scholarly journals Field studies need to report essential information on social organisation – independent of the study focus

Ethology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindelani Makuya ◽  
Charlotte‐Anaïs Olivier ◽  
Carsten Schradin
Keyword(s):  
Field Studies ◽  
Social Organisation ◽  
Essential Information

Observations on the behaviour of the Rufous Hare-wallaby, Lagorchestes hirsutus Gould (Macropodidae: Marsupialia) in captivity.

1993 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 29
Author(s):  
G. Lundie-Jenkins
Keyword(s):  
Aggressive Behaviour ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Social Organisation ◽  
Body Postures ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Nesting Habits ◽  
Behavioural Repertoire

Observations on the behaviour of the Rufous Hare-wallaby Lagorchestes hirsutus were obtained from a captive colony maintained in Alice Springs. This information was used to interpret observations of animals made during field studies in the Tanami Desert. Aspects of the species' behavioural repertoire which were recorded included activity patterns, postures, gaits, interactions, nesting habits and vocalisations. Lagorchestes hirsutus is predominantly nocturnal and its activity patterns and body postures resemble those recorded for other species of small macropods. It appears to be a relatively solitary animal but there was some evidence of social organisation within animals maintained in captivity. Aspects of the sexual and aggressive behaviour of L. hirsutus appear to resemble more closely those of the potoroids than of larger macropodids.

Testing the independent effects of population and shelter density on behavioural and corticosterone responses of tree skinks

2010 ◽  
Vol 58 (5) ◽  
pp. 295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Lancaster ◽  
Tim S. Jessop ◽  
Devi Stuart-Fox
Keyword(s):  
Social Stress ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Social Organisation ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Resource Density ◽  
The Social ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Independent Effects

In animals, social organisation and behaviour can respond to variation in key ecological factors including population and resource density. As these two factors covary, their relative importance is difficult to estimate using field studies. Consequently, we conducted two manipulative experiments varying levels of either population or shelter density to separate their effects on solitary, affiliative and agonistic behaviour and physiology in the social tree skink, Egernia striolata. We used focal observations and plasma concentrations of the hormone corticosterone to measure behavioural and physiological responses to these manipulations. Aggressive behaviours occurred more frequently at high skink density, with males at high density exhibiting social stress, as indicated by increased levels of corticosterone. Skinks at low densities showed greater affiliative behaviour, spending more time basking as pairs. Changes in shelter density influenced exploratory behaviours, with males at low shelter densities exploring enclosures more than those at high shelter densities. Skinks sheltered as pairs more frequently at low shelter density, even after taking into account differences in frequency of pair sheltering expected by chance alone, suggesting that low shelter availability promotes pair behaviour. Corticosterone levels increased over time at low shelter density, which may have been a result of thermal stress coupled with a lack of microclimate variation in comparison to high shelter density. These results suggest that population and resource density are key factors that can independently influence social behaviour and endocrinology, and consequently social organisation, in different ways.

Life Underground: The Biology Of Subterranean Rodents

2001 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 75 ◽  
Author(s):  
EA Lacey ◽  
JL Patton ◽  
GN Cameron
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
The Other ◽  
Social Organisation ◽  
Subterranean Rodents ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Extreme Variability ◽  
The One

SUBTERRANEAN rodents are intriguing subjects for research. On the one hand they display extreme variability in social organisation and life history, and exhibit a range of unique adaptations in morphology and physiology that allow exploitation of different habitats. On the other hand, field studies of subterranean rodents are exceptionally challenging as the animals are seldom observed. Subterranean rodents are also widely distributed, occurring on all continents except Australia and Antarctica. Life underground: The biology of subterranean rodents provides an excellent summary of what we know (and what we do not know) about this cryptic group of mammals, and also succeeds in conveying the joys and frustrations of studying them.

scholarly journals Effects of Water Content and Mesh Size on Tea Bag Decomposition

