Plasticity and repeatability in spring migration and parturition dates with implications for annual reproductive success

Animals are faced with unprecedented challenges as environmental conditions change. Animals must display behavioral plasticity to acclimate to changing conditions, or phenotypic variation must exist within the population to allow for natural selection to change the distribution of trait values. The timing of migration and parturition relative to important annual environmental changes such as snowmelt and vegetation green-up and how they co-vary may influence reproductive success. We tested for plasticity and individual differences in migration and parturition timing as a function of the timing of snowmelt and green-up in a migratory herbivore (caribou; Rangifer tarandus, n = 92) using behavioral reaction norms. We tested whether timing of parturition, plasticity in parturition timing, or timing of green-up were correlated with calf survival. Migration and parturition timing were plastic to the timing of spring conditions, and we found moderate repeatability for migration timing, but no repeatability in timing of parturition. We detected a novel behavioral syndrome where timing of migration and timing of parturition were correlated. Our results suggest that observed shifts in caribou parturition timing in other populations are due to plasticity as opposed to an evolutionary response to changing conditions. We did not detect a correlation between annual reproductive success and either the timing of spring or plasticity to the timing of spring events. While this provides evidence that many populations may be buffered from the consequences of climate change via plasticity, we caution that a lack of repeatability in parturition timing could impede adaptation as climate warming increases.

Therapist Materials for Tracking Emotions over Time (the “ARC”)

The session covered in this chapter explores the steps that unfold over time in emotions: Antecedent (A) is what comes before that sets up the emotional reaction. Response (R) is the emotional response itself, which has the three components of thoughts, physical sensations, and urges/behaviors. Consequence (C) is all the positive and negative, short-term and long-term effects of the emotion—including the behavioral reaction that was chosen—what happened and did not happen; what we learned or missed out on learning; and what was reinforced by our actions. Form 8.1: The ARC of Emotional Experiences, which is used throughout the remainder of treatment, is introduced in this session.

Exploring the behavioral reactions to a mirror in the nocturnal grey mouse lemur: sex differences in avoidance

Most mirror-image stimulation studies (MIS) have been conducted on social and diurnal animals in order to explore self-recognition, social responses, and personality traits. Small, nocturnal mammals are difficult to study in the wild and are under-represented in experimental behavioral studies. In this pilot study, we explored the behavioral reaction of a small nocturnal solitary forager—the grey mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus)—an emergent animal model in captivity. We assessed whether MIS can be used to detect a repeatable behavioral reaction, whether individuals will present a similar reaction toward a conspecific and the mirror, and whether males and females respond similarly. We tested 12 individuals (six males and six females) twice in three different contexts: with a mirror, with a live conspecific, and with a white board as a neutral control. We detected significant repeatability for the activity component of the behavioral reaction. There was a significant effect of the context and the interaction between presentation context and sex for avoidance during the first session for males but not for females. Males avoided the mirror more than they avoided a live conspecific. This pilot study opens a discussion on the behavioral differences between males and females regarding social interactions and reproduction in the nocturnal solitary species, and suggests that males are more sensitive to context of stimulation than females.

Brain Hemispheres Swap Dominance for Processing Semantically Meaningful Pitch

The question of what determines brain laterality for auditory cognitive processing is unresolved. Here, we demonstrate a swap of hemisphere dominance from right to left during semantic interpretation of Chinese lexical tones in native speakers using simultaneously recorded mismatch negativity response and behavioral reaction time during dichotic listening judgment. The mismatch negativity, which is a brain wave response and indexes auditory processing at an early stage, indicated right hemisphere dominance. In contrast, the behavioral reaction time, which reflects auditory processing at a later stage, indicated a right ear listening advantage, or left hemisphere dominance. The observed swap of hemisphere dominance would not occur when the lexical tone was substituted with a meaningless pure tone. This swap reveals dependence of hemisphere labor division initially on acoustic and then on functional cues of auditory inputs in the processing from sound to meaning.

Increased cave use by butterflies and moths: a response to climate warming?

