Allogrooming, partner choice, and dominance in male anubis baboons

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that among unrelated male baboons (Papio cynocephalus anubis) in single-gender social groups there is no significant association between dominance status and allogrooming performance. The hypothesis was tested using behavioral measures obtained by focal animal sampling techniques. The results indicate that unrelated male baboons established well-defined linear dominance hierarchies, formed allogrooming relationships with one another, and exhibited a nonrandom distribution of allogrooming; however, there were no significant relationships between dominance rank and the frequency of allogrooming. We further tested our results by grouping individuals into three dominance status classes (high, middle, and low) and comparing the classes. Analysis of variance demonstrated no significant differences in rates of allogrooming by dominance class. These results suggest that dominance did not account for the variation in observed allogrooming behavior: Dominance status did not appear to determine the frequency with which animals groomed others, the number of grooming partners, or frequency of grooming that any individual received in comparison to that performed. High-ranking animals did not have significantly more grooming partners than low-ranking animals, and there appeared to be little competition within the groups for subordinates to groom high-ranking animals. When age, kinship, and group tenure are controlled, performance and reception of allogrooming are not strongly associated with dominance in single-gender social groups of male anubis baboons.     

Indirect genetic effects and the genetic bases of social dominance: evidence from cattle

Genetic studies of social behaviour have currently received new impetus from models including indirect genetic effects (IGEs) of social partners. This study aimed at investigating the contribution of conspecifics in social dominance, considered as response of dyadic interaction that is, winning (dominant individual) or losing (subordinate). A genetic correlation of −1 is expected between the attitude to win and the attitude to loose, and because a population always accounts for half winners and half losers, the heritability of the dominant status should be close to zero. Specifically, social dominance was studied in Aosta Chestnut and Aosta Black Pied (Bos taurus) breeds, alpine rustic cattle famous for traditional tournaments where pairs of cows assess dominant status in bloodless fights. The outcomes of 25 590 dyadic interactions performed by 8159 individuals in 11 years were analysed by applying a classical quantitative model and models including indirect effects. Data were analysed via Bayesian approach on a threshold trait. The assessment of variances revealed a genetic correlation of −0.976 between direct and indirect genetic components. The heritability measured on a liability scale was 0.122 for direct phenotype, but decreased to 0.014 when the total heritable variance (TBV) was considered. The trend of estimated breeding values showed that the total TBV was constant over the years, even though its direct component increased and the indirect part decreased. This result confirms the relevance of IGEs on social behaviour and the assumption that the mean individual social dominance cannot evolve within a population, due to the evolutionary constraints imposed by the ‘social environment''.     

Cyanobacterial dominance in Brazil: distribution and environmental preferences

Based on a literature survey, we evaluated the periods of cyanobacterial dominance in Brazil. We hypothesized that variability of environmental forces along the country will promote or facilitate temporal and spatial mosaic in cyanobacterial dominance. The most striking outcomes are related to the dominance of Cylindrospermopsis, Dolichospermum, and Microcystis. Although they share important adaptive strategies (e.g., aerotopes, large size and toxins production), our findings suggest that they have different environmental preferences. Dolichospermum and Microcystis dominated mainly in warm-rainy periods whereas Cylindrospermopsis was more common during dry periods and in mixed systems, or formed perennial dominance. Maximum phosphorus concentrations were observed in reservoirs dominated by Cylindrospermopsis. Although the main genera reached high biomass levels individually, different abilities to form dominance and co-dominance were observed. The number of co-dominance of Chroococales and Nostocales was almost the same as the individual occurrence of the main genera from these groups. This dataset reveals patterns of dominance of these cyanobacteria and also indicates that physiological features will cause differences in the mechanisms of interactions between species. The understanding of these processes and their relationship to environmental conditions will promote better understanding of cyanobacterial dominance and increase our ability to predict and manage these events.     

Relationships between cytology, bacteriology and vaginal discharge scores and reproductive performance in dairy cattle

