Male Pairs Research Articles

The role of marriage in criminal recidivism: a longitudinal and co-relative analysis.

Marriage is associated with a reduced rate of criminal recidivism, but the underlying mechanisms have only partly been elucidated. We seek to clarify the nature of the association between marriage and recidivism and how that relationship may be moderated as a function of gender, deviance of spouse, a history of violence and familial risk. We utilise a longitudinal cohort design consisting of Swedish men (n = 239 328) and women (n = 72 280), born between 1958 and 1986, who were convicted of at least one crime before age 20 and were not married prior to age 20. The analyses used Cox regression with marriage as a time-dependent covariate. We also perform co-relative analyses in sibling and first cousin pairs. Marriage after a first crime substantially reduces risk of recidivism in both males (hazard ratio (HR) with key covariates and 95% confidence intervals 0.55, 0.53-0.57) and females (HR = 0.38, 0.34-0.42), although the effect is stronger in females. Marriage to a deviant spouse increases recidivism rates in males. In males, a history of violent criminality and high familial risk, respectively, decrease and increase sensitivity to the protective effect of marriage on recidivism. Consistent with a causal effect of marriage on recidivism, marriage was associated with a decline in risk for criminal relapse comparable with that in the population in both male-male sibling pairs (raw HR = 0.53, 0.45-0.62) and cousin pairs (HR = 0.55, 0.47, 0.65) concordant for prior convictions. The protective effect of marriage on risk for criminal recidivism is likely largely causal and is of importance in both males and females. Those at high familial risk for criminal behaviour are more sensitive to the protective effects of marriage.

Do songbirds attend to song categories when selecting breeding habitat? A case study with a wood warbler

Breeding habitat selection strongly affects reproduction and individual fitness. Among birds, using social cues from conspecifics to select habitat is widespread, but how different types of conspecific social cues influence breeding habitat selection remains less understood. We conducted a playback experiment evaluating if the yellow warbler (Setophaga petechia), a species with two song categories linked to pairing status, uses categories differently when selecting breeding habitat. We hypothesized that yellow warblers use second-category singing mode, which is mostly sung by paired males, over first-category singing mode for habitat selection, as successfully paired males should indicate higher-quality habitat. We broadcast yellow warbler first-category singing mode, second-category singing mode, and silent controls at sites in Illinois. Yellow warblers were more abundant at sites treated with second-category singing mode compared other sites. Our results demonstrate that yellow warblers use social cues informing successful pairing over other types of social cues to select breeding habitat.

Growth and Development of Dentofacial Complex influenced by Genetic and Environmental Factors using Monozygotic Twins.

The purpose of this study was to determine the possible effects of genetic and environmental factors on dentofacial complex using monozygotic twins. The study sample was made of 21 pairs of monozygotic twins (14 female pairs and seven male pairs) between 10 and 25 years. Pretreatment lateral cephalo-grams were used which were traced and digitized, and various landmarks to determine the anteroposterior and vertical proportions were marked. Samples were divided into two groups. The correlation between groups was found by calculating Pearson's product moment correlation coefficients. The range of the correlation coefficient was from 0.705 to 0.952. Gonial angle showed the highest correlation coefficient (0.952), while saddle angle showed the lowest correlation coefficient (0.705). The growth and development of craniofacial complex is under mutifactorial control. However, genetic influences do tend to play a dominant role. By studying identical twins, we can study about the interaction of the environment with the genes and how it affects the growth and development of the body in general and dentofacial complex in particular. By utilizing twin studies, we can identify whether a particular trait, disease, or disorder is influenced more strongly by genetics or by the environment. Success of orthodontic treatment depends on a proper diagnosis of the problem including its etiological factors. Genetic studies let the orthodontists to understand the effects of genetic and environmental factors in the growth and development of dentofacial complex better and allows to prevent or treat malocclusions and skeletal anomalies in better ways.

