Ecology and animal behavior Research Papers (original) (raw)

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- Entomology, Biology, Ecology, Agriculture

BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and... more

- by Luciana JUSTINO DES NEVES
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- Zoology, Biology, Hymenoptera, Florida

- by Roberta Pinheiro
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- Zoology, Biology, Hymenoptera, Florida

Por consequência da diversidade no repertório de tarefas individuais em colônias de vespas sociais, fêmeas dominantes e subordinadas diferem significativamente em sua longevidade e, por isto, elas e outros insetos sociais são particularmente interessantes para o estudo de longevidade e dinâmica populacional. As atividades de manutenção da colônia que envolvem atividades de defesa do ninho, forrageio e cuidado com a prole demandam muito gasto energético e riscos, podendo afetar significativamente a longevidade média das vespas. Portanto, o objetivo deste estudo foi testar a hipótese de que fatores extrínsecos impostos pela atividade forrageadora são determinantes para a longevidade média de operárias de Mischocyttarus cassununga. Colônias dessa espécie em condições de campo e laboratório foram mapeadas com o objetivo de determinar a longevidade média e o padrão de mortalidade das suas operárias. A longevidade média das operárias observadas no campo foi de 28,6 dias e o valor de entropia (H) igual a 0,96, determinando elevada mortalidade das operárias jovens, provavelmente devido ao desgaste fisiológico decorrente da atividade forrageadora, falta de orientação espacial e possível ação de predadores. Nas colônias estudadas em laboratório, a longevidade média das operárias se estendeu para 142,4 dias, e o valor de entropia foi de 0,26, indicando um padrão de mortalidade inverso, com poucas mortes de indivíduos jovens e maior probabilidade dos indivíduos atingirem a longevidade máxima da espécie. Fatores como desgaste fisiológico, intempéries e ação de predadores, entre outros, são decisivos para determinar a expectativa de vida e a longevidade média das vespas desta espécie.

- by Edilberto Giannotti
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- Biology, Brazilian Science

SummaryThe Yellow Cardinal Gubernatrix cristata is a globally endangered passerine from the southern cone of South America. Because of its conspicuous plumage and very attractive song, it suffers considerably from illegal pet trade. The largest remaining populations are found in Argentina, but no coordinated efforts have been made thus far to understand better its current distribution and conservation status. During three annual surveys supported by a citizen science programme, more than 140 volunteers surveyed 644 geographical points during spring and detected 221 Yellow Cardinals. Based on the survey results, we evaluated the presence of cardinals within protected areas in Argentina and found that the species was only detected in four of them, two of which were private reserves with a low level of protection. We also found that the species was not restricted to the ‘Espinal’ ecoregion, but also inhabited ‘Monte’ and ‘Chaco’ ecoregions, which are generally drier. This citizen scien...

- by Silvina Mariana Verón
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- Geography, Endangered Species, Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences
- by André Luiz Ferreira de Souza
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- Zoology, Biology, Ecology, Hymenoptera

We studied variations in the size of breeding colonies and in breeding performance of White Storks Ciconia ciconia in 2006-2008 in northeast Algeria. Each colony site was characterized using 12 environmental variables describing the physical environment, land-cover categories, and human activities, and by three demographic parameters: the number of breeding pairs, the number of pairs with chicks, and the number of fledged chicks per pair. Generalized linear mixed models and the self-organizing map algorithm (SOM, neural network) were used to investigate effects of biotic, abiotic, and anthropogenic factors on demographic parameters and on their relationships. Numbers of breeding pairs and of pairs with chicks were affected by the same environmental factors, mainly anthropogenic, which differed from those affecting the number of fledged chicks per pair. Numbers of fledged chicks per pair was not affected by colony size or by the number of nests with chicks. The categorization of the environmental variables into natural and anthropogenic, in connection with demographic parameters, was relevant to detect factors explaining variation in colony size and breeding parameters. The SOM proved a relevant tool to help determine actual dynamics in White Stork colonies, and thus to support effective conservation decisions at a regional scale. Keywords White Stork Á Ciconia ciconia Á Algeria Á Breeding performance Á Colony site Á Conservation Zusammenfassung Welche Umweltfaktoren regulieren Koloniegröße und Bruterfolg beim Weißstorch Ciconia ciconia?-der Einsatz von Selbstorganisierenden Karten Untersucht wurden Unterschiede in Brutkoloniestärke und Bruterfolg bei Weißstörchen Ciconia ciconia in Nordostalgerien, in den Jahren von 2006-2008. Jede Kolonie wurde anhand von zwölf Umweltvariablen charakterisiert, welche Auskunft über physische Umweltbedingungen, Landbedeckung und menschlichen Einfluss gaben, sowie anhand von drei demografischen Parametern: der Anzahl der Brutpaare, der Anzahl von Paaren mit Küken und der Anzahl flügger Junge pro Paar. Es wurden Generalisierte Lineare Gemischte Modelle und der Selbstorganisierende Karten-Algorithmus (Self-Organising Map, SOM, ein neuronales Netz) angewendet, um die Wirkung biotischer, abiotischer und anthropogener Faktoren auf die demografischen Parameter und die Beziehungen zwischen diesen zu untersuchen. Die Anzahl der Brutpaare und die der Paare mit Küken wurden von denselben (hauptsächlich anthropogenen) Umweltfaktoren beeinflusst. Dagegen wurde die Communicated by P. H. Becker.

