Hydroscape structure can play a critical role in animal behavior, abundance, and community structure dynamics. Hydroscape configuration can be dynamic and can change quickly in ephemeral systems. However, ephemeral freshwater wetlands are among the most impacted systems in the world and restoration efforts often rely on incomplete information when establishing management objectives. Further understanding how alterations in hydroscape structure in dynamic systems affect animals is critical for conservation and management success. To determine impacts that changing hydroscape conditions can have on consumers in freshwater wetlands, I examined the effects of a large-scale physical model on fish behavior, abundance, and community structure. The physical model incorporated the restoration of sheetflow, canal-fill treatments, and the removal of a decades-old levee that divided two water management areas in the central Everglades. Small fishes modified directional movement behaviors and speed of movement before and after alterations took place, though behavioral responses varied widely by species. Density and community structure of small fishes did change as a function of canal-fill and levee removal treatments. Behaviors of large fishes were also affected by hydroscape alterations, as well as hydroscape configuration beyond the limited footprint of the physical model. Large fish abundance was altered by hydroscape alteration, particularly among certain species. Composition of the large fish community changed before and after hydroscape alteration, though magnitude of responses were site-specific. Effects of hydroscape structure proximity on trophic dynamics were examined using exclosure cages that excluded large predators but allowed access for small consumers. Exclosures were stratified according to proximity to a deep-water canal. Predator avoidance behaviors in small consumers were limited but present. Differences in behavior between sites may also be caused by differences in structure across sites and limited differences in nutrient quality. Behavioral, population, and community responses to hydroscape alteration can be valuable metrics to assess the success of hydroscape restoration. While results can vary across individuals, species, and sampling sites, effects can still be detected even at the scale of the hydroscape. My research has detailed the potential effects of restoration plans across the greater Everglades and can be extended to other ephemeral wetland restoration programs.

Sexually-selected communication signals can be used by competing males to settle contests without incurring the costs of fighting. The ability to dynamically regulate the signal in a context-dependent manner can further minimize the costs of male aggressive interactions. Such is the case in the gymnotiform fish Brachyhypopomus gauderio, which, by coupling its electric organ discharge (EOD) waveform to endocrine systems with circadian, seasonal, and behavioral drivers, can regulate its signal to derive the greatest reproductive benefit. My dissertation research examined the functional role of the EOD plasticity observed in male B. gauderio and the physiological mechanisms that regulate the enhanced male EOD. To evaluate whether social competition drives the EOD changes observed during male-male interactions, I manipulated the number of males in breeding groups to create conditions that exemplified low and high competition and measured their EOD and steroid hormone levels. My results showed that social competition drives the enhancement of the EOD amplitude of male B. gauderio. In addition, changes in the EOD of males due to changes in their social environment were paralleled by changes in the levels of androgens and cortisol. I also examined the relationship between body size asymmetry, EOD waveform parameters, and aggressive physical behaviors during male-male interactions in B. gauderio, in order to understand more fully the role of EOD waveforms as reliable signals. While body size was the best determinant of dominance in male B. gauderio, EOD amplitude reliably predicted body condition, a composite of length and weight, for fish in good body condition. To further characterize the mechanisms underlying the relationship between male-male interactions and EOD plasticity, I identified the expression of the serotonin receptor 1A, a key player in the regulation of aggressive behavior, in the brains of B. gauderio. I also identified putative regulatory regions in this receptor in B. gauderio and other teleost fish, highlighting the presence of additional plasticity. In conclusion, male-male competition seems to be a strong selective driver in the evolution of the male EOD plasticity in B. gauderio via the regulatory control of steroid hormones and the serotonergic system.

