Article
Biology
Victoria L. Pike, Charlie K. Cornwallis, Ashleigh S. Griffin
Summary: The strength of inbreeding avoidance varies across species, with some species not avoiding related mates. Mechanisms for avoiding inbreeding are only found in species with inbreeding depression.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
David A. Wells, Michael A. Cant, Faye J. Thompson, Harry H. Marshall, Emma I. K. Vitikainen, Joseph Hoffman, Hazel J. Nichols
Summary: The study found that despite opportunities for extra-group paternity to avoid highly inbred offspring in banded mongooses, frequent within-group inbreeding still occurs. Females mate outside of their social group based on individual and societal proxies of within-group inbreeding risk, rather than in direct response to levels of within-group relatedness. Individual repeatability in extra-group paternity was relatively low, but there was high repeatability among female cobreeders, suggesting constraints from opportunities for extra-group mating.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Esteban Botero-Delgadillo, Veronica Quirici, Silvina Ippi, Rodrigo A. Vasquez, Bart Kempenaers
Summary: This study investigates whether there is a preference for mating with kin in isolated populations of the Thorn-tailed Rayadito. The results suggest that mating is not random with respect to kinship, with breeding pairs showing lower relatedness values compared to randomly generated pairs. Female-biased dispersal is hypothesized to be the main mechanism reducing the likelihood of kin mating.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Monil Khera, Kevin Arbuckle, Joseph Hoffman, Jennifer L. Sanderson, Michael A. Cant, Hazel J. Nichols
Summary: Many species avoid inbreeding by recognizing familiar kin, but this rule does not apply to banded mongooses, which have communal breeding and caregiving systems that make it difficult to recognize kin based on familiarity. Despite frequent inbreeding, the use of alternative pre- or post-copulatory inbreeding avoidance mechanisms keeps inbreeding lower than expected if mates were randomly chosen.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Mayuree Puttasan, Mingkwan Nipitwattanaphon, Wikrom Rungsin, Akarapong Swatdipong
Summary: This study investigated the genetic diversity of giant freshwater prawn populations in hatcheries and the wild using microsatellite loci. The results showed no significant difference in genetic diversity between hatchery and wild populations. Moreover, the prawns exhibited a preference for mating with partners from different broodstocks, which is important for maintaining genetic diversity in the populations. This is the first report on inbreeding avoidance in giant freshwater prawns, and future studies should further explore how prawns recognize partners from different broodstocks.
FISHERIES RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Min Chen, Guopan Li, Jinlong Liu, Shaobin Li
Summary: The study suggests that pursuing extrapair copulations may be a natural instinct in birds, and the interaction between males and females for EPCs may lead to larger brains. However, larger brains may also restrict the EPC level for both sexes across bird species, as indicated by the negative association between relative brain size and EPP rates.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biology
Robin E. Morrison, Eric Ndayishimiye, Tara S. Stoinski, Winnie Eckardt
Summary: Mating with close kin can have negative consequences, leading to the evolution of inbreeding avoidance mechanisms. This study on mountain gorillas examined multiple mechanisms of inbreeding avoidance, including dispersal, mate choice, kin discrimination, and post-copulatory biases. The findings suggest that partial dispersal reduces kinship in groups, and there is significant kin discrimination in mate choice, particularly towards maternal kin. However, there is limited avoidance of paternal kin, and no evidence for post-copulatory inbreeding avoidance. These results demonstrate that multiple complementary mechanisms for inbreeding avoidance can evolve within a single species, and mate choice may enable more flexible dispersal systems to evolve.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biology
Katharina Weiss, Jutta M. Schneider
Summary: This study examined kin recognition behavior in the orb-weaver spider and found a chemical signal-based mechanism for kin recognition. Males showed a preference for mating with sisters over leaving, possibly due to the ability to recognize relatives through specific cuticular substances.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Veronika Staedele, Linda Vigilant, Shirley C. Strum, Joan B. Silk
Summary: In group-living species with high levels of male-male competition, extended breeding bonds and direct paternal care are rare. However, in polygynandrously mating savannah baboons, male-female bonds extend long past lactation, indicating prolonged paternal investment in offspring.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Ana Leitao, Michelle L. Hall, Raoul A. Mulder
Summary: This study investigated the sexual selection of plumage ornamentation in female and male lovely fairy-wrens, finding that plumage color was correlated with parental quality but not individual quality or survival. Positive assortative mating based on plumage color was also observed, with less colorful males obtaining higher extrapair paternity when paired with more colorful females.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Santiago Ortega, Juan P. Ramirez, Cristina Rodriguez, Deyanira Perez-Morales, Hugh Drummond
Summary: According to the theories of good genes and genetic compatibility, females of socially monogamous species benefit their offspring by mating with higher quality or genetically compatible males. A study on blue-footed booby offspring showed no significant differences in fitness indicators between extrapair and within-pair offspring.
