Bird-like complex nesting behaviour by the Brazilian-endemic reef fish Gramma brasiliensis

2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (6) ◽  
pp. 982
Author(s):  
Jonas R. Leite ◽  
Pedro H. C. Pereira ◽  
Eduardo G. Sanches ◽  
Rodrigo L. Moura ◽  
Mauricio Hostim-Silva
Keyword(s):  
Parental Care ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Reproductive Strategy ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Nest Entrance ◽  
Critical Aspect ◽  
Management Measures ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Nesting Behaviour ◽  
Common Behaviour

Nesting is a common behaviour associated with reproduction in several taxa. Nevertheless, this important parental care behaviour is rarely reported for reef-associated fish. The present study provides the first description of bird-like complex nesting behaviour of the endangered basslet (Gramma brasiliensis). Males were observed building nests using macroalgae thalli around holes and depressions, in coralline substrate. Algae were used to camouflage the nest entrance and to form a cushioned bed for egg laying. Nesting is a critical aspect of the reproductive strategy of G. brasiliensis, so, this behaviour is a key factor for the management measures implications on the conservation of the species.

scholarly journals Evolution of iris colour in relation to cavity nesting and parental care in passerine birds

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 20160783 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabrielle L. Davidson ◽  
Alex Thornton ◽  
Nicola S. Clayton
Keyword(s):  
Parental Care ◽  
Eye Gaze ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Passerine Birds ◽  
Cavity Nesters ◽  
Cavity Nesting ◽  
Ideal System ◽  
Nesting Behaviour ◽  
Gaze Sensitivity ◽  
Iris Colour

Strong selection pressures are known to act on animal coloration. Although many animals vary in eye colour, virtually no research has investigated the functional significance of these colour traits. Passeriformes have a range of iris colours, making them an ideal system to investigate how and why iris colour has evolved. Using phylogenetic comparative methods, we tested the hypothesis that conspicuous iris colour in passerine birds evolved in response to (a) coordination of offspring care and (b) cavity nesting, two traits thought to be involved in intra-specific gaze sensitivity. We found that iris colour and cooperative offspring care by two or more individuals evolved independently, suggesting that bright eyes are not important for coordinating parental care through eye gaze. Furthermore, we found that evolution between iris colour and nesting behaviour did occur in a dependent manner, but contrary to predictions, transitions to coloured eyes were not more frequent in cavity nesters than non-cavity nesters. Instead, our results indicate that selection away from having bright eyes was much stronger in non-cavity nesters than cavity nesters, perhaps because conspicuous eye coloration in species not concealed within a cavity would be more visible to predators.

Chelators and metal complex stability for radiopharmaceutical applications

2019 ◽  
Vol 107 (9-11) ◽  
pp. 1087-1120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nkemakonam C. Okoye ◽  
Jakob E. Baumeister ◽  
Firouzeh Najafi Khosroshahi ◽  
Heather M. Hennkens ◽  
Silvia S. Jurisson
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Medicine ◽  
Metal Complex ◽  
Complex Stability ◽  
Critical Aspect ◽  
Technetium 99M ◽  
Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
The 1960S ◽  
Therapeutic Nuclear Medicine

Abstract Diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine relies heavily on radiometal nuclides. The most widely used and well-known radionuclide is technetium-99m (99mTc), which has dominated diagnostic nuclear medicine since the advent of the 99Mo/99mTc generator in the 1960s. Since that time, many more radiometals have been developed and incorporated into potential radiopharmaceuticals. One critical aspect of radiometal-containing radiopharmaceuticals is their stability under in vivo conditions. The chelator that is coordinated to the radiometal is a key factor in determining radiometal complex stability. The chelators that have shown the most promise and are under investigation in the development of diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals over the last 5 years are discussed in this review.

scholarly journals Causes of embryonic mortality in Espadarana prosoblepon (Anura: Centrolenidae) from Costa Rica

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-92
Author(s):  
Johana Goyes Vallejos ◽  
Karim Ramirez-Soto
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
Parental Care ◽  
Riparian Vegetation ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Embryonic Mortality ◽  
The Family ◽  
History Of ◽  
Causes Of Mortality ◽  
Mortality Causes

Causes of embryonic mortality in Espadarana prosoblepon (Anura: Centrolenidae) from Costa Rica. Members of the family Centrolenidae—commonly known as “glass frogs”—exhibit arboreal egg-laying behavior, depositing their clutches on riparian vegetation. Few studies have investigated specific causes of mortality during embryonic stages, perhaps the most vulnerable stage during the anuran life cycle. The Emerald Glass Frog, Espadarana prosoblepon, was used as a case study to investigate the causes of embryonic mortality in a species with short-term (i.e., less than 1 day) parental care. The specific sources of mortality of eggs of E. prosoblepon were quantified and overall rates of survival (hatching success) were estimated. Nineteen egg clutches were transferred from permanent outside enclosures to the wild. Clutch development was monitored daily until hatching; five mortality causes were quantified: desiccation, failure to develop, fungal infection, predation, and “rain-stripped.” The main causes of mortality were predation (often by katydids and wasps) and embryos stripped from the leaf during heavy rains. The results were compared to those of previous studies of centrolenids exhibiting parental care, and discussed in the context of the importance of the natural history data for these frogs with regard to understanding the evolutionary history of parental care in glass frogs.

