A recent publication by Zhou et al.[1]in Neuron demonstrates that a specific interaction between astrocytes and a subtype of neurons has an influence on complex animal behavior,namely risk assessment.The majority of n...A recent publication by Zhou et al.[1]in Neuron demonstrates that a specific interaction between astrocytes and a subtype of neurons has an influence on complex animal behavior,namely risk assessment.The majority of neuroscientists analyzing the molecular and cellular substrate of behavior focus on neuronal circuits.Glial cells were originally described by Rudolf Virchow and the name glia refers to the Greek word for glue or putty.Thus,glial cells were long thought to represent simply the filling stuff of the brain.This view has changed dramatically in the last decades.The three major types of glial cells of the central nervous system fulfll diverse functions.Oligodendrocytes are the myelinforming cells and it has become evident that they are plastic and are able to influence neuronal connectivity.Microglia are the immune cells of the brain and interact with synapses during development,in plasticity,and very prominently in any disease of the nervous system.展开更多
Nicotine is one of the most widely concerning components of cigarette smoke.Long-term intake of nicotine can lead to nicotine dependence that affects higher brain functions,which may involve anxiety,learning and memor...Nicotine is one of the most widely concerning components of cigarette smoke.Long-term intake of nicotine can lead to nicotine dependence that affects higher brain functions,which may involve anxiety,learning and memory impairments,and abnormal decision-making.To facilitate analyzing the molecular mechanisms of nicotine dependence,it is common to establish rodent nicotine dependence models to better understand the physiological changes.This paper summarizes and evaluates the application of animal behavior evaluation experiments in nicotine-dependent animal models,in order to provide a reliable reference for researchers to establish rodent nicotine-dependent models for evaluation.展开更多
After the 2011 Tohoku earthquake (EQ), there have been numerous aftershocks in the eastern and Pacific Ocean of Japan, but EQs are still rare in the western part of Japan. In this situation a relatively large (magnitu...After the 2011 Tohoku earthquake (EQ), there have been numerous aftershocks in the eastern and Pacific Ocean of Japan, but EQs are still rare in the western part of Japan. In this situation a relatively large (magnitude (M) ~6) EQ happened on April 12 (UT), 2013 at a place close to the former 1995 Kobe EQ (M~7), so we have tried to find whether there existed any precursors to this EQ, especially abnormal animal behavior (milk yield of cows), observed at Kagawa, Shikoku, near the EQ epicenter. The milk yield of cows has been continuously monitored at Kagawa, and it is found that the milk yield exhibited an abnormal depletion about 10 days before the EQ. This behavior has been extensively compared with the former electromagnetic precursors (ULF radiation, ionos-pheric perturbation). This leads to the discussion on the sensory mechanism of unusual behavior of mild yield of cows, and it may be suggested that ULF radiation among different electromagnetic precursors is a mostly likely driver, at least, for this EQ.展开更多
BACKGROUND Depression is a prevalent affective disorder,but its pathophysiology remains unclear.Dysfunction in the gamma-aminobutyric acid(GABA)-ergic system may contribute to its onset.Recently,antidepressants(e.g.,b...BACKGROUND Depression is a prevalent affective disorder,but its pathophysiology remains unclear.Dysfunction in the gamma-aminobutyric acid(GABA)-ergic system may contribute to its onset.Recently,antidepressants(e.g.,brexanolone,zuranolone)targeting the GABA-A receptor were introduced.The zona incerta(ZI),an inhibitory subthalamic region mainly composed of GABAergic neurons,has been implicated in emotional regulation.Deep brain stimulation of the ZI in humans affects anxiety and depression symptoms,while activation of ZI neurons in mice can either worsen or alleviate anxiety.Currently,there is no direct evidence linking GABAergic neurons in the ZI to depression-like behaviors in rodents.AIM To explore the relationship between GABAergic neurons in the ZI and depression-like behaviors in mice.METHODS A chronic restraint stress(CRS)model was utilized to induce depression in mice.Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings assessed the excitability changes of GABAergic neurons in the ZI.Additionally,chemogenetic techniques were employed to modulate ZI GABAergic neurons.The performance of the mice in behavioral tests for depression and anxiety was observed.RESULTS The findings indicated that GABAergic neurons in the ZI were closely associated with depression-like behaviors in mice.Twenty-eight days after the CRS model was established,depression-like and anxiety-like behaviors were observed in the mice.The excitability of GABAergic neurons in the ZI was reduced.Chemogenetic activation of these neurons alleviated CRS-induced depression-like and anxiety-like behaviors.Conversely,inhibition of GABAergic neurons in the ZI led to changes in emotion-related behavioral outcomes in mice.CONCLUSION Activity of GABAergic neurons in the ZI was closely associated with depression-like phenotypes in mice,suggesting that these neurons could be a potential therapeutic target for treating depression.展开更多
Proper regulation of synapse formation and elimination is critical for establishing mature neuronal circuits and maintaining brain function.Synaptic abnormalities,such as defects in the density and morphology of posts...Proper regulation of synapse formation and elimination is critical for establishing mature neuronal circuits and maintaining brain function.Synaptic abnormalities,such as defects in the density and morphology of postsynaptic dendritic spines,underlie the pathology of various neuropsychiatric disorders.Protocadherin 17(PCDH17)is associated with major mood disorders,including bipolar disorder and depression.However,the molecular mechanisms by which PCDH17 regulates spine number,morphology,and behavior remain elusive.In this study,we found that PCDH17 functions at postsynaptic sites,restricting the number and size of dendritic spines in excitatory neurons.Selective overexpression of PCDH17 in the ventral hippocampal CA1 results in spine loss and anxiety-and depression-like behaviors in mice.Mechanistically,PCDH17 interacts with actin-relevant proteins and regulates actin filament(F-actin)organization.Specifically,PCDH17 binds to ROCK2,increasing its expression and subsequently enhancing the activity of downstream targets such as LIMK1 and the phosphorylation of cofilin serine-3(Ser3).Inhibition of ROCK2 activity with belumosudil(KD025)ameliorates the defective F-actin organization and spine structure induced by PCDH17 overexpression,suggesting that ROCK2 mediates the effects of PCDH17 on F-actin content and spine development.Hence,these findings reveal a novel mechanism by which PCDH17 regulates synapse development and behavior,providing pathological insights into the neurobiological basis of mood disorders.展开更多
Aerobic metabolism is fundamental for almost all animal life. Cellular consumption of oxygen （O2） and production of carbon dioxide （CO2） signal metabolic states and physiologic stresses. These respiratory gases ar...Aerobic metabolism is fundamental for almost all animal life. Cellular consumption of oxygen （O2） and production of carbon dioxide （CO2） signal metabolic states and physiologic stresses. These respiratory gases are also detected as environmental cues that can signal external food quality and the presence of prey, predators and mates. In both contexts, animal nervous systems are endowed with mechanisms for sensing O2/CO2 to trigger appropriate behaviors and maintain homeostasis of internal O2/CO2. Although different animal species show different behavioral responses to O2/CO2, some underlying molecular mechanisms and pathways that function in the detection of respiratory gases are fundamentally similar and evolutionarily conserved. Studies of Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster have identified roles for cyclic nucleotide signaling and the hypoxia inducible factor （HIF） transcriptional pathway in mediating behavioral responses to respiratory gases. Understanding how simple invertebrate nervous systems detect respiratory gases to control behavior might reveal general principles common to nematodes, insects and vertebrates that function in the molecular sensing of respiratory gases and the neural control of animal behaviors.展开更多
