Communal nesting, kinship, and maternal success in a social primate

Communal nesting, where several mothers regularly pool and cooperatively rear offspring, is unusual in mammals. This type of crèching behavior is especially rare among primates, with the notable exceptions of humans, some nocturnal strepsirrhines, and—as we show in this study—black-and-white ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata). Here, we combine data on nesting behavior, genetic relatedness, and infant survivorship to describe variation in ruffed lemur infant care and to examine the potential benefits of ruffed lemur communal breeding. Reproductive events were rare, and females produced litters (synchronously) only once in 6 years of observation. We show that not all mothers participate in communal crèches, but those that did had greater maternal success; communal breeders spent more time feeding and their offspring were more likely to survive. Although cooperating mothers were often related, females also cooperated with non-kin, and those who shared infant care responsibilities had greater maternal success than mothers who did not participate. If there is indeed a causal link between maternal cooperation and reproductive success, this unusual behavior, like that of human communal rearing, may have evolved via some combination of kin selection and mutualism.     

Effects of attached data-logging devices on little penguins (Eudyptula minor)

Data-logging devices are commonly used to study the foraging behaviour of individual seabirds. Such studies need to examine the potential effects of using devices on instrumented individuals, not only for ethical reasons but also to ensure the validity of data gathered. We studied the effects of two types of device (time-depth recorder and global positioning system) on little penguins (Eudyptula minor) during the 2010 and 2011 breeding season at Oamaru, New Zealand. Mixed-effect models were used to test for effects of devices by comparing changes in body weight, chick growth and breeding performance between instrumented and control individuals. We found no detectable effects of the attached devices on body weight change, hatching success, fledging success, chick growth parameters or adult survival. We conclude that it is possible to attach data-logging devices to adult little penguins for extended periods during the breeding season with minimal impacts.     

Evaluating consistency of stakeholder input into participatory GIS-based multiple criteria evaluation: a case study of ecotourism development in Kurdistan

Multiple criteria evaluation (MCE) is often used with GIS to identify suitable sites for multi-purpose development such as ecotourism. Typically, expert or stakeholder consultation is used to identify weights reflecting the relative importance of map layers representing different criteria. The objective of this study was to evaluate a new consultative approach to GIS-based MCE, using ecotourism development in Kurdistan, Iraq, as a case study. In an initial and follow-up consultation, stakeholders were asked not only to assess the relative importance of different map layers for ecotourism development, but also to identify specific sites suitable for ecotourism. Seventy-eight ecotourism destinations nominated by participants had significantly higher MCE scores than a set of 58 locations chosen without reference to stakeholders (t-test = 21.16; p < 0.001). The approach thus provides a straightforward means of assessing the consistency of stakeholder input into MCE and could be adapted for use in other site suitability assessments.     

A review of current knowledge concerning dry deposition of atmospheric mercury

The status of the current knowledge concerning the dry deposition of atmospheric mercury, including elemental gaseous mercury (Hg⁰), reactive gaseous mercury (RGM), and particulate mercury (Hg_p), is reviewed. The air–surface exchange of Hg⁰ is commonly bi-directional, with daytime emission and nighttime deposition over non-vegetated surfaces and vegetated surfaces with small leaf area indices under low ambient Hg⁰ conditions. However, daytime deposition has also been observed, especially when the ambient Hg⁰ is high. Typical dry deposition velocities (V_d) for Hg⁰ are in the range of 0.1–0.4 cm s^?1 over vegetated surfaces and wetlands, but substantially smaller over non-vegetated surfaces and soils below canopies. Meteorological, biological, and soil conditions, as well as the ambient Hg⁰ concentrations all play important roles in the diurnal and seasonal variations of Hg⁰ air–surface exchange processes. Measurements of RGM deposition are limited and are known to have large uncertainties. Nevertheless, all of the measurements suggest that RGM can deposit very quickly onto any type of surface, with its V_d ranging from 0.5 to 6 cm s^?1. The very limited data for Hg_p suggest that its V_d values are in the range of 0.02–2 cm s^?1.A resistance approach is commonly used in mercury transport models to estimate V_d for RGM and Hg_p; however, there is a wide range of complexities in the dry deposition scheme of Hg⁰. Although resistance-approach based dry deposition schemes seem to be able to produce the typical V_d values for RGM and Hg⁰ over different surface types, more sophisticated air–surface exchange models have been developed to handle the bi-directional exchange processes. Both existing and newly developed dry deposition schemes need further evaluation using field measurements and intercomparisons within different modelling frameworks.     

