Scraping Sounds Produced by a Social Wasp (Asteloeca ujhelyii, Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

A distinct behavior performed by workers of the social wasp Asteloeca ujhelyii is described: guard waSPS, sitting outside of the nest around the entrance hole, scratch the nest envelope with their forelegs, thereby producing an audible ‘scraping sound’. Field observations revealed a relationship between the occurrence of the scraping behavior and the occurrences of waSPS entering and leaving the nest. The scraping was experimentally reproduced in the laboratory by moving a dissected wasp's leg parallel to the plane of the nest envelope. The resulting substrate‐borne vibrations propagate very well over a distance of a few centimeters. The amplitude of these vibrations depends on the velocity of the scraping movements. The possible role of the scraping behavior in the waSPS’ communication is discussed.     

Territorial defence by the Brazilian damsel Stegastes fuscus (Teleostei: Pomacentridae)

Territorial defence by Brazilian damselfish Stegastes fuscus was studied in north-east Brazil through underwater observations. The fish mostly fed on Gellidium sp. and strongly defended a territory with a mean size of 2 m² (range 1·27–3·07 m²); its mean ± s.d. feeding rate was 8·73 ± 2·44 bites min⁻¹. Stegastes fuscus responded similarly to all intruding fish species, with aggressive behaviour becoming more pronounced only with an increase in the number of fishes in the sampled area. Analysis of attacks elicited by different fish species placed within S. fuscus ' territory, however, showed that it launched more attacks on conspecifics than on other fishes.     

Effect of mobbing toward predators by the damselfishPomacentrus coelestis (Pisces: Pomacentridae)

Field observations on prey-predator interactions, focusing on mobbing behavior byPomacentrus coelestis, were made in the shallow water of Shirahama, Japan. Within the breeding colony of the damselfish, indirect group mobbing toward 6 ambushers and direct mobbing with physical contact only by nesting males toward a stalker were observed. The direct mobbing toward the stalker (moray eel) is suggested to have involved an element of egg-guarding. Group mobbing was usually released by large and quick attacking motion of the predator. Attack intervals of a predator were much longer after it was mobbed than when it was not mobbed, but there was no significant difference in success ratio of the next attack whether mobbing was elicited or not. Consequently, it is concluded that mobbing effectively reduced future predation risk of each mobber.     

Evolution and Diversity of Vibrational Signals in Mantophasmatodea (Insecta)

Vibrational communication for species identification and mate location is widespread among insects. We investigated the vibrational communication signals of 13 species of the insect order Mantophasmatodea (Heelwalkers). Males and females produce percussive signals by tapping their abdomens on the substrate to locate conspecific mates. We show that male and female calls are of similar general structure but differ in temporal characteristics. Using a principal component analysis, we demonstrate that most species can be distinguished by their calls only. Mapping the calls onto an existing molecular phylogenetic tree reveals a slow diverging drift of male call pattern but no specific trend. For females, a trend from faster towards slower pulse repetition times is indicated. Two sympatric species, Karoophasma biedouwense and Viridiphasma clanwilliamense (Austrophasmatidae), exhibit very different call parameters. The latter species produces calls rather different from all other investigated species, which might hint at reproductive character displacement.     

A Peculiar New Pampatheriidae (Mammalia: Xenarthra: Cingulata) from the Pleistocene of Argentina and Comments on Pampatheriidae Diversity

Pampatheriidae are a group of cingulates native to South American that are known from the middle Miocene to the lower Holocene. Two genera have been recognized between the lower Pleistocene and the lower Holocene: Pampatherium Gervais and Ameghino (Ensenadan, Bonaerian and Lujanian, lower Pleistocene–lower Holocene) and Holmesina Simpson (Blancan, Irvingtonian, upper Pliocene–lower Holocene). They have been mainly differentiated by their osteoderm morphology and cranio-dental characters. These taxa had a wide latitudinal distribution, extending from the southern part of South America (Península Valdés, Argentina) to North America (Florida, USA). In this contribution, we describe a new genus and species of Pampatheriidae for the lower and middle Pleistocene of Buenos Aires Province and for the upper Pleistocene of Santa Fe Province (Argentina).The new taxon is represented by disarticulated osteoderms, one skull element, two thoracic vertebrae and a right femur and patella. It has extremely complex osteoderm ornamentations and particular morphological characters of the cranial element and femur that are not found in any other species of the family. This new taxon, recorded in the lower–middle Pleistocene (Ensenadan Stage/Age) and in the upper Pleistocene–early Holocene (Lujanian Stage/Age), is incorporated to the Pleistocene mammal assemblage of South America. Finally, the Pampatheriidae diversity is greater during the Lujanian Stage/Age than the Ensenadan Stage/Age.     

