Grooming Behavior Research Articles

Examining postmounting grooming in male golden snub-nosed monkeys to investigate the functions of same-sex mounts.

Same-sex mounting behavior has been documented across primate species and several biological functions, that are often difficult to differentiate, have been proposed. Postmounting affiliative behaviors (e.g., embracing and grooming) have been partly overlooked and their performance may more clearly reveal the function of same-sex mounts for different age-sex classes. Here, considering postmounting grooming behaviors (PMG), we tested the affiliation hypothesis for same-sex mounts in an all-male unit (AMU) of captive golden snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) (n = 7-8) and the needing to learn hypothesis in the juveniles of the AMU (n = 4) and the juvenile male from the neighboring one-male unit in Shanghai Wild Animal Park, China from November 2014 to June 2015. A total of 1986 same-sex mounts were recorded from the AMU individuals and the juvenile of the neighboring one-male unit. We found that neither dyadic proximity-based association nor grooming-based affiliation predicted the occurrence of mounts in the AMU, and PMG was more likely to occur in nontense than tense social contexts, providing no support for the affiliation hypothesis. Although dyadic grooming-based affiliation predicted the occurrence of PMG, it exerted no influence on the occurrence of mounts, which was necessary to support the hypothesis. However, consistent with the needing to learn hypothesis, from ages two to four, juveniles' mounting duration increased and they performed pelvic thrusting during mounting more and more often as they grew older. Reciprocated series mounts were much more common among juveniles than other mounting dyads, providing learning opportunities for both participants. The mounter was more likely to groom the mountee at the end of a mount among juveniles than other mounting dyads, suggesting that juvenile mounters may profit from mounting and groom mountees in return for providing them with opportunities to learn copulatory skills. A hypothesis that merits further investigation.

The Influence of Young People’s Concern for Appearance and Appearance Management on Their Makeup Awareness and Grooming Behaviors: Focusing on South Korean and Chinese People in their 20s and 30s

This study aimed to help broaden awareness horizons among people in their 20s and 30s in South Korea and China in terms of both the necessity of appearance management and the importance of makeup. Therefore, after a survey carried out among young people in South Korea and China, we conducted a comparative analysis of how their concern for appearance and appearance management has an influence on their makeup awareness and grooming behaviors, with the intention of exploring practical implications to help develop cosmetics for men and give the their cosmetics market a jump-start. The findings are as follows. First, it turned out that nowadays, Chinese young people see the graduate school entrance rates rising significantly, with the increasing number of Chinese students studying in graduate schools in South Korea. It means that the education is considered as the ladder of socioeconomic success in China. Second, concern for appearance and its management, makeup awareness, and grooming behaviors, saw difference by education among Chinese men while seeing difference by age among South Korean men. It illustrates there is increasingly noticeable perception in Chinese men that a good appearance is the ladder of socioeconomic success. Moreover, the higher degree the Chinese men had of education, the more clear their perception was. It implies that Chinese men with a high degree of education have a lot of potential to emerge as the largest buying class in the cosmetics consumption. Finally, men in China as well as in South Korea proved to have a strong interest in their concern for appearance, appearance management, makeup awareness, and grooming behaviors. It also showed, the higher concern for appearance, and appearance management they had, the more active they were in makeup awareness and grooming behaviors. Irrespective of gender and nationality, the concern for appearance as human common needs should be a guarantee of a sustained growth and a development potential in the industry of makeup with a direct effect on an appearance enhancement. To sum up, the implication of this findings is that there is a need for developing cosmetics fitting the taste of not only women but also men in China to help give the men's cosmetics market a jump-start.

