Observation of successful mobbing of an insectivorous bat, Taphozous nudiventris (Emballonuridae), on an avian predator, Tyto alba (Tytonidae)

Mammalia ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Radek K. Lučan ◽  
Martin Šálek
Keyword(s):  
Aggressive Behaviour ◽  
Tyto Alba ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Potential Predator ◽  
Avian Predator ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Distress Calls ◽  
Mobbing Behaviour

AbstractMobbing in animals is an aggressive behaviour performed cooperatively towards a potential predator. In bats, the existence of mobbing is based on both intra- and interspecific behavioural responses of freely flying individuals to distress calls emitted by live bats or playbacked by researchers. In this note, we describe the mobbing behaviour of free-living naked-bellied tomb bats

scholarly journals The role of carbon dioxide in nematode behaviour and physiology

Parasitology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 147 (8) ◽  
pp. 841-854 ◽  
Author(s):  
Navonil Banerjee ◽  
Elissa A. Hallem
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Neural Circuit ◽  
Physiological Responses ◽  
Life Stage ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Sensory Cue ◽  
Context Dependent

AbstractCarbon dioxide (CO2) is an important sensory cue for many animals, including both parasitic and free-living nematodes. Many nematodes show context-dependent, experience-dependent and/or life-stage-dependent behavioural responses to CO2, suggesting that CO2 plays crucial roles throughout the nematode life cycle in multiple ethological contexts. Nematodes also show a wide range of physiological responses to CO2. Here, we review the diverse responses of parasitic and free-living nematodes to CO2. We also discuss the molecular, cellular and neural circuit mechanisms that mediate CO2 detection in nematodes, and that drive context-dependent and experience-dependent responses of nematodes to CO2.

scholarly journals Faecal glucocorticoid metabolites and alarm calling in free-living yellow-bellied marmots

2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel T Blumstein ◽  
Marilyn L Patton ◽  
Wendy Saltzman
Keyword(s):  
Present Finding ◽  
Physiological Arousal ◽  
Alarm Calls ◽  
Marmota Flaviventris ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Potential Predator ◽  
Alarm Calling ◽  
Faecal Glucocorticoid Metabolites ◽  
Metabolite Concentrations

When individuals of a variety of species encounter a potential predator, some, but not all, emit alarm calls. To explain the proximate basis of this variation, we compared faecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations in live-trapped yellow-bellied marmots ( Marmota flaviventris ) between occasions when they did and did not emit alarm calls. We found that marmots had significantly higher glucocorticoid levels when they called than when they did not call, suggesting that stress or arousal may play an important role in potentiating alarm calls. Marmots are sensitive to variation in the reliability of callers. The present finding provides one possible mechanism underlying caller variation: physiological arousal influences the propensity to emit alarm calls.

Endocrine correlates of territoriality, breeding stage, and body molt in free-living willow ptarmigan of both sexes

1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (10) ◽  
pp. 2130-2134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan J. Hannon ◽  
John C. Wingfield
Keyword(s):  
Luteinizing Hormone ◽  
Aggressive Behaviour ◽  
Follicle Stimulating Hormone ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Plasma Testosterone ◽  
Willow Ptarmigan ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Brood Rearing ◽  
Egg Formation

Concentrations of plasma testosterone, estradiol, corticosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were measured by radioimmunoassay in wild willow ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus) of both sexes over the breeding season. In males, plasma concentrations of testosterone and LH increased once they became territorial, and this was paralleled by increases in comb size and initiation of molt into courtship plumage. A decline of testosterone and circulating LH levels during late territoriality and egg laying coincided with molt into summer plumage. FSH titers did not vary significantly through the season, but there was a trend for higher levels during the territorial period. Plasma concentrations of corticosterone were highest during pre- and late territoriality and brood rearing. In females, testosterone levels were about 13 times lower than in males and did not vary significantly, whereas LH was high from pre- to mid-territoriality and again in the brood season. Elevated LH levels may be correlated with aggressive behaviour in females. FSH and estradiol concentrations were highest during the period of egg formation. Corticosterone was correlated with chase time in both sexes.

scholarly journals Responsiveness to conspecific distress calls is influenced by day-roost proximity in bats ( Saccopteryx bilineata )

