Article
Behavioral Sciences
Sergio Naretto, Margarita Chiaraviglio
Summary: Sexual selection pressures play a significant role in driving the evolution of color and behavioral traits in lizards. This study found that winners in agonistic interactions among Achala copper lizards can change the lightness of their skin and display more push-up behaviors. These changes in color and behavior serve as essential signals for contenders to assess their opponent's fighting ability and resolve conflicts without escalating aggression.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Evan M. F. Shepherdson, Christine R. Baglio, Marie A. Elliot
Summary: Streptomyces are versatile bacteria on terrestrial environments, exhibiting strong metabolic capabilities and behavioral flexibility. They compete for environmental niches by utilizing novel growth and dispersal behaviors, and employ diverse metabolic repertoire for various purposes. They are increasingly found to have symbiotic relationships with plants and insects, providing protective benefits through production of antimicrobial compounds. This article highlights recent advances in understanding the competitive and cooperative interactions between Streptomyces and phage, microbes, and higher organisms in their environment.
CURRENT OPINION IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yutao Bai, Jason Henry, Eva Cheng, Stuart Perry, David Mawdsley, Bob B. M. Wong, Jan Kaslin, Donald Wlodkowic
Summary: Aquatic eco-neurotoxicology is a new field that focuses on studying the effects of pollutants on animal behaviors, particularly the cognitive behaviors affected by neurotoxicants. However, the scarcity of experimental data is due to the lack of low-cost technologies for analyzing higher-level neurological functions in small aquatic organisms. In this study, a proof-of-concept prototype was presented, utilizing real-time animal tracking software and closed-loop external hardware for delivering stimuli based on specific behaviors. The system demonstrated precise animal tracking across different aquatic species and has potential applications in cognitive research of small aquatic model organisms.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jamie L. Lim, Roy Augustinus, Jaap J. Plomp, Kasra Roya-Kouchaki, Dana L. E. Vergoossen, Yvonne Fillie-Grijpma, Josephine Struijk, Rachel Thomas, Daniela Salvatori, Christophe Steyaert, Christophe Blanchetot, Roeland Vanhauwaert, Karen Silence, Silvere M. van der Maarel, Jan J. Verschuuren, Maartje G. Huijbers
Summary: Muscle-specific kinase (MuSK) is crucial for neuromuscular junction (NMJ) function. Agonist monoclonal antibodies targeting MuSK Ig-like 1 domain showed potential in vitro, but failed to rescue myasthenia in vivo. Unexpectedly, MuSK agonists caused sudden death in male mice, hampering further development.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Philippe Louapre, Karen Muller, Soline Bettencourt-Amarante, Denis Thiery, Jerome Moreau
Summary: This study investigated the plasticity of behavioral and physiological responses of male moths to different sexual audiences before and during mating. Results showed that males adjusted their mating behaviors and spermatophore size based on the perceived risk of sperm competition, and reduced mating duration in the presence of females. However, these adjustments did not have an effect on reproductive performance.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Hanna K. Eriksson, Marina A. G. von Keyserlingk, Daniel M. Weary
Summary: The study aimed to evaluate the impact of post-calving social environment on standing behavior in primiparous cows. The results showed that the social environment did not affect standing behavior, but did influence agonistic interactions and may have influenced the risk of claw horn lesions in the weeks following calving. Further research is needed to explore the relationship between social environment and claw health.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jawad Ali, Yang Li, Enxiang Shang, Xinjie Wang, Jian Zhao, Muhammad Mohiuddin, Xinghui Xia
Summary: Graphene oxide (GO) has unique characteristics and significant potential in academic and industrial applications. The aggregation of GO in aquatic environments is mainly influenced by the properties of nanoparticles and complex water chemistry. However, a systematic study considering the various factors and variations in GO properties is still lacking. More research is needed to understand the stability, interaction with other nanomaterials, and impact of GO in the environment.
