ALBERT

Description: Gut microorganisms are crucial for many biological functions playing a pivotal role in the host’s well-being. We studied gut bacterial community structure of marine iguana populations across the Galápagos archipelago. Marine iguanas depend heavily on their specialized gut microbiome for the digestion of dietary algae, a resource whose growth was strongly reduced by severe “El Niño”-related climatic fluctuations in 2015/2016. As a consequence, marine iguana populations showed signs of starvation as expressed by a poor body condition. Body condition indices (BCI) varied between island populations indicating that food resources (i.e., algae) are affected differently across the archipelago during ‘El Niño’ events. Though this event impacted food availability for marine iguanas, we found that reductions in body condition due to “El Niño”-related starvation did not result in differences in bacterial gut community structure. Species richness of gut microorganisms was instead correlated with levels of neutral genetic diversity in the distinct host populations. Our data suggest that marine iguana populations with a higher level of gene diversity and allelic richness may harbor a more diverse gut microbiome than those populations with lower genetic diversity. Since low values of these diversity parameters usually correlate with small census and effective population sizes, we use our results to propose a novel hypothesis according to which small and genetically less diverse host populations might be characterized by less diverse microbiomes. Whether such genetically depauperate populations may experience additional threats from reduced dietary flexibility due to a limited intestinal microbiome is currently unclear and calls for further investigation.

Description: Many laboratory experiments demonstrate how orb-web spiders change the architecture of their webs in response to prey, surroundings and wind loading. The overall shape of the web and a range of other web parameters are determined by frame and anchor threads. In the wild, unlike the lab, the anchor threads are attached to branches and leaves that are not stationary but move, which affects the thread tension field. Here we experimentally test the effect of a moving support structure on the construction behaviour and web-parameters of the garden cross spider Araneus diadematus. We found no significant differences in building behaviour between rigid and moving anchors in total time spent and total distance covered nor in the percentage of the total time spent and distance covered to build the three major web components: radials, auxiliary and capture spirals. Moreover, measured key parameters of web-geometry were equally unaffected. These results call for re-evaluation of common understanding of spider webs as thread tensions are often considered to be a major factor guiding the spider during construction and web-operation.

Description: Urbanisation is proceeding at an alarming rate which forces wildlife to either retreat from urban areas or cope with novel stressors linked to human presence and activities. For example, urban stressors like anthropogenic noise, artificial light at night and chemical pollution can have severe impacts on the physiology of wildlife (and humans), in particular the immune system and antioxidant defences. These physiological systems are important to combat and reduce the severity of parasitic infections, which are common among wild animals. One question that then arises is whether urban-dwelling animals, whose immune and antioxidant system are already challenged by the urban stressors, are more susceptible to parasitic infections. To assess this, we studied nestlings of Eurasian kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) in Vienna, Austria, during 2015 and 2017. We measured biomarkers of innate immune function, oxidative stress and body mass index and ectoparasite infection intensity in 143 nestlings (from 56 nests) along an urban gradient. Nestlings in more urbanised areas had overall fewer ectoparasites, lower haemolysis (complement activity) and lower body mass index compared to nestlings in less urbanised areas. None of the other immune or oxidative stress markers were associated with the urban gradient. Despite some non-significant results, our data still suggest that kestrel nestlings experience some level of reduced physiological health, perhaps as a consequence of exposure to more urban stressors or altered prey availability in inner-city districts even though they had an overall lower ectoparasite burden in these heavily urbanised areas.

Description: Chemical communication plays a fundamental role in many aspects of an animal’s life from assessing habitat quality to finding mating partners. Behavioural observations show that chemical communication likewise plays an important role in spiders, but the contexts and the substances involved are little explored. Here, we investigate the chemical communication in the garden cross spider Araneus diadematus (Clerck, 1757) between and within the sexes. Using choice trials, we demonstrate that males are attracted to odours of adult females, but not to those of subadult females. Our data further suggest that adult females avoid odours of conspecific adult females, possibly in order to reduce reproductive competition with other females. Cuticle and silk extracts as well as headspace samples of subadult and adult virgin females were analysed via GC–MS. Available candidate compounds for the female sex pheromone were tested via electroantennography on palps (electropalpography) of adult virgin females and on females in behavioural trials. We propose sulcatone (6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one) as a candidate substance for the female volatile pheromone and several long-chained alkanes and alcohols as candidates for contact pheromones. Apart from demonstrating that attraction of males to females depends on the latter’s developmental stage, our study suggests that pheromones can also play an important role between females, an aspect that requires further attention.

Description: The timing of volatile organic compound (VOC) emission by flowering plants often coincides with pollinator foraging activity. Volatile emission is often considered to be paced by environmental variables, such as light intensity, and/or by circadian rhythmicity. The question arises as to what extent pollinators themselves provide information about their presence, in keeping with their long co-evolution with flowering plants. Bumblebees are electrically charged and provide electrical stimulation when visiting plants, as measured via the depolarisation of electric potential in the stem of flowers. Here we test the hypothesis that the electric charge of foraging bumblebees increases the floral volatile emissions of bee pollinated plants. We investigate the change in VOC emissions of two bee-pollinated plants (Petunia integrifolia and Antirrhinum majus) exposed to the electric charge typical of foraging bumblebees. P. integrifolia slightly increases its emissions of a behaviorally and physiologically active compound in response to visits by foraging bumblebees, presenting on average 121 pC of electric charge. We show that for P. integrifolia, strong electrical stimulation (600–700 pC) promotes increased volatile emissions, but this is not found when using weaker electrical charges more representative of flying pollinators (100 pC). Floral volatile emissions of A. majus were not affected by either strong (600–700 pC) or weak electric charges (100 pC). This study opens a new area of research whereby the electrical charge of flying insects may provide information to plants on the presence and phenology of their pollinators. As a form of electroreception, this sensory process would bear adaptive value, enabling plants to better ensure that their attractive chemical messages are released when a potential recipient is present.

Description: Diminishing prospects for environmental preservation under climate change are intensifying efforts to boost capture, storage and sequestration (long-term burial) of carbon. However, as Earth’s biological carbon sinks also shrink, remediation has become a key part of the narrative for terrestrial ecosystems. In contrast, blue carbon on polar continental shelves have stronger pathways to sequestration and have increased with climate-forced marine ice losses—becoming the largest known natural negative feedback on climate change. Here we explore the size and complex dynamics of blue carbon gains with spatiotemporal changes in sea ice (60–100 MtCyear−1), ice shelves (4–40 MtCyear−1 = giant iceberg generation) and glacier retreat (

Description: The cosmopolitan water caltrop plant (Trapa natans L.) produces nuts, which in the maturing process develop very hard pericarps. This hardness, together with structure and shape (external spikes) of pericarp and seed, and the water contained in the fruit are responsible for their mechanical properties. This study determined the force needed to break Trapa natans nuts at various drying stages, with tests having been carried out at weekly intervals until the fruit dried completely. The amount of force necessary for cracking nuts at each of the 6 drying stages was determined, as well as the work of crushing calculated until the greatest compressive force (crushing force) was reached. The force needed to rupture the hydrated fruit in the horizontal plane was higher than that necessary for the rupture of dried fruit. The experiment showed that the maximum force needed to crush the fruit was 828.7 N and occurred when crushing the fruit after 2 weeks of drying, while the largest calculated crushing work was 2185.5 mJ for the same fruit. Other strength parameters were introduced to characterize mechanical properties of water caltrop in a more extensive scope. These are hardness defined as a ratio of compressive force increment to strain increment, specific crushing energy defined as a ratio of crushing work to water caltrop’s mass, and unit crashing force defined as a ratio of crushing force to caltrop’s thickness. All these parameters reached their highest mean values for pericarps after 2 weeks of desiccation. Mass measurements were also applied in modelling the desiccation process by the exponential function. The very dense pericarp material, after reaching maturity, slightly changes during drying. It can be used industrially as an extremely durable and biodegradable biological material. Results also suggest that the great evolutionary success of the species may result from the ability of the pericarp to protect its seeds, leading to the spread of this species in aquatic environments.

Description:    Orb-weaving spiders construct webs with adhesive silk but are not trapped by it. Previous studies have attributed this defense to an oily coating on their legs that protects against adhesion or, more recently, to behavioral avoidance of sticky lines. The old evidence is very weak, however, and the behavioral avoidance explanation is inadequate because orb-weavers push with their hind legs against sticky lines hundreds or thousands of times during construction of each orb and are not trapped. Video analyses of behavior and experimental observations of isolated legs pulling away from contact with sticky lines showed that the spider uses three anti-adhesion traits: dense arrays of branched setae on the legs that reduce the area of contact with adhesive material; careful engagement and withdrawal movements of its legs that minimize contact with the adhesive and that avoid pulling against the line itself; and a chemical coating or surface layer that reduces adhesion. Content Type Journal Article Category Short Communication Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0901-9 Authors R. D. Briceño, Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, Ciudad Universitaria, San Pedro, Costa Rica W. G. Eberhard, Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, Ciudad Universitaria, San Pedro, Costa Rica Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Among social insects, maintaining a distinct colony profile allows individuals to distinguish easily between nest mates and non-nest mates. In ants, colony-specific profiles can be encoded within their cuticular hydrocarbons, and these are influenced by both environmental and genetic factors. Using nine monogynous Formica exsecta ant colonies, we studied the stability of their colony-specific profiles at eight time points over a 4-year period. We found no significant directional change in any colony profile, suggesting that genetic factors are maintaining this stability. However, there were significant short-term effects of season that affected all colony profiles in the same direction. Despite these temporal changes, no significant change in the profile variation within colonies was detected: each colony’s profile responded in similar manner between seasons, with nest mates maintaining closely similar profiles, distinct from other colonies. These findings imply that genetic factors may help maintain the long-term stability of colony profile, but environmental factors can influence the profiles over shorter time periods. However, environmental factors do not contribute significantly to the maintenance of diversity among colonies, since all colonies were affected in a similar way. Content Type Journal Article Category Short Communication Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0898-0 Authors S. J. Martin, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN UK S. Shemilt, Chemical Ecology Group, School of Physical and Geographical Sciences, Keele University, Keele, ST5 5BG UK F. P. Drijfhout, Chemical Ecology Group, School of Physical and Geographical Sciences, Keele University, Keele, ST5 5BG UK Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Dromiciops gliroides is an arboreal marsupial found in the temperate forests of South America (36–43 °S). This species is the sole extant representative of the order Microbiotheria, and is a key seed disperser of many native plant species, including the keystone mistletoe Tristerix corymbosus . Here, we synthesized the current knowledge on the ecological aspects of this species, and compared the available information from Argentina and Chile. Population density (23 ± 2 (mean ± SE) individual/ha) and home range (1.6 ± 0.6 ha) appear to be relatively similar across a marked ecological gradient in the mainland, but lower densities (7 ± 2 individual/ha) and smaller home ranges (0.26 ± 0.04 ha) were detected at island sites. We detected regional variation in body condition in Chile, but there were no significant differences across a wider E-W gradient. Movement patterns fit a random walk model; such behavior might have important consequences in shaping plant’s spatial patterns. Although our data suggest that D. gliroides is more tolerant to habitat disturbance than previously thought, its incapability to disperse across non-forested areas suggests that the rapid rate of habitat loss and fragmentation that characterizes southern temperate forests likely poses a serious threat to this species. These ecological similarities are surprising given that forests studied receive dramatically different rainfall and correspond to distinct forest types. The evidence synthetized here dispels some of the myths about this species but also stresses the need for more comprehensive ecological studies across its distribution range. Content Type Journal Article Category Review Pages 1-9 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0969-2 Authors Francisco E. Fontúrbel, Departamento de Ciencias Ecológicas, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, 7800024 Santiago, Chile Marcela Franco, Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas, Universidad Austral de Chile, Campus Isla Teja, Valdivia, Chile Mariano A. Rodríguez-Cabal, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA M. Daniela Rivarola, INIBIOMA, CONICET-Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina Guillermo C. Amico, INIBIOMA, CONICET-Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Urbanisation critically threatens biodiversity because of habitat destruction and novel selection pressures. Some animals can respond to these challenges by modifying their behaviour, particularly anti-predator behaviour, allowing them to persist in heavily transformed urban areas. We investigated whether the anti-predator behaviour of the Cape ground squirrel Xerus inauris differed in three localities that differed in their level of urbanisation. According to the habituation hypothesis, we predicted that ground squirrels in urban areas would: (a) be less vigilant and forage more; (b) trade-off flight/vigilance in favour of foraging; and (c) have shorter flight initiation distances (FID) when approached by a human observer. Observations were made in winter and summer at each locality. As expected, ground squirrels in urbanised areas were less vigilant and had shorter FIDs but did not trade-off between foraging and vigilance. In contrast, a population in a non-urbanised locality showed greater levels of vigilance, FID and traded-off vigilance and foraging. A population in a peri-urban locality showed mixed responses. Our results indicate that Cape ground squirrels reduce their anti-predator behaviour in urban areas and demonstrate a flexible behavioural response to urbanisation. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0971-8 Authors Tarryn Chapman, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits, Witwatersrand, 2050 South Africa Tasmin Rymer, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits, Witwatersrand, 2050 South Africa Neville Pillay, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits, Witwatersrand, 2050 South Africa Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Energy allocation is determined by resource availability and trade-offs among traits, and so organisms have to give some traits priority over others to maximize their fitness according to their environment. In this study, we investigated the geographic variations in life history traits and potential trade-offs in populations of the parasitoid Leptopilina heterotoma (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) originating from the north and the south of the Rhône–Saône valley (over a gradient of 300 km, South-East France). We measured a set of traits related to reproduction, maintenance, and mobility using several estimators of each of these main functions determined at different times. We did not find any clear differences between populations from contrasting areas, whereas the southern populations, which were all assumed to be exposed to similar environmental conditions, displayed contrasting patterns of energy allocation. Thus, the most likely explanation seems to be that the evolution of the life history of L. heterotoma is probably shaped by local selective pressures, such as microclimate, microhabitats, or intensity of competition, rather than by regional ecological conditions. Using our study as an example, we discuss the interest of considering several traits and using different ways of measuring them, concluding that multiple measurements should be performed in future studies to ensure the robustness of the results. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0972-7 Authors Pauline Vuarin, UMR CNRS 6553, Equipe PaysaClim, Université de Rennes 1, 35042 Rennes, France Roland Allemand, UMR CNRS 5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, Université Lyon 1, 69622 Villeurbanne, France Joffrey Moiroux, UMR CNRS 6553, Equipe PaysaClim, Université de Rennes 1, 35042 Rennes, France Joan van Baaren, UMR CNRS 6553, Equipe PaysaClim, Université de Rennes 1, 35042 Rennes, France Patricia Gibert, UMR CNRS 5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, Université Lyon 1, 69622 Villeurbanne, France Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    The ability to distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar conspecifics is important for many animals, especially territorial species since it allows them to avoid unnecessary interactions with individuals that pose little threat. There are very few studies, however, that identify the proximate cues that facilitate such recognition in visual systems. Here, we show that in tawny dragons ( Ctenophorus decresii ), males can recognize familiar and unfamiliar conspecific males based on morphological features alone, without the aid of chemical or behavioural cues. We further show that it is the colour pattern of the throat patches (gular) that facilitates this recognition. Content Type Journal Article Category Short Communication Pages 869-872 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0968-3 Authors Louise Osborne, Evolution, Ecology and Genetics, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT 0200, Australia Kate D. L. Umbers, Evolution, Ecology and Genetics, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT 0200, Australia Patricia R. Y. Backwell, Evolution, Ecology and Genetics, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT 0200, Australia J. Scott Keogh, Evolution, Ecology and Genetics, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT 0200, Australia Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042 Journal Volume Volume 99 Journal Issue Volume 99, Number 10