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 160151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Eckenweber ◽  
Mirjam Knörnschild
Keyword(s):  
Group Composition ◽  
Playback Experiments ◽  
Distress Call ◽  
Social Relevance ◽  
The Social ◽  
Saccopteryx Bilineata ◽  
Distress Calls ◽  
Foraging Site ◽  
Physical Distress ◽  
Mobbing Behaviour

Distress calls signal extreme physical distress, e.g. being caught by a predator. In many bat species, distress calls attract conspecifics. Because bats often occupy perennial day-roosts, they might adapt their responsiveness according to the social relevance in which distress calls are broadcast. Specifically, we hypothesized that conspecific distress calls broadcast within or in proximity to the day-roost would elicit a stronger responsiveness than distress calls broadcast at a foraging site. We analysed the distress calls and conducted playback experiments with the greater sac-winged bat, Saccopteryx bilineata , which occupies perennial day-roosts with a stable social group composition. S. bilineata reacted significantly differently depending on the playback's location. Bats were attracted to distress call playbacks within the day-roost and in proximity to it, but showed no obvious response to distress call playbacks at a foraging site. Hence, the bats adapted their responsiveness towards distress calls depending on the social relevance in which distress calls were broadcast. Distress calls within or in proximity to the day-roost are probably perceived as a greater threat and thus have a higher behavioural relevance than distress calls at foraging sites, either because bats want to assess the predation risk or because they engage in mobbing behaviour.

scholarly journals Progesterone modulates aggression in sex-role reversed female African black coucals

2008 ◽  
Vol 275 (1638) ◽  
pp. 1053-1060 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolfgang Goymann ◽  
Andrea Wittenzellner ◽  
Ingrid Schwabl ◽  
Musa Makomba
Keyword(s):  
Aggressive Behaviour ◽  
Sex Role ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
General Mechanism ◽  
Hormonal Changes ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Resource Defence ◽  
Territorial Aggression ◽  
African Black

Testosterone is assumed to be the key hormone related to resource-defence aggression. While this role has been confirmed mostly in the context of reproduction in male vertebrates, the effect of testosterone on the expression of resource-defence aggression in female vertebrates is not so well established. Furthermore, laboratory work suggests that progesterone inhibits aggressive behaviour in females. In this study, we investigated the hormonal changes underlying territorial aggression in free-living female African black coucals, Centropus grillii (Aves; Cuculidae). Females of this sex-role reversed polyandrous bird species should be particularly prone to be affected by testosterone because they aggressively defend territories similar to males of other species. We show, however, that territorial aggression in female black coucals is modulated by progesterone. After aggressive territorial challenges female black coucals expressed lower levels of progesterone than unchallenged territorial females and females without territories, suggesting that progesterone may suppress territorial aggression and is downregulated during aggressive encounters. Indeed, females treated with physiological concentrations of progesterone were less aggressive than females with placebo implants. This is one of the first demonstrations of a corresponding hormone–behaviour interaction under challenged and experimental conditions in free-living females. We anticipate that our observation in a sex-role reversed species may provide a more general mechanism, by which progesterone—in interaction with testosterone—may regulate resource-defence aggression in female vertebrates.

scholarly journals SNP Genetic Diversity Within a Fragment of the Gene Myo15a Responsible for the Hearing Process in a Population of Farmed and Free-Living Animals of the Canidae Family/SNP Genetski Deverzitet U Okviru Fragmenta Gena Myo15a, Odgovornog Za Sluh U Populaciji Životinja Familije Canidae U Uslovima Farmskog I Slobodnog Uzgoja

2014 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 358-366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jakubczak Andrzej ◽  
Gryzinska Magdalena ◽  
Horecka Beata ◽  
Dziadosz Katarzyna ◽  
Jezewska-Witkowska Grazyna
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Hair Cells ◽  
Aggressive Behaviour ◽  
Amino Acid Substitutions ◽  
Substantial Influence ◽  
Hearing Disorders ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Snp Polymorphism ◽  
Myosin Xva