Colonial Nesting and the Importance of the Brood Size in Male Parasitic Reproduction of the Mediterranean Damselfish Chromis chromis (Pisces: Pomacentridae)

We investigated male parasitic spawning in a protected natural population of Mediterranean damselfish. Chromis chromis nested in colonies, inside which males showed a high variability in mating success. Our field observations indicate that the egg batches obtained by the most successful fish were five times bigger than the ones obtained by the less successful fish and many males never received ovipositions. On the other hand, reproductive parasitism was a common tactic within the colony. Successful nesting males sneaked into their neighbours' nests depending on the amount of eggs in their nest, with small clutch size inducing the males to parasitic reproduction. Males failing to receive egg depositions on their nests showed a significantly higher parasitism rate than successful males. Non-territorial males occupied stations in the water column above the breeding grounds and whenever the opportunity arose, they disrupted spawning in progress, stealing copulation with females. We observed that the likelihood of males being parasitized by sneakers was not correlated with the size of their own clutch; on the contrary, it depended both on the number of neighbouring nests and on the number of neighbouring males with barren nests (i.e. unsuccessful males). No correlation was found between parasitic behaviour and male size, suggesting males may switch between spawning in their own and in their neighbour's nests depending on mating opportunity. The hypothesis that colonial nesting facilitates parasitic reproduction is here discussed.     

Evolution of Acoustic Communication Signals of Mammals: Friendly Close-Range Vocalizations in Felidae (Carnivora)

The distribution of the three friendly close-range vocalization types known in the Felidae was plotted on a recently published phylogeny of the cat family (Felidae) based on sequence comparisons of two mitochondrial DNA genes and other molecular and biochemical characters, with extrapolated divergence ages of its various lineages. It was found to be congruent with this phylogeny. One of the sound types is likely to be present in 30 species of the family (documented in 22 so far), another is present in 4, and the third in 2 species only; these sound types represent a phylogenetic transformation series. The latter two vocalization types also differ considerably from the first in the mode of sound production. From this, evolutionary conservatism over a long epoch for the one widespread vocalization type can be inferred, and less conservatism in the type present in four species, while the emergence of the least common type is evidence of relatively considerable and rapid evolutionary change. Thus, acoustic communication signals in a group of taxa can evolve at considerably different rates, and for a specific character this rate can differ between different lineages of that group. The ultimate causes of the evolutionary stability or of the subsequent relatively rapid change in sound structure and mode of sound production in these felid vocalizations are unknown.     

Acoustic Signals of Katydids of the Tribe Gampsocleidini (Orthoptera,Tettigoniidae) in Russia

Entomological Review - Temporal patterns and frequency spectra of the acoustic calling signals of males of Uvarovites inflatus and four species of the genus Gampsocleis occurring in Russia are...     

Modular diversification of the locomotor system in damselfishes (Pomacentridae)

As fish move and interact with their aquatic environment by swimming, small morphological variations of the locomotor system can have profound implications on fitness. Damselfishes (Pomacentridae) have inhabited coral reef ecosystems for more than 50 million years. As such, habitat preferences and behavior could significantly constrain the morphology and evolvability of the locomotor system. To test this hypothesis, we used phylogenetic comparative methods on morphometric, ecological and behavioral data. While body elongation represented the primary source of variation in the locomotor system of damselfishes, results also showed a diverse suite of morphological combinations between extreme morphologies. Results show clear associations between behavior, habitat preferences, and morphology, suggesting ecological constraints on shape diversification of the locomotor system. In addition, results indicate that the three modules of the locomotor system are weakly correlated, resulting in versatile and independent characters. These results suggest that Pomacentridae is shape may result from the interaction between (1) integrated parts of morphological variation that maintain overall swimming ability and (2) relatively independent parts of the morphology that facilitate adaptation and diversification. J. Morphol. 277:603–614, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Confusion of Phonotaxis by Masking Sounds in the Bushcricket Conocephalus brevipennis (Tettigoniidae: Conocephalinae)

Female Conocephalus brevipennis, executing phonotaxis to the call of a conspecific male broadcast from a speaker, were subjected to varying levels of background sound so as to progressively mask the attracting signal. The background consisted of either random noise or the call of a sympatric congener, C. nigropleurum and was delivered from above the orienting female. Disruption of phonotaxis was assayed by monitoring the angular dispersion of the female's exit path from the arena, relative to the position of the conspecific call. Random noise significantly interfered with phonotaxis when it was within 2 dB of the conspecific call intensity, both signals measured at the centre of the arena. The equivalent effect of the call C. nigropleurum was 5 dB above conspecific call intensity. The implication of signal loss within background noise is discussed as are the possible interactive behaviours of competing sympatric syntopic species.     

