scholarly journals Simulations with Australian dragon lizards suggest movement-based signal effectiveness is dependent on display structure and environmental conditions

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xue Bian ◽  
Angela Pinilla ◽  
Tom Chandler ◽  
Richard Peters
Keyword(s):  
Research Methods ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Comparative Studies ◽  
Habitat Structure ◽  
Signal Transmission ◽  
Lizard Species ◽  
Local Adaptations ◽  
Signal Divergence ◽  
Colour Signals ◽  
Optimal Signal

AbstractHabitat-specific characteristics can affect signal transmission such that different habitats dictate the optimal signal. One way to examine how the environment influences signals is by comparing changes in signal effectiveness in different habitats. Examinations of signal effectiveness between different habitats has helped to explain signal divergence/convergence between populations and species using acoustic and colour signals. Although previous research has provided evidence for local adaptations and signal divergence in many species of lizards, comparative studies in movement-based signals are rare due to technical difficulties in quantifying movements in nature and ethical restrictions in translocating animals between habitats. We demonstrate herein that these issues can be addressed using 3D animations, and compared the relative performance of the displays of four Australian lizard species in the habitats of each species under varying environmental conditions. Our simulations show that habitats differentially affect signal performance, and an interaction between display and habitat structure. Interestingly, our results are consistent with the hypothesis that the signal adapted to the noisier environment does not show an advantage in signal effectiveness, but the noisy habitat was detrimental to the performance of all displays. Our study is one of the first studies for movement-based signals that directly compares signal performance in multiple habitats, and our approach has laid the foundation for future investigations in motion ecology that have been intractable to conventional research methods.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of movement-based animal signals is a function of display structure and habitat characteristics: simulations of Australian dragons

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xue Bian ◽  
Angela Pinilla ◽  
Tom Chandler ◽  
Richard Peters
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Habitat Structure ◽  
Signal Transmission ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Lizard Species ◽  
Local Adaptations ◽  
Signal Efficacy ◽  
Signal Divergence ◽  
Colour Signals ◽  
Optimal Signal

Abstract Habitat-specific characteristics can affect signal transmission such that different habitats dictate the optimal signal. One way to examine how the environment influences signals is by comparing changes in signal efficacy in different habitats. Examinations of signal efficacy between different habitats has helped to explain signal divergence/convergence between populations and species utilising acoustic and colour signals. Although previous research has provided evidence for local adaptations and signal divergence in many species of lizards, comparative studies in movement-based signals are rare due to technical difficulties in quantifying movements in nature and ethical restrictions in translocating animals between habitats. We demonstrate herein that these issues can be addressed using 3D animations, and compared the relative performance of the displays of four Australian lizard species in the habitats of each species under varying environmental conditions. Our simulations show that habitats differentially affect signal performance, and an interaction between display and habitat structure. Interestingly, the signal adapted to the noisier environment did not show an advantage in signal efficacy, but the noisy habitat was detrimental to the performance of all displays. Our study is one of the first studies for movement-based signals that directly compares signal performance in multiple habitats, and our approach has laid the foundation for future investigations in motion ecology that have been intractable to conventional research methods.

Farming system and habitat structure effects on rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) assembly in Central European apple and pear orchards

Biologia ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adalbert Balog ◽  
Viktor Markó ◽  
Attila Imre
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Habitat Structure ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Rove Beetles ◽  
Central European ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
Flooded Area

AbstractIn field experiments over a period of five years the effects of farming systems and habitat structure were investigated on staphylinid assembly in Central European apple and pear orchards. The investigated farms were placed in three different geographical regions with different environmental conditions (agricultural lowland environment, regularly flooded area and woodland area of medium height mountains). During the survey, a total number of 6,706 individuals belonging to 247 species were collected with pitfall traps. The most common species were: Dinaraea angustula, Omalium caesum, Drusilla canaliculata, Oxypoda abdominale, Philonthus nitidulus, Dexiogya corticina, Xantholinus linearis, X. longiventris, Aleochara bipustulata, Mocyta orbata, Oligota pumilio, Platydracus stercorarius, Olophrum assimile, Tachyporus hypnorum, T. nitidulus and Ocypus olens. The most characteristic species in conventionally treated orchards with sandy soil were: Philonthuss nitidulus, Tachyporus hypnorum, and Mocyta orbata, while species to be found in the same regions, but frequent in abandoned orchards as well were: Omalium caesum, Oxypoda abdominale, Xantholinus linearis and Drusilla canaliculata. The species Dinaraea angustula, Oligota pumilio, Dexiogya corticina, Xantholinus longiventris, Tachyporus nitidulus and Ocypus olens have a different level of preferences towards the conventionally treated orchards in clay soil. The species composition of the staphylinid fauna in apple and pear orchards could not be considered uniform. The environmental conditions and the soil together have a significant influence upon the richness of species, and the cumulative effects of these factors can modify even the dominance structures of the communities.