ECOBIOLOGY OF CHINKARA (GAZELLA BENNETTII) IN BOTH CAPTIVE AND WILD HABITAT OF LALSUHANRA NATIONAL PARK, BAHWALPUR, PAKISTAN

Organisms, such as Chinkara (Gazellabennettii), which do not have adequate opportunities to express normal behaviour in captivity, exhibit more prominent morphology, feeding habits, and breeding behaviour in the wild than in captivity. The current study aimed to detect the alterations in behaviour patterns in both wild and confined settings in LalSuhanra National Park, Pakistan between August 2021 and February 2022. The criteria under investigation included morphological patterns, food and feeding habits, vigilance, resting, grooming, defecation/urination frequency, time spent together (Male-Female), grouping, being alone, affinitive interaction, agonistic activity, mounting frequency, and mounting number, amongst other factors. The results showed significant differences among the animals residing in captive and wild habitat. The wild habitat provided a variety of shrubs, herbs and trees for natural vegetation of Chinkara, while the captive Chinkra were feed by Park staff, that resulted in brighter color and wild animals were healthier in terms of height and weight. The level of vigilance in the captive population (11.2%) was greater than in the wild population (9.6%). Observations of resting were more common in the captive group (14.7%) than in the wild population (6.6%). Mounting happened considerably more often in the wild (1.5%) than in captivity (1%), and this difference was statistically significant. The grooming behaviour was less often seen in the wild population (4.1%) than captive population (7.4%). This research found that if a captive Chinkara population is housed in an enclosure with suitable gender relationships and environmental disturbance is kept to a bare minimum, the captive Chinkara population may be as prolific as the wild population in terms of health, behaviors, and reproduction.

Sexual grooming behaviours in sibling sexual harm

ABSTRACT Little research has explored sexual grooming behaviours in sibling sexual harm (SSH). This study investigated the characteristics of SSH, as well as the extent to which sexual grooming behaviours were used, based on the self-report of 38 individuals who were sexually harmed by a sibling. Results showed the SSH most often involved a sibling that was a juvenile themselves. In terms of SSH characteristics, fondling/kissing were the most commonly reported behaviours, and many cases of SSH occurred during afternoon and evening hours, over summer months, and within the siblings’ homes. On average, individuals who experienced SSH reported 13 out of a possible 42 sexual grooming behaviours and the most commonly endorsed sexual grooming behaviours were Victim Selection tactics, while Gaining Access and Isolation behaviours were the least endorsed. The results can be used to inform prevention, education, and policy efforts related to SSH. Practice impact statement The results of the study shed light on the common characteristics, as well as the use of sexual grooming behaviours, in sibling sexual harm cases. This information can help inform prevention, education, and policy efforts related to sibling sexual harm.

Investigating cycle shifts in women's clothing style and grooming.

In contrast to some non-human primate species, human females do not show overt cues to fertility. Previous research argued that women still show systematic changes in their appearance across their ovulatory cycle to enhance their mating success when fertile. We report five studies investigating whether women's clothing style and grooming behaviour change across the ovulatory cycle. All studies were large (with N = 157 in Study 1, N = 109 in Study 2, N = 257 in Studies 3-5), longitudinal studies with four testing sessions per participant. They involved salivary hormone samples and luteinizing hormone tests to validate conception risk estimates. Across all studies, our results suggest no compelling evidence for cycle shifts in clothing style and grooming. Rather, two studies suggest effects in the opposite direction as hypothesized, as women wore more skin-revealing clothes when non-fertile. One study suggests small effects of wearing necklaces more and eyeglasses less often when fertile. However, these effects were not robust across all studies. Our results are in line with other recent null replications and suggest that, if existent, cues to fertility might be even more subtle than previously assumed. We discuss the need for testing competing theories that explain the evolution of concealed ovulation.

Acute administration of the NMDA receptor antagonists ketamine and MK-801 reveals dysregulation of glutamatergic signalling and sensorimotor gating in the Sapap3 knockout mouse model of compulsive-like behaviour

