Reports on the ecology and behavior of Ardeidae (herons and egrets) andThreskiornithidae (Scarlet Ibis) species of a reproductive colony in atropical estuary, São Paulo, Brazil

Effect of testosterone and melatonin on social dominance and agonistic behavior in male Tscheskia triton

Wild birds are important for public health because of their potential to transmit pathogenic microorganisms to humans. The waterbird scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber) forages and breeds near urban areas and if they settle near polluted waters, the viability of adults and their young can be negatively affected. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate the cloacal aerobic bacteria profile of nestling scarlet ibis in a mixed colony in Jarivatuba Island, in Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Cloacal swab samples were collected from clinically normal scarlet ibis nestlings during the breeding season of 2015/2016 (n=16) and 2016/2017 (n=34), and plated onto blood, MacConkey, and Salmonella-Shigella agar plates. Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Proteus spp., Klebsiella sp., Enterococcus spp. and Staphylococcus spp. were isolated and may be representative of the normal microbiota of E. ruber, although the normal profile is unknown for the species. However, the location of this colony in an area without adequate sewage treatment, which receives domestic effluents, may indicate a modified bacterial profile. Further studies are needed, to better understand the host's natural microbiome, as well as on the bacterial isolates, in order to characterize any association with the contaminated water. These results lay the foundation for successful species conservation projects in the area by providing insights that will help improve the viability of nestlings in each reproductive season. Keywords: Pelecaniformes, scarlet ibis, nestlings, bacteria.

Seasonal differences in behavioral interactions between wild‐caught adult and juvenile meadow voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus, were measured in paired encounters in a neutral arena. Seasonal differences existed in the adult‐juvenile paired encounters. Early in the breeding season (May—Aug.) paired encounters between adult males and juvenile males were more agonistic than other adultjuvenile pairings. Late in the breeding season (Sep.—Dec.) adult female‐juvenile male encounters were more agonistic than other adult‐juvenile pairings. Odor preferences of juveniles were determined in a Y‐maze olfactometer. Juveniles did not demonstrate seasonal differences in odor preference. Males preferred the odor of adult females to the odor of adult males or their own odor. Females preferred the scent of an adult male to the odor of an adult female, but did not show a preference between their own odor and the odor of an adult male or an adult female. The results are consistent with hypotheses that state in a promiscuous species, females should be philopatric, and males should disperse as a consequence of adult competition. The data suggest that agonistic behavior by adults may regulate juvenile dispersal and recruitment, and define the composition of overwintering groups.

-We studied the diet composition and overlap of Scarlet Ibises (Eudocimus ruber) and Little Blue Herons (Egretta caerulea) in a mangrove swamp in southeast Brazil during the 1996-1997 breeding season, which occurs during the rainiest period. Crabs comprised 95% of all prey taken by the ibises and 80% of the prey of the herons. Nevertheless, diet overlap was small (-30%) due to ibises feeding mostly on Uca spp. and Eurythium limosum crabs, which were taken from their burrows; the herons fed on the arboreal and semi-arboreal Aratus pisonii and Metasesarma rubripes crabs. Divergent hunting strategies of ibises (tactile foragers) and herons (visually-oriented predators) explains the diet segregation when preying on an ecologically diverse crab guild, but it is unclear why herons prey rarely on fiddler crabs. Scarlet Ibises bred successfully while feeding on estuarine organisms living in low salinities in the mangroves, showing that mangroves may be adequate foraging habitats for chick-rearing ibises during periods of low salinity. Received 28 August 2000, accepted 3 October 2000.

