Behavioral Ecology of Cetaceans: The Relationship of Body Condition with Behavior and Reproductive Success

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Miller ◽  
Ailsa Hall
1973 ◽  
Vol 51 (10) ◽  
pp. 1081-1086 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce Switzer ◽  
Victor Lewin ◽  
Fred H. Wolfe

A study of the relationship of DDE to reproductive success of an inland breeding population of common terns. Sterna hirundo, had been carried out in 1969 and 1970 at Chip Lake, Alberta. Although a continuing decrease of DDE residues in eggs bad occurred, eggshell thickness remained unchanged. In addition, reproductive success markedly increased in 1970; however, the percentage of eggs suffering breakage did not change between years. Low correlations between DDE and eggshell thickness or weight in both years suggest that DDE is unrelated to these eggshell parameters, which in turn are not related to reproductive success in this population.


Parasitology ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 110 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. H. Clayton ◽  
D. M. Tompkins

SUMMARYWe report experimental data comparing the effects of Mesostigmatid mites and Ischnoceran lice on the reproductive performance of a single group of captive rock doves (Columba livia). Several components of host reproductive success were compared for the two groups, including number of eggs laid, hatching success, nestling growth rates, fledging success, post-fledging body mass and survival. Adult body mass and survival were also compared. There was a dramatic difference in the effects of the mites and lice. The former drove host reproductive success to zero, mainly by agitating adults and causing them to incubate eggs less faithfully. Nestling growth rates and post-fledging survival were also significantly reduced by mites. Lice showed no effect on reproductive success whatsoever, even though the feather damage they cause is known to have energetic consequences (Booth, Clayton & Block, 1993). Neither parasite had a significant effect on adult birds. Although Ischnocera are found on most species of birds, our results for lice constitute the first experimental test of the impact of Ischnocera on avian reproductive success (preliminary report by Clayton & Tompkins, 1994). We discuss reasons for the different effects of mites and lice, including the relationship of horizontal (mites) and vertical (lice) transmission to the evolution of virulence.


2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 1351-1363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher R Friesen ◽  
Simon P de Graaf ◽  
Mats Olsson

Abstract Sperm competition theory predicts a negative correlation between somatic investment and traits that aid in pre- and postcopulatory sexual selection. Sperm performance is critical for postcopulatory success but sperm are susceptible to damage by free radicals such as superoxide radicals generated during mitochondrial respiration (mtSOx). Males can ameliorate damage to spermatozoa by investing in the production of antioxidants, like superoxide dismutase (SOD), which may act as a mechanistic link to pre- and postcopulatory trade-offs. Some male Australian, color-polymorphic painted dragon lizards (Ctenophorus pictus) possess a yellow throat patch (bib) that females prefer over nonbibbed males and are also more likely to win male–male contests indicating that males with bibs may be better at monopolizing females. We tested whether the sperm performance in nonbibbed males was superior to that of bibbed males. We show that overall sperm performance was not different between the bib-morphs, however, higher mtSOx levels were negatively correlated with sperm performance in bibbed males, but not of nonbibbed males. Blood cell mtSOx levels are negatively correlated with SOD activity in the plasma in all males early in the breeding season but SOD was lower in bibbed males. Nonbibbed males maintain a positive correlation between body condition and SOD activity over time while bibbed males do not. Together, these data suggest physiological associations between body condition, SOD activity, and sperm performance are linked to the expression of a yellow gular patch, which may be related to intrinsic differences in the metabolism of bibbed versus nonbibbed males.


2011 ◽  
Vol 106 (S1) ◽  
pp. S85-S89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbour S. Warren ◽  
Joseph J. Wakshlag ◽  
Mary Maley ◽  
Tracy J. Farrell ◽  
Angela M. Struble ◽  
...  

The objective of the present study was to utilise an accurate canine pedometer methodology and to assess the relationship between activity and body condition score (BCS) in dogs. Initial methodology validation used videography and pedometer step measurements to assess actual steps taken in comparison with pedometer readings for twenty large, medium and small dogs. During the validation, dogs considered to be medium or large breed showed no significant difference between pedometer readings and actual steps taken. A total of seventy-seven obese and non-obese dogs over 35 cm (14 inches) shoulder height and over 10 kg were recruited from a dog obesity clinic and a community sample to assess daily walking activity. Body condition scoring and pedometer steps were assessed on three separate weeks during a 10-week period. During the activity monitoring, daily step counts ranged from 5555 to 39 970 steps/d among the seventy-seven medium and large dogs. Dogs’ BCS were inversely correlated with average daily steps (Spearman's ρ = − 0·442, P < 0·0001). The present study identified a significant inverse correlation between daily walking steps and BCS over a range from 4 to 9 out of 9 (P < 0·0001).


Author(s):  
Ranjitha. B ◽  
Ashalatha. P ◽  
Jagadeeswara Rao. S ◽  
Subrahmanyeswari. B

The present experiment was a study on the relationship of Body Condition Score with milk yield, fat and solids-not-fat percent in murrah graded buffaloes under field conditions. In this murrah graded buffaloes from different commercial farms of Guntur and Krishna districts were selected. Total of 150 murrah graded buffaloes of different parities (1st to 6th parities) were selected. Various parameters like BCS, related to average milk yield, fat per cent, SNF per cent was taken into consideration for the present study and a correlated study of BCS and the milk yield was studied. The selected animals were divided into four groups based on BCS as 2.5-2.99, 3.0-3.49, 3.5-3.99, 4.0-4.49. The mean BCS values of 2.5-2.99, 3.0-3.49, 3.5-3.99, 4.0-4.49 were 2.62, 3.25, 3.56 and 4.25 respectively. Highest milk yield was recorded in second month of lactation and lowest in first month of lactation with 9.445±0.15 and 6.18±0.08 kg per day, respectively. The buffaloes with BCS 4.0-4.49 yielded higher milk yield when compared to other groups. Highest fat and SNF percent was observed in the animals with BCS 4.0-4.49 when compared with others. The BCS had showed high positive correlation with SNF (0.44) and milk yield (0.41).


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