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Sharon Gursky - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Predation experiments on infant spectral tarsiers (Tarsius spectrum).
Folia Primatologica, 2003Co-Authors: Sharon GurskyAbstract:In this paper, I investigate how mother and infant spectral tarsiers, Tarsius spectrum, respond to the presence of potential predators. I conducted this study at Tangkoko Nature Reserve in Sulawesi, Indonesia, from June to November 1999. I exposed 2 infants to 3 types of potential predators (large models of Birds of Prey, large rubber snakes and the vocalizations of large Birds of Prey) for a total of 18 nights. Infants moved a greater distance from their parked location when exposed to rubber snakes (1.8 m) compared to nights when they were not exposed to potential predators (0.23 m). On the other hand, when large Bird of Prey models were placed near the parked infant, the infant did not move from its parked locale (0.05 m). Parked infants repeatedly gave alarm calls in response to the presentation of all potential predator types. When an infant produced an alarm call following the presentation of a potential predator, the mother responded with her own alarm call approximately 88% of the time. However, when an infant produced an inappropriate alarm call, the mother responded with her own alarm call only 19% of the time. These results suggest that spectral tarsier infants use alarm calls to ask questions about the things they encounter in their environment. Infants and mothers both produced a twittering alarm call in response to the Bird of Prey models, whereas they both produced a harsh loud call 3 times in rapid succession in response to the presence of the rubber snakes.
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determinants of gregariousness in the spectral tarsier prosimian tarsius spectrum
Journal of Zoology, 2002Co-Authors: Sharon GurskyAbstract:Interspecific comparisons of mammals and primates suggest that the major determinants of gregarious behaviour are the distribution of food resources in space and time, predation pressure and infanticide avoidance. This study of gregarious behaviour in the spectral tarsier Tarsius spectrum at Tangkoko Nature Reserve, Sulawesi Indonesia suggests that all three may be important in understanding the relatively gregarious nature of spectral tarsiers. To test whether predation pressure was the major determinant of sociality for this species, I mimicked predation pressure by using predator models and playback predator vocalizations. In response to increased predation pressure from rubber models of snakes, the family group was observed mobbing the ‘predator’. On the other hand, when plastic Bird of Prey models were placed throughout the tarsier's territory the adult group members often increased their distance from one another. No significant response was made by the spectral tarsiers in response to playbacks of predator vocalizations. To test whether infanticide avoidance was the major determinant of sociality for this species, I compared the distance between adult males and females for three reproductive phases. When adult females were lactating, adult males were observed to decrease the distance between themselves and the adult female, while the female often attempted to increase the distance. However, groups containing either a pregnant female or a non-reproductive (cycling) female did not differ in their gregariousness. To explore whether the temporal distribution of resources was the major determinant of sociality in spectral tarsiers I collected insects hourly. The diet of spectral tarsiers is restricted to insects. Distance between group members closely followed hourly and monthly changes in insect abundance. During hours when abundance was high, distance between group members decreased and vice versa. Additional long-term and more fine-grained data need to be collected to ascertain the relative importance of resources, predators and infanticide in determining sociality in the spectral tarsier.
Dariusz Anderwald - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Allelic diversity and selection at the MHC class I and class II in a bottlenecked Bird of Prey, the White-tailed Eagle
BMC Evolutionary Biology, 2019Co-Authors: Piotr Minias, Ewa Pikus, Dariusz AnderwaldAbstract:Background Genes of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) are essential for adaptive immune response in vertebrates, as they encode receptors that recognize peptides derived from the processing of intracellular (MHC class I) and extracellular (MHC class II) pathogens. High MHC diversity in natural populations is primarily generated and maintained by pathogen-mediated diversifying and balancing selection. It is, however, debated whether selection at the MHC can counterbalance the effects of drift in bottlenecked populations. The aim of this study was to assess allelic diversity of MHC genes in a recently bottlenecked Bird of Prey, the White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla , as well as to compare mechanisms that shaped the evolution of MHC class I and class II in this species. Results We showed that significant levels of MHC diversity were retained in the core Central European (Polish) population of White-tailed Eagles. Ten MHC class I and 17 MHC class II alleles were recovered in total and individual Birds showed high average MHC diversity (3.80 and 6.48 MHC class I and class II alleles per individual, respectively). Distribution of alleles within individuals provided evidence for the presence of at least three class I and five class II loci the White-tailed Eagle, which suggests recent duplication events. MHC class II showed greater sequence polymorphism than MHC class I and there was much stronger signature of diversifying selection acting on MHC class II than class I. Phylogenetic analysis provided evidence for trans-species similarity of class II, but not class I, sequences, which is likely consistent with stronger balancing selection at MHC class II. Conclusions Relatively high MHC diversity retained in the White-tailed Eagles from northern Poland reinforces high conservation value of local eagle populations. At the same time, our study is the first to demonstrate contrasting patterns of allelic diversity and selection at MHC class I and class II in an accipitrid species, supporting the hypothesis that different mechanisms can shape evolutionary trajectories of MHC class I and class II genes.
