Article
Plant Sciences
Ying Li, Xifu Yang, Enping Feng, Kunming Zhao, Zhibin Zhang
Summary: The interaction between animals and plants in seed dispersal and predation has a significant impact on seed germination and rodent hoarding behavior. The study found that acorns quickly germinate when consumed by rodents, and rodents can recognize the germination status of acorns for hoarding purposes. Gibberellin and abscisic acid may play important roles in regulating seed germination and rodent hoarding behavior.
Article
Forestry
Lorenzo Perez-Camacho, Pedro Villar -Salvador, Jesus A. Cuevas, Tomas Gonzalez-Sousa, Loreto Martinez-Baroja
Summary: Seed dispersal is crucial for forest regeneration and is often influenced by the behavior of seed scatter-hoarding animals. However, our understanding of the decision-making process of scatter-hoarders and how vegetation structure at different spatial scales affects dispersal patterns is limited. This study investigates seed dispersal at the forest edge across multiple spatial scales and reveals that the position of source trees in the landscape determines habitat preference and dispersal distance. The study sheds light on the intricate decision-making process of seed caching by scatter-hoarders and its consequences for the spatial patterns of seed dispersal and forest regeneration.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Lin Cao, Patrick A. Jansen, Bo Wang, Chuan Yan, Zhenyu Wang, Jin Chen
Summary: The study suggests that mutual cheating can enhance and stabilize mutualisms, especially when cheating benefits both partners or counter-cheating leads to greater benefits for the victims than tolerating exploitation. Empirical evidence from a seed dispersal mutualism between rodents and plants in a tropical forest in China supports this idea, showing that mutual cheating resulted in higher dispersal and establishment rates for pruned seeds, indicating mutual benefit for both partners.
Article
Ecology
Jeanne Clermont, Sasha Woodward-Gagne, Dominique Berteaux
Summary: The advancement of biologging technology, such as combining GPS and accelerometry, has allowed for detailed tracking of animal behaviors, including the caching behavior of the arctic fox. The study showed a strong correlation between digging behavior and greater snow goose nesting density.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Mark Borchert
Summary: Rodents in the western USA store a large number of seeds, which provide a reliable source of seedling recruitment for desert plants. This study examined the contribution of prefire caching of short-lived seeds to postfire regeneration through artificial caching and greenhouse trials. The results suggest that prefire caches of short-lived seeds may recruit postfire seedlings, but only in specific circumstances.
WESTERN NORTH AMERICAN NATURALIST
(2022)
Editorial Material
Zoology
Lin Cao, Zhibin Zhang
INTEGRATIVE ZOOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Yuwei Teng, Xifu Yang, Guoliang Li, Yunlong Zhu, Zhibin Zhang
Summary: Habitat types have a larger effect on the gut microbiota in rodents compared to differences between species. Alpha diversity of the microbiota was highest in farmland for A. draco, N. fulvescens, and N. confucianus. Alpha diversity of gut microbiota was significantly higher in L. edwardsi compared to A. draco and N. confucianus.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhiwei Zhong, Guoliang Li, Dirk Sanders, Deli Wang, Robert D. Holt, Zhibin Zhang
Summary: Predator-prey interactions play a critical role in structuring ecological communities. This study shows that herbivorous prey species can actively modify their habitat structure to reduce predation risk, resulting in reduced mortality rates. These findings highlight the importance of ecosystem engineering in the interplay between predation risk and natural communities.
Article
Ecology
Yongjun Zhang, Fei Yu, Xianfeng Yi, Weiwei Zhou, Rui Liu, Marcel Holyoak, Lin Cao, Mingming Zhang, Jiani Chen, Zhibin Zhang, Chuan Yan
Summary: This study systematically collected data for 183 seed-hoarding rodent species worldwide and found that the evolution of hoarding strategies was not random in phylogeny, with scatter hoarding originating independently multiple times from larder hoarding. The encephalisation quotient, diet type, and latitudinal distribution were identified as important factors influencing food-hoarding strategies.
Article
Forestry
Hongmao Zhang, Chuan Yan, Hongyu Niu, Hongjun Li, Zhibin Zhang
Summary: This study tracked a rodent-dispersed plant and found that masting can promote seed dispersal and establishment of seedlings through directed dispersal. Seed abundance was a better predictor of directed dispersal effects than rodent abundance or seed-rodent ratio. This finding is important for understanding the impact of masting on plant recruitment.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Xifu Yang, Liliang Han, Yong Wang, Cong Guo, Zhibin Zhang
Summary: By utilizing the Vector Intelligent Monitoring System (VIMS), we can monitor and compare the diversity and abundance of small mammals in the Banruosi forest in real-time. VIMS has many advantages over traditional methods, but also has some disadvantages. The results suggest that VIMS can complement traditional methods in monitoring real-time spatio-temporal changes in small mammal diversity and abundance, and can be useful for monitoring other small animals.