Orientadores: Paulo Dalgalarrondo, Eleonore Zulnara Freire Setz / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-24T09:56:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Pegoraro_LuizFernandoLonguim_D.pdf: 1608375 bytes, checksum: cbc4a3e1e3c561e6e2efc2b9e27031e1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Resumo: O diagnóstico de crianças com transtornos do espectro autista (TEA) baseia-se na observação e em informações sobre padrões comportamentais e sintomas descritos pelos cuidadores. A etologia é uma área da biologia que pode contribuir significativamente para o desenvolvimento de métodos mais válidos e precisos de mensuração do comportamento de crianças com TEA. Esta pesquisa teve por objetivo desenvolver um etograma novo, detalhado, válido e útil com uma amostra expressiva de crianças e adolescentes com TEA e verificar se este instrumento é capaz de identificar e discriminar os TEA de outro transtorno do desenvolvimento que normalmente é diagnosticado na infância, a deficiência intelectual (DI). Todas as crianças e adolescentes com TEA e DI incluídos neste estudo eram pacientes dos Ambulatórios de Psiquiatria da Criança e do Adolescente do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Estadual de Campinas. A amostra foi composta por 69 crianças e adolescentes diagnosticados com TEA entre as idades de três e 18 anos e 77 crianças e adolescentes diagnosticados com DI entre as idades de quatro e 16 anos. O diagnóstico de TEA foi confirmado pela versão brasileira da Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS -BR). Todos os participantes com DI apresentaram um QI abaixo de 70, determinado por meio da Escala de Inteligência Wechsler para crianças ou adolescentes, 3ª edição, versão brasileira. Uma câmera escondida de alta definição na forma de uma caneta, com um gravador de vídeo digital, foi utilizada para gravar cada um dos participantes durante as consultas psiquiátricas. Para compor as categorias e subcategorias do etograma, foram selecionadas as dez primeiras gravações de participantes com TEA e DI, totalizando 20 gravações. O etograma foi composto por 10 grandes categorias, divididas em 88 subcategorias, incluindo posturas corporais, verbalizações, estereotipias motoras, posturas de cabeça, comportamento visual, gestos, o estado atual e a distância interpessoal. O teste de Mann-Whitney revelou diferenças significativas entre os participantes com TEA e DI em relação aos sinais clássicos dos TEA e comportamentos que não são típicos dos TEA e da DI, tais como movimentação corporal e exploração do meio. A interação social de crianças e adolescentes com DI foi significativamente melhor do que crianças e adolescentes com TEA, independentemente do seu grau de comprometimento intelectual ou adaptativo. Também foram observadas diferenças significativas entre as categorias de etograma quando os grupos foram divididos por idade, sexo e gravidade. A análise de regressão logística com as categorias e os fatores extraídos da etograma revelou preditores significativos para o diagnóstico dos TEA e dos seus níveis de severidade de acordo com o DSM-IV-TR e DSM-5. O método de observação do comportamento social de crianças e adolescentes baseado na etologia é extremamente eficaz para a identificação dos TEA e para discriminação destes transtornos em relação a DI. É um método barato e minimamente invasivo, que não depende do relato dos pais e do preenchimento de questionários. A etologia pode contribuir significativamente para a investigação dos sinais e sintomas dos TEA, com aplicação importante no contexto clínico do profissional de saúde mental e para fins de pesquisa / Abstract: The diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is still based on direct behavior observation or on information about patterns of behaviors and symptoms described by caregivers. Ethology is an area of biology that may contribute significantly to the development of more accurate and valid methods for measuring the behavior of children with ASD. The aims of this study were to develop a new, detailed, valid and useful ethogram with a large sample of children and adolescents with ASD, and to test whether this instrument accurately distinguishes ASD from another developmental disorder that is usually diagnosed in childhood, the Intellectual Developmental Disorder (IDD). All of the children and adolescents with ASD and IDD enrolled in this study were patients of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry outpatient clinics of the Hospital of the University of Campinas (Unicamp). The participants comprised 69 children and adolescents diagnosed with ASD between the ages of 3 and 18 years; and 77 children and adolescents diagnosed with IDD between the ages of 4 and 16 years. The diagnosis of ASD was confirmed by the Brazilian version of Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS-BR). All participants with IDD had a full-scale IQ (FSIQ) below 70, determined using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children or Adults, 3rd edition, Brazilian version. A High-Definition Hidden Camera Pen, with a digital video recorder, was used to record each participant during their regular psychiatric assessment. To compose the categories and subcategories of the ethogram, we selected the first ten recordings from ASD and IDD participants, for a total of 20 recordings. The ethogram comprised 10 major categories divided into 88 subcategories, including body postures, verbalizations, motor stereotypies, head postures, gaze behavior, gestures, current status and interpersonal distance. The Mann-Whitney test revealed significant differences between participants with ASD and IDD in relation to classic signs of ASD and behaviors that are not typical of ASD and IDD, such as body movement and exploitation of the environment. The social interaction of children and adolescents with IDD was significantly better than children and adolescents with ASD, regardless of their degree of intellectual or adaptive impairment. Significant differences between the categories of ethogram were also observed when the groups were divided by age, gender and level of severity. The logistic regression analysis with the categories and the factors extracted from the ethogram showed significant predictors for the diagnosis of ASD and their severity levels according to the DSM-IV-TR and DSM-5. The method of observation and measurement of social behavior of children and adolescents grounded in ethology is extremely effective for the identification of ASD and discrimination of these disorders compared to IDD. It is an inexpensive and minimally invasive method that does not depend on the report of parents and on completing questionnaires. The ethology may contribute significantly to the investigation of the signs and symptoms of ASD, having important application in the clinical context of the mental health professional and for research purposes / Doutorado / Saude da Criança e do Adolescente / Doutor em Ciências

