scholarly journals General strategy of leaf beetles reproductive behavior (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae)

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-66
Author(s):  
Sergey Ivanovich Pavlov
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Behavior ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
General Strategy ◽  
Behavioral Reactions ◽  
Reproductive Process ◽  
Leaf Beetles ◽  
Opposite Sex ◽  
Generation Cycle ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Final Cleaning

Reproductive behavior of 25 background species leaf beetles was studied in the conditions of Samara Region during 1974-2014 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). Strategy of adults reproductive behavior, which fundamentally different from individuals of the opposite sex is a complex includes more than 60 types of locomotion behavioral reactions and aimed to attracting the active partner, usually the male, search and preparation of the female for the mate as final stage of the reproductive process. Adult-female undergoes five stages of reproductive transformation accompanied by 18 types of behavioral reactions after emergence. There are food of ripening, involvement of species-specific male of attractant, mating, ovulation and egg laying. Adult-male overcomes five stages too, provided almost by 30 types of behavioral reactions in the course of life. There are preparation, mating, and food maturation, search for females training females to mating, mating, and post-nuptial final cleaning. Temporal and physical resource of female and male survival in different situations, as well as time budgets, of both sexes daily activity at different stages of its generation cycle estimated. Occurrence of non-standard reproductive situations or failures, which are explained by objective reasons, for example errors in chemonavigation of males, violation of a genetically programmed sequence of stages of behavior, inconsistency sexual cycles of the partners discusses.

scholarly journals Daily activity time budgets of leaf-beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) at different stages of their generation cycle

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-51
Author(s):  
Sergey Ivanovich Pavlov
Keyword(s):  
Motor Activity ◽  
Light Period ◽  
Day Length ◽  
Time Budgets ◽  
Behavioral Reactions ◽  
Leaf Beetles ◽  
Motor Responses ◽  
Generation Cycle ◽  
One Year ◽  
Biological Program

Native (natural) motor responses in the active life phases (adult and larvae) of 4 species of leaf-beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) of a one-year generation were studied in natural and laboratory conditions in the Samara region during 1974-2010. Depending on the dominant biological program at each stage of ontogenesis, type of motor activity (specific movements) and time budgets for the implementation of these movements, the entire generation (reproductive) cycle was divided into 4 stages - the functional unit of behavioral reactions. These powers include - precopulatory period (puberty adult), stage of copulation (mating adults), the stage of ovulation (the maturation and oviposition) and the stage of embryogenesis (hatching and larvae development). The dynamics of the duration of the light period of the day (when the beetles are active) is considered throughout the observation period. The duration of useful time of the light period of the day (for this latitude) is calculated, i.e. the astronomical day length minus the length of morning and evening twilight (when it is relatively cold, the dew falls, and the insects are inactive), exactly the period when the beetles are most mobile. Real time budgets of motor activity in the period of daylight hours at different stages of the lasting cycle are estimated. The main types of motor responses of leaf beetles are recorded and examined. It is established that all in all there are 13 such reactions, of them 5 are common for all stages, 8 are specific.

scholarly journals Description of the reproductive behavior of Symphysodon aequifasciatus (Cichlidae) in captivity

2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 433-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas da Cruz MATTOS ◽  
Rafaela SCRENCI-RIBEIRO ◽  
Leonardo Demier CARDOSO ◽  
Manuel Vazquez Vidal JUNIOR
Keyword(s):  
Parental Care ◽  
Reproductive Behavior ◽  
Amazon Basin ◽  
Color Change ◽  
Biparental Care ◽  
Reproductive Process ◽  
Second Stage ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Two Stages ◽  
Couple Formation