CHINESE CHEMICAL LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Julia S. Balsam, Paul A. Stevenson
Summary: Members of various animal species exhibit consistent individual differences in behavior, which can be influenced by social experiences. In the case of male crickets, it was found that experiences gathered from social conflict can establish differences in approaching or avoiding stimuli. This study highlights the importance of social interactions during post-embryonic and early adult development in shaping individuality and behavior in crickets.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Martina Magris
Summary: Males adjust their investment in sperm and nonsperm components of the ejaculate according to the context, involving modifications in both sperm numbers and ejaculate quality. This phenomenon is widespread across taxa, with responses to various environmental factors and modifications of many ejaculate traits. The study also highlights the implications of these adjustments for male and female behavior, and identifies areas for further research on the mechanisms and adaptive value of ejaculate plasticity.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Juliana Maria Massari, Daniella Jorge de Moura, Irenilza de Alencar Naas, Danilo Florentino Pereira, Tatiane Branco
Summary: This study tested the impact of rearing-environment enrichment on broiler movement using computer vision-based indexes. The results showed that the simultaneous application of cluster and unrest indexes could monitor broiler movement under different environmental conditions. The study highlights the importance of considering environmental complexity in future computer-vision-based monitoring and alert systems for detecting heat stress in broiler production. More research is needed to evaluate the potential positive impact of environmental enrichment in poultry production, and recalibration of the computer vision system may be necessary for large group settings.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hansjoerg P. Kunc, Kyle Morrison, Rouven Schmidt
Summary: Animal communication is essential for survival and reproduction in animal societies. The Lombard effect, an increase in signal amplitude to cope with ambient noise, is present in birds, mammals, fish, and amphibians. This effect is a widespread mechanism for dealing with changes in noise levels and does not require vocal learning.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Automation & Control Systems
Jincun Liu, Zhengxing Wu, Junzhi Yu, Zhibin Xue
Summary: This article introduces a modified path planner and behavior-based strategy for a dual robotic dolphin system to achieve cooperative target tracking. By designing special body structures, using fast path planning algorithms, and implementing high-level decision-making based on behavior, an effective cooperative control scheme is realized.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON SYSTEMS MAN CYBERNETICS-SYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Geovani Marques Laurindo, Gabriel Araujo e Silva Ferraz, Flavio Alves Damasceno, Joao Antonio Costa do Nascimento, Gabriel Henrique Ribeiro dos Santos, Patricia Ferreira Ponciano Ferraz
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the thermal environment inside a compost barn and the standing and lying behavior of cows through the use of an algorithm developed with artificial intelligence tools, YOLOv3. The highest mean values of THI were observed in the afternoon and autumn, with animals preferring to lie down on the bed for most of the day. The algorithm successfully detected cow behavior and can be recommended for such use, showing significant progress in assessing animal welfare and management.
Article
Zoology
Irene Camerlink, Marianne Farish, Gareth Arnott, Simon P. Turner
Summary: This study provides evidence that there are significant sex differences in agonistic behavior, fighting ability, and contest costs in domestic pigs. These differences become more pronounced as animals get older. Males invest more in ritualized display before escalating into costly fights, whereas females attack sooner but also terminate contests more rapidly and with fewer costs.
FRONTIERS IN ZOOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Liliana Amorim, Sandro Da Mesquita, Luis Jacinto, Magda J. Castelhano-Carlos, Nadine Correia Santos, Hugo Leite-Almeida, Nuno Sousa
Summary: This study examines the social interactions of a group of rats under different conditions of resource access. The results show that reductions in food availability lead to increased heterogeneity in behaviors such as sniffing, chasing, and fighting/struggling. Introducing the possibility of interaction with a female rat leads to a consistent increase in sniffing and fighting/struggling. These findings demonstrate how variations in access to reinforcers modulate social behavior in rats.
FRONTIERS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Alexandre Palaoro, Paulo Enrique Cardoso Peixoto, Fernando Benso-Lopes, Danessa Schardong Boligon, Sandro Santos
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Biology
Zackary A. Graham, Eva Garde, Mads Peter Heide-Jorgensen, Alexandre Palaoro
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Alexandre Palaoro, Danilo G. Muniz, Sandro Santos
JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Ecology
Bianca Lais Zimmermann, Giovanna M. Cardoso, Didier Bouchon, Pedro H. Pezzi, Alexandre V. Palaoro, Paula B. Araujo
Summary: Our study involved collecting terrestrial isopods and termites in the Brazilian Atlantic forest, sequencing and identifying Wolbachia strains in these groups, and constructing phylogenies that showed significant jumps of Wolbachia between terrestrial isopods and termites despite their phylogenetic distance, suggesting likely horizontal transmission of supergroup F Wolbachia between the two species. Our findings contribute to understanding the success and distribution of this symbiont.
EVOLUTIONARY ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Bianca L. Zimmermann, Ivanice Buzatto, Sandro Santos, Federico Giri, Franco Teixeira de Mello, Keith A. Crandall, Marcos Perez-Losada, Marlise L. Bartholomei-Santos
Summary: Cryptic species pose a challenge for morphologically based species identification, but molecular approaches can provide valuable taxonomic hypotheses. Research on South American freshwater crabs of the genus Aegla suggests that morphological similarity does not always indicate genetic relatedness, and there may be cryptic species present. The diversity of these crustaceans seems to be influenced by factors such as habitat fragmentation, morphological stasis, and recent divergence.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Zackary A. Graham, Cindy Vargas, Michael J. Angilletta, Alexandre Palaoro
Summary: Crustaceans are well-known for their ability to autotomize and regenerate appendages, particularly their specialized claws. However, regenerated claws tend to be weaker than original claws in terms of pinching strength and muscle mass. This suggests that claw regeneration may be the mechanism behind the production of dishonest claws in crayfish.
