scholarly journals Dynamic networks of fighting and mating in a wild cricket population

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
David N. Fisher ◽  
Rolando Rodríguez-Muñoz ◽  
Tom Tregenza
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Mating Success ◽  
Dynamic Networks ◽  
Interaction Network ◽  
Spatial Proximity ◽  
Structure Changes ◽  
Animal Populations ◽  
Mating Interaction ◽  
Close Spatial Proximity ◽  
Changes Over Time

AbstractReproductive success is often highly skewed in animal populations. Yet the processes leading to this are not always clear. Similarly, connections in animal social networks are often non-randomly distributed, with some individuals with many connections and others with few, yet whether there are simple explanations for this pattern has not been determined. Numerous social interactions involve dyads embedded within a wider network. As a result, it may be possible to model which individuals accumulate social interaction through a more general understanding of the social network’s structure, and how this structure changes over time. We analysed fighting and mating interactions across the breeding season in a population of wild field crickets under surveillance from a network of video cameras. We fitted stochastic actor-oriented models to determine the dynamic process by which networks of cricket fighting and mating interactions form, and how they co-influence each other. We found crickets tended to fight those in close spatial proximity to them, and those possessing a mutual connection in the fighting network, and heavier crickets fought more often. We also found that crickets who mate with many others tended to fight less in the following time period. This demonstrates that a mixture of spatial constraints, characteristics of individuals and characteristics of the immediate social environment are key for determining social interactions. The mating interaction network required very few parameters to understand its growth and so structure; only homophily by mating success was required to simulate the skew of mating interactions seen in this population. This demonstrates that relatively simple, but dynamic processes can give highly skewed distributions of mating success.

Ontogeny of spatial relationships and social behaviour in juvenile Richardson's ground squirrels

1981 ◽  
Vol 59 (9) ◽  
pp. 1666-1676 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gail R. Michener
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Social Behaviour ◽  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Spatial Proximity ◽  
Family Unit ◽  
Social Patterns ◽  
Rapid Acquisition ◽  
The Family ◽  
Core Areas ◽  
Close Spatial Proximity

The development of spatial and social patterns by juvenile Richardson's ground squirrels, from first emergence from the natal burrow to entry into hibernation, is described. Juveniles enter the aboveground population at [Formula: see text] weeks of age. During the next 4 weeks juveniles remain in close spatial proximity to family members with whom they engage in frequent amicable social interactions. Thereafter, juveniles become increasingly independent from the family unit, establishing their own spatially distinct core areas and exhibiting site-dependent dominance toward nonkin. Typically juveniles remain physically closer to and more amicable with littermates and mother than other conspecifics such that they compose kin clusters, the members of which are agonistic toward members of adjacent kin clusters. Daughters are more likely to continue to reside close to kin as adults than are sons. At 9–10 weeks of age juveniles exhibit the majority of spatial and social patterns characteristic of adults, and at 12 weeks they are behaviourally indistinguishable from adults. Similar rapid acquisition of adult patterns occurs in four other species of ground-dwelling sciurids that are also obligate hibernators and that breed immediately following emergence from their first hibernation.

scholarly journals Involvement of loop 5 lysine residues and the N-terminal β-hairpin of the ribotoxin hirsutellin A on its insecticidal activity

2016 ◽  
Vol 397 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miriam Olombrada ◽  
Lucía García-Ortega ◽  
Javier Lacadena ◽  
Mercedes Oñaderra ◽  
José G. Gavilanes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Active Sites ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
The Other ◽  
Spatial Proximity ◽  
Ribonucleolytic Activity ◽  
The Family ◽  
Lysine Residues ◽  
Hirsutella Thompsonii ◽  
Close Spatial Proximity ◽  
High Degree

Abstract Ribotoxins are cytotoxic members of the family of fungal extracellular ribonucleases best represented by RNase T1. They share a high degree of sequence identity and a common structural fold, including the geometric arrangement of their active sites. However, ribotoxins are larger, with a well-defined N-terminal β-hairpin, and display longer and positively charged unstructured loops. These structural differences account for their cytotoxic properties. Unexpectedly, the discovery of hirsutellin A (HtA), a ribotoxin produced by the invertebrate pathogen Hirsutella thompsonii, showed how it was possible to accommodate these features into a shorter amino acid sequence. Examination of HtA N-terminal β-hairpin reveals differences in terms of length, charge, and spatial distribution. Consequently, four different HtA mutants were prepared and characterized. One of them was the result of deleting this hairpin [Δ(8-15)] while the other three affected single Lys residues in its close spatial proximity (K115E, K118E, and K123E). The results obtained support the general conclusion that HtA active site would show a high degree of plasticity, being able to accommodate electrostatic and structural changes not suitable for the other previously known larger ribotoxins, as the variants described here only presented small differences in terms of ribonucleolytic activity and cytotoxicity against cultured insect cells.

scholarly journals ‘They Eat Potatoes, I Eat Rice’: Symbolic Boundary Making and Space in Neighbour Relations

