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Locomotion in Anaspides (Anaspidacea, Malacostraca) – insights from a morpho-functional study of thoracopods with some observations on swimming and walking Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-12-09 Markus Grams; Stefan Richter
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Ontogenetic dynamics of the subepidermal spicule complex in Nudibranchia (Gastropoda): the case of Onchidoris muricata Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-11-30 Ekaterina Nikitenko; Alexander Ereskovsky; Elena Vortsepneva
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The Neurobiology of Ocean Change – insights from decapod crustaceans Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-12-07 Wolfgang Stein; Steffen Harzsch
The unprecedented rate of carbon dioxide accumulation in the atmosphere has led to increased warming, acidification and oxygen depletion in the world's oceans, with projected impacts also on ocean salinity. In this perspective article, we highlight potential impacts of these factors on neuronal responses in decapod crustaceans. Decapod crustaceans comprise more than 8,800 marine species which have
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Iris-like eye closure of the fine-patterned pufferfish, Takifugu flavipterus Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2021-01-11 Keisuke Ogimoto; Takayuki Sonoyama; Hideaki Shindo; Taketeru Tomita
Unlike many tetrapods and elasmobranchs, eye-closing ability is absent in bony fishes, with the single-known exception of the family Tetraodontidae. We observed the eye-closing response of the tetraodontid fine-patterned puffer, Takifugu flavipterus, which provides the first detailed data on the kinematics and mechanism of this ability in this family. During eye-closing behavior, the skin around the
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Effects of short-term and continuous exposure to reduced salinities on the biochemical composition of larval lobster, Homarus gammarus Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-11-30 Gabriela Torres; Klaus Anger; Luis Giménez
In coastal areas with estuarine influence, exposure to hypo-osmotic conditions may affect larval survival, development and growth. Most knowledge about effects of reduced salinity on coastal organisms is based on keeping individuals under constant conditions in the laboratory. By contrast, little is known about the effects of more realistic situations where organisms are exposed to low salinity over
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Crustaceans in changing climate: Global warming and invasion of tropical land hermit crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura: Coenobitidae) into temperate area in Japan Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2021-01-10 Akira Asakura
There is currently a strong scientific consensus that recent global change of climate, including the global warming, seriously damage ecosystems of both lands and oceans. Here, I review recent drastic northern expansion of distribution of tropical land hermit crabs (Coenobita) into temperate Japan. Seto Marine Biological Laboratory of Kyoto University has a long history (97 years) and has been conducting
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Digit ratio and length asymmetry in calves’ limbs Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2021-01-06 Cristina Sartori; Matteo Gianesella; Andrea Pilastro; Roberto Mantovani; Leonardo Armato; Enrico Fiore
This study considered possible sexual dimorphism in the relative lengths of the third, fourth and fifth digits (digit ratio), in calves. Furthermore, a different length of the bone structures of the third (3D) and of the fourth (4D) digits has been examined as an evolutionary adaptation to locomotion on soft ground. The length of the digital bones of the right fore-limb of 33 females and 15 male calves
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Back to the basics: allometric growth by the horns of bovid mammals Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-11-12 Gary C. Packard
I used the equivalent of nonlinear analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to re-examine relative growth by the horns on males and females of alpine ibex (Capra ibex) and mouflon sheep (Ovis gmelini). A prior study of allometric growth by the horns on these animals described a pattern of biphasic allometry for both sexes, with two different mathematical equations being required to capture the pattern of variation
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Angular variables of climbing geckos in two lateral undulation patterns Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-12-26 Wei Wang; Aihong Ji; Zhendong Dai; Guodong Qin; Xiyuan zhang; Tongzhen Ren; Qingfei Han
Geckos demonstrate flexible and agile locomotion on diverse terrains and surfaces. The lateral undulation pattern referring to the trunk-limbs coordination gives animals advantages in terms of motion speed, dynamical stability, and highly efficient movement. Quantitative analysis of the angular variables of the trunk and limbs was proposed to compare the kinematics of Gekko gecko on the vertical plane