The objective was to compare three diagnostic approaches for intrauterine infection and inflammation: scoring of vaginal contents; quantification of percentage of nucleated cells that were polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) following endometrial cytology; and intra-uterine bacteriology. Dairy cows (n = 303) were examined twice, Days 28 (D28) and 42 (D42), where Day 0 = day of calving. Associations between gross vaginal inflammation scores, uterine cytology, and bacteriology, and subsequent reproductive performance were examined using multivariable models. There was fair agreement at D28 (Kappa = 0.29), but only slight agreement at D42 (Kappa < 0.15), between PMN% and gross vaginal inflammation score. Cows were categorized as having PMN% in the highest quartile (H), or not (L), at both D28 and D42; therefore, cows were categorized as PMNLL, PMNLH, PMNHL, or PMNHH. Cows in the highest PMN% quartile at both time periods were slower to conceive (P < 0.001) than those in all other quartiles (mean ± SEM 32.2 ± 2.3, 37.0 ± 5.3, 40.8 ± 4.1, and 55.3 ± 7.3 d from start of breeding to conception for PMNLL, PMNLH, PMNHL, and PMNHH PMN% cows, respectively). Milk yield was greater (P = 0.001) in cows in the lower quartiles for PMN% at D28 and D42 (i.e., PMNLL) than those in the PMNHH and PMNHL categories, with PMNLH intermediate (P = 0.001). We concluded that PMN% was a better predictor of reproductive performance than either intra-uterine bacteriology or gross vaginal inflammation score. Cows in the highest quartile for PMN% at both D28 and D42 had lower pregnancy rates, took longer to conceive, and had a lower milk yield than those in the lower PMN% categories.     

Relationships between variability in precipitation,river levels,and beef cattle production in the Brazilian Pantanal

The hydrology of the Brazilian Pantanal, part of the largest humid tropical area on the planet, follows the rhythm of seasonal floods. The traditional movement of cattle herds in the southern Pantanal is defined by these seasonal flooding patterns, which determine the availability and quality of native-grass pastures throughout the year. Extreme hydrological events, such as prolonged droughts and intense floods, can impact the management of cattle in this region, preventing access to, circulation within, and occupation of some grazing areas. This study aims to analyze the spatial and temporal variability of precipitation, the river levels in this region from 1974 to 2012, and assessed the effects on the evolution of local beef cattle stocks. We integrated the spatiotemporal variability of precipitation and river levels for six gaging stations and standardized these variables using standard deviation and linear trends at annual and seasonal scales. Additionally, we integrated the results with an analysis of the livestock production within the region’s municipalities. Regional precipitation was highly variable, including an almost decadal oscillation, with positive trends in parts of the 1970s and 1980s and a negative trend since the 1990s. River levels in the northern portion of the basin and in the Paraguay River corresponded to those dynamics while presenting marked anomalies. Simultaneously, river levels in the eastern Pantanal changed from negative to positive anomalies, which were more intense in wet months. Both the eastern and western patterns reflected the occurrence of extreme El Niño–Southern Oscillation events and other large-scale climatic patterns. In intra-annual terms, the variability of the river levels during the flooded months at four of the six gaging stations studied suggests an early onset or delay of the flood season, as well as positive anomalies in the ebbing months and in the southeast. Given the lags in flow between different rivers in the region, this behavior draws attention to dam construction and intensification of localized flooding in the southern areas, which may impact everyday life and cattle management. For example, from 2009 to 2012, two severe droughts and an extreme flood significantly impacted livestock numbers in the region. Overall, herd numbers decreased (increased) in humid (dry) periods, including a reduction of over 1 million head during the flood of 1973–1974. The differential level patterns at annual, wet season, and dry season between the eastern and western sides of the Pantanal modulate the livestock activities, where the strong negative anomalies of the levels along the eastern side seem to force the diminution of beef cattle stock at local regions in different intensities in annual scale. This reinforces the effects of climate variability and extreme hydrological events on the management and dynamics of the beef cattle industry and market in Brazil.     

Relationships between administration of GnRH, body condition score and fertility in Holstein dairy cattle

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of GnRH treatment in dairy cows differing in body condition score. A total of 2437 primiparous and multiparous cows was allocated randomly to receive either GnRH (100 mug) or placebo at the post partum exam (25 to 35 d) and at the first breeding. Complete records were available from 1906 cows: Group 1 (n = 535) placebo and placebo; Group 2 (n = 489) GnRH and placebo; Group 3 (n = 438) placebo and GnRH; and Group 4 (n = 444) GnRH and GnRH. The change of body condition score during early lactation was determined on a 1 to 5 scale (1 = emaciated to 5 = obese). Cows with a high body condition score (>/=3.0) at the first breeding had 8.8 fewer days to first service and 6.4 fewer days open but more services per conception (0.16) than cows with low body condition score (<3.0). Conception rate improved when GnRH was administered at the first breeding to cows with a body condition score of <3.0 at the first breeding regardless of parity. The administration of GnRH at the post partum exam decreased the conception rate in first lactation cows but was beneficial for cows in second and greater lactations. Thus the efficacy of GnRH may not be consistent in all parities and body condition groups.     