- by Haroun Chenchouni
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- Avian migration, Conservation Biology, Conservation, Conservation Ecology
- by FABIO PREZOTO
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- Zoology, Biology, Ecology, Hymenoptera

- by Nawel DJEDDOU
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- Avian migration, Conservation Biology, Conservation, Conservation Ecology

- by Haroun Chenchouni
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- Avian migration, Conservation Biology, Conservation, Conservation Ecology

- by Bruna Ribeiro
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- Zoology, Biology, Hymenoptera, Florida

Dispersion and Foundation of New Colonies in Polistes versicolor (Olivier) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) Pre-emergence stage of Polistes versicolor (Olivier) colonies was studied on the following aspects: dispersal of females, foundation of new colonies, growth of the nests, duration of the stages and lifespan of the foundresses. Shifts of females among the founding nests were considered as an attempt to usurp other nests, since hierarchies of dominance were early established in the new colonies. Shifts were facilitated by the parentage of the foundresses.

- by Cynthia Mansur
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- Hymenoptera, Vespidae
- by Germán Marateo
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- Geography, Humanities, Ornithology, Conservation Biology

- by Bruna Ribeiro
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- Zoology, Biology, Hymenoptera, Florida

RF torres 1 , VO torres 1 , YR súarez 2 , WF antonialli-junior 2 Introduction Eusocial wasps are represented by 29 genera in the Neotropical region, 22 of which are recorded in Brazil (Carpenter & Marques, 2001). These wasps occupy many kinds of habitats, primarily associated with human constructions (Lima et al., 2000; Prezoto et al., 2007), i.e., show a high degree of synanthropy (Fowler, 1983). Among the numerous factors that contribute to the success of social wasps, the colony productivity stands out. Productivity depends on ecological factors including changes in temperature, prey availability, and number of founders, among others (Gamboa et al., 2005; Inagawa et al., 2001). According to Gamboa (1978), for example, colonies of Polistes metricus (Say) founded by association are more productive than those initiated by a single female. Tibbetts & Reeve (2003) found that Polistes dominula (Christ) colonies initiated by association better Abstract Currently, the main impacts on biodiversity are generated by human activities in natural environments. Monitoring the number of species of social wasps nesting attached to buildings is important to evaluate the effect of this activity on colony productivity. This study evaluated the effect of habitat alteration, particularly by human activity on the productivity of colonies of the wasp Polistes versicolor. We evaluated 20 abandoned nests and compared the productivity parameters: number of cells constructed, number of adults produced, nest dry mass, proportion of productive cells, number of generations, and diameter of the petiole. Most of these parameters showed higher values in the colonies nesting in the habitat less altered by human activity. Therefore, productivity was significantly higher in this habitat. In the nests, regardless of the site, the cells that were central and closer to the petiole were the most productive. Colonies in the two habitats used different strategies: in the habitat more altered by human activity, the wasps invested more in reusing cells than in enlarging the nest. However, the species continues to nest in the urban area, probably because of decreased interspecific competition, predation, and interference from climate variations.

