Abstract Status (preliminary - published June 20 2002)

Abstract Status (preliminary - published June 20 2002)
ADAMSOJJ ORAL Accepted FEMALE HABITAT DISTRIBUTION IN LARK SPARROWS Joel J. Adamson* EPOB, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309 (adamsonj@ucsub.colorado.edu) Program Abstract Habitat distribution of females plays a key role in limiting mating success of males. I used discriminant function analysis (DFA) between nest sites, non-use sites (10m from nest) and random sites (randomly selected from study site) with Fretwell's Ideal Distribution model to test hypotheses of habitat selection in Lark Sparrows Chondestes grammacus: (1) females freely choose nest sites and have an ideal free distribution,(2) females are density-limited and have an ideal despotic distribution. Nests and random sites were significantly different on a habitat-wide DF, which correctly classified 64.5% of original cases. Successful nests had significantly higher habitat-level DF scores than unsuccessful nests. Successful and unsuccessful nests were not significantly different on a within-territory DF(between nests and non-use), which correctly classified 66.8% of original cases. These results suggest that females have a despotic distribution: females may be density-limited. Future research should focus on how female-female interactions affect female habitat distribution and male mating success. Media Friendly Abstract

AGOSTAA POSTER Accepted FACTORS INFLUENCING THE COLONIZATION OF ARTIFICIAL BREEDING SITES BY MALE ISOPODS Angela Agosta* & Stephen M. Shuster Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5640 USA (aaz@dana.ucc.nau.edu) Program Abstract Laboratory analysis of animal behavior requires that the performances of lab-reared and field collected individuals are the same under experimental conditions. We investigated this issue in Paracerceis sculpta, a Gulf of California isopod, which breeds in calcareous sponges in nature, as well as in artificial sponges in the laboratory. We found that juvenile environment had no effect on the rates at which males colonized artificial sponges. We found no difference in the ages of males who colonized and did not colonize sponges. When the physical characteristics of sponges were varied, sponge size, sponge complexity, and osculum diameter all increased the number of lab-reared and field-collected animals colonizing sponges within 48 hours. Our results indicate that (1) analysis of this species behavior using laboratory stocks and artificial habitats is justified, (2) repeatability of these experiments with individuals of different ages is high, and (3) considerable variation in the responses of individuals to the physical characteristics of breeding habitats exists. Media Friendly Abstract

ALEMADSD POSTER Accepted CHEMICALLY-MEDIATED ANTIPREDATOR BEHAVIOR BY PARENTALLY-DEPENDENT CONVICT CICHLID LARVAE Shireen D. Alemadi* & Brian D. Wisenden Biology Dept, Minnesota State University Moorhead, MN, USA (alemadsh@mnstate.edu) Program Abstract Injury-released chemical alarm cues are released when predators attack aquatic prey. These cues are generally released only in this context and as such, conspecific alarm cues form an important component of risk assessment. Minnows (Ostariophysi, Cyprinidae) possess a well-developed chemical alarm system. However, minnows do not respond to conspecific injury-released alarm cues until 30 to 50 d post-hatch. Non-ostariophysan fishes respond to chemical alarm cues with antipredator behavior but the ontogeny of this behavior is not known for any species. Here, we test convict cichlids (Acanthopterygii: Cichlidae), a species known to respond to alarm cues as adults. Convict cichlid parents care for their eggs and defend their developing young from predators. In our experiment, we tested the ontogeny of antipredator response to chemical alarm cues in larval convict cichlids well within and just beyond the size range typically defended by parents. We found that pre-independence larvae engaged in area avoidance and grouping behaviors in response to alarm cues and did so as effectively as young that would typically be independent of parental care. Media Friendly Abstract Cichlids are fishes that have biparental care (defense) of their eggs and their young after they hatch. The free-swimming young fish, larvae, are defended for 4 to 6 weeks before becoming independent from parental protection. It is not known if, or when, larval cichlids are able to recognize and respond to chemical cues that indicate danger. Because the young are very small and vulnerable to many predators, the ability to detect and avoid predators would benefit them greatly. We tested larval cichlids at sizes during and just after parental independence. We found that small and large young were equally adept at detecting and rsponding to chemical cues of injured cichlids. Their behavioral response was to avoid the area where the cue was released and to increase schooling behavior - both strategies that would reduce their risk of predation.

ANCIÃEM POSTER Accepted SPATIAL AND SOCIAL ORGANIZATION OF PIN-TAILED MANAKINS (AVES: PIPRIDAE): INFERENCES FROM MIST NET DATA. Marina Anciães* & Miguel Â. Marini Natural Hist.Museum, University of Kansas, Lawrence KS 66045 & Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade de Brasilia, Brazil Program Abstract In some lekking birds, females have larger home ranges than males and use routes to visit leks. However, sex-related patterns of habitat utilization are unknown for most species. We analyzed mist net data to complement a behavioral study of lek organization in the Pin-tailed Manakin (Ilicura militaris), in Eastern Brazil. Leks were mapped on 16 pre-existing mist net grids (10-15 nets ca.20 m apart), and birds banded from 1995 to 2000. We addressed sex-related spatial segregation, movement behavior, and site fidelity comparing ratios of captures and recaptures between sexes across grids in- and outside leks. Green plumaged immature males were distinguished from females by molecular sexing and reproductive condition. Green birds (females and immature males) were captured more than adult males, especially outside leks. Estimates from molecular sexing indicated a statically significant inverse proportion of females and adult males across grid types, suggesting spatial sexual segregation. Recaptures showed that adult males visit neighbor territories, and green males float across leks. Females were recaptured in the same lek territory, same non-lek grid, and across grid types, moving farther than males. Results agree with behavioral observations and are congruent with previous studies of home ranges and movement behavior. Media Friendly Abstract

ANDRADMC ORAL Accepted TRADING OFF COURTSHIP & COMPETITION: MATING TACTICS OF DOOMED MALE SPIDERS Maydianne C.B. Andrade, Damian O. Elias & Erin M. Banta Life Sci, Univ Toronto & Neurobio & Behavior, Cornell Univ & Neurobiology & Behavior, Cornell University, USA (mandrade@utsc.utoronto.ca) Program Abstract Most male redback spiders (Latrodectus hasselti*) die while searching for mates. Males that survive encounter up to 8 rivals in a female's web. Since most females mate with only 1 or 2 males, encounters do not always lead to matings. Given the high cost of failing to mate, we predicted that (1)inter-male aggression should escalate quickly and (2)males should scramble to copulate rapidly to avoid usurpation. However, males rarely fought in nature, and male courtship typically lasted >2 hours. In laboratory matings, fighting was mainly between size-matched males, and matched competitors attempted copulation more rapidly than single males. When males were size-mismatched, smaller males quickly ceased courtship and adopted a 'sneaker' tactic. In comparison, larger males courted for hours despite the risk of sneakers achieving copulations during this time. In a separate study, females discriminated against males that attempted copulation after brief courtships. Our results suggest that redback male mating behaviour may involve a trade-off between tactics that maximize competitive success and those that satisfy choosy females. Media Friendly Abstract Most male redback spiders die while searching for their cannibalistic mates. Those that survive must compete with up to 8 rivals to achieve a mating with females that typically mate only once or twice. Since most males have only one mating opportunity in their lifetime, we predicted they would attempt to mate immediately after reaching a female's web and fight viciously with any rivals that were present. Surprisingly, males rarely fight in nature, and court >2 hours before attempting copulation. In the lab, fighting mainly occurred if males were closely matched in size; these males also raced to mate with females as predicted. However, if one male was much larger, the smaller male quickly ceased courtship and adopted a 'sneaker' strategy while the larger male engaged in a lengthy courtship (despite the risk of cuckoldry by a 'sneaker'). In another study, we found that females are aggressive towards males that try to mate after brief courtships. Thus redback male mating behaviour might be a compromise between tactics for winning competitions with males and those for satisfying choosy females.

ARECHAME ORAL Accepted THE ROLE OF GUARDS IN THE DEFENSIVE RESPONSE OF HONEY BEE COLONIES Miguel E. Arechavaleta-Velasco* & Greg J. Hunt Dept. of Entomology, Purdue Univ., West Lafayette IN 47907 (miguel@entm.purdue.edu) Program Abstract This study was conducted to identify differences in the expression of guarding behavior between defensive and gentle backcross honey bee colonies and to determine the role that guard bees play in the defensive response of a colony. Guarding behavior was performed by honey bee workers for an average of 1.9 days. No differences were found between backcross types for the average duration of guarding. Differences were found between backcross types and between colonies for the number of bees that guard for one day and for two days. The variation between colonies for these two variables was partially genetic in origin. A small proportion of the bees that stung during stinging assays were guards, and only a small proportion of the guards stung. No differences were found between backcross types, but significantly differences were found between colonies for this variable. Positive correlations were found between the number of stings with both the number of guards in the colony (r=0.41) and the proportion of guards that stung in relation to the total number of guards in the colony (r=0.46). Colonies responded with fewer stings when guards were removed in comparison to when guards were not removed from the colonies. Media Friendly Abstract

ARUNIV FOUNDERS Accepted CONSERVATION STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION OF ENDANGERED GOLDEN LANGURS . Arun Srivastava* Department of Zoology, JNV University, Jodhpur, India and Primate Heritage, P. O. Box 40, Bikaner, India. Program Abstract The distribution of golden langurs, is limited to a small area of western Assam, India and the foothills of the Black mountains in Bhutan. The habitat available for these langurs consists of continuous forest reserves, restricted by rivers (Sankosh, Manas, and Brahmaputra) on three sides and the Black mountain in the north. Human population pressure, and political problems resulted in degradation of these forest reserves. Surveys carried out between 1997 and 2001 covered 150,647 hectares of forests in western Assam used stratified walk transect (733 km) and total count methods. A total population of 1500 individuals living in 180 groups was estimated in Assam. An average group size of 8.2 (range 4.0-22.0) individuals was recorded. The sex ratio was 1.9-2.5 adult females for each adult male. There is evidence of poor recruitment suggesting an unstable population. A similar population may exist in Bhutan, making a global population estimate of 3000. The langurs appear to be fairly resilient to human disturbance. However, distributed as a complex metapopulation they rely on larger forest reserves for their existence. Small group size, isolated distribution, proportionately few infants and juveniles, encroachment on forest reserves are all causes of concern. Media Friendly Abstract

ASPBURAS ORAL Accepted SAGE GROUSE LEK IN SITES WITH LOW LONG-RANGE VISIBILITY Andrea S. Aspbury* & Robert M. Gibson School of Biol. Sciences, Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln (aspbury@unlserve.unl.edu) Program Abstract Lek breeding sage grouse have highly specific patterns of lek site use. Here we consider two alternate explanations for why males lek at specific sites. First, males might select sites that increase their long-range visual conspicuousness in order to attract females. Alternatively, males may use sites that decrease their visual conspicuousness to predators. If males choose sites to increase attraction of females, these sites should be more visible across long distances than non-lek sites. We used geographic information system based analyses to determine visibility of sites used as leks and visibility of non-lek sites. Visibility of lek sites is significantly less than non-lek sites at two different spatial scales. In addition, visibility of males on lek territories is significantly less than visibility of the same individuals during non-displaying times. Thus, male sage grouse may be selecting lek sites with topographic features that decrease their conspicuousness thereby decreasing the risk of predation. Media Friendly Abstract

AVILÉSL INVITED Accepted THE DYNAMICS OF MULTILEVEL SELECTION PROCESSES—FROM CELLULAR SLIME MOLDS TO SOCIAL SPIDERS Leticia Avilés* Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ (laviles@u.arizona.edu) Program Abstract From the broad array of phenomena in which multiple levels of selection may be involved---origin of higher levels of organization, sex ratio evolution in subdivided populations, cancer, virulence, replication rates of transposable elements and intracellular organelles, etc.---I will consider two cases representing opposite extremes of the population structure spectrum: the evolution of female-biased sex ratios in highly structured metapopulations, as in social spiders, and the evolution of cooperation in single-generation associations of non relatives, as in tree-killing bark beetles, pleometrotic ants, or cellular slime molds. Using agent-based simulation models, I will illustrate the similarities and differences of multilevel selection processes acting in these two settings and show that the outcome of multilevel selection processes depends on two distinct and independent properties of the entities at each of the levels---the amount of genetic variance available among them and their relative rates of turnover. I also illustrate the dynamic nature of equilibria when opposing selective forces at two levels are involved. In particular, I present a solution to the problem of how cooperation can be maintained in the presence of freeloaders that does not depend on kinship, assortative associations, or enforcing mechanisms such as policing or punishment. Media Friendly Abstract

BAKERMB POSTER Accepted MATING COMPETITION AND FERTILIZATION SUCCESS BETWEEN COLORADO POTATO BEETLES RESISTANT OR SUSCEPTIBLE TO IMIDACLOPRID Mitchell B. Baker*, Benjamin D. Jaffe & Shana R. Dastur Biology, Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster PA (m_baker@fandm.edu) Program Abstract Current methods to slow the evolution of resistance to transgenic and conventional insecticides rely on untested assumptions about gene flow between treated areas and untreated refuges. Resistance to insecticides is often a costly trait to maintain, and less vigorous mating behavior or less motile sperm in resistant individuals will slow the spread of resistance. We present data showing that Colorado potato beetles resistant to imidacloprid are less physiologically vigorous, as shown by slower sprint speeds. We tested mating competitiveness by placing a single resistant and a single susceptible male beetle with a virgin female in either small individual cages with a leaf clipping or large cages with a whole plant, and used behavioral and sterile males assays to measure mating competitiveness and fertilization success. Resistant males do not mate less often than susceptible males. Fertilization success did not vary in the individual cages, and the relative fertilization rates in larger cages will be presented. Media Friendly Abstract

BAKERMB ORAL Accepted WHY DO DESERT ISOPODS, HEMILEPISTUS REAUMURI, DISPERSE: HABITAT SELECTION AND THE ALTERNATIVES Mitchell B Baker* Biology, Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, PA, Animal Behavior Graduate Group, UC Davis & Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel (m_baker@fandm.edu) Program Abstract Some animals have qualitative requirements for settling that determine their distribution after natal dispersal, but most are not so constrained, and understanding the settling decisions of animals that ignore apparently suitable habitat is critical to predicting how dispersal patterns will vary in different and changing habitat. Desert isopods, Hemilepistus reaumuri , emerge from their natal burrows each Spring and travel up to a few km before settling. Longer ranging before settling entails costs in survival, condition, and time. I used manipulative and observational studies to ask whether isopods selected better than average habitat and whether the variation in habitat on the scale of individuals’ movements justified observed distances traveled. Isopods settle more densely in patches with more old burrows, a reliable cue of new burrow survival, but responded more to shrub density, which was poorly correlated with survival. Isopods did not respond to natural variation in soil moisture, but settled more densely in irrigated plots. Though habitat quality varies widely in space, isopods are unable to track habitat closely enough to balance survival costs of remaining unsettled. Media Friendly Abstract

BALESKL ORAL Accepted SEX DIFFERENCES IN THE HORMONAL REGULATION OF PARENTAL CARE IN MONOGAMOUS MAMMALS Karen L. Bales* & C. Sue Carter Dept. of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago (baleskaren@aol.com) Program Abstract The parental behavior of males and females in monogamous mammals is superficially similar, but a growing body of evidence indicates that its hormonal regulation is sexually dimorphic. Steroid hormones such as testosterone and estrogen are examined most frequently; glucocorticoids are less often examined and their relationship to parental care less clear-cut. In addition, underlying many of the effects of steroids are neuropeptides including oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP). In this paper, we synthesize recent findings from a monogamous mammal, the prairie vole, which suggest sex differences in neuropeptide and glucocorticoid effects on parental care. For example, in adults female but not male parental care relies on OT; females also respond to infants with a drop in corticosterone, while males do not. Parental behavior is also dependent on developmental exposure to peptides, which may help program the nervous system to allow males to be parental. Differences may relate to sex and species differences in the need for mobility vs. immobility. This research supported by NIH grants HD38490 and F32 HD08702. Media Friendly Abstract

BALSBYTJ ORAL Accepted COURTSHIP AND QUIET VOCALIZATIONS IN WHITETHROATS (SYLVIA COMMUNIS) Thorsten J.S. Balsby* & Torben Dabelsteen Dept. of Animal Behaviour, Univ. of Copenhagen, Denmark (TJSBalsby@zi.ku.dk) Program Abstract Unmated male songbirds usually change their vocal behavior when females enter their territories. Here we present results from a study of whitethroats, which showed that males used diving song for courtship of females and woid-calls for deterring other males. The vocalizations associated with courtship were all characterized by very low sound pressure levels and by being very susceptible to degradation resulting in relatively short transmission ranges. Vocalizations are emitted in a communication network where multiple individuals potentially could extract information from it. That neighboring males extracted information and used it were indicated by both observations and an experiment, which showed that males were more likely to suffer intrusions during courtship compared to contexts without female presence. The intrusions were costly for the males, because the females often disappeared. There are therefore good reasons to vocalize quietly in the courtship context in order to restrict the information transfer in the communication network. Media Friendly Abstract

BARBERAM ORAL Accepted RELATIONSHIPS AMONG CORTICOSTERONE, FORAGING BEHAVIOR AND OPEN FIELD PERFORMANCE IN MERRIAM'S KANGAROO RATS Amy M. Barber* Ecol., Evol. & Conserv. Biol., Univ. of Nevada, Reno, NV (barberam@med.unr.edu) Program Abstract Comparative studies of closely related species or different populations of the same species have contributed greatly to our understanding of the evolutionary significance of behavior. More recently, researchers have focused on variation among individuals in the same population, belonging to the same age or sex class. Some of this variation is organized into syndromes that are correlated with differences in hormone levels; these syndromes have been described as different strategies that may be important for how individuals interact with their environment. However, most of this work has been done in the laboratory and is unable to address how these different behaviors function under natural conditions. Field observations of free-ranging Dipodomys merriami from 2001 and 2002 are used to correlate the behavior of focal individuals with their fecal corticosteriod levels. Preliminary data suggest that fecal hormone levels are inversely correlated with seed-caching (proportion of seeds scatterhoarded) of provisioned food using a fluorescent tracking technique. Focal individuals' performances in an open-field task adapted for the field may also be related to fecal corticosteriod concentrations. Measures of repeatability in hormone profiles and foraging behavior suggest within season consistency in both physiology and behavior, which may underlie the expression of particular behavioral strategies. Media Friendly Abstract

BAROTS POSTER Accepted CAUSE AND CONSEQUENCE OF FLANK OVER-MARKING IN GOLDEN HAMSTERS Sabiha K. Barot, Naomi S. Schwarz & Robert E. Johnston Dept. of Psych, Cornell Univ, Ithaca NY 14850 (skb17@cornell.edu) Program Abstract The social significance of flank over-marking in golden hamsters Mesocricetus auratus* , is not well understood. This behavior involves partially or completely covering the flank scent of a conspecific with one’s own. Using a new behavioral method, we demonstrate that males actively target the flank marks of other adult males but do not target those of juvenile males or females. In contrast, females do not appear to target the flank marks of other individuals. These results suggest that over-marking in male hamsters is driven by a stimulus-response mechanism that actively targets the scents of those conspecifics that pose a sexual threat. Female mate-choice experiments in a semi-natural lab environment indicate that females may prefer the top-scent male. In sum, these findings suggest that over-marking is a competitive form of communication that is driven by sexual selection. Media Friendly Abstract

BARRYKJ INVITED Accepted CAT AGGRESSION AS A MODEL FOR EXAMINING THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN BASIC AND APPLIED KNOWLEDGE Kimberly J Barry* Town Lake Animal Center, Austin, TX (Kim.Barry@ci.austin.tx.us) Program Abstract As applied animal behaviorists strive to understand behavior problems in the domestic cat, the opportunity to contribute to the basic questions regarding cat behavior becomes apparent. When we develop protocols for decreasing cat aggression in the household we are required to answer questions of function, evolution and proximate factors. In order to improve our ability to work with cat aggression cases, we need answers about dominance, territoriality, and the proximal triggers to an aggressive bout. This discussion will explore the interplay between applied and basic knowledge using aggression between cats as a central focus. Media Friendly Abstract

BASHAWMJ ORAL Accepted THE UNDERESTIMATION OF SOCIAL BONDS IN GIRAFFE Meredith J. Bashaw*, Fred B. Bercovitch & Lorie R. Tarou Zoo Atlanta, Georgia Tech, CRES/San Diego Wild Animal Park, CRES/San Diego Wild Animal Park & Zoo Atlanta, Georgia Tech, Smithsonian National Zoo (meredithjb@netzero.net) Program Abstract Early studies concluded that giraffe did not form social attachments, as they were often widely dispersed and frequently changed social partners. However, these data may have underestimated the importance of social bonds in giraffe. Giraffe may be able to maintain visual contact at great distances because of their height and the terrain in which they live, and they produce infrasound (frequencies below the level of human hearing) that may allow them to communicate over long distances. We have demonstrated that captive adult giraffe do form social attachments, as evidenced by increased stereotypic behavior upon the removal of a group member. Furthermore, preliminary data on social behavior from an ongoing study of the behavior of adult female giraffe at the San Diego Wild Animal Park (funded by the Bud Heller Foundation) support the idea that there is a pattern of social behavior and proximity among adult female giraffe. We suggest that the pattern of social relationships among giraffe indicates that they do form social bonds, and conclude by discussing some of the reasons why these patterns may have been overlooked. Media Friendly Abstract

BASILJA FOUNDERS Accepted SENSORY BIOLOGY OF THE CHAMBERED NAUTILUS Jennifer Basil, Iryna Bahctinova, Tina Kuroiwa, Nandi Lee, Michael Preis & Christian Soucier Department of Biology, Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY and The Graduate Center, the City University of New York & Department of Biology, Brooklyn (jbasil@brooklyn.cuny.edu) Program Abstract We investigated the chemosensory behavior of the Chambered Nautilus*. Nautiluses have numerous tentacles covered in putative taste receptors and a pair of presumed olfactory organs called rhinophores. We have previously found that Nautiluses consistently detected and followed turbulent odor plumes to the source over distances up to at least 10 m. Nautiluses began their distant search with a distinctive behavior called "Cat's whiskers": spreading their tentacles out laterally. Within a few body lengths of the odor source, they drop their longest digital tentacles down toward the substrate as though they are searching for a buried food item. Nautiluses cannot track odor when their rhinophores are blocked. We hypothesized that Nautiluses use their rhinophores for far-field odor detection and their tentacles for near-field search. We applied 1cc of odor to each of the animals' sense organs (rhinophore, digital tentacles, preocular tentacles, postocular tentacles; N=11 animals) in random order. The application of odor to the rhinophore immediately initiated the far-field Cat's whiskers behavior (P <0.05), while stimulation of other organs did not. Stimulation of the digital tentacles resulted in extension of the digital tentacles toward the substrate (P<0.05). Further analyses will determine the function of the pre and postocular tentacles in both odor-search and mechanosensory behaviors. Media Friendly Abstract

BASURTD POSTER Accepted CORAL REEF ASSEMBLAGE STRUCTURE AND TERRITORIAL DAMSELFISH (POMACENTRIDAE) BEHAVIOR Dorina Basurto-Lozano* & Rogelio Macias-Ordonez Faculty of Biology, Univ. Nacional Autonoma de Mexico & Instituto de Ecologia, A.C., Xalapa, Mexico (doriniux@yahoo.com) Program Abstract This project took an integrative approach of community and behavioral ecologies through the study of coral reef fish assemblage structure, damselfish behavior and substrate use. The fish assemblage's species distribution, richness and relative abundance were assessed for the back reef of Ixlache, Contoy National Park, Mexican Caribbean. Seventy one species were recorded, out of which five damselfish species ranked among the ten most abundant. The use of five substrates was recorded for the most abundant damselfish species. Territory distribution of Stegastes diencaeus, S. dorsopunicans, S. leucostictus, S.planifrons,, S. variabilis and Microspathodon chrysurus was non-random, suggesting that individuals may show species-specific substrate preference, or exclude congenerics from high quality territories. Herbivory and territorial aggressive defense were recorded for adults of S. leucostictus, and S. planifrons. No difference in foraging rate or defense effort were found between these species when defending territories on rubble. However, S. planifrons individuals defending territories on this substrate had higher foraging rate and defense effort than conspecifics defending territories on elkhorn coral. Such difference is probably due to substrate-specific differences in architecture and algal availability, resulting in different energetic costs and benefits. We propose behavioral mechanisms during settlement and territorial defense as determinants of community structure. Media Friendly Abstract

BAUEREB POSTER Accepted ROLE REVERSAL AND SELF-HANDICAPPING DURING PLAY-FIGHTING IN DOMESTIC DOGS Erika B. Bauer* & Barbara B. Smuts Dept. of Psych., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 (ebbauer@juno.com) Program Abstract During mammalian play, role reversal and self-handicapping are common, though few studies have investigated these behaviors systematically. It is generally thought that in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) larger or otherwise more dominant individuals engage in role reversal and self-handicapping to facilitate play with less dominant individuals. Dyadic play bouts were videotaped and coded for asymmetric behaviors. In dyads with substantial size, age or dominance differences, smaller, younger, and subordinate individuals self-handicapped more often, while larger, older, dominant dogs initiated more attacks and pursuits. This suggests that it is actually the less dominant individuals that self-handicap most often, thus it may function to communicate playful intent or reinforce dominance relationships. Role reversal occurs often, but there are apparent rules dictating which behaviors can be used when roles reverse. For example, role reversals occur in chasing and tackling, but were never observed during mounts, muzzle bites, or muzzle licks. These latter behaviors may be invariant indicators of formal dominance. Media Friendly Abstract

BEALD POSTER Accepted DOMINANCE BEHAVIOR VARIES WITH AGE AND GENDER IN CAMPBELL'S DWARD HAMPSTERS. Deborah L. Beal* & Cathy Schnelton Illinois College, Jacksonville, Illinois 62650 (dbeal@ic.edu) Program Abstract Juvenile Campbell's Dwarf Hampsters (Phodopus sungoris Campbell) demonstrates a type of play behavior which is a pre-cursor of courtship, and may be involved sex recognition and possibly dominance behavior. In this study we describe the sequence of wrestling and flipping behavior in juvenile, sub-adult and adult hampsters. The number of flipping incidences significantly varies with age and gender. Flipping behavior appears random in juveniles with both males and females practicing flipping and being flipped. Fisher's Exact test showed no significant differences in Males flipping males; Males flipping females, Females flipping males or females flipping females in juveniles. However, as hampsters mature, 99% of flipping is done by males with females and occasionally small males being the target. Mature males and females have fewer incidences of flipping but both sexes participate. In addition, there were sequential changes in flipping behavior as hampsters mature. We conclude that wrestling behavior in juveniles may help develop skills needed for gender recognition and assessing reproductive status in sub-adult and adult Campbell's Dwarf Hampsters. Media Friendly Abstract Juvenile Campbell's Dwarf Hampsters (Phodopus sungoris Campbell), demonstrates a type of play behavior which is a pre-cursor of courtship, and may be involved sex recognition and possibly dominance behavior. In this study we describe the sequence of wrestling and flipping behavior in juvenile, sub-adult and adult hampsters. The number of flipping incidences significantly varies with age and gender. Flipping behavior appears random in juveniles with both males and females practicing flipping and being flipped. There was no significant differences in Males flipping males; Males flipping females, Females flipping males or females flipping females in juveniles. However, as hampsters mature, 99% of flipping is done by males with females and occasionally small males being the target. Mature males and females have fewer incidences of flipping but both sexes participate. In addition, there were sequential changes in flipping behavior as hampsters mature. We conclude that wrestling behavior in juveniles may help develop skills needed for gender recognition and assessing reproductive status in sub-adult and adult Campbell's Dwarf Hampsters.

BEALORMT ORAL Accepted BEHAVIORAL ASYMMETRY, PREY CAPTURE, AND CONSTRICTION BEHAVIOR IN COMMON KINGSNAKES, LAMPROPELTIS GETULA Matthew T. Bealor* Dept. of EPO Biology, Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309 (matthew.bealor@colorado.edu) Program Abstract Several species of animals are known to exhibit behavioral asymmetry or "handedness" that may reflect cerebral hemispheric lateralization or constraints on neuromuscular development and control. Previous work has suggested that individual snakes exhibit side dominance in coil application during constriction behavior (i.e., direction in which loops of the snake's body are applied to subdue prey). I recorded numerous aspects of constriction behavior in common kingsnakes, Lampropeltis getula, in controlled laboratory experiments. Under these conditions, I found no evidence of asymmetry in the direction of coil application at the individual or species level. However, other aspects of prey capture (e.g. approach and S-curve direction, body alignment) appear to be correlated with the direction of coil application. I present findings of detailed analyses of constriction and prey handling behavior in kingsnakes, including a previously undescribed behavior that appears to facilitate ingestion of prey in this species. This newly reported behavior might prove to be a useful character in comparative analyses of constriction behavior in snakes. Media Friendly Abstract

BEDNEKPA ORAL Accepted THE VALUE OF COORDINATED VIGILANCE: EFFECTS OF PERIPHERAL VIGILANCE AND IMPERFECT COLLECTIVE DETECTION Peter A. Bednekoff* Biology Department, Eastern Michigan University (peter.bednekoff@emich.edu) Program Abstract Animals frequently raise their heads to check for danger. In a group, individuals generally raise their heads independently. Earlier models suggest that all could gain by coordinating their vigilance, i.e. each animal could gain by raising its head when others are not. I re-examine these suggestions in light of empirical findings that: 1) Animals can sometimes detect a predator without raising their heads; and 2) When one member of a group detects a predator, the information is not always available to other members of the group. Including these effects in models decreases the value of coordinated vigilance. When animals can detect some attacks without raising their head, the value simply decreases by a fraction. When information flow is very faulty, however, coordinated vigilance can have a negative value. For normal vigilance, my calculations suggest that coordinated vigilance will be of very little value. This is compounded in groups because each group member can only realize a fraction of the value of coordination through its own actions. This framework helps explain why regular vigilance is not coordinated and also why sentinel vigilance is coordinated. Media Friendly Abstract Animals seemingly could benefit by taking shifts in watching for predators. For most groups, they instead watch independently. I calculate how two previous findings affect the value of coordinated watching for predators. Both the ability to detect predators while feeding and faulty information flow decrease the value of coordination. The value of coordination is likely to be very small in most circumstances.

BEEBEEMD ORAL Accepted SONG SHARING BY YELLOW WARBLERS DIFFERS BETWEEN TWO MODES OF SINGING: IMPLICATIONS FOR SONG FUNCTION Martin D. Beebee* Department of Biology, Duke University (mdb9@duke.edu) Program Abstract I investigated the pattern of song sharing for the two singing modes (Type I and Type II) of yellow warblers (Dendroica petechia). There is indirect evidence that males use Type I singing to attract females, and Type II singing to interact with other males, but how males use these singing modes for these functions is unknown. One way in which males might use Type II singing to interact with neighboring males is through the use of “shared songs.” I tested the prediction that Yellow Warblers should share more of their Type II songs with neighbors compared to non-neighbors, but that there should be no such relationship for Type I songs. I found that males in a Pennsylvania population shared significantly more of their Type II song repertoire with neighbors than with non-neighbors, and that sharing between males declined with distance between their territories. There was no spatial relationship for sharing Type I song types. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that yellow warblers use Type II singing to interact with other males using strategies such as song type and repertoire matching. Media Friendly Abstract

BEECHEMD INVITED Accepted SOCIAL FACTORS IN SONG LEARNING Michael D. Beecher* Departments of Psychology & Zoology, University of Washington, Seattle, & WA 98195 (beecher@u.washington.edu) (beecher@u.washington.edu) Program Abstract Classical studies of bird song learning, following an ethological model, identified a sensitive period and an innate sensory filter (aka the song template) as the key features of song learning. Social and ecological factors were controlled out of these studies in the interest of experimental control: young birds were brought into the laboratory and tape recorders substituted for actual birds as song tutors. Recent studies in the lab and the field have switched the focus to social and ecological variables and have shown that these factors are crucial to song learning, in some instances overriding the effects of the classical temporal and auditory factors. In western populations of song sparrows (Melospiza melodia), a young male typically learns the songs sung by adult males in his post-dispersal neighborhood. Our studies have revealed several correlates and potential advantages of having songs similar to those of one's neighbors: males who share more songs with neighbors enjoy longer territory tenures; shared songs are preferentially used in countersinging with neighbors; and females prefer neighborhood songs. Our field and lab studies of song learning suggest that a key factor in song learning is song interaction between the adult tutor and the young bird, and that this factor may trump the factors of timing and extent of song exposure. Finally, I will discuss reported differences between eastern and western song sparrow song sparrow populations that may relate to underlying differences in innate song learning programs. Media Friendly Abstract

BEECHIS FOUNDERS Accepted BEHAVIORAL CORRELATES OF GROUP SIZE IN ATLANTIC COASTAL MIGRATORY DOLPHINS, TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS Simon C. Beeching, Albert F. Answini, Wendy L. Ryan & David Schofield Marine Science Consortium. Wallops Island, VA (simon.beeching@rockmail.sru.edu) Program Abstract Many fundamental questions about cetacean biology remain unanswered because of the difficulty in making focused, continuous observations of free-ranging whales. We collected and analyzed behavioral observations of Atlantic coastal, migratory Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus*) as part of an ongoing, long-term study. Free-ranging groups of Bottlenose Dolphins were observed by boat between 1998 and 2000 in the Wallops Island-Assateague Island region of Virginia, USA. The occurrence of stereotypical activities was recorded, along with group size and composition, weather and ocean conditions, and several ecological and environmental parameters. Both group size and composition affected dolphin behavior. Several activities (flukeslap, chuff, jump, and sexual behavior) occurred significantly more often in larger groups, and in groups with juveniles. These data suggest a social, communicative function for many dolphin activities, and may provide an opportunity to determine the functional significance of some dolphin behavior. Further investigation of dolphin group dynamics will provide needed data for conservation and stock management of coastal migratory dolphins in the mid-Atlantic. Media Friendly Abstract Much of what is known about bottlenose dolphin behavior is the result of studies on captive and trained dolphins. Surprisingly little data are available on the behavior of wild dolphins. We studied, along several other groups along the Atlantic coast of the United States, the behavior, group size and composition, and habitat use of migratory, coastal bottlenose dolphins. We found that group size generally increased through the study season, as did the incidence of young. Several typical dolphin activities (such as flukeslap) were found to occur much more frequently in large groups. This suggests that some activities function as social signals that are more necessary or appropriate in larger groups than small ones. The health and stability of the coastal migratory dolphin along the eastern seaboard depends on our success in understanding the complex group dynamics and migratory patterns of dolphins.

BEEMA ORAL Accepted MECHANISMS FOR PLASTICITY OF AGGRESSIVE SIGNALLING IN MALE SPRING PEEPERS, PSEUDACRIS CRUCIFER (ANURA, HYLIDAE) Mark A. Bee*, Sarah C. Humfeld & Vincent T. Marshall Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri & Divisi (Mark.Bee@uni-oldenburg.de) Program Abstract Acoustic communication plays important roles in maintaining inter-male spacing in frog choruses. Because male density varies temporally and spatially, we should expect males to modify aggressive signalling in ways that balance female attraction and call-site defense. We conducted three playback experiments to investigate plasticity in aggressive signalling in choruses of the spring peeper. We found a positive correlation between the amplitude of the nearest neighbor’s calls and the threshold amplitude at which males switched to aggressive calls. Repeated stimulus presentations resulted in decreases in aggressive signalling and temporary elevations of aggressive thresholds. Short-term habituation of aggression toward a neighbor could function as a proximate mechanism to allow males to track fluctuations in the local density of calling males. Females preferences for advertisement calls over aggressive calls were weak, suggesting that female preference is a weak source of selection on plasticity in aggressive signalling. Our data suggest energetic constraints as an additional source of selection. Media Friendly Abstract Historically, frog communication has been considered rather simple in comparison with other vertebrates. More recent studies, however, indicate that frog communication systems are much more dynamic than previously thought and even incorporate both short-term and long-term forms of learning. In our study, we investigated "plasticity" in a communication system by asking how and why males of the spring peeper, a common frog throughout eastern North America, modify their aggressive signalling behavior in the context of attracting females and defending their calling site against rival males. We used field sound playbacks to investigate how male aggressive behavior changes with changes in the local density of other calling males. In the laboratory, we tested female mating preferences as a possible explanation for the evolution of plasticity in male aggressive behavior. Our results suggest that a simple form of short-term learning allows males to track changes in the density of other nearby calling males. Female mating preferences alone appear to be an inadequate explanation for the evolution of plasticity in male aggression. We suggest that energetic limitations play an important role in mediating a male's aggressive responsiveness in a chorus.

BELLAM ORAL Accepted BEHAVIORAL SYNDROMES IN THREESPINED STICKLEBACK (GASTEROSTEUS ACULEATUS): POPULATION DIFFERENCES AND HORMONAL PERTURBATION Alison M. Bell* Center for Population Biology, University of California, Davis (ambell@ucdavis.edu) Program Abstract What is the source and significance of behavioral syndromes, or correlations among behavioral traits? The source underlying a behavioral syndrome can be found by perturbing a suspected mechanism and measuring whether the correlation among behaviors changes. The evolutionary significance of behavioral syndromes can be assessed by comparing syndromes within and between populations. I investigated these hypotheses in threespined stickleback by rearing fish from two geographically isolated populations in each of two hormonal treatments. Fish from the two populations differ in levels of aggression toward conspecifics and antipredator behavior and it has been suggested that a common hormonal mechanism influences behavior in both contexts. There was a syndrome common to fish from both populations: more active fish were more aggressive toward conspecifics and more 'bold' under predation risk. However, hormonal manipulation by a synthetic gonadal steroid (ethinyl estradiol) affected different behaviors, suggesting that this syndrome is not the result of just one hormonal mechanism. Moreover, exposure to estradiol affected fish from the two populations differently and, in some cases, in opposite directions. Because ethinyl estradiol is an endocrine disrupter found at low levels in the environment, these results contribute to the growing literature on the effects of endocrine disrupters on behavior. Media Friendly Abstract

BELTHOJR POSTER Accepted MAMMALIAN DUNG IN BURROWING OWL NESTS: POTENTIAL EFFECTS ON NEST PREDATION, BURROW MICROCLIMATE, AND OWL ECTOPARASITES Ryan S. Brady, Colleen E. Moulton & James R. Belthoff* Dept. of Biology, Boise State University, Boise ID 83725 (jbeltho@boisestate.edu) Program Abstract Burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia) regularly incorporate mammalian dung into their nest burrows. To elucidate the potential function(s) of this unusual behavior, we conducted field experiments in southwestern Idaho. We examined the following hypotheses. (1) Anti-predation: dung masks owl scent and nest contents and thus deters terrestrial predators. (2) Optimal microclimate: dung creates a more suitable burrow microenvironment by providing thermal insulation or altering relative humidity or carbon dioxide levels within nest chambers; and (3) Anti-ectoparasite: dung reduces ectoparasites (fleas) on owls. We found no relationship between dung and likelihood of nest predation; dung volume in nest chambers correlated with lower temperatures, higher relative humidity, and lower carbon dioxide concentrations; and no relationships between ectoparasite loads and volume of dung in nest chambers. Therefore, initial results suggest that nest-lining behavior potentially alters microclimates of burrowing owl nests. Determining if and how this benefits burrowing owls is part of our continuing research. Media Friendly Abstract

BENSONKE ORAL Accepted GRAVID MOSQUITOFISH SHOW OFF THEIR SPOTS. Kari E. Benson* School of Sciences, Lynchburg College, Lynchburg, VA (benson@lynchburg.edu) Program Abstract Female mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) have gravidity spots that increase in size with gravidity and disappear post-parturition. Males respond to the gravidity spot with increased reproductive behavior. However, females with larger spots do not exhibit increased response to males. These dark, ventral spots are highly visible and may increase the female's predation risk. I tested whether female response to a predator varied with reproductive condition. Females were sequentially introduced to a tank with a predator chamber that was either occupied or empty. All females in the predator treatment responded similarly, they remained stationary and distant from the predator compartment. However, in the no-predator treatment, there was a positive correlation between gravidity spot size and the time that the females spent toward the middle of the tank. Although previous results suggest that females do not exhibit increased response to males with increased spot size; these data suggest that female behavior is sensitive to reproductive status; females may enhance male attraction by remaining more visible when gravid. Media Friendly Abstract

BERNSTPL ORAL Accepted ACOUSTIC FEATURES OF LAUGHING GULL (LARUS ATRICILLA) LONG CALLS Penny L. Bernstein* & Michael Owren Biological Sciences,Kent State Univ.Stark,Canton OH 44720 & Dept. of Psych., Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14853 (pbernstein@stark.kent.edu) Program Abstract Previous research has suggested that individual laughing gulls (Larus atricilla) can be recognized by their long calls, yet evidence indicating what aspects of the call could produce such recognition has been lacking. Acoustic analysis of long calls given by known individual laughing gulls, banded for recognition across situations and years, has begun to yield such information. Duration, frequency, and amplitude characteristics all play a role, but we also found that each component reflects changes in underlying "modes" of production. Both individual distinctiveness and note-type variation are discussed in terms of the production modes. Media Friendly Abstract

BIRONSA FOUNDERS Accepted COURTING BEHAVIOR OF LOSER MALE SIAMESE FIGHTING FISH (BETTA SPLENDENS): THEIR RESPONSE TO EAVESDROPPER AND NAIVE FEMALES Suzanne A. Biron, Brodie M. Herb & Michael Kidd Department of Zoology, University of New Hampshire (sabiron@cisunix.unh.edu) Program Abstract Communication takes place within a complex network. Eavesdropping is gathering information without being the intended signaler or receiver. Female Siamese fighting fish, Betta splendens, use information gathered from eavesdropping to choose the winner of male-male aggressive interactions as her mate. Females naïve to the interaction show no preference towards either the winner or loser male. This suggests that loser males would be more successful in courting a naïve female. We tested the courting preference of the winner and loser male. The amount of time spent near and the duration of gill flaring directed towards the eavesdropper and naïve female were recorded. We found that loser male B. splendens courted the naïve female more than the eavesdropper female, shown by a longer duration of gill flaring (p<0.05) and a strong trend to spend more time near the naïve female. The winner male showed no preference. An appreciation of complex communication networks will broaden our understanding of sexual selection. Media Friendly Abstract

BLACK-PA POSTER Accepted BROCKET DEER IDENTIFY AND SCENT MARK FOREIGN DUNG IN DUNG PILES Patricia Black-Decima* & Mirta Santana Fac. Ciencias Naturales, Univ. Nac. de Tucuman, Argentina & Facultad de Medicina, Univ. Nac. de Tucuman, Argentina (pblack@csnat.unt.edu.ar) Program Abstract Brown brocket deer Mazama gouazoubira are small solitary deer that live in thorn scrub and dry forests in South America; they maintain numerous small dung piles that are re-marked daily and maintained for long periods. These experiments tested reactions of 8 bucks and 5 nonoestrous does in captivity to different classes of dung placed near their dung heaps. Two introductions were made simultaneously of 1) own dung and unknown male dung 2) own dung and unknown female dung and 3) unknown male and unknown female dung. Both males and females sniffed both types of introduced dung significantly more than own introduced dung or their dung pile and investigated male and female dung equally. Both males and females marked more (urinating or defecating near) introduced dung from unknown males or females; they did not mark their own introduced dung but did re-mark their dung heap. In conclusion, both males and females discriminate own from foreign dung of both males and females and preferentially mark near but not on top of foreign dung. Media Friendly Abstract

BLEAKLBH FOUNDERS Accepted NATURAL LEVELS OF PRODUCTION AND DEPOSITION OF A LIZARD CHEMICAL SIGNAL. Bronwyn H. Bleakley, Erin French, Katy Gonzales & Emilia P. Martins Dept. of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington IN 47405 & CISAB, Indiana University, Bloomington IN 47405 (hbleakle@indiana.edu) Program Abstract As indicated by the genus name, Sceloporus* lizards produce chemical secretions via pores in their thighs. These secretions appear on preferred perches and reflect UV light. They are thus thought to serve as both visual and chemical markers of territorial boundaries. Femoral pore secretions (FPS) have been shown to exhibit individual, sex, population, and species differences in chemical structure, and the quantity of FPS that can be extracted from green iguanas correlates positively with levels of testosterone. In this study, we describe natural patterns of FPS production and deposition in the sagebrush lizard (Sceloporus graciosus). Although both males and females produce several FPS spots each day, there is usually one large spot and several smaller spots. Quantity also varies cyclically with an approximate 7-day period. A burst of production on one day will be followed by very few spots on the next several days. Although males produce slightly more spots than do females, females spread their spots over a larger total area. We also describe relationships between the number and size of FPS spots, the fine structure of individually-distinctive headbob displays produced by the same animal, and the levels of steroid hormones deposited in their feces. Media Friendly Abstract

BOCKELA ORAL Accepted DO MALES AND FEMALES RESPOND DIFFERENTLY TO THE LOSS OF THEIR MATES? Angela K. Bockelman* & Murray Itzkowitz Dept. of Biol. Sciences, Lehigh Univ. Bethlehem PA 18015 (akk4@lehigh.edu) Program Abstract We examined how the loss of a mate, prior to egg-laying, influences the subsequent reproductive and parental behavior of male and female convict cichlids . This is a monogamous species and we predicted that the sexes may react differently. A female may (1) reject a new mate, but be required to expel ripened eggs, (2) reject a new mate, but does not lay eggs, (3) accept the new mate and spawn with him. A male may (1) reject a new mate (2) accept a new mate. After the pre-spawning loss of a mate, those females that mated with a novel male did so within 1.4 days on average. Males that lost mates required more than twice as long to spawn with a new mate than males who did not lose their mates. Despite successfully producing offspring, these pairs did not exhibit normal intra-pair while the parental behaviors did seem normal. Media Friendly Abstract

BODASIM ORAL Accepted THERMAL ADVANTAGE OF NEST SITE SELECTION IN THE SOCIAL SPIDER, STEGODYPHUS MIMOSARUM (ARANEAE, ERESIDAE) Marilyn Bodasing, Rob Slotow & Tanza Crouch Sch. of Life & Environmental Sci.Univ.of Natal South Africa & Durban Natural Science Museum, Durban, South Africa Program Abstract Significantly more nests of the social spider, Stegodyphus mimosarum* occurred within the northern quadrant of a tree, indicating active nest site selection. Selection of a microhabitat may confer an improved competitive ability. We tested whether temperature influenced nest site selection. In each trial,we attached three nests on the north and three nests on the south side of a tree. Nest core and ambient temperatures were datalogged for each nest over 48 hours(nest positions were swapped after 24 hours). Heating and cooling curve slopes were selected on the basis of consistent heating and cooling of ambient temperatures. The difference between nest core temperature slope and ambient temperature slope was constrasted for the same nest for the north and south sides of a tree. Nests on the north side attained higher maximum temperatures and cooled more gradually than those in the south. In an ectothermic animal, the effect of temperature is critical to the maintenance of physiological functions. Winter temperatures at the study site could reduce body temperature of the spiders to a chill-coma, which prevents feeding and escape from predators. A gradual cooling of the nest would result in higher nest temperatures for longer into the cool nights. Ultimately, higher temperatures translate into a higher metabolic rate for longer, conferring a thermal advantage to the spiders. Media Friendly Abstract

BRAATERF POSTER Accepted GLOBAL AND LOCAL PERCEPTION OF SONG IN 40-DAY-OLD AND ADULT ZEBRA FINCHES Richard F. Braaten* & Aimee Colbath Dept. of Psych., Colgate University, Hamilton NY 13346 (rbraaten@mail.colgate.edu) Program Abstract Previous research on song learning suggests that zebra finches first learn about the local structure of song syllables and later about the global temporal structure among song syllables. In the present study, perception of global and local song structure was assessed in 40-day-old and adult zebra finches in an operant go-nogo discrimination task. Zebra finches initially learned to discriminate a conspecific song (Forward song) from the same song presented in reverse (Reversed song) by hopping to a perch upon hearing the Forward song. After learning the discrimination, the birds were presented with two types of probe songs on occasional unreinforced probe trials. Globally Reversed probe songs reversed the temporal order of song syllables, and maintained the local order within syllables. Locally Reversed probe songs reversed the local order within song syllables, and maintained the temporal order of syllables. Both 40-day-olds and adults learned the discrimination between Forward and Reversed songs, primarily on the basis of local cues. The dominance of local over global cues was accentuated in 40-day-olds relative to adults. Media Friendly Abstract

BRANDTJM ALLEE Accepted AN EXPERIMETAL FRAMEWORK FOR TESTING QUALITY HANDICAPS: AN EXAMPLE USING LIZARD THREAT DISPLAYS Yoni Brandt* Biology Department and CISAB, Indiana University (ybrandt@indiana.edu) Program Abstract Using side-blotched lizards (Uta stansburiana), this study investigated the relationship between lateral compression, a distinctive postural feature of iguanian threat displays, and locomotor endurance, a predictor of dominance. Mirror presentation in a neutral arena revealed a correlation between the duration of lateral compression and endurance, while an experimental reduction of endurance reduced the duration of lateral compression. These results are consistent with a role for lateral compression in advertising endurance. Endurance measured after giving subjects an opportunity to display was lower than baseline levels, indicating that display production may erode endurance. Lateral compression may constrain the ventilatory movements of the ribcage, predicting an increased reliance on anaerobic metabolism. Consistent with this mechanism, plasma lactate concentration was elevated above baseline after allowing lizards to perform threat displays. Lateral compression appears to function as a quality handicap, advertising endurance reliably by interfering with respiration, consequently exacting a costly reduction in endurance. Media Friendly Abstract

BREITWR POSTER Accepted MELANIN ORNAMENTS, HONESTY, AND SEXUAL SELECTION Jodie M. Jawor & Randall Breitwisch* Dept. of Biology, Univ. of Dayton, Dayton, OH 45469 (breit@notes.udayton.edu) Program Abstract Many studies of sexual selection in birds have focused on the function of carotenoid ornaments. Melanin ornaments have tended to be neglected, under the assumption that they are less informative to potential mates and/or sexual competitors than carotenoid ornaments. We question this assumption and review pertinent literature. We demonstrate (1) diversity of melanin ornaments is much broader than commonly assumed, (2) metabolic pathways to the formation of the two different categories of melanins [eu- & pheomelanin] are intriguingly different, (3) there are likely to be both physiological benefits and costs to melanin production, which may differ for the two types of melanins, and (4) the physiological literature on melanins provides evidence that melanin ornaments are plausible indicators of individual quality. Investigators should spend more effort studying avian melanin ornaments and the information communicated by each class of ornament. Intrasexual competition precedes or constrains mate choice in many species of birds, and the use of different ornaments in these two processes should receive equal investigative effort. Media Friendly Abstract

BRODMAB ORAL Accepted HOW SMALLMOUTH SALAMANDER LARVAE COEXIST WITH THEIR UNISEXUAL POLYPLOID COUNTERPARTS. Bob Brodman* & Heidi D. Schwarz Biology Department, Saint Joseph's College (bobb@saintjoe.edu) Program Abstract Species of pond-breeding salamanders in the Great Lakes region often coexist with unisexual (all-female) populations that are sexual parasites of males of other species. Competition for mates and competition among larvae may negatively effect populations of those species that interact with unisexual populations. We evaluated the effects of interactions with the larvae from unisexual salamander populations on smallmouth salamander larvae. Observations of behaviors in natural ponds were coupled with mesocosms and laboratory approaches to experimentally investigate the roles of competition, predation, microhabitat partitioning and behavior on the coexistence of these populations. Unisexual salamander larvae reduce the survival and growth of smallmouth salamander larvae, however, smallmouth larvae increase activity and use refuge in the presence of larger intraguild predators. As a result of this microhabitat partitioning intraspecific competition the most important interaction. Our hypothesis that microhabitat partitioning and altered activities are factors that minimize the effects of competition and predation was supported. The results of this study will have an impact on how rare salamander populations that interact with unisexual populations are protected and will aid in understanding the basic mechansims that influence community structure, biodiversity stability, and the coevolution of pond-breeding salamanders. Media Friendly Abstract Species of pond-breeding salamanders in the Great Lakes region often coexist with unisexual (all-female) populations that are sexual parasites of males of other species. Competition for mates and competition among larvae may negatively effect populations of those species that interact with unisexual populations. We evaluated the effects of interactions with the larvae from unisexual salamander populations on smallmouth salamander larvae. Observations of behavior in natural ponds were coupled with artificial ponds and laboratory approaches to experimentally investigate the roles of competition, predation, microhabitat partitioning and behavior on the coexistence of these populations. Unisexual salamander larvae reduce the survival and growth of smallmouth salamander larvae, however, smallmouth larvae increase activity and use refuge in the presence of larger intraguild predators. As a result of this microhabitat partitioning intraspecific competition the most important interaction. Our hypothesis that microhabitat partitioning and altered activities are factors that minimize the effects of competition and predation was supported. The results of this study will have an impact on how rare salamander populations that interact with unisexual populations are protected and will aid in understanding the basic mechansims that influence community structure, biodiversity stability, and the coevolution of pond-breeding salamanders.