Near-reef elemental signals in the otoliths of settling Pomacentrus amboinensis (Pomacentridae)

Coral Reefs - Settlement is a key life history transition for coral reef fishes, and how long a fish spends close to a reef prior to settlement is poorly understood. We used laser ablation...     

Observations on the behaviour and coloration of some coral reef fish (family: Pomacentridae)

Observations were made on the behaviour of 16 pomacentrid coral reef fish living under natural conditions. On the basis of the habit recorded for the majority of individuals observed in each, the fish were divided into three groups (solitary, pairing and social). Correlations were established between coloration and behaviour. Six out of the 8 social species studied have patterns of black (or brown) and white (or yellow) dorso‐ventral stripes. All 6 of the solitary species have colours other than black, brown, grey‐green, and white.     

Diversity of the Vocal Signals of Concave-Eared Torrent Frogs (Odorrana tormota): Evidence for Individual Signatures

Male concave-eared torrent frogs ( Odorrana tormota ) have an unusually large call repertoire and have been shown to communicate ultrasonically. We investigated the individual specificity of male advertisement calls in order to explore the acoustic bases of individual recognition, which was demonstrated in an accompanying study. Vocalizations of 15 marked males were recorded in the field. A quantitative analysis of the signals revealed eight basic call-types. Two of them (the single- and multi-note long-calls) were investigated in more detail. Long-calls were characterized by pronounced and varying frequency modulation patterns, and abundant occurrence of nonlinear phenomena (NLP), i.e., frequency jumps, subharmonics, biphonations and deterministic chaos. The occurrence of NLP was predictable from the contour of the fundamental frequency in the harmonic segment preceding the onset of the NLP, and this prediction showed individual-specific patterns. Fifteen acoustic variables of the long calls were measured, all of which were significantly different among individuals, except biphonic segment duration. Discriminant function analysis (DFA) showed that 54.6% of the calls could be correctly assigned to individual frogs. The correct classification was above chance level, suggesting that individual specificity of calls underlie the ability of males to behaviorally discriminate the vocal signals of their neighbors from those of strangers, a remarkable feat for a frog species with a diverse vocal repertoire. The DFA classification results were lower than those for other anurans, however. We hypothesize that there is a tradeoff between an increase in the fundamental frequency of vocalizations to avoid masking by low-frequency ambient background noise, and a decrease in individual-specific vocal tract information extractable from the signal.     

Field experiments on species recognition by the threespot damselfish, Eupomacentrus planifrons, (Pisces: Pomacentridae)

The threespot damselfish, Eupomacentrus planifrons, defends differently sized territories against individuals of different species. Tests were conducted in the field to determine the mechanism(s) by which this interspecific recognition occurs. It was found to be based largely on visual cues, the most important of which was body form. Both colour and movement had different effects for intra- and inter-specific intruders. Based on these data, it is proposed that different mechanisms underlie the recognition of and territorial defence against the two groups. Further, interspecific territoriality need not be an ‘accidental’ form of intraspecific territoriality nor a transitional phase in the divergence of already established species, but, rather, may be a stable system based on the simple need to defend an area against non-related competitors.     

Mating rendezvous in monogenean gill parasites of the humbug Dascyllus aruanus (Pisces: Pomacentridae)

The gills of the humbug, Dascyllus aruanus (Pomacentridae), were infected by a monogenean genus Haliotrema at a high prevalence (83%) but with a low mean intensity (5.6 worms/fish). All the gill arches of 365 fish, caught on the fringing reef of Moorea Island (French Polynesia), were examined for parasites. Each hemibranch was divided into 12 subequal sections. Monogeneans showing microhabitat overlap were defined as couples. Hosts with low intensity of infection (fewer than 5 monogeneans per gill) were selected and couples were recorded. Among the 37 hosts harboring 2 worms on their gills, 18 fish were infected with these 2 monogeneans on the same gill side of the body; 50% (n = 9) of these harbored monogeneans within the same gill arch and 55% (n = 5) of these last fish showed individual parasites within the same section of the gill. In the case of hosts with few monogeneans (3 and 4 individuals; n = 37) on the same arch, more than 40% (n = 16) harbored worms in couples. There may be some chemical communication that allowed these monogeneans to migrate toward each other and thus enhance mating success. Mating rendezvous appears to be a more important factor than site location for these gill monogeneans.