Between 2015 and 2019, the list of Lepidoptera from “cave” habitats (i.e., proper caves, rock shelters and artificial subterranean structures) in Austria grew from 17 to 62 species, although the effort of data collection remained nearly constant from the late 1970s onwards. The newly recorded moths and butterflies were resting in caves during daytime in the the warm season, three species were also overwintering there. We observed Catocala elocata at 28 cave inspections, followed by Mormo maura (18), Catocala nupta (7), Peribatodes rhomboidaria, and Euplagia quadripunctaria (6). More than half of the species have been repeatedly observed in caves in Austria or abroad, so their relationship with such sites is apparently not completely random. Since the increase of records in Austria coincided with a considerable rise in the annual number of hot days (maximum temperatures ≥30°C) from 2015 onwards, we interpret the growing inclination of certain Lepidoptera towards daytime sheltering in caves as a behavioral reaction to climate warming.

The Effect of Labelling and Visual Properties on the Acceptance of Foods Containing Insects

Introducing insects as a source of nutrients (e.g., protein) plays a key role in many countries’ environmental policies. However, westerners generally reject insects as an ingredient of food products and meals. The aim of our study was to assess if explicitly labelling food as containing insects and/or implying it by manipulating the appearance of food influences the participants’ perception of food products or their behavioral reaction to such products. Participants were asked to try a range of foods, none of which contained ingredients derived from insects. However, the experimental conditions varied with regard to food labelling (insect content) and appearance (traces of insect-like ingredients). We observed the participants’ non-verbal behavioral reactions to the foods. Next, the respondents filled in a questionnaire evaluating the food’s properties. Additionally, we asked the participants to fill in a set of questionnaires measuring other variables (food neophobia, disgust, variety seeking, etc.) The results showed that products labelled as containing insects are consumed with reluctance and in lower quantities despite their appearance. In addition, people with lower general neophobia and a higher tendency to seek variety tried the insect-labelled samples sooner than people from the other groups. Recommendations for marketing strategies are provided.

BEHAVIORAL REACTION TO THE 2008 INCOME TAX REFORM IN INDONESIA: A BUNCHING ANALYSIS

Income tax reforms generally constitute some changes in marginal tax rates and its income thresholds which often lead to a higher tax liability. Taxpayers may respond to these changes differently, mainly by trying to lower their tax payments. Self-employed individuals have a greater incentive to strategically adjust to a lower income declaration. Using administrative tax data, this paper examines the reaction of self-employed taxpayers to the 2008 Indonesian Income Tax Reform using bunching analysis. Beside a clear evidence on bunching around the first kink point, our empirical findings suggest that Indonesia exhibits special cases. We find an inertia of pre-reform bunching around the first kink point in later years as well as an extraordinary bunching above the first kink point in the post-reform periods.

RESEARCH OF FRUSTRATION EXPERIENCES OF FUTURE PSYCHOLOGISTS

The article presents the results of an empirical study of the experience of frustration in students - future psychologists based on previously developed theoretical model of this emotional-behavioral phenomenon. On the basis of valid psychodiagnostic techniques, an empirical study of the emotional and behavioral components of frustration among students of the first and fourth educational courses was conducted, and the assumption was made that the main criteria for the manifestation of frustration in future psychologists are the orientation and fixing a behavioral reaction in response to a negative emotional state that arises from unmet need.A qualitative analysis of the empirical data traces the relationship between the components of frustration as a deterministic influence of the frustration state on frustration behavior. At the same time, mutual determination emerges as the need for the subject to overcome the negative state through the exercise of frustration more than to satisfy the need.The article consists of introduction, statement of the purpose and tasks of the article, presentation of the main material and conclusions.

The Representation of Female Psychic Individuality in K. S. Maniam’s “Mala”

This paper examines the feminist insights of the female individuality K. S. Maniam’s “Mala.” Female individuals, in psychoanalysis visions of delirium, have to cope with their needs and aspirations as their males counterparts. Women have to prove their ability stand and ask for their equality even in patriarchal dominated societies. They are a position that renders their human potential to do their affairs independently in the light of humanistic premises. Moreover, females could improve their status by asserting their given human ability to obtain equality and right position in whatever community. Yet, women may face obstacles and hindrances which might belittle their ability to assert their rights and potential thoughts. In this regard, females could be fruitful and active in society. The male conceptualization of females, on the other hand would lead women to be different and progress towards goodness. Therefore, it will apply Carl Yung’s concept of projection mechanism to explore the feminist psychic individuality in Maniam’s “Mala.” Thus, the study’s implication lies in its interpretation of feminist psychic individuality and how it this individuality controls the behavioral reaction of women.