Description:    In the study of plant defense evolution, invasive plant species can be very insightful because they are often introduced without their enemies, and traits linked to defense can be released from selective pressures and evolve. Further, studying plant defense evolution in invasive species is important for biological control and use of these species. In this study, we investigated the evolution of the defensive chemicals quinolizidine alkaloids (QAs) in the invasive species gorse, Ulex europaeus . Using a common garden experiment, our goals were to characterize the role of QAs relative to specialist enemies of gorse and to investigate if QA concentration evolved in invaded regions, where gorse was introduced without these enemies. Our results showed that pod infestation rate by the seed predator Exapion ulicis and infestation by the rust pathogen Uromyces genistae-tinctoriae were negatively correlated to concentration of the QA lupanine. Quinolizidine alkaloid concentration was very variable between individuals, both within and among populations, but it was not different between native and invaded regions, suggesting that no evolution of decreased resistance occurred after gorse lost its enemies. Our study also suggests that QA concentrations are traits integrated into seed predation avoidance strategies of gorse, with plants that mass-fruit in spring but do not escape pod infestation in time being richer in QAs. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0970-9 Authors Benjamin Hornoy, ECOBIO, Université de Rennes 1, Campus de Beaulieu, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France Anne Atlan, ECOBIO, Université de Rennes 1, Campus de Beaulieu, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France Michèle Tarayre, ECOBIO, Université de Rennes 1, Campus de Beaulieu, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France Sébastien Dugravot, BIO3P, Université de Rennes 1, Campus de Beaulieu, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France Michael Wink, Institut für Pharmazie und Molekulare Biotechnologie, Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Umami is one of basic tastes that humans and other vertebrates can perceive. This taste is elicited by L-amino acids and thus has a special role of detecting nutritious, protein-rich food. The T1R1 + T1R3 heterodimer acts as the principal umami receptor. The T1R1 protein is encoded by the Tas1r1 gene. We report multiple inactivating (pseudogenizing) mutations in exon 3 of this gene from four phocid and two otariid species (Pinnipedia). Jiang et al. (Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 109:4956–4961, 2012 ) reported two inactivating mutations in exons 2 and 6 of this gene from another otariid species. These findings suggest lost or greatly reduced umami sensory capabilities in these species. The widespread occurrence of a nonfunctional Tas1r1 pseudogene in this clade of strictly carnivorous mammals is surprising. We hypothesize that factors underlying the pseudogenization of Tas1r1 in pinnipeds may be driven by the marine environment to which these carnivorans (Carnivora) have adapted and may include: the evolutionary change in diet from tetrapod prey to fish and cephalopods (because cephalopods and living fish contain little or no synergistic inosine 5′-monophosphate that greatly enhances umami taste), the feeding behavior of swallowing food whole without mastication (because the T1R1 + T1R3 receptor is distributed on the tongue and palate), and the saltiness of sea water (because a high concentration of sodium chloride masks umami taste). Content Type Journal Article Category Short Communication Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0939-8 Authors Jun J. Sato, Laboratory of Animal Cell Technology, Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Fukuyama University, Higashimura-cho, Aza, Sanzo, 985, Fukuyama, 729-0292 Japan Mieczyslaw Wolsan, Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wilcza 64, 00-679 Warszawa, Poland Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Phosphatic (possibly secondarily phosphatised) remains of antipatharian coralla, previously unknown in the fossil record, occur abundantly in the early Ordovician Fenxiang Formation in the Hubei Province, southern China. Probably two species (and genera) are represented, which differ in spinosity of branches. The more spinose one, Sinopathes reptans , has its lateral spines bearing regular, longitudinally arranged costellae. The early Floian geological age of this finding, about 470 Ma, supports predictions on the timing of anthozoan phylogeny derived from the molecular phylogenetic evidence. Black corals (Antipatharia) are basal to the scleractinians in the Hexacorallia clade, being more derived than sea anemones and the Zoantharia. Based on calibration of the molecular clock with Mesozoic data, the first split of lineages within the scleractinian hexacorals was proposed to take place approximately 425 million years ago. This implies that the origin of Antipatharia should precede this date. They have not been known in the fossil record because of unmineralised skeleton composed primarily of laminar chitin complexed with a protein. Unlike all recent species, the encrusting basal part of the colony dominated in the Ordovician ones and only occasionally erect branches developed, rather chaotically ramified. This presumably plesiomorphic trait seems consistent with ancient geological age and suggests that some problematic fossils from the Late Cambrian may be their, even less-derived, relatives. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-9 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0947-8 Authors Andrzej Baliński, Instytut Paleobiologii PAN, Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warszawa, Poland Yuanlin Sun, Key Laboratory of Orogenic Belts and Crustal Evolution, School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871 China Jerzy Dzik, Instytut Paleobiologii PAN, Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warszawa, Poland Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Colourful ornaments are traditionally evaluated as one trait. However, they could consist of several components, such as total size, colour intensity and extension, each possibly bearing its own message about one aspect of quality. Males of the blenny Salaria pavo exhibit a colourful head crest and solely care for eggs. During the breeding season, the head crest shows a yellow colouration, the intensity and relative extension of which are independent of crest size. Here, we show that: (1) carotenoids are responsible for the head crest yellow patch; (2) activating the immune system by injecting the bacterial antigen lipopolysaccharides affects both the intensity and extent of the yellow colouration; and (3) females assess males on the basis of colour patch expression. However, the response of the yellow patch to the immune challenge was dependent on head crest size. Indeed, males with a larger head crest reacted better to the simulated infection, sustaining a level of yellow patch close to pre-challenge size. Content Type Journal Article Category Short Communication Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0959-4 Authors Lisa Locatello, Department of Biology, University of Padova, via U. Bassi 58/B, Padova, Italy Matteo Pizzolon, Department of Biology, University of Padova, via U. Bassi 58/B, Padova, Italy Maria Berica Rasotto, Department of Biology, University of Padova, via U. Bassi 58/B, Padova, Italy Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Rove beetles of the genus Stenus Latreille and the genus Dianous Leach possess pygidial glands containing a multifunctional secretion of piperidine and pyridine-derived alkaloids as well as several terpenes. One important character of this secretion is the spreading potential of its different compounds, stenusine, norstenusine, 3-(2-methyl-1-butenyl)pyridine, cicindeloine, α-pinene, 1,8-cineole and 6-methyl-5-heptene-2-one. The individual secretion composition enables the beetles to skim rapidly and far over the water surface, even when just a small amount of secretion is emitted. Ethological investigations of several Stenus species revealed that the skimming ability, skimming velocity and the skimming behaviour differ between the Stenus species. These differences can be linked to varied habitat claims and secretion saving mechanisms. By means of tensiometer measurements using the pendant drop method, the spreading pressure of all secretion constituents as well as some naturally identical beetle secretions on the water surface could be established. The compound 3-(2-methyl-1-butenyl)pyridine excelled stenusine believed to date to be mainly responsible for skimming relating to its surface activity. The naturally identical secretions are not subject to synergistic effects of the single compounds concerning the spreading potential. Furthermore, evolutionary aspects of the Steninae’s pygidial gland secretion are discussed. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-11 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0975-4 Authors Carolin Lang, Department of Animal Ecology II, University of Bayreuth, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany Karlheinz Seifert, Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Bayreuth, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany Konrad Dettner, Department of Animal Ecology II, University of Bayreuth, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    The intensity of interspecific interactions between hosts and symbionts varies among populations of each organism because of differences in the biotic and abiotic environment. We found geographic mosaics in associations between lucanid beetles ( Dorcus rectus and Dorcus striatipennis ) and symbiotic mites ( Haitlingeria sp. and Sandrophela sp., respectively) that were caused by the collapse of host specificity in the northern part of Japan. Haitlingeria sp. was only collected from the surface of the exoskeleton of D . rectus in south and central Japan. Sandrophela sp. showed host specificity in southern to central Japan but was found on both beetle species in areas where Haitlingeria sp. was not found. Because Haitlingeria sp. was able to reproduce on D . rectus collected from Haitlingeria -free regions and no significant differences were observed in average temperature between the host-specific and nonspecific regions bordering on each other, we suggest that the expansion of Haitlingeria sp. in the north has been limited for unknown reasons. When both mites were placed together on D . rectus , only Haitlingeria sp. reproduced, probably because it killed Sandrophela sp., especially juveniles. Thus, we conclude that Sandrophela sp. has expanded its host use to include D . rectus in areas where Haitlingeria sp. is absent. We hypothesise that false host specificity in the canestriniids has been maintained by habitat isolation and/or aggressive behaviour toward competitors. We suggest that host-specific canestriniids provide benefits to hosts that do not develop countermeasures to exclude micro- or macroparasites from their surfaces. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-7 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0979-0 Authors Kimiko Okabe, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8687, Japan Hayato Masuya, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8687, Japan Natusmi Kanzaki, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8687, Japan Hisatomo Taki, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8687, Japan Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    A spectacular new terrestrial Konzentratlagerstätte is introduced from the Turpan Basin of Xinjiang, China that probably belongs to the late Middle Jurassic Qigu Formation. It contains a mass accumulation of “xinjiangchelyid” turtles preliminarily identified as Annemys sp. In the zone with the highest turtle concentration, complete and articulated turtle skeletons are tightly packed at a density of up to 36 turtles per square meter. The fossiliferous layer is thickened here and shows an erosional base. This high concentration zone outcrops approximately 10 m in length and shows no decrease in turtle density after exposing 2 m of the layer into the hillside. Adjacent is a more expansive zone of at least 10 m by 30 m. In this region, the fossiliferous layer is evenly thick, and approximately five, fully disarticulated turtles are present per square meter. A conservatively estimated 1,800 turtles may, therefore, have been deposited at this site. It is likely that these aquatic turtles gathered in a retreating water hole in a riverine environment during a drought, much as some aquatic turtles will do today, but perished when the habitat dried up completely. A following catastrophic rainfall event caused a debris flow, possibly channelized in a dry river bed, which transported complete turtles, disarticulated turtles, and mudstone clasts and deposited them after a short distance. This taphonomic model is consistent with previous environmental reconstructions of the Turpan Basin during the late Middle Jurassic in predicting the episodic breakdown of regional monsoonal circulation resulting in a seasonally dry climate with severe episodic droughts. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-11 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0974-5 Authors Oliver Wings, Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, Invalidenstraße 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany Márton Rabi, Department of Geosciences, Universität Tübingen, Hölderlinstraße 12, 72074 Tübingen, Germany Jörg W. Schneider, Lehrstuhl Paläontologie, Geologisches Institut, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Bernhard-von-Cotta-Strasse 2, 09599 Freiberg, Germany Leonie Schwermann, Steinmann-Institut für Geologie, Mineralogie und Paläontologie, Universität Bonn, Nussallee 8, 53115 Bonn, Germany Ge Sun, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China Chang-Fu Zhou, Paleontological Institute, Shenyang Normal University, 253 North Huanghe Street, Shenyang, 110034 China Walter G. Joyce, Department of Geosciences, Universität Tübingen, Hölderlinstraße 12, 72074 Tübingen, Germany Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Many animal species are able to perceive light wavelengths beyond those visible to humans. While numerous species are additionally sensitive to short wavelengths (UV), long wavelengths such as the near-infrared spectrum (NIR) are supposed to be unsuitable for visual perception. Here, we experimentally show that under exclusive NIR illumination, the cichlid fish Pelvicachromis taeniatus displays a clear foraging response towards NIR reflecting prey. Additional control experiments without prey indicate that the observed behavior is not a mere response to the NIR environment. These results give first evidence for NIR visual sensitivity in a functional context and thus challenge the current view about NIR perception. Content Type Journal Article Category Short Communication Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0980-7 Authors Denis Meuthen, Institute for Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany Ingolf P. Rick, Institute for Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany Timo Thünken, Institute for Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany Sebastian A. Baldauf, Theoretical Biology Group, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    We incubated eggs of the Japanese gecko Gekko japonicus at three temperatures, and measured yolk testosterone (T) and 17β-estradiol (E2) levels at three time points in embryonic development (oviposition, 1/3 of incubation, and 2/3 of incubation), to examine whether maternal influence on offspring sex via yolk steroid hormone deposition is significant in the species. Eggs incubated at 24 °C and 32 °C produced mostly females, and eggs incubated at 28 °C almost a 50:50 sex ratio of hatchlings. Female-producing eggs were larger than male-producing eggs. Clutches in which eggs were incubated at the same temperature produced mostly same-sex siblings. Yolk T level at laying was negatively related to eggs mass, and yolk E2/T ratio was positively related to egg mass. Results of two-way ANOVA with incubation temperature and stage as the factors show that: yolk E2 level was higher at 32 °C than at 24 °C; yolk T level was higher, whereas yolk E2/T ratio was smaller, at 28 °C than at 24 °C; yolk E2 and T levels were higher at 2/3 than at 1/3 of incubation. Our data in G . japonucus show that: (1) maternal influence on offspring sex via yolk steroid hormone deposition is significant; (2) incubation temperature affects the dynamics of developmental changes in yolk steroid hormones; (3) influences of yolk steroid hormones on offspring sex are secondary relative to incubation temperature effects; and (4) offspring sex correlates with an interaction between incubation temperature and yolk steroid hormones. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-8 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0981-6 Authors Guo-Hua Ding, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210046 Jiangsu, China Jing Yang, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210046 Jiangsu, China Jin Wang, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210046 Jiangsu, China Xiang Ji, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210046 Jiangsu, China Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    The Cambro-Ordovician anomalocaridids are large ecdysozoans commonly regarded as ancestors of the arthropods and apex predators. Predation is indicated partly by the presence of an unusual “peytoia”-type oral cone, which is a tetraradial outer ring of 32 plates, four of which are enlarged and in perpendicular arrangement. This oral cone morphology was considered a highly consistent and defining characteristic of well-known Burgess Shale taxa. It is here shown that Anomalocaris has a different oral cone, with only three large plates and a variable number of smaller and medium plates. Its functional morphology suggests that suction, rather than biting, was used for food ingestion, and that anomalocaridids in general employed a range of different scavenging and predatory feeding strategies. Removing anomalocaridids from the position of highly specialized trilobite predators forces a reconsideration of the ecological structure of the earliest marine animal communities in the Cambrian. Content Type Journal Article Category Short Communication Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0910-8 Authors Allison C. Daley, Department of Palaeontology, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD UK Jan Bergström, Department of Palaeozoology, Swedish Museum of Natural History, P. O. Box 50007, 104 05 Stockholm, Sweden Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    The “RNA world” hypothesis proposes that—early in the evolution of life—RNA molecules played important roles both in information storage and in enzymatic functions. However, this hypothesis seems to be inconsistent with the concept that life may have emerged under hydrothermal conditions since RNA molecules are considered to be labile under such extreme conditions. Presently, the possibility that the last common ancestor of the present organisms was a hyperthermophilic organism which is important to support the hypothesis of the hydrothermal origin of life has been subject of strong discussions. Consequently, it is of importance to study the behavior of RNA molecules under hydrothermal conditions from the viewpoints of stability, catalytic functions, and storage of genetic information of RNA molecules and determination of the upper limit of temperature where life could have emerged. In the present work, self-cleavage of a natural hammerhead ribozyme was examined at temperatures 10–200 °C. Self-cleavage was investigated in the presence of Mg 2+ , which facilitates and accelerates this reaction. Self-cleavage of the hammerhead ribozyme was clearly observed at temperatures up to 60 °C, but at higher temperatures self-cleavage occurs together with hydrolysis and with increasing temperature hydrolysis becomes dominant. The influence of the amount of Mg 2+ on the reaction rate was also investigated. In addition, we discovered that the reaction proceeds in the presence of high concentrations of monovalent cations (Na + or K + ), although very slowly. Furthermore, at high temperatures (above 60 °C), monovalent cations protect the ribozyme against degradation. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-8 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0954-9 Authors Nizar El-Murr, ER12, ANBioPhy, Fonctions et Interactions des Acides Nucléiques, UPMC Univ Paris 6, 75005 Paris, France Marie-Christine Maurel, ER12, ANBioPhy, Fonctions et Interactions des Acides Nucléiques, UPMC Univ Paris 6, 75005 Paris, France Martina Rihova, ER12, ANBioPhy, Fonctions et Interactions des Acides Nucléiques, UPMC Univ Paris 6, 75005 Paris, France Jacques Vergne, ER12, ANBioPhy, Fonctions et Interactions des Acides Nucléiques, UPMC Univ Paris 6, 75005 Paris, France Guy Hervé, ER3, Laboratoire BIOSIPE, UPMC Univ Paris 6, 75005 Paris, France Mikio Kato, Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Osaka Prefecture University, Gakuen-cho 1-1, Naka-ku, Sakai, Osaka, 599-8531 Japan Kunio Kawamura, Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka Prefecture University, Gakuen-cho 1-1, Naka-ku, Sakai, Osaka, 599-8531 Japan Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    The chemical signals of solitary and territorial felid species are essential for their intraspecific communication. We studied the selection of plant substrates during the fecal marking behavior of the European wildcat Felis silvestris from September 2008 to June 2009 in a protected area in Northwest Spain. The aim of the study was to examine the selection of plants as signal posts with respect to their physical characteristics. We hypothesized that wildcats deposit their fecal marks on plants with physical characteristics (e.g., size, species, and visual conspicuousness) that enhance the olfactory and visual effectiveness of the signal. Our results indicate that diameter, plant group, visual conspicuousness, and interaction between the diameter and plant group influence the decision of wildcats to deposit their fecal marks on plants. The wildcats chose plants with greater diameters and greater visual conspicuousness as scent-marking posts. Moreover, the wildcats chose woody and herbaceous plants, and certain plant species were marked more frequently than expected at random. Indeed, our results indicate that the fecal marks were not randomly distributed on the plants: the wildcats chose to place their marks on plants with certain physical characteristics that maximized the detectability of the signal by intruders and potential mates, thus facilitating the spatial distribution of the species. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-9 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0962-9 Authors Ana Piñeiro, Unidad Zoología, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/Darwin, n° 2, Campus Universitario de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain Isabel Barja, Unidad Zoología, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/Darwin, n° 2, Campus Universitario de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Animals have evolved strategies to optimally balance costs and benefits of inbreeding. In social species, these adaptations can have a considerable impact on the structure, the organization, and the functioning of groups. Here, we consider how selection for inbreeding avoidance fashions the social behavior of arthropods, a phylum exhibiting an unparalleled richness of social lifestyles. We first examine life histories and parental investment patterns determining whether individuals should actively avoid or prefer inbreeding. Next, we illustrate the diversity of inbreeding avoidance mechanisms in arthropods, from the dispersal of individuals to the rejection of kin during mate choice and the production of unisexual broods by females. Then, we address the particular case of haplodiploid insects. Finally, we discuss how inbreeding may drive and shape the evolution of arthropods societies along two theoretical pathways. Content Type Journal Article Category Review Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0961-x Authors Seyed Mohammad Tabadkani, Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, PO Box 4111, Karaj, Iran Jamasb Nozari, Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, PO Box 4111, Karaj, Iran Mathieu Lihoreau, School of Biological Sciences and the Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Reproductive division of labour is a characteristic trait of social insects. The dominant reproductive individual, often the queen, uses chemical communication and/or behaviour to maintain her social status. Queens of many social insects communicate their fertility status via cuticle-bound substances. As these substances usually possess a low volatility, their range in queen–worker communication is potentially limited. Here, we investigate the range and impact of behavioural and chemical queen signals on workers of the ant Temnothorax longispinosu s. We compared the behaviour and ovary development of workers subjected to three different treatments: workers with direct chemical and physical contact to the queen, those solely under the influence of volatile queen substances and those entirely separated from the queen. In addition to short-ranged queen signals preventing ovary development in workers, we discovered a novel secondary pathway influencing worker behaviour. Workers with no physical contact to the queen, but exposed to volatile substances, started to develop their ovaries, but did not change their behaviour compared to workers in direct contact to the queen. In contrast, workers in queen-separated groups showed both increased ovary development and aggressive dominance interactions. We conclude that T. longispinosus queens influence worker ovary development and behaviour via two independent signals, both ensuring social harmony within the colony. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0943-z Authors Matthias Konrad, Institute of Science and Technology Austria (IST Austria), Klosterneuburg, Austria Tobias Pamminger, Institute of Zoology, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Johannes von Müller Weg 6, 55099 Mainz, Germany Susanne Foitzik, Institute of Zoology, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Johannes von Müller Weg 6, 55099 Mainz, Germany Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Neanderthals disappeared sometime between 30,000 and 24,000 years ago. Until recently, Neanderthals were understood to have been predominantly meat-eaters; however, a growing body of evidence suggests their diet also included plants. We present the results of a study, in which sequential thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS) and pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) were combined with morphological analysis of plant microfossils, to identify material entrapped in dental calculus from five Neanderthal individuals from the north Spanish site of El Sidrón. Our results provide the first molecular evidence for inhalation of wood-fire smoke and bitumen or oil shale and ingestion of a range of cooked plant foods. We also offer the first evidence for the use of medicinal plants by a Neanderthal individual. The varied use of plants that we have identified suggests that the Neanderthal occupants of El Sidrón had a sophisticated knowledge of their natural surroundings which included the ability to select and use certain plants. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0942-0 Authors Karen Hardy, ICREA at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain Stephen Buckley, BioArCh, University of York, York, UK Matthew J. Collins, BioArCh, University of York, York, UK Almudena Estalrrich, Paleoanthropology Group, Department of Paleobiology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, Madrid, Spain Don Brothwell, BioArCh, University of York, York, UK Les Copeland, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia Antonio García-Tabernero, Paleoanthropology Group, Department of Paleobiology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, Madrid, Spain Samuel García-Vargas, Paleoanthropology Group, Department of Paleobiology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, Madrid, Spain Marco de la Rasilla, Área de Prehistoria, Departamento de Historia, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain Carles Lalueza-Fox, Institute of Evolutionary Biology, CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain Rosa Huguet, Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social (Unidad Asociada—CSIC) Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain Markus Bastir, Paleoanthropology Group, Department of Paleobiology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, Madrid, Spain David Santamaría, Área de Prehistoria, Departamento de Historia, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain Marco Madella, ICREA at IMF-CSIC, Barcelona, Spain Julie Wilson, YCCSA, University of York, York, UK Ángel Fernández Cortés, Departamento de Geología, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales CSIC, C/José Gutierrez Abascal, 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain Antonio Rosas, Paleoanthropology Group, Department of Paleobiology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, Madrid, Spain Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Some odontocetes and bats vary both click intensity and receiver sensitivity during echolocation, depending on target range. It is not known how this so-called automatic gain control is regulated by the animal. The source level of consecutive echolocation clicks from a harbour porpoise was measured with a hydrophone array while the animal detected an aluminium cylinder at 2, 4 or 8 m distance in a go/no-go paradigm. On-axis clicks had source levels of 145–174 dB re 1 μPa peak-to-peak. During target-present trials the click trains reached comparable source levels independent of the range to the target after three clicks. After an additional click, the source level was reduced for the 2 and 4 m trials until it equalled the one-way transmission loss. During target-absent trials, the source level remained high throughout the entire click train. Given typical values of harbour porpoise inter-click intervals, the source level reduction commenced within a few 100 ms from the first click in the click train. This may indicate a sub-cortically regulated source level regulation in the harbour porpoise. Content Type Journal Article Category Short Communication Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0948-7 Authors Meike Linnenschmidt, Institute of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M, Denmark Laura N. Kloepper, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii, PO Box 1106, Kailua, HI 96734, USA Magnus Wahlberg, Institute of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M, Denmark Paul E. Nachtigall, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii, PO Box 1106, Kailua, HI 96734, USA Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    To protect themselves from predation and microorganismic infestation, rove beetles of the genus Stenus produce and store bioactive alkaloids like stenusine, 3-(2-methyl-1-butenyl)pyridine, and cicindeloine in their pygidial glands. The biosynthesis of stenusine and 3-(2-methyl-1-butenyl)pyridine was previously investigated in Stenus bimaculatus and Stenus similis, respectively. Both molecules follow the same biosynthetic pathway, where the N -heterocyclic ring is derived from l -lysine and the side chain from l -isoleucine. The different alkaloids are finally obtained by slight modifications of shared precursor molecules. The piperideine alkaloid cicindeloine occurs as a main compound additionally to ( E )-3-(2-methyl-1-butenyl)pyridine and traces of stenusine in the pygidial gland secretion of Stenus cicindeloides and Stenus solutus . Feeding of S. solutus beetles with [D, 15 N]-labeled amino acids followed by GC/MS analysis techniques showed that cicindeloine is synthesized via the identical pathway and precursor molecules as the other two defensive alkaloids. Content Type Journal Article Category Short Communication Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0945-x Authors Andreas Schierling, Department of Animal Ecology II, University of Bayreuth, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany Konrad Dettner, Department of Animal Ecology II, University of Bayreuth, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany Jürgen Schmidt, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Weinberg 3, 06120 Halle, Germany Karlheinz Seifert, Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Bayreuth, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    A resource allocation trade-off is expected when resources from a common pool are allocated to two or more traits. In holometabolous insects, resource allocation to different functions during metamorphosis relies completely on larval-derived resources. At adult eclosion, resource allocation to the abdomen at the expense of other body parts can be seen as a rough estimate of resource allocation to reproduction. Theory suggests geographic variation in resource allocation to the abdomen, but there are currently no empirical data on it. We measured resource allocation to the abdomen at adult eclosion in four geometrid moths along a latitudinal gradient. Resource (total dry material, carbon, nitrogen) allocation to the abdomen showed positive allometry with body size. We found geographic variation in resource allocation to the abdomen in each species, and this variation was independent of allometry in three species. Geographic variation in resource allocation to the abdomen was complex. Resource allocation to the abdomen was relatively high in partially bivoltine populations in two species, which fits theoretical predictions, but the overall support for theory is weak. This study indicates that the geographic variation in resource allocation to the abdomen is not an allometric consequence of geographic variation in resource acquisition (i.e., body size). Thus, there is a component of resource allocation that can evolve independently of resource acquisition. Our results also suggest that there may be intraspecific variation in the degree of capital versus income breeding. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0940-2 Authors Sami M. Kivelä, Department of Biology, University of Oulu, PO Box 3000, 90014 Oulu, Finland Panu Välimäki, Department of Biology, University of Oulu, PO Box 3000, 90014 Oulu, Finland David Carrasco, Department of Biology, University of Oulu, PO Box 3000, 90014 Oulu, Finland Maarit I. Mäenpää, Department of Biology, University of Oulu, PO Box 3000, 90014 Oulu, Finland Satu Mänttäri, Department of Biology, University of Oulu, PO Box 3000, 90014 Oulu, Finland Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Natural sources for novel insecticide molecules hold promise in view of their eco-friendly nature, selectivity, and mammalian safety. Recent progress in understanding the biology of insect olfaction and taste offers new strategies for developing selective pest control agents. We have isolated two natural insecticidal molecules from edible roots of Decalepis hamiltonii named Decalesides I and II , which are novel trisaccharides, highly toxic to household insect pests and stored-product insects. We have experimentally shown that insecticidal activity requires contact with tarsi on the legs but is not toxic orally. The insecticidal activity of molecules is lost by hydrolysis, and various sugars modify toxic response, showing that the insecticidal activity is via gustatory sites on the tarsi. Selective toxicity to insects by virtue of their gustatory site of action and the mammalian safety of the new insecticides is inherent in their chemical structure with 1-4 or 1-1 α linkage that is easily hydrolyzed by digestive enzymes of mammals. Decalesides represent a new chemical class of natural insecticides with a unique mode of action targeting tarsal chemosensory/gustatory system of insects. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0966-5 Authors Yallappa Rajashekar, Department of Food Protectants and Infestation Control, Central Food Technological Research Institute, (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research), Mysore, 570 020 India Lingamallu J. M. Rao, Department of Plantation Products, Spices and Flavour Technology, Central Food Technological Research Institute, (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research), Mysore, 570 020 India Thimmappa Shivanandappa, Department of Food Protectants and Infestation Control, Central Food Technological Research Institute, (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research), Mysore, 570 020 India Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Adjusting to low temperatures is important for animals living in cold environments. We studied the chill–coma recovery time in temperate ant workers ( Temnothorax nylanderi ) from colonies collected in autumn and spring in Germany. We experimentally acclimated these ant colonies to cold temperatures followed by warm temperatures. As expected, cold-acclimated workers recovered faster from freezing temperatures, but subsequent heat acclimation did not change the short recovery times observed after cold acclimation. Hence, either heat acclimation improves cold tolerance, possibly as a general response to stress, or at least it does not negate enhanced cold tolerance following cold acclimation. Colonies collected in spring showed similar cold tolerance levels to cold-acclimated colonies in the laboratory. Next, we compared the chill–coma recovery time of different worker castes and found that exterior workers recovered faster than interior workers. This difference may be related to their more frequent exposure to cold, higher activity level, or distinct physiology. Interior workers were also heavier and showed a higher gaster-to-head ratio and thorax ratio compared to exterior workers. An obvious difference between exterior and interior workers is activity level, but we found no link between activity and cold tolerance. This suggests that physiology rather than behavioral differences could cause the increased cold tolerance of exterior workers. Our study reveals the importance of acclimation for cold tolerance under natural and standardized conditions and demonstrates differences in cold tolerance and body dimensions in monomorphic behavioral castes of an ant. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-9 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0963-8 Authors Andreas P. Modlmeier, Institute of Zoology, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Johannes von Müller Weg 6, 5099 Mainz, Germany Tobias Pamminger, Institute of Zoology, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Johannes von Müller Weg 6, 5099 Mainz, Germany Susanne Foitzik, Institute of Zoology, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Johannes von Müller Weg 6, 5099 Mainz, Germany Inon Scharf, Institute of Zoology, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Johannes von Müller Weg 6, 5099 Mainz, Germany Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Living in groups raises important issues concerning waste management and related sanitary risks. Social insects such as ants live at high densities with genetically related individuals within confined and humid nests, all these factors being highly favorable for the spread of pathogens. Therefore, in addition to individual immunity, a social prophylaxis takes place, namely, by the removal of risky items such as corpses and their rejection at a distance from the ant nest. In this study, we investigate how Myrmica rubra workers manage to reduce encounters between potentially hazardous corpses and nestmates. Using both field and laboratory experiments, we describe how the spatial distribution and the removal distance of waste items vary as a function of their associated sanitary risks (inert item vs. corpse). In the field, corpse-carrying ants walked in a rather linear way away from the nest entrance and had an equal probability of choosing any direction. Therefore, they did not aggregate corpses in dedicated areas but scattered them in the environment. In both field and laboratory experiments, ants carrying corpses dropped their load in more remote—and less frequented—areas than workers carrying inert items. However, for equidistant areas, ants did not avoid dropping corpses at a location where they perceived area marking as a cue of high occupancy level by nestmates. Our results suggest that ants use distance to the nest rather than other occupancy cues to limit sanitary risks associated with dead nestmates. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0965-6 Authors Lise Diez, Unit of Social Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, CP 231, Bd du Triomphe, 1050 Brussels, Belgium Jean-Louis Deneubourg, Unit of Social Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, CP 231, Bd du Triomphe, 1050 Brussels, Belgium Claire Detrain, Unit of Social Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, CP 231, Bd du Triomphe, 1050 Brussels, Belgium Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Foraging specialization plays an important role in the ability of social insects to efficiently allocate labor. However, relatively little is known about the degree to which individual bumble bees specialize on collecting nectar or pollen, when such preferences manifest, and if individuals can alter their foraging preferences in response to changes in the colony workforce. Using Bombus impatiens , we monitored all foraging visits made by every bee in multiple colonies and showed that individual foragers exhibit consistent lifetime foraging preferences. Based upon the distribution of foraging preferences, we defined three forager types (pollen specialists, nectar specialists, and generalists). In unmanipulated colonies, 16–36 % of individuals specialized (≥90 % of visits) on nectar or pollen only. On its first day of foraging, an individual’s foraging choices (nectar only, pollen only, or nectar and pollen) significantly predicted its lifetime foraging preferences. Foragers that only collected pollen on their first day of foraging made 1.61- to 1.67-fold more lifetime pollen foraging visits (as a proportion of total trips) than foragers that only collected nectar on their first foraging day. Foragers were significantly larger than bees that stayed only in the nest. We also determined the effect of removing pollen specialists at early (brood present) or later (brood absent) stages in colony life. These results suggest that generalists can alter their foraging preferences in response to the loss of a small subset of foragers. Thus, bumble bees exhibit individual lifetime foraging preferences that are established early in life, but generalists may be able to adapt to colony needs. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-12 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0964-7 Authors Jessica Hagbery, Section of Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC0116, La Jolla, CA 92093-0116, USA James C. Nieh, Section of Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC0116, La Jolla, CA 92093-0116, USA Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Dispersal flight is the most important and almost the only way for primary aquatic insects to find new water habitats. During a 30-week-long project, we monitored the flight dispersal behaviour of aquatic beetles and bugs with using highly and horizontally polarizing agricultural black plastic sheets laid onto the ground. Based on the flight data of more than 45,000 individuals and 92 species, we explored and described eight different diel flight activity patterns. We found that seven of eight dispersal patterns are consistent with the previous knowledge, while three conspicuous mass dispersal periods can be identified as in the mid morning and/or around noon and/or at nightfall. As an exception, we found a ‘daytime’ pattern occurred exclusively in spring, in which mass dispersal can be seen from mid morning to late afternoon. In contrast to previous studies, we emphasize here that the seasonality has to be considered in evaluation of the diurnal flight activity. According to the seasons, a ‘three code sign’ was proposed to indicate the diel dispersal flight behaviour of a species for a year. Most of the species utilize different diel activity patterns in different seasons. In spring, the daytime pattern was the preferred type, but in summer and autumn, the evening types were the most popular patterns. We stated that the seasonal change of air temperature has a crucial role in that a pattern could be manifested in a given season or not and brings a need to change the diel dispersal pattern among seasons. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-15 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0957-6 Authors Zoltán Csabai, Department of Ecology and Hydrobiology, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 6, 7624 Pécs, Hungary Zoltán Kálmán, Department of Ecology and Hydrobiology, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 6, 7624 Pécs, Hungary Ildikó Szivák, Department of Ecology and Hydrobiology, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 6, 7624 Pécs, Hungary Pál Boda, Department of Tisza River Research, Balaton Limnological Institute, Centre for Ecological Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Bem tér 18/c, 4026 Debrecen, Hungary Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Mealybugs, which include several agricultural pests, are small sap feeders covered with a powdery wax. They exhibit clear sexual dimorphism; males are winged but fragile and short lived, whereas females are windless and less mobile. Thus, sex pheromones emitted by females facilitate copulation and reproduction by serving as a key navigation tool for males. Although the structures of the hitherto known mealybug pheromones vary among species, they have a common structural motif; they are carboxylic esters of monoterpene alcohols with irregular non-head-to-tail linkages. However, in the present study, we isolated from the Matsumoto mealybug, Crisicoccus matsumotoi (Siraiwa), a pheromone with a completely different structure. Using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, we identified the pheromone as 3-methyl-3-butenyl 5-methylhexanoate. Its attractiveness to males was confirmed in a series of field trapping experiments involving comparison between the isolated natural product and a synthetic sample. This is the first report of a hemiterpene mealybug pheromone. In addition, the acid moiety (5-methylhexanoate) appears to be rare in insect pheromones. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-8 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0935-z Authors Jun Tabata, National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, 3-1-3 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8604, Japan Yutaka Narai, Shimane Agricultural Technology Center, 2440 Ashiwata, Izumo, Shimane 693-0035, Japan Nobuo Sawamura, Shimane Agricultural Technology Center, 2440 Ashiwata, Izumo, Shimane 693-0035, Japan Syuntaro Hiradate, National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, 3-1-3 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8604, Japan Hajime Sugie, National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, 3-1-3 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8604, Japan Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Metabolic scaling laws predict a variety of emergent properties of biological systems based on relationships among temperature, body size, and rates of physiological processes. These models have been criticized as being overly simplistic and not accounting for directional variability arising from evolutionary tradeoffs. I measured hatch success and egg development time at six temperatures for 12 populations throughout the latitudinal range of two broadly distributed topminnows ( Fundulus ). I asked if hatch success and development time differed between the species and northern and southern populations. Hatch success reaction norms suggested that the more broadly (and northern) distributed Fundulus notatus was more eurythermic with a lower optima and broader performance breadth than Fundulus olivaceus . Temperature explained most variability in mass-corrected development time. Development time differed between the species, but not northern and southern populations. Deviations from predictions of universal scaling laws were most pronounced away from specie's thermal optima. Content Type Journal Article Category Short Communication Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0936-y Authors Jacob Schaefer, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Exceptionally well-preserved giant spermatozoa observed between abundant decalcified carapace valves of ostracods (Crustacea: Ostracoda) were found in Late Glacial to Holocene (14,400 to 10,000 cal years bp ) lacustrine sediments in the southern Romanian Carpathians. Analysis by scanning electron microscopy and laser scanning confocal microscopy revealed good preservation of the appendages enabling specific identification as Cypria ophtalmica (Candonidae) and indication of the presence of both female and male specimens based on the sexual dimorphism of the second antenna. This record represents the oldest and richest direct evidence of virtually morphologically unaltered animal spermatozoa preserved in females after mating. Content Type Journal Article Category Short Communication Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0934-0 Authors Sanda Iepure, Department of Geology, Babes-Bolyai University, Kogalniceanu 1, 400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania Tadeusz Namiotko, Laboratory of Limnozoology, Department of Genetics, University of Gdańsk, Kładki 24, 80-822 Gdańsk, Poland Antonio G. Valdecasas, Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, National Museum of Natural History, CSIC, c/José Gutiérrrea Abascal, 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain Enikö K. Magyari, Research Group for Paleontology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences–Hungarian Natural History Museum, P.O. Box 222, Budapest, 1476 Hungary Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Telomeres shorten as a consequence of DNA replication, in particular in cells with low production of telomerase and perhaps in response to physiological stress from exposure to reactive oxygen species, such as superoxide. This process of telomere attrition is countered by innate antioxidation, such as via the production of superoxide dismutase. We studied the inheritance of telomere length in the Australian painted dragon lizard ( Ctenophorus pictus ) and the extent to which telomere length covaries with mass-corrected maternal reproductive investment, which reflects the level of circulating yolk precursor and antioxidant, vitellogenin. Our predictors of offspring telomere length explained 72 % of telomere variation (including interstitial telomeres if such are present). Maternal telomere length and reproductive investment were positively influencing offspring telomere length in our analyses, whereas flow cytometry-estimated superoxide level was negatively impacting offspring telomere length. We suggest that the effects of superoxide on hatchling telomere shortening may be partly balanced by transgenerational effects of vitellogenin antioxidation. Content Type Journal Article Category Short Communication Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0941-1 Authors Cissy Ballen, School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Sydney, Australia Mo Healey, School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Sydney, Australia Mark Wilson, School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia Michael Tobler, School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Sydney, Australia Mats Olsson, School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Sydney, Australia Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Prey-specialised predators have evolved specific cognitive adaptations that increase their prey searching efficiency. In particular, when the prey is social, selection probably favours the use of prey intraspecific chemical signals by predatory arthropods. Using a specialised ant-eating zodariid spider, Zodarion rubidum , which is known to prey on several ant species and possesses capture and venom adaptations more effective on Formicinae ants, we tested its ability to recognise chemical cues produced by several ant species. Using an olfactometer, we tested the response of Z. rubidum towards air with chemical cues from six different ant species: Camponotus ligniperda , Lasius platythorax and Formica rufibarbis (all Formicinae); and Messor structor , Myrmica scabrinodis and Tetramorium caespitum (all Myrmicinae). Z. rubidum was attracted to air carrying chemical cues only from F. rufibarbis and L. platythorax . Then, we identified that the spiders were attracted to airborne cues coming from the F. rufibarbis gaster and Dufour's gland, in particular. Finally, we found that among several synthetic blends, the decyl acetate and undecane mixture produced significant attraction of spiders. These chemicals are produced only by three Formicine genera. Furthermore, we investigated the role of these chemical cues in the communication of F. rufibarbis and found that this blend reduces their movement. This study demonstrates the chemical cognitive capacity of Z. rubidum to locate its ant prey using chemical signals produced by the ants. The innate capacity of Z. rubidum to olfactory detect different ant species is narrow, as it includes only two ant genera, confirming trophic specialisation at lower than subfamily level. The olfactory cue detected by Zodarion spiders is probably a component of the recruitment or trail pheromone. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-9 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0938-9 Authors Manuel Cárdenas, Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 61 137 Brno, Czech Republic Pavel Jiroš, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Flemingovo nám. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic Stano Pekár, Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 61 137 Brno, Czech Republic Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    The efficacy of bright photophase (BP) in accelerating the re-entrainment of Drosophila biarmipes rhythm following 8 h phase advance and delay of light–dark (LD) cycle was examined by subjecting the flies to 24 h LD cycles with dim photophase (DP) at 30 lx and BP at 300 lx. Re-entrainment was analysed by using the activity onset, activity offset and the duration of activity. Following LD advance or delay, the BP flies re-entrained faster than the DP flies which was attributed to the enhanced zeitgeber strength of BP. Nevertheless, the re-entrainment was a protracted process even in the BP flies since the activity offsets underwent more transients than the activity onsets. Thus, this study demonstrates that the BP accelerates the re-entrainment in D. biarmipes . It, however, also reveals that the re-entrainment is a prolonged process when the activity onset and offset are regarded as the rhythm markers. Content Type Journal Article Category Short Communication Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0928-y Authors Boynao Sinam, Center for Biological Rhythm Research, Ahmednagar College, Ahmednagar, 414001 MS, India Shweta Sharma, Center for Biological Rhythm Research, Ahmednagar College, Ahmednagar, 414001 MS, India Pooja Thakurdas, Center for Biological Rhythm Research, Ahmednagar College, Ahmednagar, 414001 MS, India Dilip S. Joshi, Center for Biological Rhythm Research, Ahmednagar College, Ahmednagar, 414001 MS, India Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description: The pitfalls of body temperature measurements Content Type Journal Article Category Comments & Replies Pages 1-3 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0924-2 Authors Kathrin H. Dausmann, Department of Animal Ecology and Conservation, Biocentre Grindel, University Hamburg, Martin-Luther-King-Platz 3, 20146 Hamburg, Germany Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    The idea of analysing the general favourability for the occurrence of an event was presented in 2006 through a mathematical function. However, even when favourability has been used in species distribution modelling, the conceptual framework of this function is not yet well perceived among many researchers. The present paper is conceived for providing a wider and more in-depth presentation of the idea of favourability; concretely, we aimed to clarify both the concept and the main distinctive characteristics of the favourability function, especially in relation to probability and suitability, the most common outputs in species distribution modelling. As the capabilities of the favourability function go beyond species distribution modelling, we also illustrate its usefulness for different research disciplines for which this function remains unknown. In particular, we stressed that the favourability function has potential to be applied in all the cases where the probability of occurrence of an event is analysed, such as, for example, habitat selection or epidemiological studies. Content Type Journal Article Category Concepts & Synthesis Pages 1-8 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0926-0 Authors Pelayo Acevedo, Biogeography, Diversity, and Conservation Research Team, Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain Raimundo Real, Biogeography, Diversity, and Conservation Research Team, Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Semi-circadian rhythms of spontaneous photon emission from wheat seedlings germinated and grown in a constant environment (darkened chamber) were found to be synchronized with the rhythm of the local gravimetric (lunisolar) tidal acceleration. Time courses of the photon-count curves were also found to match the growth velocity profile of the seedlings. Pair-wise analyses of the data—growth, photon count, and tidal—by local tracking correlation always revealed significant coefficients ( P  〉 0.7) for more than 80% of any of the time periods considered. Using fast Fourier transform, the photon-count data revealed periodic components similar to those of the gravimetric tide. Time courses of biophoton emissions would appear to be an additional, useful, and innovative tool in both chronobiological and biophysical studies. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-8 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0921-5 Authors Thiago A. Moraes, School of Technology, University of Campinas, Rua Paschoal Marmo 1888, 13484-332 Limeira, SP, Brazil Peter W. Barlow, School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1UG UK Emile Klingelé, Institute of Geodesy and Photogrammetry, ETH, HIL D 42.2, Wolfgang-Pauli-Strasse 15, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland Cristiano M. Gallep, School of Technology, University of Campinas, Rua Paschoal Marmo 1888, 13484-332 Limeira, SP, Brazil Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Monogeny, the production of unisexual broods by individual females, has been recognized for nearly 80 years. The genetic nature of gall midges' sex determination predicts an equal numbers of male-producing and female-producing females in the populations such that the overall sex ratio is expected to be nearly 1:1. However, observations of some strictly monogenous populations with biased sex ratio, mainly toward females, have raised the question of whether gall midges are able to adjust their offspring sex ratio in response to changes in environmental conditions, and some authors have even considered sex ratio regulation as a strong force in the course of the evolution of monogeny. In this paper, first, by studying the sex ratio variations of the predatory gall midge, Aphidoletes aphidimyza within a generation, we showed that adult males emerge up to 1 day earlier and have shorter life span than females (less than 4 days and up to 6 days, respectively). Although, the sex ratio of A. aphidimyza at the time of emergence was nearly 1:1 (52.41 % males), a simple population simulation indicated that the differential mortality of sexes can lead to a female-biased sex ratio estimation (57.88 % females) under random sampling in the natural environments. Our results imply that the primary sex ratio of monogenous gall midges is nearly 1:1 and that the arrhenogenic/thelygenic gall midges are not able to alter the number of their male/female progenies in response to changes in environmental conditions. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Article Pages 1-7 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0925-1 Authors Seyed Mohammad Tabadkani, Department of Plant Protection, College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, PO Box 4111, Karaj, Iran Ahmad Ashouri, Department of Plant Protection, College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, PO Box 4111, Karaj, Iran Majid Qolizadeh, Department of Plant Protection, College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, PO Box 4111, Karaj, Iran Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Melanin is the most common pigment in animal integuments and is responsible for some of the most striking ornaments. A central tenet of sexual selection theory states that melanin-based traits can signal absolute individual quality in any environment only if their expression is condition-dependent. Significant costs imposed by an ornament would ensure that only the highest quality individuals display the most exaggerated forms of the signal. Firm evidence that melanin-based traits can be condition-dependent is still rare in birds. In an experimental test of this central assumption, we report condition-dependent expression of a melanin-based trait in the Eurasian kestrel ( Falco tinnunculus ). We manipulated nestling body condition by reducing or increasing the number of nestlings soon after hatching. A few days before fledging, we measured the width of sub-terminal black bands on the tail feathers. Compared to nestlings from enlarged broods, individuals raised in reduced broods were in better condition and thereby developed larger sub-terminal bands. Furthermore, in 2 years, first-born nestlings also developed larger sub-terminal bands than their younger siblings that are in poorer condition. This demonstrates that expression of melanin-based traits can be condition-dependent. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0914-4 Authors Romain Piault, Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland Valentijn van den Brink, Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland Alexandre Roulin, Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Spinosaurids are among the largest and most specialized carnivorous dinosaurs. The morphology of their crocodile-like skull, stomach contents, and oxygen isotopic composition of the bones suggest they had a predominantly piscivorous diet. Even if close relationships between spinosaurids and Middle Jurassic megalosaurs seem well established, very little is known about the transition from a generalized large basal tetanuran to the specialized morphology of spinosaurids. Spinosaurid remains were previously known from the Early to Late Cretaceous of North Africa, Europe, and South America. Here, we report the discovery of a new spinosaurid theropod from the late Early Cretaceous Savannakhet Basin in Laos, which is distinguished by an autapomorphic sinusoidal dorsosacral sail. This new taxon, Ichthyovenator laosensis gen. et sp. nov., includes well-preserved and partially articulated postcranial remains. Although possible spinosaurid teeth have been reported from various Early Cretaceous localities in Asia, the new taxon I. laosensis is the first definite record of Spinosauridae from Asia. Cladistic analysis identifies Ichthyovenator as a member of the sub-clade Baryonychinae and suggests a widespread distribution of this clade at the end of the Early Cretaceous. Chilantaisaurus tashouikensis from the Cretaceous of Inner Mongolia, and an ungual phalanx from the Upper Jurassic of Colorado are also referred to spinosaurids, extending both the stratigraphical and geographical range of this clade. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-9 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0911-7 Authors Ronan Allain, Département Histoire de la Terre, Centre de Recherches sur la Paléobiodiversité et les Paléoenvironnements (CR2P), Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, UMR 7207 du CNRS CP 38, 57 rue Cuvier, 75231 Paris cedex 05, France Tiengkham Xaisanavong, Science and Technology Office, Savannakhet Dinosaur Museum, Khanthabouly Road, Thamouang Village, Savannakhet, Kaisonphomvihan District, PO Box 739, République Démocratique Populaire Lao Philippe Richir, Département Histoire de la Terre, Centre de Recherches sur la Paléobiodiversité et les Paléoenvironnements (CR2P), Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, UMR 7207 du CNRS CP 38, 57 rue Cuvier, 75231 Paris cedex 05, France Bounsou Khentavong, Science and Technology Office, Savannakhet Dinosaur Museum, Khanthabouly Road, Thamouang Village, Savannakhet, Kaisonphomvihan District, PO Box 739, République Démocratique Populaire Lao Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Rensch's rule claims that sexual size dimorphism (SSD) increases with body size when males are larger but decreases with body size when males are smaller. Chinese wood frog Rana chensinensis is a medium-sized species with female-biased size dimorphism. Using data on body size and age in 27 populations covering the full known size range of the species, we tested the consistency of allometric relationships between the sexes with Rensch's rule and evaluated the hypothesis that SSD is largely a function of age differences between the sexes. The results showed that level of female-biased SSD increased with increasing mean size, supporting the inverse of Rensch's rule. Moreover, most of the variation in SSD can be explained in terms of differences in age between the sexes in populations. Content Type Journal Article Category Short Communication Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0913-5 Authors Wen Bo Liao, Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637009 People’s Republic of China Wei Chen, Ecological Security and Protection Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Mianyang Normal University, Mianyang, 621000 People’s Republic of China Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Recently, Hildebrandt and Lemke (Naturwissenschaften 98:995–1008, 2011 ) argued that the taxonomic status of the three European medicinal leeches, Hirudo medicinalis Linnaeus 1758, Hirudo verbana Carena 1820, and Hirudo orientalis Utevsky and Trontelj (Parasitol Res 98:61−66, 2005 ) is “questionable” since “all three species interbreed in the laboratory”. This statement is in conflict with data published by Elliott and Kutschera (Freshwater Reviews 4:21−41, 2011 ), indicating that these leeches, which are reciprocally copulating hermaphrodites, represent reproductively isolated biospecies. Here, I summarize evidence indicating that these three European taxa, plus the North African “dragon leech” ( Hirudo troctina Johnson 1816), must be interpreted as a complex of closely related species, and that the economically most important taxon H. verbana is polymorphic. Content Type Journal Article Category Comments & Replies Pages 1-2 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0906-4 Authors U. Kutschera, Institute of Biology, University of Kassel, Heinrich-Plett-Str. 40, 34109 Kassel, Germany Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    The Paleocene–Eocene transition is of crucial interest for interpreting the Cenozoic evolutionary radiation of vertebrates. A substantial increase of the number of vertebrate families occurred between the Late Paleocene and Early Eocene, with the appearance of most of the representatives of extant lineages. Basal Eocene marine fish diversity is currently poorly known, exclusively restricted to two assemblages from Denmark and Turkmenistan, respectively. Exceptionally well-preserved articulated skeletal remains of fishes have recently been discovered from a basal Eocene sapropelitic layer exposed along the Kheu River in the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, northern Caucasus, Russia. Here, we report on Gerpegezhus paviai gen. et sp. nov., a new peculiar syngnathoid fish from this new Ciscaucasian locality. The morphological structure of the single available specimen suggests that it is the first long-bodied member of the superfamily Centriscoidea, representing the sole member of the new family Gerpegezhidae, which forms a sister pair with the extant family Centriscidae. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-11 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0912-6 Authors Alexandre F. Bannikov, Borisyak Paleontological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Profsoyuznaya 123, Moscow, 117997 Russia Giorgio Carnevale, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Torino, Via Valperga Caluso, 35, 10125 Torino, Italy Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    The basal theropod dinosaur clade Ceratosauria, and its subclade Abelisauroidea, is characteristic of late Mesozoic terrestrial vertebrate faunas in western Gondwana (South America, Africa, Madagascar, and India) and Europe. Yet unambiguous records of ceratosaurs have hitherto been absent from Australia, where the theropod assemblage appears to include several typically Laurasian clades. Here, we report the first evidence of ceratosaurs (and potentially abelisauroids) from eastern Gondwana––a diagnostic astragalocalcaneum from the Aptian (121–125 Ma) of Victoria, Australia. Ceratosauria thus occurred in both western and eastern Gondwana during the Early Cretaceous. This fossil adds to the poorly known dinosaur fauna of Australia, a major clade of basal theropods, emphasising that its mid-Cretaceous theropod diversity was surprisingly cosmopolitan despite relative geographic isolation, including clades that have been thought to be typical of both Gondwana and Laurasia––Ceratosauria, Spinosauridae, Carcharodontosauria, Tyrannosauroidea, and Deinonychosauria. Such a contemporaneous association of theropod clades is unknown from other Gondwanan continents and questions the views that the late Mesozoic dinosaur fauna of Australia was dominated by Gondwanan or Laurasian elements, extreme isolation, relictualism, and/or novelty as a ‘centre of origin’. The cosmopolitan theropod fauna of Australia probably reflects the global distribution of these clades early in their history, prior to significant continental breakup. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-9 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0915-3 Authors Erich M. G. Fitzgerald, Museum Victoria, GPO Box 666, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia Matthew T. Carrano, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013-7012, USA Timothy Holland, Museum Victoria, GPO Box 666, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia Barbara E. Wagstaff, School of Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia David Pickering, Museum Victoria, GPO Box 666, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia Thomas H. Rich, Museum Victoria, GPO Box 666, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia Patricia Vickers-Rich, Museum Victoria, GPO Box 666, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Aquatic insects find their habitat from a remote distance by means of horizontal polarization of light reflected from the water surface. This kind of positive polarotaxis is governed by the horizontal direction of polarization (E-vector). Tabanid flies also detect water by this kind of polarotaxis. The host choice of blood-sucking female tabanids is partly governed by the linear polarization of light reflected from the host’s coat. Since the coat-reflected light is not always horizontally polarized, host finding by female tabanids may be different from the established horizontal E-vector polarotaxis. To reveal the optical cue of the former polarotaxis, we performed choice experiments in the field with tabanid flies using aerial and ground-based visual targets with different degrees and directions of polarization. We observed a new kind of polarotaxis being governed by the degree of polarization rather than the E-vector direction of reflected light. We show here that female and male tabanids use polarotaxis governed by the horizontal E-vector to find water, while polarotaxis based on the degree of polarization serves host finding by female tabanids. As a practical by-product of our studies, we explain the enigmatic attractiveness of shiny black spheres used in canopy traps to catch tabanids. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0916-2 Authors Ádám Egri, Environmental Optics Laboratory, Department of Biological Physics, Physical Institute, Eötvös University, Pázmány sétány 1, 1117 Budapest, Hungary Miklós Blahó, Environmental Optics Laboratory, Department of Biological Physics, Physical Institute, Eötvös University, Pázmány sétány 1, 1117 Budapest, Hungary András Sándor, Environmental Optics Laboratory, Department of Biological Physics, Physical Institute, Eötvös University, Pázmány sétány 1, 1117 Budapest, Hungary György Kriska, Group for Methodology in Biology Teaching, Biological Institute, Eötvös University, Pázmány sétány 1, 1117 Budapest, Hungary Mónika Gyurkovszky, Department of Parasitology and Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, István utca 2, 1078 Budapest, Hungary Róbert Farkas, Department of Parasitology and Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, István utca 2, 1078 Budapest, Hungary Gábor Horváth, Environmental Optics Laboratory, Department of Biological Physics, Physical Institute, Eötvös University, Pázmány sétány 1, 1117 Budapest, Hungary Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Decompression syndrome (caisson disease or the “the bends”) resulting in avascular necrosis has been documented in mosasaurs, sauropterygians, ichthyosaurs, and turtles from the Middle Jurassic to Late Cretaceous, but it was unclear that this disease occurred as far back as the Triassic. We have examined a large Triassic sample of ichthyosaurs and compared it with an equally large post-Triassic sample. Avascular necrosis was observed in over 15 % of Late Middle Jurassic to Cretaceous ichthyosaurs with the highest occurrence (18 %) in the Early Cretaceous, but was rare or absent in geologically older specimens. Triassic reptiles that dive were either physiologically protected, or rapid changes of their position in the water column rare and insignificant enough to prevent being recorded in the skeleton. Emergency surfacing due to a threat from an underwater predator may be the most important cause of avascular necrosis for air-breathing divers, with relative frequency of such events documented in the skeleton. Diving in the Triassic appears to have been a “leisurely” behavior until the evolution of large predators in the Late Jurassic that forced sudden depth alterations contributed to a higher occurrence of bends. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0918-0 Authors B. M. Rothschild, Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA Z. Xiaoting, Tianyu Natural History Museum, Linyi, Shandong Province 360121, China L. D. Martin, Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Despite a rapidly improving fossil record, the reproductive biology of Mesozoic birds remains poorly known: only a handful of undisputed, isolated Cretaceous eggs (some containing embryonic remains) are known. We report here the first fossil evidence for a breeding colony of Mesozoic birds, preserved at the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Oarda de Jos (Od) site in the Sebeş area of Transylvania, Romania. A lens of calcareous mudstone with minimum dimensions of 80 cm length, 50 cm width and 20 cm depth contains thousands of tightly packed, morphologically homogenous eggshell fragments, seven near-complete eggs and neonatal and adult avialan skeletal elements. Eggshell forms 70–80 % of the matrix, and other fossils are entirely absent. The bones exhibit clear characters of the Cretaceous avialan clade Enantiornithes, and the eggshell morphology is also consistent with this identification. Both taphonomy and lithology show that the components of this lens were deposited in a single flood event, and we conclude that it represents the drowned remains of a larger enantiornithine breeding colony, swamped by rising water, washed a short distance and deposited in a shallow, low-energy pond. The same fate often befalls modern bird colonies. Such a large concentration of breeding birds suggests aquatic feeding in this species, augments our understanding of enantiornithine biology and shows that colonial nesting was not unique to crown birds. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-8 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0917-1 Authors Gareth Dyke, Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO14 3ZH UK Mátyás Vremir, Department of Natural Sciences, Transylvanian Museum Society (EME), 2-4 Napoca Street, Cluj-Napoca, 400009 Romania Gary Kaiser, Royal British Columbia Museum, Victoria, BC, Canada Darren Naish, Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO14 3ZH UK Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Accelerating rate of species loss has prompted researchers to study the role of species diversity in processes that control ecosystem functioning. Although negative impact of species loss has been documented, the evidence concerning its impact on ecosystem stability is still limited. Here, we studied the effects of declining species and functional diversity on plant community responses to drought in the field (open to weed colonization) and greenhouse conditions. Both species and functional diversity positively affected the average yields of field communities. However, this pattern was similar in both drought-stressed and control plots. No effect of diversity on community resistance, biomass recovery after drought and resilience was found because drought reduced biomass production similarly at each level of diversity by approximately 30 %. The use of dissimilarity (characterized by Euclidean distance) revealed higher variation under changing environments (drought-stressed vs. control) in more diverse communities compared to less species-rich assemblages. In the greenhouse experiment, the effect of species diversity affected community resistance, indicating that more diverse communities suffered more from drought than species-poor ones. We conclude that our study did not support the insurance hypothesis (stability properties of a community should increase with species richness) because species diversity had an equivocal effect on ecosystem resistance and resilience in an environment held under non-weeded practice, regardless of the positive relationship between sown species diversity and community biomass production. More species-rich communities were less resistant against drought-stressed conditions than species-poor ones grown in greenhouse conditions. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0922-4 Authors Vojtěch Lanta, Section of Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland Jiří Doležal, Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic Lenka Zemková, Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic Jan Lepš, Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    The notion that RNA must have had a unique and decisive role in the development of life needs hardly be questioned. However, the chemical complexity and other properties of RNA, such as high solubility in water and vulnerability to degradation, make it improbable that RNA could have had an early presence in the development of life on Earth or on any comparable telluric planet. Rather, the task of origin of life research must surely be to identify those chemical processes which could have taken place on Earth that could accumulate the complexity and rich molecular information content needed to sustain primitive life, and ultimately give rise to RNA. A collection of likely chemical precursors to modern biomolecules is listed here together with calculations of their molecular complexity. These complexity scores are then used to propose an ordering, on a timescale, of when they might have appeared on Earth. These pre-RNA living systems would have flourished during the first ~0.3 Gyrs after the start of the Archaean era (~4.2 Gyr ago). If there ever was an “RNA-world” it could have started after that initial period (~3.9 Gyrs ago), later to be complemented with the appearance of duplex DNA at about ~3.6 Gyrs ago, some time before the earliest known stromatolites (~3.4 Gyr). Content Type Journal Article Category Concepts & Synthesis Pages 167-176 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0892-6 Authors Robert P. Bywater, Magdalen College, High Street, Oxford, OX1 4AU England, UK Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042 Journal Volume Volume 99 Journal Issue Volume 99, Number 3