Using Microsatellite DNA to Understand Bobwhite Behavior and Population Structure (Post Abstract)

Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) have a flexible mating system with varying degrees of parental investment in offspring. Questions of relatedness of mates and the dynamics of covey membership have not been answered. It is not known how different patterns of mating systems impact productivity of bobwhite populations. In addition to behaviors, the genetic structure of bobwhite populations likely varies across landscapes, and may depend on the distribution and abundance of habitat types. These issues have critical conservation and management implications, such as the impact of habitat fragmentation on gene flow. Recent advances in molecular techniques provide an opportunity to investigate these questions through examination of small, repetitive, highly variable regions of DNA known as microsatellites. Microsatellites provide the fine-scale resolution needed to objectively understand certain population structures and reproductive strategies. Microsatellite analysis techniques have been used successfully to research relatedness and extra-pair paternity of a number of species. Therefore, we have begun to investigate the genetic basis for many northern bobwhite behaviors related to reproduction. Our primary objectives are to determine: (1) relatedness of individuals within coveys and groups over time, (2) relatedness between reproductive pairs relative to random pairings, (3) relatedness of chicks in broods, (4) rates of extrapair fertilization, (5) rates of intra-specific nest parasitism, and (6) the relatedness of incubating birds to their eggs. To do so, we have developed a series of microsatellite markers for northern bobwhites. We radiomarked approximately 75% of bobwhites on our study area at Tall Timbers Research Station. We collected body feathers from adults and 1.5 mm patagial micro-biopsies from each chick (4 days old) found brooding with radiomarked adults for microsatellite analysis. We are determining relatedness and parentage, based on these microsatellite data, using programs RELATEDNESS and CERVUS. Additionally, we are testing our tissue collection techniques on a pen-reared population of bobwhites to determine the efficiency of DNA amplification via the polymerase chain reaction for 4 tissue collection techniques: patagial micro-biopsy, down and feather shaft, egg tooth, and egg membrane. Additionally, we are pairing pen-reared adult hens and males for different periods of time to determine the presence of sperm storage and test for evidence of sperm competition. Further, we are crossing individuals of known relatedness over several generations to test the accuracy of paternity inferences calculated by CERVUS with respect to bobwhite microsatellite data. Finally, by collecting feathers from hunterkilled bobwhites throughout the Red Hills and the southeast, we will compare the genetic structure of the bobwhite population(s) of the Red Hills, likely the last panmictic population in the southeast, to more isolated, declining populations. In our poster we present a detailed description of this research along with first year results.

Female-biased sex ratio, polygyny, and persistence in the endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus)

ABSTRACT Demographic changes in populations, such as skewed sex ratios, are of concern to conservationists, especially in small populations in which stochastic and other events can produce declines leading to extirpation. We documented a decline in one of the few remaining populations of Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) in southern California, USA, which dropped from 40 to 5 adults between 2000 and 2015. Declines were unequal between sexes (94% for males, 82% for females). Adult sex ratios were female-biased in 10 of 16 yr. The proportion of paired males that were polygynous ranged from 0% to 100%, depending on the ratio of females to males in the adult population. Some males paired with up to 5 females simultaneously. We investigated the role of nestling sex ratio in the female-biased adult sex ratio by using genetic techniques to determine sex from blood samples collected from 162 nestlings in 72 nests from 2002 to 2009. Both population-level and within-brood nestling sex rati...

An improved method for detecting telomere size differences in T-lymphocyte interphases from older people with Down syndrome with and without mild cognitive impairment.

