@article {pmid39871498, year = {2025}, author = {van der Kooi, CJ and Spaethe, J}, title = {Flower colour contrast, 'spectral purity' and a red herring.}, journal = {Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/plb.13767}, pmid = {39871498}, issn = {1438-8677}, support = {FA8655-23-1-7049//European Office of Aerospace Research and Development/ ; RGP023/2023//Human Frontiers Science Program/ ; }, abstract = {Nature offers a bewildering diversity of flower colours. Understanding the ecology and evolution of this fantastic floral diversity requires knowledge about the visual systems of their natural observers, such as insect pollinators. The key question is how flower colour and pattern can be measured and represented to characterise the signals that are relevant to pollinators. A common way to interpret flower colours is using animal vision models that incorporate the spectral sensitivity of a focal observer (e.g. bees). These vision models provide a measure of colour contrast, which represents the perceived chromatic difference between two objects, such as a yellow flower against green leaves. Colour contrast is a behaviourally and physiologically validated proxy for relative conspicuousness of a stimulus. A growing number of studies attempt to interpret flower colouration through parameters that are grafted on to principles of human colour perception. A perpetuating measure to describe floral colours is via saturation, which is a metric in human perception describing a certain aspect of colourfulness and is, in pollination literature, often referred to as 'spectral purity'. We caution against the concept, calculation and biological interpretation of 'spectral purity' and similar measures that rest on an anthropocentric view, because it does not represent the diversity and complexity of animal visual systems that are the natural observers of flowers. We here discuss the strengths and weaknesses of common ways to interpret flower colouration and provide concrete suggestions for future colourful research.}, }
@article {pmid39774289, year = {2025}, author = {Bin Masroni, MS and Koay, ES and Lee, VKM and Ng, SB and Tan, SY and Tan, KM and Archetti, M and Leong, SM}, title = {Sociobiology meets oncology: unraveling altruistic cooperation in cancer cells and its implications.}, journal = {Experimental & molecular medicine}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {39774289}, issn = {2092-6413}, abstract = {Altruism, an act of benefiting others at a cost to the self, challenges our understanding of evolution. This Perspective delves into the importance of altruism in cancer cells and its implications for therapy. Against the backdrop of existing knowledge on various social organisms found in nature, we explore the mechanisms underlying the manifestation of altruism within breast tumors, revealing a complex interplay of seemingly counteracting cancer signaling pathways and processes that orchestrate the delicate balance between cost and benefit underlying altruistic cooperation. We also discuss how evolutionary game theory, coupled with contemporary molecular tools, may shed light on understudied mechanisms governing the dynamics of altruistic cooperation in cancer cells. Finally, we discuss how molecular insights gleaned from these mechanistic dissections may fuel advancements in our comprehension of altruism among cancer cells, with implications across multiple disciplines, offering innovative prospects for therapeutic strategies, molecular discoveries, and evolutionary investigations.}, }
@article {pmid39743806, year = {2025}, author = {Snijder, LL and De Dreu, CKW}, title = {Why some coalitions benefit from historical myths more than others.}, journal = {The Behavioral and brain sciences}, volume = {47}, number = {}, pages = {e192}, doi = {10.1017/S0140525X24000657}, pmid = {39743806}, issn = {1469-1825}, mesh = {Humans ; *Cooperative Behavior ; Aggression/psychology ; Social Behavior ; Animals ; }, abstract = {Behavioural ecologies in themselves can create variation in fitness interdependencies among individuals, and hence modulate the functionality of invoking historical myths. We develop this possibility for the case where coalitions form to attack and exploit enemies, or to defend and protect against hostile out-groups. We propose that invoking historical myths are functional and observed especially when groups aggressively expand.}, }
@article {pmid39679295, year = {2024}, author = {Engelhardt, SC and Paulsson, NI and Taborsky, M}, title = {Norway rats recruit cooperation partners based on previous receipt of help while disregarding kinship.}, journal = {iScience}, volume = {27}, number = {12}, pages = {111314}, pmid = {39679295}, issn = {2589-0042}, abstract = {Norway rats are known to liberate trapped conspecifics, which implies an empathic response to the deplorable situation of the captive. If this is an altruistic behavior reflecting an evolved decision rule, the requisite fitness enhancement to the actor may result either from close relatedness or the expectation of future returns. Neither potential effects of relatedness nor of reciprocal returns have yet been examined. Our two-stage experiment revealed that wild-type Norway rats preferably collaborated with partners that had previously freed them from a trap and subsequently cooperated with each other, indicating that expected future benefits may underlie the deliverance of trapped companions. Relatedness had no effect on their cooperative propensity. These results show that rats recruit partners to coordinate cooperation by direct reciprocity but not kin discrimination, suggesting that the evolutionary mechanism responsible for the altruistic liberation behavior of Norway rats may be reciprocal altruism rather than kin selection.}, }
@article {pmid39675629, year = {2024}, author = {Roy, T and Beer, K}, title = {Time memory in social insects with a special focus on honey bees.}, journal = {Current opinion in insect science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {101327}, doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2024.101327}, pmid = {39675629}, issn = {2214-5753}, abstract = {The ability to associate time and location with food sources is an evolutionary advantage for foraging animals. We find highly sophisticated time memory capabilities especially in social insects, which require efficient foraging capabilities for colony provisioning. Honey bees are perfectly suitable to study time memory mechanisms: they possess an elaborated time memory combined with a relatively simple neuronal clock network and a smaller gene set compared with the mouse model organism. This review provides a short overview majorly across insects, which have demonstrated time memory capabilities, with a focus on time-place learning, and describes basic properties as well as state-of-the-art research connecting time memory with the circadian clock at the behavioral, molecular and neuroanatomical level. Despite a long history of research on time memory of honey bees, putative connections between clock and time memory have only recently been identified and imply a rather complex regulation mechanism with multiple signaling pathways.}, }
@article {pmid39674529, year = {2024}, author = {Schuhmann, A and Scheiner, R}, title = {Mixture of neonicotinoid and fungicide affects foraging activity of honeybees.}, journal = {Environmental toxicology and pharmacology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {104613}, doi = {10.1016/j.etap.2024.104613}, pmid = {39674529}, issn = {1872-7077}, abstract = {The use of plant protection products (PPPs) is a major factor contributing to global insect decline. We here use the honeybee (Apis mellifera) as a model to study combined effects of the last neonicotinoid in the EU (acetamiprid) and different fungicides on live-long foraging flights using radio frequency identification. The mixture of the sterol-biosynthesis-inhibiting fungicide difenoconazole and the insecticide acetamiprid significantly reduced the number of foraging trips per day compared to the control and each PPP alone, while a mixture of the insecticide with the non-sterol-biosynthesis inhibiting fungicide boscalid/dimoxystrobin did not affect behaviour. This potential synergistic effect of the fungicide/insecticide mixture supports the notion that some fungicides can enhance the effect of insecticides, which did not lead to significant changes in behaviour when applied on their own. Our results emphasize the need for more studies on the interaction of different PPP.}, }
@article {pmid39644891, year = {2024}, author = {Grob, R and Wegmann, JW and Rössler, W and Fleischmann, PN}, title = {Cataglyphis ants have a polarity-sensitive magnetic compass.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2024.11.012}, pmid = {39644891}, issn = {1879-0445}, abstract = {Spatial orientation based on the geomagnetic field (GMF) is a widespread phenomenon in the animal kingdom, predominantly observed in long-distance migrating birds,[1] sea turtles,[2] lobsters,[3] and Lepidoptera.[4][,][5] Although magnetoreception has been studied intensively, the mechanism remains elusive. A crucial question for a mechanistic understanding of magnetoreception is whether animals rely on inclination or polarity-based magnetic information. Inclination-based magnetic orientation utilizes the angle between the magnetic field lines and gravity, indicating poleward and equatorward. In contrast, polarity-based magnetic orientation allows animals to detect the polarity of the GMF, the north and south direction of the field vector. Cataglyphis desert ants are excellent experimental models for testing whether magnetic inclination or polarity of the magnetic field is used for navigation. Desert ants are solitary foragers with exceptional navigational skills.[6] When the ants leave their underground nest for the first time to become foragers, they perform learning walks for up to three days to learn the visual panorama and calibrate their compass systems.[7][,][8] The ants repeatedly stop their forward movement during learning walks for performing turns (pirouettes), interrupted by stopping phases. Gaze directions during the longest stopping phases are directed toward the nest entrance.[9] We experimentally manipulated look-back behavior systematically by altering polarity or inclination of the GMF. We demonstrate that Cataglyphis ants, contrary to most other insects studied,[10] possess a polarity-sensitive magnetic compass, making them ideal experimental models for narrowing down the evidence for particle-based mechanisms underlying magnetosensation in this insect.}, }
@article {pmid39637764, year = {2024}, author = {Prox, L and Heistermann, M and Rakotomala, Z and Fichtel, C and Kappeler, PM}, title = {Seasonal variation in aggression and physiological stress in wild female and male redfronted lemurs (Eulemur rufifrons).}, journal = {Hormones and behavior}, volume = {167}, number = {}, pages = {105669}, doi = {10.1016/j.yhbeh.2024.105669}, pmid = {39637764}, issn = {1095-6867}, abstract = {Intraspecific competition with fellow group members represents an unavoidable cost of group living. However, the causes of competition can vary among group members, and ecological and reproductive challenges faced by individuals throughout the year can trigger physical conflicts and or physiological responses. To date, few studies in mammals have described both physiological and behavioral responses to competition simultaneously across the year in both males and females. However, such an approach may shed light on ultimate drivers of sex-specific competitive strategies. In this six-year study on multiple groups of wild redfronted lemurs (Eulemur rufifrons), a primate species from Madagascar, we intended to identify the relative importance of feeding vs. reproductive competition for both sexes. We combined data on fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGCM) levels, a proxy for the physiological stress response, with behavioral observations on agonistic interactions during ecologically and socially challenging phases across the year. We found that while FGCM levels increased in both sexes with decreasing fruit consumption, this increase was not accompanied by concomitant changes in agonistic behavior. Female aggression and FGCM levels instead peaked during the birth season, while for males, aggression remained fairly constant across the year. Our results suggest that redfronted lemurs have mechanisms to avoid direct competition through aggression at times when individuals may need to conserve energy.}, }
@article {pmid39570936, year = {2024}, author = {Schleifer, MC and Ruedenauer, FA and Ziegler, J and Leonhardt, SD and Spaethe, J}, title = {Perception, regulation, and effects on longevity of pollen fatty acids in the honey bee, Apis mellifera.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {19}, number = {11}, pages = {e0309789}, pmid = {39570936}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Bees/physiology ; Animals ; *Pollen/chemistry ; *Fatty Acids/analysis/metabolism ; *Longevity/physiology ; Feeding Behavior/physiology ; Pollination ; }, abstract = {For successful cross-pollination, most flowering plants rely on insects as pollinators and attract them by offering rewards, predominantly nectar and pollen. Bees-a highly important pollinator group-are especially dependent on pollen as their main source of essential nutrients, including proteins, lipids, and sterols. Fatty acids (FAs) in particular play a pivotal role as fundamental energy source, contributing to membrane structure integrity, cellular homeostasis, and cognitive processes. However, overconsumption of FAs can have detrimental effects on fitness and survival. Thus, bees need to precisely modulate FA intake. To better understand how Apis mellifera, the globally predominant managed pollinator, regulate FA intake, we conducted controlled feeding experiments with newly hatched honey bee workers by providing pollen with different FA concentrations. We additionally investigated the honey bee's capacity to perceive individual FAs by means of chemotactile proboscis extension response (PER) conditioning. We tested both natural concentrations and concentrations exceeding those typically found in pollen. Given the dose-dependent importance of FAs observed in other bee species, we hypothesized that (i) a high FA concentration in pollen would reduce honey bee longevity, and (ii) honey bees are able to perceive individual FAs and differentiate between different FA concentrations via antennal sensation prior to consumption. Our study revealed that elevated FA concentrations in pollen resulted in reduced consumption rates and increased mortality in Apis mellifera. Workers can detect and discriminate between saturated and unsaturated FAs utilizing their antennae. Moreover, they were able to distinguish between individual FAs and also between different concentrations of the same FAs. Our results suggest a high sensitivity of A. mellifera towards both the concentration and composition of individual FAs, which greatly impacts their foraging decisions and fitness. These insights contribute to the growing evidence highlighting the importance of balanced nutrient ratios, in particular of FAs, for bees and other organisms.}, }
@article {pmid39556747, year = {2024}, author = {Lala, KN and Feldman, MW}, title = {Genes, culture, and scientific racism.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {121}, number = {48}, pages = {e2322874121}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2322874121}, pmid = {39556747}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {61809//John Templeton Foundation (JTF)/ ; }, mesh = {Humans ; *Racism ; Cultural Evolution ; Racial Groups/genetics ; Culture ; Genetic Variation ; }, abstract = {Quantitative studies of cultural evolution and gene-culture coevolution (henceforth "CE" and "GCC") emerged in the 1970s, in the aftermath of the "race and intelligence quotient (IQ)" and "human sociobiology" debates, as a counter to extreme hereditarian positions. These studies incorporated cultural transmission and its interaction with genetics in contributing to patterns of human variation. Neither CE nor GCC results were consistent with racist claims of ubiquitous genetic differences between socially defined races. We summarize how genetic data refute the notion of racial substructure for human populations and address naive interpretations of race across the biological sciences, including those related to ancestry, health, and intelligence, that help to perpetuate racist ideas. A GCC perspective can refute reductionist and determinist claims while providing a more inclusive multidisciplinary framework in which to interpret human variation.}, }
@article {pmid39535402, year = {2024}, author = {Jaske, B and Tschirner, K and Strube-Bloss, MF and Pfeiffer, K}, title = {Velocity coding in the central brain of bumblebees.}, journal = {Journal of neurophysiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1152/jn.00272.2024}, pmid = {39535402}, issn = {1522-1598}, support = {PF714/5-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)/ ; INST93/829-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)/ ; }, abstract = {Moving animals experience wide-field optic flow due to the displacement of the retinal image during motion. These cues provide information about self-motion and are important for flight control and stabilization, and for more complex tasks like path integration. While in honeybees and bumblebees the use of wide-field optic flow in behavioral tasks is well investigated, little is known about the underlying neuronal processing of these cues. Furthermore, there is a discrepancy between the temporal frequency tuning observed in most motion-sensitive neurons described so far from the optic lobe of insects and the velocity tuning that has been shown for many behaviors. Here we investigated response properties of motion-sensitive neurons in the central brain of bumblebees. Extracellular recordings allowed us to present a large number of stimuli to probe the spatiotemporal tuning of these neurons. We presented moving gratings that simulated either front-to-back or back-to-front optic flow and found three response types. Direction-selective responses of one of the groups matched those of TN-neurons, which provide optic flow information to the central complex, while the other groups contained neurons with purely excitatory responses that were either selective or non-selective for stimulus direction. Most recorded units showed velocity-coding properties at lower angular velocities, but showed spatial frequency dependent responses at higher velocities. Based on behavioral data, neuronal modelling work has previously predicted the existence of non direction-selective neurons with such properties. Our data now provides physiological evidence for these neurons and shows that neurons with TN-like properties exhibit a similar velocity-dependent coding.}, }
@article {pmid39488843, year = {2024}, author = {Pethig, L and Behringer, V and Kappeler, PM and Fichtel, C and Heistermann, M}, title = {Establishment and Validation of Fecal Secretory Immunoglobulin A Measurement for Intestinal Mucosal Health Assessment in Wild Lemurs.}, journal = {American journal of primatology}, volume = {86}, number = {12}, pages = {e23694}, doi = {10.1002/ajp.23694}, pmid = {39488843}, issn = {1098-2345}, support = {//This study has been supported by a grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Ka 1082/48-1 and FI 929/17-1)./ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Feces/chemistry ; *Immunoglobulin A, Secretory/analysis ; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology ; Lemur/immunology ; Specimen Handling/methods ; Immunoenzyme Techniques/methods/veterinary ; }, abstract = {The measurement of biomarkers in blood and excreta can enable immune status assessment and provide prognostic information on individual health outcomes. In this respect, the fecal measurement of secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), the primary mammalian antibody for mucosal defense, has recently received increased interest in a few anthropoid primates, but a fecal sIgA assay for use in strepsirrhine primates has not yet been reported. Here, we develop and analytically validate a cost-effective in-house sandwich enzyme immunoassay for the extraction and measurement of sIgA in feces of redfronted lemurs (Eulemur rufifrons). We also tested a simple method for sIgA extraction that can be used under remote field conditions and undertook experiments to assess the robustness of sIgA concentrations to variation in processing and storage conditions of fecal extracts. Our analytical validation revealed that the assay recognizes immunoreactive sIgA in redfronted lemur feces, that sIgA can be measured accurately with no potential interference from the fecal matrix, and that assay reagents and performance are highly stable over time. The field-friendly extraction procedure produced sIgA results strongly correlated with those generated by a standard laboratory extraction method. Short-term storage at room temperature resulted in a slight decline in sIgA concentrations, whereas freezing extracts at -20°C kept sIgA levels stable for at least 3 months. Longer-term storage of >5 months, however, led to a significant decline of sIgA concentrations. Multiple freeze-thaw cycles did not affect sIgA levels. This study, therefore, provides the basis for measuring fecal sIgA in lemurs and possibly other strepsirrhines. When samples are processed properly and stored frozen, and when sIgA analysis can be performed within 3 months upon sample collection, fecal sIgA measurements can become a valuable tool for monitoring aspects of immunity and health in both zoo-housed and wild-living lemurs.}, }
@article {pmid39485851, year = {2024}, author = {Sommer, V and Seiler, J and Sturm, A and Köhnen, S and Wagner, A and Blut, C and Rössler, W and Goodwin, SF and Grünewald, B and Beye, M}, title = {Dedicated developmental programing for group-supporting behaviors in eusocial honeybees.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {10}, number = {44}, pages = {eadp3953}, pmid = {39485851}, issn = {2375-2548}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/physiology/genetics ; *Behavior, Animal/physiology ; *Social Behavior ; *Mushroom Bodies/physiology/metabolism ; Mutation ; Insect Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The evolutionary changes from solitary to eusocial living in vertebrates and invertebrates are associated with the diversification of social interactions and the development of queen and worker castes. Despite strong innate patterns, our understanding of the mechanisms manifesting these sophisticated behaviors is still rudimentary. Here, we show that doublesex (dsx) manifests group-supporting behaviors in the honeybee (Apis mellifera) worker caste. Computer-based individual behavioral tracking of worker bees with biallelic stop mutations in colonies revealed that the dsx gene is required for the rate and duration of group-supporting behavior that scales the relationship between bees and their work. General sensorimotor functions remained unaffected. Unexpectedly, unlike in other insects, the dsx gene is required for the neuronal wiring of the mushroom body in which the gene is spatially restricted expressed. Together, our study establishes dedicated programming for group-supporting behaviors and provides insight into the connection between development in the neuronal circuitry and behaviors regulating the formation of a eusocial society.}, }
@article {pmid39468449, year = {2024}, author = {Rodríguez-León, DS and Uzunov, A and Costa, C and Elen, D and Charistos, L and Galea, T and Gabel, M and Scheiner, R and Pinto, MA and Schmitt, T}, title = {Deciphering the variation in cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of six European honey bee subspecies.}, journal = {BMC ecology and evolution}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {131}, pmid = {39468449}, issn = {2730-7182}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/physiology/genetics ; *Hydrocarbons/metabolism/analysis ; Europe ; Species Specificity ; Adaptation, Physiological ; }, abstract = {The Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) subspecies exhibit local adaptive traits that evolved in response to the different environments that characterize their native distribution ranges. An important trait is the cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profile, which helps to prevent desiccation and mediate communication. We compared the CHC profiles of six European subspecies (A. m. mellifera, A. m. carnica, A. m. ligustica, A. m. macedonica, A. m. iberiensis, and A. m. ruttneri) and investigated potential factors shaping their composition. We did not find evidence of adaptation of the CHC profiles of the subspecies to the climatic conditions in their distribution range. Subspecies-specific differences in CHC composition might be explained by phylogenetic constraints or genetic drift. The CHC profiles of foragers were more subspecies-specific than those of nurse bees, while the latter showed more variation in their CHC profiles, likely due to the lower desiccation stress exerted by the controlled environment inside the hive. The strongest profile differences appeared between nurse bees and foragers among all subspecies, suggesting an adaptation to social task and a role in communication. Foragers also showed an increase in the relative amount of alkanes in their profiles compared to nurses, indicating adaptation to climatic conditions.}, }
@article {pmid39424809, year = {2024}, author = {Snijder, LL and Gross, J and Stallen, M and De Dreu, CKW}, title = {Prosocial preferences can escalate intergroup conflicts by countering selfish motivations to leave.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {9009}, pmid = {39424809}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Humans ; *Motivation ; Male ; Female ; *Social Behavior ; *Conflict, Psychological ; Group Processes ; Adult ; Aggression/psychology ; Young Adult ; Games, Experimental ; Interpersonal Relations ; }, abstract = {When defending against hostile enemies, individual group members can benefit from others staying in the group and fighting. However, individuals themselves may be better off by leaving the group and avoiding the personal risks associated with fighting. While fleeing is indeed commonly observed, when and why defenders fight or flee remains poorly understood and is addressed here with three incentivized and preregistered experiments (total n = 602). In stylized attacker-defender contest games in which defenders could stay and fight or leave, we show that the less costly leaving is, the more likely individuals are to abandon their group. In addition, more risk-averse individuals are more likely to leave. Conversely, individuals more likely stay and fight when they have pro-social preferences and when fellow group members cannot leave. However, those who stay not always contribute fully to group defense, to some degree free-riding on the efforts of other group members. Nonetheless, staying increased intergroup conflict and its associated costs.}, }
@article {pmid39378094, year = {2024}, author = {Degen, J and Storms, M and Lee, CB and Jechow, A and Stöckl, AL and Hölker, F and Jakhar, A and Walter, T and Walter, S and Mitesser, O and Hovestadt, T and Degen, T}, title = {Shedding light with harmonic radar: Unveiling the hidden impacts of streetlights on moth flight behavior.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {121}, number = {42}, pages = {e2401215121}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2401215121}, pmid = {39378094}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {DE 2869/1-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Flight, Animal/physiology ; *Moths/physiology ; *Radar ; *Light ; Behavior, Animal/physiology ; Ecosystem ; }, abstract = {One of the most dramatic changes occurring on our planet is the ever-increasing extensive use of artificial light at night, which drastically altered the environment to which nocturnal animals are adapted. Such light pollution has been identified as a driver in the dramatic insect decline of the past years. One nocturnal species group experiencing marked declines are moths, which play a key role in food webs and ecosystem services such as plant pollination. Moths can be easily monitored within the illuminated area of a streetlight, where they typically exhibit disoriented behavior. Yet, little is known about their behavior beyond the illuminated area. Harmonic radar tracking enabled us to close this knowledge gap. We found a significant change in flight behavior beyond the illuminated area of a streetlight. A detailed analysis of the recorded trajectories revealed a barrier effect of streetlights on lappet moths whenever the moon was not available as a natural celestial cue. Furthermore, streetlights increased the tortuosity of flights for both hawk moths and lappet moths. Surprisingly, we had to reject our fundamental hypothesis that most individuals would fly toward a streetlight. Instead, this was true for only 4% of the tested individuals, indicating that the impact of light pollution might be more severe than assumed to date. Our results provide experimental evidence for the fragmentation of landscapes by streetlights and demonstrate that light pollution affects movement patterns of moths beyond what was previously assumed, potentially affecting their reproductive success and hampering a vital ecosystem service.}, }
@article {pmid39333396, year = {2024}, author = {van Elst, T and Sgarlata, GM and Schüßler, D and Tiley, GP and Poelstra, JW and Scheumann, M and Blanco, MB and Aleixo-Pais, IG and Rina Evasoa, M and Ganzhorn, JU and Goodman, SM and Hasiniaina, AF and Hending, D and Hohenlohe, PA and Ibouroi, MT and Iribar, A and Jan, F and Kappeler, PM and Le Pors, B and Manzi, S and Olivieri, G and Rakotonanahary, AN and Rakotondranary, SJ and Rakotondravony, R and Ralison, JM and Ranaivoarisoa, JF and Randrianambinina, B and Rasoloarison, RM and Rasoloharijaona, S and Rasolondraibe, E and Teixeira, H and Zaonarivelo, JR and Louis, EE and Yoder, AD and Chikhi, L and Radespiel, U and Salmona, J}, title = {Integrative taxonomy clarifies the evolution of a cryptic primate clade.}, journal = {Nature ecology & evolution}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {39333396}, issn = {2397-334X}, support = {RSG-10941-1//Rufford Foundation (Rufford Small Grants Foundation)/ ; RSG-15472-1//Rufford Foundation (Rufford Small Grants Foundation)/ ; RSG-12973-1//Rufford Foundation (Rufford Small Grants Foundation)/ ; T237/22985/2012/kg//Bauer-Hollmann Stiftung (Bauer-Hollman Foundation)/ ; NSFDEB-NERC: 2148914//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; BEEG-B IRP//Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (National Center for Scientific Research)/ ; LABEX TULIP: ANR-10-LABX-0041//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; LABEX CEBA: ANR-10-LABX-25-01//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; TULIP-Visiting Scientist grant//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; 01LC1617A//Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (Federal Ministry of Education and Research)/ ; Ra 502/23-1; Ra 502/7-1; Ra 502/7-3; RA 502/20-1; RA 502/20-3//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; Ga 342/19//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; Ka 1082/8-1; Ka 1082/8-2; Ka 1082/19-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; 91529232//Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (German Academic Exchange Service)/ ; 91565325//Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (German Academic Exchange Service)/ ; }, abstract = {Global biodiversity is under accelerating threats, and species are succumbing to extinction before being described. Madagascar's biota represents an extreme example of this scenario, with the added complication that much of its endemic biodiversity is cryptic. Here we illustrate best practices for clarifying cryptic diversification processes by presenting an integrative framework that leverages multiple lines of evidence and taxon-informed cut-offs for species delimitation, while placing special emphasis on identifying patterns of isolation by distance. We systematically apply this framework to an entire taxonomically controversial primate clade, the mouse lemurs (genus Microcebus, family Cheirogaleidae). We demonstrate that species diversity has been overestimated primarily due to the interpretation of geographic variation as speciation, potentially biasing inference of the underlying processes of evolutionary diversification. Following a revised classification, we find that crypsis within the genus is best explained by a model of morphological stasis imposed by stabilizing selection and a neutral process of niche diversification. Finally, by clarifying species limits and defining evolutionarily significant units, we provide new conservation priorities, bridging fundamental and applied objectives in a generalizable framework.}, }
@article {pmid39317328, year = {2024}, author = {Araújo, P and Belušič, G and Ilić, M and Foster, J and Pfeiffer, K and Baird, E}, title = {Polarized light detection in bumblebees varies with light intensity and is mediated by both the ocelli and compound eyes.}, journal = {Biology letters}, volume = {20}, number = {9}, pages = {20240299}, pmid = {39317328}, issn = {1744-957X}, support = {//Swedish Research Council/ ; //Carl Tryggers Stiftelse för Vetenskaplig Forskning/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/physiology ; *Light ; *Compound Eye, Arthropod/physiology ; }, abstract = {Like many insects, bumblebees use polarized light (PL) to orient and navigate. The celestial PL pattern is strongest when the sun is close to the horizon, during the dim light of dawn and dusk. In the dim light, the sensitivity of the compound eyes may not be sufficient for detecting PL or landmarks, and it has previously been hypothesized that bumblebees rely on PL from their more sensitive ocelli to navigate at dawn and dusk. Here, we tested this hypothesis using a combination of electrophysiological and behavioural tests. Specifically, we investigate whether bumblebee ocelli can detect PL and explore how the PL contribution from the ocelli and compound eyes is affected by light intensity. We find that bumblebee ocelli do indeed have PL sensitivity and that PL information can be used to guide behaviour in dim light. In bright light, however, both the compound eyes and ocelli are important for the detection of PL. Our results support the hypothesis that bumblebees use PL information from the ocelli at the low light levels that occur around dawn and dusk, and this may support their ability to forage during these periods.}, }
@article {pmid39278967, year = {2024}, author = {Stiegler, J and Gallagher, CA and Hering, R and Müller, T and Tucker, M and Apollonio, M and Arnold, J and Barker, NA and Barthel, L and Bassano, B and Beest, FMV and Belant, JL and Berger, A and Beyer, DE and Bidner, LR and Blake, S and Börner, K and Brivio, F and Brogi, R and Buuveibaatar, B and Cagnacci, F and Dekker, J and Dentinger, J and Duľa, M and Duquette, JF and Eccard, JA and Evans, MN and Ferguson, AW and Fichtel, C and Ford, AT and Fowler, NL and Gehr, B and Getz, WM and Goheen, JR and Goossens, B and Grignolio, S and Haugaard, L and Hauptfleisch, M and Heim, M and Heurich, M and Hewison, MAJ and Isbell, LA and Janssen, R and Jarnemo, A and Jeltsch, F and Miloš, J and Kaczensky, P and Kamiński, T and Kappeler, P and Kasper, K and Kautz, TM and Kimmig, S and Kjellander, P and Kowalczyk, R and Kramer-Schadt, S and Kröschel, M and Krop-Benesch, A and Linderoth, P and Lobas, C and Lokeny, P and Lührs, ML and Matsushima, SS and McDonough, MM and Melzheimer, J and Morellet, N and Ngatia, DK and Obermair, L and Olson, KA and Patanant, KC and Payne, JC and Petroelje, TR and Pina, M and Piqué, J and Premier, J and Pufelski, J and Pyritz, L and Ramanzin, M and Roeleke, M and Rolandsen, CM and Saïd, S and Sandfort, R and Schmidt, K and Schmidt, NM and Scholz, C and Schubert, N and Selva, N and Sergiel, A and Serieys, LEK and Silovský, V and Slotow, R and Sönnichsen, L and Solberg, EJ and Stelvig, M and Street, GM and Sunde, P and Svoboda, NJ and Thaker, M and Tomowski, M and Ullmann, W and Vanak, AT and Wachter, B and Webb, SL and Wilmers, CC and Zieba, F and Zwijacz-Kozica, T and Blaum, N}, title = {Mammals show faster recovery from capture and tagging in human-disturbed landscapes.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {8079}, pmid = {39278967}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {R01 GM083863/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; *Mammals/physiology ; *Ecosystem ; Male ; Female ; Locomotion/physiology ; Herbivory/physiology ; Animals, Wild/physiology ; Behavior, Animal/physiology ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Wildlife tagging provides critical insights into animal movement ecology, physiology, and behavior amid global ecosystem changes. However, the stress induced by capture, handling, and tagging can impact post-release locomotion and activity and, consequently, the interpretation of study results. Here, we analyze post-tagging effects on 1585 individuals of 42 terrestrial mammal species using collar-collected GPS and accelerometer data. Species-specific displacements and overall dynamic body acceleration, as a proxy for activity, were assessed over 20 days post-release to quantify disturbance intensity, recovery duration, and speed. Differences were evaluated, considering species-specific traits and the human footprint of the study region. Over 70% of the analyzed species exhibited significant behavioral changes following collaring events. Herbivores traveled farther with variable activity reactions, while omnivores and carnivores were initially less active and mobile. Recovery duration proved brief, with alterations diminishing within 4-7 tracking days for most species. Herbivores, particularly males, showed quicker displacement recovery (4 days) but slower activity recovery (7 days). Individuals in high human footprint areas displayed faster recovery, indicating adaptation to human disturbance. Our findings emphasize the necessity of extending tracking periods beyond 1 week and particular caution in remote study areas or herbivore-focused research, specifically in smaller mammals.}, }
@article {pmid39277003, year = {2024}, author = {Zhou, J and Wu, X and Feng, Y and Huo, T and Zhao, Y and Pan, J and Liu, S}, title = {Bacterial communication intelligently regulates their interactions in anammox consortia under decreasing temperatures.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {176239}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176239}, pmid = {39277003}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Bacterial communication could affect their interactions, but whether this regulation has "intelligence" is still unknown. Here, we operated an anammox reactor under temperature gradient from 35 °C to 15 °C. As results, expression abundance of bacterial communication genes increased by 12 % significantly after temperature declined. Division of labor among distinct signal molecules was evidenced by complementary roles of acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) and diffusible signal factor (DSF) in affecting bacterial interactions and niche differentiation respectively. DSF based inter-and intra-communication helped bacteria match their investments and rewards during cross-feedings. When temperature was below 25 °C, transcription regulator Clp governed by DSF inclined to promote folate and molybdenum cofactor biosynthesis, which coincidentally benefited one anammox species more than another. Meanwhile, for the anammox species with lower benefits, Clp also inclined to decrease biosynthesis of costly tryptophan and vitamin B1 rewarding others. Interestingly, bacterial communication inclined to influence the bacteria with many cooperators in the community or with high capacity to export cofactors for cross-feedings when temperature decreased. As results, these bacteria were enriched which could lead to closer interactions in whole community to adapt to low temperatures. The discovered intelligence of bacterial communication opened another window for understanding bacterial sociobiology.}, }
@article {pmid39245290, year = {2024}, author = {Scheiner, R and Bloch, G}, title = {Editorial Scheiner, Bloch "How do social insects know their tasks?".}, journal = {Current opinion in insect science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {101257}, doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2024.101257}, pmid = {39245290}, issn = {2214-5753}, }
@article {pmid39137237, year = {2024}, author = {Bird, SA and Pope, NS and McGrady, CM and Fleischer, SJ and López-Uribe, MM}, title = {Mating frequency estimation and its importance for colony abundance analyses in eusocial pollinators: a case study of Bombus impatiens (Hymenoptera: Apidae).}, journal = {Journal of economic entomology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jee/toae178}, pmid = {39137237}, issn = {1938-291X}, support = {//Pennsylvania State University/ ; //National Science Foundation/ ; //USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Appropriations/ ; //USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture and McIntire-Stennis Appropriations/ ; }, abstract = {The genus Bombus (bumble bees) includes approximately 265 species, many of which are in decline in North America and Europe. To estimate colony abundance of bumble bees in natural and agricultural habitats, sibship relationships are often reconstructed from genetic data with the assumption that colonies have 1 monandrous queen. However, some species such as the North American common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens Cresson) can display low levels of polyandry, which may bias estimates of colony abundance based on monandrous sibship reconstructions. To accurately quantify rates of polyandry in wild and commercially mated queens of this species, we empirically estimated mating frequencies using a novel statistical model and genotypes from 730 bees. To genotype individuals, we used a highly polymorphic set of microsatellites on colonies established from 20 wild-caught gynes and 10 commercial colonies. We found multiple fathers in 3 of the wild colonies and 3 of the commercial colonies. This resulted in average effective mating frequencies of 1.075 ± 0.18 and 1.154 ± 0.25 for wild and commercial colonies, respectively. These findings agree with previous reports of low rates of polyandry for B. impatiens. Using a large empirical dataset, we demonstrate that assuming monandry for colony abundance estimation in species that violate this assumption results in an overestimation of the number of colonies. Our results emphasize the importance of studying mating frequencies in social species of conservation concern and economic importance for the accuracy of colony abundance estimation and for understanding their ecology and sociobiology.}, }
@article {pmid39097258, year = {2024}, author = {Manzer, S and Thamm, M and Hilsmann, L and Krischke, B and Steffan-Dewenter, I and Scheiner, R}, title = {The neonicotinoid acetamiprid reduces larval and adult survival in honeybees (Apis mellifera) and interacts with a fungicide mixture.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {124643}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124643}, pmid = {39097258}, issn = {1873-6424}, abstract = {Plant protection products (PPPs[1]), which are frequently used in agriculture, can be major stressors for honeybees. They have been found abundantly in the beehive, particularly in pollen. Few studies have analysed effects on honeybee larvae, and little is known about effects of insecticide-fungicide-mixtures, although this is a highly realistic exposure scenario. We asked whether the combination of a frequently used insecticide and fungicides would affect developing bees. Honeybee larvae (Apis mellifera carnica) were reared in vitro on larval diets containing different PPPs at two concentrations, derived from residues found in pollen. We used the neonicotinoid acetamiprid, the combined fungicides boscalid/dimoxystrobin and the mixture of all three substances. Mortality was assessed at larval, pupal, and adult stages, and the size and weight of newly emerged bees was measured. The insecticide treatment in higher concentrations significantly reduced larval and adult survival. Interestingly, survival was not affected by the high concentrated insecticide-fungicides-mixture However, negative synergistic effects on adult survival were caused by the low concentrated insecticide-fungicides-mixture, which had no effect when applied alone. The lower concentrated combined fungicides led to significantly lighter adult bees, although the survival was unaffected. Our results suggest that environmental relevant concentrations can be harmful to honeybees. To fully understand the interaction of different PPPs, more combinations and concentrations should be studied in social and solitary bees with possibly different sensitivities.}, }
@article {pmid39095642, year = {2024}, author = {Kappeler, PM and Fichtel, C}, title = {Author Correction: Independent fitness consequences of group size variation in Verreaux's sifakas.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {931}, doi = {10.1038/s42003-024-06611-w}, pmid = {39095642}, issn = {2399-3642}, }
@article {pmid39063179, year = {2024}, author = {Herlo, LF and Salcudean, A and Sirli, R and Iurciuc, S and Herlo, A and Nelson-Twakor, A and Alexandrescu, L and Dumache, R}, title = {Gut Microbiota Signatures in Colorectal Cancer as a Potential Diagnostic Biomarker in the Future: A Systematic Review.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {25}, number = {14}, pages = {}, pmid = {39063179}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*Colorectal Neoplasms/diagnosis/microbiology ; Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Biomarkers, Tumor ; *Dysbiosis/microbiology/diagnosis ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota has acquired significant attention in recent years for its potential as a diagnostic biomarker for colorectal cancer (CRC). In this literature review, we looked at the studies exploring alterations in gut microbiota composition associated with CRC, the potential mechanisms linking gut dysbiosis to CRC development, and the diagnostic approaches utilizing gut microbiota analysis. Our research has led to the conclusion that individuals with CRC often display alterations in their gut microbiota composition compared to healthy individuals. These alterations can include changes in the diversity, abundance, and type of bacteria present in the gut. While the use of gut microbiota as a diagnostic biomarker for CRC holds promise, further research is needed to validate its effectiveness and standardize testing protocols. Additionally, considerations such as variability in the microbiota composition among individuals and potential factors must be addressed before microbiota-based tests can be widely implemented in clinical practice.}, }
@article {pmid39062412, year = {2024}, author = {Neda-Stepan, O and Giurgi-Oncu, C and Sălcudean, A and Bernad, E and Bernad, BC and Boeriu, E and Enătescu, VR}, title = {Evaluating the Impact of Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms and Personality Types on Perinatal Depressive Symptoms.}, journal = {Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {14}, number = {7}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/bs14070589}, pmid = {39062412}, issn = {2076-328X}, abstract = {Perinatal depression (PPD) presents a significant public health concern, often influenced by psychological and personality factors. This study investigated the impact of personality traits, particularly neuroticism, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms on the severity of PPD. The primary aim was to quantify the contributions of these factors to the risk and severity of PPD to enhance early intervention strategies. A total of 47 pregnant women with depressive symptoms per DSM-5 criteria at "Pius Brinzeu" County Emergency Hospital in Timisoara, Romania, were enrolled in this cross-sectional study, as well as 49 women without depressive symptoms as controls. Personality traits were assessed using the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI), and OCD symptoms were measured using the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (OCI). Depression severity was evaluated using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). This set of questionnaires were administered antepartum and postpartum. The logistic regression analysis highlighted neuroticism as a significant predictor of PPD severity, with an increase in neuroticism associated with a higher risk of PPD (coefficient = 0.24, p < 0.001). Conversely, openness showed a protective effect (coefficient = -0.13, p = 0.009). Higher OCD symptomatology, particularly ordering and hoarding, were linked with increased depression scores. Specifically, the total OCI score significantly predicted the EPDS score (coefficient = 0.03, p = 0.003). Furthermore, significant increases in EPDS anxiety and depression scores were observed in the perinatal period, indicating worsening of symptoms (anxiety coefficient = 0.51; p < 0.001). The findings suggest that personality traits like neuroticism and OCD symptoms significantly contribute to the severity of PPD. Interventions targeting these specific traits could potentially mitigate the risk and severity of perinatal depression, underscoring the need for personalized treatment plans that consider these psychological dimensions.}, }
@article {pmid39050716, year = {2024}, author = {Delaunay, A and Cossu-Doye, O and Roura-Torres, B and Sauvadet, L and Ngoubangoye, B and Huchard, E and Charpentier, MJE}, title = {An early-life challenge: becoming an older sibling in wild mandrills.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {11}, number = {7}, pages = {240597}, pmid = {39050716}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {In monotocous mammals, most individuals experience the birth of a younger sibling. This period may induce losses in maternal care and can be physiologically, energetically and emotionally challenging for the older sibling, yet has rarely been studied in wild primates. We used behavioural data collected from a natural population of mandrills to investigate changes in maternal care and mother-juvenile relationship throughout the transition to siblinghood (TTS), by comparing juveniles who recently experienced the birth of a younger sibling, to juveniles who did not. We found that the TTS was associated with an abrupt cessation of the weaning process for the juvenile, and to a decrease in maternal affiliation. Juveniles' reactions were sex-specific, as males associated less with their mother, while females tended to groom their mother more often after the birth of their sibling. Despite the substantial loss of maternal care, juveniles did not show an increase in conflict or anxiety-related behaviours. This study contributes to explain why short interbirth intervals often pose a risk to juveniles' survival in monotocous primates. Our results contrast existing studies and further highlight the importance of examining the TTS in species and populations with various life histories and ecologies.}, }
@article {pmid39045309, year = {2024}, author = {Sidler, L and Rode-White, J and Kappeler, PM}, title = {Male-biased dominance in greater bamboo lemurs (Prolemur simus).}, journal = {Primate biology}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {13-17}, pmid = {39045309}, issn = {2363-4715}, abstract = {Intersexual dominance relationships in virtually all lemur species have been reported to be female-biased. Although a claim of male dominance in greater bamboo lemurs (Prolemur simus) which was not supported by data is unusual against this background, it is in line with recent studies on other lemur species that suggest the existence of a continuum of intersexual dominance relationships. We therefore studied the details of agonistic interactions among adults of one captive group of P. simus at Cologne Zoo. This very preliminary study confirmed male-biased dominance because the adult male of the study group won all agonistic interactions with all three adult females, and the male was never dominated by any of the females. This result raises several interesting questions about the mechanisms and evolution of intersexual dominance relationships in group-living lemurs and should encourage similar future studies of additional groups of this species - ideally in the wild.}, }
@article {pmid39042696, year = {2024}, author = {Metz, DCG and Hechinger, RF}, title = {The physical soldier caste of an invasive, human-infecting flatworm is morphologically extreme and obligately sterile.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {121}, number = {31}, pages = {e2400953121}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2400953121}, pmid = {39042696}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {1R03AI156569-01//HHS | NIH (NIH)/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; *Snails/parasitology ; Trematoda/physiology ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Reproduction ; Introduced Species ; California ; }, abstract = {We show that the globally invasive, human-infectious flatworm, Haplorchis pumilio, possesses the most physically specialized soldier caste yet documented in trematodes. Soldiers occur in colonies infecting the first intermediate host, the freshwater snail Melanoides tuberculata, and are readily distinguishable from immature and mature reproductive worms. Soldiers possess a pharynx five times absolutely larger than those of immature and mature reproductives, lack a germinal mass, and have a different developmental trajectory than reproductives, indicating that H. pumilio soldiers constitute a reproductively sterile physical caste. Neither immature nor mature reproductives showed aggression in in vitro trials, but soldiers readily attacked heterospecific trematodes that coinfect their host. Ecologically, we calculate that H. pumilio caused ~94% of the competitive deaths in the guild of trematodes infecting its host snail in its invasive range in southern California. Despite being a dominant competitor, H. pumilio soldiers did not attack conspecifics from other colonies. All prior reports documenting division of labor and a trematode soldier caste have involved soldiers that may be able to metamorphose to the reproductive stage and have been from nonhuman-infectious marine species; this study provides clear evidence for an obligately sterile trematode soldier, while extending the phenomenon of a trematode soldier caste to freshwater and to an invasive species of global public health concern.}, }
@article {pmid39014019, year = {2024}, author = {Cavaliere, M and Yang, G and De Dreu, CKW and Gross, J}, title = {Cooperation and social organization depend on weighing private and public reputations.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {16443}, pmid = {39014019}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Humans ; *Cooperative Behavior ; Social Networking ; Game Theory ; Interpersonal Relations ; }, abstract = {To avoid exploitation by defectors, people can use past experiences with others when deciding to cooperate or not ('private information'). Alternatively, people can derive others' reputation from 'public' information provided by individuals within the social network. However, public information may be aligned or misaligned with one's own private experiences and different individuals, such as 'friends' and 'enemies', may have different opinions about the reputation of others. Using evolutionary agent-based simulations, we examine how cooperation and social organization is shaped when agents (1) prioritize private or public information about others' reputation, and (2) integrate others' opinions using a friend-focused or a friend-and-enemy focused heuristic (relying on reputation information from only friends or also enemies, respectively). When agents prioritize public information and rely on friend-and-enemy heuristics, we observe polarization cycles marked by high cooperation, invasion by defectors, and subsequent population fragmentation. Prioritizing private information diminishes polarization and defector invasions, but also results in limited cooperation. Only when using friend-focused heuristics and following past experiences or the recommendation of friends create prosperous and stable populations based on cooperation. These results show how combining one's own experiences and the opinions of friends can lead to stable and large-scale cooperation and highlight the important role of following the advice of friends in the evolution of group cooperation.}, }
@article {pmid38965399, year = {2024}, author = {Kappeler, PM and Fichtel, C}, title = {Independent fitness consequences of group size variation in Verreaux's sifakas.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {816}, pmid = {38965399}, issn = {2399-3642}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; *Reproduction ; Male ; Genetic Fitness ; Strepsirhini/physiology ; Population Density ; Sex Ratio ; }, abstract = {The costs and benefits of group living are also reflected in intraspecific variation in group size. Yet, little is known about general patterns of fitness consequences of this variation. We use demographic records collected over 25 years to determine how survival and reproductive success vary with group size in a Malagasy primate. We show that female reproductive rates of Verreaux's sifakas (Propithecus verreauxi) are not affected by total group size, but that they are supressed by the number of co-resident females, whereas mortality rates are significantly higher in larger groups. Neither annual rainfall nor the adult sex ratio have significant effects on birth and death rates. Hence, these sifakas enjoy the greatest net fitness benefits at small, and not the predicted intermediate group sizes. Thus, independent fitness proxies can vary independently as a function of group size as well as other factors, leading to deviations from optimal intermediate group sizes.}, }
@article {pmid38924403, year = {2024}, author = {Romano, A and Gross, J and De Dreu, CKW}, title = {The nasty neighbor effect in humans.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {10}, number = {26}, pages = {eadm7968}, doi = {10.1126/sciadv.adm7968}, pmid = {38924403}, issn = {2375-2548}, mesh = {Humans ; Kenya ; United Kingdom ; *Cooperative Behavior ; Male ; Female ; Social Behavior ; Trust ; }, abstract = {Like other group-living species, humans often cooperate more with an in-group member than with out-group members and strangers. Greater in-group favoritism should imply that people also compete less with in-group members than with out-group members and strangers. However, in situations where people could invest to take other's resources and invest to protect against exploitation, we observed the opposite. Akin to what in other species is known as the "nasty neighbor effect," people invested more when facing an in-group rather than out-group member or stranger across 51 nations, in different communities in Kenya, and in representative samples from the United Kingdom. This "nasty neighbor" behavior is independent of in-group favoritism in trust and emerges when people perceive within-group resource scarcity. We discuss how to reconcile that humans exhibit nastiness and favoritism toward in-group members with existing theory on in-group favoritism.}, }
@article {pmid38913888, year = {2024}, author = {Gross, J and Méder, ZZ and Romano, A and De Dreu, CKW}, title = {Indirect reciprocity can foster large-scale cooperation.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {121}, number = {27}, pages = {e2409894121}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2409894121}, pmid = {38913888}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {*Cooperative Behavior ; Humans ; }, }
@article {pmid38805646, year = {2024}, author = {Walsh, EM and Simone-Finstrom, M}, title = {Current honey bee stressor investigations and mitigation methods in the United States and Canada.}, journal = {Journal of insect science (Online)}, volume = {24}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {38805646}, issn = {1536-2442}, mesh = {Bees/physiology ; Animals ; Canada ; United States ; *Beekeeping ; Stress, Physiological ; Pollination ; }, abstract = {Honey bees are the most important managed insect pollinators in the US and Canadian crop systems. However, the annual mortality of colonies in the past 15 years has been consistently higher than historical records. Because they are eusocial generalist pollinators and amenable to management, honey bees provide a unique opportunity to investigate a wide range of questions at molecular, organismal, and ecological scales. Here, the American Association of Professional Apiculturists (AAPA) and the Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists (CAPA) created 2 collections of articles featuring investigations on micro and macro aspects of honey bee health, sociobiology, and management showcasing new applied research from diverse groups studying honey bees (Apis mellifera) in the United States and Canada. Research presented in this special issue includes examinations of abiotic and biotic stressors of honey bees, and evaluations and introductions of various stress mitigation measures that may be valuable to both scientists and the beekeeping community. These investigations from throughout the United States and Canada showcase the wide breadth of current work done and point out areas that need further research.}, }
@article {pmid38785737, year = {2024}, author = {Neda-Stepan, O and Giurgi-Oncu, C and Sălcudean, A and Bernad, E and Bernad, BC and Enătescu, VR}, title = {The Influence of Personality Traits on Postpartum Depression: A Systematic Review Based on the NEO-FFI Scale.}, journal = {Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {38785737}, issn = {2079-9721}, abstract = {Postpartum depression (PPD) is a significant global health concern with profound implications for mothers, families, and societies. This systematic review aims to synthesize current research findings to understand better how personality traits, as assessed by the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI), contribute to the development and progression of PPD. Conducted in January 2024, this review searched major databases like PubMed, PsycINFO, and Scopus up to December 2023, focusing on the NEO-FFI's role in evaluating PPD. Following PRISMA guidelines, studies were selected based on strict criteria, including the exclusive use of NEO-FFI for personality assessment and a focus on postpartum women. A total of seven studies were included after a rigorous two-step screening process, and their data were qualitatively synthesized. The review covered a total of 4172 participants, with a prevalence of clinically significant postpartum depression symptoms ranging from 10.6% to 51.7%. Notably, Neuroticism emerged as a significant predictor of PPD, with odds ratios ranging from 1.07 (95% CI: 0.96-1.20) in some studies to as high as 1.87 (95% CI: 1.53-2.27) in others. In contrast, traits like Extraversion and Conscientiousness generally showed protective effects, with lower scores associated with reduced PPD risk. For instance, Extraversion scores correlated negatively with PPD risk (Beta = -0.171) in one study. However, the impact of other traits such as Openness and Agreeableness on PPD risk was less clear, with some studies indicating negligible effects. The review highlights Neuroticism as a consistent and significant predictor of PPD risk, with varying impacts from other personality traits. The findings suggest potential pathways for targeted interventions in maternal mental health care, emphasizing the need for comprehensive personality evaluations in prenatal and postnatal settings.}, }
@article {pmid38768209, year = {2024}, author = {Fichtel, C and Dinter, K and Ratsoavina, F}, title = {Benefits but not the dual functions of submissive signals differ between two Malagasy primates.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {379}, number = {1905}, pages = {20230197}, doi = {10.1098/rstb.2023.0197}, pmid = {38768209}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {Animals ; *Vocalization, Animal ; *Lemur/physiology ; *Social Dominance ; Male ; Female ; Madagascar ; Species Specificity ; Animal Communication ; Dominance-Subordination ; }, abstract = {Many animals use formalized signals to communicate dominance relationships. In some primates, such as macaques, the function of such signals varies with dominance style. Despotic species produce unidirectional submission signals that have a dual function: in conflict contexts, they signal a willingness to withdraw, whereas in peaceful contexts, they indicate the agreement to subordination. More despotic species produce these calls to a lesser extent than less despotic species. Here, we investigated whether the use of unidirectional submission signals is also related to dominance style in two lemur species and whether signalling subordination stabilizes social relationships at the group level. Ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) exhibit a more despotic dominance hierarchy than Verreaux's sifakas (Propithecus verreauxi). We observed social interactions in 75 dyads of Verreaux's sifakas and 118 dyads of ring-tailed lemurs. Both species used unidirectional submissive calls that have a dual function, potentially suggesting convergent evolution of the function of these signals in independent primate lineages. However, signalling subordination did not stabilize social relationships at the group level in both species. Additionally, subordination occurred more frequently in dyads of the more despotic ring-tailed lemurs than in Verreaux's sifakas, indicating opposite patterns to macaques in the coevolution of social traits with dominance style. This article is part of the theme issue 'The power of sound: unravelling how acoustic communication shapes group dynamics'.}, }
@article {pmid38735942, year = {2024}, author = {Errbii, M and Ernst, UR and Lajmi, A and Privman, E and Gadau, J and Schrader, L}, title = {Evolutionary genomics of socially polymorphic populations of Pogonomyrmex californicus.}, journal = {BMC biology}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {109}, pmid = {38735942}, issn = {1741-7007}, support = {316099922//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; 396780988//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; 316099922//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; 396780988//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; 403813881 (SCHR 1554/2-1)//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants/genetics ; Social Behavior ; Genomics ; Genome, Insect ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Biological Evolution ; Female ; California ; Evolution, Molecular ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Social insects vary considerably in their social organization both between and within species. In the California harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex californicus (Buckley 1867), colonies are commonly founded and headed by a single queen (haplometrosis, primary monogyny). However, in some populations in California (USA), unrelated queens cooperate not only during founding (pleometrosis) but also throughout the life of the colony (primary polygyny). The genetic architecture and evolutionary dynamics of this complex social niche polymorphism (haplometrosis vs pleometrosis) have remained unknown.<br><br>RESULTS: We provide a first analysis of its genomic basis and evolutionary history using population genomics comparing individuals from a haplometrotic population to those from a pleometrotic population. We discovered a recently evolved (<&#x2009;200&#xa0;k&#xa0;years), 8-Mb non-recombining region segregating with the observed social niche polymorphism. This region shares several characteristics with supergenes underlying social polymorphisms in other socially polymorphic ant species. However, we also find remarkable differences from previously described social supergenes. Particularly, four additional genomic regions not in linkage with the supergene show signatures of a selective sweep in the pleometrotic population. Within these regions, we find for example genes crucial for epigenetic regulation via histone modification (chameau) and DNA methylation (Dnmt1).<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, our results suggest that social morph in this species is a polygenic trait involving a potential young supergene. Further studies targeting haplo- and pleometrotic individuals from a single population are however required to conclusively resolve whether these genetic differences underlie the alternative social phenotypes or have emerged through genetic drift.}, }
@article {pmid38725404, year = {2024}, author = {Peng, T and Kennedy, A and Wu, Y and Foitzik, S and Grüter, C}, title = {Early life exposure to queen mandibular pheromone mediates persistent transcriptional changes in the brain of honey bee foragers.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.247516}, pmid = {38725404}, issn = {1477-9145}, support = {GR 4986/3-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; 32200388//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {Behavioural regulation in insect societies remains a fundamental question in sociobiology. In hymenopteran societies, the queen plays a crucial role in regulating group behaviour by affecting individual behaviour and physiology through modulation of worker gene expression. Honey bee (Apis mellifera) queens signal their presence via queen mandibular pheromone (QMP). While QMP has been shown to influence behaviour and gene expression of young workers, we know little about how these changes translate in older workers. The effects of the queen pheromone could have prolonged molecular impacts on workers that depend on an early sensitive period. We demonstrate that removal of QMP impacts long-term gene expression in the brain and antennae in foragers that were treated early in life (1-day post emergence), but not when treated later in life. Genes important for division of labour, learning, chemosensory perception, and ageing were among those differentially expressed in the antennae and brain tissues, suggesting that QMP influences diverse physiological and behavioural processes in workers. Surprisingly, removal of QMP did not have an impact on foraging behaviour. Overall, our study suggests a sensitive period early in the life of workers, where the presence or absence of a queen has potential livelong effects on transcriptional activity.}, }
@article {pmid38696403, year = {2024}, author = {Tilley, HB and Murphy, D and Wierucka, K and Wong, TC and Surreault-Châble, A and Mumby, HS}, title = {Physical activity and temperature changes of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) participating in eco-tourism activities and elephant polo.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {19}, number = {5}, pages = {e0300373}, pmid = {38696403}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Elephants/physiology ; Female ; *Skin Temperature/physiology ; Physical Conditioning, Animal/physiology ; Body Temperature/physiology ; Body Temperature Regulation/physiology ; Thermography/methods ; }, abstract = {Captive and domestic animals are often required to engage in physical activity initiated or organised by humans, which may impact their body temperature, with consequences for their health and welfare. This is a particular concern for animals such as elephants that face thermoregulatory challenges because of their body size and physiology. Using infrared thermography, we measured changes in skin temperature associated with two types of physical activity in ten female Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) at an eco-tourism lodge in Nepal. Six elephants took part in an activity relatively unfamiliar to the elephants-a polo tournament-and four participated in more familiar ecotourism activities. We recorded skin temperatures for four body regions affected by the activities, as well as an average skin temperature. Temperature change was used as the response variable in the analysis and calculated as the difference in elephant temperature before and after activity. We found no significant differences in temperature change between the elephants in the polo-playing group and those from the non-polo playing group. However, for both groups, when comparing the average skin body temperature and several different body regions, we found significant differences in skin temperature change before and after activity. The ear pinna was the most impacted region and was significantly different to all other body regions. This result highlights the importance of this region in thermoregulation for elephants during physical activity. However, as we found no differences between the average body temperatures of the polo and non-polo playing groups, we suggest that thermoregulatory mechanisms can counteract the effects of both physical activities the elephants engaged in.}, }
@article {pmid38633523, year = {2024}, author = {Imirzian, N and Püffel, F and Roces, F and Labonte, D}, title = {Large deformation diffeomorphic mapping of 3D shape variation reveals two distinct mandible and head capsule morphs in Atta vollenweideri leaf-cutter worker ants.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {14}, number = {4}, pages = {e11236}, pmid = {38633523}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Ants are crucial ecosystem engineers, and their ecological success is facilitated by a division of labour among sterile "workers". In some ant lineages, workers have undergone further morphological differentiation, resulting in differences in body size, shape, or both. Distinguishing between changes in size and shape is not trivial. Traditional approaches based on allometry reduce complex 3D shapes into simple linear, areal, or volume metrics; modern approaches using geometric morphometrics typically rely on landmarks, introducing observer bias and a trade-off between effort and accuracy. Here, we use a landmark-free method based on large deformation diffeomorphic metric mapping (LDDMM) to assess the co-variation of size and 3D shape in the mandibles and head capsules of Atta vollenweideri leaf-cutter ants, a species exhibiting extreme worker size-variation. Body mass varied by more than two orders of magnitude, but a shape atlas created via LDDMM on μ-CT-derived 3D mesh files revealed only two distinct head capsule and mandibles shapes-one for the minims (body mass < 1 mg) and one for all other workers. We discuss the functional significance of the identified 3D shape variation, and its implications for the evolution of extreme polymorphism in Atta.}, }
@article {pmid38593409, year = {2023}, author = {Tesar, K and Heymann, EW and Dolotovskaya, S}, title = {A comparison of scan and focal sampling in estimating activity budgets, diet composition, and proximity patterns of a wild pair-living primate.}, journal = {Folia primatologica; international journal of primatology}, volume = {94}, number = {4-6}, pages = {249-263}, doi = {10.1163/14219980-bja10016}, pmid = {38593409}, issn = {1421-9980}, mesh = {Animals ; *Callicebus ; Pilot Projects ; Diet/veterinary ; Feeding Behavior ; Fruit ; *Arthropods ; }, abstract = {The choice of behavioral sampling method can impact the outcome of data collection, however, few direct comparisons between methods have been made. We compared the performance of instantaneous group scan sampling (scan sampling) and focal continuous sampling with variable session durations (focal sampling) in estimating activity patterns, diet composition, and spatial proximity in seven groups of wild coppery titi monkeys (Plecturocebus cupreus) in Peruvian Amazonia. We used a series of paired samples Wilcoxon tests to compare daily proportions of time allocated to each type of activity/food/proximity category in each sampling method. In addition, we compared our results with those of other studies conducted on the same population of titi monkeys at other times. Focal sampling provided significantly lower estimates for moving time and significantly higher estimates for resting time compared to scan sampling, likely because scan sampling tends to give higher estimates of more conspicuous behaviors and lower estimates of less conspicuous behaviors. For diet composition, scan sampling gave similar results to other studies, while focal sampling gave significantly lower estimates for feeding on fruits and higher estimates for feeding on arthropods. The most likely reason is that focal sampling with variable session durations tends to overestimate behaviors during which a focal animal is less likely to go out of view, such as feeding on arthropods in the lower strata of the forest. Our results suggest that a pilot study comparing different methods should be conducted prior to collecting data, as not all methods are interchangeable.}, }
@article {pmid38554503, year = {2024}, author = {Schuhmann, A and Schulte, J and Feldhaar, H and Scheiner, R}, title = {Bumblebees are resilient to neonicotinoid-fungicide combinations.}, journal = {Environment international}, volume = {186}, number = {}, pages = {108608}, doi = {10.1016/j.envint.2024.108608}, pmid = {38554503}, issn = {1873-6750}, mesh = {Bees/drug effects/physiology ; Animals ; *Neonicotinoids ; *Fungicides, Industrial/toxicity ; Strobilurins ; Insecticides/toxicity ; Pyridines/toxicity ; *Biphenyl Compounds ; Niacinamide/*analogs &amp; derivatives ; }, abstract = {Bumblebees are among the most important wild bees for pollination of crops and securing wildflower diversity. However, their abundance and diversity have been on a steady decrease in the last decades. One of the most important factors leading to their decline is the frequent use of plant protection products (PPPs) in agriculture, which spread into forests and natural reserves. Mixtures of different PPPs pose a particular threat because of possible synergistic effects. While there is a comparatively large body of studies on the effects of PPPs on honeybees, we still lack data on wild bees. We here investigated the influence of the frequent fungicide Cantus® Gold (boscalid/dimoxystrobin), the neonicotinoid insecticide Mospilan® (acetamiprid) and their combination on bumblebees. Cognitive performance and foraging flights of bumblebees were studied. They are essential for the provisioning and survival of the colony. We introduce a novel method for testing four treatments simultaneously on the same colony, minimizing inter-colony differences. For this, we successfully quartered the colony and moved the queen daily between compartments. Bumblebees appeared astonishingly resilient to the PPPs tested or they have developed mechanisms for detoxification. Neither learning capacity nor flight activity were inhibited by treatment with the single PPPs or their combination.}, }
@article {pmid38472409, year = {2024}, author = {Beer, K and Zupanc, GKH and Helfrich-Förster, C}, title = {Ingeborg Beling and the time memory in honeybees: almost one hundred years of research.}, journal = {Journal of comparative physiology. A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology}, volume = {210}, number = {2}, pages = {189-201}, pmid = {38472409}, issn = {1432-1351}, support = {BE 8339/1-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; 1946910//National Science Foundation/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bees ; *Feeding Behavior/physiology ; *Food ; History, 20th Century ; }, abstract = {Bees are known for their ability to forage with high efficiency. One of their strategies to avoid unproductive foraging is to be at the food source at the right time of the day. Approximately one hundred years ago, researchers discovered that honeybees have a remarkable time memory, which they use for optimizing foraging. Ingeborg Beling was the first to examine this time memory experimentally. In her doctoral thesis, completed under the mentorship of Karl von Frisch in 1929, she systematically examined the capability of honeybees to remember specific times of the day at which they had been trained to appear at a feeding station. Beling was a pioneer in chronobiology, as she described the basic characteristics of the circadian clock on which the honeybee's time memory is based. Unfortunately, after a few years of extremely productive research, she ended her scientific career, probably due to family reasons or political pressure to reduce the number of women in the workforce. Here, we present a biographical sketch of Ingeborg Beling and review her research on the time memory of honeybees. Furthermore, we discuss the significance of her work, considering what is known about time memory today - nearly 100 years after she conducted her experiments.}, }
@article {pmid38470528, year = {2024}, author = {Narah, J and Streinzer, M and Chakravorty, J and Megu, K and Spaethe, J and Brockmann, A and Schmitt, T}, title = {Cuticular Hydrocarbon Profiles of Himalayan Bumble Bees (Hymenoptera: Bombus Latreille) are Species-Specific and Show Elevational Variation.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38470528}, issn = {1573-1561}, abstract = {Bumble bees are important pollinators in natural environments and agricultural farmlands, and they are in particular adapted to harsh environments like high mountain habitats. In these environments, animals are exposed to low temperature and face the risk of desiccation. The Eastern Himalayas are one of the recognized biodiversity hotspots worldwide. The area covers subtropical rainforest with warm temperature and high precipitation as well as high mountain ranges with peaks reaching up to 7,000 m, shaping a diverse floral and faunal community at the different elevational zones. To identify possible adaptation strategies, we investigated the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of four bumble bee species occurring at different elevational ranges in Arunachal Pradesh, the northeastern most state in India. At 17 locations along an elevational gradient, we collected workers of two species from lower elevations (B. albopleuralis and B. breviceps; ~ 100 m - 3,000 m asl) and two species from higher elevations (B. prshewalskyi and B. mirus; ~ 2,800 m - 4,500 m asl). The CHC profiles of all four species showed a significant degree of variation in the composition of hydrocarbons, indicating species specificity. We also found clear correlation with elevation. The weighted mean chain length of the hydrocarbons significantly differed between the low and high elevation species, and the proportion of saturated hydrocarbons in CHC profiles significantly increased with the elevational range of the bumble bee species. Our results indicate that bumble bees living at high elevations reduce the risk of water loss by adapting their CHC composition on their cuticle, a phenomenon that has also been found in other insects like ants and fruit flies.}, }
@article {pmid38469501, year = {2023}, author = {Pirk, CWW and Scheiner, R}, title = {Editorial: The effects of diet on health in insects.}, journal = {Frontiers in insect science}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {1186027}, pmid = {38469501}, issn = {2673-8600}, }
@article {pmid38346192, year = {2024}, author = {Grob, R and Müller, VL and Grübel, K and Rössler, W and Fleischmann, PN}, title = {Importance of magnetic information for neuronal plasticity in desert ants.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {121}, number = {8}, pages = {e2320764121}, pmid = {38346192}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {FL1060/1-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)/ ; Ro 1177/7-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)/ ; INST 934/829-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)/ ; GSO/KT 16//German Scholar Organization/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants/physiology ; Learning/physiology ; Brain ; Neuronal Plasticity/physiology ; Magnetic Phenomena ; Homing Behavior/physiology ; Cues ; Desert Climate ; }, abstract = {Many animal species rely on the Earth's magnetic field during navigation, but where in the brain magnetic information is processed is still unknown. To unravel this, we manipulated the natural magnetic field at the nest entrance of Cataglyphis desert ants and investigated how this affects relevant brain regions during early compass calibration. We found that manipulating the Earth's magnetic field has profound effects on neuronal plasticity in two sensory integration centers. Magnetic field manipulations interfere with a typical look-back behavior during learning walks of naive ants. Most importantly, structural analyses in the ants' neuronal compass (central complex) and memory centers (mushroom bodies) demonstrate that magnetic information affects neuronal plasticity during early visual learning. This suggests that magnetic information does not only serve as a compass cue for navigation but also as a global reference system crucial for spatial memory formation. We propose a neural circuit for integration of magnetic information into visual guidance networks in the ant brain. Taken together, our results provide an insight into the neural substrate for magnetic navigation in insects.}, }
@article {pmid38285936, year = {2024}, author = {Kannegieser, S and Kraft, N and Haan, A and Stöckl, A}, title = {Visual guidance fine-tunes probing movements of an insect appendage.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {121}, number = {6}, pages = {e2306937121}, pmid = {38285936}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {95490//Volkswagen Foundation (VolkswagenStiftung)/ ; n.a.//Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities/ ; PostdocPlus//Graduate School of Life Sciences/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; *Psychomotor Performance/physiology ; *Movement/physiology ; Insecta ; Feedback, Sensory/physiology ; Visual Perception/physiology ; }, abstract = {Visually guided reaching, a regular feature of human life, comprises an intricate neural control task. It includes identifying the target's position in 3D space, passing the representation to the motor system that controls the respective appendages, and adjusting ongoing movements using visual and proprioceptive feedback. Given the complexity of the neural control task, invertebrates, with their numerically constrained central nervous systems, are often considered incapable of this level of visuomotor guidance. Here, we provide mechanistic insights into visual appendage guidance in insects by studying the probing movements of the hummingbird hawkmoth's proboscis as they search for a flower's nectary. We show that visually guided proboscis movements fine-tune the coarse control provided by body movements in flight. By impairing the animals' view of their proboscis, we demonstrate that continuous visual feedback is required and actively sought out to guide this appendage. In doing so, we establish an insect model for the study of neural strategies underlying eye-appendage control in a simple nervous system.}, }
@article {pmid38256919, year = {2024}, author = {Kalinovic, R and Pascariu, A and Vlad, G and Nitusca, D and Sălcudean, A and Sirbu, IO and Marian, C and Enatescu, VR}, title = {Involvement of the Expression of G Protein-Coupled Receptors in Schizophrenia.}, journal = {Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {38256919}, issn = {1424-8247}, abstract = {The expression of GPCRs has been associated with schizophrenia, and their expression may induce morphological changes in brain regions responsible for schizophrenia and disease-specific behavioral changes. The articles included in this review were selected using keywords and databases of scientific research websites. The expressions of GPRs have different involvements in schizophrenia, some increase the risk while others provide protection, and they may also be potential targets for new treatments. Proper evaluation of these factors is essential to have a better therapeutic response with a lower rate of chronicity and thus improve the long-term prognosis.}, }
@article {pmid38218496, year = {2024}, author = {Wu, X and Kong, L and Feng, Y and Zheng, R and Zhou, J and Sun, J and Liu, S}, title = {Communication mediated interaction between bacteria and microalgae advances photogranulation.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {914}, number = {}, pages = {169975}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.169975}, pmid = {38218496}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {*Quorum Sensing ; *Microalgae ; Bacteria ; Acyl-Butyrolactones ; Communication ; }, abstract = {Recently, photogranules composed of bacteria and microalgae for carbon-negative nitrogen removal receive extensive attention worldwide, yet which type of bacteria is helpful for rapid formation of photogranules and whether they depend on signaling communication remain elusive. Varied signaling communication was analyzed using metagenomic method among bacteria and microalgae in via of two types of experimentally verified signaling molecule from bacteria to microalgae, which include indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) during the operation of photo-bioreactors. Signaling communication is helpful for the adaptability of bacteria to survive with algae. Compared with non-signaling bacteria, signaling bacteria more easily adapt to the varied conditions, evidenced by the increased abundance in the operated reactors. Signaling bacteria are easier to enter the phycosphere, and they dominate the interactions between bacteria and algae rather than non-signaling bacteria. The co-abundance groups (CAGs) with signaling bacteria possess higher abundance than that without signaling bacteria (22.27 % and 6.67 %). Importantly, signaling bacteria accessibly interact with microalgae, which possess higher degree centralities and 32.50 % of them are keystone nodes in the network, in contrast to only 18.66 % of non-signaling bacteria. Thauera carrying both IAA and AHLs synthase genes are highly enriched and positively correlated with nitrogen removal rate. Our work not only highlights the essential roles of signaling communication between microalgae and bacteria in the development of photogranules, but also enriches our understanding of microbial sociobiology.}, }
@article {pmid38133716, year = {2024}, author = {Roura-Torres, B and Amblard-Rambert, P and Lepou, P and Kappeler, PM and Charpentier, MJE}, title = {Stillbirth of a mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx) in the wild: perinatal behaviors and delivery sequences.}, journal = {Primates; journal of primatology}, volume = {65}, number = {2}, pages = {75-80}, pmid = {38133716}, issn = {1610-7365}, support = {S202210309//Leakey Foundation/ ; INEE-CNRS//SEEG Lekedi/ ; KA 1082/45-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; }, mesh = {Humans ; Pregnancy ; Animals ; Female ; *Mandrillus ; Stillbirth/epidemiology/veterinary ; Parturition ; Biological Evolution ; }, abstract = {Birth is a fundamental event in the life of animals, including our own species. More reports of wild non-human primate births and stillbirths are thus needed to better understand the evolutionary pressures shaping parturition behaviors in our lineage. In diurnal non-human primates, births generally occur at night, when individuals are resting. Consequently, they are difficult to observe in the wild and most of the current knowledge regarding perinatal behaviors comes from rare daytime births. Information about stillbirths is even rarer and their proximate causes are generally unknown. Here, we present detailed observations of a daytime birth of a stillborn wild mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx). During this event, which lasted an entire day, we recorded the behaviors of the parturient female ad libitum, using video recordings and photos. The 5-year-old female was primiparous and of low dominance rank. The length of her pregnancy was shorter than usual and the partum phase was extremely long compared to other birth reports in non-human primates. The female disappeared shortly after this event and was assumed to have died. We discuss the possible causes of this stillbirth including the infant's presentation at birth and maternal inexperience.}, }
@article {pmid38113942, year = {2023}, author = {Larsen, TJ and Jahan, I and Brock, DA and Strassmann, JE and Queller, DC}, title = {Reduced social function in experimentally evolved Dictyostelium discoideum implies selection for social conflict in nature.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {290}, number = {2013}, pages = {20231722}, pmid = {38113942}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {*Dictyostelium ; *Social Evolution ; }, abstract = {Many microbes interact with one another, but the difficulty of directly observing these interactions in nature makes interpreting their adaptive value complicated. The social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum forms aggregates wherein some cells are sacrificed for the benefit of others. Within chimaeric aggregates containing multiple unrelated lineages, cheaters can gain an advantage by undercontributing, but the extent to which wild D. discoideum has adapted to cheat is not fully clear. In this study, we experimentally evolved D. discoideum in an environment where there were no selective pressures to cheat or resist cheating in chimaeras. Dictyostelium discoideum lines grown in this environment evolved reduced competitiveness within chimaeric aggregates and reduced ability to migrate during the slug stage. By contrast, we did not observe a reduction in cell number, a trait for which selection was not relaxed. The observed loss of traits that our laboratory conditions had made irrelevant suggests that these traits were adaptations driven and maintained by selective pressures D. discoideum faces in its natural environment. Our results suggest that D. discoideum faces social conflict in nature, and illustrate a general approach that could be applied to searching for social or non-social adaptations in other microbes.}, }
@article {pmid38110489, year = {2023}, author = {Gabel, M and Scheiner, R and Steffan-Dewenter, I and Büchler, R}, title = {Reproduction of Varroa destructor depends on well-timed host cell recapping and seasonal patterns.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {22484}, pmid = {38110489}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Bees ; Animals ; *Varroidae ; Seasons ; Reproduction ; Fertility ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; }, abstract = {Resistance traits of honeybees (Apis mellifera) against their major parasite Varroa destructor have fascinated scientists and breeders for long. Nevertheless, the mechanisms underlying resistance are still largely unknown. The same applies to possible interactions between host behaviours, mite reproduction and seasonal differences. Two resistance traits, reproductive failure of mites and recapping of brood cells, are of particular interest. High rates of recapping at the colony level were found to correspond with low reproductive success of mites. However, the direct effect of recapping on mite reproduction is still controversial and both traits seem to be very variable in their expression. Thus, a deeper knowledge of both, the effect of recapping on mite reproduction and the seasonal differences in the expression of these traits is urgently needed. To shed light on this host-parasite interaction, we investigated recapping and mite reproduction in full-grown colonies naturally infested with V. destructor. Measurements were repeated five times per year over the course of 3 years. The reproductive success of mites as well as the recapping frequency clearly followed seasonal patterns. Thereby, reproductive failure of mites at the cell level was constantly increased in case of recapping. Interestingly, this did not apply to the occurrence of infertile mites. In line with this, recapping activity in fertile cells was most frequent in brood ages in which mite offspring would be expected. Our results suggest that mite offspring is the main target of recapping. This, in turn, leads to a significantly reduced reproductive success of the parasite.}, }
@article {pmid38096314, year = {2023}, author = {Engelhardt, SC and Weladji, RB and Holand, &#xd8; and Røed, KH and Nieminen, M}, title = {Evidence suggesting that reindeer mothers allonurse according to the direct reciprocity and generalized reciprocity decision rules.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {12}, pages = {e0295497}, pmid = {38096314}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Female ; Animals ; Humans ; *Social Behavior ; Cooperative Behavior ; *Reindeer ; Mothers ; }, abstract = {Allonursing is the nursing of the offspring of other mothers. Cooperation is an emergent property of evolved decision rules. Cooperation can be explained by at least three evolved decision rules: 1) direct reciprocity, i.e. help someone who previously helped you, 2) kin discrimination, i.e. preferentially direct help to kin than to non-kin, and 3) generalized reciprocity, i.e. help anyone if helped by someone. We assessed if semi-domesticated reindeer, Rangifer tarandus, mothers allonursed according to the decision rules of direct reciprocity, generalized reciprocity and kin discrimination over 2 years. To assess if reindeer mothers allonursed according to the direct reciprocity decision rule, we predicted that mothers should give more help to those who previously helped them more often. To assess if reindeer mothers allonursed according to the kin discrimination decision rule, we predicted that help given should increase as pairwise genetic relatedness increased. To assess if reindeer mothers allonursed according to the generalized reciprocity decision rule, we predicted that the overall number of help given by reindeer mothers should increase as the overall number of help received by reindeer mothers increased. The number of help given i) increased as the number of help received from the same partner increased in the 2012 group but not in both 2013 groups, ii) was not influenced by relatedness, and iii) was not influenced by an interaction between the number of help received from the same partner and relatedness. iv) The overall number of help given increased as the overall number of help received increased. The results did not support the prediction that reindeer mothers allonursed according to the kin discrimination decision rule. The results suggest that reindeer mothers may allonurse according to the direct reciprocity and generalized reciprocity decision rules.}, }
@article {pmid38042446, year = {2024}, author = {Orbán-Bakk, K and Witek, M and Dubiec, A and Heinze, J and Markó, B and Csata, E}, title = {Infection with a non-lethal fungal parasite is associated with increased immune investment in the ant Myrmica scabrinodis.}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {202}, number = {}, pages = {108027}, doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2023.108027}, pmid = {38042446}, issn = {1096-0805}, mesh = {Animals ; *Parasites ; *Ants/microbiology ; *Mycoses ; Predatory Behavior ; Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Social insects, such as ants, are preferred host organisms of pathogens and parasites because colonies are densely populated, and the number of potential hosts is high in the same place and time. Within a colony, individuals are exposed differentially to risks according to their function and age. Thus, older individuals forage and are therefore the most exposed to infection, predation, or physical stress, while young workers mostly stay inside the sheltered nest being less exposed. Immune investment is considered to be dependent on an individual's age and pathogen pressure. Long-term exposure to a parasite could affect the immune activity of individuals in an intriguing way that interferes with the age-dependent decline in immunocompetence. However, there are only few cases in which such interferences can be studied. The myrmecopathogenic fungus Rickia wasmannii, which infects entire colonies without killing the workers, is a suitable candidate for such studies. We investigated the general immunocompetence of Myrmica scabrinodis ant workers associated with non-lethal fungal infection by measuring the levels of active phenoloxidase (PO) and total PO (PPO) (reflecting the amount of both active and inactive forms of the enzyme) in two age classes. The level of PO proved to be higher in infected workers than in uninfected ones, while the level of PPO increased with age but was not affected by infection. Overall, these results indicate that a long-term infection could go hand in hand with increased immune activity of ant workers, conferring them higher level of protection.}, }
@article {pmid38004791, year = {2023}, author = {Thamm, M and Reiß, F and Sohl, L and Gabel, M and Noll, M and Scheiner, R}, title = {Solitary Bees Host More Bacteria and Fungi on Their Cuticle than Social Bees.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {38004791}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {ID73253//Bayerisches Staatsministerium f&#xfc;r Umwelt und Verbraucherschutz/ ; }, abstract = {Bees come into contact with bacteria and fungi from flowering plants during their foraging trips. The Western honeybee (Apis mellifera) shows a pronounced hygienic behavior with social interactions, while the solitary red mason bee (Osmia bicornis) lacks a social immune system. Since both visit the same floral resources, it is intriguing to speculate that the body surface of a solitary bee should harbor a more complex microbiome than that of the social honeybee. We compared the cuticular microbiomes of A. mellifera (including three European subspecies) and O. bicornis for the first time by bacterial 16S rRNA and fungal ITS gene-based high-throughput amplicon sequencing. The cuticular microbiome of the solitary O. bicornis was significantly more complex than that of the social A. mellifera. The microbiome composition of A. mellifera subspecies was very similar. However, we counted significantly different numbers of fungi and a higher diversity in the honeybee subspecies adapted to warmer climates. Our results suggest that the cuticular microbiome of bees is strongly affected by visited plants, lifestyle and adaptation to temperature, which have important implications for the maintenance of the health of bees under conditions of global change.}, }
@article {pmid37985604, year = {2024}, author = {Schultheiss, P}, title = {Unbalanced visual cues do not affect search precision at the nest in desert ants (Cataglyphis nodus).}, journal = {Learning &amp; behavior}, volume = {52}, number = {1}, pages = {85-91}, pmid = {37985604}, issn = {1543-4508}, mesh = {Animals ; *Cues ; *Ants ; Homing Behavior ; Appetitive Behavior ; }, abstract = {Desert ant foragers are well known for their visual navigation abilities, relying on visual cues in the environment to find their way along routes back to the nest. If the inconspicuous nest entrance is missed, ants engage in a highly structured systematic search until it is discovered. Searching ants continue to be guided by visual cues surrounding the nest, from which they derive a location estimate. The precision level of this estimate depends on the information content of the nest panorama. This study examines whether search precision is also affected by the directional distribution of visual information. The systematic searching behavior of ants is examined under laboratory settings. Two different visual scenarios are compared - a balanced one where visual information is evenly distributed, and an unbalanced one where all visual information is located on one side of an experimental arena. The identity and number of visual objects is similar over both conditions. The ants search with comparable precision in both conditions. Even in the visually unbalanced condition, searches are characterized by balanced precision on both sides of the arena. This finding lends support to the idea that ants memorize the visual scenery at the nest as panoramic views from different locations. A searching ant is thus able to estimate its location with equal precision in all directions, leading to symmetrical search paths.}, }
@article {pmid37980566, year = {2023}, author = {Lee, IPA and Eldakar, OT and Gogarten, JP and Andam, CP}, title = {Protocol for an agent-based model of recombination in bacteria playing a public goods game.}, journal = {STAR protocols}, volume = {4}, number = {4}, pages = {102733}, pmid = {37980566}, issn = {2666-1667}, mesh = {*Game Theory ; *Bacteria ; }, abstract = {Agent-based models are composed of individual agents coded for traits, such as cooperation and cheating, that interact in a virtual world based on defined rules. Here, we describe the use of an agent-based model of homologous recombination in bacteria playing a public goods game. We describe steps for software installation, setting model parameters, running and testing models, and visualization and statistical analysis. This protocol is useful in analyses of horizontal gene transfer, bacterial sociobiology, and game theory. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Lee et al.[1].}, }
@article {pmid37975503, year = {2023}, author = {Irby, I and Brown, SP}, title = {The social lives of viruses and other mobile genetic elements: a commentary on Leeks et al. 2023.}, journal = {Journal of evolutionary biology}, volume = {36}, number = {11}, pages = {1582-1586}, pmid = {37975503}, issn = {1420-9101}, support = {R21 AI156817/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; 5R21AI156817-02/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Onions/genetics ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Plasmids ; *Viruses/genetics ; Interspersed Repetitive Sequences ; }, abstract = {Illustration of life-histories of phages and plasmids through horizontal and vertical transmission (see Figure 1 for more information).}, }
@article {pmid37965543, year = {2023}, author = {Reiß, F and Schuhmann, A and Sohl, L and Thamm, M and Scheiner, R and Noll, M}, title = {Fungicides and insecticides can alter the microbial community on the cuticle of honey bees.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1271498}, pmid = {37965543}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Honey bees are crucial for our ecosystems as pollinators, but the intensive use of plant protection products (PPPs) in agriculture poses a risk for them. PPPs do not only affect target organisms but also affect non-targets, such as the honey bee Apis mellifera and their microbiome. This study is the first of its kind, aiming to characterize the effect of PPPs on the microbiome of the cuticle of honey bees. We chose PPPs, which have frequently been detected in bee bread, and studied their effects on the cuticular microbial community and function of the bees. The effects of the fungicide Difcor[®] (difenoconazole), the insecticide Steward[®] (indoxacarb), the combination of both (mix A) and the fungicide Cantus[®] Gold (boscalid and dimoxystrobin), the insecticide Mospilan[®] (acetamiprid), and the combination of both (mix B) were tested. Bacterial 16S rRNA gene and fungal transcribed spacer region gene-based amplicon sequencing and quantification of gene copy numbers were carried out after nucleic acid extraction from the cuticle of honey bees. The treatment with Steward[®] significantly affected fungal community composition and function. The fungal gene copy numbers were lower on the cuticle of bees treated with Difcor[®], Steward[®], and PPP mix A in comparison with the controls. However, bacterial and fungal gene copy numbers were increased in bees treated with Cantus[®] Gold, Mospilan[®], or PPP mix B compared to the controls. The bacterial cuticular community composition of bees treated with Cantus[®] Gold, Mospilan[®], and PPP mix B differed significantly from the control. In addition, Mospilan[®] on its own significantly changed the bacterial functional community composition. Cantus[®] Gold significantly affected fungal gene copy numbers, community, and functional composition. Our results demonstrate that PPPs show adverse effects on the cuticular microbiome of honey bees and suggest that PPP mixtures can cause stronger effects on the cuticular community than a PPP alone. The cuticular community composition was more diverse after the PPP mix treatments. This may have far-reaching consequences for the health of honey bees.}, }
@article {pmid37929207, year = {2023}, author = {Strube-Bloss, M and Günzel, P and Nebauer, CA and Spaethe, J}, title = {Visual accelerated and olfactory decelerated responses during multimodal learning in honeybees.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1257465}, pmid = {37929207}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {To obtain accurate information about the outside world and to make appropriate decisions, animals often combine information from different sensory pathways to form a comprehensive representation of their environment. This process of multimodal integration is poorly understood, but it is common view that the single elements of a multimodal stimulus influence each other's perception by enhancing or suppressing their neural representation. The neuronal level of interference might be manifold, for instance, an enhancement might increase, whereas suppression might decrease behavioural response times. In order to investigate this in an insect behavioural model, the Western honeybee, we trained individual bees to associate a sugar reward with an odour, a light, or a combined olfactory-visual stimulus, using the proboscis extension response (PER). We precisely monitored the PER latency (the time between stimulus onset and the first response of the proboscis) by recording the muscle M17, which innervates the proboscis. We found that odours evoked a fast response, whereas visual stimuli elicited a delayed PER. Interestingly, the combined stimulus showed a response time in between the unimodal stimuli, suggesting that olfactory-visual integration accelerates visual responses but decelerates the olfactory response time.}, }
@article {pmid37885980, year = {2023}, author = {Enghelhardt, SC and Paulsson, NI and Taborsky, M}, title = {Assessment of help value affects reciprocation in Norway rats.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {10}, number = {10}, pages = {231253}, pmid = {37885980}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Wild-type Norway rats reciprocate help received in a well-replicated experimental food-giving task, but the criteria to appraise the received help's value are unclear. We tested whether quality or quantity of received help is more important when deciding to return help, and whether partner familiarity and own current need affect this evaluation. We experimentally varied recipients of help's hunger state, and familiar or unfamiliar partners provided either higher caloric food (enhanced quantity; carrots) or food higher in protein and fat (enhanced quality; cheese). Reciprocation of received help was our criterion for the rats' value assessment. Familiarity, food type and hunger state interacted and affected help returned by rats. Rats returned less help to familiar partners than to unfamiliar partners. With unfamiliar partners, rats returned more help to partners that had donated preferred food (cheese) than to partners that had donated less preferred food (carrots), and they returned help earlier if they were satiated and had received cheese. With familiar partners, food-deprived rats that had received cheese returned more help than satiated rats that had received carrots. Our results suggest that Norway rats assess the received help's value based on its quality, their current need and partner familiarity before reciprocating received help.}, }
@article {pmid37876190, year = {2023}, author = {Kelly, MBJ and Khan, MK and Wierucka, K and Jones, BR and Shofner, R and Derkarabetian, S and Wolff, JO}, title = {Dynamic evolution of locomotor performance independent of changes in extended phenotype use in spiders.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {290}, number = {2009}, pages = {20232035}, pmid = {37876190}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; *Spiders/physiology ; Predatory Behavior/physiology ; Silk ; *Running ; }, abstract = {Many animals use self-built structures (extended phenotypes) to enhance body functions, such as thermoregulation, prey capture or defence. Yet, it is unclear whether the evolution of animal constructions supplements or substitutes body functions-with disparate feedbacks on trait evolution. Here, using brown spiders (Araneae: marronoid clade), we explored if the evolutionary loss and gain of silken webs as extended prey capture devices correlates with alterations in traits known to play an important role in predatory strikes-locomotor performance (sprint speed) and leg spination (expression of capture spines on front legs). We found that in this group high locomotor performance, with running speeds of over 100 body lengths per second, evolved repeatedly-both in web-building and cursorial spiders. There was no correlation with running speed, and leg spination only poorly correlated, relative to the use of extended phenotypes, indicating that web use does not reduce selective pressures on body functions involved in prey capture and defence per se. Consequently, extended prey capture devices serve as supplements rather than substitutions to body traits and may only be beneficial in conjunction with certain life-history traits, possibly explaining the rare evolution and repeated loss of trapping strategies in predatory animals.}, }
@article {pmid37848054, year = {2023}, author = {Phaniraj, N and Wierucka, K and Zürcher, Y and Burkart, JM}, title = {Who is calling? Optimizing source identification from marmoset vocalizations with hierarchical machine learning classifiers.}, journal = {Journal of the Royal Society, Interface}, volume = {20}, number = {207}, pages = {20230399}, pmid = {37848054}, issn = {1742-5662}, mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; *Callithrix ; Vocalization, Animal ; Language ; *Deep Learning ; Machine Learning ; }, abstract = {With their highly social nature and complex vocal communication system, marmosets are important models for comparative studies of vocal communication and, eventually, language evolution. However, our knowledge about marmoset vocalizations predominantly originates from playback studies or vocal interactions between dyads, and there is a need to move towards studying group-level communication dynamics. Efficient source identification from marmoset vocalizations is essential for this challenge, and machine learning algorithms (MLAs) can aid it. Here we built a pipeline capable of plentiful feature extraction, meaningful feature selection, and supervised classification of vocalizations of up to 18 marmosets. We optimized the classifier by building a hierarchical MLA that first learned to determine the sex of the source, narrowed down the possible source individuals based on their sex and then determined the source identity. We were able to correctly identify the source individual with high precisions (87.21%-94.42%, depending on call type, and up to 97.79% after the removal of twins from the dataset). We also examine the robustness of identification across varying sample sizes. Our pipeline is a promising tool not only for source identification from marmoset vocalizations but also for analysing vocalizations of other species.}, }
@article {pmid37657449, year = {2023}, author = {Arican, C and Schmitt, FJ and Rössler, W and Strube-Bloss, MF and Nawrot, MP}, title = {The mushroom body output encodes behavioral decision during sensory-motor transformation.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {33}, number = {19}, pages = {4217-4224.e4}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2023.08.016}, pmid = {37657449}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; *Mushroom Bodies/physiology ; *Neurons/physiology ; Drosophila ; Odorants ; Brain ; Insecta ; Drosophila melanogaster/physiology ; }, abstract = {Animals form a behavioral decision by evaluating sensory evidence on the background of past experiences and the momentary motivational state. In insects, we still lack understanding of how and at which stage of the recurrent sensory-motor pathway behavioral decisions are formed. The mushroom body (MB), a central brain structure in insects[1] and crustaceans,[2][,][3] integrates sensory input of different modalities[4][,][5][,][6] with the internal state, the behavioral state, and external sensory context[7][,][8][,][9][,][10] through a large number of recurrent, mostly neuromodulatory inputs,[11][,][12] implicating a functional role for MBs in state-dependent sensory-motor transformation.[13][,][14] A number of classical conditioning studies in honeybees[15][,][16] and fruit flies[17][,][18][,][19] have provided accumulated evidence that at its output, the MB encodes the valence of a sensory stimulus with respect to its behavioral relevance. Recent work has extended this notion of valence encoding to the context of innate behaviors.[8][,][20][,][21][,][22] Here, we co-analyzed a defined feeding behavior and simultaneous extracellular single-unit recordings from MB output neurons (MBONs) in the cockroach in response to timed sensory stimulation with odors. We show that clear neuronal responses occurred almost exclusively during behaviorally responded trials. Early MBON responses to the sensory stimulus preceded the feeding behavior and predicted its occurrence or non-occurrence from the single-trial population activity. Our results therefore suggest that at its output, the MB does not merely encode sensory stimulus valence. We hypothesize instead that the MB output represents an integrated signal of internal state, momentary environmental conditions, and experience-dependent memory to encode a behavioral decision.}, }
@article {pmid37643643, year = {2023}, author = {Sless, T and Rehan, S}, title = {Phylogeny of the carpenter bees (Apidae: Xylocopinae) highlights repeated evolution of sociality.}, journal = {Biology letters}, volume = {19}, number = {8}, pages = {20230252}, pmid = {37643643}, issn = {1744-957X}, mesh = {Bees/genetics ; Animals ; Phylogeny ; *Social Behavior ; *Trees ; }, abstract = {Many groups of animals have evolved social behaviours in different forms, from intimate familial associations to the complex eusocial colonies of some insects. The subfamily Xylocopinae, including carpenter bees and their relatives, is a diverse clade exhibiting a wide range of social behaviours, from solitary to obligate eusociality with distinct morphological castes, making them ideal focal taxa in studying the evolution of sociality. We used ultraconserved element data to generate a broadly sampled phylogeny of the Xylocopinae, including several newly sequenced species. We then conducted ancestral state reconstructions on the evolutionary history of sociality in this group under multiple coding models. Our results indicate solitary origins for the Xylocopinae with multiple transitions to sociality across the tree and subsequent reversals to solitary life, demonstrating the lability and dynamic nature of social evolution in carpenter bees. Ultimately, this work clarifies the evolutionary history of the Xylocopinae, and expands our understanding of independent origins and gains and losses of social complexity.}, }
@article {pmid37607483, year = {2023}, author = {van der Kooi, CJ and Spaethe, J}, title = {Visual ecology: How glossy colours shine and confuse.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {33}, number = {16}, pages = {R865-R867}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2023.07.011}, pmid = {37607483}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Color ; *Ecology ; }, abstract = {Most colours in nature are matte, but across the tree of life glossiness has evolved numerous times, suggesting that glossiness can be beneficial. Recent research finds that glossiness may confuse observers and protect against predators.}, }
@article {pmid37607125, year = {2024}, author = {Schüßler, D and Blanco, MB and Guthrie, NK and Sgarlata, GM and Dammhahn, M and Ernest, R and Evasoa, MR and Hasiniaina, A and Hending, D and Jan, F and le Pors, B and Miller, A and Olivieri, G and Rakotonanahary, AN and Rakotondranary, SJ and Rakotondravony, R and Ralantoharijaona, T and Ramananjato, V and Randrianambinina, B and Raoelinjanakolona, NN and Rasoazanabary, E and Rasoloarison, RM and Rasolofoson, DW and Rasoloharijaona, S and Rasolondraibe, E and Roberts, SH and Teixeira, H and van Elst, T and Johnson, SE and Ganzhorn, JU and Chikhi, L and Kappeler, PM and Louis, EE and Salmona, J and Radespiel, U}, title = {Morphological variability or inter-observer bias? A methodological toolkit to improve data quality of multi-researcher datasets for the analysis of morphological variation.}, journal = {American journal of biological anthropology}, volume = {183}, number = {1}, pages = {60-78}, doi = {10.1002/ajpa.24836}, pmid = {37607125}, issn = {2692-7691}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Humans ; Body Size ; *Cheirogaleidae ; Observer Variation ; Data Accuracy ; Reproducibility of Results ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: The investigation of morphological variation in animals is widely used in taxonomy, ecology, and evolution. Using large datasets for meta-analyses has dramatically increased, raising concerns about dataset compatibilities and biases introduced by contributions of multiple researchers.<br><br>MATERIALS AND METHODS: We compiled morphological data on 13 variables for 3073 individual mouse lemurs (Cheirogaleidae, Microcebus spp.) from 25 taxa and 153 different sampling locations, measured by 48 different researchers. We introduced and applied a filtering pipeline and quantified improvements in data quality (Shapiro-Francia statistic, skewness, and excess kurtosis). The filtered dataset was then used to test for genus-wide sexual size dimorphism and the applicability of Rensch's, Allen's, and Bergmann's rules.<br><br>RESULTS: Our pipeline reduced inter-observer bias (i.e., increased normality of data distributions). Inter-observer reliability of measurements was notably variable, highlighting the need to reduce data collection biases. Although subtle, we found a consistent pattern of sexual size dimorphism across Microcebus, with females being the larger (but not heavier) sex. Sexual size dimorphism was isometric, providing no support for Rensch's rule. Variations in tail length but not in ear size were consistent with the predictions of Allen's rule. Body mass and length followed a pattern contrary to predictions of Bergmann's rule.<br><br>DISCUSSION: We highlighted the usefulness of large multi-researcher datasets for testing ecological hypotheses after correcting for inter-observer biases. Using genus-wide tests, we outlined generalizable patterns of morphological variability across all mouse lemurs. This new methodological toolkit aims to facilitate future large-scale morphological comparisons for a wide range of taxa and applications.}, }
@article {pmid37597482, year = {2023}, author = {Burini, D}, title = {Multiscale and multi-physical problems: Comment on "What is life? Active particles tools towards behavioral dynamics in social-biology and economics" by N. Bellomo, M. Esfahanian, V. Secchini, and P. Terna.}, journal = {Physics of life reviews}, volume = {46}, number = {}, pages = {275-276}, doi = {10.1016/j.plrev.2023.08.005}, pmid = {37597482}, issn = {1873-1457}, mesh = {*Behavior ; *Sociobiology ; }, }
@article {pmid37436999, year = {2023}, author = {Fichtel, C and Henke-von der Malsburg, J and Kappeler, PM}, title = {Cognitive performance is linked to fitness in a wild primate.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {9}, number = {28}, pages = {eadf9365}, pmid = {37436999}, issn = {2375-2548}, mesh = {Animals ; *Primates ; *Cognition ; Happiness ; Phenotype ; Mammals ; }, abstract = {Cognitive performance varies widely across animal species, but the processes underlying cognitive evolution remain poorly known. For cognitive abilities to evolve, performance must be linked to individual fitness benefits, but these links have been rarely studied in primates even though they exceed most other mammals in these traits. We subjected 198 wild gray mouse lemurs to four cognitive and two personality tests and subsequently monitored their survival in a mark-recapture study. Our study revealed that survival was predicted by individual variation in cognitive performance as well as body mass and exploration. Because cognitive performance covaried negatively with exploration, individuals gathering more accurate information enjoyed better cognitive performance and lived longer, but so did heavier and more explorative individuals. These effects may reflect a speed-accuracy trade-off, with alternative strategies yielding similar overall fitness. The observed intraspecific variation in selective benefits of cognitive performance, if heritable, can provide the basis for the evolution of cognitive abilities in members of our lineage.}, }
@article {pmid37433949, year = {2023}, author = {Homberg, U and Pfeiffer, K}, title = {Correction to: Unraveling the neural basis of spatial orientation in arthropods.}, journal = {Journal of comparative physiology. A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology}, volume = {209}, number = {4}, pages = {465}, doi = {10.1007/s00359-023-01655-5}, pmid = {37433949}, issn = {1432-1351}, }
@article {pmid37426347, year = {2023}, author = {van der Kooi, CJ and Reuvers, L and Spaethe, J}, title = {Honesty, reliability, and information content of floral signals.}, journal = {iScience}, volume = {26}, number = {7}, pages = {107093}, pmid = {37426347}, issn = {2589-0042}, abstract = {Plants advertise their presence by displaying attractive flowers, which pollinators use to locate a floral reward. Understanding how floral traits scale with reward status lies at the heart of pollination biology, because it connects the different interests of plants and pollinators. Studies on plant phenotype-reward associations often use different terms and concepts, which limits developing a broader synthesis. Here, we present a framework with definitions of the key aspects of plant phenotype-reward associations and provide measures to quantify them across different species and studies. We first distinguish between cues and signals, which are often used interchangeably, but have different meanings and are subject to different selective pressures. We then define honesty, reliability, and information content of floral cues/signals and provide ways to quantify them. Finally, we discuss the ecological and evolutionary factors that determine flower phenotype-reward associations, how context-dependent and temporally variable they are, and highlight promising research directions.}, }
@article {pmid37421435, year = {2023}, author = {Kraft, N and Muenz, TS and Reinhard, S and Werner, C and Sauer, M and Groh, C and Rössler, W}, title = {Expansion microscopy in honeybee brains for high-resolution neuroanatomical analyses in social insects.}, journal = {Cell and tissue research}, volume = {393}, number = {3}, pages = {489-506}, pmid = {37421435}, issn = {1432-0878}, support = {405620408//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; 430253184//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; 415914819//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; 272768235//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; 835102//H2020 European Research Council/ ; }, mesh = {Bees ; Animals ; *Microscopy ; *Insecta ; Brain/physiology ; Neurons/physiology ; Learning/physiology ; Mushroom Bodies/physiology ; }, abstract = {The diffraction limit of light microscopy poses a problem that is frequently faced in structural analyses of social insect brains. With the introduction of expansion microscopy (ExM), a tool became available to overcome this limitation by isotropic physical expansion of preserved specimens. Our analyses focus on synaptic microcircuits (microglomeruli, MG) in the mushroom body (MB) of social insects, high-order brain centers for sensory integration, learning, and memory. MG undergo significant structural reorganizations with age, sensory experience, and during long-term memory formation. However, the changes in subcellular architecture involved in this plasticity have only partially been accessed yet. Using the western honeybee Apis mellifera as an experimental model, we established ExM for the first time in a social insect species and applied it to investigate plasticity in synaptic microcircuits within MG of the MB calyces. Using combinations of antibody staining and neuronal tracing, we demonstrate that this technique enables quantitative and qualitative analyses of structural neuronal plasticity at high resolution in a social insect brain.}, }
@article {pmid37410341, year = {2023}, author = {Pahl, A and König von Borstel, U and Brucks, D}, title = {Llamas use social information from conspecifics and humans to solve a spatial detour task.}, journal = {Animal cognition}, volume = {26}, number = {5}, pages = {1623-1633}, pmid = {37410341}, issn = {1435-9456}, mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; *Camelids, New World ; Learning ; *Social Learning ; Social Behavior ; Cues ; }, abstract = {Learning by observing others (i.e. social learning) is an important mechanism to reduce the costs of individual learning. Social learning can occur between conspecifics but also heterospecifics. Domestication processes might have changed the animals' sensitivity to human social cues and recent research indicates that domesticated species are particularly good in learning socially from humans. Llamas (Lama glama) are an interesting model species for that purpose. Llamas were bred as pack animals, which requires close contact and cooperative behaviour towards humans. We investigated whether llamas learn socially from trained conspecifics and humans in a spatial detour task. Subjects were required to detour metal hurdles arranged in a V-shape to reach a food reward. Llamas were more successful in solving the task after both a human and a conspecific demonstrated the task compared to a control condition with no demonstrator. Individual differences in behaviour (i.e. food motivation and distraction) further affected the success rate. Animals did not necessarily use the same route as the demonstrators, thus, indicating that they adopted a more general detour behaviour. These results suggest that llamas can extract information from conspecific and heterospecific demonstrations; hence, broadening our knowledge of domesticated species that are sensitive to human social behaviour.}, }
