ScienceDaily: Mating and Breeding News

Biological fitness trumps other traits in mating game

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:47:47 EDT

When a new species emerges following adaptive changes to its local environment, the process of choosing a mate can help protect the new species' genetic identity and increase the likelihood of its survival. But of the many observable traits in a potential mate, which particular traits does a female tend to prefer?

The rhythm of the Arctic summer: Diverse activity patterns of birds during the Arctic breeding season

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:21:21 EDT

Our internal circadian clock regulates daily life processes and is synchronized by external cues, the so-called Zeitgebers. The main cue is the light-dark cycle, whose strength is largely reduced in extreme habitats such as in the Arctic during the polar summer. Using a radiotelemetry system biologists have now found, in four bird species in Alaska, different daily activity patterns ranging from strictly rhythmic to completely arrhythmic.

Older males make better fathers says new research on beetles

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:16:16 EDT

Researchers have found that older male burying beetles make better fathers than their younger counterparts. The study found that mature males, who had little chance of reproducing again, invested more effort in both mating and in parental care than younger males.

Chemical in antibacterial soap fed to nursing rats harms offspring, study finds

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:21:21 EDT

A mother's exposure to triclocarban, a common antibacterial chemical, while nursing her babies shortens the life of her female offspring, a new study in rats finds.

Male guppies reproduce long after death

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:34:34 EDT

Performing experiments in a river in Trinidad, evolutionary biologists have found that male guppies -- small freshwater fish -- continue to reproduce for at least ten months after they die, living on as stored sperm in females, who have much longer lifespans than males. While it is well known that guppies store sperm, biologists had never before thought of the extent of the storage.

Plunging fish numbers linked to dam releases

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 10:23:23 EDT

An Australian study has thrown cold water on the notion that large dam releases compensate for the effects of interrupting natural water flows.

Sperm wars ruled by females? Females play active, pivotal role in postcopulatory processes

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 19:29:29 EDT

Females play a larger role in determining paternity than previously thought, say biologists. The findings have major implications for the study of sexual selection, sexual conflict and the coevolution of male and female reproductive traits.

Self-fertilizing plants contribute to their own demise

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 09:51:51 EDT

Many plants are self-fertilizing, meaning they act as both mother and father to their own seeds. This strategy -- known as selfing -- guarantees reproduction but, over time, leads to reduced diversity and the accumulation of harmful mutations. A new study shows that these negative consequences are apparent across a selfing plant's genome, and can arise more rapidly than previously thought.

How similar are the gestures of apes and human infants? More than you might suspect

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 19:08:08 EDT

A new study used naturalistic video data for the first time to compare gestures in a female chimpanzee, bonobo and human infant.

Superb lyrebirds move to the music

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 14:06:06 EDT

When male superb lyrebirds sing, they often move their bodies to the music in a choreographed way, say researchers. The findings add to evidence from human cultures around the world that music and dance are deeply intertwined activities.

Sexual selection in the sea: The case of the peculiar southern bottletail squid

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 09:05:05 EDT

Biologists have uncovered new insights into how the male sexual behavior of the peculiar southern bottletail squid is primed to produce the greatest number of offspring. Recent studies have revealed the female squid ingest the ejaculates of their mates, a trait never before associated with any species of cephalopod -- a group including squid, octopus, cuttlefish and nautilus.

Personality is the result of nurture, not nature, suggests study on birds

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 09:05:05 EDT

Personality is not inherited from birth parents says new research on zebra finches. External factors are likely to play a bigger part in developing the personality of an individual than the genes it inherits from its parents, suggests the study.

Female moths use olfactory signals to choose the best egg-laying sites

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 11:36:36 EDT

Researchers have discovered that the ability of Manduca sexta moths to recognize changes in the profile of volatile compounds released by plants being attacked by Manduca caterpillars allows them to lay their eggs on plants that are less likely to be attacked by insects and other predators, and to avoid competing against other caterpillars of the same species for resources.