ABSTRACT The blue discus (Symphysodon aequifasciatus) is often sold for ornamental purposes. It is a neotropical cichlid from South America, which is native to the rivers of the Amazon basin of Brazil, Peru and Colombia. The purpose of this study was to characterize the reproductive behavior of S. aequifasciatus and identify features that can later be used by breeders to facilitate the handling and reproduction of this species in captivity. The experiment was divided into two stages: the first dealt with partner selection and couple formation to observe the behaviors of territoriality, pursuing, fleeing, biting, stay, protecting and cleaning of the substrate. The second stage documented mating behavior, nesting and parental care, to observe vibration, spawning, permanence with the offspring, aeration of eggs, cleaning of spawning, color change and shift-taking in parental care. The results of the study allowed identifying disputes for and establishment of territory, as well as the selection and cleaning of the substrate for spawning performed by both sexes. The parental care was observed from spawning in the substrate until the care for the larvae. It was found that the reproductive success of this species is closely linked to biparental care observed during the entire reproductive process and early stages of the hatchings.

scholarly journals Reproductive behavior of the marine gastropod Charonia seguenzae (Aradas & Benoit, 1870) in captivity

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHRYSA K. DOXA ◽  
ASPASIA STERIOTI ◽  
PASCAL DIVANACH ◽  
MAROUDIO KENTOURI
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Biology ◽  
Collaborative Care ◽  
Reproductive Behavior ◽  
Maternal Care ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Marine Gastropod ◽  
Temperature Range ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Evolutionary Level

The reproductive behavior of the gastropod Charonia seguenzae (Aradas & Benoit, 1870) was studied through the description of 19 copulation and 21 egg laying events of 134 wild individuals. Findings in the present study regarding a part of the reproduction temperature range (20 to 23oC) and the demonstration of maternal care provided important information on their biology, behavior and ecology. Furthermore, observed polyandry by the females and collaborative care of embryonic sacks, were two aspects of the species reproductive biology that pose new questions both at ecological and evolutionary level.

Hormonal and Experiential Factors Influencing the Nestbox Oriented Behaviour of Budgerigars (Melopsittacus Undulatus)

Behaviour ◽  
1969 ◽  
Vol 35 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 1-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara F. Brockway
Keyword(s):  
Prior Experience ◽  
Ovarian Follicle ◽  
Physiological State ◽  
Gonadal Hormones ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Nest Building ◽  
Ovarian Activity ◽  
Male Courtship ◽  
Opposite Sex ◽  
Males And Females

