青海沙蜥的巢域研究

作者提供了2001～2002两年间青海沙蜥(Phrynocephalusvlangalii)的标志重捕资料,并讨论了在种内水平上可能影响青海沙蜥巢域面积的因素,如性别、年龄、体重、种群密度以及扩散行为等.若尔盖辖曼乡青海沙蜥的种群密度偏高,为(238.92±16.88)只/1000m2,而巢域偏小,幼体、成体雄性及成体雌性的平均巢域分别是(26.11±10.67)m2、(63.71±31.43)m2和(8.31±5.44)m2.性别仍然是影响青海沙蜥巢域的最明显的因素,雄性与雌性巢域的比例达到了7.6∶1.另外体重也是影响巢域的因素之一.雌雄性均与多只异性发生巢域重叠,最高的雌性可与6只雄性有巢域的重叠.雄 雄的平均巢穴重叠达到了24.17%,而雌性间没有重叠.     

Long-term memory in territorial grasshoppers

Summary Males ofLigurotettix spp. grasshoppers (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Gomphocerinae), territorial species that defend individual host plant shrubs, home to their territories by memorizing landmarks. Thus, the insects can navigate efficiently toward high quality shrubs which are chemically distinctive and recognizable via gustation, but indistinguishable from a distance.     

Natural history of Phyllomedusa megacephala (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1926) (Anura: Hylidae) in southeastern Brazil,with descriptions of its breeding biology and male territorial behaviour

The breeding biology and male territorial behaviour of the large-headed leaf-frog (Phyllomedusa megacephala) were studied in three temporary altitudinal streams located in the Cerrado biome of southeastern Brazil, during three consecutive years (2007–2009). Phyllomedusa megacephala showed significant sexual dimorphism, with females being bigger and heavier than males. Acoustic and physical interactions between males defending or not defending territories including amplectant and non-amplectant males, patrolling behaviour by males without established territories, and triple amplexus were observed. Neither males nor females were observed using visual cues when searching for mates. We found that males that were present at breeding sites in previous years bred more successfully and maintained territory better.     

Mating behaviour,territoriality and natural history notes of Phyllomedusa ayeaye Lutz, 1966 (Hylidae: Phyllomedusinae) in south-eastern Brazil

The mating (male courtship, amplexus and oviposition) and male territorial behaviours of Phyllomedusa ayeaye are described from a high-altitude site in the state of Minas Gerais, south-eastern Brazil. Information related to male breeding success and territoriality, as well as egg clutch parameters, is provided, together with qualitative information regarding tadpole phenology and juvenile recruitment. In addition, estimations of sexual dimorphism and numbers of marked individuals are available through capture-mark-recapture sampling. Females bred with males within spatially clustered oviposition sites (broadleaf plants). In some cases, the amplectant couple actively searched for the oviposition site. Males defended territories from other males, employing both acoustic and physical interactions. Some males successfully maintained their calling sites over successive nights, and others seemed to switch among nearby sites during successive nights and tried to disrupt ongoing ovipositions. No significant relationship was found between physical attributes (snout vent length or body mass) of males with breeding success. Also, no influence of the number of nights a male was active in chorus and its breeding success was detected. Therefore, it is proposed that the mating system in P. ayeaye may be opportunistic. Additional information related to reproduction (egg clutch parameters and breeding behaviours) is also discussed for other species of the Phyllomedusa hypochondrialis group and compared with the results of the present study.