BROSNASF ORAL Accepted A CONCEPT OF VALUE IN CHIMPANZEES, PAN TROGLODYTES Sarah F. Brosnan* & Frans B. M. de Waal Graduate Division of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta GA & Living Links Center, Yerkes & Psych. Dept., Emory University (sbrosna@emory.edu) Program Abstract A general concept of value seems a prerequisite for reciprocity and cooperation. Since chimpanzees engage in some form of these behaviors, it is important to establish whether they can associate value with different goods or services. To investigate this, the response of chimpanzees to two differentially-valued tokens was evaluated using an exchange paradigm. Once food preferences were established, the apes were trained to associate one token with low-value food and another token with high-value food (the "valuable" token). The experimenter then held up a reward for which the subjects had to return the token that matched to be rewarded. In one case, the supply of valuable tokens was unlimited, while in the second case it was limited. In neither case did subjects return the token that matched the reward, but instead showed a preference for the high value tokens. Chimpanzees appear to follow a simple strategy for the acquisition of high value rewards in which they relate the worth of the tokens to each other, rather than to the appropriate reward. This is similar to the strategy followed by monkeys. Media Friendly Abstract

BROSTEJL POSTER Accepted THE EFFECT OF PERCEIVED COMPETITION ON FOOD STORAGE IN LEAST CHIPMUNKS (TAMIUS MINIMUS) Jennifer L. Brostek* & Lynn Devenport Dept. of Psych., Univ. of Oklahoma., Norman OK 73072 (jbrostek@ou.edu) Program Abstract Literature suggests that animals may benefit using flexible caching strategies. For example, animals competing for food might gain an advantage by scatter-caching at a higher rate. To test this prediction, we compared the caching behavior of wild-caught least chipmunks foraging alone or in the presence of a conspecific. Experimental sessions took place in a foraging room divided by a Plexiglas barrier. This set-up allowed us to provide a focal animal with evidence of potential competition but prevent direct interference by the competitor. The floor of the foraging room was covered with sand to provide a substrate for caching and all sessions were monitored and videotaped from a remote location. We found that least chipmunks began caching sooner and faster in the presence of a conspecific. Consequently, animals made more caches and hid more seeds during competitor-present sessions compared with counterbalanced competitor-absent sessions. These results suggest that the rate of caching in not fixed. Instead caching behavior is adjusted in response to perceived competition. Media Friendly Abstract

BROWNJL POSTER Accepted SYNERGISTIC INTERACTION BETWEEN CHEMICAL AND VISUAL INDICATORS OF PREDATION RISK Jason L. Brown* & Brian D. Wisenden Biology Dept, Minnesota State University Moorhead, MN, USA (jasonleebrown@hotmail.com) Program Abstract Fishes of the superorder Ostariophysi have epidermal cells that contain chemical alarm cues. These cues alert fish to the presence of predation threat. Fishes do not rely on chemical information alone. The visual presence of a predator also indicates predation risk. Here, we test the interaction between chemical alarm cues and visual presence of a predator. Two glowlight tetras were placed in 37 L tanks. A second 37-liter tank, adjacent to the first one but separated by an opaque barrier, contained a convict cichlid or nothing (control). Each test consisted of three equal periods: 1) the pre-stimulus period; 2) injection of the chemical stimulus period, and 3) the visual stimulus period. We observed: 1.) activity, 2) vertical distribution, and 3) proximity to the "predator". Tetras decreased activity, and increased time near the bottom in response to alarm substance. When the barrier was removed, tetras conditioned with alarm substance showed greater intensity of avoidance behavior of the predator than tetras conditioned with water, indicating that the antipredator response to visual stimuli is primed by chemical information. Media Friendly Abstract Predation is usually the final arbiter of natural selection. Selection for effective information gathering about predation, and the risk of predation is steep and unforgiving. Aquatic animals use chemical cues as a source of information about risk, but they also use visual information. Here, we present the results of a lab study in which we tested glowlight tetras (fish) for their response to the combined effects of chemical and visual information. Tetras were first given alarm cue (skini extract) or water. Alarm cue caused them to reduce activity and move to the bottom. These behaviors reduce the risk of predation. Then, a barrier was removed that separated the tetras from a second tank that contained either a big fish (potential predator) or nothing (control). Tetras increased their distance from the predator, but those previously exposed to alarm cue showed a significantly more intense response to the predator. This shows that the chemical alarm cue primed their response to a stimulus in another sensory modality.

BROWNSG ORAL Accepted FACTORS IN EGG MASS LAYING AND SNAIL EMERGENCE IN ENDEMIC HAWAIIAN SNAILS Susan G. Brown* Dept. of Psych., University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo HI 96720 (susanb@hawaii.edu) Program Abstract This research examined the factors related to egg mass laying and snail emergence in two endemic Hawaiian snails, Succinea thaanumi and Succinea cepulla. Data on egg mass laying, snail emergence, whether embryos were laid with visible shells and microhabitat fluctuations within the reserve were obtained. Embryos laid with visible shell formation emerged sooner than embryos laid without visible shells. The gel surrounding the embryos protected them from dehydration. When drought occurred, the gel contracted and embryos were found glued to the backs of leaves without visible gel. As rains resumed the gel expanded and snails emerged. Egg mass laying was negatively correlated to weekly fluctuations in temperature, humidity and rainfall. Snail emergence was negatively related to fluctuations in rainfall and positively related to the number of masses laid 28 days previously. A snail’s decision to lay a mass depends more on fluctuations in microhabitat variables rather than absolute temperature, humidity or rainfall. Additionally snails must decide whether to lay embryos with visible shell development. Media Friendly Abstract This research examined factors related to egg mass laying and snail emergence in endemic Hawaiian snails living in a tropical rainforest. Although tropical rainforests seem like stable environments, their microclimates can fluctuate dramatically across a week. For example, humidity can change by as much as 50 percent, temperature by as much as 20 degrees F, and rainfall by as much as 13 cm each week. We found that the snails were more sensitive to these climatic fluctuations than to absolute temperature, humidity and rainfall. The snails were more likely to lay egg masses when conditions were stable than when they were fluctuating and snails were more likely to emerge from their masses when rains were more stable. Additionally adult snails could retain their developing embryos and lay them with visible shells. Embryos laid with visible shells emerged from masses in fewer days than those laid without visible shells. Therefore, the snails appear to monitor microhabitat fluctuations within the rainforest and decide whether to lay embryos with or without visible shells.

BRUMLEMR POSTER Accepted TURKEY VULTURE ORIENTATION AND POSITION PREFERENCE ON A PRE- AND POST-ROOST TOWER SITE Michele R. Brumley* & Scott R. Robinson Dept. of Psych., Univ. of Iowa, Iowa City IA 52242 Program Abstract Turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) at Malheur NWR in SE Oregon often gather at a traditional pre- and post-roost site during sunrise and sunset. The site is located on a tower near the P-Ranch Station, which is adjacent to trees used for overnight roosting. Previous research has suggested that communal gatherings before and after roosting may serve maintenance, thermoregulatory, social or information-sharing functions in vultures. In this study, we recorded the position and orientation of vultures at the tower at 10-min intervals from 20-min before to 20-min after sunrise and sunset. Vultures were positioned non-randomly on the tower. However, spatial patterns differed between sunrise and sunset. Post-roosting vultures did not prefer perches that afforded better access to the sun, but did prefer perches farthest from the roosting trees. Pre-roosting vultures showed preferences to face toward the sun, roosting trees, and other birds on the tower. Vultures also preferred perches higher on the tower, where social interactions such as supplanting were common. These data suggest that pre-roost and post-roost gatherings may serve different adaptive roles in turkey vultures. Media Friendly Abstract

BURGHAGM ORAL Accepted OBJECT MANIPULATION AND PLAY IN A CAPTIVE-REARED KOMODO DRAGON Gordon m. Burghardt, Jennifer Manrod, James Murphy, Trooper Walsh & John Romano Depts of Psych & Ecol Evol Biol, Un. TN, Knoxville, TN 37996, Dept. of Ecol. & Evol. Biol., Un. Tenn., Knoxville, TN 37996, National Zoological Park, Washington DC 20008 & National Zoological Park, Washingto (gburghar@UTK.edu) Program Abstract Play behavior has been little studied in non-avian reptiles, but anecdotal reports from over 50 years ago suggest that Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis*) engage in playful activities. The first captive born Komodo dragon housed at the National Zoo (D.C.) engaged in much spontaneous interaction with objects and with familiar keepers that would be considered play if seen in a dog or cat, mammalian rather than reptilian carnivores. Subsequently, a series of 31 tests were performed with her over 2 years in which objects (e.g., shoe, ring, Frisbee) were introduced with or without the keeper present. The ring was also presented with different odors such as perfume, linseed oil, corn oil, and rat blood. The videotaped presentations were for 30 minutes each preceded and followed by 10-minute control periods. Behavior patterns were quantified (7 event, 9 state) with The Observer. Results to be presented document differences among objects in their salience and the kind of manipulations employed, habituation, the importance of social interaction (and "social play")with the keeper, and also disprove the view that object play is just food motivated predatory behavior. Media Friendly Abstract Play is a fascinating behavior that even most scientists view as restricted to mammals and perhaps a few birds. This presentation will document through description and experiment that the world's largest lizard species, the Komodo dragon, can engage in sustained and complex play behavior. Such observations on 'atypical' animals suggest that play behavior is an ancient phenomenon and not one only associated with large brains and warm-blooded animals.

BYRNER ORAL Accepted HANDEDNESS IN OCTOPUS VULGARIS Ruth A. Byrne*, Michael J. Kuba, Daniela V. Meisel & Ulrike Griebel Konrad Lorenz Institute, Austria (a9303751@unet.univie.ac.at) Program Abstract Since handedness so far has only been studied in vertebrates, this study will examine arm preference in octopuses. As all eight arms of an octopus are capable of fulfilling the same tasks, there is not only a discrimination of behavioral asymmetries between left and right arms but also between frontal and hind arms. 8 octopuses were tested using a T-maze that allowed the insertion of only one arm at a time. The arm at the first contact and the first and second choice arm inside the T-maze were recorded. Over all animals a highly significant preference for frontal arms at the first contact and choice, but not for the second arm after the choice was found. There were two different approaches to fulfill the task. 5 octopuses significantly used their frontal arms throughout a trial, while 3 first touched the T-maze with their frontal arms, but then used their hind arms to reach into it. A strong correlation was found between the direction of approach to the maze and the arms used at first contact. 3 animals were found having a significant lateral preference of arm use throughout the trials. 2 of them were left-'handed' and one right-'handed'. Media Friendly Abstract

CAREYMD POSTER Accepted FIFTEEN YEARS OF OLD-FIELD SUCCESSION AND ITS EFFECTS ON BREEDING AND REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOR IN A POPULATION OF FIELD SPARROWS Michael Carey* Dept. of Biol., Univ. of Scranton, Scranton PA 18510 (careym1@scranton.edu) Program Abstract Since 1986, breeding behavior in a color-banded population of Field Sparrows (Spizella pusilla) on an adjacent set of old fields in northeastern PA has been followed. In that time, the study fields have changed from open shrubby areas to fields heavily overgrown with large shrubs and trees. The sparrow population has declined steadily on all fields, regardless of their age since last cultivation. However, with one exception, these population size changes are not associated with any changes in settlement dates of adults, philopatry, mating dates, mating success, reproductive success, nestling growth, or territory size. There was, however, a significant decline in rates of extra-pair fertilizations (EPF's). Thus it appears that Field Sparrow territories following this succession do not differ greatly in quality from those at the start of the study. Media Friendly Abstract

CARIELMO POSTER Accepted POSSIBLE USE OF EGGSHELL PATTERN AND EGG MORPHOMETRY TO DETERMINE MATERNITY IN COMMUNAL CLUTCHES OF GUIRA CUCKOOS Mariana O. Cariello, Regina H. F. Macedo, Marcos R. Lima & Hubert G. Schwabl Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade de Brasilia, Brazil, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade de Brasilia, Brazil & Sch. Biol.Sci., Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA 99164 (mcariel@unb.br) Program Abstract In avian communal breeding systems or in cases of conspecific parasitism, more than one female lays eggs in a single nest. In these situations, it is crucial to determine maternity of eggs to understand the strategies of laying females and their benefits. For this purpose, many studies have used egg characteristics (e.g. shape, volume), and have reported similar eggs as belonging to the same female. Here, we use eggshell spot patterns and egg morphometry to verify their applicability for ascribing egg ownership in communal clutches of guira cuckoos (Guira guira*), a species where up to seven females may lay eggs in a joint nest. We monitored 48 nests in two years, collected fresh eggs, photographed them, measured their length and width, and then broke them to separate the yolk and egg white. Egg shape, volume and two egg shell variables (percentage and average width of spots covering the egg) are used in discriminant analyses to verify if eggs laid by the same female are similar but different from eggs laid by distinct females. The analyses consider the correct maternity of eggs as determined by electrophoresis of yolk proteins. Media Friendly Abstract

CASSILDL ORAL Accepted DISTRIBUTED INTELLIGENCE: A MECHANISM OF SELF-ORGANIZATION IN A NON-HUMAN SOCIETY Deby L. Cassill* Center for Insect Science, Univerisity of Arizona (cassill@stpt.usf.edu) Program Abstract The most thought-provoking feature of an insect society is its ability to organize itself without a central authority. The current, popular paradigm for self-organizing systems states that simple-minded individuals respond to simple cues with simple rules of thumb. Here, I report the mechanisms by which scouts collectively recruit nestmates to food in the fire ant, . Scouts assessed the quality of food with taste buds located at the tips of their antennae. If sufficiently stimulated by food quality, scouts ingested a small quantity, returned to the nest and initiated a complex recruitment display. Scouts employed head waggles, antennal brushes, fast walks, advertising and leading with a chemical trail to initiate a collective response from nestmates. In turn, nestmates assessed the information provided by scouts including the quality of the advertised food and the scout’s sales pitch. Then nestmates integrated this information with their level of hunger and their employment status before making a decision to follow the scout to the food site. Nestmates made recruitment decisions independent of other nestmates; thus, their decisions were not a simple-minded “follow-the-herd” response. In conclusion, the mechanism underlying a graded collective response to graded food quality in the fire ant is distributed intelligence, not distributed stupidity as implied by the current self-organizing paradigm. Media Friendly Abstract The most thought-provoking feature of an insect society is its ability to organize itself without a central authority. The current, popular paradigm for self-organizing systems states that simple-minded individuals respond to simple cues with simple rules of thumb. Here, I report the mechanisms by which scouts collectively recruit nestmates to food in the fire ant, . In conclusion, I show that the mechanism underlying a graded collective response to graded food quality in the fire ant is distributed intelligence, not distributed stupidity as implied by the current self-organizing paradigm.

CASTOJM POSTER Accepted INDIRECT EFFECTS OF ELEVATED TESTOSTERONE ON IMMUNITY IN DARK-EYED JUNCOS Joseph M. Casto, Ian M. Parker-Renga, Ellen D. Ketterson & Val Nolan Jr. Department of Biology, Indiana Univ., Bloomington, IN 47505 (jcasto@indiana.edu) Program Abstract Some life history trade-offs are mediated by sex steroids. For example, elevation of testosterone (T) in free-living male dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis*) suppresses immunity but enhances male attractiveness to females. In addition, elevated T suppresses male parental behavior, but indirectly induces parental compensation by females. We tested whether the effects of elevated T extend beyond the treated males and indirectly influence immune function of their social mates and offspring. Cell-mediated immunity was assessed in free-living female juncos mated to T-treated males (T-males) or controls (C-males) and in the offspring of those matings. Immune function was significantly suppressed in mates of T-males (41% lower) and their offspring (19% lower) as compared to those of C-males. Combining these results with earlier findings, we suggest that the costs to males of T-induced attractiveness may go beyond immunosuppression. Reductions in T-nestling immunity may explain why T-males produce fewer fledglings than C-males. Additionally, the consequences for females of choosing males with traits enhanced by T appear to be more detrimental than previously thought. Media Friendly Abstract

CERCHIS ORAL Accepted ASSESSMENT OF PATERNITY AND MALE REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS OF HUMPBACK WHALES IN THE ARCHIPIÉLAGO REVILLAGIGEDO, MEXICO, 1997 - 2001 Salvatore Cerchio*, Jeffrey K. Jacobsen, Danielle M. Cholewiak, Erin A. Falcone & D. Andrew Merriwether Dept. of EEB, UMMZ, Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, Humboldt State Univ., Arcata, CA, Dept. of NBB, Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY 14883 & Dept. of Anthr., Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 (sal@umich.edu) Program Abstract Paternity data are critically missing in understanding mysticete breeding systems. Regardless, researchers assume polygyny for humpback whales due to their breeding ecology. To address this, we collected 924 skin samples of humpback whales during 1997-2001 at the Islas Revillagigedos, Mexico. All samples were genotyped at 13 microsatellite loci, resulting in 619 unique genotypes, including 141 calves (122 with mother), 178 females and 297 males. The program CERVUS was used for paternity assessment, and two datasets of putative fathers were assembled applying conservative and relaxed criteria. In the conservative analysis, 41 calves (34%) were assigned a putative father, and 4 males sired 2 calves. In the relaxed analysis 52 calves (43%) were assigned a father, 2 males sired 3 calves, and 4 males sired 2 calves. Computer simulations indicated that RS distribution in the relaxed analysis varied slightly but significantly from expected in a random mating model. Thus we conclude this population may be mildly polygynous, but successful males are not dominating R.S. The behavior of putative fathers indicated successful males employ a variety of alternative mating tactics. Media Friendly Abstract

CHENGK ORAL Accepted INTERFERENCE IN LANDMARK-BASED SPATIAL MEMORY IN HONEYBEES (APIS MELLIFERA) Ken Cheng* & Dagong Zhang Dept. of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney (kcheng@axon.bhs.mq.edu.au) Program Abstract Honeybees use a sequence of memory-based servomechanisms to reach a target location. Different memories need to be retrieved, each at the right time. It is thought that appropriate contextual cues guide memory retrieval (context-memory link). One corollary is that learning two tasks in the same context should prove difficult. In lab experiments, free flying bees flew to a table in a lab for reward (sugar water) whose location was specified by a landmark. The landmark-reward array was moved from trial to trial. This ensured that the landmark was the only valid predictor of the exact location of reward. Bees learning two landmark-based tasks in succession (e.g., search to the right of a blue landmark in phase 1, search to the left of a green landmark in phase 2), showed that learning the second task interfered with memory for the first task (retroactive interference). Bees learning two different tasks in the same phase showed confusion between the two target locations for the two different landmarks. Results support the context-memory link. Media Friendly Abstract Honeybees have tiny brains of fewer than a million brain cells. But they use many memories to do their jobs, especially when out looking for food. To get to a flower patch, a whole series of memories of the route and what places look like need to be retrieved in sequence. To be useful, the right memory has to be retrieved at the right time. How do they do it? The going thinking is that the contextual conditions guide the bee to retrieve the right memory. These context cues include the distant panorama, how far the insect has already flown, and its motivation (out to get food or bring food back home). We reasoned that if one context is linked primarily to one memory, then bees should have trouble learning two tasks in the same context, which in our case was a lab room. We found that learning two tasks in the same lab room led to confusions between the two tasks. Learning one task was easy. Context cues probably plays an important role in human memory as well. We may do well to use such cues to help us remember.

CHUL ORAL Accepted USING CONSUMER-DEMAND THEORY TO DETERMINE THE RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL ENRICHMENTS TO LABORATORY RABBITS Ling-ru Chu*, Joseph P. Garner & Joy A. Mench Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis (ldchu@ucdavis.edu) Program Abstract Recent concerns about the welfare of laboratory rabbits have led to increased interest in strategies for environmental enrichment. We conducted a consumer-demand based preference test in order to determine the relative importance of physical and social enrichments to female laboratory rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Prior to testing, rabbits were housed singly (N=3) or in pairs (N=3 pairs). A rabbit was then placed in a test apparatus for 14 days, during which time she could access four resources (the pairmate, an unfamiliar rabbit, food, or enrichments) by pushing a weighted door to enter the appropriate tunnel. The weights on the doors were increased gradually during the 14-day trial. Tunnel doors were wired to a computer, allowing the movement of the test rabbit to be recorded electronically. Rabbits showed the strongest preferences for food and the unfamiliar conspecific both in the amount of weight pushed to gain access to each resource (repeated measures GLM: F3,9=10.52; p<0.003) and the time spent with each resource (F3,72=18.27; p<0.0001). The rabbits? preference for the unfamiliar conspecific emphasizes the importance of both social contact and novelty in an enrichment program. Media Friendly Abstract

CLARKAB POSTER Accepted ROOST LOCATION PATTERNS AND ROOST CHARACTERISTICS OF YOUNG AMERICAN CROWS (CORVUS BRACHYRHYNCHOS). Anne B. Clark*, Kevin J. McGowan, Rachel Curtis, Jennifer Senecal & Douglas A. Robinson Dept.Biol. Sci., Binghamton Univ., Binghamton, NY 13902, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY 14850, NYS Dept.of Health,Ithaca, NY. & Dept. Biol. Sci., Binghamton Univ., Binghamton, NY 13902 (aclark@binghamton.edu) Program Abstract Cooperatively breeding American crows maintain year-round family territories, but are known for their huge (>50,000) winter communal roosts. Migrants contribute to these roosts but residents may also join, roosting on home territories only part of the time. We determined roost sites of 14 radio-tagged juvenile crows from 5 families in a well-studied population (Ithaca, NY), Sep 01 - Mar 02. All used deciduous trees until late Oct. when all abruptly shifted to evergreens. Unlike large urban crow roosts that are often in bare deciduous trees, Ithaca crows roosted deep in foliage, out of view. They were on territory most nights. Crows showed some preference for specific roost trees, but all used multiple sites throughout their territories. Several small communal roosts (200-500) occurred in the area & 5 crows used these regularly. Two focal crows vanished from the Ithaca area by Jan 02, both subsequent to using communal roosts after long periods of roosting at home. One was located in a communal roost 27 km away for 2 nights before vanishing, but returned in Apr. All crows sleeping off territory used multiple sites & roosts. Feeding location before roosting, on territory or off, did not predict roost site choice. Media Friendly Abstract

CLARKAB INVITED Accepted INTRODUCTION Anne B. Clark* (aclark@binghamton.edu) Program Abstract Media Friendly Abstract

CLARKAB INVITED Accepted GENERAL DISCUSSION Anne B. Clark* (aclark@binghamton.edu) Program Abstract Media Friendly Abstract

CLARKEMR INVITED Accepted MANAGING MONKEYS USING EVOLUTIONARY PRINCIPLES MAXIMIZES REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS. Margaret R. Clarke* Tulane Regional Primate Research Center, Covington LA 70433 and Department of Anthropology, Tulane University, New Orleans LA. 70118 (mrclarke@tulane.edu) Program Abstract Rhesus monkeys have been colony-raised in the United States since the ban on exportation from India in the mid-1970’s. Early management was done by lab animal staff, and early successes frequently resulted in later disasters. An understanding of rhesus monkey natural history in conjunction with evolutionary principles of behavior elucidated many of the mechanisms for the unsuccessful outcomes. This presentation is based on 11 years experience and research at the Tulane Primate Center, during which time we had the opportunity to carry out a number of studies to actually test some of our theoretically-based ideas. The sometimes surprising results of a number of studies on reproductive suppress, animal movements between groups, and adult social dynamics will be presented. These will be applied to the management of group composition and matrilines, group introductions, “culling” and “harvesting” and associated disruptions, and maintenance of normal migration patterns in captive animals. Particular emphasis will be placed on the predictability of certain behaviors based on evolutionary principles. A captive population, no matter what size, will reproduce optimally if the behaviors occuring through natural selection are allowed to occur. Media Friendly Abstract

CLARKRL POSTER Accepted DOMINANCE RANK CORRELATES WITH SOME MEASURES OF “INHIBITED” TEMPERAMENT IN YOUNG JAPANESE MACAQUES, MACACA FUSCATA Randall Clark*, Daniel R. Dehaze, Lisa M. Selthon, Judy L. Cameron & Kristine Coleman Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR 97006, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR 97006 Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR 97006 & Oregon N (Clarkra@ohsu.edu) Program Abstract Behavioral inhibition is an important construct of temperament, yet little work has been done to examine correlates to this trait. In this study, we examined the correlation between temperament and dominance rank in 40 young (approximately 4 months of age) Japanese macaques. The monkeys lived in a 2-acre outdoor corral in a stable social environment. We utilized 3 temperament tests designed to measure behavioral inhibition, which assessed the monkeys’ reactions to a novel food item, a novel environment, and a threatening social stimulus. Monkeys were categorized as to whether or not they inspected the novel food or environment, and whether or not they reacted to the threatening stimulus. We also categorized animals into three groups based on their dominance status: high (top third), moderate (middle third) and low (bottom third). Fewer low ranking monkeys inspected the novel food compared to more dominant animals (chi square = 10.64, df= 2, p=0.005). There were no differences in exploration of the novel environment or in reaction to the threatening social stimulus in animals of different ranks. Thus, dominance status appears to be related to some, but not all, aspects of inhibited temperament in this population. Media Friendly Abstract

CLOTFEED POSTER Accepted WINNER EFFECT IS INDUCED IN BYSTANDERS TO AGGRESSIVE CONTESTS BETWEEN MALE FIGHTING FISH Ethan D. Clotfelter* & Aaron D. Paolino Dept. of Biology, Providence College, Providence RI 02918 (eclotfel@providence.edu) Program Abstract We performed two experiments in which we allowed some male fighting fish, Betta splendens, to observe aggressive interactions between male conspecifics (we called the former fish bystander males). Other males (naïve males) observed an empty tank or two nonaggressive males, depending on the experiment. Immediately after these observation periods we allowed bystander and naïve males to interact in a neutral area. In both experiments, bystander males were dominant over naïve males in a significant number of the encounters. Differences in dominance were not due to chance differences in body size. These findings demonstrate that observing aggression between conspecifics increases aggressive motivation and induces a winner effect in bystander male fighting fish. Media Friendly Abstract

CLOTFEED ORAL Accepted MOUTH COLOR SIGNALS THERMAL STRESS IN NESTLING DARK-EYED JUNCOS Ethan Clotfelter, Kristin A. Schubert, Val Nolan Jr. & Ellen D. Ketterson Dept. of Biology, Providence College, Providence RI, Dept. of Biology, College of William & Mary, Williamsburg VA & Dept. of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington IN (eclotfel@providence.edu) Program Abstract We investigated the significance of red mouth color in dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis*) nestlings. Previous research on other avian species has suggested that mouth color communicates information about offspring need (hunger) or offspring quality (immunocompetence) to parents. We devised two experiments to test the hypothesis that mouth color is an indicator of nestling hunger. We found that mouth color changed over time, but changes in color were not explained by nestling satiation or food deprivation. We did find, however, that mouth redness was negatively correlated with ambient temperature. A third experiment confirmed these correlative data; mouths increased in redness following nestlings' removal from their nests and then decreased in redness when they were warmed in an artificial nest. These findings suggest that mouth color indicates thermal stress in nestling dark-eyed juncos and may function as a signal to the female to brood them. Media Friendly Abstract

CLUCASBA POSTER Accepted CHICK-A-DEE CALL SYNTAX, SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT, AND SEASON AFFECT VOCAL RESPONSES OF CAROLINA CHICKADEES (POECILE CAROLINENSIS) Barbara Clucas*, Todd M. Freeberg & Jeffrey R. Lucas Dept. of Biol. Sci., Purdue Univ., W. Lafayette IN 47907 (barbara1@purdue.edu) Program Abstract Chick-a-dee calls consist of four notes, A, B, C, and D, that typically given in that order, once, possibly repeated several times, or not at all. These simple rules for note ordering and composition generate a call system with an enormous number of unique call types. We used field playbacks to ask whether violations of these simple note-ordering rules affected vocal responses of receivers in the environment. Vocal responses of chickadee receivers differed if the playback had normal compared to atypical syntax. In the fall/winter, the response to normal playbacks was affected by the presence or absence of heterospecifics. No effect of social environment was detected in the spring. Atypical syntax playbacks did not elicit variable responses, irrespective of the presence of heterospecifics in either season. These results suggest that call syntax and the presence of other species in the environment affect receiver vocal responses. Furthermore, the physical properties of note propagation potentially affect the use of notes under different social conditions. Media Friendly Abstract

COLEPD ALLEE Accepted THE DOCUMENTATION AND ONTOGENY OF WATER AND FOOD PORTAGE TOOL-USE IN A CROW (CORVUS BRACHYRHYNCHOS) Patricia D. Cole* Dalhousie University (pdcole@is2.dal.ca) Program Abstract In 1965 Hess reported instances of a captive crow using a cup to transport water to moisten its food (as told to Beck, 1980). Unfortunately, how this skillful tool-use developed is unknown. A similar behavior has been documented, and investigated, in our laboratory. The dry food provided to our captive crow was repeatedly, but mysteriously, found moistened. Closer inspection revealed that two novelty objects (a Frisbee and a water bottle nozzle) were in use by the crow as water portage devices. Subsequent observation revealed that food was also being carried. A small plastic cup was then introduced, and its development into a portage-tool was documented, thereby illuminating the ontogenetic path of this complex behavior. Media Friendly Abstract

COULDRVC FOUNDERS Accepted SPECIES RECOGNITION BASED ON COLOR PATTERNS IN FOUR MALAWIAN CICHLID SPECIES Vanessa C.K. Couldridge* University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa (Vanessa@caspar.bgsu.edu) Program Abstract Interspecific mating preferences in four closely related species of cichlid from the Pseudotropheus zebra species complex of Lake Malawi were examined. The ability of both males and females to distinguish between conspecifics and heterospecifics was determined by presenting individuals with a choice of four mates, one of the same species and three others that were each of a different species. Individuals were also given a choice between the three heterospecifics only, to evaluate preferences in the absence of conspecifics. In all four species, females showed a significant preference for conspecific males when these were available and preferred the male with the most similar color pattern to the conspecific when these were not available. Males were able to distinguish among females on the basis of color patterns in a similar fashion, although their ability to do so was more limited than it was in females. Media Friendly Abstract

CRISTODA POSTER Accepted EFFECT OF PRIOR RESIDENCE ON SOCIAL STATUS IN WINTERING SPARROWS Daniel A. Cristol* & Emilie C. Snell-Rood Dept. of Biology, College of William & Mary, Williamsburg VA (dacris@wm.edu) Program Abstract The objective of this study was to determine how prior residence affects social rank and contest outcome in social systems with loose organization, specifically, in wintering flocks of White-throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis). Prior residence, in terms of fall arrival date, was a significant determinant of social rank in a large flock. For residents without previous experience on the site, duration of residence (i.e., difference in arrival dates between contestants) was a significant determinant of contest outcome. However, there was no influence of duration of residence on contest outcome for individuals that had been on the site in previous years. A secondary study revealed, through ptilochronology, that social rank may influence nutritional condition in free-living White-throated Sparrows. These results, coupled with those from a simultaneous delay-of-arrival experiment, suggest that there should be selection for mechanisms that increase an individual's probability of gaining prior residence in a wintering area. Media Friendly Abstract The early bird gets the worm, and a lot more. What is the importance of being there first? Among animals, individuals that arrive at a place first are usually dominant to those that come later. This was the case for a population of sparrows on a college campus in Virginia. Early arrivals were at the top of the pecking order and appeared to be in better shape at the end of the winter, probably because their high social rank allowed them the best access to food. We examined exactly what about arriving early provides the benefit. In a simultaneous study (Snell-Rood and Cristol presented at the same meetings) we delayed early birds and observed what happened to them when they arrived late. The experimental late-comers suffered a drop in social status, just as if they had arrived late naturally. Thus, being early, in and of itself, is enough to give a bird a boost.

CROWEML INVITED Accepted INTEGRATING PHYSICS AND BIOLOGY BY INVESTIGATING THERMAL ECOLOGY Mary L. Crowe* Department of Biology, Coastal Carolina University (crowe@coastal.edu) Program Abstract One frequently overlooked aspect of science is the connection between the biological and physical world. During this presentation Indiana high school teachers will examine how temperatures influence the behavior of a variety of ectothermic animals. The content will address Indiana Science Standards and a variety of pedagogical methods will be used: lecturing, inquiry-based and group learning. Using a simple experimental design and animals collected from the Indiana landscape, teachers will learn about thermal ecology and applications to animal behavior. Lesson plans will be provided so that educators can easily incorporate the activity into their classroom with minimal cost and time. Media Friendly Abstract

CROWEML POSTER Accepted THERMAL CONDITIONS EXPERIENCED BY FORAGING FIDDLER CRABS Mary L. Crowe* & Brian Helmuth Department of Biology, Coastal Carolina University & Department of Biology, University of South Carolina, Columbia (crowe@coastal.edu) Program Abstract The sand fiddler crab Uca pugilator employs two different foraging strategies. They either forage solitary close to their burrow opening or in droves (groups containing 30-1100 individuals) on exposed mud flats, far from burrow locations. Previous studies on foraging behavior have found that although drove foragers experience a higher risk of predation they benefit from higher nutrient availability in the drove areas. The objective of this study was to document the thermal conditions experienced by solitary burrow foragers and droving crabs. To determine the thermal conditions of drove and burrow areas thermocouples were concurrently placed: on the surface of drove area, in receding tidal pools in the drove area, on the surface of burrow area and inside fiddler crab burrows. Additionally we monitored the temperatures of live crabs equipped with thermocouples. Thermal conditions were monitored for 30-min periods. Temperatures were measured every second and averaged each minute using a Campbell CR 10X datalogger. We also monitored the behavior of thermocouple-equipped crabs. We found that the thermal conditions were similar in the drove and burrow areas. Surprisingly crab temperatures did not always reflect ambient temperatures and male crab temperatures appear to fluctuate less than female crab temperatures. Media Friendly Abstract

CUENCALM POSTER Accepted CAN MONANDROUS PUPAL MATING IN HELICONIUS CHARITONIUS BE EXPLAINED BY INDIRECT FEMALE CHOICE? Luis Mendoza-Cuenca* & Rogelio Macías-Ordóñez Dept. Ecol. Compt. Animal, Inst. Ecología A.C.Xalapa,México (mendozal@ecologia.edu.mx) Program Abstract Sexual conflict over traits such as male and female optimal mating rate has been considered virtually ubiquitous. In those cases where males have the advantage, high rates of mating are expected, while the opposite is expected if the advantage has shifted toward females. Predominance of polyandrous mating systems in insects seems to refute such pattern, and the evolutionary maintenance of polyandry in insects can be explained through direct effects, without invoking additional indirect female benefits. That’s why the evolution of monandry in insects like butterflies, where males provide nutritious ejaculates, is particularly intriguing. We suggest that the monandrous pupal mating system observed in a population of Heliconius charitonius (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), studied near Xalapa, Veracruz, México, could be explained in terms of indirect mate choice theory. In this population, the female’s pupal receptivity restricts the potential mates toward the biggest males, avoiding mating costs with “low quality” males. Published information about pollen feeding, genetic background and life history traits, along with our own data, may explain the maintenance of true monandry in these butterflies in terms of female benefits; therefore females seem to lead the sexual conflict in this case. Media Friendly Abstract

CULPJJ POSTER Accepted TEMPORAL EFFECTS OF PREDATOR CUES ON REFUGE USE BY THE SNAIL PHYSA GYRINA. Jacob Culp* Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington KY 40506 (jacobculp@hotmail.com) Program Abstract Many experiments have determined that animals, when exposed to chemical cues that indicate predation risk, will respond with distinct anti-predator behaviors. The freshwater snail, Physa gyrina, has been shown to respond to cues associated with predation by the freshwater crayfish, Orconectes juvenilis. We hypothesized that Physa gyrina, if given a chemical cue simulating predation by crayfish at the same time every day, would become sensitized to the onset of predation cue and respond accordingly with anti-predator behaviors. As expected, the snails in the treatment groups that were given cues responded with anti-predator behaviors, while the control group that received only water every day at the given time did not respond with anti-predator behaviors. After 4 weeks of exposure to predator cues, half the treatment snails were switched to the control treatment. The behavior of the switched snails changed significantly, while the behaviors of the control and the continuously treated snails did not. Further testing is necessary to determine the importance of temporal effects and how long-term exposure to a predator cue influence behavioral patterns of prey. Media Friendly Abstract

CZARNOMR POSTER Accepted DIRECTIONAL BIAS IN TREE SWALLOW COPULATIONS: MALE PREFERENCE OR FEMALE DECISION? Matthew R. Czarnowski* Dept. of Ecol., Evol., and Nat. Res., Rutgers University (mrsteele@eden.rutgers.edu) Program Abstract A recent study has shown that cloacal contact during copulation in tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor)occurs twice as frequently from the left as from the right. Given that only one ovary is functional in birds, it is possible that the direction of the cloacal contact may have an effect on the fertilization of the eggs, and consequently on the successful reproduction of the male. It is therefore important to know whether the direction of copulation is preferred by the male or if the female presents on the side she chooses, giving her more control over paternity. To detect any male preference for copulation direction two female models, one presenting to the left and one to the right, were placed in front of males' nestboxes and their approaches and interactions were noted. Media Friendly Abstract

DAGLEYR POSTER Accepted SONG VARIATION IN SEASIDE SPARROWS Rebecca Dagley* & Melissa Hughes College of Charleston, Charleston SC 29424 (ecrive_toi@hotmail.com) Program Abstract Although song is known to play a role in both territory defense and mate attraction in seaside sparrows, little is known about the functional significance of song variation in this species. We recorded individually-marked sparrows in a brackish marsh, to determine song repertoire size and to describe song variation within and between males. In addition, we mapped territorial boundaries, to determine the degree to which territorial neighbors share songs or song elements, and whether such sharing is greater among neighbors than in the general population. These data will serve as the basis for further studies of significance of song variation in seaside sparrows. Media Friendly Abstract

DANIELA ALLEE Accepted CAUSES OF VARIATION IN PATERNITY: DIFFERENTIAL SPERM RELEASE VERSUS SPERM STRATIFICATION IN TWO ORB-WEAVING SPIDERS Anne M. Danielson-Francois* Dept. of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Univ. of Arizona (adaniels@u.arizona.edu) Program Abstract Paternity patterns (P2) are typically variable both within and between species. Such variation in P2 might be explained by: (i) precedence resulting from sperm stratification within female sperm storage organs (SSO), (ii) differential sperm release, and/or (iii) cryptic female choice. Clearly, it is difficult to isolate the mechanisms underlying their potential influence on P2. I took advantage of unique features of sperm release in spiders to assess the relative influence of sperm release and sperm stratification upon P2 variation in two orb-weavers, which exhibit differences in female SSO morphology and male mating behavior. Sperm release by each male to his mate was quantified and used to generate paternity predictions. A subset of males was irradiated, generating marked males, in order to assess paternity. Overall, sperm release predictions match observed paternity patterns and suggest that differential sperm release, rather than female SSO morphology, explains much variation in P2. Sperm mixing was common, but individual cases of first- or last-male advantage predicted by sperm release were observed. Media Friendly Abstract

DARDENSK POSTER Accepted IDENTITY CODING IN A SWIFT FOX VULPES VELOX VOCALIZATION? Safi K. Darden* & Torben Dabelsteen Department of Animal Behaviour, University of Copenhagen, Denmark (s-kdarden@zi.ku.dk) Program Abstract Vocal individuality has been found in the long-range and territorial vocalizations of a number of canid species. The vocal repertoire of several fox species contains a long-ranging vocalisation, the barking sequence, consisting of a series of barks placed in rapid succession. In the swift fox Vulpes velox, the barking sequence is produced most commonly during the mating season and is thought to be associated with mating and territoriality. In this study, barking sequences were recorded from twenty swift foxes housed in large outdoor enclosures at a captive breeding facility during the 1995, 2000, and 2001 breeding seasons. Using a combination of parameters measured from sound analysis of barks in the recorded barking sequences, 98.97% of the sequences could be classified to the correct individual in a discriminant function analysis. The results of our analysis indicate that this vocalization may be coding individual identity information. The implications of these results for swift fox social behaviour and conservation will be discussed. Media Friendly Abstract

DAVISDM POSTER Accepted THE WEAKLY ELECTRIC FISH GNATHONEMUS PETERSII CAN RECOGNIZE THE SHAPE OF OBJECTS DURING ACTIVE ELECTROLOCATION Denise M. Davis* & Gerhard von der Emde Dept. of Psychology, Univ. of Washington, Seattle WA 99195 (denised@u.washington.edu) Program Abstract Even in complete darkness weakly electric fish can detect, localize and analyze objects. Here we tested whether G. petersii can also perceive an object's shape. Fish were trained in a 2-alternative forced-choice procedure to discriminate between a metal cube and a cylinder. Choice of the cube was food-rewarded, choice of the cylinder was mildly punished. Once trained, test trials (no reward or punishment) were interspersed with regular trials. Fish successfully discriminated between the cube and various other objects. Discrimination performance varied slightly depending on object shape. When instead of a metal cube a plastic cube was offered, fish continued to choose it. When the positive object was moved away from the fish, discrimination performance was intact at shorter distances but started to deteriorate when distances were larger. Cube recognition was invariant of small size variations, but deteriorated when cube size was varied strongly. Our results suggest that G. petersii can recognize an object's shape independently of object material. Shape recognition is also tolerant of small variations in object distance and size. Media Friendly Abstract

DAVISKM POSTER Accepted POPULATION STRUCTURE,ACTIVITY PATTERNS AND BEHAVIOR OF CRAYFISH, ORCONECTES RUSTICUS : A FIELD STUDY Karen M. Davis* & Robert Huber Department of Biology, Bowling Green State University, Ohio (arcticpack@caspar.bgsu.edu) Program Abstract Although crayfish have been studied extensively in laboratory settings, their natural history and behavior have received considerably less attention. Despite inherent difficulties of studying crayfish in their natural habitat, field studies are essential to place lab findings within an ethological framework. This study examined population structure, habitat usage, activity patterns, and behavior of Orconectes rusticus at seventeen sites in the Portage River near Bowling Green, OH. Following 24 h of continuous underwater video recording at each site, a 5m2 area around the underwater camera was enclosed with a net and all individuals within it were collected and measured. Crayfish densities ranged from 6 to 67 per m2. Site depth was an important ecological predictor, with large crayfish in deep water and small ones in the shallows. Large and medium-sized animals, away from shelters more often than small individuals, were most active in early morning. Small crayfish were active mainly in the afternoon. Quantitative analyses of the fighting behavior indicated that agonistic encounters among crayfish are common, with characteristics similar to those observed in the lab. Media Friendly Abstract

DEVITOJ ALLEE Accepted METAMORPHIC SYNCHRONY AND AGGREGATION AS ANTIPREDATOR RESPONSES IN AMERICAN TOADS Jill DeVito* Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington (devito@uta.edu) Program Abstract Safety in numbers serves as an antipredator defense strategy in many organisms. It has also suggested that some organisms may be under selective pressure to synchronize vulnerable life stages with conspecifics, but there have been very few experimental tests of this hypothesis. Furthermore, the role of aggregation among cohorts during vulnerable life stages is poorly understood. Previous studies indicate that predation pressure may select for synchronous metamorphosis and the subsequent formation of metamorphic aggregations in several toad species. In a series of lab experiments, we demonstrated that 1) Bufo americanus tadpoles in the presence of a predator exhibit higher levels of aggregation, and 2)B. americanus exposed to predator chemical cues metamorphose more synchronously than control tadpoles. We also found that toads at the climax of metamorphosis exhibit higher levels of aggregation than larvae. These results suggest that predation pressure has selected for life stage synchrony, and that aggregation serves as an antipredator defense in animals with synchronous transitions. Media Friendly Abstract

DEWSBUDA ORAL Accepted CHARLES HENRY TURNER (1867-1923): ANIMAL BEHAVIORIST Donald A. Dewsbury* Dept. of Psych., Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611 (dewsbury@ufl.edu) Program Abstract I discuss his life and work of Charles H. Turner, a rare visible African American scientist in his time. Turner was born in Cincinnati and earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees at the University of Cincinnati. He then accepted a teaching job before completing his PhD at the University of Chicago in 1907. From 1908 until his death Turner taught at the Sumner High School in St. Louis. Turner published at least 70 published papers, of which approximately 25 dealt with animal behavior, mainly with arthropods. A central theme was that arthropod behavior is more complex than had been thought. Turner integrated field and laboratory research and had a genius for conducting experiments in both locations. His research included studies of hearing in moths and color vision in bees, the removal of dead flies from the web by gallery spiders, the learning of nest location during outbound flights in some Hymenoptera, the interaction of genetic and learned influences in web building by gallery spiders, and learning in ants. Turner's prose is often charming and is work remains relevant to many problems in animal behavior. Media Friendly Abstract none

DICKEYB ORAL Accepted PREDICTION AND DESCRIPTION OF INTERACTION PATTERNS IN SOCIAL DOMINANCE STRUCTURES. Bradley F. Dickey* School of Biological Sciences, Univ of Kentucky, KY, USA (bdickey@uky.edu) Program Abstract Social dominance hierarchies have been demonstrated and studied in a wide variety of vertebrate and invertebrate taxa but no models exist that explain or predict the patterns of aggressive interactions within a hierarchy: which individuals interact with other individuals and which individuals interact most frequently. Data from empirical studies of social dominance are often presented in matrices that summarize which animal won the interactions between each pair of individuals. Many of these matrices contain identifiable patterns of interactions; for instance, interactions may be clustered along the diagonal of the matrix suggesting that individuals prefer to interact with others of equivalent rank. I present a game theoretic model that predicts such patterns, depending on the differences in benefits between different ranks in the hierarchy, and the distribution of traits that signal resource holding potential between individuals. The predicted patterns are then compared to empirical data using a statistical approach that permits comparison of matrices. Media Friendly Abstract

DOERRJG POSTER Accepted NATAL DISPERSAL AND MOVEMENT PATTERNS IN THE OPOSSUM (DIDELPHIS VIRGINIANA) Jaynie G. Doerr* & Zuleyma Tang-Martinez Department of Biology, University of Missouri, St. Louis (Jaynie.G.Doerr@mvs02.usace.army.mil) Program Abstract Despite the abundance of opossums (Didelphis virginiana), there have been relatively few studies on its’ movement patterns. We examined: 1) natural history and demography, 2) juvenile opossum dispersal, and 3) opossum abundance and spatial distribution. The study sites were located in two areas: cultivated lands in Madison County, Illinois, and a natural protected area in St. Louis County, Missouri. We conducted an investigation on juvenile opossums using radio-transmitters and GPS to determine their natal dispersal patterns. We also live-trapped and marked individuals by ear-notching. 99.9% of marked juveniles survived until their first breeding season. 67% of juvenile females in Illinois and 75% in Missouri successfully reproduced. None of marked males were found to have reproduced in the study area since all disappeared before breeding season. Males dispersed an average minimum distance of 800m and females an average of 200m from natal area. No significant difference in opossum density and sex ratio was found among sites. Additional data on movement patterns will be presented and discussed. Media Friendly Abstract

DONELSNC FOUNDERS Accepted MALE DIMORPHISM IN BLADDER GRASSHOPPERS Nathan C Donelson* & Moira J. van Staaden J.P Scott Center for Neuroscience, Mind & Behavior & Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University Program Abstract Bladder Grasshoppers (Orthoptera, Pneumoridae) are a unique group of nocturnal, specialized herbivores endemic to the coastal regions of Africa. Adult males are characterized by an inflated abdomen which produces high intensity calls detectable up to 2 km. Female response to the male call leads to reciprocal dueting and pair formation. We have discovered an alternate male morph in two species which lack both flight and calling capabilities, and have reason to believe that the phenomenon also occurs in at least two other genera. Little is known about either the proximate or ultimate determinants of alternate morphs, and it has been suggested that they represent either an artifact of lab rearing, or a simple case of neoteny. To be maintained as a strategy, alternates must have been reproductively successful over evolutionary time. Thus, we may anticipate effects on other aspects of the biology of the family, such as sexual selection, the communication and sensory systems, and speciation events. Here we characterize the morphological distinctiveness of the alternate form, describe differences in reproductive potential, and explore their behavioral responsiveness to female mating calls. Media Friendly Abstract

DREACM ORAL Accepted REPRODUCTION IN SPOTTED HYENAS: FETAL ANDROGENS ARE PREREQUISITE FOR MALE MATING BUT INCUR DIRECT COSTS IN FEMALES Christine M. Drea, Ned J. Place, Mary L. Weldele, Elizabeth M. Coscia, Paul Licht & Stephen E. Glickman Dept. of Psych, Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA 94720 & Dept. of Int. Biol., Univ. (cdrea@duke.edu) Program Abstract Among extant mammals, only the female spotted hyena, Crocuta crocuta*, mates and gives birth through the tip of her clitoris, which is peniform in structure partly because of fetal exposure to endogenous, maternal androgens. First births through this organ are prolonged and remarkably difficult, typically causing death in neonates. Also, mating poses a mechanical challenge for males, as they must reach an anterior position on the female’s abdomen to achieve entry at the site of the retracted clitoris. Interfering with the actions of androgens prenatally permanently modifies hyena urogenital anatomy, facilitating subsequent parturition in nulliparous females who, thereby, produce live cubs. By contrast, comparable anatomical changes in males probably preclude reproduction, as exposure to prenatal anti-androgens produces a penis that is too short and has the wrong shape necessary for insertion during copulation. These are the first experimental data to show that the reproductive costs of clitoral delivery result from exposure of the female fetus to naturally circulating androgens. Moreover, the same androgens that render an extremely unusual and laborious process even more reproductively costly in the female are apparently essential to the male’s physical ability to reproduce with a normally masculinized female. Media Friendly Abstract Only the female spotted hyena mates and gives birth through the tip of her clitoris, which resembles the male’s penis in size, position, and structure. First births through this organ are prolonged and remarkably difficult, typically causing stillbirths. Also, mating is mechanically challenging for males, as the female’s clitoris, which must be retracted to allow penetration, is inconveniently located. We present the first evidence that the reproductive costs of clitoral delivery (i.e., stillbirths in first-time mothers) result from their exposure to naturally circulating androgens during fetal life. Interfering with the actions of androgens in a pregnant female permanently modifies the structure of her cub’s external genitals. In turn, adult female offspring of such treated pregnancies produced live cubs, as they displayed a larger, more elastic clitoral opening that facilitated the birthing process. By contrast, adult male offspring of such treated pregnancies never reproduced, as they displayed a penis that was too short and had the wrong shape necessary for insertion during copulation. Therefore, the same androgens that render an extremely unusual and laborious process even more reproductively costly in the female are apparently essential to the male’s physical ability to mate with a normally masculinized female.