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Response to Tilic and Bartolomaeus’s Commentary on the original Research Paper “Unravelling the ultrastructure and mineralogical composition of fireworm stinging bristles” (Zoology, 144) Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-12-17 Sara Righi; Martina Savioli; Daniela Prevedelli; Roberto Simonini; Daniele Malferrari
In their Commentary to our paper recently published in Zoology (Righi, 2021), Tilic and Bartolomaeus question our findings that the chaetae of Hermodice carunculata (Annelida) are hollow and able to store and deliver venoms. They sustain the idea that inflammatory chemicals are secreted through epidermal glands and possibly exposed to predator trough wounds caused by the brittle chaetae. We provide
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Larval tolerance to food limitation is stronger in an exotic barnacle than in its native competitor Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-12-17 Kate Griffith; Stuart R. Jenkins; Luis Giménez
A critical question in marine ecology is understanding how organisms will cope with environmental conditions under climate change. Increasing temperatures not only have a direct effect on marine organisms but may also lead to food limitation through for example trophic mismatches, or by the increased metabolic demands imposed by developing at high temperatures. Using barnacles from a population of
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Commentary on: “Unravelling the ultrastructure and mineralogical composition of fireworm stinging bristles” by Righi et al. 2020 Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-12-16 Ekin Tilic; Thomas Bartolomaeus
In a recent paper published in Zoology, Righi et al. (2020) investigated the chaetae of the venomous fireworm Hermodice carunculata (Amphinomida, Annelida) and revived the hypothesis of venom injection by hollow chaetae. This conclusion reached by Rigihi et al. (2020) contradicts previously published results, and in our opinion, it is also not supported by their data. We propose the idea that broken
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Anatomy of the coelomic system in Novocrania anomala (Brachiopoda, Craniiformea) and relationships within brachiopods Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-11-21 Feodor A. Plandin; Elena N. Temereva
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Peculiar relationships among morphology, burrowing performance and sand type in two fossorial microteiid lizards Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-11-14 Fábio C. de Barros; Mariana B. Grizante; Felipe A.M. Zampieri; Tiana Kohlsdorf
Associations among ecology, morphology and locomotor performance have been intensively investigated in several vertebrate lineages. Knowledge on how phenotypes evolve in natural environments likely benefits from identification of circumstances that might expand current ecomorphological equations. In this study, we used two species of Calyptommatus lizards from Brazilian Caatingas to evaluate if specific
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Making a parrot zygodactyl foot: Osteology and morphogenesis of the tarsometatarsus in the monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-11-21 Julieta Carril; Claudio G. Barbeito; Claudia P. Tambussi
The tarsometatarsus conformation and foot types in birds are unique traits within vertebrates. We investigate how the tarsometatarsus and the zygodactyl foot are formed during development in the monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus). Using bones, whole mount specimens stained for cartilage and bone, and histological sections, we focus on the osteology and morphogenesis of the tarsometatarsus. We also
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Comparative biomechanics of hagfish skins: diversity in material, morphology, and movement Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-12-07 E.B. Lane Kennedy; Raj P. Patel; Crystina P. Perez; Benjamin L. Clubb; Theodore A. Uyeno; Andrew J. Clark
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Unequal sisters – Past and potential future range development of Anatolian and Hyrcanian brown frogs Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-11-06 M. Najibzadeh; S. Ehl; S. Feldmeier; A. Pesarakloo; M. Veith
Phylogeography can reconstruct historical evolutionary processes by comparing historical patterns of gene flow, divergence among species and by using species distribution models (SDM) upon geographic distribution. We investigate the phylogeographic patterns of Anatolian brown frogs including R. macrocnemis and R. tavasensis as well as the Hyrcanian brown frog, R. pseudodalmatina, using a fragment of
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The forelimbs of Octodontidae (Rodentia: Mammalia): substrate use, morphology, and phylogenetic signal Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-11-15 M. Julieta Pérez; Guillermo H. Cassini; M. Mónica Díaz
