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824 results for “Discrimination”
Data from: Shades of red: bird-pollinated flowers target the specific colour discrimination abilities of avian vision
Colour signals are a major cue in putative pollination syndromes. There is evidence that the reflectance spectra of many flowers target the distinctive visual discrimination abilities of hymenopteran insects, but far less is known about bird-pollinated flowers. Birds are hypothesized to exert different selective pressures on floral colour compared with hymenopterans because of differences in their visual systems. We measured the floral reflectance spectra of 206 Australian angiosperm species whose floral visitors are known from direct observation rather than inferred from floral characteristics. We quantified the match between these spectra and the hue discrimination abilities of hymenopteran and avian vision, and analysed these metrics in a phylogenetically informed comparison of flowers in different pollination groups. We show that bird-visited flowers and insect-visited flowers differ significantly from each other in the chromatic cues they provide, and that the differences are concentrated near wavelengths of optimal colour discrimination by whichever class of pollinator visits the flowers. Our results indicate that angiosperms have evolved the spectral signals most likely to reinforce their pollinators' floral constancy (the tendency of individual pollinators to visit flowers of the same species) in communities of similarly coloured floral competitors.
Data from: Kin discrimination via odour in the cooperatively breeding banded mongoose
Kin discrimination is often beneficial for group-living animals as it aids in inbreeding avoidance and providing nepotistic help. In mammals, the use of olfactory cues in kin discrimination is widespread and may occur through learning the scents of individuals that are likely to be relatives, or by assessing genetic relatedness directly through assessing odour similarity (phenotype matching). We use scent presentations to investigate these possibilities in a wild population of the banded mongoose Mungos mungo, a cooperative breeder in which inbreeding risk is high and females breed communally, disrupting behavioural cues to kinship. We find that adults show heightened behavioural responses to unfamiliar (extra-group) scents than to familiar (within-group) scents. Interestingly, we found that responses to familiar odours, but not unfamiliar odours, varied with relatedness. This suggests that banded mongooses are either able to use an effective behavioural rule to identify likely relatives from within their group, or that phenotype matching is used in the context of within-group kin recognition but not extra-group kin recognition. In other cooperative breeders, familiarity is used within the group and phenotype matching may be used to identify unfamiliar kin. However, for the banded mongoose this pattern may be reversed, most likely due to their unusual breeding system which disrupts within-group behavioural cues to kinship.
Data from: Discrimination of hybrid classes using cross-species amplification of microsatellite loci: methodological challenges and solutions in Daphnia
Microsatellite markers are important tools in population, conservation and forensic studies and are frequently used for species delineation, the detection of hybridization and introgression. Therefore, marker sets that amplify variable DNA regions in two species are required; however, cross-species amplification is often difficult, as genotyping errors such as null alleles may occur. In order to estimate the level of potential misidentifications based on genotyping errors, we compared the occurrence of parental alleles in laboratory and natural Daphnia hybrids (Daphnia longispina group). We tested a set of twelve microsatellite loci with regard to their suitability for unambiguous species and hybrid class identification using F1 hybrids bred in the laboratory. Further, a large set of 44 natural populations of D. cucullata, D. galeata and D. longispina (1715 individuals) as well as their interspecific hybrids were genotyped to validate the discriminatory power of different marker combinations. Species delineation using microsatellite multi-locus genotypes produced reliable results for all three studied species using assignment tests. D. galeata x cucullata hybrid detection was limited due to three loci exhibiting D. cucullata specific null alleles which most likely are caused by differences in primer binding sites of parental species. Overall discriminatory power in hybrid detection was improved when a subset of markers was identified that amplifies equally well in both species.