INTEGRATIVE ZOOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Chaoyuan Cheng, Marcel Holyoak, Lei Xu, Jing Li, Wenjun Liu, Nils Chr Stenseth, Zhibin Zhang
Summary: This study explores the competition and coexistence patterns between different lineages of the influenza virus. The results demonstrate that lineages infecting the same host experience stronger competition compared to those infecting different hosts. Additionally, lineages with higher cross-region transmission intensity also face stronger competition and extinction pressures.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Review
Biology
Xinru Wan, Marcel Holyoak, Chuan Yan, Yvon Le Maho, Rodolfo Dirzo, Charles J. Krebs, Nils Chr Stenseth, Zhibin Zhang
Summary: Climate plays a key role in impacting the population dynamics of various organisms. Through a review of studies, it was found that populations of mammals, birds, and insects are significantly influenced by broad-scale climate indices like ENSO and NAO, particularly in the Pacific and Atlantic regions. The findings suggest that different taxa and regions exhibit varying vulnerabilities to climate fluctuations.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Ming Liu, Dongsheng Ren, Xinrong Wan, Xiaona Shen, Chaoyue Zhao, Xingan, Yujie Wang, Fan Bu, Wei Liu, Zhongbing Zhang, Yulong Gao, Xiaoyan Si, Defeng Bai, Shuai Yuan, Feng Zheng, Xinru Wan, Heping Fu, Xiaodong Wu, Aihua Zheng, Qiyong Liu, Zhibin Zhang
Summary: This study investigated the combined effects of EP-1 and ivermectin mixture (iEP-1) baits on rodents and their ectoparasite loads. The results showed that iEP-1 significantly reduced the weights of reproductive organs in male rodents and effectively killed ticks and fleas. Field tests demonstrated that iEP-1 bait delivery reduced the flea index and the abundance of ectoparasites in rodents.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Erdenetuya Batsuren, Xin Zhang, Mingjing Song, Xinru Wan, Guoliang Li, Jing Liu, Shuli Huang, Zhibin Zhang
Summary: Using microsatellite genetic markers, this study examined the changes in the social and genetic mating system and family structure of Brandt's voles in the grassland of Inner Mongolia, China. The results showed that population density influenced the mating system and family structure of the voles, with increased density leading to changes in both social and genetic mates and offspring.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Xifu Yang, Kunming Zhao, Chuan Yan, Bo Wang, Zhibin Zhang
Summary: This study examined the impacts of moderateness and cobalancedness on the fates of Quercus variabilis acorns. The results showed that acorns with more moderate seed mass and coat thickness had higher survival probability, supporting the Moderateness Hypothesis. Seed mass was positively correlated with seed coat thickness, supporting the Cobalancedness Hypothesis. Attraction-biased and co-balanced acorns showed higher survival probability than defense-biased acorns, partially supporting the Cobalancedness Hypothesis.
Article
Biology
Chaoyuan Cheng, Zhibin Zhang
SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Wei Lu, Shuli Huang, Jing Liu, Erdenetuya Batsuren, Guoliang Li, Xinru Wan, Jidong Zhao, Zuoxin Wang, Wenxuan Han, Zhibin Zhang
Summary: For social animals, maintaining a moderate group size is crucial for reproductive success. However, the neurobiological mechanism behind the effects of group size on behavior and reproduction has been poorly understood. This study investigated the impact of different group sizes on behavior and reproduction in Brandt's voles, as well as the mRNA expression of genes related to stress and reproduction in male brains. The results showed that larger groups led to more severe fighting among Brandt’s voles and increased anxiety in males. Additionally, the moderate-sized group exhibited significantly higher numbers of embryos and litters per female. The mRNA expressions related to stress and reproduction in male voles were influenced by the final group size or density due to fighting-induced deaths. These findings emphasize the importance of group size in regulating the fitness of voles through stress and reproduction-related genes and behaviors.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ming Liu, Caixia Yu, Zhichao Zhang, Mingjing Song, Xiuping Sun, Jaroslav Pialek, Jens Jacob, Jiqi Lu, Lin Cong, Hongmao Zhang, Yong Wang, Guoliang Li, Zhiyong Feng, Zhenglin Du, Meng Wang, Xinru Wan, Dawei Wang, Yan-Ling Wang, Hongjun Li, Zuoxin Wang, Bing Zhang, Zhibin Zhang
Summary: Our study reveals that classical inbred mice experienced high selection pressure during domestication under laboratory conditions. The positively selected genes identified are closely related to behavior and the nervous system in mice. The Astn2 mutation, particularly the SNP rs27900929 (T>C), may be linked to tameness and is associated with the ratio of the two Astn2 (a/b) isoforms.