Rodents of the family Octodontidae, endemic to South America, represent a group with low taxonomic richness group (six genera and 14 species) but have great ecomorphological diversity with epigean, semi-fossorial, fossorial, and subterranean forms. We analyzed morphometric variation in humerus and ulna, the possible relationship with substrate preference use, and the presence of a phylogenetic signal
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Neighborhood effects in mixed-species flocks affect foraging efficiency of intermediate and little egrets Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-11-26 Chih-Kai Huang; Ya-Fu Lee; Yen-Min Kuo
Birds aggregate for various survival needs, and ardeids form both conspecific and mixed-species flocks. However, it remains unclear whether and how ardeids’ foraging while joining a flock is affected differently in conspecific versus mixed-species flocks. We studied egret flocks in southwestern Taiwan to assess the flock size and neighborhood effects on flock formation and foraging performance of egrets
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Karyotype evolution and preliminary molecular assessment of genera in the family Scorpiopidae (Arachnida: Scorpiones) Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-11-21 František Šťáhlavský; František Kovařík; Mark Stockmann; Vera Opatova
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Microplastic burden in Daphnia is aggravated by elevated temperatures Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-11-19 Nadine Hoffschröer; Niklas Grassl; Arne Steinmetz; Lukas Sziegoleit; Marita Koch; Bettina Zeis
Contamination of freshwater habitats with microplastic is threatening particularly filter-feeders within the aquatic community. Using Daphnia magna and Daphnia pulex as models, the effects of food supply and temperature on the ingestion of polystyrene spheres (diameter 1 μm, concentration of 200 ng*ml-1) was analysed. The ingestion rates of microplastic beads were increased in conditions of low food
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Geographic variation in shape and size of anuran tadpoles: Interpopulation comparisons in Scinax fuscovarius (Anura, Hylidae) Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-10-19 S.I. Quinzio; J. Goldberg
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Ontogenetic growth and the development of a unique fibrocartilage entheses in Macropus fuliginosus Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-10-25 Anusuya Chinsamy; Natalie M. Warburton
Here we examine the bone histology of the femora and humeri of the Western Grey Kangaroo, Macropus fuliginosus. Our results reveal that bone modelling in response to ontogenetic growth and the development of tuberosities on the femur, and especially in the humerus, lead to a highly complex histology. We propose that the alternating fast and slow rates of bone deposition are seasonal, and are likely
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Aspects regarding renal morphophysiology of fruit-eating and vampire bats Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-11-01 Bárbara Silva Linhares; Susana Puga Ribeiro; Renata Maria Pereira de Freitas; Luciano Carlos Heringer Porcaro Puga; Sirlene Souza Rodrigues Sartori; Mariella Bontempo Freitas
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Unravelling the ultrastructure and mineralogical composition of fireworm stinging bristles Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-10-07 Sara Righi; Martina Savioli; Daniela Prevedelli; Roberto Simonini; Daniele Malferrari
Amphinomid fireworms are notorious for their stinging dorsal bristles (notochaetae), but it is still unclear whether the irritation they cause is merely mechanical or if the notochaetae contain toxins. Furthermore, although fireworm chaetae have always been described as calcareous, their composition has never been investigated to date and strong debates are ongoing on their internal structure. Unravelling
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Genome sequencing of an archaic reptile both answers and asks questions Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-11-04 S.K. Lamar; N.J. Gemmell; N.J. Nelson
Tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) are the sole surviving members of the order Rhynchocephalia and offer insight into the evolution of basal amniotes. Recent work sequencing the genome of tuatara revealed characteristics that emphasize the uniqueness of this species, many of which are linked to their thermal ecology. Genes related to their extremely low optimal body temperature and unique form of temperature-dependent
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New data on echiuran anatomy and histology: the case of Lissomyema mellita (Annelida: Thalassematidae) Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-11-06 Petr Kuznetsov; Anastassya Maiorova; Elena Temereva