Here we describe the first breeding event of the Scarlet Ibis ( Eudocimus ruber ) in southern Brazil after a long period of local extinction. The species reproduced in a mixed colony on Jarivatuba Island, a mangrove area in Babitonga Bay, northern Santa Catarina. During the breeding season, between August 2011 and March 2012, regular surveys were carried out in the area with a powerboat to collect basic information on the species breeding. The first adult was recorded in November 2011, along with a group of White-faced ibises ( Plegadis chihi ) that was nesting at the same site. In January 2012, the local Scarlet ibises displayed reproductive behavior, with adults in incubation position in the nests. The first chicks were recorded on January 20, 2012. In March 2012, there were few adults in the colony, and juveniles were recorded in flight groups, including some outside the colony. Although there is no on-site housing, the region is very disturbed, with industries and marinas nearby, and it suffers from the discharge of domestic and industrial effluents. The creation of a local protected area would be an adquate long-term strategy for the conservation of the Scarlet Ibis and this ecosystem.

-The breeding biology of the only Scarlet Ibis Eudocimus ruber colony in southeastern Brazil was studied during the 1996-97 breeding season. The ibises began to visit their colony site by mid-September. Nest building and egg laying took place in early November and was synchronous, making the first pulse. Mean clutch size in this pulse was 2.45 eggs/nest, and 0.67 young/nest reached age three weeks, when they were able to walk about the nest tree and environs. Predation was the main cause of nest failures (74% of all losses), followed by nest collapses (19%). A second nesting pulse, also synchronous, started in late December, when the young from the first nests were already able to wander about the colony and make short flights. Mean clutch size of this pulse was 2.05 eggs/nest and productivity was 0.34 young/nest. Nest collapses during storms accounted for 58% of the losses, and predation for a further 27%. A third pulse, with only a few nests, started when the second pulse young were in their third week, but no nest was successful. The incubation time was 21-24 days, and the young were able to fly well when 40 days old, deserting the colony by age 75 days. Nesting early in the breeding season yielded greater success. Nests were built close to each other (a sphere with a 1.8 m radius and centered on an average nest would include the four nearest neighbors) and there was always more than one nest per tree. Most nests were built on the upper third of the nest-tree and had some cover from overhanging branches. There was a trend for the ibises building their nests in even closer proximity during the second pulse, perhaps as a strategy to lessen individual predation risks. Received 30 August 2000, accepted 4 October 2000.

ABSTRACTBehavioral interactions form the basis of social structure within populations. Ecological, demographic, and social factors may affect types of interactions or which individuals spend time near each other. For example, food resource distribution can affect social interactions and, if food resources are clumped, may result in interindividual competition. Social interactions also may be influenced by relatedness since close relatives may engage in more affiliative behaviors with one another because these behaviors may increase their inclusive fitness. We examined the influence of food distribution and relatedness on behavioral interactions in a colony of free‐roaming domestic cats (Felis catus). Supplemental cat food was presented in a dispersed or clumped manner, and individuals were genotyped at 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci to determine relatedness. We observed the frequency of affiliative, agonistic, and investigatory behaviors and the number of times that individuals were in proximity to each other for 20 adults. We calculated three network metrics to quantify network structure: mean weighted degree, mean eigenvector centrality, and network density. Mean weighted degree and mean eigenvalue centrality were significantly non‐random in both the dispersed and clumped food treatments for affiliative behavior. Network metrics for agonistic and investigative behaviors did not differ from random expectations in dispersed or clumped treatments. Network metrics increased between dispersed and clumped food treatments for affiliative but not agonistic or investigative behaviors. All three network metrics for proximity were significantly non‐random in the dispersed and clumped treatments and increased between clumped and dispersed food treatments. There was no effect of genetic relatedness on any behavior or proximity, but sex was more important. Same‐sex individuals were less likely to have agonistic behaviors when food was dispersed. These results suggest that some cats displayed affiliative behavior toward a subset of conspecific colony members as well as being in closer proximity to some individuals than others.