Top predators can have large effects on community and population dynamics but we still know relatively little about their roles in ecosystems and which biotic and abiotic factors potentially affect their behavioral patterns. Understanding the roles played by top predators is a pressing issue because many top predator populations around the world are declining rapidly yet we do not fully understand what the consequences of their potential extirpation could be for ecosystem structure and function. In addition, individual behavioral specialization is commonplace across many taxa, but studies of its prevalence, causes, and consequences in top predator populations are lacking. In this dissertation I investigated the movement, feeding patterns, and drivers and implications of individual specialization in an American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) population inhabiting a dynamic subtropical estuary. I found that alligator movement and feeding behaviors in this population were largely regulated by a combination of biotic and abiotic factors that varied seasonally. I also found that the population consisted of individuals that displayed an extremely wide range of movement and feeding behaviors, indicating that individual specialization is potentially an important determinant of the varied roles of alligators in ecosystems. Ultimately, I found that assuming top predator populations consist of individuals that all behave in similar ways in terms of their feeding, movements, and potential roles in ecosystems is likely incorrect. As climate change and ecosystem restoration and conservation activities continue to affect top predator populations worldwide, individuals will likely respond in different and possibly unexpected ways.

Wildlife managers use models to aid in predicting high risk areas for human and black bear (Ursus americanus) interactions (HBI). These tools help managers implement management strategies to minimize HBI. Over 3,000 incidents of HBI were compiled from management reports at Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) during 1998-2011, a park with 9-10.2 million visitors per year and a black bear population of about 1,600 bears. We used data from bear management reports along with annual visitor use, mast and bear abundance data to develop a series of generalized linear models to assess the spatial and temporal factors affecting HBI. Although HBI occurred throughout the GSMNP, 50% of all HBI occurred in five areas. The best predictor variables of HBI across four subsets of models included interaction between mast production and number of park visitors, month, vegetation cover, visitor activity, and bear abundance. Although there was not a clear relationship between visitor use and mast abundance, the number of park visitors was always relatively high and HBI increased substantially in poor mast years. HBI was more frequent during summer months when park visitation rates and more people and food were present overnight in frontcountry and backcountry camping areas. Over 43% of HBI in hemlock forests were serious. Bear abundance data were not a strong predictor of HBI, and bear bait stations may not provide a sensitive index to bear abundance. GSMNP uses different strategies for managing HBI to protect visitors and bears. In 1991, bear proof waste disposal containers and food storage devices were placed in camping and picnic areas. In combination with aversive conditioning, HBI decreased in some areas of the park. We recommend that proactive bear management programs including education, enforcement of park regulations, and aggressive aversion conditioning of bears be implemented at the identified HBI high risk areas to provide a safer environment for both people and bears in GSMNP.

The Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) is declining throughout its range, yet is capable of persisting in both contiguous forests and small forest patches surrounded by human suburban development. Thus, it is an ideal species for gaining insight into the effects of suburbanization on migrant songbirds. I investigated two aspects of Wood Thrush nesting ecology: nest ectoparasites and nest defense behavior in order to determine if suburbanization influences either aspect. Nests from suburban forests had fewer haematophagous mites, though the abundance of haematophagous blowfly larvae did not differ between suburban and contiguous forests. There was no relationship between the abundance of mites and nest site characteristics, though blowfly abundance may be related to nesting substrate species. Parasites had little effect on nestling condition. In regard to nest defense, suburban Wood Thrushes had shorter flight initiation distances and mounted more active defenses during initial nest visits than birds nesting in contiguous forests, suggesting a previously-established sensitization response to human disturbances in suburban birds. I found no consistent shifts in aggression over subsequent nest visits in either habitat type, suggesting that throughout the breeding season, Wood Thrushes neither habituate nor sensitize further to repeated human disturbances. My results suggest that Wood Thrushes nesting in suburban forest patches are subject to fewer nest ectoparasites and defend their nests more aggressively than conspecifics nesting in contiguous forests. These results draw attention to the fact that although Wood Thrushes persist in both rural and suburban habitats, their nesting ecology may be different between these habitat types.

