Character displacement and the evolution of mate choice: an artificial neural network approach

Interactions with heterospecifics can promote the evolution of divergent mating behaviours between populations that do and do not occur with heterospecifics. This process--reproductive character displacement--potentially results from selection to minimize the risk of mating with heterospecifics. We sought to determine whether heterospecific interactions lead to divergence of female preferences for aspects of conspecific male signals. We used artificial neural network models to simulate a mate recognition system in which females co-occur with different heterospecifics in different populations. Populations that evolved conspecific recognition in the presence of different heterospecifics varied in their preferences for aspects of conspecific male signals. When we tested networks for their preferences of conspecific versus heterospecific signals, however, we found that networks from allopatric populations were usually able to select against heterospecifics. We suggest that female preferences for aspects of conspecific male signals can result in a concomitant reduction in the likelihood that females will mate with heterospecifics. Consequently, even females in allopatry may discriminate against heterospecific mates depending on the nature of their preferences for conspecifics. Such a pattern could potentially explain cases where reproductive character displacement is expected, but not observed.     

Canine carnassials: character displacement in the wolves, jackals and foxes of Israel

Previous research implies that competitive character displacement in felids and mustelids of Israel is expressed by canine size. Anatomy and observed killing behaviour of canids suggest that canines in this group are less adapted for the stylized role they play in felids and mustelids. Thus we hypothesized that character displacement, if it exists in canids, should not be manifested more clearly by canine size than by other traits. Five sympatric and at least partially syntopic canids occupy Israel, while in North Africa the largest (wolf) and smallest (Blanford's fox) are absent. Sexual size dimorphism in Israeli canids is generally less than in felids and mustelids (in which we analysed each sex as a separate ‘morphospecies’), so we used mixed-sex samples to represent each species. The three largest species (wolf, golden jackal and red fox) are also represented by Middle Palaeolithic samples in Israel, and all three had larger carnassial lengths then. Carnassial lengths, canine diameters and skull lengths are all remarkable evenly spaced among the five recent species in Israel. In Egypt, no trait manifests significant equality. Despite regional fluctuations in size, the carnassial length ratios of the three smaller species (foxes) are strikingly constant (1.18–1.21) throughout the region, while the ratios for the three larger species (wolf, jackal and red fox), sympatric only in Israel, are larger (1.33–1.34). Finally, mean carnassial length of jackals is constant across North Africa, while skull length and canine diameter both increase from Algeria through Egypt. All three traits are larger in Egypt than in Israel. We tentatively ascribe the equal ratios in Israel to competitive character displacement, though this hypothesis is speculative because of numerous lacunae in knowledge of diet, killing behaviour, available resources and extent of food limitation. Furthermore, humans have greatly affected range, density and ecology of wolves and jackals in the last century. Larger sizes in the Palaeolithic may well be manifestations of Bergmann's rule. The constancy of carnassial length in North African jackals, notwithstanding a longitudinal cline in CBLs of these populations, and the constant ratio between jackal and red fox carnassial length are both consistent with a hypothesis of character release in the absence of the wolf.     

A morphological re-examination of the frog genus Nannophrys (Anura: Ranidae) with comments on its biology, distribution and relationships

The morphology of Nannophrys Günther, 1869, a genus of ranid frogs endemic to Sri Lanka, is reexamined. The three species comprising the genus are redescribed, and a detailed account of the osteology of the type-species, N. ceylonensis Günther, is given for the first time. Adults of two species show heavy secondary cranial ossification, a feature known in only one other ranid genus, the Solomon Islands Ceratobatrachus. New information on the tapdole of N. ceylonensis is provided. N. marmorata Kirtisinghe, 1946, is accorded full species status. Reference is made to the ecological niches of N. ceylonensis and N. marmorata. The resemblance of Nannophrys to the myobatrachine leptodactylids is noted, both groups possessing a cartilaginous omosternum and dilated sacral diapophyses. On the basis of this resemblance and other data presented in the present paper, it is suggested that Nannophrys may be interpreted as a primitive ranid genus which has independently acquired a large number of derived features. Comparison is made with a selected group of related Indian ranid genera, and with Ceratobatrachus. Results indicate that Nannophrys show some affinity with the southern Indian genera Nannobatrachus and Nyctibatrachus , and also with Ceratobatrachus. Comment is made on the correlation of the zoogeographical subdivision of the southern Indian region and Nannophrys relationships.     

三室算盘子寄主上弯头细蛾的生物学特性及花气味成分分析

【目的】为了从生物学和化学生态学角度探讨弯头细蛾Epicephala ancylopa和寄主三室算盘子Glochidion sp.间专性传粉的互利共生关系稳定性。【方法】本研究在野外观察和室内实验的基础上,对专性传粉育幼互利共生体系中三室算盘子、弯头细蛾生物学特性进行详细研究,探究互利共生双方利益得失;用动态顶空吸附法分别收集三室算盘子雄花和雌花气味物质,运用气相色谱-质谱联用技术(GC-MS)分析并鉴定其有效成分,用峰面积归一化与内标法定性定量;最后通过主成分分析法比较雄花和雌花之间气味化学成分的差异性。【结果】弯头细蛾在云南省普洱太阳河国家森林公园每年有1个世代,成虫和幼虫的活动时间分别在3-4月和8-10月。三室算盘子结实率为44.20%,被蛀食率为69.94%,平均每头幼虫消耗2.55枚种子来满足自身生长发育,寄主植物留有83.06%完好的种子,以维持互利共生关系的稳定。三室算盘子雌雄花气味中共鉴定出24种挥发物,主要以单萜类和倍半萜类物质为主,其中(Z)-罗勒烯和β-榄香烯两种萜类物质含量最高(分别为47.11%和22.72%),推测其是吸引弯头细蛾传粉的主要气味成分;雄花和雌花之间气味化学成分存在明显的差异,具有两性异型性。【结论】弯头细蛾通过以卵越夏和以蛹越冬对策,实现成虫发生期与三室算盘子花期的精准匹配。弯头细蛾成虫白天静伏,傍晚开始活动,三室算盘子花的气味物质也只在晚上才明显释放,且雌雄花气味化学成分的两性异型性有利于弯头细蛾辨别雌雄花,以完成采集花粉与传粉行为。该研究结果为头细蛾属昆虫与算盘子属植物专性传粉互利共生关系稳定性的维持机制提供了新的依据,也为深入开展通过触角电生理检测和生物行为实验来筛选吸引传粉头细蛾的活性物质提供了理论依据。     

