1. While territoriality is one of the key mechanisms influencing carnivore space use, most studies quantify resource selection and movement in the absence of conspecific influence or territorial structure without inference on resource selection processes. 2. Our analysis incorporated intra-specific competition in a resource selection framework, via territorial data of conspecifics, to investigate mechanisms of territoriality and to better understand the role of neighboring packs on African wild dog habitat selection. We fit integrated step selection functions to 3-hour GPS data from 12 collared wild dog packs in the Okavango Delta, and estimated selection coefficients using a conditional Poisson likelihood with random effects. 3. Packs selected for the outline of their neighbors’ 30-day boundary (defined as their 90% kernel density estimate), and for the outline of their own 90-day core (defined as their 50% kernel density estimate). Neighbors’ 30-day boundary had a greater influence on resource selection than any habitat feature. Habitat selection differed when they were within versus beyond their neighbors’ 30-day boundary. 4. Pack size, pack age, pup presence, and seasonality all mediated how packs responded to neighbors, and seasonal dynamics altered the strength of residency. While newly-formed packs and packs with pups avoided their neighbors’ boundary, older packs and those without pups selected for it. Packs also selected for the boundary of larger neighboring packs more strongly than that of smaller ones. 5. Social structure within packs has implications for how they interact with conspecifics, and therefore how they are distributed across the landscape. Future research should continue to investigate how territorial processes are mediated by social dynamics and, in turn, how territorial structure mediates resource selection and movement. These results could inform the development of a human-wildlife conflict (HWC) mitigation tool by co-opting the mechanisms of conspecific interactions to manage space use of endangered carnivores.

We report the first case of egg burying behaviour in a neotropical direct-developing frog. An amplectant pair of Pristimantis chocoensis was found and we recorded oviposition and the subsequent burying of the clutch by the female. Both parents remained near the nest during the following day. This rare observation sheds light over the intricate reproductive behaviours of terrestrial amphibians and suggests that the evolution of direct development has selected for highly specialized forms of parenting.

Phenotypic covariation among suites of traits may constrain or promote diversification both within and between species, yet few studies have empirically investigated this relationship. In this study we investigate whether phenotypic covariation of craniofacial traits is associated with diversification in an adaptive radiation of pupfishes found only on San Salvador Island, Bahamas. The full radiation of pupfishes includes generalist, durophagous, and lepidophagous pupfish species. We compare phenotypic variation and covariation (i.e., P matrix) between 1) allopatric populations of generalist pupfish from neighboring islands and estuaries in the Caribbean, 2) San Salvador Island pupfish populations not containing the full radiation of fishes, and 3) San Salvador Island pupfish populations containing the full radiation in sympatry. Additionally, we explore whether phenotypic covariation varies between purebred and hybrid pupfish. We found that the P matrix of SSI generalist populations not found in sympatry with specialists exhibited higher levels of mean trait correlation, higher levels of constraints, and lower levels of flexibility compared to generalist populations on other Caribbean islands and sympatric populations of all three species found on SSI. We also documented significant differences between hybrid and purebred phenotypic covariation, where hybrids displayed lower correlations between traits and higher levels of flexibility, which may produce differential fitness in the wild. Ultimately, this study suggests that differences in phenotypic covariation significantly contribute to producing and maintaining organismal diversity.