Research Methods

2019 ◽  
pp. 161-184
Author(s):  
Jia He ◽  
Fons J. R. van de Vijver
Keyword(s):  
Research Methods ◽  
Social Desirability ◽  
Experimental Psychology ◽  
Comparative Studies ◽  
Methodological Issues ◽  
Future Developments ◽  
Statistical Procedures ◽  
The Past ◽  
Key Concepts ◽  
Emic And Etic

The authors present an overview of methodological issues in comparative studies, which have their intellectual roots in experimental psychology. This is followed by an introduction of the key concepts of bias (unintended sources of score differences, such as differential social desirability) and equivalence (implications of bias for the comparability of scores across cultures). Crucial to the chapter, a taxonomy of bias (constructs, methods, and items as sources of bias) and equivalence (construct/configural, metric, and scalar equivalence) is described. The most frequently employed statistical procedures to address bias and equivalence are presented. In the past few decades, the focus in the preparation of instruments for cross-cultural studies has shifted from translations (with an emphasis on linguistic considerations) to adaptations (which set out to integrate linguistic and psychological considerations). Types of adaptations are described. Finally, possible future developments are presented, such as the integration of emic and etic procedures.

scholarly journals Fungal genomes tell a story of ecological adaptations

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 9-17
Author(s):  
Anna Muszewska
Keyword(s):  
Study Design ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Comparative Studies ◽  
Genomic Sequence ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Complex Compounds ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Ecological Adaptations ◽  
Fungal Genomes ◽  
Global Carbon

One genome enables a fungus to have various lifestyles and strategies depending on environmental conditions and in the presence of specific counterparts. The nature of their interactions with other living and abiotic elements is a consequence of their osmotrophism. The ability to degrade complex compounds and especially plant biomass makes them a key component of the global carbon circulation cycle. Since the first fungal genomic sequence was published in 1996 mycology has benefited from the technolgical progress. The available data create an unprecedented opportunity to perform massive comparative studies with complex study design variants targeted at all cellular processes.

scholarly journals Territorial Displays of the Ctenophorus decresii Complex: A Story of Local Adaptations

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose A. Ramos ◽  
Richard A. Peters
Keyword(s):  
Motor Pattern ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Ancestral State ◽  
Lizard Species ◽  
Motor Patterns ◽  
Local Adaptations ◽  
Behavioral Traits ◽  
Signal Contrast ◽  
Motion Speed

Closely related species make for interesting model systems to study the evolution of signaling behavior because they share evolutionary history but have also diverged to the point of reproductive isolation. This means that while they may have some behavioral traits in common, courtesy of a common ancestor, they are also likely to show local adaptations. The Ctenophorus decresii complex is such a system, and comprises six closely related agamid lizard species from Australia: C. decresii, C. fionni, C. mirrityana, C. modestus, C. tjanjalka, and C. vadnappa. In this study, we analyze the motion displays of five members of the C. decresii complex in the context of their respective habitats by comparing signal structure, habitat characteristics and signal contrast between all species. Motor pattern use and the temporal sequence of motor patterns did not differ greatly, but the motion speed distributions generated during the displays were different for all species. There was also variation in the extent to which signals contrasted with plant motion, with C. vadnappa performing better than the other species at all habitats. Overall, this study provides evidence that members of the C. decresii complex exhibit local adaptations in signaling behavior to their respective habitat, but they also maintain some morphological and behavioral traits in common, which is likely a consequence from the ancestral state.

scholarly journals Looking For a Trace of Shamanism, in the Rock Art of Maros-Pangkep, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Irsyad Leihitu ◽  
Raden Cecep Eka Permana
Keyword(s):  
Research Methods ◽  
Comparative Studies ◽  
Rock Art ◽  
David Lewis ◽  
Altered State ◽  
South Sulawesi ◽  
Formal Analogy ◽  
The World ◽  
Prehistoric Art ◽  
Altered State Of Consciousness