Data from: Male courtship preferences demonstrate discrimination against allopatric colour morphs in a cichlid fish
Whether premating isolation is achieved by male-specific, female-specific or sex-independent assortative preferences often depends on the underlying evolutionary processes. Here we test mate preferences of males presented with females of different allopatric colour variants of the cichlid fish Tropheus, a Lake Tanganyika endemic with rich geographic colour pattern variation, in which the strength of sexual isolation varies between populations. We conducted two-way mate choice experiments to compare behaviour of males of a red-bodied morph (population Moliro) towards females from their own population with behaviour towards females from four allopatric populations at different stages of phylogenetic and phenotypic divergence. Males courted same-population females significantly more intensely than females of other populations, and reduced their heteromorphic courtship efforts both with increasing genetic and increasing phenotypic distinctness of the females. In particular, females of a closely related red-bodied population received significantly more courtship than either genetically distinct, similarly coloured females ("Kirschfleck" morph) or genetically related, differently coloured females ("yellow-blotch" morph), both of which were courted similarly. Genetically and phenotypically distinct females (T. polli) were not courted at all. Consistent with previous female-choice experiments, female courtship activity also decreased with increasing genetic distance from the males' population. Given successful experimental and natural introgression between colour morphs and the pervasive allopatry of related variants, we consider it unlikely that assortative preferences of both sexes were driven by direct selection during periods of secondary contact or, in turn, drove colour pattern differentiation in allopatry. Rather, we suggest that sexual isolation evolved as by-product of allopatric divergence.
Data from: Phagocyte chase behaviors—discrimination between Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria by amoebae
Phagocytes are cells that pursue, engulf, and kill bacteria. They include macrophages and neutrophils of the mammalian immune system, but also free-living amoebae that hunt and engulf bacteria for food. Phagocytosis can result in diverse outcomes, ranging from sustenance to infection and colonization by either pathogens or beneficial symbionts—and thus, discrimination may be necessary to seek out good bacteria while avoiding bad ones. Here we tested whether the soil amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum can discriminate among different types of bacteria, using behavioral assays where amoebae were presented with paired choices of different bacteria. We observed variation in the extent to which the amoebae pursued different types of bacteria, as well as preferential migration towards Gram-negative over Gram-positive bacteria. Response profiles were similar for amoebae that originated from different geographic locations, suggesting that chase preference is conserved across much of the species range. While prior work has demonstrated that bacteria will use chemotaxis to seek out amoebae they colonize, our work suggests that the opposite also occurs—amoebae can preferentially direct themselves to particular bacteria in the environment. Preferential sensing and response may help to explain why some amoeba-bacterial associations are more common in nature than others.
Data from: Females discriminate against heterospecific sperm in a natural hybrid zone
When hybridization is maladaptive, species-specific mate preferences are selectively favored, but low mate availability may constrain species-assortative pairing. Females paired to heterospecifics may then benefit by copulating with multiple males and subsequently favoring sperm of conspecifics. Whether such mechanisms for biasing paternity toward conspecifics act as important reproductive barriers in socially monogamous vertebrate species remains to be determined. We use a combination of long-term breeding records from a natural hybrid zone between collared and pied flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis and F. hypoleuca), and an in vitro experiment comparing conspecific and heterospecific sperm performance in female reproductive tract fluid, to evaluate the potential significance of female cryptic choice. We show that the females most at risk of hybridizing (pied flycatchers) frequently copulate with multiple males and are able to inhibit heterospecific sperm performance. The negative effect on heterospecific sperm performance was strongest in pied flycatcher females that were most likely to have been previously exposed to collared flycatcher sperm. We thus demonstrate that a reproductive barrier acts after copulation but before fertilization in a socially monogamous vertebrate. While the evolutionary history of this barrier is unknown, our results imply that there is opportunity for it to be accentuated via a reinforcement-like process.