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Patterns of correlations and locomotor specialization in anuran limbs: association with phylogeny and ecology Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-11-04 Tamara G. Petrović; Tanja Vukov; Nataša Tomašević Kolarov
As anuran saltatory locomotion has specific functional requirements achieved through certain intra- and inter-limb proportions, we analyzed pattern and degree of morphological integration in limbs of ten anuran species to reveal the relationship of shared developmental programs of serially homologous structures and locomotor specialization. Our main objectives were (1) to examine if morphological and
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Niche differentiation between deeply divergent phylogenetic lineages of an endemic newt: implications for Species Distribution Models Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-10-17 Miguel Peñalver-Alcázar; Alberto Jiménez-Valverde; Pedro Aragón
Species distribution models (SDMs) treat species as a single unit, neglecting intraspecific variation. Few studies address the impact of intraspecific variation on SDM performance, and none of them account for the well-known inter-algorithm variability in prediction performance. The endemic Iberian amphibian Lissotriton boscai comprises two geographically highly structured phylogenetic lineages, which
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Geographic clines in Daphnia magna’s circadian clock gene expression: Local adaptation to photoperiod Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-10-19 Anke Schwarzenberger; Natascha H. Handke; Tina Romer; Alexander Wacker
Nearly all organisms show daily and seasonal physiological and behavioural responses that are necessary for their survival. Often these responses are controlled by the rhythmic activity of an endogenous clock that perceives day length. Day length differs not only between seasons but also along latitudes, with different seasonal day lengths between the north and the south. Both seasonal and latitudinal
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Mating experience modifies locomotor performance and promotes episodic motor activity in Drosophila melanogaster Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-10-16 Shuang Qiu; Chenxi Li; Guihua Cao; Chengfeng Xiao
Sexual behavior is a routine among animal species. Sexual experience has several behavioral consequences in insects, but its physiological basis is less well-understood. The episodic motor activity with a periodicity around 19 s was unintentionally observed in the wildtype Canton-S flies and was greatly reduced in the white-eyed mutant w1118 flies. Episodic motor activity co-exists with several consistent
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An insight into the prey spectra and livestock predation by cheetahs in Kenya using faecal DNA metabarcoding Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-10-11 David Thuo; Femke Broekhuis; Elise Furlan; Laura D. Bertola; Joseph Kamau; Dianne M. Gleeson
Dietary composition is a fundamental part of animal ecology and an important component of population dynamics. Therefore, obtaining accurate information on what an animal consumes is important for conservation planning, especially for wild large carnivores that exist in human-dominated landscapes where they are prone to direct conflicts with local people. We used faecal DNA metabarcoding to identify
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Coping with the “dirt”: brown shrimp and the microplastic threat Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-09-29 Špela Korez; Lars Gutow; Reinhard Saborowski
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Male reproductive strategies in two species of spider crabs, Leurocyclus tuberculosus and Libinia spinosa Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-09-25 Ximena González Pisani; Laura S. López Greco
Reproductive strategies vary according to season length, individual reproductive traits, and factors associated with the social context such as density and sex ratio of the individuals. The social context predicts the intensity of sexual selection due to its effect on mate choice and intra-sexual competition. Moreover, it exacerbates the costs derived from sexual conflict and allows for the existence
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Do predators react differently to dangerous and larger prey? The case of a mygalomorph generalist spider preying upon insects Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-11-02 Luis Fernando García; Cristhian Rave; Karla Arcila; Carolina García; Luis E. Robledo-Ospina; Rodrigo Hirata Willemart
Prey morphology and size are known to influence a predator’s decision to attack and consume particular prey; however, studies that evaluate both traits simultaneously are uncommon. Here, we first described the trophic niche in the mygalomorph spider Paratropis sp. These spiders have a narrow trophic niche and feed mainly on sympatric species such as larvae of lepidopterans and of beetles such as carabids
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Electrosensory Impairment in the Atlantic Stingray, Hypanus sabinus, After Crude Oil Exposure Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-09-12 E.J. Cave; S.M. Kajiura