Telomere size (quantified by fluorescence intensity and physical lengths) in short-term T-lymphocyte cultures from adults with Down syndrome (DS) with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI-DS) or dementia was compared. For these studies, dementia status was determined based on longitudinal assessments employing a battery of cognitive and functional assessments developed to distinguish adult-onset impairment from preexisting developmental disability. In the course of our studies using a MetaSystems Image Analyzer in combination with ISIS software and a Zeiss Axioskop 2, we found that Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) telomere fluorescence referenced to chromosome 2-identified FITC probe fluorescence as a nontelomere standard (telomere/cen2 ratio) showed great promise as a biomarker of early decline associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in this high-risk population. We have now obtained a cen (2) CY3 probe that can clearly be distinguished from the blue–green FITC interphase telomere probe, providing a clear distinction between telomere and centromere fluorescence in both interphase and metaphase. We used FITC/CY3 light intensity ratios to compare telomere length in interphases in adults with DS with and without MCI-DS or dementia. Five age-matched female and five age-matched male pairs (n = 10) all showed clear evidence of telomere shortening associated with clinical progression of AD (P < 0.002 – P < 0.000001), with distributions of mean values for cases and controls showing no overlap. We also examined the time needed for microscopy using interphase versus metaphase fluorescence preparations. With interphase preparations, examination time was reduced by an order of magnitude compared with metaphase preparations, indicating that the methods employed herein have considerable practical promise for translation into broad diagnostic practice.

Genetic relatedness affects socio-spatial organization in a solitary carnivore, the European pine marten

Genetic relatedness among individuals can play a major role in the socio-spatial organization of mammals. However, only a few studies have documented kin-related spatial pattern in solitary medium-sized carnivores. Using radiotelemetry and genetic data from 15 individuals (seven males and eight females), we investigated the relationship between kinship and spatial organization (distance and overlap between home ranges) in the European pine marten Martes martes in a wooded area of central Italy. Data analysis included 45 pairs (10 individuals) tracked in spring and summer and 66 pairs (12 individuals) tracked in autumn and winter. Kinship, distance between home ranges and proportion of home range overlap were also compared among inter- and intra-sexual pairs. Spatial distribution of pine martens was affected by genetic relatedness, so that individuals living in close proximity or occupying the same area were also more likely to be closely related. Female pairs had a higher proportion of overlap of their home and core ranges than male pairs. Male pairs were also less related than female and inter-sexual pairs, showing a pattern of space use consistent with male-biased dispersal and female philopatry. Most of the females that overlapped their home and core ranges were genetically related, while only a third of the few male pairs occupying the same territories were kin. However, our results seem to indicate that positive association between home range overlap and relatedness was mainly a consequence of common female philopatry rather than kin-biased tolerance. Male-female dyads had the highest percentage of related individuals overlapping their home and core ranges, suggesting that spatial segregation is unlikely to play a role in preventing encounters between kin.

Birth weight discordance, DNA methylation, and cortical morphology of adolescent monozygotic twins.

Several studies have shown that the in utero environment, which can be indexed by birth weight (BW), is associated with cortical morphology in adolescence and adulthood. Work in monozygotic (MZ) twins suggests that this association is driven by non-shared environmental factors. This correlation could be the result of in utero impacts on DNA methylation. The aim of the present study with MZ twins is to replicate the association between discordance in BW and brain morphology and test whether discordance in DNA methylation mediates this relationship. One hundred and four adolescent MZ twins (52 pairs, of which 42% were male pairs) who have been followed regularly since birth underwent T1 weighted structural MRI, and epigenome-wide assessment of DNA methylation from saliva at age 15. Co-twins had very similar measures of DNA methylation and cortical morphology. Higher BW members of a twin pair had increased total cortical surface area, and decreased cortical thickness compared to their lower BW sibling. BW Discordance was positively associated with both cortical surface area and cortical volume discordance. Genes involved in neurodevelopment were tentatively identified as mediators of both the BW - cortical volume, and BW- cortical surface area relationships. The association between BW and cortical morphology in adolescence appears to be attributable to in utero environmental effects, and DNA methylation may play a role in mediating this relationship. Hum Brain Mapp 38:2037-2050, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Sex and pairing status impact how zebra finches use social information in foraging

Many factors, including the demonstrator’s sex, status, and familiarity, shape the nature and magnitude of social learning. Given the important role of pair bonds in socially-monogamous animals, we predicted that these intimate relationships would promote the use of social information, and tested this hypothesis in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). Observer birds witnessed either their mate or another familiar, opposite-sex bird eat from one, but not a second novel food source, before being allowed to feed from both food sources themselves. Birds used social information to make foraging decisions, but not all individuals used this information in the same way. While most individuals copied the foraging choice of the demonstrator as predicted, paired males did not, instead avoiding the feeder demonstrated by their mate. Our findings reveal that sex and pairing status interact to influence the use of social information and suggest that paired males might use social information to avoid competing with their mate.

