Male Territoriality in the Bumblebee Wolf,Philanthus bicinctus (Mickel) (Hymenoptera,Sphecidae): Observations on the Behaviour of Individual ♂♂

Observations were made on the behaviour of male Philanthus bicinctus (Mickel) which defend territories around the nesting burrows of ♀♀. ♂♂ were individually identified with small number tags and focal-animal samples were taken of the behaviour of these ♂♂. Intense interactions were observed between territorial ♂♂ and 1) conspecifics and 2) intruding insects which resembled conspecifics. Evidence is presented which suggests that ♂♂ scent mark their territories.     

Sexual Behaviour in the Slave-making Ant,Harpagoxenus canadensis M. R. Smith,and Sexual Pheromone Experiments with H. canadensis,H. americanus (Emery), and H. sublaevis (Nylander) (Hymenoptera; Formicidae)

The sexual behaviour of Harpagoxenus canadensis closely resembles that of European H. sublaevis. Young ♀♀ of both species exhibit a sexual-calling behaviour (Locksterzeln) during which they attract the ♂♂ by poison gland secretion. The sexual pheromones of both species seem to be identical, but interspecific mating is prevented by various behavioural mechanisms of the ♀♀. A third species, H. americanus, seems to be less closely related to H. canadensis and H. sublaevis: Its ♂♂ are not sensitive to the pheromones of these two species.     

The Behaviour of the Mediterranean Tripterygion Species (Pisces,Blennioidei)

The behaviour of the three mediterranean benthic fish Tripterygion tripteronotus, T. xanthosoma, and T. melanurus is described from observations in the field and observations on captive animals. The ♂♂ defend a territory only during the reproductive season; ♀♀ do not defend a territory. At the height of the breeding season, a male T. tripteronotus on average spawns with four ♀♀ Per day. The ♂ defends the territory against egg predators and cleans the eggs. ♀♀ spawn repeatedly during a spawning season. A spawning pair of T. tripteronotus frequently attracts conspecifics. The majority of these “satellites” are small, sexually mature ♂♂, which do not own a territory themselves. The reproductive strategies of the two types of ♂♂ (territorial ♂♂ and satellite ♂♂) and of the ♀♀ are discussed. On the basis of ethological, morphological, and palaegeographic data the evolution of the eastern-atlantic and mediterranean Tripterygiidae is reconstructed. A bibliography of the literature on eastern-atlantic and mediterranean Tripterygiidae is given. As in their morphology and anatomy, benthic fish show convergent adaptations in their behaviour. Some of these are pointed out and discussed.     

Field Studies on the African Fruit Bat Epomophorus wahlbergi (Sundevall), with Special Reference to Male Calling

Social interactions, site attachment and group cohesion were studied in a free-living colony of Epomophorus fruit bats. Daily activities in an undisturbed colony were recorded. Special attention was paid to the peculiar calling behaviour of courting ♂♂ during the night. Structure and repetition rate of their sounds were analyzed in the laboratory. A special mode of acoustic interaction was found and related to the observed spacing out of calling ♂♂ By following feeding animals in the field and by analysis of their faeces we found that besides fruits they eat special leaves which afford steroidal sapogenins.     

Zur Ethologie der afrikanischen Grille Phaeophilacris spectrum Saussure

In the East African cricket Phaeophilacris spectrum a few ♀♀ form a social group which is joined by a ♂ who defends the group against other ♂♂. There is a special courtship and aggressive behaviour with several action sequences. ♂♂ perform two types of non-stridulatory wing flicking.     

Zur Genetik und biologischen Bedeutung des Aggressionsverhaltens von Poecilia sphenops (Pisces,Poeciliidae)

The aggressive behaviour of hybrids between an epigeous and a cave-dwelling form of the toothcarp Poecilia sphenops was investigated in order to test whether a genetically determined reduction of aggressive behaviour exists in the cave population. The scores for five different elements of this behaviour as well as for the duration of fights support this hypothesis and suggest that aggressive behaviour in Poecilia spbenops is controlled by a closely linked polygenic system. On the basis of laboratory and field investigations, to aggressive behaviour is attributed the function of giving large ♂♂ a reproductive advantage within the framework of a body-size dependent rank order. Small ♀♀ appear to counteract this onesided selective advantage through a special strategy of sexual behaviour.     