AbstractOther workers have shown that gonadal hormones can stimulate avian nest building and that there are species differences concerning the identity of the efficacious hormones. Nest building may be stimulated by estrogenic but not by androgenic material in one species. In another species, the converse is true. Budgerigars do not build nests. Their eggs are laid in tree-cavities. The female performs an easily quantified behaviour that is oriented to her prospective egg-laying site (a nestbox in the laboratory). This nestbox-oriented behaviour (NBOB) consists of remaining within the nestbox for various intervals throughout the day. This occurs daily, and she spends progressively more time within the nestbox as the day of initial oviposition approaches. Thus, NBOB is temporally and situationally related to nest building. A male rarely enters a nestbox unless he is engaging in courtship activities oriented to his mate. This report concerns laboratory studies that were conducted to determine: (1) the effects of different quantities of exogenous testosterone, estradiol and progesterone upon the NBOB of male and female budgerigars when they were individually-caged and unable to see or to hear members of the opposite sex, and (2) the effects of prior breeding experience(s) upon hormonally-induced NBOB. Four experiental types were studied: (V) virgins of either sex which, since fledging, had been visually isolated from the opposite sex and nestboxes; (Ex) males and females which had participated in at least one successful breeding cycle prior to this study; (V1) virgin females which were induced to perform NBOB but to maintain undeveloped ovaries; and (V2) virgin females which were induced to undergo full ovarian development and oviposition in the absence of nestboxes. Both intact and castrated males were studied. Ovarian hormones were given only to castrated males. No ovariectomized females were studied. Birds were injected thrice weekly and observed for 3 weeks. 1) Sexual identity and hormonal factors. Estradiol with or without progesterone stimulated NBOB by V and Ex males and females. The presence or absense of testicular androgens did not induce any male to perform NBOB. Larger (1.0 mg) quantities of testosterone induced females to perform NBOB, but such NBOB was atypically erratic. Testosterone-induced NBOB by females may have been a more direct manifestation of a testosterone-increased ovarian activity; however, the oviducts and ovaries of females receiving either 0.5 mg of 1.0 mg quantities of testosterone were not significantly heavier or larger than those of controls receiving only oil. Progesterone, alone, was just as ineffective as was the oil placebo: neither promoted any significant NBOB by males or females. These findings suggest that NBOB and nest building are not only related in temporal and situational ways, but share a common endocrinological denominator as well. Since NBOB appears to be primarily influenced by increased plasma levels of estrogenic material rather than by decreased levels of androgenic material, the NBOB of burgerigars is similar to the nest building of canaries and ring doves and diametrical to the androgen-stimulated nest building of black-crowned night herons. Estradiol with or without progesterone prompted females but not males to perform advanced phases of NBOB. Also females performed many phases of NBOB sooner than did males. Thus, males seem to be (genetically) less responsive to hormonal stimuli prompting NBOB than are females. 2) Experiential factors. In general, V birds of both sexes began to perform each phase of NBOB later and spent less time in nestbox occupation than did Ex birds receiving identical treatments. A previous study showed that Ex females, stimulated by either visual or vocal male courtship displays performed NBOB sooner than did V females. This prompted me to compare the ovarian follicle sizes and oviductal weights between Ex and V females receiving identical treatments and to examine the hormonally induced NBOB of V1 and V2 females. Since there were no significant differences in the ovarian and oviductal measurements between V and Ex females receiving identical injections, the differential response in the NBOB of V and Ex females does not seem to be solely due to a difference in the development of their reproductive tracts. Accordingly, we cannot say that male courtship more readily promotes NBOB with Ex than with V females because V females require more male stimulation in order to attain a given endogenous hormonal level or physiological state than do Ex females. Indeed prior experience may affect neural thresholds for response to given endogenous hormonal states without altering the response of reproductive organs. Perhaps Ex females are more readily induced to perform NBOB due to some factor involved in previous NBOB or a general familiarity with nestboxes. Data on V1 and V2 females supports this latter hypothesis. The onsets of each phase of NBOB and the amount of nestbox occupation were both potentiated by prior cxperience(s) concerning nestboxes. Prior experience(s) concerning heterosexual interactions or full ovarian activity and oviposition did not significantly affect hormonally induced NBOB.

scholarly journals Inbreeding affects sexual signalling in males but not females of Tenebrio molitor

2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 423-425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mari Pölkki ◽  
Indrikis Krams ◽  
Katariina Kangassalo ◽  
Markus J. Rantala
Keyword(s):  
Tenebrio Molitor ◽  
Individual Quality ◽  
Sexual Signals ◽  
Genetic Quality ◽  
Volatile Pheromones ◽  
Sexual Signalling ◽  
Mealworm Beetle ◽  
Opposite Sex ◽  
Species Specific

In many species of animals, individuals advertise their quality with sexual signals to obtain mates. Chemical signals such as volatile pheromones are species specific, and their primary purpose is to influence mate choice by carrying information about the phenotypic and genetic quality of the sender. The deleterious effects of consanguineous mating on individual quality are generally known, whereas the effect of inbreeding on sexual signalling is poorly understood. Here, we tested whether inbreeding reduces the attractiveness of sexual signalling in the mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor , by testing the preferences for odours of inbred and outbred (control) individuals of the opposite sex. Females were more attracted to the odours produced by outbred males than the odours produced by inbred males, suggesting that inbreeding reduces the attractiveness of male sexual signalling. However, we did not find any difference between the attractiveness of inbred and outbred female odours, which may indicate that the quality of females is either irrelevant for T. molitor males or quality is not revealed through female odours.