Near-synchronous calling in the hip-pocket frog Assa darlingtoni

Sustained perfect synchrony of signal production by animals is unrealistic, but even near-synchronous signalling is extremely rare. Near-synchronous signalling has been documented in some orthopteran insects and fireflies, and one kind of frog. This study provides observations and analyses of sustained bouts of impressive near-synchronous calling by a terrestrial breeding frog from Australia, the hip-pocket frog (Assa darlingtoni). Males called in scattered clusters of several individuals from the rainforest floor of northern New South Wales. In eight of nine pairs of semi-isolated males, there was sustained near-synchronous calling in bouts consisting of 16–20 calls and lasting 5–10 min. There was extensive overlap of the pulsed calls, and calls of a lagging male began overlapping that of a leading male after 2–5 pulses of a leader’s call note. In five pairs, one male’s calls were usually in the leading position; in three pairs, leadership frequently switched between males. In the latter interactions, males frequently skipped a call and produced its next call or calls in the leading position. This tactic has been interpreted as sexual competition between neighbours in orthopterans, but further research is required to rule out possible alternative hypotheses.

High Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSC) CD34+ Cell Dose Increases the Risk of Chronic Gvhd after Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) Matched Sibling Transplantation

CD34+ cell dose is a critical determinant of outcomes after allogeneic PBSC transplantation, with a CD34 dose ≥2.0 x 10e6/kg shown to positively impact hematopoietic engraftment and survival. However, it is unknown whether additional benefits are observed with even higher CD34 cell doses. Therefore, we further explored the effect of intermediate, high and very high CD34 cell doses on the incidence of engraftment, acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and transplant related mortality (TRM) and on probability of survival and GVHD-Relapse-free survival (GRFS). Three hundred and five consecutive patients transplanted with GCSF-mobilized PBSC from HLA-matched sibling donors (MSD) were evaluated. Patients were ≥16 years of age, had a hematological malignancy and received a myeloablative or a nonmyeloablative conditioning regimen between 2002 and 2012. The median recipient age was 52 years (r, 19-74 years) with most being male (n=194, 63.8%) diagnosed with leukemia (72%) or lymphoma (22%), and intermediate disease risk index (DRI, n=204, 67%). The median age for the donor were 49 years (r,17-76 years). In 159 patients (52%) the donor and recipient were sex matched with 89 male patients having a female door (29%). The ABO blood type was matched in 195 patients (64%), 153(50%) received a myeloablative (MA) conditioning regimen, and 37 (12%) received a reduce intensity conditioning regimen containing ATG. The median follow up of surviving patients was 793 days (r, 14-4562 days). Patients were divided in four CD34 dose quartiles: first quartile (QT1), ≤4.8 x10e6/kg, QT2 4.8-6.0 x10e6/kg, QT3 6.0-7.5 x10e6/kg, and QT4 ≥ 7.6 x 10e6/kg. Notably, the CD3 doses were similar for all quartiles: QT1 was 3.4 x 10e8/kg (r, 0.3-10.0), QT2 was 2.7 x 10e8/kg (r, 1.1-7.6), QT3 was 2.8 x 10e8/kg (r, 0.8-7.2) and QT4 was 2.8 x 10e8/kg (r, 1.4-7.7); there was no correlation between CD34 and CD3 cell doses. Patient and donor characteristics were similar in the four groups except for shorter median follow-up (P <0.01) in QT1, more sex mismatched grafts (P <0.01) in QT3, and lower median number of cell collections (P <0.01) and more female donor: male recipient pairs (P< 0.01) in QT4. Multivariate analysis results are summarized on the table. Higher CD34+ cell dose was associated with improved platelet recovery with trends toward lower TRM and improved overall survival. Chronic GVHD however was also higher. In summary, additional studies are needed to establish a survival benefit in recipients of higher cell doses >4.8 x 10e6 CD34 cells/kg. Unless survival is positively impacted, the higher risk of chronic GVHD would argue for assigning an upper CD34 cell dose limit to reduce this risk that can significantly impair quality of life. [Display omitted] DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Mate and territory availability affect breeding dispersal and divorce in a resident Southern House WrenTroglodytes aedon musculuspopulation