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allelic diversity and selection at the mhc class i and class ii in a bottlenecked Bird of Prey the white tailed eagle
BMC Evolutionary Biology, 2019Co-Authors: Piotr Minias, Ewa Pikus, Dariusz AnderwaldAbstract:Genes of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) are essential for adaptive immune response in vertebrates, as they encode receptors that recognize peptides derived from the processing of intracellular (MHC class I) and extracellular (MHC class II) pathogens. High MHC diversity in natural populations is primarily generated and maintained by pathogen-mediated diversifying and balancing selection. It is, however, debated whether selection at the MHC can counterbalance the effects of drift in bottlenecked populations. The aim of this study was to assess allelic diversity of MHC genes in a recently bottlenecked Bird of Prey, the White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla, as well as to compare mechanisms that shaped the evolution of MHC class I and class II in this species. We showed that significant levels of MHC diversity were retained in the core Central European (Polish) population of White-tailed Eagles. Ten MHC class I and 17 MHC class II alleles were recovered in total and individual Birds showed high average MHC diversity (3.80 and 6.48 MHC class I and class II alleles per individual, respectively). Distribution of alleles within individuals provided evidence for the presence of at least three class I and five class II loci the White-tailed Eagle, which suggests recent duplication events. MHC class II showed greater sequence polymorphism than MHC class I and there was much stronger signature of diversifying selection acting on MHC class II than class I. Phylogenetic analysis provided evidence for trans-species similarity of class II, but not class I, sequences, which is likely consistent with stronger balancing selection at MHC class II. Relatively high MHC diversity retained in the White-tailed Eagles from northern Poland reinforces high conservation value of local eagle populations. At the same time, our study is the first to demonstrate contrasting patterns of allelic diversity and selection at MHC class I and class II in an accipitrid species, supporting the hypothesis that different mechanisms can shape evolutionary trajectories of MHC class I and class II genes.
Vincent Bretagnolle - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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phenotypic variation in nestlings of a Bird of Prey under contrasting breeding and diet conditions
Biological Journal of The Linnean Society, 2012Co-Authors: Audrey Sternalski, Francois Mougeot, Vincent BretagnolleAbstract:Environmental conditions often vary in space and time, and this may explain variation in the expression of phenotypic traits related to individual quality, such as ornamental coloration. Furthermore, the direction and strength of the relationship between coloured trait expression and individual quality might vary under contrasting conditions. These issues have been explored in adult Birds but much less so in nestlings, which are more likely to experience different selective pressures and different physiological trade-offs than adults. Here, we empirically investigated the effects of contrasting breeding and diet conditions on the expression of carotenoid-based colour traits displayed by marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus) nestlings. We studied the variation in coloration, body condition, and immune responsiveness of nestlings in four populations over a 5-year period. We characterized spatiotemporal differences in rearing conditions experienced by C. aeruginosus nestlings in terms of breeding (laying date, clutch size, and number of nestlings hatched and fledged) and diet (percentage of mammal in diet and Prey diversity) conditions. We found that breeding conditions influenced the co-variation between coloration and immune responsiveness in female nestlings, and that diet conditions influenced the condition-dependence of nestling coloration in later-hatched nestlings. In addition, breeding conditions influenced nestling body condition and immune responsiveness, whereas diet conditions influenced nestling coloration and body condition. Our study highlights that nestling phenotype (levels of signalling, circulating carotenoids, and immunity) varies both spatially and temporally, and that some of this variation is related to differences in breeding and diet conditions. Moreover, under contrasting conditions, the direction of the relationships between nestling carotenoid-based coloration and nestling quality may also vary. In order to fully understand the evolution and maintenance of colour traits in nestling Birds, studies and experiments should ideally be replicated under contrasting rearing conditions. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, ••, ••–••.
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Carotenoid-Based Coloration, Condition, and Immune Responsiveness in the Nestlings of a Sexually Dimorphic Bird of Prey.