Commensal feeding associations between Yellow Wagtails Motacilla flava and cattle

Commensal 'beating' associations in which one party exploits prey disturbed by the other seem to be fairly common in terrestrial habitats (e.g. Dean and MacDonald 1981). Most such commensal relations appear to be opportunistic phenomena, rather than regularly occurring associations with possible fitness effects for the commensal, but few of them have been studied in detail. Exceptions are a few apparently very regular associations, for example those between birds and army ants (e.g. Willis 1966, Willis & Oniki 1978), between anis Crotophaga spp and cattle (Rand 1953, Smith 1971) and, especially, between Cattle Egrets Bubulcus ibis and large herbivorous mammals (for references, see Kushlan 1978). In the latter two cases, clear advantages in the form of higher food intake rates have been demonstrated for individuals foraging commensally (Rand 1953, Heatwole 1965, Smith 1971, Dinsmore 1973, Grubb 1976, Burger & Gochfeld 1982).     

Relationships between oral morphology and feeding style in the Ungulata: a phylogenetically controlled evaluation

In ungulates it is argued that specialization in the consumption of a particular type of food (feeding style) is reflected in morphological adaptations of the organs involved in the selection, processing and digestion of food. We analysed the differences in size and morphology of some oral traits that have been functionally related to food-selection ability (muzzle width, incisor-arcade shape, incisor shape), prehension of food (incisor protrusion), food comminution (molar occlusal surface area, hypsodonty (high-crowned molars)) and intake rate (incisor breadth) between ungulate species with different feeding styles (browser, mixed feeder, grazer). Grazers were characterized by large-body-size species. After controlling only for body mass, we found that grazers had wider muzzles and incisors, more-protruding incisors and more-bulky and higher-crowned molars than did mixed feeders and browsers. When the analyses took into account both body mass and phylogeny, only body mass and two out of the three hypsodonty indexes used remained significantly different between feeding styles. Browsers were smaller, on average, than mixed feeders and grazers, whilst grazers and mixed feeders did not differ in size. Also, browsers had shorter and less-bulky molars than did mixed feeders and grazers; the latter two feeding styles did not differ from each other in any of the hypsodonty indexes. We conclude that the adaptation to different dietary types in most of the oral traits studied is subsumed by the effects of body mass and the sharing of common ancestors. We hypothesize that differences in the ability to exploit different food resources primarily result from differences in body mass between species, and also discuss why hypsodonty characterizes feeding styles.     

Relationships between fecal pellet production and feeding in the calanoid copepod Boeckella

The number, size (mm³ pellet ^–1) and total volume of fecalpellets produced (mm³ h^–1) by Boeckella titicacae increasedwith concentration of Chlorella and natural seston in threedifferent lakewaters from Bahia de Puno and Lago Grande of LakeTiticaca and nearby Laguna Arapa. The three lakewaters differedin the size and number of fecal pellets produced at seston concentrations>0.5 mg dry wt l^–1. However, the total volume of fecalpellets egested varied little. Large-sized food (>10 µg)resulted in larger pellets but smaller total fecal production.Food concentration had parallel effects on the production offeces and on feeding rates. Both fecal production and feedingincreased linearly with food concentration with saturation between5 and 7.5 x 10⁵ Chlorella ml^–1 (3.7–5.6 mg dry wtl^–1). Varied responses in fecal production when fed differentsize fractions of lake seston suggest Boeckella has a complexand flexible feeding behavior. Feeding preferences of B.titicacaeand B.occidentalis (Ivlev index) for two seston size fractionsare generally reflected by fecal production.     

Relationships between chronotype,social jetlag,sleep, obesity and blood pressure in healthy young adults

Sleep disturbances, chronotype and social jetlag (SJL) have been associated with increased risks for major chronic diseases that take decades to develop, such as obesity, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. Potential relationships between poor sleep, chronotype and SJL as they relate to metabolic risk factors for chronic disease have not been extensively investigated. This prospective study examined chronotype, SJL and poor sleep in relation to both obesity and elevated blood pressure among healthy young adults.

SJL and objective sleep measures (total sleep time, sleep onset latency, wake after sleep onset and sleep efficiency) were derived from personal rest/activity monitoring (armband actigraphy) among 390 healthy adults 21–35 years old. Participants wore the device for 6–10 days at 6-month intervals over a 2-year period (n = 1431 repeated observations). Chronotypes were categorized into morning, intermediate and evening groups using repeated measures latent class analysis. Means of SJL and sleep measures among latent chronotype groups were compared using partial F-tests in generalized linear mixed models. Generalized linear mixed models also were used to generate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) examining the relationship between repeated measures of chronotype, SJL, sleep and concurrent anthropometric outcome measures (body mass index, percentage of body fat, waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio), systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure.