Data from: A quantitative and statistical discrimination of morphotaxa within the Ediacaran genus Palaeopascichnus
<p>The Palaeopascichnida are a relatively understudied component of the Ediacaran biota. The eponymous <i>Palaeopascichnus delicatus</i> is comprised of serially arranged, mm-scale allantoid chambers that have variously been interpreted as evidence of movement, feeding traces, and body fossils of various affinities. <i>Palaeopascichnus</i> has most recently been compared to the deep-marine Xenophyophora, an extant group of large benthic protists that is characterized by large size and possession of stercomata within their cells. The construction and growth of the palaeopascichnids, and its implications for their phylogenetic affinity, are assessed using material from the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland, Canada. The application of quantitative morphological analysis to the study of over ninety well-preserved specimens of <i>Palaeopascichnus</i> demonstrates considerable variation in chamber shape and size, and in behaviour along the chamber series. The combination of morphometric and multivariate statistical analysis allows the recognition of natural groups within the dataset, thereby demonstrating variability within and between morphospecies. Morphological comparisons of fossil palaeopascichnids with extant protistan taxa support the proposed protistan affinity of <i>Palaeopascichnus</i>, allowing further resolution regarding the diversity and disparity within this prominent element of the later Ediacaran biotas of Gondwana and Baltica.</p>
Data from: Species discrimination of co-occurring small fossil mammals: a case study of the Cretaceous-Paleogene multituberculate genus Mesodma
The mammalian fossil record is largely composed of isolated teeth and tooth-bearing elements. In vertebrate microfossil assemblages with closely related, co-occurring species of mammals, it can be difficult to identify isolated teeth to species level because morphological differences among species may be slight and based on a single tooth position. Here we investigate the utility of the allegedly diagnostic lower fourth premolar (p4) for species-level identification in the genus Mesodma (Multituberculata, Neoplagiaulacidae). We conducted linear and geometric morphometrics on 86 p4s representing four Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) species of Mesodma that are common in deposits of the western interior of North America. Although Mesodma has been extensively discussed in the literature, these four species overlap considerably in p4 size and shape, making species-level identifications challenging. Using linear measurements, landmarks, and semilandmarks, we quantified p4 size and shape to understand morphological variation across the genus and uncover practical sources of morphological differentiation among the species represented here. Our results indicate (1) size is more important than shape for identifying p4s of Mesodma species; p4 shape varies across the genus, but cannot be used alone to identify isolated p4s to species; (2) M. garfieldensis and M. thompsoni cannot be distinguished from each other using p4 size or shape; we therefore subsume M. garfieldensis within M. thompsoni; and (3) M. formosa increased in size across the K-Pg boundary. In light of these results, we recommend that taxonomic diagnoses relying on isolated teeth incorporate quantitative analyses of morphology whenever possible to increase the accuracy of species-level identifications and paleofaunal studies that employ them.
Data from: SIDER: an R package for predicting trophic discrimination factors of consumers based on their ecology and phylogenetic relatedness
Stable isotope mixing models (SIMMs) are an important tool used to study species' trophic ecology. These models are dependent on, and sensitive to, the choice of trophic discrimination factors (TDF) representing the offset in stable isotope delta values between a consumer and their food source when they are at equilibrium. Ideally, controlled feeding trials should be conducted to determine the appropriate TDF for each consumer, tissue type, food source, and isotope combination used in a study. In reality however, this is often not feasible nor practical. In the absence of species-specific information, many researchers either default to an average TDF value for the major taxonomic group of their consumer, or they choose the nearest phylogenetic neighbour for which a TDF is available. Here, we present the SIDER package for R, which uses a phylogenetic regression model based on a compiled dataset to impute (estimate) a TDF of a consumer. We apply information on the tissue type and feeding ecology of the consumer, all of which are known to affect TDFs, using Bayesian inference. Presently, our approach can estimate TDFs for two commonly used isotopes (nitrogen and carbon), for species of mammals and birds with or without previous TDF information. The estimated posterior probability provides both a mean and variance, reflecting the uncertainty of the estimate, and can be subsequently used in the current suite of SIMM software. SIDER allows users to place a greater degree of confidence on their choice of TDF and its associated uncertainty, thereby leading to more robust predictions about trophic relationships in cases where study-specific data from feeding trials is unavailable. The underlying database can be updated readily to incorporate more stable isotope tracers, replicates and taxonomic groups to further increase the confidence in dietary estimates from stable isotope mixing models, as this information becomes available.