Living and/or non-living animal models are often used as stimuli to observe the behavioral responses of the target animals.In the past,parasites,predators,and harmless controls have been used to test host anti-parasit...Living and/or non-living animal models are often used as stimuli to observe the behavioral responses of the target animals.In the past,parasites,predators,and harmless controls have been used to test host anti-parasitism defense behavior,and their taxidermy specimens have been widely used as a set of standard methods for the study of avian brood parasitism.In recent years,with the rapid development of 3D-printing technology,3D-printed bird models are expected to be applied as a standard method in the study of avian brood parasitism.To evaluate the use of 3D-printed models,this study tests the reaction of Oriental Reed Warbler(Acrocephalus orientalis)towards predators,parasites,or controls,and compares the reaction among different nest intruders and between taxidermy specimens and 3D-printed animal models.It was found that the Oriental Reed Warbler responded most aggressively to the parasite,followed by predator,and finally the control;the results were consistent between the reaction to taxidermy specimens and 3D-printed animal models,indicating that 3D-printed models could serve as a substitute for taxidermy specimens.We propose a series of advantages of using 3D-printed models and suggest them to be a standard method for widespread use in future studies of avian brood parasitism.展开更多
Ivane S. Beritashvili’s doctrine of image-driven behavior was established in the late 1920s and finally extended in his books in English (1965;1971). It bears a strong resemblance to the concepts of purposive behavio...Ivane S. Beritashvili’s doctrine of image-driven behavior was established in the late 1920s and finally extended in his books in English (1965;1971). It bears a strong resemblance to the concepts of purposive behavior and “cognitive maps” developed in parallel by Edward C. Tolman (1932;1948) and significantly anticipated respective modern concepts. John O’Keefe and his disciples May-Britt Moser and Edvard I. Moser received the Nobel Prize in 2014 for their discoveries of cells that constitute a navigation system in the brain. The latter fact brings us to the pioneers of the study of the spatial orientation of animals that figuratively speaking, provided the giant’s shoulders on which O’Keefe and the Mosers stood to receive their award. Beritashvili and Tolman upheld the holistic and goal-directed nature of spatial behavior. A major contribution of Beritashvili to the science of animal behavior was the demonstration of the universality of learning following a single presentation of an object vitally important to the animal: either a food object or a noxious signal. Beritashvili showed that such “image-driven” behavior has a strong spatial component, i.e., the image is projected into a definite point in space. Thus, he came to maintain that there is a class of behavior that is image-driven that does not require a repetition of associations. Tolman made several significant contributions to the field of experimental psychology. He thought of learning as developing from bits of knowledge and cognitions about the environment and how the organism relates to it. He examined the role that reinforcement plays in the way that rats learn their way through complex mazes. These experiments eventually led to the theory of latent learning which describes learning that occurs in the absence of an obvious reward. Tolman also strongly advocated the theory that rats learn the place where they have been rewarded rather than the particular movements required to get there. To a great extent, Tolman’s work determined the direction of American psychology in the 1930s-1950s. The contribution of Beritashvili and Tolman, thus, is the groundwork of modern studies of spatial cognitive processes in human and nonhuman animals.展开更多
Dispersal is an important life history trait that plays a crucial role in avoiding inbreeding.Uncovering the dispersal pattern of a threatened species facilitates conservation efforts.Most species of Galliformes are f...Dispersal is an important life history trait that plays a crucial role in avoiding inbreeding.Uncovering the dispersal pattern of a threatened species facilitates conservation efforts.Most species of Galliformes are forest-dwelling terrestrial birds with a weak dispersal ability and high conservation priorities.However,little is known about the dispersal behavior and dispersal pattern of Galliformes species such as Reeves's pheasant Syrmaticus reevesi,a globally vulnerable species endemic to China.Here,we integrated behavioral and genetic analyses to inves-tigate the dispersal pattern of Reeves's pheasant.Our results revealed that both females and males would disperse,although the overall dispersal pattern was more likely to be male-biased.Reeves's pheasant population had a low level of genetic diversity and a mild level of inbreeding.Speculation low genetic diversity was resulted from fragmented habitat,and male-biased dispersal may reduce the opportunity of inbreeding.Our research indicated that sex-biased dispersal patterns may be a behavioral mechanism adopted by wildlife to avoid inbreeding inafragmented habitat.展开更多
OBJECTIVE:To investigate whether Fuzi(Radix Aconiti Praeparata) has fewer "hot" characteristics when administered without Ganjiang(Rhizoma Zingiberis).METHODS:Differences in the thermotropism behaviors of mi...OBJECTIVE:To investigate whether Fuzi(Radix Aconiti Praeparata) has fewer "hot" characteristics when administered without Ganjiang(Rhizoma Zingiberis).METHODS:Differences in the thermotropism behaviors of mice treated either with Fuzi(Radix Aconiti Praeparata),Ganjiang(Rhizoma Zingiberis) or the combination of the two given intragastrically were investigated using the Animal Thermotropism Behavior Surveillance System.The water intake volume,oxygen consumption volume,adenosine triphosphatase(ATPase) activity,total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC) and total superoxide dismutase(T-SOD) activity were determined during the investigation.RESULTS:When Fuzi and Ganjiang were administered together,the rate at which mice remained on a warm plate("remaining rate") and the times and distances of their movement were all significantly reduced(P<0.05).Compared with the Normal group,the reduction was 55.1%,48.3% and 44.8%,while compared with the Fuzi group,the reduction was 57.6%,34.3% and 36.0%,indicating that "cold" tropism was significantly increased.Compared with the Normal and Fuzi groups,the ATPase activity and the respiratory oxygen consumption volume of the Fuzi + Ganjiang group were significantly increased(P<0.05),suggesting an improvement in energy metabolism and showing a "hot" characteristic when Fuzi and Ganjiang are present together.Additionally,the T-AOC and T-SOD activity were significantly enhanced(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:The behavior of mice tending toward "cold" tropism can be regarded as a quantitative reflection of Fuzi having fewer characteristics consistent w ith a "hot" nature when not used with Ganjiang,the functional mechanism of which may be a change in the ATPase activity in liver tissue.展开更多
This study examined the effects of exercise on behavior and peripheral blood leukocyte apoptosis in a rat model of chronic fatigue syndrome （CFS）. Thirty-six healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were equally randomized ...This study examined the effects of exercise on behavior and peripheral blood leukocyte apoptosis in a rat model of chronic fatigue syndrome （CFS）. Thirty-six healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were equally randomized into 3 groups： the control group, CFS model group and the exercise group in terms of body weight. A total of 25 rats entered the final statistical analysis due to 11 deaths during the study. CFS model was established by subjecting the rats in CFS model group and exercise group to electric shock, chronic restraint stress and cold water swim. Besides, rats in the exercise group took rtmning wheel exercise. After a week of conditioning feeding, model construction and running wheel exercise were performed simultaneously, and lasted for 23 consecutive days. The behavior experiments, including running wheel exercise, open-field test, tail suspension test and Morris water maze test, were conducted, either before or after the model establishment. Rats were sacrificed and peripheral blood was obtained for the assessment of lymphocyte apoptosis index by flow cytometry （FCM）. It was found that as compared with those in the control group, the weight of the rats was decreased obviously （P〈0.01）, the mobility time in the open-field and the tail suspension tests was shortened significantly （P〈0.01）, the time to locate the platform was enhanced （P〈0.01） and the cell apoptosis index was increased substantially （P〈0.01） in the CSF model group. Meanwhile, in comparison to the model group, the behavior in the open-field and the tail suspension tests was improved significantly （P〈0.05）, and the apoptosis index decreased remarkably （P〈0.01） in the exercise group. It is concluded that sport intervention can prevent lymphocyte apoptosis and improve animal behavior rather than the memory.展开更多