Breeding dispersal is the movement of an individual between breeding attempts and is usually associated with the disruption of the social pair bond, although mates may disperse together as a social unit. In monogamous territorial species, the decision to disperse may be affected by individual attributes such as sex, age and condition of the disperser. However, environmental and social contexts may also play a crucial role in the decision to disperse. We analysed capture‐resighting data collected over 9 years to study breeding dispersal and divorce rates of a Southern House WrenTroglodytes aedon musculuspopulation in South Temperate Argentina. Between‐season dispersal was more frequent than within‐season dispersal, with females dispersing more often than males, both between and within seasons. Both within‐season and between‐season breeding dispersal probability was affected by territory availability, but not by previous breeding success. When the adult sex ratio (ASR) was more skewed towards males, male between‐season dispersal was also affected by mating status, with widowed and single males dispersing more often than paired males. Within‐season divorce increased the reproductive success of females but not males, and was affected by the availability of social partners (with increasingly male‐skewedASR). Our results suggest that territorial vacancies and mating opportunities affect dispersal and divorce rates in resident Southern House Wrens, highlighting the importance of social and environmental contexts for dispersal behaviour and the stability of social pair bonds.

Size-assortative mating and arm loss in the wild shallow-water octopus Abdopus sp. (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae)

ABSTRACTThe ability to autotomise and regenerate body parts as a means of escaping predation or renewing damaged tissues has evolved in several animal groups. Some octopuses belonging to the genus Abdopus are known for a high frequency of arm loss and their capacity to regenerate arms. I investigated the mating behaviour and the incidence of arm loss in a shallow-water Abdopus sp. in the wild. Mating occurred at night and at low tide. The male octopus tracked and copulated by repeatedly stretching the hectocotylised arm into the female’s mantle cavity during mating bouts, mostly while the mated female actively moved to forage at the same time. Relatively smaller males adopted sneaking tactics in which they stayed around a mating pair and sometimes gained opportunistic copulations with the female. A significant positive relationship between the body weights of the male and female in each mating pair was detected. Moreover, the proportion of sneaker males that had lost at least one arm prior to mating and their number of lost arms per individual were significantly higher than those of paired males. These results suggest that male arm loss in Abdopus sp. may directly or indirectly influence male competition over females and mating success, resulting in a positive size association between members of a mating pair. This finding would be important when considering the life-history strategies of octopuses.

Description of a new endoparasitic copepod genus and species (Lamippidae) that induces gall formation in leaves of the sea pen Ptilosarcus gurneyi (Octocorallia) from British Columbia

A new genus and species of gall-forming endoparasitic copepod of the family Lamippidae is described from the orange sea pen Ptilosarcus gurneyi (Gray, 1860) collected in British Columbia, Canada. Lamippid copepods (over 50 species) are obligate endoparasites, some of which form galls in a variety of soft corals (Alcyonacea and Pennatulacea). Ptilosarcoma athyrmata n. gen., n. sp. is the first lamippid formally described from any species of Ptilosarcus Verrill, 1865. In total, 143 galls from six sea pens were dissected and found to typically contain one female and male copepod pair. Infested leaves of P. gurneyi had 1.4 ± 0.6 (n = 143) galls per leaf. Using light and scanning electron microscopy, the copepods were examined and found to most closely resemble those belonging to the genus Isidicola Gravier, 1914, based on the presence of maxillipeds and lack of acicules on the caudal rami; however, they are distinct from the sole species of Isidicola based on aspects of antennal morphology. We conclude that Lamippina laubieri Bouligand, 1960 is a synonym of L. aciculifera (Zulueta, 1908), thus the family presently contains 52 species and one subspecies. A key to lamippid genera and a table of all lamippid genera and species with all known hosts and locality records are provided.