In the Arctic tundra, recurrent periods of food scarcity force predators to rely on a wide variety of resources. In particular most predators use ungulate carcasses as an alternative food supply, especially in winters when live preys are scarce. As important and localized resource patches, carrion promotes co-occurrence of different individuals, and its use by predators is likely to be affected by interspecific competition. Here, we studied how interspecific competition and resource availability impact winter use of carrion by Arctic and red foxes in low Arctic Fennoscandia. We predicted that presence of red foxes limits Arctic foxes' use of carrion, and that the outcome of competition for carrion depends on the availability of alternative food resources, such as rodents. We monitored Arctic and red fox presence at experimentally supplied carrion using camera traps, between 2006 and 2021 in late winter. Using a multi-species dynamic occupancy model at a week-to-week scale, we evaluated use of carrion by foxes, while accounting for the presence of competitors, rodent availability and supplemental feeding provided to Arctic foxes. Competition primarily affected carrion use by increasing both species' probability to leave occupied carcasses to a similar extent, suggesting a symmetrical avoidance. Rodent abundance was associated with an increase in the probability of colonizing carrion for both species. For Arctic foxes, however, this increase was only observed in carcasses unoccupied by red foxes, showing greater avoidance when alternative preys are available. Contrary to expectations, we did not find strong signs of asymmetric competition for carrion in winter. Our results suggest that interactions for resources at a short time scale are not necessarily aligned with interactions at the scale of the population. In addition, we found that competition for carcasses depends on the availability of other resources, suggesting that interactions between predators depend on the ecological context.

Adaptive radiation as a result of ecological opportunity can have profound effects on the evolutionary outcome of species. On coral reefs, parrotfishes have been considered as one of the most dramatic examples of adaptive radiation unique in their extreme dietary specialisation. Using abrasion-resistant biomineralized teeth, parrotfishes are able to mechanically extract protein-rich micro-photoautotrophs growing in and amongst reef carbonate material. This unique ability to exploit a previously untapped trophic resource is thought to have led to the early diversification of the parrotfishes. In order to better understand the key evolutionary innovations leading to the success of these dietary specialists, we sequenced and analysed the genome of the spotted parrotfish (Cetoscarus ocellatus). Our findings reveal significant expansion, selection, and duplication within several gene families responsible for detoxification, including the cytochrome p450 gene family and non-cyp450 carboxylesterases. We find preliminary evidence that the structural mechanism responsible for the extreme hardness and biomineralization of parrotfish teeth may be a result of poly-glutamine expansion in the enamel protein ameloblastin. We also detect expansion and selection for several genes related to pigmentation and sequential hermaphroditism. Together, these results highlight a potentially complex interplay of adaptive radiation and sexual selection operating on coral reef ecosystems.

We present the first videos depicting the consumption of bats by rusty-spotted genets (Genetta maculata) inside a cave in the Republic of Congo. Following the implementation of a camera-trap monitoring protocol of interactions between cave bats and wildlife, we identified important genet activity in one of the caves in our study. Between 2022 and 2023, we recorded four events of bat or rodent consumption (including two with certainty on bats), one hunting attempt on bats and three feeding behaviors on insects. We detail the various behaviors and discuss the potential implications of genets consuming bats, rodents and insects, and in particular scavenging on dead bats. Finally, we address the potential implications of zoonotic pathogen transmission from bats to humans via genets through the bushmeat trade.

The wild African harlequin quails (Coturnix delegorguei delegorguei) of Western Kenya suffer from incessant hunting, habitat fragmentation, and the effects of climate change. These challenges, among others, have forced them to breed under intensive pressure, disrupting normal evolutionary processes. Here, we provide the first overview of the selection signatures in wild African harlequin quails using genotyping-by-sequencing information from 76 captured individuals. Additionally, 19 domestic Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were incorporated for comparative signatures of selection analysis between wild and domesticated quail species that undergo different selection pressures. Composite likelihood ratio test (CLR) and integrated haplotype score (iHS) methods were used to detect selection signatures. As a result, 252 and 424 candidate genes were detected in wild African harlequin and domestic Japanese quails, respectively, through the CLR test, whereas 150 and 457 candidate genes were identified through iHS. Some of the essential candidate genes identified in the wild African harlequin quail were associated with important traits such as immune response (MAPK13, MAPK14, CREB1, ITGB3, and PPP1CA) and morphological traits (WNT5A, GRIA1, CREB1, ADCY8, and ALK) whereas, in domestic Japanese quail, primarily production-related genes such as VIPR2, DYNLL2, COL6A3, MSX2, PRF1and GNA12 were identified. Our findings provide insights into the role of selection in shaping both wild and domestic quail genomes in terms of significant immune response, growth, reproduction, and morphological and behavioral traits.