Physiological and Biochemical Zoology, 2012Co-Authors: Audrey Sternalski, Francois Mougeot, Lorenzo Pérez-rodríguez, Vincent BretagnolleAbstract:Abstract In many Birds, nestlings exhibit brightly colored traits that are pigmented by carotenoids. Carotenoids are diet limited and also serve important health-related physiological functions. The proximate mechanisms behind the expression of these carotenoid-pigmented traits are still poorly known, especially in nestlings with sexual size dimorphism. In these nestlings, intrabrood competition levels and growth strategies likely differ between sexes, and this may in turn influence carotenoid allocation rules. We used dietary carotenoid supplementation to test whether wild marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus) nestlings were carotenoid limited and whether carotenoid allocation strategies varied between sexes, which differ in their size and growth strategies. When supplemented, nestlings used the supplemental carotenoids to increase their coloration independently of their sex. We showed that the condition dependence of the carotenoid level and the response to an immune challenge (phytohemagglutinin test) differed between sexes, possibly because sexual size dimorphism influences growth strategies and/or intrabrood competition levels and access to different types of food. In this species, which often feeds on mammals, a trade-off likely exists between food quantity (energy) and quality (carotenoid content). Finally, carotenoid-based coloration expressed in marsh harrier nestlings appeared to be indicative of immune responsiveness rather than condition, therefore potentially advertising to parents nestling quality or value rather than nutritional need.
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carotenoid based coloration condition and immune responsiveness in the nestlings of a sexually dimorphic Bird of Prey
Physiological and Biochemical Zoology, 2012Co-Authors: Audrey Sternalski, Francois Mougeot, Lorenzo Perezrodriguez, Vincent BretagnolleAbstract:AbstractIn many Birds, nestlings exhibit brightly colored traits that are pigmented by carotenoids. Carotenoids are diet limited and also serve important health-related physiological functions. The proximate mechanisms behind the expression of these carotenoid-pigmented traits are still poorly known, especially in nestlings with sexual size dimorphism. In these nestlings, intrabrood competition levels and growth strategies likely differ between sexes, and this may in turn influence carotenoid allocation rules. We used dietary carotenoid supplementation to test whether wild marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus) nestlings were carotenoid limited and whether carotenoid allocation strategies varied between sexes, which differ in their size and growth strategies. When supplemented, nestlings used the supplemental carotenoids to increase their coloration independently of their sex. We showed that the condition dependence of the carotenoid level and the response to an immune challenge (phytohemagglutinin test) diff...
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adaptive significance of permanent female mimicry in a Bird of Prey
Biology Letters, 2012Co-Authors: Audrey Sternalski, Francois Mougeot, Vincent BretagnolleAbstract:Permanent female mimicry, in which adult males express a female phenotype, is known only from two Bird species. A likely benefit of female mimicry is reduced intrasexual competition, allowing female-like males to access breeding resources while avoiding costly fights with typical territorial males. We tested this hypothesis in a population of marsh harriers Circus aeruginosus in which approximately 40 per cent of sexually mature males exhibit a permanent, i.e. lifelong, female plumage phenotype. Using simulated territorial intrusions, we measured aggressive responses of breeding males towards conspecific decoys of females, female-like males and typical males. We show that aggressive responses varied with both the type of decoys and the type of defending male. Typical males were aggressive towards typical male decoys more than they were towards female-like male decoys; female-like male decoys were attacked at a rate similar to that of female decoys. By contrast, female-like males tolerated male decoys (both typical and female-like) and directed their aggression towards female decoys. Thus, agonistic responses were intrasexual in typical males but intersexual in female-like males, indicating that the latter not only look like females but also behave like them when defending breeding resources. When intrasexual aggression is high, permanent female mimicry is arguably adaptive and could be seen as a permanent ‘non-aggression pact’ with other males.