The last bastion? X chromosome genotyping of Anopheles gambiae species pair males from a hybrid zone reveals complex recombination within the major candidate ‘genomic island of speciation’

Speciation with gene flow may be aided by reduced recombination helping to build linkage between genes involved in the early stages of reproductive isolation. Reduced recombination on chromosome X has been implicated in speciation within the Anopheles gambiae complex, species of which represent the major Afrotropical malaria vectors. The most recently diverged, morphologically indistinguishable, species pair, A.gambiae and Anopheles coluzzii, ubiquitously displays a 'genomic island of divergence' spanning over 4Mb from chromosome X centromere, which represents a particularly promising candidate region for reproductive isolation genes, in addition to containing the diagnostic markers used to distinguish the species. Very low recombination makes the island intractable for experimental recombination studies, but an extreme hybrid zone in Guinea Bissau offers the opportunity for natural investigation of X-island recombination. SNP analysis of chromosome X hemizygous males revealed: (i) strong divergence in the X-island despite a lack of autosomal divergence; (ii) individuals with multiple-recombinant genotypes, including likely double crossovers and localized gene conversion; (iii) recombination-driven discontinuity both within and between the molecular species markers, suggesting that the utility of the diagnostics is undermined under high hybridization. The largely, but incompletely protected nature of the X centromeric genomic island is consistent with a primary candidate area for accumulation of adaptive variants driving speciation with gene flow, while permitting some selective shuffling and removal of genetic variation.

Somatosensory Brain Function and Gray Matter Regional Volumes Differ According to Exercise History: Evidence from Monozygotic Twins.

Associations between long-term physical activity and cortical function and brain structure are poorly known. Our aim was to assess whether brain functional and/or structural modulation associated with long-term physical activity is detectable using a discordant monozygotic male twin pair design. Nine monozygotic male twin pairs were carefully selected for an intrapair difference in their leisure-time physical activity of at least three years duration (mean age 34±1years). We registered somatosensory mismatch response (SMMR) in EEG to electrical stimulation of fingers and whole brain MR images. We obtained exercise history and measured physical fitness and body composition. Equivalent electrical dipole sources of SMMR as well as gray matter (GM) voxel counts in regions of interest indicated by source analysis were evaluated. SMMR dipolar source strengths differed between active and inactive twins within twin pairs in postcentral gyrus, medial frontal gyrus and superior temporal gyrus and in anterior cingulate (AC) GM voxel counts differed similarly. Compared to active twins, their inactive twin brothers showed greater dipole strengths in short periods of the deviant-elicited SMMR and larger AC GM voxel counts. Stronger activation in early unattended cortical processing of the deviant sensory signals in inactive co-twins may imply less effective gating of somatosensory information in inactive twins compared to their active brothers. Present findings indicate that already in 30's long-term physical activity pattern is linked with specific brain indices, both in functional and structural domains.

Psychophysical study of face identity discrimination in schizophrenia: association with facial morphology

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Identifying individual identities from faces is crucial for social functioning. In schizophrenia, previous studies showed mixed results as to whether face identity discrimination is compromised. How a social category factor (such as gender and race) affects schizophrenia patients’ facial identity discrimination is unclear.Methods: Using psychophysics, we examined perceptual performance on within- and between- category face identity discrimination tasks in patients (n = 51) and controls (n = 31). Face images from each of six pairs of individuals (two White females, two White males, two Black males, two Asian females, one Black male and one White male, and one White female and one White male) were morphed to create additional images along a continuum of dissimilarity in facial morphology.Results: Patients underperformed for five out of the six face pairs (the Black/White male pair was the exception). Perceptual performance was correlated with morphological changes in face images being discriminated, to a greater extent in patients than in controls.Conclusions: Face identity discrimination in schizophrenia was most impaired for those faces that presumably have extensive social exposures (such as White males). Patients’ perceptual performance appears to depend more on physical feature changes of faces.

