A number of mechanisms are known to influence coexistence in small mammal communities. However, the role ofbehavioral interactions in promoting species coexistence is under-represented in the literature. We studied th...A number of mechanisms are known to influence coexistence in small mammal communities. However, the role ofbehavioral interactions in promoting species coexistence is under-represented in the literature. We studied the behavioral interactionsof two coexisting small mammals, the Namaqua rock mouse Micaelamys namaquensis (Rodentia) and the Rock sengi Elephantulusmyurus (Macroscelidae), which have high dietary and microhabitat overlap. Using wild-caught individuals, intra- andinterspecific dyadic encounters were staged in tanks on a neutral rocky outcrop. Interspecific dyads displayed significantly moreactive avoidance behavior. There was no support for the prediction that the larger, more specialist species, E. myurus, is behaviorallydominant over M. namaquensis. Intraspecific encounters of E. myurus showed significantly more passive avoidance andamicable behavior, whereas the behavior of M. namaquensis did not differ between intra- and inter-specific encounters, both ofwhich were characterized by low levels of aggression and amicability. Thus, due to the lack of aggression, direct competition appearsweak and instead mutual avoidance may reduce or minimize interspecific interactions, potentially promoting coexistence.展开更多
Mineral phase characterization and thorough understanding of its transformation behavior during combustion are imperative to know the potential utilization of coal in the thermal industries. The primary objective of t...Mineral phase characterization and thorough understanding of its transformation behavior during combustion are imperative to know the potential utilization of coal in the thermal industries. The primary objective of this work is to analyze the quality of Indian Coals and obtain their mineral species-specific information at different depths. The samples were obtained from Talcher Coalfield, Odisha, India. Coal from four seam sections in the Talcher coalfield, India are mainly high ash coal (〉50 %) and volatile matter deceases along with the seam depth. XRD results show that the major mineral phases present in the coal are quartz and kaolinite. Siderite, illite, and anatase were found in minor quantities. It has been observed that the clay minerals (kaolinite, silimanite, illite) decompose at higher temperature and traces of dolomite, mullite, hematite etc. are formed during the process of combustion. Among the four seams (M2, M12, M24 and M43) studied, ash of M43 has high A1203%, TIO2% and K20% content and low SIO2%, CaO% and MgO% content. High acid- to-base ratios contributed to high ash fusion temperatures (IDT 〉 1500 ℃) and low slagging potential of the coals studied. Relatively low fouling index (〈0.3) was estimated for all the coal seams studied. Furthermore, thermodynamic modeling software, FactSage, have been used to envision the mineral phase transformations that take place between 800 and 1500℃ during coal combustion.展开更多
The purpose of this study was to examine the behavioral impact of varying LED (light emitting diode) spectral emissions on avian species. A novel oculo-neuro-motor response to monochromatic LEDs has been identified....The purpose of this study was to examine the behavioral impact of varying LED (light emitting diode) spectral emissions on avian species. A novel oculo-neuro-motor response to monochromatic LEDs has been identified. LED colored light of sufficient intensity matched to the short-wavelength cones of avian species can efficiently diminish overall visual perception leading to an augmented behavioral response. The study method involved monitoring the change in behavioral response after exposure to high brightness monochromatic LED light to wild Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) foraging and nesting in their natural environment. Our results demonstrated a statistically significant change in foraging behaviors with wild Osprey (p = 0.005) and in nesting behavior as a result of exposure to high brightness monochromatic LED light. An augmented behavioral responses was observed which is believed to be analogous to human reaction to solar glare and glint. The neuroimaging mechanism of avian species is discussed. This novel augmented behavioral response provides a new technique of studying the neuroscience of temporal and spatial light stimulus. A non-lethal deterrence technique involving the augmented behavioral response could mitigate mortality and morbidity of avian-human conflict in areas such as airports, airplane bird strikes, and wind turbines.展开更多