Ecologies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 175-186
Author(s):  
Taiki Mori ◽  
Ryota Aoyagi ◽  
Hiroki Taga ◽  
Yoshimi Sakai
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Mixed Forest ◽  
Mesh Size ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Decomposition Rates ◽  
Essential Information ◽  
Litter Bag ◽  
Rooibos Tea ◽  
Water Contents

The tea bag method provides a replicable and standardized method to study the effect of environmental variables on the decomposition of standard litter, which enables comparison of organic matter decomposition rates on a large scale. However, it remains uncertain whether tea bag decomposition in response to wetness is representative of that of local litters. We performed incubation experiments to examine whether the effect of soil water on tea bag decomposition becomes inhibitory at higher water contents, as is the case in local leaf litters. In addition, we performed field studies in a mixed forest and cedar plantation in Japan to compare two litter bag mesh sizes: 0.25-mm mesh, the size previously used by a major manufacturer of tea bags (Lipton), and nonwoven bags with mesh sizes finer than 0.25 mm, which are currently produced by Lipton. Both green tea and rooibos tea exhibited higher decomposition rates at higher water contents, but decomposition was inhibited at the highest water content; this was in contrast to our hypothesis based on a field observation but consistent with conceptual models of local litters. The nonwoven tea bags did not show lower decomposition rates, despite the finer mesh size. Rather, the nonwoven rooibos tea bags exhibited slightly higher decomposition rates than the 0.25-mm mesh bags in the cedar plantation, possibly due to a greater abundance of microorganisms that decompose litters in the nonwoven bags, due to the decrease in predation by mesofauna. Our findings provide essential information for future studies of tea bag decomposition.

Toward an alignment of the actin molecule within the actin filament

1983 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
pp. 450-451
Author(s):  
P.R. Smith ◽  
W.E. Fowler ◽  
U. Aebi
Keyword(s):  
Actin Filament ◽  
Diffraction Data ◽  
Quantitative Estimate ◽  
Molecular Model ◽  
Quantitative Comparison ◽  
Regulatory Proteins ◽  
Essential Information ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Maximum Resolution ◽  
Lack Of Information

An understanding of the specific interactions of actin with regulatory proteins has been limited by the lack of information about the structure of the actin filament. Molecular actin has been studied in actin-DNase I complexes by single crystal X-ray analysis, to a resolution of about 0.6nm, and in the electron microscope where two dimensional actin sheets have been reconstructed to a maximum resolution of 1.5nm. While these studies have shown something of the structure of individual actin molecules, essential information about the orientation of actin in the filament is still unavailable.The work of Egelman & DeRosier has, however, suggested a method which could be used to provide an initial quantitative estimate of the orientation of actin within the filament. This method involves the quantitative comparison of computed diffraction data from single actin filaments with diffraction data derived from synthetic filaments constructed using the molecular model of actin as a building block. Their preliminary work was conducted using a model consisting of two juxtaposed spheres of equal size.

For Those About to Rock

2012 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-35
Author(s):  
Jennifer Tufts
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Cultural Landscape ◽  
Minimal Risk ◽  
Noise Induced Hearing Loss ◽  
Essential Information ◽  
Informed Decisions ◽  
Hearing Health ◽  
Loud Music ◽  
Protective Strategies

Loud music and noisy hobbies are part of our cultural landscape. These activities can be enjoyed with minimal risk to hearing if a few commonsense guidelines are followed. Educating clients about risks and protective strategies will empower them to make informed decisions about their hearing health that best reflect their values and priorities. In this article, the author covers essential information to avoiding noise-induced hearing loss, writing in easily accessible language to better help clinicians convey this information to their clients.

Empty visual field studies: Some effects of corrective lenses, filters, and structure.

1964 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milton S. Katz ◽  
Paul A. Cirincione ◽  
William Metlay
Keyword(s):  
Visual Field ◽  
Field Studies
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