2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 22-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gwen Van Eijk
Keyword(s):  
Personal Information ◽  
Spatial Proximity ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Symbolic Boundaries ◽  
Personal Privacy ◽  
Social Mixing ◽  
Boundary Making ◽  
Close Spatial Proximity ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Symbolic Boundary

This article examines ‘neighbouring’ as the setting in which cross-category relations develop and symbolic boundaries are constructed. The study is based on thirty in-depth interviews with residents living in a multi-ethnic and a mono-ethnic neighbourhood in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The findings challenge the hoped-for outcomes of social mixing in neighbourhoods, as well as the view that boundary making is something inherent to multi-ethnic neighbourhoods only. Neighbour relations are often setting-specific (relations are interchangeable, scripted and bounded, and passively maintained), which is relevant for understanding the spatiality of neighbouring and the limited exchange of personal information between neighbours. Because neighbouring involves the balancing of personal privacy and close spatial proximity, the exchange of personal information is limited, while spatial proximity ensures easy access to observable (through seeing, hearing and smelling) categorical markers that signify class, ethnicity, lifestyle, etc. In this way, neighbour interaction reconstructs symbolic boundaries rather than breaking them down.

scholarly journals Researches on Rheological Characteristics of Dough of Wheat Flour and their Changes During Storage

2011 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gheorghe CONSTANTIN ◽  
Gheorghe VOICU ◽  
Carmen Otilia RUSĂNESCU ◽  
Elena Mădălina ŞTEFAN
Keyword(s):  
Absorption Capacity ◽  
Rheological Characteristics ◽  
Gluten Strength ◽  
Structure Changes ◽  
Degree Of Stability ◽  
Laboratory Device ◽  
Brabender Farinograph ◽  
Changes Over Time ◽  
Dough Development Time

In this paper, rheological characteristics of flour are determined with Brabender farinograph. Brabender Farinograph is the most widely used laboratory device to evaluate the quality of flour, in batter, with which the rheological characteristics of flour is determined by measuring and recording gluten strength and endurance. With farinograph records the dough structure changes over time and obtaining data about: Absorption of flour, flour power (its ability to form a dough with rheological properties appropriate to flow operations technology), forming time of the dough, the degree of stability and soaking, the consistency of dough during this time. Analyzing the data presented on farinograph curves, were extracted the values of the dough development time (min), stability (min), softening degree (FU), consistency (FU), the absorption capacity of flour (%) farinograph index of the dough ..

scholarly journals Adenine DNA methylation, 3D genome organization, and gene expression in the parasiteTrichomonas vaginalis

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (23) ◽  
pp. 13033-13043
Author(s):  
Ayelen Lizarraga ◽  
Zach Klapholz O’Brown ◽  
Konstantinos Boulias ◽  
Lara Roach ◽  
Eric Lieberman Greer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Trichomonas Vaginalis ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Wide Distribution ◽  
Spatial Proximity ◽  
Regulation Of Transcription ◽  
3D Genome ◽  
Intergenic Regions ◽  
Close Spatial Proximity

Trichomonas vaginalisis a common sexually transmitted parasite that colonizes the human urogenital tract causing infections that range from asymptomatic to highly inflammatory. Recent works have highlighted the importance of histone modifications in the regulation of transcription and parasite pathogenesis. However, the nature of DNA methylation in the parasite remains unexplored. Using a combination of immunological techniques and ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC), we analyzed the abundance of DNA methylation in strains with differential pathogenicity demonstrating that N6-methyladenine (6mA), and not 5‐methylcytosine (5mC), is the main DNA methylation mark inT. vaginalis. Genome-wide distribution of 6mA reveals that this mark is enriched at intergenic regions, with a preference for certain superfamilies of DNA transposable elements. We show that 6mA inT. vaginalisis associated with silencing when present on genes. Interestingly, bioinformatics analysis revealed the presence of transcriptionally active or repressive intervals flanked by 6mA-enriched regions, and results from chromatin conformation capture (3C) experiments suggest these 6mA flanked regions are in close spatial proximity. These associations were disrupted when parasites were treated with the demethylation activator ascorbic acid. This finding revealed a role for 6mA in modulating three-dimensional (3D) chromatin structure and gene expression in this divergent member of the Excavata.

Spatiotemporal factors influence sound-source segregation in localization behavior

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guus Christian van Bentum ◽  
Marc Mathijs van Wanrooij ◽  
A. John Van Opstal
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Order ◽  
Weighted Average ◽  
Spatial Separation ◽  
Stimulus Location ◽  
Spatial Proximity ◽  
Sound Source Segregation ◽  
Close Spatial Proximity ◽  
Inhibitory Interactions ◽  
Localization Behavior ◽  
Sensorimotor Map

To program a goal-directed response in the presence of acoustic reflections, the audio-motor system should suppress the detection of time-delayed sources. We examined the effects of spatial separation and inter-stimulus delay on the ability of human listeners to localize a pair of broadband sounds in the horizontal plane. Participants indicated how many sounds were heard and where these were perceived by making one or two head-orienting localization responses. Results suggest that perceptual fusion of the two sounds depends on delay and spatial separation. Leading and lagging stimuli in close spatial proximity required longer stimulus delays to be perceptually separated than those further apart. Whenever participants heard one sound, their localization responses for synchronous sounds were oriented to a weighted average of both source locations. For short delays, responses were directed towards the leading stimulus location. Increasing spatial separation enhanced this effect. For longer delays, responses were again directed towards a weighted average. When participants perceived two sounds, the first and the second response were directed to either of the leading and lagging source locations. Perceived locations were interchanged often in their temporal order (in ~40% of trials). We show that the percept of two sounds occurring requires sufficient spatiotemporal separation, after which localization can be performed with high accuracy. We propose that the percept of temporal order of two concurrent sounds results from a different process than localization, and discuss how dynamic lateral excitatory-inhibitory interactions within a spatial sensorimotor map could explain the findings.

