Article
Ecology
Ombeline Sculfort, Ludovic Maisonneuve, Marianne Elias, Thomas G. Aubier, Violaine Llaurens
Summary: Variation in the conspicuousness of colour patterns within and among defended prey species can have significant impacts on their survival. The evolution of conspicuous colour patterns can be limited due to the increased detectability by predators, but may be favored if it results in mimicry with other defended prey. This study develops a model to describe the population dynamics of a conspicuous defended prey species and assesses the conditions under which derived phenotypes with different levels of conspicuousness can invade the population. The research findings suggest that less conspicuous colour patterns are generally favored within mimicry rings, but a more conspicuous pattern may be favored if it leads to a better protected mimicry ring.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Timothy E. Saunders, Anto Prime Nia Monteiro
Summary: New research on five lizard species shows that reaction-diffusion models can accurately predict future adult skin patterns, even without knowing the molecular details. This has implications for understanding the evolution of complex patterns.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Susanne Stuckler, Samantha Cloer, Walter Hodl, Doris Preininger
Summary: Carotenoids play a crucial role in animal coloration, influencing both ontogenetic and dynamic color changes. In the Wallace's flying frog, a high carotenoid diet facilitates rapid and reversible body color changes, while the absence of carotenoid supplementation leads to dull coloration. Dynamic color changes are observed in response to tactile stressors and changing light conditions, serving as camouflage and UV protection.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bin Xu, Dapeng Li, Kaijin Wei, Xiangyun Zhu, Jin Xu, Baoshan Ma
Summary: Due to a decline in resources, Schizothorax waltoni Regan and Percocypris retrodorslis have been listed as second-class protected wildlife in China. This study examined the early development and allometric growth of these species under culture conditions. Four periods of larval growth were identified, and the development of organs prioritized functions related to respiration, feeding, and swimming. The findings provide valuable perspectives for species conservation.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ugo Lorioux-Chevalier, Mario Tuanama Valles, Stephanie Gallusser, Ronaldo Mori Pezo, Mathieu Chouteau
Summary: Warning signals and mimetic convergence in poison frogs show high variability and negative correlation. Variation in warning signals is continuous between populations in different localities. Coloration is consistently the least variable element and plays a greater role in predator avoidance compared to patterning.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
J. Nowosad, K. Kupren, M. Biegaj, D. Kucharczyk
Summary: The study analyzed the anatomical and morphological development of common barbel larvae reared under optimal controlled conditions, revealing that the most significant growth changes in barbel occur during the pre-flexion and flexion periods, which are the fastest developing stages in their life.
Article
Ecology
Diana Abondano Almeida, Johanna Mappes, Swanne Gordon
Summary: Research reveals that predator-simulated handling in wood tiger moth larvae can lead to the development of a more melanized warning signal, smaller body size, and more frequent molting events. The results suggest that plasticity is important in aposematic organisms, but in this case may be complicated by the trade-off between costly pigmentation and other life-history traits.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Roberta Bardini, Alfredo Benso, Gianfranco Politano, Stefano Di Carlo
Summary: Ontogenesis is the process of organism development from early stages to maturity, involving the maintenance of homeostasis despite environmental changes. It relies on various levels of genetic and epigenetic regulation to create phenotypic diversity and complex cellular structures. The Nets-Within-Nets formalism can simulate these regulatory mechanisms and has been applied to model critical processes in ontogenesis, such as the specification of Vulval Precursor Cells in C.Elegans.
COMPUTATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Allison Brackley, John T. Lill, Martha R. Weiss
Summary: Many organisms experience different environmental conditions across life stages, requiring them to adapt to new habitats. Pre-pupae use visual and gravitational cues to select pupation sites, with responses to these cues changing over ontogeny to produce stage-appropriate adaptive behaviors.
ENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA
(2021)
Article
Biology
Sara J. Walton, Aimee J. Silla, John A. Endler, Phillip G. Byrne
Summary: The study found that dietary beta-carotene supplementation did not influence coloration in southern corroboree frogs, but coloration became more conspicuous over time. All frogs expressed color maximally at a similar point in development.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Ecology
Kasey E. Barton
Summary: Plant functional strategies change considerably as plants develop due to intraindividual variability in anatomical, morphological, physiological, and architectural traits. Spatial drivers of intraspecific trait variation have been extensively studied, but developmentally driven intraspecific trait variation has been overlooked. Ontogenetic trait variation is genetically regulated and leads to dramatic changes in plant phenotypes in response to environmental conditions.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
I. Alvarez, J. S. Font-Munoz, I. Hernandez-Carrasco, C. Diaz-Gil, P. M. Salgado-Hernanz, I. A. Catalan
Summary: Using Self Organizing Maps (SOM) technique, we analyzed the influence of stratification process on the vertical distribution of larval fish in a microtidal coastal Mediterranean zone. The analysis integrated multivariate data and size-based information, providing insights into the complex patterns of settlement/recruitment of young fish. This approach overcame the limitations of linear statistical methods in dealing with complex multivariate datasets with multiple dependencies.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michael P. J. Nicolai, Liliana D'Alba, Jonathan Goldenberg, Yannick Gansemans, Filip Van Nieuwerburgh, Susana Clusella-Trullas, Matthew D. Shawkey
Summary: Coloration plays key roles in lizards, with the ability to change color based on environmental conditions. Research on Agama atra reveals that melanin, iridophores, and pteridines are the main mechanisms for producing color, with rapid color change achieved through melanin dispersal and iridophore organization. This study highlights the importance of combining gene expression and microscopy data for understanding physiological processes, providing a foundation for future studies on color change.
Review
Ecology
Peter C. Willadsen
Summary: Aposematism and mimicry are complex phenomena that have been extensively studied, but the focus has been predominantly on butterflies. Aculeate hymenopterans, however, are understudied in terms of their aposematic and mimetic characteristics. Recent studies have identified novel pigments and changes in regulatory elements as potential drivers of color pattern evolution. Predator distribution and diversity, as well as gender, play important roles in the evolution and maintenance of conspicuous color patterns. Further research on aposematic aculeates and their mimics has the potential to answer questions about the evolution of color patterns and the composition and distribution of mimetic communities.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Cadre Francis, Amber Hale, Jennifer Berken, Ted Joanen, Mark Merchant
Summary: This study examines the effect of lighting and environmental factors on the skin color change in alligators. The results show that maintaining juvenile alligators in black enclosures led to a gradual lightening of skin color when shifted to white enclosures. Histological examination revealed differences in the pigmented layer of the skin between dark and light environments. The study also suggests that the ontogenetic loss of stripes in alligators may aid in crypsis and predation. Additionally, the darker color of larger alligators may play a role in thermoregulation, particularly for individuals living in colder climates at the northern end of their range.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Hieu T. Pham, Kathryn B. McNamara, Mark A. Elgar
Summary: Studies have shown that older virgin female gumleaf skeletonizer moths may adjust their calling behavior to mitigate mating failure risk by competing with other females, even though they are less likely to call and spend less time calling compared to younger females. Male olfactory preferences for pheromones produced by younger females suggest that pheromone quality plays a role in the males' choice. These results indicate potential adaptive adjustments in female moths' calling behavior with age.
Article
Psychology, Biological
Shaolin Han, Wenman Chen, Mark A. Elgar
Summary: This study investigates alarm pheromones in ants and their impact on aggressive behavior. Results show that exposure to synthesized alarm pheromones did not change the aggression level of workers, but instead acted as an attractant, increasing the density of displaying workers and influencing their aggressive behavior.
Article
Ecology
Long Yu, Xin Xu, Fan Li, Wei Zhou, Hua Zeng, Eunice J. Tan, Shichang Zhang, Daiqin Li
Summary: Animals use various color-based defense strategies against visually hunting predators, but it remains unclear why individuals switch defense strategies during ontogeny.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Christopher B. Freelance, Michael J. L. Magrath, Mark A. Elgar, Bob B. M. Wong
Summary: The study found that captive breeding environments can lead to changes in the sensory organ morphology of the critically endangered Lord Howe Island stick insect, reducing sensitivity to visual and olfactory signals, which may affect their adaptive behaviors upon reintroduction into a natural habitat.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Sebastian Pohl, Haaken Z. Bungum, Kenneth E. M. Lee, Mohamad Azlin Bin Sani, Yan H. Poh, Rodzay bin Hj Abd Wahab, Y. Norma-Rashid, Eunice J. Tan
Summary: The interaction between behaviors and morphological adaptations of phasmids in response to the dynamic environment is understudied. This study investigated the behavioral responses of two species of phasmids at different ontogenetic stages to a wind stimulus. Results showed that the behaviors of adult phasmids were mostly species-specific, while nymphs exhibited varying responses depending on their appearance and environmental conditions. These behavioral responses could enhance the phasmids' protection by reducing detection or recognition cues. The findings highlight the importance of considering the effects of dynamic environments on the interplay between behavior and morphology in adaptive resemblance strategies.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Jessica Henneken, Sean J. Blamires, Jason Qd Goodger, Theresa M. Jones, Mark A. Elgar
Summary: This study investigates variation in the web traits of orb-weaving spiders across different populations and finds that environmental mechanisms can drive this variation.
BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Shaolin Han, Ben L. Phillips, Mark A. Elgar
Summary: Disputes over resources are initially resolved by signals revealing the resource-holding potential (RHP) of competitors. In contests between neighboring colonies of meat ants, individual contests were not influenced by body size, but colony level contests were determined by colony size. These results demonstrate the importance of colony size in determining group resource-holding potential.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Patricia Henriquez-Piskulich, Devi Stuart-Fox, Mark Elgar, Ivan Marusic, Amanda M. Franklin
Summary: Animals with glossy surfaces may have evolved their appearance as a protection against predators when they are moving. Praying mantids were less likely to attack and accurately strike targets that were glossy and moving fast. This study provides empirical evidence that glossiness may offer protection for fast moving animals against predation.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Eunice J. Tan, Mark A. Elgar, Xue Bian, Richard A. Peters
Summary: Diverse animals sway in response to abiotic and biotic factors. Recent research on swaying in phasmids suggests it may serve as a form of anti-predator behavior. However, a reanalysis of data claimed swaying is related to postural sway and not anti-predator behavior, which we dispute based on our observations of phasmids adopting an upright posture in only 4% of cases. We emphasize the importance of accurate knowledge of a species' natural history when inferring biological function.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Editorial Material
Ecology
Eunice J. J. Tan, Mark A. A. Elgar
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Qike Wang, Genting Liu, Liping Yan, Wentian Xu, Douglas J. Hilton, Xianhui Liu, Wenya Pei, Xinyu Li, Jinbiao Wu, Haifeng Zhao, Dong Zhang, Mark A. A. Elgar
Summary: The consequences of sub-lethal levels of ambient air pollution on insects have been underestimated, particularly the effects of particulate matter accumulation on their sensory receptors. This study shows that the density of particulate matter on houseflies' antennae increases with the severity of air pollution in urban areas. Through various experiments and analysis, it is demonstrated that exposure to particulate matter pollution compromises the olfactory perception of reproductive and food odours in both male and female houseflies. These findings suggest that even pristine and remote areas may experience declines in insect numbers due to the effects of particulate matter pollution.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Devi Stuart-Fox, Leslie Ng, Mark A. Elgar, Katja Holtta-Otto, Gerd E. Schroder-Turk, Nicolas H. Voelcker, Gregory S. Watson
Summary: Nature offers abundant inspiration for advanced materials, thanks to evolutionary innovations accumulated over millions of years. To make the most of these biological solutions, a holistic understanding of multifunctional biological systems and leveraging nature's defining feature - diversity - is necessary.
NATURE REVIEWS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Devi Stuart-Fox, Leslie Ng, Leonie Barner, Andrew T. D. Bennett, Sean J. Blamires, Mark A. Elgar, Alistair R. Evans, Amanda M. Franklin, Katja Holtta-Otto, James A. Hutchison, Fernando Jativa, Anna-Lee Jessop, Jennifer Kelley, Janet McGaw, Jun Mei, Mohammad Mirkhalaf, Mustafa Musameh, Chiara Neto, Andrea J. O'Connor, Tim Schork, Gerd E. Schroder-Turk, Nicolas H. Voelcker, Anna Wang, Gregory S. Watson, Jolanta A. Watson, Lukas Wesemann, Wallace W. H. Wong
Summary: Nature offers valuable insights for the design of new materials, but replicating the form, function, and sustainability of biological solutions remains a significant challenge. This article highlights key challenges and promising approaches to developing bioinformed materials, including utilizing biological information for materials innovation and addressing design and manufacturing issues.
COMMUNICATIONS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Shaolin Han, Ben L. Phillips, Mark A. Elgar
Summary: Studies have shown that the level of escalation in animal contests is associated with the value of the contested resource. However, this prediction has not been experimentally tested in the collective context of group-living animals. Through a novel field experimental manipulation, researchers found that group contests between colonies of meat ants escalated according to the value of the contested food resource. This study confirms that the contest behavior of individual workers reflects the nutritional requirements of the colony.
BMC ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
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.