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterised by excessive intrusive thoughts that may cause an individual to engage in compulsive behaviours. Frontline pharmacological treatments (i.e., selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)) leave approximately 40% of patients refractory to treatment. To investigate the possibility of novel pharmacological therapies for OCD, as well as the potential mechanisms underlying its pathology, we used the Sapap3 knockout (KO) mouse model of OCD, which exhibits increased anxiety and compulsive grooming behaviours. Firstly, we investigated whether administration of the NMDA receptor (NMDAR) antagonist ketamine (30 mg/kg), would reduce anxiety and grooming behaviour in Sapap3 KO mice. Anxiety-like behaviour was measured via time spent in the light component of the light-dark box test. Grooming behaviour was recorded and scored in freely moving mice. In line with previous works conducted in older animals (i.e. typically between 6 and 9 months of age), we confirmed here that Sapap3 KO mice exhibit an anxious, compulsive grooming, hypolocomotive and reduced body weight phenotype even at a younger age (i.e., 2-3 months of age). However, we found that acute administration of ketamine did not cause a reduction in anxiety or grooming behaviour. We then investigated in vivo glutamatergic function via the administration of a different NMDAR antagonist, MK-801 (0.25 mg/kg), prior to locomotion and prepulse inhibition assays. We found evidence of altered functional NMDAR activity, as well as sexually dimorphic prepulse inhibition, a measure of sensorimotor gating, in Sapap3 KO mice. These results are suggestive of in vivo glutamatergic dysfunction and their functional consequences, enabling future research to further investigate novel treatments for OCD.

Environmental enrichment affects behavioral and pharmacological response to antidepressants in CF1 mice

It has been described that environmental enrichment (EE) exerts beneficial effects on cognitive and emotional performances, dendritic branching, synaptic density, neurogenesis and modulation of neurotrophic systems and neurotransmitters in rodents. However, the influence of EE on pharmacological and behavioral responses in animal models of psychiatric disorders has not been fully established. In this context, the aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of exposure to EE on mice behavior in the open field test (OFT) and forced swimming tests (FST), as well as the response to antidepressant drugs (fluoxetine 30 mg/kg and bupropion 30 mg/kg, p.o.). CF1 mice were exposed to an enriched housing condition at different developmental stages: from mating to postnatal day (PND) 55 (lifelong enrichment), from mating to PND21 (perinatal enrichment) and from PND21 to PND55 (post-weaning enrichment). At PND58 the male offspring were evaluated in the OFT and FST. BDNF gene expression in the hippocampus was determined through qPCR. Mice exposed to perinatal enrichment remained longer in the peripheral zone of the OFT and performed fewer grooming than mice housed under standard condition, and these effects were independent of drug treatment. Post-weaning and lifelong enrichment increased grooming behavior. Bupropion reduced grooming in all groups except in perinatal enriched. In turn, fluoxetine decreased grooming only in post-weaning enriched group. None of the enriched housing conditions altered the immobility time in the FST, which indicates that EE had no antidepressant-like effect. However, all enriched housing conditions abolished the anti-immobility effect of bupropion. None of the EE protocols affected BDNF hippocampal expression. The main conclusion is that mice behavior in the OFT is sensitive to alterations in the housing environment and depends on the developmental stage of exposure. Bupropion and fluoxetine yielded divergent responses depending on the housing condition, which suggests that EE modulates monoaminergic neurotransmission pathways.

Independent and combined effects of astaxanthin and omega-3 on behavioral deficits and molecular changes in a prenatal valproic acid model of autism in rats

ABSTRACT Objectives: Autism is a devastating neurodevelopmental disorder and recent studies showed that omega-3 or astaxanthin might reduce autistic symptoms due to their anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, we investigated the effects of omega-3 and astaxanthin on the VPA-induced autism model of rats. Material and Methods : Female Wistar albino pups (n = 40) were grouped as control, autistic, astaxanthin (2 mg/kg), omega-3 (200 mg/kg), and astaxanthin (2 mg/kg)+omega-3 (200 mg/kg). All groups except the control were prenatally exposed to VPA. Astaxanthin and omega-3 were orally administered from the postnatal day 41 to 68 and behavioral tests were performed between day 69 and 73. The rats were decapitated 24 h after the behavioral tests and hippocampal and prefrontal cytokines and 5-HT levels were analyzed by ELISA. Results: VPA rats have increased grooming behavior while decreased sociability (SI), social preference index (SPI), discrimination index (DI), and prepulse inhibition (PPI) compared to control. Additionally, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ levels increased while IL-10 and 5-HT levels decreased in both brain regions. Astaxanthin treatment raised SI, SPI, DI, PPI, and prefrontal IL-10 levels. It also raised 5-HT levels and decreased IL-6 levels in both brain regions. Omega-3 and astaxanthin + omega-3 increased the SI, SPI, DI, and PPI and decreased grooming behavior. Moreover, they increased IL-10 and 5-HT levels whereas decreased IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ levels in both brain regions. Conclusions: Our results showed that VPA administration mimicked the behavioral and molecular changes of autism in rats. Single and combined administration of astaxanthin and omega-3 improved the autistic-like behavioral and molecular changes in the VPA model of rats.

