acta ethologica最新文献

{"title":"Postconflict behaviour of captive female Himalayan tahr","authors":"Gabriele Schino,&nbsp;Giulia Santamaria,&nbsp;Carola Manzoni,&nbsp;Massimiliano Di Giovanni","doi":"10.1007/s10211-026-00485-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10211-026-00485-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Social animals have evolved behavioural strategies to cope with the inevitable conflicts associated with group living. In this study, we examined the postconflict behaviour of Himalayan tahr (<i>Hemitragus jemlahicus</i>) to evaluate the relative prevalence of aggressive and affiliative interactions involving the former opponents and other group members. Although renewed aggression was the most common behaviour following a conflict, tahr also showed an increase in the rate of affiliative interactions between former opponents (reconciliation). Victims of aggression also showed an increase in the rate of scratching and selfgrooming, two common displacement activities that can be used as indicators of an anxiety-like emotional state. Contrary to expectations, reconciliation did not affect either renewed aggression or postconflict anxiety. These results add to the relatively scant literature on the conflict management strategies of nonprimate species and contribute to our understanding of the understudied complexities of the social life of ungulates.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":6879,"journal":{"name":"acta ethologica","volume":"29 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10211-026-00485-3.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147738253","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Female gibbons’ great calls change tempo in the presence of their offspring","authors":"Yoichi Inoue,&nbsp;Waidi Sinun,&nbsp;Kazuo Okanoya","doi":"10.1007/s10211-026-00490-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10211-026-00490-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Gibbons are small apes distributed throughout Southeast Asia known for their loud vocalizations (songs). Female gibbons produce a loud, elaborate, and stereotyped song known as the <i>great call</i> (GC). From 2009 to 2025, we studied four female gibbons (<i>Hylobates funereus</i>) from three groups in northern Borneo to investigate how the birth and development of offspring affect female GCs. We measured the distance between mother and offspring as an indicator of offspring independence. We also recorded all vocalizations of the group. We hypothesized that female GCs would become shorter and the note speeds would slow down after birth. This is because, first, mothers are devoting their energy to raising their offspring and need to conserve energy for singing, and second, offspring’s songs are short and slow, so mothers adapt to them. We measured duration, number of notes, maximum and minimum frequencies, and note speed of female GCs. Preliminary random sampling of the GCs’ Inter Onset Interval (IOI) before and after giving birth revealed differences only in the first half. Therefore, the note speed was analyzed for the first half (FH; 1st–20th) and overall (All). Comparing acoustic parameters before and after birth revealed significant decreases in duration, number of notes, and maximum frequency. Conversely, note speed (FH and All) showed a significant increase, particularly in FH. Furthermore, temporal changes in acoustic parameters differed depending on whether offspring were already present in the group, suggesting that their presence may trigger flexible vocal adjustments. Our findings did not support the hypothesis that the note speeds would slow down after birth. Although we discussed several possible reasons, the underlying cause remains unclear. Further studies are needed to clarify the function and mechanisms of this vocal change.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":6879,"journal":{"name":"acta ethologica","volume":"29 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147738150","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Osteophagy in Ozotoceros bezoarticus: a field observation from the Brazilian Cerrado","authors":"Vívian da Silva Braz,&nbsp;Vanderlei Alves do Nascimento Neto,&nbsp;Frederico Gustavo Rodrigues França,&nbsp;Myrella Machado Bernardes,&nbsp;Carlos de Melo e Silva Neto,&nbsp;Thiago Eduardo Pereira Alves,&nbsp;Adriani Hass","doi":"10.1007/s10211-026-00488-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10211-026-00488-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Osteophagy, defined as the consumption or gnawing of skeletal remains, has been documented in a variety of mammalian taxa but remains rarely reported for Neotropical cervids. Here, we describe a field observation of osteophagy in the pampas deer (<i>Ozotoceros bezoarticus</i>) recorded in an open grassland area of Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, central Brazil, within the Cerrado biome, and complement this record with laboratory analyses of the collected bone fragments. A male individual was observed chewing dry bone material for approximately 15 min during the antler growth period. After the animal left the site, antler and bone fragments of a conspecific were recovered and subsequently analyzed. Chemical analyses revealed a high inorganic content, with elevated proportions of calcium and phosphorus. Osteophagy in <i>O. bezoarticus</i> is discussed in the context of similar records in other cervids and mammals, the annual antler cycle, and the oligotrophic conditions characteristic of Cerrado soils. This observation contributes to the understanding of rare or poorly documented behaviors in a species considered Near Threatened globally and Vulnerable in Brazil, highlighting the importance of natural history records for improving ecological knowledge relevant to conservation strategies.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":6879,"journal":{"name":"acta ethologica","volume":"29 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10211-026-00488-0.