The influence of population density and food on the social behaviour of the snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) was studied in an outdoor enclosure. The year was divided into two periods: the nonbreeding season (October to March) and the breeding season (April to August). During each period, data on social interactions were recorded for groups of 4, 6, 8, and 10 animals, with three different sets of animals for each group size. Agonistic behaviour characterized social encounters between hares year-round. During the nonbreeding season, there was a significant correlation between agonistic behaviour and group size for females only. During the breeding season, the rate of interaction was lower and agonistic behaviour was significantly and negatively correlated with group size for males only. Two-way ANOVA of total agonistic behaviour revealed that group size and sex interacted significantly only during the nonbreeding season. The different categories of agonistic behaviour (aggression, threat, and taking the place of another animal) were also analysed separately. The distribution of aggression within each of the experimental groups indicated that the two top-ranking animals were generally males and that they initiated most of the aggressive encounters. Another experiment with restricted food availability was conducted to study the impact of limited resources on agonistic behaviour. Hares were significantly more aggressive when food was restricted than when food was available ad libitum. It thus appears that food availability has a stronger influence on social behaviour than does hare density.

Wild birds are important for public health because of their potential to transmit pathogenic microorganisms to humans. The waterbird scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber) forages and breeds near urban areas and if they settle near polluted waters, the viability of adults and their young can be negatively affected. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate the cloacal aerobic bacteria profile of nestling scarlet ibis in a mixed colony in Jarivatuba Island, in Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Cloacal swab samples were collected from clinically normal scarlet ibis nestlings during the breeding season of 2015/2016 (n=16) and 2016/2017 (n=34), and plated onto blood, MacConkey, and Salmonella-Shigella agar plates. Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Proteus spp., Klebsiella sp., Enterococcus spp. and Staphylococcus spp. were isolated and may be representative of the normal microbiota of E. ruber, although the normal profile is unknown for the species. However, the location of this colony in an area without adequate sewage treatment, which receives domestic effluents, may indicate a modified bacterial profile. Further studies are needed, to better understand the host's natural microbiome, as well as on the bacterial isolates, in order to characterize any association with the contaminated water. These results lay the foundation for successful species conservation projects in the area by providing insights that will help improve the viability of nestlings in each reproductive season.

Eigenmannia virescens was observed in aquaria in Guyana, South America, during the non-breeding and breeding seasons. Agonistic behavior was described and correlated with electrical activity. Variations in the electric discharges play important roles in agonistic behavior as displays given during attack and retreat. Although descriptions of sexual behavior are not complete, certain electrical signals also appear to be used in courtship. The role of electrical signals in agonistic behavior of Eigemnannia were studied by (1) an analysis of the behavior of fish in dominant and subordinate roles, (2) an analysis of the simultaneous occurrence of electrical displays and motor actions, (3) an analysis of preceding actions of one fish and following actions of the other fish, and (4) analysis of responses to artificial electrical stimuli. These studies indicate that at least three classes of electric signals are important in communication among Eigenmannia: the normal discharge, Interruptions, and Rises. The normal discharge. The normal discharge of Eigenmannia virescens is species-distinctive in the area where this study was conducted. Playback of recorded signals and presentation of sinusoidal electrical stimuli, indicates that the normal discharge particularly the fundamental frequency of the normal discharge (240 to 600 Hz)- is used in species recognition. Males and females overlap extensively in their discharge frequency, and males do not appear to distinguish the electric discharges of males from those of females. Interruptions. Interruptions are brief cessations of the electric discharge. They are most often 20 to 40 msec in duration during agonistic interactions whereas they are often 60 to 80 msec when given by males during interactions with females during the breeding season. Interruptions are usually given in bouts where a bout is any group of Interruptions separated by less than 1.5 seconds. Interruptions are given almost exclusively by dominant fish. They are given at the same time as Attacks, Threats, and No Action, but rarely during Retreat. Bouts with many Interruptions are more likely to be associated with Attacks, and less likely with No Action, than are bouts containing only a few Interruptions. Interruptions correlate with motivation to Attack, and the number of Interruptions in a bout correlates with the probability of attack. Interruptions in one fish are followed by Retreat and No Action in the other fish, thus they appear to be an effective threat display. Interruptions with long durations are given at high repetition rates by male Eigenmannia in the presence of females during the breeding season, thus they may play a role in courtship. Rises. A Rise is an increase in discharge frequency followed by a decrease to the resting frequency. Rises lasting less than two seconds (Short Rises) are often given by dominant fish in agonistic interactions, most often at the same time as Attacks or Threats. They are given rarely. Long Rises (longer than two seconds) are given predominantly by subordinate fish in agonistic interactions. They are given simultaneous with Retreat and No Action and are thus an indicator of submissive behavior. Long Rises in one fish are followed by Attacks, Threats, Approaches, and by No Action in the other. During the breeding season, females, in the presence of males, often give long series of frequency modulations of unknown significance.