Why female loggerhead sea turtles always return to their place of birth

Thu, 30 May 2013 11:11:11 EDT

For a better protection of marine turtles, scientists are trying to understand why they return to their birthplace in order to reproduce after rather long distance migrations. Using molecular tools applied to turtles from the Cape Verde islands, scientists found females from different islands have different immune genes, suggesting that returning home to reproduce is linked to advantages in parasite resistance.

Researchers search for best feed for the 'king' of the rivers

Fri, 24 May 2013 10:35:35 EDT

The red mahseer is highly sought after by anglers and high end restaurants. Breeding them may be a bit easier now that researchers in Malaysia have found the best feed combination.

The pirate ant: A new species from the Philippines with a bizarre pigmentation pattern

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:22:22 EDT

Scientists discovered and described a bizarre species of pirate ant. The new Cardiocondyla pirata has its name inspired by its strange pigmentation that consist of two eye-patch like dark stripes across the eyes of the female caste. Although it is supposed that this pattern has a protective function for disorienting the enemy, there are still many questions that will challenge the minds of biologists.

Lovelorn frogs bag closest crooner

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:51:51 EDT

What lures a lady frog to her lover? Good looks, the sound of his voice, the size of his pad or none of the above? After weighing up their options, female strawberry poison frogs (Oophaga pumilio) bag the closest crooner they can. This seemingly short-sighted strategy turns out to be the optimal mate choice strategy for these colorful frogs.

Coral reef fishes prove invaluable in the study of evolutionary ecology

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:36:36 EDT

Coral reef fish species have proven invaluable for experimental testing of key concepts in social evolution and already have yielded insights about the ultimate reasons for female reproductive suppression, group living, and bidirectional sex change.

Who's your daddy? Infidelity and paternity in reed warblers

Thu, 16 May 2013 06:37:37 EDT

Researchers recently carried out experiments with reed warblers to see how a situation of potential infidelity affects later paternal investment in the chicks and whether it does in fact lead to extra-pair mating. They found that the males aggressively try to chase off competitors and to keep potentially "double-dealing" females in line. But whether or not they manage, they turn out to be caring fathers once the babies are born.

Insight into nesting behavior of dinosaurs: Both moms and dads helped with incubation, study finds

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:15:15 EDT

A recent study into the incubation behavior of modern birds is shedding new light on the type of parental care carried out by their long-extinct ancestors.

Mum and dad dinosaurs shared the work

Tue, 14 May 2013 21:31:31 EDT

A study into the brooding behavior of birds has revealed their dinosaur ancestors shared the load when it came to incubation of eggs.

Kestrels, other urban birds are stressed by human activity

Fri, 10 May 2013 10:20:20 EDT

American kestrels, small colorful falcons often seen perched along roadways, are abundant in urban and agricultural areas. Shorter grass makes insects, snakes, mice and other prey more visible, and signposts, fences and telephone poles provide excellent perches. However a new study shows that even species considered “tolerant” of human activity may be adversely impacted by human disturbance; Kestrels nesting in close proximity to roads and developed areas had elevated stress hormones and high rates of nest abandonment. The apparently favorable location, then, becomes an ecological trap.

Bacterial infection in mosquitoes renders them immune to malaria parasites

Thu, 09 May 2013 14:20:20 EDT

Scientists have established an inheritable bacterial infection in malaria-transmitting Anopheles mosquitoes that renders them immune to malaria parasites. Specifically, the scientists infected the mosquitoes with Wolbachia, a bacterium common among insects that previously has been shown to prevent malaria-inducing Plasmodium parasites from developing in Anopheles mosquitoes.

The more feathers a male sparrow carries to the nest, the more eggs the female will lay

Tue, 07 May 2013 06:08:08 EDT

A new study has found that female sparrows will invest more energy into laying eggs according to the male's ability to fill the nest with feathers which serve to insulate the chicks from the cold and keep them alive.