The feeding behaviour of Schistocerca gregaria,the desert locust,on two starch mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana

Summary. Schistocerca gregaria, the desert locust, has been shown to regulate its dietary intake with respect to specific macronutrients in synthetic foods. This study examined the nutrients in the leaves of two starch mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana, and then compared the feeding behaviour of locusts on the two starch mutants. The high-starch mutant had c. 25 times more starch than the no-starch mutant. Newly molted 5th stadium locusts were preconditioned for 3 days on one of the mutants, and then observed for 90 min while exposed to the same or the alternative mutant. Locusts pretreated with the no-starch mutant fed longer during the first meal on high-starch mutants, spent more time feeding, and had the smaller latency to begin a meal when compared to the locusts pretreated on the high-starch mutant. The results of the study are interpreted in light of an integrative model of nutrient balancing. Received 16 November 1999; accepted 23 December 1999     

Comparison of efficacy of three extractants to solubilize glomalin on hyphae and in soil

Glomalin, a glycoprotein produced by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, is a major component of the humus fraction of soil organic matter. Glomalin is extracted from soil and hyphae of AM fungi by using sodium citrate at 121 degrees C in multiple 1-h cycles, but extensive extraction does not solubilize all glomalin in all soils. Efficacies of 100 mM sodium salts of citrate, borate or pyrophosphate (pH 9.0, 121 degrees C) were tested for two 1-h cycles for hyphae from four AM fungal isolates and four 1-h cycles for seven soils from four US geographic regions. Residual soil glomalin was examined by pyrophosphate extraction of soils previously extracted with citrate or borate followed by extraction of all soils after treatment with NaOH. Hyphal extracts were compared using Bradford-reactive total protein (BRTP) values, and extracts from soils were compared using BRTP, percentage C and C weight. No difference among extractants was detected for AM fungal isolates or across soils. The residual glomalin across soils for extractants contained the following percentages of the total BRTP: pyrophosphate, 14%; borate, 17%; and citrate, 22%. Comparisons among individual soils indicated that pyrophosphate extracted significantly more BRTP (10-53%) than borate or citrate in six soils and borate was equal to pyrophosphate in one soil. Extraction with borate should be compared with pyrophosphate before initiating an experiment. For routine extractions of ca. 85% of the glomalin across a variety of soils, sodium pyrophosphate appears to be equal to or better than borate and better than citrate.     

Modeling rural landowners' hunter access policies in East Texas,USA

Private landowners in East Texas, USA, were aggregated into one of four policy categories according to the degree of access allowed to their lands for hunting. Based on these categories, a logistic regression model of possible determinants of access policy was developed and probabilities of policy adoption were calculated. Overwhelmingly, attitudes toward hunting as a sport, incentives, and control over the actions of hunters were most predictive of landowners' policies. Additionally, the availability of deer was found to be negatively correlated with access, thereby suggesting management efforts to increase deer populations may be counter to increasing access. Further, probabilities derived from the model indicated that there was almost a 7 in 10 chance (0.66) that landowners would adopt policies commensurate with allowing family and personal acquaintances to hunt on their property. However, the probability of increasing access beyond this level, where access was provided for the general public, dropped off drastically to less than 5% (0.04).     

A case of paternal uniparental disomy for chromosome 11

We report a case of paternal uniparental disomy for chromosome 11 that presented as severe intrauterine growth retardation. Autopsy following intrauterine death also revealed aberrant intestinal rotation and hypospadias. Chromosome analysis of direct preparations from placental biopsy showed an abnormal 47,XY,+11 karyotype. Analysis of long-term cultures from the placenta revealed 46,XY/47,XY,+11 mosaicism. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) studies on interphase nuclei confirmed trisomy 11 in multiple placental sites but detected only disomic cells in fetal skin. Investigation using microsatellite polymorphisms demonstrated paternal isodisomy at loci D11S909, D11S956, and D11S488, and paternal heterodisomy at locus D11S928.