The importance of nutrient provisions and weaning methods for calves has been well established over the past few years,while as increasing interest has focused on contribution of animal behavior and their overall perf...The importance of nutrient provisions and weaning methods for calves has been well established over the past few years,while as increasing interest has focused on contribution of animal behavior and their overall performance in production regimes.The present study investigated the effects of feeding methods and space allowance on growth performance,individual and social behaviors in Holstein calves.Twenty-four Chinese Holstein male and female calves were allocated to either an individual or group of 6 and fed either with a bucket or a teat.Milk replacer,calf starter,and Chinese wildrye were offered during the experiment.A fecal index used in the present study was defined as the total fecal scores/total number of calves in each treatment.The results showed that there was no significant difference among the 4 treatments in terms of feed intake,body weight,average daily gain,and fecal index.For the feeding behaviors,the ingesting milk time and ingesting milk rate were significantly affected by space allowance,while the feeding methods showed a significant influence on the bunting behavior of the calves.There was no significant difference among the 4 treatments in terms of licking fixtures,self-grooming,and lying down behaviors,irrespective of the feeding method or space allowance.However,sucking an empty bucket or the teat was significantly affected by the feeding method.Several selected group behaviors were examined in the present study,and similar values for sniffing the other calves,social grooming,and cross-sucking behaviors were observed.Overall,the present study demonstrated that different feeding methods and space allowances had a significant effect on the feeding behavior of calves,while the feed intake,growth performance,health condition,individual and group social behaviors were not significantly influenced.Furthermore,under intensified production systems,Holstein calves raised in a group may obtain a similar production performance,thus reducing management input and profitability compared with those kept individually.However,there may be competition during the feeding period.展开更多
The fields of behavioral ecology, conservation science, and environmental toxicology individually aim to protect and manage the conservation of wildlife in response to anthropogenic stressors, including widespread ant...The fields of behavioral ecology, conservation science, and environmental toxicology individually aim to protect and manage the conservation of wildlife in response to anthropogenic stressors, including widespread anthropogenic pollution. Although great emphasis in the field of toxicology has been placed on understanding how single pollutants affect survival, a comprehensive, interdis- ciplinary approach that includes behavioral ecology is essential to address how anthropogenic compounds are a risk for the survival of species and populations in an increasingly polluted world. We provide an integrative framework for behavioral ecotoxicology using Tinbergen＇s four postu- lates （causation and mechanism, development and ontogeny, function and fitness, and evolution- ary history and phylogenetic patterns）. The aims of this review are： 1） to promote an integrative view and re-define the field of integrative behavioral ecotoxicology; 2） to demonstrate how study- ing ecotoxicology can promote behavior research; and 3） to identify areas of behavioral ecotoxicol- ogy that require further attention to promote the integration and growth of the field.展开更多
Environmental stressors can negatively affect avian cognitive abilities, potentially reducing fitness, for example by altering response to predators, display to mates, or memory of locations of food. We expand on curr...Environmental stressors can negatively affect avian cognitive abilities, potentially reducing fitness, for example by altering response to predators, display to mates, or memory of locations of food. We expand on current knowledge by investigating the effects of dietary mercury, a ubiquitous en- vironmental pollutant and known neurotoxin, on avian cognition. Zebra finches Taeniopygia gut- tata were dosed for their entire lives with sub-lethal levels of mercury, at the environmentally rele- vant dose of 1.2 parts per million. In our first study, we compared the dosed birds with controls of the same age using tests of three cognitive abilities： spatial memory, inhibitory control, and color association. In the spatial memory assay, birds were tested on their ability to learn and remember the location of hidden food in their cage. The inhibitory control assay measured their ability to ig- nore visible but inaccessible food in favor of a learned behavior that provided the same reward. Finally, the color association task tested each bird＇s ability to associate a specific color with the presence of hidden food. Dietary mercury negatively affected spatial memory ability but not inhibi- tory control or color association. Our second study focused on three behavioral assays not tied to a specific skill or problem-solving： activity level, neophobia, and social dominance. Zebra finches exposed to dietary mercury throughout their lives were subordinate to, and more active than, con- trol birds. We found no evidence that mercury exposure influenced our metric of neophobia. Together, these results suggest that sub-lethal exposure to environmental mercury selectively harms neurological pathways that control different cognitive abilities, with complex effects on be- havior and fitness.展开更多
Gastrodin, an active component of tall gastrodia tuber, is widely used in the treatment of dizziness, paralysis, epilepsy, stroke and dementia, and exhibits a neuroprotective effect. A rat model of spinal cord injury ...Gastrodin, an active component of tall gastrodia tuber, is widely used in the treatment of dizziness, paralysis, epilepsy, stroke and dementia, and exhibits a neuroprotective effect. A rat model of spinal cord injury was established using Allen＇s method, and gastrodin was administered via the subarachnoid cavity and by intraperitoneal injection for 7 days. Results show that gastrodin promoted the secretion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in rats with spinal cord injury. After gastrodin treatment, the maximum angle of the inclined plane test, and the Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan scores increased. Moreover, gastrodin improved neural tissue recovery in the injured spinal cord. These results demonstrate that gastrodin promotes the secretion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, contributes to the recovery of neurological function, and protects neural cells against injury.展开更多
The formalization of multilayer networks allows for new ways to measure sociality in complex social systems,including groups of animals.The same mathematical representation and methods are widely applicable across fie...The formalization of multilayer networks allows for new ways to measure sociality in complex social systems,including groups of animals.The same mathematical representation and methods are widely applicable across fields and study systems,and a network can represent drastically different types of data.As such,in order to apply analyses and interpret the results in a meaningful way the researcher must have a deep understanding of what their network is representing and what parts of it are being measured by a given analysis.Multilayer social networks can represent social structure with more detail than is often present in single layer networks,including multiple"types"of individuals,interactions,or relationships,and the extent to which these types are interdependent.Multilayer networks can also encompass a wider range of social scales,which can help overcome complications that are inherent to measuring sociality.In this paper,I dissect multilayer networks into the parts that correspond to different components of social structures.I then discuss common pitfalls to avoid across different stages of multilayer network analyses-some novel and some that always exist in social network analysis but are magnified in multi-layer representations.This paper serves as a primer for building a customized toolkit of multilayer network analyses,to probe components of social structure in animal social systems.展开更多