Article
Ecology
Mitchel J. Daniel, F. Helen Rodd
Summary: This study on Trinidadian guppies investigates the referencing systems of kin recognition, confirming that individuals recognize kin through self-referencing mechanisms. The research also shows that olfactory communication is essential for kin discrimination, providing robust evidence for how individuals compare phenotypes to recognize kin. These findings contribute to our understanding of the proximate mechanisms and evolution of social behavior.
AMERICAN NATURALIST
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alejandro Ibanez, Uwe Fritz, Markus Auer, Albert Martinez-Silvestre, Peter Praschag, Emilia Zalugowicz, Dagmara Podkowa, Maciej Pabijan
Summary: By inferring the evolutionary history of mental glands in turtles and tortoises, it was found that mental glands originated in the ancestor of the Testudinoidea subclade and remained homologous structures in descendant lineages. Despite multiple losses of mental glands in turtle clades, macrohabitat did not appear to have influenced their evolution; instead, other factors played a role.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Qi Zhang, Guiling Ding, Jilian Li, Jie Wu, Yusuo Jiang, Jiaxing Huang
Summary: The study found that bumblebee queens mating with related males had a longer mating latency, while mating with unrelated males resulted in a higher success rate. Involvement of males from multiple colonies significantly increased mating success.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Isaac Adatto, Christian Lawrence, Lauren Krug, Leonard Zon
Summary: Zebrafish is widely used in scientific research and the traditional methods of rearing these fish have been replaced by commercial aquaculture techniques to accelerate growth. However, the effects of feeding zebrafish diets designed for fast growth of cold-water fish species are not well understood.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Jack Tatler, Thomas A. A. Prowse, David A. Roshier, Kylie M. Cairns, Phillip Cassey
Summary: This study focused on an undisturbed population of dingoes in arid Australia to investigate their purity and genetic diversity. Multiple mating strategies and ways in which phenotypic variation is influenced by age, sex, heterozygosity, and relatedness were found, providing insights into the biology and breeding system of dingoes. The findings challenge previous assumptions about dingo mating behavior and the variability of coat color as an indication of purity.
JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGICAL SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTIONARY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biology
Pablo Garcia-Diaz, Phillip Cassey, Grant Norbury, Xavier Lambin, Lia Montti, J. Cristobal Pizarro, Priscila A. Powell, David F. R. P. Burslem, Mario Cava, Gabriella Damasceno, Laura Fasola, Alessandra Fidelis, Magdalena F. Huerta, Barbara Langdon, Eirini Linardaki, Jaime Moyano, Martin A. Nunez, Anibal Pauchard, Euan Phimister, Eduardo Raffo, Ignacio Roesler, Ignacio Rodriguez-Jorquera, Jorge A. Tomasevic
Summary: Effective long-term management is crucial in addressing the impacts of invasive alien species (IAS) that cannot be eradicated. Key international and transnational management policies often fail to bridge the gap between addressing IAS impacts and controlling IAS populations, highlighting the need for a broader and more effective set of tools to respond to the increasing impacts caused by IAS globally.
Article
Physiology
Pieter A. Arnold, Steven Delean, Phillip Cassey, Craig R. White
Summary: Individuals with relatively high RMR generally exhibit high fitness, possibly supported by increased energy intake. However, the nature of the RMR-fitness relationship varies depending on specific traits, and there is no consistent relationship between RMR and traits closely linked with actual fitness.
JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY B-BIOCHEMICAL SYSTEMS AND ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
S. Heinrich, A. Toomes, C. R. Shepherd, O. C. Stringham, M. Swan, P. Cassey
Summary: Unsustainable wildlife trade poses a threat to Australian species like the shingleback lizard, which are illegally smuggled out and traded internationally without proper regulation. Contradictory legal frameworks between countries have led to loopholes in the international trade of protected species, highlighting the need for individual countries to modify legislation to cover and protect species that are nationally protected in their native range. Listing T. rugosa in Appendix III of CITES could provide a legal means for other countries to confiscate illegally exported shinglebacks from Australia, a strategy that could also be applied to other nationally protected species in international trade consideration.