Optogenetic cortical spreading depolarization induces headache-related behaviour and neuroinflammatory responses some prolonged in familial hemiplegic migraine type 1 mice

BackgroundCortical spreading depolarization (CSD), the neurophysiological correlate of the migraine aura, can activate trigeminal pain pathways, but the neurobiological mechanisms and behavioural consequences remain unclear. Here we investigated effects of optogenetically-induced CSDs on headache-related behaviour and neuroinflammatory responses in transgenic mice carrying a familial hemiplegic migraine type 1 (FHM1) mutation.MethodsCSD events (3 in total) were evoked in a minimally invasive manner by optogenetic stimulation through the intact skull in freely behaving wildtype (WT) and FHM1 mutant mice. Related behaviours were analysed using mouse grimace scale (MGS) scoring, head grooming, and nest building behaviour. Neuroinflammatory changes were investigated by assessing HMGB1 release with immunohistochemistry and by pre-treating mice with a selective Pannexin-1 channel inhibitor.ResultsIn both WT and FHM1 mutant mice, CSDs induced headache-related behaviour, as evidenced by increased MGS scores and the occurrence of oculotemporal strokes, at 30 min. Mice of both genotypes also showed decreased nest building behaviour after CSD. Whereas in WT mice MGS scores had normalized at 24 h after CSD, in FHM1 mutant mice scores were normalized only at 48 h. Of note, oculotemporal stroke behaviour already normalized 5 h after CSD, whereas nest building behaviour remained impaired at 72 h; no genotype differences were observed for either readout. Nuclear HMGB1 release in the cortex of FHM1 mutant mice, at 30 min after CSD, was increased bilaterally in both WT and FHM1 mutant mice, albeit that contralateral release was more pronounced in the mutant mice. Only in FHM1 mutant mice, contralateral release remained higher at 24 h after CSD, but at 48 h had returned to abnormal, elevated, baseline values, when compared to WT mice. Blocking Panx1 channels by TAT-Panx308 inhibited CSD-induced headache related behaviour and HMGB1 release.ConclusionsCSDs, induced in a minimally invasive manner by optogenetics, investigated in freely behaving mice, cause various migraine relevant behavioural and neuroinflammatory phenotypes that are more pronounced and longer-lasting in FHM1 mutant compared to WT mice. Prevention of CSD-related neuroinflammatory changes may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of migraine.

Daily Behavior of Sambar Deer (Cervus Unicolor) within Ex-Situ Conservation Areas in Deer Parks

Research has been conducted on "Daily Behavior of Sambar Deer (Cervus unicolor) in Ex-situ Conservation Area in Deer Park, Desa Lamtanjong, Kabupaten Aceh Besar". This study aims to determine the daily behavior of sambar deer in the conservation area in deer park Desa Lamtanjong, Kabupaten Aceh Besar, and the most dominant behavior carried out by sambar deer, as well as the feasibility of the results of research on the daily behavior of sambar deer (Cervus unicolor) in Deer park Desa Lamtanjong, Kabupaten Aceh Besar. The approach used in this study is quantitative, the type of research used is descriptive. The sample in this study was 6 sambar deer consisting of 2 males and 4 females. Data on the daily behavior of sambar deer were obtained through direct observation using the animal sampling scan method for 14 days of observation. Based on the results of the study, it is known that the behavior carried out is in the form of eating behavior, shifting behavior, resting behavior, grooming behavior, and reproduction. The dominant behaviors were eating (47%), moving (20%), resting (29%), grooming (3%), and reproduction (1%). The dominant behavior that deer perform is feeding behavior. The use of the results of this research is applied in the form of a practicum guide for the Animal Ecology course, to conduct practicum directly at the deer park Desa Lamtanjong, Kabupaten Aceh Besar.