Despite belonging to the most abundant and widespread genus of freshwater fishes in the region, the carp gudgeons of eastern Australia (genus Hypseleotris) have proved taxonomically and ecologically problematic to science since the 19th century. Several molecular studies and a recent taxonomic revision have now shed light on the complex biology and evolutionary history that underlies this group. These studies have demonstrated that carp gudgeons include a sexual/unisexual complex (five sexual species plus an assortment of hemiclonal lineages), many members of which also co-occur with an independent sexual relative, the western carp gudgeon (H. klunzingeri). Here we fill yet another knowledge gap for this important group by presenting a detailed molecular phylogeographic assessment of the western carp gudgeon across its entire and extensive geographic range. We use a suite of nuclear genetic markers (SNPs and allozymes) plus a matrilineal genealogy (cytb) to demonstrate that H. klunzingeri s.l. also displays considerable taxonomic and phylogeographic complexity. All molecular datasets concur in recognizing the presence of multiple candidate species, two instances of historic between-species admixture, and the existence of a natural hybrid zone between two of the three candidate species found in the Murray Darling Basin. We also discuss the major phylogeographic patterns evident within each taxon. Together these analyses provide a robust molecular, taxonomic, and distributional framework to underpin future morphological and ecological investigations on this prominent member of regional freshwater ecosystems in eastern Australia.

Here, we describe a Raspberry Pi-based camera system that is portable, robust, and weatherproof, with a close-up focus (2.5 cm). We show that this camera system can be used in remote locations with high rainfall and humidity. The camera has an Infrared LED light to film in dark places and can continuously record for 21 days. We also describe how to make concrete artificial shelters to mount the camera in. One of the great strengths of this shelter/camera setup is that the animals choose to take up residence and can then be filmed for extended periods with no disturbance. Furthermore, we give examples of how shelters and cameras could be used to film a range of behaviours in many small cryptic amphibian species, but also other small vertebrates and invertebrates globally.

1: Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) revolutionises ecological research, utilizing sounds for species-specific inferences. However, PAM generates large volumes of data, posing challenges in annotation, classification, and review complexity, necessitating efficient data management strategies. 2: Given this particular need, this research aimed to improve the performance of a pattern-matching algorithm for detecting signals of interest in two nocturnal bird species. The study pursued two main objectives: first, to evaluate various similarity scores and determine the optimum one through a sensitivity-specificity analysis. Second, we investigate potential relationships between species-specific spectral features, such as high, low, and peak frequencies, and the algorithm’s performance by reviewing and comparing their dispersion with a Levene test. 3: The outcomes demonstrated a generally favorable algorithm performance, achieving up to 80% sensitivity and specificity. This underscores its effectiveness in identifying target signals. Our investigation indicated that factors like individuality, which could be reflect on the spectral features, could potentially impact the algorithm’s efficacy. 4: ARBIMON provides transformative collaborative solutions in the field of bioacoustics. However, additional research is imperative to fully grasp the performance and potential applications of such tools. This exploration extends beyond ARBIMON to encompass the burgeoning technologies within the discipline.

During ontogeny, the increase in body size forces species to make trade-offs between their food requirements, the conditions necessary for growth and reproduction as well as the avoidance of predators. Ontogenetic changes are leading species to seek out habitats and food resources that meet their needs. These aspects are interesting to study in the case of deep pelagic fishes, as a significant part of the community migrates vertically at night to feed in the productive surface layer, while other species remain at depth. To this end, ontogenetic changes in nocturnal habitat (vertical use of the water column) and in the type of food resources (based on stable isotopes of nitrogen) were investigated in 12 species of deep pelagic fish from the Bay of Biscay in the Northeast Atlantic. Our results revealed the existence of major differences in the ontogenetic strategies employed by deep pelagic fishes. Some species showed ontogenetic changes in both vertical habitat use and food resources (e.g. Lampanyctus crocodilus and Melanostigma atlanticum). In contrast, other species showed no ontogenetic change (e.g. Searsia koefoedi and Notoscopelus kroyeri). Some species only changed food resources (e.g. Myctophum punctatum, Arctozenus risso, and Serrivomer beanii), while others seemed to be influenced more by depth than by trophic features (e.g. Xenodermichthys copei and Argyropelecus olfersii). These results suggest that to meet their increasing energy requirements during ontogeny, some species have adopted a strategy of shifting their food resources (larger prey or prey with a higher trophic level), while others seemed to maintain their food resources but are most likely increasing the quantity of prey ingested. In addition, some species opted for a habitat change to greater depths at adult age to limit the energy expenditure associated with migration, while others continued to feed at the surface at night.