Serotonin 1A agonism decreases affiliative behavior in pair-bonded titi monkeys

Relatively little is known about serotonergic involvement in pair-bonding despite its putative role in regulating social behavior. Here we sought to determine if pharmacological elevation of serotonin 1A (5-HT1A) receptor activity would lead to changes in social behavior in pair-bonded male titi monkeys (Callicebus cupreus). Adult males in established heterosexual pairs were injected daily with the selective 5-HT1A agonist 8-OH-DPAT or saline for 15days using a within-subjects design. Social behavior with the female pair-mate was quantified, and plasma concentrations of oxytocin, vasopressin, and cortisol were measured. When treated with saline, subjects showed reduced plasma oxytocin concentrations, while 8-OH-DPAT treatment buffered this decrease. Treatment with 8-OH-DPAT also led to decreased plasma cortisol 15minutes post-injection and decreased social behavior directed toward the pair-mate including approaching, initiating contact, lipsmacking, and grooming. The reduction in affiliative behavior seen with increased activity at 5-HT1A receptors indicates a substantial role of serotonin activity in the expression of social behavior. In addition, results indicate that the effects of 5-HT1A agonism on social behavior in adulthood differ between rodents and primates.

Measuring success of a reintroduced population of the American burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus Olivier) to Nantucket Island, MA

The American burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus) is a federally listed endangered beetle and since 1993 multiple organizations have collaborated to reintroduce this species to Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, USA. We present evidence that despite very successful reintroduction methods, the reintroduced population is not self-sustaining and requires human assistance for long term maintenance. Beetles were reintroduced from captive stock and each year we augmented the population by trapping wild beetles, pairing males and females, and supplying the pairs with carrion. Long term monitoring of this population has shown that, when provided with carrion, N. americanus on Nantucket have an over winter survival rate of 15 % and a reproductive success rate of 54 %. After seeing the number of beetles captured between 2007 and 2011 double, we modified protocols to determine if the established population would be self-sustaining and we have seen a drastic decline. We suggest that a lack of natural carrion is the main reason for this decline.

Let's stay together? Intrinsic and extrinsic factors involved in pair bond dissolution in a recolonizing wolf population.

Summary For socially monogamous species, breeder bond dissolution has important consequences for population dynamics, but the extent to which extrinsic or intrinsic population factors causes pair dissolution remain poorly understood, especially among carnivores.Using an extensive life‐history data set, a survival analysis and competing risks framework, we examined the fate of 153 different wolf (Canis lupus) pairs in the recolonizing Scandinavian wolf population, during 14 winters of snow tracking and DNA monitoring.Wolf pair dissolution was generally linked to a mortality event and was strongly affected by extrinsic (i.e. anthropogenic) causes. No divorce was observed, and among the pair dissolution where causes have been identified, death of one or both wolves was always involved. Median time from pair formation to pair dissolution was three consecutive winters (i.e. approximately 2 years). Pair dissolution was mostly human‐related, primarily caused by legal control actions (36·7%), verified poaching (9·2%) and traffic‐related causes (2·1%). Intrinsic factors, such as disease and age, accounted for only 7·7% of pair dissolutions. The remaining 44·3% of dissolution events were from unknown causes, but we argue that a large portion could be explained by an additional source of human‐caused mortality, cryptic poaching.Extrinsic population factors, such as variables describing the geographical location of the pair, had a stronger effect on risk of pair dissolution compared to anthropogenic landscape characteristics. Population intrinsic factors, such as the inbreeding coefficient of the male pair member, had a negative effect on pair bond duration. The mechanism behind this result remains unknown, but might be explained by lower survival of inbred males or more complex inbreeding effects mediated by behaviour.Our study provides quantitative estimates of breeder bond duration in a social carnivore and highlights the effect of extrinsic (i.e. anthropogenic) and intrinsic factors (i.e. inbreeding) involved in wolf pair bond duration. Unlike the effects of intrinsic and extrinsic factors that are commonly reported on individual survival or population growth, here we provide quantitative estimates of their potential effect on the social unit of the population, the wolf pair.