Description:    We report that l -5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), a serotonin precursor, resets the overt circadian rhythm in the Indian pygmy field mouse, Mus terricolor , in a phase- and dose-dependent manner. We used wheel running to assess phase shifts in the free-running locomotor activity rhythm. Following entrainment to a 12:12 h light–dark cycle, 5-HTP (100 mg/kg in saline) was intraperitoneally administered in complete darkness at circadian time (CT)s 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 21, and the ensuing phase shifts in the locomotor activity rhythm were calculated. The results show that 5-HTP differentially shifts the phase of the rhythm, causing phase advances from CT 0 to CT 12 and phase delays from CT 12 to CT 21. Maximum advance phase shift was at CT 6 (1.18 ± 0.37 h) and maximum delay was at CT 18 (−2.36 ± 0.56 h). No extended dead zone is apparent. Vehicle (saline) at any CT did not evoke a significant phase shift. Investigations with different doses (10, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) of 5-HTP revealed that the phase resetting effect is dose-dependent. The shape of the phase–response curve (PRC) has a strong similarity to PRCs obtained using some serotonergic agents. There was no significant increase in wheel-running activity after 5-HTP injection, ruling out behavioral arousal-dependent shifts. This suggests that this phase resetting does not completely depend on feedback of the overt rhythmic behavior on the circadian clock. A mechanistic explanation of these shifts is currently lacking. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 233-239 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0893-5 Authors Priyoneel Basu, Chronobiology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India Muniyandi Singaravel, Chronobiology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India Chandana Haldar, Pineal Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042 Journal Volume Volume 99 Journal Issue Volume 99, Number 3

