Behavior is critical for animal survival and reproduction, possibly diversification evolutionary radiation. However, the genetics behind adaptive variation in behavior are poorly understood. In this work, we examined a fundamental widespread behavioral trait, exploratory behavior, one of largest radiations on Earth, cichlid fishes Lake Tanganyika. By integrating quantitative data from 57 species (702 wild-caught individuals) with high-resolution ecomorphological genomic information, show...

Males in various species adjust their mate choice to sperm competition risk and intensity arising when females potentially with several competing males. If males use social information copy other males' choices, this leads an increased likelihood of for both, the copying copied male. In livebearing fishes (Poeciliidae), appear avoid being by temporarily moving away from preferred approaching nonpreferred ones ("audience effect"), thereby exploiting rival's propensity copy. Responding rival...

Consistent individual differences in behavioral tendencies (animal personality) can affect mate choice decisions. We asked whether personality traits male and female decisions similarly potential effects are consistent across different situations. Using western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) as our study organism, we characterized focal individuals (males females) twice for boldness, activity, sociability/shoaling found high significant repeatability. Additionally, each was tested two...

Abstract Context Habitat loss and degradation impose serious threats on biodiversity. However, not all habitats receive the attention commensurate with their ecological importance. Shrub ecotones (successional stages between grasslands forests) can be highly species-diverse but are often restricted to small areas as prevalent management practices either promote open grassland or forest habitats, threatening effective conservation of ecotone species. Objectives In this study, we assessed...

One aspect of premating isolation between diverging, locally-adapted population pairs is female mate choice for resident over alien male phenotypes. Mating preferences often show considerable individual variation, and whether or not certain individuals are more likely to contribute interbreeding remains be studied. In the Poecilia mexicana-species complex different ecotypes have adapted hydrogen sulfide (H2S)-toxic springs, females from adjacent non-sulfidic habitats prefer sulfide-adapted...

Stream ecosystems show gradual variation of various selection factors, which can result in a zonation species distributions and gradient evolution morphological life-history traits within species. Identifying the selective agents underlying such phenotypic is challenging as different could shared and/or unique (species-specific) responses to components river gradient. We studied stream inhabited by two mosquitofishes (genus Gambusia) Río Grijalva basin southern Mexico found patchy...

Abstract We studied the formation of protein synthesis‐dependent long‐term memory (LTM) in parasitic wasp Nasonia vitripennis Walker (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), a parasitoid fly pupae. Female wasps were trained one five different training procedures presence hosts and odour cinnamon. Six days later reaction towards was tested static four‐chamber olfactometer. When by single drilling experience we could not find any to cinnamon after 6 days. In contrast, when either via plus host feeding,...

Abstract Understanding whether and how ambient ecological conditions affect the distribution of personality types within among populations lies at heart research on animal personality. Several studies have focussed only one agent divergent selection (or driver plastic changes in behavior), considering either predation risk or a single abiotic factor. Here, we investigated an array biotic environmental factors simultaneously shape population differences boldness, activity open‐field test,...

The existence of individual variation in males' motivation to mate remains a conundrum as directional selection should favour high mating frequencies. Balancing resulting from (context-dependent) female choice could contribute the maintenance this behavioural polymorphism. In dichotomous tests, mosquitofish ( Gambusia holbrooki ) females preferred virtual males showing intermediate frequencies, reflecting females' tendencies avoid harassment by highly sexually active males. When tested...

While many mating preferences have a genetic basis, the question remains as to whether and how learning/experience can modify individual mate choice decisions. We used wild-caught (predator-experienced) F1 laboratory-reared (predator-naïve) invasive Western mosquitofish Gambusia affinis from China test (assessed in first test) would change under immediate predation threat. The same individuals were tested second during which 1 of 3 types animated predators was presented: 1) co-occurring...

The Bavarian Forest National Park, established in 1970, is a unique area of forests with large nonintervention zones, which promote large-scale rewilding process low human interference. Thus, the Park authority particularly interested investigating structure and dynamics forest ecosystems within park. However, conventional inventories are timeconsuming not able to fully record heterogeneity natural forests. Our goal develop advanced techniques for tree species mapping based on hyperspectral...

The extent to which males exert mate choice (mate choosiness) depends on various environmental factors associated with the costs of acquisition and quality assessment, risk remaining unmated. When low population densities translate into encounter rates, this should result in reduced choosiness. In a system overall high mating for (due precopulatory guarding, called amplexus), we investigated amplexus re-establishment after separating pairs presenting focal novel, size-matched female. Male...

Abstract Animals confronted with any kind of novelty show behavioural responses driven by avoidance and exploration. The expression both tendencies is modulated anxiety. Especially in group-living animals, the presence conspecifics can reduce anxiety novel situations hence increase exploratory tendency. Such intensified triggered social environment an individual are called facilitation. Here, we tested for facilitation on tendency juvenile Green chromide cichlid fish ( Etroplus suratensis )...

In recent decades, the integration of horses in European rewilding initiatives has gained widespread popularity, driven by their potential for regulating vegetation and restoring natural ecosystems. However, employing conservation efforts presents some important challenges, which we here explore discuss. These challenges encompass strong long-lasting emotional bond to horses, mostly overlooked issues low genetic diversity high susceptibility hereditary diseases selected animals, as well...

Abstract The partitioning of ecological niches is a fundamental component species diversification in adaptive radiations. However, it presently unknown if and how such bursts organismal diversity are influenced by temporal niche partitioning, wherein avoid competition being active during different time windows. Here, we address this question through profiling activity patterns the exceptionally diverse fauna cichlid fishes from African Lake Tanganyika. By integrating week-long longitudinal...

During mate choice copying (MCC), individuals evaluate the attractiveness of potential mating partners while observing if they are preferred or rejected by other individuals. Numerous studies have examined female MCC, its role during male received far less attention. Using western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) as our study organism, we asked individual focal males would spend more time associating with previously a pair stimulus females (a large- and small-bodied female) after had observed...

Abstract Millions of people across the world have been exposed to wildlife documentaries David Attenborough and Bernhard Grzimek, who thus greatly influenced public’s views on nature biodiversity. We investigated way organisms’ biology is portrayed in these documentaries, quantifying different types animal interactions shown. evaluated 1498 (Attenborough) 391 (Grzimek) within- between-species from covering a wide range environments taxa, first aired between 1956 2019. tested whether relative...

Abstract The extent of male mate choosiness is driven by a trade-off between various environmental factors associated with the costs acquisition, quality assessment and opportunity costs. Our knowledge about natural variation in across different populations same species, however, remains limited. In this study, we compared 10 freshwater amphipod Gammarus roeselii (Gervais 1835), species overall high mating investments, evaluated relative influence population density sex ratio (both affecting...