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147737428","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ethology and child social development: a unified tapestry of questions and levels of analysis","authors":"António J. Santos","doi":"10.1007/s10211-026-00489-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10211-026-00489-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Ethological research traditions consistently provided valuable insights that have informed many child development conceptual frameworks and programs, evidently not without some limitations and challenges in effective translation into real-world interventions. Despite these challenges, the core principles from ethological research remain highly valuable and continue to inspire innovative approaches to supporting research on child social development. Addressing these limitations through interdisciplinary collaboration, rigorous evaluation, and contextual adaptation can help unlock the full potential of ethological contributions. Such an approach should provide a solid foundation for exploring the intersectional hallmarks of ethological research on developmental psychology, particularly in the areas of parenting and peer relations. Overall, the original fields of primate and child ethology have continued to evolve, leveraging technological and theoretical advancements to deepen our understanding of the complex interplay between biology, social bonding, and social development. The methodological sophistication and expanded scope of contemporary research offer valuable insights for informing real-world applications on supporting healthy social-emotional development and improving therapy conditions outcomes for children, families, and communities.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":6879,"journal":{"name":"acta ethologica","volume":"29 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10211-026-00489-z.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147737368","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Revisiting wildlife crop foraging: why don’t all individuals forage on crops?","authors":"Vani Kulkarni,&nbsp;Sindhu Radhakrishna","doi":"10.1007/s10211-026-00486-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10211-026-00486-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>One of the more prominent aspects of conflict between humans and wildlife is crop foraging by wild animals. A number of theories have been proposed to understand the basis of this high-risk behaviour, ranging from optimum foraging strategy and nutritional benefits to loss of habitat and reduction in resource availability. However existing research does not fully explain why despite the benefits associated with this activity, all or even most of the individuals in a group do not adopt this behaviour. We use primates as a model system, and view crop foraging through the lens of animal innovation to understand why wild animals diversely exhibit this behaviour. Drawing on published literature and recent findings, we propose psychological and physiological mechanisms that potentially shape crop foraging behaviour in wild animals.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":6879,"journal":{"name":"acta ethologica","volume":"29 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147643003","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ontogenetic variation, plasticity, and the anti-predatory role of tonic immobility in a chrysomelid beetle","authors":"Rabi Sankar Pal,&nbsp;Anirban Bhowmick,&nbsp;Bodhisatta Nandy","doi":"10.1007/s10211-026-00487-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10211-026-00487-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Tonic immobility (TI) is a secondary defense strategy characterised by the adoption of a motionless posture in response to the contact or close proximity of the antagonist. Despite being taxonomically widespread, the intrinsic and extrinsic determinants of TI remain underexplored. We provide the first evidence of TI in the chrysomelid beetle <i>Zygogramma bicolorata</i>— a biocontrol agent for the weed <i>Parthenium hysterophorus</i>. We leveraged this system to understand the ontogenetic development of TI, its plastic use as an alternative defensive tactic, and the functional significance of this behaviour. Our data reveal significant ontogenetic shifts across larval instars and decoupling of TI duration between larval and adult stages. We argue that this variation has evolved under stage-specific selection and reflects the distinct ecology of each life stage. However, no significant difference in TI duration was observed across sexes, possibly due to minimal sexual dimorphism in this species. We further demonstrated state-dependent plasticity, where experimentally reduced movement ability resulted in increased TI duration. Finally, through predator preference assays, we highlight the potential anti-predatory role of TI in this species. Our results provide foundational insights into the ontogeny and plasticity of this secondary defense strategy and underscore the importance of considering anti-predator behavior when assessing the field efficacy of biological control agents.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":6879,"journal":{"name":"acta ethologica","volume":"29 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147642831","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Leg-interweaving as an antipredator display in Dendropsophus anceps (Amphibia: Anura), with notes on defensive behaviors in the genus","authors":"Karen Wege,&nbsp;Grasielle Medeiros,&nbsp;Miguel Oliveira,&nbsp;Luiz Fernando Carmo","doi":"10.1007/s10211-026-00484-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10211-026-00484-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>How to respond to an attack by a potential predator is one of the most crucial decisions species have to make during their lifetime. Antipredator strategies in anurans include a wide diversity of defensive mechanisms, such as postural, acoustic, and behavioral responses, many of which remain poorly documented in Neotropical taxa. Here, we report the first record of leg-interweaving behavior in <i>Dendropsophus anceps</i>, observed during fieldwork in a restinga environment in southeastern Brazil. The behavior was exhibited by an adult male which was being handled for morphometric measurements. In addition to this novel record, we synthesize available information on defensive behaviors described for post-metamorphic individuals of the genus <i>Dendropsophus</i>, highlighting the diversity of behavioural responses in this genus. By integrating a new behavioral observation with a genus-level review, this study contributes to a broader understanding of antipredator strategies and behavioral repertoires in Neotropical treefrogs, reinforcing the relevance of field observations for studies on animal behavior and cognition.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":6879,"journal":{"name":"acta ethologica","volume":"29 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10211-026-00484-4.