Article
Zoology
Silvan Spiess, Helen K. Mylne, Sabrina Engesser, Joseph G. Mine, Louis G. O'Neill, Andrew F. Russell, Simon W. Townsend
Summary: This study provides rare empirical evidence for syntactic-like structuring in a nonhuman animal, as it shows that chestnut-crowned babblers can modify the form and function of maternal contact calls by combining different call elements. These findings offer insights into the evolutionary progression of syntax in human language.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Fumiaki Y. Nomano, James L. Savage, Lee A. Rollins, Simon C. Griffith, Andrew F. Russell
Summary: Several mechanisms in communal roosting contribute to family living in chestnut-crowned babblers, including both direct and indirect nepotism. Settlement order influences individual roosting positions, with juveniles and immigrant females receiving varying levels of assistance during communal roosting.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Angelo Romano, Ali Seyhun Saral, Junhui Wu
Summary: Prosocial behavior can be promoted through proximate psychological mechanisms related to direct and indirect reciprocity, including reputational concern, expectations, and anticipation of future interaction. Adopting a reciprocity framework allows for a better understanding of human cooperation and opens up numerous avenues for future research.
CURRENT OPINION IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Qiong Wu, Hongbo Ren, Shanshan Shi, Yun Su, Jiawen Lu, Qifen Li
Summary: A co-benefits assessment index system is developed for the introduction of a regional integrated energy system (RIES). An initial benefit distribution model based on attribution relationship is established, and a fair and reasonable cost sharing mechanism for RIES is determined. The commercial feasibility is evaluated through benefit-cost analysis from various stakeholders, and the win-win situation of overall and individual interests is achieved according to the designed benefit distribution mechanism.
Article
Sociology
Hsuan-Wei Lee, Ming-Yi Chang, Wan-Yu Chou, Jing-Shiang Hwang, Yang-Chih Fu
Summary: This study investigates the mechanisms and key factors of the transformation from indirect contacts to direct contacts in personal networks using big data analysis, matched survey data, and social media records.
CANADIAN REVIEW OF SOCIOLOGY-REVUE CANADIENNE DE SOCIOLOGIE
(2022)
Article
Economics
Konstantinos Fotiadis, Prodromos Chatzoglou
Summary: The study reveals that Greek citizens' tax morale is mainly affected by their trust in tax reciprocity, followed closely by their trust in tax authorities and the institution of democracy.
JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ISSUES
(2021)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Katarina C. Stuart, Natalie R. Hofmeister, Julia M. Zichello, Lee A. Rollins
Summary: The Common or European Starling is a highly successful invasive bird species that has been introduced to various regions around the world. By studying its life history and genomic variation, we are able to understand how eco-evolutionary dynamics contribute to its invasion success. Comparing Australian and North American invasions is particularly informative, as they both colonized new ranges concurrently and exhibit shared signals of selection despite different population histories.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hugo Loning, Laura Verkade, Simon C. Griffith, Marc Naguib
Summary: Male songbirds sing to establish territories and attract mates, but recent research has shown that singing also serves other functions, such as social cohesion and breeding synchronization. The study of zebra finches found that despite not having territories, males still sing and form long-term monogamous bonds with females. The study also revealed that singing plays an important role in social aggregations by attracting conspecifics. These findings demonstrate that birdsong has important functions beyond territoriality and mate choice.
Article
Ecology
Shinichi Nakagawa, Daniel W. A. Noble, Malgorzata Lagisz, Rebecca Spake, Wolfgang Viechtbauer, Alistair M. Senior
Summary: The log response ratio (lnRR) is commonly used in ecology meta-analysis, but missing standard deviations (SDs) pose a challenge in estimating the sampling variance. We propose a new method using weighted average coefficient of variation (CV) from studies reporting SDs to address this issue. Our results show that using the average CV to estimate sampling variances for all observations, regardless of missingness, performs better than the conventional approach using individual study-specific CV with complete data. This approach is broadly applicable and can be implemented in all lnRR meta-analyses.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Katharina J. Peters, Livia Gerber, Luca Scheu, Riccardo Cicciarella, Joseph A. Zoller, Zhe Fei, Steve Horvath, Simon J. Allen, Stephanie L. King, Richard C. Connor, Lee Ann Rollins, Michael Krutzen
Summary: The use of epigenetic clocks allows accurate age determination and sex prediction for Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, providing a non-invasive method for extracting life history information.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biology
Rebecca Spake, Diana E. Bowler, Corey T. Callaghan, Shane A. Blowes, C. Patrick Doncaster, Laura H. Antao, Shinichi Nakagawa, Richard McElreath, Jonathan M. Chase
Summary: Ecologists often use statistical models to detect and explain interactions among ecological drivers, but overlook two fundamental properties: the measurement scale and symmetry. Overlooking these properties can lead to three types of inferential errors: misinterpretation of detection and magnitude, misinterpretation of the sign of effect modification, and misidentification of underlying processes. We illustrate these errors using various ecological questions and propose guidelines to improve the study of interactions in ecology.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Katarina C. Stuart, Richard J. Edwards, William B. Sherwin, Lee A. Rollins
Summary: This study examines the genetic diversity within the invasive European starling and finds that structural variants can have a complex impact on adaptation under new selection regimes, and their effects do not always align with SNP diversity.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Hector Pacheco-Fuentes, Riccardo Ton, Simon C. Griffith
Summary: Understanding the consequences of heat exposure on mitochondrial function is vital for the understanding of metabolic processes and population dynamics. Experiments with zebra finches showed that heat treatments during early development led to decreased mitochondrial metabolism in adults. The intensity, pattern, and duration of temperature conditions at early-life stages affected the reaction of adult birds to heat. Our study provides insights into the complexity of mitochondrial metabolism variation and raises questions about the adaptive value of long-lasting physiological adjustments triggered by the early-life thermal environment.
