Reproductive success in the Lusitanian toadfish: Influence of calling activity, male quality and experimental design

2016 ◽  
Vol 155 ◽  
pp. 17-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Clara P. Amorim ◽  
Carlotta Conti ◽  
Carla Sousa-Santos ◽  
Bruno Novais ◽  
Maria D. Gouveia ◽  
...  
Behaviour ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 148 (11-13) ◽  
pp. 1372-1392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice U. Edler ◽  
Thomas W.P. Friedl

AbstractThe role of bright plumage colouration for female choice has been the focus of research in sexual selection for many years, with several studies showing that females prefer the most elaborately ornamented males, which are often also the highest quality individuals. Here, we analysed the associations between reproductive performance and plumage, body condition and blood parasite load in the red bishop (Euplectes orix), a sexually dimorphic and polygynous weaverbird species, where males in a carotenoid-based orange-to-red breeding plumage defend territories and build many nests to which they try to attract females. Male reproductive success in terms of number of nests accepted was mainly determined by the number of nests built, but was also positively related to blood parasite load, while we found no influence of plumage characteristics. Together with previously obtained data, our results indicate that plumage characteristics in the red bishop do not affect male reproductive success and are generally not suitable to reliably indicate male quality. We suggest that the primary function of the brilliant orange-scarlet breeding plumage might be presence signalling in terms of increasing conspicuousness of breeding males to females searching for mates.


1993 ◽  
Vol 71 (5) ◽  
pp. 1059-1061 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew G. Horn ◽  
Thomas E. Dickinson ◽  
J. Bruce Falls

The relationship between song repertoire size and measures of male quality and reproductive success was examined in a Manitoba population of western meadowlarks (Sturnella neglecta). Repertoire size correlated positively with the singer's wing length but not with mass or territory size. Males with larger repertoires tended to pair earlier and males with higher pairing success had larger repertoires. Repertoire size correlated positively with fledging success independently of pairing success. As suggested for other species, repertoire size might serve as a signal to females of male quality. We suggest mechanisms by which this signalling system is maintained.


2006 ◽  
Vol 274 (1608) ◽  
pp. 425-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christophe Eizaguirre ◽  
David Laloi ◽  
Manuel Massot ◽  
Murielle Richard ◽  
Pierre Federici ◽  
...  

Species in which males do not contribute to reproduction beyond the provision of sperm offer good opportunities to study the potential genetic benefits that females can obtain from polyandry. Here, we report the results of a study examining the relationships between polyandry and components of female fitness in the common lizard ( Lacerta vivipara ). We found that polyandrous females produce larger clutches than monandrous females. Polyandrous females also lose fewer offspring during the later stages of gestation and at birth, but we did not find any relationship between polyandry and physical characteristics of viable neonates. Our results were consistent with the predictions of the intrinsic male quality hypothesis, while inbreeding avoidance and genetic incompatibility avoidance might also explain some part of the variation observed in clutch size. Moreover, the benefits of polyandry appeared to depend on female characteristics, as revealed by an interaction between reproductive strategy and female length on reproductive success. Thus, all females did not benefit equally from mating with multiple males, which could explain why polyandry and monandry coexist.


2018 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Ji Ma

AbstractGiven the many types of suboptimality in perception, I ask how one should test for multiple forms of suboptimality at the same time – or, more generally, how one should compare process models that can differ in any or all of the multiple components. In analogy to factorial experimental design, I advocate for factorial model comparison.


2019 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Alfredo Blakeley-Ruiz ◽  
Carlee S. McClintock ◽  
Ralph Lydic ◽  
Helen A. Baghdoyan ◽  
James J. Choo ◽  
...  

Abstract The Hooks et al. review of microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) literature provides a constructive criticism of the general approaches encompassing MGB research. This commentary extends their review by: (a) highlighting capabilities of advanced systems-biology “-omics” techniques for microbiome research and (b) recommending that combining these high-resolution techniques with intervention-based experimental design may be the path forward for future MGB research.


1978 ◽  
Vol 48 ◽  
pp. 7-29
Author(s):  
T. E. Lutz

This review paper deals with the use of statistical methods to evaluate systematic and random errors associated with trigonometric parallaxes. First, systematic errors which arise when using trigonometric parallaxes to calibrate luminosity systems are discussed. Next, determination of the external errors of parallax measurement are reviewed. Observatory corrections are discussed. Schilt’s point, that as the causes of these systematic differences between observatories are not known the computed corrections can not be applied appropriately, is emphasized. However, modern parallax work is sufficiently accurate that it is necessary to determine observatory corrections if full use is to be made of the potential precision of the data. To this end, it is suggested that a prior experimental design is required. Past experience has shown that accidental overlap of observing programs will not suffice to determine observatory corrections which are meaningful.


2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 109-113
Author(s):  
Karen Copple ◽  
Rajinder Koul ◽  
Devender Banda ◽  
Ellen Frye

Abstract One of the instructional techniques reported in the literature to teach communication skills to persons with autism is video modeling (VM). VM is a form of observational learning that involves watching and imitating the desired target behavior(s) exhibited by the person on the videotape. VM has been used to teach a variety of social and communicative behaviors to persons with developmental disabilities such as autism. In this paper, we describe the VM technique and summarize the results of two single-subject experimental design studies that investigated the acquisition of spontaneous requesting skills using a speech generating device (SGD) by persons with autism following a VM intervention. The results of these two studies indicate that a VM treatment package that includes a SGD as one of its components can be effective in facilitating communication in individuals with autism who have little or no functional speech.


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