@article {pmid37408627, year = {2023}, author = {van Elst, T and Schüßler, D and Rakotondravony, R and Rovanirina, VST and Veillet, A and Hohenlohe, PA and Ratsimbazafy, JH and Rasoloarison, RM and Rasoloharijaona, S and Randrianambinina, B and Ramilison, ML and Yoder, AD and Louis, EE and Radespiel, U}, title = {Diversification processes in Gerp's mouse lemur demonstrate the importance of rivers and altitude as biogeographic barriers in Madagascar's humid rainforests.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {7}, pages = {e10254}, pmid = {37408627}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Madagascar exhibits exceptionally high levels of biodiversity and endemism. Models to explain the diversification and distribution of species in Madagascar stress the importance of historical variability in climate conditions which may have led to the formation of geographic barriers by changing water and habitat availability. The relative importance of these models for the diversification of the various forest-adapted taxa of Madagascar has yet to be understood. Here, we reconstructed the phylogeographic history of Gerp's mouse lemur (Microcebus gerpi) to identify relevant mechanisms and drivers of diversification in Madagascar's humid rainforests. We used restriction site associated DNA (RAD) markers and applied population genomic and coalescent-based techniques to estimate genetic diversity, population structure, gene flow and divergence times among M. gerpi populations and its two sister species M. jollyae and M. marohita. Genomic results were complemented with ecological niche models to better understand the relative barrier function of rivers and altitude. We show that M. gerpi diversified during the late Pleistocene. The inferred ecological niche, patterns of gene flow and genetic differentiation in M. gerpi suggest that the potential for rivers to act as biogeographic barriers depended on both size and elevation of headwaters. Populations on opposite sides of the largest river in the area with headwaters that extend far into the highlands show particularly high genetic differentiation, whereas rivers with lower elevation headwaters have weaker barrier functions, indicated by higher migration rates and admixture. We conclude that M. gerpi likely diversified through repeated cycles of dispersal punctuated by isolation to refugia as a result of paleoclimatic fluctuations during the Pleistocene. We argue that this diversification scenario serves as a model of diversification for other rainforest taxa that are similarly limited by geographic factors. In addition, we highlight conservation implications for this critically endangered species, which faces extreme habitat loss and fragmentation.}, }
@article {pmid37397182, year = {2023}, author = {Cristancho, S and Thompson, G}, title = {Building Resilient Healthcare Teams: Insights from Analogy to the Social Biology of Ants, Honey Bees and Other Social Insects.}, journal = {Perspectives on medical education}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {253-260}, pmid = {37397182}, issn = {2212-277X}, mesh = {Humans ; Bees ; Animals ; *Ants ; Patient Care Team ; Biology ; }, abstract = {The resilience of a healthcare system hinges on the adaptability of its teams. Thus far, healthcare teams have relied on well-defined scopes of practice to fulfill their safety mandate. While this feature has proven effective when dealing with stable situations, when it comes to disruptive events, healthcare teams find themselves navigating a fine balance between safety and resilience. Therefore, a better understanding of how the safety vs resilience trade-off varies under different circumstances is necessary if we are to promote and better train for resilience in modern healthcare teams. In this paper, we aim to bring awareness to the sociobiology analogy that healthcare teams might find useful during moments when safety and adaptability have the potential to conflict. Three principles underpin the sociobiology analogy: communication, decentralization, and plasticity. Of particular interest in this paper is plasticity whereby swapping roles or tasks becomes an adaptive, rather than a maladaptive, response teams could embrace when facing disruptive situations. While plasticity has naturally evolved in social insects, infusing plasticity in healthcare teams requires intentional training. Inspired by the sociobiology analogy, such training must value the ability: a) to read each other's cues and miscues, b) to step aside when others had the necessary skills, even if outside their scope, c) to deviate from protocols, and d) to foster cross-training. If the goal is to increase a team's behavioural flexibility and boost their resilience, this training mindset should become second nature.}, }
@article {pmid37391163, year = {2023}, author = {Schilcher, F and Scheiner, R}, title = {New insight into molecular mechanisms underlying division of labor in honeybees.}, journal = {Current opinion in insect science}, volume = {59}, number = {}, pages = {101080}, doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2023.101080}, pmid = {37391163}, issn = {2214-5753}, abstract = {Honeybees are highly organized eusocial insects displaying a distinct division of labor. Juvenile hormone (JH) has long been hypothesized to be the major driver of behavioral transitions. However, more and more experiments in recent years have suggested that the role of this hormone is not as fundamental as hypothesized. Vitellogenin, a common egg yolk precursor protein, seems to be the major regulator of division of labor in honeybees, in connection with nutrition and the neurohormone and transmitter octopamine. Here, we review the role of vitellogenin in controlling honeybee division of labor and its modulation by JH, nutrition, and the catecholamine octopamine.}, }
@article {pmid37382807, year = {2023}, author = {Stuhrmann, C}, title = {Sociobiology on Screen. The Controversy Through the Lens of Sociobiology: Doing What Comes Naturally.}, journal = {Journal of the history of biology}, volume = {56}, number = {2}, pages = {365-397}, pmid = {37382807}, issn = {1573-0387}, support = {316166947//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; }, abstract = {When the sociobiology debate erupted in 1975, there were almost too many contributions to the heated exchanges between sociobiologists and their critics to count. In the fall of 1976, a Canadian educational film entitled Sociobiology: Doing What Comes Naturally sparked further controversy due to its graphic visuals and outrageous narration. While critics claimed the film was a promotional tool to further the sociobiological agenda in educational settings, sociobiologists quickly distanced themselves from the film and, in turn, accused the critics of consciously misrepresenting sociobiology by organizing showings of the film. Using audio, video, archival, and published sources, this paper explores the complicated history of Sociobiology: Doing What Comes Naturally and demonstrates how the public debate about the film reflects the positions, polemics, and polarization of the sociobiology debate as a whole.}, }
@article {pmid37348454, year = {2023}, author = {Römer, D and Exl, R and Roces, F}, title = {Two feedback mechanisms involved in the control of leaf fragment size in leaf-cutting ants.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {226}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {37348454}, issn = {1477-9145}, support = {//University of W&#xfc;rzburg/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants ; Feedback ; Feeding Behavior ; Head Movements ; }, abstract = {Polymorphic leaf-cutting ants harvest leaf fragments that correlate in size with the workers' body size. When cutting, workers anchor their hind legs on the leaf edge and rotate, removing approximately semicircular fragments. Workers show behavioural plasticity and modify their leg extension while holding onto the leaf edge depending on, for instance, leaf toughness, cutting smaller fragments out of tough leaves. What sensory information workers use to control the cutting trajectory remains unknown. We investigated whether sensory information from both the leg contact with the leaf edge and from head movements underlies fragment size determination. In the laboratory, we recorded Atta sexdens workers cutting standardised ®Parafilm pseudoleaves of different thickness, and quantified cutting behaviour and body reach, i.e. the distance between the mandible and the anchored hind leg tarsus. Experimentally preventing contact with the leaf edge resulted in smaller fragments, evincing that workers control the cutting trajectory using information from the contact of the hind legs with the leaf edge. However, ants were able to cut fragments even when contact of all six legs with the edge was prevented, indicating the use of additional sensory information. Ablation of mechanosensory hairs at the neck joint alone did not influence fragment size determination, yet simultaneously preventing sensory feedback from both mechanosensory hairs and edge contact led to a loss of control over the cutting trajectory. Leaf-cutting ants, therefore, control their cutting trajectory using sensory information from both the leg contact with the leaf edge and the lateral bending of the head.}, }
@article {pmid37328389, year = {2023}, author = {Ruedenauer, FA and Parreño, MA and Grunwald Kadow, IC and Spaethe, J and Leonhardt, SD}, title = {The ecology of nutrient sensation and perception in insects.}, journal = {Trends in ecology &amp; evolution}, volume = {38}, number = {10}, pages = {994-1004}, doi = {10.1016/j.tree.2023.05.006}, pmid = {37328389}, issn = {1872-8383}, mesh = {Animals ; *Insecta/physiology ; *Sensation ; Nutrients ; Perception ; }, abstract = {Insects are equipped with neurological, physiological, and behavioral tools to locate potential food sources and assess their nutritional quality based on volatile and chemotactile cues. We summarize current knowledge on insect taste perception and the different modalities of reception and perception. We suggest that the neurophysiological mechanisms of reception and perception are closely linked to the species-specific ecology of different insects. Understanding these links consequently requires a multidisciplinary approach. We also highlight existing knowledge gaps, especially in terms of the exact ligands of receptors, and provide evidence for a perceptional hierarchy suggesting that insects have adapted their reception and perception to preferentially perceive nutrient stimuli that are important for their fitness.}, }
@article {pmid37312549, year = {2023}, author = {Püffel, F and Meyer, L and Imirzian, N and Roces, F and Johnston, R and Labonte, D}, title = {Developmental biomechanics and age polyethism in leaf-cutter ants.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {290}, number = {2000}, pages = {20230355}, pmid = {37312549}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; *Ants ; Muscles ; Bite Force ; *Gastropoda ; }, abstract = {Many social insects display age polyethism: young workers stay inside the nest, and only older workers forage. This behavioural transition is accompanied by genetic and physiological changes, but the mechanistic origin of it remains unclear. To investigate if the mechanical demands on the musculoskeletal system effectively prevent young workers from foraging, we studied the biomechanical development of the bite apparatus in Atta vollenweideri leaf-cutter ants. Fully matured foragers generated peak in vivo bite forces of around 100 mN, more than one order of magnitude in excess of those measured for freshly eclosed callows of the same size. This change in bite force was accompanied by a sixfold increase in the volume of the mandible closer muscle, and by a substantial increase of the flexural rigidity of the head capsule, driven by a significant increase in both average thickness and indentation modulus of the head capsule cuticle. Consequently, callows lack the muscle force capacity required for leaf-cutting, and their head capsule is so compliant that large muscle forces would be likely to cause damaging deformations. On the basis of these results, we speculate that continued biomechanical development post eclosion may be a key factor underlying age polyethism, wherever foraging is associated with substantial mechanical demands.}, }
@article {pmid37293932, year = {2023}, author = {Püffel, F and Roces, F and Labonte, D}, title = {Strong positive allometry of bite force in leaf-cutter ants increases the range of cuttable plant tissues.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {226}, number = {13}, pages = {}, pmid = {37293932}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants/physiology ; Bite Force ; Mandible/anatomy &amp; histology ; Herbivory ; Plant Leaves/physiology ; }, abstract = {Atta leaf-cutter ants are the prime herbivore in the Neotropics: differently sized foragers harvest plant material to grow a fungus as a crop. Efficient foraging involves complex interactions between worker size, task preferences and plant-fungus suitability; it is, however, ultimately constrained by the ability of differently sized workers to generate forces large enough to cut vegetation. In order to quantify this ability, we measured bite forces of Atta vollenweideri leaf-cutter ants spanning more than one order of magnitude in body mass. Maximum bite force scaled almost in direct proportion to mass; the largest workers generated peak bite forces 2.5 times higher than expected from isometry. This remarkable positive allometry can be explained via a biomechanical model that links bite forces with substantial size-specific changes in the morphology of the musculoskeletal bite apparatus. In addition to these morphological changes, we show that bite forces of smaller ants peak at larger mandibular opening angles, suggesting a size-dependent physiological adaptation, probably reflecting the need to cut leaves with a thickness that corresponds to a larger fraction of the maximum possible gape. Via direct comparison of maximum bite forces with leaf mechanical properties, we demonstrate (i) that bite forces in leaf-cutter ants need to be exceptionally large compared with body mass to enable them to cut leaves; and (ii), that the positive allometry enables colonies to forage on a wider range of plant species without the need for extreme investment in even larger workers. Our results thus provide strong quantitative arguments for the adaptive value of a positively allometric bite force.}, }
@article {pmid37264979, year = {2023}, author = {Urbani, B and Robinson-González, G}, title = {Amazonian Monkeys and Kafka's Ape at the German Primate Center.}, journal = {Evolutionary anthropology}, volume = {32}, number = {3}, pages = {131-134}, doi = {10.1002/evan.21985}, pmid = {37264979}, issn = {1520-6505}, support = {//Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Haplorhini ; *Primates ; *Hominidae ; }, }
@article {pmid37238445, year = {2023}, author = {Subasri, M and Cressman, C and Arje, D and Schreyer, L and Cooper, E and Patel, K and Ungar, WJ and Barwick, M and Denburg, A and Hayeems, RZ}, title = {Translating Precision Health for Pediatrics: A Scoping Review.}, journal = {Children (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {37238445}, issn = {2227-9067}, support = {Precision Child Health Catalyst Grant//Hospital for Sick Children/ ; }, abstract = {Precision health aims to personalize treatment and prevention strategies based on individual genetic differences. While it has significantly improved healthcare for specific patient groups, broader translation faces challenges with evidence development, evidence appraisal, and implementation. These challenges are compounded in child health as existing methods fail to incorporate the physiology and socio-biology unique to childhood. This scoping review synthesizes the existing literature on evidence development, appraisal, prioritization, and implementation of precision child health. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase were searched. The included articles were related to pediatrics, precision health, and the translational pathway. Articles were excluded if they were too narrow in scope. In total, 74 articles identified challenges and solutions for putting pediatric precision health interventions into practice. The literature reinforced the unique attributes of children and their implications for study design and identified major themes for the value assessment of precision health interventions for children, including clinical benefit, cost-effectiveness, stakeholder values and preferences, and ethics and equity. Tackling these identified challenges will require developing international data networks and guidelines, re-thinking methods for value assessment, and broadening stakeholder support for the effective implementation of precision health within healthcare organizations. This research was funded by the SickKids Precision Child Health Catalyst Grant.}, }
@article {pmid37225773, year = {2023}, author = {Bachert, A and Scheiner, R}, title = {The ant's weapon improves honey bee learning performance.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {8399}, pmid = {37225773}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Bees ; Animals ; *Ants ; Cognition ; *Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; Mitochondrial ADP, ATP Translocases ; Sucrose ; *Varroidae ; Mammals ; }, abstract = {Formic acid is the main component of the ant's major weapon against enemies. Being mainly used as a chemical defense, the acid is also exploited for recruitment and trail marking. The repelling effect of the organic acid is used by some mammals and birds which rub themselves in the acid to eliminate ectoparasites. Beekeepers across the world rely on this effect to control the parasitic mite Varroa destructor. Varroa mites are considered the most destructive pest of honey bees worldwide and can lead to the loss of entire colonies. Formic acid is highly effective against Varroa mites but can also kill the honeybee queen and worker brood. Whether formic acid can also affect the behavior of honey bees is unknown. We here study the effect of formic acid on sucrose responsiveness and cognition of honey bees treated at different live stages in field-relevant doses. Both behaviors are essential for survival of the honey bee colony. Rather unexpectedly, formic acid clearly improved the learning performance of the bees in appetitive olfactory conditioning, while not affecting sucrose responsiveness. This exciting side effect of formic acid certainly deserves further detailed investigations.}, }
@article {pmid37198448, year = {2023}, author = {Homberg, U and Pfeiffer, K}, title = {Unraveling the neural basis of spatial orientation in arthropods.}, journal = {Journal of comparative physiology. A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology}, volume = {209}, number = {4}, pages = {459-464}, pmid = {37198448}, issn = {1432-1351}, mesh = {Animals ; *Arthropods/physiology ; Orientation, Spatial ; Space Perception ; Insecta/physiology ; *Spiders ; }, abstract = {The neural basis underlying spatial orientation in arthropods, in particular insects, has received considerable interest in recent years. This special issue of the Journal of Comparative Physiology A seeks to take account of these developments by presenting a collection of eight review articles and eight original research articles highlighting hotspots of research on spatial orientation in arthropods ranging from flies to spiders and the underlying neural circuits. The contributions impressively illustrate the wide range of tools available to arthropods extending from specific sensory channels to highly sophisticated neural computations for mastering complex navigational challenges.}, }
@article {pmid37192665, year = {2023}, author = {Rother, L and Müller, R and Kirschenmann, E and Foster, JJ and Kaya-Zeeb, S and Thamm, M and Pfeiffer, K}, title = {Walking bumblebees see faster.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {290}, number = {1999}, pages = {20230460}, pmid = {37192665}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees ; *Visual Perception ; *Light ; Locomotion ; Walking ; Reaction Time ; }, abstract = {The behavioural state of animals has profound effects on neuronal information processing. Locomotion changes the response properties of visual interneurons in the insect brain, but it is still unknown if it also alters the response properties of photoreceptors. Photoreceptor responses become faster at higher temperatures. It has therefore been suggested that thermoregulation in insects could improve temporal resolution in vision, but direct evidence for this idea has so far been missing. Here, we compared electroretinograms from the compound eyes of tethered bumblebees that were either sitting or walking on an air-supported ball. We found that the visual processing speed strongly increased when the bumblebees were walking. By monitoring the eye temperature during recording, we saw that the increase in response speed was in synchrony with a rise in eye temperature. By artificially heating the head, we show that the walking-induced temperature increase of the visual system is sufficient to explain the rise in processing speed. We also show that walking accelerates the visual system to the equivalent of a 14-fold increase in light intensity. We conclude that the walking-induced rise in temperature accelerates the processing of visual information-an ideal strategy to process the increased information flow during locomotion.}, }
@article {pmid37071779, year = {2023}, author = {Nebauer, CA and Schleifer, MC and Ruedenauer, FA and Leonhardt, SD and Spaethe, J}, title = {Perception, regulation, and fitness effects of pollen phytosterols in the bumble bee, Bombus terrestris.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {110}, number = {6}, pages = {e16165}, doi = {10.1002/ajb2.16165}, pmid = {37071779}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {Bees ; Animals ; *Phytosterols ; Reproduction ; Sterols ; Pollen ; Perception ; }, abstract = {PREMISE: Many flowering plants depend on insects for pollination and thus attract pollinators by offering rewards, mostly nectar and pollen. Bee pollinators rely on pollen as their main nutrient source. Pollen provides all essential micro- and macronutrients including substances that cannot be synthesized by bees themselves, such as sterols, which bees need for processes such as hormone production. Variations in sterol concentrations may consequently affect bee health and reproductive fitness. We therefore hypothesized that (1) these variations in pollen sterols affect longevity and reproduction in bumble bees and (2) can thus be perceived via the bees' antennae before consumption.<br><br>METHODS: We studied the effect of sterols on longevity and reproduction of Bombus terrestris workers in feeding experiments and investigated sterol perception using chemotactile proboscis extension response (PER) conditioning.<br><br>RESULTS: Workers could perceive several sterols (cholesterol, cholestenone, desmosterol, stigmasterol, &#x3b2;-sitosterol) via their antennae but not differentiate between them. However, when sterols were presented in pollen, and not as a single compound, the bees were unable to differentiate between pollen differing in sterol content. Additionally, different sterol concentrations in pollen neither affected pollen consumption nor brood development or worker longevity.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Since we used both natural concentrations and concentrations higher than those found in pollen, our results indicate that bumble bees may not need to pay specific attention to pollen sterol content beyond a specific threshold. Naturally encountered concentrations might fully support their sterol requirements and higher concentrations do not seem to have negative effects.}, }
@article {pmid37070301, year = {2023}, author = {Habenstein, J and Grübel, K and Pfeiffer, K and Rössler, W}, title = {3D atlas of cerebral neuropils with previously unknown demarcations in the honey bee brain.}, journal = {The Journal of comparative neurology}, volume = {531}, number = {11}, pages = {1163-1183}, doi = {10.1002/cne.25486}, pmid = {37070301}, issn = {1096-9861}, mesh = {Bees ; Animals ; *Drosophila melanogaster ; *Brain/physiology ; Neuropil/physiology ; Neurons ; Mushroom Bodies ; }, abstract = {Honey bees (Apis mellifera) express remarkable social interactions and cognitive capabilities that have been studied extensively. In many cases, behavioral studies were accompanied by neurophysiological and neuroanatomical investigations. While most studies have focused on primary sensory neuropils, such as the optic lobes or antennal lobes, and major integration centers, such as the mushroom bodies or the central complex, many regions of the cerebrum (the central brain without the optic lobes) of the honey bee are only poorly explored so far, both anatomically and physiologically. To promote studies of these brain regions, we used anti-synapsin immunolabeling and neuronal tract tracings followed by confocal imaging and 3D reconstructions to demarcate all neuropils in the honey bee cerebrum and close this gap at the anatomical level. We demarcated 35 neuropils and 25 fiber tracts in the honey bee cerebrum, most of which have counterparts in the fly (Drosophila melanogaster) and other insect species that have been investigated so far at this level of detail. We discuss the role of cerebral neuropils in multisensory integration in the insect brain, emphasize the importance of this brain atlas for comparative studies, and highlight specific architectural features of the honey bee cerebrum.}, }
@article {pmid37019813, year = {2023}, author = {Rössler, W}, title = {Multisensory navigation and neuronal plasticity in desert ants.}, journal = {Trends in neurosciences}, volume = {46}, number = {6}, pages = {415-417}, doi = {10.1016/j.tins.2023.03.008}, pmid = {37019813}, issn = {1878-108X}, mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; *Ants/physiology ; Learning/physiology ; Neurons/physiology ; Neuronal Plasticity/physiology ; Cues ; }, abstract = {Cataglyphis desert ants are skilled visual navigators. Here, I present a brief overview of multisensory learning and neuronal plasticity in ants, with a particular focus on the transition from the dark nest interior to performing first foraging trips. This highlights desert ants as experimental models for studying neuronal mechanisms underlying behavioral development into successful navigators.}, }
@article {pmid37018858, year = {2023}, author = {Schuhmann, A and Scheiner, R}, title = {A combination of the frequent fungicides boscalid and dimoxystrobin with the neonicotinoid acetamiprid in field-realistic concentrations does not affect sucrose responsiveness and learning behavior of honeybees.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {256}, number = {}, pages = {114850}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114850}, pmid = {37018858}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Bees ; Animals ; *Fungicides, Industrial ; Sucrose ; Neonicotinoids ; *Insecticides/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {The increasing loss of pollinators over the last decades has become more and more evident. Intensive use of plant protection products is one key factor contributing to this decline. Especially the mixture of different plant protection products can pose an increased risk for pollinators as synergistic effects may occur. In this study we investigated the effect of the fungicide Cantus® Gold (boscalid/dimoxystrobin), the neonicotinoid insecticide Mospilan® (acetamiprid) and their mixture on honeybees. Since both plant protection products are frequently applied sequentially to the same plants (e.g. oilseed rape), their combination is a realistic scenario for honeybees. We investigated the mortality, the sucrose responsiveness and the differential olfactory learning performance of honeybees under controlled conditions in the laboratory to reduce environmental noise. Intact sucrose responsiveness and learning performance are of pivotal importance for the survival of individual honeybees as well as for the functioning of the entire colony. Treatment with two sublethal and field relevant concentrations of each plant protection product did not lead to any significant effects on these behaviors but affected the mortality rate. However, our study cannot exclude possible negative sublethal effects of these substances in higher concentrations. In addition, the honeybee seems to be quite robust when it comes to effects of plant protection products, while wild bees might be more sensitive.}, }
@article {pmid36972440, year = {2023}, author = {Ozgul, A and Fichtel, C and Paniw, M and Kappeler, PM}, title = {Destabilizing effect of climate change on the persistence of a short-lived primate.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {120}, number = {14}, pages = {e2214244120}, pmid = {36972440}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; *Climate Change ; Population Dynamics ; Animals, Wild ; Temperature ; Mammals ; Seasons ; *Cheirogaleidae/physiology ; }, abstract = {Seasonal tropical environments are among those regions that are the most affected by shifts in temperature and rainfall regimes under climate change, with potentially severe consequences for wildlife population persistence. This persistence is ultimately determined by complex demographic responses to multiple climatic drivers, yet these complexities have been little explored in tropical mammals. We use long-term, individual-based demographic data (1994 to 2020) from a short-lived primate in western Madagascar, the gray mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus), to investigate the demographic drivers of population persistence under observed shifts in seasonal temperature and rainfall. While rainfall during the wet season has been declining over the years, dry season temperatures have been increasing, with these trends projected to continue. These environmental changes resulted in lower survival and higher recruitment rates over time for gray mouse lemurs. Although the contrasting changes have prevented the study population from collapsing, the resulting increase in life-history speed has destabilized an otherwise stable population. Population projections under more recent rainfall and temperature levels predict an increase in population fluctuations and a corresponding increase in the extinction risk over the next five decades. Our analyses show that a relatively short-lived mammal with high reproductive output, representing a life history that is expected to closely track changes in its environment, can nonetheless be threatened by climate change.}, }
@article {pmid36839307, year = {2023}, author = {Liudvytska, O and Ponczek, MB and Ciesielski, O and Krzyżanowska-Kowalczyk, J and Kowalczyk, M and Balcerczyk, A and Kolodziejczyk-Czepas, J}, title = {Rheum rhaponticum and Rheum rhabarbarum Extracts as Modulators of Endothelial Cell Inflammatory Response.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {15}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {36839307}, issn = {2072-6643}, support = {P41 GM103311/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM129325/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; *Endothelial Cells/drug effects ; *Plant Extracts/pharmacology ; *Rheum/chemistry ; Humans ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and alterations in blood physiology are key factors contributing to atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular disorders. Hence, modulation of endothelial function and reducing its pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic activity is considered one of the most important cardioprotective strategies. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory potential of rhubarb extracts isolated from petioles and underground organs of Rheum rhabarbarum L. (garden rhubarb) and R. rhaponticum L. (rhapontic rhubarb) as well as two stilbenoids, typically found in these plants, i.e., rhapontigenin (RHPG) and its glycoside, rhaponticin (RHPT).<br><br>METHODS: Analysis of the anti-inflammatory effects of the indicated rhubarb-derived substances involved different aspects of the endothelial cells' (HUVECs) response: release of the inflammatory mediators; cyclooxygenase (COX-2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) expression as well as the recruitment of leukocytes to the activated HUVECs. The ability of the rhubarb-derived extracts to inhibit COX-2 and 5-LOX activities was examined as well. The study was supplemented with the in silico analysis of major components of the analyzed extracts' interactions with COX-2 and 5-LOX.<br><br>RESULTS: The obtained results indicated that the examined plant extracts and stilbenes possess anti-inflammatory properties and influence the inflammatory response of endothelial cells. Biochemical and in silico tests revealed significant inhibition of COX-2, with special importance of rhaponticin, as a compound abundant in both plant species. In addition to the reduction in COX-2 gene expression and enzyme activity, a decrease in the cytokine level and leukocyte influx was observed. Biochemical tests and computational analyses indicate that some components of rhubarb extracts may act as COX-2 inhibitors, with marginal inhibitory effect on 5-LOX.}, }
@article {pmid36819896, year = {2023}, author = {Tieo, S and Restrepo-Ortiz, CX and Roura-Torres, B and Sauvadet, L and Harté, M and Charpentier, MJE and Renoult, JP}, title = {The Mandrillus Face Database: A portrait image database for individual and sex recognition, and age prediction in a non-human primate.}, journal = {Data in brief}, volume = {47}, number = {}, pages = {108939}, pmid = {36819896}, issn = {2352-3409}, abstract = {The Mandrillus Project is a long-term field research project in ecology and evolutionary biology, monitoring, since 2012, a natural population of mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx; primate) located in Southern Gabon. The Mandrillus Face Database was launched at the beginning of the project and now contains 29,495 photographic portraits collected on 397 individuals from this population, from birth to death for some of them. Portrait images have been obtained by manually processing images taken in the field with DSLR cameras: faces have been cropped to remove the ears and rotated to align the eyes horizontally. The database provides portrait images resized to 224 × 224 pixels associated with several manually annotated labels: individual identity, sex, age, face view, and image quality. Labels are stored within the image metadata and in a table accompanying the image database. This database will allow training and comparing methods on individual and sex recognition, and age prediction in a non-human animal.}, }
@article {pmid36750188, year = {2023}, author = {Poirotte, C and Charpentier, MJE}, title = {Mother-to-daughter transmission of hygienic anti-parasite behaviour in mandrills.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {290}, number = {1992}, pages = {20222349}, pmid = {36750188}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Humans ; *Parasites ; *Mandrillus ; Nuclear Family ; Mothers ; Social Dominance ; }, abstract = {Social animals are particularly exposed to infectious diseases. Pathogen-driven selection pressures have thus favoured the evolution of behavioural adaptations to decrease transmission risk such as the avoidance of contagious individuals. Yet, such strategies deprive individuals of valuable social interactions, generating a cost-benefit trade-off between pathogen avoidance and social opportunities. Recent studies revealed that hosts differ in these behavioural defences, but the determinants driving such inter-individual variation remain understudied. Using 6 years of behavioural and parasite data on a large natural population of mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx), we showed that, when parasite prevalence was high in the population, females avoided grooming their conspecifics' peri-anal region (PAR), where contagious gastro-intestinal parasites accumulate. Females varied, however, in their propensity to avoid this risky body region: across years, some females consistently avoided grooming it, while others did not. Interestingly, hygienic females (i.e. those avoiding the PAR) were less parasitized than non-hygienic females. Finally, age, dominance rank and grooming frequency did not influence a female's hygiene, but both mother-daughter and maternal half-sisters exhibited similar hygienic levels, whereas paternal half-sisters and non-kin dyads did not, suggesting a social transmission of this behaviour. Our study emphasizes that the social inheritance of hygiene may structure behavioural resistance to pathogens in host populations with potential consequences on the dynamics of infectious diseases.}, }
@article {pmid36737661, year = {2023}, author = {Moris, VC and Podsiadlowski, L and Martin, S and Oeyen, JP and Donath, A and Petersen, M and Wilbrandt, J and Misof, B and Liedtke, D and Thamm, M and Scheiner, R and Schmitt, T and Niehuis, O}, title = {Intrasexual cuticular hydrocarbon dimorphism in a wasp sheds light on hydrocarbon biosynthesis genes in Hymenoptera.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {147}, pmid = {36737661}, issn = {2399-3642}, mesh = {Bees/genetics ; Animals ; *Wasps/genetics ; Sex Characteristics ; Biological Evolution ; Pheromones ; Hydrocarbons ; }, abstract = {Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) cover the cuticle of insects and serve as desiccation barrier and as semiochemicals. While the main enzymatic steps of CHC biosynthesis are well understood, few of the underlying genes have been identified. Here we show how exploitation of intrasexual CHC dimorphism in a mason wasp, Odynerus spinipes, in combination with whole-genome sequencing and comparative transcriptomics facilitated identification of such genes. RNAi-mediated knockdown of twelve candidate gene orthologs in the honey bee, Apis mellifera, confirmed nine genes impacting CHC profile composition. Most of them have predicted functions consistent with current knowledge of CHC metabolism. However, we found first-time evidence for a fatty acid amide hydrolase also influencing CHC profile composition. In situ hybridization experiments furthermore suggest trophocytes participating in CHC biosynthesis. Our results set the base for experimental CHC profile manipulation in Hymenoptera and imply that the evolutionary origin of CHC biosynthesis predates the arthropods' colonization of land.}, }
@article {pmid38469509, year = {2023}, author = {Schilcher, F and Hilsmann, L and Ankenbrand, MJ and Krischke, M and Mueller, MJ and Steffan-Dewenter, I and Scheiner, R}, title = {Corrigendum: Honeybees are buffered against undernourishment during larval stages.}, journal = {Frontiers in insect science}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {1146464}, doi = {10.3389/finsc.2023.1146464}, pmid = {38469509}, issn = {2673-8600}, abstract = {[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/finsc.2022.951317.].}, }
@article {pmid36714315, year = {2022}, author = {Değirmenci, L and Rogé Ferreira, FL and Vukosavljevic, A and Heindl, C and Keller, A and Geiger, D and Scheiner, R}, title = {Sugar perception in honeybees.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1089669}, pmid = {36714315}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {Honeybees (Apis mellifera) need their fine sense of taste to evaluate nectar and pollen sources. Gustatory receptors (Grs) translate taste signals into electrical responses. In vivo experiments have demonstrated collective responses of the whole Gr-set. We here disentangle the contributions of all three honeybee sugar receptors (AmGr1-3), combining CRISPR/Cas9 mediated genetic knock-out, electrophysiology and behaviour. We show an expanded sugar spectrum of the AmGr1 receptor. Mutants lacking AmGr1 have a reduced response to sucrose and glucose but not to fructose. AmGr2 solely acts as co-receptor of AmGr1 but not of AmGr3, as we show by electrophysiology and using bimolecular fluorescence complementation. Our results show for the first time that AmGr2 is indeed a functional receptor on its own. Intriguingly, AmGr2 mutants still display a wildtype-like sugar taste. AmGr3 is a specific fructose receptor and is not modulated by a co-receptor. Eliminating AmGr3 while preserving AmGr1 and AmGr2 abolishes the perception of fructose but not of sucrose. Our comprehensive study on the functions of AmGr1, AmGr2 and AmGr3 in honeybees is the first to combine investigations on sugar perception at the receptor level and simultaneously in vivo. We show that honeybees rely on two gustatory receptors to sense all relevant sugars.}, }
@article {pmid36687801, year = {2023}, author = {Breininger, DR and Stolen, ED and Carter, GM and Legare, SA and Payne, WV and Breininger, DJ and Lyon, JE and Schumann, CD and Hunt, DK}, title = {Territory and population attributes affect Florida scrub-jay fecundity in fire-adapted ecosystems.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {e9704}, pmid = {36687801}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Fecundity, the number of young produced by a breeding pair during a breeding season, is a primary component in evolutionary and ecological theory and applications. Fecundity can be influenced by many environmental factors and requires long-term study due to the range of variation in ecosystem dynamics. Fecundity data often include a large proportion of zeros when many pairs fail to produce any young during a breeding season due to nest failure or when all young die independently after fledging. We conducted color banding and monthly censuses of Florida scrub-jays (Aphelocoma coerulescens) across 31 years, 15 populations, and 761 territories along central Florida's Atlantic coast. We quantified how fecundity (juveniles/pair-year) was influenced by habitat quality, presence/absence of nonbreeders, population density, breeder experience, and rainfall, with a zero-inflated Bayesian hierarchical model including both a Bernoulli (e.g., brood success) and a Poisson (counts of young) submodel, and random effects for year, population, and territory. The results identified the importance of increasing "strong" quality habitat, which was a mid-successional state related to fire frequency and extent, because strong territories, and the proportion of strong territories in the overall population, influenced fecundity of breeding pairs. Populations subject to supplementary feeding also had greater fecundity. Territory size, population density, breeder experience, and rainfall surprisingly had no or small effects. Different mechanisms appeared to cause annual variation in fecundity, as estimates of random effects were not correlated between the success and count submodels. The increased fecundity for pairs with nonbreeders, compared to pairs without, identified empirical research needed to understand how the proportion of low-quality habitats influences population recovery and sustainability, because dispersal into low-quality habitats can drain nonbreeders from strong territories and decrease overall fecundity. We also describe how long-term study resulted in reversals in our understanding because of complications involving habitat quality, sociobiology, and population density.}, }
@article {pmid36645020, year = {2023}, author = {Urbani, B and Youlatos, D}, title = {Simia langobardorum: Were African apes traded in late medieval Lombardy?.}, journal = {American journal of primatology}, volume = {85}, number = {2}, pages = {e23462}, doi = {10.1002/ajp.23462}, pmid = {36645020}, issn = {1098-2345}, support = {//Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research/ ; //Alexander von Humboldt Foundation/ ; //Aristotle University of Thessaloniki/ ; }, mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; *Hominidae ; Pan troglodytes ; *Presbytini ; }, abstract = {Depictions of and references to apes (tailless hominoids) are very limited in early historical written accounts. The first known published representations of ape-like primates appear in Medieval European books during the first century following the invention of printing. Considering the current knowledge of ape iconography, this article examines an unusual image of a couple of ape-like creatures rendered in a European manuscript and explores the possible links of this challenging illustration with historical accounts and contexts during the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance. The studied manuscript is known as "BL Sloane MS 4016" and is a medieval herbal manuscript (Tratactus de Herbis) of Lombardian origin dated c. 1440. The illustration in question, which also appears in similar manuscripts, represents two primates. However, these representations differ significantly from those in the other manuscripts. The individuals have physical features that suggest attribution to chimpanzees. The location and the date of the manuscript in relation to the extended merchant and travel network between Europe and Africa during the late Medieval times and earlier Renaissance most likely indicate that free-living or traded chimpanzees or their images may have been the visual source for the illustration. The examination of early depictions and descriptions of apes helps us to understand how we, humans, have represented our own closest zoological relatives. In doing so, this study also provides a review of early ape iconography and historical accounts about African primates during the so-called Age of Discoveries.}, }
@article {pmid36598579, year = {2023}, author = {Zupanc, GKH and Rössler, W and Warrant, EJ and Homberg, U and Arikawa, K and Helfrich-Förster, C and Narins, PM and Simmons, AM}, title = {Contact chemoreception, magnetic maps, thermoregulation by a superorganism, and, thanks to Einstein, an all-time record: the Editors' and Readers' Choice Awards 2023.}, journal = {Journal of comparative physiology. A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology}, volume = {209}, number = {3}, pages = {337-340}, pmid = {36598579}, issn = {1432-1351}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees ; *Awards and Prizes ; Body Temperature Regulation ; Magnetic Phenomena ; }, abstract = {During the 99 years of its history, the Journal of Comparative Physiology A has published many of the most influential papers in comparative physiology and related disciplines. To celebrate this achievement of the journal's authors, annual Editors' Choice Awards and Readers' Choice Awards are presented. The winners of the 2023 Editors' Choice Awards are 'Contact chemoreception in multi‑modal sensing of prey by Octopus' by Buresch et al. (J Comp Physiol A 208:435-442, 2022) in the Original Paper category; and 'Magnetic maps in animal navigation' by Lohmann et al. (J Comp Physiol A 208:41-67, 2022) in the Review/Review-History Article category. The winners of the 2023 Readers' Choice Awards are 'Coping with the cold and fighting the heat: thermal homeostasis of a superorganism, the honeybee colony' by Stabentheiner et al. (J Comp Physiol A 207:337-351; 2021) in the Original Paper category; and 'Einstein, von Frisch and the honeybee: a historical letter comes to light' by Dyer et al. (J Comp Physiol A 207:449-456, 2021) in the Review/Review-History category.}, }
@article {pmid36550368, year = {2023}, author = {Homberg, U and Hensgen, R and Jahn, S and Pegel, U and Takahashi, N and Zittrell, F and Pfeiffer, K}, title = {The sky compass network in the brain of the desert locust.}, journal = {Journal of comparative physiology. A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology}, volume = {209}, number = {4}, pages = {641-662}, pmid = {36550368}, issn = {1432-1351}, mesh = {Animals ; *Grasshoppers/physiology ; Brain/physiology ; Insecta/physiology ; Orientation, Spatial ; Sunlight ; }, abstract = {Many arthropods and vertebrates use celestial signals such as the position of the sun during the day or stars at night as compass cues for spatial orientation. The neural network underlying sky compass coding in the brain has been studied in great detail in the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria. These insects perform long-range migrations in Northern Africa and the Middle East following seasonal changes in rainfall. Highly specialized photoreceptors in a dorsal rim area of their compound eyes are sensitive to the polarization of the sky, generated by scattered sunlight. These signals are combined with direct information on the sun position in the optic lobe and anterior optic tubercle and converge from both eyes in a midline crossing brain structure, the central complex. Here, head direction coding is achieved by a compass-like arrangement of columns signaling solar azimuth through a 360° range of space by combining direct brightness cues from the sun with polarization cues matching the polarization pattern of the sky. Other directional cues derived from wind direction and internal self-rotation input are likely integrated. Signals are transmitted as coherent steering commands to descending neurons for directional control of locomotion and flight.}, }
@article {pmid36543364, year = {2023}, author = {Goymann, W and Brumm, H and Kappeler, PM}, title = {Biological sex is binary, even though there is a rainbow of sex roles: Denying biological sex is anthropocentric and promotes species chauvinism: Denying biological sex is anthropocentric and promotes species chauvinism.}, journal = {BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology}, volume = {45}, number = {2}, pages = {e2200173}, doi = {10.1002/bies.202200173}, pmid = {36543364}, issn = {1521-1878}, mesh = {Male ; Female ; Animals ; Humans ; *Gender Role ; *Gender Identity ; Phenotype ; Plants ; }, abstract = {Biomedical and social scientists are increasingly calling the biological sex into question, arguing that sex is a graded spectrum rather than a binary trait. Leading science journals have been adopting this relativist view, thereby opposing fundamental biological facts. While we fully endorse efforts to create a more inclusive environment for gender-diverse people, this does not require denying biological sex. On the contrary, the rejection of biological sex seems to be based on a lack of knowledge about evolution and it champions species chauvinism, inasmuch as it imposes human identity notions on millions of other species. We argue that the biological definition of the sexes remains central to recognising the diversity of life. Humans with their unique combination of biological sex and gender are different from non-human animals and plants in this respect. Denying the concept of biological sex, for whatever cause, ultimately erodes scientific progress and may open the flood gates to "alternative truths."}, }
@article {pmid36509795, year = {2022}, author = {Murillo, T and Schneider, D and Heistermann, M and Daniel, R and Fichtel, C}, title = {Assessing the drivers of gut microbiome composition in wild redfronted lemurs via longitudinal metacommunity analysis.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {21462}, pmid = {36509795}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics/analysis ; *Lemur/genetics ; Longitudinal Studies ; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System ; Pituitary-Adrenal System ; *Strepsirhini/genetics ; Bacteria/genetics ; Water ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiome influences host's immunity, development, and metabolism and participates in the gut-brain axis, thus impacting the health of the host. It is a dynamic community varying between individuals and within individuals at different time points. Hence, determining the factors causing this variability may elucidate their impact on host's health. However, understanding the drivers of variation has proven difficult particularly as multiple interactions occur simultaneously in the gut microbiome. We investigated the factors shaping the gut microbiome by applying the metacommunity concept where the gut microbiome is considered as a microbial community shaped by the interactions within the community, with the host and microbial communities outside the host, this through a longitudinal study in a wild primate. Focal behavioral data were collected for 1 year in four groups of redfronted lemurs to determine individual social and feeding behaviors. In addition, regular fecal samples were collected to assess bacteria, protozoa, and helminths through marker gene analysis and to measure fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) concentrations to investigate the impact of physiological stress on the gut microbiome. Higher consumption of leaves and elevated fGCM concentrations correlated with higher alpha diversity, which also differed among groups. The major drivers of variation in beta diversity were group membership, precipitation and fGCM concentrations. We found positive and negative associations between bacterial genera and almost all studied factors. Correlations between bacterial indicator networks and social networks indicate transmission of bacteria between interacting individuals. We detected that processes occurring inside the gut environment are shaping the gut microbiome. Host associated factors such as, HPA axis, dietary changes, and fluctuations in water availability had a greater impact than interactions within the microbial community. The interplay with microbial communities outside the host also shape the gut microbiome through the exchange of bacteria through social relationships between individuals and the acquisition of microorganisms from environmental water sources.}, }
@article {pmid36494572, year = {2023}, author = {Rössler, W and Grob, R and Fleischmann, PN}, title = {The role of learning-walk related multisensory experience in rewiring visual circuits in the desert ant brain.}, journal = {Journal of comparative physiology. A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology}, volume = {209}, number = {4}, pages = {605-623}, pmid = {36494572}, issn = {1432-1351}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants/physiology ; Learning/physiology ; Brain ; Cues ; Walking ; Homing Behavior/physiology ; Desert Climate ; }, abstract = {Efficient spatial orientation in the natural environment is crucial for the survival of most animal species. Cataglyphis desert ants possess excellent navigational skills. After far-ranging foraging excursions, the ants return to their inconspicuous nest entrance using celestial and panoramic cues. This review focuses on the question about how naïve ants acquire the necessary spatial information and adjust their visual compass systems. Naïve ants perform structured learning walks during their transition from the dark nest interior to foraging under bright sunlight. During initial learning walks, the ants perform rotational movements with nest-directed views using the earth's magnetic field as an earthbound compass reference. Experimental manipulations demonstrate that specific sky compass cues trigger structural neuronal plasticity in visual circuits to integration centers in the central complex and mushroom bodies. During learning walks, rotation of the sky-polarization pattern is required for an increase in volume and synaptic complexes in both integration centers. In contrast, passive light exposure triggers light-spectrum (especially UV light) dependent changes in synaptic complexes upstream of the central complex. We discuss a multisensory circuit model in the ant brain for pathways mediating structural neuroplasticity at different levels following passive light exposure and multisensory experience during the performance of learning walks.}, }
@article {pmid36477424, year = {2022}, author = {Schacht, R and Beissinger, SR and Wedekind, C and Jennions, MD and Geffroy, B and Liker, A and Kappeler, PM and Weissing, FJ and Kramer, KL and Hesketh, T and Boissier, J and Uggla, C and Hollingshaus, M and Székely, T}, title = {Author Correction: Adult sex ratios: causes of variation and implications for animal and human societies.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {1341}, doi = {10.1038/s42003-022-04296-7}, pmid = {36477424}, issn = {2399-3642}, }
@article {pmid36402823, year = {2022}, author = {Schacht, R and Beissinger, SR and Wedekind, C and Jennions, MD and Geffroy, B and Liker, A and Kappeler, PM and Weissing, FJ and Kramer, KL and Hesketh, T and Boissier, J and Uggla, C and Hollingshaus, M and Székely, T}, title = {Adult sex ratios: causes of variation and implications for animal and human societies.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {1273}, pmid = {36402823}, issn = {2399-3642}, mesh = {Humans ; Male ; Animals ; Adult ; *Sex Ratio ; Phylogeny ; *Biological Evolution ; }, abstract = {Converging lines of inquiry from across the social and biological sciences target the adult sex ratio (ASR; the proportion of males in the adult population) as a fundamental population-level determinant of behavior. The ASR, which indicates the relative number of potential mates to competitors in a population, frames the selective arena for competition, mate choice, and social interactions. Here we review a growing literature, focusing on methodological developments that sharpen knowledge of the demographic variables underlying ASR variation, experiments that enhance understanding of the consequences of ASR imbalance across societies, and phylogenetic analyses that provide novel insights into social evolution. We additionally highlight areas where research advances are expected to make accelerating contributions across the social sciences, evolutionary biology, and biodiversity conservation.}, }
@article {pmid38468773, year = {2022}, author = {Schilcher, F and Hilsmann, L and Ankenbrand, MJ and Krischke, M and Mueller, MJ and Steffan-Dewenter, I and Scheiner, R}, title = {Honeybees are buffered against undernourishment during larval stages.}, journal = {Frontiers in insect science}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {951317}, pmid = {38468773}, issn = {2673-8600}, abstract = {The negative impact of juvenile undernourishment on adult behavior has been well reported for vertebrates, but relatively little is known about invertebrates. In honeybees, nutrition has long been known to affect task performance and timing of behavioral transitions. Whether and how a dietary restriction during larval development affects the task performance of adult honeybees is largely unknown. We raised honeybees in-vitro, varying the amount of a standardized diet (150 µl, 160 µl, 180 µl in total). Emerging adults were marked and inserted into established colonies. Behavioral performance of nurse bees and foragers was investigated and physiological factors known to be involved in the regulation of social organization were quantified. Surprisingly, adult honeybees raised under different feeding regimes did not differ in any of the behaviors observed. No differences were observed in physiological parameters apart from weight. Honeybees were lighter when undernourished (150 µl), while they were heavier under the overfed treatment (180 µl) compared to the control group raised under a normal diet (160 µl). These data suggest that dietary restrictions during larval development do not affect task performance or physiology in this social insect despite producing clear effects on adult weight. We speculate that possible effects of larval undernourishment might be compensated during the early period of adult life.}, }
@article {pmid36377479, year = {2022}, author = {Charpentier, MJE and Poirotte, C and Roura-Torres, B and Amblard-Rambert, P and Willaume, E and Kappeler, PM and Rousset, F and Renoult, JP}, title = {Mandrill mothers associate with infants who look like their own offspring using phenotype matching.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36377479}, issn = {2050-084X}, mesh = {Humans ; Adult ; Female ; Animals ; *Mandrillus ; Social Behavior ; Phenotype ; Cooperative Behavior ; Maternal Behavior ; }, abstract = {Behavioral discrimination of kin is a key process structuring social relationships in animals. In this study, we provide evidence for discrimination towards non-kin by third-parties through a mechanism of phenotype matching. In mandrills, we recently demonstrated increased facial resemblance among paternally related juvenile and adult females indicating adaptive opportunities for paternal kin recognition. Here, we hypothesize that mandrill mothers use offspring's facial resemblance with other infants to guide offspring's social opportunities towards similar-looking ones. Using deep learning for face recognition in 80 wild mandrill infants, we first show that infants sired by the same father resemble each other the most, independently of their age, sex or maternal origin, extending previous results to the youngest age class. Using long-term behavioral observations on association patterns, and controlling for matrilineal origin, maternal relatedness and infant age and sex, we then show, as predicted, that mothers are spatially closer to infants that resemble their own offspring more, and that this maternal behavior leads to similar-looking infants being spatially associated. We then discuss the different scenarios explaining this result, arguing that an adaptive maternal behavior is a likely explanation. In support of this mechanism and using theoretical modeling, we finally describe a plausible evolutionary process whereby mothers gain fitness benefits by promoting nepotism among paternally related infants. This mechanism, that we call 'second-order kin selection', may extend beyond mother-infant interactions and has the potential to explain cooperative behaviors among non-kin in other social species, including humans.}, }
@article {pmid36343690, year = {2022}, author = {Maestripieri, D and Boutwell, BB}, title = {Human nature and personality variation: Reconnecting evolutionary psychology with the science of individual differences.}, journal = {Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews}, volume = {143}, number = {}, pages = {104946}, doi = {10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104946}, pmid = {36343690}, issn = {1873-7528}, mesh = {Humans ; *Individuality ; *Human Characteristics ; Personality ; Biological Evolution ; Psychology/history ; }, abstract = {The scientific study of human behavior from a modern evolutionary perspective began in the 20th century with disciplines such as human ethology and behavioral ecology as well as sociobiology. This early work focused on the characterization of a universal human nature that could be observed across all societies and cultures, one believed to have emerged in part from evolutionary processes. With the passage of time a newer evolutionary discipline, evolutionary psychology, emerged in the early 1990 s and quickly flourished. The focus on human nature was retained from its forerunners, but the primary focus of the field underwent a decided shift. Gone was the emphasis on observable behaviors and in its place moved psychological and cognitive functioning. At the same time, the new field took an interesting departure from other branches of psychology by largely relegating the significance of individual differences across cognitive and personality styles (whether heritable or environmental in origin) to a minor role. In this paper, we review the primary original arguments for minimizing or ignoring the importance of individual differences in personality and cognition, all in the service of making the case that the study of human nature, and evolutionary psychology more generally, is not at odds with individual differences research. The two fields have always been complementary, with one serving as a frequent source of insight for the other.}, }
@article {pmid36307924, year = {2023}, author = {Kappeler, PM and Benhaiem, S and Fichtel, C and Fromhage, L and Höner, OP and Jennions, MD and Kaiser, S and Krüger, O and Schneider, JM and Tuni, C and van Schaik, J and Goymann, W}, title = {Sex roles and sex ratios in animals.}, journal = {Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society}, volume = {98}, number = {2}, pages = {462-480}, doi = {10.1111/brv.12915}, pmid = {36307924}, issn = {1469-185X}, mesh = {Male ; Animals ; Female ; *Gender Role ; *Sexual Behavior, Animal/physiology ; Sex Ratio ; Reproduction ; Biological Evolution ; Sex Characteristics ; }, abstract = {In species with separate sexes, females and males often differ in their morphology, physiology and behaviour. Such sex-specific traits are functionally linked to variation in reproductive competition, mate choice and parental care, which have all been linked to sex roles. At the 150th anniversary of Darwin's theory on sexual selection, the question of why patterns of sex roles vary within and across species remains a key topic in behavioural and evolutionary ecology. New theoretical, experimental and comparative evidence suggests that variation in the adult sex ratio (ASR) is a key driver of variation in sex roles. Here, we first define and discuss the historical emergence of the sex role concept, including recent criticisms and rebuttals. Second, we review the various sex ratios with a focus on ASR, and explore its theoretical links to sex roles. Third, we explore the causes, and especially the consequences, of biased ASRs, focusing on the results of correlational and experimental studies of the effect of ASR variation on mate choice, sexual conflict, parental care and mating systems, social behaviour, hormone physiology and fitness. We present evidence that animals in diverse societies are sensitive to variation in local ASR, even on short timescales, and propose explanations for conflicting results. We conclude with an overview of open questions in this field integrating demography, life history and behaviour.}, }
@article {pmid36303783, year = {2021}, author = {Schmid, K and Knote, A and Mück, A and Pfeiffer, K and von Mammen, S and Fischer, SC}, title = {Interactive, Visual Simulation of a Spatio-Temporal Model of Gas Exchange in the Human Alveolus.}, journal = {Frontiers in bioinformatics}, volume = {1}, number = {}, pages = {774300}, pmid = {36303783}, issn = {2673-7647}, abstract = {In interdisciplinary fields such as systems biology, good communication between experimentalists and theorists is crucial for the success of a project. Theoretical modeling in physiology usually describes complex systems with many interdependencies. On one hand, these models have to be grounded on experimental data. On the other hand, experimenters must be able to understand the interdependent complexities of the theoretical model in order to interpret the model's results in the physiological context. We promote interactive, visual simulations as an engaging way to present theoretical models in physiology and to make complex processes tangible. Based on a requirements analysis, we developed a new model for gas exchange in the human alveolus in combination with an interactive simulation software named Alvin. Alvin exceeds the current standard with its spatio-temporal resolution and a combination of visual and quantitative feedback. In Alvin, the course of the simulation can be traced in a three-dimensional rendering of an alveolus and dynamic plots. The user can interact by configuring essential model parameters. Alvin allows to run and compare multiple simulation instances simultaneously. We exemplified the use of Alvin for research by identifying unknown dependencies in published experimental data. Employing a detailed questionnaire, we showed the benefits of Alvin for education. We postulate that interactive, visual simulation of theoretical models, as we have implemented with Alvin on respiratory processes in the alveolus, can be of great help for communication between specialists and thereby advancing research.}, }
@article {pmid36247232, year = {2022}, author = {Broekman, MJE and Hilbers, JP and Huijbregts, MAJ and Mueller, T and Ali, AH and Andrén, H and Altmann, J and Aronsson, M and Attias, N and Bartlam-Brooks, HLA and van Beest, FM and Belant, JL and Beyer, DE and Bidner, L and Blaum, N and Boone, RB and Boyce, MS and Brown, MB and Cagnacci, F and Černe, R and Chamaillé-Jammes, S and Dejid, N and Dekker, J and L J Desbiez, A and Díaz-Muñoz, SL and Fennessy, J and Fichtel, C and Fischer, C and Fisher, JT and Fischhoff, I and Ford, AT and Fryxell, JM and Gehr, B and Goheen, JR and Hauptfleisch, M and Hewison, AJM and Hering, R and Heurich, M and Isbell, LA and Janssen, R and Jeltsch, F and Kaczensky, P and Kappeler, PM and Krofel, M and LaPoint, S and Latham, ADM and Linnell, JDC and Markham, AC and Mattisson, J and Medici, EP and de Miranda Mourão, G and Van Moorter, B and Morato, RG and Morellet, N and Mysterud, A and Mwiu, S and Odden, J and Olson, KA and Ornicāns, A and Pagon, N and Panzacchi, M and Persson, J and Petroelje, T and Rolandsen, CM and Roshier, D and Rubenstein, DI and Saïd, S and Salemgareyev, AR and Sawyer, H and Schmidt, NM and Selva, N and Sergiel, A and Stabach, J and Stacy-Dawes, J and Stewart, FEC and Stiegler, J and Strand, O and Sundaresan, S and Svoboda, NJ and Ullmann, W and Voigt, U and Wall, J and Wikelski, M and Wilmers, CC and Zięba, F and Zwijacz-Kozica, T and Schipper, AM and Tucker, MA}, title = {Evaluating expert-based habitat suitability information of terrestrial mammals with GPS-tracking data.}, journal = {Global ecology and biogeography : a journal of macroecology}, volume = {31}, number = {8}, pages = {1526-1541}, pmid = {36247232}, issn = {1466-822X}, abstract = {AIM: Macroecological studies that require habitat suitability data for many species often derive this information from expert opinion. However, expert-based information is inherently subjective and thus prone to errors. The increasing availability of GPS tracking data offers opportunities to evaluate and supplement expert-based information with detailed empirical evidence. Here, we compared expert-based habitat suitability information from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with habitat suitability information derived from GPS-tracking data of 1,498 individuals from 49 mammal species.<br><br>LOCATION: Worldwide.<br><br>TIME PERIOD: 1998-2021.<br><br>MAJOR TAXA STUDIED: Forty-nine terrestrial mammal species.<br><br>METHODS: Using GPS data, we estimated two measures of habitat suitability for each individual animal: proportional habitat use (proportion of GPS locations within a habitat type), and selection ratio (habitat use relative to its availability). For each individual we then evaluated whether the GPS-based habitat suitability measures were in agreement with the IUCN data. To that end, we calculated the probability that the ranking of empirical habitat suitability measures was in agreement with IUCN's classification into suitable, marginal and unsuitable habitat types.<br><br>RESULTS: IUCN habitat suitability data were in accordance with the GPS data (>&#x2009;95% probability of agreement) for 33 out of 49 species based on proportional habitat use estimates and for 25 out of 49 species based on selection ratios. In addition, 37 and 34 species had a >&#x2009;50% probability of agreement based on proportional habitat use and selection ratios, respectively.<br><br>MAIN CONCLUSIONS: We show how GPS-tracking data can be used to evaluate IUCN habitat suitability data. Our findings indicate that for the majority of species included in this study, it is appropriate to use IUCN habitat suitability data in macroecological studies. Furthermore, we show that GPS-tracking data can be used to identify and prioritize species and habitat types for re-evaluation of IUCN habitat suitability data.}, }
@article {pmid36237520, year = {2022}, author = {Kaya-Zeeb, S and Delac, S and Wolf, L and Marante, AL and Scherf-Clavel, O and Thamm, M}, title = {Robustness of the honeybee neuro-muscular octopaminergic system in the face of cold stress.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1002740}, pmid = {36237520}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {In recent decades, our planet has undergone dramatic environmental changes resulting in the loss of numerous species. This contrasts with species that can adapt quickly to rapidly changing ambient conditions, which require physiological plasticity and must occur rapidly. The Western honeybee (Apis mellifera) apparently meets this challenge with remarkable success, as this species is adapted to numerous climates, resulting in an almost worldwide distribution. Here, coordinated individual thermoregulatory activities ensure survival at the colony level and thus the transmission of genetic material. Recently, we showed that shivering thermogenesis, which is critical for honeybee thermoregulation, depends on octopamine signaling. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the thoracic neuro-muscular octopaminergic system strives for a steady-state equilibrium under cold stress to maintain endogenous thermogenesis. We can show that this applies for both, octopamine provision by flight muscle innervating neurons and octopamine receptor expression in the flight muscles. Additionally, we discovered alternative splicing for AmOARβ2. At least the expression of one isoform is needed to survive cold stress conditions. We assume that the thoracic neuro-muscular octopaminergic system is finely tuned in order to contribute decisively to survival in a changing environment.}, }
@article {pmid36215474, year = {2022}, author = {Eppley, TM and Hoeks, S and Chapman, CA and Ganzhorn, JU and Hall, K and Owen, MA and Adams, DB and Allgas, N and Amato, KR and Andriamahaihavana, M and Aristizabal, JF and Baden, AL and Balestri, M and Barnett, AA and Bicca-Marques, JC and Bowler, M and Boyle, SA and Brown, M and Caillaud, D and Calegaro-Marques, C and Campbell, CJ and Campera, M and Campos, FA and Cardoso, TS and Carretero-Pinzón, X and Champion, J and Chaves, &#xd3;M and Chen-Kraus, C and Colquhoun, IC and Dean, B and Dubrueil, C and Ellis, KM and Erhart, EM and Evans, KJE and Fedigan, LM and Felton, AM and Ferreira, RG and Fichtel, C and Fonseca, ML and Fontes, IP and Fortes, VB and Fumian, I and Gibson, D and Guzzo, GB and Hartwell, KS and Heymann, EW and Hilário, RR and Holmes, SM and Irwin, MT and Johnson, SE and Kappeler, PM and Kelley, EA and King, T and Knogge, C and Koch, F and Kowalewski, MM and Lange, LR and Lauterbur, ME and Louis, EE and Lutz, MC and Martínez, J and Melin, AD and de Melo, FR and Mihaminekena, TH and Mogilewsky, MS and Moreira, LS and Moura, LA and Muhle, CB and Nagy-Reis, MB and Norconk, MA and Notman, H and O'Mara, MT and Ostner, J and Patel, ER and Pavelka, MSM and Pinacho-Guendulain, B and Porter, LM and Pozo-Montuy, G and Raboy, BE and Rahalinarivo, V and Raharinoro, NA and Rakotomalala, Z and Ramos-Fernández, G and Rasamisoa, DC and Ratsimbazafy, J and Ravaloharimanitra, M and Razafindramanana, J and Razanaparany, TP and Righini, N and Robson, NM and Gonçalves, JDR and Sanamo, J and Santacruz, N and Sato, H and Sauther, ML and Scarry, CJ and Serio-Silva, JC and Shanee, S and Lins, PGAS and Smith, AC and Smith Aguilar, SE and Souza-Alves, JP and Stavis, VK and Steffens, KJE and Stone, AI and Strier, KB and Suarez, SA and Talebi, M and Tecot, SR and Tujague, MP and Valenta, K and Van Belle, S and Vasey, N and Wallace, RB and Welch, G and Wright, PC and Donati, G and Santini, L}, title = {Factors influencing terrestriality in primates of the Americas and Madagascar.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {119}, number = {42}, pages = {e2121105119}, pmid = {36215474}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Americas ; Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Cercopithecidae ; Haplorhini ; Humans ; Madagascar ; Mammals ; *Primates ; Trees ; }, abstract = {Among mammals, the order Primates is exceptional in having a high taxonomic richness in which the taxa are arboreal, semiterrestrial, or terrestrial. Although habitual terrestriality is pervasive among the apes and African and Asian monkeys (catarrhines), it is largely absent among monkeys of the Americas (platyrrhines), as well as galagos, lemurs, and lorises (strepsirrhines), which are mostly arboreal. Numerous ecological drivers and species-specific factors are suggested to set the conditions for an evolutionary shift from arboreality to terrestriality, and current environmental conditions may provide analogous scenarios to those transitional periods. Therefore, we investigated predominantly arboreal, diurnal primate genera from the Americas and Madagascar that lack fully terrestrial taxa, to determine whether ecological drivers (habitat canopy cover, predation risk, maximum temperature, precipitation, primate species richness, human population density, and distance to roads) or species-specific traits (body mass, group size, and degree of frugivory) associate with increased terrestriality. We collated 150,961 observation hours across 2,227 months from 47 species at 20 sites in Madagascar and 48 sites in the Americas. Multiple factors were associated with ground use in these otherwise arboreal species, including increased temperature, a decrease in canopy cover, a dietary shift away from frugivory, and larger group size. These factors mostly explain intraspecific differences in terrestriality. As humanity modifies habitats and causes climate change, our results suggest that species already inhabiting hot, sparsely canopied sites, and exhibiting more generalized diets, are more likely to shift toward greater ground use.}, }
@article {pmid36126877, year = {2023}, author = {Pfeiffer, K}, title = {The neuronal building blocks of the navigational toolkit in the central complex of insects.}, journal = {Current opinion in insect science}, volume = {55}, number = {}, pages = {100972}, doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2022.100972}, pmid = {36126877}, issn = {2214-5753}, mesh = {Animals ; *Drosophila melanogaster/physiology ; *Neurons/physiology ; Drosophila/physiology ; Brain/physiology ; Insecta ; }, abstract = {The central complex in the brain of insects is a group of midline-spanning neuropils at the interface between sensory and premotor tasks of the brain. It is involved in sleep control, decision-making and most prominently in goal-directed locomotion behaviors. The recently published connectome of the central complex of Drosophila melanogaster is a milestone in understanding the intricacies of the central-complex circuits and will provide inspiration for testable hypotheses for the coming years. Here, I provide a basic neuroanatomical description of the central complex of Drosophila and other species and discuss some recent advancements, some of which, such as the discovery of coordinate transformation through vector math, have been predicted from connectomics data.}, }
@article {pmid36122199, year = {2022}, author = {Schultheiss, P and Nooten, SS and Wang, R and Wong, MKL and Brassard, F and Guénard, B}, title = {The abundance, biomass, and distribution of ants on Earth.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {119}, number = {40}, pages = {e2201550119}, pmid = {36122199}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animal Distribution ; Animals ; *Ants ; *Biomass ; Earth, Planet ; *Ecosystem ; Humans ; Mammals ; Population Density ; }, abstract = {Knowledge on the distribution and abundance of organisms is fundamental to understanding their roles within ecosystems and their ecological importance for other taxa. Such knowledge is currently lacking for insects, which have long been regarded as the "little things that run the world". Even for ubiquitous insects, such as ants, which are of tremendous ecological significance, there is currently neither a reliable estimate of their total number on Earth nor of their abundance in particular biomes or habitats. We compile data on ground-dwelling and arboreal ants to obtain an empirical estimate of global ant abundance. Our analysis is based on 489 studies, spanning all continents, major biomes, and habitats. We conservatively estimate total abundance of ground-dwelling ants at over 3 × 10[15] and estimate the number of all ants on Earth to be almost 20 × 10[15] individuals. The latter corresponds to a biomass of ∼12 megatons of dry carbon. This exceeds the combined biomass of wild birds and mammals and is equivalent to ∼20% of human biomass. Abundances of ground-dwelling ants are strongly concentrated in tropical and subtropical regions but vary substantially across habitats. The density of leaf-litter ants is highest in forests, while the numbers of actively ground-foraging ants are highest in arid regions. This study highlights the central role ants play in terrestrial ecosystems but also major ecological and geographic gaps in our current knowledge. Our results provide a crucial baseline for exploring environmental drivers of ant-abundance patterns and for tracking the responses of insects to environmental change.}, }
@article {pmid36058251, year = {2022}, author = {Yilmaz, A and Spaethe, J}, title = {Colour vision in ants (Formicidae, Hymenoptera).}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {377}, number = {1862}, pages = {20210291}, pmid = {36058251}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants/physiology ; *Color Vision ; Insecta ; Learning ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Ants are ecologically one of the most important groups of insects and exhibit impressive capabilities for visual learning and orientation. Studies on numerous ant species demonstrate that ants can learn to discriminate between different colours irrespective of light intensity and modify their behaviour accordingly. However, the findings across species are variable and inconsistent, suggesting that our understanding of colour vision in ants and what roles ecological and phylogenetic factors play is at an early stage. This review provides a brief synopsis of the critical findings of the past century of research by compiling studies that address molecular, physiological and behavioural aspects of ant colour vision. With this, we aim to improve our understanding of colour vision and to gain deeper insights into the mysterious and colourful world of ants. This article is part of the theme issue 'Understanding colour vision: molecular, physiological, neuronal and behavioural studies in arthropods'.}, }
@article {pmid35934963, year = {2022}, author = {Fichtel, C and Kappeler, PM}, title = {Coevolution of social and communicative complexity in lemurs.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {377}, number = {1860}, pages = {20210297}, pmid = {35934963}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {Animals ; Communication ; *Lemur ; Phylogeny ; Primates ; *Strepsirhini ; }, abstract = {The endemic lemurs of Madagascar (Lemuriformes: Primates) exhibit great social and communicative diversity. Given their independent evolutionary history, lemurs provide an excellent opportunity to identify fundamental principles in the coevolution of social and communicative traits. We conducted comparative phylogenetic analyses to examine patterns of interspecific variation among measures of social complexity and repertoire sizes in the vocal, olfactory and visual modality, while controlling for environmental factors such as habitat and number of sympatric species. We also examined potential trade-offs in signal evolution as well as coevolution between body mass or brain size and communicative complexity. Repertoire sizes in the vocal, olfactory and visual modality correlated positively with group size, but not with environmental factors. Evolutionary changes in social complexity presumably antedated corresponding changes in communicative complexity. There was no trade-off in the evolution of signals in different modalities and neither body mass nor brain size correlated with any repertoire size. Hence, communicative complexity coevolved with social complexity across different modalities, possibly to service social relationships flexibly and effectively in pair- and group-living species. Our analyses shed light on the requirements and adaptive possibilities in the coevolution of core elements of social organization and social structure in a basal primate lineage. This article is part of the theme issue 'Cognition, communication and social bonds in primates'.}, }
@article {pmid35905408, year = {2022}, author = {Song 宋紫檀, Z and Liker, A and Liu 刘阳, Y and Székely, T}, title = {Evolution of Social Organization: Phylogenetic Analyses of Ecology and Sexual Selection in Weavers.}, journal = {The American naturalist}, volume = {200}, number = {2}, pages = {250-263}, doi = {10.1086/720270}, pmid = {35905408}, issn = {1537-5323}, mesh = {Animals ; Ecology ; *Passeriformes ; Phylogeny ; Sexual Behavior, Animal ; *Sexual Selection ; }, abstract = {AbstractCrook published a landmark study on the social organization of weavers (or weaverbirds, family Ploceidae) that contributed to the emergence of sociobiology, behavioral ecology, and phylogenetic comparative methods. By comparing ecology, spatial distribution, and mating systems, Crook suggested that the spatial distribution of food resources and breeding habitats influence weaver aggregation during both the nonbreeding season (flocking vs. solitary foraging) and the breeding season (colonial vs. solitary breeding), and the latter in turn impacts mating systems and sexual selection. Although Crook's study stimulated much follow-up research, his conclusions have not been scrutinized using phylogenetically controlled analyses. We revisited Crook's hypotheses using modern phylogenetic comparative methods on an extended data set of 107 weaver species. We showed that both diet and habitat type are associated with spatial distribution and that the latter predicts mating system, consistent with Crook's propositions. The best-supported phylogenetic path model also supported Crook's arguments and uncovered a direct relationship between nonbreeding distribution and mating system. Taken together, our phylogenetically corrected analyses confirm Crook's conjectures on the roles of ecology in social organizations of weavers; however, our analyses also uncovered an association between nonbreeding distributions and mating systems, which was not envisaged by Crook.}, }
@article {pmid35892218, year = {2022}, author = {Stöckl, A and Grittner, R and Taylor, G and Rau, C and Bodey, AJ and Kelber, A and Baird, E}, title = {Allometric scaling of a superposition eye optimizes sensitivity and acuity in large and small hawkmoths.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {289}, number = {1979}, pages = {20220758}, pmid = {35892218}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Body Size ; *Eye/anatomy &amp; histology ; Insecta ; *Moths ; }, abstract = {Animals vary widely in body size within and across species. This has consequences for the function of organs and body parts in both large and small individuals. How these scale, in relation to body size, reveals evolutionary investment strategies, often resulting in trade-offs between functions. Eyes exemplify these trade-offs, as they are limited by their absolute size in two key performance features: sensitivity and spatial acuity. Due to their size polymorphism, insect compound eyes are ideal models for studying the allometric scaling of eye performance. Previous work on apposition compound eyes revealed that allometric scaling led to poorer spatial resolution and visual sensitivity in small individuals, across a range of insect species. Here, we used X-ray microtomography to investigate allometric scaling in superposition compound eyes-the second most common eye type in insects-for the first time. Our results reveal a novel strategy to cope with the trade-off between sensitivity and spatial acuity, as we show that the eyes of the hummingbird hawkmoth retain an optimal balance between these performance measures across all body sizes.}, }
@article {pmid35880414, year = {2022}, author = {Tiley, GP and van Elst, T and Teixeira, H and Schüßler, D and Salmona, J and Blanco, MB and Ralison, JM and Randrianambinina, B and Rasoloarison, RM and Stahlke, AR and Hohenlohe, PA and Chikhi, L and Louis, EE and Radespiel, U and Yoder, AD}, title = {Population genomic structure in Goodman's mouse lemur reveals long-standing separation of Madagascar's Central Highlands and eastern rainforests.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {31}, number = {19}, pages = {4901-4918}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16632}, pmid = {35880414}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Cheirogaleidae/genetics ; Humans ; *Lemur ; Madagascar ; Metagenomics ; Rainforest ; }, abstract = {Madagascar's Central Highlands are largely composed of grasslands, interspersed with patches of forest. The historical perspective was that Madagascar's grasslands had anthropogenic origins, but emerging evidence suggests that grasslands were a component of the pre-human Central Highlands vegetation. Consequently, there is now vigorous debate regarding the extent to which these grasslands have expanded due to anthropogenic pressures. Here, we shed light on the temporal dynamics of Madagascar's vegetative composition by conducting a population genomic investigation of Goodman's mouse lemur (Microcebus lehilahytsara; Cheirogaleidae). These small-bodied primates occur both in Madagascar's eastern rainforests and in the Central Highlands, making them a valuable indicator species. Population divergences among forest-dwelling mammals will reflect changes to their habitat, including fragmentation, whereas patterns of post-divergence gene flow can reveal formerly wooded migration corridors. To explore these patterns, we used RADseq data to infer population genetic structure, demographic models of post-divergence gene flow, and population size change through time. The results offer evidence that open habitats are an ancient component of the Central Highlands, and that widespread forest fragmentation occurred naturally during a period of decreased precipitation near the last glacial maximum. Models of gene flow suggest that migration across the Central Highlands has been possible from the Pleistocene through the recent Holocene via riparian corridors. Though our findings support the hypothesis that Central Highland grasslands predate human arrival, we also find evidence for human-mediated population declines. This highlights the extent to which species imminently threatened by human-mediated deforestation may already be vulnerable from paleoclimatic conditions.}, }
@article {pmid35726715, year = {2022}, author = {van der Kooi, CJ and Spaethe, J}, title = {Caution with colour calculations: spectral purity is a poor descriptor of flower colour visibility.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {130}, number = {1}, pages = {1-9}, pmid = {35726715}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Animals ; Color ; *Flowers/physiology ; Humans ; Plants ; *Pollination/physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The colours of flowers are of key interest to plant and pollination biologists. An increasing number of studies have investigated the importance of saturation of flower colours (often called 'spectral purity' or 'chroma') for visibility to pollinators, but the conceptual, physiological and behavioural foundations for these metrics as well as the calculations used rest on slender foundations.<br><br>METHODS: We discuss the caveats of colour attributes that are derived from human perception, and in particular spectral purity and chroma, as variables in flower colour analysis. We re-analysed seven published datasets encompassing 774 measured reflectance spectra to test for correlations between colour contrast, spectral purity and chroma.<br><br>MAIN FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS: We identify several concerns with common calculation procedures in animal colour spaces. Studies on animal colour vision provide no ground to assume that any pollinator perceives (or responds to) saturation, chroma or spectral purity in the way humans do. A re-analysis of published datasets revealed that values for colour contrast between flowers and their background are highly correlated with measures for spectral purity and chroma, which invalidates treating these factors as independent variables as is currently commonplace. Strikingly, spectral purity and chroma - both of which are metrics for saturation and are often used synonymously - are not correlated at all. We conclude that alternative, behaviourally validated metrics for the visibility of flowers to pollinators, such as colour contrast and achromatic contrast, are better in understanding the role of flower colour in plant-pollinator signalling.}, }
@article {pmid35710848, year = {2022}, author = {Hudel, L and Kappeler, PM}, title = {Sex-specific movement ecology of the shortest-lived tetrapod during the mating season.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {10053}, pmid = {35710848}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Body Size ; Female ; Humans ; *Lizards ; Male ; Reproduction ; Seasons ; *Sexual Behavior, Animal ; }, abstract = {Sex-specific reproductive strategies are shaped by the distribution of potential mates in space and time. Labord's chameleon (Furcifer labordi) from southwestern Madagascar is the shortest-lived tetrapod whose life-time mating opportunities are restricted to a few weeks. Given that these chameleons grow to sexual maturity within about three months and that all individuals die soon after breeding, their mating strategies should be adapted to these temporal constraints. The reproductive tactics of this or any other Malagasy chameleon species have not been studied, however. Radio-tracking and observations of 21 females and 18 males revealed that females exhibit high site fidelity, move small cumulative and linear distances, have low corresponding dispersal ratios and small occurrence distributions. In contrast, males moved larger distances in less predictable fashion, resulting in dispersal ratios and occurrence distributions 7-14 times larger than those of females, and males also had greater ranges of their vertical distribution. Despite synchronous hatching, males exhibited substantial inter-individual variation in body mass and snout-vent length that was significantly greater than in females, but apparently unrelated to their spatial tactics. Females mated with up to 6 individually-known mates, but frequent encounters with unmarked individuals indicate that much higher number of matings may be common, as are damaging fights among males. Thus, unlike perennial chameleons, F. labordi males do not seem to maintain and defend territories. Instead, they invest vastly more time and energy into locomotion for their body size than other species. Pronounced variation in key somatic traits may hint at the existence of alternative reproductive tactics, but its causes and consequences require further study. This first preliminary study of the mating system of a Malagasy chameleon indicates that, as in other semelparous tetrapods, accelerated life histories are tied to a mating system with intense contest and scramble competition among males.}, }
@article {pmid35620359, year = {2022}, author = {Theara, GK and Ruíz Macedo, J and Zárate Gómez, R and Heymann, EW and Dolotovskaya, S}, title = {Fur rubbing in Plecturocebus cupreus - an incidence of self-medication?.}, journal = {Primate biology}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {7-10}, pmid = {35620359}, issn = {2363-4715}, abstract = {Fur rubbing, i.e. rubbing a substance or an object into the pelage, has been described in numerous Neotropical primate species, including species of titi monkeys, but it seems to be a rare behaviour. Here we describe a fur rubbing event in a wild coppery titi monkey (Plecturocebus cupreus) with Psychotria sp. (Rubiaceae) leaves observed and videotaped during a field study on vigilance behaviour between September-December 2019 in the Peruvian Amazon. Plants of the genus Psychotria contain a great diversity of secondary metabolites and are often used in traditional medicine. We suggest that the fur rubbing was an act of self-medication. This is the first record of fur rubbing in coppery titi monkeys in almost 4400 h of observation accumulated over more than 20 years.}, }
@article {pmid35597702, year = {2022}, author = {Davidian, E and Surbeck, M and Lukas, D and Kappeler, PM and Huchard, E}, title = {The eco-evolutionary landscape of power relationships between males and females.}, journal = {Trends in ecology &amp; evolution}, volume = {37}, number = {8}, pages = {706-718}, doi = {10.1016/j.tree.2022.04.004}, pmid = {35597702}, issn = {1872-8383}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Female ; Male ; Mammals ; *Reproduction ; Sex Characteristics ; *Sexual Behavior, Animal ; }, abstract = {In animal societies, control over resources and reproduction is often biased towards one sex. Yet, the ecological and evolutionary underpinnings of male-female power asymmetries remain poorly understood. We outline a comprehensive framework to quantify and predict the dynamics of male-female power relationships within and across mammalian species. We show that male-female power relationships are more nuanced and flexible than previously acknowledged. We then propose that enhanced reproductive control over when and with whom to mate predicts social empowerment across ecological and evolutionary contexts. The framework explains distinct pathways to sex-biased power: coercion and male-biased dimorphism constitute a co-evolutionary highway to male power, whereas female power emerges through multiple physiological, morphological, behavioural, and socioecological pathways.}, }
@article {pmid35593178, year = {2022}, author = {Kaiser, A and Hensgen, R and Tschirner, K and Beetz, E and Wüstenberg, H and Pfaff, M and Mota, T and Pfeiffer, K}, title = {A three-dimensional atlas of the honeybee central complex, associated neuropils and peptidergic layers of the central body.}, journal = {The Journal of comparative neurology}, volume = {530}, number = {14}, pages = {2416-2438}, doi = {10.1002/cne.25339}, pmid = {35593178}, issn = {1096-9861}, support = {PF 714/4-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)/ ; PF714/5-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)/ ; INST160/447-1FUGG//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)/ ; INST93/829-1FUGG//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)/ ; APQ-02711-21//FAPEMIG - Minas Gerais Research Funding Foundation/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bees ; Brain ; Insecta ; Neuroanatomy ; *Neurons ; *Neuropil ; }, abstract = {The central complex (CX) in the brain of insects is a highly conserved group of midline-spanning neuropils consisting of the upper and lower division of the central body, the protocerebral bridge, and the paired noduli. These neuropils are the substrate for a number of behaviors, most prominently goal-oriented locomotion. Honeybees have been a model organism for sky-compass orientation for more than 70 years, but there is still very limited knowledge about the structure and function of their CX. To advance and facilitate research on this brain area, we created a high-resolution three-dimensional atlas of the honeybee's CX and associated neuropils, including the posterior optic tubercles, the bulbs, and the anterior optic tubercles. To this end, we developed a modified version of the iterative shape averaging technique, which allowed us to achieve high volumetric accuracy of the neuropil models. For a finer definition of spatial locations within the central body, we defined layers based on immunostaining against the neuropeptides locustatachykinin, FMRFamide, gastrin/cholecystokinin, and allatostatin and included them into the atlas by elastic registration. Our honeybee CX atlas provides a platform for future neuroanatomical work.}, }
@article {pmid35574496, year = {2022}, author = {Schmalz, F and El Jundi, B and Rössler, W and Strube-Bloss, M}, title = {Categorizing Visual Information in Subpopulations of Honeybee Mushroom Body Output Neurons.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {866807}, pmid = {35574496}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {Multisensory integration plays a central role in perception, as all behaviors usually require the input of different sensory signals. For instance, for a foraging honeybee the association of a food source includes the combination of olfactory and visual cues to be categorized as a flower. Moreover, homing after successful foraging using celestial cues and the panoramic scenery may be dominated by visual cues. Hence, dependent on the context, one modality might be leading and influence the processing of other modalities. To unravel the complex neural mechanisms behind this process we studied honeybee mushroom body output neurons (MBON). MBONs represent the first processing level after olfactory-visual convergence in the honeybee brain. This was physiologically confirmed in our previous study by characterizing a subpopulation of multisensory MBONs. These neurons categorize incoming sensory inputs into olfactory, visual, and olfactory-visual information. However, in addition to multisensory units a prominent population of MBONs was sensitive to visual cues only. Therefore, we asked which visual features might be represented at this high-order integration level. Using extracellular, multi-unit recordings in combination with visual and olfactory stimulation, we separated MBONs with multisensory responses from purely visually driven MBONs. Further analysis revealed, for the first time, that visually driven MBONs of both groups encode detailed aspects within this individual modality, such as light intensity and light identity. Moreover, we show that these features are separated by different MBON subpopulations, for example by extracting information about brightness and wavelength. Most interestingly, the latter MBON population was tuned to separate UV-light from other light stimuli, which were only poorly differentiated from each other. A third MBON subpopulation was neither tuned to brightness nor to wavelength and encoded the general presence of light. Taken together, our results support the view that the mushroom body, a high-order sensory integration, learning and memory center in the insect brain, categorizes sensory information by separating different behaviorally relevant aspects of the multisensory scenery and that these categories are channeled into distinct MBON subpopulations.}, }
@article {pmid35536325, year = {2022}, author = {Zupanc, GKH and Rössler, W}, title = {Government funding of research beyond biomedicine: challenges and opportunities for neuroethology.}, journal = {Journal of comparative physiology. A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology}, volume = {208}, number = {3}, pages = {443-456}, pmid = {35536325}, issn = {1432-1351}, support = {1946910//National Science Foundation/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Biomedical Research ; Government ; United States ; }, abstract = {Curiosity-driven research is fundamental for neuroethology and depends crucially on governmental funding. Here, we highlight similarities and differences in funding of curiosity-driven research across countries by comparing two major funding agencies-the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the United States and the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG). We interviewed representatives from each of the two agencies, focusing on general funding trends, levels of young investigator support, career-life balance, and international collaborations. While our analysis revealed a negative trend in NSF funding of biological research, including curiosity-driven research, German researchers in these areas have benefited from a robust positive trend in DFG funding. The main reason for the decrease in curiosity-driven research in the US is that the NSF has only partially been able to compensate for the funding gap resulting from the National Institutes of Health restricting their support to biomedical research using select model organisms. Notwithstanding some differences in funding programs, particularly those relevant for scientists in the postdoctoral phase, both the NSF and DFG clearly support curiosity-driven research.}, }
@article {pmid35467771, year = {2022}, author = {Stuhrmann, C}, title = {"It Felt More like a Revolution." How Behavioral Ecology Succeeded Ethology, 1970-1990.}, journal = {Berichte zur Wissenschaftsgeschichte}, volume = {45}, number = {1-2}, pages = {135-163}, pmid = {35467771}, issn = {1522-2365}, mesh = {Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; *Ecology ; Emotions ; *Ethology ; Sociobiology ; }, abstract = {As soon as ethology's status diminished in the early 1970s, it was confronted with two successor disciplines, sociobiology and behavioral ecology. They were able to challenge ethology because it no longer provided markers of strong disciplinarity such as theoretical coherence, leading figures and a clear identity. While behavioral ecology developed organically out of the UK ethological research community into its own disciplinary standing, sociobiology presented itself as a US competitor to the ethological tradition. I will show how behavioral ecology took the role of legitimate heir to ethology by rebuilding a theoretical core and an intellectual sense of community, while sociobiology failed to use its public appeal to reach disciplinary status. Meanwhile, ethology changed its disciplinary identity to encompass all biological studies of animal behavior.}, }
@article {pmid35467116, year = {2022}, author = {Römer, D and Aguilar, GP and Meyer, A and Roces, F}, title = {Symbiont demand guides resource supply: leaf-cutting ants preferentially deliver their harvested fragments to undernourished fungus gardens.}, journal = {Die Naturwissenschaften}, volume = {109}, number = {3}, pages = {25}, pmid = {35467116}, issn = {1432-1904}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants/microbiology ; Fungi ; Gardens ; Humans ; Plants ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Leaf-cutting ants are highly successful herbivores in the Neotropics. They forage large amounts of fresh plant material to nourish a symbiotic fungus that sustains the colony. It is unknown how workers organize the intra-nest distribution of resources, and whether they respond to increasing demands in some fungus gardens by adjusting the amount of delivered resources accordingly. In laboratory experiments, we analyzed the spatial distribution of collected leaf fragments among nest chambers in Acromyrmex ambiguus leaf-cutting ants, and how it changed when one of the fungus gardens experienced undernourishment. Plant fragments were evenly distributed among nest chambers when the fungal symbiont was well nourished. That pattern changed when one of the fungus gardens was undernourished and had a higher leaf demand, resulting in more leaf discs delivered to the undernourished fungus garden over at least 2 days after deprivation. Some ants bypassed nourished gardens to directly deliver their resource to the chamber with higher nutritional demand. We hypothesize that cues arising from that chamber might be used for orientation and/or that informed individuals, presumably stemming from the undernourished chamber, may preferentially orient to them.}, }
@article {pmid35370789, year = {2022}, author = {Wilson Horch, H and Rössler, W and Tavosanis, G}, title = {Editorial: Structural Plasticity of Invertebrate Neural Systems.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {874999}, pmid = {35370789}, issn = {1664-042X}, }
@article {pmid35369756, year = {2022}, author = {Smith, JE and Fichtel, C and Holmes, RK and Kappeler, PM and van Vugt, M and Jaeggi, AV}, title = {Sex bias in intergroup conflict and collective movements among social mammals: male warriors and female guides.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {377}, number = {1851}, pages = {20210142}, pmid = {35369756}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Female ; *Hyaenidae ; Male ; Mammals ; Phylogeny ; *Sexism ; }, abstract = {Intergroup conflict is a major evolutionary force shaping animal and human societies. Males and females should, on average, experience different costs and benefits for participating in collective action. Specifically, among mammals, male fitness is generally limited by access to mates whereas females are limited by access to food and safety. Here we analyse sex biases among 72 species of group-living mammals in two contexts: intergroup conflict and collective movements. Our comparative phylogenetic analyses show that the modal mammalian pattern is male-biased participation in intergroup conflict and female-biased leadership in collective movements. However, the probability of male-biased participation in intergroup conflicts decreased and female-biased participation increased with female-biased leadership in movements. Thus, female-biased participation in intergroup conflict only emerged in species with female-biased leadership in collective movements, such as in spotted hyenas and some lemurs. Sex differences are probably attributable to costs and benefits of participating in collective movements (e.g. towards food, water, safety) and intergroup conflict (e.g. access to mates or resources, risk of injury). Our comparative review offers new insights into the factors shaping sex bias in leadership across social mammals and is consistent with the 'male warrior hypothesis' which posits evolved sex differences in human intergroup psychology. This article is part of the theme issue 'Intergroup conflict across taxa'.}, }
@article {pmid35347156, year = {2022}, author = {Peckre, LR and Michiels, A and Socias-Martínez, L and Kappeler, PM and Fichtel, C}, title = {Sex differences in audience effects on anogenital scent marking in the red-fronted lemur.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {5266}, pmid = {35347156}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animal Communication ; Animals ; Female ; Humans ; *Lemur ; *Lemuridae ; Male ; Odorants ; Sex Characteristics ; }, abstract = {How the presence of conspecifics affects scent mark deposition remains an understudied aspect of olfactory communication, even though scent marking occurs in different social contexts. Sex differences in scent-marking behaviour are common, and sex-specific effects of the audience could therefore be expected. We investigated sex differences in intra-group audience effects on anogenital scent marking in four groups of wild red-fronted lemurs (Eulemur rufifrons) by performing focal scent-marking observations. We observed a total of 327 events divided into 223 anogenital scent-marking events and 104 pass-by events (i.e. passage without scent marking). Using a combination of generalised linear mixed models and exponential random graph models, we found that scent marking in red-fronted lemurs is associated with some behavioural flexibility linked to the composition of the audience at the time of scent deposition. In particular, our study revealed sex differences in the audience effects, with males being overall more sensitive to their audience than females. Moreover, we show that these audience effects were dependent on the relative degree of social integration of the focal individual compared to that of individuals in the audience (difference in Composite Sociality Index) as well as the strength of the dyadic affiliative relationship (rank of Dyadic Composite Sociality Index within the group). The audience effects also varied as a function of the audience radius considered. Hence, we showed that scent marking in red-fronted lemurs is associated with some behavioural flexibility linked to the composition of the audience, ascribing red-fronted lemurs' social competence in this context.}, }
@article {pmid35323522, year = {2022}, author = {Radford, JM and Chen, D and Chernyshova, AM and Taylor, C and Guoth, AW and Wu, T and Hill, KA and Thompson, GJ}, title = {Differential Selection on Caste-Associated Genes in a Subterranean Termite.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {35323522}, issn = {2075-4450}, support = {RGPIN-2020-05647//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council/ ; }, abstract = {Analyzing the information-rich content of RNA can help uncover genetic events associated with social insect castes or other social polymorphisms. Here, we exploit a series of cDNA libraries previously derived from whole-body tissue of different castes as well as from three behaviourally distinct populations of the Eastern subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes. We found that the number (~0.5 M) of single nucleotide variants (SNVs) was roughly equal between nymph, worker and soldier caste libraries, but dN/dS (ratio of nonsynonymous to synonymous substitutions) analysis suggested that some of these variants confer a caste-specific advantage. Specifically, the dN/dS ratio was high (~4.3) for genes expressed in the defensively specialized soldier caste, relative to genes expressed by other castes (~1.7−1.8) and regardless of the North American population (Toronto, Raleigh, Boston) from which the castes were sampled. The populations, meanwhile, did show a large difference in SNV count but not in the manner expected from known demographic and behavioural differences; the highly invasive unicolonial population from Toronto was not the least diverse and did not show any other unique substitution patterns, suggesting any past bottleneck associated with invasion or with current unicoloniality has become obscured at the RNA level. Our study raises two important hypotheses relevant to termite sociobiology. First, the positive selection (dN/dS > 1) inferred for soldier-biased genes is presumably indirect and of the type mediated through kin selection, and second, the behavioural changes that accompany some social insect urban invasions (i.e., ‘unicoloniality’) may be detached from the loss-of-diversity expected from invasion bottlenecks.}, }
@article {pmid35289743, year = {2022}, author = {Kaya-Zeeb, S and Engelmayer, L and Straßburger, M and Bayer, J and Bähre, H and Seifert, R and Scherf-Clavel, O and Thamm, M}, title = {Octopamine drives honeybee thermogenesis.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {35289743}, issn = {2050-084X}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Bees ; Body Temperature ; *Body Temperature Regulation ; *Octopamine/physiology ; Thermogenesis ; }, abstract = {In times of environmental change species have two options to survive: they either relocate to a new habitat or they adapt to the altered environment. Adaptation requires physiological plasticity and provides a selection benefit. In this regard, the Western honeybee (Apis mellifera) protrudes with its thermoregulatory capabilities, which enables a nearly worldwide distribution. Especially in the cold, shivering thermogenesis enables foraging as well as proper brood development and thus survival. In this study, we present octopamine signaling as a neurochemical prerequisite for honeybee thermogenesis: we were able to induce hypothermia by depleting octopamine in the flight muscles. Additionally, we could restore the ability to increase body temperature by administering octopamine. Thus, we conclude that octopamine signaling in the flight muscles is necessary for thermogenesis. Moreover, we show that these effects are mediated by β octopamine receptors. The significance of our results is highlighted by the fact the respective receptor genes underlie enormous selective pressure due to adaptation to cold climates. Finally, octopamine signaling in the service of thermogenesis might be a key strategy to survive in a changing environment.}, }
@article {pmid35258099, year = {2022}, author = {Milam, EL}, title = {Landscapes of Time: Building Long-Term Perspectives in Animal Behavior.}, journal = {Berichte zur Wissenschaftsgeschichte}, volume = {45}, number = {1-2}, pages = {164-188}, doi = {10.1002/bewi.202100026}, pmid = {35258099}, issn = {1522-2365}, mesh = {Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; *Deer ; Ecology ; Ethology ; Sociobiology ; }, abstract = {In the 1960s, scientists fascinated by the behavior of free-living animals founded research projects that expanded into multi-generation investigations. This paper charts the history of three scientists' projects to uncover the varied reasons for investing in a "long-term" perspective when studying animal behavior: Kenneth Armitage's study of marmots in the Rocky Mountains, Jeanne Altmann's analysis of baboons in Kenya, and Timothy Hugh Clutton-Brock's studies (among others) of red deer on the island of Rhum and meerkats in the Kalahari. The desire to study the behavior of the same group of animals over extended periods of time, I argue, came from different methodological traditions - population biology, primatology, and sociobiology - even as each saw themselves as contributing to the legacy of ethology. As scientists embraced and combined these approaches, a small number of long-running behavioral ecology projects like these grew from short pilot projects into decades-long centers of intellectual gravity within behavioral ecology as a discipline. By attending to time as well as place, we can see how this long-term perspective was crucial to their success; they measured evolutionary changes over generations of animals and their data provided insights into how the animals they studied were adapting (or not) to changing local and global environmental factors.}, }
@article {pmid35157117, year = {2022}, author = {Hensgen, R and Zittrell, F and Pfeiffer, K and Homberg, U}, title = {Performance of polarization-sensitive neurons of the locust central complex at different degrees of polarization.}, journal = {Journal of comparative physiology. A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology}, volume = {208}, number = {3}, pages = {387-403}, pmid = {35157117}, issn = {1432-1351}, support = {HO 950/24-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; HO 950/28-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Brain/physiology ; *Grasshoppers/physiology ; Insecta ; Neurons/physiology ; Orientation, Spatial ; Space Perception ; }, abstract = {The polarization pattern of the sky is exploited by many insects for spatial orientation and navigation. It derives from Rayleigh scattering in the atmosphere and depends directly on the position of the sun. In the insect brain, the central complex (CX) houses neurons tuned to the angle of polarization (AoP), that together constitute an internal compass for celestial navigation. Polarized light is not only characterized by the AoP, but also by the degree of polarization (DoP), which can be highly variable, depending on sky conditions. Under a clear sky, the DoP of polarized sky light may reach up to 0.75 but is usually much lower especially when light is scattered by clouds or haze. To investigate how the polarization-processing network of the CX copes with low DoPs, we recorded intracellularly from neurons of the locust CX at different stages of processing, while stimulating with light of different DoPs. Significant responses to polarized light occurred down to DoPs of 0.05 indicating reliable coding of the AoP even at unfavorable sky conditions. Moreover, we found that the activity of neurons at the CX input stage may be strongly influenced by nearly unpolarized light, while the activity of downstream neurons appears less affected.}, }
@article {pmid35139921, year = {2022}, author = {Rudolph, K and Schneider, D and Fichtel, C and Daniel, R and Heistermann, M and Kappeler, PM}, title = {Drivers of gut microbiome variation within and between groups of a wild Malagasy primate.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {28}, pmid = {35139921}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; Male ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seasons ; Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Various aspects of sociality can benefit individuals' health. The host social environment and its relative contributions to the host-microbiome relationship have emerged as key topics in microbial research. Yet, understanding the mechanisms that lead to structural variation in the social microbiome, the collective microbial metacommunity of an animal's social network, remains difficult since multiple processes operate simultaneously within and among animal social networks. Here, we examined the potential drivers of the convergence of the gut microbiome on multiple scales among and within seven neighbouring groups of wild Verreaux's sifakas (Propithecus verreauxi) - a folivorous primate of Madagascar.<br><br>RESULTS: Over four field seasons, we collected 519 faecal samples of 41 animals and determined gut communities via 16S and 18S rRNA gene amplicon analyses. First, we examined whether group members share more similar gut microbiota and if diet, home range overlap, or habitat similarity drive between-group variation in gut communities, accounting for seasonality. Next, we examined within-group variation in gut microbiota by examining the potential effects of social contact rates, male rank, and maternal relatedness. To explore the host intrinsic effects on the gut community structure, we investigated age, sex, faecal glucocorticoid metabolites, and female reproductive state. We found that group members share more similar gut microbiota and differ in alpha diversity, while none of the environmental predictors explained the patterns of between-group variation. Maternal relatedness played an important role in within-group microbial homogeneity and may also explain why adult group members shared the least similar gut microbiota. Also, dominant males differed in their bacterial composition from their group mates, which might be driven by rank-related differences in physiology and scent-marking behaviours. Links to sex, female reproductive state, or faecal glucocorticoid metabolites were not detected.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Environmental factors define the general set-up of population-specific gut microbiota, but intrinsic and social factors have a stronger impact on gut microbiome variation in this primate species. Video abstract.}, }
@article {pmid35107606, year = {2022}, author = {Zupanc, GKH and Arikawa, K and Helfrich-Förster, C and Homberg, U and Narins, PM and Rössler, W and Simmons, AM and Warrant, EJ}, title = {It's all about seeing and hearing: the Editors' and Readers' Choice Awards 2022.}, journal = {Journal of comparative physiology. A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology}, volume = {208}, number = {3}, pages = {351-353}, pmid = {35107606}, issn = {1432-1351}, mesh = {Animals ; *Awards and Prizes ; Hearing ; Visual Perception ; }, abstract = {This year marks the inauguration of the annual Editors' Choice Award and the Readers' Choice Award, each presented for outstanding original papers and review articles published in the Journal of Comparative Physiology A. The winners of the 2022 Editors' Choice Award were determined by vote of the Editorial Board for the most highly recommended papers published in Volume 207 in 2021. They are 'Visual discrimination and resolution in freshwater stingrays (Potamotrygon motoro)' by Daniel et al. (J Comp Physiol A 207, 43-58, 2021) in the Original Paper category; and 'Neurophysiology goes wild: from exploring sensory coding in sound proof rooms to natural environments' by Römer (J Comp Physiol A 207, 303-319, 2021) in the Review Article category. The 2022 Readers' Choice Award was based on access number of articles published in Volume 206 in 2020, to ensure at least 12-month online presence. It is given to Nicholas et al. for their original paper titled 'Visual motion sensitivity in descending neurons in the hoverfly' (J Comp Physiol A 206, 149-163, 2020); and to Schnaitmann et al. for their review article entitled 'Color vision in insects: insights from Drosophila' (J Comp Physiol A 206, 183-198, 2020).}, }
@article {pmid35078368, year = {2022}, author = {Grob, R and Holland Cunz, O and Grübel, K and Pfeiffer, K and Rössler, W and Fleischmann, PN}, title = {Rotation of skylight polarization during learning walks is necessary to trigger neuronal plasticity in Cataglyphis ants.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {289}, number = {1967}, pages = {20212499}, pmid = {35078368}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants/physiology ; Cues ; Homing Behavior/physiology ; Learning/physiology ; Neuronal Plasticity/physiology ; Rotation ; }, abstract = {Many animals use celestial cues for impressive navigational performances in challenging habitats. Since the position of the sun and associated skylight cues change throughout the day and season, it is crucial to correct for these changes. Cataglyphis desert ants possess a time-compensated skylight compass allowing them to navigate back to their nest using the shortest way possible. The ants have to learn the sun's daily course (solar ephemeris) during initial learning walks (LW) before foraging. This learning phase is associated with substantial structural changes in visual neuronal circuits of the ant's brain. Here, we test whether the rotation of skylight polarization during LWs is the necessary cue to induce learning-dependent rewiring in synaptic circuits in high-order integration centres of the ant brain. Our results show that structural neuronal changes in the central complex and mushroom bodies are triggered only when LWs were performed under a rotating skylight polarization pattern. By contrast, when naive ants did not perform LWs, but were exposed to skylight cues, plasticity was restricted to light spectrum-dependent changes in synaptic complexes of the lateral complex. The results identify sky-compass cues triggering learning-dependent versus -independent neuronal plasticity during the behavioural transition from interior workers to outdoor foragers.}, }
@article {pmid38468891, year = {2021}, author = {Schuhmann, A and Schmid, AP and Manzer, S and Schulte, J and Scheiner, R}, title = {Interaction of Insecticides and Fungicides in Bees.}, journal = {Frontiers in insect science}, volume = {1}, number = {}, pages = {808335}, pmid = {38468891}, issn = {2673-8600}, abstract = {Honeybees and wild bees are among the most important pollinators of both wild and cultivated landscapes. In recent years, however, a significant decline in these pollinators has been recorded. This decrease can have many causes including the heavy use of biocidal plant protection products in agriculture. The most frequent residues in bee products originate from fungicides, while neonicotinoids and, to a lesser extent, pyrethroids are among the most popular insecticides detected in bee products. There is abundant evidence of toxic side effects on honeybees and wild bees produced by neonicotinoids, but only few studies have investigated side effects of fungicides, because they are generally regarded as not being harmful for bees. In the field, a variety of substances are taken up by bees including mixtures of insecticides and fungicides, and their combinations can be lethal for these pollinators, depending on the specific group of insecticide or fungicide. This review discusses the different combinations of major insecticide and fungicide classes and their effects on honeybees and wild bees. Fungicides inhibiting the sterol biosynthesis pathway can strongly increase the toxicity of neonicotinoids and pyrethroids. Other fungicides, in contrast, do not appear to enhance toxicity when combined with neonicotinoid or pyrethroid insecticides. But the knowledge on possible interactions of fungicides not inhibiting the sterol biosynthesis pathway and insecticides is poor, particularly in wild bees, emphasizing the need for further studies on possible effects of insecticide-fungicide interactions in bees.}, }
@article {pmid35055848, year = {2021}, author = {Schilcher, F and Hilsmann, L and Rauscher, L and Değirmenci, L and Krischke, M and Krischke, B and Ankenbrand, M and Rutschmann, B and Mueller, MJ and Steffan-Dewenter, I and Scheiner, R}, title = {In Vitro Rearing Changes Social Task Performance and Physiology in Honeybees.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {35055848}, issn = {2075-4450}, support = {SCHE 1573/9-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; HA 5324/2-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; }, abstract = {In vitro rearing of honeybee larvae is an established method that enables exact control and monitoring of developmental factors and allows controlled application of pesticides or pathogens. However, only a few studies have investigated how the rearing method itself affects the behavior of the resulting adult honeybees. We raised honeybees in vitro according to a standardized protocol: marking the emerging honeybees individually and inserting them into established colonies. Subsequently, we investigated the behavioral performance of nurse bees and foragers and quantified the physiological factors underlying the social organization. Adult honeybees raised in vitro differed from naturally reared honeybees in their probability of performing social tasks. Further, in vitro-reared bees foraged for a shorter duration in their life and performed fewer foraging trips. Nursing behavior appeared to be unaffected by rearing condition. Weight was also unaffected by rearing condition. Interestingly, juvenile hormone titers, which normally increase strongly around the time when a honeybee becomes a forager, were significantly lower in three- and four-week-old in vitro bees. The effects of the rearing environment on individual sucrose responsiveness and lipid levels were rather minor. These data suggest that larval rearing conditions can affect the task performance and physiology of adult bees despite equal weight, pointing to an important role of the colony environment for these factors. Our observations of behavior and metabolic pathways offer important novel insight into how the rearing environment affects adult honeybees.}, }