Rescue behavior is observed when 1 individual provides help to another individual in danger.Most reports of rescue behavior concern ants(Formicidae),in which workers rescue each other from various types of entrapment....Rescue behavior is observed when 1 individual provides help to another individual in danger.Most reports of rescue behavior concern ants(Formicidae),in which workers rescue each other from various types of entrapment.Many of these entrapment situations can be simulated in the laboratory using an entrapment bioassay,in which ants confront a single endangered nest mate entrapped on a sandy arena by means of an artificial snare.Here,we compared numerous characteristics of rescue actions(contact between individuals,digging around the entrapped individual,pulling at its body parts,transport of the sand covering it,and biting the snare entrapping it)in Formica cinerea ants.We performed entrapment tests in the field and in the laboratory,with the latter under varying conditions in terms of the number of ants potentially engaged in rescue actions and the arena substrate(marked or unmarked by ants'pheromones).Rescue actions were more probable and pronounced in the field than in the laboratory,regardless of the type of test.Moreover,different test types in the laboratory yielded inconsistent results and showed noteworthy variability depending on the tested characteristic of rescue.Our results illustrate the specifics of ant rescue actions elicited in the natural setting,which is especially important considering the scarcity of field data.Furthermore,our results underline the challenges related to the comparison of results from different types of entrapment tests reported in the available literature.Additionally,our study shows how animal behavior differs in differing experimental setups used to answer the same questions.展开更多
The prey-seeking behavior of three spiders (X1-Pirata subpiraticus, X2-Clubiona japonicola and X3-Tetragnatha japonica) for brown plant hopper (X4-Nilaparvata lugens) and rice spittle bug (X5-Cal-litettix versicolor) ...The prey-seeking behavior of three spiders (X1-Pirata subpiraticus, X2-Clubiona japonicola and X3-Tetragnatha japonica) for brown plant hopper (X4-Nilaparvata lugens) and rice spittle bug (X5-Cal-litettix versicolor) was investigated, as well as how interference between and within species occurred, by using a quadratic regression rotational composite design. Six predation models derived from the analysis of interactions among and within predators and preys were developed. The total predatory capacity of spiders on rice insect pests after coexistence for one day can be expressed as follows: Y3 = 32.795 + 2.25X1 + 1.083X2 + 0.5X3 + 10.167X4 + 3.167X5 - 1.67X12 - 2.42X22 - 3.295X32 - 0.045X42 + 0.455X52 - 3.125X1X2 + 0.375X1X3 -0.625X1X4 - 0.375X1X5 + 0.375X2X3 - 0.875X2X4 + 0.125X2X5 + 0.375X3X4 - 0.375X3X5 + 0.125X4X5. The principal efficiency analysis using this model indicated that increases in insect pest density significantly increased predation by predators; this was much greater than the effect of any single predator. X4 had a greater effect than X5; however, X4 and X5 demonstrated little interspecific interference and even promoted each other and increased predation rates as the densities of the two pests increased. Among the three predators, an increase in the density of X, had the greatest effect on the increase in predation, X3 had the second, X2 the third greatest effect. As predator density increased inter- and intra-species interference occurred, which were largely related to the size, activity, niche breadth, niche overlap and searching efficiency of the predators. X2 produced the greatest interference between different individuals and between any other predator species. X3 had the second greatest, which reduced predation levels at high predator densities. Because of these factors, the highest predation rate was obtained at a prey density of 120 per 4 rice-hills. The optimal proportion of the three predators in the multi-predator prey system was X1: X2: X3 = 5.6:1.3:4.1.展开更多
Survival and successful reproduction require animals to make critical decisions amidst a naturally dynamic environmental and social background(i.e.“context”).However,human activities have pervasively,and rapidly,ext...Survival and successful reproduction require animals to make critical decisions amidst a naturally dynamic environmental and social background(i.e.“context”).However,human activities have pervasively,and rapidly,extended contextual variation into evolutionarily novel territory,potentially rendering evolved animal decision-making mechanisms and strategies maladaptive.We suggest that explicitly focusing on animal decision-making(ADM),by integrating and applying findings from studies of sensory ecology,cognitive psychology,behavioral economics and eco-evolutionary strategies,may enhance our understanding of,and our ability to predict how,human-driven changes in the environment and population demography will influence animal populations.Fundamentally,the decisions animals make involve evolved mechanisms,and behaviors emerge from the combined action of sensory integration,cognitive mechanisms and strategic rules of thumb,and any of these processes may have a disproportionate influence on behavior.Although there is extensive literature exploring ADM,it generally reflects a canalized,discipline-specific approach that lacks a unified conceptual framework.As a result,there has been limited application of ADM theory and research findings into predictive models that can enhance management outcomes,even though it is likely that the relative resilience of species to rapid environmental change is fundamentally a result of how ADM is linked to contextual variation.Here,we focus on how context influences ADM,and highlight ideas and results that may be most applicable to conservation biology.展开更多
Trophy hunting has severe consequences on wild animals’ behaviors, which in return has implications for affecting wildlife populations. The Selous Game Reserve is a protected area in Tanzania that has been subjected ...Trophy hunting has severe consequences on wild animals’ behaviors, which in return has implications for affecting wildlife populations. The Selous Game Reserve is a protected area in Tanzania that has been subjected to commercial trophy hunting for decades, and information about the effects of trophy hunting on animals’ welfare is still scarce. The Flight Initiating Distance (FID) can be a good measure to evaluate the welfare of animals and the level of risk perception towards anthropogenic disturbances, including trophy hunting. The study used linear mixed models to assess the flight responses of twelve commonly hunted species in the Selous game reserve (S.G.R.). The study compared animal vigilance between species, vegetation types, and group size. The FID varied between species, with which more vigilance was observed in zebras, elands, wildebeests, and sable antelopes. The study found a significant influence of vegetation cover on individual species’ FID. Further, the study found a significant influence of group size on animals’ vigilance (L. M. M., 95% CI = 0.590 - 4.762), in which there was a decrease in FID with an increase in group size for wildebeests. At the same time, other species, such as buffaloes, eland, hartebeests, and zebras, had their FIDs increasing with the increase in group size. We conclude that the impact of trophy hunting on savannah ungulates varies between species, vegetation covers, and group size of individual species. Regulatory authorities should consider minimum approach distances by trophy hunters in different vegetation cover to reduce animal biological disturbances.展开更多
基金supported by the Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Neuroimmunomodulation for Neurological Diseases(ZDSYS20220304163558001).