- by Romario Aldair Torres
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- Zoology, Sociobiology, Biology, Hymenoptera

La Nutria Neotropical de río Lontra Longicaudis (Olfers, 1818), es un mamífero semiacuático que ocupa una amplia distribución geográfica, desde México hasta el norte de Argentina (Waldemarin & Colares 2000, Arellano et al. 2012). Es una especie bastante versátil, que tolera ciertas modificaciones ambientales y puede ocupar áreas cercanas a zonas de actividad antrópica. Sin embargo, las poblacionales de mayor densidad se encuentran en áreas con extensas redes acuáticas, baja contaminación química y carga orgánica, y baja densidad humana (Larivière 1999, Charre-Medellín et al. 2011, Botello et al. 2006). Se alimentan básicamente de peces, crustáceos, moluscos y son consumidores de pequeños mamíferos, aves, reptiles, insectos e inclusive frutos (Larivière 1999, Quadros & Monteiro-Filho 2000, Gallo-Reynoso et al. 2008, Botello et al. 2006, Charre-Medellín et al. 2011). En esta nota se registra la depredación de una babilla juvenil (Caiman crocodilus fuscus) por parte de la Nutria Neotro...

- by Oscar Daniel Medina Barrios
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- Geography, Humanities, Animal Behavior, Animal Ecology

- by Fabricio Reales
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- Geography, Endangered Species, Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences

Studies on the thermal biology of fossorial reptiles that examine the relationship between the body temperature and thermal environment are needed to determine the extent of their thermoregulation abilities. This study assessed the thermal biology of Amphisbaena munoai Klappenbach, 1969 in the rocky fields of the Rio Grande do Sul and in the laboratory. The body temperature of most individuals was between 24 and 30 °C, both in the field (n = 81) and laboratory (n = 19). More individuals were caught in winter (n = 55) and spring (n = 60) than in summer (n = 25) and fall (n = 45), and in spring, individuals showed similar nocturnal and diurnal activities. In the laboratory, we found individuals with body temperatures up to 5 °C higher than the ambient temperature (n = 4), suggesting that some physiological mechanisms participate in the thermoregulation of these animals. Amphisbaena munoai is a thigmothermic species that is capable of actively regulating its temperature by selecting microhabitats such that its various activities occur within an ideal temperature range. This study is the first to evaluate the effect of seasonality and diurnal and nocturnal variations on the thermoregulation of an amphisbaenid.

- by Laura Verrastro
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Se evaluó la relación entre la abundancia del Cardenal Común (Paroaria coronata) y las características del bosque a una escala paisajística y del rodal en el norte de la provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Fueron trazadas 46 transectas en 20 sitios dentro del área de distribución de un bosque nativo conocido localmente como Talares y se usó el programa ‘Distance’ para estimar la abundancia y densidad de cardenales durante el invierno 2009. La densidad promedio fue de 0,29 individuos/ha y se detectaron en promedio 0,34 individuos/100m de transecta recorridos. La abundancia de cardenales estuvo negativamente asociada a la distancia entre parches de bosque y positivamente asociada con el ancho de copa de los árboles. Los sectores del bosque con árboles de mayor tamaño podrían ofrecer mayor ocultamiento y mejores sitios de anidación y alimentación, mientras que la menor distancia entre los parches podría facilitar la dispersión y ofrecer corredores que les permitan acceder a nuevos si...

- by Facundo Gandoy
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- Ecología, Ciencias Naturales, Densidad

- by Facundo Gandoy
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- Geography, Humanities, Interciencia

We examined the abundance, nesting ecology, and colony survival of two invasive species of paper wasp, Polistes dominula Christ (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) and Polistes chinensis Pérez (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), within their invaded range in New Zealand. The more recent invader, P. dominula, exhibited a strong habitat preference, reaching the highest abundances within suburban areas with an average of 87.4 wasps per 1,000 m2. Coastal habitats were also found to be suitable environments for P. dominula, although wasp abundance in these areas was comparatively lower than suburban sites at 26.5 wasps per 1,000 m2. Although P. chinensis were observed to build more nests in coastal habitats, this was not reflected in the abundance of adult wasps in these areas. Nests of P. dominula were larger and more productive, likely a result of the multiple founding and earlier emergence of workers compared to P. chinensis. Both species exhibited significant differences in nest survival, with P. dominula ...

