Search results for "behaviour"

Clearance and respiration rates of shallow Chondrilla nucula at varying temperature.

2010

Chemical Ecology of Insect Parasitoids: Essential Elements for Developing Effective Biological Control Programmes

2013

Insect parasitoids can find their hosts in complex environments and reproduce through a series of behavioural steps which are regulated mainly by chemical cues, termed semiochemicals. According to functional criteria, stimuli can be classified into four main categories: (A) cues coming from the habitat, the host microhabitat or the food plant, (B) direct host‐related cues, (C) indirect host‐related cues, and (D) cues coming from the parasitoid itself. In recent years, considerable progress has been made in elucidating the semiochemicals used by parasitoids to locate their hosts. Several studies provided interesting prospective for manipulating foraging behaviour of parasitoids in order to i…

Parasite-induced aggression and impaired contest ability in a fish host

2010

Abstract Background Success of trophically transmitted parasites depends to a great extent on their ability to manipulate their intermediate hosts in a way that makes them easier prey for target hosts. Parasite-induced behavioural changes are the most spectacular and diverse examples of manipulation. Most of the studies have been focused on individual behaviour of hosts including fish. We suggest that agonistic interactions and territoriality in fish hosts may affect their vulnerability to predators and thus the transmission efficiency of trophically transmitted parasites. The parasite Diplostomum spathaceum (Trematoda) and juvenile rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, were used to study whe…

Female-female aggression and female mate choice on black grouse leks.

2000

We studied female-female aggression in relation to female mate choice in black grouse, Tetrao tetrix, in central Finland, in 1994-1998. Aggression occurred on average every other minute when there was more than one female on a territory, and aggressive behaviour was most prominent when several females attended the lek. Interactions tended to be proportionally most frequent on the territories of the highest-ranking males, although not significantly so. Females that were chased by other females did not mate with lower-ranking males than their aggressors did. Furthermore, chased females were only rarely (6% of cases) forced to move off the territory by agonistic interactions and copulations we…

A female-produced short-range sex pheromone in the egg parasitoid Trissolcus brochymenae

2012

The potential for short-range sex pheromone communication by the egg parasitoid wasp Trissolcus brochymenae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) was investigated in closed arena bioassays. Males of this parasitoid showed more antennal drumming and more frequent mounting behaviour on 1- to 2-d-old virgin females compared with 8-d-old virgin females. Male copulation attempts were fewer with previously mated females than with virgin females. Males courted and made copulation attempts with 1- to 2-d-old female cadavers, but not with male cadavers or with female cadavers rinsed in organic solvents of different polarities. Male attraction to female cadavers was re-established by treating cadavers with a…

Body size and mating strategies in the simultaneous hermaphrodite Oxynoe olivacea (Mollusca, Opisthobranchia, Sacoglossa).

2004

Summary 1To better understand the role and importance of body size in hermaphroditic mating system theory, the mating behaviour of the shelled sacoglossan Oxynoe olivacea was studied. This simultaneous hermaphrodite exhibits bilateral and unilateral sperm transfer and thus it is particularly suitable for studies on hermaphrodite sexual conflict. 2In this study three hypotheses on body size were tested: that O. olivacea partner size has an effect on (i) mating mode choice, (ii) duration of mating modes, and (iii) choice of sexual role. Furthermore, we tested Charnov's hypothesis that in O. olivacea, like many simultaneous hermaphrodites, a sexual conflict exists and the male role is preferre…

Agonistic and sociable behaviors in the mound-building mice,Mus spicilegus: A comparative study withMus musculus domesticus

2001

Present social organization and mating systems result from selective pressures and ecological conditions but also from proximate interactions between individuals. Many studies report on a polygynous mating system with a social group territoriality in commensal populations of Mus musculus domesticus. However, little is known about the social organization of other Mus species living in outdoor conditions, such as the mound-building mouse Mus spicilegus. Comparative studies between M. m. domesticus and M. spicilegus have already shown behavioral differences in female sexual preferences and paternal care. To study agonistic and sociable interactions and gain insight into the social organization…

Neuropsychological underpinnings of the dynamics of bipolar disorder

2015

Although we have gained enormous insights into neurobiological and psychological underpinnings of bipolar disorder (BD) symptoms, our knowledge concerning pathogenic mechanisms initiating recurrent affective episodes is still fragmentary. Previous research has highlighted the role of significant life events and social rhythm in recurrent episodes of mania and depression. However, most studies share the drawback of retrospective self-report data, which are prone to recall biases and limited introspective abilities. Therefore, more objective data, such as neuropsychological and neurobiological measures are needed to further unravel the pathogenic mechanisms of the dynamics of bipolar disorder…

Multi-Destination Trips and Tourism Statistics: Empirical Evidences in Sicily

2012

Abstract The knowledge of the actual magnitude and main features of tourism flows in a given destination is an essential prerequisite for the evaluation of tourism impacts and externalities. Indeed, many pleasure trips are often characterized by the visit to more than a single destination. Although the topic is well-documented in literature, the empirical results are limited to a few pioneering studies. The lack may be attributable to the failure of tourism organizations to collect data on multi-destination trip behaviour. This can be seen, for example, in the system of European statistics on tourism (according to the Council Directive 95/57 EC), where information on the average number of v…

Millenials’ intentions to book on Airbnb

2018

The sharing economy has witnessed a significant growth in recent years, enhanced by the development of online platforms. In particular, Airbnb has witnessed a significant worldwide year-on-year growth. Given the importance and popularity of Airbnb, it is crucial to examine which factors affect intentions to book on this website. This study proposes and tests a model based on the Theory of Reasoned Action, to examine millennials’ determinants of intentions to book on Airbnb. Based on two online surveys targeting millennials from Germany and China, the results show that intentions to book on Airbnb is mostly influenced by subjective norm, desire for unique accommodation and variety, attitude …