired females either with previous or novel mates, and recorded the latency to mating and the time after mating at which the female removed the male's spermatophore, terminating sperm transfer. Females that mated with familiar males removed their spermatophores sooner than females that mated with novel males. Females paired with novel males also mated more quickly than females paired with familiar males, but this difference was not statistically significant. A molecular-based paternity analysis was used to determine whether the postcopulatory preference of females for novel males influences a male's fertilization success. Females were assigned to either mate three times with the same male and then once with a novel male, or four times with four different males. The paternity of the last male was higher when the female previously had mated repeatedly with the same male than when she had mated previously with different males. These results suggest that female spermatophore removal behavior influences male paternity such that novel males receive a fertility benefit.     

An ecological analysis of mating biology of Xylocopa virginica in southern Ontario

1. Xylocopa virginica virginica Linnaeus is a wide‐ranging species with plastic nesting behaviour that appears to represent an intermediary between solitary and social nesting species. Over 3 years, a natural population was studied with the objective of quantifying the relationship among population dynamics, climate, female nest provisioning behaviour, and male mating strategy. 2. Males in the population congregated around female‐occupied nesting sites before the beginning of nest provisioning by females; both resident and satellite male mating strategies were observed. Overall, the present results are consistent with female defence polygyny. 3. Male mating strategies were consistent across the three breeding seasons of our study, in spite of annual variation in population size, sex ratio, and weather. Male mating behaviour was also consistent with that seen in other populations with longer breeding seasons. 4. Adult non‐breeding females that never leave nests are observed in nests throughout the breeding season and we hypothesise that males continue to defend territories after breeding females have mated because of a small probability they can mate with one of these non‐breeding females. 5. These results are important to our understanding of the relationship between mating systems and the evolution of sociality, contributing data on the role of ecological factors to male mating behaviour. Collection of such data for a variety of species that differ in sociality is necessary for the comparative analysis that is required to fully elucidate coevolution of mating systems and sociality.     

星豹蛛求偶和交配行为

以星豹蛛(Pardosa astrigera)为研究对象,在室内对其求偶和交配行为进行了描述。雄蛛"俯卧撑"式动作(push-up)在求偶中具重要作用。交配初期,两侧触肢交替插入;随交配进行,单侧触肢连续插入3~5次后才换另一侧触肢插入,触肢每插入一次,基血囊膨大多次。完整交配一次雄蛛触肢器平均插入次数为29·625。交配前求偶时间、交配持续时间和有效交配时间分别平均为6min、32min25s和11min11s。星豹蛛雄蛛可进行多次交配,而雌蛛一般为单次交配。雌蛛交配状态(是否已经交配)影响其同类相食行为,已交配雌蛛对雄蛛同类相食率显著高于未交配雌蛛对雄蛛同类相食率。     

Influence of sexual experience and social environment on fertility and incidence of mating in young female bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus)

Between 30 and 40 days of age, female bank voles were kept singly, in female pairs, separated from an adult male by a wire mesh, or paired with a vasectomized male. At Day 40 they were paired with adult intact males. Fertility at the first mating was low (22-25%), but if the females had previously mated with the vasectomized male fertility of the subsequent mating with the intact male was significantly increased (63%). Sterile matings therefore had a priming effect on the females, and could be important for the development of puberty in wild females. Only 55-59% of the females without contact with males between Days 30 and 40 mated with the fertile male. Contact with a male through a wire mesh increased the proportion to 80% and co-habitation with a vasectomized male to 94%. In the last group, mating also occurred at a younger age.     

Mating Status Effects on Sexual Response of Males and Females in the Parasitoid Wasp <Emphasis Type="Italic">Urolepis rufipes</Emphasis>

Although mate preferences are most commonly examined in females, they are often found in both sexes. In the parasitoid wasp Urolepis rufipes, both female and male mating status affected certain aspects of sexual interactions. Female mating status mattered only in the later stages of mating. Males did not discriminate between virgin and mated females in terms of which they contacted or mounted first. However, once mounted, most virgin females were receptive to copulation, whereas very few mated females were. Whether a male’s mating status affected his own sexual response depended on the female’s ability to respond and the stage of mating. Examining male behavior toward dead females allowed elimination of the role of female behavior in how males responded. Virgin and mated males are both attracted to dead females as evidenced by their fanning their wings at such females. However, mated males were quicker than virgin males to contact and to mount in an experiment with dead females, whereas there was no such differential response in an experiment with live females. This difference is consistent with greater female sexual responsiveness to virgin males. Male mating status also affected female receptivity to copulate. Once mounted, live virgin females were less likely to become receptive to copulation by mated males than to virgin males, but only in a choice experiment, not in a no-choice experiment.     