Gambar cadas adalah fenomena arkeologi yang tersebar di seluruh dunia. Umumnya, seni prasejarah ini terdiri atas berbagai bentuk, motif, dan juga makna. Artikel ini membahas gambar cadas Indonesia, khususnya di wilayah Maros-Pangkep, Sulawesi Selatan. Menurut teori David Lewis-Williams dan David S. Whitley tentang pendekatan neuropsikologi terhadap gambar cadas, mereka mendeskripsikan "beberapa" motif sebagai penggambaran tahapan atau metafora dari Altered State of Consciousness (ASC) yang berhubungan dengan shamanisme. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk menunjukkan bagaimana teori ASC dapat diuji dalam gambar cadas Maros-Pangkep, dan juga menunjukkan indikasi keberadaan shamanisme dalam gambar cadas Indonesia. Metode penelitian ini menggunakan analogi formal dan studi komparatif tentang motif-motif gambar cadas terpilih di kawasan Maros-Pangkep dengan gambar cadas di Afrika, Siberia, dan juga gambar cadas di Amerika. Hasilnya menunjukkan bahwa teori ASC dapat diterapkan dalam gambar cadas Indonesia dan ada beberapa indikasi shamanisme dalam gambar cadas di wilayah Maros-Pangkep.Rock art is an archaeological phenomenon which spread all over the world. Generally, this prehistoric art consists of various forms, motifs, and also meanings. This article discusses Indonesian rock art, particularly the Maros-Pangkep region in South Sulawesi. According to David Lewis-Williams and David S. Whitley’s theory about the neuropsychology approach to rock art, they describe “some” motifs as a depiction of stages or metaphors of the Altered State of Consciousness (ASC) that relates to shamanism. The aim of this study is to demonstrate how the ASC theory can be tested in Maros-Pangkep Rock Art, and also shows an indication of the existence of shamanism in Indonesian rock art. The research methods are formal analogy and comparative studies on the selected motifs of rock art in the Maros-Pangkep region with African, Siberian, and also American rock art. The result shows that the ASC theory can be applied in Indonesian rock art and there are some indications of shamanism in rock art motifs in the Maros-Pangkep region.

Effects of spatial scale and choice of statistical model (linear versus tree-based) on determining species–habitat relationships

2012 ◽  
Vol 69 (12) ◽  
pp. 2095-2111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sapna Sharma ◽  
Pierre Legendre ◽  
Daniel Boisclair ◽  
Stéphane Gauthier
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Scale ◽  
Habitat Quality ◽  
Spatial Data ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Habitat Structure ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Fish Habitat ◽  
Habitat Associations ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Positioning Systems

The choice of spatial scale and modelling technique used to capture species–habitat relationships needs to be considered when ascertaining environmental determinants of habitat quality for species and communities. Fish densities and environmental data were collected at three Laurentian lakes using underwater surveys by four snorkelers collecting fine spatial data acquired through geographic positioning systems. At both fine (20 m) and broad (100 m) spatial scales, tree-based approaches, which incorporated both linear and nonlinear relationships, explained more variation than their linear counterparts. At the finest spatial scale considered (20 m), local environmental conditions, such as habitat structure and heterogeneity, were important determinants of fish habitat selection. At the broadest spatial scale considered (100 m), fish tended to select habitat based on both local environmental features and riparian development. Moran’s eigenvector maps further revealed that fish–habitat associations were operating at broader spatial scales than the predefined analytical units, which can be partially attributed to the spatial structure of environmental conditions acting at spatial scales greater than 100 m. This study highlights the importance of evaluating statistical approaches at different spatial scales to identify key determinants of habitat quality for species, ultimately to assess the effects of perturbations on ecosystems.

scholarly journals Use of functional traits to assess changes in stream fish assemblages across a habitat gradient

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariela Domiciano Ribeiro ◽  
Fabrício Barreto Teresa ◽  
Lilian Casatti
Keyword(s):  
Functional Traits ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Habitat Structure ◽  
Trophic Ecology ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Habitat Degradation ◽  
Species Traits ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Physical Habitat ◽  
Habitat Gradient

Abstract Functional traits are important for understanding the links between species occurrence and environmental conditions. Identifying these links makes it possible to predict changes in species composition within communities under specific environmental conditions. We used functional traits related to habitat use and trophic ecology in order to assess the changes in fish community composition between streams with varying habitat structure. The relationship between the species traits and habitat characteristics was analyzed using an RLQ ordination analysis. Although species were widely distributed in habitats with different structures, physical conditions did favor some species based on their functional characteristics. Eight functional traits were found to be associated with stream habitat structure, allowing us to identify traits that may predict the susceptibility of fish species to physical habitat degradation.

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