A conservation management toolkit: developing assisted breeding and behavioural management tools for the African wild dog (Lycaon pictus)

An event of infanticide by Scarlet Ibises (Eudocimus ruber) was observed on 14 January 2014 in a breeding colony located in the mangrove swamps of Cubatão, southeastern Brazil. During a fight over a nest involving several adults who were stealing nesting material, two young (about four and seven days old) were thrown out from the nest and immediately attacked by a pair of adult birds, especially the female. This attack ceased only after the young fell in the water and drowned. The lack of intensive monitoring may be a reason infanticide is commonly underestimated, and mostly unrecorded, by most studies on bird breeding biology. More detailed studies, with adequate monitoring, are required to understand the role played by infanticide in the biology and population dynamics of colonial waterbirds.

Captive breeding of rare and endangered prosimians may be enhanced by an increased understanding of all aspects of their seasonal mating behavior. In this study, the agonistic and grooming behaior of captiveL. coronatus were studied during their annual breeding season. Between October and March, selected aspects of agonistic and grooming behavior of four male-female groups were recorded. Males initiated significantly more allogrooming than females. The frequency of this behavior pattern increased significantly in the weeks of estrus. Females performed significantly more agonistic behavior patterns than males. The mean frequency of agonistic interactions decreased significantly during the breeding season. In successfully reproducing groups males showed much less agonism towards females, than they did in unsuccessful groups. Inter-specific comparisons demonstrated that the patterns of agonistic interactions during the breeding season are very different among closely related species of lemurids. The conclusions drawn from this study are that captive breeding of crowned lemurs may be enhanced by keeping permanent multi-male, multi-female groups.

Event Abstract Back to Event AVTergic modulation of the agonistic behavior in two species of weakly electric fish with different social strategies Ana Silva1, 2* and Rossana Perrone1 1 Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Unidad Bases Neurales de la Conducta, Uruguay 2 Facultad de Ciencias, Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Uruguay Social behaviors in vertebrates are controlled by a complex and conserved brain network. It has been postulated that inter and intraspecific modulations of behavior are correlated with distinctively distributed patterns of this network, which depend on neuroendocrine messengers that integrate extrinsic and intrinsic cues. The hypothalamic neuropeptide arginine-vasotocin (AVT) and its mammalian homologue, vasopressin, are key integrators underlying interspecific, sexual, individual, and social context differences in behavior across vertebrate taxa. Comparative studies of AVT actions between related species with different social structure have been useful for the understanding of brain-behavior relationships. We used two species of weakly electric fish with different social strategies: Gymnotus omarorum, solitary and highly aggressive in intra and intersexual encounters all year round, and Brachyhypopomus gauderio, gregarious and only aggressive in intrasexual encounters during the breeding season. Our previous work showed that AVT produces an increase in the EOD basal rate in B. gauderio but not in G. omarorum, and that AVT is responsible for the nocturnal increase of EOD basal rate observed in the former species during the breeding season. In this study, we explored the effects of IP administration of AVT (1µg/g) and of its antagonist (Manning compound, MC, 2µg/g) in the agonistic behavior of both species. We analyzed dyadic encounters (control, n=10; AVT, n=10; MC, n=6) in independent experiments using experimental protocols in which we could predict the outcome of the conflict: 5-30% size asymmetry in intra and intersexual dyads of non-breeding G. omarorum, same size asymmetry + residency in breeding males of B. gauderio. Thirty minutes prior to the agonistic encounter, we injected AVT (or MC) to the potential winner and saline to the potential loser, and evaluated their effects on conflict resolution, levels of aggression and submission, and dynamics of electric and locomotor displays. AVT and MC administration in B. gauderio had no effect on the agonistic behavior except for their actions on EOD rate: AVT induced and MC blocked the increase of EOD rate observed in winners after conflict resolution. Interestingly, in AVT fights, the intruder significantly increased the emission of electric submission signals (offs) that were only rarely observed in control dyadic encounters. AVT induced no effects on the agonistic behavior of G. omarorum, whereas MC induced a decrease in the aggression levels, in the submission signaling, and prevented the decrease of EOD rate observed in control subordinates after conflict resolution. Taken together, our data indicate that the AVTergic system is involved in the modulation of the agonistic behavior of both species. This modulation shows important interspecific differences that might be crucial in shaping different neural strategies for the control of social behavior. Keywords: Aggression, hypothalamic neuropeptide, Neuromodulation Conference: Tenth International Congress of Neuroethology, College Park. Maryland USA, United States, 5 Aug - 10 Aug, 2012. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation (see alternatives below as well) Topic: Social Behavior Citation: Silva A and Perrone R (2012). AVTergic modulation of the agonistic behavior in two species of weakly electric fish with different social strategies. Conference Abstract: Tenth International Congress of Neuroethology. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnbeh.2012.27.00071 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 13 Mar 2012; Published Online: 07 Jul 2012. * Correspondence: Dr. Ana Silva, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Unidad Bases Neurales de la Conducta, Montevideo, 11600, Uruguay, asilva@iibce.edu.uy Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Ana Silva Rossana Perrone Google Ana Silva Rossana Perrone Google Scholar Ana Silva Rossana Perrone PubMed Ana Silva Rossana Perrone Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.