Real-Time Recognition and Detection of Bactrocera minax (Diptera: Trypetidae) Grooming Behavior Using Body Region Localization and Improved C3D Network.

Pest management has long been a critical aspect of crop protection. Insect behavior is of great research value as an important indicator for assessing insect characteristics. Currently, insect behavior research is increasingly based on the quantification of behavior. Traditional manual observation and analysis methods can no longer meet the requirements of data volume and observation time. In this paper, we propose a method based on region localization combined with an improved 3D convolutional neural network for six grooming behaviors of Bactrocera minax: head grooming, foreleg grooming, fore-mid leg grooming, mid-hind leg grooming, hind leg grooming, and wing grooming. The overall recognition accuracy reached 93.46%. We compared the results obtained from the detection model with manual observations; the average difference was about 12%. This shows that the model reached a level close to manual observation. Additionally, recognition time using this method is only one-third of that required for manual observation, making it suitable for real-time detection needs. Experimental data demonstrate that this method effectively eliminates the interference caused by the walking behavior of Bactrocera minax, enabling efficient and automated detection of grooming behavior. Consequently, it offers a convenient means of studying pest characteristics in the field of crop protection.

The Partial M1 Muscarinic Cholinergic Receptor Agonist, CDD-0102A, Differentially Modulates Glutamate Efflux in Striatal Subregions during Stereotyped Motor Behavior in the BTBR Mouse Model of Autism.

The BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) mouse displays elevated repetitive motor behaviors. Treatment with the partial M1 muscarinic receptor agonist, CDD-0102A, attenuates stereotyped motor behaviors in BTBR mice. The present experiment investigated whether CDD-0102A modifies changes in striatal glutamate concentrations during stereotyped motor behavior in BTBR and B6 mice. Using glutamate biosensors, change in striatal glutamate efflux was measured during bouts of digging and grooming behavior with a 1 s time resolution. Mice displayed both decreases and increases in glutamate efflux during such behaviors. Magnitude of changes in glutamate efflux (decreases and increases) from dorsomedial and dorsolateral striatum were significantly greater in BTBR mice compared to those of B6 mice. In BTBR mice, CDD-0102A (1.2 mg/kg) administered 30 min prior to testing significantly reduced the magnitude change in glutamate decreases and increases from the dorsolateral striatum and decreased grooming behavior. Conversely, CDD-0102A treatment in B6 mice potentiated glutamate decreases and increases in the dorsolateral striatum and elevated grooming behavior. The findings suggest that activation of M1 muscarinic receptors modifies glutamate transmission in the dorsolateral striatum and self-grooming behavior.

Luteolin in the Qi Bi Anshen decoction improves propionic acid-induced autism-like behavior in rats by inhibiting LRP1/MMP9