Male ornamentation is usually costly and may show trades-offs with other life-history traits such as paternal care, which can subsequently affect female preference. Studies on female mate choice have mostly examined how mate-choice cues differ in their expression or ability to be detected in different environmental contexts. However, less focus has been placed on examining how external forces affect female preferences. The purpose of this study was to explore how parental investment strategy and mate choice were mediated by ambient temperature. Specifically, we examined how male ornamentation characteristics and subsequent female incubation investment were impacted by ambient temperature in four plover populations that were breeding across an environmental gradient. We discovered that larger males had more ornamented plumage in warmer conditions, and they were favored by larger females who invested an elevated time into incubation. In contrast, in cooler conditions, males' body size and the color of their ornaments were inversely associated, and females showed weak preference for males with more colorful ornaments. These results imply that female preference for male ornament can change in response to ambient temperature and demonstrate that female preference for male ornamentation may be limited in harsher conditions with higher parental care expenses.

Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) populations have been declining in North America for decades. The precise cause of these widespread declines has not yet been identified. Over a similar timeframe, wetlands across large regions of North America have been experiencing an invasion of cattails (Typha). Non-native T. angustifolia readily hybridizes with native T. latifolia to produce T. x glauca, which tends to dominate over parental species and other wetland plants alike. T. x glauca invasions are associated with many negative consequences for wetlands, including a reduction in biodiversity, open water habitat, and interspersion of water and vegetation. Muskrats are strongly tied to wetlands, especially where there is a high degree of interspersion of water and emergent vegetation. Therefore, a widespread reduction in interspersion caused by T. x glauca invasions may be contributing to widespread muskrat population declines. We sought to understand the impact of reduced marsh interspersion on fine-scale muskrat habitat use which will shed more light on broad-scale population trends. We measured intensity of habitat use by muskrats in a large, Typha-dominated marsh in south-central Ontario using remote cameras, stratifying camera placement along a gradient of marsh interspersion. We found no correlation between interspersion and intensity of use, suggesting that factors other than interspersion may drive intensity of use. Our study site, like most marshes in the region, was highly dominated by T. x glauca. Further research is needed to determine the impact of T. x glauca invasions on muskrats, as well as the cause of widespread muskrat declines. Keywords: muskrats, intensity of use, camera traps, invasive species, Typha, wetlands

Colour polymorphism can be maintained by colour morph-specific benefits across environmental conditions. Currently, the amount and duration of snow cover during winter decreases especially in northern latitudes, which can alter the potential for camouflage of animals with light and dark morphs. Tawny owls, Strix aluco, are colour polymorphic avian predators with dark (brown) and light (grey) colour morphs, where the grey morph is presumed to enjoy camouflage benefits under snowy conditions. We studied the two tawny owls’ morphs’ camouflage potential using passerines’ probability to detect and mob in the wild during spring, autumn, and winter with and without snow. We find that grey tawny owls are both less likely to be detected and have a lower probability of being mobbed compared to brown tawny owls only during snowy winters. The two colour morphs therefore experience differential benefits across snow conditions, which may help to maintain colour morphs in the population, although further warming of winter climate will reduce the potential for camouflage for grey tawny owls in northern latitudes.