- by Richard Toft
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- Zoology, Biology, Ecology, Hymenoptera

- by Fabián Llanos
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- Geography, Endangered Species, Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences

- by Viviana de Oliveira Torres
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- Zoology, Sociobiology, Biology, Nest

The objective of this work was to describe the pattern forage of Polistes versicolor (Olivier) waps, verifying the influence of environmental variables on foraging activity. From January to December of 2007, 24 observations of P. versicolor foraging activity in a eucalypt plantation were accomplished. During 10 hours, the intensity of light, wind speed, air humidity and temperature were registered close to the colony. The P. versicolor foraging activity began at 7:30 a.m. and extended to 6:00 p.m. The average departure of workers per hour was 9.62 ±16.67 (0-84), and arrivals per hour were 9.76 ±18.14 (0-87). The most intense activities of the colonies occurred in the period between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. The Spearman´s correlation test revealed that the workers' departures of P. versicolor were stimulated by the increase of light intensity (p< 0.0001) and air temperature p< 0.0001) and the decrease of the humidity (p< 0.0004). The wind speed, however, did not present representative index correlation with the daily activity of the species (p= 0.54). The multivariate linear regression analysis showed that air temperature is the most influential on the P. versicolor foraging activity (p< 0.0001). This study demonstrated that the best weather for P. versicolor departure to forage is a sunshine day, hot temperature and low humidity. In tropical areas these days are common in the summer.

- by Juliana Gouveia
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- Geography, Behavior, Biological Control, Meio Ambiente

There is a well-marked difference in the intensity offoraging of i'o/istes lanio lanio(Fabr.) between wet and warm, and dry and cold seasons, suggesting a kind of metabolic adjustment to seasonal temperature and relative humidity changes. Nectar was the principal food collected by the foragers either during the day or along lhe season, and it is available for both adults and larvae. Data on duration of the foragingtrips are given. The foragers are not specialized in a given task: the sarne individual could collect more than one kind of material. Active colonies occur throughout the year. This combined to their natural dependence on several noxious insects ntay suggest their use as a potential biological control agent.

- by Edilberto Giannotti
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Nest boxes provide sheltered nesting sites for both passerines and paper wasps. Although neither wasps nor birds appear to evict the other once one is fully established, it is unclear which is the dominant competitor at the onset of the breeding season. Using wire mesh, we excluded birds but not golden paper wasps Polistes fuscatus from alternating boxes along a transect through edge habitat in North Carolina from 2006 Á 2008. If wasps dominate Carolina chickadees Poecile carolinensis and eastern bluebirds Sialia sialis during the early spring (all have similar nest initiation dates), we would expect wasps to settle in both box types at equal frequencies. However, if birds dominate wasps, we would expect wasp nests to be concentrated in ''bird-proof'' boxes. We found wasps in bird-proof boxes significantly more often than in bird-accessible boxes, indicating that secondary-cavity nesting birds are able to exclude wasps from available nest sites. Additionally, we found that during the period of nest initiation, birds usurp wasps more often than vice versa.

- by Wesley Anderson
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- Avian Biology, Biological Sciences, Avian

- by Oscar Medina
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- Geography, Animal Behavior, Animal Ecology, Biodiversity
- by William Antonialli
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- Zoology, Biology, Hymenoptera, Vespidae
- by William Antonialli
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- Zoology, Biology

Social wasps are considered to be predatory insects and are important in the biological control of agricultural insect pests. Studies about biology and behavior of these species are necessary. The aim of this study was to determine the flight range extension of the social wasp Protopolybia exigua. In this study, 260 individuals were tested, proceeding from 13 colonies, all in the post-emergence stage. According to a regression model, the workers' action radius of P. exigua was estimated to be 75m around the colony. This represents a foraging area per colony of approximately 17662m 2 . These data provide useful information for the handling and use of this species in biological control programs.