Anas poecilorhyncha is one of improved variety of mallards, which was the protected bird species listed by International Union for Conservation of Nature (1UCN). Little is known until now about behavioral characteri...Anas poecilorhyncha is one of improved variety of mallards, which was the protected bird species listed by International Union for Conservation of Nature (1UCN). Little is known until now about behavioral characteristics of the mallard. The objective of this study was to compare the behavioral differentials between A. poecilorhyncha and domestic duck in order to make a strategy to manage A. poecilorhyncha under the condition of animal welfare. A total of 180 birds were distributed into six groups with 30 birds for each group. They were placed in a room of 3 m ~ 4 m and fed for one year old. Sansui ducks, a kind of native domestic duck (Sansui laying duck) were used for behavioral comparison. Two different rooms in the same building were applied, one room for A. poecilorhyncha and another one for Sansui ducks. All behaviors for A. poecilorhyncha and Sansui ducks were coded using the program The Observer XT 11.5 (Noldus Information Technology, Beijing). The duration of observation was from 8:00 am to 18:00 pm daily and lasted 5 d. The results showed that there were similar behavioral percentages between A. poecilorhyncha and domestic duck. Percentages of standing activity spent for A. poecilorhyncha and Sansui duck were 34.59% and 30.25%, respectively. Accordingly, the activities, such as wing plugging, preening and head stretching, were more than 5.51%. The other activities, including walking, drinking and tail wagging, occupied less proportions (〈 3%). While the specific behaviors, like aggression, alerting, wing dithering, clawing, nodding, pendulum clawing and crawling, took less than 1% of percentage. There were large differences between A. poecilorhyncha and domestic duck when comparing eight behavioral peaks. Lag sequential analysis was used to calculate frequency of transition between a pair of activities. Some parameters were very significant, like the frequency value from foraging converted to drinking in Sansui duck was 369-515, but 37-65 in A. poecilorhyncha. The best explaining could be given that Sansui duck was better domesticated than spot-billed duck. This study provides the basic data to study and develop spot-billed duck.展开更多
The co-occurrence of 2 similar species depends on their ability to occupy different ecological niches. Here, we compared the consistency of different aspects of foraging behavior in 2 cooccurring harvester ant species...The co-occurrence of 2 similar species depends on their ability to occupy different ecological niches. Here, we compared the consistency of different aspects of foraging behavior in 2 cooccurring harvester ant species (Messor ebeninus and Messor arenarius), under field conditions. The 2 species are active concomitantly and display a similar diet, but M. arenarius features smaller colonies, larger workers on average, and a broader range of foraging strategies than M. ebeninus. We characterized the flora in the 2 species' natural habitat, and detected a nesting preference by M. arenarius for more open, vegetation-free microhabitats than those preferred by M. ebeninus. Next, we tested the food preference of foraging colonies by presenting 3 non-native seed types. Messor arenarius was more selective in its food choice. Colonies were then offered 1 type of seeds over 3 days in different spatial arrangements from the nest entrance (e.g., a seed plate close to the nest entrance, a seed plate blocked by an obstacle, or 3 plates placed at increasing distances from the nest entrance). While both species were consistent in their foraging behavior, expressed as seed collection, under different treatments over time, M. ebeninus was more consistent than M. arenarius. These differences between the species may be expxained by their different colony size, worker size, and range of foraging strategies, among other factors. We suggest that the differences in foraging, such as in food preference and behavioral consistency while foraging, could contribute to the co-occurrence of these 2 species in a similar habitat.展开更多
Brain size and weight vary tremendously in the animal kingdom. It has been suggested that brain structural develop- ment must evolve balanced between the advantages of dealing with greater social challenges mad the en...Brain size and weight vary tremendously in the animal kingdom. It has been suggested that brain structural develop- ment must evolve balanced between the advantages of dealing with greater social challenges mad the energetic costs of maintain- ing and developing larger brains. Here we ask if interspecific differences in cooperative behaviour (i.e. cleaning behaviour) are related to brain weight variations in four close-related species of Labrid fish: two are obligatory cleanerfish throughout their en- tire life (Labroides dimidiatus and L. bicolor), one facultative cleaner fish Labropsis australis and one last species that never en- gage in cleaning Labrichthys unilineatus. We first search for the link between the rate of species' cooperation and its relative brain weight, and finally, if the degree of social complexity and cooperation are reflected in the weight of its major brain sub- structures. Overall, no differences were found in relative brain weight (in relation to body weight) across species. Fine-scale dif- ferences were solely demonstrated for the facultative cleaner L. australis, at the brainstem level. Furthermore, data visual exami- nation indicates that the average cerebellum and brainstem weights appear to be larger for L. dimidiatus. Because variation was solely found at specific brain areas (such as cerebellum and brainstem) and not for the whole brain weight values, it suggests that species social-ecological and cognitive demands may be directly contributing to a selective investment in relevant brain areas. This study provides first preliminary evidence that links potential differences in cognitive ability in cooperative behaviour to how these may mediate the evolution of brain structural development in non-mammal vertebrate groups .展开更多