Description:    Wildlife data often show spatial organization, demonstrating positive correlations either as a result of processes occurring over the landscape or due to the influence of spatially structured environmental variables. It is, thus, essential to consider non-random spatial structure when evaluating the underlying causes of biological variation. In this study, we analyzed the population structure of Chilina dombeyana shell morphology of 14 populations that are close geographically and belong to the same hydrographic basin. We utilized a variation partitioning approach to evaluate the importance of spatial processes, such as migration, acting over the landscape, and environmental characteristics, including habitat and hydrologic characteristics, and the occurrence of aquatic predators in promoting between population variation. Our results demonstrate spatially structured variation in C. dombeyana shell morphology, with populations living near each other having more similar shell sizes than populations living farther apart. The shell size variation partition indicated that both spatially structured environmental factors and genetic relationships resulting from migration or shared common ancestry may explain this pattern. Shell shape variation, in contrast, was found to be essentially under the influence of non-spatially structured environmental factors, with habitat and water characteristics accounting for about half of the total variation among populations. The large proportion of the variation in shell size that is spatially structured demonstrates that spatial structure on morphological traits might be strong and highlights the need to consider such phenomenon in intraspecific studies of phenotypic evolution. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 225-232 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0890-8 Authors Angéline Bertin, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de La Serena, Benavente 980, Casilla 599, La Serena, Chile Victor H. Ruíz, Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160-C, Concepción, Chile Ricardo Figueroa, Centro de Ciencias Ambientales EULA-CHILE, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160-C, Concepción, Chile Nicolas Gouin, Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Campus Guayacán, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042 Journal Volume Volume 99 Journal Issue Volume 99, Number 3