- by Cleber Ribeiro
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- Zoology, Sociobiology, Biological Control

Breeding distribution, arrival dates, nesting tree preferences, incubation and fledging periods, and clutch and brood sizes of Abdim's Stork Ciconia abdimii in Nigeria are described based on data collected during a study from 28 April to 19 August 2010. Earliest laying dates were at the end of March to early April, with fledging dates from mid-to late July. Nesting materials, average clutch size (2.7 ± 0.11 eggs, n = 57 nests) and brood size (2.47 ± 0.07 chicks, n = 76 nests) of this population were similar to those of other populations studied in West Africa. A population of at least 538 birds was estimated for the 77 villages searched in Adamawa, Bauchi and Kano States, of which Abdim's Storks were found nesting in 53 villages. All nests in the areas searched were in villages. Baobabs Adansonia digitata appear to be a preferred nest-tree species out of 12 tree species used for nesting. Résumé Aspects de la biologie de la reproduction de la Cigogne d'Abdim Ciconia abdimii au Nigeria. Les zones de reproduction, les dates d'arrivée, les arbres préférés pour la nidification, les périodes de couvaison et des premiers envols, ainsi que le nombre d'oeufs et de poussins de la Cigogne d'Abdim au Nigeria sont décrits sur la base de données collectées au cours d'une étude effectuée du 28 avril au 19 août 2010. Les dates des premières pontes se situaient de fin mars à début avril, avec les premiers envols de poussins de mi-juillet à fin juillet. Les matériaux pour la construction du nid, la taille moyenne de la nichée (2.7 ± 0.11 oeufs, n = 57 nids) et le nombre moyen de poussins (2.47 ± 0.07 poussins, n = 76 nids) de cette population étaient similaires à ceux d'autres populations étudiées en Afrique de l'Ouest. Une population d'au moins 538 oiseaux a été estimée pour les 77 villages étudiés dans les Etats de l'Adamawa, Bauchi et Kano, parmi lesquels des Cigognes d'Abdim ont été observées nichant dans 53 villages. Tous les nids des zones étudiées se trouvaient dans des villages. Le Baobab Adansonia digitata parait être l'arbre préféré de nidification, parmi 12 espèces d'arbres utilisés.

- by Samuel Ivande
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- by Carlos Augusto Corrêa
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- Entomology, Biology

The present study assessed the foraging activity of Mischocyttarus consimilis, through observations of 10 colonies from September 2007 to June 2008. The mean frequency of wasps foraging during the period of activity of the colony was 29.89% of the total number of individuals of the colony. The maximum value of 53.62% was reached at a combination of temperatures above 28.5°C and relative humidity below 27.50%. The peak of foraging activity in post-emergence colonies was between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. On average, the wasps spent most of their foraging time collecting nectar.

- by Carla Dutra
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- Sociobiology, Biology

Aggressive behavior is widespread among eusocial insects. We investigated the relationship between aggressiveness against intruders and their origin using a common species of paper wasp (Polistes lanio) as a study model. We expected that aggressive behavior would be much more prominent between distantly-located colonies than closely-located ones. We studied three unequally-spaced colonies whose distances varied from 2.5 to 9.2 m. Adults were marked with atoxic ink and presented to each studied colony. Behavioral responses of resident wasps to conspecific intruders were evaluated. Aggressiveness was strongly and positively related to the distance between colonies. This could prevent larviphagy inside the invaded colony, enhancing colony fitness.

- by Paula Perre
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- Zoology, Sociobiology, Tropics

Nesting and colony productivity of the social wasps Polistes lanio and P. versicolor are compared at three sites in northern Trinidad, West Indies. Only P. versicolor was found nesting at the most vegetated site, while only P. lanio was at the least vegetated site. The two species were both abundant at an intermediate site. Where the species co-occur, there is no evident difference in their use of available nest sites. Furthermore, where they co-occur there is no significant difference in colony productivity. However, each species is more productive at the opener, less heavily vegetated site where it is found. As a result, P. lanio is significantly more productive, overall, than P. versicolor . These data are consistent with the hypothesis that P. lanio excludes P. versicolor by competition from more productive sites. The basis of this supposed competition remains unknown.