Sexual selection is widely viewed as playing a central role in haplochromine cichlid speciation. Hypothetically, once divergent mate preferences evolve among populations of these fishes, reproductive isolation follows...Sexual selection is widely viewed as playing a central role in haplochromine cichlid speciation. Hypothetically, once divergent mate preferences evolve among populations of these fishes, reproductive isolation follows and the populations begin to behave as different species. Various studies have examined patterns of assortative mating among species and sometimes populations, but few have examined variation in directional preferences, especially among populations of the same species. We investi- gated mate choice behavior in two populations of Labeotropheus fueUeborni, a Lake Malawi endemic. We test whether mating preferences between populations are based on the same traits and in the same direction as preferences within populations. We examine the potential contributions of two classes of trait, color patterns and behaviors, to reproductive isolation. When females chose between either two males of their own population, or two from another, female preferences were generally similar (for the female population) across the two contexts. Mate choice patterns differed between (female) populations for a measure of color, but only modestly for male behavior. In a separate experiment we simultaneously offered females a male of their own population and a male from a different population. In these trials, females consistently preferred males from their own population, which were also the males that displayed more frequently than their opponents, but not necessarily those with color traits suggested to be most attractive in the previous experiment. Thus directional preferences for chroma and related aspects of color may be important when females are presented with males of otherwise similar phenotypes, but may play little role in mediating assortative mating among populations with substantially different color patterns. A preference for male behavior could play some role in speciation if males preferentially court same-population females, as we have observed for the populations studied herein [Current Zoology 58 (3): 475-483, 2012].展开更多
Urbanization of species is an ongoing process where successful urban colonizers usually obtain large fitness benefits. Mechanisms proposed to explain associations between urbanization and lifehistory traits are based ...Urbanization of species is an ongoing process where successful urban colonizers usually obtain large fitness benefits. Mechanisms proposed to explain associations between urbanization and lifehistory traits are based on behavioral flexibility in food and habitat use and reduced fear responses. We test the novel hypothesis that interspecific competition for proximity to humans is driving ur- banization. We recorded the distance during the breeding season to human habitation for 50 pairs of closely related bird species, where one was closely associated with humans while the other species was not. The degree of urbanization was larger as was range size and abundance in the species more closely associated to humans. Flight initiation distance was shorter, and species closely associated with humans were more abundant in ancestral rural habitats. Likewise, species more closely associated with humans reproduced earlier and during longer periods. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that urbanization is promoted by interspecific competition. Resulting isolation by urban habitat may further facilitate contemporary adaptation to urban environments.展开更多
基金provided by the National Research Foundation (Grant number:2069110)the University of the Witwatersrand
文摘A number of mechanisms are known to influence coexistence in small mammal communities. However, the role ofbehavioral interactions in promoting species coexistence is under-represented in the literature. We studied the behavioral interactionsof two coexisting small mammals, the Namaqua rock mouse Micaelamys namaquensis (Rodentia) and the Rock sengi Elephantulusmyurus (Macroscelidae), which have high dietary and microhabitat overlap. Using wild-caught individuals, intra- andinterspecific dyadic encounters were staged in tanks on a neutral rocky outcrop. Interspecific dyads displayed significantly moreactive avoidance behavior. There was no support for the prediction that the larger, more specialist species, E. myurus, is behaviorallydominant over M. namaquensis. Intraspecific encounters of E. myurus showed significantly more passive avoidance andamicable behavior, whereas the behavior of M. namaquensis did not differ between intra- and inter-specific encounters, both ofwhich were characterized by low levels of aggression and amicability. Thus, due to the lack of aggression, direct competition appearsweak and instead mutual avoidance may reduce or minimize interspecific interactions, potentially promoting coexistence.