Elasmobranchs are renowned for their extremely sensitive electrosensory system, which is used to detect predators, prey, and mates, and is possibly used for navigation. The proper functioning of the electrosensory system is thus critical to fitness. The objective of this study was to test whether exposure to crude oil impairs the electroreceptive capabilities of elasmobranch fishes. Electrosensory
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First data on the structure of tubes formed by phoronids Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-10-04 Elena Temereva; Tatiana Shcherbakova; Alexander Tzetlin
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Functional morphology and post-larval development of the buccal complex in Eubranchus rupium (Nudibranchia: Aeolidida: Fionidae) Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-10-06 Anna Mikhlina; Irina Ekimova; Elena Vortsepneva
Nudibranch molluscs represent an interesting model group to study the evolution of feeding apparatus and feeding modes, being characterized by specialized buccal complex in combination with extremely diverse dietary preferences and multiply prey shifts in evolutionary history. However, the plasticity of the buccal complex morphology in response to diet and specific feeding modes remains understudied
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Use of X-ray micro-computed tomography to study the moult cycle of the freshwater amphipod Gammarus pulex Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-08-14 Duncan Bell; Nic Bury; Lewis Woolnough; Nick Corps; David Mortimore; Svetlana Gretton
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Numerical Analysis of the Cerebral Cortex in Diprotodontids (Marsupialia; Australidelphia) and Comparison with Eutherian Brains Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-09-18 T.K. Jyothilakshmi; Yamila Gurovich; Ken W.S. Ashwell
Diprotodontids are a diverse group of Australian metatherians, which occupy a range of ecological niches from nectar and pollen-feeders to grazers and folivores. The group encompasses small-brained nectar-feeding species (Tarsipes) and large-brained grazing and browsing species (macropods). This group of Australian metatherians therefore represents an opportunity to examine how the cerebral cortex
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Novel data on the innervation of the lophophore in adult phoronids (Lophophorata, Phoronida) Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-08-17 Elena N. Temereva
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Immunostaining of telomerase in embryonic and juvenile feather follicle of the chick labels proliferating cells for feather formation Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-09-19 Lorenzo Alibardi
Feathers regenerate through proliferation of cells derived from follicle stem cells. Immunoloblotting for telomerase in chick embryonic and juvenile feathers shows immunopositive bands around 100 kDa, 75 and 60 kDa only in embryonic feathers, indicating fragmentation of the protein due to physiological processing or artifacts derived from protein extraction. Immunolabeling for telomerase is present
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Phylogeography of Schizopygopsis malacanthus Herzenstein (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae) in relation to the tectonic events and Quaternary climatic oscillations in the Shaluli Mountains Region. Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-08-29 Xiaoyan Li,Kun Yang,Lintian Tong,Feixia Hou,Qin Liu,Jiuxuan Li,Yan Lu,Zhaobin Song
The tectonic events and Quaternary climatic oscillations in the Shaluli Mountains (the margin of the southeastern Tibetan Plateau) had an extensive effect on the genetic structure and distribution patterns of this region’s terrestrial fauna and flora. It is not yet clear whether similar mechanisms influence this region’s fish fauna. Schizopygopsis malacanthus is limited to high-elevation rivers and
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Acoustic signals produced by Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus and black-chinned tilapia Sarotherodon melanotheron during intra- and interspecific pairings. Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-07-30 Dieudonné Djétouan Akian,Kouakou Yao,Eric Parmentier,Lucette Joassard,Frédéric Clota,Jean-François Baroiller,Paul Lozano,Béatrice Chatain,Marie-Laure Bégout
We characterised, for the first-time, the sound production of black-chinned tilapia Sarotherodon melanotheron and show differences with that of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus in a hybridization pairing context. Although both species were able to produce drum sounds, they showed different acoustic features. Drum sounds were produced in aggressive (chasing or lateral attack) and non-aggressive (courtship)
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From descent with modification to the origins of novelty. Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-08-29 David M Linz,Yonggang Hu,Armin P Moczek