- by Christopher Starr
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- Biology

Fil: Dominguez, Marisol. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Oficina de Coordinacion Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecologia, Genetica y Evolucion de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ecologia, Genetica y Evolucion de Buenos Aires; Argentina

- by Matias Ayarragaray
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- Conservation, Birds
- by Viviana de Oliveira Torres
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- Zoology

Interespecific coexistence in Mischocyttarus Saussure (Hymenoptera: Vespidae, Mischocyttarini) during the initial stage of the development of a nest. A nest in which two different species of wasps coexisted during 138 days was observed during 10 months at the Instituto de Biociências of the Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro, Brazil. The species were Mischocyttarus (Haplometrobius) cerberus styx (Richards, 1940) and M. (Phi Saussure, 1854 = Monocyttarus Richards, 1978) cassununga (R. von Ihering, 1903) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae, Mischocyttarini). Nests of both species are frequently found all year long in the study area, sometimes very close to each other. The study nest was observed for 10 months and the most important behaviors were: initial coexistence between two females from different species, trophallaxis, emergence of a M. cassununga female which cohabited the same nest by short period, gradual increase of dominance of M. cerberus styx female, canibalism, abandonment of t...

- by Marcelo Penna
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Polistes paper wasps have shown potential for the biological control of agricultural plagues. twenty post-emergent colonies of P. versicolor were transferred from human constructions to artificial shelters installed on a eucalyptus plantation. We obtained 85% success in colony transference, as determined by the permanence of individuals in the colony after the colony transference. transferred colonies stayed active at the plantation for 64.05 ± 38.43 (8-123) days. We demonstrated that post-emergent colonies of P. versicolor can be easily transferred to areas where they can act as biological control agents.

- by Thiago Elisei
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- Zoology, Sociobiology

Ants of the genus Solenopsis are common in urban environments due to their abilities to explore resources and to establish nesting sites, which helps their proliferation and also increases the occurrence of encounters with people and severe stinging. We aimed to increase understanding of this species in urban areas, so this study attempted to answer these questions: Are certain seasons more amenable to the founding of new colonies? Does colony size vary among seasons? What sites are used by these colonies in an urban environment? Observations were carried out every 2 weeks from May 2011 to Apr 2012 in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. For each active colony the site and the dimensions of the nest were registered. We showed that colonies of Solenopsis saevissima (Smith, 1855) were present in urban areas during the entire yr, with the highest incidence in the wet season, and nesting sites were associated mainly with vegetation. Because the dry season (Apr-Aug) was the period that had the smallest number of active colonies, this period could be considered the most favorable for area-wide control operations, but an individual mound treatment approach in the dry season should be take into consideration the occurrence of cryptic mounds.

- by Terezinha Maria Castro Della Lucia
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- Zoology, Ants, Ecology and animal behavior

- by Terezinha Maria Castro Della Lucia
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- Zoology, Ants, Ecology and animal behavior
- by Borut Stumberger
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Foraging behavior in social wasps is important in the development of the colony and reflects an important ecological interaction between the colony and the environment. Although the social traits of the colony play a role in the foraging activities, the conditions that establish the space and time limits are mainly physical. Here, we evaluate colonies ofPolybia paulistathroughout one year in order to verify the foraging activities and the items collected, as well as the importance of temperature, relative humidity, and solar radiation on motivating foraging. Collection of liquids was always higher than that of solids; preys were collected all year long, and nests showed two annual episodic expansions. The linear mixed effects (LME) model used to analyze which weather factors influence the foraging showed temperature as the most influencing factor on the collection of materials.

- by Fernando Noll
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- Zoology, Sociobiology

In this work, the foraging activity of Protopolybia exigua (de Saussure) was studied, aiming to verify the amplitude of the foraging time, the relation between the physical factors of weather (temperature, relative air humidity, luminosity and wind speed) and the daily activity of searching for resources, as well as to analyze the influence of the colony development phases and the number of individuals (adults and immatures) engaged in such activity. The study was carried out in two areas of the city of Bom Jesus da Lapa, Bahia, Brazil, during the period from January to June 2006, when the observation of 12 colonies of P. exigua was performed. The results revealed this species presented an amplitude of activity of almost 13 hours. There was an average of 44.4 nest exits and 37.6 returns a day by the nest workers and the Returns with Resources Index for this species was 93.5%. The foraging activity increased as of 10:01, and became more intense, with the peak from 1:01 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., when the highest temperatures (ºC) and the lowest values of relative air humidity (%) were observed. The colonies that had a larger number of larvae presented a higher average number of trips to the field per hour (10.94) and the number of females in the colony tends to induce foraging activity. There were no differences between the numbers of nest exits by the workers regarding the three phases of colony development.