DRIESL ORAL Accepted THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS WITH A SEXUAL PARASITE: ARE AMAZON MOLLIES RED QUEENS? Laurie A. Dries* Section of Integrative Biology, University of Texas & Austin, TX 78712 (dries@ohiou.edu) Program Abstract The gynogenetic Amazon molly is a clonal, all-female lineage of livebearing fish facing an unusual obstacle to evolutionary persistence. Amazons are sexual parasites; sperm from heterospecific males is necessary to trigger embryogenesis, however, none of the male genes are incorporated into the genome of the gynogenetic offspring. Some investigators have proposed that the evolution of male mate discrimination in the host species is a result of this cost, leading to a coevolutionary arms race between male avoidance of Amazons and Amazon attractiveness. Given that Amazons successfully reproduce and have not yet gone extinct, it is clear there are mechanisms by which they attract males. While a Red Queen coevolutionary process in typical host/parasite systems has been shown to favor the persistence of sexual species, in this system an arms race has been invoked to explain the reverse. Here I present behavioral data supporting a more parsimonious scenario: attractiveness is simply a consequence of the Amazon?s hybrid origin. My results indicate the Red Queen hypothesis is not necessary to explain the apparent evolutionary persistence Amazon mollies. Media Friendly Abstract The Amazon molly is a clonal, all-female lineage of livebearing fish facing an unusual obstacle to evolutionary persistence. Amazons are sexual parasites; sperm from males of two other species is necessary to trigger embryo development, however, none of the male genes are incorporated into the genes of the Amazon offspring. Some investigators have proposed that the evolution of male resistance to Amazon charms is a result of a Red Queen coevolutionary arms race between male avoidance of Amazons and Amazon attractiveness. Given that Amazons successfully reproduce and have not yet gone extinct, it is clear there are mechanisms by which they attract males. While a Red Queen process in typical host/parasite systems has been shown to favor the persistence of sexual species, in this system an arms race has been invoked to explain the reverse. Here I present behavioral data supporting a simpler scenario: attractiveness is simply a consequence of the Amazon?s hybrid origin. My results indicate the Red Queen hypothesis is not necessary to explain the apparent evolutionary persistence of this sexual parasite.

DRUENMW POSTER Accepted REPEATABILITY OF INTRINSIC AGGRESSION IN GREEN SWORDTAIL FISH (XIPHOPHORUS HELLERI) AND CONTEST OUTCOME Matt Druen*, Ryan Earley & Lee Alan Dugatkin Department of Biology, University of Louisville (mattdruen@hotmail.com) Program Abstract Animals across taxa must often compete for resources that are essential to survivial and reproduction such as mates, territory, and social status. Past studies have focused on behavioral attributes such as attack latency, bite number and frequency, and threat-display number and frequency and the role they play in determining the outcome of such contests. However, no rigorous statistical treatment has yet been done to ascertain whether this behavior is manifested in any repeatable manner. This experiment examined whether an individual's aggressive responses were consistent over time when subjected to a series of a standardized aggression test and whether those behaviors predicted the dynamics and winner of subsequent staged fights. Media Friendly Abstract

DRUMMOHM ORAL Accepted LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF DOMINANCE-SUBORDINATION IN INFANCY Hugh Drummond* & Roxana Torres Instituto de Ecología, UNAM, México (hugh@servidor.unam.mx) Program Abstract In some species of birds and mammals, infant siblings establish hierarchies, with potential longterm effects of dominance on behavioral development, survival, mating and reproduction. We looked for evidence of such effects on 1,167 fledgings from two-chick broods of the blue-footed booby. There was little evidence that dominants were more likely than subordinates to recruit into the breeding population and no evidence that dominants outperformed subordinates in age, date, brood size or nest success at first reproduction; nor in their laying dates, summed brood sizes or total nest success over the first 5 or 10 years of life. However, there were some indications that former subordinates can outperform former dominants. Subordination throughout infancy may steel a chick for adult life, or exercising dominance throughout infancy may impose a long-term cost. Media Friendly Abstract Many of us have grown up with a dominating sibling and in numerous species of mammals and birds infants grow up as members of a brood or litter dominance hierarchy. Status in the hierarchy clearly affects animals during infancy, but we don't know whether it marks them for life. To test for this we scrutinized the first ten years of life of 1,167 blue-footed boobies, pelican-like birds that nest on tropical islands. In their home broods of two chicks, each one had either dominated its nestmate by pecking, biting and threatening every day for three months, or it had endured such abuse by hunkering down and adopting submissive postures. Surprisingly, there was little sign that dominant chicks outperformed their nestmates in terms of survival or reproduction during adult life, but some analyses showed a slightly superior performance by subordinate chicks, who tended to nest earlier in the season and create larger broods. Hence, subordination throughout infancy may somehow steel a chick for adult life, or exercising dominance throughout infancy may carry a long-term cost.

DUGATKLA INVITED Accepted THE EVOLUTION OF RISK TAKING: WITHIN- AND BETWEEN-GROUP SELECTION IN THE GUPPY (POECILIA RETICULATA) Lee Alan Dugatkin* Department of Biology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292 (laduga01@athena.louisville.edu) Program Abstract Variation in risk-taking behavior is well documented in many animal species. Using the guppy as a model system, my colleagues and I have been investigating the role of both within- and between-group selection in shaping the evolution of risk taking (and risk avoidance). Over the past 10 years, we have examined the mortality cost of risk taking, as well as the putative benefits of risk taking linked to mating preferences and learning abilities. Within groups, risk takers suffer an increased rate of mortality, but are, under certain conditions, more attractive as mates, and learn more quickly than those who take fewer risks. Between groups, there is some indirect evidence that group productivity is positively correlated with the frequency of risk takers, but controlled experimental work on this topic is still in progress. Media Friendly Abstract Variation in risk-taking behavior is well documented in many animal species. Using the guppy as a model system, my colleagues and I have been investigating the role of both within- and between-group selection in shaping the evolution of risk taking (and risk avoidance). Over the past 10 years, we have examined the mortality cost of risk taking, as well as the putative benefits of risk taking linked to mating preferences and learning abilities. Within groups, risk takers suffer an increased rate of mortality, but are, under certain conditions, more attractive as mates, and learn more quickly than those who take fewer risks. Between groups, there is some indirect evidence that group productivity is positively correlated with the frequency of risk takers, but controlled experimental work on this topic is still in progress.

DUNCANWJ ORAL Accepted THE ABUNDANCE OF PREFERRED AND SECONDARY PREY NEAR COOPER'S HAWK NESTS William J. Duncan* Biology Dept., Eastern Michigan Univ., Ypsilanti, MI 48197 (cuwd1@yahoo.com) Program Abstract Nesting near your predators can present serious risk. However, birds that nest near their predators’ nests may benefit by an increase in nesting success. This benefit is presumably due to the effective nest defense behaviors that their more aggressive predators indirectly provide while defending their own nests. In this study I surveyed different bird species near active Cooper’s hawk () nests, 200m from each hawk nest, and at control sites that did not contain Cooper’s hawk nests. The birds surveyed were categorized by weight, foraging height, and nest type. Canopy foraging birds were found in relatively higher densities near the Cooper’s hawk nests than both ground and mid-level foragers, while cavity nesting birds were found in relatively higher densities near the hawk nests than cup nesters. These results suggest that birds less vulnerable to predation by Cooper’s hawks are more likely to nest in association with the hawks than more vulnerable birds. Media Friendly Abstract

DZIEWETL ORAL Accepted BEHAVIORAL MODIFICATION TO PRESENCE OF RIVALS IN MALE THREESPINE STICKLEBACK Teresa L. Dzieweczynski* & William J. Rowland Department of Biology, Indiana Univ., Bloomington (tdziewec@bio.indiana.edu) Program Abstract Communal nesters like the threespine stickleback have ample opportunity to observe and interact with other individuals in the population. This has both advantages and disadvantages. For example, communal nesting exposes females to many males simultaneously and can, thus, influence mate choice. However, a male must deal with neighboring males that witness and attempt to disrupt his courtship. Threespine stickleback from Long Island have a breeding season that lasts only a few weeks, thus, losing a courtship opportunity would be highly disadvantageous. Social learning allows an individual to gain information about its environment from other individuals. A variety of fish species have been found to learn foraging routes from other individuals in a population and this ability may function in other contexts. If a male could obtain cues from its neighbor male that courtship was occurring in that male’s territory even without having to see a female, he could interrupt the courtship and perhaps gain that mating himself. Given these findings, courting in an inconspicuous manner could be beneficial. I have found that male stickleback modify their behavior and manipulate the context in which it is performed. When given a choice, a male courts in an area that is shielded from rival males. In other words, a male is capable of adjusting his courtship behavior if another male is present. Media Friendly Abstract

EARLEYRL ORAL Accepted NETWORKING IN GREEN SWORDTAILS: INTEGRATION OF CONTEST-INDEPENDENT VISUAL CUES Ryan L. Earley, Lee Alan Dugatkin & Megan Tinsley Department of Biology, University of Louisville, Louisville KY 40292 (rlearl01@athena.louisville.edu) Program Abstract The communication network concept proposes that animals gain information about the fighting ability of conspecifics by watching fights that transpire within their social environment. We investigated a simpler situation involving the acquisition and utilization of visual cues in green swordtail fish (Xiphophorus helleri*) - whether individuals gain an advantage by watching solitary conspecifics that they encounter in the future. Opaque, clear, or one-way mirror partitions were placed between two fish to manipulate the ability of a focal fish to observe its future opponent prior to combat. Following the observation phase, the partition separating the opponents was lifted to facilitate a dyadic contest. We compared contest dynamics across treatments to ascertain the influence of observation alone or mutual assessment on fight characteristics. Previewing a naïve opponent before the ensuing contest had negligible effects on interaction dynamics. Watching solitary conspecifics apparently does not provide enough information (if any) for an observer to gauge the fighting ability of the watched individual. However, when mutual assessment occurred prior to the contest, the subsequent fights were significantly shorter and less escalated than contests that were not preceded by mutual assessment. We evaluate the potential differences between integrating individual versus contest-related cues. Media Friendly Abstract

EATONRF POSTER Accepted PRENATAL AUDITORY EXPERIENCE AFFECTS SOCIAL INTERACTION IN BOBWHITE QUAIL HATCHLINGS Rebecca F. Eaton*, Kristi Hubbard, Mandy Harkins & Jennifer Bradley Department of Psychology, University of Alabama - Huntsville (eatonr@email.uah.edu) Program Abstract Previous research has shown that bobwhite quail embryonic development and perceptual functioning are affected by the type, amount, and timing of prenatal sensory experience encountered. Few studies have examined how altered sensory stimulation affects social interaction in this species. We examined how prenatal exposure to augmented amounts of high- frequency (HFV) and low-frequency (LFV) bobwhite hatchling vocalizations affected postnatal social interaction and weight gain in bobwhite quail chicks. Embryos were exposed to control conditions, 10 min/hr HFV or 10 min/hr LFV during 24 hr immediately prior to hatching. Following hatching, we assessed chicks' activity level, social contact, aggression, grooming, and appetitive behavior at 24-96 hr in all groups. Chicks were also weighed every 12 hr from hatching until 96 hr post-hatching. LFV- exposed chicks showed significantly higher levels of activity and aggression, and lower levels of social contact than control chicks or HFV-exposed chicks. No significant differences were found for weight gain across groups. Results suggest that prenatal sensory experience affects postnatal social behavior and serve as a first step in unpacking mechanisms of social behavior in quail. Media Friendly Abstract

ECKERTK POSTER Accepted DEFECATION BEHAVIOR AND ENDOPARASITES OF BLACK HOWLER MONKEYS, ALOUATTA PIGRA. Katherine A. Eckert* & Hal Markowitz Dept. of Biology, San Francisco State Univ, CA 94132 (kaaeckert@aol.com) Program Abstract Both red howler monkeys (Alouatta seniculus) and mantled howlers (Alouatta palliata) demonstrate apparent parasite avoidance behavior during defecation that reduces the fecal contamination of arboreal pathways. To determine if this type of strategy has also developed in the black howler, Alouatta pigra, simplified behavioral data were recorded during opportunistic fecal sample collection from 119 monkeys at the Lamanai Archaeological reserve in Belize between January and July of 1999. The behaviors surrounding observed defecations were scored using a one/zero sampling method. Chi square analysis showed a greater relationship among these behaviors than would be expected by chance. In addition, examination of 278 fecal samples revealed parasites present in the population that are transmitted via fecal/oral contamination. These results support the hypotheses that the behavior of black howlers during defecation is purposeful, rather than random, and that selective pressure towards the development of specific behavior may have stemmed from avoidance of parasitic infection. Media Friendly Abstract

EISTHEHL POSTER Accepted CHEMOSENSORY BASIS OF SEX RECOGNITION IN AXOLOTLS (AMBYSTOMA MEXICANUM) Jeanette M. McGuire, Daesik Park & Heather L. Eisthen* Dept. of Zoology, Michigan State Univ., East Lansing MI 48824 (eisthen@msu.edu) Program Abstract The role of auditory cues in anuran courtship is fairly well understood, but comparatively little is known about chemical cues in urodele courtship. We are using behavioral and neurobiological approaches to investigate the role of chemical cues in courtship behavior in axolotls (Ambystoma mexicanum), which are aquatic salamanders. In behavioral experiments, we find that male axolotls can differentiate between the sexes using chemical cues alone. Males exposed to whole body odors from conspecific females display increases in general activity and in a courtship behavior that consists of undulating tail movements, compared with males exposed to male odors or a blank control. In addition, males appear to differentiate between females that have recently spawned and those that have not. These results suggest that, in axolotls, chemical cues can play an important role in courtship. Our anatomical studies indicate that axolotls have well-developed olfactory and vomeronasal systems. Which sensory system mediates the ability to distinguish the reproductive status of conspecifics? We are currently investigating the answer to this question using electrophysiological techniques. Media Friendly Abstract

ELEKONMM POSTER Accepted MODULATION OF STRESS PROTEIN EXPRESSION IN HONEY BEES RELATIVE TO AGE AND LIFE HISTORY STAGE Michelle M. Elekonich* & Gene E. Robinson Department of Entomology and Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (elekonic@life.uiuc.edu) Program Abstract Animals can pre-adapt their stress response to predictable stressors within their current or future life history stage. Stress physiology also changes with age. Adult honey bees move through a series of behaviorally defined life history stages, spending their first 2-3 weeks of adult life working in the relatively constant environment of the hive. At about 3 weeks old they become foragers who gather pollen and nectar. Movement through these stages is plastic and influenced by the social environment allowing dissociation of life history and aging related changes. Bees can become foragers precociously, remain as hive bees into old age or even revert to previous behaviors. Honey bee foragers down regulate constituitive stress protein expression in flight muscle but not brain relative to newly emerged adult bees. But, the induction of stress proteins following heat shock increases with age. These results suggest that changes in stress physiology related to age are regulated separately from those related to behavioral state. Media Friendly Abstract

ENDLERJA ORAL Accepted INNOVATION AND SIGNAL DESIGN IN AUSTRALIAN BOWERBIRDS John A. Endler*, David A. Westcott, Joah R. Madden & Tim Robson Ecology Evolution Marine Bio., Univ Calif, Santa Barbara USA & CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems & Rainforest CRC, Australia (endler@lifesci.ucsb.edu) Program Abstract The diversity of sexually selected traits suggests that sexual selection can result in innovation (the appearance of new traits or trait combinations), not just trait elaboration as is usually assumed. It can also favor signal efficiency--innovation resulting in improved reception. Male bowerbirds construct and decorate bowers to attract females, providing favorable conditions for innovation. Bowerbird plumage falls on a line in bird perceptual space, allowing explicit tests of elaboration, innovation and signal efficiency. Bower ornaments of seven species are not elaborations of plumage but innovations that increase visual contrast (efficiency) while still allowing species recognition in plumage. Innovation and the overall color pattern (bird+bower) are both related to visual backgrounds, overall visual contrast, sympatric species (when present), and phylogenetic position. Media Friendly Abstract

ENGELJE POSTER Accepted LATENCY OF DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER STARTLE RESPONSE IS A QUANTITATIVE MEASURE OF RESPONSE STRENGTH Jeff E. Engel* & Kwang-Ho Kim Dept. Biol. Sci., Western Illinois Univ., Macomb IL 61455 (je-engel@wiu.edu) Program Abstract The Drosophila visually evoked “giant fiber” startle response is a model for neurogenetic analysis of behavioral plasticity. We have previously triggered the response with electrical brain stimulation and characterized response strength by the frequency of failures. Our present approach is to give photic stimulation of precisely controlled timing and intensity. A tethered white-eyed (w) fly is illuminated using green light emitting diodes (LEDs). The stimulus is a 10 ms "dimming pulse" of reduced LED light. Response latency is determined from flight muscle (DLM) activity recorded with an electrode penetrating the thorax. Typical response latencies range from 14 to 24 ms in different flies. Response latencies become consistently shorter as the amplitude of the stimulus pulse (i.e. the amount of dimming) is increased. Response latency therefore appears to indicate the response strength at some critical point in the neural pathway, and latency is a continuous variable that could be used to study experience-dependent plasticity of this behavior. This work may also lead to a better understanding of the stimulus control of this putative escape response. Media Friendly Abstract

ENGLEMS POSTER Accepted SOCIAL REINFORCEMENT INCREASES PRODUCTION OF HUMAN MIMICRY IN A GROUP OF EUROPEAN STARLINGS Marianne S. Engle, Sara J. Little, Sarah E. Newton & Melissa J. Clymer Department of Psychology, Albright College, Reading, PA. (mariannee@alb.edu) Program Abstract Previous research suggests that social interaction facilitates song learning in European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris),* including their mimicry of other species. Starlings that interact more with humans learn more human-related mimicries, and most sounds they imitate are related to social interaction. We predicted that social interaction would also affect the production of human mimicry. Hand-raised male starlings regularly interacted with human trainers and were exposed to numerous human-related sounds. The birds were recorded together in their home cage under three different social conditions: 1) humans socially reinforced instances of human-related mimicry; 2) humans were present but did not attend to the birds; and 3) humans were hidden and silent. Recordings were analyzed to determine the number of human-related mimicries produced per minute of song. More human-related mimicries were produced when humans were seen, and the most were produced when humans socially reinforced the birds. The results support the hypothesis that social interaction affects production of mimicry sounds. Media Friendly Abstract Traditional theories of bird song regard it as rather inflexible and largely controlled by genetics. More recent research suggests that birds pay close attention to social variables and that social interaction aids in the song learning process. European starlings, while not a favorite of bird enthusiasts or the public at large, make fascinating research subjects because they respond to social input, not only from other starlings, but also from humans. Hand-raised starlings will socially interact with humans and mimic human sounds. Starlings that interact more with humans learn more human-related mimicries, and most sounds they imitate are related to social interaction. We predicted that social interaction would also affect how starlings use their mimicry sounds. A group of starlings was recorded under three conditions that varied their exposure to human social interaction. Starlings produced more mimicry of humans if humans socially rewarded them for doing so. The results suggest that starling song is flexible and that starlings adapt what they sing to fit their current social environment.

ENSMINAL ORAL Accepted REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS OF WILD FEMALE HOUSE MICE IN RELATION TO KINSHIP AND AGONISTIC ENCOUNTERS BETWEEN MALES. Amanda L. Ensminger* & Douglas Meikle Deptartment of Zoology, Miami University, Oxford OH 45056 (ensminal@muohio.edu) Program Abstract Sexual selection theory predicts that when male reproductive success depends on obtaining territories, males will be intolerant of each other. However, competition among males may vary depending on their relationships, as males may be more tolerant of kin than of non-kin. The predisposition for males to behave non-competitively with male kin could persist, especially if the resulting social environment, with fewer agonistic encounters, increases the reproductive success of resident females. We tested whether female house mice living with male pairs who were brothers (BR) had higher reproductive success than females housed with male pairs who were not brothers (NB). In each of eight semi-natural outdoor enclosures, we placed either two BR or two NB males with four females for 18 days, replicated five times (N=20). We found that the number of litters born in the BR treatment group was significantly higher than in the NB treatment group. In addition, BR males had a lower frequency of agonistic encounters than NB males, and odor preference tests showed a female preference for BR males. Media Friendly Abstract

ESTEVEM ORAL Accepted BEHIND THE LENS: A DIFFERENT VIEW OF SPAWNING SALMON Manuel Esteve* Dept. de Zool. de Vertebrados. Univ. de Barcelona, Spain (manu19b@u.washington.edu) Program Abstract I will be using my own underwater video footage to review some statements about Salmonids spawning behaviour commonly found in the literature. Specifically I will review the following behaviours proposing some alternative explanations: 1. Quiverings as a male intraspecific behaviour. I will question the statement showing homosexual and interspecific quiverings. I will propose different alternatives. Finally, I will present a hypothesis of quiverings as a "forced" sex function 2. Male diggings as displacement reactions I will introduce the explanation of why Oncorhynchus males dig during spawning in light of Tinbergen's theory about displacement reactions. I will show different Oncorhynchus species salmon females also performing displacement diggings. 3. The function of Male's lateral displays I will explain the logic of lateral displays in accordance with Zahavi's handicap principle. Media Friendly Abstract

EVANSCS ORAL Accepted SCEPTICAL HENS: RECEIVERS CONSTRAIN DECEPTIVE FOOD CALLING BY MALE FOWL Christopher S. Evans* & Linda Evans Animal Behaviour Lab, Macquarie University - Sydney (chris@galliform.psy.mq.edu.au) Program Abstract Many animal signals are condition-dependent and hence inherently honest. But this cannot be true of food calls because energetic costs are trivial. Male identity accounts for substantial variation in call structure. Playback experiments using an habituation / dishabituation paradigm demonstrated vocal discrimination. We next asked whether hens can track differences in male reliability. This a more challenging cognitive task: it requires construction of a ‘lookup table’ linking caller idiosyncrasies with the probability of a particular class of environmental event. Hens heard a series of food calls from two males, one honest (each playback was followed by food) and the other dishonest. They learned this relationship in only three tests, remembered differences in male reliability for at least 24h and generalized successfully to novel calls. The threshold for detection of unreliable signallers is 40%, a value that matches the observed frequency of deceptive calling in natural social groups. Male behaviour thus reflects the ability of hens to discriminate against dishonest callers. This is the first experimental evidence for a social constraint on production of low-cost signals. Media Friendly Abstract

FERKINMH ORAL Accepted THE RESPONSE OF MEADOW VOLES AND PRAIRIE VOLES TO OVER-MARKS DIFFERS BETWEEN SPECIES AND SEX Michael H. Ferkin* & Stuart T. Leonard Dept. of Biology, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152 (mhferkin@memphis.edu) Program Abstract We determined which of three hypotheses: avoidance, targeting, or indifference, best explains the over-marking behavior of meadow vole and prairie voles. We distinguished among these hypotheses by examining the proportion of a vole's (second scent donor) scent marks used to over-mark the scent marks of another vole (first scent donor) in a given area. We calculated the proportion of the second vole's marks that overlapped any portion of the first vole's marks; these were defined as "actual" over-marks. We also calculated the proportion of the second vole's scent marks that were placed in an unscented area, which would have over-marked the first vole's marks if they were present; these marks were defined as "virtual" over-marks. The proportions of the actual over-marks and virtual over-marks were compared. For female meadow and prairie voles exposed to male and female conspecific scent marks and for male meadow voles exposed to female marks, the proportion of actual over-marks was greater than that of the virtual over-marks, supporting the targeting hypothesis. For male meadow voles exposed to male marks and male prairie voles exposed to male and female marks, the proportion of actual over-marks was similar to that of the virtual over-marks, supporting the indifference hypothesis. Media Friendly Abstract We determined which of three hypotheses: avoidance, targeting, or indifference, best explains the over-marking behavior of meadow vole and prairie voles. We distinguished among these hypotheses by examining the proportion of a vole's (second scent donor) scent marks used to over-mark the scent marks of another vole (first scent donor) in a given area. We calculated the proportion of the second vole's marks that overlapped any portion of the first vole's marks; these were defined as "actual" over-marks. We also calculated the proportion of the second vole's scent marks that were placed in an unscented area, which would have over-marked the first vole's marks if they were present; these marks were defined as "virtual" over-marks. The proportions of the actual over-marks and virtual over-marks were compared. For female meadow and prairie voles exposed to male and female conspecific scent marks and for male meadow voles exposed to female marks, the proportion of actual over-marks was greater than that of the virtual over-marks, supporting the targeting hypothesis. For male meadow voles exposed to male marks and male prairie voles exposed to male and female marks, the proportion of actual over-marks was similar to that of the virtual over-marks, supporting the indifference hypothesis.

FISCHEMJ POSTER Accepted EFFECTS OF SCHOOL SIZE OF FEMALE GUPPIES ON PREDATOR INSPECTION Melody J. Fischer* & Sarah R. Anderson Dept. of Biology, Transylvania University, Lexington KY 40508 (fischer@dragg.net) Program Abstract Because fish tend to coexist in schools, we desired to learn what effect the size of these groups have on predator inspection habits of female guppies. For our research a tank was set up where we could observe the reaction of various sized groups of guppies when a predator was added. A clear partition was placed in the tank to keep the predator from actually attacking. We examined groups of 5 and 12 guppies in each trial and completed 10 trials. It was observed that more inspections took place in smaller groups of 3 to 5 instead of 7 to 12. We also experienced that guppies do tend to inspect independently. Using the Mann-Whitney U statistical analysis, we rejected our null hypothesis that school size has no effect on the frequency of predator inspection. Media Friendly Abstract

FISHERHS ORAL Accepted CHEMICAL COMMUNICATION AND FEMALE MATE CHOICE IN THE PYGMY LORIS, Heidi S. Fisher*, Ronald R. Swaisgood & Helena Fitch-Snyder Division of Biology, University of California, San Diego & Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species, Zoological Soci (hsilvia@ucsd.edu) Program Abstract Some chemosignals possess inherent cues that convey information regarding identity, status, and intentions; however, the spatial patterns and frequency of scent marks may also confer a useful assessment of the individual. For example, a male whose scent predominates in an area, or a male that countermarks the scent of conspecifics, signals his ability to exclude competitors or patrol and countermark the area more frequently. This information could be used by competitors or potential mates to assess the signaler’s competitive ability. In this study, we investigated the role of chemical communication in female mate choice in captive pygmy lorises (). We tested two hypotheses regarding how females use scent to assess the competitive ability of a potential mate. Our results indicate that females display more sexual behaviors toward males whose scent they have encountered frequently than towards males whose odor is novel. In addition, when females are presented the scent from one male countermarked by a second male, females prefer the male whose scent was in the top-most position. Media Friendly Abstract

FOSTERKR INVITED Accepted THE COSTS AND BENEFITS OF BEING A CHIMERA Kevin R. Foster*, Angelo Fortunato, Joan. E Strassmann & David C. Queller Ecology and Evolution, Rice University, Houston TX, 77005 (krfoster@rice.edu) Program Abstract Most multicellular organisms are uniclonal. This is hypothesized to be because uniclonal organisms function better than chimeras (non-clonal organisms), due to reduced levels of within-group competition. We tested this idea using the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum. When starving, the normally solitary amoebae aggregate to form a differentiated multicellular slug that migrates towards light and forms a fruiting body, facilitating their dispersal as spores. We added 10 million amoebae to petri plates containing 1, 2, 5 or 10 clones. We found a group-level cost to chimerism: chimeric slugs moved significantly less far than uniclonal slugs of the same size. However, in nature joining with other clones to form a chimaera should increase slug size, and larger slugs travel farther. We incorporated this size effect into a second experiment by giving chimeras more cells than single clones. Then chimeras moved significantly further than the uniclonal slugs, in spite of the intrinsic cost. Thus, chimerism has group-level costs, which may be why it evolves so seldom, but in D. discoideum the benefits of large size compensate. Media Friendly Abstract The cell of most organisms, including us, are genetically identical. This is thought to be because an organisms made up of genetically different cells (a chimera) would suffer due to in-fighting amongst the cell lines. We tested this idea using the social amoebae, Dictyostelium discoideum, which is unusual in that it readily forms chimeras. The amoebae are normally solitary but when they run out of food they join together to form a multicellular organism (a ‘slug’), which migrates away from the area. This then fruits and releases the amoebae as spores. We compared the movement ability of chimeric slugs with slugs that contained genetically identical cells (uniclonal). There was a cost to chimerism: chimeric slugs moved less far than uniclonal slugs. This supports the idea that fighting amongst cells in costly to an organism, and that most organisms have evolved to avoid this by having genetically identical cells.

FOSTERSA ORAL Accepted PHENOTYPIC PLASTICITY, MATE CHOICE AND SPECIATION IN THE THREESPINE STICKLEBACK. Susan A. Foster* & Cristin L. Hulslander Dept. of Biology, Clark University, Worcester MA 01610 (sfoster@black.clarku.edu) Program Abstract The threespine stickleback fish has undergone a remarkable endemic radiation in Northwestern North America. The ancestral marine form has given rise to freshwater ecotypes and species that have evolved repeatedly in parallel. Although differentiation of many ecotypic traits may be relatively unaffected by environment, behavioral traits and nuptial coloration can reasonably be expected to exhibit phenotypic plasticity. We demonstrate that the zig-zag courtship dance and the red nuptial signal of males are inhibited during courtship in cannibalistic populations including ancestral populations. The zig-zag dance is absent or rare, and males are entirely drab during courtship. As males from these populations zig-zag aggressively, and develop bright nuptial coloration under laboratory conditions, laboratory assessments of female mating preferences may offer females an array of male phenotypes never encountered in nature. The significance of these findings for studies of mate choice and speciation will be addressed, as will their implications for our interpretation of the adaptive value and evolution of these traits. Media Friendly Abstract The male threespine stickleback fish has an unusual mating display that includes a brilliant red belly, a bright blue eye, and a blue-black back. He also performs a striking and conspicuous zig-zag dance when females are observed- at least under laboratory conditions. We have found however, that both the coloration and the dance are inhibited by the presence of cannibals under natural conditions. This means that during courtship in Pacific marine populations, and in most freshwater populations in the Pacific northwest of North America, these nuptial signals are not expressed during courtship! Instead the bright color is expressed during parental care, and the dance is rarely expressed at all. This finding has implications for our interpretation of these signals as sexually-selected traits (favored by female mating preferences), for interpretation of laboratory studies, and for studies of speciation in this wonderful small fish.

FOXRA POSTER Accepted MATERNAL SEPARATION AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEOPHOBIA IN ORANGE-WING AMAZON CHICKS Rebecca A. Fox* & James R. Millam Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, Davis CA 95616 (rafox@ucdavis.edu) Program Abstract Maternal separation profoundly affects development in rat pups and other mammals, causing persistent changes in reactivity to novelty and HPA axis function. To determine whether maternal separation similarly affects parrots, we reared Orange-winged Amazon Amazona amazonica chicks under three conditions. "HR" chicks were reared entirely by humans, "PH" chicks were reared by parent birds but handled 5x/week until 56 days of age, and "P" birds were reared by parents with little human contact. To test for neophobia, birds were exposed to novel objects every 8-14 days from 4-6 months of age and again at one year of age. HR birds were neophilic during the first four tests, but latency to approach increased from near 0 s to 688 s on the fifth test. In contrast, both H and P chicks were relatively neophobic even at the beginning of testing mean approach latencies 454-573 s for the first test) and remained so throughout testing. However, differences in neophobia between groups disappeared by 12 months of age. We conclude that maternal separation in Amazon parrots temporarily produces changes in reactivity to novelty. Media Friendly Abstract

FRANCEG ORAL Accepted VOCALIZATIONS, SOCIALITY AND TYMPANIC BULLAE: PRELIMINARY RESULTS COMPARING CTENOMYS (RODENTIA, OCTODONTIDAE) AND OTHER RODENT TAXA. G. Francescoli* & V. Quirici Sec. Etología, Facultad de Ciencias. Montevideo, Uruguay. (gabo@fcien.edu.uy) Program Abstract Bullae size in rodents appears as a low frequency hearing adaptation. Desert rodents have inflated bullae to hear low frequency predator or conspecific sounds. Tuco-tucos (subterranean rodents, genus Ctenomys) have similar needs and inflated bullae. 700 skulls from 34 tuco-tuco species were studied for bullae size, volume and internal structure, and compared with subterranean, desert and cursorial rodents. Findings were correlated with species' behaviour. Geomyidae and desert rodents showed similar volumes while cursorial rodents showed smaller volumes than those of tuco-tucos. No social Octodontidae had volumes greater than 0.8 cm3, agreeing with their use of high frequency sounds. Three bullar structure types were found: alveolar, septal, and combined. We found no alveolar bullae in social species or high frequency vocalizers. These results suggest, as previously hypothezised, that tuco-tucos' social system determines the frequency range of vocalizations and the bullar structure. If results are confirmed, bullar structure could help in determining the social and vocal behaviour of extant and extinct tuco-tucos. Media Friendly Abstract

FREAKEM ORAL Accepted MAGNETIC MAP SENSE IN AN AMPHIBIAN MIGRANT Michael J. Freake, Janette H. Fischer, S. Chris Borland & John B. Phillips Dept of Biology, Indiana University, USA,, Dept of Biology, Indiana University,USA & Dept of Biology, Indiana University, USA Program Abstract There is growing evidence that eastern red-spotted newts Notophthalmus viridescens* derive map information for homing from spatial variation in the inclination of the geomagnetic field. An earlier study has shown that when exposed to 2 degree changes in magnetic inclination that result in values normally found far on opposite sides of the home pond, adult newts exhibited approximately opposite directions of homing orientation. In this study, we show that the most dramatic effects on homing orientation occur at values close to the "home" value; newts reversed their direction of orientation over a range of inclination of 0.5 degrees spanning the home value, and exhibited random orientation when exposed to the home value. These series of experiments provide compelling evidence that magnetic inclination or one of its components (i.e vertical or horizontal intensity) is used to derive magnetic map information. Media Friendly Abstract An enduring mystery in animal navigation is how animals work out where they are relative to their goal (e.g. home). Some animals including homing pigeons and newts appear to have some form of biological "GPS" system that indicates their geographic location. One such system could involve measuring changes in the inclination or dip angle of the earth's magnetic field to derive latitude (magnetic inclination gets steeper as one moves from the equator to the poles). We have tested this hypothesis in eastern red-spotted newts by transporting newts approximately 45km NNE from their home ponds, and then exposing them to a variety of magnetic inclinations found on either side of the home pond. We found that the newts exposed to inclination values found on the opposite side of home reversed their homing direction, and moved in random directions when exposed to the actual home value. The reversal of homing orientation occurs over a narrow range of inclination angles spanning the home pond, and this provides some of the best evidence yet that animals can use the earth's magnetic field not only to work out direction, but also geographic position.

FREEBETM ORAL Accepted VARIATION IN CHICK-A-DEE CALLS OF A CAROLINA CHICKADEE POPULATION: IDENTITY AND REDUNDANCY WITHIN NOTE TYPES Todd M. Freeberg, Jeffrey R. Lucas & Barbara Clucas Dept. of Biol. Sci., Purdue Univ., West Lafayette IN 47907 (freeberg@bilbo.bio.purdue.edu) Program Abstract Chick-a-dee calls of chickadee species are structurally complex because simple rules govern the ordering of their note types. We recorded chick-a-dee calls in an aviary from Carolina chickadees, Poecile carolinensis*, and evaluated sources of variation of acoustical parameters of notes in these calls. There were significant sex and microgeographic differences in some of the measured parameters of the notes. In addition, the note composition of the call itself influenced characteristics of the notes we studied. For example, calls with many (as opposed to few) introductory notes began with a note of higher frequency and longer duration. The number of introductory notes also influenced frequency and duration components of notes later in the call. Thus, single notes are predictive of the note composition of the signaler's call. This suggests that a receiver might gain the meaning in the call even if it hears only part of the call. Further, single notes within these complex calls can contain information enabling receivers to predict the sex of the signaler, and whether it is from the local population. Media Friendly Abstract Carolina chickadees and related species have a complex system of vocalizations, and one of those vocalizations is the chick-a-dee call, used year-round by the birds. Other researchers have noted structural similarities between the chick-a-dee call and aspects of human language. We studied whether chick-a-dee calls of females and males differed from one another, and whether the calls of birds from one capture site differed from the calls of birds from a nearby capture site. We found differences in notes of the calls based on the sex and capture site of the bird. Furthermore, because the capture sites were so close to one another, this suggests that some of the characteristics of these notes in the calls are learned. We also found that characteristics of single notes in these calls were highly predictive of the composition of the rest of the call. This means that there is redundancy in these calls -- if calls with different note types or note compositions have different meanings to the birds, then a bird might be able to predict a call's meaning even it heard only part of the call.

FREIRER ORAL Accepted DEVELOPMENT OF SPATIAL MEMORY IN OCCLUSION-EXPERIENCED DOMESTIC CHICKS Rafael Freire*, Heng-wei Chneg & Christine J Nicol USDA-ARS, Dept of Animal Sciences, Purdue University & Dept of Clin (freire@purdue.edu) Program Abstract A series of experiments was conducted to investigate the development of spatial memory by rearing domestic chicks in pens providing the opportunity to move out-of-sight of an imprinting object. Eight out of 12 occlusion-experienced chicks and two out of 12 occlusion-naive chicks found a visually displaced imprinting stimulus (Chi-squared test, X=6.3, P=0.09). Orientation errors in a detour test were rare in occlusion-experienced chicks (median 0(0-0.3), though frequent in occlusion-naive chicks (median 1(0-1), Kruskal-Wallis, X=7.0, P=0.07). Chicks making at least one orientation error performed more out-of-sight behaviour than chicks making no orientation errors (ANOVA, F1,18=6.5, P<0.05). Lastly, occlusion-experienced chicks walked more than controls when released into a large novel enclosure (ANOVA, F1,14=11.9, P<0.01). Results suggest that allowing chicks to express out-of-sight behaviour in early life improves egocentric orientation. The implications of providing appropriate stimulation during early life in ameliorating crowding and hysteria in non-cage housed commercial flocks is discussed. Media Friendly Abstract

FREYDF ORAL Accepted DEW-DRINKING BY MONARCH BUTTERFLIES AT A CALIFORNIA WINTERING SITE – DEFICIT REDUCTION OR STRATEGIC BEHAVIOR? Dennis Frey*, Rob Roman & Lindsay Messett Biological Sciences Department, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 92407 (dfrey@oboe.calpoly.edu) Program Abstract Dew-drinking by monarch butterflies was studied in 1998 and 1999 at a coastal California wintering site. Weather during 1998 was influenced by wet El Niño conditions while 1999 was much drier. On rain-free mornings, monarchs flew from wooded areas to dew-drink in a meadow. The rate of dew-drinking did not differ between years but increased seasonally both years and males were more likely to dew-drink than females. Following brief bouts of dew-drinking, male body moisture was 6.7% greater than ones that remained in the wooded aggregation areas. Meadow-males were also smaller and had more wing damage than aggregating counterparts. Variation in desiccating weather conditions during the previous 24 hr. was positively associated with dew-drinking. Population-level male mating effort during the previous day was positively associated with dew-drinking by males but not females. The results are consistent with two perspectives: dew drinking results from dehydrating activity such as courtship and spermatophore transfer during the previous day and/or it represents strategic male behavior in anticipation of moisture "needed" for future reproductive effort. Media Friendly Abstract Dew-drinking by monarch butterflies was studied in 1998 and 1999 at a coastal California wintering site. Weather during 1998 was influenced by wet El Niño conditions while 1999 was much drier. On rain-free mornings, monarchs flew from wooded areas to dew-drink in a meadow. The rate of dew-drinking did not differ between years but increased seasonally both years and males were more likely to dew-drink than females. Following brief bouts of dew-drinking, male body moisture was 6.7% greater than ones that remained in the wooded aggregation areas. Meadow-males were also smaller and had more wing damage than aggregating counterparts. Variation in desiccating weather conditions during the previous 24 hr. was positively associated with dew-drinking. Population-level male mating effort during the previous day was positively associated with dew-drinking by males but not females. The results are consistent with two perspectives: dew drinking results from dehydrating activity such as courtship and spermatophore transfer during the previous day and/or it represents strategic male behavior in anticipation of moisture "needed" for future reproductive effort.

FRITZAH POSTER Accepted SPERM STORAGE PATTERNS AND ORGANS IN ANASTREPHA SUSPENSA (DIPTERA:TEPHRITIDAE) Ann H. Fritz* Dept. of Biological Sciences, Eastern Illinois Univ. (cfahf@eiu.edu) Program Abstract Insemination and fertilization are temporally separate events in most insects creating potential opportunities for female mediated processes to influence paternity outcomes. Sperm storage patterns in singly-mated females were examined in a tephritid fly, Anastrepha suspensa, which has 3 spermathecae and mates multiply. The fine structure of a 4th storage organ, the ventral receptacle (VR), is described by TEM, u.v. fluorescent microscopy, and thick-sectioning. The VR is a cuticular extension of the ventral wall of the bursa copulatrix and overlaid by a mitochondria-rich osmoregulatory layer of cells surrounded by muscle fibers. The VR includes a lumen approximately 27.5 mm in diameter surrounded by 176 spherical "alveoli". Sperm are stored within the lumen and up to 4 sperm are coiled within each alveolus. The quantity of sperm stored in females and the time spent in copulation was highly variable. Sperm was present in the VR after all copulations, but 26% of females had one or more of their spermathecae empty and 24% of all females had fewer than 100 sperm in their 3 spermathecae collectively. Thus, variation in the quantity of sperm stored is primarily attributable to sperm number stored amongst the 3 spermathecae. Media Friendly Abstract

FUNKMS POSTER Accepted ANIMAL COGNITION LAB. Mildred S. Funk* Dept. of Biology, Roosevelt University, Chicago 60605 (mdfunk@nwu.edu) Program Abstract This project gives undergrads or high school students the opportunity to test their pets on some basic abilities developed by many vertebrate species (including humans) when they are young. Jean Piaget noted his own children’s early abilities centering around objects, their permanence and stability as the objects were seen to be hidden or their locations changed. These activities include: grasping objects, exploring and playing with them, putting them in containers and taking them out, detouring around obstacles, noting that an object (or person) is absent, and finding objects that are seen as they are hidden. Students use their pets as subjects in these experiments. Two students may work together but the pet’s owner should be its handler to avoid stressing the pet or the other student. Students will gain practice designing task presentation and analyzing data and they should be able to better understand their pet’s abilities and how these abilities are useful in the wild after doing this project. Media Friendly Abstract This project gives undergrads or high school students the opportunity to test their pets on some basic abilities developed by many vertebrate species (including humans) when they are young. Jean Piaget noted his own children’s early abilities centering around objects, their permanence and stability as the objects were seen to be hidden or their locations changed. These activities include: grasping objects, exploring and playing with them, putting them in containers and taking them out, detouring around obstacles, noting that an object (or person) is absent, and finding objects that are seen as they are hidden. Students use their pets as subjects in these experiments. Two students may work together but the pet’s owner should be its handler to avoid stressing the pet or the other student. Students will gain practice designing task presentation and analyzing data and they should be able to better understand their pet’s abilities and how these abilities are useful in the wild after doing this project.