FIGURE 2. Discriminant scores with 99 in Revision of the systematic status of Helminthoglypta walkeriana morroensis (Hemphill, 1911) (Gastropoda: Pulmonata)
FIGURE 2. Discriminant scores with 99% confidence ellipses around group centroids on the first and second canonical variates calculated to maximally separate the nine collection locations listed in Table 1. H. walkeriana groups are: MBSS (♢), MSSB (), Elfin (), LO1 (), and LO2 (). H. morroensis groups are: Bishop (×), CSLO (), SBCR (), and NPNA (). See Table 1 for site descriptions and abbreviations.
FIGURE 9. Acroperus angustatus Sars, 1863 in Discrimination between two sibling species of Acroperus (Baird, 1843) from the Palearctic (Cladocera: Anomopoda: Chydoridae)
FIGURE 9. Acroperus angustatus Sars, 1863 from Germany, Berlin Area, Petersdorfersee Lake. A–E—parthenogenetic female: A—antennule, B—antenna, C–D—outer and inner part of thoracic limb I; E—juvenile male of instar I, inner part of thoracic limb I; F–G—juvenile male of instar II: F—antennule, G—inner part of thoracic limb I; H–I—adult male: H—antenna, I—thoracic limb I (endites not shown). Scale bar 0.05 mm.
FIGURE 6. Acroperus angustatus Sars, 1863. A–H in Discrimination between two sibling species of Acroperus (Baird, 1843) from the Palearctic (Cladocera: Anomopoda: Chydoridae)
FIGURE 6. Acroperus angustatus Sars, 1863. A–H—specimens from Germany, Berlin Area, Petersdorfersee Lake: A–B—juvenile females of instar I–II, C—parthenogenetic female, D–E—ephippial female, F–G—juvenile males of instar I–II, H—adult male; I–K—parthenogenetic females: I—from Norway, Oslo, Lake Ostensjovand (specimen from G.O.Sars collection, slide F9012), J—from Belarus, Vitebsk Area, Miorskii district, Lake Obsterno, K - from Russia, Chita Area, Chita town, Lake Kenon. Scale bar 0.2 mm.
FIGURE 10. Acroperus angustatus Sars, 1863 in Discrimination between two sibling species of Acroperus (Baird, 1843) from the Palearctic (Cladocera: Anomopoda: Chydoridae)
FIGURE 10. Acroperus angustatus Sars, 1863 from Germany, Berlin Area, Petersdorfersee Lake, parthenogenetic female, thoracic limbs: A—limb II (gnathobase filter plate not shown), B exopodite and soft seta of limb II, C—scrapers 6–8 of limb II, D—exopodite of limb III, E–F—inner part of limb III, G—exopodite of limb IV, H—scraping and flaming torch setae of limb IV; I–J—limb V, K –limb VI. Scale bars: 0.05 mm.
FIGURE 5 in Discrimination between two sibling species of Acroperus (Baird, 1843) from the Palearctic (Cladocera: Anomopoda: Chydoridae)
FIGURE 5. Acroperus harpae (Baird, 1834) from Russia, Murmansk Area, Khibiny Mountains, Lake Malyi Vud'yavr, parthenogenetic female, thoracic limbs: A—limb II, B—expodite of limb III, C–D—inner part of limb III, E—exopodite of limb IV, F—inner part of limb IV; G—limb V, H –limb VI. Scale bars: 0.05 mm.
FIGURE 4 in Discrimination between two sibling species of Acroperus (Baird, 1843) from the Palearctic (Cladocera: Anomopoda: Chydoridae)
FIGURE 4. Acroperus harpae (Baird, 1834) from Russia, Murmansk Area, Khibiny Mountains, Lake Malyi Vud'yavr. A–E—parthenogenetic female: A—antennule, B—antenna, C–D—outer and inner part of thoracic limb I, E—endites of limb II; F—juvenile male of instar I, inner part of thoracic limb I; G–H - juvenile male of instar II, G—antennule, H—inner part of thorachic limb I; I–K—adult male, I—antenna, J–K—outer and inner part of thoracic limb I. Scale bars: 0.05 mm.