Descent with modification is the foundational framework of all of evolution. Yet evolutionary novelties are defined as lacking affinities to structures that already existed in the ancestral state, i.e. to somehow emerge in the absence of homology. We posit that reconciling both perspectives necessitates the existence of a type of innovation gradient that allows descent with modification to seed the
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Cold exposure increased hypothalamic orexigenic neuropeptides but not food intake in fattening Daurian ground squirrels. Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-08-23 Xin Xing,Shuai Liu,Xin-Yu Liu,Ming Yang,De-Hua Wang
Energy balance and thermoregulation in many fat-storing seasonal hibernators show a circannual rhythm. To understand the physiological mechanisms of the seasonal pre-hibernation fattening related to the regulation of energy expenditure and thermogenesis, we cold-exposed fattening Daurian ground squirrels (Spermophilus dauricus) in late summer for 3 weeks. We predicted that cold-exposed squirrels would
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Ecomorphological diversification of some barbs and carps (Cyprininae, Cyprinidae) in the Lower Mekong Basin of Thailand. Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-07-28 Anan Kenthao,Pornpimol Jearranaiprepame
Morphological variation is fundamentally related to various aspects of fish ecology, including foraging, locomotion, and habitat utilisation. Twenty-six species of closely related cyprinid fish (n = 502) were analysed for patterns of morphological variations by using geometric morphometric methods. Ecological data of feeding and habitat preferences were determined by the observations in fields and
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Individual variation in cardiotoxicity of parotoid secretion of the common toad, Bufo bufo, depends on body size - first results. Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-07-18 Krzysztof Kowalski,Paweł Marciniak,Leszek Rychlik
Anurans secrete a wide diversity of toxins from skin glands to defend themselves against predators and pathogens. Bufonids produce potent poison in parotoid macroglands located in the postorbital region. Parotoid secretion is a rich source of bioactive compounds with cardiotoxic, cytotoxic and hemolytic activity. Poison content and toxicity may vary between species, populations, and among conspecifics
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Relative fitness of decoy coloration is mediated by habitat type. Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-07-12 Ryann Heninger,Charles M Watson,Christian L Cox
Predator-prey interactions can be important drivers of morphological evolution, and antipredator traits in particular. Further, ecological context can be an important factor shaping the evolution of these traits. However, the role of ecological factors such as habitat structure in altering predator-based selection is not well known for antipredator traits such as decoy coloration. We used a combination
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Inside the shell: body composition of free-ranging tortoises (Testudo hermanni). Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-07-12 Ljiljana Tomović,Dragan Arsovski,Ana Golubović,Xavier Bonnet
Body condition indices (BCI – mass scaled by size) are widely used in ecological studies. They presumably reflect variations of endogenous fat reserves in free-ranging animals. In the field, however, accurately quantifying internal body reserves is a difficult task. This is especially true in armoured animals where convenient clues that may guide BCI assessment (e.g. visible subcutaneous fat deposits)
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Gas composition and its daily changes within burrows and nests of an Afroalpine fossorial rodent, the giant root-rat Tachyoryctes macrocephalus. Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-07-04 Radim Šumbera,Matěj Lövy,Jorgelina Marino,Miloslav Šimek,Jan Šklíba
Fossorial mammals are supposed to face hypoxic and hypercapnic conditions, but such conditions have been rarely encountered in their natural burrow systems. Gas composition in burrows after heavy rains, deeper burrows and especially nest chambers, where animals usually spend most of the day, could be even more challenging than in shallow burrows. Such situations, however, have been rarely surveyed
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Developmental environment influences activity levels in a montane rodent, Phyllotis xanthopygus. Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-07-02 Emmanuel Fabián Ruperto,Paula Andrea Taraborelli,Josefina Menéndez,Paola Lorena Sassi
Ambient temperature and thermal variability play a crucial role in diverse aspects of organisms’ biology. In the current context of climate change, it is critical to understand how temperature impacts traits that could affect fitness. In Phyllotis xanthopygus, a small altricial rodent inhabiting an altitudinal gradient in the Andes Mountains of Argentina, the behavioral response to temperature varies