Displays of the Honeyeater Manorina melanocephala

Investigated displays of Noisy Miners, Manorina melanocephala, in Australia. This unusual bird lives in colonies and many ♂♂ care for the offspring of each ♀ flight displays, 11 non-flight displays, and several components of facial displays (including a variable eye patch) are described. The eye patch provides a large yellow and black augmented eye, important in intimidation. No stereotyped sequence of courtship behaviour precedes copulation. Displays are used to advertise nest locations. A greeting display, the corrohoree, is extremely common. The possibility of the evolution of submissive display from threat is discussed. Special vocalisations of ♂♂ and ♀♀ are use in a duet. The maintenance of bonds among many individuals in a colony may be more important than strong pair bonds. Group cohesion is probably maintained by flight display, nest display, mobbing, and other communal activities. High interspecific aggression results in few resident species in colonies. This level of interspecific aggression might be maintained by incorporating much intraspecific mimetic display and ritualised submissive behaviour.     

Untersuchungen zur Blütenaffinität der Schachbrettweibchen (Agapetes galathea L.)

Rhopaloceran butterflies are well known to visit distinct species of flowers in order to extract nectar, normally leaving again after a short time to continue their foraging flights. Females of Agapetes galathea, however, often show a different behaviour, which is the subject of the following analysis. The dynamics of sugar production by flowers and the foraging pattern of the galathea- ♂♂ have been studied under natural conditions. Special consideration is given to the aggressive behaviour of the females towards approaching insects during their flower resting periods.     

Guinea-pig Vocalizations: Their Structure,Causation and Function

Feeding, mating behaviour, communication, breeding biology, and development of Pipa carvalhoi are described. Like in other species of the genus Pipa, the eggs are laid onto the ♀ back during several turnovers, and this behaviour cau be observed even in the absence of ♂♂ Acoustic communication involves a mating call and a combat call. The biology and behaviour of Pipa carvalhoi are compared to that of other pipid frogs, and it is suggested that the specialized breeding biology of the genus Pipa evolved as an adaptation to the life in small ponds and ditches which are rich in nutrients but poor in oxygen.     

On the Fighting Behaviour of Nannacara anomala (Pisces,Cichlidae) ♂♂

We present a quantitative analysis of the fighting behaviour of Nannacara anomala ♂♂ in a situation where asymmetries in size, dominance-relations and residency are as far as possible under control. Differences in the frequency distribution of individual behaviour patterns over time and differences in the reaction pattern towards acts from the other fish were analysed. Special emphasis was laid on whether the eventual winner or loser of the fight differed in these respects and the results are discussed in terms of the fighting tactics utilized.     

Urine Marking and Territoriality in Galago alleni (Waterhouse, 1837 — Lorisoidea,Primates) — A Field Study by Radio-telemetry

Behavioral interactions among color-marked individual Vidua chalybeata that shared common song dialects were observed for 5 years in two populations at Lochinvar National Park, Zambia. Social interactions involved ♂♂ visiting and competing for mating sites and ♀♀ visiting ♂♂ in an apparent sampling of potential copulating partners. Differences in mating success among the polygynous ♂♂ were compared with male behavior and territory resources, and criteria were developed to test the importance of intrasexual male competition and female mate choice in explaining the mating system of the populations. Song behavior best explained differences in mating success of ♂♂ with lesser effects of neighboring ♂♂ and the defensible resources around the call-sites. The social organization of song populations resembles that of a dispersed lek with ♀♀ visiting many ♂♂ but mating with few ♂♂. We discuss the observations on indigobirds in relation to behavioral selection, sexual selection, and mating systems. Mating systems of certain populations and species are compared using statistics of individual mating success.     

On Social Organization and Behaviour of the Gerenuk Litocranius walleri (Brooke 1878)

The social organization of the gerenuk in Tsavo East National Park, Kenya, is characterized by single adult ♂♂ on territories encompassing their entire home ranges, small ♀-groups of variable composition, often associated with territorial ♂♂, and small groups of subadult ♂♂. There appear to be no non-territorial adult ♂♂ (“bachelors”). Subadult ♂♂ wander about considerably, often alone, before they succeed in taking over a territory. Territorial ♂♂ perform linked urination/defecation and mark dry twigs with the antorbital gland secretion. Agonistic and courtship behaviour resemble those of other gazelles. Mother-young relations conform to the “hider type” among bovids.     

