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opencc-zeroDec 2017View details →

Data from: Boundary strength analysis: combining colour pattern geometry and coloured patch visual properties for use in predicting behaviour and fitness

1.Colour patterns are used by many species to make decisions that ultimately affect their Darwinian fitness. Colour patterns consist of a mosaic of patches that differ in geometry and visual properties. Although traditionally pattern geometry and colour patch visual properties are analysed separately, these components are likely to work together as a functional unit. Despite this, the combined effect of patch visual properties, patch geometry, and the effects of the patch boundaries on animal visual systems, behaviour and fitness are relatively unexplored. 2.Here we describe Boundary Strength Analysis (BSA), a novel way to combine the geometry of the edges (boundaries among the patch classes) with the receptor noise estimate (ΔS) of the intensity of the edges. The method is based upon known properties of vertebrate and invertebrate retinas. The mean and SD of ΔS (mΔS, sΔS) of a colour pattern can be obtained by weighting each edge class ΔS by its length, separately for chromatic and achromatic ΔS. This assumes those colour patterns, or parts of the patterns used in signalling, with larger mΔS and sΔS are more stimulating and hence more salient to the viewers. BSA can be used to examine both colour patterns and visual backgrounds. 3.BSA was successful in assessing the estimated conspicuousness of colour pattern variants in two species, guppies (Poecilia reticulata) and Gouldian finches (Erythrura gouldiae), both polymorphic for patch colour, luminance and geometry. 3D representations of the ΔS of patch edges (Fort Diagrams) of both species show that there is little or negative geometric correspondence between the chromatic and achromatic edges. All individuals have mΔS > 1.5 for both chromatic and achromatic measures, indicating the high within‐pattern contrast expected for display signals. In contrast from what one would expect from sexual selection, all guppies have mΔS less than expected from random contacts between all pairs of patch colour/luminance classes. The correlation between chromatic and luminance ΔS is negative in both species but zero when correlating all possible kinds of edges between the colours of each species and morph indicating non‐random colour geometry. 4.The pattern difference between chromatic and achromatic edges in both species reveals the possibility that chromatic and achromatic edges could function differently. The smaller than random expected mΔS values in guppies suggests an anti‐predator function because guppies are never found without predators. Moreover, mΔS could vary with predation intensity within and among species. BSA can be applied to any colour pattern used in intraspecific and interspecific behaviour. Seven predictions and four questions about colour patterns are presented. 5.In species which are very convex, both chromatic and luminance mΔS change with viewing angle; geometry of signalling is as important as signal geometry.

opencc-zeroDec 2019View details →

Heat dissipation behaviour of birds in seasonally hot, arid-zones: are there global patterns?

<p>Quantifying organismal sensitivity to heat stress provides one means for predicting vulnerability to climate change. Birds are ideal for investigating this approach, as they display quantifiable fitness consequences associated with behavioural and physiological responses to heat stress. We used a recently developed method that examines correlations between readily-observable behaviours and air temperature (Tair) to investigate interspecific variation in avian responses to heat stress in seasonally hot, arid regions on three continents: the southwestern United States, the Kalahari Desert of southern Africa and the Gascoyne region of Western Australia. We found substantial interspecific variation in heat dissipation behaviours (wing-drooping, panting, activity-reduction, shade-seeking) across all three regions. However, pooling the data revealed that little of this interspecific variation was systematically explained by organismal traits (foraging guild, diet, drinking dependency, body mass, or activity levels) at the scale we tested. After accounting for phylogeny, we found that larger birds engaged in wing-drooping behaviour at lower Tair and had lower activity levels at high Tair compared to smaller birds, indicating an effect of body mass on heat dissipation behaviour (HDB). In the Kalahari, reliance on drinking was correlated with significantly lower Tair at which panting commenced, suggesting a key role of water acquisition in HDB in that region. Birds also tended to retreat to shade at relatively lower Tair when more active, suggesting a behavioural trade-off between activity, heat load, and microsite selection. Our results imply that the causes underlying interspecific variation in heat dissipation behaviours are complex. While the variation we observed was not systematically explained by the broad scale organismal traits we considered, we predict that the indices themselves will still reflect vulnerability to potential fitness costs of high air temperatures. Further research is needed on a species-specific basis to establish the functional significance of these indices.</p>