@article {pmid37938637, year = {2022}, author = {Murillo, T and Schneider, D and Fichtel, C and Daniel, R}, title = {Dietary shifts and social interactions drive temporal fluctuations of the gut microbiome from wild redfronted lemurs.}, journal = {ISME communications}, volume = {2}, number = {1}, pages = {3}, pmid = {37938637}, issn = {2730-6151}, support = {DA 374/13-2//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; Da 374/13-2//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; Fi 929/7-2//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; Fi 929/7-2//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; }, abstract = {Animals living in highly seasonal environments adapt their diets accordingly to changes in food availability. The gut microbiome as an active participant in the metabolization of the host's diet should adapt and change with temporal diet fluctuations, but dietary shifts can be short-term and, hence, difficult to detect in cross-sectional studies. Therefore, we performed a longitudinal study combining repeated sampling of fecal samples with observations of feeding behavior in wild redfronted lemurs. We amplified taxonomical marker genes for assessing the bacteria, archaea, protozoa, helminths, and fungi, as well as the active bacterial community inhabiting their gut. We found that the most abundant protozoans were Trichostomatia and Trichomonadida, and the most abundant helminths were Chromadorea. We detected known members of the gut mycobiome from humans but in low abundances. The archaeal community is composed only of members of Methanomethylophilaceae. The predominant phyla in the entire bacterial community were Bacteroidota and Firmicutes while the most abundant genera harbor so far unknown bacteria. Temporal fluctuations at the entire community level were driven by consumption of fruits and flowers, and affiliative interactions. Changes in alpha diversity correlated only with the consumption of flowers and leaves. The composition of the entire and active bacterial community was not significantly different, but the most abundant taxa differed. Our study revealed that monthly changes in the bacterial community composition were linked to fruit and flower consumption and affiliative interactions. Thus, portraying the importance of longitudinal studies for understanding the adaptations and alterations of the gut microbiome to temporal fluctuations.}, }
@article {pmid34940175, year = {2021}, author = {Iacob, GM and Craioveanu, C and Hula, V and Aurelian, VM and Beldean, M and Sitar, C}, title = {Improving the Knowledge on Distribution, Food Preferences and DNA Barcoding of Natura 2000 Protected Species Paracossulus thrips (Lepidoptera, Cossidae) in Romania.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {12}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {34940175}, issn = {2075-4450}, support = {PN-III-P4-ID-PCCF-2016-0016//Ministerul Cercet&#x103;rii &#x219;i Inov&#x103;rii/ ; Special research scholarship//Babe&#x219;-Bolyai University/ ; Scholarship Grant//Milvus Group Association/ ; }, abstract = {Paracossulus thrips (Lepidoptera, Cossidae) is one of the locally distributed and endangered species. In Europe, it is also one of the few protected moth species, through Annexes II and IV of the Council Directive 92/43/EEC, Annex II of the Bern Convention. To date, little is known about the biology and ecology of this species. Our study was conducted in Transylvania, Romania. Romania hosts some of the strongest populations of the species in the European region. As part of the study, we conducted field observations, vegetation analyses, and genetic analyses. In our paper, we show the habitat types where we encounter P. thrips in Transylvania and confirm Phlomis tuberosa as a host plant. Furthermore, a piece of important information for habitat conservation is given. In this paper, we present the eggs and larvae of P. thrips, the first DNA barcoding sequences, and four new populations of P. thrips in Romania. Our study provides baseline knowledge about the biology and ecology of P. thrips, which is important for conservation and establishing management measures.}, }
@article {pmid37170312, year = {2021}, author = {Walter, T and Degen, J and Pfeiffer, K and Stöckl, A and Montenegro, S and Degen, T}, title = {A new innovative real-time tracking method for flying insects applicable under natural conditions.}, journal = {BMC zoology}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {35}, pmid = {37170312}, issn = {2056-3132}, support = {95848//Volkswagen Foundation/ ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Sixty percent of all species are insects, yet despite global efforts to monitor animal movement patterns, insects are continuously underrepresented. This striking difference between species richness and the number of species monitored is not due to a lack of interest but rather to the lack of technical solutions. Often the accuracy and speed of established tracking methods is not high enough to record behavior and react to it experimentally in real-time, which applies in particular to small flying animals.<br><br>RESULTS: Our new method of real-time tracking relates to frequencies of solar radiation which are almost completely absorbed by traveling through the atmosphere. For tracking, photoluminescent tags with a peak emission (1400 nm), which lays in such a region of strong absorption through the atmosphere, were attached to the animals. The photoluminescent properties of passivated lead sulphide quantum dots were responsible for the emission of light by the tags and provide a superb signal-to noise ratio. We developed prototype markers with a weight of 12.5 mg and a diameter of 5 mm. Furthermore, we developed a short wave infrared detection system which can record and determine the position of an animal in a heterogeneous environment with a delay smaller than 10 ms. With this method we were able to track tagged bumblebees as well as hawk moths in a flight arena that was placed outside on a natural meadow.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Our new method eliminates the necessity of a constant or predictable environment for many experimental setups. Furthermore, we postulate that the developed matrix-detector mounted to a multicopter will enable tracking of small flying insects, over medium range distances (>1000 m) in the near future because: a) the matrix-detector equipped with an 70 mm interchangeable lens weighs less than 380 g, b) it evaluates the position of an animal in real-time and c) it can directly control and communicate with electronic devices.}, }
@article {pmid34893928, year = {2022}, author = {Grittner, R and Baird, E and Stöckl, A}, title = {Spatial tuning of translational optic flow responses in hawkmoths of varying body size.}, journal = {Journal of comparative physiology. A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology}, volume = {208}, number = {2}, pages = {279-296}, pmid = {34893928}, issn = {1432-1351}, support = {STO 1255 2-1//deutsche forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Body Size ; Cues ; Flight, Animal/physiology ; Humans ; *Moths ; *Optic Flow ; }, abstract = {To safely navigate their environment, flying insects rely on visual cues, such as optic flow. Which cues insects can extract from their environment depends closely on the spatial and temporal response properties of their visual system. These in turn can vary between individuals that differ in body size. How optic flow-based flight control depends on the spatial structure of visual cues, and how this relationship scales with body size, has previously been investigated in insects with apposition compound eyes. Here, we characterised the visual flight control response limits and their relationship to body size in an insect with superposition compound eyes: the hummingbird hawkmoth Macroglossum stellatarum. We used the hawkmoths' centring response in a flight tunnel as a readout for their reception of translational optic flow stimuli of different spatial frequencies. We show that their responses cut off at different spatial frequencies when translational optic flow was presented on either one, or both tunnel walls. Combined with differences in flight speed, this suggests that their flight control was primarily limited by their temporal rather than spatial resolution. We also observed strong individual differences in flight performance, but no correlation between the spatial response cutoffs and body or eye size.}, }
@article {pmid34852215, year = {2022}, author = {Pisokas, I and Rössler, W and Webb, B and Zeil, J and Narendra, A}, title = {Anesthesia disrupts distance, but not direction, of path integration memory.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {32}, number = {2}, pages = {445-452.e4}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2021.11.039}, pmid = {34852215}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {*Anesthesia ; Animals ; *Ants ; Coma ; Cues ; Desert Climate ; Homing Behavior ; }, abstract = {Solitary foraging insects, such as ants, maintain an estimate of the direction and distance to their starting location as they move away from it, in a process known as path integration. This estimate, commonly known as the "home vector," is updated continuously as the ant moves[1-4] and is reset as soon as it enters its nest,[5] yet ants prevented from returning to their nest can still use their home vector when released several hours later.[6][,][7] This conjunction of fast update and long persistence of the home vector memory does not directly map to existing accounts of short-, mid-, and long-term memory;[2][,][8-12] hence, the substrate of this memory remains unknown. Chill-coma anesthesia[13-15] has previously been shown to affect associative memory retention in fruit flies[14][,][16] and honeybees.[9][,][17][,][18] We investigate the nature of path integration memory by anesthetizing ants after they have accumulated home vector information and testing if the memory persists on recovery. We show that after anesthesia the memory of the distance ants have traveled is degraded, but the memory of the direction is retained. We also show that this is consistent with models of path integration that maintain the memory in a redundant Cartesian coordinate system and with the hypothesis that chill-coma produces a proportional reduction of the memory, rather than a subtractive reduction or increase of noise. The observed effect is not compatible with a memory based on recurrent circuit activity and points toward an activity-dependent molecular process as the basis of path integration memory.}, }
@article {pmid34849241, year = {2021}, author = {Bollazzi, M and Römer, D and Roces, F}, title = {Carbon dioxide levels and ventilation in Acromyrmex nests: significance and evolution of architectural innovations in leaf-cutting ants.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {8}, number = {11}, pages = {210907}, pmid = {34849241}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Leaf-cutting ant colonies largely differ in size, yet all consume O2 and produce CO2 in large amounts because of their underground fungus gardens. We have shown that in the Acromyrmex genus, three basic nest morphologies occur, and investigated the effects of architectural innovations on nest ventilation. We recognized (i) serial nests, similar to the ancestral type of the sister genus Trachymyrmex, with chambers excavated along a vertical tunnel connecting to the outside via a single opening, (ii) shallow nests, with one/few chambers extending shallowly with multiple connections to the outside, and (iii) thatched nests, with an above-ground fungus garden covered with plant material. Ventilation in shallow and thatched nests, but not in serial nests, occurred via wind-induced flows and thermal convection. CO2 concentrations were below the values known to affect the respiration of the symbiotic fungus, indicating that shallow and thatched nests are not constrained by harmful CO2 levels. Serial nests may be constrained depending on the soil CO2 levels. We suggest that in Acromyrmex, selective pressures acting on temperature and humidity control led to nesting habits closer to or above the soil surface and to the evolution of architectural innovations that improved gas exchanges.}, }
@article {pmid34814746, year = {2021}, author = {Henke-von der Malsburg, J and Kappeler, PM and Fichtel, C}, title = {Linking cognition to ecology in wild sympatric mouse lemur species.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {288}, number = {1963}, pages = {20211728}, pmid = {34814746}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; *Cheirogaleidae ; Cognition ; Diet ; Ecosystem ; *Lemur ; Spatial Learning ; }, abstract = {Cognitive abilities covary with both social and ecological factors across animal taxa. Ecological generalists have been attributed with enhanced cognitive abilities, but which specific ecological factors may have shaped the evolution of which specific cognitive abilities remains poorly known. To explore these links, we applied a cognitive test battery (two personality, ten cognitive tests; n = 1104 tests) to wild individuals of two sympatric mouse lemur species (n = 120 Microcebus murinus, n = 34 M. berthae) varying in ecological adaptations but sharing key features of their social systems. The habitat and dietary generalist grey mouse lemurs were more innovative and exhibited better spatial learning abilities; a cognitive advantage in responding adaptively to dynamic environmental conditions. The more specialized Madame Berthe's mouse lemurs were faster in learning associative reward contingencies, providing relative advantages in stable environmental conditions. Hence, our study revealed key cognitive correlates of ecological adaptations and indicates potential cognitive constraints of specialists that may help explain why they face a greater extinction risk in the context of current environmental changes.}, }
@article {pmid34812987, year = {2022}, author = {Eckert, J and Bohn, M and Spaethe, J}, title = {Does quantity matter to a stingless bee?.}, journal = {Animal cognition}, volume = {25}, number = {3}, pages = {617-629}, pmid = {34812987}, issn = {1435-9456}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees ; *Cognition ; *Flowers ; }, abstract = {Quantitative information is omnipresent in the world and a wide range of species has been shown to use quantities to optimize their decisions. While most studies have focused on vertebrates, a growing body of research demonstrates that also insects such as honeybees possess basic quantitative abilities that might aid them in finding profitable flower patches. However, it remains unclear if for insects, quantity is a salient feature relative to other stimulus dimensions, or if it is only used as a "last resort" strategy in case other stimulus dimensions are inconclusive. Here, we tested the stingless bee Trigona fuscipennis, a species representative of a vastly understudied group of tropical pollinators, in a quantity discrimination task. In four experiments, we trained wild, free-flying bees on stimuli that depicted either one or four elements. Subsequently, bees were confronted with a choice between stimuli that matched the training stimulus either in terms of quantity or another stimulus dimension. We found that bees were able to discriminate between the two quantities, but performance differed depending on which quantity was rewarded. Furthermore, quantity was more salient than was shape. However, quantity did not measurably influence the bees' decisions when contrasted with color or surface area. Our results demonstrate that just as honeybees, small-brained stingless bees also possess basic quantitative abilities. Moreover, invertebrate pollinators seem to utilize quantity not only as "last resort" but as a salient stimulus dimension. Our study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on quantitative cognition in invertebrate species and adds to our understanding of the evolution of numerical cognition.}, }
@article {pmid37938661, year = {2021}, author = {Shimoji, H and Itoh, H and Matsuura, Y and Yamashita, R and Hori, T and Hojo, MK and Kikuchi, Y}, title = {Worker-dependent gut symbiosis in an ant.}, journal = {ISME communications}, volume = {1}, number = {1}, pages = {60}, pmid = {37938661}, issn = {2730-6151}, support = {18K14798//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; 15H02652//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; 18&#x2009;K19217//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; }, abstract = {The hallmark of eusocial insects, honeybees, ants, and termites, is division of labor between reproductive and non-reproductive worker castes. In addition, environmental adaption and ecological dominance are also underpinned by symbiotic associations with beneficial microorganisms. Microbial symbionts are generally considered to be maintained in an insect colony in two alternative ways: shared among all colony members or inherited only by a specific caste. Especially in ants, the reproductive caste plays a crucial role in transmission of the symbionts shared among colony members over generations. Here, we report an exceptional case, the worker-dependent microbiota in an ant, Diacamma cf. indicum from Japan. By collecting almost all the individuals from 22 colonies in the field, we revealed that microbiota of workers is characterized by a single dominant bacterium localized at the hindgut. The bacterium belonging to an unclassified member within the phylum Firmicutes, which is scarce or mostly absent in the reproductive castes. Furthermore, we show that the gut symbiont is acquired at the adult stage. Collectively, our findings strongly suggest that the specific symbiont is maintained by only workers, demonstrating a novel pattern of ant-associated bacterial symbiosis, and thus further our understanding of host-microbe interactions in the light of sociobiology.}, }
@article {pmid34677637, year = {2022}, author = {Fleischmann, PN and Grob, R and Rössler, W}, title = {Magnetosensation during re-learning walks in desert ants (Cataglyphis nodus).}, journal = {Journal of comparative physiology. A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology}, volume = {208}, number = {1}, pages = {125-133}, pmid = {34677637}, issn = {1432-1351}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants/physiology ; Cues ; Desert Climate ; Homing Behavior/physiology ; Learning/physiology ; Walking ; }, abstract = {At the beginning of their foraging careers, Cataglyphis desert ants calibrate their compass systems and learn the visual panorama surrounding the nest entrance. For that, they perform well-structured initial learning walks. During rotational body movements (pirouettes), naïve ants (novices) gaze back to the nest entrance to memorize their way back to the nest. To align their gaze directions, they rely on the geomagnetic field as a compass cue. In contrast, experienced ants (foragers) use celestial compass cues for path integration during food search. If the panorama at the nest entrance is changed, foragers perform re-learning walks prior to heading out on new foraging excursions. Here, we show that initial learning walks and re-learning walks are structurally different. During re-learning walks, foragers circle around the nest entrance before leaving the nest area to search for food. During pirouettes, they do not gaze back to the nest entrance. In addition, foragers do not use the magnetic field as a compass cue to align their gaze directions during re-learning walk pirouettes. Nevertheless, magnetic alterations during re-learning walks under manipulated panoramic conditions induce changes in nest-directed views indicating that foragers are still magnetosensitive in a cue conflict situation.}, }
@article {pmid34584146, year = {2021}, author = {Madeo, D and Salvatore, S and Mannarini, T and Mocenni, C}, title = {Modeling pluralism and self-regulation explains the emergence of cooperation in networked societies.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {19226}, pmid = {34584146}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Cooperative Behavior ; *Cultural Diversity ; Game Theory ; Humans ; *Models, Psychological ; *Social Networking ; Sociobiology/methods ; }, abstract = {Understanding the dynamics of cooperative behavior of individuals in complex societies represents a fundamental research question which puzzles scientists working in heterogeneous fields. Many studies have been developed using the unitary agent assumption, which embeds the idea that when making decisions, individuals share the same socio-cultural parameters. In this paper, we propose the ECHO-EGN model, based on Evolutionary Game Theory, which relaxes this strong assumption by considering the heterogeneity of three fundamental socio-cultural aspects ruling the behavior of groups of people: the propensity to be more cooperative with members of the same group (Endogamic cooperation), the propensity to cooperate with the public domain (Civicness) and the propensity to prefer connections with members of the same group (Homophily). The ECHO-EGN model is shown to have high performance in describing real world behavior of interacting individuals living in complex environments. Extensive numerical experiments allowing the comparison of real data and model simulations confirmed that the introduction of the above mechanisms enhances the realism in the modelling of cooperation dynamics. Additionally, theoretical findings allow us to conclude that endogamic cooperation may limit significantly the emergence of cooperation.}, }
@article {pmid34572588, year = {2021}, author = {Schilcher, F and Thamm, M and Strube-Bloss, M and Scheiner, R}, title = {Opposing Actions of Octopamine and Tyramine on Honeybee Vision.}, journal = {Biomolecules}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {34572588}, issn = {2218-273X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/drug effects/*physiology ; Electroretinography ; Feeding Behavior/drug effects ; Octopamine/*pharmacology ; Phototaxis/drug effects ; Statistics as Topic ; Tyramine/*pharmacology ; Vision, Ocular/drug effects/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The biogenic amines octopamine and tyramine are important neurotransmitters in insects and other protostomes. They play a pivotal role in the sensory responses, learning and memory and social organisation of honeybees. Generally, octopamine and tyramine are believed to fulfil similar roles as their deuterostome counterparts epinephrine and norepinephrine. In some cases opposing functions of both amines have been observed. In this study, we examined the functions of tyramine and octopamine in honeybee responses to light. As a first step, electroretinography was used to analyse the effect of both amines on sensory sensitivity at the photoreceptor level. Here, the maximum receptor response was increased by octopamine and decreased by tyramine. As a second step, phototaxis experiments were performed to quantify the behavioural responses to light following treatment with either amine. Octopamine increased the walking speed towards different light sources while tyramine decreased it. This was independent of locomotor activity. Our results indicate that tyramine and octopamine act as functional opposites in processing responses to light.}, }
@article {pmid34564208, year = {2021}, author = {Scheiner, R and Lim, K and Meixner, MD and Gabel, MS}, title = {Comparing the Appetitive Learning Performance of Six European Honeybee Subspecies in a Common Apiary.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {34564208}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {The Western honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) is one of the most widespread insects with numerous subspecies in its native range. How far adaptation to local habitats has affected the cognitive skills of the different subspecies is an intriguing question that we investigate in this study. Naturally mated queens of the following five subspecies from different parts of Europe were transferred to Southern Germany: A. m. iberiensis from Portugal, A. m. mellifera from Belgium, A. m. macedonica from Greece, A. m. ligustica from Italy, and A. m. ruttneri from Malta. We also included the local subspecies A. m. carnica in our study. New colonies were built up in a common apiary where the respective queens were introduced. Worker offspring from the different subspecies were compared in classical olfactory learning performance using the proboscis extension response. Prior to conditioning, we measured individual sucrose responsiveness to investigate whether possible differences in learning performances were due to differential responsiveness to the sugar water reward. Most subspecies did not differ in their appetitive learning performance. However, foragers of the Iberian honeybee, A. m. iberiensis, performed significantly more poorly, despite having a similar sucrose responsiveness. We discuss possible causes for the poor performance of the Iberian honeybees, which may have been shaped by adaptation to the local habitat.}, }
@article {pmid34493090, year = {2021}, author = {Püffel, F and Pouget, A and Liu, X and Zuber, M and van de Kamp, T and Roces, F and Labonte, D}, title = {Morphological determinants of bite force capacity in insects: a biomechanical analysis of polymorphic leaf-cutter ants.}, journal = {Journal of the Royal Society, Interface}, volume = {18}, number = {182}, pages = {20210424}, pmid = {34493090}, issn = {1742-5662}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; *Ants ; Bite Force ; Humans ; Mandible ; Plant Leaves ; }, abstract = {The extraordinary success of social insects is partially based on division of labour, i.e. individuals exclusively or preferentially perform specific tasks. Task preference may correlate with morphological adaptations so implying task specialization, but the extent of such specialization can be difficult to determine. Here, we demonstrate how the physical foundation of some tasks can be leveraged to quantitatively link morphology and performance. We study the allometry of bite force capacity in Atta vollenweideri leaf-cutter ants, polymorphic insects in which the mechanical processing of plant material is a key aspect of the behavioural portfolio. Through a morphometric analysis of tomographic scans, we show that the bite force capacity of the heaviest colony workers is twice as large as predicted by isometry. This disproportionate 'boost' is predominantly achieved through increased investment in muscle volume; geometrical parameters such as mechanical advantage, fibre length or pennation angle are likely constrained by the need to maintain a constant mandibular opening range. We analyse this preference for an increase in size-specific muscle volume and the adaptations in internal and external head anatomy required to accommodate it with simple geometric and physical models, so providing a quantitative understanding of the functional anatomy of the musculoskeletal bite apparatus in insects.}, }
@article {pmid34448120, year = {2022}, author = {Scherz, P}, title = {Life as an Intelligence Test: Intelligence, Education, and Behavioral Genetics.}, journal = {Culture, medicine and psychiatry}, volume = {46}, number = {1}, pages = {59-75}, doi = {10.1007/s11013-021-09747-0}, pmid = {34448120}, issn = {1573-076X}, mesh = {*Eugenics ; Genetic Research ; *Genetics, Behavioral ; Humans ; Intelligence/genetics ; Intelligence Tests ; }, abstract = {Using the large datasets available with new gene sequencing and biobank projects, behavioral geneticists are developing tools that attempt to predict individual intelligence based on genetics. These predictive tools are meant to enable a 'precision education' that will transform society. These technological developments have not changed the fundamental aims of a program with a long history. Behavioral genetics is continuous with previous attempts to match personal characteristics to heredity, such as sociobiology and evolutionary psychology, and threatens racial and other forms of bias. From these older paradigms, it inherits an understanding of intelligence as informational processing shaped by mechanistic and computational metaphors as well as a view of society and education organized around competition. Because of these influences, these models misdescribe fundamental aspects of human engagement with the world and disregard other concepts of intelligence, which creates problems for the precision education that researchers hope to construct using genetic knowledge.}, }
@article {pmid34427185, year = {2021}, author = {Heinze, S and El Jundi, B and Berg, BG and Homberg, U and Menzel, R and Pfeiffer, K and Hensgen, R and Zittrell, F and Dacke, M and Warrant, E and Pfuhl, G and Rybak, J and Tedore, K}, title = {A unified platform to manage, share, and archive morphological and functional data in insect neuroscience.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {34427185}, issn = {2050-084X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biomedical Research ; Brain/anatomy &amp; histology/*physiology ; Computer Graphics ; Data Mining ; *Databases, Factual ; *Information Management ; *Information Storage and Retrieval ; Insecta/anatomy &amp; histology/*physiology ; Internet ; *Nervous System Physiological Phenomena ; *Neurosciences ; User-Computer Interface ; }, abstract = {Insect neuroscience generates vast amounts of highly diverse data, of which only a small fraction are findable, accessible and reusable. To promote an open data culture, we have therefore developed the InsectBrainDatabase (IBdb), a free online platform for insect neuroanatomical and functional data. The IBdb facilitates biological insight by enabling effective cross-species comparisons, by linking neural structure with function, and by serving as general information hub for insect neuroscience. The IBdb allows users to not only effectively locate and visualize data, but to make them widely available for easy, automated reuse via an application programming interface. A unique private mode of the database expands the IBdb functionality beyond public data deposition, additionally providing the means for managing, visualizing, and sharing of unpublished data. This dual function creates an incentive for data contribution early in data management workflows and eliminates the additional effort normally associated with publicly depositing research data.}, }
@article {pmid34350023, year = {2021}, author = {Kavanagh, E and Street, SE and Angwela, FO and Bergman, TJ and Blaszczyk, MB and Bolt, LM and Briseño-Jaramillo, M and Brown, M and Chen-Kraus, C and Clay, Z and Coye, C and Thompson, ME and Estrada, A and Fichtel, C and Fruth, B and Gamba, M and Giacoma, C and Graham, KE and Green, S and Grueter, CC and Gupta, S and Gustison, ML and Hagberg, L and Hedwig, D and Jack, KM and Kappeler, PM and King-Bailey, G and Kuběnová, B and Lemasson, A and Inglis, DM and Machanda, Z and MacIntosh, A and Majolo, B and Marshall, S and Mercier, S and Micheletta, J and Muller, M and Notman, H and Ouattara, K and Ostner, J and Pavelka, MSM and Peckre, LR and Petersdorf, M and Quintero, F and Ramos-Fernández, G and Robbins, MM and Salmi, R and Schamberg, I and Schülke, O and Semple, S and Silk, JB and Sosa-Lopéz, JR and Torti, V and Valente, D and Ventura, R and van de Waal, E and Weyher, AH and Wilke, C and Wrangham, R and Young, C and Zanoli, A and Zuberbühler, K and Lameira, AR and Slocombe, K}, title = {Dominance style is a key predictor of vocal use and evolution across nonhuman primates.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {8}, number = {7}, pages = {210873}, pmid = {34350023}, issn = {2054-5703}, support = {R37 AG049395/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Animal communication has long been thought to be subject to pressures and constraints associated with social relationships. However, our understanding of how the nature and quality of social relationships relates to the use and evolution of communication is limited by a lack of directly comparable methods across multiple levels of analysis. Here, we analysed observational data from 111 wild groups belonging to 26 non-human primate species, to test how vocal communication relates to dominance style (the strictness with which a dominance hierarchy is enforced, ranging from 'despotic' to 'tolerant'). At the individual-level, we found that dominant individuals who were more tolerant vocalized at a higher rate than their despotic counterparts. This indicates that tolerance within a relationship may place pressure on the dominant partner to communicate more during social interactions. At the species-level, however, despotic species exhibited a larger repertoire of hierarchy-related vocalizations than their tolerant counterparts. Findings suggest primate signals are used and evolve in tandem with the nature of interactions that characterize individuals' social relationships.}, }
@article {pmid34341410, year = {2021}, author = {Guignard, Q and Spaethe, J and Slippers, B and Strube-Bloss, M and Allison, JD}, title = {Evidence for UV-green dichromacy in the basal hymenopteran Sirex noctilio (Siricidae).}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {15601}, pmid = {34341410}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Compound Eye, Arthropod/physiology ; Electroretinography ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Hymenoptera/genetics/*physiology ; Likelihood Functions ; Phylogeny ; *Ultraviolet Rays ; }, abstract = {A precondition for colour vision is the presence of at least two spectral types of photoreceptors in the eye. The order Hymenoptera is traditionally divided into the Apocrita (ants, bees, wasps) and the Symphyta (sawflies, woodwasps, horntails). Most apocritan species possess three different photoreceptor types. In contrast, physiological studies in the Symphyta have reported one to four photoreceptor types. To better understand the evolution of photoreceptor diversity in the Hymenoptera, we studied the Symphyta Sirex noctilio, which belongs to the superfamily Siricoidea, a closely related group of the Apocrita suborder. Our aim was to (i) identify the photoreceptor types of the compound eye by electroretinography (ERG), (ii) characterise the visual opsin genes of S. noctilio by genomic comparisons and phylogenetic analyses and (iii) analyse opsin mRNA expression. ERG measurements revealed two photoreceptor types in the compound eye, maximally sensitive to 527 and 364 nm. In addition, we identified three opsins in the genome, homologous to the hymenopteran green or long-wavelength sensitive (LW) LW1, LW2 and ultra-violet sensitive (UV) opsin genes. The LW1 and UV opsins were found to be expressed in the compound eyes, and LW2 and UV opsins in the ocelli. The lack of a blue or short-wavelength sensitive (SW) homologous opsin gene and a corresponding receptor suggests that S. noctilio is a UV-green dichromate.}, }
@article {pmid34313343, year = {2021}, author = {Grob, R and Heinig, N and Grübel, K and Rössler, W and Fleischmann, PN}, title = {Sex-specific and caste-specific brain adaptations related to spatial orientation in Cataglyphis ants.}, journal = {The Journal of comparative neurology}, volume = {529}, number = {18}, pages = {3882-3892}, doi = {10.1002/cne.25221}, pmid = {34313343}, issn = {1096-9861}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; *Ants ; Brain/*physiology ; Female ; Learning ; Male ; Mushroom Bodies/*physiology ; Olfactory Bulb ; Optic Lobe, Nonmammalian ; *Orientation, Spatial ; Sex Factors ; Visual Pathways ; *Visual Perception ; }, abstract = {Cataglyphis desert ants are charismatic central place foragers. After long-ranging foraging trips, individual workers navigate back to their nest relying mostly on visual cues. The reproductive caste faces other orientation challenges, i.e. mate finding and colony foundation. Here we compare brain structures involved in spatial orientation of Cataglyphis nodus males, gynes, and foragers by quantifying relative neuropil volumes associated with two visual pathways, and numbers and volumes of antennal lobe (AL) olfactory glomeruli. Furthermore, we determined absolute numbers of synaptic complexes in visual and olfactory regions of the mushroom bodies (MB) and a major relay station of the sky-compass pathway to the central complex (CX). Both female castes possess enlarged brain centers for sensory integration, learning, and memory, reflected in voluminous MBs containing about twice the numbers of synaptic complexes compared with males. Overall, male brains are smaller compared with both female castes, but the relative volumes of the optic lobes and CX are enlarged indicating the importance of visual guidance during innate behaviors. Male ALs contain greatly enlarged glomeruli, presumably involved in sex-pheromone detection. Adaptations at both the neuropil and synaptic levels clearly reflect differences in sex-specific and caste-specific demands for sensory processing and behavioral plasticity underlying spatial orientation.}, }
@article {pmid34265763, year = {2021}, author = {Thamm, M and Wagler, K and Brockmann, A and Scheiner, R}, title = {Tyramine 1 Receptor Distribution in the Brain of Corbiculate Bees Points to a Conserved Function.}, journal = {Brain, behavior and evolution}, volume = {96}, number = {1}, pages = {13-25}, doi = {10.1159/000517014}, pmid = {34265763}, issn = {1421-9743}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees ; Brain/metabolism ; Mushroom Bodies ; *Receptors, Biogenic Amine/metabolism ; Tyramine ; }, abstract = {Sucrose represents an important carbohydrate source for most bee species. In the Western honeybee (Apis mellifera) it was shown that individual sucrose responsiveness correlates with the task performed in the colony, supporting the response threshold theory which states that individuals with the lowest threshold for a task-associated stimuli will perform the associated task. Tyramine was shown to modulate sucrose responsiveness, most likely via the tyramine 1 receptor. This receptor is located in brain areas important for the processing of gustatory stimuli. We asked whether the spatial expression pattern of the tyramine 1 receptor is a unique adaptation of honeybees or if its expression represents a conserved trait. Using a specific tyramine receptor 1 antibody, we compared the spatial expression of this receptor in the brain of different corbiculate bee species, including eusocial honeybees, bumblebees, stingless bees, and the solitary bee Osmia bicornis as an outgroup. We found a similar labeling pattern in the mushroom bodies, the central complex, the dorsal lobe, and the gnathal ganglia, indicating a conserved receptor expression. With respect to sucrose responsiveness this result is of special importance. We assume that the tyramine 1 receptor expression in these neuropiles provides the basis for modulation of sucrose responsiveness. Furthermore, the tyramine 1 receptor expression seems to be independent of size, as labeling is similar in bee species that differ greatly in their body size. However, the situation in the optic lobes appears to be different. Here, the lobula of stingless bees is clearly labeled by the tyramine receptor 1 antibody, whereas this labeling is absent in other species. This indicates that the regulation of this receptor is different in the optic lobes, while its function in this neuropile remains unclear.}, }
@article {pmid34204450, year = {2021}, author = {Uiuiu, P and Lațiu, C and Păpuc, T and Craioveanu, C and Ihuț, A and Sava, A and Răducu, C and Șonea, C and Constantinescu, R and Cocan, D and Mireșan, V}, title = {Multi-Approach Assessment for Stress Evaluation in Rainbow Trout Females, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum, 1792) from Three Different Farms during the Summer Season.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {34204450}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {Blood biochemistry parameters are valuable tools for monitoring fish health. Their baseline values are still undefined for a multitude of farmed fish species. In this study, changes in the blood profile of rainbow trout females (Oncorhynchus mykiss) from three farms were investigated using different biomarkers during the summer season. In the given context, the main water physicochemical parameters were investigated and twelve biochemical parameters were measured from blood samples of rainbow trout reared in the Fiad, Șoimul de Jos, and Strâmba farms. We selected these farms because the genetic background of the rainbow trout is the same, with all studied specimens coming from the Fiad farm, which has an incubation station. Forty-five samples were collected monthly (May to August) throughout summer to observe the changes in the blood profile of rainbow trout. Principal component analysis showed a clear separation both among the studied farms and months. Furthermore, significant correlations (p < 0.05) between the majority of the biochemical parameters were found, indicating that the environmental parameters can influence several blood parameters at the same time. The present study provides several useful norms for assessing the welfare of rainbow trout, indicating that the relationships among different parameters are important factors in interpreting the blood biochemical profiles.}, }
@article {pmid34181089, year = {2021}, author = {Rother, L and Kraft, N and Smith, DB and El Jundi, B and Gill, RJ and Pfeiffer, K}, title = {A micro-CT-based standard brain atlas of the bumblebee.}, journal = {Cell and tissue research}, volume = {386}, number = {1}, pages = {29-45}, pmid = {34181089}, issn = {1432-0878}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees ; Brain/*diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*methods ; }, abstract = {In recent years, bumblebees have become a prominent insect model organism for a variety of biological disciplines, particularly to investigate learning behaviors as well as visual performance. Understanding these behaviors and their underlying neurobiological principles requires a clear understanding of brain anatomy. Furthermore, to be able to compare neuronal branching patterns across individuals, a common framework is required, which has led to the development of 3D standard brain atlases in most of the neurobiological insect model species. Yet, no bumblebee 3D standard brain atlas has been generated. Here we present a brain atlas for the buff-tailed bumblebee Bombus terrestris using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scans as a source for the raw data sets, rather than traditional confocal microscopy, to produce the first ever micro-CT-based insect brain atlas. We illustrate the advantages of the micro-CT technique, namely, identical native resolution in the three cardinal planes and 3D structure being better preserved. Our Bombus terrestris brain atlas consists of 30 neuropils reconstructed from ten individual worker bees, with micro-CT allowing us to segment neuropils completely intact, including the lamina, which is a tissue structure often damaged when dissecting for immunolabeling. Our brain atlas can serve as a platform to facilitate future neuroscience studies in bumblebees and illustrates the advantages of micro-CT for specific applications in insect neuroanatomy.}, }
@article {pmid34169505, year = {2021}, author = {Philippon, J and Serrano-Martínez, E and Poirotte, C}, title = {Environmental and individual determinants of fecal avoidance in semi-free ranging woolly monkeys (Lagothrix lagotricha poeppigii).}, journal = {American journal of physical anthropology}, volume = {176}, number = {4}, pages = {614-624}, doi = {10.1002/ajpa.24352}, pmid = {34169505}, issn = {1096-8644}, mesh = {Animals ; *Atelinae ; Feces ; Female ; Seasons ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Parasite selection pressures have driven the evolution of numerous behavioral defenses in host species, but recent studies revealed individual variation in their expression. As little is known about the factors causing heterogeneity among individuals in infection-avoidance behaviors, we investigated in woolly monkeys (Lagothrix lagotricha poeppigii) the influence of several environmental and individual characteristics on the tendency to avoid food contaminated by soil and by their own and conspecifics' feces.<br><br>MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted feeding tests on 40 semi-free ranging individuals rescued from the pet trade. Using generalized linear mixed models, we investigated the effect of season, sex, age, dominance rank, and exposure to non-natural living conditions on feeding decisions.<br><br>RESULTS: Woolly monkeys did not avoid soil-contaminated food and equally avoided food contaminated by their own and conspecifics' feces. Individuals varied greatly in their level of fecal avoidance. Only females exhibited strong avoidance of fecally contaminated food, but adapted their behavior to food availability, highlighting the trade-off between nutritional intake and parasite avoidance. Additionally, low-ranking females, less competitive over food resources, exhibited lower avoidance than dominant ones. Juveniles were more cautious than adults, possibly to compensate for a higher parasite susceptibility. Finally, we reported an unknown effect of exposure to non-natural living conditions on behavioral defenses, as animals kept as household pets for an extended period apparently lost their ability to avoid fecally contaminated food.<br><br>CONCLUSION: We argue that striving to understand variation in infection-avoidance behaviors in natural populations is crucial to predict disease spread and inform conservation policies.}, }
@article {pmid34135334, year = {2021}, author = {Colchero, F and Aburto, JM and Archie, EA and Boesch, C and Breuer, T and Campos, FA and Collins, A and Conde, DA and Cords, M and Crockford, C and Thompson, ME and Fedigan, LM and Fichtel, C and Groenenberg, M and Hobaiter, C and Kappeler, PM and Lawler, RR and Lewis, RJ and Machanda, ZP and Manguette, ML and Muller, MN and Packer, C and Parnell, RJ and Perry, S and Pusey, AE and Robbins, MM and Seyfarth, RM and Silk, JB and Staerk, J and Stoinski, TS and Stokes, EJ and Strier, KB and Strum, SC and Tung, J and Villavicencio, F and Wittig, RM and Wrangham, RW and Zuberbühler, K and Vaupel, JW and Alberts, SC}, title = {The long lives of primates and the 'invariant rate of ageing' hypothesis.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {3666}, pmid = {34135334}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {P01 AG031719/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AG053330/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Age Factors ; *Aging ; Animals ; Female ; Humans ; Life Expectancy ; *Longevity ; Male ; Models, Statistical ; Mortality ; Primates/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Is it possible to slow the rate of ageing, or do biological constraints limit its plasticity? We test the 'invariant rate of ageing' hypothesis, which posits that the rate of ageing is relatively fixed within species, with a collection of 39 human and nonhuman primate datasets across seven genera. We first recapitulate, in nonhuman primates, the highly regular relationship between life expectancy and lifespan equality seen in humans. We next demonstrate that variation in the rate of ageing within genera is orders of magnitude smaller than variation in pre-adult and age-independent mortality. Finally, we demonstrate that changes in the rate of ageing, but not other mortality parameters, produce striking, species-atypical changes in mortality patterns. Our results support the invariant rate of ageing hypothesis, implying biological constraints on how much the human rate of ageing can be slowed.}, }
@article {pmid34099943, year = {2021}, author = {Ariansen, AMS}, title = {"Quiet is the New Loud": The Biosociology Debate's Absent Voices.}, journal = {The American sociologist}, volume = {52}, number = {3}, pages = {477-504}, pmid = {34099943}, issn = {0003-1232}, abstract = {In 2000, a controversial article about hormones and gender roles was published to stimulate debate about whether and how biological knowledge should be integrated in sociological research. Two decades later, this so-called biosociology debate is more relevant than ever, as biological knowledge has become widespread across societies and scientific disciplines. Hence, we as sociologists are regularly confronted with biological explanations that challenge our own explanations. Whether this happens in the scientific arena, the classroom, media, or even at social events, these situations often force us, individually, to take a stance on whether to meet such explanations with dialogue or opposition. One could therefore expect that sociologists have an interest in discussing these issues with their peers, but their lack of participation in the biosociology debate suggests otherwise. This paper explores possible reasons for this absence and how sociologists' views on biosociology are influenced by key agents - sociological associations and journals. Smith's "A Sacred project of American Sociology", and Scott's "A Sociology of Nothing" served as theoretical tools in the paper. A qualitative content analysis of presidential addresses of four sociological associations was conducted. The analyses suggest that sociologist avoid biosociology for widely different reasons, including fear that biosociology legitimizes oppression. This avoidance is probably reinforced by the leftish politization of the sociological discipline and the rightish politization of society. Overcoming obstacles to engagement in biosociology is required to safeguard the scientific integrity of sociology and enable sociologists to provide relevant contributions to research on the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change.}, }
@article {pmid34084892, year = {2021}, author = {Dinter, K and Heistermann, M and Kappeler, PM and Fichtel, C}, title = {Life on the edge: behavioural and physiological responses of Verreaux's sifakas (Propithecus verreauxi) to forest edges.}, journal = {Primate biology}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {1-13}, pmid = {34084892}, issn = {2363-4715}, abstract = {Forest edges change micro-environmental conditions, thereby affecting the ecology of many forest-dwelling species. Understanding such edge effects is particularly important for Malagasy primates because many of them live in highly fragmented forests today. The aim of our study was to assess the influence of forest edge effects on activity budgets, feeding ecology, and stress hormone output (measured as faecal glucocorticoid metabolite - fGCM - levels) in wild Verreaux's sifakas (Propithecus verreauxi), a group living, arboreal lemur. We observed five habituated groups: three living in the forest interior and two at an established forest edge. There was no difference in average daily temperatures between edge and interior habitats; however, within the edge site, the average daily temperature incrementally increased over 450 m from the forest edge towards the interior forest of the edge habitat, and the population density was lower at the edge site. Activity budgets differed between groups living in the two microhabitats, with individuals living near the edge spending more time travelling and less time feeding. Groups living near the edge also tended to have smaller home ranges and core areas than groups in the forest interior. In addition, edge groups had elevated average fGCM concentrations, and birth rates were lower for females living in the edge habitat. Combined with lower levels of fruit consumption at the edge, these results suggest that nutritional stress might be a limiting factor for Verreaux's sifakas when living near a forest edge. Hence, Verreaux's sifakas appear to be sensitive to microhabitat characteristics linked to forest edges; a result with implications for the conservation of this critically endangered lemurid species.}, }
@article {pmid33950523, year = {2021}, author = {Habenstein, J and Thamm, M and Rössler, W}, title = {Neuropeptides as potential modulators of behavioral transitions in the ant Cataglyphis nodus.}, journal = {The Journal of comparative neurology}, volume = {529}, number = {12}, pages = {3155-3170}, doi = {10.1002/cne.25166}, pmid = {33950523}, issn = {1096-9861}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants ; Brain/*metabolism ; Brain Chemistry/physiology ; Neurons/chemistry/*metabolism ; Neuropeptides/analysis/*biosynthesis ; *Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {Age-related behavioral plasticity is a major prerequisite for the ecological success of insect societies. Although ecological aspects of behavioral flexibility have been targeted in many studies, the underlying intrinsic mechanisms controlling the diverse changes in behavior along the individual life history of social insects are not completely understood. Recently, the neuropeptides allatostatin-A, corazonin, and tachykinin have been associated with the regulation of behavioral transitions in social insects. Here, we investigated changes in brain localization and expression of these neuropeptides following major behavioral transitions in Cataglyphis nodus ants. Our immunohistochemical analyses in the brain revealed that the overall branching pattern of neurons immunoreactive (ir) for the three neuropeptides is largely independent of the behavioral stages. Numerous allatostatin-A- and tachykinin-ir neurons innervate primary sensory neuropils and high-order integration centers of the brain. In contrast, the number of corazonergic neurons is restricted to only four neurons per brain hemisphere with cell bodies located in the pars lateralis and axons extending to the medial protocerebrum and the retrocerebral complex. Most interestingly, the cell-body volumes of these neurons are significantly increased in foragers compared to freshly eclosed ants and interior workers. Quantification of mRNA expression levels revealed a stage-related change in the expression of allatostatin-A and corazonin mRNA in the brain. Given the presence of the neuropeptides in major control centers of the brain and the neurohemal organs, these mRNA-changes strongly suggest an important modulatory role of both neuropeptides in the behavioral maturation of Cataglyphis ants.}, }
@article {pmid33947700, year = {2021}, author = {Fouks, B and Brand, P and Nguyen, HN and Herman, J and Camara, F and Ence, D and Hagen, DE and Hoff, KJ and Nachweide, S and Romoth, L and Walden, KKO and Guigo, R and Stanke, M and Narzisi, G and Yandell, M and Robertson, HM and Koeniger, N and Chantawannakul, P and Schatz, MC and Worley, KC and Robinson, GE and Elsik, CG and Rueppell, O}, title = {The genomic basis of evolutionary differentiation among honey bees.}, journal = {Genome research}, volume = {31}, number = {7}, pages = {1203-1215}, pmid = {33947700}, issn = {1549-5469}, support = {R15 GM102753/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AG046837/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; U54 HG003273/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {In contrast to the western honey bee, Apis mellifera, other honey bee species have been largely neglected despite their importance and diversity. The genetic basis of the evolutionary diversification of honey bees remains largely unknown. Here, we provide a genome-wide comparison of three honey bee species, each representing one of the three subgenera of honey bees, namely the dwarf (Apis florea), giant (A. dorsata), and cavity-nesting (A. mellifera) honey bees with bumblebees as an outgroup. Our analyses resolve the phylogeny of honey bees with the dwarf honey bees diverging first. We find that evolution of increased eusocial complexity in Apis proceeds via increases in the complexity of gene regulation, which is in agreement with previous studies. However, this process seems to be related to pathways other than transcriptional control. Positive selection patterns across Apis reveal a trade-off between maintaining genome stability and generating genetic diversity, with a rapidly evolving piRNA pathway leading to genomes depleted of transposable elements, and a rapidly evolving DNA repair pathway associated with high recombination rates in all Apis species. Diversification within Apis is accompanied by positive selection in several genes whose putative functions present candidate mechanisms for lineage-specific adaptations, such as migration, immunity, and nesting behavior.}, }
@article {pmid33927367, year = {2021}, author = {Crabtree, SA and White, DA and Bradshaw, CJA and Saltré, F and Williams, AN and Beaman, RJ and Bird, MI and Ulm, S}, title = {Landscape rules predict optimal superhighways for the first peopling of Sahul.}, journal = {Nature human behaviour}, volume = {5}, number = {10}, pages = {1303-1313}, pmid = {33927367}, issn = {2397-3374}, mesh = {Anthropology, Physical ; Archaeology ; Australia ; Environmental Indicators ; Geography ; Human Migration/*trends ; Humans ; Population Dynamics/*trends ; Sociobiology ; }, abstract = {Archaeological data and demographic modelling suggest that the peopling of Sahul required substantial populations, occurred rapidly within a few thousand years and encompassed environments ranging from hyper-arid deserts to temperate uplands and tropical rainforests. How this migration occurred and how humans responded to the physical environments they encountered have, however, remained largely speculative. By constructing a high-resolution digital elevation model for Sahul and coupling it with fine-scale viewshed analysis of landscape prominence, least-cost pedestrian travel modelling and high-performance computing, we create over 125 billion potential migratory pathways, whereby the most parsimonious routes traversed emerge. Our analysis revealed several major pathways-superhighways-transecting the continent, that we evaluated using archaeological data. These results suggest that the earliest Australian ancestors adopted a set of fundamental rules shaped by physiological capacity, attraction to visually prominent landscape features and freshwater distribution to maximize survival, even without previous experience of the landscapes they encountered.}, }
@article {pmid33921583, year = {2021}, author = {Khambhati, K and Patel, J and Saxena, V and A, P and Jain, N}, title = {Gene Regulation of Biofilm-Associated Functional Amyloids.}, journal = {Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {33921583}, issn = {2076-0817}, support = {ECR/2018/002490//Science and Engineering Research Board/ ; I/SEED/NJ/20190019//Indian Institute of technology Jodhpur/ ; }, abstract = {Biofilms are bacterial communities encased in a rigid yet dynamic extracellular matrix. The sociobiology of bacterial communities within a biofilm is astonishing, with environmental factors playing a crucial role in determining the switch from planktonic to a sessile form of life. The mechanism of biofilm biogenesis is an intriguingly complex phenomenon governed by the tight regulation of expression of various biofilm-matrix components. One of the major constituents of the biofilm matrix is proteinaceous polymers called amyloids. Since the discovery, the significance of biofilm-associated amyloids in adhesion, aggregation, protection, and infection development has been much appreciated. The amyloid expression and assembly is regulated spatio-temporarily within the bacterial cells to perform a diverse function. This review provides a comprehensive account of the genetic regulation associated with the expression of amyloids in bacteria. The stringent control ensures optimal utilization of amyloid scaffold during biofilm biogenesis. We conclude the review by summarizing environmental factors influencing the expression and regulation of amyloids.}, }
@article {pmid33861721, year = {2021}, author = {Yan, H and Liebig, J}, title = {Genetic basis of chemical communication in eusocial insects.}, journal = {Genes &amp; development}, volume = {35}, number = {7-8}, pages = {470-482}, pmid = {33861721}, issn = {1549-5477}, mesh = {*Animal Communication ; Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; Insecta/*chemistry/*genetics ; Pheromones/genetics ; Sensation/genetics ; Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {Social behavior is one of the most fascinating and complex behaviors in humans and animals. A fundamental process of social behavior is communication among individuals. It relies on the capability of the nervous system to sense, process, and interpret various signals (e.g., pheromones) and respond with appropriate decisions and actions. Eusocial insects, including ants, some bees, some wasps, and termites, display intriguing cooperative social behavior. Recent advances in genetic and genomic studies have revealed key genes that are involved in pheromone synthesis, chemosensory perception, and physiological and behavioral responses to varied pheromones. In this review, we highlight the genes and pathways that regulate queen pheromone-mediated social communication, discuss the evolutionary changes in genetic systems, and outline prospects of functional studies in sociobiology.}, }
@article {pmid33798681, year = {2021}, author = {Ennis, CC and Haeffner, NN and Keyser, CD and Leonard, ST and Macdonald-Shedd, AC and Savoie, AM and Cronin, TJ and Veldsman, WP and Barden, P and Chak, STC and Baeza, JA}, title = {Comparative mitochondrial genomics of sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps in the genus Synalpheus: Exploring differences between eusocial and non-eusocial species and insights into phylogenetic relationships in caridean shrimps.}, journal = {Gene}, volume = {786}, number = {}, pages = {145624}, doi = {10.1016/j.gene.2021.145624}, pmid = {33798681}, issn = {1879-0038}, mesh = {Animals ; Codon Usage ; Decapoda/*classification/genetics ; Genome Size ; Genome, Mitochondrial ; Genomics/*methods ; Mitochondria/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Transfer/genetics ; Selection, Genetic ; }, abstract = {The genus Synalpheus is a cosmopolitan clade of marine shrimps found in most tropical regions. Species in this genus exhibit a range of social organizations, including pair-forming, communal breeding, and eusociality, the latter only known to have evolved within this genus in the marine realm. This study examines the complete mitochondrial genomes of seven species of Synalpheus and explores differences between eusocial and non-eusocial species considering that eusociality has been shown before to affect the strength of purifying selection in mitochondrial protein coding genes. The AT-rich mitochondrial genomes of Synalpheus range from 15,421 bp to 15,782 bp in length and comprise, invariably, 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA genes, and 22 transfer RNA genes. A 648 bp to 994 bp long intergenic space is assumed to be the D-loop. Mitochondrial gene synteny is identical among the studied shrimps. No major differences occur between eusocial and non-eusocial species in nucleotide composition and codon usage profiles of PCGs and in the secondary structure of tRNA genes. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis of the complete concatenated PCG complement of 90 species supports the monophyly of the genus Synalpheus and its family Alpheidae. Moreover, the monophyletic status of the caridean families Alvinocaridae, Atyidae, Thoridae, Lysmatidae, Palaemonidae, and Pandalidae within caridean shrimps are fully or highly supported by the analysis. We therefore conclude that mitochondrial genomes contain sufficient phylogenetic information to resolve relationships at high taxonomic levels within the Caridea. Our analysis of mitochondrial genomes in the genus Synalpheus contributes to the understanding of the coevolution between genomic architecture and sociality in caridean shrimps and other marine organisms.}, }
@article {pmid33767244, year = {2021}, author = {Hurd, PJ and Grübel, K and Wojciechowski, M and Maleszka, R and Rössler, W}, title = {Novel structure in the nuclei of honey bee brain neurons revealed by immunostaining.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {6852}, pmid = {33767244}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/*growth &amp; development/immunology/metabolism ; Brain/*cytology/immunology/metabolism ; Cell Nucleus/*metabolism ; Drosophila melanogaster/*growth &amp; development/immunology/metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Larva/*cytology/immunology/metabolism ; Neurons/*cytology/immunology/metabolism ; Pupa/*cytology/immunology/metabolism ; }, abstract = {In the course of a screen designed to produce antibodies (ABs) with affinity to proteins in the honey bee brain we found an interesting AB that detects a highly specific epitope predominantly in the nuclei of Kenyon cells (KCs). The observed staining pattern is unique, and its unfamiliarity indicates a novel previously unseen nuclear structure that does not colocalize with the cytoskeletal protein f-actin. A single rod-like assembly, 3.7-4.1 µm long, is present in each nucleus of KCs in adult brains of worker bees and drones with the strongest immuno-labelling found in foraging bees. In brains of young queens, the labelling is more sporadic, and the rod-like structure appears to be shorter (~ 2.1 µm). No immunostaining is detectable in worker larvae. In pupal stage 5 during a peak of brain development only some occasional staining was identified. Although the cellular function of this unexpected structure has not been determined, the unusual distinctiveness of the revealed pattern suggests an unknown and potentially important protein assembly. One possibility is that this nuclear assembly is part of the KCs plasticity underlying the brain maturation in adult honey bees. Because no labelling with this AB is detectable in brains of the fly Drosophila melanogaster and the ant Camponotus floridanus, we tentatively named this antibody AmBNSab (Apis mellifera Brain Neurons Specific antibody). Here we report our results to make them accessible to a broader community and invite further research to unravel the biological role of this curious nuclear structure in the honey bee central brain.}, }
@article {pmid33704768, year = {2021}, author = {Habenstein, J and Schmitt, F and Liessem, S and Ly, A and Trede, D and Wegener, C and Predel, R and Rössler, W and Neupert, S}, title = {Transcriptomic, peptidomic, and mass spectrometry imaging analysis of the brain in the ant Cataglyphis nodus.}, journal = {Journal of neurochemistry}, volume = {158}, number = {2}, pages = {391-412}, doi = {10.1111/jnc.15346}, pmid = {33704768}, issn = {1471-4159}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Brain/*diagnostic imaging ; Brain Chemistry/*genetics ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mass Spectrometry ; Neuropeptides/chemistry/*genetics ; *Proteomics ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Behavioral flexibility is an important cornerstone for the ecological success of animals. Social Cataglyphis nodus ants with their age-related polyethism characterized by age-related behavioral phenotypes represent a prime example for behavioral flexibility. We propose neuropeptides as powerful candidates for the flexible modulation of age-related behavioral transitions in individual ants. As the neuropeptidome of C. nodus was unknown, we collected a comprehensive peptidomic data set obtained by transcriptome analysis of the ants' central nervous system combined with brain extract analysis by Q-Exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometry (MS) and direct tissue profiling of different regions of the brain by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) MS. In total, we identified 71 peptides with likely bioactive function, encoded on 49 neuropeptide-, neuropeptide-like, and protein hormone prepropeptide genes, including a novel neuropeptide-like gene (fliktin). We next characterized the spatial distribution of a subset of peptides encoded on 16 precursor proteins with high resolution by MALDI MS imaging (MALDI MSI) on 14 µm brain sections. The accuracy of our MSI data were confirmed by matching the immunostaining patterns for tachykinins with MSI ion images from consecutive brain sections. Our data provide a solid framework for future research into spatially resolved qualitative and quantitative peptidomic changes associated with stage-specific behavioral transitions and the functional role of neuropeptides in Cataglyphis ants.}, }
@article {pmid33593943, year = {2021}, author = {Andersen, SB and Schluter, J}, title = {A metagenomics approach to investigate microbiome sociobiology.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {118}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {33593943}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Humans ; Metagenome ; *Metagenomics ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Sociobiology ; }, }
@article {pmid33504584, year = {2021}, author = {Kihlström, K and Aiello, B and Warrant, E and Sponberg, S and Stöckl, A}, title = {Wing damage affects flight kinematics but not flower tracking performance in hummingbird hawkmoths.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {224}, number = {Pt 4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.236240}, pmid = {33504584}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; *Flight, Animal ; Flowers ; *Moths ; Wings, Animal ; }, abstract = {Wing integrity is crucial to the many insect species that spend distinct portions of their life in flight. How insects cope with the consequences of wing damage is therefore a central question when studying how robust flight performance is possible with such fragile chitinous wings. It has been shown in a variety of insect species that the loss in lift-force production resulting from wing damage is generally compensated by an increase in wing beat frequency rather than amplitude. The consequences of wing damage for flight performance, however, are less well understood, and vary considerably between species and behavioural tasks. One hypothesis reconciling the varying results is that wing damage might affect fast flight manoeuvres with high acceleration, but not slower ones. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the effect of wing damage on the manoeuvrability of hummingbird hawkmoths (Macroglossum stellatarum) tracking a motorised flower. This assay allowed us to sample a range of movements at different temporal frequencies, and thus assess whether wing damage affected faster or slower flight manoeuvres. We show that hummingbird hawkmoths compensate for the loss in lift force mainly by increasing wing beat amplitude, yet with a significant contribution of wing beat frequency. We did not observe any effects of wing damage on flight manoeuvrability at either high or low temporal frequencies.}, }
@article {pmid33450537, year = {2021}, author = {Boff, S and Scheiner, R and Raizer, J and Lupi, D}, title = {Survival rate and changes in foraging performances of solitary bees exposed to a novel insecticide.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {211}, number = {}, pages = {111869}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111869}, pmid = {33450537}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/*physiology ; Feeding Behavior/drug effects ; Flowers/drug effects ; Insecticides/*toxicity ; Neonicotinoids/toxicity ; Pesticides/toxicity ; Pollination/drug effects ; Pyridines ; Sulfur Compounds ; Survival Rate ; }, abstract = {Solitary bees are among the most important pollinators worldwide however population declines especially in croplands has been noticed. The novel pesticide sulfoxaflor is a competitive modulator of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) in insects. While there is evidence of a negative impact of neonicotinoids on bees of several social organization levels, our overall knowledge on the impact of sulfoxaflor on bees is poor. Here we present for the first time a study showing effects of field realistic doses of sulfoxaflor on solitary bees. Bees submitted to long term exposure of field realistic doses of sulfoxaflor (5 µg dm[-3], 10 µg dm[-3], 50 µg dm[-3]) and control were observed regarding their survival rate. Moreover, we recorded metrics related to flower visitation and flight performance. We discover that the highest field realistic dose is lethal to Osmia bicornis along five days of exposure. The effect of sulfoxaflor reduces the outcome of foraging, important features for fruit and seed production of cross-pollinated plant species. Bees exposed to pesticide visited flowers mostly walking rather than flying. Flight performance was also impaired by the pesticide.}, }
@article {pmid33442330, year = {2021}, author = {Junker, J and Petrovan, SO and Arroyo-Rodríguez, V and Boonratana, R and Byler, D and Chapman, CA and Chetry, D and Cheyne, SM and Cornejo, FM and Cortés-Ortiz, L and Cowlishaw, G and Christie, AP and Crockford, C and de la Torre, S and de Melo, FR and Fan, P and Grueter, CC and Guzmán-Caro, DC and Heymann, EW and Herbinger, I and Hoang, MD and Horwich, RH and Humle, T and Ikemeh, RA and Imong, IS and Jerusalinsky, L and Johnson, SE and Kappeler, PM and Kierulff, MCM and Koné, I and Kormos, R and LE, KQ and Li, B and Marshall, AJ and Meijaard, E and Mittermeier, RA and Muroyama, Y and Neugebauer, E and Orth, L and Palacios, E and Papworth, SK and Plumptre, AJ and Rawson, BM and Refisch, J and Ratsimbazafy, J and Roos, C and Setchell, JM and Smith, RK and Sop, T and Schwitzer, C and Slater, K and Strum, SC and Sutherland, WJ and Talebi, M and Wallis, J and Wich, S and Williamson, EA and Wittig, RM and Kühl, HS}, title = {Corrigendum: A Severe Lack of Evidence Limits Effective Conservation of the World's Primates.}, journal = {Bioscience}, volume = {71}, number = {1}, pages = {105}, doi = {10.1093/biosci/biaa143}, pmid = {33442330}, issn = {0006-3568}, abstract = {[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biaa082.].}, }
@article {pmid33344078, year = {2020}, author = {Halawani, O and Dunn, RR and Grunden, AM and Smith, AA}, title = {Bacterial exposure leads to variable mortality but not a measurable increase in surface antimicrobials across ant species.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {e10412}, pmid = {33344078}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Social insects have co-existed with microbial species for millions of years and have evolved a diversity of collective defenses, including the use of antimicrobials. While many studies have revealed strategies that ants use against microbial entomopathogens, and several have shown ant-produced compounds inhibit environmental bacterial growth, few studies have tested whether exposure to environmental bacteria represents a health threat to ants. We compare four ant species' responses to exposure to Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteria in order to broaden our understanding of microbial health-threats to ants and their ability to defend against them. In a first experiment, we measure worker mortality of Solenopsis invicta, Brachymyrmex chinensis, Aphaenogaster rudis, and Dorymyrmex bureni in response to exposure to E. coli and S. epidermidis. We found that exposure to E. coli was lethal for S. invicta and D. bureni, while all other effects of exposure were not different from experimental controls. In a second experiment, we compared the antimicrobial ability of surface extracts from bacteria-exposed and non-exposed S. invicta and B. chinensis worker ants, to see if exposure to E. coli or S. epidermidis led to an increase in antimicrobial compounds. We found no difference in the inhibitory effects from either treatment group in either species. Our results demonstrate the susceptibility to bacteria is varied across ant species. This variation may correlate with an ant species' use of surface antimicrobials, as we found significant mortality effects in species which also were producing antimicrobials. Further exploration of a wide range of both bacteria and ant species is likely to reveal unique and nuanced antimicrobial strategies and deepen our understanding of how ant societies respond to microbial health threats.}, }
@article {pmid33308162, year = {2020}, author = {Maes, S and De Reu, K and Van Weyenberg, S and Lories, B and Heyndrickx, M and Steenackers, H}, title = {Pseudomonas putida as a potential biocontrol agent against Salmonella Java biofilm formation in the drinking water system of broiler houses.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {373}, pmid = {33308162}, issn = {1471-2180}, support = {CELSA/18/031//Onderzoeksraad, KU Leuven/ ; C24/18/046//Onderzoeksraad, KU Leuven/ ; }, mesh = {Animal Husbandry ; Animals ; Biofilms/*growth &amp; development ; *Biological Control Agents ; Chickens ; Drinking Water/*microbiology ; Indonesia ; Microbial Interactions ; Pseudomonas putida/*physiology ; Salmonella/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Environmental biofilms can induce attachment and protection of other microorganisms including pathogens, but can also prevent them from invasion and colonization. This opens the possibility for so-called biocontrol strategies, wherein microorganisms are applied to control the presence of other microbes. The potential for both positive and negative interactions between microbes, however, raises the need for in depth characterization of the sociobiology of candidate biocontrol agents (BCAs). The inside of the drinking water system (DWS) of broiler houses is an interesting niche to apply BCAs, because contamination of these systems with pathogens plays an important role in the infection of broiler chickens and consequently humans. In this study, Pseudomonas putida, which is part of the natural microbiota in the DWS of broiler houses, was evaluated as BCA against the broiler pathogen Salmonella Java.<br><br>RESULTS: To study the interaction between these species, an in vitro model was developed simulating biofilm formation in the drinking water system of broilers. Dual-species biofilms of P. putida strains P1, P2, and P3 with S. Java were characterized by competitive interactions, independent of P. putida strain, S. Java inoculum density and application order. When equal inocula of S. Java and P. putida strains P1 or P3 were simultaneously applied, the interaction was characterized by mutual inhibition, whereas P. putida strain P2 showed an exploitation of S. Java. Lowering the inoculum density of S. Java changed the interaction with P. putida strain P3 also into an exploitation of S. Java. A further increase in S. Java inhibition was established by P. putida strain P3 forming a mature biofilm before applying S. Java.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the first results showing the potential of P. putida as BCA against S. Java in the broiler environment. Future work should include more complex microbial communities residing in the DWS, additional Salmonella strains as well as chemicals typically used to clean and disinfect the system.}, }
@article {pmid33275182, year = {2021}, author = {Anton, S and Rössler, W}, title = {Plasticity and modulation of olfactory circuits in insects.}, journal = {Cell and tissue research}, volume = {383}, number = {1}, pages = {149-164}, pmid = {33275182}, issn = {1432-0878}, support = {SPP 1392 (Ro1177/5-2), SFB 1047 (B6)//DFG/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Insecta ; Neuronal Plasticity/*physiology ; Receptors, Odorant/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Olfactory circuits change structurally and physiologically during development and adult life. This allows insects to respond to olfactory cues in an appropriate and adaptive way according to their physiological and behavioral state, and to adapt to their specific abiotic and biotic natural environment. We highlight here findings on olfactory plasticity and modulation in various model and non-model insects with an emphasis on moths and social Hymenoptera. Different categories of plasticity occur in the olfactory systems of insects. One type relates to the reproductive or feeding state, as well as to adult age. Another type of plasticity is context-dependent and includes influences of the immediate sensory and abiotic environment, but also environmental conditions during postembryonic development, periods of adult behavioral maturation, and short- and long-term sensory experience. Finally, plasticity in olfactory circuits is linked to associative learning and memory formation. The vast majority of the available literature summarized here deals with plasticity in primary and secondary olfactory brain centers, but also peripheral modulation is treated. The described molecular, physiological, and structural neuronal changes occur under the influence of neuromodulators such as biogenic amines, neuropeptides, and hormones, but the mechanisms through which they act are only beginning to be analyzed.}, }
@article {pmid33261558, year = {2020}, author = {Eckhardt, F and Pauliny, A and Rollings, N and Mutschmann, F and Olsson, M and Kraus, C and Kappeler, PM}, title = {Stress-related changes in leukocyte profiles and telomere shortening in the shortest-lived tetrapod, Furcifer labordi.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {160}, pmid = {33261558}, issn = {1471-2148}, mesh = {Animals ; Leukocytes/*metabolism ; Lizards/*genetics ; *Longevity/genetics ; Madagascar ; Stress, Physiological/*genetics ; *Telomere/genetics ; *Telomere Shortening/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Life history theory predicts that during the lifespan of an organism, resources are allocated to either growth, somatic maintenance or reproduction. Resource allocation trade-offs determine the evolution and ecology of different life history strategies and define an organisms' position along a fast-slow continuum in interspecific comparisons. Labord's chameleon (Furcifer labordi) from the seasonal dry forests of Madagascar is the tetrapod species with the shortest reported lifespan (4-9 months). Previous investigations revealed that their lifespan is to some degree dependent on environmental factors, such as the amount of rainfall and the length of the vegetation period. However, the intrinsic mechanisms shaping such a fast life history remain unknown. Environmental stressors are known to increase the secretion of glucocorticoids in other vertebrates, which, in turn, can shorten telomeres via oxidative stress. To investigate to what extent age-related changes in these molecular and cellular mechanisms contribute to the relatively short lifetime of F. labordi, we assessed the effects of stressors indirectly via leukocyte profiles (H/L ratio) and quantified relative telomere length from blood samples in a wild population in Kirindy Forest. We compared our findings with the sympatric, but longer-lived sister species F. cf. nicosiai, which exhibit the same annual timing of reproductive events, and with wild-caught F. labordi that were singly housed under ambient conditions.<br><br>RESULTS: We found that H/L ratios were consistently higher in wild F. labordi compared to F. cf. nicosiai. Moreover, F. labordi already exhibited relatively short telomeres during the mating season when they were 3-4&#xa0;months old, and telomeres further shortened during their post-reproductive lives. At the beginning of their active season, telomere length was relatively longer in F. cf. nicosiai, but undergoing rapid shortening towards the southern winter, when both species gradually die off. Captive F. labordi showed comparatively longer lifespans and lower H/L ratios than their wild counterparts.<br><br>CONCLUSION: We suggest that environmental stress and the corresponding accelerated telomere attrition have profound effects on the lifespan of F. labordi in the wild, and identify physiological mechanisms potentially driving their relatively early senescence and mortality.}, }
@article {pmid33258153, year = {2021}, author = {Grob, R and Tritscher, C and Grübel, K and Stigloher, C and Groh, C and Fleischmann, PN and Rössler, W}, title = {Johnston's organ and its central projections in Cataglyphis desert ants.}, journal = {The Journal of comparative neurology}, volume = {529}, number = {8}, pages = {2138-2155}, doi = {10.1002/cne.25077}, pmid = {33258153}, issn = {1096-9861}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*anatomy &amp; histology/physiology ; Arthropod Antennae/innervation/physiology ; Brain/*anatomy &amp; histology/physiology ; Female ; Male ; Neural Pathways/*anatomy &amp; histology/physiology ; Sensory Receptor Cells/*cytology/physiology ; Spatial Navigation/physiology ; }, abstract = {The Johnston's organ (JO) in the insect antenna is a multisensory organ involved in several navigational tasks including wind-compass orientation, flight control, graviception, and, possibly, magnetoreception. Here we investigate the three dimensional anatomy of the JO and its neuronal projections into the brain of the desert ant Cataglyphis, a marvelous long-distance navigator. The JO of C. nodus workers consists of 40 scolopidia comprising three sensory neurons each. The numbers of scolopidia slightly vary between different sexes (female/male) and castes (worker/queen). Individual scolopidia attach to the intersegmental membrane between pedicel and flagellum of the antenna and line up in a ring-like organization. Three JO nerves project along the two antennal nerve branches into the brain. Anterograde double staining of the antennal afferents revealed that JO receptor neurons project to several distinct neuropils in the central brain. The T5 tract projects into the antennal mechanosensory and motor center (AMMC), while the T6 tract bypasses the AMMC via the saddle and forms collaterals terminating in the posterior slope (PS) (T6I), the ventral complex (T6II), and the ventrolateral protocerebrum (T6III). Double labeling of JO and ocellar afferents revealed that input from the JO and visual information from the ocelli converge in tight apposition in the PS. The general JO anatomy and its central projection patterns resemble situations in honeybees and Drosophila. The multisensory nature of the JO together with its projections to multisensory neuropils in the ant brain likely serves synchronization and calibration of different sensory modalities during the ontogeny of navigation in Cataglyphis.}, }
@article {pmid33230212, year = {2020}, author = {Dolotovskaya, S and Roos, C and Heymann, EW}, title = {Genetic monogamy and mate choice in a pair-living primate.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {20328}, pmid = {33230212}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Alleles ; Animals ; Callicebus/*genetics ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; Feces/chemistry ; Female ; Genetic Loci ; *Genotype ; Heterozygote ; Inbreeding ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Paternity ; Peru ; Reproduction/*genetics ; Sexual Behavior, Animal/*physiology ; }, abstract = {In pair-living mammals, genetic monogamy is extremely rare. One possible reason is that in socially monogamous animals, mate choice can be severely constrained, increasing the risk of inbreeding or pairing with an incompatible or low-quality partner. To escape these constraints, individuals might engage in extra-pair copulations. Alternatively, inbreeding can be avoided by dispersal. However, little is known about the interactions between mating system, mate choice, and dispersal in pair-living mammals. Here we genotyped 41 wild individuals from 14 groups of coppery titi monkeys (Plecturocebus cupreus) in Peruvian Amazon using 18 microsatellite loci. Parentage analyses of 18 young revealed no cases of extra-pair paternity, indicating that the study population is mostly genetically monogamous. We did not find evidence for relatedness- or heterozygosity-based mate choice. Despite the lack of evidence for active inbreeding avoidance via mate choice, mating partners were on average not related. We further found that dispersal was not sex-biased, with both sexes dispersing opportunistically over varying distances. Our findings suggest that even opportunistic dispersal, as long as it is not constrained, can generate sufficient genetic diversity to prevent inbreeding. This, in turn, can render active inbreeding avoidance via mate choice and extra-pair copulations less necessary, helping to maintain genetic monogamy.}, }
@article {pmid33204480, year = {2020}, author = {Römer, D and Cosarinsky, MI and Roces, F}, title = {Selection and spatial arrangement of building materials during the construction of nest turrets by grass-cutting ants.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {7}, number = {10}, pages = {201312}, pmid = {33204480}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Ants build complex nest structures by reacting to simple, local stimuli. While underground nests result from the space generated by digging, some leaf- and grass-cutting ants also construct conspicuous aboveground turrets around nest openings. We investigated whether the selection of specific building materials occurs during turret construction in Acromyrmex fracticornis grass-cutting ants, and asked whether single building decisions at the beginning can modify the final turret architecture. To quantify workers' material selection, the original nest turret was removed and a choice between two artificial building materials, thin and thick sticks, was offered for rebuilding. Workers preferred thick sticks at the very beginning of turret construction, showed varying preferences thereafter, and changed to prefer thin sticks for the upper, final part of the turret, indicating that they selected different building materials over time to create a stable structure. The impact of a single building choice on turret architecture was evaluated by placing artificial beams that divided a colony's nest entrance at the beginning of turret rebuilding. Splitting the nest entrance led to the self-organized construction of turrets with branched galleries ending in multiple openings, showing that the spatial location of a single building material can strongly influence turret morphology.}, }
@article {pmid33202230, year = {2020}, author = {Kappeler, PM}, title = {Evidence for a male sex pheromone in a primate?.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {30}, number = {22}, pages = {R1358-R1359}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2020.10.006}, pmid = {33202230}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; *Lemur ; Male ; Odorants ; Pheromones ; Seasons ; *Sex Attractants ; }, abstract = {Pheromones mediate a wide range of functions across the animal kingdom [1], and such chemosensory communication is especially widespread among mammals [2]. In a recent paper in Current Biology, Shirasu, Ito et al. [3] describe the results of a series of chemical and behavioral studies that identified three aldehyde odors released from the wrist gland of ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) that could represent the first identified sex pheromones in male primates. Observations of a captive group and controlled presentations of isolated male scent samples showed captive female lemurs sniffing antebrachial scent marks longer on average during the breeding season. Comparison of the chemical profiles of antebrachial secretions between breeding- and non-breeding-season samples revealed three aldehydes putatively responsible for the female response, the concentration of one of these subsequently shown to increase following testosterone injection of one male. Average sniffing duration of two females increased slightly with increasing concentrations of two of the three aldehydes in one experiment, and so did the response of seven other females to swabs with mixtures of the three compounds, compared to individually presented aldehydes. From these results, the authors conclude that "it is conceivable that the identified C12 and C14 aldehydes are putative sex pheromones that aid male-female interactions among lemurs." Here, I argue that, in fact, more data are needed to determine whether antebrachial marking and these substances are actually involved in mediating the attractiveness of males to females during the breeding season. My specific concerns pertain to several aspects of the methods that produce ambiguous results and conclusions that are too strong, especially when considering the broader context of lemur biology.}, }
@article {pmid33152622, year = {2020}, author = {Kenyon, C}, title = {Emergence of zoonoses such as COVID-19 reveals the need for health sciences to embrace an explicit eco-social conceptual framework of health and disease.}, journal = {Epidemics}, volume = {33}, number = {}, pages = {100410}, pmid = {33152622}, issn = {1878-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; COVID-19/epidemiology/transmission/virology ; Chiroptera/virology ; Communicable Diseases, Emerging/*epidemiology/transmission/*virology ; *Ecosystem ; Humans ; Pandemics ; SARS-CoV-2/physiology ; Sociobiology ; Zoonoses/*epidemiology/transmission/*virology ; }, abstract = {An accurate understanding of why zoonoses such as SARS-CoV-2 are emerging at an increased rate, is vital to prevent future pandemics from the approximately 700,000 viruses with zoonotic potential. Certain authors have argued that the consumption of wildlife, or human contact with bats was responsible for the emergence of SARS-CoV-2. Others argue that a range of anthropogenic environmental degradations have played a vital role in the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 and other zoonoses. In this opinion piece, I argue that these divergent viewpoints stem, in part, from different foundational conceptual frameworks - biomedical individualist and eco-social frameworks, respectively. Based on the fact that the eco-social framework provides a more complete account of the different types of causal factors underpinning the emergence of zoonoses, I propose that the COVID-19 pandemic provides an additional reason for the health sciences to ground its theory of health and disease in an eco-social conceptual framework.}, }
@article {pmid33143221, year = {2020}, author = {Cavaletto, G and Faccoli, M and Marini, L and Spaethe, J and Magnani, G and Rassati, D}, title = {Effect of Trap Color on Captures of Bark-and Wood-Boring Beetles (Coleoptera; Buprestidae and Scolytinae) and Associated Predators.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {11}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {33143221}, issn = {2075-4450}, support = {Dotazione Ordinaria Ricerca (DOR)//University of Padova/ ; Budget Integrato per la Ricerca dei Dipartimenti (BIRD 2018)//University of Padova :/ ; }, abstract = {Traps baited with attractive lures are increasingly used at entry-points and surrounding natural areas to intercept exotic wood-boring beetles accidentally introduced via international trade. Several trapping variables can affect the efficacy of this activity, including trap color. In this study, we tested whether species richness and abundance of jewel beetles (Buprestidae), bark and ambrosia beetles (Scolytinae), and their common predators (i.e., checkered beetles, Cleridae) can be modified using trap colors different to those currently used for surveillance of jewel beetles and bark and ambrosia beetles (i.e., green or black). We show that green and black traps are generally efficient, but also that many flower-visiting or dark-metallic colored jewel beetles and certain bark beetles are more attracted by other colors. In addition, we show that checkered beetles have color preferences similar to those of their Scolytinae preys, which limits using trap color to minimize their inadvertent removal. Overall, this study confirmed that understanding the color perception mechanisms in wood-boring beetles can lead to important improvements in trapping techniques and thereby increase the efficacy of surveillance programs.}, }
@article {pmid33139902, year = {2021}, author = {Holze, H and Schrader, L and Buellesbach, J}, title = {Advances in deciphering the genetic basis of insect cuticular hydrocarbon biosynthesis and variation.}, journal = {Heredity}, volume = {126}, number = {2}, pages = {219-234}, pmid = {33139902}, issn = {1365-2540}, mesh = {Animals ; Drosophila ; *Hydrocarbons ; *Insecta/genetics ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) have two fundamental functions in insects. They protect terrestrial insects against desiccation and serve as signaling molecules in a wide variety of chemical communication systems. It has been hypothesized that these pivotal dual traits for adaptation to both desiccation and signaling have contributed to the considerable evolutionary success of insects. CHCs have been extensively studied concerning their variation, behavioral impact, physiological properties, and chemical compositions. However, our understanding of the genetic underpinnings of CHC biosynthesis has remained limited and mostly biased towards one particular model organism (Drosophila). This rather narrow focus has hampered the establishment of a comprehensive view of CHC genetics across wider phylogenetic boundaries. This review attempts to integrate new insights and recent knowledge gained in the genetics of CHC biosynthesis, which is just beginning to incorporate work on more insect taxa beyond Drosophila. It is intended to provide a stepping stone towards a wider and more general understanding of the genetic mechanisms that gave rise to the astonishing diversity of CHC compounds across different insect taxa. Further research in this field is encouraged to aim at better discriminating conserved versus taxon-specific genetic elements underlying CHC variation. This will be instrumental in greatly expanding our knowledge of the origins and variation of genes governing the biosynthesis of these crucial phenotypic traits that have greatly impacted insect behavior, physiology, and evolution.}, }
@article {pmid33136609, year = {2020}, author = {Umek, W and Fischer, B}, title = {We Should Abandon "Race" as a Biological Category in Biomedical Research.}, journal = {Female pelvic medicine &amp; reconstructive surgery}, volume = {26}, number = {12}, pages = {719-720}, pmid = {33136609}, issn = {2154-4212}, mesh = {*Biomedical Research/ethics/trends ; Ethical Analysis ; Ethnicity/*genetics ; Genetic Variation ; *Genetics, Population ; Humans ; *Racial Groups ; Sociobiology ; Sociology, Medical/ethics ; }, }
@article {pmid33128250, year = {2021}, author = {Homberg, U and Hensgen, R and Rieber, E and Seyfarth, J and Kern, M and Dippel, S and Dircksen, H and Spänig, L and Kina, YP}, title = {Orcokinin in the central complex of the locust Schistocerca gregaria: Identification of immunostained neurons and colocalization with other neuroactive substances.}, journal = {The Journal of comparative neurology}, volume = {529}, number = {8}, pages = {1876-1894}, doi = {10.1002/cne.25062}, pmid = {33128250}, issn = {1096-9861}, mesh = {Animals ; Brain/*metabolism ; Grasshoppers/*metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Neurons/*metabolism ; Neuropeptides/*metabolism ; Neuropil/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The central complex is a group of highly interconnected neuropils in the insect brain. It is involved in the control of spatial orientation, based on external compass cues and various internal needs. The functional and neurochemical organization of the central complex has been studied in detail in the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria. In addition to classical neurotransmitters, immunocytochemistry has provided evidence for a major contribution of neuropeptides to neural signaling within the central complex. To complement these data, we have identified all orcokinin-immunoreactive neurons in the locust central complex and associated brain areas. About 50 bilateral pairs of neurons innervating all substructures of the central complex exhibit orcokinin immunoreactivity. Among these were about 20 columnar neurons, 33 bilateral pairs of tangential neurons of the central body, and seven pairs of tangential neurons of the protocerebral bridge. In silico transcript analysis suggests the presence of eight different orcokinin-A type peptides in the desert locust. Double label experiments showed that all orcokinin-immunostained tangential neurons of the lateral accessory lobe cluster were also immunoreactive for GABA and the GABA-synthesizing enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase. Two types of tangential neurons of the upper division of the central body were, furthermore, also labeled with an antiserum against Dip-allatostatin I. No colocalization was found with serotonin immunostaining. The data provide additional insights into the neurochemical organization of the locust central complex and suggest that orcokinin-peptides of the orcokinin-A gene act as neuroactive substances at all stages of signal processing in this brain area.}, }
@article {pmid33053745, year = {2020}, author = {Scheiner, R and Strauß, S and Thamm, M and Farré-Armengol, G and Junker, RR}, title = {The Bacterium Pantoea ananatis Modifies Behavioral Responses to Sugar Solutions in Honeybees.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {11}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {33053745}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {1. Honeybees, which are among the most important pollinators globally, do not only collect pollen and nectar during foraging but may also disperse diverse microbes. Some of these can be deleterious to agricultural crops and forest trees, such as the bacterium Pantoea ananatis, an emerging pathogen in some systems. P. ananatis infections can lead to leaf blotches, die-back, bulb rot, and fruit rot. 2. We isolated P. ananatis bacteria from flowers with the aim of determining whether honeybees can sense these bacteria and if the bacteria affect behavioral responses of the bees to sugar solutions. 3. Honeybees decreased their responsiveness to different sugar solutions when these contained high concentrations of P. ananatis but were not deterred by solutions from which bacteria had been removed. This suggests that their reduced responsiveness was due to the taste of bacteria and not to the depletion of sugar in the solution or bacteria metabolites. Intriguingly, the bees appeared not to taste ecologically relevant low concentrations of bacteria. 4. Synthesis and applications. Our data suggest that honeybees may introduce P. ananatis bacteria into nectar in field-realistic densities during foraging trips and may thus affect nectar quality and plant fitness.}, }
@article {pmid33274051, year = {2020}, author = {Darras, KFA and Pérez, N and -, M and Dilong, L and Hanf-Dressler, T and Markolf, M and Wanger, TC}, title = {ecoSound-web: an open-source, online platform for ecoacoustics.}, journal = {F1000Research}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1224}, pmid = {33274051}, issn = {2046-1402}, abstract = {Passive acoustic monitoring of soundscapes and biodiversity produces vast amounts of audio recordings, but the management and analyses of these raw data present technical challenges. A multitude of software solutions exist, but none can fulfil all purposes required for the management, processing, navigation, analysis, and dissemination of acoustic data. The field of ecoacoustics needs a software tool that is free, evolving, and accessible. We take a step in that direction and present ecoSound-web: an open-source, online platform for ecoacoustics designed and built by ecologists and software engineers. ecoSound-web can be used for storing, organising, and sharing soundscape projects, manually creating and peer-reviewing annotations of soniferous animals and phonies, analysing audio in time and frequency, computing alpha acoustic indices, and providing reference sound libraries for different taxa. We present ecoSound-web's features, structure, and compare it with similar software. We describe its operation mode and the workflow for typical use cases such as the sampling of bird and bat communities, the use of a primate call library, and the analysis of phonies and acoustic indices. ecoSound-web is available from: https://github.com/ecomontec/ecoSound-web.}, }
@article {pmid33033341, year = {2020}, author = {de Winter, II and Umanets, A and Gort, G and Nieuwland, WH and van Hooft, P and Heitkönig, IMA and Kappeler, PM and Prins, HHT and Smidt, H}, title = {Effects of seasonality and previous logging on faecal helminth-microbiota associations in wild lemurs.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {16818}, pmid = {33033341}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Ecosystem ; Feces/microbiology/parasitology ; Female ; Forestry/*statistics &amp; numerical data ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Helminthiasis/epidemiology/parasitology ; Helminths ; Lemur/microbiology/*parasitology ; Madagascar ; Male ; Seasons ; }, abstract = {Gastrointestinal helminth-microbiota associations are shaped by various ecological processes. The effect of the ecological context of the host on the bacterial microbiome and gastrointestinal helminth parasites has been tested in a number of ecosystems and experimentally. This study takes the important step to look at these two groups at the same time and to start to examine how these communities interact in a changing host environment. Fresh faecal samples (N = 335) from eight wild Eulemur populations were collected over 2 years across Madagascar. We used 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing to characterise the bacterial microbiota composition, and faecal flotation to isolate and morphologically identify nematode eggs. Infections with nematodes of the genera Callistoura and Lemuricola occurred in all lemur populations. Seasonality significantly contributed to the observed variation in microbiota composition, especially in the dry deciduous forest. Microbial richness and Lemuricola spp. infection prevalence were highest in a previously intensely logged site, whereas Callistoura spp. showed no such pattern. In addition, we observed significant correlations between gastrointestinal parasites and bacterial microbiota composition in these lemurs, with 0.4-0.7% of the variation in faecal bacterial microbiota composition being explained by helminth infections. With this study, we show effects of environmental conditions on gastrointestinal nematodes and bacterial interactions in wild lemurs and believe it is essential to consider the potential role of microbiome-parasite associations on the hosts' GI stability, health, and survival.}, }
@article {pmid33024643, year = {2020}, author = {Fichtel, C and Dinter, K and Kappeler, PM}, title = {The lemur baseline: how lemurs compare to monkeys and apes in the Primate Cognition Test Battery.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {e10025}, pmid = {33024643}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Primates have relatively larger brains than other mammals even though brain tissue is energetically costly. Comparative studies of variation in cognitive skills allow testing of evolutionary hypotheses addressing socioecological factors driving the evolution of primate brain size. However, data on cognitive abilities for meaningful interspecific comparisons are only available for haplorhine primates (great apes, Old- and New World monkeys) although strepsirrhine primates (lemurs and lorises) serve as the best living models of ancestral primate cognitive skills, linking primates to other mammals. To begin filling this gap, we tested members of three lemur species (Microcebus murinus, Varecia variegata, Lemur catta) with the Primate Cognition Test Battery, a comprehensive set of experiments addressing physical and social cognitive skills that has previously been used in studies of haplorhines. We found no significant differences in cognitive performance among lemur species and, surprisingly, their average performance was not different from that of haplorhines in many aspects. Specifically, lemurs' overall performance was inferior in the physical domain but matched that of haplorhines in the social domain. These results question a clear-cut link between brain size and cognitive skills, suggesting a more domain-specific distribution of cognitive abilities in primates, and indicate more continuity in cognitive abilities across primate lineages than previously thought.}, }
@article {pmid32990104, year = {2020}, author = {Muirhead, CS and Srinivasan, J}, title = {Small molecule signals mediate social behaviors in C. elegans.}, journal = {Journal of neurogenetics}, volume = {34}, number = {3-4}, pages = {395-403}, pmid = {32990104}, issn = {1563-5260}, support = {R01 DC016058/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Caenorhabditis elegans/genetics/growth &amp; development/*physiology ; Chemoreceptor Cells/physiology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Genes, Helminth ; Glycolipids/chemistry/physiology ; Hermaphroditic Organisms/physiology ; Locomotion/physiology ; Male ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Molecular Structure ; Nematoda/metabolism ; Neural Pathways/physiology ; Pheromones/chemistry/*physiology ; Sex Attractants/physiology ; Sexual Behavior, Animal/physiology ; Signal Transduction ; *Social Behavior ; Starvation ; }, abstract = {The last few decades have seen the structural and functional elucidation of small-molecule chemical signals called ascarosides in C. elegans. Ascarosides mediate several biological processes in worms, ranging from development, to behavior. These signals are modular in their design architecture, with their building blocks derived from metabolic pathways. Behavioral responses are not only concentration dependent, but also are influenced by the current physiological state of the animal. Cellular and circuit-level analyses suggest that these signals constitute a complex communication system, employing both synergistic molecular elements and sex-specific neuronal circuits governing the response. In this review, we discuss research from multiple laboratories, including our own, that detail how these chemical signals govern several different social behaviors in C. elegans. We propose that the ascaroside repertoire represents a link between diverse metabolic and neurobiological life-history traits and governs the survival of C. elegans in its natural environment.}, }
@article {pmid32989147, year = {2020}, author = {Zittrell, F and Pfeiffer, K and Homberg, U}, title = {Matched-filter coding of sky polarization results in an internal sun compass in the brain of the desert locust.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {117}, number = {41}, pages = {25810-25817}, pmid = {32989147}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Brain/physiology/radiation effects ; Grasshoppers/*physiology/*radiation effects ; Orientation, Spatial ; Solar System ; Space Perception ; Sunlight ; }, abstract = {Many animals use celestial cues for spatial orientation. These include the sun and, in insects, the polarization pattern of the sky, which depends on the position of the sun. The central complex in the insect brain plays a key role in spatial orientation. In desert locusts, the angle of polarized light in the zenith above the animal and the direction of a simulated sun are represented in a compass-like fashion in the central complex, but how both compasses fit together for a unified representation of external space remained unclear. To address this question, we analyzed the sensitivity of intracellularly recorded central-complex neurons to the angle of polarized light presented from up to 33 positions in the animal's dorsal visual field and injected Neurobiotin tracer for cell identification. Neurons were polarization sensitive in large parts of the virtual sky that in some cells extended to the horizon in all directions. Neurons, moreover, were tuned to spatial patterns of polarization angles that matched the sky polarization pattern of particular sun positions. The horizontal components of these calculated solar positions were topographically encoded in the protocerebral bridge of the central complex covering 360° of space. This whole-sky polarization compass does not support the earlier reported polarization compass based on stimulation from a small spot above the animal but coincides well with the previously demonstrated direct sun compass based on unpolarized light stimulation. Therefore, direct sunlight and whole-sky polarization complement each other for robust head direction coding in the locust central complex.}, }
@article {pmid32982822, year = {2020}, author = {Schubiger, MN and Fichtel, C and Burkart, JM}, title = {Validity of Cognitive Tests for Non-human Animals: Pitfalls and Prospects.}, journal = {Frontiers in psychology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1835}, pmid = {32982822}, issn = {1664-1078}, abstract = {Comparative psychology assesses cognitive abilities and capacities of non-human animals and humans. Based on performance differences and similarities in various species in cognitive tests, it is inferred how their minds work and reconstructed how cognition might have evolved. Critically, such species comparisons are only valid and meaningful if the tasks truly capture individual and inter-specific variation in cognitive abilities rather than contextual variables that might affect task performance. Unlike in human test psychology, however, cognitive tasks for non-human primates (and most other animals) have been rarely evaluated regarding their measurement validity. We review recent studies that address how non-cognitive factors affect performance in a set of commonly used cognitive tasks, and if cognitive tests truly measure individual variation in cognitive abilities. We find that individual differences in emotional and motivational factors primarily affect performance via attention. Hence, it is crucial to systematically control for attention during cognitive tasks to obtain valid and reliable results. Aspects of test design, however, can also have a substantial effect on cognitive performance. We conclude that non-cognitive factors are a minor source of measurement error if acknowledged and properly controlled for. It is essential, however, to validate and eventually re-design several primate cognition tasks in order to ascertain that they capture the cognitive abilities they were designed to measure. This will provide a more solid base for future cognitive comparisons within primates but also across a wider range of non-human animal species.}, }
@article {pmid32975654, year = {2020}, author = {Fleischmann, PN and Grob, R and Rössler, W}, title = {Magnetoreception in Hymenoptera: importance for navigation.}, journal = {Animal cognition}, volume = {23}, number = {6}, pages = {1051-1061}, pmid = {32975654}, issn = {1435-9456}, support = {FL1060/1-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; RO1177/7-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; GSO/KT 16//Klaus Tschira Stiftung/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants ; Cues ; Homing Behavior ; Learning ; Walking ; }, abstract = {The use of information provided by the geomagnetic field (GMF) for navigation is widespread across the animal kingdom. At the same time, the magnetic sense is one of the least understood senses. Here, we review evidence for magnetoreception in Hymenoptera. We focus on experiments aiming to shed light on the role of the GMF for navigation. Both honeybees and desert ants are well-studied experimental models for navigation, and both use the GMF for specific navigational tasks under certain conditions. Cataglyphis desert ants use the GMF as a compass cue for path integration during their initial learning walks to align their gaze directions towards the nest entrance. This represents the first example for the use of the GMF in an insect species for a genuine navigational task under natural conditions and with all other navigational cues available. We argue that the recently described magnetic compass in Cataglyphis opens up a new integrative approach to understand the mechanisms underlying magnetoreception in Hymenoptera on different biological levels.}, }
@article {pmid32973409, year = {2020}, author = {Junker, J and Petrovan, SO and Arroyo-RodrÍguez, V and Boonratana, R and Byler, D and Chapman, CA and Chetry, D and Cheyne, SM and Cornejo, FM and CortÉs-Ortiz, L and Cowlishaw, G and Christie, AP and Crockford, C and Torre, S and De Melo, FR and Fan, P and Grueter, CC and GuzmÁn-Caro, DC and Heymann, EW and Herbinger, I and Hoang, MD and Horwich, RH and Humle, T and Ikemeh, RA and Imong, IS and Jerusalinsky, L and Johnson, SE and Kappeler, PM and Kierulff, MCM and KonÉ, I and Kormos, R and Le, KQ and Li, B and Marshall, AJ and Meijaard, E and Mittermeier, RA and Muroyama, Y and Neugebauer, E and Orth, L and Palacios, E and Papworth, SK and Plumptre, AJ and Rawson, BM and Refisch, J and Ratsimbazafy, J and Roos, C and Setchell, JM and Smith, RK and Sop, T and Schwitzer, C and Slater, K and Strum, SC and Sutherland, WJ and Talebi, M and Wallis, J and Wich, S and Williamson, EA and Wittig, RM and KÜhl, HS}, title = {A Severe Lack of Evidence Limits Effective Conservation of the World's Primates.}, journal = {Bioscience}, volume = {70}, number = {9}, pages = {794-803}, pmid = {32973409}, issn = {0006-3568}, abstract = {Threats to biodiversity are well documented. However, to effectively conserve species and their habitats, we need to know which conservation interventions do (or do not) work. Evidence-based conservation evaluates interventions within a scientific framework. The Conservation Evidence project has summarized thousands of studies testing conservation interventions and compiled these as synopses for various habitats and taxa. In the present article, we analyzed the interventions assessed in the primate synopsis and compared these with other taxa. We found that despite intensive efforts to study primates and the extensive threats they face, less than 1% of primate studies evaluated conservation effectiveness. The studies often lacked quantitative data, failed to undertake postimplementation monitoring of populations or individuals, or implemented several interventions at once. Furthermore, the studies were biased toward specific taxa, geographic regions, and interventions. We describe barriers for testing primate conservation interventions and propose actions to improve the conservation evidence base to protect this endangered and globally important taxon.}, }
@article {pmid32968780, year = {2020}, author = {Değirmenci, L and Geiger, D and Rogé Ferreira, FL and Keller, A and Krischke, B and Beye, M and Steffan-Dewenter, I and Scheiner, R}, title = {CRISPR/Cas 9-Mediated Mutations as a New Tool for Studying Taste in Honeybees.}, journal = {Chemical senses}, volume = {45}, number = {8}, pages = {655-666}, doi = {10.1093/chemse/bjaa063}, pmid = {32968780}, issn = {1464-3553}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/*genetics/*physiology ; CRISPR-Associated Protein 9/*metabolism ; *CRISPR-Cas Systems ; *Mutagenesis ; *Mutation ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/genetics ; Taste/*genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Honeybees rely on nectar as their main source of carbohydrates. Sucrose, glucose, and fructose are the main components of plant nectars. Intriguingly, honeybees express only 3 putative sugar receptors (AmGr1, AmGr2, and AmGr3), which is in stark contrast to many other insects and vertebrates. The sugar receptors are only partially characterized. AmGr1 detects different sugars including sucrose and glucose. AmGr2 is assumed to act as a co-receptor only, while AmGr3 is assumedly a fructose receptor. We show that honeybee gustatory receptor AmGr3 is highly specialized for fructose perception when expressed in Xenopus oocytes. When we introduced nonsense mutations to the respective AmGr3 gene using CRISPR/Cas9 in eggs of female workers, the resulting mutants displayed almost a complete loss of responsiveness to fructose. In contrast, responses to sucrose were normal. Nonsense mutations introduced by CRISPR/Cas9 in honeybees can thus induce a measurable behavioral change and serve to characterize the function of taste receptors in vivo. CRISPR/Cas9 is an excellent novel tool for characterizing honeybee taste receptors in vivo. Biophysical receptor characterization in Xenopus oocytes and nonsense mutation of AmGr3 in honeybees unequivocally demonstrate that this receptor is highly specific for fructose.}, }
@article {pmid32955732, year = {2020}, author = {Helfrecht, C and Roulette, JW and Lane, A and Sintayehu, B and Meehan, CL}, title = {Life history and socioecology of infancy.}, journal = {American journal of physical anthropology}, volume = {173}, number = {4}, pages = {619-629}, doi = {10.1002/ajpa.24145}, pmid = {32955732}, issn = {1096-8644}, mesh = {Adolescent ; Adult ; Africa South of the Sahara ; Anthropology ; *Biological Evolution ; Caregivers ; *Cooperative Behavior ; Environment ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Care ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mother-Child Relations/*ethnology ; Mothers ; *Social Support ; Sociobiology ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Evolution of human maternal investment strategies is hypothesized to be tied to biological constraints and environmental cues. It is likely, however, that the socioecological context in which mothers' decisions are made is equally important. Yet, a lack of studies examining maternal investment from a cross-cultural, holistic approach has hindered our ability to investigate the evolution of maternal investment strategies. Here, we take a systems-level approach to study how human life history characteristics, environments, and socioecology influence maternal investment in their children.<br><br>MATERIALS AND METHODS: We test how infant age and sex, maternal age, parity, and child loss, and the composition of a child's cooperative breeding network are associated with maternal investment across three small-scale (hunter-gatherer, horticultural, and agropastoral), sub-Saharan populations (N = 212). Naturalistic behavioral observations also enable us to illustrate the breadth and depth of the human cooperative breeding system.<br><br>RESULTS: Results indicate that infant age, maternal age and parity, and an infant's cooperative childcare network are significantly associated with maternal investment, controlling for population. We also find that human allomaternal care is conducted by a range of caregivers, occupying different relational, sex, and age categories. Moreover, investment by allomothers is widely distributed.<br><br>DISCUSSION: Our findings illustrate the social context in which children are reared in contemporary small-scale populations, and in which they were likely reared throughout our evolutionary history. The diversity of the caregiving network, coupled with life history characteristics, is predictive of maternal investment strategies, demonstrating the importance of cooperation in the evolution of human ontogeny.}, }
@article {pmid32955622, year = {2021}, author = {Rasolofoniaina, BN and Kappeler, PM and Fichtel, C}, title = {Neophobia and social facilitation in narrow-striped mongooses.}, journal = {Animal cognition}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {165-175}, pmid = {32955622}, issn = {1435-9456}, support = {57129429//Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DE)/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; *Herpestidae ; Learning ; Social Facilitation ; *Social Learning ; }, abstract = {Social learning is widespread in the animal kingdom, but individuals can differ in how they acquire and use social information. Personality traits, such as neophobia, may, for example, promote individual learning strategies. Here, we contribute comparative data on social learning strategies in carnivorans by examining whether narrow-striped mongooses (Mungotictis decemlineata), a group-living Malagasy euplerid, learn socially and whether neophobia influences social learning. To this end, we tested seven wild female groups with a two-option artificial feeding box, using a demonstrator-observer paradigm, and conducted novel object tests to assess neophobia. In five groups, one individual was trained as a demonstrator displaying one of the techniques, whereas the other two groups served as control groups. Neophobia did not co-vary with an individual's propensity to seek social information. However, less neophobic individuals, and individuals that tended to seek social information, learned the task faster. Moreover, individuals in demonstrator groups learned the task faster than those in groups without a demonstrator and used the demonstrated technique more often. Hence, narrow-striped mongooses rely on social facilitation and local or stimulus enhancement to solve new problems. Finally, our results suggest that several individual characteristics should be taken into consideration to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of social learning strategies.}, }
@article {pmid32895936, year = {2021}, author = {Cantor, M and Maldonado-Chaparro, AA and Beck, KB and Brandl, HB and Carter, GG and He, P and Hillemann, F and Klarevas-Irby, JA and Ogino, M and Papageorgiou, D and Prox, L and Farine, DR}, title = {The importance of individual-to-society feedbacks in animal ecology and evolution.}, journal = {The Journal of animal ecology}, volume = {90}, number = {1}, pages = {27-44}, doi = {10.1111/1365-2656.13336}, pmid = {32895936}, issn = {1365-2656}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Ecology ; Feedback ; *Social Behavior ; Social Environment ; }, abstract = {The social decisions that individuals make-who to interact with and how frequently-give rise to social structure. The resulting social structure then determines how individuals interact with their surroundings-resources and risks, pathogens and predators, competitors and cooperators. However, despite intensive research on (a) how individuals make social decisions and (b) how social structure shapes social processes (e.g. cooperation, competition and conflict), there are still few studies linking these two perspectives. These perspectives represent two halves of a feedback loop: individual behaviour scales up to define the social environment, and this environment, in turn, feeds back by shaping the selective agents that drive individual behaviour. We first review well-established research areas that have captured both elements of this feedback loop-host-pathogen dynamics and cultural transmission. We then highlight areas where social structure is well studied but the two perspectives remain largely disconnected. Finally, we synthesise existing research on 14 distinct research topics to identify new prospects where the interplay between social structure and social processes are likely to be important but remain largely unexplored. Our review shows that the inherent links between individuals' traits, their social decisions, social structure and social evolution, warrant more consideration. By mapping the existing and missing connections among many research areas, our review highlights where explicitly considering social structure and the individual-to-society feedbacks can reveal new dimensions to old questions in ecology and evolution.}, }
@article {pmid32854218, year = {2020}, author = {Leonhardt, SD and Lihoreau, M and Spaethe, J}, title = {Mechanisms of Nutritional Resource Exploitation by Insects.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {32854218}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Insects have evolved an extraordinary range of nutritional adaptations to exploit other animals, plants, bacteria, fungi and soils as resources in terrestrial and aquatic environments. This special issue provides some new insights into the mechanisms underlying these adaptations. Contributions comprise lab and field studies investigating the chemical, physiological, cognitive and behavioral mechanisms that enable resource exploitation and nutrient intake regulation in insects. The collection of papers highlights the need for more studies on the comparative sensory ecology, underlying nutritional quality assessment, cue perception and decision making to fully understand how insects adjust resource selection and exploitation in response to environmental heterogeneity and variability.}, }
@article {pmid32842923, year = {2020}, author = {Ruedenauer, FA and Sydow, D and Spaethe, J and Leonhardt, SD}, title = {Young bumblebees may rely on both direct pollen cues and early experience when foraging.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {287}, number = {1933}, pages = {20201615}, pmid = {32842923}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/*physiology ; *Cues ; Drosophila melanogaster ; *Feeding Behavior ; Larva ; Plant Nectar ; *Pollen ; Pollination ; Reproduction ; }, abstract = {An adequate supply of macro- and micronutrients determines health and reproductive success in most animals. Many bee species, for example, collect nectar and pollen to satisfy their demands for carbohydrates, protein and fat, respectively. Bees can assess the quality of pollen by feeding on it, but also pre-digestively by means of chemotactile assessment. Whether they additionally use larval nutritional experience, as has been shown for Drosophila melanogaster and Bombyx mori, is unknown. In this study, we tested whether pollen selection of bumblebee foragers is affected by nutritional experience (acquired before the onset of foraging) or solely by food quality. Bumblebee larvae were fed with one out of three different pollen blends. As adults, they were offered all three blends when they started foraging for the first time. We found all treatment groups to prefer one out of the three blends. This blend provided the highest nutritional quality and increased the bees' lifespan, as shown by feeding studies with microcolonies. Besides, bees also chose the pollen blend fed during their larval stage more often than expected, indicating a significant effect of pre-foraging experience on adult pollen foraging behaviour. The combination of both direct pollen quality assessment and pre-foraging experience (i.e. during the larval phase or as early imagines) seems to allow foraging bumblebees to efficiently select the most suitable pollen for their colony.}, }
@article {pmid32811314, year = {2020}, author = {Imrit, MA and Dogantzis, KA and Harpur, BA and Zayed, A}, title = {Eusociality influences the strength of negative selection on insect genomes.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {287}, number = {1933}, pages = {20201512}, pmid = {32811314}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/genetics ; Bees/genetics ; *Behavior, Animal ; *Biological Evolution ; *Genome, Insect ; Insecta/genetics ; Phenotype ; Selection, Genetic ; *Social Behavior ; Wasps ; }, abstract = {While much of the focus of sociobiology concerns identifying genomic changes that influence social behaviour, we know little about the consequences of social behaviour on genome evolution. It has been hypothesized that social evolution can influence the strength of negative selection via two mechanisms. First, division of labour can influence the efficiency of negative selection in a caste-specific manner; indirect negative selection on worker traits is theoretically expected to be weaker than direct selection on queen traits. Second, increasing social complexity is expected to lead to relaxed negative selection because of its influence on effective population size. We tested these two hypotheses by estimating the strength of negative selection in honeybees, bumblebees, paper wasps, fire ants and six other insects that span the range of social complexity. We found no consistent evidence that negative selection was significantly stronger on queen-biased genes relative to worker-biased genes. However, we found strong evidence that increased social complexity reduced the efficiency of negative selection. Our study clearly illustrates how changes in behaviour can influence patterns of genome evolution by modulating the strength of natural selection.}, }