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147560597","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The abiotic conditions and the effort of parental care. A choice between the pros and cons","authors":"Mauro Sérgio Cruz Souza Lima,&nbsp;Jonas Pederassi,&nbsp;Letícia V. Moura,&nbsp;Diogo R. Oliveira,&nbsp;Kléssia D.S.S. Sousa","doi":"10.1007/s10211-026-00480-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10211-026-00480-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Environmental pressures shaping the evolution and expression of parental care in anurans remain incompletely understood, particularly in semi-arid environments characterized by hydrological instability. Here, we investigated the parental care system of <i>Leptodactylus macrosternum</i> in a semi-arid region of Piauí State, northeastern Brazil. We monitored complete parental care events over ten consecutive days at a temporary pool, focusing on predator-repelling behavior, caregiver proximity to the tadpole shoal, and offspring attendance duration. Abiotic conditions were recorded daily, including water volume, evaporation rate, and water-surface retraction. Egg and tadpole abundance were quantified using DotDotGoose software. Relationships between parental behavior (offspring attendance duration) and abiotic conditions, as well as tadpole abundance, were evaluated using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Parental care was provided exclusively by a single female. During the first 80 h, the female remained continuously present and actively repelled predators. Attendance became intermittent after 112 h and ceased entirely after 128 h. We found a strong negative correlation (<i>r</i> = − 0.98) between offspring attendance duration and pool desiccation, indicating that increasing evaporation and surface retraction were associated with reduced parental care. Following female abandonment, cannibalism by juvenile <i>L. macrosternum</i> emerged and intensified as water volume declined. After 192 h, rapid pool desiccation led to complete tadpole mortality; consequently, cannibalistic juveniles abandoned the site due to the loss of available prey. Our results demonstrate that parental care in <i>L. macrosternum</i> is highly sensitive to abiotic constraints, with offspring attendance duration tightly coupled to hydrological conditions. This study provides new insights into how environmental unpredictability mediates parental investment, larval survival, and cannibalism dynamics in semi-arid amphibian populations.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":6879,"journal":{"name":"acta ethologica","volume":"29 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10211-026-00480-8.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147559997","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Parturition in the wild camel (Camelus ferus): the first in situ recorded observation","authors":"Martina Sihelská,&nbsp;Anna Bernátková,&nbsp;Adiya Yadamsuren,&nbsp;Tamara Fedorova,&nbsp;Martina Komárková","doi":"10.1007/s10211-026-00483-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10211-026-00483-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This case study presents the first documented in situ observation of parturition in the wild camel (<i>Camelus ferus</i>). Despite extensive research on domesticated camelids, virtually nothing is known about parturition and early maternal behaviour in their wild relatives. On 19 April 2025, a female wild camel was observed under semi-natural conditions in the buffer zone of the Great Gobi A Strictly Protected Area (Mongolia). Continuous focal sampling captured the entire birth process, including labour progression, maternal-neonatal interactions, calf standing and suckling milestones, and post-parturition protective behaviour. The dam displayed active assistance during labour, immediate postnatal contact, and strong protective instincts – guarding the calf from conspecifics as well as other species. The calf stood within 25 min and suckled within 37 min, suggesting an adaptive need for rapid mobility in an open, predator-exposed landscape. These findings confirm key reproductive traits observed in domesticated camels but also reveal behaviourally specific adaptations to wild desert environments. Given the species’ slow reproduction rate and environmental vulnerability, detailed behavioural insights from even single-case studies offer critical guidance for both in situ conservation and captive breeding protocols. Observations provide crucial insight into a previously undocumented stage of the wild camel’s life history. By comparing observed behaviour to existing domestic data, we begin to fill a key gap in the reproductive ethology of this endangered species.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":6879,"journal":{"name":"acta ethologica","volume":"29 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10211-026-00483-5.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147440923","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The hornbill and the pitcher: a southern ground hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri) learns to solve the Aesop’s Fable task","authors":"Jared Edge,&nbsp;Jennifer Vonk","doi":"10.1007/s10211-026-00481-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10211-026-00481-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Applying widely used tasks to test the problem solving of species with distinct ecological and social structures facilitates a comprehensive understanding of selective pressures for cognitive traits, such as insight, innovation, and causal reasoning. A southern ground hornbill (<i>Bucorvus leadbeateri</i>) was presented with a version of the Aesop’s Fable task to extend explorations of problem solving in this paradigm to a species that has heretofore been understudied. After learning to perform the task, our subject was presented with a version in which heavy stones were more efficient than light stones in displacing a water column to bring food rewards within reach. Although she successfully retrieved rewards more quickly across sessions and learned to select, lift, and drop stones into the tube, she did not preferentially select heavy stones to complete the task, performing similarly to previously tested species. Despite the single subject not demonstrating any causal understanding of the property of weight in this task, the results demonstrate that hornbills will engage with novel object manipulation tasks and do not preclude the possibility that hornbills could evidence such understanding. Gaining a better understanding of the cognitive abilities of southern ground hornbills may ultimately contribute to improving husbandry and conservation efforts in this vulnerable species.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":6879,"journal":{"name":"acta ethologica","volume":"29 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147342009","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}