Acoustic communication in animals can be affected by multiple biotic (intra and interspecific) and abiotic (e.g., wind and rain) natural noises. In addition, human beings produce additional novel sources of noise, which can reduce or inhibit the reception of acoustic signals by conspecifics, leading to behavioral changes. In this study, we investigated whether sound of conspecifics and road noise additively affect the acoustic parameters of the advertisement call of males of a Yellow Heart-tongued Frog (Phyllodytes luteolus). We hypothesized that males that vocalize in larger choruses (many males) and in areas close to highways (anthropic noise) will increase their temporal and spectral acoustic parameters, respectively, to avoid acoustic signal masking. We recorded the vocalizations of 38 males in environments close (N=18) to and distant (N=20) from highways in different social contexts (many or few individuals in the chorus). Contrary to our expectation, the results indicated that individuals exposed to road noise had lower dominant frequency calls than those from natural areas, and that the density of males in the chorus had no influence on the acoustic parameters. Furthermore, we found a positive relationship between body size and intensity, indicating that larger individuals can emit calls that can reach greater distances. The advertisement call of Phyllodytes luteolus has a high dominant frequency, with little overlap with the frequency of anthropic noises (roads), which may explain its presence and reproductive success of this species in bromeliads from urbanized areas.

Livebearing fishes are a standard model for studying the effect of predation on prey biology. Numerous studies have found differences in life history, sexual selection, behavior, and morphology between populations of the same species that co-occur with predators and those that do not. Alfaro cultratus is a livebearing fish with populations in different predation environments, but unlike other livebearers, this species also has an extreme body shape that is laterally compressed. Given this unusual morphology, we asked if predation environment would still predict overall body shape, as has been documented in other species. We collected specimens from both predator and no-predator sites in Costa Rica. We used a geometric morphometrics analysis to determine if body shape is affected by the predation environment while controlling for size and river gradient. Body shape does indeed differ between predation environments; however, the observed differences contrast with the patterns found in other livebearer systems. Alfaro cultratus in predation environments had deeper and shorter bodies and deeper caudal peduncles than those found in environments without dominant fish predators.

Body size shifts in ectotherms are mostly attributed to the Temperature Size Rule stating that warming speeds up initial growth rate but leads to smaller size when food availability does not limit growth. Nevertheless, climate warming can decrease food availability, which can influence growth, fecundity and survival. However, the interactive effects of temperature and food availability on life history traits have been mostly studied in small invertebrate species. In contrast, we have limited information on how temperature and food availability jointly influence life history traits in vertebrate predators and how changes in different life history traits combines to influence population demography. We investigated the independent and interactive effects of temperature and food availability on traits of the medaka fish Oryzias latipes. We used our empirical estimates of vital rates as input parameters of an Integral Projection model to predict how modifications in vital rates translate into population demography. Our results confirm that warming leads to a higher initial growth rate and lower size leading to crossed growth curves between the two temperatures. Food-restricted fish were smaller than ad libitum fed fish throughout the experiment. Fish reared at 30 °C matured younger, had smaller size at maturity, had a higher fecundity but had a shorter life span than fish reared at 20 °C. Food restriction increased survival under both temperature conditions. Warming reduces generation time and increases mean fitness in comparison to the cold treatments. Food restriction increased generation time and fitness in the cold treatment but had no effect in the warm treatment. Our results highlight the importance of accounting for the interaction between temperature and food availability to understand how body size shifts can affects vital rates and population demography. This is of importance in the context of global warming as resources are predicted to change with increasing temperatures.

Wildlife monitoring is a crucial component of conservation management, with reliable field surveys being important for trend analysis and population viability modelling. Unoccupied aircraft systems (UAS), also known as drones, are rapidly supplanting manned aircraft for aerial wildlife counts. Here we investigated and compared the impacts of drone presence on two large terrestrial mammals from Tasmania, Australia—Bennett’s wallaby (Notamacropus rufogriseus), and Forester kangaroo (Macropus giganteus tasmaniensis) —using a commercial quadcopter model: DJI Phantom 4 Pro. Further, a ground bird, the domestic chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus), was used as a model organism to further investigate behavioural responses of ‘aerial aware’ species to drones. We found that M. giganteus tasmaniensis and N. rufogriseus started to exhibit noticeable changes in behaviour, including evasion, when the drone motor sound exceeded ~50 decibels (dB) as heard from the ground (at flight altitudes of 30 – 50 m). At lower sound levels (48 dB and below, above 50 m), the animal’s response was minimal. The response of G. gallus domesticus to the drone was remarkably similar to that of the Macropus species, despite the species generally being more susceptible to, and instinctively vigilant against drone-sized aerial predators such as raptors. This study has established the baseline information required to understand the limits of drone operations, in terms of target disturbance, for macropod surveys.