Reversal of the Black Widow myth: Some male spiders prefer to eat old females rather than mate with them

Mon, 06 May 2013 09:51:51 EDT

The Black Widow spider gets its name from the popular belief that female spiders eat their male suitors after mating. However, a new study has shown that the tendency to consume a potential mate is also true of some types of male spider. The study finds that male spiders of the Micaria sociabilis species are more likely to eat the females than be eaten.

Tone-deaf female cowbirds change flock behavior, disrupt social networks

Wed, 01 May 2013 19:31:31 EDT

Female cowbirds incapable of recognizing high-quality male songs can alter the behavior of flock-mates of either sex and disrupt overall social structure, according to new research.

Consequences of a lifetime of sexual competition revealed

Wed, 01 May 2013 09:07:07 EDT

Males that spend all their time reacting to their rivals die earlier and are less able to mate later in life according to new research. It reveals how fruit flies that are subjected to continual competition from mating rivals, mate for longer and produce more offspring in early life. But they pay a high price – a shorter lifespan and reduced mating ability later in life.

The underground adventures of the Mediterranean frog Rana iberica

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:14:14 EDT

Although many amphibians have been reported to live or spend part of their life underground, the Mediterranean frog Rana iberica, has never been reported dwelling in subterranean habitats until now. A new study marks the first record of all life stages of the species from a drainage gallery of Serra da Estrela Natural Park in Portugal.

Microchip proves tightness provokes precocious sperm release

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:47:47 EDT

Sperm cell release can be triggered by tightening the grip around the delivery organ, according to a team of nano and microsystems engineers and plant biologists.

First edition of a bookworm's genome

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:28:28 EDT

The tiny nematode Panagrellus redivivus, often called the beer-mat worm or the microworm, has emerged from relative obscurity with the publication of its complete genetic code. Further study of this worm is expected to shed new light on many aspects of animal biology.

Peculiar life history of Middle American Stenamma ants

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:33:33 EDT

A recent revision of the Middle American clade of the ant genus Stenamma provides the description of 40 species, 33 of which are recognized as new to science. The extensive study provides the first thorough examination of the biology and taxonomy of these ants, focusing mainly on the worker caste and describing their peculiar nesting habits.

New grass hybrid could help reduce the likelihood of flooding

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:33:33 EDT

Scientists have used hybridized forage grass to combine fast root growth and efficient soil water retention. Field experiments show Festulolium cultivar reduces water runoff by up to 51 percent against nationally-recommended cultivar. Potential for the hybrid to capture more water and reduce runoff and likelihood of flood generation.

Tinkerbella nana: A new representative from the world of fairyflies

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:30:30 EDT

A new genus and species of fairyfly, Tinkerbella nana (Mymaridae), is described from Costa Rica. It is compared with the related species Kikiki huna Beardsley and Huber, which holds the record for the smallest winged insect. The new genus and species is named after the fairy Tinker Bell in the 1904 play "Peter Pan" by J. M. Barrie.

Malaria parasite protein identified as potential new target for drug treatment

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 08:13:13 EDT

Scientists have discovered how a protein within the malaria parasite is essential to its survival as it develops inside a mosquito. They believe their findings identify this protein as a potential new target for drug treatments to prevent malaria being passed to humans. The researchers found that when this protein – a transporter responsible for controlling the level of calcium inside cells – is absent during the parasite’s sexual reproduction stages inside a mosquito, the parasite dies before developing fully.

Study shows reproductive effects of pesticide exposure span generations

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 11:12:12 EDT

Researchers studying aquatic organisms called Daphnia have found that exposure to a chemical pesticide has impacts that span multiple generations -- causing the so-called "water fleas" to produce more male offspring, and causing reproductive problems in female offspring.

When it comes to survival of the fittest, stress is a good thing, squirrel study shows

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:23:23 EDT

Researchers have shown for the first time how females' use social cues to correctly prepare their offspring for life outside the nest. The results confirm that red squirrel mothers boosted stress hormone production during pregnancy, which increased the size and the chances of survival of their pups.