- by Edilberto Giannotti
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- Zoology, Sociobiology

- by Edilberto Giannotti
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- Zoology, Sociobiology

Biologia da Vespa Polistes (Epicnemius) cinerascens Saussure (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) RESUMO-Estudos dos ninhos da vespa social Polistes (Epicnemius) cinerascens Saussure apresentaram correlação entre o tamanho do favo e a largura do pedúnculo, bem como com a altura das células e número de gerações produzidas. Foi verificado o tempo de duração do ciclo biológico das colônias (199,3 dias), número de células construídas (102,9) e de adultos produzidos (94,2), além das taxas: 0,5 células/dia, 0,3 adultos/dia e 0,8 adultos/célula, da percentagem de células produtivas/ninho (55,2 %) e do número de gerações/colônia (até 4). O número de ínstares larvais foi 5, a taxa de crescimento 1,3, o tempo de duração dos estágios imaturos foi: ovos = 13,0 dias, larvas = 23,7, pupas-22,2 e a duração total = 58,6 dias. A longevidade dos adultos foi 38,3 dias. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Insecta, ciclo colonial, estágios imaturos, longevidade, tabela de vida. ABSTRACT-Studies on nests of the social wasp Polistes (Epicnemius) cinerascens Saussure showed correlation between the size of the comb and thickness of the peduncle, besides of the height of the complete cells and the number of generations produced. The duration of the colony cycle (199.3 days), the number of cells built (102.9) and adults produced (94.2) allowed to establish the rates: 0.5 cells/day, 0.3 adults/day, and 0.8 adults/cell, the % of productive cells/ nest (55.2), and the number of the generations/colony (up to 4 generations). The number of instars was 5; the growing ratio1 .3; the duration of the immature stages was eggs = 13.0 days, larvae = 23.7, pupae = 22.2 and total duration = 58.6 days; and the longevity of adult wasps = 38.3 days.

- by Edilberto Giannotti
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- Zoology
- by Metodija Velevski
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Food wastes are among the factors with the greatest effects on animal populations. The white stork is among bird species that clearly profit from feeding at landfills, at least in Western Europe and North Africa. However, the rate and the consequences of this feeding are still unknown in the Central-Eastern European population, which differs from the western population not only in terms of migration routes but also in the greater availability of suitable natural breeding habitats due to less intensified agriculture. The aim of the study was to describe the use of landfills and its consequences in terms of probability of nest occupation and breeding effects in different regions of Poland. Although the most important factors influencing nest-site selection and breeding effect are still habitat quality and weather conditions, distance to landfills is important in selection of nest sites. White storks use landfills most intensively late in the breeding season, independently of the densi...

- by Robert Kruszyk
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Zusammenfassung In Griechenland wurden 2004 insgesamt 2.157 Paare (HPa) des Weißstorchs erfasst. Die durchschnittliche Siedlungsdichte betrug 9,61 Paare/100 km² bezogen auf die landwirtschaftliche Nutzfläche. 1,946 Paare hatten Bruterfolg (HPm) und 211 Paare waren erfolglos (HPo). Die Gesamtzahl der ausfliegenden Jung-vögel (JZG) betrug 5.827. Damit betrug der Gesamtbruterfolg (JZa) 2,7 Junge/Paar und der Teilbruterfolg bezogen auf die er-folgreichen Paare (JZm) 2,99 Junge/Paar. Die meisten Brutpaare (77%) wurden im Norden Griechenlands, in den Regionen Ma-kedonien und Thrakien, registriert. Die meisten Nester wurden von den Weißstörchen auf Strommasten gebaut: 60% brüteten auf Strommasten mit Nisthilfen und 21% bauten ihr Nest ohne Nist-hilfe auf Strommasten. 14% der Storchennester befanden sich auf Kirchen und nur 3% der Paare nisteten in Bäumen. Der Stromtod und der fehlende Schutz in ihren Brutgebieten und Nahrungshab-itaten sind die hauptsächlichen Gefährdungsursachen für die A...

- by theodoros kominos
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