文摘A recent publication by Zhou et al.[1]in Neuron demonstrates that a specific interaction between astrocytes and a subtype of neurons has an influence on complex animal behavior,namely risk assessment.The majority of neuroscientists analyzing the molecular and cellular substrate of behavior focus on neuronal circuits.Glial cells were originally described by Rudolf Virchow and the name glia refers to the Greek word for glue or putty.Thus,glial cells were long thought to represent simply the filling stuff of the brain.This view has changed dramatically in the last decades.The three major types of glial cells of the central nervous system fulfll diverse functions.Oligodendrocytes are the myelinforming cells and it has become evident that they are plastic and are able to influence neuronal connectivity.Microglia are the immune cells of the brain and interact with synapses during development,in plasticity,and very prominently in any disease of the nervous system.
基金Provincial and Ministerial Key Science and Technology Projects[110202101018(XX-04),110202102014].
文摘Nicotine is one of the most widely concerning components of cigarette smoke.Long-term intake of nicotine can lead to nicotine dependence that affects higher brain functions,which may involve anxiety,learning and memory impairments,and abnormal decision-making.To facilitate analyzing the molecular mechanisms of nicotine dependence,it is common to establish rodent nicotine dependence models to better understand the physiological changes.This paper summarizes and evaluates the application of animal behavior evaluation experiments in nicotine-dependent animal models,in order to provide a reliable reference for researchers to establish rodent nicotine-dependent models for evaluation.
文摘After the 2011 Tohoku earthquake (EQ), there have been numerous aftershocks in the eastern and Pacific Ocean of Japan, but EQs are still rare in the western part of Japan. In this situation a relatively large (magnitude (M) ~6) EQ happened on April 12 (UT), 2013 at a place close to the former 1995 Kobe EQ (M~7), so we have tried to find whether there existed any precursors to this EQ, especially abnormal animal behavior (milk yield of cows), observed at Kagawa, Shikoku, near the EQ epicenter. The milk yield of cows has been continuously monitored at Kagawa, and it is found that the milk yield exhibited an abnormal depletion about 10 days before the EQ. This behavior has been extensively compared with the former electromagnetic precursors (ULF radiation, ionos-pheric perturbation). This leads to the discussion on the sensory mechanism of unusual behavior of mild yield of cows, and it may be suggested that ULF radiation among different electromagnetic precursors is a mostly likely driver, at least, for this EQ.
基金Supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Xiaogan,China,No.XGKJ2023010036.
文摘BACKGROUND Depression is a prevalent affective disorder,but its pathophysiology remains unclear.Dysfunction in the gamma-aminobutyric acid(GABA)-ergic system may contribute to its onset.Recently,antidepressants(e.g.,brexanolone,zuranolone)targeting the GABA-A receptor were introduced.The zona incerta(ZI),an inhibitory subthalamic region mainly composed of GABAergic neurons,has been implicated in emotional regulation.Deep brain stimulation of the ZI in humans affects anxiety and depression symptoms,while activation of ZI neurons in mice can either worsen or alleviate anxiety.Currently,there is no direct evidence linking GABAergic neurons in the ZI to depression-like behaviors in rodents.AIM To explore the relationship between GABAergic neurons in the ZI and depression-like behaviors in mice.METHODS A chronic restraint stress(CRS)model was utilized to induce depression in mice.Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings assessed the excitability changes of GABAergic neurons in the ZI.Additionally,chemogenetic techniques were employed to modulate ZI GABAergic neurons.The performance of the mice in behavioral tests for depression and anxiety was observed.RESULTS The findings indicated that GABAergic neurons in the ZI were closely associated with depression-like behaviors in mice.Twenty-eight days after the CRS model was established,depression-like and anxiety-like behaviors were observed in the mice.The excitability of GABAergic neurons in the ZI was reduced.Chemogenetic activation of these neurons alleviated CRS-induced depression-like and anxiety-like behaviors.Conversely,inhibition of GABAergic neurons in the ZI led to changes in emotion-related behavioral outcomes in mice.CONCLUSION Activity of GABAergic neurons in the ZI was closely associated with depression-like phenotypes in mice,suggesting that these neurons could be a potential therapeutic target for treating depression.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82171506 and 31872778)Discipline Innovative Engineering Plan(111 Program)of China(B13036)+3 种基金Key Laboratory Grant from Hunan Province(2016TP1006)Department of Science and Technology of Hunan Province(2021DK2001,Innovative Team Program 2019RS1010)Innovation-Driven Team Project from Central South University(2020CX016)Hunan Hundred Talents Program for Young Outstanding Scientists。
文摘Proper regulation of synapse formation and elimination is critical for establishing mature neuronal circuits and maintaining brain function.Synaptic abnormalities,such as defects in the density and morphology of postsynaptic dendritic spines,underlie the pathology of various neuropsychiatric disorders.Protocadherin 17(PCDH17)is associated with major mood disorders,including bipolar disorder and depression.However,the molecular mechanisms by which PCDH17 regulates spine number,morphology,and behavior remain elusive.In this study,we found that PCDH17 functions at postsynaptic sites,restricting the number and size of dendritic spines in excitatory neurons.Selective overexpression of PCDH17 in the ventral hippocampal CA1 results in spine loss and anxiety-and depression-like behaviors in mice.Mechanistically,PCDH17 interacts with actin-relevant proteins and regulates actin filament(F-actin)organization.Specifically,PCDH17 binds to ROCK2,increasing its expression and subsequently enhancing the activity of downstream targets such as LIMK1 and the phosphorylation of cofilin serine-3(Ser3).Inhibition of ROCK2 activity with belumosudil(KD025)ameliorates the defective F-actin organization and spine structure induced by PCDH17 overexpression,suggesting that ROCK2 mediates the effects of PCDH17 on F-actin content and spine development.Hence,these findings reveal a novel mechanism by which PCDH17 regulates synapse development and behavior,providing pathological insights into the neurobiological basis of mood disorders.