Atypical reproduction in a syllid worm: the stolon of Syllis rosea (Annelida, Syllidae) takes care of its offspring

2020 ◽  
Vol 100 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-227
Author(s):  
Joachim Langeneck ◽  
Michela Del Pasqua ◽  
Margherita Licciano ◽  
Adriana Giangrande ◽  
Luigi Musco
Keyword(s):  
Parental Care ◽  
Sexual Reproduction ◽  
Reproductive Strategy ◽  
Reproductive Strategies ◽  
Congeneric Species ◽  
Reproduction Mode ◽  
Laboratory Rearing ◽  
Larval Stages ◽  
The Family ◽  
Reproductive Cycles

AbstractThe family Syllidae, aside from representing the most species-rich family in Annelida, is characterized by a number of sexual and asexual reproductive strategies. With the exception of a few viviparous species, the subfamily Syllinae is characterized by schizogamous reproduction with pelagic larval stages and without parental care. Laboratory rearing of ripe specimens of Syllis rosea showed a different reproductive strategy, hitherto unknown in this subfamily. While male stolons rapidly degenerated after fertilization, female ones released large eggs in a gelatinous cluster attached to the middle-posterior chaetigers. The gel mass progressively compacted as a cocoon wrapped by the stolon body; 7 days after the deposition the larvae hatched out from the cocoon at the metatrochophore stage and the female stolon died after a few days. After hatching the larvae remained associated to the stolon, and young specimens of S. rosea survived up to the 3-chaetiger stage. Until now cocoon brooding by the stolon has only been reported for some Autolytinae. The production of gelatinous egg masses and parental care are known in basally branching clades within Syllidae, suggesting that this reproduction mode might retain some ancestral features. The scarce knowledge about reproductive cycles in Syllinae does not allow clarification whether this strategy is unique for S. rosea, or it occurs in other congeneric species. Further research is needed to understand possible relationships between sexual reproduction and phylogeny, stolon morphology and its adaptation to parental care, and ultimately between reproductive strategies and ecology.

Twinning and the r/K Reproductive Strategy: A Critique of Rushton's Theory

1992 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Allen ◽  
A.W. Eriksson ◽  
J. Fellman ◽  
P. Parisi ◽  
S.G. Vandenberg
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Population Growth ◽  
Parental Care ◽  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
Ethnic Differences ◽  
Reproductive Strategy ◽  
Reproductive Strategies ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Efficient Utilization ◽  
Mode Of Reproduction

AbstractThe theory of r selection, favoring population growth, as opposed to K selection, favoring more efficient utilization of resources, has in recent years been applied by Rushton to contrast human ethnic groups in terms of their r/K reproductive strategies, suggesting the existence of a continuum from r groups, producing many offspring but providing little parental care, to K groups, producing few offspring but providing much parental care. Rushton's theory, which is largely based on ethnic differences in twinning rates, is here critically examined. It is pointed out that twinning rate differences are not necessarily genetic in origin since various environmental factors clearly play a role, and also that twinning, as a mode of reproduction, is not necessarily an r strategy, considering the high prenatal and perinatal selection to which it has been, and still is, associated. Moreover, Rushton misinterprets a number of relevant aspects related to the biology of twinning. The claim that ethnic differences in twinning rates provide evidence for an r/K typology in human populations with respect to reproductive strategies does not appear to be warranted.

scholarly journals Eggs of the Blind Snake,Liotyphlops albirostris, Are Incubated in a Nest of the Lower Fungus-Growing Ant,  Apterostigmacf.goniodes

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaspar Bruner ◽  
Hermógenes Fernández-Marín ◽  
Justin C. Touchon ◽  
William T. Wcislo
Keyword(s):  
Parental Care ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Lower Fungus ◽  
Lower Vertebrates ◽  
Optimal Oviposition ◽  
Small Colony ◽  
Laboratory Colonies ◽  
Fungus Growing Ants ◽  
Central Panama ◽  
Oviposition Sites

Parental care is rare in most lower vertebrates. By selecting optimal oviposition sites, however, mothers can realize some benefits often associated with parental care. We found three ovoid reptilian eggs within a mature nest of a relatively basal fungus-growing ant,Apterostigmacf.goniodes(Attini), in central Panama. In laboratory colonies,A.cf.goniodesworkers attended and cared for the eggs. Two blind snakes,Liotyphlops albirostris(Anomalepididae), successfully hatched, which is the first rearing record for this species. The ants did not disturb the snakes, and the snakes did not eat the ants; we found no ants in the dissected stomachs of the snakes. We review other associations between nesting fungus-growing ants and egg-laying vertebrates, which together suggest that attine nests may provide a safe, environmentally buffered location for oviposition, even in basal attine taxa with relatively small colony sizes.