Description:    Social insect colonies exhibit highly coordinated responses to ecological challenges by acquiring information that is disseminated throughout the colony. Some responses are coordinated directly from the signals produced by individuals that acquired the information. Other responses may require information to be transferred indirectly through a third party, thereby requiring colony-wide retention of information. Social insects use colony signature odours to distinguish between nestmates and non-nestmates, and the level of aggression between non-nestmates typically varies according to the distance between colonies and thus their history of interactions. Such coordinated, colony-specific responses may require information about particular odours to be disseminated and retained across the colony. Our field experiments with weaver ants reveal colony-wide, indirect acquisition and retention of the signature odours of a different colony with which they had experienced aggression. These data highlight the significance of interaction history and suggest the presence of a collective memory. Content Type Journal Article Category Short Communication Pages 245-248 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0891-7 Authors Katherine P. Gill, Department of Zoology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia Ellen van Wilgenburg, Department of Zoology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia Peter Taylor, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia Mark A. Elgar, Department of Zoology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042 Journal Volume Volume 99 Journal Issue Volume 99, Number 3

Description:    Analysis of female sex pheromone components and subsequent field trap experiments demonstrated that the bombycid moth Trilocha varians uses a mixture of ( E , Z )-10,12-hexadecadienal (bombykal) and ( E,Z )-10,12-hexadecadienyl acetate (bombykyl acetate) as a sex pheromone. Both of these components are derivatives of ( E,Z )-10,12-hexadecadienol (bombykol), the sex pheromone of the domesticated silkmoth Bombyx mori . This finding prompted us to compare the antennal and behavioral responses of T. varians and B. mori to bombykol, bombykal, and bombykyl acetate in detail. The antennae of T. varians males responded to bombykal and bombykyl acetate but not to bombykol, and males were attracted only when lures contained both bombykal and bombykyl acetate. In contrast, the antennae of B. mori males responded to all the three components. Behavioral analysis showed that B. mori males responded to neither bombykal nor bombykyl acetate. Meanwhile, the wing fluttering response of B. mori males to bombykol was strongly inhibited by bombykal and bombykyl acetate, thereby indicating that bombykal and bombykyl acetate act as behavioral antagonists for B. mori males. T. varians would serve as a reference species for B. mori in future investigations into the molecular mechanisms underlying the evolution of sex pheromone communication systems in bombycid moths. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 207-215 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0887-3 Authors Takaaki Daimon, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657 Japan Takeshi Fujii, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657 Japan Masaya Yago, The University Museum, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033 Japan Yu-Feng Hsu, Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, 88, Ting Chou Rd., Sec4, Taipei, 116 Taiwan Yumiko Nakajima, Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, 903-0213 Japan Tsuguru Fujii, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657 Japan Susumu Katsuma, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657 Japan Yukio Ishikawa, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657 Japan Toru Shimada, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657 Japan Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042 Journal Volume Volume 99 Journal Issue Volume 99, Number 3