JOURNAL OF CRUSTACEAN BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Alexandre Palaoro, Solimary Garcia-Hernandez, Bruno A. Buzatto, Glauco Machado
Summary: In this study, the authors examined the allometry of contest-related traits in the Amazonian tusked harvestman. They found that the allometry of threat devices and weapons used in contests was consistent with the functional allometry hypothesis. However, they also discovered that function alone could not explain allometric differences in homologous traits between males and females. Additionally, function could not explain differences in allometric slopes between male morphs. The study suggests that further research is needed to understand the factors that affect the allometric slopes of male-dimorphic traits.
EVOLUTIONARY ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Zackary A. Graham, Nicole Kaiser, Alexandre V. Palaoro
Summary: In many species, males possess specialized weaponry that confers benefits during male-male combat. However, females often only have reduced versions of male weaponry. This study focuses on the size, performance, and biomechanics of hindlegs in Thasus neocalifornicus. The findings suggest that selection on the performance and biomechanics of sexually selected weapons can influence the expression of sexual dimorphism.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Caio S. Nogueira, Alexandre R. da Silva, Alexandre Palaoro
Summary: Animal weapons are complex systems composed of multiple structures. By comparing the shape and size of fighting and non-fighting claws, it was shown that they differ in certain aspects but exhibit similar levels of integration.
BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Joao C. T. Menezes, Alexandre V. Palaoro
Summary: Birds are a remarkable example of how sexual selection can produce diverse ornaments and behaviors. Unlike other animals, birds have a scarcity of weapons, and this study suggests that the costly mode of locomotion-powered flight in birds may help explain this. The simulation and analysis showed that species with flight-efficient wings tend to have fewer or no bony spurs, and this association likely arises from more frequent evolutionary loss of spurs due to increased flying. This suggests that the absence of weaponry may be another feature of the avian body plan that allows birds to efficiently explore the aerial habitat.
Article
Biology
Alexandre Palaoro, Paulo Enrique Cardoso Peixoto
Summary: In species that compete for resources, individuals use specialized structures as weapons to gain a mechanical advantage. This study examines the impact of weapons on contest outcomes and identifies patterns in how animals use their weapons. The results show that the extent to which weapons influence contest success depends on weapon traits and fighting style. The study highlights the need to consider weapon function and a wider diversity of species when studying animal weapons.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Mrcio Limberger, Sandro Santos, Daniela Da Silva Castiglioni
Summary: This study describes a new species of freshwater amphipod in the Varzea River basin in southern Brazil, and compares it with previously discovered species. The diversity of freshwater amphipods in this region is intriguing, and further research can help uncover the evolutionary history and patterns of diversification of the genus Hyalella.
Article
Fisheries
Alessandra Janaina Becker, Sandro Santos, Berta Maria Heinzmann, Braulio Otomar Caron, Bernardo Baldisserotto
Summary: This study evaluated the induction and recovery time of anesthesia in the amphipod crustacean H. bonariensis exposed to essential oils. The results showed that the essential oils and their major compounds affected the anesthesia and locomotor activity of the amphipods.
Article
Biology
Danilo Giacometti, Alexandre V. Palaoro, Laura C. Leal, Fabio C. de Barros
Summary: This study investigated how environmental temperature seasonality affects the seasonal variation in body temperature and preferred body temperature in lizards. The results showed that body temperature varied more than preferred body temperature across seasons. Body size and thermoregulatory strategy influenced the variation in body temperature. Additionally, an increase in environmental temperature seasonality led to an increase in the seasonal variation of preferred body temperature. The study also found significant differences in body temperature and preferred body temperature among lizard families.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Glaucia Brisotto, Luciane Ayres-Peres, Sandro Santos
Summary: This study describes the population structure of Tallitroides topitotum in terms of morphometric and reproductive aspects. The research findings show a significant correlation between body and head lengths, as well as body and marsupium lengths in ovigerous females. However, there is no correlation between morphometric data and female fertility. Additionally, there is a positive correlation between the size of individuals and the latitude of occurrence, although not significant.
IHERINGIA SERIE ZOOLOGIA
(2022)