GAGALIJL POSTER Accepted DOMINANT CONVICT CICHLID PAIRS: DOES THE SUM EQUAL THE PARTS? Jennifer L. Gagaliardi* & Murray Itzkowitz Dept. of Biology, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015 Program Abstract Few studies have examined the dominance hierarchies between monogamous pairs. Using convict cichlid (Archocentrus nigrofasciatum) pairs, we asked if an individual's position in a dominance hierarchy among same sex individuals may be modified when a pairbond is formed with another individual of the same or different rank. An individual was considered dominant when it aggressively suppressed the behavior and location of a same sex individual. The dominance of a pair was determined when one pair aggressively excluded another pair from a breeding site. We found that if both members of a pair were dominant as individuals then as a pair they would win the breeding site over a pair in which both members of the pair were subordinate. We also found that if one member of the pair was dominant and the other was subordinate, the pair that had a dominant male usually won the breeding site over the pair that had a dominant female. Thus, the dominant relationship between pairs appears to be dependent on the dominant relationship between the males and not between the females. Media Friendly Abstract

GARCIATS ALLEE Accepted EFFECTS OF PREDATION RISK ON COLOR CHANGE AND COLOR-DEPENDENT BEHAVIOR IN THE SISTER SALAMANDER SPECIES, AMBYSTOMA BARBOURI AND A. TEXANUM. Tiffany S. Garcia* Department of Biological Sciences, University of Kentucky (tsgarcia@ucdavis.edu) Program Abstract Although many organisms show multiple responses to predation risk (PR), relatively few studies have examined how prey integrate these responses. I studied the joint expression of color and behavioral responses to PR in salamander larvae that differ in history of exposure to predatory sunfish. I examined responses to PR in four situations that differed in microhabitat structure. With no habitat heterogeneity, both Ambystoma barbouri and A. texanum exhibited color change to better match the available background, but the degree of color change did not depend on PR. A. texanum responded to PR with color-dependent refuge use, and when given a choice between light and dark substrates, preferred substrates that matched their body color. Both species preferred shallow microhabitats when PR was present. Shallow water, however, presents the conflicting problem of exposure to high levels of ultraviolet radiation (UVR). When exposed to chemical cues and UVR, A. barbouri showed a preference for deeper water. These results illustrate how environmental heterogeneity can govern the interplay of behavioral and color responses to PR. Media Friendly Abstract

GEERYBA POSTER Accepted THE THREE BEARS: A BEHAVIORAL COMPARISON OF 3 SUBADULT POLAR BEARS AT BROOKFIELD ZOO Breanne A. Geery* & Susan W. Margulis Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, IL 60513 and Bucknell University & Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, IL 60513 (bgeery@bucknell.edu) Program Abstract Polar bears are primarily solitary animals. Due to their large home ranges and declining population, limited behavioral data are available on wild polar bears. Recently zoos have increasingly focused on behavioral character- istics of captive polar bears. Here, we describe the results of a 6-month study of 3 sub-adult polar bears at Brookfield Zoo. The subjects include a hand-raised female, a mother-reared male (both born in 1999), and a mother-reared male born in 2000 and housed with his mother. Data were collected on the two older bears from January-May 2001, before and after their introduction to one another, and on the younger bear during the summer of 2001. All three bears spent comparable amounts of time swimming, resting, and feeding. The younger bear spent significantly more time engaged in object play, and significantly less time engaged in social play, than did the older 2 bears. The female spent significantly more time off-exhibit than did either of the two males. Observed differences in behavior may be attributable to (1)age differences; (2)sex differences; and/or (3)differences in rearing condition. We discuss the results in light of these possibilities, and offer some suggestions for maintaining and exhibiting polar bears in zoological settings. Media Friendly Abstract

GENDESM ORAL Accepted BROWN BEARS SELECTIVELY KILL SALMON THAT ARE HIGHER IN ENERGY CONTENT IN HABITATS THAT FACILITATE CHOICE Scott M. Gende*, Thomas P. Quinn, Ray Hilborn, Andrew P. Hendry & Bobette Dickerson School of Aquat. & Fish. Sci., Univ. of Washington, Seattle (gende@u.washington.edu) Program Abstract Optimal Diet Theory predicts that nonrandom diets arise when predators select prey that maximizes their energy (or some other currency) intake per unit handling time, given similar encounter probabilities. We examined prey selection by brown bears feeding on spawning pink salmon and sockeye salmon relative to the number of days salmon had spent in the stream. This “in-stream age” of salmon is an indirect measure of energy content because salmon metabolize stored lipid and protein while spawning, and die with much less body energy than when they entered the stream. The range of in-stream ages of salmon in a stream presents bears with an opportunity to simultaneously choose among fish that vary in their energy content. Our results varied among streams. At a very shallow, narrow stream with high salmon densities, bears preferentially killed salmon that had spent the fewest days in the stream, consistent with the prediction. In contrast, predation rates increased with in-stream age at two streams where deeper water and woody debris provided refuge from predation. Salmon may lose vigor and become easier to catch as they near death and this may increase capture success in streams where salmon are more able to escape predation. Media Friendly Abstract

GERHARHC INVITED Accepted ACOUSTIC PATTERN RECOGNITION: SAME TASK, DIFFERENT MECHANISMS H. Carl Gerhardt* & Johannes Schul Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia & Columbia, MO 65211 (gerhardtc@missouri.edu) Program Abstract Comparative studies frequently show that closely related species may use entirely different criteria to discriminate between biologically significant signals that function in mate attraction or territorial defense. For example, the signals of sympatric species may differ in pulse rate, pulse duration and pulse rise-time. Receivers of one species may use one of these properties for signal identification and mate choice, whereas a congener may use another property or some combination of properties. These results show that the evolutionary shift in a property, such as pulse rate, does not simply lead to a parallel shift in the tuning of the auditory system. Rather, new filters, tuned to different temporal properties come into play. The trend that seems to be emerging is that pattern recognition mechanisms may be at least as labile as signal structure - a result that is predicted by some theoretical work using neural network modeling (e.g., Arak and Enquist 1993). Media Friendly Abstract

GERLACNM FOUNDERS Accepted EARLY AUDITORY EXPERIENCE OF FEMALE ZEBRA FINCHES SHAPES THEIR ADULT SONG QUALITY PREFERENCES Nicole M. Gerlach, Christine Lauay & Timothy DeVoogd Dept. of Eco. & Evol. Bio., Cornell Univ., Ithaca NY 14850 & Dept. of Psych., Cornell Univ., Ithaca NY 14850 (nmg9@cornell.edu) Program Abstract Female zebra finches, Taeniopygia guttata, do not sing but must be able to make discriminations between the songs of different males. This study examined the relationship between the early auditory experience of females and their song preferences as adults. Females were raised either in social aviaries with tutored (normal) male song available; in aviaries where the fathers had been removed and the only song was the untutored (abnormal) song of the young males; or in aviaries where all males were removed. Mature females were tested for their preference for tutored vs. untutored song and conspecific vs. heterospecific song in a two-choice approach test with a speaker at either end of a large cage. Only the group of females raised in a normal social environment preferred tutored song, indicating that early learning plays an important role in shaping later song preferences. All groups had more females that preferred conspecific song, suggesting that there is some innate means for recognizing appropriate song models. Media Friendly Abstract Female zebra finches, Taeniopygia guttata*, do not sing but must be able to make discriminations between the songs of different males. This study examined the relationship between the song females hear as juveniles and their song preferences as adults. Females were raised with access to either normal, tutored male song; abnormal, untutored male song; or no song at all. Mature females were tested for their preference for song quality and for their ability to recognize the song of their own species. Only the group of females raised hearing the normal song preferred that song as adults. Clearly, some of the characteristics of quality song must be learned as a juvenile and later used to make judgements of unfamiliar songs as adults. All birds, regardless of their previous exposure to song, preferred to hear the song of their own species. This indicates that although learning is important for judging between songs, there must be some unlearned mechanism that allows birds to recognize the song of their species as an appropriate stimulus.

GIBSONBM POSTER Accepted FINDING A GOAL ON DRY LAND AND IN THE WATER: DIFFERENTIAL EFFECTS OF DISORIENTATION ON SPATIAL LEARNING Brett M. Gibson*, Sara J. Shettleworth & Robert J. McDonald Dept. of Psychology, University of Toronto, Canada & Dept. of Psychol (brett-gibson@uiowa.edu) Program Abstract Two previous studies Martin et al. (, 1997) and Dudchenko et al. (, 1997) report that, compared to non-disorientated controls, rats disoriented before testing were disrupted in their ability to learn the location of a goal on a dry radial-arm maze task, but that both groups learned at the same rate in the Morris water maze. However, the radial-arm maze task was much more difficult than the water maze. In the current series of experiments, we examined the performance of control and disoriented rats on more comparable dry land and water maze tasks. Compared to non-disoriented rats, rats that were disoriented before testing were significantly impaired in locating a goal in a circular dry arena, but not a water tank. The results constrain theoretical explanations for the differential effects of disorientation on different spatial tasks. Media Friendly Abstract

GOLDENGJ POSTER Accepted DETECTION OF DOPAMINE D4 RECEPTOR POLYMORPHISMS IN AGRESSIVE AND NON-AGGRESSIVE DOGS. Glen J. Golden*, Bumsup Kwon, Katherine A. Houpt & Thomas A. Houpt Biological Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL & College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (golden@neuro.fsu.edu) Program Abstract Because dogs have been bred across generations of working stock to retain task-specific behaviors, the canine species is an ideal model for correlating specific temperaments and behaviors with particular variations (polymorphisms) in the genetic coding of neuronal proteins. It has been suggested that impulsivity and aggression in dogs and humans is correlated with the presence of polymorphisms in the dopamine D4 receptor (D4R) gene and other neurotransmitter genes. To test this hypothesis, we are examining the D4R gene in aggressive and non-aggressive dogs presenting for behavior problems at the Cornell Animal Behavior Clinic. Genomic DNA was isolated from whole blood samples by phenol-chloroform extraction. Using primers described by others (Niimi et al., 1999) and Pfu polymerase (Stratagene), a section of the canine D4R gene that contains a tandem repeat polymorphism composed of 39 and 12 base pair units was amplified from ~500ng of DNA. In the DNA from four dogs examined, we found a single PCR product of 447 bp corresponding to alleles B and C (Niimi et al., 1999). We will use this method to detect polymorphisms in different breeds of dogs rated for different temperaments, and correlate the results with behavioral histories of specific dogs. Media Friendly Abstract

GOLDSTM INVITED Accepted SCIENCE LIES ITS WAY TO THE TRUTH...REALLY! Andrew P. King & Michael H. Goldstein* Dept. of Psych. Indiana University, Bloomington, In 47405 Program Abstract In science today, the study of behavior seems to be something someone does to get to somewhere else. Behavior affords a gateway to cognition, physiology, neuroscience, and genetics. The quality of much integrative work thus begins and ends with the quality of knowledge about behavior. How do we assay behavioral quality and its integrative potential? We ask this question because we believe much knowledge about the nature of behaviors is wrong, albeit wrong in a right way, a scientific way. In our talk, we illustrate some of the issues in the study of behavior to be remedied before its transport into new domains, with a focus on social learning. We call for renewed emphasis on the tasks actually confronting organisms as they develop and learn. Without such a focus, how can we connect knowledge about biology to knowledge about behavior? A task biology is needed to prevent a cascade of changes in the meaning, relevance, and utility of behavioral knowledge when used to illuminate other biological entities. Media Friendly Abstract

GONSERR POSTER Accepted THE GOOD MOTHER: INCUBATION AND BROODING INVESTMENT IN THE POLYMORPHIC WHITE-THROATED SPARROW Rusty A. Gonser* & Elaina M. Tuttle Department of Life Sciences, Indiana State University (lsgonser@scifac.indstate.edu) Program Abstract We studied the incubation and brooding behavior of female white-throated sparrows () in order to ascertain investment strategies. In this species birds of both sexes are polymorphic and have white or tan crown plumages. Pairs mate disassortatively in nature and morph has a genetic basis. Tan birds of both sexes show a high investment in parental care and make more provisioning trips to the nest while also delivering more prey items per trip. Since white and tan females also nest in distinctly different microhabitats, we used newly developed miniature temperature data loggers to determine whether the differences in provisioning effort extended to incubation/brooding behavior. Thermochrons placed in nests of white and tan females accurately monitored the temperature of eggs and nestlings and therefore provided near continuous time budgets for the entire nesting period. The time spent incubating/brooding, the duration and temporal pattern of incubation/brooding bouts, as well as the efficiency of incubation/brooding exhibited by white and tan females will be presented. How these factors influence female fitness, pair dynamics, and the maintenance of polymorphism will also be discussed. Media Friendly Abstract

GORDONNM POSTER Accepted THE EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL FEEDING ON THE TERRITORIAL BEHAVIOR OF THE GREEN FROG, RANA CLAMITANS Noah M. Gordon* Dept of EEB, Univ. of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06278 (gordonn@muohio.edu) Program Abstract The green frog, Rana clamitans , exhibits a resource defense mating strategy whereby males advertise for mates and defend territories along the shoreline of breeding ponds for periods up to several weeks. Males should defend territories for as long as possible to maximize their chances of reproductive success. Because male green frogs may be energy limited during the breeding season, I tested the predictions that males provided with extra food would 1) have longer tenures on territories, 2) show reduced movement between territories (because of greater site specificity), and 3) expend more energy in calling and territory defense. I tested these predictions by supplementally feeding frogs and by conducting regular surveys of frog location and behavior over the course of the breeding season in a fenced in pond. My results do not support the first and third prediction, but the second prediction was supported. In this study, supplementally fed male green frogs moved less than half the distance of sham fed males. This suggests that green frog males reduce foraging but do not increase activity when food resources are more abundant Media Friendly Abstract

GOULD-KL POSTER Accepted RATS PREFER CHARACTERISTIC CUES OVER PROXIMAL LANDMARKS Sarah E. Larson & Kristy L. Gould* Department of Psychology, Luther College, Decorah IA 52101 (goulkr01@luther.edu) Program Abstract We investigated the use of two types of proximal cues, a distinct proximal cue next to a baited pole and the characteristic pattern of the actual pole itself, in female Sprague-Dawley rats as they searched for four hidden rewards. Our experimental design was based on previously published research where rats searched within a circular pattern of poles for a hidden reward located at the top of each pole (Brown & Terrinoni, 1996; Greene & Cook, 1997). During testing, the proximal cue and the characteristic pattern of the pole were disassociated. Rats searched significantly more at the correct characteristic patterned poles than at the poles with the correct proximal cues. This demonstrates that the rats were using the cues directly related to the target location more than the cues that were proximally located next to the target location as beacons to guide their searching. This suggests that the features associated with the actual reward delivery stimulus are more important in beacon-guided search in rats then the cues associated with proximal stimuli. This may be explained through the CAM theory of sign tracking behavior. Media Friendly Abstract

GOWATYPA ORAL Accepted BACK TO THE FUTURE: FLEXIBLE MATING STRATEGIES AND SEXUAL SELECTION Patricia Adair Gowaty* & Stephen P. Hubbell Institute Ecology, Univ of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602 & Dept Botany, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602 (gowaty@ecology.uga.edu) Program Abstract Models of mate choice seldom consider constraints on reproductive decisions of either sex. We revisit Hubbell and Johnson’s (1987 Am Nat) model to highlight the potential importance of constraints on sexual differences in mate choice behavior and on classical predictions of sex roles. Hubbell and Johnson modeled an ESS for indiscriminate and choosy mating strategies that depend on the relative fitness of low and high quality mates and stochastic variation in the strategists’ survival rates, latency from the beginning of one copulation until the onset of receptivity to re-mating, encounter rates with potential mates, and the proportion of high-quality mates. Because the model is sex neutral, it predicts when selection will favor choosy and indiscriminate individuals, regardless of their sex. Although not in the original paper, we point out that the model also predicts when social constraints can change the expression of choosy or indiscriminate behavior by individuals of either sex. This reanalysis for the first time (1) predicts the existence of several mechanisms individuals can use to manipulate the reproductive decisions of others, and (2) shows how these constraints may alter behavior to conform to "sex typical" expectations. We conclude that reproductive decisions and mating behavior may be richer, more dynamic, and more sensitive to opportunities and constraints in the social environment than previously thought. Media Friendly Abstract Sociobiological theory argues that ancient selection that resulted in big (female) and little (male) gametes accounts for relatively passive, choosy, coy females and competitive, indiscriminate, and ardent males. In this paper we present an alternative hypothesis for the origins of typical sex roles. We argue that selection has acted so that individuals are sensitive to environmental and other random temporal variables that will affect the relative fitness from indiscriminate or choosy mating. Our arguments are based on an overlooked model published in 1987 in American Naturalist that describes how variation in survival probabilities of strategists, their encounter frequencies with potential high quality mates, and their latencies from beginning of copulation to receptivity to re-mating interact with expected fitness outcomes from mating with low and high quality alternative mates to determine whether a strategist is choosy or indiscriminate - independent of their sex. The predictions of this theory have never been tested, but are testable. If the theory is correct, sex roles primarily result from ecological and social contingency and rather than being fixed sex-typical traits are flexible both within and between sexes.

GRASSOFW ORAL Accepted INTEGRATION OF FLOW AND ODOR SENSE FOR PLUME-TRACKING BEHAVIOR OF LOBSTER-INSPIRED ROBOTS IN TURBULENT FLOWS. Frank W. Grasso*, Lisa Borden & Jelle Atema Dept. Psychology, Brooklyn College, CUNY, Brooklyn, NY 11215 & BU Marine Program, MBL, Woods Hole, MA 02543 (fgrasso@hoh.mbl.edu) Program Abstract American lobsters can locate food with their sense of smell. The mechanisms by which they achieve this under turbulent flow conditions are little understood. Previous studies with a BioMimetic robot indicated simple tropotactic (guidance by comparing 2 sensors) mechanisms provided poor explanations of this behavior. Here we report studies of an odor-gated rheotaxis (OGR) mechanism. OGR is a common biological mechanism that combines information from flow and odor sense for guidance to the odor source. We used the robot to quantify the relative advantages of a single-sensor formulation of OGR, a 2-sensor formulation and a 2-sensor formulation that used memory of recent odor patterns. The use of two odor sensors confer a significant advantage and greater advantage is gained with memory. We compared American lobster behavior with robot performance using the same metrics under the same conditions. We conclude that significantly more effective (lobster) plume tracing strategies exist and remain to be discovered. They also suggest it is unlikely that American lobsters are using one of the simple OGR strategies we implemented in the robots. Media Friendly Abstract The ways in which animals are able to locate sources of food using their sense of smell are poorly understood but of great practical interest. An animal, like the American lobster, that locates food using its sense of smell does so in spite of the fact that the flow of water between it and the food can be very complex. Our research in BioMimetic Robotics has drawn heavily on and advances our understanding of the behavior of these animals in an effort to understand it. A machine that was as competent as a lobster at tracking chemicals underwater could locate pollution sources in estuaries or unexploded mines with an intelligence we humans lack. Our studies may discover lobster secrets that will aid in achieving these practical goals. They will also inform our understanding of the behavior and biology of this commercially important animal.

GREENECM ORAL Accepted A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR INTEGRATING BEHAVIORAL STUDIES AND CONSERVATION Correigh M. Greene* NMFS, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, WA 98112 (cmgreene@ucdavis.edu) Program Abstract An increasing number of behavioral biologists have advocated that studies of animal behavior have relevance to conservation. Based on several review papers and three edited volumes on the subject, we now have a huge range of ideas about the importance of behavior in conservation. Unfortunately, these suggestions lack any framework for evaluating what types of behavioral studies are relevant to specific conservation problems. I argue that a framework based on hierarchical scales of biological complexity (individuals, populations, communities) could successfully direct our inquiries because it provides an explicit conceptual link with the conservation biology community and because it helps both behavioral and conservation biologists identify the consequences of behavior on questions of conservation interest. I illustrate the utility of this framework by focusing on the biology and conservation of salmon species. Media Friendly Abstract Can studies of behavior improve conservation of threatened or endangered species? Several review papers and three edited volumes on the subject emphatically affirm this idea, yet behaviorial biologists still lack a coherent vision of the consequences of behavior for conservation. I argue that framing behavioral issues in terms of their effects on individuals, populations, and communities could successfully direct conservation efforts by providing an explicit conceptual link with conservation biologists, and by helping both behavioral and conservation biologists identify the consequences of behavior for conservation. I illustrate the utility of this framework by focusing on the biology and conservation of salmon.

GRIEBEU ORAL Accepted SQUID SKIN FLICKS - SEPIOTEUTHIS SEPIOIDEA DISPLAY REPERTOIRE Ulrike Griebel*, Ruth Byrne & Jennifer A. Mather Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research, Altenberg, Austria A-3422, Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research, Altenberg, A-3422, Austria & Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, (griebel@eunet.at) Program Abstract Cephalopods have a unique display system amoung the animals. They produce color patterns as signals on their skin by means of a very sophisticated chromatophore system. , the Caribbean Reef squid, lives in small groups and seems to have a very complex communication system. We investigated the signal repertoire in their behavioral contexts in a 5-year field study in Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles. Here we present a catalogue of the color patterns we found in the field. has three different standard patterns, Basic Brown, Intermediate Basic, and Basic Pale, depending on background and daytime. During courtship three different signals are used, Saddle, Stripe, Flicker. For intraspecific aggressive interactions they use the Zebra display and Lateral Silver. As a startle pattern they use Dymantic spots (similar to eye spots) and change color. For camouflage a variety of bars and/ or stripes is used, a combination of these is Plaid or Mottle. Another non-communicative pattern is Gold & Black. This repertoire assists us in understanding a complex display system. Media Friendly Abstract

GRINNEJE POSTER Accepted REGIONAL DIALECTS IN AFRICAN LIONS? Jon Grinnell, Rob Slotow, Carrie Byron, Virginia Lindgren & Kathleen Phillippe Gustavus Adolphus College, U.S.A. & University of Natal, Durban, South Africa (grinnel@gac.edu) Program Abstract Once widespread throughout Africa and the Middle East, populations of African lions (Panthera leo*) have over the past 100 years become fragmented and isolated from each other. Such isolation can result in divergence between populations and the acquisition of local traits. This study examined recordings made of lions in eastern and southern Africa for population-specific vocal differences. Roar sequences of lions from Serengeti National Park (Tanzania, East Africa) consisted of roar elements that were on average of shorter duration and deliverd in a more rapid sequence than were the roar elements of lions recorded in 4 parks in South Africa. Similar differences appear to exist between southern African lions of Kruger (South Africa) and Etosha (Namibia) origin. At least three possible explanations for these differences exist: 1) genetic divergence in roaring behavior, 2) environmental selection for vocal transmission, and 3) learned dialectical differences. Roaring conveys information important to lion social organization. This study suggests that it may also convey population origin as well. Media Friendly Abstract

GROS-LJJ ORAL Accepted A GROUP OF HER OWN: A NEW ASSAY OF SOCIAL RESPONSIVITY IN FEMALE BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS (MOLOTHRUS ATER) Julie Gros-Louis* Dept. of Psychology, Indiana Univ., Bloomington, IN 47405 (jgroslou@indiana.edu) Program Abstract It is unclear what information about preferences is available to females in a group environment and how they communicate this information because the methods used to study female responsivity are confined largely to testing individual birds in a laboratory. We studied two groups of juvenile and adult female cowbirds (Molothrus ater) to explore female responsivity in a naturalistic group setting. We used a longitudinal ABA design, consecutively introducing and removing males that differed in age and singing ability to isolate the male characteristics that related to changes in female behavior. Juvenile and adult females assorted by age class when singing adult males were in the aviary, but not when singing juveniles or silent males of any age class were in the aviary. Results from playback experiments confirmed that adult male song alone, rather than morphological characteristics or nonvocal behavior, influenced female age class assortment. Videotape analysis from playback experiments revealed that females wing stroked in response to male song. In addition, other females often approached females who wing stroked and appeared to observe the response. We hypothesize that group-level changes in social organization and individual females' behavioral responses can be considered a measure of female responsivity and may function in female-female communication. Media Friendly Abstract

GUERRAPA ORAL Accepted CALLING COMMUNICATION IN MEADOW KATYDIDS (ORTHOPTERA, TETTIGONIIDAE): SEX-SPECIFIC PREFERENCES MEDIATED BY PREFERENCE FOR SPECIES-SPECIFIC WINGSTROKE RATES Patrick A. Guerra, Glenn K. Morris & Andrew C. Mason Div. of Life Sciences, University of Toronto at Scarborough, Dept. Of Zoology, University of Toronto at Mississauga & Div (guerra@utsc.utoronto.ca) Program Abstract We describe features of the communication system of Conocephalus brevipennis* (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae). Male calling song has discrete components that elicit sex-specific phonotactic preferences in conspecifics. In no-choice playback trials, both sexes were attracted by sustained noise possessing only the ultrasonic carrier band typical of Conocephalus spp. This approximates the output of distant groups of calling males where species-specific song features are obscured by group song. In close-range broadcasts, where detailed song features were not obscured, both sexes chose conspecific song only. In two-choice trials (a group vs. one singer), females chose the single singer, while males preferred group song, only if it was heard at a lower intensity level as compared to a lone singer. Presenting various modifications of the major physical parts of conspecific song (buzz-tick-gap) revealed sex-specific phonotactic preferences. Males will not approach altered song. Females, in two-choice trials will prefer buzz (more sustained), over ticks; in no-choice treatments, females will approach a sustained buzz alone. Media Friendly Abstract In most species, there are differences between the sexes in preferences and behaviours when presented with identical signals. For example, in most katydid species, males produce a song, which elicits different responses in the animals that hear it. We studied male Conocephalus brevipennis (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae), who relay a song that influences different preferences among males and females of their species. We observed that although both sexes will approach the song of either an individual male or a collective group, when given the choice between the two, females choose an individual male while males choose the group, but only if the group sounds farther away than a single singer. When we manipulated the song of C. brevipennis, we observed that females will approach certain partial songs while males would not approach modified song at all.

GUERRAPA POSTER Accepted FEMALE CRYPTIC CHOICE BASED ON POST-COPULATORY ACOUSTIC CUES IN THE HOUSE CRICKET. Ara Sithamparanathan, Patrick A. Guerra, Maydianne C.B. Andrade & Andrew C. Mason Div. of Life Sciences. University of Toronto at Scarborough (guerra@utsc.utoronto.ca) Program Abstract Cryptic female choice includes post-copulatory processes by which females bias the paternity of their offspring or their investment in the offspring of a particular male. Female house crickets, Acheta domesticus* (Orthoptera, Gryllidae), prefer the calling song of larger males in phonotaxis trials. We tested whether female A. domesticus also display cryptic choice based on male calling song. We allowed virgin females to mate with either small (non-preferred) or large (preferred) males, prior to isolating them and exposing them to either synthetic male calling song (small or large male calling song models) or to no song for a span of 7 days. Female reproductive output (number of eggs laid, weight of eggs) was higher when they were exposed to calling song. Our results suggest that female house crickets display cryptic female choice: they appear to alter their reproductive investment in a given mating based on the presence or absence of post-copulatory acoustic cues. Media Friendly Abstract After copulation, females can bias the paternity of their offspring or their investment in the offspring of a particular male, via morphological, physiological or behavioural traits and strategies. Female house crickets demonstrate this capacity as they appear to be able to alter their reproductive output (number of eggs laid, weight of eggs) based on their perception of male songs after mating.

GUL POSTER Accepted SURVIVING SEXUAL CANNIBALISM: MORPHOLOGICAL ADAPTATION FOR SELF-SACRIFICE IN REDBACK SPIDERS Lei Gu* & Maydianne CB Andrade Div. Life Sciences, University of Toronto at Scarborough (mandrade@utsc.utoronto.ca) Program Abstract Male redback spiders (Latrodectus hasselti) sacrifice themselves to their mates by flipping their abdomens onto the female's fangs during copulation. Males have paired copulatory organs, each of which is inserted into one of the female's two sperm storage organs in separate copulations. Females begin to consume males during the first insertion, so males must survive partial consumption to achieve a second insertion and avoid the loss of paternity to rivals. We describe a mid-dorsal abdominal constriction that appears in males during courtship. Constrictions did not appear in similarly-aged males that were not exposed to females. The constriction may shift abdominal contents to a safe position or maintain internal hydraulic pressure despite abdominal puncture. We simulated puncture wounds on constricted and non-constricted males to determine whether male longevity under cannibalism was affected by the constriction. Our results suggest that, although male redbacks facilitate cannibalism, they also have an adaptation to prolong their lives just long enough to complete a double mating. Media Friendly Abstract Male redback spiders sacrifice themselves to their cannibalistic mates by somersaulting their abdomens onto the female's fangs during copulation. Males have paired copulatory organs, each of which is inserted into one of the female's two sperm storage organs in separate copulations. Females begin to consume males during the first insertion, so males must survive partial consumption to achieve a second insertion and avoid losing paternity to rivals. We describe a mid-dorsal abdominal constriction that appears in males during courtship. Constrictions did not appear in similarly-aged males that were not exposed to females. The constriction may shift abdominal contents to a safe position or maintain internal hydraulic pressure despite abdominal puncture. We simulated puncture wounds on constricted and non-constricted males to determine whether male longevity under cannibalism was affected by the constriction. Our results suggest that, although male redbacks facilitate cannibalism, they also have an adaptation to prolong their lives just long enough to complete a double mating.

GULLENAL POSTER Accepted SOCIAL BEHAVIOR AND HABITAT USAGE OF MATSCHIE'S TREE KANGAROOS IN CAPTIVITY. Amy L. Gullen* Department of Zoology, Ohio Wesleyan Univ., Delaware OH 43015 (Gullamy@aol.com) Program Abstract Matschie's Tree Kangaroos (Dendrolagus matschiei) are arboreal macropods found on the Huon Peninsula of Papua New Guinea. Very little is known about this kangaroo's social and mating behavior because of their isolated habitat and very few quantitative studies have been done in captivity. All species of tree kangaroo are endangered and an effective captive management program is essential for the species' survival. I studied a pair of the tree kangaroos kept at the Brookfield Zoo, Chicago, Illinois during the summer of 2001. I compared how they used their enclosure and how the pair interacted to investigate the species social structure. I used scan sampling to record activity, position, and proximity. When the two interacted I recorded the sequence of behaviors. They spent nearly all of their time greater than three tail lengths apart from each other. Initiation of interaction differed between the two animals, as did exhibit use. The possible reasons for these differences, and the implications for captive management, will be discussed. Media Friendly Abstract

GUZMÁNE ORAL Accepted GENETIC DOMINANCE OF HONEY BEE (HYMENOPTERA: APIDAE) DEFENSIVE BEHAVIOR: RESULTS OF COLONY BEHAVIORAL ASSAYS Ernesto Guzmán-Novoa, Greg J. Hunt, José L. Uribe & Daniel Prieto Cenifyma, INIFAP, Mexico, Purdue University, Indiana, USA & Nat. University of Mexico, Mexico (guzmane@inifap2.inifap.conacyt.mx) Program Abstract The alerting, pursuing and stinging components of the defensive behavior of European, Africanized, hybrid, and backcross honey bees (Apis mellifera L.*) were compared and analyzed in two studies. In the first study, hybrid and Africanized backcross colonies stung as much as Africanized ones. European backcross colonies stung more than Europeans but not as much as Africanized, or Africanized backcross colonies. The degree of dominance for the number of times that worker bees stung a leather patch, was estimated to be 84.3, 200.8, and 145.8% for hybrid, backcross European, and backcross Africanized colonies, respectively. In the second study, hybrid colonies got alerted, pursued the researchers, and stung a leather patch as much as Africanized ones. European colonies got alerted, pursued and stung significantly less than hybrid and Africanized colonies. Pursuing was the component of the defensive behavior that showed the greatest differences between European and Africanized bees. These results support the hypothesis of genetic dominance influencing the defensive behavior of honey bees. Media Friendly Abstract

HAIGHTKL POSTER Accepted FIRE ANT VENOM- PATTERNS OF SYNTHESIS AND USE Kevin L. Haight* & Walter R. Tschinkel Dept. of Biol. Sci., Florida State Univ., Tallahassee, Fl (haight@bio.fsu.edu) Program Abstract The fire ant Solenopsis invicta, is notorious for its aggressive stinging behavior. Despite its venom being at the center of most of its interactions with humans, surprisingly little is known about its venom synthesis and delivery capacity. The ability of workers to synthesize venom was investigated across worker age to determine the timing and rate at which it occurs. Also, using a novel technique, the amount of venom workers deliver per sting (venom dose) in response to human disturbance was quantified, and its variation was investigated across worker venom store, worker age, worker size, and season. Synthesis ability did not last beyond 30 days after eclosion. Workers aged 1 and 15 days (1mm head width) synthesized 1.17 and 0.30ug venom/day. Average venom dose was 1.62nl (7.5% of average venom store) and varied by worker age and season. Older workers (foragers) delivered less venom per sting than mid-age workers (reserves), and venom dose was 20% higher in the spring than it was in the rest of the year. So, fire ant venom synthesis is limited to early life, and venom dose seems to be modulated depending on defensive circumstances. Media Friendly Abstract

HAJC POSTER Accepted HERITABILITY OF PHYSICAL, COGNITIVE, AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN INFANT PIGTAILED MACQUE MONKEYS James C. Ha*, Renee Robinette Ha & Bennett Dyke U. Washington NPRC and Psychology Dept., U. Washington Psychology Dept. & Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research and SNPRC (jcha@u.washington.edu) Program Abstract The University of Washington's Infant Primate Research Laboratory has maintained an infant primate nursery since 1972, and has developed a battery of assessments for infant primate development, modified from those used to monitor child development. The nursery animals are part of a pedigreed breeding colony of pigtailed macaque monkeys. The pedigree now contains 13,000+ animals, and provides an invaluable tool for quantitative genetic analysis of the phenotype data maintained in our extensive computer records system, including the infant primate development measures. We will present the results of a series of variance-component analyses of several data sets, including birthweight (a strong predictor of later psychological delays: h2 = 0.52), reflex development assessments (e.g. sucking, grasping, visual orientation, clasping: h2 = 0.0 to 0.64), and object permanence development tests (h2 = 0.0 to 0.40). We also expect to include physical growth, learning tasks and social behavior. Future directions will also be described. Media Friendly Abstract

HAMMONJI ORAL Accepted BEHAVIORAL SYNDROME BETWEEN ANTIPREDATOR ACTIVITY AND AGGRESSION IN THE RUSTY CRAYFISH John I. Hammond* & Andrew Sih Graduate Group in Ecology, Univ. Of Cal. Davis CA 95616 (jihammond@ucdavis.edu) Program Abstract A growing number of studies have begun to examine the potential importance of correlations across different contexts, termed a behavioral syndrome, and their ecological and evolutionary consequences. Behavioral syndromes are important because performance across contexts if linked can limit selective response by producing non-optimal behaviors. Invasive species biology is one area where behavioral syndromes should be investigated because successful invaders often have packages of correlated traits and small initial populations sizes. Male and female rusty crayfish, , were collected from a native (Ky) and introduced (Il) population. Each individual’s behavior was examined in pair-wise encounters, in the absence and presence of a predator, and its dominance position in mixed groups. Significant differences were observed within contexts based on population of origin and gender. Between context correlations are present and the observed pattern seems to foster a positive activity/aggression factor and a separate factor relating high activity to low aggression. Media Friendly Abstract

HARRINMA ORAL Accepted THE PREDATORY SNAIL EUGLANDINA ROSEA DISTINGUISHES PREY SNAILS FROM POTENTIAL MATES BY SELF-REFERENT PHENOTYPE MATCHING OF SLIME TRAIL CUES Kavan T. Clifford, Liaini Gross, Folasade Kembi & Melissa A. Harrington* Department of Biology, Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA; & Department of Biology, Delaware State University, Dover, DE (mharring@dsc.edu) Program Abstract Euglandina rosea, a carnivorous snail that preys on other snails and slugs, finds both prey and mates by following slime trails the snail leave behind. Euglandina often follow slime trails left by conspecifics, but rarely eat them, even when starved for several weeks. Euglandina can distinguish conspecifics from prey snails by the slime trail alone. Individually-housed Euglandina will leave a prey slime trail to follow a conspecific trail that crosses it, but almost never leave a conspecific trail to follow a prey trail. Group-housed snails do not follow conspecific trails at all. Euglandina can be fooled into preying on conspecifics by covering the conspecific in prey snail slime or a chemical that the snail has been trained to associate with food. Likewise, the predators will inspect and then pass by prey snails coated with Euglandina slime. Imprinting does not seem to be a factor in recognition of conspecifics, as raising Euglandina in isolation does not interfere with recognition. Self-referent phenotype matching has been described in birds and mammals, but the complexity of their nervous systems and behavioral choices have left many questions unanswered. The clarity of the behavior, the short generation time and the simple nervous system of Euglandina make it a good model system for studying the neurophysiological basis of phenotype matching Media Friendly Abstract Euglandina rosea, a carnivorous snail that preys on other snails and slugs, finds both prey and mates by following slime trails the snail leave behind. Although it eats snails, Euglandina is not a cannibal. It does not feed on members of its own species, even when starved. When two Euglandina meet, they either mate or go their separate ways. A Euglandina snail can tell from the slime trail whether the snail it is following is its own species or a prey snail. Snails that live alone prefer to follow their own species and mate if they catch it, while snails that live in groups prefer to follow prey trails. It is possible to fool a Euglandina into eating another Euglandina by covering it with prey snail slime. Likewise, it is possible to rescue prey snails by disguising them with Euglandina slime. Euglandina recognize their own species as potential mates not food, even if they have never met another Euglandina in their lives. They seem to be able to compare their own slime to that of other snails, and then adjust their behavior accordingly. They mate with snails whose slime is similar to their own, and eat snails whose slime is different. We are studying the nervous system of this snail to learn how it stores information about itself and then uses that information to compare itself to other snails it encounters.

HARRISCM POSTER Accepted WOLF SPIDERS (SCHIZOCOSA OCREATA) RECOGNIZE AND AVOID TOXIC PREY AFTER EXPERIENCE. Casey M. Harris* & George W. Uetz Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221 (harrisc0@email.uc.edu) Program Abstract We studied the ability of wolf spiders (Schizocosa ocreata) to recognize and avoid toxic prey items after experience. Milkweed bugs (Oncopeltus fasciatus), were used as prey in aversion learning experiments. Spiders were assigned one of three feeding treatments: 1) toxic (milkweed-fed) milkweed bugs; 2) non-toxic (sunflower-fed) milkweed bugs; and 3) crickets (Acheta domestica). Spiders were offered toxic prey every 15 min until avoidance was exhibited, then offered non-toxic milkweed bugs and crickets. Feeding behavior varied with prey type; spiders accepted crickets and non-toxic milkweed bugs, but rejected toxic milkweed bugs. Spiders acquired aversion in 1-4 trials and refused non-toxic milkweed bugs thereafter, but accepted crickets. Spiders were re-tested each day for 4 days and again at 10 days. The mean number of trials needed to re-acquire aversion decreased by day 3, and frequency of spiders avoiding milkweed bugs increased to 100%. This pattern reversed on days 4 and 10. Results suggest spiders can learn to recognize and avoid distasteful prey, which may be adaptive for generalist predators. Media Friendly Abstract Learning to avoid toxic food items is adaptive for generalist predators that encounter many prey types. While learning is common in vertebrates, only a few studies of invertebrates have demonstrated learning. We studied the ability of wolf spiders (Schizocosa ocreata) to recognize and avoid toxic prey items after experience. Milkweed bugs (Oncopeltus fasciatus), were used as prey in aversion learning experiments. Spiders were assigned one of three feeding treatments: 1) toxic (milkweed-fed) milkweed bug; 2) non-toxic (sunflower-fed) milkweed bug; and 3) cricket (Acheta domestica). Spider feeding behavior varied with prey type; spiders accepted crickets and non-toxic milkweed bugs, but rejected toxic milkweed bugs. Spiders refused toxic milkweed bugs after experience, and avoided non-toxic bugs as well, but accepted crickets. The number of trials needed to re-acquire aversion decreased over 3 days, by which time 100% of spiders avoided milkweed bugs. Results suggest spiders can learn to recognize and avoid distasteful prey, which may be adaptive for generalist predators.

HATCHMI ORAL Accepted AGE AND PARENTAL PERFORMANCE IN A POPULATION OF HOUSE SPARROWS Margret I. Hatch* School of Biol. Sci., Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington,KY 40508 (mihatc0@pop.uky.edu) Program Abstract It is well established that reproductive success increases with age in iteroparous organisms. However, the mechanisms behind this increase are still being tested. In organisms with extensive parental care, one explanation for improved reproductive success is that some aspect of parenting ability (e.g. foraging efficiency or coordination with a mate) improves as individuals age and gain experience. I studied a population of house sparrows Passer domesticus to determine how parental performance changes with age and breeding experience. Older males and females fledged more young than their yearling counterparts, although for males this was a result of breeding earlier in their second year. Pairs that bred together previously fledged more young than pairs that bred together for the first time, regardless of partner age. Females at least two years of age made more trips to the nest than yearling females, but there was no difference between younger and older males. Differences between newly formed and experienced pairs in terms of number of trips to the nest, the amount of time nestlings were left unattended, and coordination of visits will also be discussed. Media Friendly Abstract

HEATHLA ORAL Accepted AGE-RELATED EFFECTS ON SELF-GROOMING BEHAVIOR IN MEADOW VOLES Lori A. Heath*, Guillermo Paz-y-Mino C, Stephen G. Mech & Michael H. Ferkin Dept. of Biology, University of Memphis, Memphis TN 38152 & Dept. of Biology, Univeristy of Memphis, Memphis TN 38152 (lheath1@memphis.edu) Program Abstract Age has been shown to affect intrasexual competition and mate attraction. There have been many studies that have addressed intrasexual competition and mate attraction with respect to age in long-lived species but few studies have explored this concept in short-lived species. The objective of this study was to examine age-related effects on self-grooming behavior in meadow voles, a short-lived species. Studies indicate that self-grooming in response to the scents of conspecifics is a type of chemical communication, in which the groomer may communicate its identity, sex, and age to other conspecifics. Thus, self-grooming may be involved in intrasexual competition and mate attraction. We measured the amount of time young, middle-aged, and old adult meadow voles spent self-grooming when exposed to scents of conspecifics. Young voles spent more time self-grooming towards the scents of opposite-sex conspecifics versus that of same-sex conspecifics, while older voles spent similar amounts of time self-grooming towards the scents of same- and opposite-sex conspecifics. Among same-sex scent donors, groomers spent more time self-grooming towards the scents of same-sex donors that were similar to their age than towards the scents of other same-sex donors. Results are discussed in terms of intrasexual competition and mate attraction. Media Friendly Abstract Age has been shown to affect intrasexual competition and mate attraction. There have been many studies that have addressed intrasexual competition and mate attraction with respect to age in long-lived species but few studies have explored this concept in short-lived species. The objective of this study was to examine age-related effects on self-grooming behavior in meadow voles, a short-lived species. Studies indicate that self-grooming in response to the scents of conspecifics is a type of chemical communication, in which the groomer may communicate its identity, sex, and age to other conspecifics. Thus, self-grooming may be involved in intrasexual competition and mate attraction. We measured the amount of time young, middle-aged, and old adult meadow voles spent self-grooming when exposed to scents of conspecifics. Young voles spent more time self-grooming towards the scents of opposite-sex conspecifics versus that of same-sex conspecifics, while older voles spent similar amounts of time self-grooming towards the scents of same- and opposite-sex conspecifics. Among same-sex scent donors, groomers spent more time self-grooming towards the scents of same-sex donors that were similar to their age than towards the scents of other same-sex donors. Results are discussed in terms of intrasexual competition and mate attraction.

HEBETSEA INVITED Accepted INTER-SIGNAL INTERACTIONS AND THE FUNCTION OF COMPLEX SIGNALS Eileen A. Hebets* Dept. of Ecol. & Evol., University of Arizona, Tucson AZ 85721 (ehebets@u.arizona.edu) Program Abstract Many displays throughout the animal kingdom incorporate complex signals, consisting of either more than one signal within one sensory modality or of signals in different sensory modalities emitted simultaneously. The potential influence of complex signals on signal efficacy, information transfer, and multiple signal evolution has only recently begun to be explored. Theoretical approaches have provided a framework for addressing hypotheses regarding the content of multiple signals; however, non-content based hypotheses have received little attention. Here I will provide empirical evidence from wolf spiders (genus Schizocosa) to demonstrate how visual and vibratory signals involved in a complex multimodal courtship display likely interact. I will discuss how interactions between signals can affect a receiver's detection of a signal and will address new functional hypotheses of complex signal evolution. Media Friendly Abstract

HERNANA POSTER Accepted THE ROLE OF EARLY EXPERIENCE ON IMMEDIATE-EARLY GENE INDUCTION FOLLOWING SONG PRESENTATION IN FEMALE HOUSE FINCHES Alexandra M. Hernandez* & Scott A. MacDougall-Shackleton Dept. of Psych., University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada (ahernan@psyc.queensu.ca) Program Abstract Female songbirds of several species exhibit evidence of preferences for songs of their local geographic area. In this experiment we tested the role of early auditory experience on neural responses to song in female house finches. Eighteen hand-reared females were either exposed to songs recorded locally, songs from a distant population, or no song. We compared the number of cells immunopositive for ZENK immediate early gene expression in two auditory nuclei, NCM and cmHV, following playback of songs heard early in life (Tutored Song) versus not heard (Non-tutored Song). No difference was found in gene expression following playback of tutored songs versus non-tutored songs, and the general patterns of activation following song playback in the isolate group did not differ significantly from those tutored with local or foreign song. Thus, early song tutoring did not influence ZENK induction levels following song playback suggesting that ZENK expression within these nuclei is not dependent on exposure to songs early in life. Media Friendly Abstract Female songbirds of several species exhibit evidence of preferences for songs of their local geographic area. In this experiment we tested the role of early auditory experience on neural responses to song in female house finches. Eighteen hand-reared females were either exposed to songs recorded locally, songs from a distant population, or no song. We compared the number of cells immunopositive for ZENK immediate early gene expression in two auditory nuclei, NCM and cmHV, following playback of songs heard early in life (Tutored Song) versus not heard (Non-tutored Song). No difference was found in gene expression following playback of tutored songs versus non-tutored songs, and the general patterns of activation following song playback in the isolate group did not differ significantly from those tutored with local or foreign song. Thus, early song tutoring did not influence ZENK induction levels following song playback suggesting that ZENK expression within these nuclei is not dependent on exposure to songs early in life.