Article
Ecology
Callum S. McDiarmid, Fiona Finch, Marianne Peso, Erica van Rooij, Daniel M. Hooper, Melissah Rowe, Simon C. Griffith
Summary: Mating behavior plays a crucial role in speciation by influencing gene flow between closely related species. The long-tailed finch provides an opportunity to study mating behavior and species barriers through the examination of hybrid zones. Behavioral assays revealed an assortative mating preference for males of the same subspecies, but this preference was not observed when bill color was manipulated. This suggests that mate preference may be based on other traits or a combination of traits, or the bill manipulations were not convincing to the female choosers.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Ornithology
Hugo Loning, Rita Fragueira, Marc Naguib, Simon C. Griffith
Summary: This study identified semi-permanent gathering locations, or "social hotspots," in free-living populations of zebra finches and found that these hotspots are continuously visited by the birds for social interactions and information exchange. These findings reveal the social organization of zebra finches in the wild and contribute to our understanding of their natural social life.
JOURNAL OF AVIAN BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ornithology
Kumkum Dubey, Callum S. Mcdiarmid, Simon C. Griffith
Summary: This study assessed the impact of experimentally manipulated diet on the sperm traits of long-tailed finches. The results showed that diet had no significant impact on sperm length, in contrast to a study on zebra finches. However, there was a slight increase in head, flagellum, and total sperm length during the treatment period. The dietary manipulation also affected bill color saturation and body mass in the long-tailed finches.
JOURNAL OF AVIAN BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Riccardo Ton, Winnie Boner, Shirley Raveh, Pat Monaghan, Simon C. Griffith
Summary: This study investigates the effects of heat waves on telomere dynamics and parental brooding behavior in zebra finch nestlings. The results suggest that the impact of heat waves on telomere dynamics varies depending on the age and thermoregulatory stage of the offspring, as well as parental brooding behavior.
Article
Ecology
Lee A. Rollins, Daniel Lees, Andrew P. Woolnough, Andrea J. West, Michael Perry, David M. Forsyth
Summary: Using genetic data, this study found that sambar deer in Australia and New Zealand are genetically more similar to those in the west of their native range. Although genetic diversity is lower in the introduced populations, they still harbor unique genetic variants that could be used to strengthen genetic diversity in the native range.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Katja Della Libera, Ariana Strandburg-Peshkin, Simon C. Griffith, Stephan T. Leu
Summary: Fission-fusion events are a mechanism for animals to adjust the social environment in response to short-term changes in the cost-benefit ratio of group living. This study identified fission-fusion events in free-ranging sheep based on high-resolution GPS data and found that group size was highest during resting times, while fission and fusion frequencies were highest during periods of high activity. However, fission and fusion events were not more frequent near food patches and water resources, suggesting limited role of resource competition.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2023)
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Katja Della Libera, Ariana Strandburg-Peshkin, Simon C. Griffith, Stephan T. Leu
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Fonti Kar, Shinichi Nakagawa, Daniel W. A. Noble
Summary: Selective processes influence phenotypic variation, but the evolutionary potential relies on heritable variation. Developmental plasticity is an important source of phenotypic variation, but its relationship with genetic variation is not well understood. In this study, we used an animal model and a genomic relatedness matrix to investigate the impact of developmental temperature on growth in lizards. We found that developmental temperature influenced the mass of lizards but not their growth rate. Additionally, we observed changes in the heritability and maternal effects of growth over time.
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.