文摘Mineral phase characterization and thorough understanding of its transformation behavior during combustion are imperative to know the potential utilization of coal in the thermal industries. The primary objective of this work is to analyze the quality of Indian Coals and obtain their mineral species-specific information at different depths. The samples were obtained from Talcher Coalfield, Odisha, India. Coal from four seam sections in the Talcher coalfield, India are mainly high ash coal (〉50 %) and volatile matter deceases along with the seam depth. XRD results show that the major mineral phases present in the coal are quartz and kaolinite. Siderite, illite, and anatase were found in minor quantities. It has been observed that the clay minerals (kaolinite, silimanite, illite) decompose at higher temperature and traces of dolomite, mullite, hematite etc. are formed during the process of combustion. Among the four seams (M2, M12, M24 and M43) studied, ash of M43 has high A1203%, TIO2% and K20% content and low SIO2%, CaO% and MgO% content. High acid- to-base ratios contributed to high ash fusion temperatures (IDT 〉 1500 ℃) and low slagging potential of the coals studied. Relatively low fouling index (〈0.3) was estimated for all the coal seams studied. Furthermore, thermodynamic modeling software, FactSage, have been used to envision the mineral phase transformations that take place between 800 and 1500℃ during coal combustion.
基金This work was supported by grant No. IIP-1350562 from the National Science Foundation. NH Audubon Society provided assistance in tabulating the field results. Support at the test sites was provided by US Cellular, and NH Fish and Game Department--Milford Fish Hatchery.
文摘The purpose of this study was to examine the behavioral impact of varying LED (light emitting diode) spectral emissions on avian species. A novel oculo-neuro-motor response to monochromatic LEDs has been identified. LED colored light of sufficient intensity matched to the short-wavelength cones of avian species can efficiently diminish overall visual perception leading to an augmented behavioral response. The study method involved monitoring the change in behavioral response after exposure to high brightness monochromatic LED light to wild Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) foraging and nesting in their natural environment. Our results demonstrated a statistically significant change in foraging behaviors with wild Osprey (p = 0.005) and in nesting behavior as a result of exposure to high brightness monochromatic LED light. An augmented behavioral responses was observed which is believed to be analogous to human reaction to solar glare and glint. The neuroimaging mechanism of avian species is discussed. This novel augmented behavioral response provides a new technique of studying the neuroscience of temporal and spatial light stimulus. A non-lethal deterrence technique involving the augmented behavioral response could mitigate mortality and morbidity of avian-human conflict in areas such as airports, airplane bird strikes, and wind turbines.
文摘Anas poecilorhyncha is one of improved variety of mallards, which was the protected bird species listed by International Union for Conservation of Nature (1UCN). Little is known until now about behavioral characteristics of the mallard. The objective of this study was to compare the behavioral differentials between A. poecilorhyncha and domestic duck in order to make a strategy to manage A. poecilorhyncha under the condition of animal welfare. A total of 180 birds were distributed into six groups with 30 birds for each group. They were placed in a room of 3 m ~ 4 m and fed for one year old. Sansui ducks, a kind of native domestic duck (Sansui laying duck) were used for behavioral comparison. Two different rooms in the same building were applied, one room for A. poecilorhyncha and another one for Sansui ducks. All behaviors for A. poecilorhyncha and Sansui ducks were coded using the program The Observer XT 11.5 (Noldus Information Technology, Beijing). The duration of observation was from 8:00 am to 18:00 pm daily and lasted 5 d. The results showed that there were similar behavioral percentages between A. poecilorhyncha and domestic duck. Percentages of standing activity spent for A. poecilorhyncha and Sansui duck were 34.59% and 30.25%, respectively. Accordingly, the activities, such as wing plugging, preening and head stretching, were more than 5.51%. The other activities, including walking, drinking and tail wagging, occupied less proportions (〈 3%). While the specific behaviors, like aggression, alerting, wing dithering, clawing, nodding, pendulum clawing and crawling, took less than 1% of percentage. There were large differences between A. poecilorhyncha and domestic duck when comparing eight behavioral peaks. Lag sequential analysis was used to calculate frequency of transition between a pair of activities. Some parameters were very significant, like the frequency value from foraging converted to drinking in Sansui duck was 369-515, but 37-65 in A. poecilorhyncha. The best explaining could be given that Sansui duck was better domesticated than spot-billed duck. This study provides the basic data to study and develop spot-billed duck.