Fallback foods (FBF), classified into staple and filler types, are low-quality food resources chosen by animals due to a shortage of preferred food during a specific period. The selection of lichens as FBF for Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti) represents a unique ecological adaptation and evolutionary development in the animal kingdom. This study investigates the yearly dietary selection of five R. bieti groups to address the issues and elucidate the nutritional value and ecological selection of lichens for this monkey species, which resides at the highest altitude among nonhuman primates. The results indicate that the consumed lichens serve as the staple FBF. Two main lichen species taken by the monkeys are Bryoria spp. and Usnea longissimi, with Bryoria spp. being the primary choice (67.25 ± 12.20% compared to 15.79 ± 11.66% from U. longissimi). Bryoria spp. provides a higher level of digestible fiber (NDF) and a lower level of tannin, fat, ADF, and energy compared to U. longissimi, which offers higher availability. Lichens are the dominant food and nutritional resource for the monkey species during the dry season, while they serve as a primary food source rather than a nutritional resource during the wet season. Therefore, they compensate for nutrients from other food types, such as fruits, seeds, and leaves. Compared to other Asian colobine counterparts, this species consumes the highest amount of lichens but the lowest proportions of leaves, flowers, and seeds. This dietary pattern demonstrates a specific type of ecological selection and evolutionary development during the Quaternary. The biomass of lichens in the monkeys’ habitat has significantly decreased due to environmental degradation. This study also provides evidence and information to develop or amend conservation strategies and guidelines for the dietary management of captive Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys.

The Grivet monkey (Chlorocebus aethiop aethiops) is an old-world primate Monkey species distributed on the east of the White Nile in Sudan to Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti. The study on activity patterns and feeding habits of Grivet Monkeys in and around Wondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resource was carried out from February 2021 to August 2022 during both the wet and dry season. Instantaneous scan sampling method was used at 15-min intervals for up to 10 minutes duration. During each scan, individuals were recorded as performing one of the following activities: feeding, moving, resting, grooming, playing, and others. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics such as One-way ANOVA, Kruskal Wallis test, and Mann-Whitney U-test were used to analyze data.On average, the greatest proportion of the activity time budget of the grivet monkey was devoted to feeding (29.5±0.6%), followed by resting (27±0.8%), moving (26±0.2%), grooming (9±0.2%), playing (5.5±0.6%) and the least time spent on other social activities (3±0.2%). They feed 42 food sources grouped into 41 plant species and one insect. On average, the forb of leaf 32±3.2% comprised the highest percent proportion of their diet, whereas, roots (0.3±0.2%) and insects (0.5±0.4%) comprised the least. Psidium guava was the top preferred plant species and Callistemon linearis was the least preferred plant species by the grivet monkey. Due to the existence of low quality of food in human dominated area, Grivet monkey most of their time spent on feeding activity. Therefore, concerned body and regional governments need to take action to stop deforestation of the natural forests and sustainable management must be needed for the top preferred plant species. Keywords/ Phrase: Activity, Behavior, Proximate analysis, Time budget.