Age- and sex-specific responses of the gray-tailed vole, Microtus canicaudus, to connected and unconnected habitat patches

2000 ◽  
Vol 78 (5) ◽  
pp. 864-870 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renee Davis-Born ◽  
Jerry O Wolff
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Behavior ◽  
Reproductive Pattern ◽  
Lower Body ◽  
Bare Ground ◽  
Habitat Patches ◽  
Juvenile Dispersal ◽  
Patchy Environments ◽  
Habitat Corridors ◽  
Opposite Sex ◽  
Males And Females

We monitored demography, movement, and reproductive behavior of gray-tailed voles, Microtus canicaudus, in experimental habitat patches with and without corridors to test the hypotheses that more individuals would move among patches in corridor than in control unconnected habitats, and that individuals would distribute themselves more evenly among patches if corridors were present than if they were not. We predicted that more males than females would move among patches in both treatments and that juveniles in control habitats would exhibit delayed sexual maturation if their dispersal was delayed and opposite-sex relatives remained in proximity to each other. All experiments were conducted in eight 0.2-ha enclosures planted with alfalfa that was fragmented into four patches (each 156 m2) separated by 12.5 m of bare ground. In four of the enclosures, patches were connected by 1 m wide habitat corridors. Corridors facilitated movements, with males moving more than females. However, corridors did not result in an even distribution of animals in the four patches. Unconnected habitat patches resulted in female-biased juvenile dispersal, and females dispersed at a lower body mass than males in both connected and unconnected habitats. Males that did not disperse from their natal patch grew at a slower rate than those that did disperse. We conclude that movement was deterred in patchy environments, enhanced by corridors, and differentially affects males and females. Behavioral factors that affect an individual's dispersal or reproductive pattern should be considered in landscape design.

scholarly journals Adaptation of gestation or egg-laying in species depends on the amount of internal heat generated in digesting the food

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karunakar Marasakatla
Keyword(s):  
Digestive System ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Internal Heat ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
The Body ◽  
Food Material ◽  
Reproductive Process ◽  
System A ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
Tightly Coupled

Anatomically and physiologically, the reproductive process of gestation or egg-laying, and dietary habits in vertebrates appear to be distinct processes. An in-depth analysis of the dietary habits of vertebrates reveals that the gestation or egg-laying characteristic in these species is tightly coupled with the digestive process. Once the food has been ingested, it is then broken down to the molecular level to be absorbed into the body. The amount of energy required to digest the food depends upon the amount and composition of the food material that was ingested. The denser (ex. bones and muscle) and bigger the size of the food bits ingested, the higher the amount of energy required to break down the material - that in turn requires higher amount of gastrointestinal acids. Where there is higher amount of energy is consumed, there will be an excess amount of heat gets generated. Because of the proximity of uterus to digestive system, a layer develops around the embryo to protect it from this heat. Therefore, it appears that the higher amount of heat generated in digesting the food results in egg-laying characteristic in species such as birds and reptiles, which ingest large chunks of raw meat. Rest of the vertebrates adapted to gestation due to chewing the food into small pieces before ingesting which generates less internal heat in digestion. Species, which generate higher amount of internal heat in digestion, adapted to ectothermic nature such as reptiles. And the species, which generate less amount of internal heat, adapted to endothermic nature such as mammals. Birds are endothermic but they would have been ectothermic if there were no insulating feathers.

scholarly journals Adaptation of gestation or egg-laying in species depends on the amount of internal heat generated in digesting the food

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karunakar Marasakatla
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Molecular Level ◽  
Internal Heat ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
The Body ◽  
Food Material ◽  
Reproductive Process ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
Excess Amount ◽  
Tightly Coupled

Anatomically and physiologically, the reproductive process of gestation or egg-laying, and dietary habits in vertebrates appear to be distinct processes. An in-depth analysis of the dietary habits of vertebrates reveals that the gestation or egg-laying characteristic in these species is tightly coupled with the digestive process. Once the food has been ingested, it is then broken down to the molecular level to be absorbed into the body. The amount of energy required to digest the food depends upon the amount and composition of the food material that was ingested. The denser (ex. bones and muscle) and bigger the size of the food bits ingested, the higher the amount of energy required to break down the material - that in turn requires higher amount of gastrointestinal acids. Where there is higher amount of energy is consumed, there will be an excess amount of heat gets generated. To protect the embryo from this heat, a layer develops around it. Therefore, it appears that the higher amount of heat generated in digesting the food results in egg-laying characteristic in species such as birds and reptiles, which ingest large chunks of raw meat. Rest of the vertebrates adapted to gestation due to chewing the food into small pieces before ingesting which generates less internal heat in digestion.