@article {pmid32762777, year = {2020}, author = {Dent, R}, title = {Subject 01: exemplary Indigenous masculinity in Cold War genetics.}, journal = {British journal for the history of science}, volume = {53}, number = {3}, pages = {311-332}, doi = {10.1017/S000708742000031X}, pmid = {32762777}, issn = {1474-001X}, abstract = {In 1962 a team of scientists conducted their first joint fieldwork in a Xavante village in Central Brazil. Recycling long-standing notions that living Indigenous people represented human prehistory, the scientists saw Indigenous people as useful subjects of study not only due to their closeness to nature, but also due to their sociocultural and political realities. The geneticists' vision crystalized around one subject - the famous chief Apöwẽ. Through Apöwẽ, the geneticists fixated on what they perceived as the political prowess, impressive physique, and masculine reproductive aptitude of Xavante men. These constructions of charismatic masculinity came at the expense of recognizing how profoundly colonial expansion into Mato Grosso had destabilized Xavante communities, stripping them of their land and introducing epidemic disease. The geneticists' theorizing prefigured debates to come in sociobiology, and set up an enduring research programme that Apöwẽ continues to animate even four decades after his death.}, }
@article {pmid32642760, year = {2021}, author = {Poelstra, JW and Salmona, J and Tiley, GP and Schüßler, D and Blanco, MB and Andriambeloson, JB and Bouchez, O and Campbell, CR and Etter, PD and Hohenlohe, PA and Hunnicutt, KE and Iribar, A and Johnson, EA and Kappeler, PM and Larsen, PA and Manzi, S and Ralison, JM and Randrianambinina, B and Rasoloarison, RM and Rasolofoson, DW and Stahlke, AR and Weisrock, DW and Williams, RC and Chikhi, L and Louis, EE and Radespiel, U and Yoder, AD}, title = {Cryptic Patterns of Speciation in Cryptic Primates: Microendemic Mouse Lemurs and the Multispecies Coalescent.}, journal = {Systematic biology}, volume = {70}, number = {2}, pages = {203-218}, doi = {10.1093/sysbio/syaa053}, pmid = {32642760}, issn = {1076-836X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Cheirogaleidae/classification/genetics ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; Ecosystem ; Fossils ; *Genetic Speciation ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Mouse lemurs (Microcebus) are a radiation of morphologically cryptic primates distributed throughout Madagascar for which the number of recognized species has exploded in the past two decades. This taxonomic revision has prompted understandable concern that there has been substantial oversplitting in the mouse lemur clade. Here, we investigate mouse lemur diversity in a region in northeastern Madagascar with high levels of microendemism and predicted habitat loss. We analyzed RADseq data with multispecies coalescent (MSC) species delimitation methods for two pairs of sister lineages that include three named species and an undescribed lineage previously identified to have divergent mtDNA. Marked differences in effective population sizes, levels of gene flow, patterns of isolation-by-distance, and species delimitation results were found among the two pairs of lineages. Whereas all tests support the recognition of the presently undescribed lineage as a separate species, the species-level distinction of two previously described species, M. mittermeieri and M. lehilahytsara is not supported-a result that is particularly striking when using the genealogical discordance index (gdi). Nonsister lineages occur sympatrically in two of the localities sampled for this study, despite an estimated divergence time of less than 1 Ma. This suggests rapid evolution of reproductive isolation in the focal lineages and in the mouse lemur clade generally. The divergence time estimates reported here are based on the MSC calibrated with pedigree-based mutation rates and are considerably more recent than previously published fossil-calibrated relaxed-clock estimates. We discuss the possible explanations for this discrepancy, noting that there are theoretical justifications for preferring the MSC estimates in this case. [Cryptic species; effective population size; microendemism; multispecies coalescent; speciation; species delimitation.].}, }
@article {pmid32607099, year = {2020}, author = {Yordy, J and Kraus, C and Hayward, JJ and White, ME and Shannon, LM and Creevy, KE and Promislow, DEL and Boyko, AR}, title = {Body size, inbreeding, and lifespan in domestic dogs.}, journal = {Conservation genetics (Print)}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {137-148}, pmid = {32607099}, issn = {1566-0621}, support = {U19 AG057377/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Inbreeding poses a real or potential threat to nearly every species of conservation concern. Inbreeding leads to loss of diversity at the individual level, which can cause inbreeding depression, and at the population level, which can hinder ability to respond to a changing environment. In closed populations such as endangered species and ex situ breeding programs, some degree of inbreeding is inevitable. It is therefore vital to understand how different patterns of breeding and inbreeding can affect fitness in real animals. Domestic dogs provide an excellent model, showing dramatic variation in degree of inbreeding and in lifespan, an important aspect of fitness that is known to be impacted by inbreeding in other species. There is a strong negative correlation between body size and lifespan in dogs, but it is unknown whether the higher rate of aging in large dogs is due to body size per se or some other factor associated with large size. We used dense genome-wide SNP array data to calculate average inbreeding for over 100 dog breeds based on autozygous segment length and found that large breeds tend to have higher coefficients of inbreeding than small breeds. We then used data from the Veterinary medical Database and other published sources to estimate life expectancies for pure and mixed breed dogs. When controlling for size, variation in inbreeding was not associated with life expectancy across breeds. When comparing mixed versus purebred dogs, however, mixed breed dogs lived about 1.2 years longer on average than size-matched purebred dogs. Furthermore, individual pedigree coefficients of inbreeding and lifespans for over 9000 golden retrievers showed that inbreeding does negatively impact lifespan at the individual level. Registration data from the American Kennel Club suggest that the molecular inbreeding patterns observed in purebred dogs result from specific breeding practices and/or founder effects and not the current population size. Our results suggest that recent inbreeding, as reflected in variation within a breed, is more likely to affect fitness than historic inbreeding, as reflected in variation among breeds. Our results also indicate that occasional outcrosses, as in mixed breed dogs, can have a substantial positive effect on fitness.}, }
@article {pmid32592751, year = {2020}, author = {Sharma, A and Singh, P and Sarmah, BK and Nandi, SP}, title = {Quorum sensing: its role in microbial social networking.}, journal = {Research in microbiology}, volume = {171}, number = {5-6}, pages = {159-164}, doi = {10.1016/j.resmic.2020.06.003}, pmid = {32592751}, issn = {1769-7123}, mesh = {Acyl-Butyrolactones/metabolism ; Endophytes/physiology ; Fungi/physiology ; Gram-Negative Bacteria/*physiology ; Gram-Positive Bacteria/*physiology ; Microbial Interactions ; Plants/microbiology ; *Quorum Sensing ; }, abstract = {Twentieth century observed a huge paradigm shift in the field of sociobiology, which moved from social intelligence of animals to microbes. Quorum Sensing Molecules (QSMs) are the small chemical molecules, which establish the mode of communication among microbes, and is called Quorum Sensing (QS). These molecules are crucial for determining the decisions of large groups of cells, which is a density-dependent process. Thus, this mechanism draws a very thin line between bacteria that are actually prokaryotes and clustered bacteria mimicking eukaryotes. This review discusses about the designs of microbial communication networks, and the role of QS in plant-microbe interaction.}, }
@article {pmid32563109, year = {2020}, author = {Sarkar, S and Majumder, P}, title = {COVID 19 draws attention to the adaptive evolutionary perspective of certain personality traits.}, journal = {Asian journal of psychiatry}, volume = {53}, number = {}, pages = {102215}, pmid = {32563109}, issn = {1876-2026}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Psychological ; *COVID-19/epidemiology/psychology ; Emotional Adjustment/physiology ; Human Characteristics ; Humans ; Interpersonal Relations ; Personality/*physiology ; *Resilience, Psychological ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Sociobiology ; }, }
@article {pmid32537486, year = {2020}, author = {Charpentier, MJE and Harté, M and Poirotte, C and de Bellefon, JM and Laubi, B and Kappeler, PM and Renoult, JP}, title = {Same father, same face: Deep learning reveals selection for signaling kinship in a wild primate.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {6}, number = {22}, pages = {eaba3274}, pmid = {32537486}, issn = {2375-2548}, mesh = {Animals ; Artificial Intelligence ; *Deep Learning ; Fathers ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; *Mandrillus ; Primates ; Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {Many animals rely on facial traits to recognize their kin; however, whether these traits have been selected specifically for this function remains unknown. Using deep learning for face recognition, we present the first evidence that interindividual facial resemblance has been selected to signal paternal kinship. Mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx) live in matrilineal societies, in which females spend their entire lives not only with maternal half-sisters (MHS) but also with paternal half-sisters (PHS). We show that PHS have more differentiated social relationships compared to nonkin, suggesting the existence of kin recognition mechanisms. We further demonstrate that facial resemblance increases with genetic relatedness. However, PHS resemble each other visually more than MHS do, despite both kin categories sharing similar degrees of genetic relatedness. This paternally derived facial resemblance among PHS indicates selection to facilitate kin recognition. This study also highlights the potential of artificial intelligence to study phenotypic evolution.}, }
@article {pmid32516611, year = {2020}, author = {Jundi, BE}, title = {Underwater Path Integration: Using the Celestial Dome to Get Back Home.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {30}, number = {11}, pages = {R639-R642}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2020.04.019}, pmid = {32516611}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; Crustacea ; Cues ; *Mantodea ; *Orientation ; Orientation, Spatial ; }, abstract = {A new study shows that mantis shrimp employ path integration, based on celestial and egocentric cues as orientation references, to return to their underwater burrows.}, }
@article {pmid32494622, year = {2020}, author = {Stöckl, AL and O'Carroll, DC and Warrant, EJ}, title = {Hawkmoth lamina monopolar cells act as dynamic spatial filters to optimize vision at different light levels.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {6}, number = {16}, pages = {eaaz8645}, pmid = {32494622}, issn = {2375-2548}, abstract = {How neural form and function are connected is a central question of neuroscience. One prominent functional hypothesis, from the beginnings of neuroanatomical study, states that laterally extending dendrites of insect lamina monopolar cells (LMCs) spatially integrate visual information. We provide the first direct functional evidence for this hypothesis using intracellular recordings from type II LMCs in the hawkmoth Macroglossum stellatarum. We show that their spatial receptive fields broaden with decreasing light intensities, thus trading spatial resolution for higher sensitivity. These dynamic changes in LMC spatial properties can be explained by the density and lateral extent of their dendritic arborizations. Our results thus provide the first physiological evidence for a century-old hypothesis, directly correlating physiological response properties with distinctive dendritic morphology.}, }
@article {pmid32420847, year = {2020}, author = {Scharf, HM and Suarez, AV and Reeve, HK and Hauber, ME}, title = {The evolution of conspecific acceptance threshold models.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {375}, number = {1802}, pages = {20190475}, pmid = {32420847}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {Animals ; *Cues ; Models, Biological ; *Recognition, Psychology ; }, abstract = {How do organisms balance different types of recognition errors when cues associated with desirable and undesirable individuals or resources overlap? This is a fundamental question of signal detection theory (SDT). As applied in sociobiology, SDT is not limited to a single context or animal taxon, therefore its application can span what may be considered dissimilar systems. One of the applications of SDT is the suite of acceptance threshold models proposed by Reeve (1989), which analysed how individuals should balance acceptance and rejection errors in social discrimination decisions across a variety of recognition contexts, distinguished by how these costs and benefits relatively combine. We conducted a literature review to evaluate whether these models' specific predictions have been upheld. By examining over 350 research papers, we quantify how Reeve's models (Reeve 1989 Am. Nat.133, 407-435 (doi:10.1086/284926)) have influenced the field of ecological and behavioural recognition systems research. We found overall empirical support for the predictions of the specific models proposed by Reeve, and argue for further expansion of their applications into more diverse taxonomic and additional recognition contexts. This article is part of the theme issue 'Signal detection theory in recognition systems: from evolving models to experimental tests'.}, }
@article {pmid32374034, year = {2021}, author = {Hensgen, R and England, L and Homberg, U and Pfeiffer, K}, title = {Neuroarchitecture of the central complex in the brain of the honeybee: Neuronal cell types.}, journal = {The Journal of comparative neurology}, volume = {529}, number = {1}, pages = {159-186}, doi = {10.1002/cne.24941}, pmid = {32374034}, issn = {1096-9861}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/*cytology ; Brain/anatomy &amp; histology/*cytology ; *Brain Chemistry ; Neurons/*chemistry ; Neuropil/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {The central complex (CX) in the insect brain is a higher order integration center that controls a number of behaviors, most prominently goal directed locomotion. The CX comprises the protocerebral bridge (PB), the upper division of the central body (CBU), the lower division of the central body (CBL), and the paired noduli (NO). Although spatial orientation has been extensively studied in honeybees at the behavioral level, most electrophysiological and anatomical analyses have been carried out in other insect species, leaving the morphology and physiology of neurons that constitute the CX in the honeybee mostly enigmatic. The goal of this study was to morphologically identify neuronal cell types of the CX in the honeybee Apis mellifera. By performing iontophoretic dye injections into the CX, we traced 16 subtypes of neuron that connect a subdivision of the CX with other regions in the bee's central brain, and eight subtypes that mainly interconnect different subdivisions of the CX. They establish extensive connections between the CX and the lateral complex, the superior protocerebrum and the posterior protocerebrum. Characterized neuron classes and subtypes are morphologically similar to those described in other insects, suggesting considerable conservation in the neural network relevant for orientation.}, }
@article {pmid32362060, year = {2020}, author = {Noonan, MJ and Fleming, CH and Tucker, MA and Kays, R and Harrison, AL and Crofoot, MC and Abrahms, B and Alberts, SC and Ali, AH and Altmann, J and Antunes, PC and Attias, N and Belant, JL and Beyer, DE and Bidner, LR and Blaum, N and Boone, RB and Caillaud, D and de Paula, RC and de la Torre, JA and Dekker, J and DePerno, CS and Farhadinia, M and Fennessy, J and Fichtel, C and Fischer, C and Ford, A and Goheen, JR and Havmøller, RW and Hirsch, BT and Hurtado, C and Isbell, LA and Janssen, R and Jeltsch, F and Kaczensky, P and Kaneko, Y and Kappeler, P and Katna, A and Kauffman, M and Koch, F and Kulkarni, A and LaPoint, S and Leimgruber, P and Macdonald, DW and Markham, AC and McMahon, L and Mertes, K and Moorman, CE and Morato, RG and Moßbrucker, AM and Mourão, G and O'Connor, D and Oliveira-Santos, LGR and Pastorini, J and Patterson, BD and Rachlow, J and Ranglack, DH and Reid, N and Scantlebury, DM and Scott, DM and Selva, N and Sergiel, A and Songer, M and Songsasen, N and Stabach, JA and Stacy-Dawes, J and Swingen, MB and Thompson, JJ and Ullmann, W and Vanak, AT and Thaker, M and Wilson, JW and Yamazaki, K and Yarnell, RW and Zieba, F and Zwijacz-Kozica, T and Fagan, WF and Mueller, T and Calabrese, JM}, title = {Effects of body size on estimation of mammalian area requirements.}, journal = {Conservation biology : the journal of the Society for Conservation Biology}, volume = {34}, number = {4}, pages = {1017-1028}, pmid = {32362060}, issn = {1523-1739}, support = {/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Body Size ; *Conservation of Natural Resources ; Endangered Species ; Homing Behavior ; Humans ; *Mammals ; }, abstract = {Accurately quantifying species' area requirements is a prerequisite for effective area-based conservation. This typically involves collecting tracking data on species of interest and then conducting home-range analyses. Problematically, autocorrelation in tracking data can result in space needs being severely underestimated. Based on the previous work, we hypothesized the magnitude of underestimation varies with body mass, a relationship that could have serious conservation implications. To evaluate this hypothesis for terrestrial mammals, we estimated home-range areas with global positioning system (GPS) locations from 757 individuals across 61 globally distributed mammalian species with body masses ranging from 0.4 to 4000 kg. We then applied block cross-validation to quantify bias in empirical home-range estimates. Area requirements of mammals <10 kg were underestimated by a mean approximately15%, and species weighing approximately100 kg were underestimated by approximately50% on average. Thus, we found area estimation was subject to autocorrelation-induced bias that was worse for large species. Combined with the fact that extinction risk increases as body mass increases, the allometric scaling of bias we observed suggests the most threatened species are also likely to be those with the least accurate home-range estimates. As a correction, we tested whether data thinning or autocorrelation-informed home-range estimation minimized the scaling effect of autocorrelation on area estimates. Data thinning required an approximately93% data loss to achieve statistical independence with 95% confidence and was, therefore, not a viable solution. In contrast, autocorrelation-informed home-range estimation resulted in consistently accurate estimates irrespective of mass. When relating body mass to home range size, we detected that correcting for autocorrelation resulted in a scaling exponent significantly >1, meaning the scaling of the relationship changed substantially at the upper end of the mass spectrum.}, }
@article {pmid32351370, year = {2020}, author = {Scheiner, R and Frantzmann, F and Jäger, M and Mitesser, O and Helfrich-Förster, C and Pauls, D}, title = {A Novel Thermal-Visual Place Learning Paradigm for Honeybees (Apis mellifera).}, journal = {Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {56}, pmid = {32351370}, issn = {1662-5153}, support = {U58 DP001979/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Honeybees (Apis mellifera) have fascinating navigational skills and learning capabilities in the field. To decipher the mechanisms underlying place learning in honeybees, we need paradigms to study place learning of individual honeybees under controlled laboratory conditions. Here, we present a novel visual place learning arena for honeybees which relies on high temperatures as aversive stimuli. Honeybees learn to locate a safe spot in an unpleasantly warm arena, relying on a visual panorama. Bees can solve this task at a temperature of 46°C, while at temperatures above 48°C bees die quickly. This new paradigm, which is based on pioneering work on Drosophila, allows us now to investigate thermal-visual place learning of individual honeybees in the laboratory, for example after controlled genetic knockout or pharmacological intervention.}, }
@article {pmid32337712, year = {2020}, author = {Habenstein, J and Amini, E and Grübel, K and El Jundi, B and Rössler, W}, title = {The brain of Cataglyphis ants: Neuronal organization and visual projections.}, journal = {The Journal of comparative neurology}, volume = {528}, number = {18}, pages = {3479-3506}, doi = {10.1002/cne.24934}, pmid = {32337712}, issn = {1096-9861}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*anatomy &amp; histology/*physiology ; Brain/*anatomy &amp; histology/physiology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Learning/physiology ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Neurons/cytology/physiology ; Neuropil/cytology/physiology ; Spatial Navigation/*physiology ; Visual Pathways/*anatomy &amp; histology/physiology ; Visual Perception/physiology ; }, abstract = {Cataglyphis ants are known for their outstanding navigational abilities. They return to their inconspicuous nest after far-reaching foraging trips using path integration, and whenever available, learn and memorize visual features of panoramic sceneries. To achieve this, the ants combine directional visual information from celestial cues and panoramic scenes with distance information from an intrinsic odometer. The largely vision-based navigation in Cataglyphis requires sophisticated neuronal networks to process the broad repertoire of visual stimuli. Although Cataglyphis ants have been subjected to many neuroethological studies, little is known about the general neuronal organization of their central brain and the visual pathways beyond major circuits. Here, we provide a comprehensive, three-dimensional neuronal map of synapse-rich neuropils in the brain of Cataglyphis nodus including major connecting fiber systems. In addition, we examined neuronal tracts underlying the processing of visual information in more detail. This study revealed a total of 33 brain neuropils and 30 neuronal fiber tracts including six distinct tracts between the optic lobes and the cerebrum. We also discuss the importance of comparative studies on insect brain architecture for a profound understanding of neuronal networks and their function.}, }
@article {pmid32330550, year = {2020}, author = {Rudolph, K and Fichtel, C and Heistermann, M and Kappeler, PM}, title = {Dynamics and determinants of glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations in wild Verreaux's sifakas.}, journal = {Hormones and behavior}, volume = {124}, number = {}, pages = {104760}, doi = {10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104760}, pmid = {32330550}, issn = {1095-6867}, mesh = {Animals ; Behavior, Animal/physiology ; Dominance-Subordination ; Eating/physiology ; Energy Metabolism/physiology ; Feces/chemistry ; Female ; Glucocorticoids/analysis/*metabolism ; Indriidae/metabolism/*physiology ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Reproduction/physiology ; Seasons ; Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {Glucocorticoids have wide-ranging effects on animals' behaviour, but many of these effects remain poorly understood because numerous confounding factors have often been neglected in previous studies. Here, we present data from a 2-year study of 7 groups of wild Verreaux's sifakas (Propithecus verreauxi), in which we examined concentrations of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCMs, n = 2350 samples) simultaneously in relation to ambient temperatures, food intake, rank, reproduction, adult sex ratios, social interactions, vigilance and self-scratching. Multi-variate analyses revealed that fGCM concentrations were positively correlated with increases in daily temperature fluctuations and tended to decrease with increasing fruit intake. fGCM concentrations increased when males were sexually mature and began to disperse, and dominant males had higher fGCM concentrations than subordinate males. In contrast to males, older females showed a non-significant trend to have lower fGCM levels, potentially reflecting differences in male and female life-history strategies. Reproducing females had the highest fGCM concentrations during late gestation and had higher fGCM levels than non-reproducing females, except during early lactation. Variation in fGCM concentrations was not associated with variation in social interactions, adult sex ratios, vigilance and self-scratching. Altogether, we show that measures of glucocorticoid output constitute appropriate tools for studying energetic burdens of ecological and reproductive challenges. However, they seem to be insufficient indicators for immediate endocrinological responses to social and nonsocial behaviours that are not directly linked to energy metabolism.}, }
@article {pmid32326445, year = {2020}, author = {Grund-Mueller, N and Ruedenauer, FA and Spaethe, J and Leonhardt, SD}, title = {Adding Amino Acids to a Sucrose Diet Is Not Sufficient to Support Longevity of Adult Bumble Bees.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {32326445}, issn = {2075-4450}, support = {LE 2750/1-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; LE 2750/5-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; SP1380/1-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; }, abstract = {Dietary macro-nutrients (i.e., carbohydrates, protein, and fat) are important for bee larval development and, thus, colony health and fitness. To which extent different diets (varying in macro-nutrient composition) affect adult bees and whether they can thrive on nectar as the sole amino acid source has, however, been little investigated. We investigated how diets varying in protein concentration and overall nutrient composition affected consumption, longevity, and breeding behavior of the buff-tailed bumble bee, Bombus terrestris (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Queenless micro-colonies were fed either natural nutrient sources (pollen), nearly pure protein (i.e., the milk protein casein), or sucrose solutions with low and with high essential amino acid content in concentrations as can be found in nectar. We observed micro-colonies for 110 days. We found that longevity was highest for pure pollen and lowest for pure sucrose solution and sucrose solution supplemented with amino acids in concentrations as found in the nectar of several plant species. Adding higher concentrations of amino acids to sucrose solution did only slightly increase longevity compared to sucrose alone. Consequently, sucrose solution with the applied concentrations and proportions of amino acids or other protein sources (e.g., casein) alone did not meet the nutritional needs of healthy adult bumble bees. In fact, longevity was highest and reproduction only successful in micro-colonies fed pollen. These results indicate that, in addition to carbohydrates and protein, adult bumble bees, like larvae, need further nutrients (e.g., lipids and micro-nutrients) for their well-being. An appropriate nutritional composition seemed to be best provided by floral pollen, suggesting that pollen is an essential dietary component not only for larvae but also for adult bees.}, }
@article {pmid32218967, year = {2020}, author = {Dolotovskaya, S and Walker, S and Heymann, EW}, title = {What makes a pair bond in a Neotropical primate: female and male contributions.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {191489}, pmid = {32218967}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Pair living and pair bonding are rare in mammals, and the mechanisms of their maintenance remain a puzzle. Titi monkeys, a 'textbook example' for 'monogamous' primates, have strong pair bonds and extensive male care. To investigate mechanisms of pair-bond maintenance, we studied seven wild groups of red titis (Plecturocebus cupreus) in Peruvian Amazonia over a period of 14 months. We analysed pair bonds by measuring proximity, grooming and approaches/leaves within pairs, and collected data on intergroup encounters. Females contributed to grooming more than males, especially during infant dependency, when most of the grooming within pairs was done by females. Females were also more active in controlling proximity between pair mates, making most of the approaches and leaves. Males, on the other hand, invested more in territorial defences. They participated in more intergroup encounters than females and were more active during these encounters. Our data is most consistent with the 'male-services' hypothesis for pair-bond maintenance, where a female contributes more to the proximity and affiliation maintenance while a male provides beneficial services.}, }
@article {pmid32156804, year = {2020}, author = {Secor, PR and Dandekar, AA}, title = {More than Simple Parasites: the Sociobiology of Bacteriophages and Their Bacterial Hosts.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {32156804}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {K22 AI125282/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; P20 GM103546/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI138981/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM125714/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*virology ; Bacterial Infections/therapy ; Bacteriophages/*physiology ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Humans ; Phage Therapy ; }, abstract = {Bacteria harbor viruses called bacteriophages that, like all viruses, co-opt the host cellular machinery to replicate. Although this relationship is at first glance parasitic, there are social interactions among and between bacteriophages and their bacterial hosts. These social interactions can take on many forms, including cooperation, altruism, and cheating. Such behaviors among individuals in groups of bacteria have been well described. However, the social nature of some interactions between phages or phages and bacteria is only now becoming clear. We are just beginning to understand how bacteriophages affect the sociobiology of bacteria, and we know even less about social interactions within bacteriophage populations. In this review, we discuss recent developments in our understanding of bacteriophage sociobiology, including how selective pressures influence the outcomes of social interactions between populations of bacteria and bacteriophages. We also explore how tripartite social interactions between bacteria, bacteriophages, and an animal host affect host-microbe interactions. Finally, we argue that understanding the sociobiology of bacteriophages will have implications for the therapeutic use of bacteriophages to treat bacterial infections.}, }
@article {pmid32110716, year = {2019}, author = {Dolotovskaya, S and Flores Amasifuen, C and Haas, CE and Nummert, F and Heymann, EW}, title = {Active anti-predator behaviour of red titi monkeys (Plecturocebus cupreus).}, journal = {Primate biology}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {59-64}, pmid = {32110716}, issn = {2363-4715}, abstract = {Due to their inconspicuous behaviour and colouration, it has been assumed that titi monkeys' main anti-predator behaviour is passive crypsis and hiding. So far, active predator mobbing has been documented only for black-fronted titi monkeys, Callicebus nigrifrons. Here we report for the first time mobbing behaviour of red titi monkeys, Plecturocebus cupreus (previously Callicebus cupreus), as reaction to an ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) and a Boa constrictor. We also report other active anti-predator behaviours, such as alarm calling and approaching, as reactions to tayras (Eira barbara) and raptors. Our observations provide additional evidence for sex differences in anti-predator behaviour, possibly related to the evolution and maintenance of social monogamy.}, }
@article {pmid32102483, year = {2020}, author = {Cosarinsky, MI and Römer, D and Roces, F}, title = {Nest Turrets of Acromyrmex Grass-Cutting Ants: Micromorphology Reveals Building Techniques and Construction Dynamics.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {32102483}, issn = {2075-4450}, support = {SFB 554/TP E1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; -//Department of Behavioural Physiology and Sociobiology, Biocenter, University of W&#xfc;rzburg/ ; Postdoc Plus Funding Program//Graduate School of Life Sciences (GSLS), University of W&#xfc;rzburg/ ; PD_NAC_2015_1_108641//Agencia Nacional de Investigaci&#xf3;n e Innovaci&#xf3;n/ ; }, abstract = {Acromyrmex fracticornis grass-cutting ants construct conspicuous chimney-shaped nest turrets made of intermeshed grass fragments. We asked whether turrets are constructed by merely piling up nearby materials around the entrance, or whether ants incorporate different materials as the turret develops. By removing the original nest turrets and following their rebuilding process over three consecutive days, age-dependent changes in wall morphology and inner lining fabrics were characterized. Micromorphological descriptions based on thin sections of turret walls revealed the building behaviors involved. Ants started by collecting nearby twigs and dry grass fragments that are piled up around the nest entrance. Several large fragments held the structure like beams. As a net-like structure grew, soil pellets were placed in between the intermeshed plant fragments from the turret base to the top, reinforcing the structure. Concomitantly, the turret inner wall was lined with soil pellets, starting from the base. Therefore, the consolidation of the turret occurred both over time and from its base upwards. It is argued that nest turrets do not simply arise by the arbitrary deposition of nearby materials, and that workers selectively incorporate large materials at the beginning, and respond to the developing structure by reinforcing the intermeshed plant fragments over time.}, }
@article {pmid32097598, year = {2020}, author = {Poirotte, C and Charpentier, MJE}, title = {Unconditional care from close maternal kin in the face of parasites.}, journal = {Biology letters}, volume = {16}, number = {2}, pages = {20190869}, pmid = {32097598}, issn = {1744-957X}, mesh = {Animals ; Family ; Grooming ; *Parasites ; Primates ; Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {Several species mitigate relationships according to their conspecifics' parasite status. Yet, this defence strategy comes with the costs of depriving individuals from valuable social bonds. Animals therefore face a trade-off between the costs of pathogen exposure and the benefits of social relationships. According to the models of social evolution, social bonds are highly kin-biased. However, whether kinship mitigates social avoidance of contagious individuals has never been tested so far. Here, we build on previous research to demonstrate that mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx) modulate social avoidance of contagious individuals according to kinship: individuals do not avoid grooming their close maternal kin when contagious (parasitized with oro-faecally transmitted protozoa), although they do for more distant or non-kin. While individuals' parasite status has seldom been considered as a trait impacting social relationships in animals, this study goes a step beyond by showing that kinship balances the effect of health status on social behaviour in a non-human primate.}, }
@article {pmid32064318, year = {2019}, author = {Kappeler, PM and Pozzi, L}, title = {Evolutionary transitions toward pair living in nonhuman primates as stepping stones toward more complex societies.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {5}, number = {12}, pages = {eaay1276}, pmid = {32064318}, issn = {2375-2548}, mesh = {Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; *Biological Evolution ; Evolution, Molecular ; Phylogeny ; *Primates/classification/genetics ; Sexual Behavior, Animal ; *Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {Nonhuman primate societies vary tremendously in size and composition, but how and why evolutionary transitions among different states occurred remains highly controversial. In particular, how many times pair living evolved and the social states of the ancestors of pair- and group-living species remains contentious. We examined evolutionary transitions in primate social evolution by using new, independent categorizations of sociality and different phylogenetic hypotheses with a vastly expanded dataset. Using Bayesian phylogenetic comparative methods, we consistently found the strongest support for a model that invokes frequent transitions between solitary ancestors and pair-living descendants, with the latter giving rise to group-living species. This result was robust to systematic variation in social classification, sample size, and phylogeny. Our analyses therefore indicate that pair living was a stepping stone in the evolution of structurally more complex primate societies, a result that bolsters the role of kin selection in social evolution.}, }
@article {pmid32030651, year = {2020}, author = {Gutmann, DH}, title = {The Sociobiology of Brain Tumors.}, journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology}, volume = {1225}, number = {}, pages = {115-125}, pmid = {32030651}, issn = {0065-2598}, mesh = {Brain Neoplasms/*pathology ; Glioma/pathology ; Humans ; Macrophages ; Microglia/pathology ; }, abstract = {Brain tumors are complex cellular ecosystems, composed of populations of both neoplastic and non-neoplastic cell types. While the contributions of the cancer cells in low-grade and high-grade gliomas have been extensively studied, there is comparatively less known about the contributions of the non-neoplastic cells in these tumors. As such, a large proportion of the non-neoplastic cells in gliomas are resident brain microglia, infiltrating circulating macrophages, and T lymphocytes. These immune system-like stromal cells are recruited into the evolving tumor through the elaboration of chemokines, and are reprogrammed to adopt new cellular identities critical for glioma formation, maintenance, and progression. In this manner, these populations of tumor-associated microglia and macrophages produce growth factors that support gliomagenesis and continued tumor growth. As we begin to characterize these immune cell contributions, future therapies might emerge as adjuvant approaches to glioma treatment.}, }
@article {pmid32026151, year = {2020}, author = {Dore, KM and Hansen, MF and Klegarth, AR and Fichtel, C and Koch, F and Springer, A and Kappeler, P and Parga, JA and Humle, T and Colin, C and Raballand, E and Huang, ZP and Qi, XG and Di Fiore, A and Link, A and Stevenson, PR and Stark, DJ and Tan, N and Gallagher, CA and Anderson, CJ and Campbell, CJ and Kenyon, M and Pebsworth, P and Sprague, D and Jones-Engel, L and Fuentes, A}, title = {Correction to: Review of GPS collar deployments and performance on nonhuman primates.}, journal = {Primates; journal of primatology}, volume = {61}, number = {3}, pages = {389-390}, doi = {10.1007/s10329-020-00800-x}, pmid = {32026151}, issn = {1610-7365}, abstract = {In the original publication of the article, figure 1 was wrongly published as a duplication.}, }
@article {pmid32024431, year = {2021}, author = {Darling Rasmussen, P and Storebø, OJ}, title = {Attachment and Epigenetics: A Scoping Review of Recent Research and Current Knowledge.}, journal = {Psychological reports}, volume = {124}, number = {2}, pages = {479-501}, doi = {10.1177/0033294120901846}, pmid = {32024431}, issn = {1558-691X}, support = {G9815508/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; MC_PC_15018/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; MC_PC_19009/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Adverse Childhood Experiences ; *Epigenomics ; Humans ; *Knowledge ; *Object Attachment ; *Research ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Epigenetic research has pointed to that the interaction between genetics and environmental factors may play a role in making some individuals more vulnerable than others.<br><br>AIM: The aim of this article was to present a broad perspective on the current state of knowledge in a relatively new and complex field of "attachment and epigenetic processes."<br><br>METHOD: We conducted a scoping review based on a systematic literature search in PsycINFO, PubMed, and Embase databases for relevant abstracts using the terms attachment and epigenet*.<br><br>RESULTS: In total, 11 studies were included. Research predating 2009 and animal studies were excluded in order to review the current state of research in humans.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Overall, there seems to be a consistency in the literature, pointing to a link between early childhood adversity, attachment processes, and epigenetic changes. However, research in human subjects is still limited.}, }
@article {pmid32015844, year = {2020}, author = {Prox, L and Farine, D}, title = {A framework for conceptualizing dimensions of social organization in mammals.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {10}, number = {2}, pages = {791-807}, pmid = {32015844}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Mammalian societies represent many different types of social systems. While some aspects of social systems have been extensively studied, there is little consensus on how to conceptualize social organization across species. Here, we present a framework describing eight dimensions of social organization to capture its diversity across mammalian societies. The framework uses simple information that is clearly separated from the three other aspects of social systems: social structure, care system, and mating system. By applying our framework across 208 species of all mammalian taxa, we find a rich multidimensional landscape of social organization. Correlation analysis reveals that the dimensions have relatively high independence, suggesting that social systems are able to evolve different aspects of social behavior without being tied to particular traits. Applying a clustering algorithm allows us to identify the relative importance of key dimensions on patterns of social organization. Finally, mapping mating system onto these clusters shows that social organization represents a distinct aspect of social systems. In the future, this framework will aid reporting on important aspects of natural history in species and facilitate comparative analyses, which ultimately will provide the ability to generate new insights into the primary drivers of social patterns and evolution of sociality.}, }
@article {pmid31965380, year = {2020}, author = {Dore, KM and Hansen, MF and Klegarth, AR and Fichtel, C and Koch, F and Springer, A and Kappeler, P and Parga, JA and Humle, T and Colin, C and Raballand, E and Huang, ZP and Qi, XG and Di Fiore, A and Link, A and Stevenson, PR and Stark, DJ and Tan, N and Gallagher, CA and Anderson, CJ and Campbell, CJ and Kenyon, M and Pebsworth, P and Sprague, D and Jones-Engel, L and Fuentes, A}, title = {Review of GPS collar deployments and performance on nonhuman primates.}, journal = {Primates; journal of primatology}, volume = {61}, number = {3}, pages = {373-387}, pmid = {31965380}, issn = {1610-7365}, support = {PEC 13-249/HX/HSRD VA/United States ; #31622053//National Natural Science Foundation of China (CN)/ ; 0504495//National Science Foundation IGERT GLOBES program/ ; 5189-00135B//Innovationsfonden/ ; R01 AG034513/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; W267-13//National Geographic Society's Waitt Program/ ; PR12-012//Margot Marsh Biodiversity Foundation/ ; 2018TD-017//Department of Science and Technology of Shaanxi Prov. China/ ; BCS 1638822//National Science Foundation/ ; P51 OD010425/CD/ODCDC CDC HHS/United States ; PR14-36//Margot Marsh Biodiversity Foundation/ ; 9234-12//National Geographic Young Explorer's Grant/ ; P51 OD010425/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; P2C HD042828/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; BCS 1062540//National Science Foundation/ ; #31730104//National Natural Science Foundation of China (CN)/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Ecology/methods ; Geographic Information Systems/*statistics &amp; numerical data ; *Movement ; *Primates ; }, abstract = {Over the past 20 years, GPS collars have emerged as powerful tools for the study of nonhuman primate (hereafter, "primate") movement ecology. As the size and cost of GPS collars have decreased and performance has improved, it is timely to review the use and success of GPS collar deployments on primates to date. Here we compile data on deployments and performance of GPS collars by brand and examine how these relate to characteristics of the primate species and field contexts in which they were deployed. The compiled results of 179 GPS collar deployments across 17 species by 16 research teams show these technologies can provide advantages, particularly in adding to the quality, quantity, and temporal span of data collection. However, aspects of this technology still require substantial improvement in order to make deployment on many primate species pragmatic economically. In particular, current limitations regarding battery lifespan relative to collar weight, the efficacy of remote drop-off mechanisms, and the ability to remotely retrieve data need to be addressed before the technology is likely to be widely adopted. Moreover, despite the increasing utility of GPS collars in the field, they remain substantially more expensive than VHF collars and tracking via handheld GPS units, and cost considerations of GPS collars may limit sample sizes and thereby the strength of inferences. Still, the overall high quality and quantity of data obtained, combined with the reduced need for on-the-ground tracking by field personnel, may help defray the high equipment cost. We argue that primatologists armed with the information in this review have much to gain from the recent, substantial improvements in GPS collar technology.}, }
@article {pmid31953131, year = {2020}, author = {Szabo, B and Whiting, MJ}, title = {Do lizards have enhanced inhibition? A test in two species differing in ecology and sociobiology.}, journal = {Behavioural processes}, volume = {172}, number = {}, pages = {104043}, doi = {10.1016/j.beproc.2020.104043}, pmid = {31953131}, issn = {1872-8308}, mesh = {Animals ; Choice Behavior ; Color Perception ; *Ecology ; Form Perception ; *Inhibition, Psychological ; Learning ; Lizards/*physiology ; *Reversal Learning ; *Sociobiology ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Waiting for the right moment to strike, avoiding the ingestion of harmful foods, or ignoring stimuli associated with ephemeral or depleted resources requires the inhibition of prepotent responses. Good response inhibition facilities flexibility in behaviour which is associated with survival in unpredictable environments. To investigate differences in behavioural flexibility in lizards, we tested reversal learning in the sleepy lizard (Tiliqua rugosa asper) and compared its performance to the relatively closely related eastern blue-tongue skink (Tiliqua scincoides scincoides). We presented both species with a choice between either a light and dark blue stimulus or a triangle and X shape. Both species were able to learn to discriminate between these stimuli and showed similar learning ability during the acquisition of the discrimination. Sleepy lizards, however, demonstrated a higher probability of making a correct choice at the start of the reversal, hinting towards enhanced stimulus response inhibition. Sleepy lizards and blue-tongue skinks inhabit different environments and show differences in ecology and sociobiology, all of which could possibly lead to adaptive specialisation in cognitive ability. Although further research is required, we propose that selection might have led to a change in stimulus response inhibition in the arid-adapted sleepy lizard, because better response inhibition may help them avoid the costs of repeated choices towards stimuli which no longer predict a beneficial outcome.}, }
@article {pmid31943632, year = {2020}, author = {Ruedenauer, FA and Raubenheimer, D and Kessner-Beierlein, D and Grund-Mueller, N and Noack, L and Spaethe, J and Leonhardt, SD}, title = {Best be(e) on low fat: linking nutrient perception, regulation and fitness.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {23}, number = {3}, pages = {545-554}, doi = {10.1111/ele.13454}, pmid = {31943632}, issn = {1461-0248}, support = {LE 2750/5-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; SP1380/1-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bees ; *Feeding Behavior ; Nutrients ; *Pollen ; Reproduction ; }, abstract = {Preventing malnutrition through consuming nutritionally appropriate resources represents a challenge for foraging animals. This is due to often high variation in the nutritional quality of available resources. Foragers consequently need to evaluate different food sources. However, even the same food source can provide a plethora of nutritional and non-nutritional cues, which could serve for quality assessment. We show that bumblebees, Bombus terrestris, overcome this challenge by relying on lipids as nutritional cue when selecting pollen. The bees 'prioritised' lipid perception in learning experiments and avoided lipid consumption in feeding experiments, which supported survival and reproduction. In contrast, survival and reproduction were severely reduced by increased lipid contents. Our study highlights the importance of fat regulation for pollen foraging bumblebees. It also reveals that nutrient perception, nutrient regulation and reproductive fitness can be linked, which represents an effective strategy enabling quick foraging decisions that prevent malnutrition and maximise fitness.}, }
@article {pmid31936165, year = {2020}, author = {Groh, C and Rössler, W}, title = {Analysis of Synaptic Microcircuits in the Mushroom Bodies of the Honeybee.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {31936165}, issn = {2075-4450}, support = {Gr3305/2-1; Ro1177/7-1; INST 93/829-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; }, abstract = {Mushroom bodies (MBs) are multisensory integration centers in the insect brain involved in learning and memory formation. In the honeybee, the main sensory input region (calyx) of MBs is comparatively large and receives input from mainly olfactory and visual senses, but also from gustatory/tactile modalities. Behavioral plasticity following differential brood care, changes in sensory exposure or the formation of associative long-term memory (LTM) was shown to be associated with structural plasticity in synaptic microcircuits (microglomeruli) within olfactory and visual compartments of the MB calyx. In the same line, physiological studies have demonstrated that MB-calyx microcircuits change response properties after associative learning. The aim of this review is to provide an update and synthesis of recent research on the plasticity of microcircuits in the MB calyx of the honeybee, specifically looking at the synaptic connectivity between sensory projection neurons (PNs) and MB intrinsic neurons (Kenyon cells). We focus on the honeybee as a favorable experimental insect for studying neuronal mechanisms underlying complex social behavior, but also compare it with other insect species for certain aspects. This review concludes by highlighting open questions and promising routes for future research aimed at understanding the causal relationships between neuronal and behavioral plasticity in this charismatic social insect.}, }
@article {pmid31808157, year = {2020}, author = {Ernst, UR}, title = {Digest: Evolution of eusociality favored by split sex ratios under worker-control.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {74}, number = {1}, pages = {201-202}, doi = {10.1111/evo.13890}, pmid = {31808157}, issn = {1558-5646}, support = {SFB TRR 212 (NC&#xb3;)//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bees ; *Biological Evolution ; Female ; Life Cycle Stages ; Male ; Models, Biological ; *Sex Ratio ; Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {Eusociality has repeatedly independently evolved in ants, bees, and wasps (Hymenoptera), leading to the idea that haplodiploidy may be an important driving factor in this group. Using a modeling approach, Quiñones et al. show that split sex ratios and worker control of sex ratios (achieved by removal of male brood) can promote the initial evolution of helping raise offspring of related individuals. However, over time, these factors can result in social polymorphism, that is, a mix of solitary and social nests, or to eusocial colonies with three different strategies, namely those that produce mostly females, mostly males, or a balanced sex ratio.}, }
@article {pmid31771475, year = {2019}, author = {Shell, WA and Rehan, SM}, title = {Social modularity: conserved genes and regulatory elements underlie caste-antecedent behavioural states in an incipiently social bee.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {286}, number = {1916}, pages = {20191815}, pmid = {31771475}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/*physiology ; *Behavior, Animal ; *Biological Evolution ; *Genes, Insect ; Genome, Insect ; *Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {The evolutionary origins of advanced eusociality, one of the most complex forms of phenotypic plasticity in nature, have long been a focus within the field of sociobiology. Although eusocial insects are known to have evolved from solitary ancestors, sociogenomic research among incipiently social taxa has only recently provided empirical evidence supporting theories that modular regulation and deeply conserved genes may play important roles in both the evolutionary emergence and elaboration of insect sociality. There remains, however, a paucity of data to further test the biological reality of these and other evolutionary theories among taxa in the earliest stages of social evolution. Here, we present brain transcriptomic data from the incipiently social small carpenter bee, Ceratina calcarata, which captures patterns of cis-regulation and gene expression associated with female maturation, and underlying two well-defined behavioural states, foraging and guarding, concurrently demonstrated by mothers and daughters during early autumn. We find that an incipiently social nest environment may dramatically affect gene expression. We further reveal foraging and guarding behaviours to be putatively caste-antecedent states in C. calcarata, and offer strong empirical support for the operation of modular regulation, involving deeply conserved and differentially expressed genes in the expression of early social forms.}, }
@article {pmid31756249, year = {2020}, author = {Fina, PM and Cunningham, FE and Zhao, X and Glassman, PA and Moore, VR and Au, A and Aspinall, SL}, title = {Reporting of adverse drug events in the Veterans Health Administration for patients whose treatment with empagliflozin or apixaban was discontinued.}, journal = {American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists}, volume = {77}, number = {1}, pages = {22-32}, doi = {10.1093/ajhp/zxz261}, pmid = {31756249}, issn = {1535-2900}, mesh = {Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems/*statistics &amp; numerical data ; Aged ; Benzhydryl Compounds/*adverse effects ; Comorbidity ; Female ; Glucosides/*adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pyrazoles/*adverse effects ; Pyridones/*adverse effects ; Retrospective Studies ; Sociobiology ; Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors/*adverse effects ; United States ; United States Department of Veterans Affairs/*statistics &amp; numerical data ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE: To examine the reporting rates of adverse drug events (ADEs) with apixaban and empagliflozin as reports move up to the next level of spontaneous reporting.<br><br>METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of outpatients who discontinued apixaban or empagliflozin within 3 years of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. We enriched the sample using an active surveillance strategy to identify subsets of patients with International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes possibly associated with an ADE. Stratified random samples of charts were reviewed to determine if patients discontinued the medication due to an ADE. If so, we ascertained whether these were uploaded into the Veterans Administration (VA) electronic health record reporting system (Adverse Reaction Tracking System [ARTS]), VA national Web-based system (VA Adverse Drug Event Reporting System [VA ADERS]), and FDA MedWatch.<br><br>RESULTS: From the cohort of 2,973 patients who discontinued apixaban, 321 patients (10.8%) were randomly sampled for chart review (including 61 patients with relevant ICD codes). During chart review, 88 ADEs were identified, with 40/61 (65.6%) from the subset with ICD codes. Of the total of 88 ADEs, 18.2%, 10.2%, and 6.8% were reported in ARTS, VA ADERS, and MedWatch, respectively. Of the 1,555 patients who discontinued empagliflozin, 179 patients (11.5%) were randomly sampled for chart review (40 patients with relevant ICD codes). During chart review, 78 ADEs were identified, with 19/40 (47.5%) from the subset with ICD codes. Of the 78 ADEs, 28.2%, 19.2%, and 7.7% were reported in ARTS, VA ADERS, and MedWatch, respectively.<br><br>CONCLUSION: We found substantial underreporting of apixaban and empagliflozin ADEs that became worse at each higher level of spontaneous reporting.}, }
@article {pmid31752164, year = {2019}, author = {Cordoni, G and Palagi, E}, title = {Back to the Future: A Glance Over Wolf Social Behavior to Understand Dog-Human Relationship.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {9}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {31752164}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {This review focuses on wolf sociobiology to delineate the traits of cooperative baggage driven by natural selection (wolf-wolf cooperation) and better understand the changes obtained by artificial selection (dog-human cooperation). We selected some behaviors of the dog's ancestors that provide the basis for the expression of a cooperative society, such as dominance relationships, leverage power, post-aggressive strategies, and playful dynamics between pack members. When possible, we tried to compare the data on wolves with those coming from the dog literature. Wolves can negotiate commodities when the interacting subjects occupy different ranking positions by bargaining social tolerance with helping and support. They are able to manage group disruption by engaging in sophisticated post-conflict maneuvers, thus restoring the relationship between the opponents and reducing the spreading of aggression in the group. Wolves engage in social play also as adults to manipulate social relationships. They are able to flexibly adjust their playful interactions to minimize the risk of escalation. Complex cognitive abilities and communicative skills are probably the main proximate causes for the evolution of inter-specific cooperation in wolves.}, }
@article {pmid31684855, year = {2019}, author = {Zinner, D and Groeneveld, LF and Keller, C and Roos, C}, title = {Correction to: Mitochondrial phylogeography of baboons (Papio spp.) - Indication for introgressive hybridization?.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {198}, pmid = {31684855}, issn = {1471-2148}, abstract = {Following publication of the original article [1], we have been notified that some of the NCB accession numbers were incorrectly associated to their corresponding taxon in the Additional file 1.}, }
@article {pmid31667165, year = {2019}, author = {Fortunato, A and Aktipis, A}, title = {Social feeding behavior of Trichoplax adhaerens.}, journal = {Frontiers in ecology and evolution}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {31667165}, issn = {2296-701X}, support = {R01 CA140657/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA185138/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; U2C CA233254/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; U54 CA217376/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Animals have evolved different foraging strategies in which some animals forage independently and others forage in groups. The evolution of social feeding does not necessarily require cooperation; social feeding can be a beneficial individual-level strategy if it provides mutualistic benefits, for example though increasing the efficiency of resource extraction or processing. We found that Trichoplax adhaerens, the simplest multicellular animal ever described, engages in social feeding behavior. T. adhaerens lacks muscle tissue, nervous and digestive systems - yet is capable of aggregating and forming groups of closely connected individuals who collectively feed. The tight physical interactions between the animals are transitory and appear to serve the goal of staying connected to neighbors during the external digestion of algae when enzymes are released on the biofilm and nutrients are absorbed through the ventral epithelium. We found that T. adhaerens are more likely to engage in social feeding when the concentrations of algae are high - both in a semi-natural conditions and in vitro. It is surprising that T. adhaerens - an organism without a nervous system - is able to engage in this social feeding behavior. Whether this behavior is cooperative is still an open question. Nevertheless, the social feeding behavior of T. adhaerens, an early multicellular animal, suggests that sociality may have played an important role in the early evolution of animals. It also suggests that T. adhaerens could be used as a simple model organism for exploring questions regarding ecology and sociobiology.}, }
@article {pmid31667086, year = {2019}, author = {Eckhardt, F and Strube, C and Mathes, KA and Mutschmann, F and Thiesler, H and Kraus, C and Kappeler, PM}, title = {Parasite burden in a short-lived chameleon, Furcifer labordi.}, journal = {International journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlife}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {231-240}, pmid = {31667086}, issn = {2213-2244}, abstract = {Life history theory predicts that species with shorter lifespan should show higher investments into growth and reproduction at the expense of immune defenses. Labord's chameleon (Furcifer labordi) is the tetrapod with the shortest known life span. To investigate to which extent immunosenescence influences the die-off of these chameleons when they are only about 6 months old, we examined the gastrointestinal-, blood- and ectoparasite burden in F. labordi in Kirindy Forest (western Madagascar) and compared them with sympatric and longer living F. cf. nicosiai. Moreover, we included data from wild F. labordi that were singly housed under ambient conditions with daily food and water supply. Gastrointestinal parasite prevalence of wild F. labordi increased dramatically during the last 3 months of their lives, which include the reproductive period. Furcifer cf. nicosiai was found to have a belated increase in gastrointestinal parasites compared to F. labordi. In F. cf. nicosiai higher prevalence of blood parasites were found, which probably result from the longer exposure to the arthropod intermediate host. Both species showed infestations with ectoparasites, which peaked in the rainy season but disappeared towards the dry season. Male F. labordi showed a significantly higher prevalence of gastrointestinal - and ectoparasites and higher intensities of coccidians and ectoparasites than females. Males of F. cf. nicosiai exhibited higher prevalence of blood- and ectoparasites, as well as higher intensities in ectoparasites. Caged individuals of both sexes showed delayed senescence, reduced parasite burden and lived longer than their wild conspecifics. Overall, the increase in the prevalence in gastrointestinal - and blood parasites towards the disappearance of the wild population of F. labordi indicates that this species invests comparatively less energy in efficient immune system function, supporting the prediction of life history theory.}, }
@article {pmid31647093, year = {2019}, author = {Davies, NM and Howe, LJ and Brumpton, B and Havdahl, A and Evans, DM and Davey Smith, G}, title = {Within family Mendelian randomization studies.}, journal = {Human molecular genetics}, volume = {28}, number = {R2}, pages = {R170-R179}, doi = {10.1093/hmg/ddz204}, pmid = {31647093}, issn = {1460-2083}, support = {MC_UU_00011/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; MC_UU_12013/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; MC_UU_12013/4/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; MC_UU_12013/9/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Family ; Family Characteristics ; Genetic Association Studies ; Genotype ; Humans ; *Mendelian Randomization Analysis ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Population/*genetics ; Reproduction/*genetics ; Selection Bias ; Sociobiology/education ; }, abstract = {Mendelian randomization (MR) is increasingly used to make causal inferences in a wide range of fields, from drug development to etiologic studies. Causal inference in MR is possible because of the process of genetic inheritance from parents to offspring. Specifically, at gamete formation and conception, meiosis ensures random allocation to the offspring of one allele from each parent at each locus, and these are unrelated to most of the other inherited genetic variants. To date, most MR studies have used data from unrelated individuals. These studies assume that genotypes are independent of the environment across a sample of unrelated individuals, conditional on covariates. Here we describe potential sources of bias, such as transmission ratio distortion, selection bias, population stratification, dynastic effects and assortative mating that can induce spurious or biased SNP-phenotype associations. We explain how studies of related individuals such as sibling pairs or parent-offspring trios can be used to overcome some of these sources of bias, to provide potentially more reliable evidence regarding causal processes. The increasing availability of data from related individuals in large cohort studies presents an opportunity to both overcome some of these biases and also to evaluate familial environmental effects.}, }
@article {pmid31624543, year = {2019}, author = {Nonacs, P}, title = {Reproductive skew in cooperative breeding: Environmental variability, antagonistic selection, choice, and control.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {9}, number = {18}, pages = {10163-10175}, pmid = {31624543}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {A multitude of factors may determine reproductive skew among cooperative breeders. One explanation, derived from inclusive fitness theory, is that groups can partition reproduction such that subordinates do at least as well as noncooperative solitary individuals. The majority of recent data, however, fails to support this prediction; possibly because inclusive fitness models cannot easily incorporate multiple factors simultaneously to predict skew. Notable omissions are antagonistic selection (across generations, genes will be in both dominant and subordinate bodies), constraints on the number of sites suitable for successful reproduction, choice in which group an individual might join, and within-group control or suppression of competition. All of these factors and more are explored through agent-based evolutionary simulations. The results suggest the primary drivers for the initial evolution of cooperative breeding may be a combination of limited suitable sites, choice across those sites, and parental manipulation of offspring into helping roles. Antagonistic selection may be important when subordinates are more frequent than dominants. Kinship matters, but its main effect may be in offspring being available for manipulation while unrelated individuals are not. The greater flexibility of evolutionary simulations allows the incorporation of species-specific life histories and ecological constraints to better predict sociobiology.}, }
@article {pmid31608587, year = {2020}, author = {Defolie, C and Merkling, T and Fichtel, C}, title = {Patterns and variation in the mammal parasite-glucocorticoid relationship.}, journal = {Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society}, volume = {95}, number = {1}, pages = {74-93}, doi = {10.1111/brv.12555}, pmid = {31608587}, issn = {1469-185X}, support = {//Fonds de Recherche du Qu&#xe9;bec - Nature et Technologies/ ; FI 929/7-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; KR 3834/5-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; }, abstract = {Parasites are ubiquitous and can strongly affect their hosts through mechanisms such as behavioural changes, increased energetic costs and/or immunomodulation. When parasites are detrimental to their hosts, they should act as physiological stressors and elicit the release of glucocorticoids. Alternatively, previously elevated glucocorticoid levels could facilitate parasite infection due to neuroimmunomodulation. However, results are equivocal, with studies showing either positive, negative or no relationship between parasite infection and glucocorticoid levels. Since factors such as parasite type, infection severity or host age and sex can influence the parasite-glucocorticoid relationship, we review the main mechanisms driving this relationship. We then perform a phylogenetic meta-analysis of 110 records from 65 studies in mammalian hosts from experimental and observational studies to quantify the general direction of this relationship and to identify ecological and methodological drivers of the observed variability. Our review produced equivocal results concerning the direction of the relationship, but there was stronger support for a positive relationship, although causality remained unclear. Mechanisms such as host manipulation for parasite survival, host response to infection, cumulative effects of multiple stressors, and neuro-immunomodulatory effects of glucocorticoids could explain the positive relationship. Our meta-analysis results revealed an overall positive relationship between glucocorticoids and parasitism among both experimental and observational studies. Because all experimental studies included were parasite manipulations, we conclude that parasites caused in general an increase in glucocorticoid levels. To obtain a better understanding of the directionality of this link, experimental manipulation of glucocorticoid levels is now required to assess the causal effects of high glucocorticoid levels on parasite infection. Neither parasite type, the method used to assess parasite infection nor phylogeny influenced the relationship, and there was no evidence for publication bias. Future studies should attempt to be as comprehensive as possible, including moderators potentially influencing the parasite-glucocorticoid relationship. We particularly emphasise the importance of testing hosts of a broad age range, concomitantly measuring sex hormone levels or at least reproductive status, and for observational studies, also considering food availability, host body condition and social stressors to obtain a better understanding of the parasite-glucocorticoid relationship.}, }
@article {pmid31600853, year = {2020}, author = {Gogarten, JF and Calvignac-Spencer, S and Nunn, CL and Ulrich, M and Saiepour, N and Nielsen, HV and Deschner, T and Fichtel, C and Kappeler, PM and Knauf, S and Müller-Klein, N and Ostner, J and Robbins, MM and Sangmaneedet, S and Schülke, O and Surbeck, M and Wittig, RM and Sliwa, A and Strube, C and Leendertz, FH and Roos, C and Noll, A}, title = {Metabarcoding of eukaryotic parasite communities describes diverse parasite assemblages spanning the primate phylogeny.}, journal = {Molecular ecology resources}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {204-215}, doi = {10.1111/1755-0998.13101}, pmid = {31600853}, issn = {1755-0998}, support = {1135/3-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; DE 1135/2-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; FI 929/7-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; FOR2136//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; KR 3834/5-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; Ka 1082-28-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; OS201/6-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; OS201/6-2//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; SCHU 1554/6-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; WI 2637/3-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; WI 2637/4-2//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; //Max Planck Society/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Feces/parasitology ; Host Specificity ; Parasites/classification/genetics/*isolation &amp; purification/physiology ; Parasitic Diseases, Animal/*parasitology ; Phylogeny ; Primate Diseases/*parasitology ; Primates/*classification/*parasitology ; }, abstract = {Despite their ubiquity, in most cases little is known about the impact of eukaryotic parasites on their mammalian hosts. Comparative approaches provide a powerful method to investigate the impact of parasites on host ecology and evolution, though two issues are critical for such efforts: controlling for variation in methods of identifying parasites and incorporating heterogeneity in sampling effort across host species. To address these issues, there is a need for standardized methods to catalogue eukaryotic parasite diversity across broad phylogenetic host ranges. We demonstrate the feasibility of a metabarcoding approach for describing parasite communities by analysing faecal samples from 11 nonhuman primate species representing divergent lineages of the primate phylogeny and the full range of sampling effort (i.e. from no parasites reported in the literature to the best-studied primates). We detected a number of parasite families and regardless of prior sampling effort, metabarcoding of only ten faecal samples identified parasite families previously undescribed in each host (x̅ = 8.5 new families per species). We found more overlap between parasite families detected with metabarcoding and published literature when more research effort-measured as the number of publications-had been conducted on the host species' parasites. More closely related primates and those from the same continent had more similar parasite communities, highlighting the biological relevance of sampling even a small number of hosts. Collectively, results demonstrate that metabarcoding methods are sensitive and powerful enough to standardize studies of eukaryotic parasite communities across host species, providing essential new tools for macroecological studies of parasitism.}, }
@article {pmid31568972, year = {2019}, author = {Gadenne, C and Groh, C and Grübel, K and Joschinski, J and Krauss, J and Krieger, J and Rössler, W and Anton, S}, title = {Neuroanatomical correlates of mobility: Sensory brain centres are bigger in winged than in wingless parthenogenetic pea aphid females.}, journal = {Arthropod structure &amp; development}, volume = {52}, number = {}, pages = {100883}, doi = {10.1016/j.asd.2019.100883}, pmid = {31568972}, issn = {1873-5495}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*anatomy &amp; histology/*physiology ; Brain/anatomy &amp; histology ; Female ; *Flight, Animal ; Organ Size ; }, abstract = {Many aphid species reproduce parthenogenetically throughout most of the year, with individuals having identical genomes. Nevertheless, aphid clones display a marked polyphenism with associated behavioural differences. Pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum), when crowded, produce winged individuals, which have a larger dispersal range than wingless individuals. We examined here if brain structures linked to primary sensory processing and high-order motor control change in size as a function of wing polyphenism. Using micro-computing tomography (micro-CT) scans and immunocytochemical staining with anti-synapsin antibody, we reconstructed primary visual (optic lobes) and olfactory (antennal lobes) neuropils, together with the central body of winged and wingless parthenogenetic females of A. pisum for volume measurements. Absolute neuropil volumes were generally bigger in anti-synapsin labelled brains compared to micro-CT scans. This is potentially due to differences in rearing conditions of the used aphids. Independent of the method used, however, winged females consistently had larger antennal lobes and optic lobes than wingless females in spite of a larger overall body size of wingless compared to winged females. The volume of the central body, on the other hand was not significantly different between the two morphs. The larger primary sensory centres in winged aphids might thus provide the neuronal substrate for processing different environmental information due to the increased mobility during flight.}, }
@article {pmid31558817, year = {2018}, author = {Bentz, C and Dediu, D and Verkerk, A and Jäger, G}, title = {The evolution of language families is shaped by the environment beyond neutral drift.}, journal = {Nature human behaviour}, volume = {2}, number = {11}, pages = {816-821}, doi = {10.1038/s41562-018-0457-6}, pmid = {31558817}, issn = {2397-3374}, mesh = {*Environment ; Humans ; *Language ; Linguistics/trends ; Phylogeny ; Phylogeography/*methods ; Sociobiology/methods ; }, abstract = {There are more than 7,000 languages spoken in the world today[1]. It has been argued that the natural and social environment of languages drives this diversity[2-13]. However, a fundamental question is how strong are environmental pressures, and does neutral drift suffice as a mechanism to explain diversification? We estimate the phylogenetic signals of geographic dimensions, distance to water, climate and population size on more than 6,000 phylogenetic trees of 46 language families. Phylogenetic signals of environmental factors are generally stronger than expected under the null hypothesis of no relationship with the shape of family trees. Importantly, they are also-in most cases-not compatible with neutral drift models of constant-rate change across the family tree branches. Our results suggest that language diversification is driven by further adaptive and non-adaptive pressures. Language diversity cannot be understood without modelling the pressures that physical, ecological and social factors exert on language users in different environments across the globe.}, }
@article {pmid31558808, year = {2018}, author = {San Martin, A and Sinaceur, M and Madi, A and Tompson, S and Maddux, WW and Kitayama, S}, title = {Self-assertive interdependence in Arab culture.}, journal = {Nature human behaviour}, volume = {2}, number = {11}, pages = {830-837}, doi = {10.1038/s41562-018-0435-z}, pmid = {31558808}, issn = {2397-3374}, mesh = {Arabs/*psychology ; *Assertiveness ; Christianity/*psychology ; Cross-Cultural Comparison ; *Culture ; *Environment ; Humans ; Islam/*psychology ; Sociobiology ; }, abstract = {Arabs represent a major cultural group, yet one that is relatively neglected in cultural psychology. We hypothesized that Arab culture is characterized by a unique form of interdependence that is self-assertive. Arab cultural identity emerged historically in regions with harsh ecological and climatic environments, in which it was necessary to protect the survival of tribal groups. Individuals in Arabian cultures were honour-bound to be respectable and trustworthy group members. Supporting this hypothesis, study 1 found that Arabs were interdependent and holistic (like East Asians), but also self-assertive (like Westerners). This psychological profile was observed equally for both Muslim and Christian Arabs, thus ruling out Islamic religion as an alternative explanation for our findings. Studies 2 and 3 showed that the self-assertive tendency of Arabs is in service of interdependence, whereas that of Westerners is in service of independence. Our work contributes to the current effort by cultural psychologists to go beyond the prevailing East versus West, interdependence versus independence paradigm. It also speaks to the emerging socioecological perspective in cultural research.}, }
@article {pmid31558589, year = {2019}, author = {Peckre, LR and Lowie, A and Brewer, D and Ehmke, E and Welser, K and Shaw, E and Wall, C and Pouydebat, E and Fabre, AC}, title = {Food mobility and the evolution of grasping behaviour: a case study in strepsirrhine primates.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {222}, number = {Pt 20}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.207688}, pmid = {31558589}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Databases as Topic ; Female ; *Food ; Hand Strength/*physiology ; Male ; Models, Biological ; Movement ; Primates/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Manual grasping is widespread among tetrapods but is more prominent and dexterous in primates. Whether the selective pressures that drove the evolution of dexterous hand grasping involved the collection of fruit or predation on mobile insects remains an area of debate. One way to explore this question is to examine preferences for manual versus oral grasping of a moving object. Previous studies on strepsirrhines have shown a preference for oral grasping when grasping static food items and a preference for manual grasping when grasping mobile prey such as insects, but little is known about the factors at play. Using a controlled experiment with a simple and predictable motion of a food item, we tested and compared the grasping behaviours of 53 captive individuals belonging to 17 species of strepsirrhines while grasping swinging food items and static food items. The swinging motion increased the frequency of hand-use for all individuals. Our results provide evidence that the swinging motion of the food is a sufficient parameter to increase hand grasping in a wide variety of strepsirrhine primates. From an evolutionary perspective, this result gives some support to the idea that hand-grasping abilities evolved under selective pressure associated with the predation of food items in motion. Looking at a common grasping pattern across a large set of species, this study provides important insight into comparative approaches to understanding the evolution of the hand grasping of food in primates and potentially other tetrapod taxa.}, }
@article {pmid31555816, year = {2020}, author = {Hunnicutt, KE and Tiley, GP and Williams, RC and Larsen, PA and Blanco, MB and Rasoloarison, RM and Campbell, CR and Zhu, K and Weisrock, DW and Matsunami, H and Yoder, AD}, title = {Comparative Genomic Analysis of the Pheromone Receptor Class 1 Family (V1R) Reveals Extreme Complexity in Mouse Lemurs (Genus, Microcebus) and a Chromosomal Hotspot across Mammals.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {3562-3579}, pmid = {31555816}, issn = {1759-6653}, support = {F31 DC017394/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DC014423/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DC016224/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/United States ; S10 OD018164/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Cheirogaleidae/*genetics ; Chromosomes, Mammalian ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genomics ; Mammals/genetics ; Mice ; *Multigene Family ; Receptors, Pheromone/*genetics ; Selection, Genetic ; Synteny ; Vomeronasal Organ ; }, abstract = {Sensory gene families are of special interest for both what they can tell us about molecular evolution and what they imply as mediators of social communication. The vomeronasal type-1 receptors (V1Rs) have often been hypothesized as playing a fundamental role in driving or maintaining species boundaries given their likely function as mediators of intraspecific mate choice, particularly in nocturnal mammals. Here, we employ a comparative genomic approach for revealing patterns of V1R evolution within primates, with a special focus on the small-bodied nocturnal mouse and dwarf lemurs of Madagascar (genera Microcebus and Cheirogaleus, respectively). By doubling the existing genomic resources for strepsirrhine primates (i.e. the lemurs and lorises), we find that the highly speciose and morphologically cryptic mouse lemurs have experienced an elaborate proliferation of V1Rs that we argue is functionally related to their capacity for rapid lineage diversification. Contrary to a previous study that found equivalent degrees of V1R diversity in diurnal and nocturnal lemurs, our study finds a strong correlation between nocturnality and V1R elaboration, with nocturnal lemurs showing elaborate V1R repertoires and diurnal lemurs showing less diverse repertoires. Recognized subfamilies among V1Rs show unique signatures of diversifying positive selection, as might be expected if they have each evolved to respond to specific stimuli. Furthermore, a detailed syntenic comparison of mouse lemurs with mouse (genus Mus) and other mammalian outgroups shows that orthologous mammalian subfamilies, predicted to be of ancient origin, tend to cluster in a densely populated region across syntenic chromosomes that we refer to as a V1R "hotspot."}, }
@article {pmid31502584, year = {2019}, author = {Pernu, TK and Helantera, H}, title = {Genetic relatedness and its causal role in the evolution of insect societies.}, journal = {Journal of biosciences}, volume = {44}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {31502584}, issn = {0973-7138}, mesh = {Animals ; Behavior, Animal/*physiology ; Genetic Fitness/genetics/*physiology ; Insecta/genetics/*physiology ; Reproduction/genetics/physiology ; Selection, Genetic/*genetics/physiology ; Social Behavior ; Sociobiology ; }, abstract = {The role of genetic relatedness in social evolution has recently come under critical attention. These arguments are here critically analyzed, both theoretically and empirically. It is argued that when the conceptual structure of the theory of natural selection is carefully taken into account, genetic relatedness can be seen to play an indispensable role in the evolution of both facultative and advanced eusociality. Although reviewing the empirical evidence concerning the evolution of eusociality reveals that relatedness does not play a role in the initial appearance of helper phenotypes, this follows simply from the fact that natural selection - of which relatedness is a necessary component - does not play a causal role in the origin of any traits. Further, separating two logically distinct elements of causal explanation - necessity and sufficiency - explains why the debate lingers on: although relatedness plays a necessary role in the evolution of helping and advanced eusociality, relatedness alone is not sufficient for their appearance. Therefore, if the relatedness variable in a given data set is held at a uniformly high value, then it indeed may turn out that other factors occupy a more prominent role. However, this does not change the fact that high relatedness functions as a necessary background condition for the evolution of advanced eusociality.}, }
@article {pmid31475408, year = {2019}, author = {Savage, DA}, title = {Towards a complex model of disaster behaviour.}, journal = {Disasters}, volume = {43}, number = {4}, pages = {771-798}, doi = {10.1111/disa.12408}, pmid = {31475408}, issn = {1467-7717}, mesh = {*Behavior ; *Disasters ; Humans ; *Models, Psychological ; }, abstract = {This paper outlines why a move towards a complex adaptive systems model of behaviour is required if the goal is to generate better understanding of how individuals and groups interact with their environment in a disaster setting. To accomplish this objective, a bridge must be built between the broader social sciences and behavioural economics to incorporate discipline-specific insights that are needed to move towards complexity. This is only possible through a deeper understanding of behaviour and how the environment in which they occur can influence actions. It is then that one can counteract the poor behavioural predictions, flawed policies based on myth, inefficient design, and suboptimal outcomes that have flourished in the absence of a complex adaptive systems model. This paper provides a conceptual framework that draws on concepts from across the natural and social sciences, such as behavioural economics, endocrinology, psychology, sociobiology, and sociology in order to build an interactive theory of disaster behaviour.}, }
@article {pmid31463783, year = {2019}, author = {Ruedenauer, FA and Spaethe, J and van der Kooi, CJ and Leonhardt, SD}, title = {Pollinator or pedigree: which factors determine the evolution of pollen nutrients?.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {191}, number = {2}, pages = {349-358}, pmid = {31463783}, issn = {1432-1939}, support = {LE 2750/5-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; SP 1380/1-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; 016.Veni.181.025//NWO/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bees ; Flowers ; *Nutrients ; Pedigree ; Phylogeny ; Pollen ; *Pollination ; }, abstract = {A prime example of plant-animal interactions is the interaction between plants and pollinators, which typically receive nectar and/or pollen as reward for their pollination service. While nectar provides mostly carbohydrates, pollen represents the main source of protein and lipids for many pollinators. However, the main function of pollen is to carry nutrients for pollen tube growth and thus fertilization. It is unclear whether pollinator attraction exerts a sufficiently strong selective pressure to alter the nutritional profile of pollen, e.g., through increasing its crude protein content or protein-to-lipid ratio, which both strongly affect bee foraging. Pollen nutritional quality may also be merely determined by phylogenetic relatedness, with pollen of closely related plants showing similar nutritional profiles due to shared biosynthetic pathways or floral morphologies. Here, we present a meta-analysis of studies on pollen nutrients to test whether differences in pollen nutrient contents and ratios correlated with plant insect pollinator dependence and/or phylogenetic relatedness. We hypothesized that if pollen nutritional content was affected by pollinator attraction, it should be different (e.g., higher) in highly pollinator-dependent plants, independent of phylogenetic relatedness. We found that crude protein and the protein-to-lipid ratio in pollen strongly correlated with phylogeny. Moreover, pollen protein content was higher in plants depending mostly or exclusively on insect pollination. Pollen nutritional quality thus correlated with both phylogenetic relatedness and pollinator dependency, indicating that, besides producing pollen with sufficient nutrients for reproduction, the nutrient profile of zoophilous plants may have been shaped by their pollinators' nutritional needs.}, }
@article {pmid31432735, year = {2019}, author = {Brown, B and Marg, L and Zhang, Z and Kuzmanović, D and Dubé, K and Galea, J}, title = {Factors Associated With Payments to Research Participants: A Review of Sociobehavioral Studies at a Large Southern California Research University.}, journal = {Journal of empirical research on human research ethics : JERHRE}, volume = {14}, number = {4}, pages = {408-415}, doi = {10.1177/1556264619869538}, pmid = {31432735}, issn = {1556-2654}, support = {R01 AI114617/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {California ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Ethics, Research ; Humans ; Research/*economics ; *Research Subjects ; Sociobiology ; *Universities ; }, abstract = {Along with a dearth of regulatory guidance, little empirical research has examined factors related to participant payment in research. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 100 institutional review board (IRB)-approved sociobehavioral human subjects research protocols at a large research university in Southern California. The proportion of studies that paid participants differed significantly by type of research (p < .001) and study population (p = .009). The average payment amount also differed significantly by study population (p < .001) and type of participation (in-person vs. remote; p < .001). In addition, studies that required more visits (p < .001) and more time (p = .011) paid significantly more than studies with fewer and shorter visits, respectively. These findings provide data to help inform future ethical payment practices.}, }
@article {pmid31387505, year = {2019}, author = {Poirotte, C and Kappeler, PM}, title = {Hygienic personalities in wild grey mouse lemurs vary adaptively with sex.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {286}, number = {1908}, pages = {20190863}, pmid = {31387505}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; *Avoidance Learning ; Cheirogaleidae/*psychology ; Feces ; Female ; *Grooming ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Male ; Personality ; Sex Factors ; }, abstract = {Detecting the risk of infection and minimizing parasite exposure represent the first lines of host defence against parasites. Individuals differ in the expression of these behavioural defences, but causes of such variation have received little empirical attention. We therefore experimentally investigated the effects of several individual and environmental factors on the expression level of faecal avoidance in the context of feeding, drinking, sleeping and defecating in a wild primate population. We found a strong sex bias in the expression level of anti-parasite behaviours of grey mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus), with only females strongly avoiding contaminated food, water and nests, and exhibiting selective defecation. Our results further suggest that individuals adapted their protective behaviours according to variation in intrinsic and ecological factors that may influence the cost-benefit balance of behavioural defences. Overall, individuals exhibited high consistency of investment in protective behaviours across behavioural contexts and time, suggesting that grey mouse lemurs exhibit different hygienic personalities. Finally, the global hygienic score was negatively correlated with faecal-orally transmitted parasite richness, suggesting that variation in behavioural defence has fitness consequences. We suggest that integrating inter-individual variation in behavioural defences in epidemiological studies should improve our ability to model disease spread within populations.}, }
@article {pmid31357033, year = {2019}, author = {Groothuis, J and Pfeiffer, K and El Jundi, B and Smid, HM}, title = {The Jewel Wasp Standard Brain: Average shape atlas and morphology of the female Nasonia vitripennis brain.}, journal = {Arthropod structure &amp; development}, volume = {51}, number = {}, pages = {41-51}, doi = {10.1016/j.asd.2019.100878}, pmid = {31357033}, issn = {1873-5495}, mesh = {Animals ; Brain/anatomy &amp; histology/cytology ; Female ; Neuropil/cytology ; Wasps/*anatomy &amp; histology ; }, abstract = {Nasonia, a genus of parasitoid wasps, is a promising model system in the study of developmental and evolutionary genetics, as well as complex traits such as learning. Of these "jewel wasps", the species Nasonia vitripennis is widely spread and widely studied. To accelerate neuroscientific research in this model species, fundamental knowledge of its nervous system is needed. To this end, we present an average standard brain of recently eclosed naïve female N. vitripennis wasps obtained by the iterative shape averaging method. This "Jewel Wasp Standard Brain" includes the optic lobe (excluding the lamina), the anterior optic tubercle, the antennal lobe, the lateral horn, the mushroom body, the central complex, and the remaining unclassified neuropils in the central brain. Furthermore, we briefly describe these well-defined neuropils and their subregions in the N. vitripennis brain. A volumetric analysis of these neuropils is discussed in the context of brains of other insect species. The Jewel Wasp Standard Brain will provide a framework to integrate and consolidate the results of future neurobiological studies in N. vitripennis. In addition, the volumetric analysis provides a baseline for future work on age- and experience-dependent brain plasticity.}, }
@article {pmid31338578, year = {2019}, author = {Streinzer, M and Roth, N and Paulus, HF and Spaethe, J}, title = {Color preference and spatial distribution of glaphyrid beetles suggest a key role in the maintenance of the color polymorphism in the peacock anemone (Anemone pavonina, Ranunculaceae) in Northern Greece.}, journal = {Journal of comparative physiology. A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology}, volume = {205}, number = {5}, pages = {735-743}, pmid = {31338578}, issn = {1432-1351}, mesh = {Anemone/*genetics ; Animals ; *Coleoptera ; Color ; Flowers/*genetics ; Greece ; *Pollination ; *Polymorphism, Genetic ; }, abstract = {In the Mediterranean region, a group of unrelated plant species share an unusual deep-red flower color and are pollinated by glaphyrid beetles. Some of these species possess different color morphs, but the mechanisms maintaining this color polymorphism are unknown. The peacock anemone, Anemone pavonina, is a color polymorphic species with red or purple flowers. We investigated the spatial distribution of its color morphs and its potential glaphyrid pollinators, Pygopleurus spp., along an elevational gradient on the southern slopes of Mount Olympus, Greece. We found a correlation between relative proportions of the two color morphs with both elevation and beetle abundance. At low elevations (< 1000 m a.s.l.), beetles were abundant and anemone populations comprised only red flowers. Above a steep transition zone with mixed-colored populations (c. 1000-1300 m) most flowers were purple and beetles were rare. Color-trapping experiments revealed a strong preference for red over other colors in beetles and colorimetric modeling suggests that a simple chromatic mechanism is sufficient to explain their color choices. We thus hypothesize that beetles select for red flowers and that with increasing elevation and decreasing beetle density, other flower visitors (e.g., bees) gain importance as pollinators and select for a different color.}, }
@article {pmid31308381, year = {2019}, author = {Lyutova, R and Selcho, M and Pfeuffer, M and Segebarth, D and Habenstein, J and Rohwedder, A and Frantzmann, F and Wegener, C and Thum, AS and Pauls, D}, title = {Reward signaling in a recurrent circuit of dopaminergic neurons and peptidergic Kenyon cells.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {3097}, pmid = {31308381}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {U58 DP001979/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHS/United States ; INST 93/824-1 LAGG//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/International ; TH1584/1-3//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/International ; PA19792-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/International ; }, mesh = {Acetylcholine/metabolism ; Animals ; Appetite/physiology ; Brain/cytology/*physiology ; Conditioning, Classical ; Dopaminergic Neurons/*physiology ; Drosophila melanogaster/*physiology ; Feedback, Physiological ; Larva ; Memory/*physiology ; Models, Psychological ; Mushroom Bodies/cytology/*physiology ; Neural Pathways/physiology ; Neuropeptides/metabolism ; Odorants ; Olfactory Perception/physiology ; Optogenetics ; *Reward ; }, abstract = {Dopaminergic neurons in the brain of the Drosophila larva play a key role in mediating reward information to the mushroom bodies during appetitive olfactory learning and memory. Using optogenetic activation of Kenyon cells we provide evidence that recurrent signaling exists between Kenyon cells and dopaminergic neurons of the primary protocerebral anterior (pPAM) cluster. Optogenetic activation of Kenyon cells paired with odor stimulation is sufficient to induce appetitive memory. Simultaneous impairment of the dopaminergic pPAM neurons abolishes appetitive memory expression. Thus, we argue that dopaminergic pPAM neurons mediate reward information to the Kenyon cells, and in turn receive feedback from Kenyon cells. We further show that this feedback signaling is dependent on short neuropeptide F, but not on acetylcholine known to be important for odor-shock memories in adult flies. Our data suggest that recurrent signaling routes within the larval mushroom body circuitry may represent a mechanism subserving memory stabilization.}, }
@article {pmid31213188, year = {2019}, author = {Princen, SA and Oliveira, RC and Ernst, UR and Millar, JG and van Zweden, JS and Wenseleers, T}, title = {Honeybees possess a structurally diverse and functionally redundant set of queen pheromones.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {286}, number = {1905}, pages = {20190517}, pmid = {31213188}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/*physiology ; Female ; Pheromones/chemistry/*metabolism ; Protein Structural Elements ; Reproduction ; Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {Queen pheromones, which signal the presence of a fertile queen and induce workers to remain sterile, play a key role in regulating reproductive division of labour in insect societies. In the honeybee, volatiles produced by the queen's mandibular glands have been argued to act as the primary sterility-inducing pheromones. This contrasts with evidence from other groups of social insects, where specific queen-characteristic hydrocarbons present on the cuticle act as conserved queen signals. This led us to hypothesize that honeybee queens might also employ cuticular pheromones to stop workers from reproducing. Here, we support this hypothesis with the results of bioassays with synthetic blends of queen-characteristic alkenes, esters and carboxylic acids. We show that all these compound classes suppress worker ovary development, and that one of the blends of esters that we used was as effective as the queen mandibular pheromone (QMP) mix. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the two main QMP compounds 9-ODA and 9-HDA tested individually were as effective as the blend of all four major QMP compounds, suggesting considerable signal redundancy. Possible adaptive reasons for the observed complexity of the honeybee queen signal mix are discussed.}, }
@article {pmid31205443, year = {2019}, author = {Streinzer, M and Chakravorty, J and Neumayer, J and Megu, K and Narah, J and Schmitt, T and Bharti, H and Spaethe, J and Brockmann, A}, title = {Species composition and elevational distribution of bumble bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Bombus Latreille) in the East Himalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, India.}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {851}, number = {}, pages = {71-89}, pmid = {31205443}, issn = {1313-2989}, abstract = {The East Himalaya is one of the world's most biodiverse ecosystems. However, very little is known about the abundance and distribution of many plant and animal taxa in this region. Bumble bees are a group of cold-adapted and high elevation insects that fulfil an important ecological and economical function as pollinators of wild and agricultural flowering plants and crops. The Himalayan mountain range provides ample suitable habitats for bumble bees. Systematic study of Himalayan bumble bees began a few decades ago and the main focus has centred on the western region, while the eastern part of the mountain range has received little attention and only a few species have been verified. During a three-year survey, more than 700 bumble bee specimens of 21 species were collected in Arunachal Pradesh, the largest of the north-eastern states of India. The material included a range of species that were previously known from a limited number of collected specimens, which highlights the unique character of the East Himalayan ecosystem. Our results are an important first step towards a future assessment of species distribution, threat, and conservation. Clear elevation patterns of species diversity were observed, which raise important questions about the functional adaptations that allow bumble bees to thrive in this particularly moist region in the East Himalaya.}, }
@article {pmid31196978, year = {2019}, author = {Stöckl, A and Grittner, R and Pfeiffer, K}, title = {The role of lateral optic flow cues in hawkmoth flight control.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {222}, number = {Pt 13}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.199406}, pmid = {31196978}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; Cues ; Feedback, Sensory/*physiology ; Female ; Flight, Animal/*physiology ; Male ; Moths/*physiology ; Optic Flow/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Flying animals require sensory feedback on changes of their body position, as well as on their distance from nearby objects. The apparent image motion, or optic flow, which is generated as animals move through the air, can provide this information. Flight tunnel experiments have been crucial for our understanding of how insects use optic flow for flight control in confined spaces. However, previous work mainly focused on species from two insect orders: Hymenoptera and Diptera. We therefore set out to investigate whether the previously described control strategies to navigate enclosed environments are also used by insects with a different optical system, flight kinematics and phylogenetic background. We tested the role of lateral visual cues for forward flight control in the hummingbird hawkmoth Macroglossum stellatarum (Sphingidae, Lepidoptera), which possesses superposition compound eyes, and has the ability to hover in addition to its capacity for fast forward flight. Our results show that hawkmoths use a similar strategy for lateral position control to bees and flies in balancing the magnitude of translational optic flow perceived in both eyes. However, the influence of lateral optic flow on flight speed in hawkmoths differed from that in bees and flies. Moreover, hawkmoths showed individually attributable differences in position and speed control when the presented optic flow was unbalanced.}, }
@article {pmid31145838, year = {2020}, author = {George, EA and Bröger, AK and Thamm, M and Brockmann, A and Scheiner, R}, title = {Inter-individual variation in honey bee dance intensity correlates with expression of the foraging gene.}, journal = {Genes, brain, and behavior}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {e12592}, doi = {10.1111/gbb.12592}, pmid = {31145838}, issn = {1601-183X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/*genetics/physiology ; *Biological Variation, Population ; Brain/metabolism ; Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinases/*genetics/metabolism ; Feeding Behavior ; Insect Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Receptor, Insulin/genetics/metabolism ; Receptors, Biogenic Amine/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Individual behavioural differences in responding to the same stimuli is an integral part of division of labour in eusocial insect colonies. Amongst honey bee nectar foragers, individuals strongly differ in their sucrose responsiveness, which correlates with strong differences in behavioural decisions. In this study, we explored whether the mechanisms underlying the regulation of foraging are linked to inter-individual differences in the waggle dance activity of honey bee foragers. We first quantified the variation in dance activity amongst groups of foragers visiting an artificial feeder filled consecutively with different sucrose concentrations. We then determined, for these foragers, the sucrose responsiveness and the brain expression levels of three genes associated with food search and foraging; the foraging gene Amfor, octopamine receptor gene AmoctαR1 and insulin receptor AmInR-2. As expected, foragers showed large inter-individual differences in their dance activity, irrespective of the reward offered at the feeder. The sucrose responsiveness correlated positively with the intensity of the dance activity at the higher reward condition, with the more responsive foragers having a higher intensity of dancing. Out of the three genes tested, Amfor expression significantly correlated with dance activity, with more active dancers having lower expression levels. Our results show that dance and foraging behaviour in honey bees have similar mechanistic underpinnings and supports the hypothesis that the social communication behaviour of honey bees might have evolved by co-opting behavioural modules involved in food search and foraging in solitary insects.}, }
@article {pmid31141257, year = {2019}, author = {Smith, CC and Weber, JN and Mikheyev, AS and Roces, F and Bollazzi, M and Kellner, K and Seal, JN and Mueller, UG}, title = {Landscape genomics of an obligate mutualism: Concordant and discordant population structures between the leafcutter ant Atta texana and its two main fungal symbiont types.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {28}, number = {11}, pages = {2831-2845}, doi = {10.1111/mec.15111}, pmid = {31141257}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*genetics/*microbiology ; Fungi/*genetics ; Genetic Variation ; *Genomics ; Genotype ; Principal Component Analysis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {To explore landscape genomics at the range limit of an obligate mutualism, we use genotyping-by-sequencing (ddRADseq) to quantify population structure and the effect of host-symbiont interactions between the northernmost fungus-farming leafcutter ant Atta texana and its two main types of cultivated fungus. Genome-wide differentiation between ants associated with either of the two fungal types is of the same order of magnitude as differentiation associated with temperature and precipitation across the ant's entire range, suggesting that specific ant-fungus genome-genome combinations may have been favoured by selection. For the ant hosts, we found a broad cline of genetic structure across the range, and a reduction of genetic diversity along the axis of range expansion towards the range margin. This population-genetic structure was concordant between the ants and one cultivar type (M-fungi, concordant clines) but discordant for the other cultivar type (T-fungi). Discordance in population-genetic structures between ant hosts and a fungal symbiont is surprising because the ant farmers codisperse with their vertically transmitted fungal symbionts. Discordance implies that (a) the fungi disperse also through between-nest horizontal transfer or other unknown mechanisms, and (b) genetic drift and gene flow can differ in magnitude between each partner and between different ant-fungus combinations. Together, these findings imply that variation in the strength of drift and gene flow experienced by each mutualistic partner affects adaptation to environmental stress at the range margin, and genome-genome interactions between host and symbiont influence adaptive genetic differentiation of the host during range evolution in this obligate mutualism.}, }
@article {pmid31112358, year = {2019}, author = {Kappeler, PM and Fichtel, C and van Vugt, M and Smith, JE}, title = {Female leadership: A transdisciplinary perspective.}, journal = {Evolutionary anthropology}, volume = {28}, number = {4}, pages = {160-163}, doi = {10.1002/evan.21783}, pmid = {31112358}, issn = {1520-6505}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthropology/*education/*organization &amp; administration ; Female ; Humans ; *Leadership ; Primates ; *Sex Factors ; Sociobiology ; }, }
@article {pmid31094674, year = {2019}, author = {Sanchez, LM}, title = {Darwin's politics of selection.}, journal = {Politics and the life sciences : the journal of the Association for Politics and the Life Sciences}, volume = {38}, number = {1}, pages = {72-102}, doi = {10.1017/pls.2019.1}, pmid = {31094674}, issn = {1471-5457}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Cultural Evolution ; Emotional Intelligence ; History, 19th Century ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Humans ; *Politics ; *Selection, Genetic ; }, abstract = {The uses of natural selection argument in politics have been constant since Charles Darwin's times. They have also been varied. The readings of Darwin's theory range from the most radically individualist views, as in orthodox socio-Darwinism, to the most communitarian, as in Peter Kropotkin's and other socialist perspectives. This essay argues that such diverse, contradictory, and sometimes even outrageous political derivations from Darwin's theory may be partially explained by some incompleteness and ambivalences underlying Darwin's concepts. "Natural selection," "struggle for existence," and "survival of the fittest" are open concepts and may suggest some hierarchical and segregationist interpretations. Circumstantially, Darwin accepted social "checks," such as discouraging marriage of "lower" individuals to prevent them from reproducing, in a vein of Malthusian politics. This makes Darwin's theory of selection by struggle collide with his theory of social instincts, by which he explains the origins of morality. It also favors reading Darwin's On the Origin of Species or The Descent of Man from opposite, mostly ideological perspectives. Darwin's position is ambivalent, although hardly unreasonable. The recognition he makes of social instincts, as well as the use of the concept of artificial selection, entails accepting the role of human consciousness, by which social evolution cannot be reduced to natural evolution, as socio-Darwinians did next and as some neo-Darwinists seem to repeat. On these grounds, this essay argues the inadequacy of the conventional model of natural selection for understanding politics. If we want to describe politics in Darwin's language, artificial rather than natural selection would be the concept that performs better for explaining the courses of politics in real society.}, }
@article {pmid31071155, year = {2019}, author = {Hofman, MPG and Hayward, MW and Heim, M and Marchand, P and Rolandsen, CM and Mattisson, J and Urbano, F and Heurich, M and Mysterud, A and Melzheimer, J and Morellet, N and Voigt, U and Allen, BL and Gehr, B and Rouco, C and Ullmann, W and Holand, &#xd8; and Jørgensen, NH and Steinheim, G and Cagnacci, F and Kroeschel, M and Kaczensky, P and Buuveibaatar, B and Payne, JC and Palmegiani, I and Jerina, K and Kjellander, P and Johansson, &#xd6; and LaPoint, S and Bayrakcismith, R and Linnell, JDC and Zaccaroni, M and Jorge, MLS and Oshima, JEF and Songhurst, A and Fischer, C and Mc Bride, RT and Thompson, JJ and Streif, S and Sandfort, R and Bonenfant, C and Drouilly, M and Klapproth, M and Zinner, D and Yarnell, R and Stronza, A and Wilmott, L and Meisingset, E and Thaker, M and Vanak, AT and Nicoloso, S and Graeber, R and Said, S and Boudreau, MR and Devlin, A and Hoogesteijn, R and May-Junior, JA and Nifong, JC and Odden, J and Quigley, HB and Tortato, F and Parker, DM and Caso, A and Perrine, J and Tellaeche, C and Zieba, F and Zwijacz-Kozica, T and Appel, CL and Axsom, I and Bean, WT and Cristescu, B and Périquet, S and Teichman, KJ and Karpanty, S and Licoppe, A and Menges, V and Black, K and Scheppers, TL and Schai-Braun, SC and Azevedo, FC and Lemos, FG and Payne, A and Swanepoel, LH and Weckworth, BV and Berger, A and Bertassoni, A and McCulloch, G and Šustr, P and Athreya, V and Bockmuhl, D and Casaer, J and Ekori, A and Melovski, D and Richard-Hansen, C and van de Vyver, D and Reyna-Hurtado, R and Robardet, E and Selva, N and Sergiel, A and Farhadinia, MS and Sunde, P and Portas, R and Ambarli, H and Berzins, R and Kappeler, PM and Mann, GK and Pyritz, L and Bissett, C and Grant, T and Steinmetz, R and Swedell, L and Welch, RJ and Armenteras, D and Bidder, OR and González, TM and Rosenblatt, A and Kachel, S and Balkenhol, N}, title = {Right on track? Performance of satellite telemetry in terrestrial wildlife research.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {14}, number = {5}, pages = {e0216223}, pmid = {31071155}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Wild/*physiology ; *Ecosystem ; *Environmental Monitoring ; *Geographic Information Systems ; *Spacecraft ; *Telemetry ; }, abstract = {Satellite telemetry is an increasingly utilized technology in wildlife research, and current devices can track individual animal movements at unprecedented spatial and temporal resolutions. However, as we enter the golden age of satellite telemetry, we need an in-depth understanding of the main technological, species-specific and environmental factors that determine the success and failure of satellite tracking devices across species and habitats. Here, we assess the relative influence of such factors on the ability of satellite telemetry units to provide the expected amount and quality of data by analyzing data from over 3,000 devices deployed on 62 terrestrial species in 167 projects worldwide. We evaluate the success rate in obtaining GPS fixes as well as in transferring these fixes to the user and we evaluate failure rates. Average fix success and data transfer rates were high and were generally better predicted by species and unit characteristics, while environmental characteristics influenced the variability of performance. However, 48% of the unit deployments ended prematurely, half of them due to technical failure. Nonetheless, this study shows that the performance of satellite telemetry applications has shown improvements over time, and based on our findings, we provide further recommendations for both users and manufacturers.}, }
@article {pmid31064854, year = {2019}, author = {Becker, MC and Rössler, W and Strube-Bloss, MF}, title = {UV light perception is modulated by the odour element of an olfactory-visual compound in restrained honeybees.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {222}, number = {Pt 10}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.201483}, pmid = {31064854}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Acyclic Monoterpenes/*metabolism ; Animals ; Bees/*physiology ; Cues ; Learning/physiology ; Odorants ; *Olfactory Perception ; Reward ; *Ultraviolet Rays ; *Visual Perception ; }, abstract = {Honeybees use visual and olfactory cues to detect flowers during foraging trips. Hence, the reward association of a nectar source is a multimodal construct which has at least two major components - olfactory and visual cues. How both sensory modalities are integrated to form a common reward association and whether and how they may interfere, is an open question. The present study used stimulation with UV, blue and green light to evoke distinct photoreceptor activities in the compound eye and two odour components (geraniol, citronellol). To test if a compound of both modalities is perceived as the sum of its elements (elemental processing) or as a unique cue (configural processing), we combined monochromatic light with single odour components in positive (PP) and negative patterning (NP) experiments. During PP, the compound of two modalities was rewarded, whereas the single elements were not. For NP, stimuli comprising a single modality were rewarded, whereas the olfactory-visual compound was not. Furthermore, we compared the differentiation abilities between two light stimuli that were or were not part of an olfactory-visual compound. Interestingly, the behavioural performances revealed a prominent case of configural processing, but only in those cases when UV light was an element of an olfactory-visual compound. Instead, learning with green- and blue-containing compounds rather supports elemental processing theory.}, }
@article {pmid31045493, year = {2019}, author = {Modlmeier, AP and Colman, E and Hanks, EM and Bringenberg, R and Bansal, S and Hughes, DP}, title = {Ant colonies maintain social homeostasis in the face of decreased density.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {31045493}, issn = {2050-084X}, support = {1414296//National Science Foundation/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Locomotion ; Population Density ; *Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {Interactions lie at the heart of social organization, particularly in ant societies. Interaction rates are presumed to increase with density, but there is little empirical evidence for this. We manipulated density within carpenter ant colonies of the species Camponotus pennsylvanicus by quadrupling nest space and by manually tracking 6.9 million ant locations and over 3200 interactions to study the relationship between density, spatial organization and interaction rates. Colonies divided into distinct spatial regions on the basis of their underlying spatial organization and changed their movement patterns accordingly. Despite a reduction in both overall and local density, we did not find the expected concomitant reduction in interaction rates across all colonies. Instead, we found divergent effects across colonies. Our results highlight the remarkable organizational resilience of ant colonies to changes in density, which allows them to sustain two key basic colony life functions, that is food and information exchange, during environmental change.}, }
@article {pmid31031989, year = {2019}, author = {Sperber, AL and Kappeler, PM and Fichtel, C}, title = {Should I stay or should I go? Individual movement decisions during group departures in red-fronted lemurs.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {6}, number = {3}, pages = {180991}, pmid = {31031989}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Collective movements are essential for maintaining group cohesion. However, group members can have different optimal departure times, depending on individual, social and contextual factors whose relative importance remains poorly known. We, therefore, studied collective departures in four groups of red-fronted lemurs (Eulemur rufifrons) in Kirindy Forest, Madagascar, to investigate the influence of an individual's age, sex, their affiliative relationships and their proximity to other group members at the time of departure on their individual departure decision. We recorded behavioural and spatial data on individual departures during 167 group movements and conducted group scans (181-279 per group) to assess affiliative relationships. All factors influenced individual departures. Both affiliation and proximity determined a mimetic joining process in which dyads with stronger affiliative bonds departed in closer succession, and individuals followed the initiator and predecessors more quickly when they were in closer proximity at departure. While the influence of affiliation is common, the effect of inter-individual distance has rarely been considered in groups with heterogeneous social relationships. Although local rules influenced joining, the overall movement pattern was mainly determined by individual traits: juveniles took protected central positions, while females made up the van and males brought up the rear. Individual needs, expressed in the departure order, to an extent overruled the effect of affiliation. These results highlight the importance of considering individual, social and contextual factors collectively in the study of collective movements.}, }
@article {pmid30991871, year = {2021}, author = {McEniery, DF}, title = {The 'Scientific' phrenologist - Bernard Hollander (1864-1934).}, journal = {Journal of medical biography}, volume = {29}, number = {2}, pages = {95-101}, doi = {10.1177/0967772019840170}, pmid = {30991871}, issn = {1758-1087}, mesh = {Austria ; History, 19th Century ; History, 20th Century ; London ; Neurosciences/*history ; Phrenology/*history ; }, abstract = {Bernard Hollander (1864-1934), a Viennese-born British physician, scientist, and author, was best known for his late 19th century and early 20th century revival of a 'Scientific Phrenology'. Hollander, motivated by the advances in cerebral localisation and neuroscience that appeared to justify Franz Joseph Gall's (1758-1828) initial interests in craniology, hoped to use this new framework to substantively improve the lot of his patients and his community. Ridiculed and derided by his colleagues while maintaining a measure of public prominence, Hollander discussed contemporary issues including notions of human nature, mental illness, education, development, women's rights, and sociobiology. The current work focuses on Hollander, his writings, and his reception by the contemporary medical and lay community.}, }
@article {pmid30972261, year = {2019}, author = {Cox, AR and Montgomerie, R}, title = {The cases for and against double-blind reviews.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {e6702}, pmid = {30972261}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {To date, the majority of authors on scientific publications have been men. While much of this gender bias can be explained by historic sexism and discrimination, there is concern that women may still be disadvantaged by the peer review process if reviewers' biases lead them to reject publications with female authors more often. One potential solution to this perceived gender bias in the reviewing process is for journals to adopt double-blind reviews whereby neither the authors nor the reviewers are aware of each other's identity and gender. To test the efficacy of double-blind reviews in one behavioral ecology journal (Behavioral Ecology, BE), we assigned gender to every authorship of every paper published for 2010-2018 in that journal compared to four other journals with single-blind reviews but similar subject matter and impact factors. While female authorships comprised only 35% of the total in all journals, the double-blind journal (BE) did not have more female authorships than its single-blind counterparts. Interestingly, the incidence of female authorship is higher at behavioral ecology journals (BE and Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology) than in the ornithology journals (Auk, Condor, Ibis) for papers on all topics as well as those on birds. These analyses suggest that double-blind review does not currently increase the incidence of female authorship in the journals studied here. We conclude, at least for these journals, that double-blind review no longer benefits female authors and we discuss the pros and cons of the double-blind reviewing process based on our findings.}, }
@article {pmid30963920, year = {2019}, author = {Yilmaz, A and Grübel, K and Spaethe, J and Rössler, W}, title = {Distributed plasticity in ant visual pathways following colour learning.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {286}, number = {1896}, pages = {20182813}, pmid = {30963920}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Color ; Learning ; Neuronal Plasticity/*physiology ; Neuropil/physiology ; Random Allocation ; Visual Pathways/physiology ; }, abstract = {Colour processing at early stages of visual pathways is a topic of intensive study both in vertebrate and invertebrate species. However, it is still unclear how colour learning and memory formation affects an insect brain in the peripheral processing stages and high-order integration centres, and whether associative colour experiences are reflected in plasticity of underlying neuronal circuits. To address this issue, we used Camponotus blandus ants as their proven colour learning and memory capabilities, precisely controllable age and experience, and already known central visual pathways offer unique access to analyse plasticity in neuronal circuits for colour vision in a miniature brain. The potential involvement of distinct neuropils-optic lobes (OLs), mushroom body (MB) input (collar) and output (vertical lobe), anterior optic tubercle (AOTU) and central complex (CX)-in associative colour experiences was assessed by quantification of volumetric and synaptic changes (MB collar) directly after colour conditioning and, 3 days later, after the establishment of long-term memory (LTM). To account for potential effects of non-associative light exposure, we compared neuronal changes in the brain of colour-naive foragers with those of foragers that had been exposed to light in a non-associative way. The results clearly show that the OLs, AOTU, and CX respond with plastic changes after colour learning and LTM formation. This suggests a complex neuronal network for colour learning and memory formation involving multiple brain levels. Such a colour-processing network probably represents an efficient design promoting fast and accurate behavioural decisions during orientation and navigation.}, }
@article {pmid30963700, year = {2019}, author = {Kraft, N and Spaethe, J and Rössler, W and Groh, C}, title = {Neuronal Plasticity in the Mushroom-Body Calyx of Bumble Bee Workers During Early Adult Development.}, journal = {Developmental neurobiology}, volume = {79}, number = {4}, pages = {287-302}, doi = {10.1002/dneu.22678}, pmid = {30963700}, issn = {1932-846X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/*cytology/*growth &amp; development ; Light ; Mushroom Bodies/*cytology/*growth &amp; development ; *Neuronal Plasticity ; Neurons/*cytology ; Organ Size ; Sensory Deprivation ; Visual Perception ; }, abstract = {Division of labor among workers is a key feature of social insects and frequently characterized by an age-related transition between tasks, which is accompanied by considerable structural changes in higher brain centers. Bumble bees (Bombus terrestris), in contrast, exhibit a size-related rather than an age-related task allocation, and thus workers may already start foraging at two days of age. We ask how this early behavioral maturation and distinct size variation are represented at the neuronal level and focused our analysis on the mushroom bodies (MBs), brain centers associated with sensory integration, learning and memory. To test for structural neuronal changes related to age, light exposure, and body size, whole-mount brains of age-marked workers were dissected for synapsin immunolabeling. MB calyx volumes, densities, and absolute numbers of olfactory and visual projection neuron (PN) boutons were determined by confocal laser scanning microscopy and three-dimensional image analyses. Dark-reared bumble bee workers showed an early age-related volume increase in olfactory and visual calyx subcompartments together with a decrease in PN-bouton density during the first three days of adult life. A 12:12 h light-dark cycle did not affect structural organization of the MB calyces compared to dark-reared individuals. MB calyx volumes and bouton numbers positively correlated with body size, whereas bouton density was lower in larger workers. We conclude that, in comparison to the closely related honey bees, neuronal maturation in bumble bees is completed at a much earlier stage, suggesting a strong correlation between neuronal maturation time and lifestyle in both species.}, }