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Feral pigeon populations: their gene pool and links with local domestic breeds. Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-06-27 Dimitri Giunchi,Nadia Mucci,Daniele Bigi,Chiara Mengoni,N Emilio Baldaccini
Columba livia is a wild bird whose domestication has led to a large number of pigeon breeds. The occasional loss or straying of domestic birds determined the origin of feral pigeons, which are now widespread all around the world. In this study, we assumed that the main contribution to feral populations is provided by domestic breeds reared in the same areas. We tested this hypothesis by analysing the
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Allograft Inflammatory Factor AIF-1: early immune response in the Mediterranean sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus. Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-06-20 Marco Chiaramonte,Vincenzo Arizza,Simona La Rosa,Vinicius Queiroz,Manuela Mauro,Mirella Vazzana,Luigi Inguglia
Echinoderms are a phylum of deuterostomic invertebrates that play a key role in maintaining the biodiversity of marine ecosystems. They represent a good study model for immunity because their coelomic fluid contains different types of cells involved in the inflammatory response: the coelomocytes. In the case of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus, the coelomocyte population is mainly represented by
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Reproduction in the pitviper Bothrops jararacussu: large females increase their reproductive output while small males increase their potential to mate. Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-06-17 Karina M P Silva,Henrique B Braz,Karina N Kasperoviczus,Otavio A V Marques,Selma M Almeida-Santos
Reproductive traits vary widely within and among snake species, and are influenced by a range of factors. However, additional studies are needed on several species, especially on tropical snake faunas, to fully understand the patterns of reproductive variation in snakes. Here, we characterized the reproductive biology of B. jararacussu from southeastern and southern Brazil. We combined macroscopic
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Developmental stages of Amphibiocystidium sp., a parasite from the Italian stream frog (Rana italica). Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-06-02 Anna Fagotti,Roberta Rossi,Romina Paracucchi,Livia Lucentini,Francesca Simoncelli,Ines Di Rosa
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Ear asymmetry in Tengmalm's owl (Aegolius funereus): Two phases of asymmetrical development of the squamoso-occipital wing. Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-05-29 Markus Krings,Rui Castanhinha,Elena Müller-Limberger,Benjamin Wipfler,Hermann Wagner
Ear asymmetry is an adaptive characteristic present in the order of owls (Strigiformes). It developed independently up to seven times in this taxon and is accompanied by morphological adaptations in bones or soft tissues around or at the ear openings. Within all strigiform species, the Boreal or Tengmalm’s owl (Aegolius funereus) possesses a particularly complex bilateral ear asymmetry that results
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What do stable isotopes tell us about the trophic ecology of Thamnodynastes hypoconia (Serpentes: Dipsadidae) in southern Brazil? Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-05-26 Marluci Müller Rebelato,Kirk O Winemiller,Andrew M Durso,Alexandro Marques Tozetti,Plínio Barbosa de Camargo,Laura Verrastro
Snakes are a useful model for ecological studies because they are gape-limited predators that may undergo ontogenetic changes in diet. We analyzed carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios to estimate percent contributions of different prey to snake biomass, trophic positions and isotopic niche width of juveniles and adults of the snake Thamnodynastes hypoconia. We also estimated the isotopic niche
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Reproductive and Somatic Senescence in the European Badger (Meles meles): Evidence from Lifetime Sex-Steroid Profiles. Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-05-15 Nadine Adrianna Sugianto,Chris Newman,David W Macdonald,Christina D Buesching
Among the Carnivora, there is sparse evidence for any substantive fitness benefits of post reproductive lifespan (PRLS, survival after reproductive cessation, RC). Using the European badger (Meles meles) as a model species, we analyzed sex-specific cross-sectional endocrinological and morphological data to investigate: 1) age-dependent reproductive decline in sex-steroid levels versus prime reproductive
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Island effect in the shell phenotypic plasticity of an intertidal gastropod. Zoology (IF 1.681) Pub Date : 2020-05-14 J Vasconcelos,R Sousa,V M Tuset,R Riera
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