Audrey Sternalski - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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phenotypic variation in nestlings of a Bird of Prey under contrasting breeding and diet conditions
Biological Journal of The Linnean Society, 2012Co-Authors: Audrey Sternalski, Francois Mougeot, Vincent BretagnolleAbstract:Environmental conditions often vary in space and time, and this may explain variation in the expression of phenotypic traits related to individual quality, such as ornamental coloration. Furthermore, the direction and strength of the relationship between coloured trait expression and individual quality might vary under contrasting conditions. These issues have been explored in adult Birds but much less so in nestlings, which are more likely to experience different selective pressures and different physiological trade-offs than adults. Here, we empirically investigated the effects of contrasting breeding and diet conditions on the expression of carotenoid-based colour traits displayed by marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus) nestlings. We studied the variation in coloration, body condition, and immune responsiveness of nestlings in four populations over a 5-year period. We characterized spatiotemporal differences in rearing conditions experienced by C. aeruginosus nestlings in terms of breeding (laying date, clutch size, and number of nestlings hatched and fledged) and diet (percentage of mammal in diet and Prey diversity) conditions. We found that breeding conditions influenced the co-variation between coloration and immune responsiveness in female nestlings, and that diet conditions influenced the condition-dependence of nestling coloration in later-hatched nestlings. In addition, breeding conditions influenced nestling body condition and immune responsiveness, whereas diet conditions influenced nestling coloration and body condition. Our study highlights that nestling phenotype (levels of signalling, circulating carotenoids, and immunity) varies both spatially and temporally, and that some of this variation is related to differences in breeding and diet conditions. Moreover, under contrasting conditions, the direction of the relationships between nestling carotenoid-based coloration and nestling quality may also vary. In order to fully understand the evolution and maintenance of colour traits in nestling Birds, studies and experiments should ideally be replicated under contrasting rearing conditions. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, ••, ••–••.
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Carotenoid-Based Coloration, Condition, and Immune Responsiveness in the Nestlings of a Sexually Dimorphic Bird of Prey.
Physiological and Biochemical Zoology, 2012Co-Authors: Audrey Sternalski, Francois Mougeot, Lorenzo Pérez-rodríguez, Vincent BretagnolleAbstract:Abstract In many Birds, nestlings exhibit brightly colored traits that are pigmented by carotenoids. Carotenoids are diet limited and also serve important health-related physiological functions. The proximate mechanisms behind the expression of these carotenoid-pigmented traits are still poorly known, especially in nestlings with sexual size dimorphism. In these nestlings, intrabrood competition levels and growth strategies likely differ between sexes, and this may in turn influence carotenoid allocation rules. We used dietary carotenoid supplementation to test whether wild marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus) nestlings were carotenoid limited and whether carotenoid allocation strategies varied between sexes, which differ in their size and growth strategies. When supplemented, nestlings used the supplemental carotenoids to increase their coloration independently of their sex. We showed that the condition dependence of the carotenoid level and the response to an immune challenge (phytohemagglutinin test) differed between sexes, possibly because sexual size dimorphism influences growth strategies and/or intrabrood competition levels and access to different types of food. In this species, which often feeds on mammals, a trade-off likely exists between food quantity (energy) and quality (carotenoid content). Finally, carotenoid-based coloration expressed in marsh harrier nestlings appeared to be indicative of immune responsiveness rather than condition, therefore potentially advertising to parents nestling quality or value rather than nutritional need.
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carotenoid based coloration condition and immune responsiveness in the nestlings of a sexually dimorphic Bird of Prey
Physiological and Biochemical Zoology, 2012Co-Authors: Audrey Sternalski, Francois Mougeot, Lorenzo Perezrodriguez, Vincent BretagnolleAbstract:AbstractIn many Birds, nestlings exhibit brightly colored traits that are pigmented by carotenoids. Carotenoids are diet limited and also serve important health-related physiological functions. The proximate mechanisms behind the expression of these carotenoid-pigmented traits are still poorly known, especially in nestlings with sexual size dimorphism. In these nestlings, intrabrood competition levels and growth strategies likely differ between sexes, and this may in turn influence carotenoid allocation rules. We used dietary carotenoid supplementation to test whether wild marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus) nestlings were carotenoid limited and whether carotenoid allocation strategies varied between sexes, which differ in their size and growth strategies. When supplemented, nestlings used the supplemental carotenoids to increase their coloration independently of their sex. We showed that the condition dependence of the carotenoid level and the response to an immune challenge (phytohemagglutinin test) diff...