@article {pmid30868227, year = {2019}, author = {Ruedenauer, FA and Leonhardt, SD and Lunau, K and Spaethe, J}, title = {Bumblebees are able to perceive amino acids via chemotactile antennal stimulation.}, journal = {Journal of comparative physiology. A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology}, volume = {205}, number = {3}, pages = {321-331}, pmid = {30868227}, issn = {1432-1351}, mesh = {*Amino Acids ; Animals ; Arthropod Antennae/*physiology ; Bees/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Like all animals, bees need to consume essential amino acids to maintain their body's protein synthesis. Perception and discrimination of amino acids are, however, still poorly understood in bees (and insects in general). We used chemotactile conditioning of the proboscis extension response (PER) to examine (1) whether Bombus terrestris workers are able to perceive amino acids by means of their antennae and (if so) which ones, (2) whether they are able to differentiate between different amino acids, and (3) whether they are able to differentiate between different concentrations of the same amino acid. We found that workers perceived asparagine, cysteine, hydroxyproline, glutamic acid, lysine, phenylalanine, and serine, but not alanine, leucine, proline, or valine by means of their antennae. Surprisingly, they were unable to differentiate between different (perceivable) amino acids, but they distinguished between different concentrations of lysine. Consequently, bumblebees seem to possess amino acid receptors at the tip of their antennae, which enable a general perception of those solute amino acids that have an additional functional group (besides the common amino and carboxylic groups). They may thus have the ability to assess the overall amino acid content of pollen and nectar prior to ingestion.}, }
@article {pmid30826953, year = {2019}, author = {Hesselbach, H and Scheiner, R}, title = {The novel pesticide flupyradifurone (Sivanto) affects honeybee motor abilities.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology (London, England)}, volume = {28}, number = {3}, pages = {354-366}, pmid = {30826953}, issn = {1573-3017}, support = {1//Heinrich-Stockmeyer-Stiftung/ ; }, mesh = {4-Butyrolactone/*analogs &amp; derivatives/toxicity ; Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Bees/*drug effects ; Behavior, Animal/*drug effects ; Brain/drug effects ; Female ; Insecticides/*toxicity ; Male ; Motor Activity/*drug effects ; Pyridines/*toxicity ; Receptors, Cholinergic/drug effects ; Seasons ; }, abstract = {Honeybees and other pollinators are threatened by changing landscapes and pesticides resulting from intensified agriculture. In 2018 the European Union prohibited the outdoor use of three neonicotinoid insecticides due to concerns about pollinators. A new pesticide by the name of "Sivanto" was recently released by Bayer AG. Its active ingredient flupyradifurone binds to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AchR) in the honeybee brain, similar to neonicotinoids. Nevertheless, flupyradifurone is assumed to be harmless for honeybees and can even be applied on flowering crops. So far, only little has been known about sublethal effects of flupyradifurone on honeybees. Intact motor functions are decisive for numerous behaviors including foraging and dancing. We therefore selected a motor assay to investigate in how far sublethal doses of this pesticide affect behavior in young summer and long-lived winter honeybees. Our results demonstrate that flupyradifurone (830 µmol/l) can evoke motor disabilities and disturb normal motor behavior after a single oral administration (1.2 µg/bee). These effects are stronger in long-lived winter bees than in young summer bees. After offering an equal amount of pesticide (1.0-1.75 µg) continuously over 24 h with food the observed effects are slighter. For comparisons we repeated our experiments with the neonicotinoid imidacloprid. Intriguingly, the alterations in behavior induced by this pesticide (4 ng/bee) were different and longer-lasting compared to flupyradifurone, even though both substances bind to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.}, }
@article {pmid30776425, year = {2019}, author = {Lichtenstein, L and Brockmann, A and Spaethe, J}, title = {Learning of monochromatic stimuli in Apis cerana and Apis mellifera by means of PER conditioning.}, journal = {Journal of insect physiology}, volume = {114}, number = {}, pages = {30-34}, doi = {10.1016/j.jinsphys.2019.02.006}, pmid = {30776425}, issn = {1879-1611}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bees ; Color ; *Color Perception ; *Conditioning, Psychological ; *Memory ; }, abstract = {Honey bees are globally distributed and have received increased attention due to their high economic and ecological value for pollination, their exceptional eusocial lifestyle and complex behavioral repertoire. Interestingly, most research on learning and memory in honey bees has been performed in the Western honey bee, Apis mellifera L., and other honey bee species were largely neglected. In the current study, we thus compared visual learning performance of A. mellifera and the Eastern honey bee, A. cerana Fabr., using the proboscis extension response (PER) paradigm. Workers of A. mellifera and A. cerana were differentially conditioned to two monochromatic light stimuli, with peak maxima at 435 and 528 nm. Both honey bee species were able to form an association between the color stimulus and a sugar reward and significantly distinguished between the two color stimuli in a differential discrimination test. However, besides similar performance levels during visual learning, A. cerana showed a reduced mid-term memory (tested after 2 h) compared to A. mellifera. Finally, performance of the visual PER conditioning in our study reached similar levels as found in olfactory PER conditioning, and we thus recommend the visual PER conditioning approach in addition to olfactory conditioning as a useful tool for studying species-specific learning and memory capabilities in honey bees under controlled laboratory conditions.}, }
@article {pmid30755489, year = {2019}, author = {Pegel, U and Pfeiffer, K and Zittrell, F and Scholtyssek, C and Homberg, U}, title = {Two Compasses in the Central Complex of the Locust Brain.}, journal = {The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience}, volume = {39}, number = {16}, pages = {3070-3080}, pmid = {30755489}, issn = {1529-2401}, mesh = {Action Potentials/physiology ; Animals ; Brain/*physiology ; Cues ; Grasshoppers ; Head Movements/physiology ; Neurons/*physiology ; Orientation, Spatial/*physiology ; Spatial Navigation/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Many migratory insects rely on a celestial compass for spatial orientation. Several features of the daytime sky, all generated by the sun, can be exploited for navigation. Two of these are the position of the sun and the pattern of polarized skylight. Neurons of the central complex (CX), a group of neuropils in the central brain of insects, have been shown to encode sky compass cues. In desert locusts, the CX holds a topographic, compass-like representation of the plane of polarized light (E-vector) presented from dorsal direction. In addition, these neurons also encode the azimuth of an unpolarized light spot, likely representing the sun. Here, we investigate whether, in addition to E-vector orientation, the solar azimuth is represented topographically in the CX. We recorded intracellularly from eight types of CX neuron while stimulating animals of either sex with polarized blue light from zenithal direction and an unpolarized green light spot rotating around the animal's head at different elevations. CX neurons did not code for elevation of the unpolarized light spot. However, two types of columnar neuron showed a linear correlation between innervated slice in the CX and azimuth tuning to the unpolarized green light spot, consistent with an internal compass representation of solar azimuth. Columnar outputs of the CX also showed a topographic representation of zenithal E-vector orientation, but the two compasses were not linked to each other. Combined stimulation with unpolarized green and polarized blue light suggested that the two compasses interact in a nonlinear way.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT In the brain of the desert locust, neurons sensitive to the plane of celestial polarization are arranged like a compass in the slices of the central complex (CX). These neurons, in addition, code for the horizontal direction of an unpolarized light cue possibly representing the sun. We show here that horizontal directions are, in addition to E-vector orientations from the dorsal direction, represented in a compass-like manner across the slices of the CX. However, the two compasses are not linked to each other, but rather seem to interact in a cell-specific, nonlinear way. Our study confirms the role of the CX in signaling heading directions and shows that different cues are used for this task.}, }
@article {pmid30726424, year = {2018}, author = {Contreras-Pulache, H and Espinoza-Lecca, E and Sevillano-Jimenez, J}, title = {[Notes on the historical evolution of the work of Pedro Ortiz Cabanillas and his sociobiological informational theory].}, journal = {Revista peruana de medicina experimental y salud publica}, volume = {35}, number = {4}, pages = {699-706}, doi = {10.17843/rpmesp.2018.354.3892}, pmid = {30726424}, issn = {1726-4642}, mesh = {History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Information Theory/*history ; Peru ; Sociobiology/*history ; }, abstract = {The Informational Sociobiological Theory proposes a radically-different definition of living systems and, therefore, is the only existing neurological theory that evades the mind-brain problem and explains the nature of human consciousness. It was developed by Pedro Ortiz Cabanillas between 1984 and 2011. In this document we are presenting a listing of his main works. We include, additionally, unpublished material of the years 1998, 1999, 2006, and 2009.}, }
@article {pmid30723219, year = {2019}, author = {Kappeler, PM and Nunn, CL and Vining, AQ and Goodman, SM}, title = {Evolutionary dynamics of sexual size dimorphism in non-volant mammals following their independent colonization of Madagascar.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {1454}, pmid = {30723219}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Animal Distribution ; Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Body Size ; Ecosystem ; Female ; Madagascar ; Male ; Phylogeny ; *Sex Characteristics ; Strepsirhini/classification/*genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {As predicted by sexual selection theory, males are larger than females in most polygynous mammals, but recent studies found that ecology and life history traits also affect sexual size dimorphism (SSD) through evolutionary changes in either male size, female size, or both. The primates of Madagascar (Lemuriformes) represent the largest group of mammals without male-biased SSD. The eco-evo-devo hypothesis posited that adaptations to unusual climatic unpredictability on Madagascar have ultimately reduced SSD in lemurs after dispersing to Madagascar, but data have not been available for comparative tests of the corresponding predictions that SSD is also absent in other terrestrial Malagasy mammals and that patterns of SSD changed following the colonization of Madagascar. We used phylogenetic methods and new body mass data to test these predictions among the four endemic radiations of Malagasy primates, carnivorans, tenrecs, and rodents. In support of our prediction, we found that male-biased SSD is generally absent among all Malagasy mammals. Phylogenetic comparative analyses further indicated that after their independent colonization of Madagascar, SSD decreased in primates and tenrecs, but not in the other lineages or when analyzed across all species. We discuss several mechanisms that may have generated these patterns and conclude that neither the eco-evo-devo hypothesis, founder effects, the island rule nor sexual selection theory alone can provide a compelling explanation for the observed patterns of SSD in Malagasy mammals.}, }
@article {pmid30689139, year = {2019}, author = {Grodwohl, JB}, title = {Animal Behavior, Population Biology and the Modern Synthesis (1955-1985).}, journal = {Journal of the history of biology}, volume = {52}, number = {4}, pages = {597-633}, pmid = {30689139}, issn = {1573-0387}, mesh = {Animals ; *Behavior, Animal ; *Biological Evolution ; Ethology/*history ; Genetics, Population/*history ; History, 20th Century ; Models, Biological ; *Selection, Genetic ; Sociobiology/history ; }, abstract = {This paper examines the history of animal behavior studies after the synthesis period. Three episodes are considered: the adoption of the theory of natural selection, the mathematization of ideas, and the spread of molecular methods in behavior studies. In these three episodes, students of behavior adopted practices and standards developed in population ecology and population genetics. While they borrowed tools and methods from these fields, they made distinct uses (inclusive fitness method, evolutionary theory of games, emphasis on individual selection) that set them relatively apart and led them to contribute, in their own way, to evolutionary theory. These episodes also highlight some limitations of "conjunction narratives" centered on the relation between a discipline and the modern synthesis. A trend in conjunction narratives is to interpret any development related to evolution in a discipline as an "extension," an "integration," or as a "delayed" synthesis. I here suggest that this can lead to underestimate discontinuities in the history of evolutionary biology.}, }
@article {pmid30617631, year = {2019}, author = {Römer, D and Roces, F}, title = {Waste deposition in leaf-cutting ants is guided by olfactory cues from waste.}, journal = {Die Naturwissenschaften}, volume = {106}, number = {1-2}, pages = {3}, pmid = {30617631}, issn = {1432-1904}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Behavior, Animal/*physiology ; *Cues ; Smell/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Social insects often use olfactory cues from their environment to coordinate colony tasks. We investigated whether leaf-cutting ants use volatiles as cues to guide the deposition of their copious amounts of colony refuse. In the laboratory, we quantified the relocation of a small pile of colony waste by workers of Atta laevigata towards volatiles offered at each side of the pile as a binary choice, consisting of either waste volatiles, fungus volatiles, or no volatiles. Fungus volatiles alone did not evoke relocation of waste. Waste volatiles alone, by contrast, led to a strong relocation of waste particles towards them. When fungus and waste volatiles were tested against each other, waste particles were also relocated towards waste volatiles, and in a high percentage of assays completely moved away from the source of fungus volatiles as compared to the previous series. We suggest that deposition and accumulation of large amounts of refuse in single external heaps or a few huge underground waste chambers of Atta nests is due to both olfactory preferences and stigmergic responses towards waste volatiles by waste-carrying workers.}, }
@article {pmid30579360, year = {2018}, author = {Keller, A and Brandel, A and Becker, MC and Balles, R and Abdelmohsen, UR and Ankenbrand, MJ and Sickel, W}, title = {Wild bees and their nests host Paenibacillus bacteria with functional potential of avail.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {229}, pmid = {30579360}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bacterial Toxins/genetics ; Bees/growth &amp; development/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections/microbiology ; Larva/microbiology ; Metagenomics/methods ; Nesting Behavior ; Paenibacillus/genetics/*isolation &amp; purification/physiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/methods ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: In previous studies, the gram-positive firmicute genus Paenibacillus was found with significant abundances in nests of wild solitary bees. Paenibacillus larvae is well-known for beekeepers as a severe pathogen causing the fatal honey bee disease American foulbrood, and other members of the genus are either secondary invaders of European foulbrood or considered a threat to honey bees. We thus investigated whether Paenibacillus is a common bacterium associated with various wild bees and hence poses a latent threat to honey bees visiting the same flowers.<br><br>RESULTS: We collected 202 samples from 82 individuals or nests of 13 bee species at the same location and screened each for Paenibacillus using high-throughput sequencing-based 16S metabarcoding. We then isolated the identified strain Paenibacillus MBD-MB06 from a solitary bee nest and sequenced its genome. We did find conserved toxin genes and such encoding for chitin-binding proteins, yet none specifically related to foulbrood virulence or chitinases. Phylogenomic analysis revealed a closer relationship to strains of root-associated Paenibacillus rather than strains causing foulbrood or other accompanying diseases. We found anti-microbial evidence within the genome, confirmed by experimental bioassays with strong growth inhibition of selected fungi as well as gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The isolated wild bee associate Paenibacillus MBD-MB06 is a common, but irregularly occurring part of wild bee microbiomes, present on adult body surfaces and guts and within nests especially in megachilids. It was phylogenetically and functionally distinct from harmful members causing honey bee colony diseases, although it shared few conserved proteins putatively toxic to insects that might indicate ancestral predisposition for the evolution of insect pathogens within the group. By contrast, our strain showed anti-microbial capabilities and the genome further indicates abilities for chitin-binding and biofilm-forming, suggesting it is likely a useful associate to avoid fungal penetration of the bee cuticula and a beneficial inhabitant of nests to repress fungal threats in humid and nutrient-rich environments of wild bee nests.}, }
@article {pmid30549185, year = {2019}, author = {Ferretti, V and Papaleo, F}, title = {Understanding others: Emotion recognition in humans and other animals.}, journal = {Genes, brain, and behavior}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {e12544}, doi = {10.1111/gbb.12544}, pmid = {30549185}, issn = {1601-183X}, mesh = {Animal Communication ; Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Brain/metabolism/physiology ; *Emotional Intelligence ; Humans ; Social Behavior ; Sociobiology/methods/standards ; }, abstract = {Emotion recognition represents the ability to encode an ensemble of sensory stimuli providing information about the emotional state of another individual. This ability is not unique to humans. An increasing number of studies suggest that many aspects of higher order social functions, including emotion recognition, might be present in species ranging from primates to rodents, indicating a conserved role in social animals. The aim of this review is to examine and compare how emotions are communicated and perceived in humans and other animals, with the intent to highlight possible new behavioral approaches and research perspectives. We summarize the evidence from human emotion recognition, and latest advances in the development of nonhuman animal behavioral tests, using or implying the use of this cognitive function. The differential implication of sensory modalities used by animals to communicate and decipher emotional states is also discussed. The opportunity to measure emotion recognition abilities in rodents may allow us to better identify the neural mechanisms mediating this complex function, thus promoting the development of new intervention strategies for several neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by social cognitive dysfunctions.}, }
@article {pmid30529645, year = {2019}, author = {Freas, CA and Fleischmann, PN and Cheng, K}, title = {Experimental ethology of learning in desert ants: Becoming expert navigators.}, journal = {Behavioural processes}, volume = {158}, number = {}, pages = {181-191}, doi = {10.1016/j.beproc.2018.12.001}, pmid = {30529645}, issn = {1872-8308}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Cues ; *Desert Climate ; Environment ; Ethology ; Exploratory Behavior/*physiology ; Homing Behavior/*physiology ; Smell ; Spatial Learning/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Foraging desert ants are repeatedly presented with the challenge of leaving the nest, searching the scorching desert landscape to find food, and then transporting it back home. To accomplish this task, foragers have a navigational toolbox, which relies on olfactory, idiothetic, visual and magnetic cues. Desert ants have been widely studied with regards to these abilities, including a heavy focus on learned visual cues, the most prominent being the terrestrial panorama. Nest cues are first acquired during pre-foraging learning walks. Once foragers leave the nest area, they also learn a number of cues to aid them when returning both back to the nest and to known food sites, using experience of previous trips to navigate on future trips. In this review, we describe the learning processes involved in accurate navigation in desert ants. We first focus on recent research on nest-site panorama learning during pre-foraging learning walks as well as panorama learning away from the nest during foraging. We also review learning cues beyond the terrestrial panorama, including tactile, magnetic, olfactory and vibrational cues. These studies provide a basis for future work to further explore how these navigators, despite their small brains, acquire, retain and use many cue sets present in their environments. We call for more experimental ethology focussed on learning processes, both by exploring run-by-run and step-by-step acquisition of information for navigation, as well as for other natural tasks in an animal's life.}, }
@article {pmid30417379, year = {2018}, author = {Bastin, F and Couto, A and Larcher, V and Phiancharoen, M and Koeniger, G and Koeniger, N and Sandoz, JC}, title = {Marked interspecific differences in the neuroanatomy of the male olfactory system of honey bees (genus Apis).}, journal = {The Journal of comparative neurology}, volume = {526}, number = {18}, pages = {3020-3034}, doi = {10.1002/cne.24513}, pmid = {30417379}, issn = {1096-9861}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/*anatomy &amp; histology ; Male ; Olfactory Cortex/*anatomy &amp; histology ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {All honey bee species (genus Apis) display a striking mating behavior with the formation of male (drone) congregations, in which virgin queens mate with many drones. Bees' mating behavior relies on olfactory communication involving queen-but also drone pheromones. To explore the evolution of olfactory communication in Apis, we analyzed the neuroanatomical organization of the antennal lobe (primary olfactory center) in the drones of five species from the three main lineages (open-air nesting species: dwarf honey bees Apis florea and giant honey bees Apis dorsata; cavity-nesting species: Apis mellifera, Apis kochevnikovi, and Apis cerana) and from three populations of A. cerana (Borneo, Thailand, and Japan). In addition to differences in the overall number of morphological units, the glomeruli, our data reveal marked differences in the number and position of macroglomeruli, enlarged units putatively dedicated to sex pheromone processing. Dwarf and giant honey bee species possess two macroglomeruli while cavity-nesting bees present three or four macroglomeruli, suggesting an increase in the complexity of sex communication during evolution in the genus Apis. The three A. cerana populations showed differing absolute numbers of glomeruli but the same three macroglomeruli. Overall, we identified six different macroglomeruli in the genus Apis. One of these (called MGb), which is dedicated to the detection of the major queen compound 9-ODA in A. mellifera, was conserved in all species. We discuss the implications of these results for our understanding of sex communication in honey bees and propose a putative scenario of antennal lobe evolution in the Apis genus.}, }
@article {pmid30403699, year = {2018}, author = {Ruedenauer, FA and Wöhrle, C and Spaethe, J and Leonhardt, SD}, title = {Do honeybees (Apis mellifera) differentiate between different pollen types?.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {11}, pages = {e0205821}, pmid = {30403699}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bees ; Chemotactic Factors ; Conditioning, Classical ; Cues ; *Discrimination Learning ; Olfactory Perception ; *Pollen ; Pollination ; }, abstract = {Bees receive nectar and pollen as reward for pollinating plants. Pollen of different plant species varies widely in nutritional composition. In order to select pollen of appropriate nutritional quality, bees would benefit if they could distinguish different pollen types. Whether they rely on visual, olfactory and/or chemotactile cues to distinguish between different pollen types, has however been little studied. In this study, we examined whether and how Apis mellifera workers differentiate between almond and apple pollen. We used differential proboscis extension response conditioning with olfactory and chemotactile stimulation, in light and darkness, and in summer and winter bees. We found that honeybees were only able to differentiate between different pollen types, when they could use both chemotactile and olfactory cues. Visual cues further improved learning performance. Summer bees learned faster than winter bees. Our results thus highlight the importance of multisensory information for pollen discrimination.}, }
@article {pmid30393034, year = {2018}, author = {Egert-Berg, K and Hurme, ER and Greif, S and Goldstein, A and Harten, L and Herrera M, LG and Flores-Martínez, JJ and Valdés, AT and Johnston, DS and Eitan, O and Borissov, I and Shipley, JR and Medellin, RA and Wilkinson, GS and Goerlitz, HR and Yovel, Y}, title = {Resource Ephemerality Drives Social Foraging in Bats.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {28}, number = {22}, pages = {3667-3673.e5}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2018.09.064}, pmid = {30393034}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animal Migration ; Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; Chiroptera/*physiology ; *Feeding Behavior ; *Flight, Animal ; Population Density ; Population Dynamics ; Predatory Behavior/*physiology ; *Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {Observations of animals feeding in aggregations are often interpreted as events of social foraging, but it can be difficult to determine whether the animals arrived at the foraging sites after collective search [1-4] or whether they found the sites by following a leader [5, 6] or even independently, aggregating as an artifact of food availability [7, 8]. Distinguishing between these explanations is important, because functionally, they might have very different consequences. In the first case, the animals could benefit from the presence of conspecifics, whereas in the second and third, they often suffer from increased competition [3, 9-13]. Using novel miniature sensors, we recorded GPS tracks and audio of five species of bats, monitoring their movement and interactions with conspecifics, which could be inferred from the audio recordings. We examined the hypothesis that food distribution plays a key role in determining social foraging patterns [14-16]. Specifically, this hypothesis predicts that searching for an ephemeral resource (whose distribution in time or space is hard to predict) is more likely to favor social foraging [10, 13-15] than searching for a predictable resource. The movement and social interactions differed between bats foraging on ephemeral versus predictable resources. Ephemeral species changed foraging sites and showed large temporal variation nightly. They aggregated with conspecifics as was supported by playback experiments and computer simulations. In contrast, predictable species were never observed near conspecifics and showed high spatial fidelity to the same foraging sites over multiple nights. Our results suggest that resource (un)predictability influences the costs and benefits of social foraging.}, }
@article {pmid30391659, year = {2019}, author = {Bang, A}, title = {Antecedents of behavioural and reproductive dominance in pairs of the primitively eusocial wasp Ropalidia marginata.}, journal = {Behavioural processes}, volume = {158}, number = {}, pages = {1-3}, doi = {10.1016/j.beproc.2018.10.025}, pmid = {30391659}, issn = {1872-8308}, mesh = {Aging/psychology ; Animals ; *Behavior, Animal ; Body Size ; Female ; Male ; *Reproduction ; Social Behavior ; *Social Dominance ; *Wasps ; }, abstract = {What factors predispose some individuals to become reproductively dominant in a group where every member can reproduce? Antecedents of reproductive dominance have often been investigated in primitively eusocial species where reproductive skew exists despite adult reproductive potential displayed by every group-member, but such studies have rarely focused on small, incipient colonies. Here, I investigated antecedents of behavioural and reproductive dominance in pairs of the Indian paper wasp Ropalidia marginata. Common antecedents of behavioural dominance such as body size and age were inoperative in pairs of R. marginata. Moreover, age and behavioural dominance, but not body size, influenced reproductive dominance in pairs. These findings are not only different from other primitively eusocial insects, but also different from the colonies of R. marginata. It is likely that antecedents of reproductive dominance are different not only in different species, but also change with group size within a species, such that the role of behavioural dominance to achieve reproductive monopoly remains more effective in small groups such as pairs, and becomes less effective as the group size increases. These results require further investigations into the effect of group size on individual behaviour in group-living animals.}, }
@article {pmid30387926, year = {2018}, author = {Faragalla, KM and Chernyshova, AM and Gallo, AJ and Thompson, GJ}, title = {From gene list to gene network: Recognizing functional connections that regulate behavioral traits.}, journal = {Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution}, volume = {330}, number = {6-7}, pages = {317-329}, doi = {10.1002/jez.b.22829}, pmid = {30387926}, issn = {1552-5015}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/genetics ; Behavior, Animal/physiology ; Female ; *Gene Regulatory Networks ; *Genome, Insect ; Infertility, Female/genetics ; *Social Behavior ; Systems Biology ; }, abstract = {The study of social breeding systems is often gene focused, and the field of insect sociobiology has been successful at assimilating tools and techniques from molecular biology. One common output from sociogenomic studies is a gene list. Gene lists are readily generated from microarray, RNA sequencing, or other molecular screens that typically aim to prioritize genes based on the differences in their expression. Gene lists, however, are often unsatisfying because the information they provide is simply tabular and does not explain how genes interact with each other, or how genetic interactions change in real time under social or environmental circumstances. Here, we promote a view that is relatively common to molecular systems biology, where gene lists are converted into gene networks that better describe the functional connections that regulate behavioral traits. We present a narrative related to honeybee worker sterility to show how network analysis can be used to reprioritize candidate genes based on connectivity rather than their freestanding expression values. Networks can also reveal multigene modules, motifs, clusters or other system-wide properties that might not be apparent from an ab initio list. We argue that because network analyses are not restricted to "genes" as nodes, their implementation can potentially connect multiple levels of biological organization into a single, progressively complex study system.}, }
@article {pmid30349993, year = {2019}, author = {Sommerlandt, FMJ and Brockmann, A and Rössler, W and Spaethe, J}, title = {Immediate early genes in social insects: a tool to identify brain regions involved in complex behaviors and molecular processes underlying neuroplasticity.}, journal = {Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS}, volume = {76}, number = {4}, pages = {637-651}, pmid = {30349993}, issn = {1420-9071}, support = {12P4167//NCBS-TIFR institutional funding/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/genetics/physiology ; Brain/cytology/*metabolism/physiology ; Gene Expression ; Genes, Immediate-Early/*genetics ; Genes, Insect/*genetics ; Insecta/*genetics/physiology ; Neuronal Plasticity/*genetics/physiology ; Neurons/metabolism/physiology ; *Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {Social insects show complex behaviors and master cognitive tasks. The underlying neuronal mechanisms, however, are in most cases only poorly understood due to challenges in monitoring brain activity in freely moving animals. Immediate early genes (IEGs) that get rapidly and transiently expressed following neuronal stimulation provide a powerful tool for detecting behavior-related neuronal activity in vertebrates. In social insects, like honey bees, and in insects in general, this approach is not yet routinely established, even though these genes are highly conserved. First studies revealed a vast potential of using IEGs as neuronal activity markers to analyze the localization, function, and plasticity of neuronal circuits underlying complex social behaviors. We summarize the current knowledge on IEGs in social insects and provide ideas for future research directions.}, }
@article {pmid30341951, year = {2018}, author = {Sehner, S and Fichtel, C and Kappeler, PM}, title = {Primate tails: Ancestral state reconstruction and determinants of interspecific variation in primate tail length.}, journal = {American journal of physical anthropology}, volume = {167}, number = {4}, pages = {750-759}, doi = {10.1002/ajpa.23703}, pmid = {30341951}, issn = {1096-8644}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthropology, Physical ; Anthropometry ; *Biological Evolution ; Body Size/*physiology ; Female ; Head/anatomy &amp; histology ; Locomotion/physiology ; Male ; Phylogeny ; Primates/*anatomy &amp; histology/*physiology ; Tail/*anatomy &amp; histology ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: Living primates vary considerably in tail length-body size relation, ranging from tailless species to those where the tail is more than twice as long as the body. Because the general pattern and determinants of tail evolution remain incompletely known, we reconstructed evolutionary changes in relative tail length across all primates and sought to explain interspecific variation in this trait.<br><br>METHODS: We combined data on tail length, head-body length, intermembral index (IMI), habitat use, locomotion type, and range latitude for 340 species from published sources. We reconstructed the evolution of relative tail length to identify all independent cases of regime shifts on a primate phylogeny, using several methods based on Ornstein-Uhlenbeck (OU) models. Accounting for phylogeny, we also examined the effects of habitat, locomotion type, distance from the equator and IMI on interspecific variation in tail length-body size relation.<br><br>RESULTS: Primate tail length is not sexually dimorphic. A phylogenetic reconstruction allowing multiple optima explains the observed regime shifts best. During the evolutionary history of primates, relative tail length changed 50 times under an OU model. Specifically, relative tail length increased 26 and decreased 24 times. Most of these changes occurred among Old World primates. Among the variables tested here, interspecific variation in IMI and the difference between leaping and non-leaping locomotion explained interspecific variation in relative tail length: Evolutionary decreases in relative tail length are generally associated with an increase in IMI and an absence of leaping behavior.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Regime shifts for relative tail length in living primates occurred in concert with fundamental changes in IMI and a change from leaping to non-leaping locomotion, or vice versa. Exceptions from this general pattern are linked to the presence of a prehensile tail or specialized foraging strategies. Thus, the primate tail appears to have evolved in functional coordination with limb proportions, presumably to assist body balance.}, }
@article {pmid30296346, year = {2018}, author = {Bernaldo de Quirós, E and Wheeler, BC and Hammerschmidt, K and Heistermann, M and Tiddi, B}, title = {Do sexual calls in female black capuchin monkeys (Sapajus nigritus) vary with fertility? An acoustic analysis.}, journal = {American journal of primatology}, volume = {80}, number = {9}, pages = {e22920}, doi = {10.1002/ajp.22920}, pmid = {30296346}, issn = {1098-2345}, support = {//Leakey Foundation/International ; //Volkswagen Foundation/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Argentina ; Cebinae/*physiology ; Copulation ; Female ; *Fertility ; *Vocalization, Animal ; }, abstract = {Females across a range of animal taxa produce vocalizations and signals uniquely associated with periods of mating. While such signals may ultimately function to increase female attractivity to males, conflicting findings challenge the extent to which these signals co-vary in accordance with the probability of conception. Female black capuchin monkeys (Sapajus nigritus) display an elaborate repertoire of both vocal and visual components as part of their socio-sexual behavior, and previous analyses have shown that the rates of production of visual, but not vocal, components provide graded information on female ovulation. It remains possible, however, that the acoustic parameters of these sexual calls, rather than their rate of productions, co-vary with female fertility. To test this, we analyzed structural and temporal call parameters from estrous calls and post-copulatory calls recorded over five consecutive mating seasons in 12 sexually mature females at Iguazú National Park, Argentina. Calls given during the fertile phase of the female ovarian cycle were compared with those given during the non-fertile phase, as determined by profiles of female reproductive hormones. Similarly, within the fertile phase, we tested whether temporal or spectral acoustic parameters of calls gradually change with the approach of ovulation. We did not find any significant relationship between call parameters and the two measures of female fertility in either female estrous calls or post-copulatory calls. However, some differences between pre- and post-copulatory calls were apparent. Overall, our results indicate that sexual calls in black capuchin females do not provide precise information about the timing of ovulation, but may allow listeners to make probabilistic inferences about whether copulations have taken place. This, combined with previous findings, suggests that females in our study may use signals in different modalities to convey information about their fertility and sexual behavior with varying degrees of precision.}, }
@article {pmid30225037, year = {2018}, author = {Henke-von der Malsburg, J and Fichtel, C}, title = {Are generalists more innovative than specialists? A comparison of innovative abilities in two wild sympatric mouse lemur species.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {5}, number = {8}, pages = {180480}, pmid = {30225037}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {The propensity to flexibly innovate behavioural variants might advantage animals when dealing with novel or modified ecological or social challenges. Interspecific innovative abilities can be predicted by the degree of ecological generalism and intraspecific variation is predicted by personality traits. To examine the effects of these factors on innovation, we compared problem-solving abilities in the generalist grey mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus) and the more specialized Madame Berthe's mouse lemurs (Microcebus berthae) in western Madagascar. We examined personality traits by testing 54 individuals in open field and novel object tests, and we assessed problem-solving abilities by presenting an artificial feeding-box that could be opened by three different techniques. The first two techniques presented novel problems and the third technique a modified problem to the more complex second novel problem. In both species, motivation, early success and better inhibitory control characterized innovators and predicted superior problem-solving performance. Although both species performed equally well in finding a solution to the novel problems, the specialist species was more efficient in finding a novel solution to a familiar problem. Since the ecological specialist also exhibited more inhibitory control in this task than the generalist, we propose that specialists may dispose of more efficient problem-solving behaviour.}, }
@article {pmid30158313, year = {2018}, author = {Bernadou, A and Schrader, L and Pable, J and Hoffacker, E and Meusemann, K and Heinze, J}, title = {Stress and early experience underlie dominance status and division of labour in a clonal insect.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {285}, number = {1885}, pages = {}, pmid = {30158313}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/growth &amp; development/*physiology ; Larva/growth &amp; development/physiology ; Life Change Events ; Population Dynamics ; Social Dominance ; *Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Cooperation and division of labour are fundamental in the 'major transitions' in evolution. While the factors regulating cell differentiation in multi-cellular organisms are quite well understood, we are just beginning to unveil the mechanisms underlying individual specialization in cooperative groups of animals. Clonal ants allow the study of which factors influence task allocation without confounding variation in genotype and morphology. Here, we subjected larvae and freshly hatched workers of the clonal ant Platythyrea punctata to different rearing conditions and investigated how these manipulations affected division of labour among pairs of oppositely treated, same-aged clonemates. High rearing temperature, physical stress, injury and malnutrition increased the propensity of individuals to become subordinate foragers rather than dominant reproductives. This is reflected in changed gene regulation: early stages of division of labour were associated with different expression of genes involved in nutrient signalling pathways, metabolism and the phenotypic response to environmental stimuli. Many of these genes appear to be capable of responding to a broad range of stressors. They might link environmental stimuli to behavioural and phenotypic changes and could therefore be more broadly involved in caste differentiation in social insects. Our experiments also shed light on the causes of behavioural variation among genetically identical individuals.}, }
@article {pmid30104965, year = {2018}, author = {Heinze, S and Pfeiffer, K}, title = {Editorial: The Insect Central Complex-From Sensory Coding to Directing Movement.}, journal = {Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {156}, pmid = {30104965}, issn = {1662-5153}, }
@article {pmid30104438, year = {2018}, author = {Huebner, F and Fichtel, C and Kappeler, PM}, title = {Linking cognition with fitness in a wild primate: fitness correlates of problem-solving performance and spatial learning ability.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {373}, number = {1756}, pages = {}, pmid = {30104438}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Variation, Individual ; Cheirogaleidae/*genetics/*psychology ; *Cognition ; Female ; *Genetic Fitness ; Longevity ; Male ; Maze Learning ; *Problem Solving ; *Spatial Learning ; }, abstract = {Linking the cognitive performance of wild animals with fitness consequences is crucial for understanding evolutionary processes that shape individual variation in cognition. However, the few studies that have examined these links revealed differing relationships between various cognitive performance measures and fitness proxies. To contribute additional comparative data to this body of research, we linked individual performance during repeated problem-solving and spatial learning ability in a maze with body condition and survival in wild grey mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus). All four variables exhibited substantial inter-individual variation. Solving efficiency in the problem-solving task, but not spatial learning performance, predicted the magnitude of change in body condition after the harsh dry season, indicating that the ability to quickly apply a newly discovered motor technique might also facilitate exploitation of new, natural food resources. Survival was not linked with performance in both tasks, however, suggesting that mouse lemurs' survival might not depend on the cognitive performances addressed here. Our study is the first linking cognition with fitness proxies in a wild primate species, and our discussion highlights the importance and challenges of accounting for a species' life history and ecology in choosing meaningful cognitive and fitness variables for a study in the wild.This article is part of the theme issue 'Causes and consequences of individual differences in cognitive abilities'.}, }
@article {pmid30104426, year = {2018}, author = {Cauchoix, M and Chow, PKY and van Horik, JO and Atance, CM and Barbeau, EJ and Barragan-Jason, G and Bize, P and Boussard, A and Buechel, SD and Cabirol, A and Cauchard, L and Claidière, N and Dalesman, S and Devaud, JM and Didic, M and Doligez, B and Fagot, J and Fichtel, C and Henke-von der Malsburg, J and Hermer, E and Huber, L and Huebner, F and Kappeler, PM and Klein, S and Langbein, J and Langley, EJG and Lea, SEG and Lihoreau, M and Lovlie, H and Matzel, LD and Nakagawa, S and Nawroth, C and Oesterwind, S and Sauce, B and Smith, EA and Sorato, E and Tebbich, S and Wallis, LJ and Whiteside, MA and Wilkinson, A and Chaine, AS and Morand-Ferron, J}, title = {The repeatability of cognitive performance: a meta-analysis.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {373}, number = {1756}, pages = {}, pmid = {30104426}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {Animals ; *Behavior, Animal ; *Biological Variation, Individual ; *Cognition ; }, abstract = {Behavioural and cognitive processes play important roles in mediating an individual's interactions with its environment. Yet, while there is a vast literature on repeatable individual differences in behaviour, relatively little is known about the repeatability of cognitive performance. To further our understanding of the evolution of cognition, we gathered 44 studies on individual performance of 25 species across six animal classes and used meta-analysis to assess whether cognitive performance is repeatable. We compared repeatability (R) in performance (1) on the same task presented at different times (temporal repeatability), and (2) on different tasks that measured the same putative cognitive ability (contextual repeatability). We also addressed whether R estimates were influenced by seven extrinsic factors (moderators): type of cognitive performance measurement, type of cognitive task, delay between tests, origin of the subjects, experimental context, taxonomic class and publication status. We found support for both temporal and contextual repeatability of cognitive performance, with mean R estimates ranging between 0.15 and 0.28. Repeatability estimates were mostly influenced by the type of cognitive performance measures and publication status. Our findings highlight the widespread occurrence of consistent inter-individual variation in cognition across a range of taxa which, like behaviour, may be associated with fitness outcomes.This article is part of the theme issue 'Causes and consequences of individual differences in cognitive abilities'.}, }
@article {pmid30080072, year = {2018}, author = {Kittler, K and Kappeler, PM and Fichtel, C}, title = {Instrumental problem-solving abilities in three lemur species (Microcebus murinus, Varecia variegata, and Lemur catta).}, journal = {Journal of comparative psychology (Washington, D.C. : 1983)}, volume = {132}, number = {3}, pages = {306-314}, doi = {10.1037/com0000113}, pmid = {30080072}, issn = {1939-2087}, mesh = {Animals ; *Cheirogaleidae ; *Food ; *Lemur ; *Problem Solving ; *Reward ; Social Behavior ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Apes and some New and Old World monkeys (i.e., haplorhine primates) are known to routinely use tools. In strepsirrhine primates (i.e., lemurs and lorises), no tool use has been reported, even though they appear to have some basic understanding of the spatial relations required for using a pulling tool. To facilitate direct comparisons of the underlying abilities between haplorhine and strepsirrhine primate species, we experimentally examined instrumental problem-solving abilities in three captive lemur species (Microcebus murinus, Varecia variegata, and Lemur catta), using methods from previous experiments with haplorhine primates. First, lemurs were supposed to use a stick to gain access to an inaccessible food reward. Only one ring-tailed lemur solved this task spontaneously on the first attempt. After offering the stick repeatedly, 13 individuals of all three species solved it successfully. Second, lemurs had to choose between pairs of reachable objects with a food reward on or near them, where one object did not afford pulling in the food. Ring-tailed and gray mouse lemurs generally selected the correct (connected) object, thus performing comparably with haplorhine primates, and ruffed lemurs even matched chimpanzees in their performance. Thus, although strepsirrhine primates may lack the fine motor skills to use a stick as a reaching tool, they performed comparable with naturally tool-using haplorhine primates on means-end problems. Our findings suggest a dissociation in primates between the judgment of spatial relations between two objects, which appears to be roughly equivalent across species, and facility at handling sticks for instrumental purposes, which favors species with enhanced manual dexterity. (PsycINFO Database Record}, }
@article {pmid30058024, year = {2018}, author = {Peckre, LR and Defolie, C and Kappeler, PM and Fichtel, C}, title = {Potential self-medication using millipede secretions in red-fronted lemurs: combining anointment and ingestion for a joint action against gastrointestinal parasites?.}, journal = {Primates; journal of primatology}, volume = {59}, number = {5}, pages = {483-494}, pmid = {30058024}, issn = {1610-7365}, support = {DFG FI 929/21-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Arthropods ; Benzoquinones/administration &amp; dosage ; Eating ; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/parasitology/prevention &amp; control/*veterinary ; *Lemuridae ; Madagascar ; Self Medication/*veterinary ; }, abstract = {Self-anointing, referring to the behaviour of rubbing a material object or foreign substance over different parts of the body, has been observed in several vertebrate species, including primates. Several functions, such as detoxifying a rich food source, social communication and protection against ectoparasites, have been proposed to explain this behaviour. Here, we report observations of six wild red-fronted lemurs (Eulemur rufifrons) of both sexes and different age classes anointing their perianal-genital areas and tails with chewed millipedes. Several individuals also ingested millipedes after prolonged chewing. In light of the features of the observed interactions with millipedes, and the nature and potential metabolic pathways of the released chemicals, we suggest a potential self-medicative function. Specifically, we propose that anointing combined with the ingestion of millipedes' benzoquinone secretions by red-fronted lemurs may act in a complementary fashion against gastrointestinal parasite infections, and more specifically Oxyuridae nematodes, providing both prophylactic and therapeutic effects.}, }
@article {pmid30040150, year = {2018}, author = {Thamm, M and Sturm, K and Schlossmann, J and Scheiner, R}, title = {Levels and activity of cyclic guanosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase in nurse and forager honeybees.}, journal = {Insect molecular biology}, volume = {27}, number = {6}, pages = {815-823}, doi = {10.1111/imb.12520}, pmid = {30040150}, issn = {1365-2583}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/*enzymology ; *Behavior, Animal ; Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinases/*metabolism ; Insect Proteins/metabolism ; Satiation ; Sucrose ; }, abstract = {Age-dependent division of labour in honeybees was shown to be connected to sensory response thresholds. Foragers show a higher gustatory responsiveness than nurse bees. It is generally assumed that nutrition-related signalling pathways underlie this behavioural plasticity. Here, one important candidate gene is the foraging gene, which encodes a cyclic guanosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase (PKG). Several roles of members of this enzyme family were analysed in vertebrates. They own functions in important processes such as growth, secretion and neuronal adaptation. Honeybee foraging messenger RNA expression is upregulated in the brain of foragers. In vivo activation of PKG can modulate gustatory responsiveness. We present for the first time PKG protein level and activity data in the context of social behaviour and feeding. Protein level was significantly higher in brains of foragers than in those of nurse bees, substantiating the role of PKG in behavioural plasticity. However, enzyme activity did not differ between behavioural roles. The mediation of feeding status appears independent of PKG signalling. Neither PKG content nor enzyme activity differed between starved and satiated individuals. We suggest that even though nutrition-related pathways are surely involved in controlling behavioural plasticity, which involves changes in PKG signalling, mediation of satiety itself is independent of PKG.}, }
@article {pmid30018159, year = {2018}, author = {Lichtenstein, L and Lichtenstein, M and Spaethe, J}, title = {Length of stimulus presentation and visual angle are critical for efficient visual PER conditioning in the restrained honey bee, Apis mellifera.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {221}, number = {Pt 14}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.179622}, pmid = {30018159}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/*physiology ; *Conditioning, Classical ; Cues ; Random Allocation ; Reflex ; *Smell ; Time Factors ; *Visual Perception ; }, abstract = {Learning visual cues is an essential capability of bees for vital behaviors such as orientation in space and recognition of nest sites, food sources and mating partners. To study learning and memory in bees under controlled conditions, the proboscis extension response (PER) provides a well-established behavioral paradigm. While many studies have used the PER paradigm to test olfactory learning in bees because of its robustness and reproducibility, studies on PER conditioning of visual stimuli are rare. In this study, we designed a new setup to test the learning performance of restrained honey bees and the impact of several parameters: stimulus presentation length, stimulus size (i.e. visual angle) and ambient illumination. Intact honey bee workers could successfully discriminate between two monochromatic lights when the color stimulus was presented for 4, 7 and 10 s before a sugar reward was offered, reaching similar performance levels to those for olfactory conditioning. However, bees did not learn at shorter presentation durations. Similar to free-flying honey bees, harnessed bees were able to associate a visual stimulus with a reward at small visual angles (5 deg) but failed to utilize the chromatic information to discriminate the learned stimulus from a novel color. Finally, ambient light had no effect on acquisition performance. We discuss possible reasons for the distinct differences between olfactory and visual PER conditioning.}, }
@article {pmid30014321, year = {2018}, author = {Steitz, I and Kingwell, C and Paxton, RJ and Ayasse, M}, title = {Evolution of Caste-Specific Chemical Profiles in Halictid Bees.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {44}, number = {9}, pages = {827-837}, pmid = {30014321}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Animal Communication ; Animals ; Bees/*chemistry/metabolism ; Behavior, Animal/*physiology ; *Biological Evolution ; Chromatography, Gas ; Female ; *Hierarchy, Social ; Life Cycle Stages ; Odorants/*analysis ; Reproduction ; }, abstract = {Chemical communication is crucial for the maintenance of colony organization in eusocial insects and chemical signals are known to mediate important aspects of their social life, including the regulation of reproduction. Sociality is therefore hypothesized to be accompanied by an increase in the complexity of chemical communication. However, little is known about the evolution of odor signals at the transition from solitary living to eusociality. Halictid bees are especially suitable models to study this question as they exhibit considerable variability in social behavior. Here we investigated whether the dissimilarities in cuticle chemical signals in females of different castes and life stages reflect the level of social complexity across halictid bee species. Our hypothesis was that species with a higher social behavior ergo obligate eusocial species possess a more distinct chemical profile between castes or female life stages. We analyzed cuticular chemical profiles of foundresses, breeding females and workers of ancestrally solitary species, facultative and obligate eusocial halictid species. We also tested whether social complexity was associated with a higher investment in chemical signals. Our results revealed higher chemical dissimilarity between castes in obligate than in facultative eusocial species, especially regarding macrocyclic lactones, which were the single common compound class overproduced in queens compared with workers. Chemical dissimilarities were independent of differences in ovarian status in obligate eusocial species but were dependent on ovarian status in facultative eusocial species, which we discuss in an evolutionary framework.}, }
@article {pmid29981324, year = {2018}, author = {Arenas, A and Roces, F}, title = {Appetitive and aversive learning of plants odors inside different nest compartments by foraging leaf-cutting ants.}, journal = {Journal of insect physiology}, volume = {109}, number = {}, pages = {85-92}, doi = {10.1016/j.jinsphys.2018.07.001}, pmid = {29981324}, issn = {1879-1611}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Appetitive Behavior/*physiology ; Basidiomycota ; Learning/*physiology ; Nesting Behavior/physiology ; *Odorants ; Plants/chemistry ; Smell/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Cues inside the nest provide social insect foragers with information about resources currently exploited that may influence their decisions outside. Leaf-cutting ants harvest leaf fragments that are either further processed as substrate for their symbiotic fungus, or disposed of if unsuitable. We investigated whether Acromyrmex ambiguus foragers develop learned preferences for olfactory cues they experienced either in the fungus or in the waste chamber of the nest. Foragers' olfactory preferences were quantified as a choice between sugared papers disks scented with a novel odor and with the odor experienced in one of the nest compartments, before and after odor addition. Odors incorporated in the fungus chamber led to preferences towards paper disks smelling of them. Conversely, odors experienced in the waste chambers led to avoidance of similarly-scented disks. To investigate context-specificity of responses, we quantified learned preferences towards an odor that occurred first in the fungus chamber, and 14 h later in the waste chamber. Foragers initially developed a preference for the odor added in the fungus chamber that turned into avoidance when the same odor solely occurred later in the waste chamber. Avoidance of plants could also be induced in a more natural context, when fresh leaf disks of novel plants, privet or firethorn, were presented in the waste chamber. We conclude that learned acceptance or rejection of suitable plants by foragers depend on the learning context: smells can lead to appetitive learning when present in the fungus garden, or to avoidance learning when they occur at the dump.}, }
@article {pmid29932950, year = {2018}, author = {Zanni, V and Değirmenci, L and Annoscia, D and Scheiner, R and Nazzi, F}, title = {The reduced brood nursing by mite-infested honey bees depends on their accelerated behavioral maturation.}, journal = {Journal of insect physiology}, volume = {109}, number = {}, pages = {47-54}, doi = {10.1016/j.jinsphys.2018.06.006}, pmid = {29932950}, issn = {1879-1611}, mesh = {Animals ; Appetitive Behavior/physiology ; Bees/growth &amp; development/*parasitology/*physiology ; Hemolymph/chemistry ; Juvenile Hormones/analysis ; *Nesting Behavior ; *Varroidae ; }, abstract = {The parasitic mite Varroa destructor is regarded as the most important parasite of honey bees and plays a fundamental role in the decline of bee colonies observed in the last decade in the Northern hemisphere. Parasitization has a number of detrimental effects on bees, including reduced nursing, which can have important impacts on colony balance. In this work we investigated at the individual level the causes of this abnormal behavior and found that the reduced nursing activity in mite-infested workers is associated with impaired learning performance and a series of physiological traits that are typical of foragers, including reduced response to brood pheromone, limited development of hypopharyngeal glands and higher juvenile hormone titre in the haemolymph. Altogether our data confirm the premature transition to foraging already postulated based on previous genomics studies, from a physiological point of view.}, }
@article {pmid29925622, year = {2018}, author = {Shibasaki, S and Shimada, M}, title = {Cyclic dominance emerges from the evolution of two inter-linked cooperative behaviours in the social amoeba.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {285}, number = {1881}, pages = {}, pmid = {29925622}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Dictyostelium/*physiology ; *Microbial Interactions ; Models, Biological ; Reproduction ; }, abstract = {Evolution of cooperation has been one of the most important problems in sociobiology, and many researchers have revealed mechanisms that can facilitate the evolution of cooperation. However, most studies deal only with one cooperative behaviour, even though some organisms perform two or more cooperative behaviours. The social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum performs two cooperative behaviours in starvation: fruiting body formation and macrocyst formation. Here, we constructed a model that couples these two behaviours, and we found that the two behaviours are maintained because of the emergence of cyclic dominance, although cooperation cannot evolve if only either of the two behaviours is performed. The common chemoattractant cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) is used in both fruiting body formation and macrocyst formation, providing a biological context for this coupling. Cyclic dominance emerges regardless of the existence of mating types or spatial structure in the model. In addition, cooperation can re-emerge in the population even after it goes extinct. These results indicate that the two cooperative behaviours of the social amoeba are maintained because of the common chemical signal that underlies both fruiting body formation and macrocyst formation. We demonstrate the importance of coupling multiple games when the underlying behaviours are associated with one another.}, }
@article {pmid29915978, year = {2018}, author = {French, AS and Pfeiffer, K}, title = {Nonlinearization: naturalistic stimulation and nonlinear dynamic behavior in a spider mechanoreceptor.}, journal = {Biological cybernetics}, volume = {112}, number = {5}, pages = {403-413}, doi = {10.1007/s00422-018-0763-0}, pmid = {29915978}, issn = {1432-0770}, support = {MOP-106602//CIHR/Canada ; }, mesh = {Action Potentials/*physiology ; Animals ; Computer Simulation ; Mechanoreceptors/*physiology ; *Models, Neurological ; Neurons/*physiology ; *Nonlinear Dynamics ; Spiders/*cytology ; }, abstract = {In a previous study, we used linear frequency response analysis to show that naturalistic stimulation of spider primary mechanosensory neurons produced different response dynamics than the commonly used Gaussian random noise. We isolated this difference to the production of action potentials from receptor potential and suggested that the different distribution of frequency components in the naturalistic signal increased the nonlinearity of action potential encoding. Here, we tested the relative contributions of first- and second-order processes to the action potential signal by measuring linear and quadratic coherence functions. Naturalistic stimulation shifted the linear coherence toward lower frequencies, while quadratic coherence was always higher than linear coherence and increased with naturalistic stimulation. In an initial attempt to separate the order of time-dependent and nonlinear processes, we fitted quadratic frequency response functions by two block-structured models consisting of a power-law filter and a static second-order nonlinearity in alternate cascade orders. The same cascade models were then fitted to the original time domain data by conventional numerical analysis algorithms, using a polynomial function as the static nonlinearity. Quadratic models with a linear filter followed by a static nonlinearity were favored over the reverse order, but with weak significance. Polynomial nonlinear functions indicated that rectification is a major nonlinearity. A complete quantitative description of sensory encoding in these primary mechanoreceptors remains elusive but clearly requires quadratic and higher nonlinear operations on the input signal to explain the sensitivity of dynamic behavior to different input signal patterns.}, }
@article {pmid29876722, year = {2018}, author = {Martin, SJ and Correia-Oliveira, ME and Shemilt, S and Drijfhout, FP}, title = {Is the Salivary Gland Associated with Honey Bee Recognition Compounds in Worker Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)?.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {44}, number = {7-8}, pages = {650-657}, pmid = {29876722}, issn = {1573-1561}, support = {9509-13-5//capes/ ; 400425/2014-9//cnpq/ ; }, mesh = {Alkanes/analysis/chemistry ; Alkenes/analysis/chemistry ; Animals ; Bees ; Behavior, Animal/*physiology ; Chemical Fractionation ; Chromatography, Gas ; Hydrocarbons/analysis/*chemistry/isolation &amp; purification ; Isomerism ; Salivary Glands/*chemistry/metabolism ; Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) function as recognition compounds with the best evidence coming from social insects such as ants and honey bees. The major exocrine gland involved in hydrocarbon storage in ants is the post-pharyngeal gland (PPG) in the head. It is still not clearly understood where CHCs are stored in the honey bee. The aim of this study was to investigate the hydrocarbons and esters found in five major worker honey bee (Apis mellifera) exocrine glands, at three different developmental stages (newly emerged, nurse, and forager) using a high temperature GC analysis. We found the hypopharyngeal gland contained no hydrocarbons nor esters, and the thoracic salivary and mandibular glands only contained trace amounts of n-alkanes. However, the cephalic salivary gland (CSG) contained the greatest number and highest quantity of hydrocarbons relative to the five other glands with many of the hydrocarbons also found in the Dufour's gland, but at much lower levels. We discovered a series of oleic acid wax esters that lay beyond the detection of standard GC columns. As a bee's activities changed, as it ages, the types of compounds detected in the CSG also changed. For example, newly emerged bees have predominately C19-C23n-alkanes, alkenes and methyl-branched compounds, whereas the nurses' CSG had predominately C31:1 and C33:1 alkene isomers, which are replaced by a series of oleic acid wax esters in foragers. These changes in the CSG were mirrored by corresponding changes in the adults' CHCs profile. This indicates that the CSG may have a parallel function to the PPG found in ants acting as a major storage gland of CHCs. As the CSG duct opens into the buccal cavity the hydrocarbons can be worked into the comb wax and could help explain the role of comb wax in nestmate recognition experiments.}, }
@article {pmid29858748, year = {2018}, author = {Villalta, I and Abril, S and Cerdá, X and Boulay, R}, title = {Queen Control or Queen Signal in Ants: What Remains of the Controversy 25 Years After Keller and Nonacs' Seminal Paper?.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {44}, number = {9}, pages = {805-817}, pmid = {29858748}, issn = {1573-1561}, support = {CGL2015-65807-P//Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Exocrine Glands/chemistry/metabolism ; Female ; Hydrocarbons/chemistry/pharmacology ; Pheromones/chemistry/classification/pharmacology ; Phylogeny ; Reproduction/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Ant queen pheromones (QPs) have long been known to affect colony functioning. In many species, QPs affect important reproductive functions such as diploid larvae sexualization and egg-laying by workers, unmated queens (gynes), or other queens. Until the 1990s, these effects were generally viewed to be the result of queen manipulation through the use of coercive or dishonest signals. However, in their seminal 1993 paper, Keller and Nonacs challenged this idea, suggesting that QPs had evolved as honest signals that informed workers and other colony members of the queen's presence and reproductive state. This paper has greatly influenced the study of ant QPs and inspired numerous attempts to identify fertility-related compounds and test their physiological and behavioral effects. In the present article, we review the literature on ant QPs in various contexts and pay special attention to the role of cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs). Although the controversy generated by Keller and Nonacs' (Anim Behav 45:787-794, 1993) paper is currently less intensively debated, there is still no clear evidence which allows the rejection of the queen control hypothesis in favor of the queen signal hypothesis. We argue that important questions remain regarding the mode of action of QPs, and their targets which may help understanding their evolution.}, }
@article {pmid29858577, year = {2018}, author = {Parijs, I and Steenackers, HP}, title = {Competitive inter-species interactions underlie the increased antimicrobial tolerance in multispecies brewery biofilms.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {12}, number = {8}, pages = {2061-2075}, pmid = {29858577}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Bacteria/classification/*drug effects/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biofilms/*drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Wine/analysis/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Genetic diversity often enhances the tolerance of microbial communities against antimicrobial treatment. However the sociobiology underlying this antimicrobial tolerance remains largely unexplored. Here we analyze how inter-species interactions can increase antimicrobial tolerance. We apply our approach to 17 industrially relevant multispecies biofilm models, based on species isolated from 58 contaminating biofilms in three breweries. Sulfathiazole was used as antimicrobial agent because it showed the highest activity out of 22 biofilm inhibitors tested. Our analysis reveals that competitive interactions dominate among species within brewery biofilms. We show that antimicrobial treatment can reduce the level of competition and therefore cause a subset of species to bloom. The result is a 1.2-42.7-fold lower percentage inhibition of these species and increased overall tolerance. In addition, we show that the presence of Raoultella can also directly enhance the inherent tolerance of Pseudomonas to antimicrobial treatment, either because the species protect each other or because they induce specific tolerance phenotypes as a response to competitors. Overall, our study emphasizes that the dominance of competitive interactions is central to the enhanced antimicrobial tolerance of the multispecies biofilms, and that the activity of antimicrobials against multispecies biofilms cannot be predicted based on their effect against monocultures.}, }
@article {pmid29778905, year = {2018}, author = {Römer, D and Bollazzi, M and Roces, F}, title = {Carbon dioxide sensing in the social context: Leaf-cutting ants prefer elevated CO2 levels to tend their brood.}, journal = {Journal of insect physiology}, volume = {108}, number = {}, pages = {40-47}, doi = {10.1016/j.jinsphys.2018.05.007}, pmid = {29778905}, issn = {1879-1611}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Carbon Dioxide/*physiology ; Cues ; Female ; Nesting Behavior ; Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {Social insects show temperature and humidity preferences inside their nests to successfully rear brood. In underground nests, ants also encounter rising CO2 concentrations with increasing depth. It is an open question whether they use CO2 as a cue to decide where to place and tend the brood. Leaf-cutting ants do show CO2 preferences for the culturing of their symbiotic fungus. We evaluated their CO2 choices for brood placement in laboratory experiments. Workers of Acromyrmex lundii in the process of relocating brood were offered a binary choice consisting of two interconnected chambers with different CO2 concentrations. Values ranged from atmospheric to high concentrations of 4% CO2. The CO2 preferences shown by workers for themselves and for brood placement were assessed by quantifying the number of workers and relocated brood in each chamber. Ants showed clear CO2 preferences for brood placement. They avoided atmospheric levels, 1% and 4% CO2, and showed a preference for levels of 3%. This is the first report of CO2 preferences for the maintenance of brood in social insects. The observed preferences for brood location were independent of the workers' own CO2 preferences, since they showed no clear-cut pattern. Workers' CO2 preferences for brood maintenance were slightly higher than those reported for fungus culturing, although brood is reared in the same chambers as the fungus in leaf-cutting ant nests. Workers' choices for brood placement in natural nests are likely the result of competing preferences for other environmental factors more crucial for brood survival, aside from those for CO2.}, }
@article {pmid29717258, year = {2018}, author = {Beetz, MJ and García-Rosales, F and Kössl, M and Hechavarría, JC}, title = {Robustness of cortical and subcortical processing in the presence of natural masking sounds.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {6863}, pmid = {29717258}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Acoustic Stimulation/methods ; *Adaptation, Psychological ; Animals ; Cerebral Cortex/*physiology ; Cerebrum/*physiology ; Chiroptera/*physiology ; Echolocation/*physiology ; Female ; Male ; Neurons/physiology ; Noise ; Vocalization, Animal/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Processing of ethologically relevant stimuli could be interfered by non-relevant stimuli. Animals have behavioral adaptations to reduce signal interference. It is largely unexplored whether the behavioral adaptations facilitate neuronal processing of relevant stimuli. Here, we characterize behavioral adaptations in the presence of biotic noise in the echolocating bat Carollia perspicillata and we show that the behavioral adaptations could facilitate neuronal processing of biosonar information. According to the echolocation behavior, bats need to extract their own signals in the presence of vocalizations from conspecifics. With playback experiments, we demonstrate that C. perspicillata increases the sensory acquisition rate by emitting groups of echolocation calls when flying in noisy environments. Our neurophysiological results from the auditory midbrain and cortex show that the high sensory acquisition rate does not vastly increase neuronal suppression and that the response to an echolocation sequence is partially preserved in the presence of biosonar signals from conspecifics.}, }
@article {pmid29706513, year = {2018}, author = {Fleischmann, PN and Grob, R and Müller, VL and Wehner, R and Rössler, W}, title = {The Geomagnetic Field Is a Compass Cue in Cataglyphis Ant Navigation.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {28}, number = {9}, pages = {1440-1444.e2}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2018.03.043}, pmid = {29706513}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Cues ; Desert Climate ; Feeding Behavior ; Geological Phenomena ; Homing Behavior/*physiology ; Learning ; Magnetic Fields ; Orientation/*physiology ; Spatial Navigation/physiology ; }, abstract = {Desert ants (Cataglyphis) are famous insect navigators. During their foraging lives, the ants leave their underground colonies for long distances and return to their starting point with fair accuracy [1, 2]. Their incessantly running path integrator provides them with a continually updated home vector [3-5]. Directional input to their path integrator is provided by a visual compass based on celestial cues [6, 7]. However, as path integration is prone to cumulative errors, the ants additionally employ landmark guidance routines [8-11]. At the start of their foraging lives, they acquire the necessary landmark information by performing well-structured learning walks [12, 13], including turns about their vertical body axes [14]. When Cataglyphis noda performs these pirouettes, it always gazes at the nest entrance during the longest of several short stopping phases [14]. As the small nest entrance is not visible, the ants can adjust their gaze direction only by reading out their path integrator. However, recent experiments have shown that, for adjusting the goal-centered gaze directions during learning walks, skylight cues are not required [15]. A most promising remaining compass cue is the geomagnetic field, which is used for orientation in one way or the other by a variety of animal species [16-25]. Here, we show that the gaze directions during the look-back-to-the-nest behavior change in a predictable way to alterations of the horizontal component of the magnetic field. This is the first demonstration that, in insects, a geomagnetic compass cue is both necessary and sufficient for accomplishing a well-defined navigational task.}, }
@article {pmid29679143, year = {2018}, author = {Fleischmann, PN and Rössler, W and Wehner, R}, title = {Early foraging life: spatial and temporal aspects of landmark learning in the ant Cataglyphis noda.}, journal = {Journal of comparative physiology. A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology}, volume = {204}, number = {6}, pages = {579-592}, pmid = {29679143}, issn = {1432-1351}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants ; *Appetitive Behavior ; Conflict, Psychological ; *Learning ; Motor Activity ; Nesting Behavior ; Spatio-Temporal Analysis ; }, abstract = {Within the powerful navigational toolkit implemented in desert ants, path integration and landmark guidance are the key routines. Here, we use cue-conflict experiments to investigate the interplay between these two routines in ants, Cataglyphis noda, which start their foraging careers (novices) with learning walks and are then tested at different stages of experience. During their learning walks, the novices take nest-centered views from various directions around the nest. In the present experiments, these learning walks are spatially restricted by arranging differently sized water moats around the nest entrance and thus, limiting the space available around the nest and the nest-feeder route. First, we show that the ants are able to return to the nest by landmark guidance only when the novices have had enough space around the nest entrance for properly performing their learning walks. Second, in 180° cue-conflict situations between path integration and landmark guidance, path integration dominates in the beginning of foraging life (after completion of the learning walks), but with increasing numbers of visits to a familiar feeder landmark guidance comes increasingly into play.}, }
@article {pmid29589522, year = {2018}, author = {Kay, J and Menegazzi, P and Mildner, S and Roces, F and Helfrich-Förster, C}, title = {The Circadian Clock of the Ant Camponotus floridanus Is Localized in Dorsal and Lateral Neurons of the Brain.}, journal = {Journal of biological rhythms}, volume = {33}, number = {3}, pages = {255-271}, doi = {10.1177/0748730418764738}, pmid = {29589522}, issn = {1552-4531}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; *Behavior, Animal ; Brain/cytology/physiology ; *Circadian Clocks ; Circadian Rhythm/physiology ; Locomotion ; Male ; Motor Activity ; Neurons/*physiology ; Period Circadian Proteins/metabolism ; *Photoperiod ; }, abstract = {The circadian clock of social insects has become a focal point of interest for research, as social insects show complex forms of timed behavior and organization within their colonies. These behaviors include brood care, nest maintenance, foraging, swarming, defense, and many other tasks, of which several require social synchronization and accurate timing. Ants of the genus Camponotus have been shown to display a variety of daily timed behaviors such as the emergence of males from the nest, foraging, and relocation of brood. Nevertheless, circadian rhythms of isolated individuals have been studied in few ant species, and the circadian clock network in the brain that governs such behaviors remains completely uncharacterized. Here we show that isolated minor workers of Camponotus floridanus exhibit temperature overcompensated free-running locomotor activity rhythms under constant darkness. Under light-dark cycles, most animals are active during day and night, with a slight preference for the night. On the neurobiological level, we show that distinct cell groups in the lateral and dorsal brain of minor workers of C. floridanus are immunostained with an antibody against the clock protein Period (PER) and a lateral group additionally with an antibody against the neuropeptide pigment-dispersing factor (PDF). PER abundance oscillates in a daily manner, and PDF-positive neurites invade most parts of the brain, suggesting that the PER/PDF-positive neurons are bona fide clock neurons that transfer rhythmic signals into the relevant brain areas controlling rhythmic behavior.}, }
@article {pmid29563522, year = {2018}, author = {Hesselbach, H and Scheiner, R}, title = {Effects of the novel pesticide flupyradifurone (Sivanto) on honeybee taste and cognition.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {4954}, pmid = {29563522}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {4-Butyrolactone/administration &amp; dosage/*analogs &amp; derivatives/toxicity ; Animals ; Appetitive Behavior/drug effects/physiology ; Bees/*drug effects/physiology ; Cognition/*drug effects/physiology ; Feeding Behavior/drug effects ; Insecticides/administration &amp; dosage/*toxicity ; Lethal Dose 50 ; Plant Nectar ; Pollen ; Pyridines/administration &amp; dosage/*toxicity ; Taste/*drug effects/physiology ; Toxicity Tests, Acute/methods ; }, abstract = {Due to intensive agriculture honeybees are threatened by various pesticides. The use of one group of them, the neonicotinoids, was recently restricted by the European Union. These chemicals bind to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAchR) in the honeybee brain. Recently, Bayer AG released a new pesticide by the name of "Sivanto" against sucking insects. It is assumed to be harmless for honeybees, although its active ingredient, flupyradifurone, binds nAchR similar to the neonicotinoids. We investigated if this pesticide affects the taste for sugar and cognitive performance in honeybee foragers. These bees are directly exposed to the pesticide while foraging for pollen or nectar. Our results demonstrate that flupyradifurone can reduce taste and appetitive learning performance in honeybees foraging for pollen and nectar, although only the highest concentration had significant effects. Most likely, honeybee foragers will not be exposed to these high concentrations. Therefore, the appropriate use of this pesticide is considered safe for honeybees, at least with respect to the behaviors studied here.}, }
@article {pmid29515886, year = {2018}, author = {Strube-Bloss, MF and Rössler, W}, title = {Multimodal integration and stimulus categorization in putative mushroom body output neurons of the honeybee.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {5}, number = {2}, pages = {171785}, pmid = {29515886}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Flowers attract pollinating insects like honeybees by sophisticated compositions of olfactory and visual cues. Using honeybees as a model to study olfactory-visual integration at the neuronal level, we focused on mushroom body (MB) output neurons (MBON). From a neuronal circuit perspective, MBONs represent a prominent level of sensory-modality convergence in the insect brain. We established an experimental design allowing electrophysiological characterization of olfactory, visual, as well as olfactory-visual induced activation of individual MBONs. Despite the obvious convergence of olfactory and visual pathways in the MB, we found numerous unimodal MBONs. However, a substantial proportion of MBONs (32%) responded to both modalities and thus integrated olfactory-visual information across MB input layers. In these neurons, representation of the olfactory-visual compound was significantly increased compared with that of single components, suggesting an additive, but nonlinear integration. Population analyses of olfactory-visual MBONs revealed three categories: (i) olfactory, (ii) visual and (iii) olfactory-visual compound stimuli. Interestingly, no significant differentiation was apparent regarding different stimulus qualities within these categories. We conclude that encoding of stimulus quality within a modality is largely completed at the level of MB input, and information at the MB output is integrated across modalities to efficiently categorize sensory information for downstream behavioural decision processing.}, }
@article {pmid29462586, year = {2018}, author = {Qu, C and Dreher, JC}, title = {Sociobiology: Changing the Dominance Hierarchy.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {28}, number = {4}, pages = {R167-R169}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2018.01.018}, pmid = {29462586}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; Hierarchy, Social ; Prefrontal Cortex ; Social Behavior ; *Social Dominance ; *Sociobiology ; }, abstract = {One fundamental question is to understand what neural circuits are involved when social hierarchies are established, maintained and modified. Now, a new study shows that a previously subordinate animal can become dominant after optogenetic stimulation of the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, demonstrating that this brain region is necessary and sufficient to quickly induce winning during social competitions.}, }
@article {pmid29435242, year = {2018}, author = {Luro, AB and Igic, B and Croston, R and López, AV and Shawkey, MD and Hauber, ME}, title = {Which egg features predict egg rejection responses in American robins? Replicating Rothstein's (1982) study.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {8}, number = {3}, pages = {1673-1679}, pmid = {29435242}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Rothstein (Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 11, 1982, 229) was one of the first comprehensive studies to examine how different egg features influence egg rejection behaviors of avian brood parasite-hosts. The methods and conclusions of Rothstein (1982) laid the foundation for subsequent experimental brood parasitism studies over the past thirty years, but its results have never been evaluated with replication. Here, we partially replicated Rothstein's (1982) experiments using parallel artificial model egg treatments to simulate cowbird (Molothrus ater) parasitism in American robin (Turdus migratorius) nests. We compared our data with those of Rothstein (1982) and confirmed most of its original findings: (1) robins reject model eggs that differ from the appearance of a natural robin egg toward that of a natural cowbird egg in background color, size, and maculation; (2) rejection responses were best predicted by model egg background color; and (3) model eggs differing by two or more features from natural robin eggs were more likely to be rejected than model eggs differing by one feature alone. In contrast with Rothstein's (1982) conclusion that American robin egg recognition is not specifically tuned toward rejection of brown-headed cowbird eggs, we argue that our results and those of other recent studies of robin egg rejection suggest a discrimination bias toward rejection of cowbird eggs. Future work on egg recognition will benefit from utilizing a range of model eggs varying continuously in background color, maculation patterning, and size in combination with avian visual modeling, rather than using model eggs which vary only discretely.}, }
@article {pmid29433448, year = {2018}, author = {Rakotonirina, H and Kappeler, PM and Fichtel, C}, title = {The role of facial pattern variation for species recognition in red-fronted lemurs (Eulemur rufifrons).}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {19}, pmid = {29433448}, issn = {1471-2148}, mesh = {Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; Face ; Facial Recognition/*physiology ; Female ; Geography ; Lemur/*physiology ; Linear Models ; Madagascar ; Male ; Reproduction ; Species Specificity ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Species recognition, i.e., the ability to distinguish conspecifics from heterospecifics, plays an essential role in reproduction. The role of facial cues for species recognition has been investigated in several non-human primate species except for lemurs. We therefore investigated the role of facial cues for species recognition in wild red-fronted lemurs (Eulemur rufifrons) at Kirindy Forest. We presented adult red-fronted lemurs pictures of male faces from five species including red-fronted lemurs, three closely related species, white-fronted lemurs (E. albifrons), brown lemurs (E. fulvus), rufous brown lemurs (E. rufus), and genetically more distant red-bellied lemurs (E. rubriventer), occurring in allopatry with the study population. We predicted that red-fronted lemurs respond stronger to conspecific than to heterospecific pictures and that females show stronger responses than males. In addition, if genetic drift has played a role in the evolution of facial color patterns in the members of this genus, we predicted that responses of red-fronted lemurs correlate negatively with the genetic distance to the different species stimuli.<br><br>RESULTS: Red-fronted lemurs looked significantly longer at pictures of their own species than at those of heterospecifics. Females spent less time looking at pictures of white-fronted, brown and red-bellied lemurs than males did, but not to pictures of red-bellied lemurs and a control stimulus. Individuals also exhibited sniffing behavior while looking at visual stimuli, and the time spent sniffing was significantly longer for pictures of conspecifics compared to those of heterospecifics. Moreover, the time spent looking and sniffing towards the pictures correlated negatively with the genetic distance between their own species and the species presented as stimulus.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that red-fronted lemurs have the ability for species recognition using visual facial cues, which may allow them to avoid costly interbreeding. If so, sexual selection might have influenced the evolution of facial patterns in eulemurs. Since responses also correlated with genetic distance, our findings suggest a potential role of genetic drift as well as sexual selection in influencing the evolution of facial variation in eulemurs. Because study subjects looked and sniffed towards the presented pictures, red-fronted lemurs might have the ability for multi-modal species recognition.}, }
@article {pmid37065636, year = {2018}, author = {Caselli, CB and Ayres, PHB and Castro, SCN and Souto, A and Schiel, N and Miller, CT}, title = {The role of extragroup encounters in a Neotropical, cooperative breeding primate, the common marmoset: a field playback experiment.}, journal = {Animal behaviour}, volume = {136}, number = {}, pages = {137-146}, pmid = {37065636}, issn = {0003-3472}, support = {R01 DC012087/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {In cooperatively breeding species, encounters with intruders may serve multiple functions ranging from reaffirming group territory ranges to facilitating assessments for additional breeding opportunities. While these distinctive events offer the opportunity to investigate the delicate balance of these social dimensions within animal societies, their unpredictable occurrence makes witnessing and controlling these events in the wild particularly challenging. Here we used a field playback approach to simulate conspecific territorial incursions in cooperatively breeding common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) to distinguish between the three following non-mutually exclusive functions of intergroup encounters in this species of New World primate: territorial defense, mate defense, and assessment of breeding opportunities. For these experiments, we systematically broadcast species-typical long-distance contact calls - phees - commonly used in intergroup interactions from the core and periphery of the groups' territories using either male or female vocalizations. Consistent with a territorial defense hypothesis, a group's reaction was independent of the simulated intruder's sex and the response strength was greater when the playback stimulus was broadcast from the core areas of groups' territories relative to stimulus broadcast from periphery areas. However, sex differences in some facets of their responses suggest that this is not the only potential function for these encounters. Mated males and females started to move first in response to simulated intruders of the opposite sex, suggesting that these events offered opportunities to assess extra-pair breeding opportunities, while the occurrence of females' piloerection towards simulated female intruders is suggestive of mate-guarding. These data provide unique experimental evidence for the theory that excursions by conspecific intruders may serve multiple functions in a cooperatively breeding vertebrate and are reflective of the known complexities of common marmoset sociobiology.}, }
@article {pmid29382313, year = {2018}, author = {Lichtenstein, L and Grübel, K and Spaethe, J}, title = {Opsin expression patterns coincide with photoreceptor development during pupal development in the honey bee, Apis mellifera.}, journal = {BMC developmental biology}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {1}, pmid = {29382313}, issn = {1471-213X}, support = {SFB1047//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/*growth &amp; development/*metabolism ; Circadian Rhythm/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Opsins/genetics/*metabolism ; Photoreceptor Cells, Invertebrate/*pathology ; Pupa/growth &amp; development/metabolism ; Retina/growth &amp; development/metabolism ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The compound eyes of insects allow them to catch photons and convert the energy into electric signals. All compound eyes consist of numerous ommatidia, each comprising a fixed number of photoreceptors. Different ommatidial types are characterized by a specific set of photoreceptors differing in spectral sensitivity. In honey bees, males and females possess different ommatidial types forming distinct retinal mosaics. However, data are lacking on retinal ontogeny and the mechanisms by which the eyes are patterned. In this study, we investigated the intrinsic temporal and circadian expression patterns of the opsins that give rise to the ultraviolet, blue and green sensitive photoreceptors, as well as the morphological maturation of the retina during pupal development of honey bees.<br><br>RESULTS: qPCR and histological labeling revealed that temporal opsin mRNA expression differs between sexes and correlates with rhabdom elongation during photoreceptor development. In the first half of the pupal stage, when the rhabdoms of the photoreceptors are still short, worker and (dorsal) drone retinae exhibit similar expression patterns with relatively high levels of UV (UVop) and only marginal levels of blue (BLop) and green (Lop1) opsin mRNA. In the second half of pupation, when photoreceptors and rhabdoms elongate, opsin expression in workers becomes dominated by Lop1 mRNA. In contrast, the dorsal drone eye shows high expression levels of UVop and BLop mRNA, whereas Lop1 mRNA level decreases. Interestingly, opsin expression levels increase up to 22-fold during early adult life. We also found evidence that opsin expression in adult bees is under the control of the endogenous clock.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that the formation of the sex-specific retinal composition of photoreceptors takes place during the second half of the pupal development, and that opsin mRNA expression levels continue to increase in young bees, which stands in contrast to Drosophila, where the highest expression levels are found during the late pupal stage and remain constant in adults. From an evolutionary perspective, we hypothesize that the delayed retinal maturation during the early adult phase is linked to the delayed transition from indoor to outdoor activities in bees, when vision becomes important.}, }
@article {pmid29371471, year = {2018}, author = {Tucker, MA and Böhning-Gaese, K and Fagan, WF and Fryxell, JM and Van Moorter, B and Alberts, SC and Ali, AH and Allen, AM and Attias, N and Avgar, T and Bartlam-Brooks, H and Bayarbaatar, B and Belant, JL and Bertassoni, A and Beyer, D and Bidner, L and van Beest, FM and Blake, S and Blaum, N and Bracis, C and Brown, D and de Bruyn, PJN and Cagnacci, F and Calabrese, JM and Camilo-Alves, C and Chamaillé-Jammes, S and Chiaradia, A and Davidson, SC and Dennis, T and DeStefano, S and Diefenbach, D and Douglas-Hamilton, I and Fennessy, J and Fichtel, C and Fiedler, W and Fischer, C and Fischhoff, I and Fleming, CH and Ford, AT and Fritz, SA and Gehr, B and Goheen, JR and Gurarie, E and Hebblewhite, M and Heurich, M and Hewison, AJM and Hof, C and Hurme, E and Isbell, LA and Janssen, R and Jeltsch, F and Kaczensky, P and Kane, A and Kappeler, PM and Kauffman, M and Kays, R and Kimuyu, D and Koch, F and Kranstauber, B and LaPoint, S and Leimgruber, P and Linnell, JDC and López-López, P and Markham, AC and Mattisson, J and Medici, EP and Mellone, U and Merrill, E and de Miranda Mourão, G and Morato, RG and Morellet, N and Morrison, TA and Díaz-Muñoz, SL and Mysterud, A and Nandintsetseg, D and Nathan, R and Niamir, A and Odden, J and O'Hara, RB and Oliveira-Santos, LGR and Olson, KA and Patterson, BD and Cunha de Paula, R and Pedrotti, L and Reineking, B and Rimmler, M and Rogers, TL and Rolandsen, CM and Rosenberry, CS and Rubenstein, DI and Safi, K and Saïd, S and Sapir, N and Sawyer, H and Schmidt, NM and Selva, N and Sergiel, A and Shiilegdamba, E and Silva, JP and Singh, N and Solberg, EJ and Spiegel, O and Strand, O and Sundaresan, S and Ullmann, W and Voigt, U and Wall, J and Wattles, D and Wikelski, M and Wilmers, CC and Wilson, JW and Wittemyer, G and Zięba, F and Zwijacz-Kozica, T and Mueller, T}, title = {Moving in the Anthropocene: Global reductions in terrestrial mammalian movements.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {359}, number = {6374}, pages = {466-469}, doi = {10.1126/science.aam9712}, pmid = {29371471}, issn = {1095-9203}, mesh = {*Animal Migration ; Animals ; Geographic Information Systems ; *Human Activities ; Humans ; *Mammals ; }, abstract = {Animal movement is fundamental for ecosystem functioning and species survival, yet the effects of the anthropogenic footprint on animal movements have not been estimated across species. Using a unique GPS-tracking database of 803 individuals across 57 species, we found that movements of mammals in areas with a comparatively high human footprint were on average one-half to one-third the extent of their movements in areas with a low human footprint. We attribute this reduction to behavioral changes of individual animals and to the exclusion of species with long-range movements from areas with higher human impact. Global loss of vagility alters a key ecological trait of animals that affects not only population persistence but also ecosystem processes such as predator-prey interactions, nutrient cycling, and disease transmission.}, }
@article {pmid29351552, year = {2018}, author = {Kropf, J and Rössler, W}, title = {In-situ recording of ionic currents in projection neurons and Kenyon cells in the olfactory pathway of the honeybee.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {e0191425}, pmid = {29351552}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Action Potentials ; Animals ; Arthropod Antennae/cytology/physiology ; Bees/*cytology/*physiology ; Brain/cytology/physiology ; Electrophysiological Phenomena ; Ion Channels/physiology ; Ion Transport ; Mushroom Bodies/cytology/physiology ; Olfactory Pathways/*cytology/*physiology ; Olfactory Receptor Neurons/cytology/physiology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Smell/physiology ; }, abstract = {The honeybee olfactory pathway comprises an intriguing pattern of convergence and divergence: ~60.000 olfactory sensory neurons (OSN) convey olfactory information on ~900 projection neurons (PN) in the antennal lobe (AL). To transmit this information reliably, PNs employ relatively high spiking frequencies with complex patterns. PNs project via a dual olfactory pathway to the mushroom bodies (MB). This pathway comprises the medial (m-ALT) and the lateral antennal lobe tract (l-ALT). PNs from both tracts transmit information from a wide range of similar odors, but with distinct differences in coding properties. In the MBs, PNs form synapses with many Kenyon cells (KC) that encode odors in a spatially and temporally sparse way. The transformation from complex information coding to sparse coding is a well-known phenomenon in insect olfactory coding. Intrinsic neuronal properties as well as GABAergic inhibition are thought to contribute to this change in odor representation. In the present study, we identified intrinsic neuronal properties promoting coding differences between PNs and KCs using in-situ patch-clamp recordings in the intact brain. We found very prominent K+ currents in KCs clearly differing from the PN currents. This suggests that odor coding differences between PNs and KCs may be caused by differences in their specific ion channel properties. Comparison of ionic currents of m- and l-ALT PNs did not reveal any differences at a qualitative level.}, }
@article {pmid29317533, year = {2018}, author = {Domingue, BW and Belsky, DW and Fletcher, JM and Conley, D and Boardman, JD and Harris, KM}, title = {The social genome of friends and schoolmates in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {115}, number = {4}, pages = {702-707}, pmid = {29317533}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {P01 HD031921/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HD060726/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HD073342/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; P30 AG034424/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; P2C HD047879/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; P2C HD047873/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; P30 AG028716/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; P2C HD066613/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; P2C HD050924/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AG032282/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adolescent ; Adolescent Behavior/psychology ; Adult ; Female ; Friends/psychology ; Genome-Wide Association Study/methods ; Genotype ; Humans ; Interpersonal Relations ; Longitudinal Studies ; Male ; *Peer Group ; Schools ; *Social Behavior ; Social Environment ; Social Support ; Sociobiology/*methods ; United States ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {Humans tend to form social relationships with others who resemble them. Whether this sorting of like with like arises from historical patterns of migration, meso-level social structures in modern society, or individual-level selection of similar peers remains unsettled. Recent research has evaluated the possibility that unobserved genotypes may play an important role in the creation of homophilous relationships. We extend this work by using data from 5,500 adolescents from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) to examine genetic similarities among pairs of friends. Although there is some evidence that friends have correlated genotypes, both at the whole-genome level as well as at trait-associated loci (via polygenic scores), further analysis suggests that meso-level forces, such as school assignment, are a principal source of genetic similarity between friends. We also observe apparent social-genetic effects in which polygenic scores of an individual's friends and schoolmates predict the individual's own educational attainment. In contrast, an individual's height is unassociated with the height genetics of peers.}, }
@article {pmid29242823, year = {2017}, author = {Beetz, MJ and Kordes, S and García-Rosales, F and Kössl, M and Hechavarría, JC}, title = {Processing of Natural Echolocation Sequences in the Inferior Colliculus of Seba's Fruit Eating Bat, Carollia perspicillata.}, journal = {eNeuro}, volume = {4}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {29242823}, issn = {2373-2822}, mesh = {Acoustic Stimulation/methods ; Action Potentials ; Animals ; Auditory Cortex/physiology ; Chiroptera/*physiology ; Echolocation/*physiology ; Female ; Inferior Colliculi/*physiology ; Microelectrodes ; Neurons/*physiology ; Orientation/physiology ; Time Perception/physiology ; }, abstract = {For the purpose of orientation, echolocating bats emit highly repetitive and spatially directed sonar calls. Echoes arising from call reflections are used to create an acoustic image of the environment. The inferior colliculus (IC) represents an important auditory stage for initial processing of echolocation signals. The present study addresses the following questions: (1) how does the temporal context of an echolocation sequence mimicking an approach flight of an animal affect neuronal processing of distance information to echo delays? (2) how does the IC process complex echolocation sequences containing echo information from multiple objects (multiobject sequence)? Here, we conducted neurophysiological recordings from the IC of ketamine-anaesthetized bats of the species Carollia perspicillata and compared the results from the IC with the ones from the auditory cortex (AC). Neuronal responses to an echolocation sequence was suppressed when compared to the responses to temporally isolated and randomized segments of the sequence. The neuronal suppression was weaker in the IC than in the AC. In contrast to the cortex, the time course of the acoustic events is reflected by IC activity. In the IC, suppression sharpens the neuronal tuning to specific call-echo elements and increases the signal-to-noise ratio in the units' responses. When presenting multiple-object sequences, despite collicular suppression, the neurons responded to each object-specific echo. The latter allows parallel processing of multiple echolocation streams at the IC level. Altogether, our data suggests that temporally-precise neuronal responses in the IC could allow fast and parallel processing of multiple acoustic streams.}, }
@article {pmid29184487, year = {2017}, author = {Grob, R and Fleischmann, PN and Grübel, K and Wehner, R and Rössler, W}, title = {The Role of Celestial Compass Information in Cataglyphis Ants during Learning Walks and for Neuroplasticity in the Central Complex and Mushroom Bodies.}, journal = {Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {226}, pmid = {29184487}, issn = {1662-5153}, abstract = {Central place foragers are faced with the challenge to learn the position of their nest entrance in its surroundings, in order to find their way back home every time they go out to search for food. To acquire navigational information at the beginning of their foraging career, Cataglyphis noda performs learning walks during the transition from interior worker to forager. These small loops around the nest entrance are repeatedly interrupted by strikingly accurate back turns during which the ants stop and precisely gaze back to the nest entrance-presumably to learn the landmark panorama of the nest surroundings. However, as at this point the complete navigational toolkit is not yet available, the ants are in need of a reference system for the compass component of the path integrator to align their nest entrance-directed gazes. In order to find this directional reference system, we systematically manipulated the skylight information received by ants during learning walks in their natural habitat, as it has been previously suggested that the celestial compass, as part of the path integrator, might provide such a reference system. High-speed video analyses of distinct learning walk elements revealed that even exclusion from the skylight polarization pattern, UV-light spectrum and the position of the sun did not alter the accuracy of the look back to the nest behavior. We therefore conclude that C. noda uses a different reference system to initially align their gaze directions. However, a comparison of neuroanatomical changes in the central complex and the mushroom bodies before and after learning walks revealed that exposure to UV light together with a naturally changing polarization pattern was essential to induce neuroplasticity in these high-order sensory integration centers of the ant brain. This suggests a crucial role of celestial information, in particular a changing polarization pattern, in initially calibrating the celestial compass system.}, }
@article {pmid29180600, year = {2018}, author = {Pegel, U and Pfeiffer, K and Homberg, U}, title = {Integration of celestial compass cues in the central complex of the locust brain.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {221}, number = {Pt 2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.171207}, pmid = {29180600}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; Brain/physiology ; *Cues ; Grasshoppers/*physiology ; *Orientation, Spatial ; Phototaxis ; *Sunlight ; }, abstract = {Many insects rely on celestial compass cues such as the polarization pattern of the sky for spatial orientation. In the desert locust, the central complex (CX) houses multiple sets of neurons, sensitive to the oscillation plane of polarized light and thus probably acts as an internal polarization compass. We investigated whether other sky compass cues like direct sunlight or the chromatic gradient of the sky might contribute to this compass. We recorded from polarization-sensitive CX neurons while an unpolarized green or ultraviolet light spot was moved around the head of the animal. All types of neuron that were sensitive to the plane of polarization (E-vector) above the animal also responded to the unpolarized light spots in an azimuth-dependent way. The tuning to the unpolarized light spots was independent of wavelength, suggesting that the neurons encode solar azimuth based on direct sunlight and not on the sky chromatic gradient. Two cell types represented the natural 90 deg relationship between solar azimuth and zenithal E-vector orientation, providing evidence to suggest that solar azimuth information supports the internal polarization compass. Most neurons showed advances in their tuning to the E-vector and the unpolarized light spots dependent on rotation direction, consistent with anticipatory signaling. The amplitude of responses and its variability were dependent on the level of background firing, possibly indicating different internal states. The integration of polarization and solar azimuth information strongly suggests that besides the polarization pattern of the sky, direct sunlight might be an important cue for sky compass navigation in the locust.}, }
@article {pmid29168053, year = {2017}, author = {De Tiège, A and Van de Peer, Y and Braeckman, J and Tanghe, KB}, title = {The sociobiology of genes: the gene's eye view as a unifying behavioural-ecological framework for biological evolution.}, journal = {History and philosophy of the life sciences}, volume = {40}, number = {1}, pages = {6}, doi = {10.1007/s40656-017-0174-x}, pmid = {29168053}, issn = {0391-9714}, support = {G001013N//Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (BE)/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; *Developmental Biology ; *Selection, Genetic ; Sociobiology ; }, abstract = {Although classical evolutionary theory, i.e., population genetics and the Modern Synthesis, was already implicitly 'gene-centred', the organism was, in practice, still generally regarded as the individual unit of which a population is composed. The gene-centred approach to evolution only reached a logical conclusion with the advent of the gene-selectionist or gene's eye view in the 1960s and 1970s. Whereas classical evolutionary theory can only work with (genotypically represented) fitness differences between individual organisms, gene-selectionism is capable of working with fitness differences among genes within the same organism and genome. Here, we explore the explanatory potential of 'intra-organismic' and 'intra-genomic' gene-selectionism, i.e., of a behavioural-ecological 'gene's eye view' on genetic, genomic and organismal evolution. First, we give a general outline of the framework and how it complements the-to some extent-still 'organism-centred' approach of classical evolutionary theory. Secondly, we give a more in-depth assessment of its explanatory potential for biological evolution, i.e., for Darwin's 'common descent with modification' or, more specifically, for 'historical continuity or homology with modular evolutionary change' as it has been studied by evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo) during the last few decades. In contrast with classical evolutionary theory, evo-devo focuses on 'within-organism' developmental processes. Given the capacity of gene-selectionism to adopt an intra-organismal gene's eye view, we outline the relevance of the latter model for evo-devo. Overall, we aim for the conceptual integration between the gene's eye view on the one hand, and more organism-centred evolutionary models (both classical evolutionary theory and evo-devo) on the other.}, }
@article {pmid29145459, year = {2017}, author = {Halboth, F and Roces, F}, title = {The construction of ventilation turrets in Atta vollenweideri leaf-cutting ants: Carbon dioxide levels in the nest tunnels, but not airflow or air humidity, influence turret structure.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {11}, pages = {e0188162}, pmid = {29145459}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Carbon Dioxide/*analysis ; *Humidity ; *Nesting Behavior ; Ventilation ; }, abstract = {Nest ventilation in the leaf-cutting ant Atta vollenweideri is driven via a wind-induced mechanism. On their nests, workers construct small turrets that are expected to facilitate nest ventilation. We hypothesized that the construction and structural features of the turrets would depend on the colony's current demands for ventilation and thus might be influenced by the prevailing environmental conditions inside the nest. Therefore, we tested whether climate-related parameters, namely airflow, air humidity and CO2 levels in the outflowing nest air influenced turret construction in Atta vollenweideri. In the laboratory, we simulated a semi-natural nest arrangement with fungus chambers, a central ventilation tunnel providing outflow of air and an aboveground building arena for turret construction. In independent series, different climatic conditions inside the ventilation tunnel were experimentally generated, and after 24 hours, several features of the built turret were quantified, i.e., mass, height, number and surface area (aperture) of turret openings. Turret mass and height were similar in all experiments even when no airflow was provided in the ventilation tunnel. However, elevated CO2 levels led to the construction of a turret with several minor openings and a larger total aperture. This effect was statistically significant at higher CO2 levels of 5% and 10% but not at 1% CO2. The construction of a turret with several minor openings did not depend on the strong differences in CO2 levels between the outflowing and the outside air, since workers also built permeated turrets even when the CO2 levels inside and outside were both similarly high. We propose that the construction of turrets with several openings and larger opening surface area might facilitate the removal of CO2 from the underground nest structure and could therefore be involved in the control of nest climate in leaf-cutting ants.}, }
@article {pmid29134724, year = {2017}, author = {Mueller, UG and Ishak, HD and Bruschi, SM and Smith, CC and Herman, JJ and Solomon, SE and Mikheyev, AS and Rabeling, C and Scott, JJ and Cooper, M and Rodrigues, A and Ortiz, A and Brandão, CRF and Lattke, JE and Pagnocca, FC and Rehner, SA and Schultz, TR and Vasconcelos, HL and Adams, RMM and Bollazzi, M and Clark, RM and Himler, AG and LaPolla, JS and Leal, IR and Johnson, RA and Roces, F and Sosa-Calvo, J and Wirth, R and Bacci, M}, title = {Biogeography of mutualistic fungi cultivated by leafcutter ants.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {26}, number = {24}, pages = {6921-6937}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14431}, pmid = {29134724}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Agaricales/*genetics ; Animals ; Ants/classification/*microbiology ; *Biological Coevolution ; Central America ; Genetic Markers ; Genetics, Population ; Genotype ; Microsatellite Repeats ; North America ; Phylogeny ; Phylogeography ; South America ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Leafcutter ants propagate co-evolving fungi for food. The nearly 50 species of leafcutter ants (Atta, Acromyrmex) range from Argentina to the United States, with the greatest species diversity in southern South America. We elucidate the biogeography of fungi cultivated by leafcutter ants using DNA sequence and microsatellite-marker analyses of 474 cultivars collected across the leafcutter range. Fungal cultivars belong to two clades (Clade-A and Clade-B). The dominant and widespread Clade-A cultivars form three genotype clusters, with their relative prevalence corresponding to southern South America, northern South America, Central and North America. Admixture between Clade-A populations supports genetic exchange within a single species, Leucocoprinus gongylophorus. Some leafcutter species that cut grass as fungicultural substrate are specialized to cultivate Clade-B fungi, whereas leafcutters preferring dicot plants appear specialized on Clade-A fungi. Cultivar sharing between sympatric leafcutter species occurs frequently such that cultivars of Atta are not distinct from those of Acromyrmex. Leafcutters specialized on Clade-B fungi occur only in South America. Diversity of Clade-A fungi is greatest in South America, but minimal in Central and North America. Maximum cultivar diversity in South America is predicted by the Kusnezov-Fowler hypothesis that leafcutter ants originated in subtropical South America and only dicot-specialized leafcutter ants migrated out of South America, but the cultivar diversity becomes also compatible with a recently proposed hypothesis of a Central American origin by postulating that leafcutter ants acquired novel cultivars many times from other nonleafcutter fungus-growing ants during their migrations from Central America across South America. We evaluate these biogeographic hypotheses in the light of estimated dates for the origins of leafcutter ants and their cultivars.}, }
@article {pmid29123214, year = {2017}, author = {Rakotonirina, H and Kappeler, PM and Fichtel, C}, title = {Evolution of facial color pattern complexity in lemurs.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {15181}, pmid = {29123214}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animal Fur/anatomy &amp; histology ; Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Biological Variation, Population ; Climate ; Environmental Exposure ; Face/*anatomy &amp; histology ; Genetic Drift ; Genetics, Population ; Interpersonal Relations ; Lemur/*anatomy &amp; histology ; Pigments, Biological/*metabolism ; *Skin Pigmentation ; }, abstract = {Interspecific variation in facial color patterns across New and Old World primates has been linked to species recognition and group size. Because group size has opposite effects on interspecific variation in facial color patterns in these two radiations, a study of the third large primate radiation may shed light on convergences and divergences in this context. We therefore compiled published social and ecological data and analyzed facial photographs of 65 lemur species to categorize variation in hair length, hair and skin coloration as well as color brightness. Phylogenetically controlled analyses revealed that group size and the number of sympatric species did not influence the evolution of facial color complexity in lemurs. Climatic factors, however, influenced facial color complexity, pigmentation and hair length in a few facial regions. Hair length in two facial regions was also correlated with group size and may facilitate individual recognition. Since phylogenetic signals were moderate to high for most models, genetic drift may have also played a role in the evolution of facial color patterns of lemurs. In conclusion, social factors seem to have played only a subordinate role in the evolution of facial color complexity in lemurs, and, more generally, group size appears to have no systematic functional effect on facial color complexity across all primates.}, }
@article {pmid29085743, year = {2017}, author = {Steijven, K and Spaethe, J and Steffan-Dewenter, I and Härtel, S}, title = {Learning performance and brain structure of artificially-reared honey bees fed with different quantities of food.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {e3858}, pmid = {29085743}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Artificial rearing of honey bee larvae is an established method which enables to fully standardize the rearing environment and to manipulate the supplied diet to the brood. However, there are no studies which compare learning performance or neuroanatomic differences of artificially-reared (in-lab) bees in comparison with their in-hive reared counterparts.<br><br>METHODS: Here we tested how different quantities of food during larval development affect body size, brain morphology and learning ability of adult honey bees. We used in-lab rearing to be able to manipulate the total quantity of food consumed during larval development. After hatching, a subset of the bees was taken for which we made 3D reconstructions of the brains using confocal laser-scanning microscopy. Learning ability and memory formation of the remaining bees was tested in a differential olfactory conditioning experiment. Finally, we evaluated how bees reared with different quantities of artificial diet compared to in-hive reared bees.<br><br>RESULTS: Thorax and head size of in-lab reared honey bees, when fed the standard diet of 160 &#xb5;l or less, were slightly smaller than hive bees. The brain structure analyses showed that artificially reared bees had smaller mushroom body (MB) lateral calyces than their in-hive counterparts, independently of the quantity of food they received. However, they showed the same total brain size and the same associative learning ability as in-hive reared bees. In terms of mid-term memory, but not early long-term memory, they performed even better than the in-hive control.<br><br>DISCUSSION: We have demonstrated that bees that are reared artificially (according to the Aupinel protocol) and kept in lab-conditions perform the same or even better than their in-hive sisters in an olfactory conditioning experiment even though their lateral calyces were consistently smaller at emergence. The applied combination of experimental manipulation during the larval phase plus subsequent behavioral and neuro-anatomic analyses is a powerful tool for basic and applied honey bee research.}, }
@article {pmid29076128, year = {2018}, author = {Charpentier, MJE and Givalois, L and Faurie, C and Soghessa, O and Simon, F and Kappeler, PM}, title = {Seasonal glucocorticoid production correlates with a suite of small-magnitude environmental, demographic, and physiological effects in mandrills.}, journal = {American journal of physical anthropology}, volume = {165}, number = {1}, pages = {20-33}, doi = {10.1002/ajpa.23329}, pmid = {29076128}, issn = {1096-8644}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthropology, Physical ; Feces/chemistry ; Female ; Glucocorticoids/*analysis ; Male ; Mandrillus/metabolism/*physiology ; Seasons ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: The activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is a neuroendocrine response to external and internal changes that animals face on a predictable or unpredictable basis. Across species, variation in glucocorticoid production has been related to such changes. In this study, we investigated the predictable, seasonal sources of variation in the levels of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCM) in a large natural population of mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx) in Southern Gabon.<br><br>MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using five years of regular behavioral monitoring and hormone analyses performed on 1,233 fecal samples collected on 99 individuals of both sexes and all ages and General Linear Mixed Models, we studied the three main seasonal predictors of fGCM concentrations: (i) weather conditions, (ii) number of adult males, and (iii) female reproductive status. These three predictors all vary seasonally in mandrills.<br><br>RESULTS: We first showed an increase in fGCM concentrations during the short dry season while controlling for other factors. Pregnant females, which include the large majority of adult females at this time of the year, mainly drove this increase, although a combination of other small-magnitude, season-related effects linked to climatic events and demographic changes also partly explained this seasonal trend. Indeed, fGCM concentrations increased with both low temperatures (and low rainfall) and high numbers of adult males present in the group. These seasonal changes, while correlated, held true throughout the studied years and when restricting our analyses to a given season. Finally, we found that older mandrills showed on average higher fGCM concentrations than younger ones and that medium-ranked females exhibited the highest levels of fGCMs.<br><br>DISCUSSION: The observed patterns suggest that plasticity in mandrills' metabolism in the form of glucocorticoid production allows them to adjust to predictable changes in climatic, demographic and physiological conditions by mobilizing and redirecting energetic resources toward appropriate, calibrated seasonal responses.}, }
@article {pmid28986758, year = {2018}, author = {Levallois, C}, title = {The Development of Sociobiology in Relation to Animal Behavior Studies, 1946-1975.}, journal = {Journal of the history of biology}, volume = {51}, number = {3}, pages = {419-444}, pmid = {28986758}, issn = {1573-0387}, mesh = {Ecology/*history ; Ethology/*history ; History, 20th Century ; Psychology, Comparative/*history ; Sociobiology/*history ; United States ; }, abstract = {This paper aims at bridging a gap between the history of American animal behavior studies and the history of sociobiology. In the post-war period, ecology, comparative psychology and ethology were all investigating animal societies, using different approaches ranging from fieldwork to laboratory studies. We argue that this disunity in "practices of place" (Kohler, Robert E. Landscapes &amp; Labscapes: Exploring the Lab-Field Border in Biology. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2002) explains the attempts of dialogue between those three fields and early calls for unity through "sociobiology" by J. Paul Scott. In turn, tensions between the naturalist tradition and the rising reductionist approach in biology provide an original background for a history of Edward Wilson's own version of sociobiology, much beyond the William Hamilton's papers (Journal of Theoretical Biology 7: 1-16, 17-52, 1964) usually considered as its key antecedent. Naturalists were in a defensive position in the geography of the fields studying animal behavior, and in reaction were a driving force behind the various projects of synthesis called "sociobiology".}, }