文摘Aerobic metabolism is fundamental for almost all animal life. Cellular consumption of oxygen （O2） and production of carbon dioxide （CO2） signal metabolic states and physiologic stresses. These respiratory gases are also detected as environmental cues that can signal external food quality and the presence of prey, predators and mates. In both contexts, animal nervous systems are endowed with mechanisms for sensing O2/CO2 to trigger appropriate behaviors and maintain homeostasis of internal O2/CO2. Although different animal species show different behavioral responses to O2/CO2, some underlying molecular mechanisms and pathways that function in the detection of respiratory gases are fundamentally similar and evolutionarily conserved. Studies of Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster have identified roles for cyclic nucleotide signaling and the hypoxia inducible factor （HIF） transcriptional pathway in mediating behavioral responses to respiratory gases. Understanding how simple invertebrate nervous systems detect respiratory gases to control behavior might reveal general principles common to nematodes, insects and vertebrates that function in the molecular sensing of respiratory gases and the neural control of animal behaviors.
基金This study was supported by the Education Department of Hainan Province(HnjgY2022-12)Hainan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(320CXTD437 and 2019RC189)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32260127 and 31672303)to CYthe Hainan Provincial Innovative Research Program for Graduates(Qhyb2021-55)to XC.
文摘Living and/or non-living animal models are often used as stimuli to observe the behavioral responses of the target animals.In the past,parasites,predators,and harmless controls have been used to test host anti-parasitism defense behavior,and their taxidermy specimens have been widely used as a set of standard methods for the study of avian brood parasitism.In recent years,with the rapid development of 3D-printing technology,3D-printed bird models are expected to be applied as a standard method in the study of avian brood parasitism.To evaluate the use of 3D-printed models,this study tests the reaction of Oriental Reed Warbler(Acrocephalus orientalis)towards predators,parasites,or controls,and compares the reaction among different nest intruders and between taxidermy specimens and 3D-printed animal models.It was found that the Oriental Reed Warbler responded most aggressively to the parasite,followed by predator,and finally the control;the results were consistent between the reaction to taxidermy specimens and 3D-printed animal models,indicating that 3D-printed models could serve as a substitute for taxidermy specimens.We propose a series of advantages of using 3D-printed models and suggest them to be a standard method for widespread use in future studies of avian brood parasitism.
文摘Ivane S. Beritashvili’s doctrine of image-driven behavior was established in the late 1920s and finally extended in his books in English (1965;1971). It bears a strong resemblance to the concepts of purposive behavior and “cognitive maps” developed in parallel by Edward C. Tolman (1932;1948) and significantly anticipated respective modern concepts. John O’Keefe and his disciples May-Britt Moser and Edvard I. Moser received the Nobel Prize in 2014 for their discoveries of cells that constitute a navigation system in the brain. The latter fact brings us to the pioneers of the study of the spatial orientation of animals that figuratively speaking, provided the giant’s shoulders on which O’Keefe and the Mosers stood to receive their award. Beritashvili and Tolman upheld the holistic and goal-directed nature of spatial behavior. A major contribution of Beritashvili to the science of animal behavior was the demonstration of the universality of learning following a single presentation of an object vitally important to the animal: either a food object or a noxious signal. Beritashvili showed that such “image-driven” behavior has a strong spatial component, i.e., the image is projected into a definite point in space. Thus, he came to maintain that there is a class of behavior that is image-driven that does not require a repetition of associations. Tolman made several significant contributions to the field of experimental psychology. He thought of learning as developing from bits of knowledge and cognitions about the environment and how the organism relates to it. He examined the role that reinforcement plays in the way that rats learn their way through complex mazes. These experiments eventually led to the theory of latent learning which describes learning that occurs in the absence of an obvious reward. Tolman also strongly advocated the theory that rats learn the place where they have been rewarded rather than the particular movements required to get there. To a great extent, Tolman’s work determined the direction of American psychology in the 1930s-1950s. The contribution of Beritashvili and Tolman, thus, is the groundwork of modern studies of spatial cognitive processes in human and nonhuman animals.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(grant 31872240)the Biodiversity Survey,Monitoring,and Assessment Project of the Ministry of Ecology and the Environment,China(grant 2019HB2096001006).
文摘Dispersal is an important life history trait that plays a crucial role in avoiding inbreeding.Uncovering the dispersal pattern of a threatened species facilitates conservation efforts.Most species of Galliformes are forest-dwelling terrestrial birds with a weak dispersal ability and high conservation priorities.However,little is known about the dispersal behavior and dispersal pattern of Galliformes species such as Reeves's pheasant Syrmaticus reevesi,a globally vulnerable species endemic to China.Here,we integrated behavioral and genetic analyses to inves-tigate the dispersal pattern of Reeves's pheasant.Our results revealed that both females and males would disperse,although the overall dispersal pattern was more likely to be male-biased.Reeves's pheasant population had a low level of genetic diversity and a mild level of inbreeding.Speculation low genetic diversity was resulted from fragmented habitat,and male-biased dispersal may reduce the opportunity of inbreeding.Our research indicated that sex-biased dispersal patterns may be a behavioral mechanism adopted by wildlife to avoid inbreeding inafragmented habitat.
基金Supported by National Natural Sciences Foundation(No. 81173571)National Basic Research Program of China (No.2007CB512607)
文摘OBJECTIVE:To investigate whether Fuzi(Radix Aconiti Praeparata) has fewer "hot" characteristics when administered without Ganjiang(Rhizoma Zingiberis).METHODS:Differences in the thermotropism behaviors of mice treated either with Fuzi(Radix Aconiti Praeparata),Ganjiang(Rhizoma Zingiberis) or the combination of the two given intragastrically were investigated using the Animal Thermotropism Behavior Surveillance System.The water intake volume,oxygen consumption volume,adenosine triphosphatase(ATPase) activity,total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC) and total superoxide dismutase(T-SOD) activity were determined during the investigation.RESULTS:When Fuzi and Ganjiang were administered together,the rate at which mice remained on a warm plate("remaining rate") and the times and distances of their movement were all significantly reduced(P<0.05).Compared with the Normal group,the reduction was 55.1%,48.3% and 44.8%,while compared with the Fuzi group,the reduction was 57.6%,34.3% and 36.0%,indicating that "cold" tropism was significantly increased.Compared with the Normal and Fuzi groups,the ATPase activity and the respiratory oxygen consumption volume of the Fuzi + Ganjiang group were significantly increased(P<0.05),suggesting an improvement in energy metabolism and showing a "hot" characteristic when Fuzi and Ganjiang are present together.Additionally,the T-AOC and T-SOD activity were significantly enhanced(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:The behavior of mice tending toward "cold" tropism can be regarded as a quantitative reflection of Fuzi having fewer characteristics consistent w ith a "hot" nature when not used with Ganjiang,the functional mechanism of which may be a change in the ATPase activity in liver tissue.