Sleep latency ≥12 min was associated with increased odds of a high waist-to-height ratio (OR = 1.37; CI: 1.03–1.84). Neither chronotype nor SJL was independently associated with anthropometric outcomes or with blood pressure. Relationships between poor sleep and anthropometric outcomes or blood pressure varied by chronotype. Morning types with total sleep time <6 h, sleep efficiency <85% or wake after sleep onset ≥60 min were more likely to have an increased percentage of body fat, waist-to-hip ratio and waist-to-height ratio relative to those with an intermediate chronotype. Similarly, sleep latency ≥12 min was associated with increased odds of elevated systolic blood pressure (OR = 1.90; CI: 1.15–3.16, p_interaction = 0.02) among morning versus intermediate chronotypes. No relationships between poor sleep and obesity or elevated blood pressure were observed among evening chronotypes.

The results from this study among healthy young adults suggest that poor sleep among morning types may be more strongly associated with obesity and elevated blood pressure relative to those with an intermediate (neutral) chronotype. Sleep-related metabolic alterations among different chronotypes warrant further investigation.     

Plant sex and hare feeding preferences

Summary To evaluate the general extent to which sex-related differences in palatability occur in boreal dioecious woody plants, males and females of five dioecious woody plant species were presented to free-ranging mountain hares (Lepus timidus) during winter. Hares strongly preferred branches from male plants when feeding on Populus tremula and Salix caprea and weakly preferred male S. pentandra. However, they did not show any sex-related preference when feeding on the other two species studied (Myrica gale and Juniperus communis). Nitrogen concentration and, to some degree, digestibility showed strong relationships with hare food preferences. By contrast, the concentration of phenolics was only weakly related to feeding preference. Phenolics could, nevertheless, still be important if only one or a few specific compounds deter hare feeding. These results indicate that sex-related differences in plant palatability in the boreal forest might be more widespread than previously believed, particularly for species of the family Salicaceae. Thus, herbivores might be responsible for the female-biased sex ratios found in willow populations in northern Scandinavia (e.g. Elmqvist et al. 1988).     

Natural selection and social preferences

A large number of individuals are randomly matched into groups, where each group plays a finite symmetric game. Individuals breed true. The expected number of surviving offspring depends on own material payoff, but may also, due to cooperative breeding and/or reproductive competition, depend on the material payoffs to other group members. The induced population dynamic is equivalent with the replicator dynamic for a game with payoffs derived from those in the original game. We apply this selection dynamic to a number of examples, including prisoners' dilemma games with and without a punishment option, coordination games, and hawk-dove games. For each of these, we compare the outcomes with those obtained under the standard replicator dynamic. By way of a revealed-preference argument, our selection dynamic can explain certain "altruistic" and "spiteful" behaviors that are consistent with individuals having social preferences.     

Interactions between cattle and biting flies: effects on the feeding rate of tsetse

In Zimbabwe, studies were made of the effect of host behaviour on the feeding success of Glossina pallidipes Austen and G. morsitans morsitans Westwood (Diptera: Glossinidae) attracted to cattle of different age and sex. The mean feeding rates for male and female G. pallidipes attracted to oxen were 60% and 58%, respectively, compared to 33% and 53% for male and female G. m. morsitans. The feeding rate of G. pallidipes varied between oxen and was inversely correlated with a host's rate of defensive leg movements, which, in turn, was positively correlated with the density of Stomoxys spp. (Diptera: Muscidae) caught in the vicinity of the host. Tsetse were significantly less successful in feeding from young cattle. For G. pallidipes, the feeding rate on calves (<6 months) was 11%, whereas for male and female G. m. morsitans the rates were 12% and 20%, respectively. Significantly lower feeding rates were apparent for cattle aged up to 2 years, when the feeding rate for G. pallidipes (31%) was still significantly less than that on mature oxen (68%). Feeding rates for G. pallidipes on adult female cattle were lower than those on oxen (45% vs. 61%). The lower feeding rates in young animals were attributed to higher rates of defensive movements. The results suggest that higher rates of defensive activities by young cattle reduce the risk of them contracting trypanosomiasis.     

Recognition and social dominance inPolistes wasps

It has been known for a long time that relationships among femalePolistes wasps are controlled by dominance through linear hierarchy. A classical model of the development of social hierarchies suggests that individual recognition intervenes to maintain the hierarchy established after the initial confrontation that takes place when two animals meet for the first time. This hypothesis was tested in the present study onPolistes gallicus (L.) foundresses. A tolerance index was calculated from the reactions of a dominant female when already known or unacquainted females were successively encountered. Results show that individualised social recognition is possible and that it takes more than 4 h of inter-individual contact for individual characteristics to be memorised.     