FIGURE 3 in Discrimination between two sibling species of Acroperus (Baird, 1843) from the Palearctic (Cladocera: Anomopoda: Chydoridae)
FIGURE 3. Acroperus harpae (Baird, 1834) from Russia, Murmansk Area, Khibiny Mountains, Lake Malyi Vud'yavr. A–F—parthenogenetic female: A—valve, B–C—denticles of left and right valves of same specimens, D—head (note the one of antennules appears reaching the rostrum), E—outlines of labral keel, F–G—postabdomens; H–I—postabdomens of juvenile males of instar I–II; J—postabdomen of adult male. Scale bars: 0.1 mm for A, 0.05 mm for B–C, D–E and F–G.
FIGURE 2 in Discrimination between two sibling species of Acroperus (Baird, 1843) from the Palearctic (Cladocera: Anomopoda: Chydoridae)
FIGURE 2. Acroperus harpae (Baird, 1834) from Russia, Moscow Area, Ruza District, Glubokoe Lake, A–J—parthenogenetic female: A—specimen in lateral view, B—specimen in anterodorsal view, C–D—denticles of the valves, E—posterior portion of valves in anteroventral view, F—head pores (lateral pore indicated by arrow), G—main head pores, H—postabdomen, I—antenna, J—apical setae of antenna; K–M—adult male: K—specimen in lateral view, L—specimen in anterodorsal view, M—posterior portion of postabdomen. Scale bars: 0.1 mm for A, B, L, K, 0.05 mm for E, H,I,J, 0.01 mm for F,G, 0.005 mm for C, D.
FIGURE 1 in Discrimination between two sibling species of Acroperus (Baird, 1843) from the Palearctic (Cladocera: Anomopoda: Chydoridae)
FIGURE 1. Acroperus harpae (Baird, 1834). A–H—specimens from Russia, Murmansk Area, Khibiny Mountains, Lake Malyi Vud'yavr: A–B—juvenile females of instar I–II, C—parthenogenetic female, D—ephippial female, E–F—juvenile males of instar I–II, G—adult male; H–J—parthenogenetic females: H - from Russia, Moscow Area, Ruza District, Glubokoe Lake, I-from Belarus, Vitebsk Area, Miorskii district, Lake Obsterno, J - from Russia, Irkutsk Area, Barguzinka river close to coast of Lake Baikal coast. Scale bar 0.2 mm.
FIGURE 8. Acroperus angustatus Sars, 1863. A–E in Discrimination between two sibling species of Acroperus (Baird, 1843) from the Palearctic (Cladocera: Anomopoda: Chydoridae)
FIGURE 8. Acroperus angustatus Sars, 1863. A–E—denticles of the valves of specimens from various locations; F–K - specimens from Germany, Berlin Area, Petersdorfersee Lake: F—outlines of labral keel of female, G—female postabdomen, H–I—postabdomens of juvenile males of instar I–II; J—postabdomen of adult male, K—abnormal postabdomen of adult male (abnormal denticles indicated by arrows). Scale bars 0.05 mm.
FIGURE 7. Acroperus angustatus Sars, 1863 in Discrimination between two sibling species of Acroperus (Baird, 1843) from the Palearctic (Cladocera: Anomopoda: Chydoridae)
FIGURE 7. Acroperus angustatus Sars, 1863 females from Sweden, Uppland, Erken Lake, parthenogenetic female: A—specimen in lateral view, B—specimen in dorsolateral view, C—head in anterolateral view, D—posterior portion of valves in anteroventral view, E—head pores (lateral pore indicated by arrow), F—main head pores, G—postabdomen, H—postanal portion of postabdomen, I—postabdominal claw. Scale bars: 0.2 mm for A, B, 0.1 mm for C, D,G, 0.02 mm for E,H; 0.01 mm for F.
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