nesting aggregation
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2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madeleine M. Ostwald ◽  
Romain A. Dahan ◽  
Zachary Shaffer ◽  
Jennifer H. Fewell

Kin selection theory has dominated our understanding of the evolution of group living. However, many animal groups form among non-relatives, which gain no indirect fitness benefits from cooperating with nestmates. In this study, we characterized the relatedness and inter-nest migration behavior of the facultatively social carpenter bee, Xylocopa sonorina. Nesting constraints due to costly nest construction in this species give rise to intense intraspecific competition over access to existing nests. We used mark-recapture techniques to characterize patterns of dispersal and nest relocation within a nesting aggregation of spatially clustered nests. Two-thirds of bees relocated at least once during the reproductive season, likely to seek reproductive opportunities in another nest. This fluid nest membership creates opportunities for association among non-relatives. To assess the effects of this dynamic nesting behavior on group relatedness, we used microsatellite analysis to estimate relative relatedness within and between nests in the aggregation. We found that relatedness was variable across sampling years, but that in many cases nestmates were no more related to one another than they were to non-nestmate bees in the population. Together, these results suggest that group composition in X. sonorina may result from strategies to maximize direct fitness. This study supports the hypothesis that factors beyond kinship, such as ecological constraints, are likely to drive group formation in this species.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Chatting ◽  
Shafeeq Hamza ◽  
Jassim Al-Khayat ◽  
David Smyth

Projected climate change is forecasted to have significant effects on biological systems worldwide. Marine turtles in particular may be vulnerable, as the sex of their offspring is determined by their incubating temperature. This study is aimed to estimate historical and forecast future, primary sex ratios of hawksbill turtle hatchlings, Eretmochelys imbricata, in Qatar. Incubation temperatures were measured over two nesting seasons. Climate data from same period was regressed with nest temperatures to estimate incubation temperatures and hatchling sex ratios for the site from 1993 to 2100. Historical climate data showed female-biased sex ratios of 73.2 ±12.1% from 1993 to 2017. Female biases from 2018 to 2100 averaged 85.7% ±6.7%. In addition, predicted female hatchling production was >90% from 2054. These results show that hawksbill primary sex ratios in Qatar are at risk of significant feminization by the year 2100.


2019 ◽  
Vol 621 ◽  
pp. 209-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
CE Tanner ◽  
A Marco ◽  
S Martins ◽  
E Abella-Perez ◽  
LA Hawkes

2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 182-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
ADAM F. GROULX ◽  
JESSICA R. K. FORREST

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Lei ◽  
David T. Booth

Excessive sea turtle nest predation is a problem for conservation management of sea turtle populations. This study assessed predation on nests of the endangered loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) at Wreck Rock beach adjacent to Deepwater National Park in Southeast Queensland, Australia after a control program for feral foxes was instigated. The presence of predators on the nesting dune was evaluated by tracking plots (2 × 1 m) every 100 m along the dune front. There were 21 (2014–2015) and 41 (2015–2016) plots established along the dune, and these were monitored for predator tracks daily over three consecutive months in both nesting seasons. Predator activities at nests were also recorded by the presence of tracks on top of nests until hatchlings emerged. In addition, camera traps were set to record the predator activity around selected nests. The tracks of the fox (Vulpes vulpes) and goanna (Varanus spp) were found on tracking plots. Tracking plots, nest tracks and camera traps indicated goanna abundance varied strongly between years. Goannas were widely distributed along the beach and had a Passive Activity Index (PAI) (0.31 in 2014–2015 and 0.16 in 2015–2016) approximately seven times higher than that of foxes (PAI 0.04 in 2014–2015 and 0.02 in 2015–2016). Five hundred and twenty goanna nest visitation events were recorded by tracks but no fox tracks were found at turtle nests. Camera trap data indicated that yellow-spotted goannas (Varanus panoptes) appeared at loggerhead turtle nests more frequently than lace monitors (V. varius) did, and further that lace monitors only predated nests previously opened by yellow-spotted goannas. No foxes were recorded at nests with camera traps. This study suggests that large male yellow-spotted goannas are the major predator of sea turtle nests at the Wreck Rock beach nesting aggregation and that goanna activity varies between years.


2017 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Christopher K. Starr

A nesting aggregation of Megachile (Creightonella) atrata Smith in the Philippines comprised almost 300 active nests.  The bees in rapid flight resemble the hornet Vespa tropica Linnaeus. The nest structure is similar to that reported for M. (C.) frontalis (Fabricius) in New Guinea.


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