scholarly journals The molecular evolution of spermatogenesis across mammals

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florent Murat ◽  
Noe Mbengue ◽  
Sofia Boeg Winge ◽  
Timo Trefzer ◽  
Evgeny Leushkin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Evolution ◽  
Sex Chromosome ◽  
Rapid Evolution ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Reproductive Organ ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
General Mechanism ◽  
Meiotic Sex Chromosome Inactivation ◽  
Selective Forces ◽  
Species Specific

The testis is a key male reproductive organ that produces gametes through the process of spermatogenesis. Testis morphologies and spermatogenesis evolve rapidly in mammals, presumably due to the evolutionary pressure on males to be reproductively successful. The rapid evolution of the testis was shown to be reflected at the molecular level based on bulk-tissue work, but the molecular evolution of individual spermatogenic cell types across mammalian lineages remains largely uncharacterized. Here we report evolutionary analyses of single-nucleus transcriptome data for testes from eleven species that cover the three major mammalian lineages (eutherians, marsupials, egg-laying monotremes) and birds (the evolutionary outgroup), and include seven key primates. Our analyses reveal that the rapid evolution of the testis is driven by accelerated fixation rates of gene expression changes, amino acid altering substitutions, and newly emerged genes in late spermatogenic stages - likely facilitated by reduced pleiotropic constraints, haploid selection, and a transcriptionally permissive chromatin environment. We identify temporal expression changes of individual genes across species, which may have contributed to the emergence of species-specific phenotypes, but also conserved expression programs underlying ancestral spermatogenic processes. Sex chromosome analyses show that genes predominantly expressed in spermatogonia (i.e., germ cells fueling spermatogenesis) and Sertoli cells (i.e., somatic supporting cells) independently accumulated on X chromosomes across mammals during evolution, presumably due to male-beneficial selective forces. Further work uncovered that the process of meiotic sex chromosome inactivation (MSCI) also occurs in monotremes and hence is common to the different mammalian sex chromosome systems, contrary to previous inferences. Thus, the general mechanism of meiotic silencing of unsynapsed chromatin (MSUC), which underlies MSCI, represents an ancestral mammalian feature. Together, our study illuminates the cellular and molecular evolution of mammalian spermatogenesis and associated selective forces, and provides a resource for investigating the biology of the testis across mammals.

Mutualistic and parasitic interactions between Phorbia flies and Epichloe: convergence between a fungus and entomophilous angiosperms

1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (S1) ◽  
pp. 1343-1348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas L. Bultman
Keyword(s):  
Convergent Evolution ◽  
Color Change ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Insect Pollination ◽  
Fungal Host ◽  
Parasitic Interactions ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Pollination Systems ◽  
Cross Fertilization

During egg laying, Phorbia flies transport spermatia between individuals of their heterothallic fungal host Epichloe. Flies provide a service ecologically analogous to pollination. As a guide for studying the ecology and evolution of this unusual fungus – insect interaction, I propose that it has converged with angiosperm – entomophilous insect systems in general, and more specifically with highly coevolved pollinating seed parasite – angiosperm systems. I document similarities with insect pollination systems in general that include primary dependence by Epichloe on animal vectors, a color change of the fruiting structure following cross-fertilization, rewards provided to animal vectors, and exploitation by third party species that use rewards offered by the fungus but provide no payment for the rewards. Furthermore, the fungus – insect interaction shows several similarities with coevolved pollinating parasite systems. First, the interaction contains a mix of mutualism and parasitism with the net effect being positive for both partners. Second, flies display a specific behavior that ensures cross-fertilization of Epichloe. Third, the interaction is symbiotic and appears species specific and obligate for the interactants. Under the convergent evolution hypothesis, I discuss selection pressures that could have operated to produce ecologically analogous interactions among distantly related taxa of insect pollinated angiosperms and Epichloe. Key words: convergent evolution, Epichloe, mutualism, parasitism, Phorbia, pollination.

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