Observations were made on the grey kangaroo, housed in yards, initially at Adelaide, S.A., and later at Canberra, A.C.T., to provide basic information on reproduction and growth. This information was required for the interpretation of data obtained from concurrent field studies. Grey kangaroos are capable of breeding throughout the year but with increased frequency between the months of September and March, referred to as the "breeding season". Typical mating behaviour is described. Mating, which usually lasted about 50 min, was first used to indicate oestrus and ovulation, but it was later found possible to detect when ovulation had occurred from a characteristic vaginal smear which is described. During the "breeding season" the length of the oestrous cycle of the grey kangaroo in captivity varied from 32 to 55 days; a greater variation in length than in any other marsupial in which cyclic reproductive phenomena have been adequately described, Grey kangaroos from South Australia had gestation periods of 29-31 days; those from south-eastern New South Wales, 33-35 days; and those from mid-northern New South Wales, 38 days. The characteristic gestation period from each geographical strain of kangaroo was altered by from 9 % to 15 % if the females were mated with males of other strains. It is suggested that the genetic constitution of the embryo influences the period of intra-uterine development. Fertile post-partum mating with subsequent lactation-controlled delayed implantation of the type exhibited by other macropodids was not found in the grey kangaroo, and thus a new young was not produced after premature removal of the earlier young from the pouch, but if the removal took place during the "breeding season" then the female usually returned to oestrus within 13 days. Wild females, which had recently had fertile matings and with pouch young aged about 235 days, were collected at Mt. Hope, N.S.W., plus two others in a small sample at another site with pouch young aged 44 and 151 days, but it is not yet known whether the embryos complete development. If these are viable, their development must be slowed down during part of the following days, to ensure complete vacation of the pouch by the earlier occupant. Mating occurred in three domestic females with pouch young aged 82, 247, and 271 days, but further young were not produced from these matings. Because of the slow rate of development of the pouch young-a pouch life of 312 days compared with 240 days for the red kangaroo-and due to the restricted "breeding season", each sexually mature female grey kangaroo can produce and rear only one young each year. After leaving the pouch, each young may be suckled by its mother for at least another 6 months. * Division of Wildlife Research, CSIRO, Canberra. t Department of Zoology, University of Adelaide; present address: Mrs. J. Marsh, 2 Nicolle Ave., Hawthorndene, S.A.