@article {pmid28935437, year = {2018}, author = {Değirmenci, L and Thamm, M and Scheiner, R}, title = {Responses to sugar and sugar receptor gene expression in different social roles of the honeybee (Apis mellifera).}, journal = {Journal of insect physiology}, volume = {106}, number = {Pt 1}, pages = {65-70}, doi = {10.1016/j.jinsphys.2017.09.009}, pmid = {28935437}, issn = {1879-1611}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/*physiology ; *Behavior, Animal ; Female ; Fructose ; Insect Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Receptors, Cell Surface/genetics/*metabolism ; Sucrose ; *Taste Perception ; }, abstract = {Honeybees (Apis mellifera) are well-known for their sophisticated division of labor with each bee performing sequentially a series of social tasks. Colony organization is largely based on age-dependent division of labor. While bees perform several tasks inside the hive such as caring for brood ("nursing"), cleaning or sealing brood cells or producing honey, older bees leave to colony to collect pollen (proteins) and nectar (carbohydrates) as foragers. The most pronounced behavioral transition occurs when nurse bees become foragers. For both social roles, the detection and evaluation of sugars is decisive for optimal task performance. Nurse bees rely on their gustatory senses to prepare brood food, while foragers evaluate a nectar source before starting to collect food from it. To test whether social organization is related to differential sensing of sugars we compared the taste of nurse bees and foragers for different sugars. Searching for molecular correlates for differences in sugar perception, we further quantified expression of gustatory receptor genes in both behavioral groups. Our results demonstrate that nurse bees and foragers perceive and evaluate different sugars differently. Both groups, however, prefer sucrose over fructose. At least part of the taste differences between social roles could be related to a differential expression of taste receptors in the antennae and brain. Our results suggest that differential expression of sugar receptor genes might be involved in regulating division of labor through nutrition-related signaling pathways.}, }
@article {pmid28931719, year = {2017}, author = {Yilmaz, A and Dyer, AG and Rössler, W and Spaethe, J}, title = {Innate colour preference, individual learning and memory retention in the ant Camponotus blandus.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {220}, number = {Pt 18}, pages = {3315-3326}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.158501}, pmid = {28931719}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; *Color ; *Color Perception ; *Learning ; *Memory ; *Phototaxis ; }, abstract = {Ants are a well-characterized insect model for the study of visual learning and orientation, but the extent to which colour vision is involved in these tasks remains unknown. We investigated the colour preference, learning and memory retention of Camponotus blandus foragers under controlled laboratory conditions. Our results show that C. blandus foragers exhibit a strong innate preference for ultraviolet (UV, 365 nm) over blue (450 nm) and green (528 nm) wavelengths. The ants can learn to discriminate 365 nm from either 528 nm or 450 nm, independent of intensity changes. However, they fail to discriminate between 450 nm and 528 nm. Modelling of putative colour spaces involving different numbers of photoreceptor types revealed that colour discrimination performance of individual ants is best explained by dichromacy, comprising a short-wavelength (UV) receptor with peak sensitivity at about 360 nm, and a long-wavelength receptor with peak sensitivity between 470 nm and 560 nm. Foragers trained to discriminate blue or green from UV light are able to retain the learned colour information in an early mid-term (e-MTM), late mid-term (l-MTM), early long-term (e-LTM) and late long-term (l-LTM) memory from where it can be retrieved after 1 h, 12 h, 24 h, 3 days and 7 days after training, indicating that colour learning may induce different memory phases in ants. Overall, our results show that ants can use chromatic information in a way that should promote efficient foraging in complex natural environments.}, }
@article {pmid28929237, year = {2017}, author = {Halboth, F and Roces, F}, title = {Underground anemotactic orientation in leaf-cutting ants: perception of airflow and experience-dependent choice of airflow direction during digging.}, journal = {Die Naturwissenschaften}, volume = {104}, number = {9-10}, pages = {82}, doi = {10.1007/s00114-017-1504-2}, pmid = {28929237}, issn = {1432-1904}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants ; Environment ; Nesting Behavior ; Orientation ; Plant Leaves ; }, abstract = {Air exchange between the large nests of Atta vollenweideri leaf-cutting ants and the environment strongly relies on a passive, wind-induced ventilation mechanism. Air moves through nest tunnels and airflow direction depends on the location of the tunnel openings on the nest mound. We hypothesized that ants might use the direction of airflow along nest tunnels as orientation cue in the context of climate control, as digging workers might prefer to broaden or to close tunnels with inflowing or outflowing air in order to regulate nest ventilation. To investigate anemotactic orientation in Atta vollenweideri, we first tested the ants' ability to perceive air movements by confronting single workers with airflow stimuli in the range 0 to 20 cm/s. Workers responded to airflow velocities ≥ 2 cm/s, and the number of ants reacting to the stimulus increased with increasing airflow speed. Second, we asked whether digging workers use airflow direction as an orientation cue. Workers were exposed to either inflow or outflow of air while digging in the nest and could subsequently choose between two digging sites providing either inflow or outflow of air, respectively. Workers significantly chose the side with the same airflow direction they experienced before. When no airflow was present during initial digging, workers showed no preference for airflow directions. Workers developed preferences for airflow direction only after previous exposure to a given airflow direction. We suggest that experience-modified anemotaxis might help leaf-cutting ants spatially organize their digging activity inside the nest during tasks related to climate control.}, }
@article {pmid28916631, year = {2017}, author = {Cabirol, A and Brooks, R and Groh, C and Barron, AB and Devaud, JM}, title = {Experience during early adulthood shapes the learning capacities and the number of synaptic boutons in the mushroom bodies of honey bees (Apis mellifera).}, journal = {Learning &amp; memory (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.)}, volume = {24}, number = {10}, pages = {557-562}, pmid = {28916631}, issn = {1549-5485}, mesh = {Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Bees/*cytology/*growth &amp; development/physiology ; Discrimination, Psychological/physiology ; *Environment ; Housing, Animal ; *Learning/physiology ; Mushroom Bodies/*cytology/growth &amp; development ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Olfactory Perception/physiology ; *Presynaptic Terminals ; Sensory Deprivation/physiology ; Social Isolation/psychology ; Visual Perception/physiology ; }, abstract = {The honey bee mushroom bodies (MBs) are brain centers required for specific learning tasks. Here, we show that environmental conditions experienced as young adults affect the maturation of MB neuropil and performance in a MB-dependent learning task. Specifically, olfactory reversal learning was selectively impaired following early exposure to an impoverished environment lacking some of the sensory and social interactions present in the hive. In parallel, the overall number of synaptic boutons increased within the MB olfactory neuropil, whose volume remained unaffected. This suggests that experience of the rich in-hive environment promotes MB maturation and the development of MB-dependent learning capacities.}, }
@article {pmid28904757, year = {2017}, author = {Gokhale, CS and Traulsen, A and Joop, G}, title = {Social dilemma in the external immune system of the red flour beetle? It is a matter of time.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {7}, number = {17}, pages = {6758-6765}, pmid = {28904757}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Sociobiology has revolutionized our understanding of interactions between organisms. Interactions may present a social dilemma where the interests of individual actors do not align with those of the group as a whole. Viewed through a sociobiological lens, nearly all interactions can be described regarding their costs and benefits, and a number of them then resemble a social dilemma. Numerous experimental systems, from bacteria to mammals, have been proposed as models for studying such dilemmas. Here, we make use of the external immune system of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, to investigate how the experimental duration can affect whether the external secretion comprises a social dilemma or not. Some beetles (secretors) produce a costly quinone-rich external secretion that inhibits microbial growth in the surrounding environment, providing the secretors with direct personal benefits. However, as the antimicrobial secretion acts in the environment of the beetle, it is potentially also advantageous to other beetles (nonsecretors), who avoid the cost of producing the secretion. We test experimentally if the secretion qualifies as a public good. We find that in the short term, costly quinone secretion can be interpreted as a public good presenting a social dilemma where the presence of secretors increases the fitness of the group. In the long run, the benefit to the group of having more secretors vanishes and becomes detrimental to the group. Therefore, in such seminatural environmental conditions, it turns out that qualifying a trait as social can be a matter of timing.}, }
@article {pmid28900276, year = {2017}, author = {Eckhardt, F and Kappeler, PM and Kraus, C}, title = {Highly variable lifespan in an annual reptile, Labord's chameleon (Furcifer labordi).}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {11397}, pmid = {28900276}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Variation, Individual ; Female ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; *Lizards ; *Longevity ; Madagascar ; Male ; }, abstract = {Among tetrapods, the current record holder for shortest lifespan is Labord's chameleon, Furcifer labordi. These reptiles from the arid southwest of Madagascar have a reported lifespan of 4-5 months during the annual rainy season and spend the majority of their life (8-9 months) as a developing embryo. This semelparous, annual life history is unique among tetrapods, but only one population (Ranobe) in the southernmost distribution range has been studied. We therefore investigated the potential for environmentally-dependent variability in lifespan in a population in Kirindy Forest, which has a much longer warm rainy season. While no adults were found after March in Ranobe, the disappearance of adults was delayed by several months in Kirindy. Our data also revealed sex-biased mortality, suggesting that females have a longevity advantage. Furthermore, we found that, after an unusually long previous rainy season, one female was capable of surviving until a second breeding season. Keeping F. labordi in cages under ambient conditions demonstrated that also males can also survive until the next season of activity under these conditions. Our study therefore revealed considerable variability in the extreme life history of this tetrapod that is linked to variation in ecological factors.}, }
@article {pmid28866838, year = {2017}, author = {Garcia, JE and Spaethe, J and Dyer, AG}, title = {The path to colour discrimination is S-shaped: behaviour determines the interpretation of colour models.}, journal = {Journal of comparative physiology. A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology}, volume = {203}, number = {12}, pages = {983-997}, pmid = {28866838}, issn = {1432-1351}, support = {DP0878968//Australian Research Council/ ; DP130100015//Australian Research Council/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Behavior, Animal/*physiology ; Color Perception/*physiology ; Hymenoptera ; *Models, Neurological ; }, abstract = {Most of our current understanding on colour discrimination by animal observers is built on models. These typically set strict limits on the capacity of an animal to discriminate between colour stimuli imposed by physiological characteristics of the visual system and different assumptions about the underlying mechanisms of colour processing by the brain. Such physiologically driven models were not designed to accommodate sigmoidal-type discrimination functions as those observed in recent behavioural experiments. Unfortunately, many of the fundamental assumptions on which commonly used colour models are based have been tested against empirical data for very few species and many colour vision studies solely rely on physiological measurements of these species for predicting colour discrimination processes. Here, we test the assumption of a universal principle of colour discrimination only mediated by physiological parameters using behavioural data from four closely related hymenopteran species, considering two frequently used models. Results indicate that there is not a unique function describing colour discrimination by closely related bee species, and that this process is independent of specific model assumptions; in fact, different models produce comparable results for specific test species if calibrated against behavioural data.}, }
@article {pmid28859635, year = {2017}, author = {Rakotoniaina, JH and Kappeler, PM and Kaesler, E and Hämäläinen, AM and Kirschbaum, C and Kraus, C}, title = {Hair cortisol concentrations correlate negatively with survival in a wild primate population.}, journal = {BMC ecology}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {30}, pmid = {28859635}, issn = {1472-6785}, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Wild/*metabolism ; Cheirogaleidae/*physiology ; Feces/chemistry ; Female ; Hair/*chemistry/metabolism ; Hydrocortisone/*analysis/metabolism ; Male ; Population Dynamics ; Reproduction ; Seasons ; Sexual Behavior, Animal ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Glucocorticoid hormones are known to play a key role in mediating a cascade of physiological responses to social and ecological stressors and can therefore influence animals' behaviour and ultimately fitness. Yet, how glucocorticoid levels are associated with reproductive success or survival in a natural setting has received little empirical attention so far. Here, we examined links between survival and levels of glucocorticoid in a small, short-lived primate, the grey mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus), using for the first time an indicator of long-term stress load (hair cortisol concentration). Using a capture-mark-recapture modelling approach, we assessed the effect of stress on survival in a broad context (semi-annual rates), but also under a specific period of high energetic demands during the reproductive season. We further assessed the power of other commonly used health indicators (body condition and parasitism) in predicting survival outcomes relative to the effect of long-term stress.<br><br>RESULTS: We found that high levels of hair cortisol were associated with reduced survival probabilities both at the semi-annual scale and over the reproductive season. Additionally, very good body condition (measured as scaled mass index) was related to increased survival at the semi-annual scale, but not during the breeding season. In contrast, variation in parasitism failed to predict survival.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Altogether, our results indicate that long-term increased glucocorticoid levels can be related to survival and hence population dynamics, and suggest differential strength of selection acting on glucocorticoids, body condition, and parasite infection.}, }
@article {pmid28852015, year = {2017}, author = {Rössler, W and Spaethe, J and Groh, C}, title = {Pitfalls of using confocal-microscopy based automated quantification of synaptic complexes in honeybee mushroom bodies (response to Peng and Yang 2016).}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {9786}, pmid = {28852015}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bees ; *Microscopy, Confocal ; Mushroom Bodies/*metabolism ; Synapses/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {A recent study by Peng and Yang in Scientific Reports using confocal-microscopy based automated quantification of anti-synapsin labeled microglomeruli in the mushroom bodies of honeybee brains reports potentially incorrect numbers of microglomerular densities. Whereas several previous studies using visually supervised or automated counts from confocal images and analyses of serial 3D electron-microscopy data reported consistent numbers of synaptic complexes per volume, Peng and Yang revealed extremely low numbers differing by a factor of 18 or more from those obtained in visually supervised counts, and by a factor 22-180 from numbers in two other studies using automated counts. This extreme discrepancy is especially disturbing as close comparison of raw confocal images of anti-synapsin labeled whole-mount brain preparations are highly similar across these studies. We conclude that these discrepancies may reside in potential misapplication of confocal imaging followed by erroneous use of automated image analysis software. Consequently, the reported microglomerular densities during maturation and after manipulation by insecticides require validation by application of appropriate confocal imaging methods and analyses tools that rely on skilled observers. We suggest several improvements towards more reliable or standardized automated or semi-automated synapse counts in whole mount preparations of insect brains.}, }
@article {pmid28848405, year = {2017}, author = {Scheiner, R and Entler, BV and Barron, AB and Scholl, C and Thamm, M}, title = {The Effects of Fat Body Tyramine Level on Gustatory Responsiveness of Honeybees (Apis mellifera) Differ between Behavioral Castes.}, journal = {Frontiers in systems neuroscience}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {55}, pmid = {28848405}, issn = {1662-5137}, abstract = {Division of labor is a hallmark of social insects. In the honeybee (Apis mellifera) each sterile female worker performs a series of social tasks. The most drastic changes in behavior occur when a nurse bee, who takes care of the brood and the queen in the hive, transitions to foraging behavior. Foragers provision the colony with pollen, nectar or water. Nurse bees and foragers differ in numerous behaviors, including responsiveness to gustatory stimuli. Differences in gustatory responsiveness, in turn, might be involved in regulating division of labor through differential sensory response thresholds. Biogenic amines are important modulators of behavior. Tyramine and octopamine have been shown to increase gustatory responsiveness in honeybees when injected into the thorax, thereby possibly triggering social organization. So far, most of the experiments investigating the role of amines on gustatory responsiveness have focused on the brain. The potential role of the fat body in regulating sensory responsiveness and division of labor has large been neglected. We here investigated the role of the fat body in modulating gustatory responsiveness through tyramine signaling in different social roles of honeybees. We quantified levels of tyramine, tyramine receptor gene expression and the effect of elevating fat body tyramine titers on gustatory responsiveness in both nurse bees and foragers. Our data suggest that elevating the tyramine titer in the fat body pharmacologically increases gustatory responsiveness in foragers, but not in nurse bees. This differential effect of tyramine on gustatory responsiveness correlates with a higher natural gustatory responsiveness of foragers, with a higher tyramine receptor (Amtar1) mRNA expression in fat bodies of foragers and with lower baseline tyramine titers in fat bodies of foragers compared to those of nurse bees. We suggest that differential tyramine signaling in the fat body has an important role in the plasticity of division of labor through changing gustatory responsiveness.}, }
@article {pmid28842787, year = {2017}, author = {Beros, S and Foitzik, S and Menzel, F}, title = {What are the Mechanisms Behind a Parasite-Induced Decline in Nestmate Recognition in Ants?.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {43}, number = {9}, pages = {869-880}, pmid = {28842787}, issn = {1573-1561}, support = {FO 298/15-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; ME 2842/3-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DE)/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/chemistry/*parasitology/physiology ; Behavior, Animal ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Hydrocarbons/*analysis/metabolism ; *Nesting Behavior ; Platyhelminths/*physiology ; Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {Social insects have developed sophisticated recognition skills to defend their nests against intruders. They do this by aggressively discriminating against non-nestmates with deviant cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) signatures. Studying nestmate recognition can be challenging as individual insects do not only vary in their discriminatory abilities, but also in their motivation to behave aggressively. To disentangle the influence of signaling and behavioral motivation on nestmate recognition, we investigated the ant Temnothorax nylanderi, where the presence of tapeworm-infected nestmates leads to reduced nestmate recognition among uninfected workers. The parasite-induced decline in nestmate recognition could be caused by higher intra-colonial cue diversity as tapeworm-infected workers are known to exhibit a modified hydrocarbon signature. This in turn may broaden the neuronal template of their nestmates, leading to a higher tolerance towards alien conspecifics. To test this hypothesis, we exchanged infected ants between colonies and analyzed their impact on CHC profiles of uninfected workers. We demonstrate that despite frequent grooming, which should promote the transfer of recognition cues, CHC profiles of uninfected workers neither changed in the presence of tapeworm-infected ants, nor did it increase cue diversity among uninfected nestmates within or between colonies. However, CHC profiles were systematically affected by the removal of nestmates and addition of non-nestmates, independently from the ants' infection status. For example, when non-nestmates were present workers expressed more dimethyl alkanes and higher overall CHC quantities, possibly to achieve a better distinction from non-nestmates. Workers showed clear task-specific profiles with tapeworm-infected workers resembling more closely young nurses than older foragers. Our results show that the parasite-induced decline in nestmate recognition is not due to increased recognition cue diversity or altered CHC profiles of uninfected workers, but behavioral changes might explain tolerance towards intruders.}, }
@article {pmid28829960, year = {2017}, author = {Jennions, M and Székely, T and Beissinger, SR and Kappeler, PM}, title = {Sex ratios.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {27}, number = {16}, pages = {R790-R792}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2017.05.042}, pmid = {28829960}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Humans ; Invertebrates/genetics/*physiology ; Male ; Reproduction ; *Sex Ratio ; Vertebrates/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Jennions et al. introduce the different kinds of sex ratio and their biology.}, }
@article {pmid28823567, year = {2017}, author = {Bearne, LM and Manning, VL and Choy, E and Scott, DL and Hurley, MV}, title = {Participants' experiences of an Education, self-management and upper extremity eXercise Training for people with Rheumatoid Arthritis programme (EXTRA).}, journal = {Physiotherapy}, volume = {103}, number = {4}, pages = {430-438}, doi = {10.1016/j.physio.2016.12.002}, pmid = {28823567}, issn = {1873-1465}, mesh = {Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/*rehabilitation ; Disability Evaluation ; Exercise Therapy/*methods ; Female ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patient Education as Topic/*methods ; *Patient Satisfaction ; Qualitative Research ; Quality of Life ; Self Efficacy ; Self-Management/*methods ; Severity of Illness Index ; Sex Factors ; Sociobiology ; *Upper Extremity ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The Education, self-management and upper extremity eXercise Training for people with Rheumatoid Arthritis programme (EXTRA) is an individualized, upper limb, home exercise regimen supplemented by four supervised, group sessions, a handbook and exercise dairy which improves upper extremity disability and self-efficacy.<br><br>OBJECTIVE AND STUDY DESIGN: This qualitative interview study explored participants' experience of EXTRA to inform development and implementation of EXTRA into practice.<br><br>PARTICIPANTS: Adults with Rheumatoid Arthritis who completed EXTRA were purposively sampled to include a range of ages, upper extremity disabilities, self-efficacy for arthritis self-management and attendance at EXTRA sessions.<br><br>METHODS: Individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a single researcher until data saturation of themes was reached. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis.<br><br>RESULTS: Twelve participants (10 females; 32 to 87 years) were interviewed. Four overarching themes were identified: (i) empowering self-management; (ii) influence of others and (iii) the challenge of sustaining exercise, which resonate with the Social Cognition Theory, and (iv) refining EXTRA: consistent and personalised.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: EXTRA enhanced participants' confidence to manage their arthritis independently and was adaptable so it could be integrated with other life commitments. Whilst healthcare professionals, peers and family and friends influenced exercise uptake, sustaining exercise was challenging. Participants desired consistent and continuing contact with a familiar physiotherapist (e.g. via follow-up appointments, digital health technologies) which accommodated individual needs (e.g. different venues, session frequency). Implementation of EXTRA needs to appreciate and address these considerations to facilitate success.}, }
@article {pmid28817217, year = {2017}, author = {Beaulieu, M and Benoit, L and Abaga, S and Kappeler, PM and Charpentier, MJE}, title = {Mind the cell: Seasonal variation in telomere length mirrors changes in leucocyte profile.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {26}, number = {20}, pages = {5603-5613}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14329}, pmid = {28817217}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {*Aging ; Animals ; Cercopithecinae/*genetics ; Female ; Leukocytes/*cytology ; Male ; *Seasons ; Telomere/*ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {Leucocytes are typically considered as a whole in studies examining telomere dynamics in mammals. Such an approach may be precarious, as leucocytes represent the only nucleated blood cells in mammals, their composition varies temporally, and telomere length differs between leucocyte types. To highlight this limitation, we examined here whether seasonal variation in leucocyte composition was related to variation in telomere length in free-ranging mandrills (Mandrilllus sphinx). We found that the leucocyte profile of mandrills varied seasonally, with lower lymphocyte proportion being observed during the long dry season presumably because of the combined effects of high nematode infection and stress at that time of the year. Interestingly, this low lymphocyte proportion during the long dry season was associated with shorter telomeres. Accordingly, based on longitudinal data, we found that seasonal changes in lymphocyte proportion were reflected by corresponding seasonal variation in telomere length. Overall, these results suggest that variation in lymphocyte proportion in blood can significantly affect telomere measurements in mammals. However, lymphocyte proportion did not entirely explain variation in telomere length. For instance, a lower lymphocyte proportion with age could not fully explain shorter telomeres in older individuals. Overall, our results show that telomere length and leucocyte profile are strongly although imperfectly intertwined, which may obscure the relationship between telomere dynamics and ageing processes in mammals.}, }
@article {pmid28808547, year = {2017}, author = {Springer, A and Fichtel, C and Al-Ghalith, GA and Koch, F and Amato, KR and Clayton, JB and Knights, D and Kappeler, PM}, title = {Patterns of seasonality and group membership characterize the gut microbiota in a longitudinal study of wild Verreaux's sifakas (Propithecus verreauxi).}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {7}, number = {15}, pages = {5732-5745}, pmid = {28808547}, issn = {2045-7758}, support = {T32 DA007097/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {The intestinal microbiota plays a major role in host development, metabolism, and health. To date, few longitudinal studies have investigated the causes and consequences of microbiota variation in wildlife, although such studies provide a comparative context for interpreting the adaptive significance of findings from studies on humans or captive animals. Here, we investigate the impact of seasonality, diet, group membership, sex, age, and reproductive state on gut microbiota composition in a wild population of group-living, frugi-folivorous primates, Verreaux's sifakas (Propithecus verreauxi). We repeatedly sampled 32 individually recognizable animals from eight adjacent groups over the course of two different climatic seasons. We used high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene to determine the microbiota composition of 187 fecal samples. We demonstrate a clear pattern of seasonal variation in the intestinal microbiota, especially affecting the Firmicutes-Bacteroidetes ratio, which may be driven by seasonal differences in diet. The relative abundances of certain polysaccharide-fermenting taxa, for example, Lachnospiraceae, were correlated with fruit and fiber consumption. Additionally, group membership influenced microbiota composition independent of season, but further studies are needed to determine whether this pattern is driven by group divergences in diet, social contacts, or genetic factors. In accordance with findings in other wild mammals and primates with seasonally fluctuating food availability, we demonstrate seasonal variation in the microbiota of wild Verreaux's sifakas, which may be driven by food availability. This study adds to mounting evidence that variation in the intestinal microbiota may play an important role in the ability of primates to cope with seasonal variation in food availability.}, }
@article {pmid28798324, year = {2017}, author = {Strube-Bloss, MF and Grabe, V and Hansson, BS and Sachse, S}, title = {Calcium imaging revealed no modulatory effect on odor-evoked responses of the Drosophila antennal lobe by two populations of inhibitory local interneurons.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {7854}, pmid = {28798324}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {P40 OD018537/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Action Potentials ; Animals ; Arthropod Antennae/*physiology ; Drosophila/*physiology ; Female ; Neural Inhibition ; Olfactory Bulb/*physiology ; Olfactory Receptor Neurons/*physiology ; *Smell ; Synaptic Transmission ; }, abstract = {Although we have considerable knowledge about how odors are represented in the antennal lobe (AL), the insects' analogue to the olfactory bulb, we still do not fully understand how the different neurons in the AL network contribute to the olfactory code. In Drosophila melanogaster we can selectively manipulate specific neuronal populations to elucidate their function in odor processing. Here we silenced the synaptic transmission of two distinct subpopulations of multiglomerular GABAergic local interneurons (LN1 and LN2) using shibire (shi [ts]) and analyzed their impact on odor-induced glomerular activity at the AL input and output level. We verified that the employed shi [ts] construct effectively blocked synaptic transmission to the AL when expressed in olfactory sensory neurons. Notably, selective silencing of both LN populations did not significantly affect the odor-evoked activity patterns in the AL. Neither the glomerular input nor the glomerular output activity was modulated in comparison to the parental controls. We therefore conclude that these LN subpopulations, which cover one third of the total LN number, are not predominantly involved in odor identity coding per se. As suggested by their broad innervation patterns and contribution to long-term adaptation, they might contribute to AL-computation on a global and longer time scale.}, }
@article {pmid28787602, year = {2017}, author = {El Jundi, B}, title = {Insect Navigation: How Flies Keep Track of Their Snack.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {27}, number = {15}, pages = {R748-R750}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2017.06.051}, pmid = {28787602}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; *Drosophila melanogaster ; *Snacks ; }, abstract = {A new study provides evidence that fruit flies use path integration to maintain proximity to a food source during their local searches.}, }
@article {pmid28760967, year = {2017}, author = {Shpigler, HY and Saul, MC and Corona, F and Block, L and Cash Ahmed, A and Zhao, SD and Robinson, GE}, title = {Deep evolutionary conservation of autism-related genes.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {114}, number = {36}, pages = {9653-9658}, pmid = {28760967}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Autism Spectrum Disorder/*genetics ; Bees/*genetics/physiology ; Behavior, Animal ; *Biological Evolution ; Genes, Insect ; Humans ; Mushroom Bodies/metabolism ; Social Behavior ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {E. O. Wilson proposed in Sociobiology that similarities between human and animal societies reflect common mechanistic and evolutionary roots. When introduced in 1975, this controversial hypothesis was beyond science's ability to test. We used genomic analyses to determine whether superficial behavioral similarities in humans and the highly social honey bee reflect common molecular mechanisms. Here, we report that gene expression signatures for individual bees unresponsive to various salient social stimuli are significantly enriched for autism spectrum disorder-related genes. These signatures occur in the mushroom bodies, a high-level integration center of the insect brain. Furthermore, our finding of enrichment was unique to autism spectrum disorders; brain gene expression signatures from other honey bee behaviors do not show this enrichment, nor do datasets from other human behavioral and health conditions. These results demonstrate deep conservation for genes associated with a human social pathology and individual differences in insect social behavior, thus providing an example of how comparative genomics can be used to test sociobiological theory.}, }
@article {pmid28760762, year = {2017}, author = {Kappeler, PM}, title = {Sex roles and adult sex ratios: insights from mammalian biology and consequences for primate behaviour.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {372}, number = {1729}, pages = {}, pmid = {28760762}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Male ; *Maternal Behavior ; *Paternal Behavior ; Primates/*physiology ; *Sex Ratio ; }, abstract = {Theoretical models and empirical studies in various taxa have identified important links between variation in sex roles and the number of adult males and females (adult sex ratio (ASR)) in a population. In this review, I examine these relationships in non-human primates. Because most existing theoretical models of the evolution of sex roles focus on the evolutionary origins of sex-biased behaviour, they offer only a general scaffold for predicting variation in sex roles among and within species. I argue that studies examining sex role variation at these more specific levels need to take social organization into account to identify meaningful levels for the measurement of ASR and to account for the fact that ASR and sex roles mutually influence each other. Moreover, taxon-specific life-history traits can constrain sex role flexibility and impact the operational sex ratio (OSR) by specifying the minimum length of female time outs from reproduction. Using examples from the primate literature, I highlight practical problems in estimating ASR and OSR. I then argue that interspecific variation in the occurrence of indirect forms of paternal care might indeed be linked to variation in ASR. Some studies also indicate that female aggression and bonding, as well as components of inter-sexual relationships, are sensitive to variation in ASR. Thus, links between primate sex roles and sex ratios merit further study, and such studies could prompt the development of more specific theoretical models that make realistic assumptions about taxon-specific life history and social organization.This article is part of the themed issue 'Adult sex ratios and reproductive decisions: a critical re-examination of sex differences in human and animal societies'.}, }
@article {pmid28760753, year = {2017}, author = {Schacht, R and Kramer, KL and Székely, T and Kappeler, PM}, title = {Adult sex ratios and reproductive strategies: a critical re-examination of sex differences in human and animal societies.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {372}, number = {1729}, pages = {}, pmid = {28760753}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; *Reproduction ; *Reproductive Behavior ; *Sex Ratio ; *Sexual Behavior, Animal ; }, abstract = {It is increasingly recognized that the relative proportion of potential mates to competitors in a population impacts a range of sex-specific behaviours and in particular mating and reproduction. However, while the adult sex ratio (ASR) has long been recognized as an important link between demography and behaviour, this relationship remains understudied. Here, we introduce the first inter-disciplinary collection of research on the causes and consequences of variation in the ASR in human and animal societies. This important topic is relevant to a wide audience of both social and biological scientists due to the central role that the relative number of males to females in a population plays for the evolution of, and contemporary variation in, sex roles across groups, species and higher taxa. The articles in this theme issue cover research on ASR across a variety of taxa and topics. They offer critical re-evaluations of theoretical foundations within both evolutionary and non-evolutionary fields, and propose innovative methodological approaches, present new empirical examples of behavioural consequences of ASR variation and reveal that the ASR plays a major role in determining population viability, especially in small populations and species with labile sex determination. This introductory paper puts the contributions of the theme issue into a broader context, identifies general trends across the literature and formulates directions for future research.This article is part of the themed issue 'Adult sex ratios and reproductive decisions: a critical re-examination of sex differences in human and animal societies'.}, }
@article {pmid28746223, year = {2017}, author = {de Miguel-Díez, J and López-de-Andrés, A and Hernández-Barrera, V and Jiménez-Trujillo, I and Méndez-Bailón, M and Miguel-Yanes, JM and Del Rio-Lopez, B and Jiménez-García, R}, title = {Decreasing incidence and mortality among hospitalized patients suffering a ventilator-associated pneumonia: Analysis of the Spanish national hospital discharge database from 2010 to 2014.}, journal = {Medicine}, volume = {96}, number = {30}, pages = {e7625}, pmid = {28746223}, issn = {1536-5964}, mesh = {Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Comorbidity ; Databases, Factual ; Female ; Hospital Mortality/trends ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patient Discharge ; Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated/*mortality/*therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Sociobiology ; Spain/epidemiology ; }, abstract = {The aim of this study was to describe trends in the incidence and outcomes of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) among hospitalized patients in Spain (2010-2014).This is a retrospective study using the Spanish national hospital discharge database from year 2010 to 2014. We selected all hospital admissions that had an ICD-9-CM code: 997.31 for VAP in any diagnosis position. We analyzed incidence, sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, procedures, pathogen isolations, and hospital outcomes.We identified 9336 admissions with patients suffering a VAP. Incidence rates of VAP decreased significantly over time (from 41.7 cases/100,000 inhabitants in 2010 to 40.55 in 2014). The mean Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) was 1.08 ± 0.98 and it did not change significantly during the study period. The most frequent causative agent was Pseudomonas and there were not significant differences in the isolation of this microorganism over time. Time trend analyses showed a significant decrease in in-hospital mortality (IHM), from 35.74% in 2010 to 32.81% in 2014. Factor associated with higher IHM included male sex, older age, higher CCI, vein or artery occlusion, pulmonary disease, cancer, undergone surgery, emergency room admission, and readmission.This study shows that the incidence of VAP among hospitalized patients has decreased in Spain from 2010 to 2014. The IHM has also decreased over the study period. Further investigations are needed to improve the prevention and control of VAP.}, }
@article {pmid28679795, year = {2017}, author = {Fleischmann, PN and Grob, R and Wehner, R and Rössler, W}, title = {Species-specific differences in the fine structure of learning walk elements in Cataglyphis ants.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {220}, number = {Pt 13}, pages = {2426-2435}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.158147}, pmid = {28679795}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Greece ; Learning ; Species Specificity ; Tunisia ; Walking ; }, abstract = {Cataglyphis desert ants are famous navigators. Like all central place foragers, they are confronted with the challenge to return home, i.e. relocate an inconspicuous nest entrance in the ground, after their extensive foraging trips. When leaving the underground nest for the first time, desert ants perform a striking behavior, so-called learning walks that are well structured. However, it is still unclear how the ants initially acquire the information needed for sky- and landmark-based navigation, in particular how they calibrate their compass system at the beginning of their foraging careers. Using high-speed video analyses, we show that different Cataglyphis species include different types of characteristic turns in their learning walks. Pirouettes are full or partial rotations (tight turns about the vertical body axis) during which the ants frequently stop and gaze back in the direction of the nest entrance during the longest stopping phases. In contrast, voltes are small walked circles without directed stopping phases. Interestingly, only Cataglyphis ant species living in a cluttered, and therefore visually rich, environment (i.e. C. noda and C. aenescens in southern Greece) perform both voltes and pirouettes. They look back to the nest entrance during pirouettes, most probably to take snapshots of the surroundings. In contrast, C. fortis inhabiting featureless saltpans in Tunisia perform only voltes and do not stop during these turns to gaze back at the nest - even if a set of artificial landmarks surrounds the nest entrance.}, }
@article {pmid28672203, year = {2017}, author = {Caniglia, G}, title = {"How complex and even perverse the real world can be": W.D. Hamilton's early work on social wasps (1964-1968).}, journal = {Studies in history and philosophy of biological and biomedical sciences}, volume = {64}, number = {}, pages = {41-52}, doi = {10.1016/j.shpsc.2017.06.005}, pmid = {28672203}, issn = {1879-2499}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; *Selection, Genetic ; *Social Behavior ; *Wasps ; }, abstract = {William D. Hamilton's name is often connected to important theoretical accomplishments, from the theory of inclusive fitness and kin selection to the so-called Hamilton's rule and the haplodiploidy hypothesis. This article asks: How did Hamilton attempt to test his theory and hypothesis against the complexity of the biological world? The article reconstructs Hamilton's empirical work with social wasps between 1963 and 1968, the years before and after the publication of the groundbreaking "The Genetical Evolution of Social Behavior" in 1964. It points out the centrality of Hamilton's work on wasps and shows how the British scientist attempted to test theories and hypotheses with naturalistic, developmental, and physiological observations as well as, at times, with experimental manipulations. The article offers a new perspective on the history of the scientific understanding of the evolution of social behavior. In contrast to existing narratives, this perspective emphasizes the importance of empirical work-e.g. natural history, physiology, comparative anatomy-which is often obscured by a nearly exclusive focus on theoretical developments in this field.}, }
@article {pmid28553207, year = {2017}, author = {Blenau, W and Daniel, S and Balfanz, S and Thamm, M and Baumann, A}, title = {Dm5-HT2B: Pharmacological Characterization of the Fifth Serotonin Receptor Subtype of Drosophila melanogaster.}, journal = {Frontiers in systems neuroscience}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {28}, pmid = {28553207}, issn = {1662-5137}, abstract = {Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is an important regulator of physiological and behavioral processes in both protostomes (e.g., insects) and deuterostomes (e.g., mammals). In insects, serotonin has been found to modulate the heart rate and to control secretory processes, development, circadian rhythms, aggressive behavior, as well as to contribute to learning and memory. Serotonin exerts its activity by binding to and activating specific membrane receptors. The clear majority of these receptors belong to the superfamily of G-protein-coupled receptors. In Drosophila melanogaster, a total of five genes have been identified coding for 5-HT receptors. From this family of proteins, four have been pharmacologically examined in greater detail, so far. While Dm5-HT1A, Dm5-HT1B, and Dm5-HT7 couple to cAMP signaling cascades, the Dm5-HT2A receptor leads to Ca[2+] signaling in an inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate-dependent manner. Based on sequence similarity to homologous genes in other insects, a fifth D. melanogaster gene was uncovered coding for a Dm5-HT2B receptor. Knowledge about this receptor's pharmacological properties is very limited. This is quite surprising because Dm5-HT2B has been attributed to distinct physiological functions based on genetic interference with its gene expression. Mutations were described reducing the response of the larval heart to 5-HT, and specific knockdown of Dm5-HT2B mRNA in hemocytes resulted in a higher susceptibility of the flies to bacterial infection. To gain deeper understanding of Dm5-HT2B's pharmacology, we evaluated the receptor's response to a series of established 5-HT receptor agonists and antagonists in a functional cell-based assay. Metoclopramide and mianserin were identified as two potent antagonists that may allow pharmacological interference with Dm5-HT2B signaling in vitro and in vivo.}, }
@article {pmid28512224, year = {2017}, author = {Nowak, MA and McAvoy, A and Allen, B and Wilson, EO}, title = {The general form of Hamilton's rule makes no predictions and cannot be tested empirically.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {114}, number = {22}, pages = {5665-5670}, pmid = {28512224}, issn = {1091-6490}, abstract = {Hamilton's rule asserts that a trait is favored by natural selection if the benefit to others, [Formula: see text], multiplied by relatedness, [Formula: see text], exceeds the cost to self, [Formula: see text] Specifically, Hamilton's rule states that the change in average trait value in a population is proportional to [Formula: see text] This rule is commonly believed to be a natural law making important predictions in biology, and its influence has spread from evolutionary biology to other fields including the social sciences. Whereas many feel that Hamilton's rule provides valuable intuition, there is disagreement even among experts as to how the quantities [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] should be defined for a given system. Here, we investigate a widely endorsed formulation of Hamilton's rule, which is said to be as general as natural selection itself. We show that, in this formulation, Hamilton's rule does not make predictions and cannot be tested empirically. It turns out that the parameters [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] depend on the change in average trait value and therefore cannot predict that change. In this formulation, which has been called "exact and general" by its proponents, Hamilton's rule can "predict" only the data that have already been given.}, }
@article {pmid28508537, year = {2018}, author = {Boomsma, JJ and Gawne, R}, title = {Superorganismality and caste differentiation as points of no return: how the major evolutionary transitions were lost in translation.}, journal = {Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society}, volume = {93}, number = {1}, pages = {28-54}, doi = {10.1111/brv.12330}, pmid = {28508537}, issn = {1469-185X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Behavior, Animal ; *Biological Evolution ; Insecta/*genetics/*physiology ; Selection, Genetic ; *Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {More than a century ago, William Morton Wheeler proposed that social insect colonies can be regarded as superorganisms when they have morphologically differentiated reproductive and nursing castes that are analogous to the metazoan germ-line and soma. Following the rise of sociobiology in the 1970s, Wheeler's insights were largely neglected, and we were left with multiple new superorganism concepts that are mutually inconsistent and uninformative on how superorganismality originated. These difficulties can be traced to the broadened sociobiological concept of eusociality, which denies that physical queen-worker caste differentiation is a universal hallmark of superorganismal colonies. Unlike early evolutionary naturalists and geneticists such as Weismann, Huxley, Fisher and Haldane, who set out to explain the acquisition of an unmated worker caste, the goal of sociobiology was to understand the evolution of eusociality, a broad-brush convenience category that covers most forms of cooperative breeding. By lumping a diverse spectrum of social systems into a single category, and drawing attention away from the evolution of distinct quantifiable traits, the sociobiological tradition has impeded straightforward connections between inclusive fitness theory and the major evolutionary transitions paradigm for understanding irreversible shifts to higher organizational complexity. We evaluate the history by which these inconsistencies accumulated, develop a common-cause approach for understanding the origins of all major transitions in eukaryote hierarchical complexity, and use Hamilton's rule to argue that they are directly comparable. We show that only Wheeler's original definition of superorganismality can be unambiguously linked to irreversible evolutionary transitions from context-dependent reproductive altruism to unconditional differentiation of permanently unmated castes in the ants, corbiculate bees, vespine wasps and higher termites. We argue that strictly monogamous parents were a necessary, albeit not sufficient condition for all transitions to superorganismality, analogous to single-zygote bottlenecking being a necessary but not sufficient condition for the convergent origins of complex soma across multicellular eukaryotes. We infer that conflict reduction was not a necessary condition for the origin of any of these major transitions, and conclude that controversies over the status of inclusive fitness theory primarily emanate from the arbitrarily defined sociobiological concepts of superorganismality and eusociality, not from the theory itself.}, }
@article {pmid28468687, year = {2017}, author = {De Cocker, K and De Bourdeaudhuij, I and Cardon, G and Vandelanotte, C}, title = {What are the working mechanisms of a web-based workplace sitting intervention targeting psychosocial factors and action planning?.}, journal = {BMC public health}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {382}, pmid = {28468687}, issn = {1471-2458}, mesh = {Adult ; Age Factors ; Body Weights and Measures ; Computers ; *Exercise ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Health Promotion/*methods ; Humans ; Internet ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Health ; *Posture ; *Sedentary Behavior ; Self Efficacy ; Self Report ; Sex Factors ; Social Support ; Sociobiology ; Workplace/*organization &amp; administration/psychology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Office workers demonstrate high levels of sitting on workdays. As sitting is positively associated with adverse health risks in adults, a theory-driven web-based computer-tailored intervention to influence workplace sitting, named 'Start to Stand,' was developed. The intervention was found to be effective in reducing self-reported workplace sitting among Flemish employees. The aim of this study was to investigate through which mechanisms the web-based computer-tailored intervention influenced self-reported workplace sitting.<br><br>METHODS: Employees (n&#xa0;=&#xa0;155) participated in a clustered randomised controlled trial and reported socio-demographics (age, gender, education), work-related (hours at work, employment duration), health-related (weight and height, workplace sitting and physical activity) and psychosocial (knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, social support, intention regarding (changing) sitting behaviours) variables at baseline and 1-month follow-up. The product-of-coefficients test of MacKinnon based on multiple linear regression analyses was conducted to examine the mediating role of five psychosocial factors (knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, social support, intention). The influence of one self-regulation skill (action planning) in the association between the intervention and self-reported workplace sitting time was investigated via moderation analyses.<br><br>RESULTS: The intervention had a positive influence on knowledge (p&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.040), but none of the psychosocial variables did mediate the intervention effect on self-reported workplace sitting. Action planning was found to be a significant moderator (p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.001) as the decrease in self-reported workplace sitting only occurred in the group completing an action plan.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Future interventions aimed at reducing employees' workplace sitting are suggested to focus on self-regulatory skills and promote action planning when using web-based computer-tailored advice.<br><br>TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02672215 ; (Archived by WebCite at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02672215).}, }
@article {pmid28445613, year = {2017}, author = {Thamm, M and Scholl, C and Reim, T and Grübel, K and Möller, K and Rössler, W and Scheiner, R}, title = {Neuronal distribution of tyramine and the tyramine receptor AmTAR1 in the honeybee brain.}, journal = {The Journal of comparative neurology}, volume = {525}, number = {12}, pages = {2615-2631}, doi = {10.1002/cne.24228}, pmid = {28445613}, issn = {1096-9861}, mesh = {Actins/metabolism ; Animals ; Bees/*anatomy &amp; histology ; Brain/*cytology/metabolism ; Mushroom Bodies/anatomy &amp; histology/metabolism ; Myelin Basic Protein/metabolism ; Neurons/*metabolism ; Receptors, Biogenic Amine/*metabolism ; Synapsins/metabolism ; Tyramine/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Tyramine is an important neurotransmitter, neuromodulator, and neurohormone in insects. In honeybees, it is assumed to have functions in modulating sensory responsiveness and controlling motor behavior. Tyramine can bind to two characterized receptors in honeybees, both of which are coupled to intracellular cAMP pathways. How tyramine acts on neuronal, cellular and circuit levels is unclear. We investigated the spatial brain expression of the tyramine receptor AmTAR1 using a specific antibody. This antibody detects a membrane protein of the expected molecular weight in western blot analysis. In honeybee brains, it labels different structures which process sensory information. Labeling along the antennal nerve, in projections of the dorsal lobe and in the gnathal ganglion suggest that tyramine receptors are involved in modulating gustatory and tactile perception. Furthermore, the ellipsoid body of the central complex and giant synapses in the lateral complex show AmTAR1-like immunoreactivity (AmTAR1-IR), suggesting a role of this receptor in modulating sky-compass information and/or higher sensor-motor control. Additionally, intense signals derive from the mushroom bodies, higher-order integration centers for olfactory, visual, gustatory and tactile information. To investigate whether AmTAR1-expressing brain structures are in vicinity to tyramine releasing sites, a specific tyramine antibody was applied. Tyramine-like labeling was observed in AmTAR1-IR positive structures, although it was sometimes weak and we did not always find a direct match of ligand and receptor. Moreover, tyramine-like immunoreactivity was also found in brain regions without AmTAR1-IR (optic lobes, antennal lobes), indicating that other tyramine-specific receptors may be expressed there.}, }
@article {pmid28435875, year = {2017}, author = {Poirotte, C and Massol, F and Herbert, A and Willaume, E and Bomo, PM and Kappeler, PM and Charpentier, MJE}, title = {Mandrills use olfaction to socially avoid parasitized conspecifics.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {3}, number = {4}, pages = {e1601721}, pmid = {28435875}, issn = {2375-2548}, mesh = {Animals ; *Behavior, Animal ; Feces/*parasitology ; *Mandrillus ; Monkey Diseases/*parasitology ; *Smell ; }, abstract = {The evolutionary transition from a solitary to a social lifestyle entails an elevated parasite cost because the social proximity associated with group living favors parasite transmission. Despite this cost, sociality is widespread in a large range of taxonomic groups. In this context, hosts would be expected to have evolved behavioral mechanisms to reduce the risk of parasite infection. Few empirical studies have focused on the influence of pathogen-mediated selection on the evolution of antiparasitic behavior in wild vertebrates. We report an adaptive functional relationship between parasitism and social behavior in mandrills, associated with evidence that they are able to gauge parasite status of their group members. Using long-term observations, controlled experiments, and chemical analyses, we show that (i) wild mandrills avoid grooming conspecifics infected with orofecally transmitted parasites; (ii) mandrills receive significantly more grooming after treatment that targets these parasites; (iii) parasitism influences the host's fecal odors; and (iv) mandrills selectively avoid fecal material from parasitized conspecifics. These behavioral adaptations reveal that selecting safe social partners may help primates to cope with parasite-mediated costs of sociality and that "behavioral immunity" plays a crucial role in the coevolutionary dynamics between hosts and their parasites.}, }
@article {pmid28428832, year = {2017}, author = {Scharf, ME and Cai, Y and Sun, Y and Sen, R and Raychoudhury, R and Boucias, DG}, title = {A meta-analysis testing eusocial co-option theories in termite gut physiology and symbiosis.}, journal = {Communicative &amp; integrative biology}, volume = {10}, number = {2}, pages = {e1295187}, pmid = {28428832}, issn = {1942-0889}, support = {R01 AI125982/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {The termite gut accomplishes key physiologic functions that underlie termite symbiosis and sociality. However, potential candidate functions of the host-symbiont holobiome have not yet been explored across seemingly divergent processes such as digestion, immunity, caste differentiation, and xenobiotic tolerance. This study took a meta-analysis approach for concurrently studying host and symbiont gut metatranscriptome responses of the lower termite Reticulitermes flavipes, which has ancestral characteristics and hosts a diverse mix of eukaryotic and bacterial symbionts. Thirteen treatments were compared from 5 categories (dietary, social, hormonal, immunological, and xenobiotic), revealing 3 main insights. First, each of the 5 tested colonies had distinct magnitudes of transcriptome response, likely as a result of unique symbiont profiles, which highlights the uniqueness of individual termite colonies. Second, after normalization to standardize colony response magnitudes, unique treatment-linked metatranscriptome topologies became apparent. Third, despite colony and topology differences, 4 co-opted master genes emerged that were universally responsive across diverse treatments. These master genes encode host functions related to protein translation and symbiont functions related to protein degradation and pore formation in microbial cell walls. Three of the 4 master genes were from co-evolved protist symbionts, highlighting potentially co-evolved roles for gut symbiota in coordinating functional responses of the collective host-symbiont holobiome. Lastly, for host genes identified, these results provide annotations of recent termite genome sequences. By revealing conserved domain genes, as well as apparent roles for gut symbiota in holobiome regulation, this study provides new insights into co-opted eusocial genes and symbiont roles in termite sociobiology.}, }
@article {pmid28376107, year = {2017}, author = {Römer, D and Bollazzi, M and Roces, F}, title = {Carbon dioxide sensing in an obligate insect-fungus symbiosis: CO2 preferences of leaf-cutting ants to rear their mutualistic fungus.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {e0174597}, pmid = {28376107}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Basidiomycota/growth &amp; development/*physiology ; Carbon Dioxide/*physiology ; Herbivory ; Models, Biological ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Defense against biotic or abiotic stresses is one of the benefits of living in symbiosis. Leaf-cutting ants, which live in an obligate mutualism with a fungus, attenuate thermal and desiccation stress of their partner through behavioral responses, by choosing suitable places for fungus-rearing across the soil profile. The underground environment also presents hypoxic (low oxygen) and hypercapnic (high carbon dioxide) conditions, which can negatively influence the symbiont. Here, we investigated whether workers of the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex lundii use the CO2 concentration as an orientation cue when selecting a place to locate their fungus garden, and whether they show preferences for specific CO2 concentrations. We also evaluated whether levels preferred by workers for fungus-rearing differ from those selected for themselves. In the laboratory, CO2 preferences were assessed in binary choices between chambers with different CO2 concentrations, by quantifying number of workers in each chamber and amount of relocated fungus. Leaf-cutting ants used the CO2 concentration as a spatial cue when selecting places for fungus-rearing. A. lundii preferred intermediate CO2 levels, between 1 and 3%, as they would encounter at soil depths where their nest chambers are located. In addition, workers avoided both atmospheric and high CO2 levels as they would occur outside the nest and at deeper soil layers, respectively. In order to prevent fungus desiccation, however, workers relocated fungus to high CO2 levels, which were otherwise avoided. Workers' CO2 preferences for themselves showed no clear-cut pattern. We suggest that workers avoid both atmospheric and high CO2 concentrations not because they are detrimental for themselves, but because of their consequences for the symbiotic partner. Whether the preferred CO2 concentrations are beneficial for symbiont growth remains to be investigated, as well as whether the observed preferences for fungus-rearing influences the ants' decisions where to excavate new chambers across the soil profile.}, }
@article {pmid28317445, year = {2017}, author = {Joiner, TE and Buchman-Schmitt, JM and Chu, C and Hom, MA}, title = {A Sociobiological Extension of the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide.}, journal = {Crisis}, volume = {38}, number = {2}, pages = {69-72}, doi = {10.1027/0227-5910/a000463}, pmid = {28317445}, issn = {2151-2396}, mesh = {Altruism ; Animals ; Humans ; *Psychological Theory ; Social Behavior ; Sociobiology ; Suicide/*psychology ; }, }
@article {pmid28275167, year = {2017}, author = {Jacobs, RL and MacFie, TS and Spriggs, AN and Baden, AL and Morelli, TL and Irwin, MT and Lawler, RR and Pastorini, J and Mayor, M and Lei, R and Culligan, R and Hawkins, MT and Kappeler, PM and Wright, PC and Louis, EE and Mundy, NI and Bradley, BJ}, title = {Novel opsin gene variation in large-bodied, diurnal lemurs.}, journal = {Biology letters}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {28275167}, issn = {1744-957X}, mesh = {Animals ; Color Vision/*genetics ; Ecosystem ; Genes, X-Linked ; Opsins/*genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Sequence Analysis, Protein ; Strepsirhini/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Some primate populations include both trichromatic and dichromatic (red-green colour blind) individuals due to allelic variation at the X-linked opsin locus. This polymorphic trichromacy is well described in day-active New World monkeys. Less is known about colour vision in Malagasy lemurs, but, unlike New World monkeys, only some day-active lemurs are polymorphic, while others are dichromatic. The evolutionary pressures underlying these differences in lemurs are unknown, but aspects of species ecology, including variation in activity pattern, are hypothesized to play a role. Limited data on X-linked opsin variation in lemurs make such hypotheses difficult to evaluate. We provide the first detailed examination of X-linked opsin variation across a lemur clade (Indriidae). We sequenced the X-linked opsin in the most strictly diurnal and largest extant lemur, Indri indri, and nine species of smaller, generally diurnal indriids (Propithecus). Although nocturnal Avahi (sister taxon to Propithecus) lacks a polymorphism, at least eight species of diurnal indriids have two or more X-linked opsin alleles. Four rainforest-living taxa-I. indri and the three largest Propithecus species-have alleles not previously documented in lemurs. Moreover, we identified at least three opsin alleles in Indri with peak spectral sensitivities similar to some New World monkeys.}, }
@article {pmid28273083, year = {2017}, author = {Arenas, A and Roces, F}, title = {Avoidance of plants unsuitable for the symbiotic fungus in leaf-cutting ants: Learning can take place entirely at the colony dump.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {e0171388}, pmid = {28273083}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Antifungal Agents/pharmacology ; Ants/drug effects/microbiology/*physiology ; *Avoidance Learning ; Feeding Behavior/drug effects/physiology ; Fungi/drug effects/physiology ; Plant Leaves/metabolism/parasitology ; Plants/metabolism/*parasitology ; Symbiosis ; Waste Products ; }, abstract = {Plants initially accepted by foraging leaf-cutting ants are later avoided if they prove unsuitable for their symbiotic fungus. Plant avoidance is mediated by the waste produced in the fungus garden soon after the incorporation of the unsuitable leaves, as foragers can learn plant odors and cues from the damaged fungus that are both present in the recently produced waste particles. We asked whether avoidance learning of plants unsuitable for the symbiotic fungus can take place entirely at the colony dump. In order to investigate whether cues available in the waste chamber induce plant avoidance in naïve subcolonies, we exchanged the waste produced by subcolonies fed either fungicide-treated privet leaves or untreated leaves and measured the acceptance of untreated privet leaves before and after the exchange of waste. Second, we evaluated whether foragers could perceive the avoidance cues directly at the dump by quantifying the visits of labeled foragers to the waste chamber. Finally, we asked whether foragers learn to specifically avoid untreated leaves of a plant after a confinement over 3 hours in the dump of subcolonies that were previously fed fungicide-treated leaves of that species. After the exchange of the waste chambers, workers from subcolonies that had access to waste from fungicide-treated privet leaves learned to avoid that plant. One-third of the labeled foragers visited the dump. Furthermore, naïve foragers learned to avoid a specific, previously unsuitable plant if exposed solely to cues of the dump during confinement. We suggest that cues at the dump enable foragers to predict the unsuitable effects of plants even if they had never been experienced in the fungus garden.}, }
@article {pmid28262167, year = {2017}, author = {Sahoo, S and Anand, N and Aggarwal, S and Singh, SM}, title = {Sociobiologically informed psychiatrist.}, journal = {Asian journal of psychiatry}, volume = {25}, number = {}, pages = {258-259}, doi = {10.1016/j.ajp.2016.12.007}, pmid = {28262167}, issn = {1876-2026}, mesh = {Humans ; Mental Disorders/*therapy ; *Physician-Patient Relations ; *Psychiatry ; *Sociobiology ; }, }
@article {pmid28183868, year = {2017}, author = {Ruedenauer, FA and Leonhardt, SD and Schmalz, F and Rössler, W and Strube-Bloss, MF}, title = {Separation of different pollen types by chemotactile sensing in Bombus terrestris.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {220}, number = {Pt 8}, pages = {1435-1442}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.153122}, pmid = {28183868}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; Arthropod Antennae/*physiology ; Bees/*physiology ; Feeding Behavior ; Food Preferences ; Pollen/*metabolism ; Pollination ; Volatile Organic Compounds/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {When tasting food, animals rely on chemical and tactile cues, which determine the animal's decision on whether to eat food. As food nutritional composition has enormous consequences for the survival of animals, food items should generally be tasted before they are eaten or collected for later consumption. Even though recent studies have confirmed the importance of, for example, gustatory cues, compared with olfaction only little is known about the representation of chemotactile stimuli at the receptor level (let alone higher brain centers) in animals other than vertebrates. To better understand how invertebrates may process chemotactile cues, we used bumblebees as a model species and combined electroantennographical (EAG) recordings with a novel technique for chemotactile antennal stimulation in bees. The recorded EAG responses to chemotactile stimulation clearly separated volatile compounds by both compound identity and concentration, and could be successfully applied to test the receptor activity evoked by different types of pollen. We found that two different pollen types (apple and almond; which were readily distinguished by bumblebees in a classical conditioning task) evoked significantly distinct neural activity already at the antennal receptor level. Our novel stimulation technique therefore enables investigation of chemotactile sensing, which is highly important for assessing food nutritional quality while foraging. It can further be applied to test other chemosensory behaviors, such as mate or nest mate recognition, or to investigate whether toxic substances, e.g. in pollen, affect neuronal separation of different food types.}, }
@article {pmid28167800, year = {2017}, author = {Scheiner, R and Reim, T and Søvik, E and Entler, BV and Barron, AB and Thamm, M}, title = {Learning, gustatory responsiveness and tyramine differences across nurse and forager honeybees.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {220}, number = {Pt 8}, pages = {1443-1450}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.152496}, pmid = {28167800}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; Appetitive Behavior ; Bees/*physiology ; Behavior, Animal ; Conditioning, Classical ; Insect Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Octopamine/analysis/metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; Receptors, Biogenic Amine/genetics/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Smell ; Social Behavior ; Taste ; Tyramine/analysis/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Honeybees are well known for their complex division of labor. Each bee sequentially performs a series of social tasks during its life. The changes in social task performance are linked to gross differences in behavior and physiology. We tested whether honeybees performing different social tasks (nursing versus foraging) would differ in their gustatory responsiveness and associative learning behavior in addition to their daily tasks in the colony. Further, we investigated the role of the biogenic amine tyramine and its receptors in the behavior of nurse bees and foragers. Tyramine is an important insect neurotransmitter, which has long been neglected in behavioral studies as it was believed to only act as the metabolic precursor of the better-known amine octopamine. With the increasing number of characterized tyramine receptors in diverse insects, we need to understand the functions of tyramine on its own account. Our findings suggest an important role for tyramine and its two receptors in regulating honeybee gustatory responsiveness, social organization and learning behavior. Foragers, which were more responsive to gustatory stimuli than nurse bees and performed better in appetitive learning, also differed from nurse bees in their tyramine brain titers and in the mRNA expression of a tyramine receptor in the brain. Pharmacological activation of tyramine receptors increased gustatory responsiveness of nurse bees and foragers and improved appetitive learning in nurse bees. These data suggest that a large part of the behavioral differences between honeybees may be directly linked to tyramine signaling in the brain.}, }
@article {pmid28114396, year = {2017}, author = {Kadochová, &#x160; and Frouz, J and Roces, F}, title = {Sun Basking in Red Wood Ants Formica polyctena (Hymenoptera, Formicidae): Individual Behaviour and Temperature-Dependent Respiration Rates.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {e0170570}, pmid = {28114396}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Lipolysis ; *Respiratory Rate ; *Sunlight ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {In early spring, red wood ants Formica polyctena are often observed clustering on the nest surface in large numbers basking in the sun. It has been hypothesized that sun-basking behaviour may contribute to nest heating because of both heat carriage into the nest by sun-basking workers, and catabolic heat production from the mobilization of the workers' lipid reserves. We investigated sun-basking behaviour in laboratory colonies of F. polyctena exposed to an artificial heat source. Observations on identified individuals revealed that not all ants bask in the sun. Sun-basking and non-sun-basking workers did not differ in body size nor in respiration rates. The number of sun-basking ants and the number of their visits to the hot spot depended on the temperature of both the air and the hot spot. To investigate whether sun basking leads to a physiological activation linked with increased lipolysis, we measured respiration rates of individual workers as a function of temperature, and compared respiration rates of sun-basking workers before and two days after they were allowed to expose themselves to a heat source over 10 days, at self-determined intervals. As expected for ectothermic animals, respiration rates increased with increasing temperatures in the range 5 to 35°C. However, the respiration rates of sun-basking workers measured two days after a long-term exposure to the heat source were similar to those before sun basking, providing no evidence for a sustained increase of the basal metabolic rates after prolonged sun basking. Based on our measurements, we argue that self-heating of the nest mound in early spring has therefore to rely on alternative heat sources, and speculate that physical transport of heat in the ant bodies may have a significant effect.}, }
@article {pmid28105795, year = {2017}, author = {Davis, MM and Shanley, TP}, title = {The Missing -Omes: Proposing Social and Environmental Nomenclature in Precision Medicine.}, journal = {Clinical and translational science}, volume = {10}, number = {2}, pages = {64-66}, pmid = {28105795}, issn = {1752-8062}, mesh = {Environment ; Environmental Medicine/*classification ; Health Behavior ; *Health Status ; Health Status Disparities ; Humans ; Precision Medicine/*classification ; Residence Characteristics ; Risk Factors ; Social Behavior ; Sociobiology/*classification ; *Terminology as Topic ; }, }
@article {pmid28099496, year = {2017}, author = {Mildner, S and Roces, F}, title = {Plasticity of Daily Behavioral Rhythms in Foragers and Nurses of the Ant Camponotus rufipes: Influence of Social Context and Feeding Times.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {e0169244}, pmid = {28099496}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Bees/physiology ; Behavior, Animal/*physiology ; Circadian Rhythm ; Feeding Behavior/*physiology ; Locomotion ; Motor Activity/*physiology ; *Social Behavior ; *Social Environment ; Social Isolation ; }, abstract = {Daily activities within an ant colony need precise temporal organization, and an endogenous clock appears to be essential for such timing processes. A clock drives locomotor rhythms in isolated workers in a number of ant species, but its involvement in activities displayed in the social context is unknown. We compared locomotor rhythms in isolated individuals and behavioral rhythms in the social context of workers of the ant Camponotus rufipes. Both forager and nurse workers exhibited circadian rhythms in locomotor activity under constant conditions, indicating the involvement of an endogenous clock. Activity was mostly nocturnal and synchronized with the 12:12h light-dark-cycle. To evaluate whether rhythmicity was maintained in the social context and could be synchronized with non-photic zeitgebers such as feeding times, daily behavioral activities of single workers inside and outside the nest were quantified continuously over 24 hours in 1656 hours of video recordings. Food availability was limited to a short time window either at day or at night, thus mimicking natural conditions of temporally restricted food access. Most foragers showed circadian foraging behavior synchronized with food availability, either at day or nighttime. When isolated thereafter in single locomotor activity monitors, foragers mainly displayed arrhythmicity. Here, high mortality suggested potential stressful effects of the former restriction of food availability. In contrast, nurse workers showed high overall activity levels in the social context and performed their tasks all around the clock with no circadian pattern, likely to meet the needs of the brood. In isolation, the same individuals exhibited in turn strong rhythmic activity and nocturnality. Thus, endogenous activity rhythms were inhibited in the social context, and timing of daily behaviors was flexibly adapted to cope with task demands. As a similar socially-mediated plasticity in circadian rhythms was already shown in honey bees, the temporal organization in C. rufipes and honey bees appear to share similar basic features.}, }
@article {pmid28057824, year = {2017}, author = {Tarnita, CE}, title = {The ecology and evolution of social behavior in microbes.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {220}, number = {Pt 1}, pages = {18-24}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.145631}, pmid = {28057824}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {*Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Biological Evolution ; Environment ; *Microbial Interactions ; Myxococcus xanthus/physiology ; Pseudomonas fluorescens/physiology ; }, abstract = {Cooperation has been studied extensively across the tree of life, from eusociality in insects to social behavior in humans, but it is only recently that a social dimension has been recognized and extensively explored for microbes. Research into microbial cooperation has accelerated dramatically and microbes have become a favorite system because of their fast evolution, their convenience as lab study systems and the opportunity for molecular investigations. However, the study of microbes also poses significant challenges, such as a lack of knowledge and an inaccessibility of the ecological context (used here to include both the abiotic and the biotic environment) under which the trait deemed cooperative has evolved and is maintained. I review the experimental and theoretical evidence in support of the limitations of the study of social behavior in microbes in the absence of an ecological context. I discuss both the need and the opportunities for experimental investigations that can inform a theoretical framework able to reframe the general questions of social behavior in a clear ecological context and to account for eco-evolutionary feedback.}, }
@article {pmid28054342, year = {2019}, author = {Peichl, L and Kaiser, A and Rakotondraparany, F and Dubielzig, RR and Goodman, SM and Kappeler, PM}, title = {Diversity of photoreceptor arrangements in nocturnal, cathemeral and diurnal Malagasy lemurs.}, journal = {The Journal of comparative neurology}, volume = {527}, number = {1}, pages = {13-37}, doi = {10.1002/cne.24167}, pmid = {28054342}, issn = {1096-9861}, mesh = {Animals ; Lemur/*anatomy &amp; histology ; Photoreceptor Cells/*cytology ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {The lemurs of Madagascar (Primates: Lemuriformes) are a monophyletic group that has lived in isolation from other primates for about 50 million years. Lemurs have diversified into species with diverse daily activity patterns and correspondingly different visual adaptations. We assessed the arrangements of retinal cone and rod photoreceptors in six nocturnal, three cathemeral and two diurnal lemur species and quantified different parameters in six of the species. The analysis revealed lower cone densities and higher rod densities in the nocturnal than in the cathemeral and diurnal species. The photoreceptor densities in the diurnal Propithecus verreauxi indicate a less "diurnal" retina than found in other diurnal primates. Immunolabeling for cone opsins showed the presence of both middle-to-longwave sensitive (M/L) and shortwave sensitive (S) cones in most species, indicating at least dichromatic color vision. S cones were absent in Allocebus trichotis and Cheirogaleus medius, indicating cone monochromacy. In the Microcebus species, the S cones had an inverse topography with very low densities in the central retina and highest densities in the peripheral retina. The S cones in the other species and the M/L cones in all species had a conventional topography with peak densities in the central area. With the exception of the cathemeral Eulemur species, the eyes of all studied taxa, including the diurnal Propithecus, possessed a tapetum lucidum, a feature only found among nocturnal and crepuscular mammals.}, }
@article {pmid27974514, year = {2016}, author = {Strube-Bloss, MF and Nawrot, MP and Menzel, R}, title = {Neural correlates of side-specific odour memory in mushroom body output neurons.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {283}, number = {1844}, pages = {}, pmid = {27974514}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/*physiology ; Learning ; *Memory ; Mushroom Bodies/*physiology ; Neurons/*physiology ; Odorants ; *Olfactory Perception ; }, abstract = {Humans and other mammals as well as honeybees learn a unilateral association between an olfactory stimulus presented to one side and a reward. In all of them, the learned association can be behaviourally retrieved via contralateral stimulation, suggesting inter-hemispheric communication. However, the underlying neuronal circuits are largely unknown and neural correlates of across-brain-side plasticity have yet not been demonstrated. We report neural plasticity that reflects lateral integration after side-specific odour reward conditioning. Mushroom body output neurons that did not respond initially to contralateral olfactory stimulation developed a unique and stable representation of the rewarded compound stimulus (side and odour) predicting its value during memory retention. The encoding of the reward-associated compound stimulus is delayed by about 40 ms compared with unrewarded neural activity, indicating an increased computation time for the read-out after lateral integration.}, }
@article {pmid27973681, year = {2017}, author = {Springer, A and Kappeler, PM and Nunn, CL}, title = {Dynamic vs. static social networks in models of parasite transmission: predicting Cryptosporidium spread in wild lemurs.}, journal = {The Journal of animal ecology}, volume = {86}, number = {3}, pages = {419-433}, doi = {10.1111/1365-2656.12617}, pmid = {27973681}, issn = {1365-2656}, mesh = {Animals ; Cryptosporidiosis/*epidemiology/parasitology/*transmission ; Cryptosporidium/*physiology ; Disease Outbreaks/*veterinary ; Homing Behavior ; Madagascar/epidemiology ; Models, Biological ; Seasons ; *Social Behavior ; *Strepsirhini ; }, abstract = {Social networks provide an established tool to implement heterogeneous contact structures in epidemiological models. Dynamic temporal changes in contact structure and ranging behaviour of wildlife may impact disease dynamics. A consensus has yet to emerge, however, concerning the conditions in which network dynamics impact model outcomes, as compared to static approximations that average contact rates over longer time periods. Furthermore, as many pathogens can be transmitted both environmentally and via close contact, it is important to investigate the relative influence of both transmission routes in real-world populations. Here, we use empirically derived networks from a population of wild primates, Verreaux's sifakas (Propithecus verreauxi), and simulated networks to investigate pathogen spread in dynamic vs. static social networks. First, we constructed a susceptible-exposed-infected-recovered model of Cryptosporidium spread in wild Verreaux's sifakas. We incorporated social and environmental transmission routes and parameterized the model for two different climatic seasons. Second, we used simulated networks and greater variation in epidemiological parameters to investigate the conditions in which dynamic networks produce larger outbreak sizes than static networks. We found that average outbreak size of Cryptosporidium infections in sifakas was larger when the disease was introduced in the dry season than in the wet season, driven by an increase in home range overlap towards the end of the dry season. Regardless of season, dynamic networks always produced larger average outbreak sizes than static networks. Larger outbreaks in dynamic models based on simulated networks occurred especially when the probability of transmission and recovery were low. Variation in tie strength in the dynamic networks also had a major impact on outbreak size, while network modularity had a weaker influence than epidemiological parameters that determine transmission and recovery. Our study adds to emerging evidence that dynamic networks can change predictions of disease dynamics, especially if the disease shows low transmissibility and a long infectious period, and when environmental conditions lead to enhanced between-group contact after an infectious agent has been introduced.}, }
@article {pmid27939988, year = {2017}, author = {Reim, T and Balfanz, S and Baumann, A and Blenau, W and Thamm, M and Scheiner, R}, title = {AmTAR2: Functional characterization of a honeybee tyramine receptor stimulating adenylyl cyclase activity.}, journal = {Insect biochemistry and molecular biology}, volume = {80}, number = {}, pages = {91-100}, doi = {10.1016/j.ibmb.2016.12.004}, pmid = {27939988}, issn = {1879-0240}, mesh = {Adenylyl Cyclases/*genetics/metabolism ; Animals ; Bees/*genetics/metabolism ; Insect Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Octopamine/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Receptors, Biogenic Amine/*genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {The biogenic monoamines norepinephrine and epinephrine regulate important physiological functions in vertebrates. Insects such as honeybees do not synthesize these neuroactive substances. Instead, they employ octopamine and tyramine for comparable physiological functions. These biogenic amines activate specific guanine nucleotide-binding (G) protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Based on pharmacological data obtained on heterologously expressed receptors, α- and β-adrenergic-like octopamine receptors are better activated by octopamine than by tyramine. Conversely, GPCRs forming the type 1 tyramine receptor clade (synonymous to octopamine/tyramine receptors) are better activated by tyramine than by octopamine. More recently, receptors were characterized which are almost exclusively activated by tyramine, thus forming an independent type 2 tyramine receptor clade. Functionally, type 1 tyramine receptors inhibit adenylyl cyclase activity, leading to a decrease in intracellular cAMP concentration ([cAMP]i). Type 2 tyramine receptors can mediate Ca[2+] signals or both Ca[2+] signals and effects on [cAMP]i. We here provide evidence that the honeybee tyramine receptor 2 (AmTAR2), when heterologously expressed in flpTM cells, exclusively causes an increase in [cAMP]i. The receptor displays a pronounced preference for tyramine over octopamine. Its activity can be blocked by a series of established antagonists, of which mianserin and yohimbine are most efficient. The functional characterization of two tyramine receptors from the honeybee, AmTAR1 (previously named AmTYR1) and AmTAR2, which respond to tyramine by changing cAMP levels in opposite direction, is an important step towards understanding the actions of tyramine in honeybee behavior and physiology, particularly in comparison to the effects of octopamine.}, }
@article {pmid27865127, year = {2017}, author = {Żakowska-Biemans, S and Pieniak, Z and Gutkowska, K and Wierzbicki, J and Cieszyńska, K and Sajdakowska, M and Kosicka-Gębska, M}, title = {Beef consumer segment profiles based on information source usage in Poland.}, journal = {Meat science}, volume = {124}, number = {}, pages = {105-113}, doi = {10.1016/j.meatsci.2016.11.001}, pmid = {27865127}, issn = {1873-4138}, mesh = {Adolescent ; Adult ; Animals ; Cattle ; Choice Behavior ; Cluster Analysis ; *Consumer Behavior ; Consumer Product Safety ; Databases, Factual ; Female ; Food Preferences ; Food Quality ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Poland ; *Red Meat ; Sociobiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Taste ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {The main aim of this study was to identify market segments based on consumers' usage of information sources about beef and to investigate whether the use of information sources was associated with the type of information consumers were searching for, factors guiding their decision processes to buy beef and motives related to beef consumption. Data were collected in 2014 through a self-administered survey of 501 regular beef consumers. Three distinct clusters were identified: Enthusiast (38.5%), Conservative (43.1%) and Ultra Conservative (18.4%). This study revealed that culinary and personal sources of information on beef were the most frequently used. Taste, perceived healthiness and suitability to prepare many dishes were reported as primary motives to eat beef. These results show that communication channels such as culinary programs and opportunities provided by the development of labelling systems to guarantee beef quality should be considered when developing policies and strategies to increase beef consumption in Poland.}, }
@article {pmid27595848, year = {2016}, author = {O'Shea-Wheller, TA and Wilson-Aggarwal, DK and Edgley, DE and Sendova-Franks, AB and Franks, NR}, title = {A social mechanism facilitates ant colony emigrations over different distances.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {219}, number = {Pt 21}, pages = {3439-3446}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.145276}, pmid = {27595848}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animal Migration/*physiology ; Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Hierarchy, Social ; Running/physiology ; *Social Behavior ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Behavioural responses enable animals to react rapidly to fluctuating environments. In eusocial organisms, such changes are often enacted at the group level, but may be organised in a decentralised fashion by the actions of individuals. However, the contributions of different group members are rarely homogeneous, and there is evidence to suggest that certain 'keystone' individuals are important in shaping collective responses. Accordingly, investigations of the dynamics and structuring of behavioural changes at both the group and individual level are crucial for evaluating the relative influence of different individuals. Here, we examined the composition of tandem running behaviour during colony emigrations in the ant species Temnothorax albipennis Tandem running is modulated in response to emigration distance, with more runs being conducted when a more distant nest site must be reached. We show that certain individuals are highly active in the tandem running process, attempting significantly more work in the task. Contrary to expectations, however, such individuals are in fact no more successful at conducting tandem runs than their less active nest mates. Instead, it seems that when more tandem runs are required, colonies rely on greater recruitment of workers into the process. The implications of our study are that in some cases, even when apparently 'key' individuals exist within a group, their relative contribution to task performance may be far from decisive.}, }
@article {pmid27790777, year = {2017}, author = {Huchard, E and Schliehe-Diecks, S and Kappeler, PM and Kraus, C}, title = {The inbreeding strategy of a solitary primate, Microcebus murinus.}, journal = {Journal of evolutionary biology}, volume = {30}, number = {1}, pages = {128-140}, doi = {10.1111/jeb.12992}, pmid = {27790777}, issn = {1420-9101}, mesh = {Animals ; Cheirogaleidae/*genetics ; Female ; *Genetic Variation ; *Inbreeding ; Madagascar ; Male ; Reproduction ; Sexual Behavior, Animal ; }, abstract = {Inbreeding depression may be common in nature, reflecting either the failure of inbreeding avoidance strategies or inbreeding tolerance when avoidance is costly. The combined assessment of inbreeding risk, avoidance and depression is therefore fundamental to evaluate the inbreeding strategy of a population, that is how individuals respond to the risk of inbreeding. Here, we use the demographic and genetic monitoring of 10 generations of wild grey mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus), small primates from Madagascar with overlapping generations, to examine their inbreeding strategy. Grey mouse lemurs have retained ancestral mammalian traits, including solitary lifestyle, polygynandry and male-biased dispersal, and may therefore offer a representative example of the inbreeding strategy of solitary mammals. The occurrence of close kin among candidate mates was frequent in young females (~37%, most often the father) and uncommon in young males (~6%) due to male-biased dispersal. However, close kin consistently represented a tiny fraction of candidate mates (< 1%) across age and sex categories. Mating biases favouring partners with intermediate relatedness were detectable in yearling females and adult males, possibly partly caused by avoidance of daughter-father matings. Finally, inbreeding depression, assessed as the effect of heterozygosity on survival, was undetectable using a capture-mark-recapture study. Overall, these results indicate that sex-biased dispersal is a primary inbreeding avoidance mechanism at the population level, and mating biases represent an additional strategy that may mitigate residual inbreeding costs at the individual level. Combined, these mechanisms explain the rarity of inbreeding and the lack of detectable inbreeding depression in this large, genetically diverse population.}, }
@article {pmid27783640, year = {2016}, author = {Sommerlandt, FM and Spaethe, J and Rössler, W and Dyer, AG}, title = {Does Fine Color Discrimination Learning in Free-Flying Honeybees Change Mushroom-Body Calyx Neuroarchitecture?.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {10}, pages = {e0164386}, pmid = {27783640}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/*physiology ; Brain/anatomy &amp; histology/metabolism ; Choice Behavior/physiology ; *Color ; Discrimination Learning/*physiology ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Mushroom Bodies/anatomy &amp; histology/chemistry/*metabolism ; Neuropil/physiology ; Photic Stimulation ; }, abstract = {Honeybees learn color information of rewarding flowers and recall these memories in future decisions. For fine color discrimination, bees require differential conditioning with a concurrent presentation of target and distractor stimuli to form a long-term memory. Here we investigated whether the long-term storage of color information shapes the neural network of microglomeruli in the mushroom body calyces and if this depends on the type of conditioning. Free-flying honeybees were individually trained to a pair of perceptually similar colors in either absolute conditioning towards one of the colors or in differential conditioning with both colors. Subsequently, bees of either conditioning groups were tested in non-rewarded discrimination tests with the two colors. Only bees trained with differential conditioning preferred the previously learned color, whereas bees of the absolute conditioning group, and a stimuli-naïve group, chose randomly among color stimuli. All bees were then kept individually for three days in the dark to allow for complete long-term memory formation. Whole-mount immunostaining was subsequently used to quantify variation of microglomeruli number and density in the mushroom-body lip and collar. We found no significant differences among groups in neuropil volumes and total microglomeruli numbers, but learning performance was negatively correlated with microglomeruli density in the absolute conditioning group. Based on these findings we aim to promote future research approaches combining behaviorally relevant color learning tests in honeybees under free-flight conditions with neuroimaging analysis; we also discuss possible limitations of this approach.}, }
@article {pmid27781287, year = {2017}, author = {Koch, F and Ganzhorn, JU and Rothman, JM and Chapman, CA and Fichtel, C}, title = {Sex and seasonal differences in diet and nutrient intake in Verreaux's sifakas (Propithecus verreauxi).}, journal = {American journal of primatology}, volume = {79}, number = {4}, pages = {1-10}, pmid = {27781287}, issn = {1098-2345}, mesh = {Animals ; *Diet ; *Energy Intake ; Female ; Madagascar ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Seasons ; *Strepsirhini ; }, abstract = {Fluctuations in food availability are a major challenge faced by primates living in seasonal climates. Variation in food availability can be especially challenging for females, because of the high energetic costs of reproduction. Therefore, females must adapt the particular demands of the different reproductive stages to the seasonal availability of resources. Madagascar has a highly seasonal climate, where food availability can be extremely variable. We investigated the seasonal changes in diet composition, nutrient and energy intake of female and male sifakas (Propithecus verreauxi) in a dry deciduous forest in western Madagascar. We examined how females adjust their diet to different reproductive stages. Seasonality affected the diet of both sexes; particularly in the dry season (Apr-Oct) with low availability of food items, especially fruits, males and females had a reduced nutrient and energy intake compared to the wet season (Nov-Mar) with higher food and fruit availability. The comparison of the diet between sexes in different reproductive stages showed that during the late stage of lactation (Nov-Jan) females had higher food intake, and as a result they had a higher intake of macronutrients (crude protein, fat and non-structured carbohydrates (TNC)) and energy than males. These differences were not present during the pregnancy of females, with both sexes having similar intake of macronutrients and energy during that stage. The increase in the intake of macronutrients observed for females during late lactation could be related to the higher energetic demands of this stage of reproduction. Thus, the observed pattern in the diet indicates that sifaka females are following a capital breeding strategy, whereby females potentially store enough nutrients to cope with the reproduction costs in periods of low food availability.}, }
@article {pmid27774056, year = {2016}, author = {Held, M and Berz, A and Hensgen, R and Muenz, TS and Scholl, C and Rössler, W and Homberg, U and Pfeiffer, K}, title = {Microglomerular Synaptic Complexes in the Sky-Compass Network of the Honeybee Connect Parallel Pathways from the Anterior Optic Tubercle to the Central Complex.}, journal = {Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {186}, pmid = {27774056}, issn = {1662-5153}, abstract = {While the ability of honeybees to navigate relying on sky-compass information has been investigated in a large number of behavioral studies, the underlying neuronal system has so far received less attention. The sky-compass pathway has recently been described from its input region, the dorsal rim area (DRA) of the compound eye, to the anterior optic tubercle (AOTU). The aim of this study is to reveal the connection from the AOTU to the central complex (CX). For this purpose, we investigated the anatomy of large microglomerular synaptic complexes in the medial and lateral bulbs (MBUs/LBUs) of the lateral complex (LX). The synaptic complexes are formed by tubercle-lateral accessory lobe neuron 1 (TuLAL1) neurons of the AOTU and GABAergic tangential neurons of the central body's (CB) lower division (TL neurons). Both TuLAL1 and TL neurons strongly resemble neurons forming these complexes in other insect species. We further investigated the ultrastructure of these synaptic complexes using transmission electron microscopy. We found that single large presynaptic terminals of TuLAL1 neurons enclose many small profiles (SPs) of TL neurons. The synaptic connections between these neurons are established by two types of synapses: divergent dyads and divergent tetrads. Our data support the assumption that these complexes are a highly conserved feature in the insect brain and play an important role in reliable signal transmission within the sky-compass pathway.}, }
@article {pmid27668970, year = {2016}, author = {Dawkins-Moultin, L and McDonald, A and McKyer, L}, title = {Integrating the Principles of Socioecology and Critical Pedagogy for Health Promotion Health Literacy Interventions.}, journal = {Journal of health communication}, volume = {21}, number = {sup2}, pages = {30-35}, doi = {10.1080/10810730.2016.1196273}, pmid = {27668970}, issn = {1087-0415}, mesh = {*Ecology ; *Health Literacy ; Health Promotion/*organization &amp; administration ; Humans ; *Sociobiology ; *Teaching ; }, abstract = {While health literacy research has experienced tremendous growth in the last two decades, the field still struggles to devise interventions that lead to lasting change. Most health literacy interventions are at the individual level and focus on resolving clinician-patient communication difficulties. As a result, the interventions use a deficit model that treats health literacy as a patient problem that needs to be fixed or circumvented. We propose that public health health literacy interventions integrate the principles of socioecology and critical pedagogy to develop interventions that build capacity and empower individuals and communities. Socioecology operates on the premise that health outcome is hinged on the interplay between individuals and their environment. Critical pedagogy assumes education is inherently political, and the ultimate goal of education is social change. Integrating these two approaches will provide a useful frame in which to develop interventions that move beyond the individual level.}, }
@article {pmid27656285, year = {2016}, author = {Rakotoniaina, JH and Kappeler, PM and Ravoniarimbinina, P and Pechouskova, E and Hämäläinen, AM and Grass, J and Kirschbaum, C and Kraus, C}, title = {Does habitat disturbance affect stress, body condition and parasitism in two sympatric lemurs?.}, journal = {Conservation physiology}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, pages = {cow034}, pmid = {27656285}, issn = {2051-1434}, abstract = {Understanding how animals react to human-induced changes in their environment is a key question in conservation biology. Owing to their potential correlation with fitness, several physiological parameters are commonly used to assess the effect of habitat disturbance on animals' general health status. Here, we studied how two lemur species, the fat-tailed dwarf lemur (Cheirogaleus medius) and the grey mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus), respond to changing environmental conditions by comparing their stress levels (measured as hair cortisol concentration), parasitism and general body condition across four habitats ordered along a gradient of human disturbance at Kirindy Forest, Western Madagascar. These two species previously revealed contrasting responses to human disturbance; whereas M. murinus is known as a resilient species, C. medius is rarely encountered in highly disturbed habitats. However, neither hair cortisol concentrations nor parasitism patterns (prevalence, parasite species richness and rate of multiple infections) and body condition varied across the gradient of anthropogenic disturbance. Our results indicate that the effect of anthropogenic activities at Kirindy Forest is not reflected in the general health status of both species, which may have developed a range of behavioural adaptations to deal with suboptimal conditions. Nonetheless, a difference in relative density among sites suggests that the carrying capacity of disturbed habitat is lower, and both species respond differently to environmental changes, with C. medius being more negatively affected. Thus, even for behaviourally flexible species, extended habitat deterioration could hamper long-term viability of populations.}, }
@article {pmid27615188, year = {2016}, author = {Debat, V}, title = {[Symmetry is beauty - or is it? The rise and fall of fluctuating asymmetry].}, journal = {Medecine sciences : M/S}, volume = {32}, number = {8-9}, pages = {774-780}, doi = {10.1051/medsci/20163208028}, pmid = {27615188}, issn = {1958-5381}, mesh = {*Beauty ; Face/*anatomy &amp; histology ; Facial Asymmetry/*pathology/psychology ; Health Status ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Intelligence/physiology ; Physical Fitness/physiology/psychology ; Stress, Physiological/physiology ; }, abstract = {Fluctuating asymmetry is the stochastic, minor deviation from perfect symmetry in bilaterally symmetrical organisms. It reflects the limit of developmental precision. Such a precision can be influenced by various factors, both internal (genetic mutations, stochastic variation at every levels of development) and external (environmental influences). Fluctuating asymmetry has receive an extreme attention for the past few decades, that culminated in the 90s: it has been used as an estimator of heterozygosity, fitness, environmental stress, and widely applied to human biology, sociobiology and psychology before being more or less discredited in the early 2000s. The reasons for such an extreme popularity and then disgrace are discussed here. Far from suggesting to abandon the study of fluctuating asymmetry, we indicate some of the most promising research avenues. ‡.}, }
@article {pmid27587425, year = {2016}, author = {Stelson, EA and Carr, BG and Golden, KE and Martin, N and Richmond, TS and Delgado, MK and Holena, DN}, title = {Perceptions of Family Participation in Intensive Care Unit Rounds and Telemedicine: A Qualitative Assessment.}, journal = {American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses}, volume = {25}, number = {5}, pages = {440-447}, doi = {10.4037/ajcc2016465}, pmid = {27587425}, issn = {1937-710X}, support = {K12 HL109009/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adult ; Aged ; Attitude of Health Personnel ; *Family ; Female ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units/*organization &amp; administration ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Perception ; Professional-Family Relations ; Sociobiology ; Teaching Rounds/*organization &amp; administration ; Telemedicine/*organization &amp; administration ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Family-centered rounds involve purposeful interactions between patients' families and care providers to refocus the delivery of care on patients' needs.<br><br>OBJECTIVES: To examine perspectives of patients' family members and health care providers on family participation in rounds in the surgical intensive care unit (ICU) and the potential use of telemedicine to facilitate this process.<br><br>METHODS: Patients' family members and surgical ICU care providers were recruited for semistructured interviews exploring stakeholders' perspectives on family participation in ICU rounds and the potential role of telemedicine. Thirty-two interviews were conducted, audio recorded, and transcribed verbatim. Common coding methods were facilitated by using NVivo 10. A mean coding agreement of 97.3% was calculated for 22% of transcripts.<br><br>RESULTS: Both patients' family members and health care providers described inconsistent practices surrounding family participation in ICU rounds as well as barriers to and facilitators of family participation. Family members identified 3 primary logistical challenges to participation in ICU rounds: distance to hospitals, work/family obligations, and the rounding schedule. Both family members and providers reported receptivity to virtual participation as a potential solution to these challenges.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the barriers to and facilitators of family participation in ICU rounds is key to encouraging adoption of family-centered rounds. For families that live far away or have competing demands, telemedical options may facilitate participation.}, }
@article {pmid27580025, year = {2017}, author = {Schmitt, F and Vanselow, JT and Schlosser, A and Wegener, C and Rössler, W}, title = {Neuropeptides in the desert ant Cataglyphis fortis: Mass spectrometric analysis, localization, and age-related changes.}, journal = {The Journal of comparative neurology}, volume = {525}, number = {4}, pages = {901-918}, doi = {10.1002/cne.24109}, pmid = {27580025}, issn = {1096-9861}, mesh = {Aging/*physiology ; Animals ; Ants ; Behavior, Animal/*physiology ; Brain/*physiology ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Neuropeptides/*metabolism ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {Cataglyphis desert ants exhibit an age-related polyethism, with ants performing tasks in the dark nest for the first ∼4 weeks of their adult life before they switch to visually based long-distance navigation to forage. Although behavioral and sensory aspects of this transition have been studied, the internal factors triggering the behavioral changes are largely unknown. We suggest the neuropeptide families allatostatin A (AstA), allatotropin (AT), short neuropeptide F (sNPF), and tachykinin (TK) as potential candidates. Based on a neuropeptidomic analysis in Camponotus floridanus, nano-LC-ESI MS/MS was used to identify these neuropeptides biochemically in Cataglyphis fortis. Furthermore, we show that all identified peptide families are present in the central brain and ventral ganglia of C. fortis whereas in the retrocerebral complex only sNPF could be detected. Immunofluorescence staining against AstA, AT, and TK in the brain revealed arborizations of AstA- and TK-positive neurons in primary sensory processing centers and higher order integration centers, whereas AT immunoreactivity was restricted to the central complex, the antennal mechanosensory and motor center, and the protocerebrum. For artificially dark-kept ants, we found that TK distribution changed markedly in the central complex from days 1 and 7 to day 14 after eclosion. Based on functional studies in Drosophila, this age-related variation of TK is suggestive of a modulatory role in locomotion behavior in C. fortis. We conclude that the general distribution and age-related changes in neuropeptides indicate a modulatory role in sensory input regions and higher order processing centers in the desert ant brain. J. Comp. Neurol. 525:901-918, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.}, }
@article {pmid27552112, year = {2016}, author = {Palmer, AG and Ali, M and Yang, S and Parchami, N and Bento, T and Mazzella, A and Oni, M and Riley, MC and Schneider, K and Massa, N}, title = {Kin recognition is a nutrient-dependent inducible phenomenon.}, journal = {Plant signaling &amp; behavior}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {e1224045}, pmid = {27552112}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*metabolism/*physiology ; Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Exudates/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Recognition and response to prospective competitors are crucial variables that must be considered in resource distribution and utilization in plant communities. Associated behaviors are largely mediated through the exchange of low-molecular weight exudates. These cues can significantly alter the root system architecture (RSA) between neighboring plants and are routinely sensitive enough to distinguish between plants of the same or different accessions, a phenomenon known as kin recognition (KR). Such refined discrimination of identity, based on the composition and detection of patterns of exudate signals is remarkable and provides insight into the chemical ecology of plant-plant interactions. The discovery that KR occurs in Arabidopsis thaliana provides a model system to resolve many of the mechanistic questions associated with this process. We hypothesized that the low-molecular weight cues which direct changes to the RSA during KR was driven by nutrient availability. Here we present evidence in support of a nutrient-inducible model for KR. Our findings underscore how exudate production and detection are influenced by nutrient availability as well as how this information is integrated into 'decisions' about competition and root system architecture which may have broader impacts on community composition.}, }
@article {pmid27539791, year = {2017}, author = {Kim, S and Fleisher, B and Sun, JY}, title = {The Long-term Health Effects of Fetal Malnutrition: Evidence from the 1959-1961 China Great Leap Forward Famine.}, journal = {Health economics}, volume = {26}, number = {10}, pages = {1264-1277}, doi = {10.1002/hec.3397}, pmid = {27539791}, issn = {1099-1050}, mesh = {Aged ; Birth Rate ; China/epidemiology ; Emigration and Immigration ; Female ; Fetal Nutrition Disorders/*epidemiology/*physiopathology ; *Health Status ; Humans ; Longitudinal Studies ; Male ; *Mental Health ; Middle Aged ; Mortality ; Pregnancy ; Sociobiology ; Starvation/*epidemiology ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {We report evidence of long-term adverse health impacts of fetal malnutrition exposure of middle-aged survivors of the 1959-1961 China Famine using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. We find that fetal exposure to malnutrition has large and long-lasting impacts on both physical health and cognitive abilities, including the risks of suffering a stroke, physical disabilities in speech, walking and vision, and measures of mental acuity even half a century after the tragic event. Our findings imply that policies and programs that improve the nutritional status of pregnant women yield benefits on the health of a fetus that extend through the life cycle in the form of reduced physical and mental impairment.}, }
@article {pmid27495990, year = {2016}, author = {Streinzer, M and Huber, W and Spaethe, J}, title = {Body size limits dim-light foraging activity in stingless bees (Apidae: Meliponini).}, journal = {Journal of comparative physiology. A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology}, volume = {202}, number = {9-10}, pages = {643-655}, pmid = {27495990}, issn = {1432-1351}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/*physiology ; Body Size/*physiology ; *Light ; Pollination/*physiology ; Vision, Ocular/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Stingless bees constitute a species-rich tribe of tropical and subtropical eusocial Apidae that act as important pollinators for flowering plants. Many foraging tasks rely on vision, e.g. spatial orientation and detection of food sources and nest entrances. Meliponini workers are usually small, which sets limits on eye morphology and thus quality of vision. Limitations are expected both on acuity, and thus on the ability to detect objects from a distance, as well as on sensitivity, and thus on the foraging time window at dusk and dawn. In this study, we determined light intensity thresholds for flight under dim light conditions in eight stingless bee species in relation to body size in a Neotropical lowland rainforest. Species varied in body size (0.8-1.7 mm thorax-width), and we found a strong negative correlation with light intensity thresholds (0.1-79 lx). Further, we measured eye size, ocelli diameter, ommatidia number, and facet diameter. All parameters significantly correlated with body size. A disproportionately low light intensity threshold in the minute Trigonisca pipioli, together with a large eye parameter P eye suggests specific adaptations to circumvent the optical constraints imposed by the small body size. We discuss the implications of body size in bees on foraging behavior.}, }
@article {pmid27481270, year = {2016}, author = {Fleischmann, PN and Christian, M and Müller, VL and Rössler, W and Wehner, R}, title = {Ontogeny of learning walks and the acquisition of landmark information in desert ants, Cataglyphis fortis.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {219}, number = {Pt 19}, pages = {3137-3145}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.140459}, pmid = {27481270}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; *Desert Climate ; Feeding Behavior ; *Learning ; Nesting Behavior ; *Spatial Navigation ; Walking/*physiology ; }, abstract = {At the beginning of their foraging lives, desert ants (Cataglyphis fortis) are for the first time exposed to the visual world within which they henceforth must accomplish their navigational tasks. Their habitat, North African salt pans, is barren, and the nest entrance, a tiny hole in the ground, is almost invisible. Although natural landmarks are scarce and the ants mainly depend on path integration for returning to the starting point, they can also learn and use landmarks successfully to navigate through their largely featureless habitat. Here, we studied how the ants acquire this information at the beginning of their outdoor lives within a nest-surrounding array of three artificial black cylinders. Individually marked 'newcomers' exhibit a characteristic sequence of learning walks. The meandering learning walks covering all directions of the compass first occur only within a few centimeters of the nest entrance, but then increasingly widen, until after three to seven learning walks, foraging starts. When displaced to a distant test field in which an identical array of landmarks has been installed, the ants shift their search density peaks more closely to the fictive goal position, the more learning walks they have performed. These results suggest that learning of a visual landmark panorama around a goal is a gradual rather than an instantaneous process.}, }
@article {pmid27432945, year = {2016}, author = {Yoder, AD and Campbell, CR and Blanco, MB and Dos Reis, M and Ganzhorn, JU and Goodman, SM and Hunnicutt, KE and Larsen, PA and Kappeler, PM and Rasoloarison, RM and Ralison, JM and Swofford, DL and Weisrock, DW}, title = {Geogenetic patterns in mouse lemurs (genus Microcebus) reveal the ghosts of Madagascar's forests past.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {113}, number = {29}, pages = {8049-8056}, pmid = {27432945}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Cheirogaleidae/*genetics ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; Forests ; Madagascar ; Phylogeny ; Phylogeography ; }, abstract = {Phylogeographic analysis can be described as the study of the geological and climatological processes that have produced contemporary geographic distributions of populations and species. Here, we attempt to understand how the dynamic process of landscape change on Madagascar has shaped the distribution of a targeted clade of mouse lemurs (genus Microcebus) and, conversely, how phylogenetic and population genetic patterns in these small primates can reciprocally advance our understanding of Madagascar's prehuman environment. The degree to which human activity has impacted the natural plant communities of Madagascar is of critical and enduring interest. Today, the eastern rainforests are separated from the dry deciduous forests of the west by a large expanse of presumed anthropogenic grassland savanna, dominated by the Family Poaceae, that blankets most of the Central Highlands. Although there is firm consensus that anthropogenic activities have transformed the original vegetation through agricultural and pastoral practices, the degree to which closed-canopy forest extended from the east to the west remains debated. Phylogenetic and population genetic patterns in a five-species clade of mouse lemurs suggest that longitudinal dispersal across the island was readily achieved throughout the Pleistocene, apparently ending at ∼55 ka. By examining patterns of both inter- and intraspecific genetic diversity in mouse lemur species found in the eastern, western, and Central Highland zones, we conclude that the natural environment of the Central Highlands would have been mosaic, consisting of a matrix of wooded savanna that formed a transitional zone between the extremes of humid eastern and dry western forest types.}, }
@article {pmid27402554, year = {2017}, author = {de Boer, SF and Buwalda, B and Koolhaas, JM}, title = {Untangling the neurobiology of coping styles in rodents: Towards neural mechanisms underlying individual differences in disease susceptibility.}, journal = {Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews}, volume = {74}, number = {Pt B}, pages = {401-422}, doi = {10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.07.008}, pmid = {27402554}, issn = {1873-7528}, mesh = {Adaptation, Psychological ; Aggression ; Animals ; *Disease Susceptibility ; Individuality ; }, abstract = {Considerable individual differences exist in trait-like patterns of behavioral and physiological responses to salient environmental challenges. This individual variation in stress coping styles has an important functional role in terms of health and fitness. Hence, understanding the neural embedding of coping style variation is fundamental for biobehavioral neurosciences in probing individual disease susceptibility. This review outlines individual differences in trait-aggressiveness as an adaptive component of the natural sociobiology of rats and mice, and highlights that these reflect the general style of coping that varies from proactive (aggressive) to reactive (docile). We propose that this qualitative coping style can be disentangled into multiple quantitative behavioral domains, e.g., flexibility/impulse control, emotional reactivity and harm avoidance/reward processing, that each are encoded into selective neural circuitries. Since functioning of all these brain circuitries rely on fine-tuned serotonin signaling, autoinhibitory control mechanisms of serotonergic neuron (re)activity are crucial in orchestrating general coping style. Untangling the precise neuromolecular mechanisms of different coping styles will provide a roadmap for developing better therapeutic strategies of stress-related diseases.}, }
@article {pmid27398303, year = {2016}, author = {Becker, N and Kucharski, R and Rössler, W and Maleszka, R}, title = {Age-dependent transcriptional and epigenomic responses to light exposure in the honey bee brain.}, journal = {FEBS open bio}, volume = {6}, number = {7}, pages = {622-639}, pmid = {27398303}, issn = {2211-5463}, abstract = {Light is a powerful environmental stimulus of special importance in social honey bees that undergo a behavioral transition from in-hive to outdoor foraging duties. Our previous work has shown that light exposure induces structural neuronal plasticity in the mushroom bodies (MBs), a brain center implicated in processing inputs from sensory modalities. Here, we extended these analyses to the molecular level to unravel light-induced transcriptomic and epigenomic changes in the honey bee brain. We have compared gene expression in brain compartments of 1- and 7-day-old light-exposed honey bees with age-matched dark-kept individuals. We have found a number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), both novel and conserved, including several genes with reported roles in neuronal plasticity. Most of the DEGs show age-related changes in the amplitude of light-induced expression and are likely to be both developmentally and environmentally regulated. Some of the DEGs are either known to be methylated or are implicated in epigenetic processes suggesting that responses to light exposure are at least partly regulated at the epigenome level. Consistent with this idea light alters the DNA methylation pattern of bgm, one of the DEGs affected by light exposure, and the expression of microRNA miR-932. This confirms the usefulness of our approach to identify candidate genes for neuronal plasticity and provides evidence for the role of epigenetic processes in driving the molecular responses to visual stimulation.}, }
@article {pmid27391955, year = {2016}, author = {Freeman, J}, title = {The Socioecology of Territory Size and a "Work-Around" Hypothesis for the Adoption of Farming.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {7}, pages = {e0158743}, pmid = {27391955}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Agriculture ; Ecology/*methods ; Economics ; Models, Theoretical ; Sociobiology/*methods ; }, abstract = {This paper combines theory from ecology and anthropology to investigate variation in the territory sizes of subsistence oriented agricultural societies. The results indicate that population and the dependence of individuals within a society on "wild" foods partly determine the territory sizes of agricultural societies. In contrast, the productivity of an agroecosystem is not an important determinant of territory size. A comparison of the population-territory size scaling dynamics of agricultural societies and human foragers indicates that foragers and farmers face the same constraints on their ability to expand their territory and intensify their use of resources within a territory. However, the higher density of food in an agroecosystem allows farmers, on average, to live at much higher population densities than human foragers. These macroecological patterns are consistent with a "work-around hypothesis" for the adoption of farming. This hypothesis is that as residential groups of foragers increase in size, farming can sometimes better reduce the tension between an individual's autonomy over resources and the need for social groups to function to provide public goods like defense and information.}, }