HEWSDK INVITED Accepted PHYLOGENETIC LABILITY IN SEXUAL DIMORPHISM: ENDOCRINE MEDIATION AND FUNCTION OF AGGRESSION AND COLOR SIGNALS IN SCELOPORUS LIZARDS Diana K. Hews* Dept. Life Sciences, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN 47809 (LSHEWS@scifac.indstate.edu) Program Abstract The control of correlated traits, especially those involved in sexual selection, is of interest to evolutionary biologists. Expression of correlated traits may often be mediated by the endocrine system. In this talk I will overview our proximate and functional studies that seek to gain an understanding of the evolution of endocrine control of these signals, and the possible selective regimes that may have favored such evolutionary changes in these secondary sexual traits. In Sceloporus lizards, color traits and aggressive behavior are correlated. These traits are evolutionarily labile in the degree to which they are sexually dimorphic in their expression. I focus on three species: 1) one representing the ancestral character state (sexual dichromatism with high aggression and blue abdominal skin patches in males); 2) a species with male loss of the color trait and lowered aggression; and 3) a species with female gain of blue patches and high aggression. Our work should reveal the degree to which elements of the controlling system are labile, and thus the degree to which such physiological mechanisms might constrain evolution. Media Friendly Abstract

HILLGE INVITED Accepted THE SIGNAL CONTENT OF CAROTENOID-BASED COLOR DISPLAYS Geoffrey E. Hill* Dept. of Biol. Sci., Auburn Univ. AL 36849 (ghill@acesag.auburn.edu) Program Abstract Carotenoid pigments produce most of the red, orange, and yellow integumentary color displays of vertebrates. Carotenoids are unique among biological pigments in that they cannot be synthesized by animals; they must be ingested. Given such diet dependency, it is logical to propose that access to carotenoid pigments can have a large effect on color display. Both aviary and field experiments on several species of fish and birds confirm that carotenoid intake affects expression of ornamental coloration. But variation in expression of carotenoid-based ornamental coloration is not explained entirely by differential access to carotenoid pigments. Animals with carotenoid-based color displays must efficiently utilize those pigments that they acquire. Even with abundant access to carotenoid pigments, parasite infection and nutritional stress during molt can significantly reduce expression of ornamental coloration. Recently, it has been proposed that animals must trade off use of carotenoids for immune defense versus use of carotenoids for integumentary display. However, both basic aspects of the carotenoid physiology of animals with ornamental displays and experimental tests of the hypothesis in captive birds fail to support this hypothesis. Observations to date indicate that carotenoid access, parasite load, and nutritional condition combine to determine the carotenoid-based color displays in animals. What remains to be resolved in any wild population of animals is the relative importance of these factors. Media Friendly Abstract

HILLPS POSTER Accepted LEK MATING IN THE PRAIRIE MOLE CRICKET Peggy S. M. Hill* Faculty of Biological Sciences (peggy-hill@utulsa.edu) Program Abstract Prairie mole cricket Gryllotalpa major males call to females from burrows in the soil that are spatially aggregated on three scalar levels. Continuing research asks why, and how, males are able to organize themselves in these clumps as they display. Males appear not to be motivated by a need to avoid predators, nor by habitat limitation, nor by the presence of hotspots, nor by information sharing. Neither do they appear to benefit as females flee inexperienced, clumsy suitors. Multiple working hypotheses are that a male's calling from an aggregation increases the probability of locating/attracting a mate (passive attraction); that males cluster around more robust 'hotshot' males; and that leks form because females prefer males that advertise in clusters. Results indicate that 'hotshot' males may contribute to secondary aggregations, but not initial ones. Investigations of sensory channels used in communication through the air and soil, as well as modeling mate location strategies, are necessary before further resolution of the issue is possible. Media Friendly Abstract

HOBBSNS POSTER Accepted GROWTH AND FITNESS COSTS OF AGGRESSION IN JUVENILE HEMIGRAPSUS SANGUINEUS CRABS. Niels-Viggo S. Hobbs* Biological Sciences Dept., University of Rhode Island, USA (nhob8781@postoffice.uri.edu) Program Abstract Aggression in decapod crustaceans is well studied but the associated long-term costs have rarely been fully explored. Costs are a critical component of any analysis of risk assessment in the decision-making process of animals. To identify how aggression impacts growth and fitness, and thus presumably affects behavior, a long-term growth study was done of juvenile Hemigrapsus sanguineus crabs. Treatments were comprised of individuals paired together for different lengths of time each day (simulating encounter rates) from post-settlement to the onset of maturity. By the end of the study, it was observed that H. sanguineus in treatments with higher encounter rates showed a significant decrease in survival and a greatly increased injury rate. In addition, growth was significantly slowed in these same groups, further indicating the clear cost of agonistic behavior. Further analysis of how aggression affects timing of maturity and fecundity is presently underway for this and other decapod species, and should provide a more complete picture of the exact toll aggression can place on fitness and growth. Media Friendly Abstract

HONEYCH INVITED Accepted PERCEPTION GOES AMODAL: HOW RESEARCH IN HUMAN PERCEPTUAL DEVELOPMENT CAN INFORM RESEARCH IN ANIMAL DEVELOPMENT Hunter G. Honeycutt* Dept. of Psych., Virginia Tech, Blacksburg VA 24061 Program Abstract Partan and Marler (1999) recently implicated the importance of studying multimodal perception in animal communication. Such an approach is difficult, complicated in large part by the “binding problem” and by the lack of a framework to explore multimodal perception (MP). I argue that animal researchers stand to gain much from research in human development. In particular, those studying human perceptual development stress the importance of infants’ sensitivity to amodal information (information specified redundantly across multiple senses like temporal synchrony, intensity, rate). This early amodal competency appears to guide early perceptual, cognitive, and linguistic development, and provides a solution to the “binding problem”. Differences in how human and animal researchers approach MP will be discussed. I suggest more attention on animal MP can clarify the mechanisms underlying MP and its consequences for early learning, memory, and communication. Research will be reviewed demonstrating functional distinctions between (a) unimodal and multimodal stimulation, and (b) redundant vs. non-redundant multimodal stimulation. Media Friendly Abstract

HORNRC ORAL Accepted KIN RECOGNITION IN SPOTTED HYENAS (CROCUTA CROCUTA). Russell C. Van Horn, Sofia A. Wahaj & Kay E. Holekamp Dept. of Zool., Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI 48824 Program Abstract In species with maternal care, but not paternal care, recognition of maternal and paternal kin requires the use of different types of cues. For example, in spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta*), paternal kin do not present associative cues, as do maternal kin. If cubs used only associative cues to recognize kin, they would treat their full siblings and maternal half-siblings alike, but their paternal half-siblings and sires would be treated as nonkin. However, cubs could recognize their paternal kin via phenotype matching. If cubs use phenotypic cues in kin recognition, they should treat conspecifics differently according to their kinship. We compared affiliation and antagonism between cubs and their maternal kin, paternal kin, and nonkin. Cubs were most affiliative and least aggressive towards their full siblings, treated their maternal and paternal half-siblings similarly, were more affiliative and less aggressive towards their half-siblings than nonkin, and interacted differently with their sires than unrelated males. Phenotype matching is thus an important mechanism of kin recognition in spotted hyenas. Media Friendly Abstract

HOUCKLD ORAL Accepted THE EVOLUTION OF A SALAMANDER PHEROMONE SIGNAL Lynne Houck, Michael Pfrender, Stevan Arnold, Adam Jones, Richard Watts, Stephanie Rollmann & Richard Feldhoff Dept. of Zoology, Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR 97331 & De (HouckL@bcc.orst.edu) Program Abstract A male terrestrial salamander typically delivers pheromones to a female during courtship, resulting in an increase female receptivity. Courtship pheromones are comprised of proteins and, in Plethodon shermani* , female receptivity can be increased by exposure to only one of these proteins (PRF, plethodontid receptivity factor). We have characterized the PRF protein and have identified the gene for this protein. The evolution of the PRF protein pheromone is traced across a known lineage of Plethodon species. Within this lineage, there are two modes of behavioral delivery of the male courtship pheromone: delivery by direct contact of the male’s gland with the female’s nares, or indirect delivery by injection of the pheromone into the circulatory system of the female. Behavioral differences in delivery mode are correlated with major evolutionary change in the PRF gene in this Plethodon lineage. Media Friendly Abstract

HOYR INVITED Accepted THE INTENTIONALITY AND CONTINGENCY OF SENDING SIGNALS: ONCE IT'S OUT THERE IT'S UP FOR GRABS Ronald R. Hoy* Dept. Neurobiology & Behavior, Cornell Univ, Ithaca NY 14853 (rrh3@cornell.edu) Program Abstract Presumably, the "design features" of signals in the context of conspecific signaling are subject to biological and physical constraints that operate in the specific sender and receiver system. They work; they evolved. However, once a signal is emitted by the sender, it is out there for detection by any animal that has a sensory organ and CNS to receive it. In some cases, inadvertent receivers of a sexual signal can be predators or parasites, which use the signal to locate and attack the sender. Examples include the familiar moth-bat story of Roeder, which is so stable it has been referred to as "coevolutionary." Is this a form of "exploitation" by a receiver animal that when reinforced by reliability of sender-receiver contact, and in which the costs and benefits counterbalance such that the relationship achieves temporal stability? I shall consider some these issues in the context of bioacoustics and sensory ecology. Media Friendly Abstract

HUBERR ORAL Accepted NEUROCHEMICAL MECHANISMS IN AGGRESSIVE STATE AND DOMINANCE OF CRAYFISH Robert Huber* Dept. Biological Sciences and Center for Neuroscience, Mind & Behavior & Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403 (lobsterman@caspar.bgsu.edu) Program Abstract Fighting in clawed decapod crustaceans has received considerable attention due to the presence of conspicuous and potentially lethal weapons. Agonistic encounters in this group are characterized by a distinct shortage of diplomatic skills. Interactions escalate with a series of stereotyped behavior patterns, physical superiority determines fight outcome in many instances, and previous wins or losses influence both fighting behavior and outcome of subsequent interactions. The presence of a highly structured behavioral system has offered us unique opportunities to quantify the aggressive state of individuals, explore mechanisms underlying the formation and maintenance of dominance relations, and investigate dynamic properties of hierarchy formation. It also allowed us to integrating the behavior with other sub-disciplines of the neurosciences when we explore the significance of neural and neurochemical mechanisms in these behavioral phenomena. Media Friendly Abstract

HUBERSK ORAL Accepted SONG VARIATION IN DARWIN'S FINCHES Sarah K. Huber, Kelly Slocum & Jeffrey Podos Organismic & Evolutionary Bio., University of Massachusetts & Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts (shuber@bio.umass.edu) Program Abstract Previous studies of song variation in passerines have suggested that island populations are more variable than mainland populations, although there also are data to the contrary. Here we quantify song variation in Geospiza fortis* and Camarhynchus parvulus, two species of Galapagos finch, with the goal of comparing song variation in these species to each other and to their mainland relatives. On Santa Cruz Island, we find that the C. parvulus population has an unusually high number of song types (21 song types; n=33 birds) as compared to G. fortis (5 song types; n=16 birds) which is more typical of Darwin's finches. We also find differences in temporal and frequency measures of song between the two species, and differences in the relative contribution of each measure to the overall song variation within a species. When compared to mainland emberizids, coefficients of variation for Darwin's finch song measures fall within typical ranges. These results raise questions about the mechanisms by which song variation is maintained in populations and transmitted across generations. Media Friendly Abstract

HUGHESM ORAL Accepted A GOOD MALE IS HARD TO DEFINE: SONG, PLUMAGE, TERRITORIES AND FEMALES IN THE LIVES OF MALE SONG SPARROWS. Melissa Hughes* Dept of Biology, College of Charleston, Charleston SC (hughesm@cofc.edu) Program Abstract To be successful, male song sparrows must defend a territory from competitors, including neighbors and floaters, as well as attract females, both as pair and extra-pair mates. If no one signal is a reliable indicator of male territory defense ability, desirability as a pair mate, and desirability as an extra-pair mate, a multi-signal system is likely. For example, song characteristics are unlikely to be good indicators of aspects of male quality that vary within or between breeding seasons, whereas plumage characters can vary with each molt. In a Pennsylvania population of song sparrows, territories are highly dynamic, with boundaries frequently shifting during the breeding season; 25% of returning males each year establish a territory entirely non-overlapping with the territory of the previous year. Neither repertoire size nor song sharing appear to correlate with territory tenure. Interestingly, it appears that variation in plumage may influence female choice of pair mates and/or the ability of males to establish territories. Thus although song sparrows are not known for their extravagant plumage, plumage variation may play an important role in mating success. Media Friendly Abstract

HUMFELSC ORAL Accepted BODY CONDITION AND RELATIVE ATTRACTIVENESS: CALLER OR SATELLITE TONIGHT? Sarah C. Humfeld* Div. Biol. Sci., U. of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia MO 65211 (sac26b@mizzou.edu) Program Abstract Individuals of different competitive abilities or in certain environments adopt different alternative mating tactics as a conditional strategy. Male green treefrogs (Hyla cinerea) primarily produce acoustic signals to attract females; however, satellite males silently inter-cept females attracted to other calling males. I have ob-served that satellite males are significantly smaller and in poorer condition than calling males. Also, advertisement calls elicited from satellite males are of significantly higher frequency, which are unattractive to females. New results from a feeding experiment provide more direct evidence that body condition may limit the production of attractive low-frequency advertisement calls. These constraints may be important in competitive chorusing environments. I will present preliminary results from a playback experiment in which we observe the calling and mating behavior of males confronted with low- and high-frequency signals of varying intensity. I hypothesize that poor body condition constrains advertisement call produc-tion, making the satellite tactic a viable mating behavior in acoustic environments in which those calls are relatively unattractive. Media Friendly Abstract

HUNTGJ ORAL Accepted THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL GUARDING BEHAVIOR AND HONEY BEE COLONY DEFENSIVE BEHAVIOR. Ernesto Guzmán-Novoa, Greg J. Hunt*, José L. Uribe-Eubio & Daniel Prieto-Merlos INIFAP/SAGARPA, México, Department of Entomology, Purdue University & Med. Vet. y Zoot, Universid (ghunt@purdue.edu) Program Abstract We observed guarding, stinging and pursuing behaviours of European honeybees (EHB) and highly-defensive Africanized honey bees (AHB) in Mexico. We assayed the defensive behaviors of co-fostered bees from the two types (EHB and AHB). We also performed defensive behavior assays on six colonies used as family sources for the co-fostered bees to correlate whole-colony defensive responses and individual guarding behaviors of co-fostered bees. In colonies made up from three sources each of AHB and EHB, 81% of those stinging during the first 10 s were AHB. Afterwards, AHB and EHB stung in proportions equal to their representation in the colony. AHB were 90% of bees that stung under low-stimulus conditions for defensive behavior; 26 of the 29 bees that stung observers were AHB, seven of which were guards. One of three EHB that stung also was a guard. Thus, we did not detect a division of labor for guarding and stinging under low-stimulus conditions. There was a correlation between individual stinging and pursuing behaviors of the six co-fostered families and the guarding behavior co-fostered individuals. The AHB and the EHB families that were the most persistent in guarding were the two most likely to sting and to pursue observers when co-fostered. Persistence in individual guarding behavior of co-fostered bees was the best predictor of the magnitude of the defensive response of the source colonies. Media Friendly Abstract Honey bees are fascinating because of their social behavior and the many tasks they perform. One important task is colony defense. We studied individual guarding behaviors of highly aggressive Africanized bees and gentle European bees that were present in mixed hives. The Africanized bees were much more persistent in guarding behavior and the colony entrance. The individual guarding behaviors among six families of bees correlated with the stinging responses of the source colonies for those families. Families with bees that were persistent guards came from colonies that stung more. These colonies that stung more were Africanized honey bee colonies. We found that Africanized bees were the most likely to sting when there was little provocation to do so, but once they started stinging they rapidly recruited the more gentle European bees in the colony, such that the gentle-strain bees were then just as likely to sting during the later stage of the attack.

HUNTGJ ORAL Accepted GENOTYPE BY ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS IN GUARDING BEHAVIOR OF EUROPEAN AND AFRICANIZED HONEY BEES Greg J. Hunt*, Ernesto Guzmán-Novoa, Jose L. Uribe-Rubio & Daniel Prieto-Merlos Department of Entomology, Purdue University, W. Lafayette, IN, INIFAP/SAGARPA, Mexico & Fac. Med. Vet. y Zoot., UNAM, Ciu (ghunt@purdue.edu) Program Abstract We observed the guarding behaviors of co-fostered European and Africanized honey bees (EHB and AHB) in colony environments varying in population size, age-mixture and proportions of AHB and EHB. AHB were more likely to guard and more persistent at this task. In a colony containing equal mixtures of AHB and EHB of the similar ages, AHB were highly over-represented among guards. In large un-manipulated colonies containing either AHB or EHB queens, ten percent of AHB were still guarding after six days, but only one out of 250 marked EHB did so. Hybrid workers were intermediate in guarding persistence. A second study was conducted with six multi-patriline families (three each of AHB and EHB) co-fostered in colonies composed of different ratios of AHB to EHB, and two population sizes. Both genotype (family) and type (AHB or EHB) by colony-environment interactions for propensity to guard were detected in small (p < 0.0001) and large (p <0.05) colonies. There also were genotype and type by environment interactions for persistence in guarding. Individuals of both types of bees were more likely to initiate guarding in high-EHB colonies but AHB guards were more persistent in high-AHB environments. Bees of both types also were more persistent in colonies containing large populations than in small colonies. Results are discussed in relation to stimuli that elicit and reinforce guarding behavior. Media Friendly Abstract

HUNTINFA ORAL Accepted WELFARE OF FARMED FISH: INTEGRATING BEHAVIOURAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL MEASUREMENTS Felicity Huntingford*, Aly Bell, Jimmy Turnbull, James Bron & Colin Adams Division of Environmental & Evolutionary Biology, University of Glasgow, Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling & Division of Environmental & Evol Program Abstract Animal welfare is extremely difficult to define and to measure, yet both definition and measurement are necessary if it is to be studied scientifically. Most workers agree that no single index is adequate, since compromised welfare may be reflected at levels ranging from biochemistry and physiology, though behaviour, to health, growth and reproductive function. Combining information from these different disciplines is far from easy and we report here on the use of multivariate analysis to integrate physiological, behavioural and health-related indices of welfare, using a study of farmed salmon as an example. The derivation of the index will be explained and its use in assessing the impact of various aspects of husbandry practice on fish welfare will be discussed. Media Friendly Abstract The public is legitimately concerned for the welfare of the animals and behavioural scientists have an important role in studying animal welfare and in developing ways of identifying and reducing suffering. However, the concept of welfare in animals is difficult to define and to measure. Most workers agree that no single discipline has all the answers, and the study of welfare is of concern to veterinarians, to stress physiologists, to immunologists and to animal scientists, as well as to behavioural biologists (to name but a few). Pulling together these different kinds of information to get a clear answer on what does and what does not compromise welfare is far from simple. This talk will describe a statistical technique that can be used to help with such intergration, and will show how it has been used to assess the impact of various aspects of husbandry practice on the welfare of farmed salmon.

HUNTINFA INVITED Accepted MEAN STREETS:WHY DO SOME ANIMALS FIGHT MORE THAN OTHERS? Felicity A. Huntingford* Division of Environmental & Evolutionary Biology, University of Glasgow Program Abstract Much of my research has been aimed at understanding why individuals within a species often differ dramatically in how they respond to conflict and risk - in other words in how aggressive they are. To do this I have used 3 species that, in different ways, are particularly suitable subjects for aggression research. I have used the three-spined stickleback to show that individuals vary markedly and consistently in how they behave when confronting a potential predator. These differences in risk-taking predict how the same individuals behave in other circumstances, for example when defending a territory. At a population level, differences in risk-taking are closely related to levels of predation and the results of crosses between extreme behavioural variants suggests that these differences are inherited. So one answer to the question of why some animals fight more than others may lie in inherited variation in risk taking, adapted to local selection regimes. I have used shore crabs and other decapods to examine some of the physiological processes that determine how animals behave during fights. Fighting has striking effects on respiratory physiology, increasing rates of oxygen consumption, using up energy reserves and causing marked accumulation of lactate in both muscle and haemolymph. Such physiological effects constrain the ability of crabs to fight fiercely and individual variation in respiration rate may determine who wins fights. So another answer to the question of why some animals fight more than others may be lie in intrinsic differences in their metabolic physiology. Finally, I have used Atlantic salmon to study the consequences of aggression for growth and life history patterns. Individuals differ markedly and consistently in how fiercely they contest limited resources and it seems that fish with different resource defence styles do well in different environmental conditions. So a third reasons why some animals fight more than others may be that fierceness is only advantageous in certain circumstances. I will end this talk by discussing how some of these results can be used to predict population responses to environmental disturbance and also to improve production and welfare in salmon aquaculture. Media Friendly Abstract

HUPTONG ORAL Accepted EFFECTS OF TEMPORAL MATING VARIATION ON EGG PRODUCTION IN OVERWINTERING FEMALE MONARCH BUTTERFLIES Gina M. Hupton*, Karen S. Oberhauser & Dennis Frey Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Univ. MN, St. Paul, MN & Dept. Bio Sci, Cal Poly State Univ., San Luis Obispo, CA (hupt001@umn.edu) Program Abstract In monarch butterflies, sexual conflict between wintering males and females results in temporal variation in mating behavior. Small, poor condition males initiate forced copulations with some females several weeks before colony dispersal, which may impose costs on females. One potential cost of early mating is premature egg production because host plants are not available and ambient conditions may be suboptimal for offspring survival. Natural egg production was measured in California winter colonies during 2001 and 2002 by dissecting females and counting the number of spermatophores and oocytes present. A logistic regression tested associations of spermatophore presence (mating), date, average temperature and variance in temperature with egg production. The best-fit model relied only on date and variance in temperature to predict observed patterns in female oogenesis (p < .0001). Throughout January of 2002, 32% of females were mated, but only 4% produced eggs. In early February, the proportion of mated females began to increase, but egg production did not increase until shortly before colony dispersal, when it reached 81%. Thus, most females appear to delay oogenesis despite early mating. Media Friendly Abstract

HURDCR ORAL Accepted INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN FORAGING EFFORT BY VESPULA GERMANICA YELLOWJACKETS GENERATE A COLONY-LEVEL PATTERN OF LABOR Christine R. Hurd, Erik V. Nordheim & Robert L. Jeanne Dept. of Zoology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, Dept. of Stats, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706 & Depts.of Entom & Zoology, UW-Madison, Madison, WI 53706 (crhurd@students.wisc.edu) Program Abstract While Vespula germanica* yellowjacket colonies live from early summer through mid-fall, individual workers only live approximately three weeks. High turnover exists in the group of workers that collect the liquid carbohydrate that feeds the colony’s adults. Surprisingly, the distribution of the number of workers (y) that make x number of trips stays qualitatively constant regardless of the length of the observation period. This distribution is highly skewed with a few individuals doing most of the work. Cluster analysis distinguishes these ‘elite’ workers from other foragers. The ‘elites’ work at significantly higher rates, forage for significantly more days and make significantly more trips in their life than their sister foragers. The data indicate that a self-organizing process is responsible for this consistent, though disparate, division of labor. Media Friendly Abstract While Vespula germanica yellowjacket colonies live from early summer through mid-fall, individual workers only live approximately three weeks. High turnover exists in the group of workers that collect the liquid carbohydrate that feeds the colony’s adults. Surprisingly, the distribution of the number of workers (y) that make x number of trips stays qualitatively constant regardless of the length of the observation period. This distribution is highly skewed with a few individuals doing most of the work. Cluster analysis distinguishes these ‘elite’ workers from other foragers. The ‘elites’ work at significantly higher rates, forage for significantly more days and make significantly more trips in their life than their sister foragers. The data indicate that a self-organizing process is responsible for this consistent, though disparate, division of labor.

HUSBANEM POSTER Accepted ANALYSIS OF SLOPE AND CONCAVITY IN THE ALARM CALLS OF GUNNISON’S PRAIRIE DOG (CYNOMYS GUNNISONI) Con N. Slobodchikoff & E. Matthew Husband* Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University (emh6136@tntech.edu) Program Abstract This study examines the location of referential predator categorization in the alarm calls structures of Gunnison's prairie dog. Through the use of a method involving analysis of the coefficients of cubic regression equations and an analysis of variance, the changes in slope from the start of a call to its first maximum and changes in concavity from the start of a call to its inflection point contain significant predator category differences. This places the location of predator categorization in these structures of the alarm call. Pair-wise analyses of variance of the four categories found certain pairs are more similar than others. Coyote-hawk categories and dog-human categories are similar, while other combinations found significant differences. Media Friendly Abstract

INSLEYSJ POSTER Cancelled SEX DIFFERENCES IN RAZORBILL (FAMILY: ALCIDAE) PARENT-OFFSPRING VOCAL RECOGNITION. Stephen J. Insley, Rosana Paredes Vela & Ian L. Jones Hubbs-Sea World Research Inst., San Diego, CA USA. & Biology Dept., Memorial Univ. of Newfoundland, Canada. (sinsley@hswri.org) Program Abstract We were interested in whether a pattern of parental care could result in a sex bias in vocal recognition. In razorbills (Alca torda*), both sexes care for their chicks while at the nest, after which the male is the sole caregiver for an additional period at sea. Selection pressure acting on recognition behaviour is expected to be strongest during the time when males and chicks are together at sea, and as a result, parent-offspring recognition was predicted to be better developed in the male parent, that is, show a paternal bias. In order to test this hypothesis, vocal playback experiments were conducted on breeding razorbills at the Gannet Islands, Labrador, 2001. The data provide clear evidence of mutual vocal recognition between the male parent and chick but not between the female parent and chick, supporting the hypothesis that parent-offspring recognition is male biased in this species. In addition to acoustic recognition, such a bias could have important social implications for a variety of behavioural and basic life history traits such as cooperation and sex-biased dispersal. Media Friendly Abstract

IZARP POSTER Accepted GROOMING PARTNERSHIP AND HIERARCHY IN TWO PROVISIONED GROUPS OF BROWN CAPUCHIN MONKEYS, CEBUS APELLA Patrícia Izar* & Renata G. Ferreira Dept. of General Ecology, University of São Paulo, Brazil & Dept. of Biol. Anthropology, University of Cambridge, UK (patrizar@usp.br) Program Abstract Observation of wild and captive groups of C. apella has shown that grooming is performed mostly by dominant group members, which departs from models of grooming distribution based on Old World monkeys. Our aim was to analyze grooming partnerships in two provisioned groups of C. apella. We found that adults engaged in more grooming bouts than juveniles and infants. Rank and grooming were correlated: dominants offered grooming in higher frequencies and to more partners than subordinates, but these effects were stronger when only males were considered. The same effects were not observed concerning the reception of grooming. The majority of grooming bouts were initiated by the recipient, the only exceptions being adult females offering grooming to juveniles or infants. Furthermore, individuals received grooming less often and from fewer individuals than they offered. We suggest that the recipient is the active partner in grooming relationships and selects whom to ask for grooming. The higher frequencies of grooming performance observed for dominant group members might be a consequence of the recipients' preferences. Media Friendly Abstract

JASNOWA ORAL Accepted SEASONAL CHANGES IN AGGRESSION IN SIBERIAN HAMSTERS (PHODOPUS SUNGORUS) Aaron M. Jasnow* & Gregory E. Demas Dept. Psych., Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303 & Dept. Biol., Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405 (ajasnow@gsu.edu) Program Abstract Nontropical rodent species display seasonal changes in physiology and behavior that occur in response to changes in photoperiod (day length). Short-day reductions in reproductive behavior are due to reductions in gonadal steroid hormones. In addition, gonadal steroids, primarily testosterone (T), have been implicated in aggression in many vertebrates. Some species, however, display increased aggression in short days despite basal T concentrations. Administration of the pineal hormone melatonin, which serves as the biochemical signal for day length in mammalian species, to long-day animals mimics the effects of short days. Here we tested the effects of photoperiod on aggression in male Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) and examined some of the hormonal mechanisms that may underlie short-day increases in aggression. Hamsters housed in short days displayed increased aggression, despite low T levels; administration of exogenous T reduced aggression in these animals. Long-day animals treated with melatonin displayed increased aggression comparable to short-day animals. Collectively, these results suggest that short-day increases in aggression are inversely related to T levels in Siberian hamsters and may be due to increased melatonin secretion. Increased aggression in short days may confer an evolutionary advantage at a time when food availability is low and competition for limited resources is high. Media Friendly Abstract Nontropical rodent species display seasonal changes in physiology and behavior that occur in response to changes in photoperiod (day length). Short-day reductions in reproductive behavior are due to reductions in gonadal steroid hormones. In addition, gonadal steroids, primarily testosterone (T), have been implicated in aggression in many vertebrates. Some species, however, display increased aggression in short days despite basal T concentrations. Administration of the pineal hormone melatonin, which serves as the biochemical signal for day length in mammalian species, to long-day animals mimics the effects of short days. Here we tested the effects of photoperiod on aggression in male Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) and examined some of the hormonal mechanisms that may underlie short-day increases in aggression. Hamsters housed in short days displayed increased aggression, despite low T levels; administration of exogenous T reduced aggression in these animals. Long-day animals treated with melatonin displayed increased aggression comparable to short-day animals. Collectively, these results suggest that short-day increases in aggression are inversely related to T levels in Siberian hamsters and may be due to increased melatonin secretion. Increased aggression in short days may confer an evolutionary advantage at a time when food availability is low and competition for limited resources is high.

JAWORJ ORAL Accepted MULTIPLE ORNAMENTS IN FEMALE NORTHERN CARDINALS Jodie M. Jawor* & Randall Breitwisch Dept. of Biology, Univ. of Dayton, Dayton, OH 45469-2320 (jmjawor@hotmail.com) Program Abstract Recent studies have shown that female ornaments in several species of birds function in sexual selection. Studies have focused on single ornaments, yet females of many species possess multiple ornaments. Northern cardinal ()females have head crests, grayish-black face masks, red-orange bills, and bright red carotenoid-based underwing coverts. The red underwing plumage of females previously has been shown to predict quality in this population. We compared these four female ornaments to several measures of individual quality and to intrasexual aggressive behavior in order to test hypotheses for the evolution of multiple ornaments in female birds. We found nonsignificant relationships between the expression of three ornaments and two measures of quality. From the first year of a two year study on aggressive behavior, we found a nonsignificant relationship between crest length and closest approach. Together, these results suggest that at least one ornament in female cardinals is maintained by sexual selection, while other ornaments may reflect genetic correlation with sexually selected male ornaments. Media Friendly Abstract

JOHNSOJC ORAL Accepted PRE-COPULATORY SEXUAL CANNIBALISM IN THE NORTH AMERICAN FISHING SPIDER: CAN A SPILLOVER OF AGGRESSION EXPLAIN FEMALE ATTACKS? J. Chadwick Johnson* University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky (chad@postkasten.ucdavis.edu) Program Abstract Sexual cannibalism provides an extreme example of inter-sexual conflict. Of particular interest are species exhibiting pre-copulatory sexual cannibalism, or predation of the male by the female during courtship but prior to sperm transfer. In such cases, the costs of the behavior to males (loss of current and future mating opportunities) and females (lost mating opportunity) are readily apparent. In contrast, the benefits of pre-copulatory sexual cannibalism remain poorly understood. I will report on recent findings that address a controversial hypothesis for pre-copulatory sexual cannibalism. The aggressive spillover hypothesis posits that pre-copulatory sexual cannibalism is the by-product of a larger selectively advantageous syndrome of voracity (aggression towards food). Using the North American fishing spider Dolomedes triton as my study organism, I will present preliminary results from an experiment designed to address the possibility that beneficial voracity in the foraging context spills over into the mating context resulting in pre-copulatory sexual cannibalism. Media Friendly Abstract Mating systems that feature sexual cannibalism, specifically female consumption of the male prior to, during, or immediately following copulation, provide an extraordinary study system for behavioral ecologists. Notably, the conflicts of interest between the sexes characteristic of many mating systems are exacerbated by the fact that sexually cannibalistic females can treat males as potential mates and/or prey items. Of particular interest are species exhibiting pre-copulatory sexual cannibalism, or predation of the male by the female during courtship but prior to sperm transfer. In such cases, the costs of the behavior to males (loss of current and future mating opportunities) and females (lost mating opportunity) are readily apparent. In contrast, the benefits of pre-copulatory sexual cannibalism remain poorly understood. Here I adress the possibility that pre-copulatory attacks may be the incidental by-product of a larger advantage to spiders that are highly voracious in a multitude of situations.

JONESKM POSTER Accepted QUANTITATIVE GENETIC ANALYSIS OF SPONTANEOUS ACTIVITY IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER: GENETIC, SEX AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS Kelly M. Jones, Laura A. Higgins & Marta L. Wayne Dept. of Zoology, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611 (kmjucf@aol.com) Program Abstract We know genetics contribute to behavior. However, we do not have a clear understanding of how genes and environment interact to produce complex behaviors. We also do not know the relative contributions of genetics and the environment to the variation in behavior. We investigated spontaneous activity in small groups of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. We used nine near-isogenic lines recently isolated from a natural population. We conducted scan samples of behaviors, including feeding, resting, walking, grooming, courting, mating, and flying. Preliminary results indicate approximately 60% of the variation in a composite measure of activity is due to genetic differences. Although we did not find an overall difference in this measure of activity between the sexes, we did find strong sex differences in feeding, resting, and walking. However, we found little evidence of genetic variation for sexual dimorphism in behavior. These results from homozygous lines do not address the roles of allelic dominance or inbreeding depression in behavioral genetics; however, we are currently investigating these factors by examining behavior in heterozygotes from crosses among these lines. Media Friendly Abstract We know genetics contribute to behavior. However, we do not have a clear understanding of how genes and environment interact to produce complex behaviors. We also do not know the relative contributions of genetics and the environment to the variation in behavior. We investigated spontaneous activity in small groups of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster*. We used nine near-isogenic lines recently isolated from a natural population. We conducted scan samples of behaviors, including feeding, resting, walking, grooming, courting, mating, and flying. Preliminary results indicate approximately 60% of the variation in a composite measure of activity is due to genetic differences. Although we did not find an overall difference in this measure of activity between the sexes, we did find strong sex differences in feeding, resting, and walking. However, we found little evidence of genetic variation for sexual dimorphism in behavior. These results from homozygous lines do not address the roles of allelic dominance or inbreeding depression in behavioral genetics; however, we are currently investigating these factors by examining behavior in heterozygotes from crosses among these lines.

JONESS INVITED Accepted IMITATION: DO NEONATES IMITATE? Susan S. Jones* Dept. of Psych., Indiana University, Bloomington, IN Program Abstract It is widely accepted that newborn infants can imitate. In several imitation studies, neonates have produced more tongue protrusions than mouth openings after watching an adult model do tongue protrusions; and more mouth openings than tongue protrusions after watching an adult do mouth openings. Because two different behaviors are selectively matched by the infants, alternative explanations such as generalized arousal seem to be ruled out. However, I will present evidence that arousal controls the rates at which very young infants produce tongue protrusions; and I will show how an arousal explanation can account for many findings from newborn imitation studies. These findings have wide applicability for understanding the conditions necessary for documenting imitation in many animal species, especially primates. Media Friendly Abstract It is widely accepted that newborn human infants can imitate. In several imitation studies, neonates have produced more tongue protrusions than mouth openings after watching an adult model do tongue protrusions; and more mouth openings than tongue protrusions after watching an adult do mouth openings. Because two different behaviors are selectively matched by the infants, alternative explanations such as generalized arousal seem to be ruled out. However, I will present evidence that arousal controls the rates at which very young infants produce tongue protrusions; and I will show how an arousal explanation can account for many findings from newborn imitation studies. These findings have wide applicability for understanding the conditions necessary for documenting imitation in many animal species, especially primates.

JOURDIV POSTER Accepted THE EFFECTS OF HABITAT DISTURBANCES ON THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE OF A CAPTIVE POPULATION OF CRAYFISH (ORCONECTES RUSTICUS). Violaine Jourdie* & Paul A. Moore Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green OH 43403 (vio_jourdie@hotmail.com) Program Abstract Crayfish are regularly exposed to floods, which destroy possible refuges. These crustaceans fight for everything, including refuges. Therefore, by creating floods in a laboratory setting and looking at agonistic interactions between individuals, we can determine whether aggression and ultimately the hierarchy are affected by floods. This experiment consists of 192-hour trials. For each trial, two colonies are set up: one control and one experimental population. Each population is composed of 5 males within a 10% margin of difference. Both colonies are video taped using time-lapse video equipment. After 96 hours, a flood event is simulated in the experimental colony for 10 minutes. Both colonies are then video taped for another 96 hour period. Frequency, intensity, duration, and outcome of fights are then analyzed from the video. The experimental population exhibits a peak in frequency of agonistic interactions after the flood event. The frequency of agonistic interactions then decreases until it reaches a constant level after 48 hours. The hierarchy is not affected. Media Friendly Abstract

JUSTW ORAL Accepted TESTING THE SEQUENTIAL ASSESSMENT MODEL WITH COMPUTER SIMULATIONS Xiaolu Sun & Winfried Just* Dept. of Mathematics, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701 (just@math.ohiou.edu) Program Abstract The sequential assessment game was introduced by Enquist and Leimar as a paradigm for studying animal contests in which contestants gain more and more accurate information about relative fighting ability in repeated bouts of one type of interacton. The basic model was subsequently extended to account for various asymmetries between the contestants, such as different subjective resource values, different accuracy of the perception of the resource value, or role asymmetries such as owner-intruder asymmetries. We test the predictions of the model by means of simulated evolution of a finite population of animals. Each of our digital animals lives a specified number of mating seasons and has a certain number of fights per mating seasson. The strategies followed in these fights are coded in the animal's "genome" and inherited. The outcome of the fights determines an animal's fitness, i.e., the probability of becoming the parent of an animal in the next generation. While our findings largely confirm the predictions made in we also discovered certain weaknesses of the published models. Media Friendly Abstract

KARSTEKB ORAL Accepted THE EFFECTS OF AGE AND SEX ON THE THERMOREGULATORY BEHAVIOR OF COLLARED LIZARDS, CROTAPHYTUS COLLARIS Kristopher B. Karsten* & Jerry F. Husak Dept. of Zoology, Oklahoma State Univ., Stillwater OK 74078 (kristok@okstate.edu) Program Abstract In territorial lizards, a potential cost of dominance is maintaining a territory in thermally stressful conditions, and potential costs of subordinance are the lack of a territory and the possible exclusion from thermally optimal microhabitats. Thus, social interactions may affect thermoregulatory functions. We examined the relationship between thermoregulation and social status in collared lizards. Lizard body temperatures did not differ among adult and juvenile males and females, but males tended to be higher than females and juvenile males tended to be higher than all others. All age and sex classes of lizards used microhabitats in different proportions than that available. However, the proportion of microhabitat usage differed among sex and age classes. Females and adult males used thermally optimal microhabitats in larger proportions than juvenile males. Body temperatures of females and adult males differed from operative temperatures while juvenile males did not. Our results suggest that there is a complex relationship between social interactions and thermoregulation in collared lizards. Media Friendly Abstract

KEISERJT POSTER Accepted FIELD-TESTING COGNITIVE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MIGRATORY AND NON-MIGRATORY DARK-EYED JUNCOS (JUNCO HYEMALIS): A HOMING EXPERIMENT Jeffrey T. Keiser* & Daniel A. Cristol Dept. of Biol., College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA (jtkeis@wm.edu) Program Abstract In previous aviary tests, we detected enhanced spatial memory in migratory versus non-migratory sub-species of a sparrow, the dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis). Migrants also possessed greater hippocampal neuron density. It is likely that spatial memory is involved in homing behavior. We tested whether differences in spatial memory and neuroanatomy are reflected in differential homing ability. We contemporaneously relocated 253 migratory and non-migratory dark-eyed juncos from their shared wintering grounds in southwestern Virginia to release sites located 1, 5, or 10 km away. We detected no difference in number of returning individuals (Fisher’s Exact Test, p = 0.15) or in latency to return (migrants: 39.4 +/- 20.4 daylight hours; non-migrants: 32.8 +/- 17.0 daylight hours; t = 1.450, df = 68, p < 0.15). These results suggest that homing in this species may not rely on the form of spatial memory that differed in aviary tests, but testing of greater homing distances is required. Media Friendly Abstract

KELSOEC ORAL Accepted MALE VEILED CHAMELEONS, C. CALYPTRATUS, ADJUST THEIR COURTSHIP DISPLAYS IN RESPONSE TO FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE STATUS Erin C. Kelso* & Paul A. Verrell Dept. of Biol., Indiana University, Bloomington IN 47405 & Dept. of Biol., Washington State Univ., Pullman WA 99164 (ekelso@wsu.edu) Program Abstract Female veiled chameleons, Chamaeleo calyptratus,exhibit two distinctive suites of body coloration and behavior patterns that vary according to receptive and non-receptive stages of their reproductive cycle. We presented male chameleons with both receptive and non-receptive females, and recorded differences in their mating frequency ,courtship intensity and courtship behavior patterns. As expected, males were more likely to court and attempt mating with receptive females. Although fewer males courted non-receptive females, their courtship displays were significantly longer than those directed towards receptive females. Males also adjusted the contents of their displays: certain behavior patterns were unique to courtship displays directed towards each class of females. We hypothesize that these differences in male courtship frequency, intensity and content reflect differences in female reproductive value. Although males may benefit from mating with both receptive and non-receptive females, the costs associated with courtship may depend on female responsiveness. Thus, males adjust their courtship tactics accordingly. Media Friendly Abstract

KIMA POSTER Accepted SEX DIFFERENCES AND EFFECTS OF PUP EXPOSURE ON PARTNER PREFERENCE BEHAVIOR IN PRAIRIE VOLES (MICROTUS OCHROGASTER) Albert Kim*, Karen L. Bales & C. Sue Carter Dept. of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago (akim8@uic.edu) Program Abstract Monogamy exists in 3% of mammals and is characterized by low sexual dimorphism, paternal care, and preference for a familiar partner. The peptide hormone oxytocin(OT)has been implicated in the formation of partner preferences in both male and female voles (Cho et al. 1999). In addition,OT may be released upon exposure to a pup. In this experiment, we investigated whether previous exposure to a pup would facilitate the formation of a partner preference in adult prairie voles. Prairie voles (aged 60-90 days) were placed in a cage with two unrelated pups (1-3 days) for 10 minutes, and their behavior towards the pups was recorded. Immediately afterwards they received a one-hour cohabitation with an animal of the opposite sex, followed by a three-hour partner preference test, in which they could choose between the familiar animal (“partner”) or a similar unfamiliar animal (“stranger”). A sex difference existed in partner preference behavior, with males spending significantly more time with the stranger than females (p = 0.02). The effects of exposure to a pup are still under study. Supported by NIH HD38490 and F32 HD08702-01. Media Friendly Abstract

KITCHEDM ORAL Accepted THE FUNCTION OF LOUD CALL DISPLAYS IN COMPETITIVE INTERACTIONS OF MALE BABOONS Dawn M. Kitchen*, Dorothy L. Cheney, Robert M. Seyfarth & Julia Fischer Dept. of Psychology, Univ. of Pennsylvania, PA 19104, Dept. of Biology, Univ. of Pennsylvania, PA 19104 & Max-Planck Institute for Evol. Anthro., Leipzig, Germany (dkitchen@psych.upenn.edu) Program Abstract Game theoretical models suggest that individuals should display before fighting and attempt to resolve conflicts at the lowest possible cost. Male savanna baboons produce loud, two-syllable 'wahoo' calls that appear to function as displays of fighting ability during male-male contests, yet this hypothesis has never been tested. Preliminary evidence suggests that there is little if no correlation between dominance rank and body size, age, or acoustic features of wahoos. Recordings of wahoo bouts from baboons in Botswana were used to test whether a male's rank, the rank of his opponent, or both influenced the intensity of calling and the frequency of participation in displays. High-ranked males delivered wahoos at higher rates and participated more often than low-ranked males. Displays involving males of similar ranks occurred more often, contained more wahoos at faster rates, and were more likely to escalate to physical fighting than other displays. Results are consistent with predictions that high rates of calling are honest indicators of stamina and that contest intensities increase as disparities in competitive abilities decrease. Media Friendly Abstract

KOHNNR POSTER Accepted DISCRIMINATION ABILITY IN POECILIA RETICULATA USING TWO DIFFERENT PRESENTATION PROTOCOLS Nancy R. Kohn* & Shawn E. Nordell Dept. Of Bio., St. Louis Univ., Saint Louis MO 63103 (kohnnr@slu.edu) Program Abstract Females are often choosy in mate selection, due to their greater reproductive energy investment compared to males. In guppies, , colorful males court larger, drabber females and females choose which male to mate with. Previous studies have found that female guppies choose males based on orange coloration and prefer males with more orange in most populations. In this study, we examined whether females from the Cauragate River preferred males with more orange. We also compared two different presentation protocols; simultaneous protocol where a female could assess two males at the same time and sequential protocol where a female could only assess one male at a time. Male guppies were photographed and their digital image was analyzed to quantify color patterns. Each female went through both protocols with different pairs of males. Mate choice trials were videotaped and the behavior of each female was quantified. The results of this study will allow us to understand if Cauragate females prefer males with more orange coloration and how presentation protocol may affect mate choice. Discrimination ability is important evolutionarily because each mistake keeps genetic variation in a population. Media Friendly Abstract

KONVALRR POSTER Accepted HOMING TO THE NEST BY BROODING FEMALE WESTERN SLIMY SALAMANDERS, , IN AN ABANDONED MINE SHAFT Robyn R. Konvalinka* & Stanley E. Trauth Dept.of Biol. Sci., Arkansas State Univ.State Univ.AR 72467 (robynkonvalinka@yahoo.com) Program Abstract Parental investment theory predicts that parental care can be a significant investment for an individual. In some species of vertebrates, egg brooding is a costly form of parental care. Misdirection of parental care, therefore, can significantly lower a female’s fitness. Because of the maternal investment and increased survivorship to offspring from egg guarding, a brooding female should home to her nesting site after being displaced a short distance. In the present study, we experimentally tested, in the field, an alternative hypothesis concerning homing ability in a population of nesting western slimy salamanders (). Brooding females (n = 14) were displaced 1 m to the left or right of the nest site (determined randomly). After 24 hr, 12 displaced females (86%) had returned to their own nesting sites and were brooding their egg clutches. Our results indicate that brooding female western slimy salamanders do home to their nesting sites. Media Friendly Abstract

KOPERM FOUNDERS Accepted MATE LOCATION IN PARDOSA MILVINA (ARANEAE: LYCOSIDAE) UNDER PREDATION RISK Marlena Koper*, Christopher Buddle, Matthew H. Persons & Ann L. Rypstra Department of Zoology, Miami University, Ohio (koperm@muohio.edu) Program Abstract There is a potential trade-off between exhibiting anti-predator behaviors and engaging in reproductive behavior in the presence of a predator. Although Anti-predator behaviors (e.g., avoidance, vigilance) are well documented in the small wolf spider when in the presence of chemical cues of the large wolf spider , little is known about the effect of predator cues (or predators) on the reproductive behavior of . The goal of this study was to determine how the predator species, , affected the reproductive behavior, specifically mate location, in . We hypothesized that the presence of the predator or cue will cause the prey to alter reproductive behavior so that the ability to locate a mate is compromised. In replicates with an actual predator, the ate the without any gender bias. Courtship was initiated in these replicates but the time to courtship did not differ in relation to the control. Chemical cues from the predator significantly increased the time it took for males and females to locate each other. These results provide specific evidence for how predation risk might interfere with reproduction in a small wolf spider. Media Friendly Abstract

KUBAMJ ORAL Accepted THE BASIS OF OCTOPUS PLAY Michael J. Kuba*, Daniela V. Meisel, Ruth A. Byrne & Ulrike Griebel Konrad Lorenz Institute, A-3422, Austria (michi.kuba@kla.univie.ac.at) Program Abstract Before play has been demonstrated in turtles and birds it was thought to be limited to highly evolved mammals. To more effectively understand the context facilitating playful behavior and its subsequent evolution as prominent, even critical, traits in animal life it is necessary to investigate different phyla. Jennifer Mathers' study (Mather & Anderson 1999) was the first to show exploratory play in cephalopods. In our study we tested thirteen Octopus vulgaris in their reactions to six different objects. Objects were given to the octopuses for one hour a day for eight days in a row. Octopuses showed individual variation in their interaction with these objects varying from ignoring or infrequent contacts to possessive behavior and playful interactions. Still there were two objects all octopuses significantly tended to favor. Especially these interactions fit into Burghardts' (1999) definition of play. Burghardt, 1999, E&C 5: 115-123 Mather & Anderson, 1999, J Comp Phys, 113, 333-338 Media Friendly Abstract

KUKUKPF ORAL Accepted MAINTAINING LOW INTRACOLONY RELATEDNESS IN COMMUNAL BEES Penelope F. Kukuk* & Stephen H. Forbes Div. Bio. Sci., Univ. Montana, Missoula MT 59812 USA (pkukuk@selway.umt.edu) Program Abstract Communal bee species have low intracolony relatedness. Yet, most inhabit nests that persist over many generations. The maintenance of low intracolony relatedness in long lasting nests is problematical. Dispersal of females was examined in the communal halictine bee Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) hemichalceum. The contents and genetic composition of brood from nests collected late in the reproductive season was compared with adults from winter nests. The mean and coefficient of variation in number of females per colony decreased in post-season nests and relatedness between females and males in colonies decreased. Females leave nests preferentially (1) if they are large and (2) if they are occupied by their brothers. Intranidal mating and strong selection against sib mating in haplodiploids may select for female dispersal in communal bees providing a "social feedback mechanism" maintaining communal sociality. The role of optimal colony size in maintaining low relatedness is also discussed. Media Friendly Abstract

LARIMESC POSTER Accepted INFLUENCES OF EARLY SCENT EXPOSURE ON LATER BEHAVIOR OF GOLDEN HAMSTERS (MESOCRICETUS AURATUS) Samantha C. Larimer* & Robert E. Johnston Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14853 (scl24@cornell.edu) Program Abstract Although research with various rodent species has examined the development of olfactory function, little work has been done with golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). Specifically, we are not aware of any studies that have investigated the ability of pups 1-2 days old to detect and remember specific odors. In the current set of experiments, mothers were scented with one of two artificial scents, vanillin or phenylethyl alcohol, during the first 24 or 48 hours after delivery of a litter. The pups were then tested for their responses to these odors to determine if they detected and recalled the scent to which they had been exposed. After 48 hours of exposure to vanillin, pups showed preferences for that scent at 12 days of age whereas control pups did not. In contrast, those same pups did not show a preference for the smell at 17 days of age whereas control pups did. These results would suggest that exposure to smells soon after birth have the ability to influence hamster pups’ decisions later in life, but this resulting behavior changes as the pups age. Results for 24 hours of exposure did not show these same trends. Media Friendly Abstract

LEABN POSTER Accepted TENACIOUS NIPPLE ATTACHMENT IN PRAIRIE VOLES: A TEST OF THE SIBLING COMPETITION HYPOTHESIS Brian N. Lea*, Karen H. Dansky & D. Kim Sawrey Dept. of Psych., University of North Carolina at Wilmington (bnl0425@uncwil.edu) Program Abstract Prairie vole pups cling tenaciously to the nipples of the dam and prefer to attach to the most posterior of three pairs of nipples (McGuire, 1998). Gilbert (1995) proposed that tenacious attachment might have evolved in response to competition for milk from older siblings. To test this idea we observed litters both with and without juvenile siblings of the previous litter present. The suckling positions of all pups were recorded four times each day on days 0-4 and pups were weighed both early (day 0-1) and late (day 4-6). Pups in litters with and without juveniles present gained similar amounts of weight. Individuals in smaller litters (regardless of the presence of juveniles) attached to posterior nipples more frequently and gained more weight than pups in larger litters. Within litters, the heaviest pup was attached to a posterior nipple more frequently than the lightest pup. Media Friendly Abstract

LEALM ORAL Accepted SELECTION FOR SIGNAL EFFICACY LEADING TO DIVERSIFICATION IN DEWLAP DESIGN BETWEEN ALLOPATRIC POPULATIONS OF LIZARDS Manuel Leal* & Leo J. Fleishman Department of Biology, Union College, Schenectady, NY (lealm@idol.union.edu) Program Abstract The Sensory Drive Hypothesis states that natural selection favors adaptations of the sensory system and/or signal design to achieve signal efficacy in a particular environment. We tested this using four allopatric populations of the lizard , from two distinct environments (i.e., mesic and xeric conditions). For each population we measured habitat spectral characteristics and spectral sensitivity and quantified signal design by measuring the spectral and total reflectance and transmittance of the dewlap (a colorful throat fan used in signaling). We used this data to model signal efficacy of each dewlap in each habitat. We found no differences in spectral sensitivity. We found that dewlap design has diverged between populations in a way that increases signal efficacy in each habitat. Furthermore, dewlap detection probability decreases significantly when a dewlap from a one type of habitat is viewed under the spectral conditions of the other. These results illustrate how adaptations to ecological conditions for increased signal efficiency can drive signal divergence between allopatric populations, even when the sensory system remains constant. Furthermore, the results are consistent with classical theories of speciation, in which early stages of reproductive isolation evolve as a by-product of natural selection favoring adaptations to distinct ecological conditions. Media Friendly Abstract Allopatric populations are often seen as natural laboratories in which to study early stages of the evolutionary process leading to speciation. Here we test the hypothesis that divergence in signal design (i.e., dewlap; a colorful throat fan used for species recognition) between populations of lizards evolved due selection for signal efficacy (i.e., fast and reliable communication) to different light environments. We measured the light environment, spectral sensitivity and visual-signal design of each population, and, found significant differences in light environment and in signal design but not in spectral sensitivity between populations. The divergence in signal designs correlates with habitat light conditions. Furthermore, the ability to detect the signal effectively decreases significantly when a dewlap from one type of habitat is viewed under the spectral conditions of the other. These results illustrate how adaptations to ecological conditions for increased in signal efficiency can drive signal divergence. Finally, this is the first demonstration of divergence in visual signals due to selection for increased in communication efficacy at the population level in a terrestrial environment, supporting classical theories of speciation, in which early stages of reproductive isolation evolve as a by-product of natural selection favoring adaptations to distinct ecological conditions.

LEEJS FOUNDERS Accepted ALTERNATIVE MATING TACTICS IN THE “TERRITORIAL” MORPH OF A SPECIES WITH AN “ALTERNATIVE” MORPH: A MIXED STRATEGY NESTED WITHIN A CONDITIONAL ONE? Jonathan S.F. Lee* & Andrew H. Bass Dept Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell Univ, Ithaca NY (jl275@cornell.edu) Program Abstract Male midshipman fish mature into either the type I morph (large body size for territory competition and defense of offspring, large sonic muscles for courting females acoustically) or the type II morph (small body size, large testes for sneak/satellite spawning). We here report that some, but not all, subordinate type I males adopt type II-like mating tactics when nest sites are limited. Other subordinate type I males adopt an “opportunistic courter” tactic, in which they opportunistically wait for nest site openings and court females. Thus subordinate type I males can respond to nest site limitation with two tactics. Whether a subordinate individual adopts one or the other tactic, or a mix of both, is not dependent on any obvious measure of resource holding potential (body length, mass, or condition). This and other data suggest that the type I male system can be characterized as a mixed strategy (among subordinates), nested within a conditional one (between subordinates and dominants). The documentation of such systems is rare, and the possible existence of such systems has been the focus of much theoretical debate. Media Friendly Abstract Male midshipman fish mature into either the type I morph (large body size for territory competition and defense of offspring, large sonic muscles for courting females acoustically) or the type II morph (small body size, large testes for sneak/satellite spawning). We here report that some, but not all, subordinate type I males adopt type II-like mating tactics when nest sites are limited. Other subordinate type I males adopt an “opportunistic courter” tactic, in which they opportunistically wait for nest site openings and court females. Thus subordinate type I males can respond to nest site limitation with two tactics. Whether a subordinate individual adopts one or the other tactic, or a mix of both, is not dependent on any obvious measure of resource holding potential (body length, mass, or condition). This and other data suggest that the type I male system can be characterized as a mixed strategy (among subordinates), nested within a conditional one (between subordinates and dominants). The documentation of such systems is rare, and the possible existence of such systems has been the focus of much theoretical debate.