Maternal provisioning and the developmental environment are fundamental determinants of offspring traits, particularly in oviparous species. However, the extent to which embryonic responses to these factors differ across populations to drive phenotypic variation is not well understood. Here, we examine the contributions of maternal provisioning and incubation temperature to variation in hatchling morphological and metabolic traits across four populations of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), encompassing a large portion of the species’ latitudinal range. Our results show that whereas the influence of egg mass is generally consistent across populations, responses to incubation temperature show extensive population-level variation in several fitness-related traits, including mass, head length, head width and residual yolk mass. Additionally, the influence of incubation temperature on developmental rate is greater at northern populations, while the allocation of maternal resources towards fat body mass is greater at southern populations. Overall, our results suggest that responses to incubation temperature, relative to maternal provisioning, are a larger source of interpopulation phenotypic variation and may contribute to the local adaptation of populations.

Winter, the most challenging season for animals, is usually accompanied by extremely cold temperatures and limited food resources. Harsh winter conditions force birds to develop behavioral and physiological adaptations to reduce mortality. Birds might select for sexual segregation to reduce conflict between different social hierarchies at the population level. They can also adjust their body conditioning via fat reserve to balance the trade-off between starvation and predation at the individual level. Using mist-netting surveys and bird banding, we traced 61 orange-flanked bush-robin (Tarsiger cyanurus), an abundant and easily-observed long-distance migratory bird exhibiting delayed plumage maturation, to better understand the winter adaptation of these songbirds. We found that the number of 2yr+ adult males with bright-blue plumage was significantly lower than the number of males with olive-brown plumage. However, the sex-ratio was only slightly skewed to males with olive-brown plumage, suggesting that habitat-type influences sexual segregation. This robin tends to become heavier and store more fat over the course of winter, as they can fine-tune their fat reserve in response to changes in weather (including temperature, humidity, and snowfall) and food abundance. Interestingly, capturing the birds may also have a significant positive effect on their fat reserve. Overall, these results improved our understanding of the flexibility in adaptation of small passerine birds wintering in a subtropical forest and provided vision for considering the inevitable influence by ornithology field methods.

Parentage analyses via molecular markers have revealed multiple paternity within the broods of polytocous species, reshaping our understanding of animal behavior, ecology, and evolution. In a meta-analysis of multiple paternity in bird and mammal species, we conducted a literature search and found 138 bird and 64 mammal populations with microsatellite DNA paternity results. Bird populations averaged 19.5% multiple paternity and mammals more than twice that level (46.1%). We used a Bayesian approach to construct a null model for how multiple paternity should behave at random among species, under the assumption that all mated males have equal likelihood of siring success, given mean brood size and mean number of sires. We compared the differences between the null model and actual probabilities of multiple paternity. While a few bird populations fell close to the null model, most did not, averaging 34.0-percentage points below null model predictions; mammals had an average probability of multiple paternity 13.6-percentage points below the null model. Differences between bird and mammal species were also subjected to comparative phylogenetic analyses that generally confirmed our analyses that did not adjust for estimated historical relationships. Birds exhibited extremely low probabilities of multiple paternity, not only compared to mammals, but relative to other major animal taxa. The generally low probability of multiple paternity in birds might be produced by a variety of factors, including behaviors that reflect sexual selection (extreme mate guarding or unifocal female choice) and sperm competition (e.g., precedence effects favoring fertilization by early or late matings).

Since the analysis of animal behavior is a central element of ethology and ecology, it is not surprising that a great deal of research has been conducted describing the behavior of various ungulates. Most studies were conducted during the daylight hours, thus much less is known about nocturnal behavior. Detailed analyses of nocturnal behavior have only been conducted for very prominent ungulates such as giraffes, elephants, or livestock, and the nocturnal rhythms exhibited by many ungulates remain unknown. In the present study, the nocturnal rhythms of 192 individuals of 18 ungulate species from 20 European zoos are studied with respect to the behavioral positions standing, lying - head up, and lying - head down (the typical REM sleep position). Differences between species of the orders Perissodactyla and Cetartiodactyla, as well as between individuals of different age were found. However, no differences with respect to the sex were seen. Most species showed a significant increase in the proportion of lying during the night. In addition, the time between two events of “lying down” was studied in detail. A high degree of rhythmicity with respect to this quantity was found in all species. The proportion of lying in such a period was greater in Cetartidactyla than in Perissodactyla, and greater in juveniles than in adults.