Mutual ornamentation, sexual selection, and social dominance in the black swan

We investigated the adaptive significance of a sexually monomorphicornament in the black swan Cygnus atratus. Both sexes grow curledfeathers on their wings (range 7–22 curled feathers perwing), which are displayed prominently in a range of socialinteractions. The number of curled feathers increased untilthe birds reached sexual maturity (at 2 years of age) but didnot vary with age thereafter. We found evidence for both sexualand social functions of the ornament. Paired, mature individualsof both sexes had higher numbers of curled feathers than unpaired,mature birds, and individuals paired assortatively with respectto curled feather number, suggesting the feathers may be involvedin mutual sexual selection. More ornamented individuals weredominant in agonistic interactions with birds of the same sexand pairing status. Highly ornamented pairs were also more likelyto maintain extended tenancy of preferred cygnet feeding areas,which resulted in improved offspring survival. The curled feathersthus appear to function as a signal of social dominance, whichis highly correlated with reproductive success and is thereforea reliable signal of parental quality in mate choice.     

Individual differences in feeding efficiencies and feeding preferences of captive great tits

The preferences of eight, adult, hand-reared great tits for feeding on four different types of feeding sites have been tested. There were significant differences between individuals in these preferences, and the preferences for the different objects were correlated with the birds' individual feeding efficiencies on the objects. This correlation was thought to be a result of the birds' experience and learning during training for the experiment. During the tests the birds tended to make runs of visits to the same object type. This effect was more marked for less-preferred objects, and when the birds had just made a successful visit.     

Relationships between life-history strategies of European freshwater fish species and their habitat preferences

1. Focusing on the current environmental characteristics, the ‘habitat template’ theory proposes that life‐history strategies summarise how evolution has shaped species to cope with the temporal and spatial variability of their present environment. The hierarchical ‘landscape filters’ concept predicts that the distribution of species reflects their specific traits that allow them to pass through multiple habitat filters. Together, these theories showed the importance of identifying the functional relationships of species to selective habitat forces in order to predict the organisation and response of communities to the environment. 2. We test the relationships between life‐history traits of European freshwater fish species’ and their habitat preferences, to detect the strategies adopted by fish to cope with their current habitat. For this purpose, we use published data on species traits and habitat preferences (microhabitat hydraulics, temperature and oxygen level). We use multivariate analyses to classify fish species’ strategies and test the relationships between strategies and habitat preferences. 3. We identified a continuum of life‐history patterns between two extremes, with opportunistic and periodic species. Our study supports the idea that microhabitat hydraulics plays a more important role as a template for these species ecological strategies than temperature and oxygen level. Indeed, riffle habitats may select opportunistic species whereas weak relationships are found between species strategies and both their temperature and oxygen level preferences. In addition, the ratio between mortality and growth rate (dimensionless trait), reflecting a trade‐off between growth and survival, varied among species according to the use of their hydraulic habitat, with species using deep habitats exhibiting the highest values. 4. These general relationships between hydraulics and traits may be of importance in community ecology to develop predictive models to understand how fish communities change with the hydraulic environment.     

Early life-history processes in benthic octopus: Relationships between temperature, feeding, food conversion, and growth in juvenile Octopus pallidus

Initial growth in cephalopods is exponential, making early life-history critical in determining growth trajectories. Few captive studies have however examined the early life-history of cephalopods in fluctuating temperatures as would be encountered in the wild. This study investigates the relationship between early growth and the significant factors affecting growth, namely food intake, food conversion and fluctuating environmental temperatures. Pale octopus (Octopus pallidus) hatchlings were reared in captivity under either a warming or cooling temperature regime. Individual variations and periodicity in feeding rates (F_r), food conversion rates (C_r), growth rates (G_r), and the relationship between these variables and temperature were examined weekly. Food conversion rates were variable between individuals but also within individual octopus, which exhibited large fluctuations in C_r over time, exceeding 100% d^− 1 in one instance. Although individual F_r, C_r and G_r displayed fluctuations over time, there was no evidence of periodicity for any of the variables. Changes in temperature were not significantly correlated to changes in F_r, C_r or G_r. Feeding rate did not appear to influence growth rate or food conversion rate. Food conversion rate was negatively correlated to feeding rate in the same week, and positively correlated to growth rate. Short periods of low or no food consumption were common and the high values obtained for food conversion rate for some individuals suggest that octopus can grow substantially with little or no food intake. Individual variability observed in octopus growth may be dependent on the growth mechanism involved, specifically a fine balance between the continuous hyperplasic and hypertrophic growth found in cephalopods.