@article {pmid27328940, year = {2016}, author = {Koch, F and Signer, J and Kappeler, PM and Fichtel, C}, title = {The role of the residence-effect on the outcome of intergroup encounters in Verreaux's sifakas.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {28457}, pmid = {27328940}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {Intergroup competition has an important impact on the survival and fitness of individuals in group-living species. However, factors influencing the probability of winning an encounter are not fully understood. We studied the influence of numerical advantage and location of the encounter on the chances of winning in eight neighboring groups of Verreaux's sifakas (Propithecus verreauxi), in Kirindy Forest, western Madagascar. Intergroup encounters were inferred from spatial data collected via GPS loggers over a period of two years. Location, i.e., the proximity to the respective core area, rather than the numerical advantage of a group in a given encounter, influenced the probability of winning. Accordingly, the high value that resident groups attribute to exclusive and intensively used areas increased their motivation in defending these locations against intruders. Moreover, losers used the encounter area less often than winners within a month after the encounter, suggesting that losing also entails long-term costs. Thus, our results suggest that in gregarious animals the particular circumstances of each encounter, such as the location, can outweigh group characteristics and predict the chances of winning an intergroup encounter.}, }
@article {pmid27303717, year = {2016}, author = {Denapaite, D and Rieger, M and Köndgen, S and Brückner, R and Ochigava, I and Kappeler, P and Mätz-Rensing, K and Leendertz, F and Hakenbeck, R}, title = {Highly Variable Streptococcus oralis Strains Are Common among Viridans Streptococci Isolated from Primates.}, journal = {mSphere}, volume = {1}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {27303717}, issn = {2379-5042}, abstract = {Viridans streptococci were obtained from primates (great apes, rhesus monkeys, and ring-tailed lemurs) held in captivity, as well as from free-living animals (chimpanzees and lemurs) for whom contact with humans is highly restricted. Isolates represented a variety of viridans streptococci, including unknown species. Streptococcus oralis was frequently isolated from samples from great apes. Genotypic methods revealed that most of the strains clustered on separate lineages outside the main cluster of human S. oralis strains. This suggests that S. oralis is part of the commensal flora in higher primates and evolved prior to humans. Many genes described as virulence factors in Streptococcus pneumoniae were present also in other viridans streptococcal genomes. Unlike in S. pneumoniae, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) gene clusters were common among viridans streptococci, and many S. oralis strains were type PI-2 (pilus islet 2) variants. S. oralis displayed a remarkable diversity of genes involved in the biosynthesis of peptidoglycan (penicillin-binding proteins and MurMN) and choline-containing teichoic acid. The small noncoding cia-dependent small RNAs (csRNAs) controlled by the response regulator CiaR might contribute to the genomic diversity, since we observed novel genomic islands between duplicated csRNAs, variably present in some isolates. All S. oralis genomes contained a β-N-acetyl-hexosaminidase gene absent in S. pneumoniae, which in contrast frequently harbors the neuraminidases NanB/C, which are absent in S. oralis. The identification of S. oralis-specific genes will help us to understand their adaptation to diverse habitats. IMPORTANCE Streptococcus pneumoniae is a rare example of a human-pathogenic bacterium among viridans streptococci, which consist of commensal symbionts, such as the close relatives Streptococcus mitis and S. oralis. We have shown that S. oralis can frequently be isolated from primates and a variety of other viridans streptococci as well. Genes and genomic islands which are known pneumococcal virulence factors are present in S. oralis and S. mitis, documenting the widespread occurrence of these compounds, which encode surface and secreted proteins. The frequent occurrence of CRISP-Cas gene clusters and a surprising variation of a set of small noncoding RNAs are factors to be considered in future research to further our understanding of mechanisms involved in the genomic diversity driven by horizontal gene transfer among viridans streptococci.}, }
@article {pmid27284068, year = {2016}, author = {Arenas, A and Roces, F}, title = {Learning through the waste: olfactory cues from the colony refuse influence plant preferences in foraging leaf-cutting ants.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {219}, number = {Pt 16}, pages = {2490-2496}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.139568}, pmid = {27284068}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; Antifungal Agents/pharmacology ; Ants/drug effects/*physiology ; Choice Behavior/drug effects/*physiology ; *Cues ; Feeding Behavior/drug effects/*physiology ; *Learning ; Plant Leaves/drug effects/*physiology ; Rubus/physiology ; Smell/drug effects/*physiology ; *Waste Products ; }, abstract = {Leaf-cutting ants learn to avoid plants initially harvested if they prove to be harmful for their symbiotic fungus once incorporated into the nest. At this point, waste particles removed from the fungus garden are likely to contain cues originating from both the unsuitable plant and the damaged fungus. We investigated whether leaf-cutting ant foragers learn to avoid unsuitable plants solely through the colony waste. We fed subcolonies of Acromymex ambiguus privet leaves treated with a fungicide undetectable to the ants, then collected the produced waste, and placed it into the fungus chamber of naive subcolonies. In individual choice tests, naive foragers preferred privet leaves before waste was put into the fungus chamber, but avoided them afterwards. Evidence on the influence of olfactory cues from the waste on decision making by foragers was obtained by scenting and transferring waste particles from subcolonies that had been fed either fungicide-treated or untreated leaves. In choice experiments, foragers from subcolonies given scented waste originating from fungicide-treated leaves collected fewer sugared paper discs with that scent compared with foragers from subcolonies given scented waste from untreated leaves. The results indicate that foragers learn to avoid plants unsuitable for the fungus by associating plant odours and cues from the damaged fungus that are present in waste particles. It is argued that waste particles may contribute to spread information about noxious plants for the fungus within the colony.}, }
@article {pmid27264438, year = {2016}, author = {Biernaskie, JM and Foster, KR}, title = {Ecology and multilevel selection explain aggression in spider colonies.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {19}, number = {8}, pages = {873-879}, pmid = {27264438}, issn = {1461-0248}, support = {242670/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; BB/M013995/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; *Aggression ; Animals ; *Ecosystem ; Models, Biological ; *Selection, Genetic ; *Social Behavior ; Spiders/*genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Progress in sociobiology continues to be hindered by abstract debates over methodology and the relative importance of within-group vs. between-group selection. We need concrete biological examples to ground discussions in empirical data. Recent work argued that the levels of aggression in social spider colonies are explained by group-level adaptation. Here, we examine this conclusion using models that incorporate ecological detail while remaining consistent with kin- and multilevel selection frameworks. We show that although levels of aggression are driven, in part, by between-group selection, incorporating universal within-group competition provides a striking fit to the data that is inconsistent with pure group-level adaptation. Instead, our analyses suggest that aggression is favoured primarily as a selfish strategy to compete for resources, despite causing lower group foraging efficiency or higher risk of group extinction. We argue that sociobiology will benefit from a pluralistic approach and stronger links between ecologically informed models and data.}, }
@article {pmid27247059, year = {2016}, author = {Stewart, AJ and Plotkin, JB}, title = {Small groups and long memories promote cooperation.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {26889}, pmid = {27247059}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Cooperative Behavior ; Decision Making/*physiology ; Game Theory ; Games, Experimental ; Humans ; Interpersonal Relations ; Memory/*physiology ; *Models, Psychological ; *Models, Statistical ; Sociobiology ; }, abstract = {Complex social behaviors lie at the heart of many of the challenges facing evolutionary biology, sociology, economics, and beyond. For evolutionary biologists the question is often how group behaviors such as collective action, or decision making that accounts for memories of past experience, can emerge and persist in an evolving system. Evolutionary game theory provides a framework for formalizing these questions and admitting them to rigorous study. Here we develop such a framework to study the evolution of sustained collective action in multi-player public-goods games, in which players have arbitrarily long memories of prior rounds of play and can react to their experience in an arbitrary way. We construct a coordinate system for memory-m strategies in iterated n-player games that permits us to characterize all cooperative strategies that resist invasion by any mutant strategy, and stabilize cooperative behavior. We show that, especially when groups are small, longer-memory strategies make cooperation easier to evolve, by increasing the number of ways to stabilize cooperation. We also explore the co-evolution of behavior and memory. We find that even when memory has a cost, longer-memory strategies often evolve, which in turn drives the evolution of cooperation, even when the benefits for cooperation are low.}, }
@article {pmid27243919, year = {2016}, author = {Millon, T}, title = {What Is a Personality Disorder?.}, journal = {Journal of personality disorders}, volume = {30}, number = {3}, pages = {289-306}, doi = {10.1521/pedi.2016.30.3.289}, pmid = {27243919}, issn = {1943-2763}, mesh = {Humans ; Personality/*physiology ; *Personality Disorders/classification/diagnosis/physiopathology/therapy ; }, abstract = {The goal of this article is to describe, characterize, and differentiate personality disorders by connecting their conceptual features to their foundations in the natural sciences. What is proposed is akin to Freud's abandoned Project for a Scientific Psychology and Wilson's (1975) highly controversial Sociobiology. Both were worthy endeavors to advance our understanding of the styles and traits of human nature; this was to be done by exploring interconnections among the diverse disciplines of nature that evolved ostensibly unrelated bodies of research and manifestly dissimilar languages.}, }
@article {pmid27231532, year = {2016}, author = {Schneider, TC and Kappeler, PM and Pozzi, L}, title = {Genetic population structure and relatedness in the narrow-striped mongoose (Mungotictis decemlineata), a social Malagasy carnivore with sexual segregation.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {6}, number = {11}, pages = {3734-3749}, pmid = {27231532}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Information on the genetic structure of animal populations can allow inferences about mechanisms shaping their social organization, dispersal, and mating system. The mongooses (Herpestidae) include some of the best-studied mammalian systems in this respect, but much less is known about their closest relatives, the Malagasy carnivores (Eupleridae), even though some of them exhibit unusual association patterns. We investigated the genetic structure of the Malagasy narrow-striped mongoose (Mungotictis decemlineata), a small forest-dwelling gregarious carnivore exhibiting sexual segregation. Based on mtDNA and microsatellite analyses, we determined population-wide haplotype structure and sex-specific and within-group relatedness. Furthermore, we analyzed parentage and sibship relationships and the level of reproductive skew. We found a matrilinear population structure, with several neighboring female units sharing identical haplotypes. Within-group female relatedness was significantly higher than expected by chance in the majority of units. Haplotype diversity of males was significantly higher than in females, indicating male-biased dispersal. Relatedness within the majority of male associations did not differ from random, not proving any kin-directed benefits of male sociality in this case. We found indications for a mildly promiscuous mating system without monopolization of females by males, and low levels of reproductive skew in both sexes based on parentages of emergent young. Low relatedness within breeding pairs confirmed immigration by males and suggested similarities with patterns in social mongooses, providing a starting point for further investigations of mate choice and female control of reproduction and the connected behavioral mechanisms. Our study contributes to the understanding of the determinants of male sociality in carnivores as well as the mechanisms of female competition in species with small social units.}, }
@article {pmid27194822, year = {2016}, author = {Koch, F and Signer, J and Kappeler, PM and Fichtel, C}, title = {Intergroup encounters in Verreaux's sifakas (Propithecus verreauxi): who fights and why?.}, journal = {Behavioral ecology and sociobiology}, volume = {70}, number = {}, pages = {797-808}, pmid = {27194822}, issn = {0340-5443}, abstract = {ABSTRACT: Individuals living in groups have to achieve collective action for successful territorial defense. Because conflicts between neighboring groups always involve risks and costs, individuals must base their decision to participate in a given conflict on an evaluation of the trade-off between potential costs and benefits. Since group members may differ in motivation to engage in group encounters, they exhibit different levels of participation in conflicts. In this study, we investigated factors influencing participation in intergroup encounters in Verreaux's sifakas (Propithecus verreauxi), a group-living primate from Madagascar. Over a period of 12 months, we studied eight adjacent sifaka groups in Kirindy Forest. We observed 71 encounters between known neighboring groups in which adult females and males participated equally as often. No individual participated in every encounter, and non-participation occurred more often in larger groups. Females participated less often in encounters when they had dependent infants, presumably to reduce the risk of infanticide. Male participation was influenced by social status: dominant males participated in most encounters, whereas males with fewer opportunities to reproduce participated less often, hence male participation is influenced by the incentive of maintaining access to females. The number of actively participating individuals in the opponent group positively influenced the participation in both sexes. Thus, sifakas seem to decide joining a given encounter opportunistically, most likely based on a combination of individual incentives and the actual circumstance of each encounter, suggesting that the complexity in intergroup relationships appears to be the product of decisions made by each individual group member.<br><br>SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Cooperation among group-living animals is often challenged by collective action problems resulting from individual differences in interests in contributing to collective behaviors. Intergroup encounters involve distinguished costs and benefits for each individual despite being in the same social group. Therefore, encounters between groups offer a good opportunity to investigate individual participation in collective action. In this study, we investigate the influence of different incentives on individual participation in intergroup encounters in wild Malagasy primate, Verreaux's sifakas. We propose a novel approach that takes into account the variable circumstances of each conflict, such as the number of individuals fighting in both groups as a predictor for participation. We believe that our study not only provides novel data on wild sifakas, but it also offers new perspectives for the interpretation of intergroup relationships in other taxa.}, }
@article {pmid27175922, year = {2016}, author = {Rakotonirina, H and Kappeler, PM and Fichtel, C}, title = {The role of acoustic signals for species recognition in redfronted lemurs (Eulemur rufifrons).}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {16}, number = {}, pages = {100}, pmid = {27175922}, issn = {1471-2148}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Lemur/*physiology ; Madagascar ; Male ; Species Specificity ; Vocalization, Animal ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Signals are essential for communication and play a fundamental role in the evolution and diversification of species. Olfactory, visual and acoustic species-specific signals have been shown to function for species recognition in non-human primates, but the relative contributions of selection for species recognition driven by sexual selection, natural selection, or genetic drift for the diversification of these signals remain largely unexplored. This study investigates the importance of acoustic signals for species recognition in redfronted lemurs (Eulemur rufifrons). We conducted playback experiments in both major populations of this species separated by several hundred kilometers: Kirindy Forest in the west and Ranomafana National Park in the east of Madagascar. The playback stimuli were composed of species-specific loud calls of E. rufifrons, three closely related species (E. albifrons, E. fulvus and E. rufus) and one genetically more distant species (E. rubriventer) that occurs in sympatry with eastern redfronted lemurs. We tested the ability of redfronted lemurs to discriminate conspecific from heterospecific loud calls by measuring the time spent looking towards the speaker after presentation of each loud call. We also tested the difference between female and male responses because loud calls may play a role in mate choice and the avoidance of heterospecific mating.<br><br>RESULTS: Redfronted lemurs in Kirindy Forest did not discriminate their own loud calls from those of E. albifrons, E. fulvus and E. rufus, but they discriminated loud calls of E. rubriventer from their own. The Ranomafana population was tested only with three playback stimuli (E. rufifrons, E. albifrons, E. rubriventer) and did not discriminate between their own loud calls and those of E. albifrons and E. rubriventer. The response of females and males to playbacks did not differ in both populations. However, subjects in Ranomafana National Park responded more strongly to playback stimuli from E. rubriventer than subjects in Kirindy Forest.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that in both populations individuals were not able to discriminate between loud calls of closely related species living in allopatry and that responses to more distantly related congeners are likely to be modulated by experience. Subjects in Ranomafana paid more attention to loud calls of syntopic E. rubriventer in comparison to the Kirindy subjects, suggesting that experience is important in facilitating discrimination. Because acoustic and genetic distances among eulemurs are correlated, diversification in their acoustic signals might be the result of genetic drift.}, }
@article {pmid27158472, year = {2016}, author = {Kramer, J and Meunier, J}, title = {Kin and multilevel selection in social evolution: a never-ending controversy?.}, journal = {F1000Research}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {27158472}, issn = {2046-1402}, abstract = {Kin selection and multilevel selection are two major frameworks in evolutionary biology that aim at explaining the evolution of social behaviors. However, the relationship between these two theories has been plagued by controversy for almost half a century and debates about their relevance and usefulness in explaining social evolution seem to rekindle at regular intervals. Here, we first provide a concise introduction into the kin selection and multilevel selection theories and shed light onto the roots of the controversy surrounding them. We then review two major aspects of the current debate: the presumed formal equivalency of the two theories and the question whether group selection can lead to group adaptation. We conclude by arguing that the two theories can offer complementary approaches to the study of social evolution: kin selection approaches usually focus on the identification of optimal phenotypes and thus on the endresult of a selection process, whereas multilevel selection approaches focus on the ongoing selection process itself. The two theories thus provide different perspectives that might be fruitfully combined to promote our understanding of the evolution in group-structured populations.}, }
@article {pmid27147994, year = {2016}, author = {Falibene, A and Roces, F and Rössler, W and Groh, C}, title = {Daily Thermal Fluctuations Experienced by Pupae via Rhythmic Nursing Behavior Increase Numbers of Mushroom Body Microglomeruli in the Adult Ant Brain.}, journal = {Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {73}, pmid = {27147994}, issn = {1662-5153}, abstract = {Social insects control brood development by using different thermoregulatory strategies. Camponotus mus ants expose their brood to daily temperature fluctuations by translocating them inside the nest following a circadian rhythm of thermal preferences. At the middle of the photophase brood is moved to locations at 30.8°C; 8 h later, during the night, the brood is transferred back to locations at 27.5°C. We investigated whether daily thermal fluctuations experienced by developing pupae affect the neuroarchitecture in the adult brain, in particular in sensory input regions of the mushroom bodies (MB calyces). The complexity of synaptic microcircuits was estimated by quantifying MB-calyx volumes together with densities of presynaptic boutons of microglomeruli (MG) in the olfactory lip and visual collar regions. We compared young adult workers that were reared either under controlled daily thermal fluctuations of different amplitudes, or at different constant temperatures. Thermal regimes significantly affected the large (non-dense) olfactory lip region of the adult MB calyx, while changes in the dense lip and the visual collar were less evident. Thermal fluctuations mimicking the amplitudes of natural temperature fluctuations via circadian rhythmic translocation of pupae by nurses (amplitude 3.3°C) lead to higher numbers of MG in the MB calyces compared to those in pupae reared at smaller or larger thermal amplitudes (0.0, 1.5, 9.6°C), or at constant temperatures (25.4, 35.0°C). We conclude that rhythmic control of brood temperature by nursing ants optimizes brain development by increasing MG densities and numbers in specific brain areas. Resulting differences in synaptic microcircuits are expected to affect sensory processing and learning abilities in adult ants, and may also promote interindividual behavioral variability within colonies.}, }
@article {pmid27094926, year = {2017}, author = {Ganzhorn, JU and Arrigo-Nelson, SJ and Carrai, V and Chalise, MK and Donati, G and Droescher, I and Eppley, TM and Irwin, MT and Koch, F and Koenig, A and Kowalewski, MM and Mowry, CB and Patel, ER and Pichon, C and Ralison, J and Reisdorff, C and Simmen, B and Stalenberg, E and Starrs, D and Terboven, J and Wright, PC and Foley, WJ}, title = {The importance of protein in leaf selection of folivorous primates.}, journal = {American journal of primatology}, volume = {79}, number = {4}, pages = {1-13}, doi = {10.1002/ajp.22550}, pmid = {27094926}, issn = {1098-2345}, mesh = {Animals ; Dietary Fiber ; *Feeding Behavior ; *Food Preferences ; *Plant Leaves ; *Primates ; }, abstract = {Protein limitation has been considered a key factor in hypotheses on the evolution of life history and animal communities, suggesting that animals should prioritize protein in their food choice. This contrasts with the limited support that food selection studies have provided for such a priority in nonhuman primates, particularly for folivores. Here, we suggest that this discrepancy can be resolved if folivores only need to select for high protein leaves when average protein concentration in the habitat is low. To test the prediction, we applied meta-analyses to analyze published and unpublished results of food selection for protein and fiber concentrations from 24 studies (some with multiple species) of folivorous primates. To counter potential methodological flaws, we differentiated between methods analyzing total nitrogen and soluble protein concentrations. We used a meta-analysis to test for the effect of protein on food selection by primates and found a significant effect of soluble protein concentrations, but a non-significant effect for total nitrogen. Furthermore, selection for soluble protein was reinforced in forests where protein was less available. Selection for low fiber content was significant but unrelated to the fiber concentrations in representative leaf samples of a given forest. There was no relationship (either negative or positive) between the concentration of protein and fiber in the food or in representative samples of leaves. Overall our study suggests that protein selection is influenced by the protein availability in the environment, explaining the sometimes contradictory results in previous studies on protein selection. Am. J. Primatol. 79:e22550, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.}, }
@article {pmid27085324, year = {2017}, author = {Weißflog, L and Becker, N and Bossert, N and Freudenberg, F and Kittel-Schneider, S and Reif, A}, title = {Expressional profile of the diacylglycerol kinase eta gene DGKH.}, journal = {European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience}, volume = {267}, number = {5}, pages = {445-454}, pmid = {27085324}, issn = {1433-8491}, mesh = {Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Brain/*enzymology/*pathology ; Brain Injuries, Traumatic/mortality/*pathology ; DNA, Recombinant/genetics ; Diacylglycerol Kinase/genetics/*metabolism ; Embryo, Mammalian ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic/*physiology ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein/metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism ; Tubulin/metabolism ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {Bipolar disorder (BPD) is a genetically complex mental disorder, which is characterized by recurrent depressive and manic episodes, occurring with a typical cyclical course. In a recent study, we were able to identify a risk haplotype for BPD, as well as for unipolar depression and adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), within the DGKH gene. DGKH codes for the eta (η) isoform of diacylglycerol kinase, which is involved in the phosphoinositol pathway. In the present study, we determined the expressional profile of Dgkh using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), in situ hybridization and immunohistological staining in the human and in the mouse brain. Expression studies showed that two different Dgkh transcripts exhibited distinct occurrence in a variety of murine tissues and also differed in their expression levels. The proteins encoded by those transcripts differ in functional protein domains suggesting distinct biochemical and cell biological properties and functions. qPCR analyses revealed an increase in Dgkh expression during mouse brain development indicating a possible role of this kinase in late developmental stages. Immunostainings revealed strong Dgkh expression in neurons of the hippocampus and the cerebellum of the murine brain, whereas highest expression levels of DGKH in the human brain were found in the striatum. Taken together, our studies revealed expressional changes during mouse brain development and occurrence of Dgkη in neurons of regions that have been linked to BPD as well as ADHD in humans providing evidence for the implication of DGKH in those disorders.}, }
@article {pmid27053753, year = {2016}, author = {Corso, J and Bowler, M and Heymann, EW and Roos, C and Mundy, NI}, title = {Highly polymorphic colour vision in a New World monkey with red facial skin, the bald uakari (Cacajao calvus).}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {283}, number = {1828}, pages = {}, pmid = {27053753}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; *Color Vision ; Face ; Female ; Male ; Pitheciidae/genetics/*physiology ; Rod Opsins/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Skin ; }, abstract = {Colour vision is highly variable in New World monkeys (NWMs). Evidence for the adaptive basis of colour vision in this group has largely centred on environmental features such as foraging benefits for differently coloured foods or predator detection, whereas selection on colour vision for sociosexual communication is an alternative hypothesis that has received little attention. The colour vision of uakaris (Cacajao) is of particular interest because these monkeys have the most dramatic red facial skin of any primate, as well as a unique fission/fusion social system and a specialist diet of seeds. Here, we investigate colour vision in a wild population of the bald uakari,C. calvus, by genotyping the X-linked opsin locus. We document the presence of a polymorphic colour vision system with an unprecedented number of functional alleles (six), including a novel allele with a predicted maximum spectral sensitivity of 555 nm. This supports the presence of strong balancing selection on different alleles at this locus. We consider different hypotheses to explain this selection. One possibility is that trichromacy functions in sexual selection, enabling females to choose high-quality males on the basis of red facial coloration. In support of this, there is some evidence that health affects facial coloration in uakaris, as well as a high prevalence of blood-borne parasitism in wild uakari populations. Alternatively, the low proportion of heterozygous female trichromats in the population may indicate selection on different dichromatic phenotypes, which might be related to cryptic food coloration. We have uncovered unexpected diversity in the last major lineage of NWMs to be assayed for colour vision, which will provide an interesting system to dissect adaptation of polymorphic trichromacy.}, }
@article {pmid27039380, year = {2016}, author = {Nevo, O and Heymann, EW and Schulz, S and Ayasse, M}, title = {Fruit Odor as A Ripeness Signal for Seed-Dispersing Primates? A Case Study on Four Neotropical Plant Species.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {42}, number = {4}, pages = {323-328}, pmid = {27039380}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Animals ; Fruit/*chemistry/*growth &amp; development ; Odorants/*analysis ; Plants/*chemistry ; Primates/*physiology ; *Seed Dispersal ; *Tropical Climate ; }, abstract = {Fleshy fruits contain a myriad of secondary metabolites that may fulfill various non-mutually exclusive ecological functions. Among them are defense against pathogens and herbivores, manipulation of frugivores' gut retention time, or controlling the germination process. In addition, it has been suggested that aroma compounds may be used as fruit-selection cues by frugivores, and that plants may be under selection to provide a reliable signal for ripeness to seed-dispersal vectors through ripe fruit aroma. A previous project demonstrated that fruit odor of two Neotropical primate-dispersed plant species can be used by primates to identify ripe fruits. Here, we provide data supporting the hypothesis that olfactory conspicuousness of ripeness in these two species may be an evolved signal rather than a cue exploited by primates. We analyzed the odors of ripe and unripe fruits of the two species along with odors of two sympatric species whose main dispersal vector is passerine birds. We show that only primate-dispersed species significantly change their odor profiles upon ripening. Thus, odor of bird-dispersed species is not informative regarding their ripeness level and is likely to fulfill other functions. We discuss these data in light of the multiple hypotheses for the presence of fruit secondary metabolites, and we offer a roadmap for future studies to establish the hypothesis that fruit odor is an evolved signal for ripeness.}, }
@article {pmid27007808, year = {2016}, author = {Mejía Salazar, MF and Waldner, C and Stookey, J and Bollinger, TK}, title = {Infectious Disease and Grouping Patterns in Mule Deer.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {e0150830}, pmid = {27007808}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Deer ; Female ; Male ; Saskatchewan ; Wasting Disease, Chronic/*epidemiology ; }, abstract = {Infectious disease dynamics are determined, to a great extent, by the social structure of the host. We evaluated sociality, or the tendency to form groups, in Rocky Mountain mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus) from a chronic wasting disease (CWD) endemic area in Saskatchewan, Canada, to better understand factors that may affect disease transmission. Using group size data collected on 365 radio-collared mule deer (2008-2013), we built a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) to evaluate whether factors such as CWD status, season, habitat and time of day, predicted group occurrence. Then, we built another GLMM to determine factors associated with group size. Finally, we used 3 measures of group size (typical, mean and median group sizes) to quantify levels of sociality. We found that mule deer showing clinical signs of CWD were less likely to be reported in groups than clinically healthy deer after accounting for time of day, habitat, and month of observation. Mule deer groups were much more likely to occur in February and March than in July. Mixed-sex groups in early gestation were larger than any other group type in any season. Groups were largest and most likely to occur at dawn and dusk, and in open habitats, such as cropland. We discuss the implication of these results with respect to sociobiology and CWD transmission dynamics.}, }
@article {pmid26984226, year = {2017}, author = {Maharaj, V and Tomita, A and Thela, L and Mhlongo, M and Burns, JK}, title = {Food Insecurity and Risk of Depression Among Refugees and Immigrants in South Africa.}, journal = {Journal of immigrant and minority health}, volume = {19}, number = {3}, pages = {631-637}, pmid = {26984226}, issn = {1557-1920}, support = {R25 TW009337/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Anxiety/*ethnology ; Depression/*ethnology ; Emigrants and Immigrants/*psychology ; Female ; *Food Supply ; Humans ; Male ; Mental Health/ethnology ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Refugees/*psychology ; Sex Factors ; Sociobiology ; Socioeconomic Factors ; South Africa/epidemiology ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {South Africa's refugee population has grown considerably over the last decade. Both food insecurity and mental illness are common in developing countries, but this relationship remains unexamined in an African refugee population. 335 adult refugees in Durban, South Africa were interviewed using a self-report of food insecurity and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25. The proportion of those who responded 'often true' to not having enough food and eating less was 23.1 and 54.3 %, respectively. The proportion of individuals with a significant level of anxiety and depressive symptomatology was 49.4 and 54.6 %, respectively. The adjusted logistic regression indicated that not eating enough was significantly associated with anxiety (aOR = 4.52, 95 % CI: 2.09-9.80) and depression (aOR = 4.51, 95 % CI: 2.01-10.09). Similarly, eating less was significantly associated with anxiety (aOR = 2.88, 95 % CI: 1.56-5.31) and depression (aOR = 2.88, 95 % CI: 1.54-5.39). The high prevalence of food insecurity, and its relationship to mental illness, highlight the importance of addressing basic needs among this population.}, }
@article {pmid26976051, year = {2016}, author = {Olejarz, JW and Allen, B and Veller, C and Gadagkar, R and Nowak, MA}, title = {Evolution of worker policing.}, journal = {Journal of theoretical biology}, volume = {399}, number = {}, pages = {103-116}, doi = {10.1016/j.jtbi.2016.03.001}, pmid = {26976051}, issn = {1095-8541}, mesh = {Alleles ; Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Computer Simulation ; Female ; Genes, Recessive/genetics ; Genetic Fitness ; *Hierarchy, Social ; Insecta/genetics/*physiology ; Male ; Models, Biological ; Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted ; Ovum/physiology ; Sexual Behavior, Animal ; }, abstract = {Workers in insect societies are sometimes observed to kill male eggs of other workers, a phenomenon known as worker policing. We perform a mathematical analysis of the evolutionary dynamics of policing. We investigate the selective forces behind policing for both dominant and recessive mutations for different numbers of matings of the queen. The traditional, relatedness-based argument suggests that policing evolves if the queen mates with more than two males, but does not evolve if the queen mates with a single male. We derive precise conditions for the invasion and stability of policing alleles. We find that the relatedness-based argument is not robust with respect to small changes in colony efficiency caused by policing. We also calculate evolutionarily singular strategies and determine when they are evolutionarily stable. We use a population genetics approach that applies to dominant or recessive mutations of any effect size.}, }
@article {pmid26946180, year = {2016}, author = {Hotaling, S and Foley, ME and Lawrence, NM and Bocanegra, J and Blanco, MB and Rasoloarison, R and Kappeler, PM and Barrett, MA and Yoder, AD and Weisrock, DW}, title = {Species discovery and validation in a cryptic radiation of endangered primates: coalescent-based species delimitation in Madagascar's mouse lemurs.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {25}, number = {9}, pages = {2029-2045}, doi = {10.1111/mec.13604}, pmid = {26946180}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bayes Theorem ; Cheirogaleidae/*classification ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; *Genetic Speciation ; Madagascar ; Markov Chains ; *Models, Genetic ; Monte Carlo Method ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Implementation of the coalescent model in a Bayesian framework is an emerging strength in genetically based species delimitation studies. By providing an objective measure of species diagnosis, these methods represent a quantitative enhancement to the analysis of multilocus data, and complement more traditional methods based on phenotypic and ecological characteristics. Recognized as two species 20 years ago, mouse lemurs (genus Microcebus) now comprise more than 20 species, largely diagnosed from mtDNA sequence data. With each new species description, enthusiasm has been tempered with scientific scepticism. Here, we present a statistically justified and unbiased Bayesian approach towards mouse lemur species delimitation. We perform validation tests using multilocus sequence data and two methodologies: (i) reverse-jump Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling to assess the likelihood of different models defined a priori by a guide tree, and (ii) a Bayes factor delimitation test that compares different species-tree models without a guide tree. We assess the sensitivity of these methods using randomized individual assignments, which has been used in bpp studies, but not with Bayes factor delimitation tests. Our results validate previously diagnosed taxa, as well as new species hypotheses, resulting in support for three new mouse lemur species. As the challenge of multiple researchers using differing criteria to describe diversity is not unique to Microcebus, the methods used here have significant potential for clarifying diversity in other taxonomic groups. We echo previous studies in advocating that multiple lines of evidence, including use of the coalescent model, should be trusted to delimit new species.}, }
@article {pmid26925214, year = {2016}, author = {Sobotka, JA and Daley, M and Chandrasekaran, S and Rubin, BD and Thompson, GJ}, title = {Structure and function of gene regulatory networks associated with worker sterility in honeybees.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {6}, number = {6}, pages = {1692-1701}, pmid = {26925214}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {A characteristic of eusocial bees is a reproductive division of labor in which one or a few queens monopolize reproduction, while her worker daughters take on reproductively altruistic roles within the colony. The evolution of worker reproductive altruism involves indirect selection for the coordinated expression of genes that regulate personal reproduction, but evidence for this type of selection remains elusive. In this study, we tested whether genes coexpressed under queen-induced worker sterility show evidence of adaptive organization within a model brain transcriptional regulatory network (TRN). If so, this structured pattern would imply that indirect selection on nonreproductive workers has influenced the functional organization of genes within the network, specifically to regulate the expression of sterility. We found that literature-curated sets of candidate genes for sterility, ranging in size from 18 to 267, show strong evidence of clustering within the three-dimensional space of the TRN. This finding suggests that our candidate sets of genes for sterility form functional modules within the living bee brain's TRN. Moreover, these same gene sets colocate to a single, albeit large, region of the TRN's topology. This spatially organized and convergent pattern contrasts with a null expectation for functionally unrelated genes to be haphazardly distributed throughout the network. Our meta-genomic analysis therefore provides first evidence for a truly "social transcriptome" that may regulate the conditional expression of honeybee worker sterility.}, }
@article {pmid26915581, year = {2016}, author = {Tan, S and Lü, J}, title = {An evolutionary game approach for determination of the structural conflicts in signed networks.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {22022}, pmid = {26915581}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Escherichia coli/metabolism ; *Game Theory ; Humans ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/*genetics ; *Social Networking ; Sociobiology ; Yeasts/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Social or biochemical networks can often divide into two opposite alliances in response to structural conflicts between positive (friendly, activating) and negative (hostile, inhibiting) interactions. Yet, the underlying dynamics on how the opposite alliances are spontaneously formed to minimize the structural conflicts is still unclear. Here, we demonstrate that evolutionary game dynamics provides a felicitous possible tool to characterize the evolution and formation of alliances in signed networks. Indeed, an evolutionary game dynamics on signed networks is proposed such that each node can adaptively adjust its choice of alliances to maximize its own fitness, which yet leads to a minimization of the structural conflicts in the entire network. Numerical experiments show that the evolutionary game approach is universally efficient in quality and speed to find optimal solutions for all undirected or directed, unweighted or weighted signed networks. Moreover, the evolutionary game approach is inherently distributed. These characteristics thus suggest the evolutionary game dynamic approach as a feasible and effective tool for determining the structural conflicts in large-scale on-line signed networks.}, }
@article {pmid26900177, year = {2015}, author = {Pozzi, L and Nekaris, KA and Perkin, A and Bearder, SK and Pimley, ER and Schulze, H and Streicher, U and Nadler, T and Kitchener, A and Zischler, H and Zinner, D and Roos, C}, title = {Remarkable ancient divergences amongst neglected lorisiform primates.}, journal = {Zoological journal of the Linnean Society}, volume = {175}, number = {3}, pages = {661-674}, pmid = {26900177}, issn = {0024-4082}, abstract = {Lorisiform primates (Primates: Strepsirrhini: Lorisiformes) represent almost 10% of the living primate species and are widely distributed in sub-Saharan Africa and South/South-East Asia; however, their taxonomy, evolutionary history, and biogeography are still poorly understood. In this study we report the largest molecular phylogeny in terms of the number of represented taxa. We sequenced the complete mitochondrial cytochrome b gene for 86 lorisiform specimens, including ∼80% of all the species currently recognized. Our results support the monophyly of the Galagidae, but a common ancestry of the Lorisinae and Perodicticinae (family Lorisidae) was not recovered. These three lineages have early origins, with the Galagidae and the Lorisinae diverging in the Oligocene at about 30 Mya and the Perodicticinae emerging in the early Miocene. Our mitochondrial phylogeny agrees with recent studies based on nuclear data, and supports Euoticus as the oldest galagid lineage and the polyphyletic status of Galagoides. Moreover, we have elucidated phylogenetic relationships for several species never included before in a molecular phylogeny. The results obtained in this study suggest that lorisiform diversity remains substantially underestimated and that previously unnoticed cryptic diversity might be present within many lineages, thus urgently requiring a comprehensive taxonomic revision of this primate group.}, }
@article {pmid26868261, year = {2016}, author = {Springer, A and Mellmann, A and Fichtel, C and Kappeler, PM}, title = {Social structure and Escherichia coli sharing in a group-living wild primate, Verreaux's sifaka.}, journal = {BMC ecology}, volume = {16}, number = {}, pages = {6}, pmid = {26868261}, issn = {1472-6785}, mesh = {Animals ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Ecosystem ; *Escherichia coli/classification ; Escherichia coli Infections/transmission/veterinary ; Feces/microbiology ; Female ; Humans ; Madagascar ; Male ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; *Social Behavior ; Strepsirhini/*microbiology/physiology ; Zoonoses/microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Epidemiological models often use information on host social contacts to predict the potential impact of infectious diseases on host populations and the efficiency of control measures. It can be difficult, however, to determine whether social contacts are actually meaningful predictors of transmission. We investigated the role of host social structure in the transmission of Escherichia coli in a wild population of primates, Verreaux's sifakas (Propithecus verreauxi). Using multilocus sequence typing (MLST), we compared genetic similarities between E. coli isolates from different individuals and groups to infer transmission pathways.<br><br>RESULTS: Correlation of social and transmission networks revealed that membership to the same group significantly predicted sharing of E. coli MLST sequence types (ST). Intergroup encounter rate and a measure of space-use sharing provided equally potent explanations for type sharing between social groups when closely related STs were taken into account, whereas animal age, sex and dispersal history had no influence. No antibiotic resistance was found, suggesting low rates of E. coli spillover from humans into this arboreal species.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: We show that patterns of E. coli transmission reflect the social structure of this group-living lemur species. We discuss our results in the light of the species' ecology and propose scent-marking, a type of social contact not considered in previous epidemiological studies, as a likely route of transmission between groups. However, further studies are needed to explicitly test this hypothesis and to further elucidate the relative roles of direct contact and environmental transmission in pathogen transfer.}, }
@article {pmid26865348, year = {2016}, author = {Dröscher, I and Rothman, JM and Ganzhorn, JU and Kappeler, PM}, title = {Nutritional consequences of folivory in a small-bodied lemur (Lepilemur leucopus): Effects of season and reproduction on nutrient balancing.}, journal = {American journal of physical anthropology}, volume = {160}, number = {2}, pages = {197-207}, doi = {10.1002/ajpa.22952}, pmid = {26865348}, issn = {1096-8644}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthropology, Physical ; Behavior, Animal/*physiology ; *Diet ; Energy Intake/*physiology ; Feeding Behavior/*physiology ; Female ; Lemur/*physiology ; Male ; Reproduction/*physiology ; Seasons ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Small-bodied folivores are rare because processing leaves often requires extensive gut adaptations and lengthy retention times for fiber fermentation. However, the <1 kg nocturnal white-footed sportive lemurs (Lepilemur leucopus) persist on a leaf-based diet. We investigated how extrinsic (i.e., seasonality in temperature and food availability) and intrinsic factors (i.e., reproductive state) influence nutrient intake and explored how nutrient and energy needs are met in this species.<br><br>MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted full night focal follows across all seasons and analyzed nutrients in all items eaten by adults of both sexes to investigate nutrient intake and nutritional priorities in L. leucopus. We estimated digestible protein content, as this is a biologically more meaningful measure than crude protein.<br><br>RESULTS: Protein intake was constant across seasons, while non-protein energy and dry matter intake increased from the hot wet to the cold dry season. Males and females did not differ in their nutrient or apparent energy intake irrespective of female reproductive state.<br><br>DISCUSSION: We conclude that these animals prioritize protein over non-protein energy intake as dietary protein is in limited supply, and that thermoregulation poses higher energetic costs than reproduction in this species. While protein intake did not differ across female reproductive states, the relative protein content of the diet was highest during the lactation period, indicating that the balance of non-protein to protein intake may be more important than absolute intake. Dry matter intake was high compared to other folivorous primates, indicating that L. leucopus follows an intake rather than an efficiency strategy to meet its energy requirements. Am J Phys Anthropol 160:197-207, 2016. &#xa9; 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.}, }
@article {pmid26859275, year = {2016}, author = {Poirotte, C and Kappeler, PM and Ngoubangoye, B and Bourgeois, S and Moussodji, M and Charpentier, MJ}, title = {Morbid attraction to leopard urine in Toxoplasma-infected chimpanzees.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {26}, number = {3}, pages = {R98-9}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2015.12.020}, pmid = {26859275}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Food Chain ; Male ; *Pan troglodytes ; *Panthera ; *Smell ; Toxoplasma/*physiology ; Toxoplasmosis, Animal/parasitology/*physiopathology ; *Urine ; }, abstract = {Parasites are sometimes capable of inducing phenotypic changes in their hosts to improve transmission [1]. Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan that infects a broad range of warm-blooded species, is one example that supports the so-called 'parasite manipulation hypothesis': it induces modifications in rodents' olfactory preferences, converting an innate aversion for cat odor into attraction and probably favoring trophic transmission to feline species, its only definitive hosts [2]. In humans, T. gondii induces behavioral modifications such as personality changes, prolonged reaction times and decreased long-term concentration [3]. However, modern humans are not suitable intermediate hosts because they are no longer preyed upon by felines. Consequently, behavioral modifications in infected people are generally assumed to be side effects of toxoplasmosis or residual manipulation traits that evolved in appropriate intermediate hosts. An alternative hypothesis, however, states that these changes result from parasite manipulative abilities that evolved when human ancestors were still under significant feline predation [3,4]. As such, T. gondii also alters olfactory preferences in humans; infected men rate cat urine, but not tiger urine, as pleasant while non-infected men do not [5]. To unravel the origin of Toxoplasma-induced modifications in humans, we performed olfactory tests on a living primate still predated by a feline species. We found in our closest relative, the chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes troglodytes), that Toxoplasma-infected (TI) animals lost their innate aversion towards the urine of leopards (Panthera pardus), their only natural predator. By contrast, we observed no clear difference in the response of TI and Toxoplasma-non-infected (TN) animals towards urine collected from other definitive feline hosts that chimpanzees do not encounter in nature. Although the adaptive value of parasitically induced behavior should be assessed carefully, we suggest that the behavioral modification we report could increase the probability of chimpanzee predation by leopards for the parasite's own benefit. This possible parasite adaptation would hence suggest that Toxoplasma-induced modifications in modern humans are an ancestral legacy of our evolutionary past.}, }
@article {pmid26856371, year = {2016}, author = {Kaburu, SS and Newton-Fisher, NE}, title = {Bystanders, parcelling, and an absence of trust in the grooming interactions of wild male chimpanzees.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {20634}, pmid = {26856371}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Grooming/*physiology ; Male ; *Pan troglodytes/physiology/psychology ; *Social Behavior ; Trust/*psychology ; }, abstract = {The evolution of cooperation remains a central issue in socio-biology with the fundamental problem of how individuals minimize the risks of being short-changed ('cheated') should their behavioural investment in another not be returned. Economic decisions that individuals make during interactions may depend upon the presence of potential partners nearby, which offers co operators a temptation to defect from the current partner. The parcelling model posits that donors subdivide services into parcels to force cooperation, and that this is contingent on opportunities for defection; that is, the presence of bystanders. Here we test this model and the effect of bystander presence using grooming interactions of wild chimpanzees. We found that with more bystanders, initiators gave less grooming at the beginning of the bout and were more likely to abandon a grooming bout, while bouts were less likely to be reciprocated. We also found that the groomer's initial investment was not higher among frequent groomers or stronger reciprocators, suggesting that contrary to current assumptions, grooming decisions are not based on trust, or bonds, within dyads. Our work highlights the importance of considering immediate social context and the influence of bystanders for understanding the evolution of the behavioural strategies that produce cooperation.}, }
@article {pmid26822336, year = {2017}, author = {Fernández, D}, title = {Consequences of a male takeover on mating skew in wild Sanje mangabeys.}, journal = {American journal of primatology}, volume = {79}, number = {7}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/ajp.22532}, pmid = {26822336}, issn = {1098-2345}, mesh = {Animals ; *Cercocebus ; Copulation ; Female ; Male ; Reproduction ; *Sexual Behavior, Animal ; *Social Dominance ; }, abstract = {Among primate species living in multimale-multifemale groups, the number of receptive females may determine the rank of the lowest male that copulates (priority of access model, or PoA [Altmann SA. 1962. A field study of the sociobiology of rhesus monkeys, Macaca mulatta. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 102:338-435]). Factors, such as temporary instability in the hierarchy and female behavior can, however, affect high-ranking males' ability to monopolize females, reducing mating skew and causing the hierarchy to depart from predictions of PoA. Here, I use behavioral data collected over a 22-month period on a wild group of Sanje mangabeys (Cercocebus sanjei) to examine the effect of a takeover by two immigrating males who became α and β in the hierarchy, and of female behavior on male mating skew. Data on male agonistic interactions were collected on nine males using ad libitum observations, while information on male mating success (i.e., daily proportion of ejaculatory copulations with the focal female) was collected through focal follows of 12 sexually receptive females. Before the takeover, the hierarchy was stable and highly skewed, with the α-male monopolizing up to 75% of copulations. At this time, however, mating skew did not follow the predictions of PoA. During the takeover, from the time one of the newly immigrant males replaced the α until the second immigrant male became the new β, the stability of the hierarchy dropped significantly and mating was no longer skewed. Accordingly, the top two ranking males at that time (i.e., the new α and former β) accounted for only 33% of copulations. After the takeover, rank stability increased, and mating skew followed the PoA. Female mating solicitations also had a significant positive effect on male mating success, and may have contributed to the deviation from the PoA. This study demonstrates that temporary rank instability decreases high-ranking males' ability to monopolize copulations, causing a departure from the predictions of the PoA. Am. J. Primatol. 79:e22532, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.}, }
@article {pmid26816515, year = {2015}, author = {Kappeler, PM and Fichtel, C}, title = {Eco-evo-devo of the lemur syndrome: did adaptive behavioral plasticity get canalized in a large primate radiation?.}, journal = {Frontiers in zoology}, volume = {12 Suppl 1}, number = {Suppl 1}, pages = {S15}, pmid = {26816515}, issn = {1742-9994}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Comprehensive explanations of behavioral adaptations rarely invoke all levels famously admonished by Niko Tinbergen. The role of developmental processes and plasticity, in particular, has often been neglected. In this paper, we combine ecological, physiological and developmental perspectives in developing a hypothesis to account for the evolution of 'the lemur syndrome', a combination of reduced sexual dimorphism, even adult sex ratios, female dominance and mild genital masculinization characterizing group-living species in two families of Malagasy primates.<br><br>RESULTS: We review the different components of the lemur syndrome and compare it with similar adaptations reported for other mammals. We find support for the assertion that the lemur syndrome represents a unique set of integrated behavioral, demographic and morphological traits. We combine existing hypotheses about underlying adaptive function and proximate causation by adding a potential developmental mechanism linking maternal stress and filial masculinization, and outline an evolutionary scenario for its canalization.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: We propose a new hypothesis linking ecological, physiological, developmental and evolutionary processes to adumbrate a comprehensive explanation for the evolution of the lemur syndrome, whose assumptions and predictions can guide diverse future research on lemurs. This hypothesis should also encourage students of other behavioral phenomena to consider the potential role of developmental plasticity in evolutionary innovation.}, }
@article {pmid26801931, year = {2017}, author = {Aycinena, AC and Valdovinos, C and Crew, KD and Tsai, WY and Mata, JM and Sandoval, R and Hershman, D and Greenlee, H}, title = {Barriers to Recruitment and Adherence in a Randomized Controlled Diet and Exercise Weight Loss Intervention Among Minority Breast Cancer Survivors.}, journal = {Journal of immigrant and minority health}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {120-129}, pmid = {26801931}, issn = {1557-1920}, mesh = {Adult ; Black or African American/*psychology ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms/pathology/*psychology/therapy ; Cancer Survivors/*psychology ; Diet ; Exercise ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Hispanic or Latino/*psychology ; Humans ; Life Style ; Mental Health/ethnology ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Patient Compliance ; Patient Selection ; Perception ; Pilot Projects ; Quality of Life ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic/*psychology ; Self Efficacy ; Social Support ; Sociobiology ; Weight Reduction Programs/*methods ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {Minority recruitment to cancer trials is low and there are limited data on minority adherence to lifestyle modification interventions. We examined factors related to recruitment and adherence to a pilot weight loss intervention among Hispanic and black breast cancer survivors. Participants completed a detailed screening interview to assess barriers to enrollment. An index was created to assess adherence at 6 months. 112 potentially eligible women were identified; 66 consented and completed a screening interview. After screening, 9 were ineligible; 15 opted to not enroll; and 42 were randomized. Among eligible women, earlier stage at diagnosis, treatment type, and negative beliefs related to exercise and diet after diagnosis were negatively associated with study enrollment (P < 0.05). Self-reported barriers to adherence included fatigue, family responsibilities, illness, work, transportation, and negative perceptions of exercise and diet. Results from this study emphasize the need to adapt recruitment and adherence strategies to address these factors.}, }
@article {pmid26775028, year = {2016}, author = {Megill, A}, title = {Theological presuppositions of the evolutionary epic: From Robert Chambers to E. O. Wilson.}, journal = {Studies in history and philosophy of biological and biomedical sciences}, volume = {58}, number = {}, pages = {24-32}, doi = {10.1016/j.shpsc.2015.12.005}, pmid = {26775028}, issn = {1879-2499}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Europe ; History, 19th Century ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Philosophy/history ; Religion and Science ; Theology/*history ; United States ; }, abstract = {We can trace the "evolutionary epic" (named by E. O. Wilson, 1978) back to earlier writers, beginning with Robert Chambers (1844). Its basic elements are: fixation on seeing human history as rooted in biology; an aspiration toward telling the whole history of humankind (in its essential features); and insistence on the overall coherence of the projected narrative. The claim to coherence depends on assuming either that the universe possesses an "embedded rationality," or that it is guided by divine purpose. This article proposes the term "idealism" to refer to these two assumptions taken together, for in practice they were closely linked. Nietzsche (1881) was perhaps the first thinker to point out the evolutionary epic's dependence on such an idealism, and he also pointed out that the assumptions of embedded rationality and of divine purpose are closely connected. Darwin's theory of descent with modification (1859) was sharply inconsistent with these assumptions: he was not an "idealist" in the sense indicated here, and not a proponent of the evolutionary epic. Proclaiming his "materialism," Wilson (1978) failed to acknowledge that the epic depends on idealist assumptions; other adherents of the genre (M. Dowd, L. Rue) resurrect (knowingly or not) its theological roots.}, }
@article {pmid26767166, year = {2015}, author = {Springer, A and Fichtel, C and Calvignac-Spencer, S and Leendertz, FH and Kappeler, PM}, title = {Hemoparasites in a wild primate: Infection patterns suggest interaction of Plasmodium and Babesia in a lemur species.}, journal = {International journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlife}, volume = {4}, number = {3}, pages = {385-395}, pmid = {26767166}, issn = {2213-2244}, abstract = {Hemoparasites can cause serious morbidity in humans and animals and often involve wildlife reservoirs. Understanding patterns of hemoparasite infections in natural populations can therefore inform about emerging disease risks, especially in the light of climate change and human disruption of natural ecosystems. We investigated the effects of host age, sex, host group size and season on infection patterns of Plasmodium sp., Babesia sp. and filarial nematodes in a population of wild Malagasy primates, Verreaux's sifakas (Propithecus verreauxi), as well as the effects of these infections on hematological variables. We tested 45 blood samples from 36 individuals and identified two species of Plasmodium, one species of Babesia and two species of filarial nematodes. Plasmodium spp. and Babesia sp. infections showed opposite patterns of age-dependency, with babesiosis being prevalent among young animals, while older animals were infected with Plasmodium sp. In addition, Babesia sp. infection was a statistically significant negative predictor of Plasmodium sp. infection. These results suggest that Plasmodium and Babesia parasites may interact within the host, either through cross-immunity or via resource competition, so that Plasmodium infections can only establish after babesiosis has resolved. We found no effects of host sex, host group size and season on hemoparasite infections. Infections showed high prevalences and did not influence hematological variables. This preliminary evidence supports the impression that the hosts and parasites considered in this study appear to be well-adapted to each other, resulting in persistent infections with low pathogenic and probably low zoonotic potential. Our results illustrate the crucial role of biodiversity in host-parasite relationships, specifically how within-host pathogen diversity may regulate the abundance of parasites.}, }
@article {pmid26724470, year = {2016}, author = {Yilmaz, A and Lindenberg, A and Albert, S and Grübel, K and Spaethe, J and Rössler, W and Groh, C}, title = {Age-related and light-induced plasticity in opsin gene expression and in primary and secondary visual centers of the nectar-feeding ant Camponotus rufipes.}, journal = {Developmental neurobiology}, volume = {76}, number = {9}, pages = {1041-1057}, doi = {10.1002/dneu.22374}, pmid = {26724470}, issn = {1932-846X}, mesh = {Age Factors ; Animals ; Ants ; Behavior, Animal/*physiology ; Color Vision/genetics/*physiology ; Gene Expression/genetics/*physiology ; Mushroom Bodies/*physiology ; Neuronal Plasticity/genetics/*physiology ; Opsins/genetics/*metabolism ; Visual Pathways/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Camponotus rufipes workers are characterized by an age-related polyethism. In the initial weeks of adult life, young workers perform tasks inside the nest before they switch to multimodal foraging tasks outside. We tested the hypothesis that this transition is accompanied by profound adaptations in the peripheral and central visual systems. Our results show that C. rufipes workers of all tested ages (between 1 and 42 days) express three genes encoding for ultraviolet (UV), blue (BL), and long-wavelength (LW1) sensitive opsins in their retina, which are likely to provide the substrate for trichromatic color vision. Expression levels of all three opsin genes increased significantly within the first two weeks of adulthood and following light exposure. Interestingly, the volumes of all three optic neuropils (lamina, medulla, and lobula) showed corresponding volume increases. Tracing of connections to higher visual centers in the mushroom bodies (MBs) revealed only one optic pathway, the anterior superior optic tract, emerging from the medulla and sending segregated input to the MB-calyx collar. The MB collar volumes and densities of synaptic complexes (microglomeruli, MGs) increased with age. Exposure to light for 4 days induced a decrease in MG densities followed by an increase after extended light exposure. This shows that plasticity in retinal opsin gene expression and structural neuroplasticity in primary and secondary visual centers comprise both "experience-independent" and "experience-dependent" elements. We conclude that both sources of plasticity in the visual system represent important components promoting optimal timing of the interior-forager transition and flexibility of age-related division of labor. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 76: 1041-1057, 2016.}, }
@article {pmid28539014, year = {2016}, author = {Makrushin, AV and Aladin, NV}, title = {Process of endogenous homeostatic characteristics decline in two suproopganismal biosystems from the standpoint of parametabolistic theory of senescence.}, journal = {Advances in gerontology = Uspekhi gerontologii}, volume = {29}, number = {4}, pages = {573-577}, pmid = {28539014}, issn = {1561-9125}, mesh = {Aging/*physiology ; Biological Evolution ; Biota/physiology ; Homeostasis/*physiology ; Humans ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/physiology ; Sociobiology ; Systems Biology/methods ; Systems Theory ; }, abstract = {Endogenous decline in homeostatic characteristics of supraorganismal level systems is similar to individual senescence. Similarity is in the fact that this decline as individual senescence is called by negative consequences from specialization of elements the system consists. In systems of supraorganismal level these effects are analogues of parametabolic reactions of senescence individuals.}, }
@article {pmid26571020, year = {2015}, author = {Stejskal, K and Streinzer, M and Dyer, A and Paulus, HF and Spaethe, J}, title = {Functional Significance of Labellum Pattern Variation in a Sexually Deceptive Orchid (Ophrys heldreichii): Evidence of Individual Signature Learning Effects.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {11}, pages = {e0142971}, pmid = {26571020}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/physiology ; Behavior, Animal ; Copulation ; Female ; Flowers/*anatomy &amp; histology ; *Learning ; Male ; Orchidaceae/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Mimicking female insects to attract male pollinators is an important strategy in sexually deceptive orchids of the genus Ophrys, and some species possess flowers with conspicuous labellum patterns. The function of the variation of the patterns remains unresolved, with suggestions that these enhance pollinator communication. We investigated the possible function of the labellum pattern in Ophrys heldreichii, an orchid species in which the conspicuous and complex labellum pattern contrasts with a dark background. The orchid is pollinated exclusively by males of the solitary bee, Eucera berlandi. Comparisons of labellum patterns revealed that patterns within inflorescences are more similar than those of other conspecific plants. Field observations showed that the males approach at a great speed and directly land on flowers, but after an unsuccessful copulation attempt, bees hover close and visually scan the labellum pattern for up to a minute. Learning experiments conducted with honeybees as an accessible model of bee vision demonstrated that labellum patterns of different plants can be reliably learnt; in contrast, patterns of flowers from the same inflorescence could not be discriminated. These results support the hypothesis that variable labellum patterns in O. heldreichii are involved in flower-pollinator communication which would likely help these plants to avoid geitonogamy.}, }
@article {pmid26530161, year = {2015}, author = {Swenson, SA}, title = {'Morals can not be drawn from facts but guidance may be': the early life of W.D. Hamilton's theory of inclusive fitness.}, journal = {British journal for the history of science}, volume = {48}, number = {4}, pages = {543-563}, doi = {10.1017/S0007087415000643}, pmid = {26530161}, issn = {1474-001X}, mesh = {*Altruism ; *Biological Evolution ; *Genetic Fitness ; History, 20th Century ; Humans ; *Morals ; Sociobiology/*history ; }, abstract = {W.D. Hamilton's theory of inclusive fitness saw the evolution of altruism from the point of view of the gene. It was at heart a theory of limits, redefining altruistic behaviours as ultimately selfish. This theory inspired two controversial texts published almost in tandem, E.O. Wilson's Sociobiology: The New Synthesis (1975) and Richard Dawkins's The Selfish Gene (1976). When Wilson and Dawkins were attacked for their evolutionary interpretations of human societies, they claimed a distinction between reporting what is and declaring what ought to be. Can the history of sociobiological theories be so easily separated from its sociopolitical context? This paper draws upon unpublished materials from the 1960s and early 1970s and documents some of the ways in which Hamilton saw his research as contributing to contemporary concerns. It pays special attention to the 1969 Man and Beast Smithsonian Institution symposium in order to explore the extent to which Hamilton intended his theory to be merely descriptive versus prescriptive. From this, we may see that Hamilton was deeply concerned about the political chaos he perceived in the world around him, and hoped to arrive at a level of self-understanding through science that could inform a new social order.}, }
@article {pmid26515669, year = {2016}, author = {Poirotte, C and Basset, D and Willaume, E and Makaba, F and Kappeler, PM and Charpentier, MJ}, title = {Environmental and individual determinants of parasite richness across seasons in a free-ranging population of Mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx).}, journal = {American journal of physical anthropology}, volume = {159}, number = {3}, pages = {442-456}, doi = {10.1002/ajpa.22888}, pmid = {26515669}, issn = {1096-8644}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthropology, Physical ; Climate ; Entamoeba ; Feces/parasitology ; Female ; Gabon ; Male ; Mandrillus/*parasitology ; Nematoda ; Parasitic Diseases, Animal/parasitology ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Parasites are ubiquitous and evolve fast. Therefore, they represent major selective forces acting on their hosts by influencing many aspects of their biology. Humans are no exception, as they share many parasites with animals and some of the most important outbreaks come from primates. While it appears important to understand the factors involved in parasite dynamics, we still lack a clear understanding of the determinants underlying parasitism. In this 2-year study, we identified several factors that influence parasite patterns in a wild population of free-ranging mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx).<br><br>METHODS: We explored the potential impact of seasonal factors-rainfall and temperature-and host characteristics, including sex, age, rank, and reproductive status, on parasite richness. We analyzed 12 parasite taxa found in 870 fecal samples collected from 63 individuals. Because nematodes and protozoa have different life-cycles, we analyzed these two types of parasites separately.<br><br>RESULTS: Contrary to other studies where humid conditions seem favorable to parasite development, we report here that rainfall and high temperatures were associated with lower nematode richness and were not associated with lower protozoa richness. In contrast, female reproductive status seemed to reflect the seasonal patterns found for protozoa richness, as early gestating females harbored more protozoa than other females. Sex and dominance rank had no impact on overall parasite richness. However, age was associated with a specific decrease in nematode richness.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Our study emphasizes the need to consider the ecological context, such as climatic conditions and habitat type, as well as the biology of both parasite and host when analyzing determinants of parasite richness.}, }
@article {pmid26486369, year = {2015}, author = {Scholl, C and Kübert, N and Muenz, TS and Rössler, W}, title = {CaMKII knockdown affects both early and late phases of olfactory long-term memory in the honeybee.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {218}, number = {Pt 23}, pages = {3788-3796}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.124859}, pmid = {26486369}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/*physiology ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2/antagonists &amp; inhibitors/genetics ; Conditioning, Classical ; Female ; Learning/physiology ; Memory/physiology ; Memory, Long-Term ; Neuronal Plasticity ; RNA Interference ; Smell ; }, abstract = {Honeybees are able to solve complex learning tasks and memorize learned information for long time periods. The molecular mechanisms mediating long-term memory (LTM) in the honeybee Apis mellifera are, to a large part, still unknown. We approached this question by investigating the potential function of the calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), an enzyme known as a 'molecular memory switch' in vertebrates. CaMKII is able to switch to a calcium-independent constitutively active state, providing a mechanism for a molecular memory and has further been shown to play an essential role in structural synaptic plasticity. Using a combination of knockdown by RNA interference and pharmacological manipulation, we disrupted the function of CaMKII during olfactory learning and memory formation. We found that learning, memory acquisition and mid-term memory were not affected, but all manipulations consistently resulted in an impaired LTM. Both early LTM (24 h after learning) and late LTM (72 h after learning) were significantly disrupted, indicating the necessity of CaMKII in two successive stages of LTM formation in the honeybee.}, }
@article {pmid26482045, year = {2016}, author = {Turcotte, LM and Verneris, MR}, title = {Is It Better to Be Rich or Relaxed? Sociobiology Meets Bone Marrow Transplant.}, journal = {Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {6-8}, pmid = {26482045}, issn = {1557-3265}, support = {R01 AI100879/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; UL1 TR000114/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; UL1TR000114/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Chronic Disease ; *Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Sociobiology ; }, abstract = {Low socioeconomic status in hematopoietic cell transplant recipients is associated with increased treatment-related mortality and relapse, resulting in reduced survival. No biologic mechanism has been identified for these associations. The stress-related gene expression profile, termed the "conserved transcriptional response to adversity," may be a predictor of these negative outcomes.}, }
@article {pmid26440380, year = {2015}, author = {Nevo, O and Orts Garri, R and Hernandez Salazar, LT and Schulz, S and Heymann, EW and Ayasse, M and Laska, M}, title = {Chemical recognition of fruit ripeness in spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi).}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {14895}, pmid = {26440380}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Atelinae/*physiology ; *Discrimination, Psychological ; Female ; *Fruit ; Male ; *Odorants ; Sensory Thresholds/*physiology ; Smell/*physiology ; Stimulation, Chemical ; }, abstract = {Primates are now known to possess well-developed olfactory sensitivity and discrimination capacities that can play a substantial role in many aspects of their interaction with conspecifics and the environment. Several studies have demonstrated that olfactory cues may be useful in fruit selection. Here, using a conditioning paradigm, we show that captive spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) display high olfactory discrimination performance between synthetic odor mixtures mimicking ripe and unripe fruits of two wild, primate-consumed, Neotropical plant species. Further, we show that spider monkeys are able to discriminate the odor of ripe fruits from odors that simulate unripe fruits that become increasingly similar to that of ripe ones. These results suggest that the ability of spider monkeys to identify ripe fruits may not depend on the presence of any individual compound that mark fruit ripeness. Further, the results demonstrate that spider monkeys are able to identify ripe fruits even when the odor signal is accompanied by a substantial degree of noise.}, }
@article {pmid26435728, year = {2015}, author = {Hämäläinen, A and Raharivololona, B and Ravoniarimbinina, P and Kraus, C}, title = {Host sex and age influence endoparasite burdens in the gray mouse lemur.}, journal = {Frontiers in zoology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {25}, pmid = {26435728}, issn = {1742-9994}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Immunosenescence (deteriorating immune function at old age) affects humans and laboratory animals, but little is known about immunosenescence in natural populations despite its potential importance for population and disease dynamics and individual fitness. Although life histories and immune system profiles often differ between the sexes, sex-specific effects of aging on health are rarely studied in the wild. Life history theory predicts that due to their shorter lifespan and higher investment into reproduction at the expense of immune defences, males might experience accelerated immunosenescence. We tested this hypothesis by examining sex-specific age trajectories of endoparasite burden (helminth prevalence and morphotype richness measured via fecal egg counts), an indicator of overall health, in wild gray mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus). To account for potential interactions between seasonality and host sex or age we examined the predictors of parasite burdens separately for the dry and rainy season.<br><br>RESULTS: Contrary to the prediction of immunosenescence, parasite prevalence and morphotype richness decreased at old age in the dry season, indicating acquired immunity by older animals. This pattern was primarily caused by within-individual decline in parasite loads rather than the earlier mortality of highly parasitized individuals. With the exception of an increasing cestode prevalence in males from yearlings to prime age in the rainy season, no evidence was found of male-biased ageing in parasite resistance. Besides this sex*age interaction, host age was uncorrelated with rainy season parasite loads. Seasonality did not affect the overall parasite loads but seasonal patterns were found in the predictors of parasite prevalence and morphotype richness.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: These results provide rare information about the age-related patterns of health in a wild vertebrate population and suggest improvement rather than senescence in the ability to resist helminth infections at old age. Overall, males appear not to suffer from earlier immunosenescence relative to females. This may partially reflect the earlier mortality of males, which can render senescence difficult to detect. While helminth infections are not strongly associated with survival in wild gray mouse lemurs, parasite load may, however, reflect overall good phenotypic quality of long-lived individuals, and is a potential correlate of fitness.}, }
@article {pmid26340263, year = {2015}, author = {Strube-Bloss, MF and Brown, A and Spaethe, J and Schmitt, T and Rössler, W}, title = {Extracting the Behaviorally Relevant Stimulus: Unique Neural Representation of Farnesol, a Component of the Recruitment Pheromone of Bombus terrestris.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {9}, pages = {e0137413}, pmid = {26340263}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Action Potentials/drug effects/physiology ; Acyclic Monoterpenes ; Aldehydes/pharmacology ; Animal Communication ; Animals ; Arthropod Antennae/cytology/*drug effects/physiology ; Bees/*physiology ; Brain/cytology/*drug effects/physiology ; Farnesol/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Female ; Flowers/chemistry ; Male ; Monoterpenes/pharmacology ; Neurons/cytology/*drug effects/physiology ; Odorants/analysis ; Olfactory Pathways/*drug effects/physiology ; Pheromones/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Terpenes/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {To trigger innate behavior, sensory neural networks are pre-tuned to extract biologically relevant stimuli. Many male-female or insect-plant interactions depend on this phenomenon. Especially communication among individuals within social groups depends on innate behaviors. One example is the efficient recruitment of nest mates by successful bumblebee foragers. Returning foragers release a recruitment pheromone in the nest while they perform a 'dance' behavior to activate unemployed nest mates. A major component of this pheromone is the sesquiterpenoid farnesol. How farnesol is processed and perceived by the olfactory system, has not yet been identified. It is much likely that processing farnesol involves an innate mechanism for the extraction of relevant information to trigger a fast and reliable behavioral response. To test this hypothesis, we used population response analyses of 100 antennal lobe (AL) neurons recorded in alive bumblebee workers under repeated stimulation with four behaviorally different, but chemically related odorants (geraniol, citronellol, citronellal and farnesol). The analysis identified a unique neural representation of the recruitment pheromone component compared to the other odorants that are predominantly emitted by flowers. The farnesol induced population activity in the AL allowed a reliable separation of farnesol from all other chemically related odor stimuli we tested. We conclude that the farnesol induced population activity may reflect a predetermined representation within the AL-neural network allowing efficient and fast extraction of a behaviorally relevant stimulus. Furthermore, the results show that population response analyses of multiple single AL-units may provide a powerful tool to identify distinct representations of behaviorally relevant odors.}, }
@article {pmid26311026, year = {2015}, author = {Irmiš, F}, title = {[Spirituality and ethics in psychosomatic medicine].}, journal = {Casopis lekaru ceskych}, volume = {154}, number = {3}, pages = {115-121}, pmid = {26311026}, issn = {0008-7335}, mesh = {Adaptation, Psychological ; *Ethics, Medical ; Humanism ; Humans ; Physician-Patient Relations/ethics ; Psychosomatic Medicine/*ethics ; Psychotherapy/ethics ; Religion and Psychology ; Spiritual Therapies ; *Spirituality ; }, abstract = {A patient has to cope with an illness on a physical, mental and spiritual level. There exists a difference between religiousness and spirituality even though the approach has a common foundation. Nonreligious spirituality relates to an inner experience, transcendent states of consciousness, meaningfulness, responsibility, sympathy, ethics, humanisation, faith. We encounter the spiritual point of view in humanistic psychotherapy, pastoral medicine, work of hospital chaplains, New Age, psychotherapies with religious and alternative aspects, transpersonal psychotherapy, psycho-spiritual crises, unusual states of consciousness, in meditation, Yoga, relaxation, kinesiology, ethicotherapy, reincarnation therapy, positive motivation, holotropic breathing, etc. There is description of different degrees of spiritual development, rational and irrational feeling of spirituality, Quantum Physics, spiritual intelligence, neuro-theology, physiological change, effects on improving adaptation during stress, drugs addiction, etc. Spirituality in relation with ethics is discussed in terms of socio-biology, evolution, emotions, aggressivity, genetics and social influence. The work analyses the effect of stressful situations on the deterioration of moral attitudes: during lack of time, obedience to authority and order. It is described how temperament and personality disorders can affect perception of spirituality, guilt feeling and conscience. Stressful situations, lack of time, relying only on the auxiliary objective methods leads to alienation of physician with a patient. Spirituality can partially improve the doctor-patient relationship, communication and sense of responsibility.}, }
@article {pmid26283968, year = {2015}, author = {Brill, MF and Meyer, A and Rössler, W}, title = {It takes two-coincidence coding within the dual olfactory pathway of the honeybee.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {208}, pmid = {26283968}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {To rapidly process biologically relevant stimuli, sensory systems have developed a broad variety of coding mechanisms like parallel processing and coincidence detection. Parallel processing (e.g., in the visual system), increases both computational capacity and processing speed by simultaneously coding different aspects of the same stimulus. Coincidence detection is an efficient way to integrate information from different sources. Coincidence has been shown to promote associative learning and memory or stimulus feature detection (e.g., in auditory delay lines). Within the dual olfactory pathway of the honeybee both of these mechanisms might be implemented by uniglomerular projection neurons (PNs) that transfer information from the primary olfactory centers, the antennal lobe (AL), to a multimodal integration center, the mushroom body (MB). PNs from anatomically distinct tracts respond to the same stimulus space, but have different physiological properties, characteristics that are prerequisites for parallel processing of different stimulus aspects. However, the PN pathways also display mirror-imaged like anatomical trajectories that resemble neuronal coincidence detectors as known from auditory delay lines. To investigate temporal processing of olfactory information, we recorded PN odor responses simultaneously from both tracts and measured coincident activity of PNs within and between tracts. Our results show that coincidence levels are different within each of the two tracts. Coincidence also occurs between tracts, but to a minor extent compared to coincidence within tracts. Taken together our findings support the relevance of spike timing in coding of olfactory information (temporal code).}, }
@article {pmid26267280, year = {2015}, author = {Mukesh,  and Sharma, LK and Charoo, SA and Sathyakumar, S}, title = {Conflict bear translocation: investigating population genetics and fate of bear translocation in Dachigam National Park, Jammu and Kashmir, India.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {8}, pages = {e0132005}, pmid = {26267280}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; *Aggression ; Animal Distribution ; Animals ; Bayes Theorem ; Competitive Behavior ; Conservation of Natural Resources/*methods ; Female ; Food Chain ; *Genetics, Population ; Genotype ; Humans ; India ; Male ; Parks, Recreational ; Seasons ; Ursidae/*physiology/psychology ; }, abstract = {The Asiatic black bear population in Dachigam landscape, Jammu and Kashmir is well recognized as one of the highest density bear populations in India. Increasing incidences of bear-human interactions and the resultant retaliatory killings by locals have become a serious threat to the survivorship of black bears in the Dachigam landscape. The Department of Wildlife Protection in Jammu and Kashmir has been translocating bears involved in conflicts, henceforth 'conflict bears' from different sites in Dachigam landscape to Dachigam National Park as a flagship activity to mitigate conflicts. We undertook this study to investigate the population genetics and the fate of bear translocation in Dachigam National Park. We identified 109 unique genotypes in an area of ca. 650 km2 and observed bear population under panmixia that showed sound genetic variability. Molecular tracking of translocated bears revealed that mostly bears (7 out of 11 bears) returned to their capture sites, possibly due to homing instincts or habituation to the high quality food available in agricultural croplands and orchards, while only four bears remained in Dachigam National Park after translocation. Results indicated that translocation success was most likely to be season dependent as bears translocated during spring and late autumn returned to their capture sites, perhaps due to the scarcity of food inside Dachigam National Park while bears translocated in summer remained in Dachigam National Park due to availability of surplus food resources. Thus, the current management practices of translocating conflict bears, without taking into account spatio-temporal variability of food resources in Dachigam landscape seemed to be ineffective in mitigating conflicts on a long-term basis. However, the study highlighted the importance of molecular tracking of bears to understand their movement patterns and socio-biology in tough terrains like Dachigam landscape.}, }
@article {pmid26250063, year = {2015}, author = {Higham, JP and Kraus, C and Stahl-Hennig, C and Engelhardt, A and Fuchs, D and Heistermann, M}, title = {Evaluating noninvasive markers of nonhuman primate immune activation and inflammation.}, journal = {American journal of physical anthropology}, volume = {158}, number = {4}, pages = {673-684}, doi = {10.1002/ajpa.22821}, pmid = {26250063}, issn = {1096-8644}, mesh = {Animals ; Biomarkers/*analysis ; C-Reactive Protein/analysis ; Feces/chemistry ; Female ; Inflammation ; Macaca mulatta/*immunology ; Male ; Neopterin/urine ; Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/immunology ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Health, disease, and immune function are key areas of research in studies of ecology and evolution, but work on free-ranging primates has been inhibited by a lack of direct noninvasive measures of condition. Here, we evaluate the potential usefulness of noninvasive measurement of three biomarkers, the acute-phase proteins C-reactive protein (CRP) and haptoglobin, and neopterin, a by-product of macrophage activity.<br><br>MATERIALS AND METHODS: We took advantage of veterinary checks on captive rhesus (24) and long-tailed (3) macaques at the German Primate Center (DPZ) to analyze serum marker measures, before measuring concentrations in feces and urine, and evaluating relationships between matched serum, urine, and fecal concentrations. In a second study, we monitored excretion of these markers in response to simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection and surgical tissue trauma, undertaken for a separate study.<br><br>RESULTS: We found that each biomarker could be measured in each matrix. Serum and urinary concentrations of neopterin were strongly and significantly correlated, but neither haptoglobin nor CRP concentrations in excreta proxied circulating serum concentrations. Our infection study confirmed that urinary neopterin, in particular, is a reliable marker of viral infection in macaques, but also indicated the potential of urinary and fecal CRP and haptoglobin as indicators of inflammation.<br><br>DISCUSSION: We highlight the potential of noninvasive markers of immune function, especially of urinary neopterin, which correlates strongly with serum neopterin, and is highly responsive to infection.}, }
@article {pmid26235675, year = {2015}, author = {Brockmeyer, T and Kappeler, PM and Willaume, E and Benoit, L and Mboumba, S and Charpentier, MJ}, title = {Social organization and space use of a wild mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx) group.}, journal = {American journal of primatology}, volume = {77}, number = {10}, pages = {1036-1048}, doi = {10.1002/ajp.22439}, pmid = {26235675}, issn = {1098-2345}, mesh = {*Animal Distribution ; Animals ; Entamoeba ; Female ; Gabon ; Homing Behavior ; Male ; Mandrillus/genetics/*parasitology/*physiology ; Nematoda ; Rain ; Reproduction ; *Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {Mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx) are enigmatic Old World primates whose social organization and ecology remain poorly known. Previous studies indicated, for example, that groups are composed of only adult females and their young or that several units composed of one adult male and several females make up larger permanent social units. Here, we present the first data on group composition and male ranging patterns from the only habituated wild mandrill group and examine how home range size and daily path length varied with environmental and demographic factors over a 15-month period. Our study site is located in southern Gabon where we followed the group on a daily basis, collecting data on presence, ranging, behavior, and parasite load of its individual members. Throughout the study, the group was made up of about 120 individuals, including several non-natal and natal adult and sub-adult males. One-male units were never observed. The mandrills traveled an estimated 0.44-6.50 km/day in a home range area of 866.7 ha. Exploratory analyses revealed that precipitation, the number of adult males present, and the richness of protozoan parasites were all positively correlated with daily path length. These results clarify the social system of mandrills and provide first insights into the factors that shape their ranging patterns.}, }
@article {pmid26230643, year = {2015}, author = {Lichtenstein, L and Sommerlandt, FM and Spaethe, J}, title = {Dumb and Lazy? A Comparison of Color Learning and Memory Retrieval in Drones and Workers of the Buff-Tailed Bumblebee, Bombus terrestris, by Means of PER Conditioning.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {7}, pages = {e0134248}, pmid = {26230643}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Color ; Hymenoptera/*physiology ; *Learning ; *Memory ; }, abstract = {More than 100 years ago, Karl von Frisch showed that honeybee workers learn and discriminate colors. Since then, many studies confirmed the color learning capabilities of females from various hymenopteran species. Yet, little is known about visual learning and memory in males despite the fact that in most bee species males must take care of their own needs and must find rewarding flowers to obtain food. Here we used the proboscis extension response (PER) paradigm to study the color learning capacities of workers and drones of the bumblebee, Bombus terrestris. Light stimuli were paired with sucrose reward delivered to the insects' antennae and inducing a reflexive extension of the proboscis. We evaluated color learning (i.e. conditioned PER to color stimuli) in absolute and differential conditioning protocols and mid-term memory retention was measured two hours after conditioning. Different monochromatic light stimuli in combination with neutral density filters were used to ensure that the bumblebees could only use chromatic and not achromatic (e.g. brightness) information. Furthermore, we tested if bees were able to transfer the learned information from the PER conditioning to a novel discrimination task in a Y-maze. Both workers and drones were capable of learning and discriminating between monochromatic light stimuli and retrieved the learned stimulus after two hours. Drones performed as well as workers during conditioning and in the memory test, but failed in the transfer test in contrast to workers. Our data clearly show that bumblebees can learn to associate a color stimulus with a sugar reward in PER conditioning and that both workers and drones reach similar acquisition and mid-term retention performances. Additionally, we provide evidence that only workers transfer the learned information from a Pavlovian to an operant situation.}, }
@article {pmid26202778, year = {2015}, author = {Ruedenauer, FA and Spaethe, J and Leonhardt, SD}, title = {How to know which food is good for you: bumblebees use taste to discriminate between different concentrations of food differing in nutrient content.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {218}, number = {Pt 14}, pages = {2233-2240}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.118554}, pmid = {26202778}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; Arthropod Antennae/physiology ; Bees/*physiology ; Behavior, Animal/physiology ; Caseins ; Food Preferences/physiology ; Pollen ; Smell/physiology ; Taste/physiology ; Taste Perception/physiology ; }, abstract = {In view of the ongoing pollinator decline, the role of nutrition in bee health has received increasing attention. Bees obtain fat, carbohydrates and protein from pollen and nectar. As both excessive and deficient amounts of these macronutrients are detrimental, bees would benefit from assessing food quality to guarantee an optimal nutrient supply. While bees can detect sucrose and use it to assess nectar quality, it is unknown whether they can assess the macronutrient content of pollen. Previous studies have shown that bees preferentially collect pollen of higher protein content, suggesting that differences in pollen quality can be detected either by individual bees or via feedback from larvae. In this study, we examined whether and, if so, how individuals of the buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) discriminate between different concentrations of pollen and casein mixtures and thus nutrients. Bumblebees were trained using absolute and differential conditioning of the proboscis extension response (PER). As cues related to nutrient concentration could theoretically be perceived by either smell or taste, bees were tested on both olfactory and, for the first time, chemotactile perception. Using olfactory cues, bumblebees learned and discriminated between different pollen types and casein, but were unable to discriminate between different concentrations of these substances. However, when they touched the substances with their antennae, using chemotactile cues, they could also discriminate between different concentrations. Bumblebees are therefore able to discriminate between foods of different concentrations using contact chemosensory perception (taste). This ability may enable them to individually regulate the nutrient intake of their colonies.}, }
@article {pmid26145506, year = {2015}, author = {Vieira, AS and Camargo-Mathias, MI and Roces, F}, title = {Comparative morpho-physiology of the metapleural glands of two Atta leaf-cutting ant queens nesting in clayish and organic soils.}, journal = {Arthropod structure &amp; development}, volume = {44}, number = {5}, pages = {444-454}, doi = {10.1016/j.asd.2015.06.005}, pmid = {26145506}, issn = {1873-5495}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*anatomy &amp; histology/physiology ; Ecosystem ; Exocrine Glands/anatomy &amp; histology ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Queens of leaf-cutting ants found their nests singly, each consisting of a vertical tunnel and a final horizontal chamber. Because of the claustral mode of nest founding, the queen and/or her initial fungus garden are exposed to threats imposed by several soil pathogens, and the antibiotic secretions produced by their metapleural glands are considered a main adaptation to deal with them. Nests of two Atta leaf-cutting ant species, Atta vollenweideri and Atta sexdens rubropilosa, occur in different soil types, alfisols and oxisols. Their queens are known to excavate the initial nest in different soil horizons, clayish and organic, respectively, which differ in their fertility and associated microbiota. The aim of the present study was to comparatively investigate the morpho-physiology of the metapleural glands in queens of A. vollenweideri and A. sexdens rubropilosa, addressing the question whether the distinct selective pressure imposed by the microbiota in the two different soil types led to morpho-physiological differences in the metapleural glands that were consistent with their antiseptic function. The results revealed that metapleural glands of A. sexdens rubropilosa have a larger number of secretory cells, and consequently a higher production of antibiotic secretions, which may have been selected to allow nest founding at the superficial horizon of oxisols rich in organic matter and microorganisms. Glands of A. vollenweideri, on the contrary, presented fewer secretory cells, suggesting less production of antibiotic secretions. We argue that the excavation of deep founding nests in A. vollenweideri was primarily selected for during evolution to avoid the risk posed by flooding, and further hypothesize that a reduced number of cells in their metapleural glands occurred because of a weak pathogen-driven selective pressure at the preferred soil depth.}, }
@article {pmid26139329, year = {2015}, author = {Levréro, F and Carrete-Vega, G and Herbert, A and Lawabi, I and Courtiol, A and Willaume, E and Kappeler, PM and Charpentier, MJ}, title = {Social shaping of voices does not impair phenotype matching of kinship in mandrills.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {7609}, pmid = {26139329}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {*Acoustics ; Altruism ; Animals ; *Behavior, Animal ; Cooperative Behavior ; Gabon ; Mandrillus ; *Phenotype ; *Recognition, Psychology ; *Social Behavior ; Social Perception ; Vocalization, Animal/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Kin selection theory provides a strong theoretical framework to explain the evolution of altruism and cooperative behaviour among genetically related individuals. However, the proximate mechanisms underlying kin discrimination, a necessary process to express kin-related behaviour, remain poorly known. In particular, no study has yet unambiguously disentangled mechanisms based on learned familiarity from true phenotype matching in kin discrimination based on vocal signals. Here we show that in addition to genetic background, social accommodation also shapes individual voices in an Old World monkey (Mandrillus sphinx), even though primate vocalizations were thought to be innate and little flexible. Nonetheless, social shaping of voice parameters does not impair kin discrimination through phenotype-matching of unknown relatives, revealing unexpected discriminatory versatility despite signal complexity. Accurate signal production and perception, therefore, provide a basis for kin identification and kin-biased behaviour in an Old World primate.}, }
@article {pmid26138802, year = {2016}, author = {Schmitt, F and Stieb, SM and Wehner, R and Rössler, W}, title = {Experience-related reorganization of giant synapses in the lateral complex: Potential role in plasticity of the sky-compass pathway in the desert ant Cataglyphis fortis.}, journal = {Developmental neurobiology}, volume = {76}, number = {4}, pages = {390-404}, doi = {10.1002/dneu.22322}, pmid = {26138802}, issn = {1932-846X}, mesh = {Aging/physiology/radiation effects ; Animals ; Ants/anatomy &amp; histology/*physiology/radiation effects ; Appetitive Behavior/physiology/radiation effects ; Brain/anatomy &amp; histology/physiology/radiation effects ; Compound Eye, Arthropod/anatomy &amp; histology/physiology ; Learning/*physiology/radiation effects ; Microscopy, Electron ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Neuroanatomical Tract-Tracing Techniques ; Neuronal Plasticity/*physiology/radiation effects ; Photic Stimulation ; Social Behavior ; Spatial Navigation/*physiology ; Synapses/*physiology/radiation effects/ultrastructure ; *Ultraviolet Rays ; }, abstract = {Cataglyphis desert ants undergo an age-related polyethism from interior workers to relatively short-lived foragers with remarkable visual navigation capabilities, predominantly achieved by path integration using a polarized skylight-based sun compass and a stride-integrating odometer. Behavioral and physiological experiments revealed that the polarization (POL) pattern is processed via specialized UV-photoreceptors in the dorsal rim area of the compound eye and POL sensitive optic lobe neurons. Further information about the neuronal substrate for processing of POL information in the ant brain has remained elusive. This work focuses on the lateral complex (LX), known as an important relay station in the insect sky-compass pathway. Neuroanatomical results in Cataglyphis fortis show that LX giant synapses (GS) connect large presynaptic terminals from anterior optic tubercle neurons with postsynaptic GABAergic profiles of tangential neurons innervating the ellipsoid body of the central complex. At the ultrastructural level, the cup-shaped presynaptic structures comprise many active zones contacting numerous small postsynaptic profiles. Three-dimensional quantification demonstrated a significantly higher number of GS (∼ 13%) in foragers compared with interior workers. Light exposure, as opposed to age, was necessary and sufficient to trigger a similar increase in GS numbers. Furthermore, the increase in GS numbers was sensitive to the exclusion of UV light. As previous experiments have demonstrated the importance of the UV spectrum for sky-compass navigation in Cataglyphis, we conclude that plasticity in LX GS may reflect processes involved in the initial calibration of sky-compass neuronal circuits during orientation walks preceding active foraging.}, }
@article {pmid26119092, year = {2015}, author = {Rode-Margono, EJ and Nekaris, KA and Kappeler, PM and Schwitzer, C}, title = {The largest relative testis size among primates and aseasonal reproduction in a nocturnal lemur, Mirza zaza.}, journal = {American journal of physical anthropology}, volume = {158}, number = {1}, pages = {165-169}, doi = {10.1002/ajpa.22773}, pmid = {26119092}, issn = {1096-8644}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthropology, Physical ; Body Size ; Cheirogaleidae/*physiology ; Madagascar ; Male ; Organ Size ; Seasons ; Sexual Behavior, Animal/*physiology ; Testis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Testis size is an indirect indicator of a species' mating system, along with sexual size and canine dimorphism, existence and usage of mating and advertisement calls as well as the spatial distribution of males and females ready to mate in solitary species. Upon its recent discovery, the northern giant mouse lemur Mirza zaza was suggested to have a polygynandrous mating system and to exhibit seasonal breeding. We tested these predictions in a field study in Sahamalaza National Park, NW Madagascar.<br><br>MATERIALS AND METHODS: We caught 12 M. zaza, before and during the suggested mating period and obtained standard field morphometric measurements, including testes size.<br><br>RESULTS: We show that M. zaza has the highest relative testis volume among primates, indicating strong sperm competition and polygynandrous mating. In addition, based on inferred age of captured animals, observed mating behavior, a female caught in met-estrus and data from captivity, we suggest M. zaza to be one of the few lemurs that breed aseasonally.<br><br>DISCUSSION: Future field work on this endangered species is required to illuminate the causes and consequences of intense promiscuity and aseasonal breeding despite strong habitat seasonality, which distinguish M. zaza from most other nocturnal lemurs.}, }
@article {pmid26004266, year = {2015}, author = {Höcherl, N and Tautz, J}, title = {Thermoregulation of individual paper wasps (Polistes dominula) plays an important role in nest defence and dominance battles.}, journal = {Die Naturwissenschaften}, volume = {102}, number = {5-6}, pages = {32}, pmid = {26004266}, issn = {1432-1904}, mesh = {Animals ; Body Temperature ; *Body Temperature Regulation ; Escape Reaction/physiology ; Female ; Social Behavior ; *Social Dominance ; Stress, Physiological/physiology ; Wasps/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Paper wasps, like Polistes dominula, are considered as primitively eusocial. Hence, they are often used as model species for studies about the evolution of eusociality and dominance hierarchies. However, our knowledge about basic physiological processes in these wasps remains limited. In particular, the thermoregulation of individual wasps in their natural habitat has not yet been investigated in detail. We conducted a comprehensive field study to test their ability to respond to external hazards with elevated thorax temperatures. We presented artificial threats by applying smoke or carbon dioxide simulating fire and predator attacks, respectively, and monitored the thorax temperature of wasps on the nest using infrared thermography. We found that P. dominula workers recognized smoke and CO2 and reacted almost instantaneously and simultaneously with an increase of their thorax temperature. The maximal thorax temperature was reached about 65 s after the application of both stressors, but subsequently, the wasps showed a different behaviour pattern. No rise of the thorax temperature was detectable after an air blast was applied or in wasps resting on the nest. These observations provide evidence that P. dominula is able to heat up its thorax and that thermoregulation is employed in escape and defence reactions. Additionally, we investigated the thorax temperatures of queens during dominance battles. We found that the thorax temperature of the dominant queens rose up to 5 °C compared to that of subordinate queens that attacked the former, suggesting that the dominant queen defends herself as well as her nest.}, }
@article {pmid25993983, year = {2015}, author = {Kulp, J and Heymann, EW}, title = {Ranging, activity budget, and diet composition of red titi monkeys (Callicebus cupreus) in primary forest and forest edge.}, journal = {Primates; journal of primatology}, volume = {56}, number = {3}, pages = {273-278}, pmid = {25993983}, issn = {1610-7365}, mesh = {Animals ; *Diet ; *Ecosystem ; Female ; *Homing Behavior ; Male ; *Motor Activity ; Peru ; Pitheciidae/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Deforestation and fragmentation of tropical rainforests are increasingly creating forest edges and corresponding edge effects. Furthermore, primary forest is increasingly being replaced by secondary forest. The presence of high population densities of titi monkeys in fragmented and secondary forests suggests that they are capable of adapting to such habitat alterations. The aim of our study was to examine the ability of the red titi monkey (Callicebus cupreus) to adapt to forest edges and secondary forest. We compared home-range use, activity budgets, and diet composition in two groups of monkeys: one in primary forest and the other in primary forest with a long edge bordering secondary forest. The latter group avoided the secondary forest and used the edge in proportion to its availability. Groups did not differ in activity budgets but did show slight differences in diet composition. Taken together, our results suggest that there are no major effects of forest edges and secondary forest on red titi monkeys; however, given the relatively short study period, generalizations should be avoided until more comparative data become available. Furthermore, the age or successional stage of the secondary forest must be taken into consideration when drawing conclusions about its suitability as a primate habitat.}, }
@article {pmid25904854, year = {2015}, author = {Falibene, A and Roces, F and Rössler, W}, title = {Long-term avoidance memory formation is associated with a transient increase in mushroom body synaptic complexes in leaf-cutting ants.}, journal = {Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {84}, pmid = {25904854}, issn = {1662-5153}, abstract = {Long-term behavioral changes related to learning and experience have been shown to be associated with structural remodeling in the brain. Leaf-cutting ants learn to avoid previously preferred plants after they have proved harmful for their symbiotic fungus, a process that involves long-term olfactory memory. We studied the dynamics of brain microarchitectural changes after long-term olfactory memory formation following avoidance learning in Acromyrmex ambiguus. After performing experiments to control for possible neuronal changes related to age and body size, we quantified synaptic complexes (microglomeruli, MG) in olfactory regions of the mushroom bodies (MBs) at different times after learning. Long-term avoidance memory formation was associated with a transient change in MG densities. Two days after learning, MG density was higher than before learning. At days 4 and 15 after learning-when ants still showed plant avoidance-MG densities had decreased to the initial state. The structural reorganization of MG triggered by long-term avoidance memory formation clearly differed from changes promoted by pure exposure to and collection of novel plants with distinct odors. Sensory exposure by the simultaneous collection of several, instead of one, non-harmful plant species resulted in a decrease in MG densities in the olfactory lip. We hypothesize that while sensory exposure leads to MG pruning in the MB olfactory lip, the formation of long-term avoidance memory involves an initial growth of new MG followed by subsequent pruning.}, }
@article {pmid25888023, year = {2015}, author = {Schäffler, L and Saborowski, J and Kappeler, PM}, title = {Agent-mediated spatial storage effect in heterogeneous habitat stabilizes competitive mouse lemur coexistence in Menabe Central, Western Madagascar.}, journal = {BMC ecology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {7}, pmid = {25888023}, issn = {1472-6785}, mesh = {*Animal Distribution ; Animals ; Cheirogaleidae/classification/*physiology ; Competitive Behavior ; *Ecosystem ; Madagascar ; Models, Biological ; Population Dynamics ; Seasons ; Spatio-Temporal Analysis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Spatio-temporal distribution patterns of species in response to natural and anthropogenic drivers provide insight into the ecological processes that determine community composition. We investigated determinants of ecological structure in a species assemblage of 4 closely related primate species of the family Cheirogaleidae (Microcebus berthae, Microcebus murinus, Cheirogaleus medius, Mirza coquereli) in western Madagascar by extensive line transect surveys across spatial and temporal heterogeneities with the specific goal of elucidating the mechanisms stabilizing competitive coexistence of the two mouse lemur species (Microcebus spp.).<br><br>RESULTS: Interspecific competition between the mouse lemurs was indicated by negative spatial associations in degraded habitat and by habitat partitioning along anthropogenic disturbance gradients during dry seasons with resource scarcity. In non-degraded habitat, intraguild predator M. coquereli, but not C. medius, was negatively associated with M. murinus on the population level, whereas its regional distribution overlapped spatially with that of M. berthae. The species' interspecific distribution pattern across spatial and temporal heterogeneities corresponded to predictions for agent-mediated coexistence and thus confirmed M. coquereli's stabilizing impact on the coexistence of mouse lemurs.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Interspecific interactions contribute to ecological structure in this cheirogaleid assemblage and determinants vary across spatio-temporal heterogeneities. Coexistence of Microcebus spp. is stabilized by an agent-mediated spatial storage effect: M. coquereli creates refuges from competition for M. berthae in intact habitat, whereas anthropogenic environments provide M. murinus with an escape from resource competition and intraguild predation. Species persistence in the assemblage therefore depends on the conservation of habitat content and context that stabilizing mechanisms rely on. Our large-scale population level approach did not allow for considering all potential functional and stochastic drivers of ecological structure, a key limitation that accounts for the large proportion of unexplained variance in our models.}, }
@article {pmid25870402, year = {2015}, author = {Kappeler, PM and Cremer, S and Nunn, CL}, title = {Sociality and health: impacts of sociality on disease susceptibility and transmission in animal and human societies.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {370}, number = {1669}, pages = {}, pmid = {25870402}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; Biological Evolution ; Communicable Diseases/etiology/transmission ; *Disease Susceptibility ; Genetic Fitness ; Humans ; Models, Biological ; *Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {This paper introduces a theme issue presenting the latest developments in research on the impacts of sociality on health and fitness. The articles that follow cover research on societies ranging from insects to humans. Variation in measures of fitness (i.e. survival and reproduction) has been linked to various aspects of sociality in humans and animals alike, and variability in individual health and condition has been recognized as a key mediator of these relationships. Viewed from a broad evolutionary perspective, the evolutionary transitions from a solitary lifestyle to group living have resulted in several new health-related costs and benefits of sociality. Social transmission of parasites within groups represents a major cost of group living, but some behavioural mechanisms, such as grooming, have evolved repeatedly to reduce this cost. Group living also has created novel costs in terms of altered susceptibility to infectious and non-infectious disease as a result of the unavoidable physiological consequences of social competition and integration, which are partly alleviated by social buffering in some vertebrates. Here, we define the relevant aspects of sociality, summarize their health-related costs and benefits, and discuss possible fitness measures in different study systems. Given the pervasive effects of social factors on health and fitness, we propose a synthesis of existing conceptual approaches in disease ecology, ecological immunology and behavioural neurosciences by adding sociality as a key factor, with the goal to generate a broader framework for organismal integration of health-related research.}, }
@article {pmid25870401, year = {2015}, author = {Nunn, CL and Craft, ME and Gillespie, TR and Schaller, M and Kappeler, PM}, title = {The sociality-health-fitness nexus: synthesis, conclusions and future directions.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {370}, number = {1669}, pages = {}, pmid = {25870401}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Communicable Diseases/etiology ; Disease Susceptibility ; Female ; Genetic Fitness ; Health Status ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Humans ; Male ; Models, Biological ; Sex Preselection ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases/etiology ; *Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {This theme issue has highlighted the links between sociality, health and fitness in a broad range of organisms, and with approaches that include field and captive studies of animals, comparative and meta-analyses, theoretical modelling and clinical and psychological studies of humans. In this concluding chapter, we synthesize the results of these diverse studies into some of the key concepts discussed in this issue, focusing on risks of infectious disease through social contact, the effects of competition in groups on susceptibility to disease, and the integration of sociality into research on life-history trade-offs. Interestingly, the studies in this issue both support pre-existing hypotheses, and in other ways challenge those hypotheses. We focus on unexpected results, including a lack of association between ectoparasites and fitness and weak results from a meta-analysis of the links between dominance rank and immune function, and place these results in a broader context. We also review relevant topics that were not covered fully in this theme issue, including self-medication and sickness behaviours, society-level defences against infectious disease, sexual selection, evolutionary medicine, implications for conservation biology and selective pressures on parasite traits. We conclude by identifying general open questions to stimulate and guide future research on the links between sociality, health and fitness.}, }
@article {pmid25870396, year = {2015}, author = {Rimbach, R and Bisanzio, D and Galvis, N and Link, A and Di Fiore, A and Gillespie, TR}, title = {Brown spider monkeys (Ateles hybridus): a model for differentiating the role of social networks and physical contact on parasite transmission dynamics.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {370}, number = {1669}, pages = {}, pmid = {25870396}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {Animals ; Atelinae/*parasitology/physiology/*psychology ; Behavior, Animal ; Contact Tracing/methods/veterinary ; Female ; Male ; Models, Biological ; Monkey Diseases/parasitology/*transmission ; Parasitic Diseases, Animal/parasitology/*transmission ; *Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {Elevated risk of disease transmission is considered a major cost of sociality, although empirical evidence supporting this idea remains scant. Variation in spatial cohesion and the occurrence of social interactions may have profound implications for patterns of interindividual parasite transmission. We used a social network approach to shed light on the importance of different aspects of group-living (i.e. within-group associations versus physical contact) on patterns of parasitism in a neotropical primate, the brown spider monkey (Ateles hybridus), which exhibits a high degree of fission-fusion subgrouping. We used daily subgroup composition records to create a 'proximity' network, and built a separate 'contact' network using social interactions involving physical contact. In the proximity network, connectivity between individuals was homogeneous, whereas the contact network highlighted high between-individual variation in the extent to which animals had physical contact with others, which correlated with an individual's age and sex. The gastrointestinal parasite species richness of highly connected individuals was greater than that of less connected individuals in the contact network, but not in the proximity network. Our findings suggest that among brown spider monkeys, physical contact impacts the spread of several common parasites and supports the idea that pathogen transmission is one cost associated with social contact.}, }
@article {pmid25847061, year = {2015}, author = {Hämäläinen, A and Heistermann, M and Kraus, C}, title = {The stress of growing old: sex- and season-specific effects of age on allostatic load in wild grey mouse lemurs.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {178}, number = {4}, pages = {1063-1075}, pmid = {25847061}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {*Aging ; *Allostasis ; Animals ; Animals, Wild ; Body Weight ; *Cheirogaleidae ; Feces/chemistry ; Female ; Glucocorticoids/*metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Reproduction ; *Seasons ; Sex Factors ; *Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Chronic stress [i.e. long-term elevation of glucocorticoid (GC) levels] and aging have similar, negative effects on the functioning of an organism. Aged individuals' declining ability to regulate GC levels may therefore impair their ability to cope with stress, as found in humans. The coping of aged animals with long-term natural stressors is virtually unstudied, even though the ability to respond appropriately to stressors is likely integral to the reproduction and survival of wild animals. To assess the effect of age on coping with naturally fluctuating energetic demands, we measured stress hormone output via GC metabolites in faecal samples (fGCM) of wild grey mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus) in different ecological seasons. Aged individuals were expected to exhibit elevated fGCM levels under energetically demanding conditions. In line with this prediction, we found a positive age effect in the dry season, when food and water availability are low and mating takes place, suggesting impaired coping of aged wild animals. The age effect was significantly stronger in females, the longer-lived sex. Body mass of males but not females correlated positively with fGCM in the dry season. Age or body mass did not influence fGCM significantly in the rainy season. The sex- and season-specific predictors of fGCM may reflect the differential investment of males and females into reproduction and longevity. A review of prior research indicates contradictory aging patterns in GC regulation across and even within species. The context of sampling may influence the likelihood of detecting senescent declines in GC functioning.}, }
@article {pmid25843974, year = {2015}, author = {Schlomer, GL and Fosco, GM and Cleveland, HH and Vandenbergh, DJ and Feinberg, ME}, title = {Interparental Relationship Sensitivity Leads to Adolescent Internalizing Problems: Different Genotypes, Different Pathways.}, journal = {Journal of marriage and the family}, volume = {77}, number = {2}, pages = {329-343}, pmid = {25843974}, issn = {0022-2445}, support = {R01 DA013709/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DA030389/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Several studies have established that child interparental conflict evaluations link parent relationship functioning and adolescent adjustment. Using differential susceptibility theory and its vantage sensitivity complement as their framework, the authors examined differences between adolescents who vary in the DRD4 7 repeat genotype (i.e. 7+ vs. 7-) in how both interparental conflict and positivity affect adolescents' evaluations of interparental conflict (i.e., threat appraisals) and how these evaluations affect internalizing problems. Results from longitudinal multiple-group path models using PROSPER data (N = 452) supported the hypothesis that threat appraisals for 7+ adolescents would be more affected by perceptions of interparental positivity compared to 7- adolescents; however, threat appraisals for 7+ adolescents were also less affected by interparental conflict. Among 7- adolescents, interparental conflict perceptions were associated with higher threat appraisals, and no association was found for perceptions of positivity. For adolescents of both genotypes, higher threat was associated with greater internalizing problems.}, }
@article {pmid38463629, year = {2015}, author = {Schlomer, GL and Cleveland, HH and Vandenbergh, DJ and Fosco, GM and Feinberg, ME}, title = {Looking Forward in Candidate Gene Research: Concerns and Suggestions.}, journal = {Journal of marriage and the family}, volume = {77}, number = {2}, pages = {351-354}, pmid = {38463629}, issn = {0022-2445}, support = {R01 DA030389/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Candidate Gene × Environment (cGxE) interaction research holds promise for helping us understand for whom and why environments matter for families and development. In their commentary on our target article (G. L. Schlomer, G. M. Fosco, H. H. Cleveland, D. J. Vandenbergh, &amp; M. E. Feinberg, 2015), J. E. Salvatore and D. M. Dick (2015) present their view of the current state and future of cGxE research and frame the debate regarding its merits for advancing knowledge of gene-environment interplay. In this reply, we discuss points of agreement and departure and provide a list of 5 domains by which the quality of cGxE research should be evaluated. Our hope is that researchers will use this list as a guide for their own work.}, }