LEONARM ORAL Accepted THE EFFECTS OF EAVESDROPPING ON ANIMAL SIGNAL DESIGN AND EVOLUTION M. Leonard* University of New Mexico (leonardm@unm.edu) Program Abstract Communication is the provision of information by a sender to a receiver to influence the receiver’s behavior. Signals are designed to maximize the benefits and minimize the costs to the sender. Eavesdroppers are individuals who intercept and exploit the information in the signal to the detriment of the sender. The cost imposed on senders may cause shifts in signal design away from what would be optimal for the signal’s function. This project investigates the cost of heterospecific eavesdroppers, such as predators and parasites, in two species of birds that sing while incubating eggs in the nest, the Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus) and Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii). My research asks two questions: 1. Why do these birds sing on the nest? 2. Has the signal shifted in structure to reduce costs on the sender in terms of parasitism and predation? Once the first question is answered by observation of singing individuals, the optimal signal structure can be predicted using signal design rules. This predicted optimum is tested in playback experiments where conspecific and heterospecific responses are scored. These responses can confirm the signal as more optimal, and may show if the cost of that signal would be higher. Media Friendly Abstract

LEVEREJA POSTER Accepted WHAT DO WEB VIBRATIONS TELL WIDOW SPIDERS? J. Adam Leverette, Maydianne C.B. Andrade & Andrew C. Mason Div. of Life Sciences, University of Toronto at Scarborough (adam.leverette@utoronto.ca) Program Abstract Male courtship provides species recognition cues and/or information about male phenotype used in female mate choice. Male widow spiders transmit vibratory signals through female webs during several hours of courtship. Signals may function to: 1) distinguish males from prey. Females are larger than males and typically respond to web vibration with predatory behaviour. 2) distinguish males from heterospecifics. Mis-matings have been observed, so this would appear to be a risk. 3) signal male quality. Multiple males are frequently observed on female webs. We analyzed the vibratory signals of males of two species, Latrodectus hesperus* & L. hasselti. Signals were compared between species to determine whether they contained species-specific components. To determine whether females might derive information about male phenotype from signals within each species, we analyzed variation in signal components as a function of male metabolic rate, body size and weight. We discuss the implications of this work for the possible roles of pre-copulatory signals in mating behaviour and in speciation within this group. Media Friendly Abstract

LEWISJS POSTER Accepted PLASTICITY IN “GROUPING” STRATEGY FOR THE BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN (TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS) Jennifer S. Lewis*, Daniel K. Odell & William W. Schroeder University of Alabama, Dauphin Island Sea Lab & SeaWorld, Orlando, FL (jennifer.lewis@mail.ua.edu) Program Abstract Group size in many mammals is influenced through a combination of competition, predation threat and foraging efficiency. The bottlenose dolphin has shown tendency for group size increases in open habitat and decreases in protected areas. Foraging efficiency gained by larger group size may be attained through other strategies for smaller groups, including variation in group dispersion and further variation in group size. Foraging group sizes and overall group dispersion were compared between two study areas, Old Tampa Bay (OTB) and the lower Florida Keys (LFK). Group dispersion was assessed by ranking average inter-animal distance (AIAD). Group size was significantly smaller when foraging at both sites (p > 0.05 for both sites). AIAD was significantly larger for groups in OTB compared to LFK (p > 0.05). Results indicate plasticity in “grouping” strategy for the bottlenose dolphin with flexibility in group spacing and size. Smaller foraging groups decrease competition among members. Differences in dispersion may reflect variation in trade-offs between the need for protection and the need to increase foraging efficiency. Media Friendly Abstract

LEWKIEDA POSTER Accepted LATENCY TO RESUME CALLING AFTER DISTURBANCE IN CRICKETS FOLLOWS A POPULATION GRADIENT IN PARASITISM RISK Debra A. Lewkiewicz* & Marlene Zuk Dept. of Biology, Univ. of California, Riverside, CA 92521 & Dept. of Biology, Univ. of California, Riferside, CA 92521 (deblewk@mail.ucr.edu) Program Abstract A possible parasitoid-evasion behavioral adaptation is examined in male field crickets, Teleogryllus oceanicus, from three Hawaiian islands where parasitoid prevalence varies naturally among islands. Ormia ochracea, the parasitoid fly that parasitizes T. oceanicus on these islands, uses male calling song to locate its hosts. We use laboratory-reared males from the three Hawaiian islands to determine if there are population differences in the time it takes for calling males to resume calling after a standardized disturbance. Males follow the expected pattern; males from the island with the greatest risk of parasitism have the longest latency to resume calling, and males from the island with the least risk of parasitism have the shortest latency to resume calling. Results are discussed in the context of behavioral adaptations to differing parasitism levels, and trade-offs between natural and sexual selection. Media Friendly Abstract

LICHTEEM POSTER Accepted ABDOMINAL OSCILLATIONS AND STATUS DISCRIMINATION IN STALK-EYED FLIES Elinor M. Lichtenberg* & Gerald S. Wilkinson Dept. of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park (elinorl@wam.umd.edu) Program Abstract Use of vibrations for signaling is widespread among insects, and appears to occur in several species of stalk-eyed flies (Diptera: Diopsidae). The Malaysian stalk-eyed fly Cyrtodiopsis whitei exhibits abdominal oscillations while aggregating on root hairs and during aggressive encounters. Bobbing behavior was studied by videotaping staged fights between two flies, either of the same or opposite sexes. The body size and weight of each fly was also measured. ANOVA showed that flies paired with a member of the same sex bob slower than those paired with a member of the opposite sex. Also, mated flies bob at a slower rate than virgin flies. This difference, if perceived by males, may play a role in mate choice by males. Virgin males that mated during observations (with virgin females) mated for longer during the first copulation and mated more times than mated males paired with mated females. This supports the hypothesis that male C. whitei preferentially mate with virgin females to reduce sperm competition and gain access to more unfertilized eggs. Media Friendly Abstract

LINDSAWR POSTER Accepted SOCIAL FUNCTION OF TROPHALLAXIS IN COMMUNAL BEES Willow R. Lindsay* & Penelope F. Kukuk Div. Bio. Sci., Univ. of Montana, Misoulla MT 59801 USA (willowlindsay@hotmail.com) Program Abstract Trophallaxis, the exchange of food between individuals, functions in nutritional dynamics and exchange of symbionts, as well as in bonding and communication of social insects. Trophallaxis in Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) hemichalceum, as reported by Kukuk and Crozier (1990), marks the independent evolution of trophallaxis in Halictine bees. L. hemichalceum is communal, with colonies consisting of 5-6 unrelated females. How does trophallaxis function in communal societies? One possible function of trophallaxis in a communal species is the use of food as a recruitment fee paid by nesting females to potential new colony members. If so, larger colonies would be less likely than smaller colonies to offer food to new females entering the nest. Two experiments were conducted to test this hypothesis. In contrast to previous reports, no trophallaxis was recorded, suggesting that it does not function as a recruitment fee. Further research must be conducted to determine the role of trophallaxis in the social dynamics of L. hemichalceum. Media Friendly Abstract

LINYK ORAL Accepted TESTING THE HABITAT SATURATION HYPOTHESIS WITH A COMMUNAL BREEDING RODENT Y. Kirk Lin*, Loren D. Hayes & Nancy G. Solomon Department of Zoology, Miami University, USA (kirkohio@yahoo.com) Program Abstract The formation of communal breeding groups occurs when offspring delay dispersal and remain at the natal nest. Offspring may delay dispersal in response to ecological factors, such as population density. The habitat saturation hypothesis states that when population density is high, suitable breeding territories become filled and offspring remain at their natal nest. High population density results in communal breeding groups. When breeding vacancies become available, philopatric offspring should disperse to fill these vacancies and consequently, communal breeding groups would disband. To test this hypothesis, we performed a two-step experiment. We experimentally maintained populations of prairie voles at high versus low densities for 12 weeks, followed by density reduction in half of the high density populations. We examined the dispersal tendency of offspring and social organization at each density during both periods. A preliminary analysis showed that before the density reduction, neither the tendency of dispersal by offspring, the proportion of social units that were communal groups, or the size of communal groups were different between high and low density treatments. After the reduction of density, the proportion of social units that were communal groups and the size of communal groups remained similar between reduction and non-reduction treatments. The results did not support the habitat saturation hypothesis. Several alternative constraints on dispersal and benefits of philopatry will be examined. Media Friendly Abstract The formation of communal breeding groups occurs when offspring delay dispersal and remain at the natal nest. Offspring may delay dispersal in response to ecological factors, such as population density. The habitat saturation hypothesis states that when population density is high, suitable breeding territories become filled and offspring remain at their natal nest. High population density results in communal breeding groups. When breeding vacancies become available, philopatric offspring should disperse to fill these vacancies and consequently, communal breeding groups would disband. To test this hypothesis, we performed a two-step experiment. We experimentally maintained populations of prairie voles at high versus low densities for 12 weeks, followed by density reduction in half of the high density populations. We examined the dispersal tendency of offspring and social organization at each density during both periods. A preliminary analysis showed that before the density reduction, neither the tendency of dispersal by offspring, the proportion of social units that were communal groups, or the size of communal groups were different between high and low density treatments. After the reduction of density, the proportion of social units that were communal groups and the size of communal groups remained similar between reduction and non-reduction treatments. The results did not support the habitat saturation hypothesis. Several alternative constraints on dispersal and benefits of philopatry will be examined.

LIUD ORAL Accepted EFFECTS OF HAND-RAISING ON THE BEHAVIORAL DEVELOPMENT OF GIANT PANDA CUBS (AILUROPODA MELANOLEUCA) D. Liu, J. Ke, H. Tian, R. Wei, G. Zhang & H. Zhang MEKLBSEE,Institute of Ecology, Beijing Normal Univ., China, China Conservation & Research Center for the Giant Panda & China Conservatio (dzliu@bnu.edu.cn) Program Abstract Pandas usually breed and raise only one cub, thus one of the twins will have to be completely or alternately raised by keepers, albeit some females have been successfully trained to nurse two cubs at the same time. Is there any impact of hand-raising on the cubs¡¯behavioral development? The main goal of this study is to reveal the effects of different ways of nursing (mother-raised vs. mother-hand-raised) on the behavioral development of giant panda cubs. The behavior of 14 captive cubs (M: F=7:7) were observed by a method of focal sampling and continuously recording in China Research and Conservation Center for the Giant Panda in Wolong Nature Reserve from 27 March to 26 April in 2001. The results show that mother-raised female cubs performed significantly less sniffing than those raised alternately by mother and keepers (0.52¡À0.07 vs. 0.75¡À0.05, P=0.03), mother-raised females also perform less climbing than mother-hand-raised cubs (0.56¡À0.13 vs. 0.96¡À0.10, P =0.08), yet the difference did not reach statistical significance. No remarkable differences were found in all the behavioral categories between mother-raised and mother-hand-raised cubs. Our results indicate that different way of nursing did not affect male but the female cubs behavioral development. Mother-hand-raised females performing more sniffing might be related to imprinting of different sources of olfactory information. Media Friendly Abstract THE EFFECTS OF HAND-RAISING ON BEHAVIORAL DEVELOPMENT OF GIANT PANDA CUBS (AILUROPODA MELANOLEUCA) Liu Dingzhen1, Ke Jun1, Tian Hong, Wei Rongping2, Zhang Guiquan2, Zhang Hemin2 1-Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineer, Institute of Ecology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; 2-China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, Wolong Nature Reserve, Sichuan, 623006, China. Abstract Pandas usually breed and raise only one cub, thus one of the twins will have to be completely or alternately raised by keepers, albeit some females have been successfully trained to nurse two cubs at the same time. Is there any impact of hand-raising on the cubs¡¯ behavioral development? The main goal of this study is to reveal the effects of different ways of nursing (mother-raised vs. mother-hand-raised) on the behavioral development of giant panda cubs. The behavior of 14 captive cubs (M: F=7:7) were observed by a method of focal sampling and continuously recording in China Research and Conservation Center for the Giant Panda in Wolong Nature Reserve from 27 March to 26 April in 2001. The results show that mother-raised female cubs performed significantly less sniffing than those raised alternately by mother and keepers (0.52¡À0.07 vs. 0.75¡À0.05, P=0.03), mother-raised females also perform less climbing than mother-hand-raised cubs (0.56¡À0.13 vs. 0.96¡À0.10, P =0.08), yet the difference did not reach statistical significance. No remarkable differences were found in all the behavioral categories between mother-raised and mother-hand-raised cubs. Our results indicate that different way of nursing did not affect male but the female cubs behavioral development. Mother-hand-raised females performing more sniffing might be related to imprinting of different sources of olfactory information. Key words: Mother-raised, Mother-hand-raised, cubs, nursing, behavioral development.

LUCASJR ORAL Accepted CAROLINA CHICKADEES (POECILE CAROLINENSIS) RESPOND DIFFERENTLY TO CHICK-A-DEE CALLS VARYING IN SYNTAX Todd M. Freeberg & Jeffrey R. Lucas* Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette IN 47907 (jlucas@bilbo.bio.purdue.edu) Program Abstract No experimental evidence has been offered to date in support of the hypothesis that the syntax of chick-a-dee calls conveys call-specific information. In this study, we tested Carolina chickadees’ responses to playbacks of two different chick-a-dee calls: one rich in ‘C’ notes and a second rich in ‘D’ notes. Control playbacks included chickadees’ aggressive ‘gargle’ calls, white-breasted nuthatch calls, and a blank playback. Playbacks were conducted in the field in the context of a novel food source. Chickadees flew in close to the playback speaker and subsequently took seed from a seed stand more often during playbacks of chick-a-dee calls containing C notes than to chick-a-dee calls not containing C notes or than to control playbacks. Vocal responses of chickadees to the playbacks also differed in relation to the particular playback type. These results indicate that receivers respond differently to chick-a-dee calls containing different compositions of note types, and represent a first step to link variation in note composition and ordering in these calls to possible meanings. Media Friendly Abstract

LYNNS ORAL Accepted SIGNAL DETECTION THEORY AS A COMPARATIVE MODEL OF COGNITIVE DECISION MAKING Spencer K. Lynn* Dept Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Univ. Arizona, Tucson (skl@u.arizona.edu) Program Abstract Signal detection theory links signal reception to decision making, specifing a small number of signal parameters that any receiver must take into account. By viewing reaction to stimuli through the framework of signal detection theory, one can isolate how decision parameters (as represented cognitively and/or in the organism’s biomechanical design) are modified during evolutionary, ontogenetic, and learning-related changes. I examined cognitive aspects of bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) sensitivity to changing signal parameters. Bees collecting sugar water from artificial flowers tracked signal parameters when making flower visitation decisions. In generalizing flower color signals, bees effectively assume a probability density function centered on the training colors. This generalization gradient incorporates the flower’s relative abundance and the estimated payoff of visitations to that color. Innate predispositions for color reflect expectations about signal parameters set over evolutionary time. Innate preferences remain intact as parameters are updated and thus appear to be stored separately from learned parameters. Media Friendly Abstract

MACEDORH POSTER Accepted ARE EGG EJECTION AND INVESTMENT PATTERNS ASSOCIATED WITH CHICK CONDITION AND SURVIVAL IN COMMUNALLY BREEDING GUIRA CUCKOOS? Angela Pacheco, Laura Muniz & Regina H.F. Macedo* Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade de Brasilia, Brazil & Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade de Brasilia, Brazil (rhmacedo@unb.br) Program Abstract Communal reproduction involves costs and benefits that affect individual fitness of group members. South American guira cuckoos (Guira guira) reproduce in groups where up to seven females nest together. Reproductive conflict involves egg ejection and infanticide by group members. We conducted a two-year study to investigate five hypotheses concerning reproductive conflict: (1) larger groups (and communal clutches) are associated with increased egg and chick mortality; (2) they are also associated with increased egg investment; (3) egg investment is dependent upon the probability of egg survival; (4) egg mass is associated with hatchling size; and (5) hatchling size predicts survival to fledging. We found supporting evidence for some hypotheses. Larger clutches have a higher proportion of ejected eggs, and as group size increases, there is an increment in egg mass. An additional adult in a group means an average increase of 0.4 g per egg. Early eggs in the clutch are more likely to be ejected, however, investment in eggs was unrelated to chances of surviving ejection. Finally, we found that larger eggs produce heavier chicks, but physical attributes of the chick were unrelated to its survival to 10 days. Survival, however, was highest for those that hatched first. Media Friendly Abstract

MAESTRD ORAL Accepted SEX DIFFERENCES IN PLAY AMONG WESTERN LOWLAND GORILLA INFANTS: IMPLICATIONS FOR ADULT BEHAVIOR AND SOCIAL STRUCTURE Dario Maestripieri* & Stephen K. Ross University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637 & Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL 60614 (dario@uchicago.edu) Program Abstract Mammalian play is believed to improve physical development and motor training (e.g. for fighting with conspecifics or predators) and facilitate the development of relationships with preferred social partners in adulthood. Western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) typically live in small groups with one breeding male and a few unrelated adult females with their offspring. Given the marked sexual dimorphism in gorilla body size and the role assumed by the male in protecting the group from conspecifics and predators, the motor training hypothesis of play predicts that male infants should exhibit higher frequencies of social play than female infants, and that males should prefer to play with other males. Given that adult female gorillas are strongly attracted to adult breeding males and form weak social bonds with unrelated adult females, the social relationship hypothesis of play predicts that female infants should prefer to play with males. These hypotheses were tested in a 22-month study of 12 gorilla infants, of ages between 0 and 5 years, living in two zoological parks in Chicago and Atlanta. Consistent with the hypotheses, male infants played more than female infants did, and both male and female infants preferred to play with males rather than with females. Media Friendly Abstract

MALINOB POSTER Accepted EVIDENCE OF A HEREDITARY COMPONENT IN INTERMEDIATE HYBRID BEHAVIOR OF A CERCOCEBUS TORQUATUS ATYS X MANDRILLUS SPHINX HYBRID Beth L. Malinowski* Brookfield Zoo,Chicago Zoological Society, Brookfield, Illinois (mehloyehlo@aol.com) Program Abstract “With him for a sire and her for a dam, What should I be but just what I am?” -Edna St. Vincent Millay, 1920 What if a primates’ genome is composed of the genes of more than one species? Kigeni, a Cercocebus torquatus atys x Mandrillus sphinx hybrid, is housed* at Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo with both the species of her “sire” and that of her “dam.” This one-of-a-kind primate offers a unique opportunity to examine hybrid behavior as a function of parental behavior. This study, then, focuses on the analysis of Kigeni’s behavior, as compared with the respective behaviors of the Cercocebus torquatus atys (sooty mangabey) and Mandrillus sphinx (mandrill). Unlike most previous primate hybrid research, which typically focuses on more obvious anatomical features, the present study seeks to categorize her behavior, as typifying either Cercocebus torquatus atys or Mandrillus sphinx. Through analysis of the behaviors observed in this focal study and comparison with the somewhat limited data available on Cercocebus torquatus atys and Mandrillus sphinx , most of this hybrid’s individual behaviors can be specifically categorized as belonging to one species or the other. Such results shed light not only on intermediate behavior in Old World primate hybrids, but on the behaviors of other primate hybrids as well. *Kigeni is housed overnight with the mangabeys, but spends her active hours with both species that are exhibited together at the zoo. Media Friendly Abstract

MANSONJ POSTER Accepted TIME-MATCHED GROOMING BY FEMALE PRIMATES? NEW ANALYSES FROM TWO SPECIES Joseph H. Manson*, C. David Navarrete, Joan B. Silk & Susan Perry Dept of Anthropology, UCLA & Max Planck Institute for Ev Anth & Dept of Anthropology, UCLA (jmanson@anthro.ucla.edu) Program Abstract Recent findings (Barrett et al. 1999) that female chacma baboons (a) match cumulative grooming durations with their grooming partners within bouts, and (b) engage in closer time-matching with partners closer in dominance rank, have been argued to support the hypothesis that allogrooming among nonhuman primates is a commodity that is exchanged on short time scales for itself or for tolerance. However, these authors analyzed only those grooming bouts in which some reciprocation occurred. We re-analyzed data on female-female grooming in wild white-faced capuchins and captive bonnet macaques using bootstrapping and weighted regression to determine whether within-bout time-matching occurred and whether it was related to rank distance. Analyzing only those bouts in which grooming was reciprocated, we replicated Barrett et al.’s (1999) results. However, when we included unreciprocated grooming bouts, we found no evidence of time-matching. In light of previous findings in our capuchins that grooming rate is positively correlated with coalitional support, we hypothesize that grooming signals coalitionary allegiance even when it is not immediately reciprocated. Media Friendly Abstract

MARDERAR INVITED Accepted THE ANIMAL SHELTER AS AN EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH INSTITUTION FOR APPLIED ANIMAL BEHAVIOR Amy R. Marder* New England Veterinary Behavior Associates, Lexington, MA, Animal Rescue League of Boston, Boston, MA & American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, New York City, NY (armvmd@aol.com) Program Abstract The animal shelter as an educational and research institution for applied animal behavior. The animal shelter provides the opportunity to study the development, management and treatent of behavior problems in companion animals. A team of veterinarians, psychologists and law enforcement officers often work together to understand the etiology of behaviors and also devise effective treatment and management protocols. The shelter is also a perfect site to educate students of applied animal behavior. The results of several projects which were carried out at the ASPCA and the Animal Rescue League of Boston will be discussed. Media Friendly Abstract

MARGULSW INVITED Accepted PRACTICING AND COMPARING OBSERVATIONAL SAMPLING METHODS: BEHAVIOR MATTERS Susan W. Margulis* Brookfield Zoo, Conservation Biology, Brookfield, IL 60513 (sumargul@brookfieldzoo.org) Program Abstract Behavior Matters is an animal behavior curriculum developed by Brookfield Zoo and The Center for Learning Technologies in Urban Schools at Northwestern University. Designed to give middle and high school students a research experience in animal behavior, the curriculum endeavors to provide students with the tools they need to conduct systematic scientific studies and places the research in a conservation context. It has been used successfully with students ranging from 3rd grade through college. One of the fundamentals of the curriculum is providing instruction and guidance in the methodology behind observational sampling. Today, I will describe and demonstrate activities that were developed to address this fundamental issue. These include a videotape that allows students to practice the two most general sampling methodologies (continuous and instantaneous sampling), and an exercise that highlights the similarities and differences between these two methods. This will be the focus of the workshop. I often use the analogy that continuous sampling is like videotaping an animal, whereas instantaneous sampling is like taking a series of still pictures. Here, we will perform this analogy, and compare the results. This activity helps students grasp the applicability of these two methods to different questions and situations, and allows them to compare data gathered in these two ways. Media Friendly Abstract

MARGULSW POSTER Accepted ASSESSING ANIMAL WELFARE: A PROACTIVE APPROACH Susan W. Margulis*, Melinda Pruett-Jones, Kent Semmen, Tim Sullivan & Jackie Zdiarski Animal Collection Division, Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield IL 60513 (sumargul@brookfieldzoo.org) Program Abstract In an effort enhance the care and wellbeing of the animals in our collection, Brookfield Zoo has established an Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) and initiated an animal welfare assessment program. Whereas governmental inspections focus on adherence to minimum standards of care, our goal was to develop a tool that would allow us to objectively monitor and quantify our success at providing optimal care to our animals. Basing our assessment criteria on categories used by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) inspectors, we developed a computer-based application that allows us to rank each area of the zoo on a 5-point scale. Using palm-pilots, each animal area (including those not presently covered by USDA regulations) is inspected annually. The resulting report provides a list of items that each building supervisor must address. Follow-up evaluation enables the AWC to track progress and quantify improvement. Here, we describe and demonstrate the system we have developed and illustrate how it has positively impacted animal care at our institution. We encourage other institutions to develop similar objective measures in order to enhance animal welfare. Media Friendly Abstract

MARSHAV ORAL Accepted FEMALE PREFERENCES BASED ON SIGNAL TIMING AND CONTEXT-DEPENDENT SIGNAL TIMING BEHAVIOR BY MALE GRAY TREEFROGS, HYLA CHRYSOSCELIS Vincent T. Marshall* & H. Carl Gerhardt Dept. of Biological Sciences, Univ. of Missouri-Columbia (vtm1da@mizzou.edu) Program Abstract Recently, it has been suggested that female preferences for the leading of closely timed conspecific signals may influence the form of male signal timing behavior in acoustic species. Such interactions should be less important when a male is interacting with a signaler of another species because females should always avoid approaching heterospecific signals. However, because heterospecific signals may be sources of acoustic interference that reduce the likelihood of a female approaching an otherwise attractive signal, there may still be benefits to avoiding overlap with such signals. We examined how signal timing influenced female preferences for conspecific signals and whether signaling behavior of male gray treefrogs, Hyla chrysoscelis, depends on the species identity of a neighbor. Females preferred conspecific advertisement calls that were free of overlap from those of the syntopically breeding Hyla versicolor to calls that were partially overlapped, and females also preferred the leading of two conspecific signals under some timing relationships. In playbacks experiments, males avoided overlap with both conspecific and Hyla versicolor calls. However, post-stimulus latencies of male responses were consistently longer relative to conspecific signals, which is consistent with a strategy mediated by female preferences for leading calls. Media Friendly Abstract

MARTINEP INVITED Accepted COMPETITION, PHYLOGENY, AND THE EVOLUTION OF LIZARD DISPLAYS. Emilia P. Martins* & Terry J. Ord Dept. of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington IN 47405 (emartins@indiana.edu) Program Abstract Lizards exhibit a wide variety of communicative signals, including complex combinations of color, motion, smell and sound. Despite many examples of how female perceptual abilities have shaped the evolution of male signals in birds, fishes, and frogs, we have been largely unsuccessful at finding any evidence at all for female choice in lizards. Although lizards are also found in many habitats, species ecology seems to explain only some of the observed species-level variation in signal repertoire. Instead, there is evidence that intrasexual aggressive interactions between individuals have been an important feature driving evolution towards increased display complexity. Phylogenetic constraints also seem to play a major role in whether increased complexity for any particular species or group of taxa takes the form of minor changes (e.g., in timing or shape of a head-bob) or the addition of an entirely new element (e.g., an arm wave added to a head-bob display or an olfactory signal added to a visual one). In this study, we review macroevolutionary patterns that have been described in the evolution of lizard signals and the specific mechanisms that are thought to have shaped those patterns. Media Friendly Abstract

MARTINFD POSTER Accepted REPRODUCTIVE STRATEGIES OF THE BROWN BOOBY SULA LEUCOGASTER IN SOUTHERN BRAZIL Flavia C. Martins* & Manoel M. Dias Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade de Brasilia, Brazil (flaatoba@yahoo.com.br) Program Abstract The brown booby Sula leucogaster is frequent along the Brazilian coast, but there are few data on its reproductive biology. We conducted a natural history study of the breeding biology of the species.The field site was Ilhas dos Currais, Brazil. We monitored 140 nests, of which 59% failed. Failure was more frequent during the laying of the first egg (41%) in comparison to the second egg phase (37%). We found that adult males stayed in the nest longer than did females, but that the latter brought more food to chicks. The average interval between laying of the first and second eggs was 11.4 days, producing a very large hatch interval, and subsequent quick elimination of the second chick through siblicide. Although first eggs were slightly larger than second eggs, the difference was not statistically significant. After brood reduction occurred, there was considerable increase in food allocation to the remaining chick. We suggest that adults have a higher reproductive success rearing a single chick in the eight-month interval between breeding periods than if they attempt to rear two chicks. Media Friendly Abstract

MASONAC ORAL Accepted PHONOTAXIS IN AN ACOUSTIC PARASITOID FLY: PREFERENCES AND LIMITATIONS Andrew C. Mason* Div. Life Sciences, University of Toronto at Scarborough (amason@scar.utoronto.ca) Program Abstract The parasitoid fly Ormia ochracea (Diptera: Tachinidae) locates its cricket host by means of phonotactic responses to male cricket songs. The small size of the flies means that the directional cues available to them from cricket sounds are severely limited. Nevertheless, female flies are capable of surprisingly accurate localisation of cricket calls. We examined the effects of manipulations of the acoustic conditions on the accuracy of phonotactic responses. One common context for cricket song is in male choruses. Surprisingly, the flies fail to accurately localise calls when there are simultaneous competing sources in different locations (chorus), although they still recognize and respond to signals under these conditions. The flies tolerate a wide range of variation in call temporal characteristics which corresponds with their observed host-flexibility in nature. I discuss how the hearing abilities of the fly may drive signal characteristics of their hosts, which are trading off mate and parasitoid attraction. Media Friendly Abstract In addition to attracting mates with their cheerful songs, some male crickets also risk attracting parasitic flies. The flies have evolved a sense of hearing for the sole purpose of detecting and finding singing crickets. Once a female fly finds a cricket, she deposits several tiny maggots on his back. The maggots then burrow inside the cricket and begin to devour him. Being able to hear and localise crickets is essential to the flies’ reproduction. I have examined how well the flies can localise cricket sounds under a variety of conditions. The hearing abilities of the flies may allow some strategies for male crickets to reduce their risk, but the options are limited because they must still produce songs that are attractive to female crickets.

MATEOJM POSTER Accepted THE EXPRESSION OF KIN PREFERENCES IN NEPOTISTIC AND MATE-CHOICE CONTEXTS Jill M. Mateo* & Robert E. Johnston Dept. of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14853 (jmm52@cornell.edu) Program Abstract Golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) can recognize kin using both prior-association and phenotype-matching mechanisms, and can use their own cues as a referent for recognition ('self-matching'). We have suggested that self-matching may be especially important in nepotism, to identify most-closely related kin, whereas use of close kin as referents would be sufficient for inbreeding avoidance. Although the social behaviors of free-living hamsters are unknown, they may allow kin to enter their burrows to escape predators or access their food cache, despite being territorial. We examined kin preferences of female hamsters housed in semi-natural arenas with a sibling (separated for > 4 mos) and a non-relative. Females showed no behavioral preference for a non-sibling over a brother when sexually receptive (Study 1) or during the 24 h preceding estrus (Study 2). In contrast, females were less agonistic toward their sister, spent more time in proximity to her, and slept with her more often than a non-sibling (Study 3). Thus in the contexts we presented, hamsters show kin preferences in (potentially) nepotistic but not mate-choice contexts. Media Friendly Abstract Many species have the ability to recognize their relatives, even unfamiliar kin such as paternal half-siblings, including fish, mammals and insects. Kin recognition is thought to play a role in nepotism (preferential treatment of kin), mate choice (optimal inbreeding and outbreeding), or both. Golden hamsters can recognize their unfamiliar relatives, and can even use their own cues as a basis for this recognition ability (termed 'self-matching', or the 'armpit effect'). Unfortunately, little is known about the social interactions of free-living hamsters, except that both males and females are territorial and store large caches of food. As a first step in understanding the function of recognition abilities in hamsters, we studied whether captive hamsters show kin preferences in mating contexts and in nepotistic contexts. We found no evidence of a preference for a non-sibling over a brother by sexually receptive females, but did find a preference for sisters over non-siblings. Sisters were less agonistic, more affiliative, and spent more time together than non-sisters. Although it is difficult to generalize from laboratory to field settings, these results suggest that kin recognition abilities in hamsters, and perhaps self-matching in particular, function in nepotistic contexts rather than mate-choice contexts.

MATHERJA ORAL Accepted GOING DOTTY: ARE SQUID DIRECTING DYMANTIC STARTLE DISPLAYS TO POTENTIAL TROUBLE? Jennifer A. Mather* Department of Psychology and Neuroscience & University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4 (mather@uleth.ca) Program Abstract How can you tell when a presumed startle display is directed to potential predators? The situation is more difficult to understand when the display is variable. Adult Sepioteuthis sepioidia squid produce up to four dark eye-spot Dymantic dots on the lateral dorsal skin surface, but in several different situations. When they move within 0.5 M of the bottom or hunt for small fish, the dots are nearly always the two posterior ones. However, the dots are also produced in response to approaching fish and then dot placement is significantly more variable. When a Dymantic dot display results from an approach, the likelihood of particular dots being produced varies with the direction of the approaching individual. What may have begun as a general camouflaging pattern thus seems to have been recruited as a more specific and directed warning visual signal. Media Friendly Abstract How can you tell when a presumed startle display is directed to potential predators? The situation is more difficult to understand when the display is variable. Adult Sepioteuthis sepioidia squid produce up to four dark eye-spot Dymantic dots on the lateral dorsal skin surface, but in several different situations. When they move to near the bottom or hunt for small fish, the dots are nearly always the two posterior ones. However, the dots are also produced in response to approaching fish and then dot placement is significantly more variable. When a Dymantic dot display results from an approach, the likelihood of particular dots being produced varies with the direction of the approaching individual. What may have begun as a general camouflaging pattern thus seems to have been recruited as a more specific and directed warning visual signal.

MATTHEME POSTER Accepted DULL COLORED MALES SING MORE OFTEN THAN BRIGHT MALE HOUSE FINCHES: HONEST OR DISHONEST SIGNALS? Molly E. Matthews* Department of Biology, Hamline University, St. Paul, MN (mmatthews01@gw.hamline.edu) Program Abstract Honest signals convey accurate information used by females to assess male quality. Carotenoid-based plumage coloration in house finches (Carpodacus mexicanus) depends on a maleâ€™s diet and physical condition. High quality males dis-play brighter plumage than poor quality males. This costly plumage is an honest signal that females prefer in mates. Females are also attracted to male song, but it is unknown whether song conveys accurate or deceitful information. To determine this I compared song to known honest plumage signals in 44 wild male house finches observed in MN and IN. A positive correlation with honest plumage signals would suggest song is also honest. However, no correlation existed between plumage color and song duration, suggesting song is dishonest. A negative correlation was found between color patch size and singing rate. Song may be dishonest, as poor quality males sung more often than high quality males with bright plumage. Poor quality may induce males to increase their signaling effort. Alternatively song may be honest, with females preferring males who sing less because a low singing rate is associated with high quality. Media Friendly Abstract

MATTHERW POSTER Accepted EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF MALE COMBAT IN A SIB-MATING PARASITOID WASP, MELITTOBIA DIGITATA>/I> Christopher S. Hartley & Robert W. Matthews* Dept. of Entomol., Univ. of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602 (rmatthew@uga.edu) Program Abstract The parasitic wasp Melittobia digitata (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is a gregarious external parasite of various insects. Sexual dimorphism is extreme; males possess enlarged antennae and reduced wings. An emerging brood is 95% female; males mate with sisters and do not disperse. Males engage in fierce, often fatal, fights with other males, but are not known to feed as adults. This study had three main objectives. The first was to determine fighting shortened a winning male’s lifespan. Results supported this hypothesis. Winning males lived 9.65 days compared to isolated male lifespan of 12.3 days. The second objective was to determine whether fighting behavior changed with age. Results supported the hypothesis that older males whose energy reserves would be nearly depleted would be more subdued fighters. The third objective was to determine whether winners of fights were larger than losers. Measures of winners and losers head width and tibial length supported the hypothesis that winners were larger. Media Friendly Abstract

MCCARTTM POSTER Accepted EFFECTS OF RELATEDNESS AND PREDATION RISK ON BEHAVIOR DURING MATING INTERACTIONS Thomas M. McCarthy* School of Biological Sciences, University of Kentucky (tmmcca0@uky.edu) Program Abstract Behavioral tendencies during mating interactions can have important effects on mating patterns within populations. Two factors hypothesized to influence mating behavior are relatedness and predation risk. The genetic similarity of mates could affect fitness due to inbreeding or outbreeding effects. Predation risk could also differentially affect fitness consequences of particular mating behaviors. This study tested for effects of these two factors on mating interactions of snails (Physa gyrina). Pairs of snails experienced different levels of predation risk, and the genetic similarities of individuals within pairs was varied. I recorded the number of matings, mating duration, behaviors leading to copulations, rejection behaviors, error rates, and behaviors suggesting gender conflict. Evidence suggests predation risk influenced mating behavior and decreased mating frequency. Mating interactions were also influenced by the degree of genetic similarity of the potential mates within a pair. Further studies are needed to identify general patterns for how these and other factors influence mating behavior and fitness. Media Friendly Abstract

MCDONNSM INVITED Accepted ETHOLOGIST IN THE BREEDING SHED S.M. McDonnel* Equine Behavior Lab, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, New Bolton Center, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA (suemc@vet.upenn.edu) Program Abstract This presentation proposes examples of important lessons learned from critical observational and experimental study of the reproductive behavior of free-running or pasture breeding equids, comparing it with normal and dysfunctional reproductive behavior of hand-bred horses, and then applying concepts to improve breeding efficiency of domestic horses. The lessons imply simple changes from currently accepted or recommended breeding farm management practices, either for all horses, or for use when standard practices fail for certain individual animals. Examples to be presented include the active behavioral role of the female in stimulating the stallion, the normal and frequent occurrence of periodic erection and penile movements, social facilitation of reproductive function in stallions, the normal and frequent mounting without erection, and certain specific details about the copulatory sequence that are not commonly appreciated in the horse breeding industry. Understanding and implementation of these simple concepts by equine breeding managers can save considerable time and effort, and in some cases can rescue the breeding career of valuable individual animals. Media Friendly Abstract This presentation proposes examples of important lessons learned from critical observational and experimental study of the reproductive behavior of free-running or pasture breeding equids, comparing it with normal and dysfunctional reproductive behavior of hand-bred horses, and then applying concepts to improve breeding efficiency of domestic horses. The lessons imply simple changes from currently accepted or recommended breeding farm management practices, either for all horses, or for use when standard practices fail for certain individual animals. Examples to be presented include the active behavioral role of the female in stimulating the stallion, the normal and frequent occurrence of periodic erection and penile movements, social facilitation of reproductive function in stallions, the normal and frequent mounting without erection, and certain specific details about the copulatory sequence that are not commonly appreciated in the horse breeding industry. Understanding and implementation of these simple concepts by equine breeding managers can save considerable time and effort, and in some cases can rescue the breeding career of valuable individual animals.

MCEACHMB POSTER Accepted INHERITING THE NATAL TERRITORY: STRUCTURED POPULATION MODELS OF TERRITORY BEQUEATHAL Mary Brooke McEachern* & Charles M. Efferson Graduate Group in Ecology, University of California, Davis (mbmceachern@ucdavis.edu) Program Abstract Females of some mammal species bequeath all or a portion of their breeding territories to their offspring and subsequently disperse to a new territory. This behavior, dubbed territory bequeathal, is presumed rare due to the significant cost to the parent in terms of future survival and reproduction. However, a thorough investigation of the costs and benefits of bequeathal is needed to elucidate the potential prevalence of this behavior. Using a structured population model, we explored the conditions under which territory bequeathal is expected to evolve in a population. We assumed that bequeathal conveys a dispersal advantage while non-bequeathal conveys a fecundity advantage. Our general results indicate that bequeathal is favored when territories are limiting, adults have a higher probability of successfully dispersing than juveniles, and the costs of bequeathing in terms of reduced fecundity are not excessive. Future modifications of the model will address two opposing hypotheses in the literature regarding the relationship between bequeathal probability and population density. Media Friendly Abstract

MCGLOTJW ORAL Accepted ELEVATED TESTOSTERONE ALTERS MATE PREFERENCE IN FEMALE DARK-EYED JUNCOS (JUNCO HYEMALIS): EVIDENCE FOR A HORMONAL CONSTRAINT ON SEXUAL SELECTION Joel W. McGlothlin, Diane L. Neudorf, Joseph M. Casto, Val Nolan Jr. & Ellen D. Ketterson Dept. of Biol. Sci., Vanderbilt U, Nashville, TN 37235, Dept. of Biol., Sam Houston State U, Huntsville, TX 77341 & Dept. of Biol. and CISAB, Indiana U., Bloomington IN 47405 (jmcgloth@indiana.edu) Program Abstract Previous studies have shown that male dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis*) with experimentally elevated testosterone (T) are more attractive to females and sire more extra-pair young. Males with elevated T should be favored by sexual selection, and increased T levels should evolve unless constrained by some counteracting force. Selection for higher T in males might be accompanied by a correlated response in females. If increased T in females were to alter their mating preference, further evolution of male T levels via sexual selection would be constrained. To test this idea, we experimentally increased T in both sexes and performed mate choice trials in which control (C-) and T-implanted (T-) females could choose to associate with either T- or C-males. T-females did not show a preference for either male treatment, while C-females showed a significant but unexpected preference for C-males. To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that hormonal treatment can alter female choosiness. Our results suggest that hormonal correlations between the sexes may constrain sexual selection on males. Media Friendly Abstract

MCPHEEME ORAL Accepted GENERATIONS IN CAPTIVITY INCREASES BEHAVIORAL VARIATION IN THE OLDFIELD MOUSE PEROMYSCUS POLIONOTUS SUBGRISEUS. M. Elsbeth McPhee* School of Natural Res. & Environment, Univ. of Michigan (mmcphee@umich.edu) Program Abstract Long-term maintenance of captive populations, and release of captive animals in to the wild, is one of many approaches to endangered species conservation. To assess captivity's effects on behavior, a simulated predator was presented and response behaviors measured in oldfield mice Peromyscus polionotus subgriseus. The animals tested were from 4 populations collected from Ocala National Forest, FL, that had been held in captivity for varying number of generations: 35, 14, 2, and 0 (wild-caught). Results show that (1) the longer a population has been in captivity, the less likely an individual is to take cover after seeing a predator, and (2) the variance in predator response behaviors increases with generations in captivity. Media Friendly Abstract

MEIKLEDB ORAL Accepted MALE DOMINANCE RANK, PARASITE LOAD AND FEMALE MATE CHOICE IN HOUSE MICE Douglas Meikle* & Jason Mihalcin Department of Zoology, Miami University, Oxford OH 45056 (meikled@muohio.edu) Program Abstract Female house mice in estrous prefer the odors of dominant to those of subordinate males and they prefer the odors of nonparasitized to parasitized males. Hence, all else equal, females would presumably choose to mate with dominant and/or nonparasitized males. Females may acquire both direct and indirect reproductive benefits from mating with high-ranking or nonparasitized males. However, it is not clear which of the two male traits takes priority in female mate choice. We tested female preference for the odors of males in pairs for which we initially determined dominance status and then in half the pairs we infected the dominant male and in the other half the subordinate male with the nematode Heligmosimoides polygyrus. We subsequently measured female preference for the odors of infected and noninfected males. Prior to infection, estrous females preferred the odors of dominant males. After infection of subordinate males, females still preferred dominant males. However, after infection of dominant males, females showed a preference for (noninfected) subordinate males. Female mice appear to respond more strongly to a male’s infection status than to his dominance status. However, the pre- and post-infection preferences of females for males within a rank category differed for dominant and subordinate males. Media Friendly Abstract Female house mice prefer the odors of dominant to those of subordinate males and they prefer the odors of nonparasitized to parasitized males. Hence, all else equal, females would presumably choose to mate with dominant and/or nonparasitized males. However, it is not clear which of the two male traits takes priority in female mate choice. We tested female preference for the odors of males in pairs for which we initially determined dominance status and then in half the pairs we infected the dominant male and in the other half the subordinate male with the nematode Heligmosimoides polygyrus. We subsequently measured female preference for the odors of infected and noninfected males. Prior to infection, estrous females preferred the odors of dominant males. After infection of subordinate males, females still preferred dominant males. However, after infection of dominant males, females showed a preference for (noninfected) subordinate males. Female mice appear to respond more strongly to a male’s infection status than to his dominance status.

MEISELDV ORAL Accepted CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS IN OCTOPUS VULGARIS Daniela V. Meisel*, Ruth A. Byrne, Michael J. Kuba & Ulrike Griebel Konrad Lorenz Institute, A-3422, Austria (dani.meisel@kla.univie.ac.at) Program Abstract Biological clocks are physiological processes that enable organisms to synchronize their behavior with the time constraints of their environment. This study is the first that continuously monitored four O. vulgaris under light/dark (LD) and constant conditions (DD) for 14 days. All four animals investigated showed free running rhythms of locomotor activity. The period length of the rhythm, Tau, was close to 24 hours. Activity and rest bouts tended to occur in short bursts. Animals were likely to be active at any time of the day in a LD cycle but there was a trend towards diurnal activity. Animals showed a form of relative entrainment to the LD cycles. Color changes were entrained to LD cycles and free running in DD. They predominated in light, dawn and dusk phases and were significantly more numerous in LD than in constant conditions. Foraging behavior appeared not to be influenced by the LD cycles and was constantly free running throughout the experiment. Overall activity of the animals was ranging from 40 to 80% of a cycle and did not differ significantly in amount between LD and constant conditions. Media Friendly Abstract

MENCHJA INVITED Accepted ETHOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO ANIMAL WELFARE: FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE AND BACK AGAIN Joy A. Mench* Dept. Animal Science, University of California, Davis, CA (jamench@ucdavis.edu) Program Abstract As societal concern about the treatment of farm, laboratory, captive and companion animals has increased, so too has the necessity to obtain scientific information about animal welfare. By its nature, the study of animal welfare is interdisciplinary, spanning ethology, physiology, veterinary medicine, genetics, nutrition, and other fields. However, applied ethologists have played a major role in developing the discipline of animal welfare science. Ultimately, the goal of animal welfare science is to “get inside the animal’s mind” in order to understand the causes and magnitude of welfare problems and methods for reducing those problems. Animal welfare scientists have employed a number of innovative approaches in addressing this challenging goal. These approaches have been strongly grounded in principles from theoretical ethology, but in turn have contributed to advances in our understanding of causation that can be of benefit for theoretical ethology. I will discuss some of these approaches, with particular reference to the understanding of abnormal behavior and the implementation of environmental enrichment strategies. Media Friendly Abstract

MENDONMT ORAL Accepted EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE ON MATING DISCRIMINATION IN MALE BIG BROWN BATS Mary T. Mendonça* Dept. of Biological Sciences Auburn Univ. Auburn, AL 36849 (mendomt@mail.auburn.edu) Program Abstract Previous experiments in our lab have found that exposure to periods of low temperature modulate mating behavior in male big brown bats. While exposing males to differing temperature regimens, we noted that males occasionally mounted other males as well as females. The frequency of this occurring varied with temperature regimen. Males were divided into 3 treatments: constant 22 C (CONSTANT), repeated exposure of 5 C for 7 d (LONG) or 5 C for 1 d (PULSE) with alternating intervals of 22 C for 4 d. We recorded the sex of the bat a male mounted and categorized males as predominately female mounters (>60% of mounts were of a female), equal (40-60% of mounts female), or male mounters (<40% of mounts female). Significantly more LONG males mounted females than had equal discrimination (80% vs 20%). No LONG males predominately mounted males. Significantly more PULSE males mounted females but 10% were found to mount males. CONSTANT males tended to mount males (55% p=0.06). Only 20% of CONSTANT males mounted females. These data will be discussed in light of possible pheromonal or hormonal differences caused by temperature. Media Friendly Abstract

MENGEJ POSTER Accepted SPINY MOUSE (ACOMYS CAHIRINIS) RELATIONS IN THE PRESENCE OF OFFSPRING. Jill A. Menge*, Virginia T. Coryell & Jeffrey R. Alberts Dept. of Psych., Indiana Univ, Bloomington, IN 47405 (jmenge@indiana.edu) Program Abstract Spiny mice pairbond for mating and offspring care, but effects of offspring on pair relations are unknown. For example, offspring birth may disrupt pair relations because the adults’ attentions shift to offspring care. We predicted allogrooming and physical contact within the pair would decrease after birth. Seven pairs were observed 12 hr before and 12 hr after birth in one-chamber cages. Dams spent more time grooming sires before birth than after (p< .01). There was a trend for sires to spend more time grooming dams before birth than after (p= .08). Contrary to predictions, contact did not differ significantly before and after birth (p=.13). It is possible that confinement in a single chamber forced the adults to maintain contact. We next observed 7 pairs of mice in 3-chamber cages prior to and after birth. Time spent in contact by the pairs did not change before and after birth (p=.83). These findings suggest that although grooming may decrease post partum, spiny mice pairs actively maintain physical contact with their mate, even after the appearance of the offspring. Media Friendly Abstract

MEYERCI FOUNDERS Accepted SOCIAL INTERACTIONS OF FEMALE GREEN SWORDTAIL FISH IN THE WILD Christiane I. Meyer* Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton NJ 08544 (cmeyer@princeton.edu) Program Abstract Behavioral research on mate preference, mate search tactics and learning can usually only be conducted in the laboratory, where external conditions can be manipulated. It is crucial that such studies be shaped by an understanding of behavior in the wild. The genus Xiphophorus has been widely used as a model system in sexual selection but little is known about male behavior and even less about female behavior in the wild. I studied marked green swordtails, X. helleri, focusing on social interactions. Females spent most of their time feeding but interacted regularly with males. None of 15 observed females actively elicited male courtship behavior but rather avoided courting males. Dominant males frequently interrupted the courtship of others. Females appeared to move independently from other females, which is important for laboratory tests of single females. Male and female body size was measured at two additional sites and differed significantly among these three sites. This finding raises interesting questions about the opportunity of females to express their preference for large size and about the role of experience in mate choice. Media Friendly Abstract

MIDFORPE ORAL Accepted ONTOLOGY AS AN ETHOGRAM: A CASE STUDY USING JUMPING SPIDER COURTSHIP Peter E. Midford* Ecol. and Evol. Bio., U. Arizona, Tucson AZ 85721 (pmidford@u.arizona.edu) Program Abstract Traditionally, ethograms are used to collect and categorize the behavioral repertoire of a species. The field of Artificial Intelligence has developed methods for representing common-sense knowledge, which ought to include behavior. The best developed of these methods involve the construction of machine-based "ontologies." Using video-taped courtship data from several species of Habronattus jumping spiders, I am developing an ontology-based representation in parallel with a traditional ethogram. Ontologies explicitly represent concepts (such as behavior types) and the relationships among them. An ontology at least partially defines concepts in relation to existing concepts, providing flexibility and reducing the tendency to "pigeon-hole" novel exemplars. Explicit definition of relationships and their properties can unmask assumptions and may provide a basis for describing evolutionary change. Some ontology construction tools also use the ontology as a database schema, allowing integration of supporting data. I will compare the strengths and weaknesses of each approach to representing behavior. Media Friendly Abstract Traditionally, one of the first steps in studying the behavior of a species is to construct a catalog describing the behavior patterns of the species. Such catalogs usually consist of text and some figures. I am exploring other ways to represent this descriptive data, focusing on methods developed in the field of Artificial Intelligence. I use a method that builds structures called "ontologies", which are networks of concepts and links that represent relationships among concepts. Besides other concepts, concepts may have relationships with entries in a database. At this meeting I am comparing an ontology and a traditional behavior catalog that each describe the courtship behavior of several related species of jumping spider. My ultimate goal is a better understanding of what types of changes a behavior pattern can make as an animal linage evolves.