A review of the genus Aleurolobus Quaintance and Baker (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) from Taiwan, based mainly on pupal morphology with a description of a new species

The whitefly species of the genus Aleurolobus Quaintance and Baker are reviewed from Taiwan. A total of nine species are included. Aleurolobus shiiae Takahashi is new to Taiwan. Aleurolobus osmanthi Young is considered as a junior synonym of Aleurolobus taonabae (Kuwana). A new species, Aleurolobus rubus Dubey and Ko, is described, and the puparia of the new species are diagnosed in a combination of characters: the dorsal pores scattered over dorsum; each located on a large subcircular, chitinised cuticular dorsal marking; faint eye spots; broader submargin; and the vasiform orifice set anterior to the caudal end of puparium by nearly twice of its own length. The record of Aleurolobus philippinensis Quaintance and Baker, and Aleurolobus setigerus Quaintance and Baker from Taiwan is discussed. The puparial diagnosis of each species, identification key to species so far known from Taiwan and illustrations for each species are provided.     

Thaumatomyrmex strips millipedes for prey: a novel predatory behaviour in ants,and the first case of sympatry in the genus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Summary We describe, for the first time, the predatory behaviour ofThaumatomyrmex ants on millipedes of the family Polyxenidae, based on field observations ofT. atrox and a field and laboratory study ofT. contumax. The capture of the prey and the removal process of its body-covering setae by the ants before they eat the millipede are described. This specialized behaviour in at least two species of the genus, belonging to two distinct groups of species, indicates a general trend inThaumatomyrmex. We coupled this study with a comparative morphological analysis of the mouthparts and digestive tube of these and otherThaumatomyrmex species. Also, we report the first case of sympatry in the genus, which suggests thatThaumatomyrmex includes several species, and not only one highly variable taxon, as hypothetized earlier.     

Locomotion in some small to medium-sized mammals: a geometric morphometric analysis of the penultimate lumbar vertebra,pelvis and hindlimbs

We assessed the influence of a variety of aspects of locomotion and ecology including gait and locomotor types, maximal running speed, home range, and body size on postcranial shape variation in small to medium-sized mammals, employing geometric morphometric analysis and phylogenetic comparative methods. The four views analyzed, i.e., dorsal view of the penultimate lumbar vertebra, lateral view of the pelvis, posterior view of the proximal femur and proximal view of the tibia, showed clear phylogenetic signal and interesting patterns of association with movement. Variation in home range size was related to some tibia shape changes, while speed was associated with lumbar vertebra, pelvis and tibia shape changes. Femur shape was not related to any locomotor variables. In both locomotor type and high-speed gait analyses, locomotor groups were distinguished in both pelvis and tibia shape analyses. These results suggest that adaptations to both typical and high-speed gaits could explain a considerable portion of the shape of those elements. In addition, lumbar vertebra and tibia showed non-significant relationships with body mass, which suggests that they might be used in morpho-functional analyses and locomotor inferences on fossil taxa, with little or no bias for body size. Lastly, we observed morpho-functional convergences among several mammalian taxa and detected some taxa that achieve similar locomotor features following different morphological paths.     

Systematic revision of the genus Aglyptodactylus Boulenger, 1919 (Amphibia: Ranidae), and analysis of its phylogenetic relationships to other Madagascan ranid genera (Tomopterna, Boophis, Mantidactylus, and Mantella)

Recent field studies revealed two new species of the genus Aglyptodactylus (Amphibia: Anura: Ranidae), which was hitherto considered as monotypic and confined to humid eastern Madagascar. Both new species, Aglyptodactylus laticeps sp. n. and Aglyptodactylus securifer sp. n. , occur syntopically in the deciduous dry forest of Kirindy in western Madagascar. In comparison to Aglyptodactylus madagascariensis from eastern rainforests, the new species A. laticeps shows a remarkable morphological divergence, which may be partly due to adaptations to burrowing habits in dry environments. Despite of the morphological differentiation, advertisement calls and osteology indicate that all three species of Aglyptodactylus are closely related. A phylogenetic analysis of the Madagascan ranid genera Aglyptodactylus, Mantella, Mantidactylus, Boophis , and Tomopterna (the latter including species from Madagascar, Africa, and Asia) strongly supports a sister group relationship of Aglyptodactylus with the ranine genus Tomopterna . We therefore transfer Aglyptodactylus from the Rhacophorinae to the Raninae and discuss implications of this rearrangement for ranoid systematics. The existence of the endemic genus Aglyptodactylus in Madagascar as well as its close phylogenetic relationships to Tomopterna confirm that the Raninae were already present on the Madagascan plate before its separation from Africa. The Madagascan Tomopterna labrosa shows several important differences both to Asian and to African species of the genus, and is therefore transferred from the subgenus Sphaerotheca (now restricted to Asia) to a new subgenus Laliostoma subgen. n .