scholarly journals Brood Division and the Ontogeny of Caching Behaviour in the North Island robin (Petroica longipes)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Lisabertha Clark
Keyword(s):  
Parental Care ◽  
Northern Hemisphere ◽  
Female Parent ◽  
Avian Species ◽  
The North ◽  
Mammalian Predators ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Brood Division ◽  
And Function

<p>The post-fledging period is an important, but understudied, stage of avian development. This is despite the fact that the parental care and behavioural development of young observed during this period contribute significantly toward offspring survival. A key factor that has contributed to the lack of research in this area has been the difficulty with which parents and offspring can be observed during this period.  The North Island robin (Petroica longipes) is a small insectivorous passerine native to New Zealand forests. As a result of the historic absence of mammalian predators, North Island robins lack pronounced anti-predator behaviours and are fearless towards humans. This makes them ideal subjects for behavioural studies in the wild because human presence does not alter their daily activities.  Using field observations, the present study examined parental care and the development of caching during the post-fledging period in wild North Island robins. Brood division is a form of preferential post-fledging care that is well documented among avian species in the northern hemisphere. In contrast, little is known about the incidence and function of brood division in avian species outside this region. Across two breeding seasons (2014-2015 and 2015-2016), feeding interactions between parents and offspring were observed during nestling and fledgling development to determine the timing of and factors influencing brood division in robins. Brood division occurred around the time young left the nest and was common amongst broods which fledged two or more young. The male parent typically cared for male and larger fledglings and the female parent for female and smaller fledglings. The results of this study match patterns observed in northern hemisphere species suggesting that brood division provides the same adaptive advantages to species regardless of geographical context.  Caching, the handling of food to preserve it for future consumption, is an important strategy which allows numerous avian species to deal with natural fluctuations in food supply. In recent decades, caching has become a widely-used paradigm for examining a range of cognitive processes in birds, such as social cognition and spatial memory. However, much is still unknown about how caching develops in young birds, especially in the wild. Over a 12-week period following fledging, the ontogeny of caching and cache retrieval was observed for 34 juvenile robins. Juveniles began caching shortly after achieving foraging independency (approximately 5 weeks after fledging) and their caching rates increased gradually with age. Retrieval of caches began spontaneously as soon as they had begun to cache and retrieval rates remained constant throughout development. Results suggest that caching behaviour in North Island robins is likely to be innate, but that age and experience have an important role in the development of adult caching behaviours.  The two studies described in this dissertation examine behaviours that have either been previously difficult to document in the wild or have not been documented in this species. Overall, the results highlight the behavioural similarities between the North Island robin and other avian species exhibiting brood division and caching. Additionally, they also demonstrate the suitability of the North Island robin for future behavioural research given the ease with which these birds can be observed in the wild.</p>

scholarly journals Is reproductive strategy a key factor in understanding the evolutionary history of Southern Ocean Asteroidea (Echinodermata)?

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (15) ◽  
pp. 8465-8478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camille Moreau ◽  
Bruno Danis ◽  
Quentin Jossart ◽  
Marc Eléaume ◽  
Chester Sands ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Reproductive Strategy ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
History Of

scholarly journals Nest building and description of parental care behavior in a temperate reef fish, Chromis crusma (Pisces: Pomacentridae)

2014 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Navarrete-Fernández ◽  
Mauricio F Landaeta ◽  
Claudia A Bustos ◽  
Alejandro Pérez-Matus
Keyword(s):  
Parental Care ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Nest Building ◽  
Temperate Reef ◽  
Temperate Reef Fish ◽  
Care Behavior

scholarly journals Quality versus quantity: The balance between egg and clutch size among Australian amphibians is related to life history and environmental conditions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Gould ◽  
Chad Beranek ◽  
Jose Valdez ◽  
Michael Mahony
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Parental Care ◽  
Clutch Size ◽  
Female Body ◽  
Inverse Relationship ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Breeding Habitat ◽  
Female Body Size

AbstractAn inverse relationship between egg and clutch size has been found repeatedly across animal groups, including birds, reptiles and amphibians, and is considered to be a result of resource limitations and physical constraints on the reproducing female. However, few studies have contextualised this relationship with respect to various environmental selecting pressures and life history traits that have also likely influenced the selection of an optimal egg/clutch size combination, while even fewer have tested these interrelationships using robust natural history datasets. In this study, we aimed to test current hypothesises regarding these relationships on both egg and clutch sizes among the Australian Anurans, which to date have not received this kind of investigation. Specifically, we looked at the influence of environmental selecting pressures (egg laying location, environment persistence and bioregion) and life history traits (adult female body size, egg development type, parental care level, breeding period and temporal breeding pattern). As expected, a clear inverse relationship was found between egg and clutch size, while female body size was positively related to both. Generally speaking, smaller clutches of larger eggs tended to be produced by species that i) oviposit terrestrially, ii) showcase direct development and iii) possess high levels of parental care. Temporal breeding pattern was strongly related to clutch size only, with large clutches occurring in explosive breeding species, while breeding habitat was strongly related to egg size only, with large eggs sizes occurring in terrestrial species. Altogether, these findings indicate that numerous factors have likely influenced the evolution of an optimal clutch type in this group, highlighting the importance of incorporating such variables into animal studies on egg and clutch sizes.

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