BackgroundA neurodevelopmental illness with a high frequency and unidentified pathophysiology is known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A research hotspot in this field is the identification of disease-specific biomarkers and drug intervention targets. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can eliminate the symptoms of autism by precisely regulating human physiology. The Qi Bi Anshen decoction (QAT) is a commonly used TCM clinical drug commonly-used to treat for treating ASD. However, the primary active ingredients and underlying mechanisms of action of this decoction remain unknown. PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the active ingredients and pharmacodynamics of QAT in the treatment of ASD using a Sprague–Dawley rat model that resembled autism. MethodsAutism-like rat models were established through intracerebroventricular injections of propionic acid (PPA). Subsequently, the rats were treated with QAT, and their efficacy was evaluated using the three-chamber method to analyze social interactions and grooming behavior. Additionally, open-field tests, elevated cross-maze tests, hematoxylin and eosin staining, Nissl staining, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were performed; Western blot analysis was employed to determine the expression of synaptic plasticity-related proteins. Utilizing ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS), the effectiveness of active QAT components was assessed, and potential QAT targets were screened through molecular docking, surface plasmon resonance, and thermal migration experiments. To better understand the precise processes involved in treating ASD with active QAT components, in vivo and in vitro knockdown tests were also performed. ResultsQATexhibited a significant improvement in autism-like behavior and a notable increase in the production of proteins associated with synaptic plasticity. Furthermore, luteolin (LUT), identified as a potentially important active ingredient in QAT for treating ASD, reduced matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP9) expression. However, this effect was attenuated by the knockdown of low-density lipoprotein receptor-associated protein 1 (LRP1), which is the target binding site for LUT. ConclusionsLUT emerges as a potentially crucial active component of QAT in the treatment of ASD, with the ability to antagonize LRP1 and subsequently reduce MMP9 expression.

#4592 A HIGH PROTEIN DIET INDUCES DEPRESSION-LIKE BEHAVIOR IN CKD RODENT MODELS

Abstract Background and Aims The prevalence of depression among patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is higher than the general population. Around 21-27% of CKD patients is estimated to be affected by depression. Several studies hypothesized that mood disorders may be due to reduced family support, older age, low educational status and low quality of life. However, adults with CKD are also known to exhibit altered tryptophan metabolism causing reduced plasma levels of tryptophan and elevated kynurenine and kynurenic acid. Moreover, CKD patients show increased levels of indoxyl sulfate and indole-3-acetic acid, two protein-bound uremic toxins deriving from the gut microbiome metabolism of tryptophan. We postulate that depression is not just due to reduced quality of life but also to a biological reason. In addition, we hypothesize that a high protein diet may influence tryptophan metabolism and therefore affect depression symptoms. Method Eighteen Sprague-Dawley male rats (Janvier, Le Genest- St Isle, France), 7-8 weeks old, were induced with CKD utilizing 5/6 nephrectomy and were randomly assigned to a low protein (n = 10) or a high protein (n = 8) diet. A sham-operated control group for each diet was used (n = 7 respectively). The splash test was adopted to assess depressive symptoms in rats. In short, the splash test is a behavioral test consisting in sprinkling a 10% sucrose solution on the dorsal coat of a rat. Latency (time before the initiation of grooming) and duration of grooming were recorded for 5 min and used as an indication of self-care behavior. Delayed and reduced grooming is considered as a depression-like behavior of rats. Blood and urine creatinine were determined with standard laboratory techniques. Total plasmatic concentrations of tryptophan, kynurenine, kynurenic acid and indoxyl sulfate were measured using LC-MS/MS. Results The latency before the starting of the grooming behavior was significantly higher (p = .0499) in CKD rats on a high protein diet compared to sham rats on the same diet while no difference was seen between the low protein groups. CKD rats reported significantly higher plasma levels of indoxyl sulfate and kynurenic acid and reduced tryptophan. Interestingly, kynurenic acid plasma levels were significantly reduced when administering a low protein diet to CKD rats (p = .0025). Among CKD rats, the latency to the grooming behavior was correlated with plasmatic levels of creatinine clearance (Spearman r = -.57, p value = .019), indoxyl sulfate (Spearman r = .64, p value = .007), and kynurenic acid (Spearman r = .63, p value = .009). The total grooming time was shorter in both CKD groups compared to the sham rats, but not significantly (p = .4881 and p = .4312, respectively). Conclusion These results suggest that biological factors contribute to depression onset and that the decline of kidney function and the accumulation of uremic toxins are potential risk factors for depression. Dietary interventions such as a low protein diet, are potential strategies to lower the plasmatic levels of uremic toxins which may alleviate depressive-like symptoms.