文摘The co-occurrence of 2 similar species depends on their ability to occupy different ecological niches. Here, we compared the consistency of different aspects of foraging behavior in 2 cooccurring harvester ant species (Messor ebeninus and Messor arenarius), under field conditions. The 2 species are active concomitantly and display a similar diet, but M. arenarius features smaller colonies, larger workers on average, and a broader range of foraging strategies than M. ebeninus. We characterized the flora in the 2 species' natural habitat, and detected a nesting preference by M. arenarius for more open, vegetation-free microhabitats than those preferred by M. ebeninus. Next, we tested the food preference of foraging colonies by presenting 3 non-native seed types. Messor arenarius was more selective in its food choice. Colonies were then offered 1 type of seeds over 3 days in different spatial arrangements from the nest entrance (e.g., a seed plate close to the nest entrance, a seed plate blocked by an obstacle, or 3 plates placed at increasing distances from the nest entrance). While both species were consistent in their foraging behavior, expressed as seed collection, under different treatments over time, M. ebeninus was more consistent than M. arenarius. These differences between the species may be expxained by their different colony size, worker size, and range of foraging strategies, among other factors. We suggest that the differences in foraging, such as in food preference and behavioral consistency while foraging, could contribute to the co-occurrence of these 2 species in a similar habitat.
文摘Brain size and weight vary tremendously in the animal kingdom. It has been suggested that brain structural develop- ment must evolve balanced between the advantages of dealing with greater social challenges mad the energetic costs of maintain- ing and developing larger brains. Here we ask if interspecific differences in cooperative behaviour (i.e. cleaning behaviour) are related to brain weight variations in four close-related species of Labrid fish: two are obligatory cleanerfish throughout their en- tire life (Labroides dimidiatus and L. bicolor), one facultative cleaner fish Labropsis australis and one last species that never en- gage in cleaning Labrichthys unilineatus. We first search for the link between the rate of species' cooperation and its relative brain weight, and finally, if the degree of social complexity and cooperation are reflected in the weight of its major brain sub- structures. Overall, no differences were found in relative brain weight (in relation to body weight) across species. Fine-scale dif- ferences were solely demonstrated for the facultative cleaner L. australis, at the brainstem level. Furthermore, data visual exami- nation indicates that the average cerebellum and brainstem weights appear to be larger for L. dimidiatus. Because variation was solely found at specific brain areas (such as cerebellum and brainstem) and not for the whole brain weight values, it suggests that species social-ecological and cognitive demands may be directly contributing to a selective investment in relevant brain areas. This study provides first preliminary evidence that links potential differences in cognitive ability in cooperative behaviour to how these may mediate the evolution of brain structural development in non-mammal vertebrate groups .
文摘Sexual selection is widely viewed as playing a central role in haplochromine cichlid speciation. Hypothetically, once divergent mate preferences evolve among populations of these fishes, reproductive isolation follows and the populations begin to behave as different species. Various studies have examined patterns of assortative mating among species and sometimes populations, but few have examined variation in directional preferences, especially among populations of the same species. We investi- gated mate choice behavior in two populations of Labeotropheus fueUeborni, a Lake Malawi endemic. We test whether mating preferences between populations are based on the same traits and in the same direction as preferences within populations. We examine the potential contributions of two classes of trait, color patterns and behaviors, to reproductive isolation. When females chose between either two males of their own population, or two from another, female preferences were generally similar (for the female population) across the two contexts. Mate choice patterns differed between (female) populations for a measure of color, but only modestly for male behavior. In a separate experiment we simultaneously offered females a male of their own population and a male from a different population. In these trials, females consistently preferred males from their own population, which were also the males that displayed more frequently than their opponents, but not necessarily those with color traits suggested to be most attractive in the previous experiment. Thus directional preferences for chroma and related aspects of color may be important when females are presented with males of otherwise similar phenotypes, but may play little role in mediating assortative mating among populations with substantially different color patterns. A preference for male behavior could play some role in speciation if males preferentially court same-population females, as we have observed for the populations studied herein [Current Zoology 58 (3): 475-483, 2012].
文摘Urbanization of species is an ongoing process where successful urban colonizers usually obtain large fitness benefits. Mechanisms proposed to explain associations between urbanization and lifehistory traits are based on behavioral flexibility in food and habitat use and reduced fear responses. We test the novel hypothesis that interspecific competition for proximity to humans is driving ur- banization. We recorded the distance during the breeding season to human habitation for 50 pairs of closely related bird species, where one was closely associated with humans while the other species was not. The degree of urbanization was larger as was range size and abundance in the species more closely associated to humans. Flight initiation distance was shorter, and species closely associated with humans were more abundant in ancestral rural habitats. Likewise, species more closely associated with humans reproduced earlier and during longer periods. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that urbanization is promoted by interspecific competition. Resulting isolation by urban habitat may further facilitate contemporary adaptation to urban environments.