基金supported by a grant from Innovation Program of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission (No. 09YZ305)a grant from Shanghai Education Science Research Program (No. B08039)a grant from Shanghai Leading Academic Discipline Project (No. S30802)
文摘This study examined the effects of exercise on behavior and peripheral blood leukocyte apoptosis in a rat model of chronic fatigue syndrome （CFS）. Thirty-six healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were equally randomized into 3 groups： the control group, CFS model group and the exercise group in terms of body weight. A total of 25 rats entered the final statistical analysis due to 11 deaths during the study. CFS model was established by subjecting the rats in CFS model group and exercise group to electric shock, chronic restraint stress and cold water swim. Besides, rats in the exercise group took rtmning wheel exercise. After a week of conditioning feeding, model construction and running wheel exercise were performed simultaneously, and lasted for 23 consecutive days. The behavior experiments, including running wheel exercise, open-field test, tail suspension test and Morris water maze test, were conducted, either before or after the model establishment. Rats were sacrificed and peripheral blood was obtained for the assessment of lymphocyte apoptosis index by flow cytometry （FCM）. It was found that as compared with those in the control group, the weight of the rats was decreased obviously （P〈0.01）, the mobility time in the open-field and the tail suspension tests was shortened significantly （P〈0.01）, the time to locate the platform was enhanced （P〈0.01） and the cell apoptosis index was increased substantially （P〈0.01） in the CSF model group. Meanwhile, in comparison to the model group, the behavior in the open-field and the tail suspension tests was improved significantly （P〈0.05）, and the apoptosis index decreased remarkably （P〈0.01） in the exercise group. It is concluded that sport intervention can prevent lymphocyte apoptosis and improve animal behavior rather than the memory.
基金supported by the Earmarked Fund for Beijing Dairy Industry Innovation Consortium of Agriculture Research System (BAIC06-2016)the Beijing Key Laboratory for Dairy Cow Nutrition, the National Key Technology R&D Program of China (2012BAD12B06)the Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, the Ministry of Agriculture of the People’s Republic of China
文摘The importance of nutrient provisions and weaning methods for calves has been well established over the past few years,while as increasing interest has focused on contribution of animal behavior and their overall performance in production regimes.The present study investigated the effects of feeding methods and space allowance on growth performance,individual and social behaviors in Holstein calves.Twenty-four Chinese Holstein male and female calves were allocated to either an individual or group of 6 and fed either with a bucket or a teat.Milk replacer,calf starter,and Chinese wildrye were offered during the experiment.A fecal index used in the present study was defined as the total fecal scores/total number of calves in each treatment.The results showed that there was no significant difference among the 4 treatments in terms of feed intake,body weight,average daily gain,and fecal index.For the feeding behaviors,the ingesting milk time and ingesting milk rate were significantly affected by space allowance,while the feeding methods showed a significant influence on the bunting behavior of the calves.There was no significant difference among the 4 treatments in terms of licking fixtures,self-grooming,and lying down behaviors,irrespective of the feeding method or space allowance.However,sucking an empty bucket or the teat was significantly affected by the feeding method.Several selected group behaviors were examined in the present study,and similar values for sniffing the other calves,social grooming,and cross-sucking behaviors were observed.Overall,the present study demonstrated that different feeding methods and space allowances had a significant effect on the feeding behavior of calves,while the feed intake,growth performance,health condition,individual and group social behaviors were not significantly influenced.Furthermore,under intensified production systems,Holstein calves raised in a group may obtain a similar production performance,thus reducing management input and profitability compared with those kept individually.However,there may be competition during the feeding period.
基金JPS was funded by the National Science Foundation （IOS1257590）. The sym- posium from which this paper emerged was funded by the Animal Behavior Society.
文摘The fields of behavioral ecology, conservation science, and environmental toxicology individually aim to protect and manage the conservation of wildlife in response to anthropogenic stressors, including widespread anthropogenic pollution. Although great emphasis in the field of toxicology has been placed on understanding how single pollutants affect survival, a comprehensive, interdis- ciplinary approach that includes behavioral ecology is essential to address how anthropogenic compounds are a risk for the survival of species and populations in an increasingly polluted world. We provide an integrative framework for behavioral ecotoxicology using Tinbergen＇s four postu- lates （causation and mechanism, development and ontogeny, function and fitness, and evolution- ary history and phylogenetic patterns）. The aims of this review are： 1） to promote an integrative view and re-define the field of integrative behavioral ecotoxicology; 2） to demonstrate how study- ing ecotoxicology can promote behavior research; and 3） to identify areas of behavioral ecotoxicol- ogy that require further attention to promote the integration and growth of the field.
基金This work was funded by an award from the National Science Foundation [to J.P.S. and D.A.C.] （IOS1257590} and an English-Stonehouse fellowship [to J.P.S. and A.S.F.] awarded by the College of William and Mary.
文摘Environmental stressors can negatively affect avian cognitive abilities, potentially reducing fitness, for example by altering response to predators, display to mates, or memory of locations of food. We expand on current knowledge by investigating the effects of dietary mercury, a ubiquitous en- vironmental pollutant and known neurotoxin, on avian cognition. Zebra finches Taeniopygia gut- tata were dosed for their entire lives with sub-lethal levels of mercury, at the environmentally rele- vant dose of 1.2 parts per million. In our first study, we compared the dosed birds with controls of the same age using tests of three cognitive abilities： spatial memory, inhibitory control, and color association. In the spatial memory assay, birds were tested on their ability to learn and remember the location of hidden food in their cage. The inhibitory control assay measured their ability to ig- nore visible but inaccessible food in favor of a learned behavior that provided the same reward. Finally, the color association task tested each bird＇s ability to associate a specific color with the presence of hidden food. Dietary mercury negatively affected spatial memory ability but not inhibi- tory control or color association. Our second study focused on three behavioral assays not tied to a specific skill or problem-solving： activity level, neophobia, and social dominance. Zebra finches exposed to dietary mercury throughout their lives were subordinate to, and more active than, con- trol birds. We found no evidence that mercury exposure influenced our metric of neophobia. Together, these results suggest that sub-lethal exposure to environmental mercury selectively harms neurological pathways that control different cognitive abilities, with complex effects on be- havior and fitness.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81171799
文摘Gastrodin, an active component of tall gastrodia tuber, is widely used in the treatment of dizziness, paralysis, epilepsy, stroke and dementia, and exhibits a neuroprotective effect. A rat model of spinal cord injury was established using Allen＇s method, and gastrodin was administered via the subarachnoid cavity and by intraperitoneal injection for 7 days. Results show that gastrodin promoted the secretion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in rats with spinal cord injury. After gastrodin treatment, the maximum angle of the inclined plane test, and the Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan scores increased. Moreover, gastrodin improved neural tissue recovery in the injured spinal cord. These results demonstrate that gastrodin promotes the secretion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, contributes to the recovery of neurological function, and protects neural cells against injury.