Description:    During the Mesozoic, one of the most significant evolutionary processes was the secondary adaptation of tetrapods to life in water. Several non-related lineages invaded from the terrestrial realms and from the oceans of the entire world. Among these lineages, ichthyosaurs were particularly successful. Advance parvipelvian ichthyosaurs were the first tetrapods to evolve a fish-shaped body profile. The deep skeletal modifications of their bodies, as well as their biology, depict advance ichthyosaurs as the paradigm of secondary adaptation of reptiles to marine life. Functional inferences point to them as off-shore cruising forms, similar to a living tuna, and some of them were capable of deep diving. Bone histology of some genera such as Temnodontosaurus , Stenopterygius , Ichthyosaurus , and Caypullisaurus , characterized by overall cancellous bone, is consistent with the idea of a fish-shaped ichthyosaurs as fast and far cruisers. Here, we provide histological examination of the ribs of the Middle Jurassic parvipelvian Mollesaurus . Contrasting with the bone histology of other parvipelvian, Mollesaurus ribs are characterized by a compact and thick cortex. Our data indicate that the rib cage was heavy and suggest that not all advanced ichthyosaurs were fast cruisers. The compact and dense ribs in these parvipelvian show that advance ichthyosaurs were ecologically more diverse than previously thought and that the lightening of the skeleton reversed, as also occurred in the evolution of cetacean, at least once along the evolutionary history of ichthyosaurs. Content Type Journal Article Category Short Communication Pages 241-244 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0886-4 Authors Marianella Talevi, CONICET—Instituto de Investigación en Paleobiología y Geología, Universidad Nacional de Río Negro, Isidro Lobo y Belgrano, 8332 General Roca, Río Negro, Argentina Marta S. Fernández, CONICET—División Paleontología Vertebrados, Museo de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque, 1900 La Plata, Argentina Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042 Journal Volume Volume 99 Journal Issue Volume 99, Number 3

Description:    Biological invasions can affect the structure and function of ecosystems and threaten native plant species. Since most weeds rely on mutualistic relationships in their new environment, they may act as new competitors for pollinators. Pollinator competition is likely to be density dependent, but it is often difficult to disentangle competition caused by flower quality from effects caused by flower quantity. In order to test the effects of the presence and number of flowers of the invasive weed Bunias orientalis on the insect visitation rates in a native species ( Sinapis arvensis ), we performed two replacement experiments using plants with standardised flower numbers. The visitation rates in S. arvensis were significantly higher than in B. orientalis and the number of insect visits dropped significantly with increasing density of S. arvensis flowers. These results suggest that intraspecific competition among flowers of S. arvensis is stronger than the competitive effect of alien flowers. As flowers of B. orientalis do not seem to distract visitors from S. arvensis , it is unlikely that pollinator competition between these two plant species plays a crucial role. However, it cannot be excluded that mass blossom stands of B. orientalis may distract flower visitors from native species. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 217-224 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0888-2 Authors Axel Hochkirch, Department of Biogeography, Trier University, 54286 Trier, Germany Tamara Mertes, Department of Biogeography, Trier University, 54286 Trier, Germany Julia Rautenberg, Department of Biogeography, Trier University, 54286 Trier, Germany Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042 Journal Volume Volume 99 Journal Issue Volume 99, Number 3

Description:    In the obligate mutualism between figs ( Ficus ) and their specific pollinators (Chalcidoidea, Agaonidae), each species of fig wasp typically reproduces in figs of a single host species. Host specificity is maintained largely because pollinators are attracted to tree-specific volatiles released from their host figs, but whether the wasps can reproduce if they enter figs of non-host species is unclear. We investigated the reproductive success of Ceratosolen emarginatus (associated with Ficus auriculata ) and Ceratosolen sp. (associated with F. hainanensis ) in atypical hosts by experimentally introducing foundresses into host and non-host figs. F. auriculata figs entered by Ceratosolen sp. were more likely to abort than if entered by C. emarginatus , but abortion of F. hainanensis figs was not affected by pollinator species. Single C. emarginatus foundresses produced more but smaller offspring in F. hainanensis than in their normal host. Conversely Ceratosolen sp. produced fewer but larger offspring in F. auriculata than in their normal host, probably as a result of having longer to develop. Mean style length differences, relative to the lengths of the wasps’ ovipositors, may have dictated the number of offspring produced, with oviposition made easier by the shorter styles in F. hainanensis figs. Our results imply that, in addition to morphological constraints and tree-specific volatiles, reduced reproductive success in atypical hosts can be another factor maintaining host specificity, but for other species only behavioural changes are required for host switching to occur. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 199-205 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0885-5 Authors Pei Yang, Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 88 Xuefu Road, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, People’s Republic of China Zongbo Li, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Forest Disaster Warning and Control, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, People’s Republic of China Yanqiong Peng, Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 88 Xuefu Road, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, People’s Republic of China Darong Yang, Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 88 Xuefu Road, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, People’s Republic of China Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042 Journal Volume Volume 99 Journal Issue Volume 99, Number 3

Description:    Animal lifespans range from a few days to many decades, and this life history diversity is especially pronounced in ants. Queens can live for decades. Males, in contrast, are often assumed to act as ephemeral sperm delivery vessels that die after a brief mating flight—a view developed from studies of lekking species in temperate habitats. In a tropical ant assemblage, we found that males can live days to months outside the nest, a trait hypothesized to be associated with female calling, another common mating system. We combined feeding experiments with respirometry to show that lifespan can be enhanced over 3 months by feeding outside the nest. In one focal female calling species, Ectatomma ruidum , feeding enhanced male lifespan, but not sperm content. Extended lifespans outside the nest suggest stronger than expected selection on premating traits of male ants, although the ways these traits shape male mating success remain poorly understood. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 191-197 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0884-6 Authors Jonathan Z. Shik, Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA Deana Flatt, Department of Zoology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA Adam Kay, Department of Biology, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN 55105, USA Michael Kaspari, Department of Zoology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042 Journal Volume Volume 99 Journal Issue Volume 99, Number 3

Description:    Since 2005, excavations at Mare aux Songes, Mauritius, have revealed the presence of a very rich, ∼4,200-year-old fossil bone bed including dodo ( Raphus cucullatus ) bones and bone fragments. The recently excavated dodo assemblage comprises at least 17 individuals and is characterised by the presence of small and fragile skeletal elements, a dominance of leg elements and an absence of juveniles. The hydrology of the area suggests that dodos, like many other species, were probably lured to Mare aux Songes by the presence of freshwater during times of drought. The most likely scenario for the origin of the fossil deposit is that animals became trapped in the sediment in repeated miring events, which would favour the conservation of hindlimbs. Such a scenario is fully in accordance with the taphonomic characteristics of the bone assemblage. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 177-184 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0882-8 Authors Hanneke J. M. Meijer, Division of Birds, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013-70122, USA Arike Gill, Department of Geology, Netherlands Centre for Biodiversity Naturalis, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands Perry G. B. de Louw, Deltares, Department Soil and Groundwater, P.O. Box 85467, 3508 AL Utrecht, The Netherlands Lars W. Van Den Hoek Ostende, Department of Geology, Netherlands Centre for Biodiversity Naturalis, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands Julian P. Hume, Bird Group, Department of Zoology, Natural History Museum at Tring, Akeman Street, Tring, Herts, HP23 6AP UK Kenneth F. Rijsdijk, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, Computational Bio- and Physical Geography, University of Amsterdam, Sciencepark 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042 Journal Volume Volume 99 Journal Issue Volume 99, Number 3

Description:    After extinction, the reappearance of a conditioned response induced by an unconditioned stimulus which is weaker than that used during the conditioning training indicates that the extinction procedure does not eliminate the original conditioned memory. Recent studies on fear conditioning have shown that rats exhibited little or no recovery of conditioned responding if the time interval between fear acquisition and extinction was short, suggesting that the extinction process may erase the original conditioning trace in this situation. In the present study, a saving experiment was conducted in rats to investigate whether an aversive response could be recovered following extinction training with different time intervals after acquisition of conditioned taste aversion (CTA). Male Long–Evans rats developed CTA by associating a 0.2% sucrose solution with malaise induced by intraperitoneal injection of 4 ml/kg 0.15 M LiCl and were subjected to extinction training with an interval of 5 h (5H group) or 24 h (24H group) after acquisition of CTA. Rats in the 5H group, but not in the 24H group, exhibited no aversive responding to the sucrose solution followed by the injection of a lower dose of LiCl (1 ml/kg). These findings indicate that the extinction procedure administered at different time points following the acquisition of CTA affects recovery of extinguished aversive memory and suggest that an unlearning process may be involved in the mechanisms of CTA extinction with short intervals between acquisition and extinction. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 185-189 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0883-7 Authors Pei-Yi Lin, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1 Jen-Ai Road, 1st Section, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China Yi-Ya Fang, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1 Jen-Ai Road, 1st Section, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China Su-Ping Wang, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1 Jen-Ai Road, 1st Section, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China Mei-Yun Tai, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1 Jen-Ai Road, 1st Section, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China Yuan-Feen Tsai, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1 Jen-Ai Road, 1st Section, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042 Journal Volume Volume 99 Journal Issue Volume 99, Number 3

Description:    New Caledonian crows Corvus moneduloides are the most prolific avian tool users. It has been suggested that some aspects of their complex tool use behaviour are under the influence of cultural processes, involving the social transmission—and perhaps even progressive refinement—of tool designs. Using microsatellite and mt-haplotype profiling of crows from three distinct habitats (dry forest, farmland and beachside habitat), we show that New Caledonian crow populations can exhibit significant fine-scale genetic structuring. Our finding that some sites of 〈10 km apart were highly differentiated demonstrates considerable potential for genetic and/or cultural isolation of crow groups. Restricted movement of birds between local populations at such small spatial scales, especially across habitat boundaries, illustrates how specific tool designs could be preserved over time, and how tool technologies of different crow groups could diverge due to drift and local selection pressures. Young New Caledonian crows have an unusually long juvenile dependency period, during which they acquire complex tool-related foraging skills. We suggest that the resulting delayed natal dispersal drives population-divergence patterns in this species. Our work provides essential context for future studies that examine the genetic makeup of crow populations across larger geographic areas, including localities with suspected cultural differences in crow tool technologies. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 313-320 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0904-6 Authors C. Rutz, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS UK T. B. Ryder, Center for Conservation and Evolutionary Genetics, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Box 37012, MRC 5503, Washington, DC 20013-7012, USA R. C. Fleischer, Center for Conservation and Evolutionary Genetics, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Box 37012, MRC 5503, Washington, DC 20013-7012, USA Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042 Journal Volume Volume 99 Journal Issue Volume 99, Number 4