Dinosaur egg study supports evolutionary link between birds and dinosaurs: How Troodon likely hatched its young

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:43:43 EDT

A small, bird-like North American dinosaur incubated its eggs in a similar way to brooding birds -- bolstering the evolutionary link between birds and dinosaurs, researchers have found.

Reproductive tract secretions elicit ovulation

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:41:41 EDT

Eggs take a long time to produce in the ovary, and thus are one of a body's precious resources. It has been theorized that the body has mechanisms to help the ovary ensure that ovulated eggs enter the reproductive tract at the right time in order to maximize the chance of successful fertilization. New research has shed light on how successful ovulation and fertilization are brought about by studying these processes in fruit flies.

Love at first sniff: Male moths go by first impressions

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:17:17 EDT

Entomologists now have an explanation for why we see so many hybrid moths in nature. The team closely examined the behavior and the olfactory circuitry of male moths and found an answer in female-produced pheromones.

Shifts in physiological mechanisms let male bats balance the need to feed and the urge to breed

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:24:24 EDT

New research reveals shifts in the mechanisms bats use to regulate metabolism throughout their seasonal activity period.

Blue tits provide insight into climate change, bird study shows

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:45:45 EDT

Researchers believe that the size of birds’ nests created in response to changing weather patterns may be partly to blame for reproductive failures over the last two years.

Disappearing nannies force parents to accept their duties

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:24:24 EDT

Large helpers (nannies) in a cichlid fish allow the dominant male and female to reduce their personal contribution to their offspring and territory, according to new research.

Lady flies can decide who will father their young

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 11:01:01 EDT

Female flies choose whose sperm they want based on male mating effort. Females in the animal kingdom have many methods available to them to help bias male paternity. One such process is displayed by Euxesta bilimeki, a species of Ulidiid fly, whose females expel and then consume male ejaculate after copulation.

Moa's ark: Why the female giant moa was about twice the size of the male

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 21:19:19 EDT

The evolutionary reason for the massive difference in size between male and female giant moa -- the extinct giant birds of New Zealand -- has been revealed for the first time.

Beavers use their nose to assess their foes

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 09:12:12 EDT

Beavers use scent to detect when trespassers could be a threat, according to new research. For territorial animals, such as beavers, "owning" a territory ensures access to food, mates and nest sites. Defending that territory can involve fights which cause injury or death. How does an animal decide whether to take on an opponent or not? A new study has found that the anal gland secretions of beavers contain information about age and social status which helps other beavers gauge their level of response to the perceived threat.

Birds find ways to avoid raising cuckoos' young

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 10:33:33 EDT

A new study suggests swallows and martins breed indoors and close to humans to avoid having to rear cuckoos. Some species of birds reproduce not by rearing their own young, but by handing that task on to adults of other species. Known as brood parasitism, this habit has been most thoroughly researched in the cuckoo. Previous research has found, however, that the nests of martins and swallows in Europe are rarely parasitized by cuckoos.

Let me introduce myself -- leafcutter bee Megachile chomskyi from Texas

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:24:24 EDT

A new species of leafcutter bee, Megachile chomskyi, is described from Texas, United States. While many other genera within the family chew leaves or petals to build their nests, certain species within Megachile neatly cut them, hence their common name. The new species is named after Professor Noam Chomsky to commemorate his great contributions to the fields of linguistics, humanities and political science.

Bumblebees use logic to find the best flowers

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:20:20 EDT

Scientists have discovered why bees copy each other when looking for nectar -- and the answer is remarkably simple.

The equine 'Adam' lived fairly recently: Close relationships among modern stallions

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 07:29:29 EDT

The analysis of DNA inherited from a single parent has provided valuable insights into the history of human and animal populations. However, until recently we had insufficient information to be able to investigate the paternal lines of the domestic horse. This gap has now been filled with new information on the genetic variability in the horse Y chromosome. Researchers have shown how various breeds of the modern horse are interrelated.