Article
Ecology
Xinru Wan, Chuan Yan, Zhenyu Wang, Zhibin Zhang
Summary: This study analyzed long-term monitoring data of 115 rodent populations in China and found significant positive associations between human disturbances, climate warming, and population declines in most species. The population declines were more pronounced in areas with intensified human disturbance and regions experiencing greater temperature increases.
BMC ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
James A. Klarevas-Irby, Damien R. Farine
Summary: Little is known about how animals overcome temporal constraints on movement during dispersal. This study used GPS tracking of vulturine guineafowl and found that dispersers showed the greatest increase in movement at the same times of day when they moved the most prior to dispersal. These findings suggest that individuals face the same ecological constraints during dispersal as they do in daily life and achieve large displacements by maximizing movement when conditions are most favorable.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Simone Ciaralli, Martina Esposito, Stefano Francesconi, Daniela Muzzicato, Marco Gamba, Matteo Dal Zotto, Daniela Campobello
Summary: Male cuckoos may transfer nest location information to females as a nonmaterial nuptial gift through specific postures and behaviors, potentially influencing mating choices of female cuckoos.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Anne E. Aulsebrook, Rowan Jacques-Hamilton, Bart Kempenaers
Summary: Accelerometry and machine learning have been used to quantify mating behaviors of captive male ruffs. Different machine learning methods were compared and evaluated for their classification performance. The study highlights the challenges and potential pitfalls in classifying mating behaviors using accelerometry and provides recommendations and considerations for future research.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Maria G. Smith, Joshua B. LaPergola, Christina Riehl
Summary: This study analyzed individual contributions to parental care in the greater ani bird and found that workload inequality varied between groups of two and three pairs. However, there was no clear evidence of division of labour within the groups, suggesting individual differences in overall work performed.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Noah M. T. Smith, Reuven Dukas
Summary: Winner and loser effects are observed in many animals, and recent experiments suggest that they may also occur in humans. In two experiments involving video games and reading comprehension, participants who won in the first phase performed significantly better in the second phase compared to those who lost. The effect size was larger in the video game experiment, and men and women showed similar magnitudes of winner and loser effects.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Bianca J. L. Marcellino, Peri Yee, Shannon J. Mccauley, Rosalind L. Murray
Summary: This study examines the trade-off between mating effort and thermoregulatory behavior in dragonflies in response to temperature changes, and investigates the effect of wing melanin on these behaviors. The results indicate that as temperature increases, dragonflies reduce their mating effort and increase their thermoregulatory behavior.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Rafael Rios Moura, Paulo Inacio Prado, Joao Vasconcellos-Neto
Summary: This study examined the escape behavior and decision-making of Aglaoctenus castaneus spiders on different substrates. It was found that spiders inhabiting injurious substrates displayed shorter flight initiation distances and lower sensitivity to predators.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Luigi Baciadonna, Cwyn Solvi, Francesca Terranova, Camilla Godi, Cristina Pilenga, Livio Favaro
Summary: In this study, it was found that African penguins could use ventral dot patterns to recognize their lifelong partner and nonpartner colonymates. This challenges the previous assumption of limited visual involvement in penguin communication, highlighting the complex and flexible recognition process in birds.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Nick A. R. Jones, Jade Newton-Youens, Joachim G. Frommen
Summary: Environmental conditions, particularly temperature, have a significant impact on animal behavior. This study focused on aggression in Neolamprologus pulcher fish and found that aggression rates increased with temperature at lower levels, but decreased after reaching a peak. Additionally, the influence of high temperatures on aggression changed over time during the trials. These findings provide a more comprehensive understanding of the short-term effects of temperature on aggression and highlight the importance of considering non-linear changes in thermal performance.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Bruno Herlander Martins, Andrea Soriano-Redondo, Aldina M. A. Franco, Ines Carry
Summary: Human activities have affected the availability of resources for wildlife, particularly through the provision of anthropogenic food subsidies at landfill sites. This study explores the influence of age on landfill attendance and foraging behavior in white storks. Adult storks visit landfills more frequently and show dominance over juveniles in food acquisition. Juveniles have limited access to landfill resources and are forced to use lower quality areas.