scholarly journals Illuminating movement? Nocturnal activity patterns in chacma baboons

2020 ◽  
Vol 310 (4) ◽  
pp. 287-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Ayers ◽  
A. T. L. Allan ◽  
C. Howlett ◽  
A. S. W. Tordiffe ◽  
K. S. Williams ◽  
...  
2014 ◽  
Vol 88 ◽  
pp. 175-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael P. Ward ◽  
Mark Alessi ◽  
Thomas J. Benson ◽  
Scott J. Chiavacci

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (10) ◽  
pp. 952-959
Author(s):  
Priscila Stéfani Monteiro-Alves ◽  
Débora Molino Helmer ◽  
Atilla Colombo Ferreguetti ◽  
Juliane Pereira-Ribeiro ◽  
Carlos Frederico Duarte Rocha ◽  
...  

Crab-eating foxes (Cerdocyon thous (Linnaeus, 1766)) are frequently recorded in lists of mammal communities. However, studies quantifying aspects of the ecology of the species are uncommon in the literature. Thus, we aimed to quantify the density, activity, habitat use, and potential threats of C. thous in two protected areas (PAs) in the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil. We used data derived from camera traps and sand plots to model occupancy, detectability, activity; we also used random encounter models (REMs) to model density and abundance. We also estimated the activity of the species. Density of C. thous was 0.82 individuals/km2 with a total abundance of 119 individuals. We concluded that in the PAs studied, C. thous had bimodal, twilight–nocturnal activity patterns and was associated with water sources. Although the species in the area has a relatively high density compared with that from other areas in Brazil, it could be locally threatened by the highway that crosses the two PAs, promoting roadkill events, and by domestic dogs (Canis familiaris Linnaeus, 1758) recorded in these areas. Results presented herein can be a starting point to support future work in the region and to make predictions regarding the management and conservation of C. thous, a widely distributed species.


The Auk ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 103 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yutaka Watanuki

Abstract Diurnal activity patterns of Leach's Storm-Petrels (Oceanodroma leucorhoa) and Slaty-backed Gulls (Larus schistisagus) were investigated. The petrels reduced activity in moonlight in May and June when the predation rate by gulls was relatively high. Petrel activity levels were inversely correlated with light intensities and the corresponding risk of predation by the gull. This suggests that nocturnal activity and moonlight avoidance by the petrel in its colony are an effective defense against diurnal predators. Activity synchronization of the petrel was most marked during the full moon, further supporting the predator-avoidance hypothesis.


1980 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 116-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. R. Keiper ◽  
M. A. Keenan

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yonghua Wu

Abstract Background Many living birds exhibit some nocturnal activity, but the genetic basis and evolutionary origins of their nocturnality remain unknown. Results Here, we used a molecular phyloecological approach to analyze the adaptive evolution of 33 phototransduction genes in diverse bird lineages. Our results suggest that functional enhancement of two night-vision genes, namely, GRK1 and SLC24A1, underlies the nocturnal adaption of living birds. Further analyses showed that the diel activity patterns of birds have remained relatively unchanged since their common ancestor, suggesting that the widespread nocturnal activity of many living birds may largely stem from their common ancestor rather than independent evolution. Despite this evolutionary conservation of diel activity patterns in birds, photoresponse recovery genes were found to be frequently subjected to positive selection in diverse bird lineages, suggesting that birds generally have evolved an increased capacity for motion detection. Moreover, we detected positive selection on both dim-light vision genes and bright-light vision genes in the class Aves, suggesting divergent evolution of the vision of birds from that of reptiles and that different bird lineages have evolved certain visual adaptions to their specific light conditions. Conclusions This study suggests that the widespread nocturnality of extant birds has a deep evolutionary origin tracing back to their common ancestor.


1995 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 605-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy C. Morrison ◽  
Cristina Ferro ◽  
Raul Pardo ◽  
Mariela Torres ◽  
Mark L. Wilson ◽  
...  

1993 ◽  
Vol 71 (6) ◽  
pp. 1075-1078 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raymond McNeil ◽  
Rejean Benoît ◽  
Jean-Luc Desgranges

It is generally admitted that in coastal areas, herons of the genus Ardea adjust their foraging time according to the tidal cycle. However, to what extent do tides control the herons' daily rhythm of activity? To answer this question, we present the day and night activity patterns of Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias) arriving to feed their young at a heronry located in a nontidal environment in southern Quebec. Herons were about half as active at night as during the day. Therefore, although significantly less than diurnal activity, nocturnal activity was not negligible, and consequently the tide cycle is not the only factor controlling the daily rhythm of the herons' activity. Those breeding pairs that were most active during the day were no more or less active at night. Diurnal activity was more closely correlated with the number of young that fledged than was nocturnal activity. Thus, night activity was not necessarily important for the survival of young herons, but it could be explained by other factors such as the greater availability of certain prey at night.


2014 ◽  
Vol 281 (1793) ◽  
pp. 20141642 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. D. Angielczyk ◽  
L. Schmitz

Nocturnality is widespread among extant mammals and often considered the ancestral behavioural pattern for all mammals. However, mammals are nested within a larger clade, Synapsida, and non-mammalian synapsids comprise a rich phylogenetic, morphological and ecological diversity. Even though non-mammalian synapsids potentially could elucidate the early evolution of diel activity patterns and enrich the understanding of synapsid palaeobiology, data on their diel activity are currently unavailable. Using scleral ring and orbit dimensions, we demonstrate that nocturnal activity was not an innovation unique to mammals but a character that appeared much earlier in synapsid history, possibly several times independently. The 24 Carboniferous to Jurassic non-mammalian synapsid species in our sample featured eye morphologies consistent with all major diel activity patterns, with examples of nocturnality as old as the Late Carboniferous ( ca 300 Ma). Carnivores such as Sphenacodon ferox and Dimetrodon milleri , but also the herbivorous cynodont Tritylodon longaevus were likely nocturnal, whereas most of the anomodont herbivores are reconstructed as diurnal. Recognizing the complexity of diel activity patterns in non-mammalian synapsids is an important step towards a more nuanced picture of the evolutionary history of behaviour in the synapsid clade.


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