Satellite tagging maps the secret migration of white sharks

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 20:01:01 EDT

Long-life batteries and satellite tagging have been used to fill in the blanks of female white sharks' (Carcharodon carcharias) lifestyles. New research defines a two year migratory pattern in the Pacific Ocean. Pregnant females travel between the mating area at Guadalupe Island and nursery in Baja California, putting them and their young at risk from commercial fishing.

Evolutionary consequences of infidelity in birds: Can extra-pair relationships give rise to sexual dimorphism?

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 09:13:13 EDT

Male and female blue tits are hard to distinguish for the human observer. However, in the UV-range, visible to birds, the male is much more colourful. A closer look at the monogamous mating system of these birds again reveals that all is not what it seems: in every second nest there are chicks that are not related to the care-giving father. An already mated male can increase the number of his offspring by siring extra-pair offspring in other nests than the one he cares for with his mate. Researchers investigated whether this could be the driving force behind the evolution of sexual dimorphism. However, effects of extra-pair paternity are limited, cuckoldry can even reduce the intensity of sexual selection.

Mate choice in mice is heavily influenced by paternal cues, mouse study shows

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:53:53 EDT

Hybrid offspring of different house mice populations show a preference for mating with individuals from their father's original population.

Fewer children mean longer life?

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 10:30:30 EDT

New research into aging processes, based on modern genetic techniques, confirms theoretical expectations about the correlation between reproduction and lifespan. Studies of birds reveal that those that have offspring later in life and have fewer broods live longer. And the decisive factor is telomeres, shows new research.

Researchers discover how model organism Tetrahymena plays roulette with seven sexes

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:41:41 EDT

It's been more than fifty years since scientists discovered that the single-celled organism Tetrahymena thermophila has seven sexes. But in all that time, they've never known how each cell's sex, or "mating type," is determined; now they do.

Why sticking around is sometimes the better choice for males

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:41:41 EDT

Researchers have been able to provide one answer as to why males in many species still provide paternal care, even when their offspring may not belong to them. The study finds that, when the conditions are right, sticking around despite being "cuckolded" actually turns out to be the most successful evolutionary strategy.

Nature versus nurture: Better looking birds have healthier babies, study finds

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 20:18:18 EDT

A female great tits' (Parus major) appearance is shown to signal healthy attributes in offspring in a new paper. The black stripe across her breast and white patches on her cheeks correlate to a chick’s weight at two weeks and immune strength respectively -- though the former seems to signal a genetic benefit and the latter can affect an ‘adopted’ chick’s health, suggesting nurture is involved.

For the first time Iberian lynx embryos are collected and preserved

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 09:07:07 EDT

A pioneering procedure in felines allows the collection of biological material from Iberian lynx females before castration. The preserved biological material of the lynxes will be used in future conservation breeding programs.

Becoming a parent: Brain changes that underlie transition from aggressive to parental behavior in male mice described

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 20:20:20 EDT

Sexually naïve male mice respond differently to the chemical signals emitted by newborn pups than males that have mated and lived with pregnant females, according to a new study. The findings may help scientists to better understand the changes that take place in the brains of some mammals during the transition into parenthood.

Adoption and risk management in fish: how cichlids prevent their young from being eaten

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 09:11:11 EDT

For a variety of reasons, many humans choose to adopt children. More surprisingly, adoption is fairly widespread in the animal kingdom, even though it would seem to counteract the basic premise of Darwin’s theory of evolution, which suggests that animals should raise as many of their own offspring as possible. Understanding the rationale for adoption has challenged theorists for generations. Scientists now describe a new approach to the problem.

Chemical trickery explored to help contain potato pest

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:28:28 EDT

If left unchecked, the pale cyst nematode burrows into potato roots to feed, obstructing nutrients and causing stunted growth, wilted leaves and other symptoms that can eventually kill the plant. Now scientists are evaluating new ways to control the pest using naturally occurring chemicals called egg-hatching factors.