Relatively large males lower reproductive success in female zebrafish

Females can adjust their reproductive effort in relation to their partner’s perceived fitness value. In zebrafish (Danio rerio), large males are typically preferred mating partners. However, females have been observed to reduce their reproductive output with exceptionally large males but it remains unknown whether it is due to sexual harassment or aggressive behavior to establish and maintain dominance. Here, we study the association between relative male size, sexual harassment and dominance behavior, female stress status (stress behaviors and whole-body cortisol concentration), and reproductive success during a 4 day spawning trial. We found female cortisol to correlate negatively with female body size and positively with female dominance behavior. However, male and female behavior as well as female cortisol level were not related to relative male size. Females mating with relatively large males produced more and most of their eggs during the first spawning day, while females with smaller males produced few eggs during the first day but then increased egg production. Despite females produced more eggs when mating with relatively larger males, their eggs had substantially lower fertilization rates compared to females mating with relatively smaller males. Hence, overall, the reproductive fitness was lowest when females mated with a relatively large male. These findings could help to explain the maintenance of male size variation under natural conditions.     

Reduction of mating receptivity and changes in longevity of rice leaf bug, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trigonotylus caelestialium</Emphasis> (Heteroptera: Miridae), females after mating

To develop new and improved pest management strategies against Trigonotylus caelestialium (Kirkaldy) (Heteroptera: Miridae), a major pest of rice in Japan, it is important to understand the mating behavior of this species. In this study, we examined the effect of mating on subsequent mating receptivity and longevity in female T. caelestialium. After mating, females temporarily exhibited decreased mating receptivity. In addition, the cumulative remating frequency of females that mated with a male that had just mated with another female was higher than that of females who mated with virgin males. As a result, we hypothesized that the male ejaculate reduces female mating receptivity. Furthermore, mated females survived longer without food and water than virgin females; on the other hand, the life span of mated females with access to food and water was less than that for virgin females.     

Mating increases plasma levels of prostaglandin F2 alpha in female garter snakes

Plasma levels of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) in female red-sided garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis) were measured at intervals after mating or exposure to males. PGF2 alpha levels increased significantly within 15 minutes of mating and peaked 6-24 hr after mating. Females that did not mate, but received similar amounts of male courtship, had levels of PGF2 alpha significantly lower than those of females that mated. These results extend previous findings that unmated female garter snakes injected with PGF2 alpha exhibit sexual behavior characteristic of females that have mated. Together these data indicate that female garter snakes elaborate PGF2 alpha in response to stimuli associated with mating and that PGF2 alpha has a functional role in inducing post-mating declines in sexual behavior of this species.     

Extrinsic and Intrinsic Factors Influencing the Emerging and Burrowing Behaviors of Reproductively Active Adults of the White Grub Beetle, Dasylepida ishigakiensis

The subtropical scarab beetle, Dasylepida ishigakiensis, has a two-year life cycle. This study showed the time of adult emergence from the soil relative to the time of dusk and the presence of the female sex pheromone. Beetles collected on Miyako Island were transported to Tsukuba where they were immediately placed under natural day lengths in February. They exhibited two emergence peaks that corresponded to the times of dusk in Tsukuba and on the island, respectively. Males emerged precociously if a lure containing synthetic female sex pheromone was placed in their container, whereas the females’ behavior was unaffected. Previous observations that mated females dig deeper in the soil than virgin females, males or mated males were confirmed. To explore the underlying mechanism controlling the behavioral change associated with mating, liquid material derived from the male accessory glands, seminal vesicles and female bursa copulatrix was injected into beetles, but without any significant influence on burrowing behavior. No significant influence was also observed in beetles injected with anisomycin, an inhibitor of protein synthesis related to memory in other animals.     

Nestbox provisioning in a rural population of Eurasian Kestrels: breeding performance,nest predation and parasitism

The breeding biology of the Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculusin nestboxes in farmland was studied to test for differences between artificial and natural sites. We report on the direct effect of nestbox provisioning on some life-history traits and how nestbox use affects nest predation and parasitism. Five types of nest-sites were available: nestboxes on poles and trees (artificial sites), stick nests on trees, stick nests on pylons and holes in buildings (‘natural’ sites). The Kestrel population increased from 23 pairs in 1993 (prior to nestbox installation) to 55 in 1998 as nestboxes were provided. In general, pairs breeding in trees started to lay later than those nesting in nestboxes on poles or in building holes, but this difference was probably associated with habitat quality rather than nest type. Differences in clutch size were found between nest-sites in some years, and were associated with laying date and, probably, with variation in territory quality. Using only data from successful nests, pairs breeding in nestboxes produce more fledglings than those in building holes or pylons. The frequency of nest predation was higher in natural sites than in nestboxes. The number of fledglings from pairs breeding in nestboxes was higher than from those breeding in old stick nests in trees when all nests were considered. Nestbox provisioning had no effect on the occurrence of the ectoparasite Carnus hemapterus, but chicks from nestboxes showed higher intensity of infection. Our results suggest that nestbox provisioning increases reproductive success and the frequency of nest predation or intensity of parasite infestation in Kestrels.     

Postpartum copulatory and maternal behaviour in Norway rats under seminatural conditions

Virgin female rats were mated at a freely cycling oestrus, and then again with the same males at the subsequent postpartum oestrus. Copulatory behaviour at each mating was compared and the temporal patterning of the female's mating and maternal behaviour was analysed. Postpartum females were found to conserve the number of ejaculatory series received, yet the series were shorter, resulting in a shorter time being occupied, by this mating. During mating, females spent little time with their litters, and then mainly in the post-ejaculatory intervals. Ejaculatory series were rarely disrupted by nesting. The postpartum female rat seems to engage in behavioural time-sharing.