Engaging a community through social media-based topics and interactions

First Monday ◽  
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea L. Kavanaugh ◽  
Ziqian Song
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Community Involvement ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Geographic Area ◽  
Web Pages ◽  
Social Graphs ◽  
Changes Over Time ◽  
Small Clusters ◽  
Over Time

Social media collected over time using keywords, hashtags and accounts associated with a particular geographic community might reflect that community’s main events, topics of discussion, and social interactions. We are interested in evidence for the support of community involvement that the aggregated Web pages and social media might help to create. We collected and analyzed Twitter data related to a geographic area over a two-year period to identify and characterize relevant topics and social interactions, and to evaluate the support for community involvement that such Twitter use might indicate. This kind of data collection has built-in biases, of course, just as local print media or online newsgroups do. We analyzed our data using the open source tool NodeXL to identify topics and their changes over time, and to create social graphs based on retweets and @ mentions that suggest interactions around topics. Our findings show: 1) distinct topics; 2) large and small clusters of social interactions around a variety of topics; 3) patterns suggesting what are called ‘community clusters’ and ‘tight crowd’ types of conversations; and, 4) evidence that Twitter supports local community involvement among users. Modeling topics over time and displaying visualizations of social interactions around different topics in a community can offer insights into the important events and issues during a given period. Such visualizations also reveal hidden (or obscure) topics due to a smaller number of participants — whether government representatives, voluntary associations, or citizens. There is clear evidence that Twitter supports social interaction and informal discussion or exchange around local topics among users, thereby facilitating community involvement.

scholarly journals Social structure and residency in aggregations of male sperm whales

2002 ◽  
Vol 80 (7) ◽  
pp. 1189-1196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erland Lettevall ◽  
Christoph Richter ◽  
Nathalie Jaquet ◽  
Elizabeth Slooten ◽  
Steve Dawson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Structure ◽  
Social Structures ◽  
Spatial Proximity ◽  
Residence Times ◽  
Physeter Macrocephalus ◽  
Sperm Whales ◽  
Apparent Lack ◽  
Male Sperm ◽  
Close Spatial Proximity

Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) are sexually dimorphic in several respects, including size, latitudinal distribution, and social structure. Females are known to have complex social structures, including long-term bonds, but the social structures of sexually mature or maturing males have received much less attention. Using data from aggregations of males off Norway, Nova Scotia, New Zealand, and the Galápagos Islands, we examined aggregation size, residence times within aggregations, clustering at the surface, and long-term bonds. Results were generally consistent among study areas. The aggregations found in each area contained around 10–30 males at any time, and were usually a few tens of kilometres across. Mean residence times within aggregations ranged from a few days to a few weeks. Close clustering at the surface was rare, but present at each site. There was no evidence for preferred companionship between individuals at any temporal scale in any of the study areas. The rarity of clustering and the apparent lack of long-term relationships amongst male sperm whales contrast strongly with results of studies on females, suggesting that both close spatial proximity at the surface and permanent bonds between individuals may be a consequence of the need for care of the young.

scholarly journals Social networks strongly predict the gut microbiota of wild mice

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aura Raulo ◽  
Bryony Allen ◽  
Tanya Troitsky ◽  
Arild Husby ◽  
Josh A Firth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Tracking System ◽  
Group Living ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Spatial Proximity ◽  
Activity Data ◽  
Wild Mice ◽  
Passive Tracking

AbstractThe mammalian gut teems with beneficial microbes, yet how hosts acquire these symbionts remains poorly understood. Research in primates suggests that microbes can be picked up via social contact, but the role of social interactions in non-group-living species remains unexplored. Here, we use a passive tracking system to collect high resolution spatiotemporal activity data from wild mice (Apodemus sylvaticus). Social network analysis revealed social association strength to be the strongest predictor of microbiota similarity among individuals, controlling for factors including spatial proximity and kinship, which had far smaller or nonsignificant effects. This social effect was limited to interactions involving males (male-male and male-female), implicating sex-dependent behaviours as driving processes. Social network position also predicted microbiota richness, with well-connected hub individuals having the most diverse microbiotas. Overall, these findings suggest social contact provides a key transmission pathway for gut symbionts even in relatively asocial mammals, that strongly shapes the adult gut microbiota. This work underlines the potential for individuals to pick up beneficial symbionts as well as pathogens from social interactions.

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