Description:    Social work force distribution in honeybee colonies critically depends on subtle adjustments of an age-related polyethism. Pheromones play a crucial role in adjusting physiological and behavioral maturation of nurse bees to foragers. In addition to primer effects of brood pheromone and queen mandibular pheromone—both were shown to influence onset of foraging—direct worker–worker interactions influence adult behavioral maturation. These interactions were narrowed down to the primer pheromone ethyl oleate, which is present at high concentrations in foragers, almost absent in young bees and was shown to delay the onset of foraging. Based on chemical analyses, physiological recordings from the antenna (electroantennograms) and the antennal lobe (calcium imaging), and behavioral assays (associative conditioning of the proboscis extension response), we present evidence that ethyl oleate is most abundant on the cuticle, received by olfactory receptors on the antenna, processed in glomeruli of the antennal lobe, and learned in olfactory centers of the brain. The results are highly suggestive that the primer pheromone ethyl oleate is transmitted and perceived between individuals via olfaction at close range. Content Type Journal Article Category Short Communication Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0909-1 Authors Thomas S. Muenz, Department of Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology, Biozentrum, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany Alban Maisonnasse, Abeilles et Environment, Laboratoire Biologie et Protection de l’Abeille, INRA UMR 406, Site Agroparc, 84914 Avignon, France Erika Plettner, Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6 Yves Le Conte, Abeilles et Environment, Laboratoire Biologie et Protection de l’Abeille, INRA UMR 406, Site Agroparc, 84914 Avignon, France Wolfgang Rössler, Department of Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology, Biozentrum, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    The females of several internal fertilizers are able to store sperm for a long time, reducing the risk of sperm limitation. However, it also means that males can attempt to mate outside females’ receptive period, potentially increasing the level of sperm competition and exacerbating sexual conflict over mating. The guppy ( Poecilia reticulata ), an internally fertilizing fish, is a model system of such competition and conflict. Female guppies accept courtship and mate consensually only during receptive periods of the ovarian cycle but receive approximately one (mostly forced) mating attempt per minute both during and outside their sexually receptive phase. In addition, females can store viable sperm for months. We expected that guppy females would disfavour sperm received during their unreceptive period, possibly by modulating the quality and/or quantity of the components present in the ovarian fluid (OF) over the breeding cycle. Ovarian fluid has been shown to affect sperm velocity, a determinant of sperm competition success in this and other fishes. We found that in vitro sperm velocity is slower in OF collected from unreceptive females than in OF from receptive females. Visual stimulation with a potential partner prior to collection did not significantly affect in vitro sperm velocity. These results suggest that sperm received by unreceptive females may be disfavoured as sperm velocity likely affects the migration process and the number of sperm that reach storage sites. Content Type Journal Article Category Short Communication Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0908-2 Authors Clelia Gasparini, Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy Gabriele Andreatta, Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy Andrea Pilastro, Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Ribosomal proteins (RPs) play pivotal roles in developmental regulation. The loss or mutation of ribosomal protein L11 ( RPL11 ) induces various developmental defects. However, few RPs have been functionally characterized in Apis cerana cerana . In this study, we isolated a single copy gene, AccRPL11 , and characterized its connection to brain maturation. AccRPL11 expression was highly concentrated in the adult brain and was significantly induced by abiotic stresses such as pesticides and heavy metals. Immunofluorescence assays demonstrated that AccRPL11 was localized to the medulla, lobula and surrounding tissues of esophagus in the brain. The post-transcriptional knockdown of AccRPL11 gene expression resulted in a severe decrease in adult brain than in other tissues. The expression levels of other brain development-related genes, p38 , ERK2 , CacyBP and CREB , were also reduced. Immunofluorescence signal attenuation was also observed in AccRPL11-rich regions of the brain in ds AccRPL11 -injected honeybees. Taken together, these results suggest that AccRPL11 may be functional in brain maturation in honeybee adults. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0905-5 Authors Fei Meng, State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong 271018, People’s Republic of China Wenjing Lu, State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong 271018, People’s Republic of China Feifei Yu, State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong 271018, People’s Republic of China Mingjiang Kang, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong 271018, People’s Republic of China Xingqi Guo, State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong 271018, People’s Republic of China Baohua Xu, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong 271018, People’s Republic of China Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Hexactinellids (glass sponges) are an understudied class with syncytial organization and poor procariotic associations, thought to lack defensive secondary metabolites. Poriferans, though, are outstanding sources of bioactive compounds; nonetheless, a growing suspicion suggests that many of these chemicals could be symbiont-derived. In Polar latitudes, sponges are readily invaded by diatoms, which could provide natural products. Hexactinellids are typical of deep waters; but in Antarctica, they dominate the upper shelf providing shelter and food supply to many opportunistic mesograzers and macroinvertebrates, which exert strong ecological pressures on them. Aiming to examine the incidence of defensive activities of hexactinellids against consumption, feeding experiments were conducted using their lipophilic fractions. Antarctic hexactinellid and demosponge extracts were tested against the asteroid Odontaster validus and the amphipod Cheirimedon femoratus as putative sympatric, omnivorous consumers. Hexactinellids yielded greater unpalatable activities towards the amphipod, while no apparent allocation of lipophilic defenses was noted. After chemical analyses on the lipophilic fractions from these Antarctic glass sponges, quite similar profiles were revealed, and no peculiar secondary metabolites, comparable to those characterizing other poriferans, were found. Instead, the lipidic compounds 5α(H)-cholestan-3-one and two glycoceramides were isolated for their particular outspread presence in our samples. The isolated compounds were further assessed in asteroid feeding assays, and their occurrence was evaluated for chemotaxonomical purposes in all the Antarctic samples as well as in glass sponges from other latitudes by NMR and MS. Characteristic sphingolipids are proposed as chemical markers in Hexactinellida, with possible contributions to the classification of this unsettled class. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-16 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0907-3 Authors Laura Núñez-Pons, Departament de Biologia Animal (Invertebrats), Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain Marianna Carbone, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, CNR, Comprensorio Olivetti, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Napoli, Italy Debora Paris, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, CNR, Comprensorio Olivetti, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Napoli, Italy Dominique Melck, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, CNR, Comprensorio Olivetti, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Napoli, Italy Pilar Ríos, Centro Oceanográfico de Gijón, Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Av. Príncipe de Asturias, 70 bis, 33212 Gijón, Asturias, Spain Javier Cristobo, Centro Oceanográfico de Gijón, Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Av. Príncipe de Asturias, 70 bis, 33212 Gijón, Asturias, Spain Francesco Castelluccio, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, CNR, Comprensorio Olivetti, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Napoli, Italy Margherita Gavagnin, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, CNR, Comprensorio Olivetti, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Napoli, Italy Conxita Avila, Departament de Biologia Animal (Invertebrats), Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Environmental stressors during early life may have persistent consequences for phenotypic development and fitness. In group-living species, an important stressor during juvenile development is the presence and familiarity status of conspecific individuals. To alleviate intraspecific conflicts during juvenile development, many animals evolved the ability to discriminate familiar and unfamiliar individuals based on prior association and use this ability to preferentially associate with familiar individuals. Assuming that familiar neighbours require less attention than unfamiliar ones, as predicted by limited attention theory, assorting with familiar individuals should increase the efficiency in other tasks. We assessed the influence of social familiarity on within-group association behaviour, development and foraging of juvenile life stages of the group-living, plant-inhabiting predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis . The observed groups consisted either of mixed-age familiar and unfamiliar juvenile mites or of age-synchronized familiar or unfamiliar juvenile mites or of pairs of familiar or unfamiliar larvae. Overall, familiar mites preferentially grouped together and foraged more efficiently, i.e. needed less prey at similar developmental speed and body size at maturity, than unfamiliar mites. Preferential association of familiar mites was also apparent in the inter-exuviae distances. Social familiarity was established by imprinting in the larval stage, was not cancelled or overridden by later conspecific contacts and persisted into adulthood. Life stage had an effect on grouping with larvae being closer together than nymphal stages. Ultimately, optimized foraging during the developmental phase may relax within-group competition, enhance current and future food supply needed for optimal development and optimize patch exploitation and leaving under limited food. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 303-311 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0903-7 Authors Markus A. Strodl, Group of Arthropod Ecology and Behavior, Division of Plant Protection, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Peter Jordan-Strasse 82, 1190 Vienna, Austria Peter Schausberger, Group of Arthropod Ecology and Behavior, Division of Plant Protection, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Peter Jordan-Strasse 82, 1190 Vienna, Austria Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042 Journal Volume Volume 99 Journal Issue Volume 99, Number 4

Description:    Despite the great increase in pterosaur diversity in the last decades, particularly due to discoveries made in western Liaoning (China), very little is known regarding pterosaur biogeography. Here, we present the description of a new pterosaur from the Jiufotang Formation that adds significantly to our knowledge of pterosaur distribution and enhances the diversity of cranial anatomy found in those volant creatures. Guidraco venator gen. et sp. nov. has an unusual upward-directed frontal crest and large rostral teeth, some of which surpass the margins of the skull and lower jaw when occluded. The new species is closely related to a rare taxon from the Brazilian Crato Formation, posing an interesting paleobiogeographic problem and supporting the hypothesis that at least some early Cretaceous pterosaur clades, such as the Tapejaridae and the Anhangueridae, might have originated in Asia. The association of the new specimen with coprolites and the cranial morphology suggest that G. venator preyed on fish. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-9 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0889-1 Authors Xiaolin Wang, Key Laboratory of Evolutionary Systematics of Vertebrates, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, PO Box 643, Beijing, 100044 China Alexander W. A. Kellner, Laboratory of Systematics and Taphonomy of Fossil Vertebrates, Department of Geology and Paleontology, Museu Nacional Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Quinta da Boa Vista s/n, São Cristóvão, 20940-040 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil Shunxing Jiang, Key Laboratory of Evolutionary Systematics of Vertebrates, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, PO Box 643, Beijing, 100044 China Xin Cheng, Key Laboratory of Evolutionary Systematics of Vertebrates, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, PO Box 643, Beijing, 100044 China Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    In the global warming context, we compared the thermal tolerance of several populations of the crustacean Gammarus pulex (Amphipoda: Gammaridae) along a latitudinal thermal gradient in the Rhône Valley. To disentangle the effect of regional (North vs. South) and local (site-specific) factors, the ecophysiological responses of populations were investigated at two levels of biological organisation: whole organism level considering body size [critical thermal maximum (CTmax), mean speed of locomotion (MS), time mobile (TM)] and organelle function level [mitochondrial respiratory control ratios (RCRs)]. CTmax and RCRs, but not MS and TM, revealed a significantly higher thermal tolerance in southern populations compared to northern ones. Nevertheless, temperatures ≥ 30°C were deleterious for all populations, suggesting that populations located in the warmer limit of the species distribution will be more threatened by climate change as they live closer to their upper thermal limits. The strong differences observed between populations indicate that the species-level thermal tolerance used in predictive models may not be informative enough to study the impact of global warming on species distributions. This work also reveals that an appropriate choice of indicators is essential to study the consequences of global warming since the response of organisms at the whole body level can be influenced by local conditions. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0894-4 Authors Delphine Cottin, UMR CNRS 5023, Laboratoire d’Écologie des Hydrosystèmes Naturels et Anthropisés, Université Claude Bernard Lyon I, Bât. Forel, 69622 Villeurbanne Cedex, France Damien Roussel, UMR CNRS 5023, Laboratoire d’Écologie des Hydrosystèmes Naturels et Anthropisés, Université Claude Bernard Lyon I, Bât. Forel, 69622 Villeurbanne Cedex, France Natacha Foucreau, UMR CNRS 5023, Laboratoire d’Écologie des Hydrosystèmes Naturels et Anthropisés, Université Claude Bernard Lyon I, Bât. Forel, 69622 Villeurbanne Cedex, France Frédéric Hervant, UMR CNRS 5023, Laboratoire d’Écologie des Hydrosystèmes Naturels et Anthropisés, Université Claude Bernard Lyon I, Bât. Forel, 69622 Villeurbanne Cedex, France Christophe Piscart, UMR CNRS 5023, Laboratoire d’Écologie des Hydrosystèmes Naturels et Anthropisés, Université Claude Bernard Lyon I, Bât. Forel, 69622 Villeurbanne Cedex, France Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Sneaking tactic, a male alternative reproductive tactic involving sperm competition, is generally adopted by small individuals because of its inconspicuousness. However, large size has an advantage when competition occurs between sneakers for fertilization of eggs. Here, we suggest that both large- and small-size advantages of sneaker males are present within the same species. Large sneaker males of the dusky frillgoby Bathygobius fuscus showed a high success rate in intruding into spawning nests because of their advantage in competition among sneaker males in keeping a suitable position to sneak, whereas small sneakers had few chances to sneak. However, small sneaker males were able to stay in the nests longer than large sneaker males when they succeeded in sneak intrusion. This suggests the possibility of an increase in their paternity. The findings of these size-specific behavioural advantages may be important in considering the evolution of size-related reproductive traits. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0899-z Authors Takeshi Takegaki, Graduate School of Fisheries Science and Environmental Studies, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo-machi, Nagasaki, 852-8521 Japan Takashi Kaneko, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo-machi, Nagasaki, 852-8521 Japan Yukio Matsumoto, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo-machi, Nagasaki, 852-8521 Japan Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Here we show that trying to rob prey (cleptobiosis) from a highly specialized predatory ant species is risky. To capture prey, Allomerus decemarticulatus workers build gallery-shaped traps on the stems of their associated myrmecophyte, Hirtella physophora . We wondered whether the frequent presence of immobilized prey on the trap attracted flying cleptoparasites. Nine social wasp species nest in the H. physophora foliage; of the six species studied, only Angiopolybia pallens rob prey from Allomerus colonies. For those H. physophora not sheltering wasps, we noted cleptobiosis by stingless bees ( Trigona ), social wasps ( A. pallens and five Agelaia species), assassin bugs (Reduviidae), and flies. A relationship between the size of the robbers and their rate of capture by ambushing Allomerus workers was established for social wasps; small wasps were easily captured, while the largest never were. Reduviids, which are slow to extract their rostrum from prey, were always captured, while Trigona and flies often escaped. The balance sheet for the ants was positive vis-à-vis the reduviids and four out of the six social wasp species. For the latter, wasps began by cutting up parts of the prey’s abdomen and were captured (or abandoned the prey) before the entire abdomen was retrieved so that the total weight of the captured wasps exceeded that of the prey abdomens. For A. pallens , we show that the number of individuals captured during attempts at cleptobiosis increases with the size of the Allomerus ’ prey. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-9 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0895-3 Authors Alain Dejean, Écologie des Forêts de Guyane (UMR-CNRS 8172), CNRS, Campus Agronomique, BP 316, 97379 Kourou cedex, France James M. Carpenter, Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024, USA Bruno Corbara, Laboratoire Microorganismes, Génome et Environnement, CNRS (UMR-CNRS 6023) Université Blaise Pascal, Complexe Scientifique des Cézeaux, 63177 Aubière cedex, France Pamela Wright, 2833 Nichols Bvd, Longview, WA 98632, USA Olivier Roux, Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs, Ecologie, Génétique, Evolution et Contrôle (UMR-IRD 224), Équipe BEES-IRD, IRD, BP 171, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso Louis M. LaPierre, Department of Biology, Lower Columbia College, 1600 Maple St., Longview, WA 98632, USA Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042

Description:    Play remains a mystery and adult play even more so. More typical of young stages in healthy individuals, it occurs rarely at adult stages but then more often in captive/domestic animals, which can imply spatial, social and/or feeding deprivations or restrictions that are challenging to welfare, than in animals living in natural conditions. Here, we tested the hypothesis that adult play may reflect altered welfare states and chronic stress in horses, in which, as in several species, play rarely occurs at adult stages in natural conditions. We observed the behaviour (in particular, social play) of riding school horses during occasional outings in a paddock and measured several stress indicators when these horses were in their individual home boxes. Our results revealed that (1) the number of horses and rates of adult play appeared very high compared to field report data and (2) most stress indicators measured differed between ‘players’ and ‘non-players’, revealing that most ‘playful’ animals were suffering from more chronic stress than ‘non-playful’ horses. Frequency of play behaviour correlated with a score of chronic stress. This first discovery of a relationship between adult play and altered welfare opens new lines of research that certainly deserves comparative studies in a variety of species. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-12 DOI 10.1007/s00114-012-0902-8 Authors Martine Hausberger, Ethologie Animale et Humaine, Campus de Beaulieu bâtiment 25, Université Rennes 1 UMR CNRS 6552, 263 avenue du Général Leclerc, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France Carole Fureix, Ethologie Animale et Humaine, Campus de Beaulieu bâtiment 25, Université Rennes 1 UMR CNRS 6552, 263 avenue du Général Leclerc, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France Marie Bourjade, Ethologie Animale et Humaine, Campus de Beaulieu bâtiment 25, Université Rennes 1 UMR CNRS 6552, 263 avenue du Général Leclerc, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France Sabine Wessel-Robert, Laboratoire Deltavit, ZA du Bois de Teillay, 35150 Janze, France Marie-Annick Richard-Yris, Ethologie Animale et Humaine, Campus de Beaulieu bâtiment 25, Université Rennes 1 UMR CNRS 6552, 263 avenue du Général Leclerc, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France Journal Naturwissenschaften Online ISSN 1432-1904 Print ISSN 0028-1042