MIXK INVITED Accepted DO HUMAN INFANTS PERCEIVE QUANTITIES IN TERMS OF NUMBER? Kelly S. Mix* Dept. of Psychology, Indiana Univ., Bloomington, IN 47405 Program Abstract In most current conceptualizations, it is assumed that the origins of human quantification are number-based. This position draws support from a varied literature demonstrating that infants are sensitive to quantitative information as early as hours after birth. However, a recent review of this literature provided no clear-cut evidence that infants use number to perform quantitative tasks . Instead, it is possible that infants responded to one of many non-numerical cues that were not adequately controlled in the extant studies. Furthermore, new research indicates that when number is separated from these other variables, infants respond to non-numerical cues, such as area and contour length, rather than number. I will discuss the implications of these findings for subsequent numerical development in humans and in relation to work with non-human subjects. Media Friendly Abstract

MOOREDE INVITED Accepted ECOLOGY, ANIMAL BEHAVIOR AND USE OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD IN MANAGEMENT OF ZOO ANIMALS Don E. Moore* & Diana Reiss Animal Enrichment Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, NY (dmoore@wcs.org) Program Abstract Science- and ecologically-based husbandry management techniques and problem-solving methods for zoo and aquarium animals are described. Examples of current fact-based behavior programs which address the mental and physical needs of zoo and aquarium animals are given. Specifically, simulating random amphibian foraging opportunities to change activity budgets, and studying ecology of endangered Wyoming toads in nature to solve a husbandry/reproduction problem ex situ are examples given of application of science to address animal behavior challenges. Zoo biologists have developed sets of natural history and individual animal history questions to support fact-based, formalized animal behavior management programs in accredited zoos and aquariums; these question sets also allow applied animal behaviorists working with zoos to identify interesting, unanswered questions for research purposes. Media Friendly Abstract How would you encourage frogs in a zoo to mate and lay eggs? How would you stimulate hunting behavior in frogs and other animals in zoos? If animals can think, how could you regularly stimulate their mental abilities in a zoo or aquarium? These are questions applied animal behaviorists working in modern zoos and aquariums ask themselves as they discover and use scientific facts to mentally and physically enrich animals' lives. The authors show that knowledge from their own research in other fields such as ecology can be integrated with animal behavior study results to solve applied animal behavior problems and to provide the best possible husbandry for animals in zoos, and that applied research can begin to answer basic questions about behavior in animals from Wyoming toads to red pandas.

MORGANKN POSTER Accepted CHIMP BEHAVIOR, ZOO VISITOR BEHAVIOR, AND VISITOR ATTITUDE TOWARDS CHIMPS HOUSED IN AN OLD-STYLE EXHIBIT Kathleen N. Morgan, Fabienne Mondesir, Katherine Buell, Phyllis Guy, Victoria Carmella, Katherine Hunt & Sonia Pizzarro Dept. of Psychology, Wheaton College (kmorgan@wheatonma.edu) Program Abstract Visitor studies are a means of evaluating the success or failure of a zoo’s program to improve visitors’ attitudes about wildlife. However, very few data on visitor attitudes and behavior exist, and certainly few that are reported concurrently with data on animal behavior. In this paper, we present preliminary data from the first year of a 2-year study of the effects that a significant change in exhibit has on chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes*) and zoo visitor behavior. The current exhibit in which chimps are housed is an old-style, concrete and steel bar cage, with few furnishings and little environmental enrichment. Data were gathered on the behavior of chimps housed in this exhibit, concurrent with behavior of visitors to the exhibit. In addition, visitors were surveyed for their attitudes towards the chimps and towards the exhibit. Results suggest that although visitors were disturbed by the relatively barren housing and considered the chimps’ behavior in that housing abnormal, they nonetheless encouraged abnormal and aggressive behavior in the animals. Results are discussed in the context of zoos as places for informal education about animal behavior. Media Friendly Abstract

MORRISMR ORAL Accepted A POLYMORPHISM IN FEMALE PREFERENCE FOR A POLYMORPHIC MALE TRAIT IN THE SWORDTAIL FISH XIPHOPHORUS CORTEZI Molly R. Morris*, Paul F. Nicoletto & Elizabeth Hesselman Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens & Department of Biology, Lamar University, Beaumont Texas (morrism@oak.cats.ohiou.edu) Program Abstract If the mating preferences of individual females vary consistently within a population and these preferences result in mate choice, then phenotypic variation in mating preferences could act to maintain variation in male traits through frequency-dependent sexual selection. Xiphophorus cortezi males are polymorphic for the pigment pattern vertical bars. In this study, we determined if females are polymorphic in their preference for this trait by examining both within- and among-individual variation in female preference. There was significantly more variation in female preference within- than among-individuals using both video animations and live males as stimuli. Some females had a strong preference for males with bars, some for males without bars, and some had either a weak preference or no preference at all. We also found a significant difference in the strength of preference for the bars between females with and without bars, suggesting the potential for a genetic correlation between preference and trait, which is necessary for several of the models of the evolution of female and is required for some of the models of sympatric speciation. Media Friendly Abstract If the mating preferences of individual females vary consistently within a population and these preferences result in mate choice, then phenotypic variation in mating preferences could act to maintain variation in male traits through frequency-dependent sexual selection. Some male swordtail fish of the species Xiphophorus cortezi have a pigment pattern called vertical bars while other males of the same species do not. In this study, we determined if all females of this species had the same mating preference in relation to the bars, or if some females preferred males with bars and some preferred males without bars. We found that there was significantly more variation in female preference within- than among-individuals using both video animations and live males as stimuli. These results suggest that some females had a strong preference for males with bars, some for males without bars, and some had either a weak preference or no preference at all. We also found a significant difference in the strength of preference for the bars between females with and without bars, suggesting the potential for a genetic correlation between female preference and male trait, which is necessary for several of the models of the evolution of female and is required for some of the models of sympatric speciation.

MUIRWM INVITED Accepted GROUP SELECTION APPLIED TO FARM ANIMALS William M Muir* (bmuir@purdue.edu) Program Abstract Media Friendly Abstract

MULLINSJ ORAL Accepted CLIMBING PERFORMANCE AND BEHAVIOR IN AN AVIAN NEST PREDATOR (COLUBRIDAE: ELAPHE). Stephen J. Mullin* & Robert J. Cooper Dept. of Biological Sciences, Eastern Illinois Univ., USA. & Warnell School of Forest Resources, Univ. of Georgia, USA. (cfsjm@eiu.edu) Program Abstract Among the reasons believed responsible for the recent declines in songbird populations, the role of predators is uncertain and difficult to quantify in the field. Acadian flycatchers (Empidonax virescens) experience higher nest success in Nuttall oaks (Quercus nuttalli). To determine if variation in bark surface imperfections may influence the ability of a predator to access avian nest contents, we examined the climbing abilities of rat snakes (Elaphe obsoleta) on trees having three different bark types. None of the subjects was able to ascend large Nuttall oaks in the absence of vines; with vines present, subjects still required more time to climb Nuttall oaks when compared to other species. A few subjects successfully climbed small Nuttall oaks lacking vines, but ascent time was longer, and the climbing behavior was modified from that observed in the other trials. Our results indicate that the likelihood of nest predation by rat snakes is decreased when birds nest in trees with smooth bark and without vines. We advocate further investigations considering differences among nest substrates that are pertinent from the perspectives of both prey and predator species. Media Friendly Abstract

MUNDINPC ORAL Accepted CANARY SONG:AN EMPIRICAL MODEL OF RUNAWAY BIO-CULTURAL COEVOLUTION Paul C. Mundinger* Dept. of Biol.,Queens College/CUNY, Flushing, N.Y. 11367 (paul_mundinger@qc.edu) Program Abstract Bio-cultural coevolution posits that biological and cultural evolution are linked. Some anthropologists use it, but fail to support a claim that how genes affect culture and culture affects genes can be a positive feedback loop. To empirically investigate b-c coevolution and the possible runaway process, I analyzed an animal model, canary song, since it is culturally transmitted in the wild, and genetic background and cultural choice can be controlled. 39 female and 54 male domestic canaries were tested with female choice or male song learning experiments, & several hundred wild canary males were recorded to assess cultural evolution of song dialects. Five criteria for bio-cultural coevolution were met to varying degrees, i.e. that canary song evolves 1. biologically, & 2. culturally; 3. that (song) genes affect song culture; 4. that song culture, in turn, affects the natural selection of (song) genes; 5. that a gene-culture positive feedback loop operates over evolutionary time. The driving force is a special form of sexual selection, meme-gene sexual selection, in which female choice is guided by culturally shared song patterns. Media Friendly Abstract Bio-cultural coevolution is important as it applies to humans. Originally developed by anthropologists, it is hard to demonstrate unambiguously as a real phenomenon using human studies since human genetics and culture are not under experimental control. For instance, how can one show that specified genes affect cultural choice? Reciprocally, how might one show that an acquired culture affects the selection of those genes? But the theory is a general one and applies as well to culture-bearing, non-human animals, like songbirds. With animal models it is possible to experimentally control genetic background and cultural choice. By analyzing the song of the canary this study uncovered empirical evidence for several key features of bio-cultural coevolution: canary song evolves, 1.culturally and 2.biologically; 3. sex-linked (song) genes affect which song culture a canary preferentially chooses; 4. specific song cultures, in turn, apparently affect the natural selection of those same (song) genes; 5. the annual process of mate choice followed by song learning by progeny forms a gene-culture feedback loop operating over evolutionary time.

MURDOCGK ORAL Accepted RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN BISON RESPONSES TO WOLF HARASSMENT AND BISON HERD COMPOSITION Gwen K. Murdock* Dept of Psychology, Missouri Southern State College, Joplin, MO 64801 (murdock-g@mail.mssc.edu) Program Abstract An observational study of captive bison-wolf interactions examined the relationship between herd composition and bison responses to harassment and attack. The study was conducted at Wolf Park in Battleground, IN. Focal-animal, instantaneous scan and all occurrences sampling of bison behavior were taken before, during and after wolves were introduced. Wolves remained in the bison pasture for 1-2 hours at weekly intervals. Three notable occurrences of bison calf-wolf interactions were a) a new born calf attacked directly by wolves and protected by the herd; b) a yearling heifer harassed by wolves across a fence and ignored by the herd which included younger calves; and c) a yearling bull harassed by wolves across a fence and protected by the herd which did not include younger calves. The presence of younger calves in the herd was one factor that seemed to inhibit adults’ protective responses. The mechanisms that elicited these behaviors were discussed in light of reports of wild wolf-bison (Carbyn & Trottier, 1987; 1988; Carbyn, 1997) interactions. Media Friendly Abstract Once a week, a few of the wolves at Wolf Park in Battleground, IN are introduced to the bison herd. This presentation reports the results of a year long study of how the herd responded to the wolves. Three notable events were a) a new born calf attacked directly by wolves and protected by the herd; b) a yearling heifer harassed by wolves across a fence and ignored by the herd which included younger calves; and c) a yearling bull harassed by wolves across a fence and protected by the herd which did not include younger calves. The differences between the two events involving yearlings was the presence of younger calves in the herd. When younger calves were present, the herd ignored the harassment of the yearling. How these observations relate to reports of wild wolf bison interactions are discussed.

MURRAYAL FOUNDERS Accepted INDIVIDUAL VARIATION IN THE FOOD-HOARDING BEHAVIOR OF MERRIAM'S KANGAROO RATS (DIPODOMYS MERRIAMI) IN DIFFERENT COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENTS Amanda L. Murray* Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada (almurray@unr.edu) Program Abstract A common trend in research has been to emphasize species-typical behaviors, often leading to a neglect of intraspecific variation. Because natural selection acts on the individual, it may promote population diversity, particularly when there are multiple strategies of equal fitness. Such variation may be a response to frequently changing or competitively variable environments. North American desert rodents live in an environment characterized by extremes in temperature and seed productivity. The ability to hoard food is vital. Although one might expect a species to use one food-hoarding technique, individuals within species form a continuum from nearly exclusive larderhoarders to exclusive scatterhoarders in lab tests. However, little is known about the behavior of this species in the wild. This study aims to thoroughly investigate the food-hoarding behavior of through repeatedly evaluating focal individuals. I use a combination of fluorescently labeled seeds and focal individual observations to track seed caches and find larders. Analysis of preliminary data indicates that individuals are variable, but repeatable in their food-hoarding strategy. Media Friendly Abstract

NAKAGAS ORAL Accepted DO EARTHWORMS CHANGE THEIR MATING EFFORT ACCORDING TO RELATEDNESS? Shinichi Nakagawa*, Terry D. Bannister, Fiona R. Jensen, Donald A. McLean & Joseph R. Waas Department of Biological Sciences,, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, & Hamilton, New Zealand (sn9@waikato.ac.nz) Program Abstract Animals that can distinguish kin from non-kin may enhance their breeding success through goptimal outbreedingh. Although relatedness can influence the breeding success of earthworms, no studies of kin discrimination have been conducted in any Oligochaeta species. We determined whether Eisenia fetida would discriminate kin and change breeding effort with them. The number of cocoons produced (fecundity), viable cocoons, and hatchlings produced by full sibling (inbreeding) and non-sibling (outbreeding) pairs, from different populations, were compared; in this species, fecundity is a reliable indicator of the occurrence and frequency of mating. There were no significant differences in fecundity between inbreeding and outbreeding pairs, so we obtained no evidence for differential investment based on kinship. However, sibling pairs hatched a significantly greater proportion of their cocoons than non-sibling pairs, suggesting outbreeding depression may reduce reproductive success. Media Friendly Abstract In the animal world, inbreeding is harmful but outbreeding (breeding between completley unrelated individuals) could be just as harmful. If anaimals can tell kin and non-kin apart, it will be benifical for their breeding success, producing healthy offspring. We wondered whether earthworms could discriminate their sibling from unrelated ones, because earthworms are such important species for our agriculture but there is no studies on kin discrimnation in earthworms (not surprised). We compared between sibling (inbreeding) pairs and non-sibling (outbreeding) pairs (unrelated individuals from different populations); 1) how many cocoons pairs produced, 2) how many cocoons actually produced hatchlings (viable cocoons), 3)how many hatchings were produced per viable cocoon. Sibling pairs and non-sibling pairs produced similar numbers of cocoons which meant that mating frequency between these two groups were similar. Thus, we did not find any evidenc for kin discrimination in earthworms. However, non-sibling (outbreeding) pairs produced much less viable cocoons which may indicate there is possiblity of outbreeding depression (breeding between far-unrelated individuals is harmful) in earthworms.

NAKAYAK ORAL Accepted OBSERVATION OF CONSPECIFICS SCRATCHING INDUCES NEGATIVE EMOTIONAL CONTAGION IN JAPANES MONKEYS (MACACA FUSCATA). Katsura Nakayama* Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Japan (nakayama@pri.kyoto-u.ac.jp) Program Abstract It has been pointed out that the self-directed behaviors (SDBs) such as self-grooming and self-scratching are an important class of nonverbal behaviors signifying negative emotional arousal. However, there have been few studies investigated the informative function of SDBs in nonhuman primates. The present study aims at investigating whether SDBs provide an informative value for group-living Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata). One objective of this study is to ask if SDBs displayed by the target produce behavioral changes of observers. Another objective of the present study is to examine whether the negative emotion can be transmitted into observers through the observation of SDBs displayed by the target. In addition, the result may help to understand how primates know about the emotional states of others. I conducted a series of experiments resembling an alerting situation in which a “target” monkey monitored a “stranger” and “observer(s)” paid attention to the behavior of the target. I hypothesized that if observation of the target scratching during monitoring passively transmit negative emotion to observers, behavioral responses of observers that potentially expressing underlying negative emotions would follow after the target monitoring. The results suggested that observers selectively paid attention to the monitoring behavior of the target. Moreover, the contagion of scratching among group members occurred when the target displayed scratching in the context of monitoring. From these results, it may be concluded that cautious observation of conspecifics exhibiting elevated scratching in alerting situation might passively transmit negative emotion in Japanese monkeys. Media Friendly Abstract

NARINSPM INVITED Accepted SOUND AND VIBRATION RECEPTION IN FROGS: IS THERE A DIFFERENCE? Peter M. Narins* Dept. of Physiol. Science, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095 (pnarins@ucla.edu) Program Abstract Selection is thought to act on communicating individuals to optimize information transfer in adverse (noisy) environments. Thus, any adaptation of the signaler or receiver that increases the likelihood of successful communication should be selected for. Many frogs produce both airborne and substrate-borne communication signals. Given the similarities between these two modalities, it is reasonable to ask how these signals are received and distinguished. Here we provide a comparison of the mechanisms for generating and receiving both auditory and vibrational (seismic) signals in neotropical frogs as well as experimental evidence that at least one species (Leptodactylus albilabris) is capable of detecting these signals independently. In conclusion, we speculate how evolution could act on each modality to sculpt an appropriate response in highly noisy natural environments. Supported by NIH Grant no. DC00222. Media Friendly Abstract Selection is thought to act on communicating individuals to optimize information transfer in adverse (noisy) environments. Thus, any adaptation of the signaler or receiver that increases the likelihood of successful communication should be selected for. Many frogs produce both airborne and substrate-borne communication signals. Given the similarities between these two modalities, it is reasonable to ask how these signals are received and distinguished. Here we provide a comparison of the mechanisms for generating and receiving both auditory and vibrational (seismic) signals in neotropical frogs as well as experimental evidence that at least one species (Leptodactylus albilabris) is capable of detecting these signals independently. In conclusion, we speculate how evolution could act on each modality to sculpt an appropriate response in highly noisy natural environments. Supported by NIH Grant no. DC00222.

NAUGD ORAL Accepted DO BEES USE FUZZY RULES TO MAKE FORAGING DECISIONS? Dhruba Naug*, H.S. Arathi & Raghavendra Gadagkar Center for Ecological Sciences, Bangalore & Center for Ecological Sciences, Bangalor (naug.1@osu.edu) Program Abstract In the uncertain environment, an animal has incomplete information requiring it to make constant updates of available information and suitably adjust its behavior. Using the exploratory and choice behaviors of individual honeybees for food, we investigated possible algorithms by which information is gathered about available options, a specific choice is made and new information regarding any changes in the available options is incorporated in the decision making process. We found that strength of the choice was positively correlated with the relative rather than the absolute difference among the available options. Paradoxically, with the same relative difference, strength of the choice was negatively correlated with the absolute difference among the options. We also investigated the actual process by which bees make a choice by examining the sequences in which bees sampled the available options. These sequences were compared with sequences derived from simulations based on a fuzzy model, which uses linguistic rules to determine behavior. A comparison of the data with the predictions of the model suggests that bees are probably using similar behavioral algorithms to track a fluctuating environment. Media Friendly Abstract

NAVARAKJ POSTER Accepted DIFFERENTIAL ALLOCATION OF YOLK CONTENT IN THE HOUSE FINCH, CARPODACUS MEXICANUS Kristen J. Navara*, Mary T. Mendonça & Geoffrey E. Hill Dept. of Biol. Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849 (navarkr@auburn.edu) Program Abstract Maternal investment has an important influence on offspring fitness in many species. Current evidence suggests that female birds have the ability to differentially allocate beneficial materials into the yolks of their eggs both between and within clutches, potentially adjusting for fitness effects caused by hatching asynchrony, mate quality, or environmental conditions. We examined egg yolk content over the course of a season in the House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus, a sexually dichromatic passerine displaying high levels of hatching asynchrony. Females tended to deposit larger amounts of both testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) into eggs laid later in the clutch, while corticosterone (B) levels tended to be higher in eggs laid in earlier clutch positions. Furthermore, overall clutches tended to contain higher T and DHT later in the season, while B levels tended to be higher earlier in the season. Further studies are required to determine the driving forces and potential offspring fitness effects of this investment strategy. Media Friendly Abstract Maternal investment has an important influence on offspring fitness in many species. Current evidence suggests that female birds have the ability to differentially allocate beneficial materials into the yolks of their eggs both between and within clutches, potentially adjusting for fitness effects caused by hatching asynchrony, mate quality, or environmental conditions. We examined egg yolk content over the course of a season in the House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus, a sexually dichromatic passerine displaying high levels of hatching asynchrony. Females tended to deposit larger amounts of both testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) into eggs laid later in the clutch, while corticosterone (B) levels tended to be higher in eggs laid in earlier clutch positions. Furthermore, overall clutches tended to contain higher T and DHT later in the season, while B levels tended to be higher earlier in the season. Further studies are required to determine the driving forces and potential offspring fitness effects of this investment strategy.

NELSONBS POSTER Accepted DUPLEX AUDITORY DISTANCE ASSESSMENT IN A SMALL PASSERINE BIRD Brian S. Nelson* Dept. of Biology, Indiana University, IN 47405 (Brsnelso@indiana.edu) Program Abstract Eastern towhees, Pipilo erythrophthalmus, (Emberizidae, Passeriformes) in Florida estimate source sound-pressure level (SPL) and often misjudge speaker distance in the field when vocalization source sound-pressure level (SPL) is varied experimentally. Sound frequencies below ~3.5 kHz attenuate reliably with distance in comparison with higher sound frequencies in Florida scrub habitat. As a result, I predicted that towhees should use SPL as an auditory distance cue when they hear stimuli produced with sound frequencies below ~3.5 kHz but use another cue when they hear stimuli produced with sound frequencies above ~3.5 kHz. Subjects often misjudge speaker distance when approaching playbacks of SPL altered stimuli comprised of sound frequencies below ~3.5 kHz but rarely misjudge speaker distance when played SPL altered stimuli comprised of sound frequencies above ~3.5 kHz. These data suggest that towhees employ a duplex sound localization strategy. Media Friendly Abstract

NELSONDA ORAL Accepted PERCEPTION OF A SONG DIALECT MARKER BY WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS Douglas A. Nelson* & Jill A. Soha Borror Lab of Bioacoustics, Ohio State Univ. (nelson.228@osu.edu) Program Abstract The songs of Puget Sound white-crowned sparrows form about ten vocal dialects along the Pacific northwest coast of North America. In his original description of song dialects in this subspecies in 1977, Luis Baptista found that males within a dialect shared the terminal trill portion of their songs. Terminal trills differ more among dialects than do the introductory phrases in the song, which are often shared among dialects. If the terminal trill provides a more reliable cue to the singer's origin than does the introduction, we predicted that male white-crowns would preferentially attend to variation in the trill in song playback experiments. We tested males in nine dialects and used nine different sets of stimuli in each of our experiments. Doing so enables us to generalize about the entire range of vocal variation in the subspecies, instead of in one or two dialects only. In experiments using either natural stimulus songs or songs synthesized by splicing together phrases from different dialects, we found that males responded most strongly to their local dialect. Stimuli with the introduction from a foreign dialect elicited weaker responses than the local dialect, but as predicted, stimuli containing a foreign trill elicited the weakest response. Media Friendly Abstract

NESSERM POSTER Accepted THE RISK OF BEING MALE: EXPLAINING THE INCREASING MALE:FEMALE MORTALITY RATIO Daniel Kruger & Randolph M. Nesse* Institute for Social Research, The Unversity of Michigan (nesse@umich.edu) Program Abstract Mortality rates are now considerably higher for males than females across the life-span in most contemporary societies. This project quantifies and graphically presents the overall Male to Female Mortality Ratio (M:FMR) during the past century in different countries, and for 10 specific leading causes of death at different ages in the USA. Mortality rates are higher for males in nearly all developed countries with a substantial peak at sexual maturity. This peak was minimal in 1940, but has increased dramatically in all countries where historical data was available: USA, Sweden, Japan and France. In the USA in 1998, the M:FMR for all causes increased sharply at adolescence, peaking in the 20-24 year age range at 3.06 male deaths for each female death. The M:FMR for causes mediated by behavior peaked at 4.42 in the 20-24 year age range, whereas the M:FMR for internal causes peaked at 1.68 in the 60-69 year age range. Overall, twice as many males as females die before age 50. This analysis illustrates how sex differences shaped by sexual selection interact in complex ways with multiple aspects of culture and environment to yield a pattern with some consistency across decades and societies, but also variations arising from differences among cohorts and cultures. These findings may have public health implications. Media Friendly Abstract Mortality rates are now considerably higher for males than females across the life-span in most contemporary societies. This project quantifies and graphically presents the overall Male to Female Mortality Ratio (M:FMR) during the past century in different countries, and for 10 specific leading causes of death at different ages in the USA. Mortality rates are higher for males in nearly all developed countries with a substantial peak at sexual maturity. This peak was minimal in 1940, but has increased dramatically in all countries where historical data was available: USA, Sweden, Japan and France. In the USA in 1998, the M:FMR for all causes increased sharply at adolescence, peaking in the 20-24 year age range at 3.06 male deaths for each female death. The M:FMR for causes mediated by behavior peaked at 4.42 in the 20-24 year age range, whereas the M:FMR for internal causes peaked at 1.68 in the 60-69 year age range. Overall, twice as many males as females die before age 50. This analysis illustrates how sex differences shaped by sexual selection interact in complex ways with multiple aspects of culture and environment to yield a pattern with some consistency across decades and societies, but also variations arising from differences among cohorts and cultures. These findings may have public health implications.

NIEHJC ORAL Accepted THE ART OF WAR: BLITZKRIEG COMMUNICATION IN TRIGONA HYALINATA James C. Nieh, Felipe Contrera & Paulo Nogueira-Neto UC San Diego, Section of Ecology, Behavior, & Evolution (jnieh@ucsd.edu) Program Abstract Competition is a major selective force upon the evolution of stingless bee communication systems and has led to the evolution of aggressive recruitment strategies. This study reports on a novel recruitment communication system used by an aggressive stingless bee, Trigona hyalinata, one of the few stingless bees able to displace invasive honey bees. T. hyalinata* foragers use a "blitzkrieg" strategy of sudden, rapid communication that recruits hundreds of nestmates to attack and overwhelm competitors at a food source. The system is extremely specific in space and time and can communicate the correct direction and distance of the food source through a polarized odor "runway" that extends approximately 20 m from the food source. Moving the odor runway to a new position causes a significant shift in newcomer orientation. Newcomers can arrive at the correct distance even when a control feeder is placed along the odor runway but closer to the nest. Odor marks consist of mandibular gland "alarm"pheromone. Fighting at the target releases additional alarm pheromone and thus reinforces the attraction, melding aggression and foraging. Media Friendly Abstract Competition is a major selective force upon the evolution of stingless bee communication systems and has led to the evolution of aggressive recruitment strategies. This study reports on a new recruitment communication system used by an aggressive stingless bee, Trigona hyalinata, one of the few stingless bees able to displace invasive honey bees. T. hyalinata foragers use a "blitzkrieg" strategy of sudden, rapid communication that recruits hundreds of nestmates to attack and overwhelm competitors at a food source. The system is extremely specific in space and time and can communicate the correct direction and distance of the food source through a polarized odor "runway" that extends approximately 20 m from the food source. Moving the odor runway to a new position causes a significant shift in newcomer orientation. Newcomers can arrive at the correct distance even when a control feeder is placed along the odor runway but closer to the nest. Odor marks consist of mandibular gland "alarm"pheromone. Fighting at the target releases additional alarm pheromone and thus reinforces the attraction, melding aggression and foraging.

NOWICKS INVITED Accepted INTRODUCTION Stephen Nowicki* (snowicki@duke.edu) Program Abstract Media Friendly Abstract

NUTTKJ ORAL Accepted FAMILY GROUP STRUCTURE AND MULTI-MALE POLYGYNY IN THE NORTH AFRICAN GUNDI (RODENTIA:CTENODACTYLIDAE) Karen J. Nutt* Museum of Vert. Zool., Dept. of Integrative Biol.,UC Berkeley (kjnutt@socrates.berkeley.edu) Program Abstract Multi-male polygyny is rare in mammals and has been studied in only a few taxa such as primates and lions. In the North African gundi (Ctenodactylus gundi), multi-male groups are commonly observed. Gundis are small diurnal rodents that inhabit semi-desert regions of northern Africa. They shelter in crevices within rock outcrops and live in varying sized family groups. In this study, the group structure of 24 gundi families was assessed at a field site in northern Tunisia. The majority of groups, which range in size from 3 to 23 individuals, contain multiple adult males. An analysis has been made of sex and age structure of gundi family groups. Genetic analyses using microsatellite markers and mtDNA d-loop sequence are being undertaken to assess genetic relatedness of individuals within a family group, as well as the extent of reproductive skew between males in multi-male groups. Media Friendly Abstract

OLDFIERG POSTER Accepted AMELANISTIC FEMALE BETTA SPLENDENS RECEIVE FEWER ATTACKS FROM CONSPECIFICS THAN DO NORMALLY COLORED INDIVIDUALS. Ron G. Oldfield*, Susanne Meenan & Sarah Brown Div. of Envir. and Evol. Biol., Univ. of Glasgow, Scotland (roldfiel@umich.edu) Program Abstract Amelanism has been shown to inhibit attacks from conspecifics in certain avian and fish taxa. Groups of female Betta splendens were observed in captivity. Lower frequencies of aggressive behaviors were directed toward white individuals than towards red or blue individuals. Captive populations of this species have been subjected to high levels of artificial selection enabling the success of amelanistic individuals, which would be doubtful under natural conditions. Therefore, it is hypothesized that the species has not evolved for individuals to issue usual territorial responses to amelanistic individuals. Media Friendly Abstract

OMANAEC POSTER Accepted SEXUAL PHENOTYPE IS NOT ENVIRONMENTALLY DETERMINED IN NORTHERN GULF OF CALIFORNIA POPULATIONS OF PARADELLA DIANAE (ISOPODA: SPHAEROMATIDAE). Emily C. Omana* & Stephen M. Shuster Dept. of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University (eco@dana.ucc.nau.edu) Program Abstract Paradella dianae is a sexually dimorphic sphaeromatid isopod with cosmopolitan distribution. Florida populations form infaunal aggregations in a variety of substrates, and are known to include protogynous hermaphrodites in high frequency. In the northern Gulf of California, P. dianae aggregates within barnacle tests. Over several years we monitored the characteristics of these social groups in tests, as well as the distributions of individual body size and sex. Although males were significantly larger than females in all collections, we found no evidence of hermphroditism. To examine the influence of social environment on the development of adults, we varied the density of males, females and mancae in the laboratory. Regardless of social environment, mancae matured as males and females in equal proportions, and no individuals became hermaphroditic. Our results suggest that P. dianae populations are highly variable in their mode of sexual differentiation. This characteristic may provide clues to the evolution of sex determination, mating systems and sexual dimorphism in isopod Crustacea. Media Friendly Abstract

OPHIRAG ORAL Accepted FEMALE JAPANESE QUAIL MODIFY THEIR MATE CHOICES USING INFORMATION ACQUIRED FROM MOVING VIDEO IMAGES Alexander G. Ophir* & Bennett G. Galef Jr. Dept. of Psych., McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont., Canada (ophirag@mcmaster.ca) Program Abstract Video Stimuli are potentially powerful tools for analyzing behavioral interactions. However, in studies of birds, success using video displays has been limited. Previous research has shown that a focal female Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) will increase her tendency to affiliate with a target male that she has seen mating with another female. Here we show that focal female quail exhibited as great an increase in time spent near a live target male after viewing a 5-min video clip of him mating on an active-matrix TFT video monitor as after directly observing him mating. Control conditions in which focal female quail saw 5-min videos of either a target male standing alone or a randomly selected male courting and mating did not result in an increase in the time that focal females spent with target males. Our data provide the first demonstration, of which we know, of birds recognizing individual conspecifics seen on a video display and transferring a learned discrimination from a moving video image to the real object which the video image represents. Media Friendly Abstract

ORDTJ ALLEE Accepted INTER- AND INTRASPECIFIC SIGNAL VARIATION AND OPPONENT ASSESSMENT IN LIZARDS Terry J. Ord* Animal Behaviour Lab, Macquarie University, Sydney (tord@bio.indiana.edu) Program Abstract Sexual selection has often been invoked in explaining extravagant morphological and behavioural adaptations that function to increase mating success. Much is known about the effects of intersexual selection, operating through female mate choice, in shaping animal signals. The role of intrasexual selection has been less clear. When conflict over resources is costly, we might expect the evolution of honest signals to enable competitors to better assess the potential fighting ability of their opponent. Male agamid and iguanid lizards typically compete for territories using dynamic visual signals. First, I use the comparative method to reveal that the use of complex signals in these animals is associated with sexual size dimorphism, which is characteristically produced by high levels of male-male competition. Second, video playback experiments on the Australian Jacky dragon indicate that intraspecific variation in signal rate is likely to be effectual in determining contest outcome. My findings demonstrate that selection for opponent assessment not only leads to the evolution of elaborate and costly display repertoires, it may also promote variation within display structures. Media Friendly Abstract

ORSETTDM ORAL Accepted SEQUENTIAL MATING AND POLYANDRY IN A LEAF BEETLE Damon M. Orsetti* Center for Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, T.H. Morgan School of Biological Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexinton, Kentucky 40506-0225 (orsetti@pop.uky.edu) Program Abstract Multiple mating by females is an intriguing phenomenon with many potential causes. One possibility is that variability in offspring is a benefit to the females in an unpredictable environment. If females do gain this benefit of variable offspring, there are certain mechanisms that could maximize these positive effects of multiple mating. For example, females could mate with a male dissimilar to her previous mate. Females also could preferentially mate with a male that is different from herself. I tested these two mechanisms for increasing offspring diversity with a combination of laboratory and field studies of a leaf beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata), a species in which females experience a variable environment and may benefit from genetically variable offspring. I took females in the field and presented them to six successive males and measured female receptivity in relation to male sequence. Additionally, I took females and mated them to two successive male in the lab and recorded their receptivity and rejection behaviors in relation to mate sequence and the source population of male and female. Data suggests that these factors are important, and the results have implications for our understanding of why females multiply mate. Media Friendly Abstract

OTTONIEB ORAL Accepted DEVELOPMENTAL ASPECTS OF THE SPONTANEOUS USE OF TOOLS BY SEMIFREE-RANGING BROWN CAPUCHIN MONKEYS. Eduardo B. Ottoni, Massimo Mannu & Briseida D. Resende Dept. of Exp. Psychology, University of São Paulo, Brazil (Ebottoni@usp.br) Program Abstract The use of stones for cracking hard-shelled nuts, in a way resembling what was observed among chimpanzees, was studied in a semifree-ranging group of capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella*) living in the Tietê Ecological Park (São Paulo, Brazil). In our first survey (1996-1998), all individuals beyond their second year tried to crack nuts, albeit at quite different levels of proficiency, and there was only one exception since then. Social information transfer can play a role in nutcracking acquisition, as youngsters tend to watch the activity of more proficient tool users and can, due to high tolerance, do it from a close distance, inspect the tools, and get food leftovers. But there is also a long history of individual manipulatory exploration of objects, particularly stones, along which the complexity of object manipulation patterns evolves from the handling of isolated objects, in the first months of life, to the integrated use of 2 objects plus the substrate, required for nutcracking. The earliest ocurrences of this pattern were registered between 1 and 2 years, though proficient nutcracking was first observed between 2 and 3 years of age. Media Friendly Abstract We study the development of the spontaneous use of stone tools for cracking nuts by a group of capuchin monkeys, in a manner resembling what was observed in chimpanzees. Though there is clearly a long individual process of trial-and-error, observational learning can play a role, since the highly tolerated youngsters seem to be very interested watchers of proficient nutcrackers’ activities. Manipulatory exploration grows in complexity along the first years of life, and most individuals have acquired basic nutcracking capabilities by the end of the third year, even though high proficiency takes some more time to be reached.

OWRENMJ ORAL Accepted CUES TO BODY-SIZE AND INDIVIDUAL IDENTITY IN THE VOICES OF HUMAN MALE ATHLETES Michael J. Owren* Dept. of Psych, Cornell University, Ithaca NY 15853 (mjo9@cornell.edu) Program Abstract It has long been known that human speech resembles the vocalizations of many other species in providing nonlinguistic acoustic cues to both (physical) traits and (internal) states of the vocalizer. Specific proposals include that human vocal-tract resonances (i.e., formants) provide salient cues to talker size, while vocal-fold vibration rate (i.e., fundamental frequency; F0) does not. However, available empirical data do not separate age- and sex-related effects from the more interesting issue of whether reliable cueing occurs within such groups, for instance among adult human males alone. To examine this issue, we focused on athletes--a group readily showing a wide of variation in body size. Speech samples from 100 individuals recorded in live or same-day televised interviews were analyzed using automated pitch- and formant-tracking. As per earlier reports, no effect were fount for F0 , while results were significant for formants. However, the latter effects were very modest, while the same acoustic features allowed stronger sorting of sounds by talker identity. These outcomes suggest that individual-identity signaling is significantly more prominent in human male voices than is body-size cueing, a finding that may have important implications for vocal cueing in other mammalian species with fundamentally similar vocal production systems. Media Friendly Abstract

PALMERC POSTER Accepted RESPONSES TO SEX-SPECIFIC AND SPECIES-SPECIFIC CHEMICAL SIGNALS IN HYBRIDIZING AND NON-HYBRIDIZING TERRESTRIAL SALAMANDERS FROM THE GENUS PLETHODON Catherine A. Palmer* & Lynne D. Houck Department of Zoology, Oregon State University, Corvallis OR (palmerc@bcc.orst.edu) Program Abstract Adults of three salamander species were introduced to two substrate-borne odors in a series of choice trials. Each trial was designed to assess preferences for sex-specific or species-specific odors. Females did not display a preference for heterospecific or conspecific males. Conversely, males of all three species displayed a strong preference for conspecific female odors when the alternative odor was saline. These males showed no interest in heterospecific female odors under the same testing conditions. Interestingly, when given a choice between a conspecific and a heterospecific female odor, the attraction for the conspecific was no longer apparent. This suggests that the strength of the conspecific signal is dampened when the male is simultaneously introduced to a novel female’s scent. However, in one species, males displayed a strong preference for the conspecific when the other alternate odor was that of a sympatric heterospecific female. In this case, the two salamander species do not hybridize, suggesting that the male behavior of this species may enforce sexual isolation between the groups. Media Friendly Abstract

PARKERTH ALLEE Accepted GENETIC BENEFITS TO MATE CHOICE SEPARATED FROM DIFFERENTIAL MATERNAL INVESTMENT IN RED JUNGLEFOWL Timothy H. Parker* Dept. of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque NM (tparker@ksu.edu) Program Abstract According to genetic indicator hypotheses, females mate with more attractive males to obtain better viability genes for their offspring. In accordance with this, a number of studies have demonstrated a positive relationship between paternal attractiveness and offspring quality. However, this pattern could be due to inheritance of paternal genes and/or it could be due to increased maternal investment in the offspring of more attractive males. To isolate these two possibilities, I housed females red junglefowl with vasectomized (sterile) males and artificially inseminated them. Male junglefowl with larger combs are more attractive to females. Females laid more eggs, but did not otherwise increase investment in reproduction when housed with a large-combed vasectomized mate. However, mass and comb size were higher for the sons of large-combed sperm donor males. This is the strongest support yet from an internally fertilized species for the hypothesis that genetic benefits to offspring maintain female preference for the most ornate males. Media Friendly Abstract

PARKSS ORAL Accepted DOCUMENTATION OF NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALE (EUBALAENA GLACIALIS) RESPONSE TO SURFACE ACTIVE GROUP SOUNDS USING A DIGITAL ACOUSTIC TAG Susan E. Parks*, Peter L. Tyack, Mark Johnson & Douglas Nowacek Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543 & Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543 & Large Whale B (sparks@whoi.edu) Program Abstract The most conspicuous behavior of the North Atlantic right whale, both acoustically and visually, is the surface active group (SAG). These groups are typically comprised of a single stationary female at the surface flanked by up to 34 males, involving frequent body contact and sexual activity. Calls, believed to be produced by the female, are associated with these groups. The digital acoustic recording tag (DTAG), logging both ambient acoustic data and the whale's depth, pitch, roll, and heading, allows for detailed investigation into the role of these calls in the formation of SAGs. During the summers of 1999-2001, these suction cup tags were attached to right whales in the Bay of Fundy, Canada. Playbacks of calls recorded from SAGs elicited rapid approaches from adult male right whales. Right whales carrying the tag were seen to approach both playbacks of SAG calls (n=5) and actual SAGs (n=4) in the field. Documented behavior changes included subsurface orientation toward the sound source and changes in swimming patterns. Additional playbacks can be used to investigate perception in these large whales, both in terms of response thresholds and localization abilities. Media Friendly Abstract

PATRICG ALLEE Accepted WHEN YOU’VE GOT IT, YOU’VE GOT IT: MALES WITH ATTRACTIVE PHYSICAL DISPLAYS CAN GIVE MORE INTENSE BEHAVIOURAL DISPLAYS WITHOUT THREATENING FEMALES Gail L. Patricelli* Dept. of Biol., Univ. of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 (gp50@umail.umd.edu) Program Abstract Male courtship displays often involve multiple behavioral and physical traits, but little is known about how multiple traits function in mate choice. Here I examine female behaviors to learn how different male traits influence female choice. In satin bowerbirds (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus), successful males must give highly intense behavioral displays without startling females. Males do this by modulating their displays in response to female signals indicating the display intensity females will tolerate without being startled. Females visit multiple males for multiple courtships before mating. Here I show that females are more tolerant of intense displays in first courtships with attractive males, allowing these males to give higher intensity—and thus more attractive—displays. I examine why this is so, finding that females are less likely to be startled by males that have more bower decorations, and this reduction in startling improves male mating success. This suggests that bower decorations are favored by sexual selection in part because they facilitate intense male displays, suggesting a novel mechanism by which physical and behavioral traits interact to influence female choice. Media Friendly Abstract

PAYNERB ORAL Accepted BEGGING FOR PARENTAL CARE FROM ANOTHER SPECIES:SPECIALISATION AND GENERALIZATION IN BROOD-PARASITIC FINCHES Robert B. Payne* & Laura L. Payne Museum of Zoology and Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI 48109 (rbpayne@umich.edu) Program Abstract African indigobirds ( species) are species-specific brood parasites of their host estrildid finches. Although the mouth patterns of nestlings mimic their host nestlings, the begging calls of young indigobirds are not host specific, and in only some species are they like the begging calls of the host. Adult male indigobirds mimic calls and songs of their host species. Their song has two kinds of begging calls, one an innate call like that used by nestling indigobirds; and the other one learned when males imprint on their foster species then mimic the foster species's begging calls in male song. We recorded young and adult indigobirds in the field, and begging calls of young and adult song mimics that we reared under alternative foster species. The innate begging call in all indigobird species matches that of only certain firefinch host species, even in indigobirds that normally parasitise other hosts. This innate call is used by the young to gain parental care. Both kinds of begging calls are used by the adults in mate choice, and the host-specific begging calls in the mimicry songs of adult male indigobirds provide cues for a female to assess mates that were reared by her own foster species. Media Friendly Abstract African indigobirds) are species-specific brood parasites of their host estrildid finches. The mouth patterns of nestlings mimic their host nestlings for parental care, yet the begging calls of young indigobirds are not host specific. The innate begging call in all indigobird species matches that of only certain firefinch host species, even in indigobirds that normally parasitise other hosts. This innate call is used by the young to gain parental care. Both kinds of begging calls are used by the adults in song in mate choice, and the host-specific begging calls in the mimicry songs of adult male indigobirds provide cues for a female to assess mates that were reared by her own foster species.

PAZ-Y-G ORAL Accepted CONTRIBUTION OF ANIMAL BEHAVIOR RESEARCH TO CONSERVATION BIOLOGY Guillermo Paz-y-Mino C.* & Kelly B. McIntyre Dep. Biology, The University of Memphis, Memphis TN 38152 (gpazymin@memphis.edu) Program Abstract Behavioral research encompasses the study of the physiological and sensory mechanisms that control behavior, the development or ontogeny of behavior, and the function and evolution of behavior. Conservation biologists have debated about these paradigms for decades, at times not realizing that their discussions have contributed directly or indirectly to the area of animal behavior and conservation. To assess the contribution of behavioral paradigms to the understanding and/or alleviation of conservation problems, we examined 256 (N=1442) articles published in the journal Conservation Biology from 1987 (when CB was created) to 2001. The majority of these studies were empirical, conducted in the field, and included terrestrial vertebrates. Areas of behavior most commonly addressed in these studies were: dispersal and settlement, reproductive behavior and social organization, species interactions, foraging/feeding and pollination, genetic variability and behavior, cognition, behavioral endocrinology and physiology, communication, and behavioral evolution. These areas of behavior have helped biologists to understand and/or alleviate biodiversity loss, habitat destruction, and ecosystem management /restoration. Media Friendly Abstract Behavioral research encompasses the study of the physiological and sensory mechanisms that control behavior, the development or ontogeny of behavior, and the function and evolution of behavior. Conservation biologists have debated about these paradigms for decades, at times not realizing that their discussions have contributed directly or indirectly to the area of animal behavior and conservation. To assess the contribution of behavioral paradigms to the understanding and/or alleviation of conservation problems, we examined 250 scientific articles (N=1400) published during the past fifteen years. The majority of these studies were empirical, conducted in the field, and included terrestrial vertebrates. Areas of behavior most commonly addressed in these studies were: dispersal and settlement, reproductive behavior and social organization, species interactions, and foraging/feeding behavior. These areas of behavioral research have helped biologists to understand and/or alleviate biodiversity loss, habitat destruction, and ecosystem management/restoration.