Abstract The gene MYO15A is involved in the production of a protein included in the group of motor proteins known as myosins. Myosin XVA is located in the inner ear, the pituitary gland and other tissues, and has a substantial influence on the hearing process. Mutations in this gene cause amino acid substitutions in the conserved motor domain of the myosin chain, leading to shortening of the stereocilia in the hair cells, so that the function of myosin XVA is impaired. A research hypothesis was put forth that mutations in the gene responsible for the hearing process in animals of the Canidae family can cause hypoacusis, as well as substantial behavioural changes in dogs (ranging from timidity to aggressive behaviour). The study determined SNP polymorphism in a fragment of the gene MYO15A, which can cause hearing disorders or hypoacusis, in wild and farmed individuals of the Canidae family.

scholarly journals Suitability of acoustics as non-lethal deterrents for macropodids: the influence of origin, delivery and anti-predator behaviour

2011 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 408 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Ramp ◽  
Clio Gates Foale ◽  
Erin Roger ◽  
David B. Croft
Keyword(s):  
Species Traits ◽  
Sympatric Species ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Acoustic Stimuli ◽  
Management Measures ◽  
The Family ◽  
Distress Calls ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Predator Behaviour

Context Auditory devices used to deter wildlife are a potentially humane and effective way of minimising deleterious interactions with humans and their livelihoods and have been used successfully for many species around the world. Acoustic cues can be used to manipulate anti-predator behaviour, encouraging animals to forage elsewhere. Employing acoustics derived from natural sources to make use of innate behavioural responses has been suggested to outperform novel or artificial sounds; however, anti-predator strategies vary among sympatric species and will influence the utility of acoustic stimuli for deterring wildlife. Aims We aimed to test the interaction between the source of origin (natural or novel) and species traits (anti-predator strategy – grouping behaviour) on the efficacy of using acoustic stimuli to elicit alarm responses for two species in the family Macropodidae commonly associated with browsing on forest plantation seedlings; the red-necked pademelon (Thylogale thetis) and the red-necked wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus banksianus). Methods We tested these factors in captivity using playback experiments of acoustic stimuli and monitored the behavioural responses of subjects. Results Red-necked pademelons exhibited strong responses to bioacoustic and novel stimuli but did not greatly differentiate among them. Short-term habituation to predator calls was detected whereas responsiveness to novel sounds increased. Red-necked wallabies most strongly responded to conspecific distress calls, showing no sign of short-term habituation. Conclusions Results from the present and other studies suggest that bioacoustic deterrents, particularly those utilising natural conspecific sounds, aimed at communicating danger, have the potential to play an important role in non-lethal wildlife management, although that responsiveness varies with the form of anti-predator strategies employed. Implications If alarm responses translate into subjects vacating targeted areas, then there is some potential to implement non-lethal acoustic deterrents for macropodids alongside other management measures aimed at preventing impacts on primary production. Problematically, our experiments showed that without accurate acoustic delivery, particularly of sounds with infrasonic components, the development of effective bioacoustic deterrents may remain stymied.

Deaths in free‐living barn owls (Tyto alba)

1989 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 745-750
Author(s):  
Steven McOrist
Keyword(s):  
Tyto Alba ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Barn Owls

Songbirds never forget: long-lasting behavioural change triggered by a single playback event

Behaviour ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 152 (9) ◽  
pp. 1277-1290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hector Fabio Rivera-Gutierrez ◽  
Rianne Pinxten ◽  
Marcel Eens
Keyword(s):  
Behavioural Change ◽  
Great Tit ◽  
Playback Experiments ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Repeated Stimulation ◽  
Locomotor Behaviour ◽  
One Year

Many behavioural studies rely on playback experiments. While it is known that songbirds decrease behavioural responses after short-term repeated stimulation, long-term behavioural changes due to playbacks are unknown. We studied the response to playbacks in a free-living songbird in the long-term, while also studying the repeatability of the behaviour. Locomotor behaviour (a proxy of aggressiveness) decreased one year after first exposure to a single playback. Song response, however, remained consistent, suggesting that these two behaviours may provide different information. Locomotor behaviour was less repeatable than the song response to playback, the latter showing significant between-years repeatability. To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first to report long-term decrease in response to playbacks in a songbird, and that some aspects of the response to playback are repeatable. Similar studies in other species or populations of the great tit are important, to examine the generality of our findings.

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