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adaptive significance of permanent female mimicry in a Bird of Prey
Biology Letters, 2012Co-Authors: Audrey Sternalski, Francois Mougeot, Vincent BretagnolleAbstract:Permanent female mimicry, in which adult males express a female phenotype, is known only from two Bird species. A likely benefit of female mimicry is reduced intrasexual competition, allowing female-like males to access breeding resources while avoiding costly fights with typical territorial males. We tested this hypothesis in a population of marsh harriers Circus aeruginosus in which approximately 40 per cent of sexually mature males exhibit a permanent, i.e. lifelong, female plumage phenotype. Using simulated territorial intrusions, we measured aggressive responses of breeding males towards conspecific decoys of females, female-like males and typical males. We show that aggressive responses varied with both the type of decoys and the type of defending male. Typical males were aggressive towards typical male decoys more than they were towards female-like male decoys; female-like male decoys were attacked at a rate similar to that of female decoys. By contrast, female-like males tolerated male decoys (both typical and female-like) and directed their aggression towards female decoys. Thus, agonistic responses were intrasexual in typical males but intersexual in female-like males, indicating that the latter not only look like females but also behave like them when defending breeding resources. When intrasexual aggression is high, permanent female mimicry is arguably adaptive and could be seen as a permanent ‘non-aggression pact’ with other males.
Piotr Minias - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Allelic diversity and selection at the MHC class I and class II in a bottlenecked Bird of Prey, the White-tailed Eagle
BMC Evolutionary Biology, 2019Co-Authors: Piotr Minias, Ewa Pikus, Dariusz AnderwaldAbstract:Background Genes of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) are essential for adaptive immune response in vertebrates, as they encode receptors that recognize peptides derived from the processing of intracellular (MHC class I) and extracellular (MHC class II) pathogens. High MHC diversity in natural populations is primarily generated and maintained by pathogen-mediated diversifying and balancing selection. It is, however, debated whether selection at the MHC can counterbalance the effects of drift in bottlenecked populations. The aim of this study was to assess allelic diversity of MHC genes in a recently bottlenecked Bird of Prey, the White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla , as well as to compare mechanisms that shaped the evolution of MHC class I and class II in this species. Results We showed that significant levels of MHC diversity were retained in the core Central European (Polish) population of White-tailed Eagles. Ten MHC class I and 17 MHC class II alleles were recovered in total and individual Birds showed high average MHC diversity (3.80 and 6.48 MHC class I and class II alleles per individual, respectively). Distribution of alleles within individuals provided evidence for the presence of at least three class I and five class II loci the White-tailed Eagle, which suggests recent duplication events. MHC class II showed greater sequence polymorphism than MHC class I and there was much stronger signature of diversifying selection acting on MHC class II than class I. Phylogenetic analysis provided evidence for trans-species similarity of class II, but not class I, sequences, which is likely consistent with stronger balancing selection at MHC class II. Conclusions Relatively high MHC diversity retained in the White-tailed Eagles from northern Poland reinforces high conservation value of local eagle populations. At the same time, our study is the first to demonstrate contrasting patterns of allelic diversity and selection at MHC class I and class II in an accipitrid species, supporting the hypothesis that different mechanisms can shape evolutionary trajectories of MHC class I and class II genes.
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allelic diversity and selection at the mhc class i and class ii in a bottlenecked Bird of Prey the white tailed eagle
BMC Evolutionary Biology, 2019Co-Authors: Piotr Minias, Ewa Pikus, Dariusz AnderwaldAbstract:Genes of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) are essential for adaptive immune response in vertebrates, as they encode receptors that recognize peptides derived from the processing of intracellular (MHC class I) and extracellular (MHC class II) pathogens. High MHC diversity in natural populations is primarily generated and maintained by pathogen-mediated diversifying and balancing selection. It is, however, debated whether selection at the MHC can counterbalance the effects of drift in bottlenecked populations. The aim of this study was to assess allelic diversity of MHC genes in a recently bottlenecked Bird of Prey, the White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla, as well as to compare mechanisms that shaped the evolution of MHC class I and class II in this species. We showed that significant levels of MHC diversity were retained in the core Central European (Polish) population of White-tailed Eagles. Ten MHC class I and 17 MHC class II alleles were recovered in total and individual Birds showed high average MHC diversity (3.80 and 6.48 MHC class I and class II alleles per individual, respectively). Distribution of alleles within individuals provided evidence for the presence of at least three class I and five class II loci the White-tailed Eagle, which suggests recent duplication events. MHC class II showed greater sequence polymorphism than MHC class I and there was much stronger signature of diversifying selection acting on MHC class II than class I. Phylogenetic analysis provided evidence for trans-species similarity of class II, but not class I, sequences, which is likely consistent with stronger balancing selection at MHC class II. Relatively high MHC diversity retained in the White-tailed Eagles from northern Poland reinforces high conservation value of local eagle populations. At the same time, our study is the first to demonstrate contrasting patterns of allelic diversity and selection at MHC class I and class II in an accipitrid species, supporting the hypothesis that different mechanisms can shape evolutionary trajectories of MHC class I and class II genes.