opencc-zeroDec 2010View details →

Data from: Patterns and processes of dispersal behaviour in arvicoline rodents

A good understanding of mammalian societies requires measuring patterns and comprehending processes of dispersal in each sex. We investigated dispersal behaviour in arvicoline rodents, a sub-family of mammals widespread in northern temperate environments and characterised by a multivoltine life cycle. In arvicoline rodents, variation in life history strategies occurs along a continuum from precocial to delayed maturation that reflects seasonal and ecological fluctuations. We compared dispersal across and within species focusing on the effects of external (condition-dependence) and internal factors (phenotype-dependence). Our data revealed substantial, unexplained variation between species for dispersal distances and a strong variation within species for both dispersal distance and fraction. Some methodological aspects explained variation across studies, which cautions against comparisons that do not control for them. Overall, the species under consideration display frequent short-distance dispersal events and extremely flexible dispersal strategies, but they also have hitherto unexpected capacity to disperse long distances. Female arvicolines are predominantly philopatric relative to males, but we found no clear association between the mating system and the degree of sex-bias in dispersal across species. Dispersal is a response to both various proximate and ultimate factors, including competition, inbreeding avoidance, mate searching, and habitat quality. In particular, our review suggests that costs and benefits experienced during transience and settlement are prime determinants of condition-dependence. Patterns of phenotype-dependent dispersal are idiosyncratic, except for a widespread association between an exploration/activity syndrome and natal dispersal. Consequences for population dynamics and genetic structures are discussed.

opencc-zeroJan 2022View details →

Ciliary beating patterns map onto a low-dimensional behavioural space

<p>Biological systems are robust to perturbations at both the genetic and environmental levels, although these same perturbations can elicit variation in behaviour. The interplay between functional robustness and behavioural variability is exemplified at the organellar level by the beating of cilia and flagella. Cilia are motile despite wide genetic diversity between and within species, differences in intracellular concentrations of ATP and calcium, and considerable environment fluctuations in temperature and viscosity. At the same time, these perturbations result in a variety of spatio-temporal patterns that span a rich behavioural space. To investigate this behavioural space we analysed the dynamics of isolated cilia from the unicellular algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii under many different environmental and genetic conditions. We found that, despite large changes in beat frequency and amplitude, the space of waveform shapes is low-dimensional in the sense that two features account for 80% of the observed variation. The geometry of this behavioural space accords with the predictions of a simple mechanochemical model in the low-viscosity regime. This allowed us to associate waveform shape variability with changes in only the curvature response coefficients of the dynein motors.</p>

FIGURE 22 in Studies on South-east Asian fireflies: Abscondita, a new genus with details of life history, flashing patterns and behaviour of Abs. chinensis (L.) and Abs. terminalis (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Lampyridae: Luciolinae)

FIGURE 22. Abs.terminalis male ventral abdomen showing markings and light organs.

FIGURE 21 in Studies on South-east Asian fireflies: Abscondita, a new genus with details of life history, flashing patterns and behaviour of Abs. chinensis (L.) and Abs. terminalis (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Lampyridae: Luciolinae)

FIGURE 21. Distribution of Abs. terminalis in China.

FIGURE 9. Abs.chinensis ventral abdomen showing markings and light organs. A–J in Studies on South-east Asian fireflies: Abscondita, a new genus with details of life history, flashing patterns and behaviour of Abs. chinensis (L.) and Abs. terminalis (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Lampyridae: Luciolinae)

FIGURE 9. Abs.chinensis ventral abdomen showing markings and light organs. A–J male; K, L female.

FIGURE 17 in Studies on South-east Asian fireflies: Abscondita, a new genus with details of life history, flashing patterns and behaviour of Abs. chinensis (L.) and Abs. terminalis (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Lampyridae: Luciolinae)

FIGURE 17. Abs. chinensis adult male and female spectrum.

FIGURE 8 in Studies on South-east Asian fireflies: Abscondita, a new genus with details of life history, flashing patterns and behaviour of Abs. chinensis (L.) and Abs. terminalis (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Lampyridae: Luciolinae)

FIGURE 8. Distribution of Abs. chinensis in China.

publicJan 2022View details →

Ciliary beating patterns map onto a low-dimensional behavioural space

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publicNov 2011View details →

Data from: Patterns and processes of dispersal behaviour in arvicoline rodents

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publicNov 2015View details →

Data from: Gene expression patterns underlying parasite-induced alterations in host behaviour and life history

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publicJul 2019View details →

Data from: Boundary strength analysis: combining colour pattern geometry and coloured patch visual properties for use in predicting behaviour and fitness

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publicMar 2019View details →

Data from: Behavioural patterns of vocal greeting production in four primate species

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