Birds groom more in regions with higher parasite pressure: a comparison of temperate and subtropical American kestrels

Grooming behaviour, which maintains and cleans the integument, is a widespread behaviour of birds, mammals and arthropods. The extent to which grooming is influenced by large-scale environmental differences, such as geographical and seasonal variation, remains largely unexplored. We investigated spatial and temporal variation in the grooming behaviour of a common species of bird, the American kestrel, Falco sparverius. Specifically, we compared the self-grooming behaviour (preening and scratching) of kestrels in the subtropical Bahamas to kestrels in temperate northern Utah, U.S.A., in both summer and winter. We also compared differences in parasite ‘pressure’ by quantifying the prevalence and abundance of ectoparasitic lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) on kestrels in both locations. Bahama kestrels had significantly more lice than Utah kestrels, which is typical of birds in humid regions, compared to arid regions. Bahama kestrels groomed significantly more than Utah kestrels, which may constrain the time–activity budgets of Bahama kestrels. Within each region, however, birds with more lice did not groom more. This pattern is consistent with geographical differences in programmed grooming, rather than stimulus-driven grooming. Kestrels in both locations groomed significantly more in summer than in winter, presumably because feather moult occurs in summer. To our knowledge, this study provides the first demonstration of geographical variation in the grooming behaviour of any animal. Experimental studies are needed to confirm the causes and consequences of this variation. Spatial and temporal comparisons of grooming in other birds, as well as mammals and arthropods, would be informative.

Grooming and agonistic behaviors in the semi-terrestrial crabsOcypode quadrata(Fabricius, 1787) andMinuca(Uca) burgersi(Holthuis, 1967) (Decapoda: Brachyura: Ocypodidae)

AbstractGrooming behaviors reduce body fouling and are well documented in crustaceans. There are more detailed laboratory-based grooming studies on fully aquatic crabs compared to semi-terrestrial crabs. By contrast, semi-terrestrial crabs are predicted to have different grooming time budgets than fully aquatic crabs because semi-terrestrial crabs are not constantly submerged in water that can mechanically remove sedimentary fouling, whereas fully aquatic crustaceans have increased fouling from algae and epibionts. We studied the grooming behaviors of two semi-terrestrial crab species. Crabs (N = 50 ghost crabs, Ocypode quadrata (Fabricius, 1787); N = 50 fiddler crabs, Minuca (Uca) burgersi (Holthuis, 1967)) were observed in isolation for 45-min trials. We recorded grooming frequency, location, appendage, and time. Ghost crabs were also observed in agonistic encounters to determine how grooming varied in the presence of a conspecific individual. Ghost crabs and fiddler crabs have different grooming time budgets, (0.526 and 0.895%, respectively) with both species having lower grooming time budgets than fully aquatic crustaceans. Some similarities and differences in grooming between the two semi-terrestrial crabs exist, with both species frequently grooming their eyes and maxillipeds using a brush or scrape mechanism, but with fiddler crabs using their eyes as a grooming appendage more frequently than ghost crabs. Ghost crab males groom less than females, whereas fiddler crab males and females groom equally. In agonistic interactions in ghost crabs, the grooming time budget decreased compared with isolated observations and individuals engaged in a “playing dead” behavior (thanatosis) after engaging in a fight. Semi-terrestrial crabs were found to groom significantly less than fully aquatic crustaceans.

Resilience to the short- and long-term behavioral effects of intermittent repeated social defeat in adolescent male mice

BackgroundExposure to intermittent repeated social defeat (IRSD) increases the sensitivity of mice to the rewarding effects of cocaine in the conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm. Some animals are resilient to this effect of IRSD, though research exploring this inconsistency in adolescent mice is scarce. Thus, our aim was to characterize the behavioral profile of mice exposed to IRSD during early adolescence and to explore a potential association with resilience to the short- and long-term effects of IRSD. MethodsThirty-six male C57BL/6 mice were exposed to IRSD during early adolescence (PND 27, 30, 33 and 36), while another 10 male mice did not undergo stress (controls). Defeated mice and controls then carried out the following battery of behavioral tests; the Elevated Plus Maze, Hole-Board and Social Interaction Test on PND 37, and the Tail Suspension and Splash tests on PND 38. Three weeks later, all the mice were submitted to the CPP paradigm with a low dose of cocaine (1.5 mg/kg). ResultsIRSD during early adolescence induced depressive-like behavior in the Social Interaction and Splash tests and increased the rewarding effects of cocaine. Mice with low levels of submissive behavior during episodes of defeat were resilient to the short- and long-term effects of IRSD. In addition, resilience to the short-term effects of IRSD on social interaction and grooming behavior predicted resilience to the long-term effects of IRSD on cocaine reward. ConclusionOur findings help to characterize the nature of resilience to the effects of social stress during adolescence.