ANIMAL CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Biology
Anthony Ricciardi, Phillip Cassey, Stefan Leuko, Andrew P. Woolnough
Summary: Biosecurity measures and risk assessments must adapt to the rapid expansion of space exploration and commercial use. Research on biological invasions has shown that invasion risk is driven by the timing and frequency of introduction events, difficulties in predicting invasions and impacts, and the importance of early detection and rapid response for prevention. Collaboration among astrobiologists, invasion biologists, and policymakers could greatly enhance planetary biosecurity protocols.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Adam Toomes, Pablo Garcia-Diaz, Oliver C. Stringham, Joshua Ross, Lewis Mitchell, Phillip Cassey
Summary: The pet trade is a major driver of biodiversity loss and the introduction of invasive alien species. This study used South Australia's native wildlife permit reporting system to analyze the dynamics of the pet trade. The results showed that species traits, pet owners' socioeconomic factors, and regulatory systems all influence the quantities of captive pet keeping, breeding, trading, and escapes into the wild.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aysegul Birand, Phillip Cassey, Joshua Ross, James C. Russell, Paul Thomas, Thomas A. A. Prowse
Summary: This study develops a model to simulate the ability of CRISPR-based gene drives to eradicate invasive house mice populations. The results show that both homing and shredding drives can be used effectively for population suppression, while factors such as drive efficiency and demography strongly influence performance. The study also considers the impact of polyandrous mating and sperm competition on gene drive strategies, finding that the efficacy of the drives is unlikely to be compromised. Understanding the spatial ecology of the target species is critical for predicting the outcome of a gene-drive release.
Article
Ecology
Shan Su, Miquel Vall-llosera, Phillip Cassey, Tim M. Blackburn, Martina Carrete, Jose L. Tella
Summary: The global pet trade serves as a major pathway for the introduction of invasive alien species, with market demands influenced by historical and cultural factors. Parrots and songbirds are the most commonly traded alien bird taxa, with preferences in Western markets influenced by colonial histories, cultural similarity, and strict regulations, while preferences in Eastern markets are strongly influenced by regional culture and proximity.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Meryl Theng, Cyril Milleret, Chloe Bracis, Phillip Cassey, Steven Delean
Summary: The study evaluates spatial capture-recapture (SCR) models and suggests that while they are robust for estimating population density, they may struggle to capture finer scale effects of resource quality on detectability and space use.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Freyja Watters, Oliver Stringham, Chris R. Shepherd, Phillip Cassey
Summary: The international wildlife trade poses significant conservation and environmental security risks, and there is a lack of international regulations to monitor the trade of non-CITES listed species. This study examined the composition and dynamics of regulated and unregulated trade, focusing on imports of wild-caught terrestrial vertebrates entering the United States. The findings revealed a higher number and trade quantity of unlisted species compared to CITES-listed species, highlighting the need for governments to adapt their policies to monitor and report on all wildlife trade.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Katarina C. Stuart, Richard J. Edwards, Yuanyuan Cheng, Wesley C. Warren, David W. Burt, William B. Sherwin, Natalie R. Hofmeister, Scott J. Werner, Gregory F. Ball, Melissa Bateson, Matthew C. Brandley, Katherine L. Buchanan, Phillip Cassey, David F. Clayton, Tim De Meyer, Simone L. Meddle, Lee A. Rollins
Summary: This study presents the genome assembly and transcriptome data of the European starling, providing valuable resources for population genetic and evolutionary research. The researchers used multiple techniques to generate high-quality genome assemblies and demonstrated the effectiveness of a new tool. This work expands our understanding of avian genomes and offers tools for evaluating and improving genome quality.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Aysegul Birand, Phillip Cassey, Joshua Ross, Paul Q. Thomas, Thomas A. A. Prowse
Summary: CRISPR-based gene drives offer solutions for controlling invasive species, but their feasibility varies among different sized species.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Luke Gierus, Aysegul Birand, Mark D. Bunting, Gelshan I. Godahewa, Sandra G. Piltz, Kevin P. Oh, Antoinette J. Piaggio, David W. Threadgill, John Godwin, Owain Edwards, Phillip Cassey, Joshua V. Ross, Thomas A. A. Prowse, Paul Q. Thomas
Summary: This study demonstrates a novel gene drive strategy to eradicate invasive rodent populations on islands by leveraging the super-Mendelian transmission of the t haplotype. Transgenic mice were engineered to validate the effectiveness of this approach.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Peter Caley, Phillip Cassey
Summary: Invasive alien species cause biodiversity loss and environmental damage. Citizen reports are currently the main source of alien species detections. Mining social media data may improve citizen surveillance, but it needs to demonstrate its effectiveness and value compared to alternative approaches.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Phillip Cassey, Lalita Gomez, Sarah Heinrich, Pablo Garcia-Diaz, Sarah Stoner, Chris R. Shepherd
Summary: Illegal wildlife trade, particularly in bear parts and derivatives, poses a significant threat to global conservation efforts. Analyzing seizures in Australia and New Zealand revealed the involvement of numerous countries in the illegal bear trade, highlighting the need for international collaboration to combat transnational smuggling and protect bear species.
PACIFIC CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2022)