文摘The formalization of multilayer networks allows for new ways to measure sociality in complex social systems,including groups of animals.The same mathematical representation and methods are widely applicable across fields and study systems,and a network can represent drastically different types of data.As such,in order to apply analyses and interpret the results in a meaningful way the researcher must have a deep understanding of what their network is representing and what parts of it are being measured by a given analysis.Multilayer social networks can represent social structure with more detail than is often present in single layer networks,including multiple"types"of individuals,interactions,or relationships,and the extent to which these types are interdependent.Multilayer networks can also encompass a wider range of social scales,which can help overcome complications that are inherent to measuring sociality.In this paper,I dissect multilayer networks into the parts that correspond to different components of social structures.I then discuss common pitfalls to avoid across different stages of multilayer network analyses-some novel and some that always exist in social network analysis but are magnified in multi-layer representations.This paper serves as a primer for building a customized toolkit of multilayer network analyses,to probe components of social structure in animal social systems.
基金The study was funded by the National Science Centre,Poland[grant PRELUDIUM number 2018/31/N/NZ8/02312].
文摘Rescue behavior is observed when 1 individual provides help to another individual in danger.Most reports of rescue behavior concern ants(Formicidae),in which workers rescue each other from various types of entrapment.Many of these entrapment situations can be simulated in the laboratory using an entrapment bioassay,in which ants confront a single endangered nest mate entrapped on a sandy arena by means of an artificial snare.Here,we compared numerous characteristics of rescue actions(contact between individuals,digging around the entrapped individual,pulling at its body parts,transport of the sand covering it,and biting the snare entrapping it)in Formica cinerea ants.We performed entrapment tests in the field and in the laboratory,with the latter under varying conditions in terms of the number of ants potentially engaged in rescue actions and the arena substrate(marked or unmarked by ants'pheromones).Rescue actions were more probable and pronounced in the field than in the laboratory,regardless of the type of test.Moreover,different test types in the laboratory yielded inconsistent results and showed noteworthy variability depending on the tested characteristic of rescue.Our results illustrate the specifics of ant rescue actions elicited in the natural setting,which is especially important considering the scarcity of field data.Furthermore,our results underline the challenges related to the comparison of results from different types of entrapment tests reported in the available literature.Additionally,our study shows how animal behavior differs in differing experimental setups used to answer the same questions.
文摘The prey-seeking behavior of three spiders (X1-Pirata subpiraticus, X2-Clubiona japonicola and X3-Tetragnatha japonica) for brown plant hopper (X4-Nilaparvata lugens) and rice spittle bug (X5-Cal-litettix versicolor) was investigated, as well as how interference between and within species occurred, by using a quadratic regression rotational composite design. Six predation models derived from the analysis of interactions among and within predators and preys were developed. The total predatory capacity of spiders on rice insect pests after coexistence for one day can be expressed as follows: Y3 = 32.795 + 2.25X1 + 1.083X2 + 0.5X3 + 10.167X4 + 3.167X5 - 1.67X12 - 2.42X22 - 3.295X32 - 0.045X42 + 0.455X52 - 3.125X1X2 + 0.375X1X3 -0.625X1X4 - 0.375X1X5 + 0.375X2X3 - 0.875X2X4 + 0.125X2X5 + 0.375X3X4 - 0.375X3X5 + 0.125X4X5. The principal efficiency analysis using this model indicated that increases in insect pest density significantly increased predation by predators; this was much greater than the effect of any single predator. X4 had a greater effect than X5; however, X4 and X5 demonstrated little interspecific interference and even promoted each other and increased predation rates as the densities of the two pests increased. Among the three predators, an increase in the density of X, had the greatest effect on the increase in predation, X3 had the second, X2 the third greatest effect. As predator density increased inter- and intra-species interference occurred, which were largely related to the size, activity, niche breadth, niche overlap and searching efficiency of the predators. X2 produced the greatest interference between different individuals and between any other predator species. X3 had the second greatest, which reduced predation levels at high predator densities. Because of these factors, the highest predation rate was obtained at a prey density of 120 per 4 rice-hills. The optimal proportion of the three predators in the multi-predator prey system was X1: X2: X3 = 5.6:1.3:4.1.
文摘Survival and successful reproduction require animals to make critical decisions amidst a naturally dynamic environmental and social background(i.e.“context”).However,human activities have pervasively,and rapidly,extended contextual variation into evolutionarily novel territory,potentially rendering evolved animal decision-making mechanisms and strategies maladaptive.We suggest that explicitly focusing on animal decision-making(ADM),by integrating and applying findings from studies of sensory ecology,cognitive psychology,behavioral economics and eco-evolutionary strategies,may enhance our understanding of,and our ability to predict how,human-driven changes in the environment and population demography will influence animal populations.Fundamentally,the decisions animals make involve evolved mechanisms,and behaviors emerge from the combined action of sensory integration,cognitive mechanisms and strategic rules of thumb,and any of these processes may have a disproportionate influence on behavior.Although there is extensive literature exploring ADM,it generally reflects a canalized,discipline-specific approach that lacks a unified conceptual framework.As a result,there has been limited application of ADM theory and research findings into predictive models that can enhance management outcomes,even though it is likely that the relative resilience of species to rapid environmental change is fundamentally a result of how ADM is linked to contextual variation.Here,we focus on how context influences ADM,and highlight ideas and results that may be most applicable to conservation biology.
文摘Trophy hunting has severe consequences on wild animals’ behaviors, which in return has implications for affecting wildlife populations. The Selous Game Reserve is a protected area in Tanzania that has been subjected to commercial trophy hunting for decades, and information about the effects of trophy hunting on animals’ welfare is still scarce. The Flight Initiating Distance (FID) can be a good measure to evaluate the welfare of animals and the level of risk perception towards anthropogenic disturbances, including trophy hunting. The study used linear mixed models to assess the flight responses of twelve commonly hunted species in the Selous game reserve (S.G.R.). The study compared animal vigilance between species, vegetation types, and group size. The FID varied between species, with which more vigilance was observed in zebras, elands, wildebeests, and sable antelopes. The study found a significant influence of vegetation cover on individual species’ FID. Further, the study found a significant influence of group size on animals’ vigilance (L. M. M., 95% CI = 0.590 - 4.762), in which there was a decrease in FID with an increase in group size for wildebeests. At the same time, other species, such as buffaloes, eland, hartebeests, and zebras, had their FIDs increasing with the increase in group size. We conclude that the impact of trophy hunting on savannah ungulates varies between species, vegetation covers, and group size of individual species. Regulatory authorities should consider minimum approach distances by trophy hunters in different vegetation cover to reduce animal biological disturbances.