A Rhizocephalan Parasite Induces Pervasive Effects on Its Shrimp Host.

AbstractRhizocephalan barnacles are parasites of crustaceans that are known for dramatic effects on hosts, including parasitic castration, feminization, molt inhibition, and the facilitation of epibiosis. Most research on rhizocephalans has focused on carcinized hosts, with relatively little research directed to shrimp hosts that may experience distinct consequences of infection. Here, we describe a high-prevalence rhizocephalan-shrimp system in which multiple host changes are associated with infection: the dock shrimp Pandalus danae infected by the rhizocephalan Sylon hippolytes. In field-collected P. danae, infection by Sylon was associated with development of female sex characters at a smaller size and greater probability of epibiosis. Standardized video observations showed that infected P. danae performed grooming activities at higher rates than uninfected shrimp, suggesting that inhibited molting rather than direct behavioral modification is a likely mechanism for higher epibiosis rates. There was no difference in the composition of grooming behavior types or in general activity between infected and uninfected shrimp. Fatty acid compositions differed with infection, but total lipid concentrations did not, suggesting that parasite-driven shifts in host resource allocation were compensated or redirected from unmeasured tissues. Our results show that Sylon alters its host's role by provisioning an epibiotic substrate and also that it influences host physiology, resulting in feminization and fatty acid shifts. This study lays the groundwork for expanding rhizocephalan-shrimp research and encourages recognition of oft-ignored roles of parasitism in ecological communities.

What Frontline Professionals Need to Combat Child Maltreatment Online

Rapid technological advances in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries have changed the landscape of child maltreatment worldwide. Whereas historically a child was most likely to be maltreated within the family or community systems, now children can be abused by thousands of unknown and unidentified persons from anywhere on the planet. Trafficking in child sexual abuse material (CSAM), luring, grooming, and other predatory behaviors existed before the Internet. However, modern technologies have changed abusers’ points of access to children and the number of abusers who can participate in the maltreatment of a victim. New types of child maltreatment are also being invented with new technologies, such as livestreamed child sexual exploitation. In addition, the volume of certain types of child abuse has exploded exponentially such as has been documented with the trafficking in CSAM, as well as the severity of the abuse being recorded on younger and younger victims, including infants and toddlers. These changes have created challenges at all points along the child maltreatment continuum—from prevention to effective treatment leading to the full physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration of victims and survivors as are mandated by international law for many survivors. Recent research into the experiences and perspectives of frontline professionals combatting technology-facilitated child maltreatment makes clear that more training and supports are needed, such as technological resources, research into effective therapeutic treatments for survivors, consistent and accurate terminology and concepts, a modernization of the legal framework in which these crimes are investigated and prosecuted, and robust mental health supports for frontline providers. As the Kempe Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect provides education and training to thousands of frontline providers worldwide each year, Kempe is uniquely situated to provide leadership in preparing frontline providers to combat child abuse effectively in these new environments.

Self-Reports of Grooming Behaviors in Adult Men Who Sexually Abused a Child: Assessment and Treatment Considerations

Grooming is the dynamic process a sexual offender engages in to gain access to and sexually assault a victim without detection. This study examined the grooming behaviors of adult males who sexually offended receiving community based specialized therapy. The results of the study suggest that over half of the participants used grooming strategies that included: grooming the environment, coercion, tricks, and bribes. However, there was wide discrepancy on reporting of grooming behavior when asked about general strategies versus specific behaviors. These results provide critical information to the existing knowledge base on the assessment and treatment of the population.