@article {pmid25823704, year = {2015}, author = {Montoya, LA and Montoya, I and Sánchez González, OD}, title = {Lessons from collaborative governance and sociobiology theories for reinforcing sustained cooperation: a government food security case study.}, journal = {Public health}, volume = {129}, number = {7}, pages = {916-931}, doi = {10.1016/j.puhe.2015.01.030}, pmid = {25823704}, issn = {1476-5616}, mesh = {Colombia ; *Cooperative Behavior ; Federal Government ; *Food Supply ; Government ; Government Agencies/*organization &amp; administration ; Humans ; *Interinstitutional Relations ; Program Evaluation ; Research ; Sociobiology ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: This research aimed to understand how cooperation and collaboration work in interagency arrangements using a case study of the public management of food security and nutrition in Bogotá, Colombia.<br><br>STUDY DESIGN: This study explored the available scientific literature on Collaborative Governance within the Public Management body of knowledge and the literature on Cooperation from the Sociobiology field. Then, proposals were developed for testing on the ground through an action-research effort that was documented as a case study. Finally, observations were used to test the proposals and some analytical generalizations were developed.<br><br>METHODS: To document the case study, several personal interviews, file reviews and normative reviews were conducted to generate a case study database.<br><br>RESULTS: Collaboration and cooperation concepts within the framework of interagency public management can be understood as a shared desirable outcome that unites different agencies in committing efforts and resources to the accomplishment of a common goal for society, as seen in obtaining food and nutrition security for a specific territory. Collaboration emerges when the following conditions exist and decreases when they are absent: (1) a strong sponsorship that may come from a central government policy or from a distributed interagency consensus; (2) a clear definition of the participating agencies; (3) stability of the staff assigned to the coordination system; and (4) a fitness function for the staff, some mechanism to reward or punish the collaboration level of each individual in the interagency effort.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: As this research investigated only one case study, the findings must be taken with care and any generalization made from this study needs to be analytical in nature. Additionally, research must be done to accept these results universally. Food security and nutrition efforts are interagency in nature. For collaboration between agencies to emerge, a minimum set of characteristics that were established during the merging of the public management and sociobiology fields of knowledge and validated by means of a case study must be accomplished.}, }
@article {pmid25821456, year = {2015}, author = {Scharf, ME}, title = {Omic research in termites: an overview and a roadmap.}, journal = {Frontiers in genetics}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {76}, pmid = {25821456}, issn = {1664-8021}, abstract = {Many recent breakthroughs in our understanding of termite biology have been facilitated by "omics" research. Omic science seeks to collectively catalog, quantify, and characterize pools of biological molecules that translate into structure, function, and life processes of an organism. Biological molecules in this context include genomic DNA, messenger RNA, proteins, and other biochemicals. Other permutations of omics that apply to termites include sociogenomics, which seeks to define social life in molecular terms (e.g., behavior, sociality, physiology, symbiosis, etc.) and digestomics, which seeks to define the collective pool of host and symbiont genes that collaborate to achieve high-efficiency lignocellulose digestion in the termite gut. This review covers a wide spectrum of termite omic studies from the past 15 years. Topics covered include a summary of terminology, the various kinds of omic efforts that have been undertaken, what has been revealed, and to a degree, what the results mean. Although recent omic efforts have contributed to a better understanding of many facets of termite and symbiont biology, and have created important new resources for many species, significant knowledge gaps still remain. Crossing these gaps can best be done by applying new omic resources within multi-dimensional (i.e., functional, translational, and applied) research programs.}, }
@article {pmid25784170, year = {2015}, author = {Muenz, TS and Groh, C and Maisonnasse, A and Le Conte, Y and Plettner, E and Rössler, W}, title = {Neuronal plasticity in the mushroom body calyx during adult maturation in the honeybee and possible pheromonal influences.}, journal = {Developmental neurobiology}, volume = {75}, number = {12}, pages = {1368-1384}, doi = {10.1002/dneu.22290}, pmid = {25784170}, issn = {1932-846X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/anatomy &amp; histology/*growth &amp; development/*physiology ; Cohort Studies ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Mushroom Bodies/anatomy &amp; histology/*growth &amp; development/*physiology ; Neuroanatomical Tract-Tracing Techniques ; Neuronal Plasticity/*physiology ; Neurons/cytology/physiology ; Oleic Acids/*metabolism ; Organ Size ; Pheromones/metabolism ; Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {Honeybee workers express a pronounced age-dependent polyethism switching from various indoor duties to foraging outside the hive. This transition is accompanied by tremendous changes in the sensory environment that sensory systems and higher brain centers have to cope with. Foraging and age have earlier been shown to be associated with volume changes in the mushroom bodies (MBs). Using age- and task-controlled bees this study provides a detailed framework of neuronal maturation processes in the MB calyx during the course of natural behavioral maturation. We show that the MB calyx volume already increases during the first week of adult life. This process is mainly driven by broadening of the Kenyon cell dendritic branching pattern and then followed by pruning of projection neuron axonal boutons during the actual transition from indoor to outdoor duties. To further investigate the flexible regulation of division of labor and its neuronal correlates in a honeybee colony, we studied the modulation of the nurse-forager transition via a chemical communication system, the primer pheromone ethyl oleate (EO). EO is found at high concentrations on foragers in contrast to nurse bees and was shown to delay the onset of foraging. In this study, EO effects on colony behavior were not as robust as expected, and we found no direct correlation between EO treatment and synaptic maturation in the MB calyx. In general, we assume that the primer pheromone EO rather acts in concert with other factors influencing the onset of foraging with its effect being highly adaptive.}, }
@article {pmid25752925, year = {2015}, author = {Ellison, PT}, title = {Obituary: Irven DeVore 1934-2014.}, journal = {American journal of physical anthropology}, volume = {156}, number = {4}, pages = {493-494}, doi = {10.1002/ajpa.22737}, pmid = {25752925}, issn = {1096-8644}, mesh = {*Anthropology ; Humans ; Male ; *Sociobiology ; United States ; }, }
@article {pmid25750717, year = {2015}, author = {Bulbert, MW and O'Hanlon, JC and Zappettini, S and Zhang, S and Li, D}, title = {Sexually selected UV signals in the tropical ornate jumping spider, Cosmophasis umbratica may incur costs from predation.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {5}, number = {4}, pages = {914-920}, pmid = {25750717}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Sexually selected ornaments and signals are costly to maintain if they are maladaptive in nonreproductive contexts. The jumping spider Cosmophasis umbratica exhibits distinct sexual dichromatism with males displaying elaborate UV body markings that signal male quality. Female C. umbratica respond favorably to UV-reflecting males and ignore males that have their UV masked. However, Portia labiata, a UV-sensitive spider-eating specialist and a natural predator of C. umbratica, is known to use UV reflectance as a cue when hunting prey. We investigated the cost of these UV signals in C. umbratica in terms of their predation risk. Under experimental conditions, three choice scenarios were presented to P. labiata individuals. Choices by P. labiata were made between male C. umbratica with and without the UV signal; a UV-reflecting male and non-UV-reflecting female; and a UV-masked male and female. The presence and absence of UV signals was manipulated using an optical filter. Portia labiata exhibited a strong bias toward UV+ individuals. These results suggest the sexually selected trait of UV reflectance increases the visibility of males to UV-sensitive predators. The extent of this male-specific UV signal then is potentially moderated by predation pressure. Interestingly though, P. labiata still preferred males to females irrespective of whether UV reflectance was present or not. This suggests P. labiata can switch cues when conditions to detect UV reflectance are not optimal.}, }
@article {pmid25703804, year = {2015}, author = {Taylor, PD}, title = {Bugs and stress 'on top of genetics': can the way we are born affect our health?.}, journal = {Midwifery}, volume = {31}, number = {3}, pages = {341-344}, doi = {10.1016/j.midw.2015.01.008}, pmid = {25703804}, issn = {1532-3099}, support = {BB/H008845/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Abnormalities, Drug-Induced/*epidemiology ; *Delivery, Obstetric ; Female ; Humans ; *Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; Maternal-Fetal Exchange/*physiology ; *Natural Childbirth ; Pregnancy ; Sociobiology/*trends ; }, }
@article {pmid25689924, year = {2015}, author = {Solé-Morata, N and Bertranpetit, J and Comas, D and Calafell, F}, title = {Y-chromosome diversity in Catalan surname samples: insights into surname origin and frequency.}, journal = {European journal of human genetics : EJHG}, volume = {23}, number = {11}, pages = {1549-1557}, pmid = {25689924}, issn = {1476-5438}, mesh = {Chromosomes, Human, Y ; *Genes, Y-Linked ; Genetics, Population ; *Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Male ; *Names ; *Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Sociobiology ; Spain ; }, abstract = {The biological behavior of the Y chromosome, which is paternally inherited, implies that males sharing the same surname may also share a similar Y chromosome. However, socio-cultural factors, such as polyphyletism, non-paternity, adoption, or matrilineal surname transmission, may prevent the joint transmission of the surname and the Y chromosome. By genotyping 17 Y-STRs and 68 SNPs in ~2500 male samples that each carried one of the 50 selected Catalan surnames, we could determine sets of descendants of a common ancestor, the population of origin of the common ancestor, and the date when such a common ancestor lived. Haplotype diversity was positively correlated with surname frequency, that is, rarer surnames showed the strongest signals of coancestry. Introgression rates of Y chromosomes into a surname by non-paternity, adoption, and transmission of the maternal surname were estimated at 1.5-2.6% per generation, with some local variation. Average ages for the founders of the surnames were estimated at ~500 years, suggesting a delay between the origin of surnames (twelfth and thirteenth centuries) and the systematization of their paternal transmission. We have found that, in general, a foreign etymology for a surname does not often result in a non-indigenous origin of surname founders; however, bearers of some surnames with an Arabic etymology show an excess of North African haplotypes. Finally, we estimate that surname prediction from a Y-chromosome haplotype, which may have interesting forensic applications, has a ~60% sensitivity but a 17% false discovery rate.}, }
@article {pmid25687548, year = {2015}, author = {Caniglia, G}, title = {Understanding Societies from Inside the Organisms. Leo Pardi's Work on Social Dominance in Polistes Wasps (1937-1952).}, journal = {Journal of the history of biology}, volume = {48}, number = {3}, pages = {455-486}, pmid = {25687548}, issn = {1573-0387}, mesh = {Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; Ethology/*history ; Female ; History, 20th Century ; Insecta ; Italy ; Male ; Social Dominance/*history ; Sociobiology/history ; United States ; *Wasps ; }, abstract = {Leo Pardi (1915-1990) was the initiator of ethological research in Italy. During more than 50 years of active scientific career, he gave groundbreaking contributions to the understanding of social life in insects, especially in Polistes wasps, an important model organism in sociobiology. In the 1940s, Pardi showed that Polistes societies are organized in a linear social hierarchy that relies on reproductive dominance and on the physiological and developmental mechanisms that regulate it, i.e. on the status of ovarian development of single wasps. Pardi's work set the stage for further research on the regulatory mechanisms governing social life in primitively eusocial organisms both in wasps and in other insect species. This article reconstructs Pardi's investigative pathway between 1937 and 1952 in the context of European ethology and American animal sociology. This reconstruction focuses on the development of Pardi's physiological approach and presents a new perspective on the interacting development of these two fields at the origins of our current understanding of animal social behavior.}, }
@article {pmid25687337, year = {2015}, author = {Pechouskova, E and Dammhahn, M and Brameier, M and Fichtel, C and Kappeler, PM and Huchard, E}, title = {MHC class II variation in a rare and ecological specialist mouse lemur reveals lower allelic richness and contrasting selection patterns compared to a generalist and widespread sympatric congener.}, journal = {Immunogenetics}, volume = {67}, number = {4}, pages = {229-245}, pmid = {25687337}, issn = {1432-1211}, mesh = {Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cheirogaleidae/*genetics/*immunology ; HLA-DQ beta-Chains/*genetics ; HLA-DR beta-Chains/*genetics ; Madagascar ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Selection, Genetic ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sequence Homology ; }, abstract = {The polymorphism of immunogenes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is thought to influence the functional plasticity of immune responses and, consequently, the fitness of populations facing heterogeneous pathogenic pressures. Here, we evaluated MHC variation (allelic richness and divergence) and patterns of selection acting on the two highly polymorphic MHC class II loci (DRB and DQB) in the endangered primate Madame Berthe's mouse lemur (Microcebus berthae). Using 454 pyrosequencing, we examined MHC variation in a total of 100 individuals sampled over 9 years in Kirindy Forest, Western Madagascar, and compared our findings with data obtained previously for its sympatric congener, the grey mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus). These species exhibit a contrasting ecology and demography that were expected to affect MHC variation and molecular signatures of selection. We found a lower allelic richness concordant with its low population density, but a similar level of allelic divergence and signals of historical selection in the rare feeding specialist M. berthae compared to the widespread generalist M. murinus. These findings suggest that demographic factors may exert a stronger influence than pathogen-driven selection on current levels of allelic richness in M. berthae. Despite a high sequence similarity between the two congeners, contrasting selection patterns detected at DQB suggest its potential functional divergence. This study represents a first step toward unravelling factors influencing the adaptive divergence of MHC genes between closely related but ecologically differentiated sympatric lemurs and opens new questions regarding potential functional discrepancy that would explain contrasting selection patterns detected at DQB.}, }
@article {pmid25673157, year = {2015}, author = {Huebner, F and Fichtel, C}, title = {Innovation and behavioral flexibility in wild redfronted lemurs (Eulemur rufifrons).}, journal = {Animal cognition}, volume = {18}, number = {3}, pages = {777-787}, pmid = {25673157}, issn = {1435-9456}, mesh = {Animals ; *Behavior, Animal ; *Creativity ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Lemur/*physiology/psychology ; Madagascar ; Male ; *Problem Solving ; }, abstract = {Innovations and problem-solving abilities can provide animals with important ecological advantages as they allow individuals to deal with novel social and ecological challenges. Innovation is a solution to a novel problem or a novel solution to an old problem, with the latter being especially difficult. Finding a new solution to an old problem requires individuals to inhibit previously applied solutions to invent new strategies and to behave flexibly. We examined the role of experience on cognitive flexibility to innovate and to find new problem-solving solutions with an artificial feeding task in wild redfronted lemurs (Eulemur rufifrons). Four groups of lemurs were tested with feeding boxes, each offering three different techniques to extract food, with only one technique being available at a time. After the subjects learned a technique, this solution was no longer successful and subjects had to invent a new technique. For the first transition between task 1 and 2, subjects had to rely on their experience of the previous technique to solve task 2. For the second transition, subjects had to inhibit the previously learned technique to learn the new task 3. Tasks 1 and 2 were solved by most subjects, whereas task 3 was solved by only a few subjects. In this task, besides behavioral flexibility, especially persistence, i.e., constant trying, was important for individual success during innovation. Thus, wild strepsirrhine primates are able to innovate flexibly, suggesting a general ecological relevance of behavioral flexibility and persistence during innovation and problem solving across all primates.}, }
@article {pmid25641051, year = {2015}, author = {Schmitt, F and Vanselow, JT and Schlosser, A and Kahnt, J and Rössler, W and Wegener, C}, title = {Neuropeptidomics of the carpenter ant Camponotus floridanus.}, journal = {Journal of proteome research}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {1504-1514}, doi = {10.1021/pr5011636}, pmid = {25641051}, issn = {1535-3907}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Ants/*metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Neuropeptides/chemistry/*metabolism ; *Proteomics ; }, abstract = {Ants show a rich behavioral repertoire and a highly complex organization, which have been attracting behavioral and sociobiological researchers for a long time. The neuronal underpinnings of ant behavior and social organization are, however, much less understood. Neuropeptides are key signals that orchestrate animal behavior and physiology, and it is thus feasible to assume that they play an important role also for the social constitution of ants. Despite the availability of different ant genomes and in silico prediction of ant neuropeptides, a comprehensive biochemical survey of the neuropeptidergic communication possibilities of ants is missing. We therefore combined different mass spectrometric methods to characterize the neuropeptidome of the adult carpenter ant Camponotus floridanus. We also characterized the local neuropeptide complement in different parts of the nervous and neuroendocrine system, including the antennal and optic lobes. Our analysis identifies 39 neuropeptides encoded by different prepropeptide genes, and in silico predicts new prepropeptide genes encoding CAPA peptides, CNMamide as well as homologues of the honey bee IDLSRFYGHFNT- and ITGQGNRIF-containing peptides. Our data provides basic information about the identity and localization of neuropeptides that is required to anatomically and functionally address the role and significance of neuropeptides in ant behavior and physiology.}, }
@article {pmid25594921, year = {2015}, author = {Swenson, SA}, title = {'From Man to Bacteria': W.D. Hamilton, the theory of inclusive fitness, and the post-war social order.}, journal = {Studies in history and philosophy of biological and biomedical sciences}, volume = {49}, number = {}, pages = {45-54}, doi = {10.1016/j.shpsc.2014.12.001}, pmid = {25594921}, issn = {1879-2499}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; *Biological Evolution ; *Genetic Fitness ; History, 20th Century ; Humans ; *Models, Genetic ; Plants/genetics ; *Selection, Genetic ; Social Conditions ; }, abstract = {W.D. Hamilton's theory of inclusive fitness aimed to define the evolved limits of altruism with mathematical precision. Although it was meant to apply universally, it has been almost irretrievably entwined with the particular case of social insects that featured in his famous 1964 papers. The assumption that social insects were central to Hamilton's early work contradicts material in his rich personal archive. In fact, careful study of Hamilton's notes, letters, diaries, and early essays indicates the extent to which he had humans in mind when he decided altruism was a topic worthy of biological inquiry. For this reason, this article reconsiders the role of extra-scientific factors in Hamilton's early theorizing. In doing so, it offers an alternative perspective as to why Hamilton saw self-sacrifice to be an important subject. Although the traditional narrative prioritizes his distaste for benefit-of-the-species explanations as a motivating factor behind his foundational work, I argue that greater attention ought to be given to Hamilton's hope that science could be used to address social ills. By reconsidering the meaning Hamilton intended inclusive fitness to have, we see that while he was no political ideologue, the socio-political relevance of his theory was nevertheless integral to its development.}, }
@article {pmid25547876, year = {2014}, author = {Loope, KJ and Chien, C and Juhl, M}, title = {Colony size is linked to paternity frequency and paternity skew in yellowjacket wasps and hornets.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {277}, pmid = {25547876}, issn = {1471-2148}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Female ; Genetic Variation ; Male ; Phylogeny ; Sexual Behavior, Animal ; Wasps/*classification/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The puzzle of the selective benefits of multiple mating and multiple paternity in social insects has been a major focus of research in evolutionary biology. We examine paternity in a clade of social insects, the vespine wasps (the yellowjackets and hornets), which contains species with high multiple paternity as well as species with single paternity. This group is particularly useful for comparative analyses given the wide interspecific variation in paternity traits despite similar sociobiology and ecology of the species in the genera Vespula, Dolichovespula and Vespa. We describe the paternity of 5 species of yellowjackets (Vespula spp.) and we perform a phylogenetically controlled comparative analysis of relatedness, paternity frequency, paternity skew, colony size, and nest site across 22 vespine taxa.<br><br>RESULTS: We found moderate multiple paternity in four small-colony Vespula rufa-group species (effective paternity 1.5 - 2.1), and higher multiple paternity in the large-colony Vespula flavopilosa (effective paternity ~3.1). Our comparative analysis shows that colony size, but not nest site, predicts average intracolony relatedness. Underlying this pattern, we found that greater colony size is associated with both higher paternity frequency and reduced paternity skew.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Our results support hypotheses focusing on the enhancement of genetic diversity in species with large colonies, and run counter to the hypothesis that multiple paternity is adaptively maintained due to sperm limitation associated with large colonies. We confirm the patterns observed in taxonomically widespread analyses by comparing closely related species of wasps with similar ecology, behavior and social organization. The vespine wasps may be a useful group for experimental investigation of the benefits of multiple paternity in the future.}, }
@article {pmid25534964, year = {2014}, author = {Pasquaretta, C and Levé, M and Claidière, N and van de Waal, E and Whiten, A and MacIntosh, AJ and Pelé, M and Bergstrom, ML and Borgeaud, C and Brosnan, SF and Crofoot, MC and Fedigan, LM and Fichtel, C and Hopper, LM and Mareno, MC and Petit, O and Schnoell, AV and di Sorrentino, EP and Thierry, B and Tiddi, B and Sueur, C}, title = {Social networks in primates: smart and tolerant species have more efficient networks.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {7600}, pmid = {25534964}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {U42 OD011197/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; OD-011197/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Behavior, Animal/*physiology ; Female ; Haplorhini ; Humans ; Lemur ; Male ; *Models, Biological ; *Social Behavior ; *Social Support ; }, abstract = {Network optimality has been described in genes, proteins and human communicative networks. In the latter, optimality leads to the efficient transmission of information with a minimum number of connections. Whilst studies show that differences in centrality exist in animal networks with central individuals having higher fitness, network efficiency has never been studied in animal groups. Here we studied 78 groups of primates (24 species). We found that group size and neocortex ratio were correlated with network efficiency. Centralisation (whether several individuals are central in the group) and modularity (how a group is clustered) had opposing effects on network efficiency, showing that tolerant species have more efficient networks. Such network properties affecting individual fitness could be shaped by natural selection. Our results are in accordance with the social brain and cultural intelligence hypotheses, which suggest that the importance of network efficiency and information flow through social learning relates to cognitive abilities.}, }
@article {pmid25530660, year = {2014}, author = {Giraldo, YM and Traniello, JF}, title = {Worker senescence and the sociobiology of aging in ants.}, journal = {Behavioral ecology and sociobiology}, volume = {68}, number = {12}, pages = {1901-1919}, pmid = {25530660}, issn = {0340-5443}, support = {F31 AG041589/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Senescence, the decline in physiological and behavioral function with increasing age, has been the focus of significant theoretical and empirical research in a broad array of animal taxa. Preeminent among invertebrate social models of aging are ants, a diverse and ecologically dominant clade of eusocial insects characterized by reproductive and sterile phenotypes. In this review, we critically examine selection for worker lifespan in ants and discuss the relationship between functional senescence, longevity, task performance, and colony fitness. We did not find strong or consistent support for the hypothesis that demographic senescence in ants is programmed, or its corollary prediction that workers that do not experience extrinsic mortality die at an age approximating their lifespan in nature. We present seven hypotheses concerning how selection could favor extended worker lifespan through its positive relationship to colony size and predict that large colony size, under some conditions, should confer multiple and significant fitness advantages. Fitness benefits derived from long worker lifespan could be mediated by increased resource acquisition, efficient division of labor, accuracy of collective decision-making, enhanced allomaternal care and colony defense, lower infection risk, and decreased energetic costs of workforce maintenance. We suggest future avenues of research to examine the evolution of worker lifespan and its relationship to colony fitness, and conclude that an innovative fusion of sociobiology, senescence theory, and mechanistic studies of aging can improve our understanding of the adaptive nature of worker lifespan in ants.}, }
@article {pmid25446501, year = {2015}, author = {Hämäläinen, A and Dammhahn, M and Aujard, F and Kraus, C}, title = {Losing grip: Senescent decline in physical strength in a small-bodied primate in captivity and in the wild.}, journal = {Experimental gerontology}, volume = {61}, number = {}, pages = {54-61}, doi = {10.1016/j.exger.2014.11.017}, pmid = {25446501}, issn = {1873-6815}, mesh = {Aging/*physiology ; Animals ; Cheirogaleidae/*physiology ; Female ; *Hand Strength ; Male ; Sarcopenia/etiology ; Sex Characteristics ; }, abstract = {Muscle strength reflects physical functioning, declines at old age and predicts health and survival in humans and laboratory animals. Age-associated muscle deterioration causes loss of strength and may impair fitness of wild animals. However, the effects of age and life-history characteristics on muscle strength in wild animals are unknown. We investigated environment- and sex-specific patterns of physical functioning by measuring grip strength in wild and captive gray mouse lemurs. We expected more pronounced strength senescence in captivity due to condition-dependent, extrinsic mortality found in nature. Males were predicted to be stronger but potentially experience more severe senescence than females as predicted by life history theory. We found similar senescent declines in captive males and females as well as wild females, whereas wild males showed little decline, presumably due to their early mortality. Captive animals were generally weaker and showed earlier declines than wild animals. Unexpectedly, females tended to be stronger than males, especially in the reproductive season. Universal intrinsic mechanisms (e.g. sarcopenia) likely cause the similar patterns of strength loss across settings. The female advantage in muscle strength merits further study; it may follow higher reproductive investment by males, or be an adaptation associated with female social dominance.}, }
@article {pmid25395720, year = {2014}, author = {Dröscher, I and Kappeler, PM}, title = {Maintenance of familiarity and social bonding via communal latrine use in a solitary primate (Lepilemur leucopus).}, journal = {Behavioral ecology and sociobiology}, volume = {68}, number = {12}, pages = {2043-2058}, pmid = {25395720}, issn = {0340-5443}, abstract = {Latrine use (i.e., the repeated use of specific defecation/urination sites) has been described for several mammals, including carnivores, ungulates, and primates. However, the functional significance of latrine use in primates has not been studied systematically yet. We, therefore, followed 14 radio-collared individuals of the pair-living white-footed sportive lemur (Lepilemur leucopus) for 1097 hours of continuous focal observations to investigate latrine distribution, seasonality of latrine use, as well as age and sex of users to test various hypotheses related to possible functions of latrine use, including territory demarcation, resource defense, signaling of reproductive state, social bonding, and mate defense. All individuals of a social unit exhibited communal use of latrines located in the core area of their territory, supporting the social boding hypothesis. Latrine use seems to facilitate familiarity and social bonding within social units via olfactory communication in this primate that lives in family units but exhibits low levels of spatial cohesion and direct social interactions. In addition, frequency of latrine visitation was higher during nights of perceived intruder pressure, supporting the mate defense hypothesis. However, animals did not react to experimentally introduced feces from neighboring or strange social units, indicating that urine may be the more important component of latrines than feces in this arboreal species. Based on a survey of latrine use and function in other mammals, we conclude that latrines facilitate communication particularly in nocturnal species with limited habitat visibility and in species where individuals are not permanently cohesive because they constitute predictable areas for information exchange.}, }
@article {pmid25392401, year = {2015}, author = {Masi, E and Ciszak, M and Santopolo, L and Frascella, A and Giovannetti, L and Marchi, E and Viti, C and Mancuso, S}, title = {Electrical spiking in bacterial biofilms.}, journal = {Journal of the Royal Society, Interface}, volume = {12}, number = {102}, pages = {20141036}, pmid = {25392401}, issn = {1742-5662}, mesh = {Action Potentials ; Bacillus ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Biofilms ; Electrochemistry/*instrumentation/methods ; Electrodes ; Escherichia coli ; Microarray Analysis ; Polymers/chemistry ; Pseudomonas ; Signal Transduction ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {In nature, biofilms are the most common form of bacterial growth. In biofilms, bacteria display coordinated behaviour to perform specific functions. Here, we investigated electrical signalling as a possible driver in biofilm sociobiology. Using a multi-electrode array system that enables high spatio-temporal resolution, we studied the electrical activity in two biofilm-forming strains and one non-biofilm-forming strain. The action potential rates monitored during biofilm-forming bacterial growth exhibited a one-peak maximum with a long tail, corresponding to the highest biofilm development. This peak was not observed for the non-biofilm-forming strain, demonstrating that the intensity of the electrical activity was not linearly related to the bacterial density, but was instead correlated with biofilm formation. Results obtained indicate that the analysis of the spatio-temporal electrical activity of bacteria during biofilm formation can open a new frontier in the study of the emergence of collective microbial behaviour.}, }
@article {pmid25353167, year = {2014}, author = {Zhang, R and Brennan, TJ and Lo, AW}, title = {Group selection as behavioral adaptation to systematic risk.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {10}, pages = {e110848}, pmid = {25353167}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Psychological ; Algorithms ; Biological Evolution ; Humans ; Selection, Genetic ; *Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {Despite many compelling applications in economics, sociobiology, and evolutionary psychology, group selection is still one of the most hotly contested ideas in evolutionary biology. Here we propose a simple evolutionary model of behavior and show that what appears to be group selection may, in fact, simply be the consequence of natural selection occurring in stochastic environments with reproductive risks that are correlated across individuals. Those individuals with highly correlated risks will appear to form "groups", even if their actions are, in fact, totally autonomous, mindless, and, prior to selection, uniformly randomly distributed in the population. This framework implies that a separate theory of group selection is not strictly necessary to explain observed phenomena such as altruism and cooperation. At the same time, it shows that the notion of group selection does captures a unique aspect of evolution-selection with correlated reproductive risk-that may be sufficiently widespread to warrant a separate term for the phenomenon.}, }
@article {pmid25320175, year = {2014}, author = {Alvergne, A and Lummaa, V}, title = {Ecological variation in wealth-fertility relationships in Mongolia: the 'central theoretical problem of sociobiology' not a problem after all?.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {281}, number = {1796}, pages = {20141733}, pmid = {25320175}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Adult ; Age Factors ; Educational Status ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; *Fertility ; Humans ; Mongolia ; Population Dynamics ; Reproduction ; *Social Class ; Sociobiology ; Socioeconomic Factors ; }, abstract = {The negative wealth-fertility relationship brought about by market integration remains a puzzle to classic evolutionary models. Evolutionary ecologists have argued that this phenomenon results from both stronger trade-offs between reproductive and socioeconomic success in the highest social classes and the comparison of groups rather than individuals. Indeed, studies in contemporary low fertility settings have typically used aggregated samples that may mask positive wealth-fertility relationships. Furthermore, while much evidence attests to trade-offs between reproductive and socioeconomic success, few studies have explicitly tested the idea that such constraints are intensified by market integration. Using data from Mongolia, a post-socialist nation that underwent mass privatization, we examine wealth-fertility relationships over time and across a rural-urban gradient. Among post-reproductive women, reproductive fitness is the lowest in urban areas, but increases with wealth in all regions. After liberalization, a demographic-economic paradox emerges in urban areas: while educational attainment negatively impacts female fertility in all regions, education uniquely provides socioeconomic benefits in urban contexts. As market integration progresses, socio-economic returns to education increase and women who limit their reproduction to pursue education get wealthier. The results support the view that selection favoured mechanisms that respond to opportunities for status enhancement rather than fertility maximization.}, }
@article {pmid25309366, year = {2014}, author = {Pamir, E and Szyszka, P and Scheiner, R and Nawrot, MP}, title = {Rapid learning dynamics in individual honeybees during classical conditioning.}, journal = {Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {313}, pmid = {25309366}, issn = {1662-5153}, abstract = {Associative learning in insects has been studied extensively by a multitude of classical conditioning protocols. However, so far little emphasis has been put on the dynamics of learning in individuals. The honeybee is a well-established animal model for learning and memory. We here studied associative learning as expressed in individual behavior based on a large collection of data on olfactory classical conditioning (25 datasets, 3298 animals). We show that the group-averaged learning curve and memory retention score confound three attributes of individual learning: the ability or inability to learn a given task, the generally fast acquisition of a conditioned response (CR) in learners, and the high stability of the CR during consecutive training and memory retention trials. We reassessed the prevailing view that more training results in better memory performance and found that 24 h memory retention can be indistinguishable after single-trial and multiple-trial conditioning in individuals. We explain how inter-individual differences in learning can be accommodated within the Rescorla-Wagner theory of associative learning. In both data-analysis and modeling we demonstrate how the conflict between population-level and single-animal perspectives on learning and memory can be disentangled.}, }
@article {pmid25277227, year = {2014}, author = {Begossi, A}, title = {The river and the sea: fieldwork in human ecology and ethnobiology.}, journal = {Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {70}, pmid = {25277227}, issn = {1746-4269}, mesh = {Biology ; *Ecology ; Ethnology ; Humans ; *Rivers ; }, abstract = {This article is a commentary on the experiences that motivated my decision to become a human ecologist and ethnobiologist. These experiences include the pleasure of studying and of having the sense of being within nature, as well as the curiosity towards understanding the world and minds of local people. In particular, such understanding could be driven by addressing the challenging questions that originate in the interactions of such individuals with their natural surroundings. I have been particularly interested in the sea and the riverine forests that are inhabited by coastal or riverine small-scale fishers. Sharing the distinctive world of these fishers enjoyably incited my curiosity and challenged me to understand why fishers and their families 'do as they do' for their livelihoods including their beliefs. This challenge involved understanding the rationality (or the arguments or views) that underlies the decisions these individuals make in their interaction with nature. This curiosity was fundamental to my career choice, as were a number of reading interests. These reading interests included political economy and philosophy; evolution and sociobiology; evolutionary, human, and cultural ecology; cultural transmission; fisheries; local knowledge; ecological economics; and, naturally, ethnobiology.}, }
@article {pmid25261346, year = {2014}, author = {Kappeler, PM}, title = {Lemur behaviour informs the evolution of social monogamy.}, journal = {Trends in ecology &amp; evolution}, volume = {29}, number = {11}, pages = {591-593}, doi = {10.1016/j.tree.2014.09.005}, pmid = {25261346}, issn = {1872-8383}, mesh = {Animals ; *Behavior, Animal ; Biological Evolution ; Female ; Lemur/*psychology ; Male ; Sexual Behavior, Animal ; *Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {Recent comparative analyses reached contradictory conclusions about the evolutionary origins of social monogamy in primates and other mammals, but they ignored variation in social bond quality between pair-partners. Recent field studies of Malagasy primates (lemurs) with variable intersexual bonds indicate independent evolutionary transitions to pair-living from solitary and group-living ancestors, respectively, as well as four cumulative steps in evolutionary transitions from a solitary life style to pair-living that resolve some contradictory results of previous studies.}, }
@article {pmid25254109, year = {2014}, author = {Morawetz, L and Chittka, L and Spaethe, J}, title = {Strategies of the honeybee Apis mellifera during visual search for vertical targets presented at various heights: a role for spatial attention?.}, journal = {F1000Research}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {174}, pmid = {25254109}, issn = {2046-1402}, abstract = {When honeybees are presented with a colour discrimination task, they tend to choose swiftly and accurately when objects are presented in the ventral part of their frontal visual field. In contrast, poor performance is observed when objects appear in the dorsal part. Here we investigate if this asymmetry is caused by fixed search patterns or if bees can use alternative search mechanisms such as spatial attention, which allows flexible focusing on different areas of the visual field. We asked individual honeybees to choose an orange rewarded target among blue distractors. Target and distractors were presented in the ventral visual field, the dorsal field or both. Bees presented with targets in the ventral visual field consistently had the highest search efficiency, with rapid decisions, high accuracy and direct flight paths. In contrast, search performance for dorsally located targets was inaccurate and slow at the beginning of the test phase, but bees increased their search performance significantly after a few learning trials: they found the target faster, made fewer errors and flew in a straight line towards the target. However, bees needed thrice as long to improve the search for a dorsally located target when the target's position changed randomly between the ventral and the dorsal visual field. We propose that honeybees form expectations of the location of the target's appearance and adapt their search strategy accordingly. Different possible mechanisms of this behavioural adaptation are discussed.}, }
@article {pmid25232134, year = {2014}, author = {Helle, S and Brommer, JE and Pettay, JE and Lummaa, V and Enbuske, M and Jokela, J}, title = {Evolutionary demography of agricultural expansion in preindustrial northern Finland.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {281}, number = {1794}, pages = {20141559}, pmid = {25232134}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Agriculture/*history ; Animal Husbandry/*history ; Animals ; Anthropology, Cultural ; Birth Rate/ethnology ; Demography/*history ; Female ; Finland ; History, 17th Century ; History, 18th Century ; History, 19th Century ; Humans ; Male ; Maternal Mortality/ethnology ; Population Dynamics/*history ; Reindeer ; Sociobiology ; }, abstract = {A shift from nomadic foraging to sedentary agriculture was a major turning point in human evolutionary history, increasing our population size and eventually leading to the development of modern societies. We however lack understanding of the changes in life histories that contributed to the increased population growth rate of agriculturalists, because comparable individual-based reproductive records of sympatric populations of agriculturalists and foragers are rarely found. Here, we compared key life-history traits and population growth rate using comprehensive data from the seventieth to nineteenth century Northern Finland: indigenous Sami were nomadic hunter-fishers and reindeer herders, whereas sympatric agricultural Finns relied predominantly on animal husbandry. We found that agriculture-based families had higher lifetime fecundity, faster birth spacing and lower maternal mortality. Furthermore, agricultural Finns had 6.2% higher annual population growth rate than traditional Sami, which was accounted by differences between the subsistence modes in age-specific fecundity but not in mortality. Our results provide, to our knowledge, the most detailed demonstration yet of the demographic changes and evolutionary benefits that resulted from agricultural revolution.}, }
@article {pmid25225362, year = {2014}, author = {Cai, CY and Thayer, MK and Engel, MS and Newton, AF and Ortega-Blanco, J and Wang, B and Wang, XD and Huang, DY}, title = {Early origin of parental care in Mesozoic carrion beetles.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {111}, number = {39}, pages = {14170-14174}, pmid = {25225362}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; China ; Coleoptera/anatomy &amp; histology/growth &amp; development/*physiology ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Food Chain ; Fossils ; History, Ancient ; Larva/growth &amp; development ; Male ; Myanmar ; Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {The reconstruction and timing of the early stages of social evolution, such as parental care, in the fossil record is a challenge, as these behaviors often do not leave concrete traces. One of the intensely investigated examples of modern parental care are the modern burying beetles (Silphidae: Nicrophorus), a lineage that includes notable endangered species. Here we report diverse transitional silphids from the Mesozoic of China and Myanmar that provide insights into the origins of parental care. Jurassic silphids from Daohugou, sharing many defining characters of Nicrophorinae, primitively lack stridulatory files significant for parental care communications; although morphologically similar, Early Cretaceous nicrophorines from the Jehol biota possess such files, indicating that a system of parental care had evolved by this early date. More importantly, burying beetles of the genus Nicrophorus have their earliest first record in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber, and document early evolution of elaborate biparental care and defense of small vertebrate carcasses for their larvae. Parental care in the Early Cretaceous may have originated from competition between silphids and their predators. The rise of the Cretaceous Nicrophorinae implies a biology similar to modern counterparts that typically feed on carcasses of small birds and mammals.}, }
@article {pmid25159924, year = {2014}, author = {Ramallo, MR and Morandini, L and Alonso, F and Birba, A and Tubert, C and Fiszbein, A and Pandolfi, M}, title = {The endocrine regulation of cichlids social and reproductive behavior through the eyes of the chanchita, Cichlasoma dimerus (Percomorpha; Cichlidae).}, journal = {Journal of physiology, Paris}, volume = {108}, number = {2-3}, pages = {194-202}, doi = {10.1016/j.jphysparis.2014.08.004}, pmid = {25159924}, issn = {1769-7115}, mesh = {Aggression/physiology ; Animals ; Cichlids/*physiology ; Endocrine System/*physiology ; Female ; Hormones/*physiology ; Male ; Photoperiod ; Sexual Behavior, Animal/*physiology ; *Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {Sociobiology, the study of social behavior, calls for a laboratory model with specific requirements. Among the most obvious is the execution of social interactions that need to be readily observable, quantifiable and analyzable. If, in turn, one focuses on the neuroendocrinological basis of social behavior, restrictions grow even tighter. A good laboratory model should then allow easy access to its neurological and endocrine components and processes. During the last years, we have been studying the physiological foundation of social behavior on what we believe fits all the aforementioned requirements: the so called "chanchita", Cichlasoma dimerus. This Neotropical cichlid fish exhibits biparental care of the eggs and larvae and presents a hierarchical social system, established and sustained through agonistic interactions. The aim of the current article is to review new evidence on chanchita's social and reproductive behavior.}, }
@article {pmid25158760, year = {2014}, author = {Burkart, JM and Allon, O and Amici, F and Fichtel, C and Finkenwirth, C and Heschl, A and Huber, J and Isler, K and Kosonen, ZK and Martins, E and Meulman, EJ and Richiger, R and Rueth, K and Spillmann, B and Wiesendanger, S and van Schaik, CP}, title = {The evolutionary origin of human hyper-cooperation.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {4747}, doi = {10.1038/ncomms5747}, pmid = {25158760}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Animals ; *Behavior, Animal ; *Biological Evolution ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; *Cooperative Behavior ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Motivation ; Nontherapeutic Human Experimentation ; *Primates/psychology ; }, abstract = {Proactive, that is, unsolicited, prosociality is a key component of our hyper-cooperation, which in turn has enabled the emergence of various uniquely human traits, including complex cognition, morality and cumulative culture and technology. However, the evolutionary foundation of the human prosocial sentiment remains poorly understood, largely because primate data from numerous, often incommensurable testing paradigms do not provide an adequate basis for formal tests of the various functional hypotheses. We therefore present the results of standardized prosociality experiments in 24 groups of 15 primate species, including humans. Extensive allomaternal care is by far the best predictor of interspecific variation in proactive prosociality. Proactive prosocial motivations therefore systematically arise whenever selection favours the evolution of cooperative breeding. Because the human data fit this general primate pattern, the adoption of cooperative breeding by our hominin ancestors also provides the most parsimonious explanation for the origin of human hyper-cooperation.}, }
@article {pmid25141778, year = {2014}, author = {Rainey, PB and Desprat, N and Driscoll, WW and Zhang, XX}, title = {Microbes are not bound by sociobiology: response to Kümmerli and Ross-Gillespie (2013).}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {68}, number = {11}, pages = {3344-3355}, doi = {10.1111/evo.12508}, pmid = {25141778}, issn = {1558-5646}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Oligopeptides/*biosynthesis ; Pseudomonas/*genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {In recent years, sociobiology has been extended to microorganisms. Viewed through this lens, the microbial world is replete with cooperative behaviors. However, little attention has been paid to alternate hypotheses, making many studies self-confirming. Somewhat apart is a recent analysis of pyoverdin production-a paradigmatic public good and social trait-by Pseudomonas, which has revealed discord between predictions arising from sociobiology and the biology of microbes. This led the authors, Zhang and Rainey (Z&amp;R), to question the generality of the conclusion that pyoverdin is a social trait, and to question the fit between the sociobiology framework and microbiology. This has unsettled Kümmerli and Ross-Gillespie (K&amp;R), who in a recent "Technical Comment" assert that arguments presented by Z&amp;R are flawed, their experiments technically mistaken, and their understanding of social evolution theory naive. We demonstrate these claims to be without substance and show the conclusions of K&amp;R to be based on a lack of understanding of redox chemistry and on misinterpretation of data. We also point to evidence of cherry-picking and raise the possibility of confirmation bias. Finally, we emphasize that the sociobiology framework applied to microbes is a hypothesis that requires rigorous and careful appraisal.}, }
@article {pmid25128348, year = {2014}, author = {Dahlen, HG and Downe, S and Kennedy, HP and Foureur, M}, title = {Is society being reshaped on a microbiological and epigenetic level by the way women give birth?.}, journal = {Midwifery}, volume = {30}, number = {12}, pages = {1149-1151}, doi = {10.1016/j.midw.2014.07.007}, pmid = {25128348}, issn = {1532-3099}, mesh = {Abnormalities, Drug-Induced/*epidemiology ; Biological Evolution ; *Delivery, Obstetric/adverse effects/methods/trends ; Epigenesis, Genetic/physiology ; Female ; Forecasting ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; *Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; Maternal-Fetal Exchange/*physiology ; *Natural Childbirth ; Pregnancy ; Sociobiology/*trends ; }, }
@article {pmid25114217, year = {2014}, author = {Wilson, EO and Nowak, MA}, title = {Natural selection drives the evolution of ant life cycles.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {111}, number = {35}, pages = {12585-12590}, pmid = {25114217}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*genetics ; *Biological Evolution ; Female ; Genetic Fitness ; Male ; *Selection, Genetic ; *Sexual Behavior, Animal ; Social Behavior ; *Sociobiology ; }, abstract = {The genetic origin of advanced social organization has long been one of the outstanding problems of evolutionary biology. Here we present an analysis of the major steps in ant evolution, based for the first time, to our knowledge, on combined recent advances in paleontology, phylogeny, and the study of contemporary life histories. We provide evidence of the causal forces of natural selection shaping several key phenomena: (i) the relative lateness and rarity in geological time of the emergence of eusociality in ants and other animal phylads; (ii) the prevalence of monogamy at the time of evolutionary origin; and (iii) the female-biased sex allocation observed in many ant species. We argue that a clear understanding of the evolution of social insects can emerge if, in addition to relatedness-based arguments, we take into account key factors of natural history and study how natural selection acts on alleles that modify social behavior.}, }
@article {pmid25102586, year = {2014}, author = {Louryan, S}, title = {["Human races": history of a dangerous illusion].}, journal = {Revue medicale de Bruxelles}, volume = {35}, number = {3}, pages = {179-183}, pmid = {25102586}, issn = {0035-3639}, mesh = {Ancient Lands ; Animals ; Anthropology/history ; Biological Evolution ; Civil Rights/history ; Europe ; France ; Germany ; Greece ; History, 15th Century ; History, 16th Century ; History, 17th Century ; History, 18th Century ; History, 19th Century ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; History, Ancient ; History, Medieval ; Humans ; Natural History/history ; Psychology/history ; Racial Groups/*history ; Racism/*history ; Roman World ; Selection, Genetic ; Social Problems/history ; Sociobiology/history ; United Kingdom ; United States ; }, abstract = {The multiplication of offences prompted by racism and the increase of complaints for racism leads us to consider the illusory concept of "human races". This idea crossed the history, and was reinforced by the discovery of remote tribes and human fossils, and by the development of sociobiology and quantitative psychology. Deprived of scientific base, the theory of the "races" must bow before the notions of genetic variation and unicity of mankind.}, }
@article {pmid25100693, year = {2014}, author = {Hämäläinen, A and Dammhahn, M and Aujard, F and Eberle, M and Hardy, I and Kappeler, PM and Perret, M and Schliehe-Diecks, S and Kraus, C}, title = {Senescence or selective disappearance? Age trajectories of body mass in wild and captive populations of a small-bodied primate.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {281}, number = {1791}, pages = {20140830}, pmid = {25100693}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {*Aging ; Animals ; *Body Weight ; Cheirogaleidae/*physiology ; Female ; Longevity ; Male ; }, abstract = {Classic theories of ageing consider extrinsic mortality (EM) a major factor in shaping longevity and ageing, yet most studies of functional ageing focus on species with low EM. This bias may cause overestimation of the influence of senescent declines in performance over condition-dependent mortality on demographic processes across taxa. To simultaneously investigate the roles of functional senescence (FS) and intrinsic, extrinsic and condition-dependent mortality in a species with a high predation risk in nature, we compared age trajectories of body mass (BM) in wild and captive grey mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus) using longitudinal data (853 individuals followed through adulthood). We found evidence of non-random mortality in both settings. In captivity, the oldest animals showed senescence in their ability to regain lost BM, whereas no evidence of FS was found in the wild. Overall, captive animals lived longer, but a reversed sex bias in lifespan was observed between wild and captive populations. We suggest that even moderately condition-dependent EM may lead to negligible FS in the wild. While high EM may act to reduce the average lifespan, this evolutionary process may be counteracted by the increased fitness of the long-lived, high-quality individuals.}, }
@article {pmid25080029, year = {2014}, author = {Brill, MF and Reuter, M and Rössler, W and Strube-Bloss, MF}, title = {Simultaneous long-term recordings at two neuronal processing stages in behaving honeybees.}, journal = {Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE}, volume = {}, number = {89}, pages = {}, pmid = {25080029}, issn = {1940-087X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/anatomy &amp; histology/*physiology ; Brain/physiology ; Electrodes, Implanted ; Electrophysiology/instrumentation/*methods ; Neurons/physiology ; Olfactory Pathways/physiology ; }, abstract = {In both mammals and insects neuronal information is processed in different higher and lower order brain centers. These centers are coupled via convergent and divergent anatomical connections including feed forward and feedback wiring. Furthermore, information of the same origin is partially sent via parallel pathways to different and sometimes into the same brain areas. To understand the evolutionary benefits as well as the computational advantages of these wiring strategies and especially their temporal dependencies on each other, it is necessary to have simultaneous access to single neurons of different tracts or neuropiles in the same preparation at high temporal resolution. Here we concentrate on honeybees by demonstrating a unique extracellular long term access to record multi unit activity at two subsequent neuropiles1, the antennal lobe (AL), the first olfactory processing stage and the mushroom body (MB), a higher order integration center involved in learning and memory formation, or two parallel neuronal tracts2 connecting the AL with the MB. The latter was chosen as an example and will be described in full. In the supporting video the construction and permanent insertion of flexible multi channel wire electrodes is demonstrated. Pairwise differential amplification of the micro wire electrode channels drastically reduces the noise and verifies that the source of the signal is closely related to the position of the electrode tip. The mechanical flexibility of the used wire electrodes allows stable invasive long term recordings over many hours up to days, which is a clear advantage compared to conventional extra and intracellular in vivo recording techniques.}, }
@article {pmid25013103, year = {2014}, author = {Sasaki, T and Hölldobler, B and Millar, JG and Pratt, SC}, title = {A context-dependent alarm signal in the ant Temnothorax rugatulus.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {217}, number = {Pt 18}, pages = {3229-3236}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.106849}, pmid = {25013103}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Behavior, Animal/*physiology ; Choice Behavior ; Female ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Pheromones/*physiology ; Pyrazines/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Because collective cognition emerges from local signaling among group members, deciphering communication systems is crucial to understanding the underlying mechanisms. Alarm signals are widespread in the social insects and can elicit a variety of behavioral responses to danger, but the functional plasticity of these signals has not been well studied. Here we report an alarm pheromone in the ant Temnothorax rugatulus that elicits two different behaviors depending on context. When an ant was tethered inside an unfamiliar nest site and unable to move freely, she released a pheromone from her mandibular gland that signaled other ants to reject this nest as a potential new home, presumably to avoid potential danger. When the same pheromone was presented near the ants' home nest, they were instead attracted to it, presumably to respond to a threat to the colony. We used coupled gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to identify candidate compounds from the mandibular gland and tested each one in a nest choice bioassay. We found that 2,5-dimethylpyrazine was sufficient to induce rejection of a marked new nest and also to attract ants when released at the home nest. This is the first detailed investigation of chemical communication in the leptothoracine ants. We discuss the possibility that this pheromone's deterrent function can improve an emigrating colony's nest site selection performance.}, }
@article {pmid24990454, year = {2015}, author = {Lepistö, A}, title = {Revisiting the left-wing response to sociobiology: the case of Finland in a European context.}, journal = {Journal of the history of biology}, volume = {48}, number = {1}, pages = {99-136}, pmid = {24990454}, issn = {0022-5010}, mesh = {Europe ; Finland ; History, 20th Century ; *Politics ; Sociobiology/*history ; }, abstract = {This article revisits the left-wing response to sociobiology in the 1970s and 1980s by examining the sociobiology debate in Finland in a larger European context. It argues that the Finnish academic left's response to sociobiology represents a "third way" alongside the purely negative, often Marxist denial of biology's relevance, which characterized the left's response to sociobiology in many European countries such as Hungary and Sweden, and alongside the disregard that sociobiology confronted in most parts of Eastern Europe, as well as in Germany. In the context of the last great political conflict of the Cold War in Europe, the controversy over the American "Euromissiles" (Pershing II and Tomahawk) in 1979-1983, the Finnish academic left challenged the allegedly fatalistic sociobiological aggression and war theories with an alternative biological language, turning the increasing enthusiasm over evolutionary ideas into a pacifist cause. Using leftist and pacifist forums to inform citizens and politicians of such biologically evolved human characteristics as mutual care and sociability, the Finnish critics of sociobiology wished to boost the public spirit, and to rationalize the pacifist ideal of the European-wide popular movement against nuclear weapons and militarism. As a result, the academic leftists in Finland revived the early twentieth-century tradition of "peace biology." A proper understanding of this development calls for an analysis that acknowledges Finland's special geopolitical and cultural position in the Cold War world between East and West.}, }
@article {pmid24982621, year = {2014}, author = {Yilmaz, A and Aksoy, V and Camlitepe, Y and Giurfa, M}, title = {Eye structure, activity rhythms, and visually-driven behavior are tuned to visual niche in ants.}, journal = {Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {205}, pmid = {24982621}, issn = {1662-5153}, abstract = {Insects have evolved physiological adaptations and behavioral strategies that allow them to cope with a broad spectrum of environmental challenges and contribute to their evolutionary success. Visual performance plays a key role in this success. Correlates between life style and eye organization have been reported in various insect species. Yet, if and how visual ecology translates effectively into different visual discrimination and learning capabilities has been less explored. Here we report results from optical and behavioral analyses performed in two sympatric ant species, Formica cunicularia and Camponotus aethiops. We show that the former are diurnal while the latter are cathemeral. Accordingly, F. cunicularia workers present compound eyes with higher resolution, while C. aethiops workers exhibit eyes with lower resolution but higher sensitivity. The discrimination and learning of visual stimuli differs significantly between these species in controlled dual-choice experiments: discrimination learning of small-field visual stimuli is achieved by F. cunicularia but not by C. aethiops, while both species master the discrimination of large-field visual stimuli. Our work thus provides a paradigmatic example about how timing of foraging activities and visual environment match the organization of compound eyes and visually-driven behavior. This correspondence underlines the relevance of an ecological/evolutionary framework for analyses in behavioral neuroscience.}, }
@article {pmid24966308, year = {2014}, author = {Székely, T and Liker, A and Freckleton, RP and Fichtel, C and Kappeler, PM}, title = {Sex-biased survival predicts adult sex ratio variation in wild birds.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {281}, number = {1788}, pages = {20140342}, pmid = {24966308}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Birds/*physiology ; Female ; *Longevity ; Male ; Phylogeny ; Sex Factors ; *Sex Ratio ; }, abstract = {Adult sex ratio (ASR) is a central concept in population demography and breeding system evolution, and has implications for population viability and biodiversity conservation. ASR exhibits immense interspecific variation in wild populations, although the causes of this variation have remained elusive. Using phylogenetic analyses of 187 avian species from 59 families, we show that neither hatching sex ratios nor fledging sex ratios correlate with ASR. However, sex-biased adult mortality is a significant predictor of ASR, and this relationship is robust to 100 alternative phylogenetic hypotheses, and potential ecological and life-history confounds. A significant component of adult mortality bias is sexual selection acting on males, whereas increased reproductive output predicts higher mortality in females. These results provide the most comprehensive insights into ASR variation to date, and suggest that ASR is an outcome of selective processes operating differentially on adult males and females. Therefore, revealing the causes of ASR variation in wild populations is essential for understanding breeding systems and population dynamics.}, }
@article {pmid24902748, year = {2014}, author = {Beaulieu, M and Mboumba, S and Willaume, E and Kappeler, PM and Charpentier, MJ}, title = {The oxidative cost of unstable social dominance.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {217}, number = {Pt 15}, pages = {2629-2632}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.104851}, pmid = {24902748}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Aggression ; Animals ; Antioxidants/analysis ; Female ; Gabon ; Hydrogen Peroxide/analysis ; Male ; Mandrillus ; Oxidative Stress/*physiology ; Seasons ; Sex Factors ; Sexual Behavior, Animal/*physiology ; *Social Dominance ; Stress, Psychological/physiopathology ; }, abstract = {High social rank is expected to incur fitness costs under unstable social conditions. A disruption of the oxidative balance may underlie such effects, but how markers of oxidative stress vary in relation to social rank and stability is unknown. We examined in mandrills whether the mating season characterized by social instability between males (but not between females) affected their oxidative balance differently according to their social rank. Outside the mating season, high-ranking males showed the lowest levels of oxidative damage, while during the mating season, they were the only males to experience increased oxidative damage. In contrast, the mating season increased oxidative stress in all females, irrespective of their social rank. These results support the hypothesis that the coupling between social rank and social stability is responsible for differential costs in terms of oxidative stress, which may explain inter-individual differences in susceptibility to socially induced health issues.}, }
@article {pmid24890265, year = {2014}, author = {Scholl, C and Wang, Y and Krischke, M and Mueller, MJ and Amdam, GV and Rössler, W}, title = {Light exposure leads to reorganization of microglomeruli in the mushroom bodies and influences juvenile hormone levels in the honeybee.}, journal = {Developmental neurobiology}, volume = {74}, number = {11}, pages = {1141-1153}, doi = {10.1002/dneu.22195}, pmid = {24890265}, issn = {1932-846X}, mesh = {Actins/metabolism ; Age Factors ; Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Bees ; DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Fasting/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/genetics/*radiation effects ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Juvenile Hormones/*metabolism ; *Light ; Mass Spectrometry ; Mushroom Bodies/*anatomy &amp; histology/*radiation effects ; Nerve Net/*radiation effects ; Phalloidine/metabolism ; RNA Interference/physiology ; Transduction, Genetic ; Vitellogenins/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Honeybees show a remarkable behavioral plasticity at the transition from nursing inside the hive to foraging for nectar and/or pollen outside. This plasticity is important for age-related division of labor in honeybee colonies. The behavioral transition is associated with significant volume and synaptic changes in the mushroom bodies (MBs), brain centers for sensory integration, learning, and memory. We tested whether precocious sensory exposure to light leads to changes in the density of synaptic complexes [microglomeruli (MG)] in the MBs. The results show that exposure to light pulses over 3 days induces a significant decrease in the MG density in visual subregions (collar) of the MB. Earlier studies had shown that foragers have increased levels of juvenile hormone (JH) co-occurring with a decrease of vitellogenin (Vg). Previous work further established that RNAi-mediated knockdown of vg and ultraspiracle (usp) induced an upregulation of JH levels, which can lead to precocious foraging. By disturbing both Vg and JH pathways using gene knockdown of vg and usp, we tested whether the changes in the hormonal system directly affect MG densities. Our study shows that MG numbers remained unchanged when Vg and JH pathways were perturbed, suggesting no direct hormonal influences on MG densities. However, mass spectrometry detection of JH revealed that precocious light exposure triggered an increase in JH levels in the hemolymph (HL) of young bees. This suggests a dual effect following light exposure via direct effects on MG reorganization in the MB calyx and a possible positive feedback on HL JH levels.}, }
@article {pmid24830633, year = {2014}, author = {Römer, D and Roces, F}, title = {Nest enlargement in leaf-cutting ants: relocated brood and fungus trigger the excavation of new chambers.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {e97872}, pmid = {24830633}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Food Supply ; Fungi ; *Nesting Behavior ; }, abstract = {During colony growth, leaf-cutting ants enlarge their nests by excavating tunnels and chambers housing their fungus gardens and brood. Workers are expected to excavate new nest chambers at locations across the soil profile that offer suitable environmental conditions for brood and fungus rearing. It is an open question whether new chambers are excavated in advance, or will emerge around brood or fungus initially relocated to a suitable site in a previously-excavated tunnel. In the laboratory, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the excavation of new nest chambers in the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex lundi. Specifically, we asked whether workers relocate brood and fungus to suitable nest locations, and to what extent the relocated items trigger the excavation of a nest chamber and influence its shape. When brood and fungus were exposed to unfavorable environmental conditions, either low temperatures or low humidity, both were relocated, but ants clearly preferred to relocate the brood first. Workers relocated fungus to places containing brood, demonstrating that subsequent fungus relocation spatially follows the brood deposition. In addition, more ants aggregated at sites containing brood. When presented with a choice between two otherwise identical digging sites, but one containing brood, ants' excavation activity was higher at this site, and the shape of the excavated cavity was more rounded and chamber-like. The presence of fungus also led to the excavation of rounder shapes, with higher excavation activity at the site that also contained brood. We argue that during colony growth, workers preferentially relocate brood to suitable locations along a tunnel, and that relocated brood spatially guides fungus relocation and leads to increased digging activity around them. We suggest that nest chambers are not excavated in advance, but emerge through a self-organized process resulting from the aggregation of workers and their density-dependent digging behavior around the relocated brood and fungus.}, }
@article {pmid24820229, year = {2014}, author = {Rimbach, R and Link, A and Montes-Rojas, A and Di Fiore, A and Heistermann, M and Heymann, EW}, title = {Behavioral and physiological responses to fruit availability of spider monkeys ranging in a small forest fragment.}, journal = {American journal of primatology}, volume = {76}, number = {11}, pages = {1049-1061}, pmid = {24820229}, issn = {1098-2345}, mesh = {*Aggression ; Animals ; Atelinae/*physiology/*psychology ; Behavior, Animal/physiology ; Colombia ; *Diet ; Ecosystem ; Feces/chemistry ; *Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Food Supply ; Forests ; Fruit ; Glucocorticoids/analysis ; Male ; *Social Behavior ; *Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Numerous animal species currently experience habitat loss and fragmentation. This might result in behavioral and dietary adjustments, especially because fruit availability is frequently reduced in fragments. Food scarcity can result in elevated physiological stress levels, and chronic stress often has detrimental effects on individuals. Some animal species exhibit a high degree of fission-fusion dynamics, and theory predicts that these species reduce intragroup feeding competition by modifying their subgroup size according to resource availability. Until now, however, there have been few studies on how species with such fission-fission dynamics adjust their grouping patterns and social behavior in small fragments or on how food availability influences their stress levels. We collected data on fruit availability, feeding behavior, stress hormone levels (measured through fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGCM)), subgroup size, and aggression for two groups of brown spider monkeys (Ateles hybridus) in a small forest fragment in Colombia and examined whether fruit availability influences these variables. Contrary to our predictions, spider monkeys ranged in smaller subgroups, had higher FGCM levels and higher aggression rates when fruit availability was high compared to when it was low. The atypical grouping pattern of the study groups seems to be less effective at mitigating contest competition over food resources than more typical fission-fusion patterns. Overall, our findings illustrate that the relationship between resource availability, grouping patterns, aggression rates, and stress levels can be more complex than assumed thus far. Additional studies are needed to investigate the long-term consequences on the health and persistence of spider monkeys in fragmented habitats.}, }
@article {pmid24817103, year = {2014}, author = {Kropf, J and Kelber, C and Bieringer, K and Rössler, W}, title = {Olfactory subsystems in the honeybee: sensory supply and sex specificity.}, journal = {Cell and tissue research}, volume = {357}, number = {3}, pages = {583-595}, pmid = {24817103}, issn = {1432-0878}, mesh = {Animals ; Arthropod Antennae/cytology/innervation ; Axons/physiology ; Bees ; Female ; Male ; Models, Biological ; Olfactory Pathways/*physiology ; Olfactory Receptor Neurons/physiology ; Sensation/*physiology ; *Sex Characteristics ; Staining and Labeling ; }, abstract = {The antennae of honeybee (Apis mellifera) workers and drones differ in various aspects. One striking difference is the presence of Sensilla basiconica in (female) workers and their absence in (male) drones. We investigate the axonal projection patterns of olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) housed in S. basiconica in honeybee workers by using selective anterograde labeling with fluorescent tracers and confocal-microscopy analysis of axonal projections in antennal lobe glomeruli. Axons of S. basiconica-associated ORNs preferentially projected into a specific glomerular cluster in the antennal lobe, namely the sensory input-tract three (T3) cluster. T3-associated glomeruli had previously been shown to be innervated by uniglomerular projection (output) neurons of the medial antennal lobe tract (mALT). As the number of T3 glomeruli is reduced in drones, we wished to determine whether this was associated with the reduction of glomeruli innervated by medial-tract projection neurons. We retrogradely traced mALT projection neurons in drones and counted the innervated glomeruli. The number of mALT-associated glomeruli was strongly reduced in drones compared with workers. The preferential projections of S. basiconica-associated ORNs in T3 glomeruli together with the reduction of mALT-associated glomeruli support the presence of a female (worker)-specific olfactory subsystem that is partly innervated by ORNs from S. basiconica and is associated with the T3 cluster of glomeruli and mALT projection neurons. We propose that this olfactory subsystem supports parallel olfactory processing related to worker-specific olfactory tasks such as the coding of colony odors, colony pheromones and/or odorants associated with foraging on floral resources.}, }
@article {pmid24807257, year = {2014}, author = {Groh, C and Kelber, C and Grübel, K and Rössler, W}, title = {Density of mushroom body synaptic complexes limits intraspecies brain miniaturization in highly polymorphic leaf-cutting ant workers.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {281}, number = {1785}, pages = {20140432}, pmid = {24807257}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*anatomy &amp; histology/genetics/*physiology ; Brain/anatomy &amp; histology/physiology ; Mushroom Bodies/physiology ; Olfactory Perception ; Synapses/physiology ; }, abstract = {Hymenoptera possess voluminous mushroom bodies (MBs), brain centres associated with sensory integration, learning and memory. The mushroom body input region (calyx) is organized in distinct synaptic complexes (microglomeruli, MG) that can be quantified to analyse body size-related phenotypic plasticity of synaptic microcircuits in these small brains. Leaf-cutting ant workers (Atta vollenweideri) exhibit an enormous size polymorphism, which makes them outstanding to investigate neuronal adaptations underlying division of labour and brain miniaturization. We particularly asked how size-related division of labour in polymorphic workers is reflected in volume and total numbers of MG in olfactory calyx subregions. Whole brains of mini, media and large workers were immunolabelled with anti-synapsin antibodies, and mushroom body volumes as well as densities and absolute numbers of MG were determined by confocal imaging and three-dimensional analyses. The total brain volume and absolute volumes of olfactory mushroom body subdivisions were positively correlated with head widths, but mini workers had significantly larger MB to total brain ratios. Interestingly, the density of olfactory MG was remarkably independent from worker size. Consequently, absolute numbers of olfactory MG still were approximately three times higher in large compared with mini workers. The results show that the maximum packing density of synaptic microcircuits may represent a species-specific limit to brain miniaturization.}, }
@article {pmid24798893, year = {2014}, author = {Chaffiol, A and Dupuy, F and Barrozo, RB and Kropf, J and Renou, M and Rospars, JP and Anton, S}, title = {Pheromone modulates plant odor responses in the antennal lobe of a moth.}, journal = {Chemical senses}, volume = {39}, number = {5}, pages = {451-463}, doi = {10.1093/chemse/bju017}, pmid = {24798893}, issn = {1464-3553}, mesh = {Aldehydes ; Animals ; Arthropod Antennae/anatomy &amp; histology/*physiology ; Flowers/*chemistry ; Male ; Moths/*physiology ; Odorants ; Olfactory Receptor Neurons/*physiology ; Plants/chemistry ; Sex Attractants/*physiology ; Sexual Behavior, Animal/physiology ; Volatile Organic Compounds/chemistry ; }, abstract = {In nature, male moths are exposed to a complex plant odorant environment when they fly upwind to a sex pheromone source in their search for mates. Plant odors have been shown to affect responses to pheromone at various levels but how does pheromone affects plant odor perception? We recorded responses from neurons within the non-pheromonal "ordinary glome ruli" of the primary olfactory center, the antennal lobe (AL), to single and pulsed stimulations with the plant odorant heptanal, the pheromone, and their mixture in the male moth Agrotis ipsilon. We identified 3 physiological types of neurons according to their activity patterns combining excitatory and inhibitory phases. Both local and projection neurons were identified in each physiological type. Neurons with excitatory responses to heptanal responded also frequently to the pheromone and showed additive responses to the mixture. Moreover, the neuron's ability of resolving successive pulses generally improved with the mixture. Only some neurons with combined excitatory/inhibitory, or purely inhibitory responses to heptanal, also responded to the pheromone. Although individual mixture responses were not significantly different from heptanal responses in these neurons, pulse resolution was improved with the mixture as compared with heptanal alone. These results demonstrate that the pheromone and the general odorant subsystems interact more intensely in the moth AL than previously thought.}, }
@article {pmid24782824, year = {2014}, author = {Lawrence, EL and Fassola, I and Werner, I and Leclercq, C and Valero-Cuevas, FJ}, title = {Quantification of dexterity as the dynamical regulation of instabilities: comparisons across gender, age, and disease.}, journal = {Frontiers in neurology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {53}, pmid = {24782824}, issn = {1664-2295}, support = {R01 AR050520/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AR052345/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Dexterous manipulation depends on using the fingertips to stabilize unstable objects. The Strength-Dexterity paradigm consists of asking subjects to compress a slender and compliant spring prone to buckling. The maximal level of compression [requiring low fingertip forces <300 grams force (gf)] quantifies the neural control capability to dynamically regulate fingertip force vectors and motions for a dynamic manipulation task. We found that finger dexterity is significantly affected by age (p = 0.017) and gender (p = 0.021) in 147 healthy individuals (66F, 81M, 20-88 years). We then measured finger dexterity in 42 hands of patients following treatment for osteoarthritis of the base of the thumb (CMC OA, 33F, 65.8 ± 9.7 years), and 31 hands from patients being treated for Parkinson's disease (PD, 6F, 10M, 67.68 ± 8.5 years). Importantly, we found no differences in finger compression force among patients or controls. However, we did find stronger age-related declines in performance in the patients with PD (slope -2.7 gf/year, p = 0.002) than in those with CMC OA (slope -1.4 gf/year, p = 0.015), than in controls (slope -0.86 gf/year). In addition, the temporal variability of forces during spring compression shows clearly different dynamics in the clinical populations compared to the controls (p < 0.001). Lastly, we compared dexterity across extremities. We found stronger age (p = 0.005) and gender (p = 0.002) effects of leg compression force in 188 healthy subjects who compressed a larger spring with the foot of an isolated leg (73F, 115M, 14-92 years). In 81 subjects who performed the tests with all four limbs separately, we found finger and leg compression force to be significantly correlated (females ρ = 0.529, p = 0.004; males ρ = 0.403, p = 0.003; 28F, 53M, 20-85 years), but surprisingly found no differences between dominant and non-dominant limbs. These results have important clinical implications, and suggest the existence - and compel the investigation - of systemic versus limb-specific mechanisms for dexterity.}, }
@article {pmid24766620, year = {2015}, author = {Devor, M and Rappaport, I and Rappaport, ZH}, title = {Does the Golem Feel Pain? Moral Instincts and Ethical Dilemmas Concerning Suffering and the Brain.}, journal = {Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain}, volume = {15}, number = {6}, pages = {497-508}, doi = {10.1111/papr.12207}, pmid = {24766620}, issn = {1533-2500}, mesh = {Brain/*physiology ; Decision Making ; Emotions ; Humans ; Instinct ; Male ; *Morals ; Neurology/*ethics ; *Pain ; }, abstract = {Pain has variously been used as a means of punishment, extracting information, or testing commitment, as a tool for education and social control, as a commodity for sacrifice, and as a draw for sport and entertainment. Attitudes concerning these uses have undergone major changes in the modern era. Normative convictions on what is right and wrong are generally attributed to religious tradition or to secular-humanist reasoning. Here, we elaborate the perspective that ethical choices concerning pain have much earlier roots that are based on instincts and brain-seated empathetic responses. They are fundamentally a function of brain circuitry shaped by processes of Darwinian evolution. Social convention and other environmental influences, with their idiosyncrasies, are a more recent, ever-changing overlay. We close with an example in which details on the neurobiology of pain processing, specifically the question of where in the brain the experience of pain is generated, affect decision making in end-of-life situations. By separating innate biological substrates from culturally imposed attitudes (memes), we may arrive at a more reasoned approach to a morality of pain prevention.}, }
@article {pmid24748382, year = {2014}, author = {Pielström, S and Roces, F}, title = {Soil moisture and excavation behaviour in the Chaco leaf-cutting ant (Atta vollenweideri): digging performance and prevention of water inflow into the nest.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {e95658}, pmid = {24748382}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants ; *Nesting Behavior ; *Soil ; }, abstract = {The Chaco leaf-cutting ant Atta vollenweideri is native to the clay-heavy soils of the Gran Chaco region in South America. Because of seasonal floods, colonies are regularly exposed to varying moisture across the soil profile, a factor that not only strongly influences workers' digging performance during nest building, but also determines the suitability of the soil for the rearing of the colony's symbiotic fungus. In this study, we investigated the effects of varying soil moisture on behaviours associated with underground nest building in A. vollenweideri. This was done in a series of laboratory experiments using standardised, plastic clay-water mixtures with gravimetric water contents ranging from relatively brittle material to mixtures close to the liquid limit. Our experiments showed that preference and group-level digging rate increased with increasing water content, but then dropped considerably for extremely moist materials. The production of vibrational recruitment signals during digging showed, on the contrary, a slightly negative linear correlation with soil moisture. Workers formed and carried clay pellets at higher rates in moist clay, even at the highest water content tested. Hence, their weak preference and low group-level excavation rate observed for that mixture cannot be explained by any inability to work with the material. More likely, extremely high moistures may indicate locations unsuitable for nest building. To test this hypothesis, we simulated a situation in which workers excavated an upward tunnel below accumulated surface water. The ants stopped digging about 12 mm below the interface soil/water, a behaviour representing a possible adaptation to the threat of water inflow field colonies are exposed to while digging under seasonally flooded soils. Possible roles of soil water in the temporal and spatial pattern of nest growth are discussed.}, }
@article {pmid24736156, year = {2014}, author = {Wloch-Salamon, DM}, title = {Sociobiology of the budding yeast.}, journal = {Journal of biosciences}, volume = {39}, number = {2}, pages = {225-236}, pmid = {24736156}, issn = {0973-7138}, mesh = {Animals ; Apoptosis ; Humans ; Microbial Interactions ; Models, Biological ; Mycotoxins/physiology ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/cytology/*physiology ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins/metabolism ; beta-Fructofuranosidase/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Social theory has provided a useful framework for research with microorganisms. Here I describe the advantages and possible risks of using a well-known model organism, the unicellular yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, for sociobiological research. I discuss the problems connected with clear classification of yeast behaviour based on the fitnessbased Hamilton paradigm. Relevant traits include different types of communities, production of flocculins, invertase and toxins, and the presence of apoptosis.}, }
@article {pmid24732967, year = {2014}, author = {Galbany, J and Romero, A and Mayo-Alesón, M and Itsoma, F and Gamarra, B and Pérez-Pérez, A and Willaume, E and Kappeler, PM and Charpentier, MJ}, title = {Age-related tooth wear differs between forest and savanna primates.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {e94938}, pmid = {24732967}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Aging/*pathology ; Animals ; Dentin/pathology ; Feeding Behavior ; *Forests ; *Grassland ; Kenya ; Linear Models ; Mandible/pathology ; Mandrillus/anatomy &amp; histology ; Multivariate Analysis ; Papio/anatomy &amp; histology ; Primates/*physiology ; Tooth Wear/*pathology ; }, abstract = {Tooth wear in primates is caused by aging and ecological factors. However, comparative data that would allow us to delineate the contribution of each of these factors are lacking. Here, we contrast age-dependent molar tooth wear by scoring percent of dentine exposure (PDE) in two wild African primate populations from Gabonese forest and Kenyan savanna habitats. We found that forest-dwelling mandrills exhibited significantly higher PDE with age than savanna yellow baboons. Mandrills mainly feed on large tough food items, such as hard-shell fruits, and inhabit an ecosystem with a high presence of mineral quartz. By contrast, baboons consume large amounts of exogenous grit that adheres to underground storage organs but the proportion of quartz in the soils where baboons live is low. Our results support the hypothesis that not only age but also physical food properties and soil composition, particularly quartz richness, are factors that significantly impact tooth wear. We further propose that the accelerated dental wear in mandrills resulting in flatter molars with old age may represent an adaptation to process hard food items present in their environment.}, }
@article {pmid24719496, year = {2014}, author = {Schäffler, L and Kappeler, PM}, title = {Distribution and Abundance of the World's Smallest Primate, Microcebus berthae, in Central Western Madagascar.}, journal = {International journal of primatology}, volume = {35}, number = {2}, pages = {557-572}, pmid = {24719496}, issn = {0164-0291}, abstract = {The distribution of most recently discovered or described lemur species remains poorly known, but many appear to have small geographical ranges, making them vulnerable to extinction. Research can contribute to future conservation actions on behalf of these species by providing accurate information on local distribution and abundance. The distribution of the world's smallest primate, the endangered Madame Berthe's mouse lemur (Microcebus berthae), is limited to the Menabe Central region of western Madagascar. This species was discovered in the 1990s, but many fundamental aspects of its ecology remain unknown. The aims of our study were therefore to determine the actual distribution of Microcebus berthae across the forests of this region, to estimate population density, and to examine the species' response to anthropogenic activities. We established 35 1-km line transects across Menabe Central, on which we surveyed mouse lemurs by distance sampling and live trapping. Microcebus berthae does not occur in all remaining forests of this small region and its population density is highly heterogeneous, both across its geographic range and locally. Within its area of occupancy, the population of Microcebus berthae not only was distributed according to spatial heterogeneities of the habitat, but also responded to anthropogenic disturbances and varied seasonally. Our results indicate that Microcebus berthae is susceptible to habitat degradation and avoids human environments spatially. As none of the forest remnants in which the species still occurs were officially protected until recently, immediate conservation actions should focus on effectively protecting Kirindy and Ambadira forests.}, }
@article {pmid24687729, year = {2014}, author = {Kupsch, D and Waltert, M and Heymann, EW}, title = {Forest type affects prey foraging of saddleback tamarins, Saguinus nigrifrons.}, journal = {Primates; journal of primatology}, volume = {55}, number = {3}, pages = {403-413}, pmid = {24687729}, issn = {1610-7365}, mesh = {Animals ; *Forests ; Peru ; *Predatory Behavior ; Saguinus/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Callitrichids can persist in secondary forests where they may benefit from elevated prey abundance. However, how tamarins forage for prey in secondary forest compared to primary forest has not been examined. Using scan and focal sampling, we compared prey foraging and capture success of two groups of Saguinus nigrifrons in north-eastern Peru: one ranging in primary forest, the other with access to a 10-year-old anthropogenic secondary forest. There was a trend for more prey search in the secondary forest, but prey feeding, capture success and size were lower compared to the primary forest. Tamarins avoided the forest floor, used vertical supports less often and searched on a lower variety of substrates in the secondary forest. In the secondary forest, tamarins did not capture flushed prey, which make up a substantial part of the total prey captures biomass in primary forests. Reduced prey capture success is unlikely to reflect reduced prey availability, since more Orthoptera were found in secondary forest through ultrasonic surveys. Therefore, the prey search activity of S. nigrifrons in young secondary forests seemed rather opportunistic, presumably influenced by altered predation patterns, vegetation structure, as well as prey diversity.}, }
@article {pmid24682007, year = {2014}, author = {Albert, S and Spaethe, J and Grübel, K and Rössler, W}, title = {Royal jelly-like protein localization reveals differences in hypopharyngeal glands buildup and conserved expression pattern in brains of bumblebees and honeybees.}, journal = {Biology open}, volume = {3}, number = {4}, pages = {281-288}, pmid = {24682007}, issn = {2046-6390}, abstract = {Royal jelly proteins (MRJPs) of the honeybee bear several open questions. One of them is their expression in tissues other than the hypopharyngeal glands (HGs), the site of royal jelly production. The sole MRJP-like gene of the bumblebee, Bombus terrestris (BtRJPL), represents a pre-diversification stage of the MRJP gene evolution in bees. Here we investigate the expression of BtRJPL in the HGs and the brain of bumblebees. Comparison of the HGs of bumblebees and honeybees revealed striking differences in their morphology with respect to sex- and caste-specific appearance, number of cells per acinus, and filamentous actin (F-actin) rings. At the cellular level, we found a temporary F-actin-covered meshwork in the secretory cells, which suggests a role for actin in the biogenesis of the end apparatus in HGs. Using immunohistochemical localization, we show that BtRJPL is expressed in the bumblebee brain, predominantly in the Kenyon cells of the mushroom bodies, the site of sensory integration in insects, and in the optic lobes. Our data suggest that a dual gland-brain function preceded the multiplication of MRJPs in the honeybee lineage. In the course of the honeybee evolution, HGs dramatically changed their morphology in order to serve a food-producing function.}, }
@article {pmid24677259, year = {2014}, author = {Dröscher, I and Kappeler, PM}, title = {Competition for food in a solitarily foraging folivorous primate (Lepilemur leucopus)?.}, journal = {American journal of primatology}, volume = {76}, number = {9}, pages = {842-854}, pmid = {24677259}, issn = {1098-2345}, mesh = {Animals ; *Appetitive Behavior ; *Competitive Behavior ; Female ; *Food ; Lemuridae/*psychology ; Madagascar ; Male ; Seasons ; Social Behavior ; Trees ; }, abstract = {Group-living folivorous primates can experience competition for food, and feeding competition has also been documented for solitarily foraging gummivorous and omnivorous primates. However, little is known about the types and consequences of feeding competition in solitary folivorous foragers. We conducted this study in the spiny forest of Berenty Reserve, southern Madagascar, to characterize the competitive regime of the nocturnal solitarily foraging white-footed sportive lemur (Lepilemur leucopus), a species that lives in dispersed pairs. We analyzed 1,213 hr of behavioral observations recorded simultaneously for the male and female of each of seven social units and recorded seasonal changes in food availability over a complete annual cycle. Lepilemur leucopus exhibited low selectivity in its dietary choice and mainly included the most abundant plant species in its diet. Contrary to our predictions, we did not find evidence for increased rates of contest (i.e., displacement from food trees) or scramble competition (i.e., shared use of food patches) during the lean season, neither within nor between social units. Instead, conflict rates were low throughout the year, and, during these observations, any feeding stress may have been more related to food quality than quantity. The resource defense hypotheses may not explain pair-living in this species as there was no indication that males defend food resources for their female pair-partners. The observed lack of feeding competition may indicate that a cryptic anti-predator strategy is a better predictor of spatial avoidance of pair-partners than conflict over food. While anti-predator benefits of crypsis may explain, at least partly, female-female avoidance, studies on the relationship between territory size/quality and reproductive success are required to understand whether feeding competition reduces the potential for female association in L. leucopus.}, }
@article {pmid24656831, year = {2014}, author = {Liker, A and Freckleton, RP and Székely, T}, title = {Divorce and infidelity are associated with skewed adult sex ratios in birds.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {24}, number = {8}, pages = {880-884}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2014.02.059}, pmid = {24656831}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; Birds/*physiology ; Female ; Least-Squares Analysis ; Likelihood Functions ; Male ; *Models, Biological ; Pair Bond ; Phylogeny ; Sex Factors ; *Sex Ratio ; Sexual Behavior, Animal/*physiology ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Adult sex ratio (ASR) is a fundamental concept in population demography, and recent theory suggests that ASR plays a central role in social behavior, mating systems, and parental care. Unbalanced ASRs are predicted to influence pair-bond and mating behavior, since the rarer sex in the population has more potential partners to mate with than the more common sex. Here we use phylogenetic comparative analyses to test whether ASR is related to three major aspects of mating behavior: divorce, social polygamy, and pair-bond infidelity. ASR is strongly correlated with long-term pair bonds, since the divorce rate is higher in species with a female-biased sex ratio, indicating that mate change by pair members and/or breaking of pair bonds by unmated individuals is more frequent when females outnumber males. Short-term pair bonds are also associated with unbalanced ASRs: males are more commonly polygamous when females outnumber males, and conversely, females are more polygamous when males outnumber females. Furthermore, infidelity increases with male-biased ASR in socially monogamous birds, suggesting that male coercion and/or female willingness to cheat the partner are facilitated by male-biased ASR. Our results provide the first comprehensive support for the proposition that ASR influences multiple aspects of pair-bond and mating behavior in wild populations.}, }
@article {pmid24583291, year = {2014}, author = {Pozzi, L and Hodgson, JA and Burrell, AS and Sterner, KN and Raaum, RL and Disotell, TR}, title = {Primate phylogenetic relationships and divergence dates inferred from complete mitochondrial genomes.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {75}, number = {}, pages = {165-183}, pmid = {24583291}, issn = {1095-9513}, support = {R01 GM060760/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R24 GM065580/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R24-GM65580/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bayes Theorem ; *Biological Evolution ; Fossils ; *Genome, Mitochondrial ; Likelihood Functions ; Mammals/genetics ; Models, Genetic ; *Phylogeny ; Primates/*classification/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {The origins and the divergence times of the most basal lineages within primates have been difficult to resolve mainly due to the incomplete sampling of early fossil taxa. The main source of contention is related to the discordance between molecular and fossil estimates: while there are no crown primate fossils older than 56Ma, most molecule-based estimates extend the origins of crown primates into the Cretaceous. Here we present a comprehensive mitogenomic study of primates. We assembled 87 mammalian mitochondrial genomes, including 62 primate species representing all the families of the order. We newly sequenced eleven mitochondrial genomes, including eight Old World monkeys and three strepsirrhines. Phylogenetic analyses support a strong topology, confirming the monophyly for all the major primate clades. In contrast to previous mitogenomic studies, the positions of tarsiers and colugos relative to strepsirrhines and anthropoids are well resolved. In order to improve our understanding of how fossil calibrations affect age estimates within primates, we explore the effect of seventeen fossil calibrations across primates and other mammalian groups and we select a subset of calibrations to date our mitogenomic tree. The divergence date estimates of the Strepsirrhine/Haplorhine split support an origin of crown primates in the Late Cretaceous, at around 74Ma. This result supports a short-fuse model of primate origins, whereby relatively little time passed between the origin of the order and the diversification of its major clades. It also suggests that the early primate fossil record is likely poorly sampled.}, }
@article {pmid24559671, year = {2014}, author = {Ito, K and Shinomiya, K and Ito, M and Armstrong, JD and Boyan, G and Hartenstein, V and Harzsch, S and Heisenberg, M and Homberg, U and Jenett, A and Keshishian, H and Restifo, LL and Rössler, W and Simpson, JH and Strausfeld, NJ and Strauss, R and Vosshall, LB and , }, title = {A systematic nomenclature for the insect brain.}, journal = {Neuron}, volume = {81}, number = {4}, pages = {755-765}, doi = {10.1016/j.neuron.2013.12.017}, pmid = {24559671}, issn = {1097-4199}, support = {BB/G02247X/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; /HHMI/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; 271200577531C//PHS HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Brain/*anatomy &amp; histology ; Drosophila melanogaster/*anatomy &amp; histology ; Female ; Neural Pathways/anatomy &amp; histology ; Neuropil ; *Terminology as Topic ; }, abstract = {Despite the importance of the insect nervous system for functional and developmental neuroscience, descriptions of insect brains have suffered from a lack of uniform nomenclature. Ambiguous definitions of brain regions and fiber bundles have contributed to the variation of names used to describe the same structure. The lack of clearly determined neuropil boundaries has made it difficult to document precise locations of neuronal projections for connectomics study. To address such issues, a consortium of neurobiologists studying arthropod brains, the Insect Brain Name Working Group, has established the present hierarchical nomenclature system, using the brain of Drosophila melanogaster as the reference framework, while taking the brains of other taxa into careful consideration for maximum consistency and expandability. The following summarizes the consortium's nomenclature system and highlights examples of existing ambiguities and remedies for them. This nomenclature is intended to serve as a standard of reference for the study of the brain of Drosophila and other insects.}, }
@article {pmid24534738, year = {2014}, author = {Caplan, A}, title = {It is hard to get there without a guide: How I came to a career in bioethics.}, journal = {Cambridge quarterly of healthcare ethics : CQ : the international journal of healthcare ethics committees}, volume = {23}, number = {2}, pages = {118-123}, doi = {10.1017/S0963180113000649}, pmid = {24534738}, issn = {1469-2147}, mesh = {*Authorship ; Bioethical Issues ; *Bioethics/education/history/trends ; Boston ; *Career Choice ; *Community Participation ; *Education, Graduate ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Humans ; *Mass Media/statistics &amp; numerical data ; Massachusetts ; *Mentors ; Narration ; New York City ; *Philosophy ; *Poliomyelitis/rehabilitation ; Preceptorship ; Public Opinion ; *Schools, Medical/history/trends ; Societies/*history ; Sociobiology/*history ; Teaching ; United States ; Writing/history/standards ; }, }
@article {pmid24519371, year = {2014}, author = {Spaethe, J and Streinzer, M and Eckert, J and May, S and Dyer, AG}, title = {Behavioural evidence of colour vision in free flying stingless bees.}, journal = {Journal of comparative physiology. A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology}, volume = {200}, number = {6}, pages = {485-496}, pmid = {24519371}, issn = {1432-1351}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/*physiology ; Behavior, Animal/*physiology ; Color ; Color Vision/*physiology ; Computer Simulation ; Discrimination, Psychological/*physiology ; Feeding Behavior/*physiology ; Learning/*physiology ; Mass Spectrometry ; Photic Stimulation ; Species Specificity ; Statistics, Nonparametric ; }, abstract = {Colour vision was first demonstrated with behavioural experiments in honeybees 100 years ago. Since that time a wealth of quality physiological data has shown a highly conserved set of trichromatic colour receptors in most bee species. Despite the subsequent wealth of behavioural research on honeybees and bumblebees, there currently is a relative dearth of data on stingless bees, which are the largest tribe of the eusocial bees comprising of more than 600 species. In our first experiment we tested Trigona cf. fuscipennis, a stingless bee species from Costa Rica in a field setting using the von Frisch method and show functional colour vision. In a second experiment with these bees, we use a simultaneous colour discrimination test designed for honeybees to enable a comparative analysis of relative colour discrimination. In a third experiment, we test in laboratory conditions Tetragonula carbonaria, an Australian stingless bee species using a similar simultaneous colour discrimination test. Both stingless bee species show relatively poorer colour discrimination compared to honeybees and bumblebees; and we discuss the value of being able to use these behavioural methods to efficiently extend our current knowledge of colour vision and discrimination in different bee species.}, }
@article {pmid24455462, year = {2014}, author = {Mishra, S and Singh, SK and Munjal, AK and Aspi, J and Goyal, SP}, title = {Panel of polymorphic heterologous microsatellite loci to genotype critically endangered Bengal tiger: a pilot study.}, journal = {SpringerPlus}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {4}, pmid = {24455462}, issn = {2193-1801}, abstract = {In India, six landscapes and source populations that are important for long-term conservation of Bengal tigers (Panthera tigris tigris) have been identified. Except for a few studies, nothing is known regarding the genetic structure and extent of gene flow among most of the tiger populations across India as the majority of them are small, fragmented and isolated. Thus, individual-based relationships are required to understand the species ecology and biology for planning effective conservation and genetics-based individual identification has been widely used. But this needs screening and describing characteristics of microsatellite loci from DNA from good-quality sources so that the required number of loci can be selected and the genotyping error rate minimized. In the studies so far conducted on the Bengal tiger, a very small number of loci (n = 35) have been tested with high-quality source of DNA, and information on locus-specific characteristics is lacking. The use of such characteristics has been strongly recommended in the literature to minimize the error rate and by the International Society for Forensic Genetics (ISFG) for forensic purposes. Therefore, we describe for the first time locus-specific genetic and genotyping profile characteristics, crucial for population genetic studies, using high-quality source of DNA of the Bengal tiger. We screened 39 heterologous microsatellite loci (Sumatran tiger, domestic cat, Asiatic lion and snow leopard) in captive individuals (n = 8), of which 21 loci are being reported for the first time in the Bengal tiger, providing an additional choice for selection. The mean relatedness coefficient (R = -0.143) indicates that the selected tigers were unrelated. Thirty-four loci were polymorphic, with the number of alleles ranging from 2 to 7 per locus, and the remaining five loci were monomorphic. Based on the PIC values (> 0.500), and other characteristics, we suggest that 16 loci (3 to 7 alleles) be used for genetic and forensic study purposes. The probabilities of matching genotypes of unrelated individuals (3.692 × 10(-19)) and siblings (4.003 × 10(-6)) are within the values needed for undertaking studies in population genetics, relatedness, sociobiology and forensics.}, }
@article {pmid24417075, year = {2013}, author = {Tkachenko, EI}, title = {[Principles of development and prophylaxis of diseases in the course of noospherogenesis from the standpoint of predictive-preventive personified medicine].}, journal = {Klinicheskaia meditsina}, volume = {91}, number = {6}, pages = {77-80}, pmid = {24417075}, issn = {0023-2149}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; *Computational Biology/methods/trends ; *Disease Susceptibility ; Environment ; Genome ; Humans ; Metabolome ; *Preventive Medicine/methods/trends ; Sociobiology ; }, abstract = {Human population actively forms noosphere from the biosphere which leads to a change in biological nature of man and the range of diseases that affect him. The use of molecular predictors derived from genome, metabolome, proteome, and microbiome in clinical practice opens up an opportunity to pass to more effective predictive--protective personified medicine.}, }
@article {pmid24412654, year = {2014}, author = {Smolla, M and Ruchty, M and Nagel, M and Kleineidam, CJ}, title = {Clearing pigmented insect cuticle to investigate small insects' organs in situ using confocal laser-scanning microscopy (CLSM).}, journal = {Arthropod structure &amp; development}, volume = {43}, number = {2}, pages = {175-181}, doi = {10.1016/j.asd.2013.12.006}, pmid = {24412654}, issn = {1873-5495}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*anatomy &amp; histology ; Body Size ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional/methods ; Microscopy, Confocal/*methods ; }, abstract = {Various microscopic techniques allow investigating structures from submicron to millimeter range, however, this is only possible if the structures of interest are not covered by pigmented cuticle. Here, we present a protocol that combines clearing of pigmented cuticle while preserving both, hard and soft tissues. The resulting transparent cuticle allows confocal laser-scanning microscopy (CLSM), which yields high-resolution images of e.g. the brain, glands, muscles and fine cuticular structures. Using a fluorescent dye, even single labeled neurons can be visualized and resolved up to an imaging depth of 150 μm through the cleared cuticle. Hydrogen-peroxide, which was used to clear the cuticle, does not preclude immunocytochemical techniques, shown by successful labeling of serotonin-immunoreactive neurons (5HT-ir) in the ants' brain. The 'transparent insect protocol' presented here is especially suited for small arthropods where dissection of organs is very demanding and difficult to achieve. Furthermore, the insect organs are preserved in situ thus allowing a more precise three-dimensional reconstruction of the structures of interest compared to, e.g., dissected or sectioned tissue.}, }
@article {pmid24392644, year = {2014}, author = {Lapsley, D and Carlo, G}, title = {Moral development at the crossroads: new trends and possible futures.}, journal = {Developmental psychology}, volume = {50}, number = {1}, pages = {1-7}, doi = {10.1037/a0035225}, pmid = {24392644}, issn = {1939-0599}, mesh = {Culture ; Humans ; *Moral Development ; *Morale ; Neurosciences/*trends ; Personality ; *Psychological Theory ; Self Concept ; Social Values ; }, abstract = {This article introduces a special section on moral development. We claim that the field is now undergoing a resurgence of theoretical and methodological innovation after the eclipse of paradigmatic moral stage theory. Although research on prosocial development, moral emotions, and social domain theory has sustained interest in moral development, recent additional trends have contributed to its resurgence. This includes research in neuroscience, sociobiology, and social psychology; broad interest in moral-character education and virtues; and the appearance of recent handbooks and special journal issues. We review 3 broad possible future themes (early development, self and personality, and culture) of moral development research and introduce a set of new contributions in this special section as examples.}, }
@article {pmid25977753, year = {2014}, author = {Ahmed, Z and Zeeshan, S and Fleischmann, P and Rössler, W and Dandekar, T}, title = {Ant-App-DB: a smart solution for monitoring arthropods activities, experimental data management and solar calculations without GPS in behavioral field studies.}, journal = {F1000Research}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {311}, pmid = {25977753}, issn = {2046-1402}, abstract = {Field studies on arthropod ecology and behaviour require simple and robust monitoring tools, preferably with direct access to an integrated database. We have developed and here present a database tool allowing smart-phone based monitoring of arthropods. This smart phone application provides an easy solution to collect, manage and process the data in the field which has been a very difficult task for field biologists using traditional methods. To monitor our example species, the desert ant Cataglyphis fortis, we considered behavior, nest search runs, feeding habits and path segmentations including detailed information on solar position and azimuth calculation, ant orientation and time of day. For this we established a user friendly database system integrating the Ant-App-DB with a smart phone and tablet application, combining experimental data manipulation with data management and providing solar position and timing estimations without any GPS or GIS system. Moreover, the new desktop application Dataplus allows efficient data extraction and conversion from smart phone application to personal computers, for further ecological data analysis and sharing. All features, software code and database as well as Dataplus application are made available completely free of charge and sufficiently generic to be easily adapted to other field monitoring studies on arthropods or other migratory organisms. The software applications Ant-App-DB and Dataplus described here are developed using the Android SDK, Java, XML, C# and SQLite Database.}, }
@article {pmid24379481, year = {2013}, author = {Simons, RL and Simons, LG and Lei, MK and Beach, SR and Brody, GH and Gibbons, FX and Philibert, RA}, title = {Genetic Moderation of the Impact of Parenting on Hostility toward Romantic Partners.}, journal = {Journal of marriage and the family}, volume = {75}, number = {2}, pages = {325-341}, pmid = {24379481}, issn = {0022-2445}, support = {P30 DA027827/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AA012768/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DA021898/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 MH062669/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Although GxE studies are typically based on the assumption that some individuals possess genetic variants that enhance their vulnerability to environmental adversity, the differential susceptibility model posits that these individuals are simply more sensitive to social context, whether that context be adverse or supportive. Thus those persons most vulnerable to adversity are the same ones who reap the most benefit from support. This idea was tested using longitudinal data from a sample of several hundred African Americans. Findings indicated that relatively common variants of the GABRA2 gene interact with parenting to predict hostility toward romantic partners in a manner consonant with the differential susceptibility hypothesis. Individuals with these genetic variants displayed more aggression toward their partner than those with other genotypes when they had been subjected to harsh parenting, but exhibited less aggression toward their partner than other genotypes if their parents avoided harsh parenting practices.}, }
@article {pmid24347750, year = {2013}, author = {Dröscher, I and Kappeler, PM}, title = {Defining the Low End of Primate Social Complexity: The Social Organization of the Nocturnal White-Footed Sportive Lemur (Lepilemur leucopus).}, journal = {International journal of primatology}, volume = {34}, number = {6}, pages = {1225-1243}, pmid = {24347750}, issn = {0164-0291}, abstract = {Whereas other species of sportive lemurs (genus Lepilemur) have been described as living in dispersed pairs, which are characterized by spatial overlap but a lack of affinity or affiliation between one adult male and female, existing reports on the social organization of the white-footed sportive lemur (Lepilemur leucopus) are conflicting, describing them as either living in dispersed one-male multifemale systems or pairs. We conducted this study in the spiny forest of Berenty Reserve, southern Madagascar, to clarify the social organization and to characterize the level of social complexity of this species. We combined 1530 h of radio-telemetry and behavioral observations over a period of 1 yr to describe the spatiotemporal stability, size, and interindividual overlap of individual home ranges as well as interindividual cohesiveness. Results revealed low intra- and high intersexual home range overlap. Although most of the social units identified consisted of dispersed pairs (N = 5), males were associated with two adult females in two cases. Furthermore, members of a social unit were never observed to groom each other or to share a daytime sleeping site, and Hutchinson's and Doncaster's dynamic interaction tests indicated active avoidance between pair partners. Low cohesiveness together with extremely low rates of social interactions therefore arguably places Lepilemur leucopus at the low end of primate social complexity.}, }
@article {pmid24318942, year = {2014}, author = {Schnoell, AV and Huebner, F and Kappeler, PM and Fichtel, C}, title = {Manual lateralization in wild redfronted lemurs (Eulemur rufifrons) during spontaneous actions and in an experimental task.}, journal = {American journal of physical anthropology}, volume = {153}, number = {1}, pages = {61-67}, doi = {10.1002/ajpa.22403}, pmid = {24318942}, issn = {1096-8644}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthropology, Physical ; Behavior, Animal/*physiology ; Feeding Behavior/physiology ; Female ; Functional Laterality/*physiology ; Hand Strength ; Lemur/*physiology ; Madagascar ; Male ; }, abstract = {The dominant use of one hand is a striking feature of humans, but manual lateralization can be found in a variety of other species as well. In primates, the lateralization in hand use varies among species and several theories such as the "postural origin," "task complexity," or "development theory" have been suggested to explain this variation. In order to contribute comparative data on this phenomenon from a basal primate, we studied manual lateralization in wild redfronted lemurs (Eulemur rufifrons). Data were collected on four groups at Kirindy Forest, western Madagascar, during spontaneous actions and by confronting them with artificial feeding boxes. The lemurs did not exhibit manual lateralization on a group level in either condition. More individuals showed a hand preference in the experimental task, and the preferences were stronger compared to spontaneous actions. The direction of individual hand preferences was not consistent across the two conditions. The results of this study show that measuring manual laterality in different contexts can yield different results. Manual lateralization in wild redfronted lemurs therefore seems to be flexible and situation dependent and probably not ecologically relevant in their natural habitat.}, }
@article {pmid24266034, year = {2013}, author = {Larmuseau, MH and Vanoverbeke, J and Van Geystelen, A and Defraene, G and Vanderheyden, N and Matthys, K and Wenseleers, T and Decorte, R}, title = {Low historical rates of cuckoldry in a Western European human population traced by Y-chromosome and genealogical data.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {280}, number = {1772}, pages = {20132400}, pmid = {24266034}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Belgium ; Chromosomes, Human, Y/*genetics/metabolism ; Female ; *Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Paternity ; Pedigree ; *Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reproduction ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Recent evidence suggests that seeking out extra-pair paternity (EPP) can be a viable alternative reproductive strategy for both males and females in many pair-bonded species, including humans. Accurate data on EPP rates in humans, however, are scant and mostly restricted to extant populations. Here, we provide the first large-scale, unbiased genetic study of historical EPP rates in a Western European human population based on combining Y-chromosomal data to infer genetic patrilineages with genealogical and surname data, which reflect known historical presumed paternity. Using two independent methods, we estimate that over the last few centuries, EPP rates in Flanders (Belgium) were only around 1–2% per generation. This figure is substantially lower than the 8–30% per generation reported in some behavioural studies on historical EPP rates, but comparable with the rates reported by other genetic studies of contemporary Western European populations. These results suggest that human EPP rates have not changed substantially during the last 400 years in Flanders and imply that legal genealogies rarely differ from the biological ones. This result has significant implications for a diverse set of fields, including human population genetics, historical demography, forensic science and human sociobiology.}, }
@article {pmid24228694, year = {2013}, author = {Markolf, M and Kappeler, PM}, title = {Phylogeographic analysis of the true lemurs (genus Eulemur) underlines the role of river catchments for the evolution of micro-endemism in Madagascar.}, journal = {Frontiers in zoology}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {70}, pmid = {24228694}, issn = {1742-9994}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Due to its remarkable species diversity and micro-endemism, Madagascar has recently been suggested to serve as a biogeographic model region. However, hypothesis-based tests of various diversification mechanisms that have been proposed for the evolution of the island's micro-endemic lineages are still limited. Here, we test the fit of several diversification hypotheses with new data on the broadly distributed genus Eulemur using coalescent-based phylogeographic analyses.<br><br>RESULTS: Time-calibrated species tree analyses and population genetic clustering resolved the previously polytomic species relationships among eulemurs. The most recent common ancestor of eulemurs was estimated to have lived about 4.45 million years ago (mya). Divergence date estimates furthermore suggested a very recent diversification among the members of the "brown lemur complex", i.e. former subspecies of E. fulvus, during the Pleistocene (0.33-1.43 mya). Phylogeographic model comparisons of past migration rates showed significant levels of gene flow between lineages of neighboring river catchments as well as between eastern and western populations of the redfronted lemur (E. rufifrons).<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Together, our results are concordant with the centers of endemism hypothesis (Wilm&#xe9; et al. 2006, Science 312:1063-1065), highlight the importance of river catchments for the evolution of Madagascar's micro-endemic biota, and they underline the usefulness of testing diversification mechanisms using coalescent-based phylogeographic methods.}, }
@article {pmid24219572, year = {2014}, author = {Kümmerli, R and Ross-Gillespie, A}, title = {Explaining the sociobiology of pyoverdin producing Pseudomonas: a comment on Zhang and Rainey (2013).}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {68}, number = {11}, pages = {3337-3343}, doi = {10.1111/evo.12311}, pmid = {24219572}, issn = {1558-5646}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Oligopeptides/*biosynthesis ; Pseudomonas/*genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Over the past decade, there has been enormous interest in understanding the great diversity of microbial cooperative behaviors, including communication, group-based swarming, fruiting-body formation, and the secretion of group-beneficial enzymes and food-scavenging molecules. Zhang and Rainey, henceforth Z&amp;R, recently contended that sociomicrobiologists have been overzealous in their casting of microbes as inherently social organisms, and too hasty in interpreting microbial behaviors in a social evolutionary framework. This challenge accompanied a set of experiments in which they revisited one of the best-studied social behaviors in bacteria-the production of diffusible, sharable iron-scavenging siderophore molecules. Z&amp;R posit that their findings challenge the view that siderophore production is a cooperative trait. Here, we demonstrate that their arguments are flawed, and stem from both technical mistakes and misunderstandings of social evolution theory.}, }
@article {pmid24212051, year = {2014}, author = {Hämäläinen, A and Heistermann, M and Fenosoa,