Modern stratagems for renewing the competitive environment of construction development

The company can maintain its competitive advantage through two the kinds of abilities - distinctive and replicable - and the unique combination of these that the organization creates to achieve synergy. The determining factor is the importance of the company's strategy. New concepts of competitiveness do not deny the importance traditional factors such as company size, assortment policy, price differentiation and low costs. At the same time, the special importance of new factors - key competencies, brand value, reputation, i.e. resources that are intellectual.

Hypothesizing novel mating behaviours in the squaretail grouper based on direct behavioural observations

Historically unfished, high-density spawning aggregations are vanishingly uncommon. Behavioural observations from such aggregations are rare, and may be sometimes novel and unexpected. Given the weight of evidence required to document spawning aggregations, how can we best report rare and unusual behavioural variations in spawning populations? Based on two years of in-water observations of a high-density spawning aggregation of the squaretail grouper in the Lakshadweep Archipelago, we described a previously unreported male alternative reproductive tactic (ART) and an inverse size assortment with large males courting several small females that shoaled mid-water (https://doi.org/10.1186/s12898-017-0120-5). In critiquing our manuscript, it has been suggested that our observations, methodologies and interpretation are inadequate, flawed, and do not fit within currently accepted theory (https://doi.org/10.1186/s12898-018-0206-8). While offering a detailed counter of the main methodological and theoretical criticisms we question how best to document and interpret novel behaviours in poorly known systems. Reporting novelty itself can hardly be the basis of criticism. Our report relied on direct in-water observations, conducted at peak densities over two spawning years. The critique ignores this, choosing instead to focus on a supplementary video which was not the basis of our conclusions. Like other researchers working on this species, we did not directly observe mating, but report courtship as a well-established proxy used across mating systems studies. Apart from these methodological concerns, the authors suggest that there is no theoretical support for our observations. However, sexual selection theory provides well-established frameworks showing that, at very high mating densities, a variety of tactics can emerge, that often vary considerably between populations and locations. In our original paper, we use this broader theory of sexual selection together with detailed behavioural data to propose plausible evolutionary explanations that bear testing in these novel, high-density systems. We agree with the authors that novel observations should be scrutinised carefully as they can challenge our current understanding of the range of behaviours populations display and serve as a springboard for theoretical advancement. Given their rarity, these observations should be evaluated against the rigour of their documentation and the transparency of their reporting. In this context, we hope our carefully documented observations serve as a useful addition to the fascinating and complex natural history of species like the squaretail grouper.

Novel mating behaviours in the squaretail grouper: Response to “Fake spawns and floating particles"

Based on two years of in-water observations of a high-density spawning aggregation of the squaretail grouper in the Lakshadweep Archipelago, we described a previously unreported inverse size assortment with large males courting several small females that shoaled mid-water (DOI 10.1186/s12898-017-0120-5). Critiquing our manuscript, Erisman and colleagues (DOI 10.1186/s12898-018-0206-8) suggest that our observations and interpretation are flawed, and do not fit within currently accepted theory. Here we offer a detailed counter of their main methodological and theoretical criticisms. Their criticism that this reproductive tactic has never been observed before is hardly a criticism since its novelty is precisely what we wished to highlight. The supplementary video that Erisman et al use to base much of their criticisms was not the basis of our conclusions, which relied on direct in-water observations. These observations were conducted over two spawning years, taking care to ensure that we sampled aggregations at peak densities. Like other researchers working on this species, we did not directly observe mating, but have used courtship as a proxy for mating success – a well-established proxy across mating systems studies. Apart from these methodological concerns, the authors suggest that there is no theoretical support for our observations. However, sexual selection theory provides a well-established framework showing that, at very high mating densities, a variety of tactics can emerge, that often vary considerably between populations and locations. We agree with the authors that novel observations should be scrutinised carefully. They challenge our current understanding of the range of behaviours populations display and serve as a springboard for theoretical advancement. We stand by our observations and hope they serve as a useful addition to the fascinating and complex natural history of species like the squaretail grouper.

Novel mating behaviours in the squaretail grouper: Response to “Fake spawns and floating particles"

Based on two years of in-water observations of a high-density spawning aggregation of the squaretail grouper in the Lakshadweep Archipelago, we described a previously unreported inverse size assortment with large males courting several small females that shoaled mid-water (DOI 10.1186/s12898-017-0120-5). Critiquing our manuscript, Erisman and colleagues (DOI 10.1186/s12898-018-0206-8) suggest that our observations and interpretation are flawed, and do not fit within currently accepted theory. Here we offer a detailed counter of their main methodological and theoretical criticisms. Their criticism that this reproductive tactic has never been observed before is hardly a criticism since its novelty is precisely what we wished to highlight. The supplementary video that Erisman et al use to base much of their criticisms was not the basis of our conclusions, which relied on direct in-water observations. These observations were conducted over two spawning years, taking care to ensure that we sampled aggregations at peak densities. Like other researchers working on this species, we did not directly observe mating, but have used courtship as a proxy for mating success – a well-established proxy across mating systems studies. Apart from these methodological concerns, the authors suggest that there is no theoretical support for our observations. However, sexual selection theory provides a well-established framework showing that, at very high mating densities, a variety of tactics can emerge, that often vary considerably between populations and locations. We agree with the authors that novel observations should be scrutinised carefully. They challenge our current understanding of the range of behaviours populations display and serve as a springboard for theoretical advancement. We stand by our observations and hope they serve as a useful addition to the fascinating and complex natural history of species like the squaretail grouper.