Understanding how African elephants (Loxodonta africana) respond to human interactions in ecotourism operations is critical to safeguarding animal and human welfare and sustaining wildlife ecotourism activities. We investigated the stress response of elephants to a variety of tourist activities over a 15-month period at Abu Camp in northern Botswana. We compared fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) concentrations across three elephant groups, including: eight elephants in an elephant-tourism operation (Abu herd), three elephants previously reintroduced back into the wild from the Abu herd, and wild elephants. There were no differences in FGM concentrations between the three groups of elephants. The highest observed FGM concentrations were associated with episodic events (e.g. intraherd conflict, loud noise, physical injury) unrelated to tourist activities. FGM concentrations differed between the elephant-tourist activities with ride only and mixed ride/walk activities eliciting higher FGM concentrations compared to days when there were no elephant-tourist interactions. The elephant experience tourism industry faces challenges in managing elephants who’s aggressive or unpredictable behavior makes them ill-suited to captivity, training, and interaction with handlers and tourists. Reintroduction of these elephants back into the wild may be a favorable solution if the welfare of released individuals, recipient wild animal populations, and human populations can be ensured. We describe the post-release movements of two African elephants, one female and one bull, from an elephant-back-safari enterprise in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. We compared the movements of the female with that of two wild females collared in the same wildlife management concession. We assess their home range size, proximity to human dwellings, and fidelity to their former home range as former members of their semi-captive, working herd from which they were released. We found significant differences between the home range size of our released elephant and that of the two wild elephants. Additionally, the released female and released bull occurred more frequently in close proximity (within 250 m) to tourist lodges throughout the Delta. The released elephants also frequented sites used by the working Abu herd with greater frequency than the wild elephants, and this visitation rate did not significantly decline during respective four- and two-year post-release monitoring periods, despite the positive growth in home range size.

Les études de bioacoustique animale, qui reposent traditionnellement sur des modèles primates non humains et oiseaux chanteurs, convergent vers l'idée que la vie sociale serait la principale force motrice de l'évolution de la complexité de la communication. La comparaison avec les cétacés est également particulièrement intéressante d'un point de vue évolutif. Ce sont des mammifères qui forment des liens sociaux complexes, ont des capacités de plasticité acoustique, mais qui ont dû s'adapter à la vie marine, faisant de l'habitat une autre force de sélection déterminante. Leur habitat naturel impose des contraintes sur la production sonore, l'utilisation et la perception des signaux acoustiques, mais, de la même manière, limite les observations éthologiques. Etudier les cétacés captifs devient alors une source importante de connaissances sur ces animaux. Au-delà de l'analyse des structures acoustiques, l'étude des contextes sociaux dans lesquels les différentes vocalisations sont utilisées est essentielle à la compréhension de la communication vocale. Par rapport aux primates et aux oiseaux, la fonction sociale des signaux acoustiques des dauphins reste largement méconnue. En outre, les adaptations morpho-anatomiques de l’appareil vocal et auditif des cétacés à une vie sous-marine sont uniques dans le règne animal. Leur capacité à percevoir les sons produits dans l'air reste controversée en raison du manque de démonstrations expérimentales. Les objectifs de cette thèse étaient, d'une part, d'explorer l'utilisation contextuelle spontanée des signaux acoustiques dans un groupe captif de dauphins et, d'autre part, de tester expérimentalement les capacités à percevoir les sons sous l’eau comme dans l’air. Notre première étude observationnelle décrit la vie quotidienne de dauphins en captivité et montre que les signaux vocaux reflètent, à grande échelle, la répartition temporelle des activités sociales et non sociales dans un établissement sous contrôle humain. Notre deuxième étude met l'accent sur le contexte d’émission des trois principales catégories acoustiques précédemment identifiées dans le répertoire vocal des dauphins, à savoir les sifflements, les sons pulsés et les séries de clics. Nous avons trouvé des associations préférentielles entre chaque catégorie vocale et certains types d'interactions sociales ainsi que des combinaisons sonores non aléatoires et également dépendantes du contexte. Notre troisième étude a testé expérimentalement, dans des conditions standardisées, la réponse des dauphins à des « labels » acoustiques individuels donnés par l’homme et diffusés dans l’eau et dans l’air. Nous avons constaté que les dauphins peuvent reconnaître et réagir uniquement à leur propre « label » sonore, même lorsqu'il est diffusé dans l’air. En plus de confirmer l'audition aérienne, ces résultats soutiennent l’idée que les dauphins possèdent une notion d'identité. Dans l'ensemble, les résultats obtenus au cours de cette thèse suggèrent que certains signaux sociaux dans le répertoire des dauphins peuvent être utilisés pour communiquer des informations spécifiques sur les contextes comportementaux des individus impliqués et que les individus sont capables de généraliser leur concept d'identité à des signaux générés par l'homme. / Studies on animal bioacoustics, traditionally relying on non-human primate and songbird models, converge towards the idea that social life appears as the main driving force behind the evolution of complex communication. Comparisons with cetaceans is also particularly interesting from an evolutionary point of view. They are indeed mammals forming complex social bonds, with abilities in acoustic plasticity, but that had to adapt to marine life, making habitat another determining selection force. Their natural habitat constrains sound production, usage and perception but, in the same way, constrains ethological observations making studies of captive cetaceans an important source of knowledge on these animals. Beyond the analysis of acoustic structures, the study of the social contexts in which the different vocalizations are used is essential to the understanding of vocal communication. Compared to primates and birds, the social function of dolphins’ acoustic signals remains largely misunderstood. Moreover, the way cetaceans’ vocal apparatus and auditory system adapted morphoanatomically to an underwater life is unique in the animal kingdom. But their ability to perceive sounds produced in the air remains controversial due to the lack of experimental demonstrations. The objectives of this thesis were, on the one hand, to explore the spontaneous contextual usage of acoustic signals in a captive group of bottlenose dolphins and, on the other hand, to test experimentally underwater and aerial abilities in auditory perception. Our first observational study describes the daily life of our dolphins in captivity, and shows that vocal signalling reflects, at a large scale, the temporal distribution of social and non-social activities in a facility under human control. Our second observational study focuses on the immediate context of emission of the three main acoustic categories previously identified in the dolphins’ vocal repertoire, i.e. whistles, burst-pulses and click trains. We found preferential associations between each vocal category and specific types of social interactions and identified context-dependent patterns of sound combinations. Our third study experimentally tested, under standardized conditions, the response of dolphins to human-made individual sound labels broadcast under and above water. We found that dolphins were able to recognize and to react only to their own label, even when broadcast in the air. Apart from confirming aerial hearing, these findings go in line with studies supporting that dolphins possess a concept of identity. Overall, the results obtained during this thesis suggest that some social signals in the dolphin repertoire can be used to communicate specific information about the behavioural contexts of the individuals involved and that individuals are able to generalize their concept of identity for human-generated signals.