Field Cricket Spacing,and the Phonotaxis of Crickets and Parasitoid Flies to Clumped and Isolated Cricket Songs

Nearest neighbor analyses of the field crickets Gryllus integer, G. veletis, and Teleogryllus oceanicus demonstrated that calling ♂♂ were aggregated. Broadcasts of conspecific song to calling ♂♂ indicated that attraction of neighboring ♂♂ maintained inter-male distances. Broadcasts of G. integer song through aggregated and isolated loudspeakers showed that the total number of crickets and parasitoid flies, Euphasiopteryx ochracea, attracted to aggregated loudspeakers was greater than that to an isolate. The average number of attracted crickets and flies in an aggregation was comparable to the isolated total.     

Observations on Male Territories in a Carpenter Bee,Xylocopa (Neoxylocopa) hirsutissima Maidl (Hymenoptera,Anthophoridae)

Observations were made on territoriality of ♂♂ of the Brazilian carpenter bee Xylocopa hirsutissima. These territories are found on mountain tops where the ♂♂ hover from 4–6 p.m. in close vicinity of an optical beacon, being a protruding shrub or little tree. Territories are defended against other ♂♂Production of a pheromone by the mandibular glands is supposed. This territoriality as well as that of other species of the genus is considered to be an important aspect of the mating biology.     

Interspecific Communication in Fiddler Crabs: Preliminary Report of a Female Rejection Display Directed toward Courting Heterospecific ♂♂

A newly described display is apparently used by female fiddler crabs (genus Uca) in interspecific communication. The display, termed repetitive-high-rise, is directed primarily toward courting heterospecific ♂♂, which approach or are likely to approach the ♀. We postulate that the display serves to indicate the ♀'s unavailability to these ♂♂ for mating. The ♂♂ respond appropriately by ceasing their approach toward displaying ♀♀. Both reproductively receptive and unreceptive ♀♀ were observed to perform this display. ♀♀ appeared to be able to discriminate, not only between conspecific ♂♂ and heterospecific ♂♂, but also among ♂♂ of heterospecific species. The possible significance for this ability is discussed.     

Social Behaviour in a Colony of Domestic Guinea Pigs: Aggression and Dominance

Social behaviour, particularly dominance behaviour, in a colony of domestic guinea pigs was investigated. Observations were of four different types, (1) daily observations on the whole group; (2) interactions between pairs of ♂♂ (in all possible combinations) were recorded when competing over a single water source; (3) interactions between all the ♂♂ in the group observed together at a single water source; (4) as (2) but in the absence of water, in order to observe fighting. It was hoped that the study would demonstrate the extent to which a hierarchial structure, if one such existed, was consistent in different social contexts.     

The Effects of Juvenile Social Interaction on Growth Rate,Size and Age at Maturity,and Adult Social Behavior in Girardinus metallicus Poey (Pisces: Poeciliidae)

The aim of the following experiments is to identify and to deseribe those factors most probably important in determining reproductive success in male Girardinus metallicus and to investigate how competition among juveniles affects these characters. The quantitative relationships among male size, male aggressiveness, and male sexual activity are examined. Small ♂♂ are either more aggressive or less affected by aggression than large ♂♂, and they tend to exhibit higher sexual vigor. ♂♂ which are subordinate to other individuals as juveniles mature later at a larger size and tend to be less sexually active than ♂♂ dominant as juveniles. Juvenile ♂♂ are more aggressive than juvenile ♀♀. The results are discussed in terms of the ecology of the species, and interspecific comparisons are made.     

Mating Behavior in Halictine Bees (Hymenoptera: Halictidae)

Studied two types of mate-orientation behavior in ♂♂ of the sweat bee, Lasioglossum rohweri: microterritoriality and patrolling. Observations were made in both the laboratory and the field. These ♂♂ behave uniquely for Hymenoptera in that 2–5 of them establish microterritories immediately around the same nest entrance. Some ♂♂ are exclusively patrollers, flying about flowers and nest sites. Rendezvous places (locations where animals are likely to find mates) in bees are: flowers, nesting sites, vegetative parts of plants, nest entrances, air, and nests. Territoriality in male bees may have arisen independently in 7 of the 9 families of bees.     

Scent Marking by Male Golden Hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) II. The role of the flank gland scent in the causation of marking

Investigated the role of the odor of the flank gland in the stimulation of flank marking by male hamsters, Mesocricetus auratus. In the first experiment it was shown that a ♂ has customary marking posts and that a second ♂ introduced into the first ♂'s area will mark in the same places. In experiment 2 nine test ♂♂ flank marked less in the home cages of flank glandectomized ♂♂ than in the cages of normal ♂♂. In experiment 3 it was shown that flank glandectomized ♂♂ marked at within the range of frequencies for normal ♂♂.