Article
Entomology
Georgios D. Mastronikolos, Apostolos Kapranas, George K. Balatsos, Charalampos Ioannou, Dimitrios P. Papachristos, Panagiotis G. Milonas, Arianna Puggioli, Igor Pajovic, Dusan Petric, Romeo Bellini, Antonios Michaelakis, Nikos T. Papadopoulos
Summary: Genetic based mosquito control methods have the potential to effectively suppress or replace vector populations without causing environmental damage or public health risks. The quality of sterilized male mosquitoes is crucial for the success of the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) control programs. Transportation, especially for long durations, can negatively impact the performance of sterilized males and needs to be carefully managed.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Stephanie L. King, Richard C. Connor, Michael Krutzen, Simon J. Allen
Summary: Researchers found that male dolphins in Shark Bay form a first-person social concept of cooperative team membership at the second-order alliance level, independent of their first-order alliance history and current relationship strength. These associative concepts develop through experience and may have played a role in the cooperative behavior of early humans. This suggests that cooperation-based concepts are not unique to humans and also occur in other animal societies with extensive cooperation between non-kin.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Livia Gerber, Richard C. Connor, Simon J. Allen, Kay Horlacher, Stephanie L. King, William B. Sherwin, Erik P. Willems, Samuel Wittwer, Michael Kruetzen
Summary: Understanding the factors that determine differential reproductive success is crucial in evolutionary biology. Social relationships, particularly in males, play a significant role in fitness and reproductive opportunities. A study on unrelated male bottlenose dolphins in Shark Bay, Australia revealed that well-integrated males with more homogeneous social bonds achieved higher paternities. This highlights the adaptive value of social bonds in polyadic cooperation among unrelated males.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Brent W. Bever, Zachary P. Dietz, Jennifer A. Sullins, Ariana M. Montoya, Ulfar Bergthorsson, Vaishali Katju, Suzanne Estes
Summary: This study provides a partial test of the mitonuclear sex hypothesis by examining the evolution of male frequencies in response to mitonuclear mismatch in C. elegans nematodes. The results show that male frequencies increase in certain mutant backgrounds, while declining in later generations in other backgrounds. The study also suggests that males and sexual outcrossing are most beneficial for populations evolving from a state of low ancestral fitness. Further research can explore the evolution of other traits and the role of compensatory mutations.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bailey A. Kermath, Lindsay M. Thompson, Justin R. Jefferson, Mary H. B. Ward, Andrea C. Gore
Summary: Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can lead to changes in endocrine and neurobehavioral functions, especially during gestation and early life. This study found that exposure to EDCs in different generations of rats resulted in unique and sex-specific behavioral phenotypes, including changes in body weight, uterine weight, and mating behavior.
Article
Entomology
Donato Romano, Giovanni Benelli, Cesare Stefanini
Summary: This study investigated the courtship and mating behavior of the neem bug, Halys dentatus, and found population-level lateralization in males approaching females. Furthermore, the male mating success was affected by lateralization, where right-biased males achieved higher mating success rates. The study highlights the importance of lateralized traits in determining male mating success in insects.
Article
Ecology
Alejandro Gonzalez-Voyer, Gavin H. Thomas, Andras Liker, Oliver Kruger, Jan Komdeur, Tamas Szekely
Summary: Sex roles describe sex differences in courtship, mate competition, social pair-bonds and parental care. A key challenge is to identify associations among the components and the drivers of sex roles. We found that proxies of sex roles showed extensive variation and lability, indicating independent evolution among sex role components. Climate and life history weakly associated with sex roles, while adult sex ratio was associated with sexual dimorphism, mating system and parental care.
Article
Psychology, Biological
Lorena Lacuesta, Rodolfo Ungerfeld, Julian Santiago-Morenob
Summary: The study found that contact with estrous females does not stimulate testosterone and cortisol secretion in Iberian ibex bucks, and their social rank does not affect this response.
BEHAVIOURAL PROCESSES
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Troy A. Baird, Dalton C. Leibold
Summary: A widely accepted principle in behavioral ecological research is that polygynous social systems evolve through either direct male defense of females or male defense of resources. This study examined the relative importance of female defense versus resource defense in male collared lizards. By temporarily removing females from male territories, the researchers observed changes in male activity in response to the presence or absence of females. The results indicated that male collared lizards directly defend females, utilizing the strong female philopatry.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Rachel H. Corney, Laura K. Weir
Summary: Reproductive isolation can occur due to differences in mate preference associated with body size, which can play a role in divergence between groups. The goal of the study was to examine differences in mate preference between two ecotypes of Threespine Stickleback males, with one ecotype providing parental care. Results showed that males investing in parental care preferred larger females, while those not providing care did not exhibit a preference for larger females.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Koutaro Ould Maeno, Cyril Piou, Sidi Ould Ely, Sid'Ahmed Ould Mohamed, Mohamed El Hacen Jaavar, Said Ghaout, Mohamed Abdallahi Ould Babah Ebbe
Summary: Male mating harassment can be reduced in dense populations of desert locusts through behavioral adaptations, where non-gravid females and males live separately while males wait for gravid females at lekking sites to mate. In low-density populations, solitarious locusts display balanced sex ratios and females mate regardless of ovarian state. This suggests that group separation based on sex biases behavior to minimize male mating harassment and competition.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Azam Amiri, Ali R. Bandani
Summary: Loneliness and isolation can impact animals' biological parameters. Using Callosobruchus maculatus as a model insect, it was found that hope and motivation can modify the effects of loneliness. Continuous or temporary exposure to conspecifics affected the longevity, mating behavior, egg number, and hatch percentage of C. maculatus.
JOURNAL OF STORED PRODUCTS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Alois Honek, Zdenka Martinkova
Summary: This study investigated the benefits of copulation with large males in the firebug species, Pyrrhocoris apterus. The results showed that increasing male body size did not have a positive effect on the reproductive characteristics of females. Several reasons for this deficiency were discussed.
Article
Entomology
Nilza Angmo, Madhumita Sengupta, Neha Vimal, Rakesh Kumar Seth
Summary: This study evaluated the effect of radiation on the ejaculate quality of exposed male moths, showing a significant decrease in insemination quality in their F-1 male progeny. Females mated to F-1 males exhibited a higher calling efficiency and remating propensity, with a prolonged post-mating interval. These findings contribute to the optimization of the 'Inherited or F-1 sterility technique'.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Emma Chereskin, Richard C. Connor, Whitney R. Friedman, Frants H. Jensen, Simon J. Allen, Pernille M. Sorensen, Michael Kruetzen, Stephanie L. King
Summary: Vocal interactions are important for social bonding and can serve as a replacement for physical bonding activities, especially for individuals who have less physical contact and spend less time together.
