Modular genetic control of social status in a cichlid fish

Social hierarchies are ubiquitous in social species and profoundly influence physiology and behavior. Androgens like testosterone have been strongly linked to social status, yet the molecular mechanisms regulating social status are not known. The African cichlid fishAstatotilapia burtoniis a powerful model species for elucidating the role of androgens in social status given their rich social hierarchy and genetic tractability. DominantA. burtonimales possess large testes and bright coloration and perform aggressive and reproductive behaviors while nondominant males do not. Social status inA. burtoniis in flux, however, as males alter their status depending on the social environment. Due to a teleost-specific whole-genome duplication,A. burtonipossess two androgen receptor (AR) paralogs,ARαandARβ, providing a unique opportunity to disentangle the role of gene duplication in the evolution of social systems. Here, we used CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to generate AR mutantA. burtoniand performed a suite of experiments to interrogate the mechanistic basis of social dominance. We find thatARβ,but notARα, is required for testes growth and bright coloration, whileARα, but notARβ, is required for the performance of reproductive behavior and aggressive displays. Both receptors are required to reduce flees from females and either AR is sufficient for attacking males. Thus, social status inA. burtoniis inordinately dissociable and under the modular control of two AR paralogs. This type of nonredundancy may be important in facilitating social plasticity inA. burtoniand other species whose social status relies on social experience.

Genotype-by-genotype epistasis for exploratory behaviour in D. simulans

Social interactions can influence the expression and underlying genetic basis of many traits. Yet, empirical investigations of indirect genetic effects (IGEs) and genotype-by-genotype epistasis—quantitative genetics parameters representing the role of genetic variation in a focal individual and its interacting partners in producing the observed trait values—are still scarce. While it is commonly observed that an individual's traits are influenced by the traits of interacting conspecifics, representing social plasticity, studying this social plasticity and its quantitative-genetic basis is notoriously challenging. These challenges are compounded when individuals interact in groups, rather than (simpler) dyads. Here, we investigate the genetic architecture of social plasticity for exploratory behaviour, one of the most intensively studied behaviours in recent decades. Using genotypes of Drosophila simulans , we measured genotypes both alone, and in social groups representing a mix of two genotypes. We found that females adjusted their exploratory behaviour based on the behaviour of others in the group, representing social plasticity. However, the direction of this plasticity depended on the identity of group members: focal individuals were more likely to emerge from a refuge if group members who were the same genotype as the focal remained inside for longer. By contrast, focal individuals were less likely to emerge from a refuge if partner-genotype group members remained inside for longer. Exploratory behaviour also depended on the identities of both genotypes that composed the group. Together, these findings demonstrate genotype-by-genotype epistasis for exploratory behaviour both within and among groups.

Influence of temperament on the professionalism of firefighters

The article discusses the features of temperament and its indicators in firefighters of different groups of professionalism. Temperament is understood in accordance with the formal-dynamic concept of V. M. Rusalov, which highlights the formal-dynamic properties of the individual: ergic, plasticity, speed, emotionality. The sample consisted of 210 firefighters, divided into three groups of professionalism: firefighters-mentors, firefighters of the 1st class, firefighters of the 2nd class. A questionnaire for determining V. M.’s temperament was used. Rusalova, methods of mathematical statistics: the Kruskal-Wallace method and ANOVA analysis of variance. The features of the development of temperament indicators in various groups of firefighters are revealed. The main results of the study are described, indicating that there are indicators (social tempo, tempo, social ergicity, ergicity) that are common to all groups of firefighters. At the same time, some indicators of temperament (social plasticity and emotionality) differ in severity in certain groups of firefighters: social plasticity dominates in class 2 firefighters, and emotionality – in class 1 firefighters.

The relationship between sexuality and temperament in patients with epilepsy

Aim: to study the relationship between sexuality and temperament in patients with epilepsy.Materials and methods. The study included 102 participants: 52 patients with epilepsy and 50 healthy individuals aged from 19 to 45 years. The psychological examination was based on the I-structural test of Ammon (ISTA), the Structure of temperament questionnaire (STQ) of Rusalov, and a clinical interview.Results. Using the correlation analysis we were able to reveal 9 correlations between the types of sexuality and the temperament characteristics in patients with epilepsy; in subjects of the control group – 4 correlations were found. Thus, in patients with epilepsy, constructive sexuality positively correlated with plasticity, social erginess, and pace, whereas in healthy subjects – with social erginess. In patients with epilepsy, destructive sexuality positively correlated with plasticity, social erginess, and social plasticity; in healthy subjects, destructive sexuality negatively correlated with social erginess. In patients with epilepsy, deficient sexuality negatively correlated with pace, plasticity, and social erginess, whereas in healthy subjects – with plasticity and social plasticity.Conclusion. The study shows that the sexuality in patients with epilepsy is more deterministic than that in the comparison group. In addition, all types of sexuality in these patients correlate with plasticity and social erginess, which suggests that patients with epilepsy can be satisfied with sexual relations, show flexibility and strive for diversity while being flexible and socially active. These correlations can be read vice versa, i.e., striving for diversity and social activity in patients with epilepsy is accompanied by satisfaction with their sexual relations and inclination to experiment.

Male social plasticity influences transient dynamics in the emergence of alternative mating systems in water striders

Animal mating systems are often studied with the goal of understanding why species, populations, or groups vary from one another in the system they display. Although these differences are often treated as basically stable, it is also known that mating systems may shift over time (e.g., from one breeding season to the next). There has been some study of how ecological factors correlate with these changes; however, few, if any, studies have investigated how the phenotypic composition of a group governs the timing and probability of these mating system transitions. Groups of stream water striders (Aquarius remigis) can experience rapid changes in mating system dynamics, with small groups often transitioning into a system in which a single, large male monopolizes mating opportunities. We asked if variation in individual- and group-level traits associated with morphology and behavior (e.g., size of the largest individual, average activity behavioral type in the group) could partially explain the variability in how rapidly groups make this transition, if they make it at all. We show that groups with males that exhibit higher social plasticity tended to take longer to transition to a mating system dominated by a single male. Our results, therefore, suggest that groups in identical ecological conditions can diverge in their mating systems based on how much individuals in the group change their behavior in response to the behavior of other members of the group.