Successful reproduction in salamanders is driven by behavioral, environmental, and temporal interactions among adults. While much of our understanding of salamander mating systems is based upon either courtship behavior of both sexes or aspects of female choice, the decisions made by males regarding where to place spermatophores is much less quantified. In this study, we mapped male spermatophore placement in the spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) with respect to ecological and spatial locations within a vernal pool complex in Charles City County, Virginia. The overall goal was to use the spatial and ecological placement of spermatophores to determine if individuals deposit spermatophores randomly within the vernal pool or if males exhibited specific preferences for deposition. Using comprehensive surveys of the vernal pools and individual spermatophores within a 0.5m2 grid and terrestrial LIDAR, a total of 218 spermatophores were identified and mapped. We repeated these surveys for two successive breeding seasons. Placement occurred at an intermediate depth and an intermediate distance to the edge. Males also preferred to place spermatophores on leaf substrate as opposed to sticks or conifer needles. The physical placement of spermatophores exhibited autocorrelation in space during single reproductive events as well as across breeding seasons. These results suggest that males actively select for specific locations within a pool for spermatophore placement-a proverbial Goldilocks zone-which may be consistent with increased reproductive success. This information is key to understanding salamander mating system parameters in this species and may contribute to developing more effective management strategies.

Presented work is an overview of contemporary evolutionary biological theories of aggression, since the breakthrough works of Robert Ardrey and Konrad Lorenz from the 1960s and ending with contemporary evolutionary ethics of Robert Wright and Frans de Waal and also evolutionary anthropology, represented for example by Richard Wrangham. Work is highlighting the continuity of development of the theories and their placement into the context of evolutionary biology. In addition, it is dealing with critical analysis (in terms of discourse analysis) of these theories and their language, taking into account sociocultural influences acting on authors during their formation. It is the analysis of patterns of thinking, argumentation elements and strategies of authors, who deal with issues of the evolutionary background of the origin of human aggression. However, ambition of the second part is not the deconstruction of the theories. Contrarily it strives for positive, integrative approach. By categories of class, gender, race, etc. conditional misrepresentation (bias) of acquried data (e.g. by observation), their interpretation by authors themselves and their popularization, will be understood there as a factor entering into the assessment of theories, but it is not a priori considered as evidence of...