PERRYSE POSTER Accepted COGNITIVE ASPECTS OF CONFLICT DECISIONS IN WILD CAPUCHIN MONKEYS, CEBUS CAPUCINUS Susan E. Perry*, H.Clark Barrett & Joseph H. Manson Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology-Leipzig; UCLA Anthropology Department & UCLA Anthropology Department (sperry@anthro.ucla.edu) Program Abstract White-faced capuchin monkeys engage in frequent conflicts, many of which are polyadic. In this talk, we ask how the quality of relationships among the participants in fights affects individuals’ decisions regarding which side to join when there is a fight. In general, both males and females tend to support females against males in fights between males and females. In conflicts between members of the same sex, dominant animals are almost always supported. Capuchins also preferentially support individuals with whom they have more affiliative relationships. To examine whether capuchins exhibit triadic awareness, we also look at the characteristics of the bystanders that opponents choose to (a) recruit as allies, or (b) redirect aggression against. If the monkeys exhibit triadic awareness, then they should preferentially recruit potential allies who are closer "friends" with them than with their opponents, and also dominant to their opponents. Victims of fights should also redirect aggression against monkeys who are "enemies" of the dominant opponents, if the goal of redirected aggression is to divert the opponent's attention to a different victim. Media Friendly Abstract

PERSAUKN POSTER Accepted CONSPECIFIC CUEING BY FEMALE JAPANESE QUAIL: A RESPONSE TO SEXUAL HARASSMENT BY CONSPECIFIC MALES? Kamini N. Persaud, Bennett G. Galef & Jr Jr. Department of Psychology, McMaster University, Canada (kaminipersaud@hotmail.com) Program Abstract In a series of four experiments, we examined the hypothesis that female Japanese quail, Coturnix japonica*, are motivated to form aggregations to reduce the probability of harassment by conspecific males. When in the presence of a conspecific male, female quail both sought others of their sex and remained near them. However, if no male were present, females were indifferent to or tended to avoid one another. Further, when females were forced to choose between a male they had copulated with and a novel male, females did not prefer the male they had copulated with if that copulation involved harmful male behaviours. We interpreted these data as consistent with the hypothesis that one function of aggregations of female quail is to avoid sexual harassment by conspecific males. Skew in male mating success would be a probable consequence of such aggregations of females. Media Friendly Abstract

PERSONMH POSTER Accepted PREDATION AND FORAGING COSTS OF VARIATION IN EGGSAC MASS IN THE WOLF SPIDER PARDOSA MILVINA Michael Colancecco & Matthew H. Persons* Biology Dept, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA, 17870 (persons@susqu.edu) Program Abstract Female Pardosa milvina wolf spiders carry relatively large and heavy eggsacs. We induced females to carry artificial eggsacs of varying mass to measure possible foraging and predation costs of maternal care. Five eggsac treatments were used: 1) a plastic bead equal in mass to a normal eggsac, 2) a bead 2x the mass of a normal eggsac, 3) a bead 6x the mass of a normal eggsac, 4) females given their own eggsac after removal, and 5) females that had their eggsac removed. For each treatment we recorded: 1) number of females that accepted the eggsac presented to them, 2) cricket prey capture success, 3) ability to avoid capture by a predatory wolf spider, Hogna helluo, and 4) number that dropped their eggsac while foraging or avoiding a predator. Females preferred their own eggsacs to plastic beads of equal weight. Spiders presented with a bead tended to choose based on diameter rather than mass. Females carrying an eggsac incurred significantly higher predation risk regardless of eggsac mass and those carrying heavy eggsacs were less able to capture prey and more likely to drop their eggsac. Media Friendly Abstract

PETERSA POSTER Accepted EFFECTS OF PAST PREDATOR EXPERIENCE ON MATING BEHAVIOR IN MALE GAMBUSIA AFFINIS Alison Peterson*, Christopher M. Taylor & Riccardo Fiorillo Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Starkville MS 39759 (alip76@yahoo.com) Program Abstract We tested the hypothesis that predator experience and immediate predation threat(IPT)would influence courtship behavior in male western mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis. A series of videotaped trials were conducted in which individual males with and without predator experience were placed in an aquarium with females. The effect of IPT was assesed by adding a green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) as a predator in 30 of 60 trials. Male mosquitofish behaviors were identified and scored from the videotapes. The experimental design was a two-way factorial ANCOVA with female mass as the covariate. The main effects were predator experience and IPT. The results indicate that under IPT naïve males performed more copulatory attempts than those with predator experience. Mosquitofish previously exposed to predators exhibited fewer gonopodial swings than individuals without previous predator experience regardless of presence or absence of IPT. All males followed/chased more often when there was no predator present. Female size was a significant covariate in ANCOVA models for gonopodial swings and chase/position behaviors. Media Friendly Abstract

PETERSRA ORAL Accepted CONSPICUOUSNESS IN A MOVEMENT-BASED SIGNAL Richard A. Peters* & Christopher S. Evans Animal Behaviour Lab, Dept. of Psych. Macquarie Univ, Australia (richard@galliform.psy.mq.edu.au) Program Abstract To convey information effectively signals must first be detected. This can be accomplished by signalling when receivers are most sensitive, when other signals are absent, or by employing signals that are physically distinct from the background. Another strategy is to use alerting components. These introductory elements are often structurally simple and of higher intensity, but shorter duration, than those that follow. Alerting components are likely to be particularly important in visual signals because these can only be perceived if the intended receiver is appropriately oriented. Here we investigate whether the complex threat display of the Jacky dragon ( Amphibolurus muricatus ) has properties predicted by theoretical models. This signal consists of a rapid series of stereotyped motor patterns delivered in an obligatory sequence. We used a new approach to elucidate differences in structure between components of the display and model the way in which these are processed by the lizard visual system. Results explain aspects of signal design and illustrate the importance of sensory processes for understanding signal evolution. Media Friendly Abstract

PIERCEAA POSTER Accepted CONDITION DEPENDENT ODOR SIGNALS DO NOT INFLUENCE COPULATOY BEHAVIOR IN MEADOW VOLES (MICROTUS PENNSYLVANICUS) Andrew A. Pierce* & Michael H. Ferkin Dept. of Biology, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152 (apierce1@memphis.edu) Program Abstract Condition dependent signals are uncheatable signals that have been explored in both the visual and auditory modalities, and to a lesser extent the olfactory modality. We tested whether the condition dependent signal that is created by varying the protein content in the diet (high, medium, low protein) of male meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) affected their copulatory behavior. We found no difference between the three protein groups in either the likelihood of copulating or the latency to the primary intromission. Protein content of the diet, however, affected the sexual attractiveness of male scent marks. Females are attracted to scent marks of males fed higher protein diets than lower protein diets. It appears that once male and female voles encounter one another, females use cues other than diet-based odors to assess potential mates. Media Friendly Abstract

PIPERWH POSTER Accepted DO COMMON LOONS USE FOOTHOLDS TO ACQUIRE TERRITORIES? Walter H. Piper* Dept. of Biological Sciences, Chapman University, Orange, CA, 92866 (wpiper@chapman.edu) Program Abstract A widely held belief in the field of animal behavior is that animals that gain familiarity with a certain space also gain the capacity to dominate opponents there. I term this the "foothold hypothesis". The foothold hypothesis idea is not only intuitively plausible to humans, it is also well-substantiated in the literature in many animals, especially vertebrates. What is less well understood is whether nonbreeding animals might gain footholds as a springboard to ownership of breeding territories that are currently defended by others. Though formally proposed by Zack & Stutchbury a decade ago, and noted by many others since then, evidence for footholds is scanty. I am studying nonbreeding common loons for evidence that they might acquire footholds. In this species, young nonbreeders return to the vicinity of their natal territory and intrude frequently into breeding territories. The evidence that these individuals actually gain an advantage in subsequent territorial contests in territories where they have spent time previously is uncertain. Media Friendly Abstract

PLACYKJS ORAL Accepted GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION IN THE ANTIPREDATOR BEHAVIOR OF MICHIGAN GARTER SNAKES (THAMNOPHIS SIRTALIS) John S. Placyk Jr* & Gordon M. Burghardt Dept. of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, UTK & Depts. of Psychology and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, UTK (jplacyk@utk.edu) Program Abstract The garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) is the most widespread snake in North America, occurring in nearly every natural habitat found throughout its range. The success of T. sirtalis may be attributed, in part, to it's ability to behaviorally 'adapt' to different habitats. Our study focuses on the influence of predator pressures on antipredator behavior of several different populations of T. sirtalis. Our goals were to determine the effects of predator pressures on antipredator behavior, as few studies have fully explored geographic variation in defensive behavior. Test subjects were from four populations on three different islands in the Beaver Archipelago of Lake Michigan and one population from the lower peninsula of Michigan. Predator surveys conducted during the study period and historical records indicate that predator composition varies significantly between populations. I therefore hypothesized that variation in antipredator behavior between populations would be visible. Antipredator behavior of adult and neonate snakes were tested using a standardized antipredator behavioral tests and by testing snakes for their response to ophiophagous snake chemical cues. Results of this preliminary study indicate that predator pressures have a significant influence on the antipredator behaviors displayed by individuals from each population and that these behaviors have a strong genetic component. Media Friendly Abstract

PLOGERBJ INVITED Accepted AGGREGATION AND KIN RECOGNITION IN AFRICAN CLAWED FROGS: A LABORATORY EXERCISE FOR UNDERGRADUATES Bonnie J. Ploger* & Kathryn L. Anderson Biology Dept., Hamline University, St. Paul MN 55104 & Princeton High School, Princeton, MN 55371 (bjPloger@piper.hamline.edu) Program Abstract Exploring Animal Behavior in Laboratory and Field is a lab manual being released this summer that will support student inquiry in animal behavior courses. The exercise I will present from this book exemplifies the general approach of the manual, which is designed to help students learn to design and conduct animal behavior research, including statistical analysis, through a combination of both traditional and inquiry-based pedagogy. This lab on Xenopus tadpole and froglet behavior begins by having students follow a detailed protocol to introduce them to the basic design and statistical analyses appropriate for a simultaneous choice test for side bias. Students then brainstorm hypotheses and design their own experiments to test their questions about the cues involved in aggregation and kin recognition in Xenopus. Using simple, readily available equipment, students can conduct sophisticated experiments, even original research, on animals that they find fun and interesting. Media Friendly Abstract Young people today need scientific literacy as they prepare to make decisions that affect the future. Students develop scientific understanding by actively engaging in all phases of scientific investigation, from creating research questions through interpreting final results. Exploring Animal Behavior in Laboratory and Field, a lab manual being released this summer, fosters student inquiry through the study of animal behavior. The exercise I will present from this book exemplifies its general approach. This lab on tadpole behavior starts with students following a detailed protocol to learn a widely-used method for determining if an animal prefers one of two choices. Students then brainstorm hypotheses and design their own experiments to test questions about whether tadpoles associate more with siblings than with nonsiblings. Using simple equipment and appealing animals, students learn scientific inquiry by developing and testing seemingly simple questions that that pose many intellectual challenges.

PODOSJ INVITED Accepted MORPHOLOGICAL ADAPTATION AND THE EVOLUTION OF VOCAL DIVERSITY IN DARWIN’S FINCHES Jeffrey Podos* Dept. of Biology, Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst MA 01003 (jpodos@bio.umass.edu) Program Abstract Studies of Darwin's finches of the Galápagos Islands have provided pivotal insights into evolutionary processes such as adaptation, natural selection, and speciation. One of the distinctive attributes of Darwin's finches is the remarkable diversity they express in beak form and function, represented at its extremes by the thin probing beaks of warbler finches and the massive seed-crushing beaks of large ground finches. In this talk I review recent evidence that the diversification of beak morphology in these birds has shaped patterns of vocal signal evolution. Video analyses indicate that Darwin's finches, like other emberizid sparrows studied to date, modify their vocal tract and beak configurations during song production, in a manner closely coordinated with source frequencies. Acoustic analyses reveal substantial diversity, both among and within species, in the structure of vocal signals. Independent contrast analyses reveal that morphological and vocal features have evolved in correlated fashion, consistent with a hypothesis of vocal tract constraints on song evolution. These data together highlight the roles of ecology and morphology in the evolution of acoustic mating signals. Media Friendly Abstract

POLLICAS ORAL Accepted FOOD CALLS AND THE AUDIENCE EFFECT IN BROWN CAPUCHINS Amy S. Pollick, Frans B.M. de Waal & Harold Gouzoules Living Links, Yerkes Primate Center, Emory University & Living Lin (apollic@emory.edu) Program Abstract Brown capuchins (Cebus apella*) give distinct calls upon encountering food. Based on previous studies of other species, which point at divisibility of food as a critical variable, we predicted that capuchins would adjust their food calling to both the amount of food and the nature of their audience. Twelve female capuchins were tested under two conditions of food quantity (large or small) and three audience conditions (alone, with one partner, or with their entire group). Subjects called more for larger than smaller amounts, and the highest-ranking females called less than others. Subjects called more in the presence of their group than under any other audience condition, and this applied most strikingly to high-ranking subjects. This may be attributable to the presence of kin and males in the group rather than group size per se. These results suggest that food calls are subject to social influence and serve to communicate both arousal and information to social partners. We are analyzing the data further to determine if and how call structure varies across conditions. Media Friendly Abstract

POPEDS ORAL Accepted WAVING TO FEMALES: THE GENERALITY OF FIDDLER CRAB CLAW WAVING AS A BROADCAST AND COURTSHIP SIGNAL Denise S. Pope, Patricia R. Y. Backwell & Peter K. McGregor Dept. of Animal Behaviour, University of Copenhagen, School of Botany & Zoology, Australian National Univ. & Dept. of Ani (dpope@zi.ku.dk) Program Abstract Males of all fiddler crab species (genus Uca) perform a claw waving display by a burrow which they defend against other males, and in some species, use as a site for mating. Given this context, the display has been traditionally hypothesized to be a territorial signal that functions both to attract females and repel rival males. I earlier demonstrated in U. pugilator* that the display is directed overwhelmingly to females when I experimentally manipulated the audience available to males. I now report on similar experiments in four other species from three different biogeographic regions. The results agree: in all cases, males increased their rate of waving significantly when females were introduced, but not males. Species vary as to whether they will continue to wave when visually isolated from all conspecifics, in ways consistent with differences in the species’ ecology. I argue for the generality of these results: that fiddler crab claw waving is in most species not used in male-male interactions, but functions primarily as a broadcast and courtship signal. Media Friendly Abstract

PRATTSC INVITED Accepted INDIVIDUAL RULES AND COLLECTIVE DECISION-MAKING BY THE ANT LEPTOTHORAX ALBIPENNIS Stephen C. Pratt* Department of Ecology and Evolution, Princeton University, Princeton NJ 08544 (spratt@post.harvard.edu) Program Abstract Natural selection should shape decision tactics that balance the benefits of accurate choice with the costs of the information necessary to do so. For most animals, this trade-off occurs only at the level of the individual. In insect societies, however, each member’s fitness depends at least partly on the reproductive success of the colony as a whole, hence the rules followed by individuals can only be understood in terms of their effects on the colony’s choice. In this light, I consider two crucial decision rules used by workers of the ant Leptothorax albipennis that enable them collectively to choose the best available nest site: 1) a quality-dependent delay between an ant’s discovery of a site and her recruitment of nestmates to it, and 2) reliance on the presence of a quorum of nestmates at a site before ants will switch from a slower to a faster form of recruitment. I describe how these rules enhance performance at the colony level, and I consider their similarities and differences to comparable rules used by solitary animals. Media Friendly Abstract

PRAVOSV ORAL Accepted THE EFFECT OF SOCIAL DOMINANCE ON CACHING BEHAVIOR AND CACHE RETRIEVAL ACCURACY IN MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES (POECILE GAMBELI) Vladimir V. Pravosudov* & Nicola S. Clayton Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, UC Davis & Dept.Exp.Psych., University of Cambridge, UK (vpravosudov@ucdavis.edu) Program Abstract Many species of food caching birds spend the non-breeding season in social groups. In such groups, the dominants have priority access to available food resources and as a result, subordinate members should experience more unpredictable foraging success. To compensate for more unpredictability in foraging, subordinates should accumulate and maintain larger energy reserves, both as fat and as food caches. Although the effect of dominance on fat reserves has been studied quite intensively, little is known about its effect on food caching. Unlike body fat, food caches have to be stored and then accurately recovered when needed, and birds rely, at least in part, on spatial memory to recover previously hidden food caches. We used male-male and female-female wild-caught mountain chickadee pairs to investigate the effect of social dominance on caching intensity and cache recovery accuracy, as measured by the number of visits to find a cache. To simulate natural conditions and to avoid an effect of small space on caching decisions, we allowed birds to cache and retrieve their caches alone in a large room where birds could not see their group mates. Our results showed that dominants cached significantly more food and recovered their caches more accurately than subordinates. Media Friendly Abstract

PROSENE ORAL Accepted SALAMANDER RECONCILIATION 1: COOPERATION Ethan D. Prosen* & Robert G. Jaeger Biology Dept., Univ. of LA at Lafayette, Lafayette La 70504 (Heap74@aol.com) Program Abstract Reconciliation is a “friendly reunion” between former opponents that ensures continued cooperation among individuals with partially conflicting interests. Central to de Waal’s theory of reconciliation is that animals must have a concept that they have or have not “cooperated”. We tested the hypothesis that male-female pairs of would cooperate in territorial defense against a confamilial intruder by reducing or increasing the time spent threatening and the number of bites delivered to intruders when with their partner relative to when they are alone. We examined responses of both males and females toward intruding when alone or with their partners. The males spent significantly more time threatening the intruders when alone than with partners, but showed no significant difference in the number of bites delivered. The females showed no significant differences. Thus, males appear to have a concept of cooperation with their partners in territorial defense against a confamilial intruder. This sets the stage for testing further reconciliation hypotheses with . Media Friendly Abstract

PYTELAJ POSTER Accepted COMPARATIVE DEVELOPMENT OF SEROTONERGIC NEUROCHEMISTRY AND AGONISTIC BEHAVIOR OF THE CRAYFISH ORCONECTES RUSTICUS Angelica J. Pytel* & Robert Huber Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State Univ. (apytel@caspar.bgsu.edu) Program Abstract Intraspecific conflict has received much attention in adult crayfish due to potentially lethal weaponry. However, surprisingly little is known about the emergence of these behaviors during development. This study explores to what degree development of fighting behavior coincides with that of serotonin. Neurochemical and behavioral development was observed in eight broods of crayfish (Orconectes rusticus). Fight dynamics were characterized in same brood pairs at each of the first six independent stages. Adult-like behaviors were exhibited throughout development ranging from threat display to unrestrained use of claws. Major differences in behavioral strategies separated the first juvenile stage from all other stages. Separate measures of serotonin (5-HT) were obtained for brain and the remainder of the body in the first eight post-hatch stages (three juveniles per stage per brood). 5-HT levels exhibited an allometric increase throughout the first eight developmental stages in both brain as well as whole body, except for stages III and IV for brain which lagged behind and stage IV in whole body which exceeded the allometric model. Media Friendly Abstract

RAMOS-G POSTER Accepted FORAGING PATTERNS BY SPIDER MONKEYS RESEMBLE LEVY WALKS Gabriel Ramos-Fernandez*, Jose L. Mateos, Octavio Miramontes & Germinal Cocho Departamento de Sistemas Complejos, Instituto de Fisica,Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, A.P. 20-364 Mexico DF 01000 MEXICO. (ramosfer@sas.upenn.edu) Program Abstract Spatially-explicit foraging models in biology normally assume that a forager moves with a constant step length and turns in arbitrary angles, describing a trajectory analogous to Brownian motion. Physicists, on the other hand, have described a particular kind of step-length distribution in which the probability of ever-larger steps decreases as an inverse-square power law. This Levy walk has been found in several physical processes but also in the foraging patterns of albatrosses and bumblebees. Analytical models show that when food patches are sparse and randomly distributed, the number of new patches visited by a Levy walker is much larger than those visited by a Brownian walker. Conversely, the number of previously visited patches revisited by a Brownian walker is larger than those visited by a Levy walker. We use data from a long-term field study to confirm that the distribution of lengths of continuous bouts of travel by individual spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) can be best described by a power law. We discuss our findings in terms of the ecological and social factors that could be influencing the distribution of step lengths, as well as on their implications for feeding competition and seed dispersal patterns. Media Friendly Abstract

RASMUSKL ORAL Accepted INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY OF RHESUS MONKEY MOTHERS AND OFFSPRING ON CAYO SANTIAGO Kathlyn Rasmussen Robbins, Carol M. Berman, Mark L. Laudenslager, Ilaria Turrio, Barbara D. DeVinney & Stephen J. Suomi Laboratory of Comparative Ethology, NIH, Bethesda MD 20837, Department of Anthropology, SUNY Buffalo, Buffalo NY 14261 & Department of Psychiatry, UCHSC, Denver CO 80220 (klr@helix.nih.gov) Program Abstract Thirty-six mother-offspring pairs of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta*) were studied on the island of Cayo Santiago, PR, to determine if individual differences in offspring behavior were related to physiological patterns of the offspring or their mothers. Infants were observed from birth to 2 years of age; morphometric and physiological measures were obtained when they were yearlings and 2 year olds. Mothers were sampled physiologically one time. Offspring showed stable individual differences in heart rate, cortisol and prolactin from Year 1 to Year 2. Body Mass Index, levels of cortisol and growth hormone in mothers and offspring were unrelated when the offspring were yearlings, but were significantly correlated by the time the offspring were 2 years old. Mothers with low cortisol levels punished their infants more, whereas mothers with high cortisol showed the highest levels of infant carrying. Offspring with a greater frequency of agitated behavior during behavioral observations showed significantly higher cortisol levels during testing than did offspring with lower frequencies. The results suggest that morphological and physiological characteristics of mothers are related to offspring behavior and physiology via developmental experience as well as through genetic/intrauterine factors. Media Friendly Abstract

REEBSS POSTER Accepted EFFECT OF CAGE ENRICHMENT ON CIRCADIAN PARAMETERS OF RUNNING WHEEL USE IN HAMSTERS Stephan Reebs* & Dominique Maillet Département de biologie, Université de Moncton, Canada (reebss@umoncton.ca) Program Abstract Chronobiologists often use hamsters as their study animal because hamsters run in their wheel in a very regular manner every day, even under constant lighting conditions. This study investigated whether cage enrichment (which animal care committees may one day require) affects the circadian parameters of wheel use in hamsters. Hamsters were kept either under light:dark 14:10 h or constant darkness, and had access either to one cage with running wheel, or to one cage with running wheel connected by tunnels to 1 or 2 or 4 additional cages with toys. The number of running wheel revolutions per day, the time interval between lights-off and activity onset, the length of continuous daily wheel use, the length of the active phase, and the free-running periodicity were compared between cage treatments. Cage enrichment had an effect on these parameters mostly when within-individual rather than between-group comparisons were made. In between-group comparisons, significant differences appeared only in the comparison between 1 and 5 cages. Media Friendly Abstract Scientists who study sleep-wake cycles often use hamsters as their study animals because hamsters run in their wheel in a very regular manner every day, even when it is always dark. This study investigated whether cage enrichment (which animal care committees may one day require) changes the way hamsters use their running wheel. Hamsters had access either to one cage with running wheel, or to one cage with running wheel connected by tunnels to 1 or 2 or 4 additional cages with toys. The number of running wheel revolutions per day, the time interval between lights-off and activity onset, the length of continuous daily wheel use, and the length of the daily active phase were compared between the various groups. Cage enrichment had only a small effect of how the hamsters used their running wheel. Cage enrichment could be done without too much fear of affecting the validity of running wheel use as an indicator of sleep-wake cycles.

REIDPJ INVITED Accepted REALITY BITES: MERGING THEORY AND APPLICATION IN APPLIED ANIMAL BEHAVIOR Pamela J. Reid* Center for Behavioral Therapy, ASPCA, New York, NY 10128 (preid@uoguelph.ca) Program Abstract Applied animal behavior relies on knowledge and practices gleaned from research and theory in ethology, learning, and comparative psychology. Understanding why an animal displays a specific behavior requires a familiarity with species-typical behaviour patterns. Altering those responses necessitates an awareness of how learning influences behavior. The flow of knowledge from the research environment to the pet owner’s home is not always smooth. Sometimes, questions arise in the applied setting, which have never been addressed by experimentalists. Other times, learning theory principles leads the behaviorist to adopt one set of procedures to address a problem while an ethological perspective suggests an entirely different approach. For instance, resolving fighting between two dogs in a household might involve a counter conditioning procedure that teaches both dogs to expect pleasant outcomes when in each other’s presence. Alternatively, the owner might restrict one of the dog’s rewards while in the presence of the other in an effort to establish deferential responses from one animal. The applied behaviorist merges theory with application to effect the desired changes. Studying the behavior of companion animals is a fascinating exercise in reality science! Media Friendly Abstract

RÍOS-CO ALLEE Accepted PATERNITY AND PATERNAL EFFORT IN THE PUMPKINSEED SUNFISH Oscar Ríos-Cárdenas* Deptartment of Biological Sciences, SUNY at Buffalo (orc@buffalo.edu) Program Abstract Theory suggests paternal effort should be affected by paternity, but most tests of this theory have been conducted using birds. This study examines paternity and paternal care in a fish system. Theoretical models suggest that adjustments of parental effort in response to reduced paternity depend on three factors: cost of parental care, variability of paternity among broods and possible cues to assess paternity. In the pumpkinseed sunfish parental care is provided exclusively by males (parentals), but some males (sneakers) parasitize others by sneaking fertilizations. Parental males significantly lost weight during the parental care period, and the presence, size or effort provided to their clutch did not improve their probabilities of obtaining more eggs. Paternity was variable among broods. Parental males showed no response to the only potential cue to paternity manipulated and they did not modify their frequency of fanning eggs according to paternity. However, parental males with high paternity showed higher levels defense during the egg stage, but not the larval stage of the brood. Egg survivorship might restrict an adjustment on fanning and a decline in parental behavior might explain the lack of adjustment once the eggs hatch. These results indicate that male pumpkinseeds do adjust their care in relation to paternity, but the cues used to assess paternity are not clear. Media Friendly Abstract

RITERSLV ORAL Accepted FEMALE EUROPEAN STARLINGS DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN MALE SONGS PRODUCED WITHIN AND OUTSIDE OF THE BREEDING SEASON Lauren V. Riters* Dept. of Zoology, Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison WI 53706 (LVRiters@facstaff.wisc.edu) Program Abstract Male European starlings Sturnus vulgaris sing during and outside of the breeding season. Song plays a direct role in mate attraction in spring, but a less immediate role in breeding in fall. In fall introducing a female to a male does not affect song production, whereas in spring males respond to a female with a dramatic increase in song. Males tend to sing longer songs in spring, and females prefer longer songs. The extent to which females can distinguish between, and prefer, spring or fall male song had not been studied previously. Female starlings were housed in aviaries containing 7 nestboxes. For 5 days recordings of male spring and fall song were broadcast consecutively from a single, nest box for 2, 30-minute periods. Females approached nest boxes playing spring song more often than those playing fall song. The findings indicate that aspects of male song change seasonally, and that females can attend to and respond to these changes. Overall, seasonal changes in male song appear to relate to changes in the context in which song is sung. Media Friendly Abstract

ROBERTJA ORAL Accepted CUE-READING PREDATORS AND THE POTENTIAL COSTS OF MALE ORNAMENTS AND VISUAL DISPLAYS J. Andrew Roberts, Phillip W. Taylor & George W. Uetz Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati (roberjr@email.uc.edu) Program Abstract Signaler-receiver communication may be intercepted by others within the active space of the signal. Unintended receivers may be either: 1) eavesdroppers (e.g., conspecific competitors); or 2) cue-readers (e.g., predators, parasitoids). In the wolf spider Schizocosa ocreata, male secondary sexual characters (leg tufts) and visual courtship displays influence female receptivity and male mating success. We used video playback to determine whether sympatric vertebrate predators (American toads: Bufo americanus) and invertebrate predators (jumping spiders: Phidippus clarus) intercept and exploit visual courtship signals of males, and whether variation in male secondary sexual traits influence signal detection. Visually-orienting toads and jumping spiders responded to videos of courting males with typical predatory behavior (orient, approach, attack). Latency of toad and jumping spider opto-motor responses varied significantly with tuft size, and decreased in response to digitally enlarged tufts. These results suggest that visually-orienting predators may curb exaggeration of sexually-selected traits. Media Friendly Abstract Male courtship displays and ornaments may increase mating success with females, but also may attract unwanted attention. We used video playback to determine whether vertebrate predators (American toads: Bufo americanus) and invertebrate predators (jumping spiders: Phidippus clarus*) intercept and exploit visual courtship signals of male wolf spiders, and whether variation in male secondary sexual traits influence signal detection. Visually-orienting toads and jumping spiders responded to computer-digitized videos of "virtual" courting males with typical predatory behavior (orient, approach, attack). Toad and jumping spider responses varied significantly with male tuft size, and detection time decreased in response to digitally enlarged tufts. These results suggest that visually-orienting predators may impose natural selection on sexually-selected traits.

ROBERTRL ORAL Accepted EXPERIENCE, AGE AND SEX DIFFERENCES IN ALLOPARENTAL BEHAVIOR IN JUVENILE COMMON MARMOSETS Kosunique T. Jenkins, Ileine M. Sanchez, John D. Newman & R. Lucille Roberts* Laboratory of Comparative Ethology, NIH Animal Center, Poolesville, MD 20837 (LR123g@nih.gov) Program Abstract Common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus jacchus) are cooperatively breeding primates. Most parentally naïve marmosets (60%-70%) exhibit "concaveation" (consistent, short-latency infant retrieval), within 1-3 brief (3 mins) exposures to an infant in retrieval tests. We examined the role of alloparental experience on concaveation, and hormonal changes associated with alloparental behavior. We tested 25 marmosets, 8m-2y old. 15 marmosets (8m:7f) were parentally naïve and 10 (6m:4f) had previously lived with infants for >30 d. 70% of parentally naïve subjects showed concaveation, but all parentally experienced subjects retrieved an infant by the second test. Males showed shorter retrieval latencies (number of tests to concaveation and mean time to retrieval after test onset), longer carrying durations, and higher prolactin levels after carrying infants. There was no effect of age on latency to concaveation or prolactin release, cortisol responses to infant carrying differed with age. Prolactin levels were not elevated after "sham" retrieval tests in which marmosets were exposed to an infant, but prevented from retrieving. Media Friendly Abstract Cooperative breeding is a relatively rare social system in which offpsring are retained in the family beyond puberty and help their parents care for subsequent offspring. Cooperative breeding is shown in a few vertebrate species widely distributed across taxonomic groups, including red-cockaded woodpeckers, marmosets and tamarins, wolves, prairie voles, and humans. "Helpers" may benefit from gaining parental experience in their family prior to attempting to breed independently. In this study, we varied the prior helping experience of young common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus jacchus) to determine whether past helping experience influenced subsequent parental behavior and hormonal responses to an infant in a controlled infant retrieval test. 70% of parentally naïve subjects retrieved an infant, but all parentally experienced subjects retrieved an infant by their second test. There was no effect of experience on hormonal responses to infants. Males showed shorter retrieval latencies (number of tests to first retrieval and mean time to retrieval), longer carrying durations, and higher prolactin levels after carrying infants. There was no effect of age on latency to retrieve or prolactin release, however, cortisol responses to infant carrying differed with age.

RODRIGRL ALLEE Accepted FUNCTIONAL DESIGN OF FEMALE RESPONSES TO MALE SIGNALS IN AN ULTRASONIC MOTH Rafael L. Rodriguez* Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, USA (rafa@ku.edu) Program Abstract Selection exerted by female choice on male sexual traits is expected to reduce genetic variation. The permanence of considerable genetic variation in male and female sexual traits has led to interest in forces that maintain it, such as environmental heterogeneity and genotype X environment interactions (GEIs). These factors imply that male phenotypes may be unreliable predictors of offspring phenotypes, however, so it becomes puzzling how female choice can evolve, especially in the case of indirect (genetic) benefits. In lesser waxmoths, male ultrasonic advertisement calls show significant heritability, genetic correlations with life history traits, and GEIs. A comparison of female responses to the signals of males and bats (the latter being the plesiomorphic function of moth hearing) showed that present female responses to males are an adaptation for mate choice. According to expectation, female responses to males showed significant heritability, phenotypic plasticity and GEIs. The male and female norms of reaction were mismatched, however, so that females may not reliably obtain the benefits of mate choice. Selection related to female choice can therefore be weak if the level of environmental change is high. These results may contribute to the maintenance of genetic variation under selection, and to speciation through effects on population differentiation. Media Friendly Abstract

ROHRJ ALLEE Accepted THE IMPORTANCE OF INCORPORATING SPATIOTEMPORAL SCALES WHEN STUDYING CONFLICTING SELECTION PRESSURES: NEWTS AS A MODEL Jason R. Rohr* Dept. of Biol. Sci., Binghamton Univ., Binghamton NY 13902 (jrohr@uky.edu) Program Abstract Most studies examine conflicting selection pressures with fixed resources and risks, despite their ubiquitous fluctuation. Since little is known about the consequences of neglecting this spatiotemporal change, I examined the temporal field response of male red-spotted newts, Notophthalmus viridescens, to conflicting female pheromones and damage-release alarm chemicals signaling predation. After a single exposure, male response to these combined cues, relative to each alone, depended on time after exposure because females accelerated male recovery from antipredator behaviour. Iterative exposures through the breeding season revealed that as male mate search activity and attraction to females declined, male avoidance of conspecific alarm chemicals increased, but alarm chemical production appeared unchanged. Thawing dates differed between bordering and non-bordering sites, which offset levels of mate search activity and consequently alarm chemical avoidance. As a result, simultaneously examining these sites made it appear as though there was significant geographic variation in newt activity and response to alarm chemical. However, upon aligning site thawing dates, activity and behaviour did not significantly differ, indicating that temporal variation can be easily mistaken for spatial variation. Both studies underscore the importance of considering spatiotemporal scale when examining conflicting selection pressures. Media Friendly Abstract

ROSSANLM FOUNDERS Accepted EFFECTS OF HYBRIDIZATION ON THE "CHICK-A-DEE" CALL COMPLEX OF BLACK-CAPPED AND CAROLINA CHICKADEES Lindsay M. Rossano* & Robert L. Curry Dept. of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova, PA 19085 (lindsay.rossano@villanova.edu) Program Abstract Hybrid zones are often considered natural laboratories for evolutionary studies. Although these studies regularly focus on taxonomy, other factors, such as vocalizations and their role in mate choice, influence hybrid zone dynamics. In a narrow zone in southeastern Pennsylvania, Black-capped (Poecile atricapilla) and Carolina Chickadees (P. carolinensis) live sympatrically and are known to hybridize. Previous work in this and other areas of hybridization has found males producing songs with intermediate structure or that are bilingual. The effects of hybridization on the "chick-a-dee" call complex have not received comparable attention. We investigated the quantitative structure of "chick-a-dee" calls from individuals from Black-capped (PA, NY, MA, VT), Carolina (PA, MD), and hybrid populations (Reading, PA) based on analysis of 'dee' note variables. Calls of 'pure' chickadees differed significantly in note duration, between-note intervals, peak amplitude frequency, and maximum frequency. Most individuals from the hybrid zone produced Carolina-type calls, with the remainder exhibiting calls intermediate in structure. The primary song type in this population was Black-capped, although some individuals gave aberrant songs or were bilingual. These patterns suggest that these vocalizations entail different developmental processes, and potentially, serve different social functions. Further study is needed to determine which vocalization, if either, may be involved in initiating hybridization. Media Friendly Abstract

ROTHED POSTER Accepted LATERALIZED COILING BEHAVIOR IN SNAKES Eric D. Roth* Dept. of Zool., Univ. of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019 (edrothrcahs@hotmail.com) Program Abstract Many examples of behavioral lateralization, often linked to brain lateralization, have been demonstrated in several groups of lower vertebrates. The goal of this study was to document lateralized behavior in an untested group of squamates, snakes. I examined the coiling behavior of a cottonmouth population (Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma ). Here I show that coiling asymmetries were observed within the population. Results of the behavioral lateralization displayed by this lower group of vertebrates will be discussed in the context of possible mechanisms and the evolutionary implications. Media Friendly Abstract

ROTHT POSTER Accepted OPIOID MODULATION OF OLFACTORY LEARNING IN RAT PUPS – AN INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECTS OF SYSTEMIC AND BULBAR NALTREXONE ON OLFACTORY BEHAVIOR MEDIATING MOTHER-INFANT ATTACHMENT Tania L. Roth* & Regina M. Sullivan Dept. of Zool., The Univ. of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019 (tlcbirder@hotmail.com) Program Abstract As a mammalian model of mother-infant attachment in rats (Rattus norvegicus), presentations of peppermint odor and moderate tail shock result in odor preferences in pups younger than postnatal day (PN) 9, but odor aversions in older pups. We recently showed that this odor preference in pups Media Friendly Abstract

ROTHTC ORAL Accepted THE PREDATORY BEHAVIOR OF THE COOPER'S HAWK: LIFE IN A BIRD-EAT-BIRD WORLD Timothy C. Roth II* & Steven L. Lima Dept. of Life Sciences, Indiana State Univ., Terre Haute, IN (lsroth@scifac.indstate.edu) Program Abstract We examined the behavior of wintering Cooper’s hawks (Accipiter cooperii) to understand better the role of the predator in avian predator/prey systems. Ten hawks were intensively radio tracked during the winters of 1999-2001 in Terre Haute, IN. Hawks ranged on average 7.63 km ². The hawks focused their hunting in a few key areas of abundant, predictable prey, but their daily choice of feeding sites was unpredictable. They largely avoided residential feeders dominated by sparrow-sized prey. Based on observations of over 200 attacks and 60 feeding bouts, we demonstrate that Cooper’s hawks focused almost entirely on larger prey such as starlings and doves. Attacks were most successful on solitary prey and were often facilitated by surprise. Furthermore, hawks apparently hunt most intensively during the morning and late afternoon, while moving to and from their roosts. Attacks, nevertheless, could occur at any time of day. These observations indicate that the Cooper's hawk hunting strategy may be based on unpredictability. Such uncertainty in movement patterns may give the predator an advantage over prey. Media Friendly Abstract

RUTBERAT INVITED Accepted THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ANIMAL BEHAVIOR RESEARCH TO WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT Allen T. Rutberg* Tufts Univ. School of Vet. Med., North Grafton, MA 1536 (allen.rutberg@tufts.edu) Program Abstract Until recently, wildlife management was grounded largely in population analysis, conducted to predict how hunter harvest would influence animal numbers and future harvests. In the last 20-30 years, however, conservationists, wildlife managers, and the public have attended increasingly to solving conflicts with urban wildlife. This shift in focus has been driven in part by urbanization, and the accompanying changes in attitudes towards animals. Unlike predicting hunter harvest, solving most urban wildlife conflicts also requires sophisticated understanding of individual animal behavior. The strong site fidelity and matrilocal social organization of white-tailed deer, for example, dictates that effective management of urban deer conflicts must be local. In another example, the ubiquity of Canada geese may be blamed in part on misunderstanding of goose territorial behavior. While the findings underlying these conclusions will not surprise animal behavior students, they continue to be resisted in some arenas, and greater awareness of sociobiology and behavioral ecology will facilitate resolution of urban wildlife conflicts. Media Friendly Abstract

RYBAKJ POSTER Accepted THE EFFECTS OF VISITOR ACTIVITY ON THE BEHAVIOR OF FELIDS IN A ZOO SETTING Jennifer L. Rybak* Dept. of Psych., James Madison Univ., Harrisonburg VA 22801 (rybakjl@msn.com) Program Abstract Twenty-two individual cats representing 9 species housed at the National Zoological Park and Mill Mountain Zoo were observed in this study. The impact of visitor activities (attempting to interact versus passively observing) on the behavior of zoo cats was examined. These effects were examined across housing styles as well (near to public vs. distant from public). It was hypothesized that percent of time spent in locomotion and pacing would increase and resting would decrease in cats housed close to the public in the presence of active groups. Play, social, and self-maintenance behaviors such as grooming were hypothesized to be affected by the visitors. Animals housed further from the public were hypothesized to experience these behavioral changes in the same manner, but to a lesser extent than the animals housed close to the public. Results indicated that locomotion and resting followed the hypothesized pattern and pacing was highest in animals housed near the public. Housing distance did have an impact on how the animals reacted to the public. Data for play and social behaviors were insufficient for statistical analysis. Media Friendly Abstract

SALAZAVL ORAL Accepted ELECTRIC FISH SAVE ENERGY BY REDUCING SIGNAL RATE AND AMPLITUDE DURING THE DAY Vielka L. Salazar* & Philip K. Stoddard Dept. of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199 (buglady12@hotmail.com) Program Abstract We ask whether the high energetic cost of signal production can account for the observed daily reduction in the electric organ discharge (EOD) waveforms of male Brachyhypopomus pinnicaudatus. We measured oxygen consumption levels in an open-system respirometer while measuring the electric signal. Each test fish (16 males, 10 females) was treated with drugs to partition its total energy budget into its discrete components: standard metabolic cost (SMR), spontaneous-locomotion cost, and EOD cost. The cost of electrogenesis in males is: (a). ~ equal to SMR by day and about 6x SMR at night; (b). ~30% of total metabolic cost by day, and 12% total metabolic cost by night. Diurnal reduction in EOD rate reduces electricity costs by 76%, and reduction of EOD amplitude and duration reduces electricity costs by 38%. In females, EOD costs are: (a). ~ equal to SMR by day and about 2x SMR at night; (b). ~4% of total metabolic cost by day, and 2% total metabolic cost by night. We conclude that electricity is expensive for these male electric fish, and costs favors the daily modulation of EOD rate and waveform. Media Friendly Abstract

SANTANN ORAL Accepted COURTSHIP DIFFERENCES AMONG REJECTED AND SELECTED CONVICT CICHLID MALES Nick Santangelo* & Murray Itzkowitz Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, PA (Nis5@lehigh.edu) Program Abstract Many studies focus on female mate searching, but rarely stress the courtship between females and the males they accept verses those they reject. We observed female convict cichlids Archocentrus nigrofasciatum who chose to spawn with one of two isolated males. Female courtship was significantly and positively correlated with each male's courtship. Female courtship rate did not significantly differ between accepted or rejected males. Yet, the mean number of female courtship behaviors per day was significantly higher towards selected males than rejected males. Female courtship to the selected male was significantly and negatively correlated to the amount of days she took to spawn; there was no such significant correlation for the rejected male. Male courtship might be due to the cues received from female courtship and females appear to provide different information to each male. Rejected males courted at a significantly higher rate than selected males, yet both males showed a similar number of courtship behaviors per day. So, while females courted at a constant rate but differed in the total amount of courtship events exhibited towards males, males courted at different rates but exhibited a similar number of courtship events to a female. I will discuss the implications of these results. Media Friendly Abstract

SCHANKJC ORAL Accepted ESTROUS SYNCHRONY AND FEMALE MATE CHOICE Jeffrey C. Schank* Dept. of Psych., Univ. of California, Davis, CA 95616 (jcschank@ucdavis.edu) Program Abstract It had long been thought that some female mammals (including women and Norway rats) mutually synchronize their ovarian cycles when in close proximity. However, re-analyses of previous studies and new experimental results have revealed no evidence that female mammals mutually synchronize their ovarian cycles. In retrospect, this is what should have been expected given that female mammals exhibit considerable variability in ovarian cycle lengths and cycle variability prevents synchrony. Are there adaptive reasons to expect cycle variability and asynchrony rather than synchrony? Despite the ubiquity of cycle variability in cycling mammals, no attention has been paid to the possible adaptive function of cycling and cycle variability. In this paper, I present preliminary results of a multilevel individual-based model of female mate choice in Norway rats. The model is a scaled virtual replicate of J. B. Calhoun’s (1962) study of The Ecology and Sociology of the Norway Rat (e.g., including paths, burrows, and trees). Using this computational model, consequences for female mate choice (male quality) and reproductive success are presented as a function of the degree of female synchrony and asynchrony. I conclude that cycle variability enhances female mate choice by minimizing the likelihood of even accidental synchrony. Media Friendly Abstract

SCHMAECN POSTER Accepted NON RANDOM MATING IN BIG BROWN BATS? Cynthia N. Schmaeman* & Mary T. Mendonça Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn Univ., Auburn AL Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn Univ., Auburn AL (schmacy@auburn.edu) Program Abstract Very little is known about the mating systems of temperate vespertilionid bats. Over the last 4 years, we documented the reproductive behavior of big brown bats, Eptesicus fuscus, in captivity. Male and female bats were housed in large environmental flight cages and given varying temperature regimens that stimulate mating activity. In each of the seasons, individuals were observed nightly for 8 h periods and scored for attempted and successful mounts by males. Males varied in the number of different females that allowed successful mounts (i.e. intromission) (0-4, 0-7, 0-10, and 0-18 in each season). The females also varied in the number of different males over the season they would allow to intromit (0-7, 0-8, 0-8, and 0-10 in each season). In the first three seasons, neither body weight (BWT), forearm length (FL), nor condition index (BWT/FL) correlated with male mating success. Only in the last season (2001-2002) was male mating success significantly correlated with weight(p=0.04) and condition index (p=0.02). Media Friendly Abstract

SCHREISM ORAL Accepted THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TEMPERATURE, ACTIVITY AND HEART RATE IN THE AMERICAN LOBSTER (HOMARUS AMERICANUS). Suzanne M. Cooke Schreiber* & Winsor H. Watson III Dept. of Zoology, Univ. of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824 (suzanne@cisunix.unh.edu) Program Abstract Lobsters in the Great Bay estuary (NH) undergo a seasonal migration, possibly cued by temperature. Following the spring migration, a skewed sex ratio is observed in the adult population, with up to 5 times more males than females in the upper estuary (Howell et al., 1999). In order to understand of the role of temperature in the development of this distribution, both physiological and behavioral responses must be quantified and integrated. We have previously examined the physiological effects of temperature on heart rate (Cooke Schreiber et al., in prep), which shows a non-linear increase with increasing temperature between 5° to 25°C, with no significant sex based differences. In order to relate this physiological response to expressed behaviors, a treadmill system was employed which allowed remote monitoring of lobster activity. Treadmills were situated in a tank with recirculating water flow to allow for temperature control. Activity levels were calculated for the same temperature intervals as in the previous physiological experiments (5°, 10°, 15°, 20° and 25°C). The relationship between activity levels and heart rate will be discussed. Media Friendly Abstract

SCHULJ ORAL Accepted NON-PARALLEL COEVOLUTION OF SENDER AND RECEIVER IN THE ACOUSTIC COMMUNICATION SYSTEM OF TREEFROGS Johannes Schul* & Sarah L. Bush Biological Sciences, Univ. of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211 (SchulJ@missouri.edu) Program Abstract Advertisement calls of closely related species often differ in quantitative features such as the repetition rate of signal units. Current models of signal/receiver co-evolution predict two possible patterns in the evolution of the mechanism used by receivers to recognize the call. 1) Classical sexual selection models (Fisher-Process, direct/indirect benefits) predict that close relatives use qualitatively similar signal recognition mechanisms tuned to different values of a call parameter. 2) Receiver bias models predict that if different signal recognition mechanisms are used by sibling species, evidence of an ancestral mechanism will persist in the derived species, and evidence of a pre-existing bias will be detectable in the ancestral species. We describe qualitatively different call recognition mechanisms in sibling species of treefrogs. Whereas Hyla chrysoscelis uses pulse rate to recognize male calls, H. versicolor uses absolute measurements of pulse duration and interval duration. The results are compared with similar data from katydids (Tettigonia sp). The data are discussed with regard to current models of signal/receiver co-evolution. Media Friendly Abstract

SCHWADJ INVITED Accepted RECONCEPTUALIZING DEVELOPMENTAL CHANGE Jennifer A. Schwade* Psychology Department, Franklin & Marshall College (j_schwade@fandm.edu) Program Abstract In the last two decades, researchers have made dramatic advances in describing what infants and children know at different ages. However, we have advanced less in our understanding of the processes underlying developmental change. Cognitive developmentalists have made their most substantial progress as a result of a change in perspective on development, in which knowledge is viewed not as a stable entity but as the product of real-time processes. In this talk, I will present examples of recent research on concepts and categories which provide new insight into more general mechanisms of development. These findings demonstrate some of the advantages of conceptualizing knowledge as the product of multiple factors, as well as possible benefits for our understanding of animal cognition. Media Friendly Abstract

SCHWARJJ POSTER Accepted ACOUSTIC INTERACTIONS AMONG MALE GRAY TREEFROGS IN A CHORUS SETTING Joshua J. Schwartz, Bryant W. Buchanan & H. C. Gerhardt Dept. of Biol., Pace Univ., Pleasantville, NY 10570 (jschwartz2@pace.edu) Program Abstract We monitored calling behavior of male Hyla versicolor* in choruses. Males avoided call overlap only when calling in pairs. We failed to detect selective avoidance of interference of adjacent males; rather, males in close proximity tended to overlap calls more than did more widely separated individuals. Males were vocally very sensitive to the removal of males from or the addition of males to an aggregation, and our data support the hypothesis that call duration changes are related to the increased chance of acoustic interference in larger choruses. Finally, we calculated repeatabilities of call duration, calling rate and pulse effort within nights using sliding-analysis windows of 30 s - 29.5 min. Results suggest females could best distinguish among males by assessing male performance for between four and 14 minutes, depending on the measure of calling behavior. However, because the magnitude of change was quite small our data do not lend strong support to the hypothesis that there is an optimum time period over which females should assess the calling of males in order to maximize their ability to discriminate among them. Media Friendly Abstract

SCOTTIML POSTER Accepted POPULATION DIFFERENTIATION AND PHENOTYPIC PLASTICITY:EXPRESSION OF 'SPECIES TYPICAL' BEHAVIOR IN THE THREESPINE STICKLEBACK FISH. Melissa-Ann L. Scotti* & Susan A. Foster Dept. of Biology, Clark Univ., Worcester, MA 01601 (Mscotti@clarku.edu) Program Abstract Population differentiation and phenotypic plasticity: Expression of ‘species typical’ behavior in the threespine stickleback fish. The threespine stickleback fish, Gasterosteus aculeatus, invaded freshwater from the ocean following the last glacial recession in northwestern North America. Since that time, the freshwater populations have undergone pronounced ecotypic diversification and in some cases, new species have evolved. Over the course of this radiation, populations have differentiated in the expression of reproductive behavior under natural conditions. We demonstrate here that although these differences persist under laboratory conditions, expression of courtship behavior changes both qualitatively and quantitatively as does the tendency to nest and court female dummies. We explain the pattern of divergence in phylogenetic and adaptive contexts, and suggest that the population differences we document reflect evolved differences in behavioral norms of reaction. Media Friendly Abstract

SEAHWW FOUNDERS Accepted EFFECTS OF TRANSGENES ON REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS IN ZEBRAFISH, DANIO RERIO Wendy W. K. Seah*, Zhiyuan Gong & Daiqin Li Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore (scip1200@nus.edu.sg) Program Abstract Zebrafish successfully inserted with the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) have potentials to act as aquatic bioindicators and to boost the local ornamental fish industry. However, transgenic organisms may pose ecological hazards such as causing species extinction and speciation because of their possible advantages or disadvantages in viability and reproductive success. Here, we examined whether the transgene trait affected male mating success and viability of the transgenic zebrafish. We found that courtship displays of GFP-enhanced zebrafish differed from those of wild type zebrafish, where vigor and sequences recorded were reduced. In addition, fecundity and fertility of the GFP-enhanced zebrafish were lower than those of the wild type. In dichotomous choice tests, both transgenic and wild type female zebrafish preferred wild type males to transgenic males. Therefore, alterations in phenotype and behaviour that resulted in a decline of reproductive fitness may be due to presence of the GFP gene in the GFP-enhanced zebrafish. Further studies of effects of transgenes on other fitness components will complete this risk assessment, verifying other possibilities of ecological hazards which may be caused by GFP-enhanced zebrafish through the deliberate or accidental release into nature. Media Friendly Abstract

SEARCYWA INVITED Accepted THE INTERACTION BETWEEN MALE SONG DEVELOPMENT AND FEMALE MATING PREFERENCES IN BIRDS William A. Searcy*, Stephen Nowicki & Susan Peters Department of Biology, Univ. of Miami, Coral Gables FL 33124 & Department of Biology, Duke Univ., Durham NC 27708 (WSearcy@umiami.ir.miami.edu) Program Abstract In many songbirds, the singing behavior of males is known to influence female mating preferences. Preferences based on male song repertoire sizes are widespread across species, but an even more general preference is for local song over foreign song. Such a preference may involve very fine discriminations of song structure, as we have recently shown for song sparrows (Melospiza melodia). The fineness of these discriminations is greater than is needed for species recognition, and yet not sufficient to allow the rejection of foreign, conspecific males, given the distances over which song sparrows disperse. We suggest that the real function of local preferences is as a test of male song learning ability. As such, the production of good copies of local song serves as an indicator of male quality, similar to the production of song repertoires. This hypothesis predicts that females will prefer accurately-learned local songs over ones learned less well; we confirm this prediction for two measures of learning accuracy. The hypothesis also predicts that learning ability should be correlated with male quality; this prediction is confirmed by evidence that early nutrition affects both learning accuracy and male phenotypic quality. Media Friendly Abstract

SERPELJA INVITED Accepted EVOLUTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF DOG BEHAVIOR: INSIGHTS FROM PSYCHOMETRIC ASSESSMENTS OF BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS Serpell*, J.A, Hsu & Y School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6010 (serpell@vet.upenn.edu) Program Abstract Special methodological problems are associated with studies of animals living as family pets due to the difficulty of performing systematic behavioral observations within the home setting. Many studies of companion dog behavior have therefore resorted to indirect methods based on psychometric (questionnaire) surveys of the animals’ owners. The reliability and validity of these owner-derived behavioral assessments is usually unknown, and their value as research tools has been questioned. The present study describes the application of a particular survey technique to the study of behavior in a population of 2000+ companion dogs. Factor analysis of questionnaire data was used to generate 11 separate behavioral subscales. The reliability and contruct validity of these subscales was determined, and they were used to address questions concerning the evolution and development of canine behavior. Breed-specific and sex-specific behavioral profiles generated from subscale scores tended to match previous reports in the literature on canine breed and sex differences in behavior. The impact of age of rehoming on the development of behavior and behavior problems in dogs was also investigated. The results suggested that rehoming at any age is associated with some long-term detrimental changes in behavior, and that rehoming prior to 6 weeks is extremely detrimental. More broadly, the paper discusses the utility of this survey method in studies of companion dogs, and points to other areas of potential application. Media Friendly Abstract

SHAW-TE POSTER Accepted MHC-BASED PREFERENCES IN POST-REPRODUCTIVE FEMALE RATS Ewurama Shaw-Taylor* & Martha K. McClintock Department of Psychology, University of Chicago (eeshawta@midway.uchicago.edu) Program Abstract This study investigated MHC-based odor preferences in aging female rats manifest. MHC-based preferences were assessed in the context of social odor preference and mate choice. By focusing on females, the role of ovarian status could also be assessed. 10 PVG.RT1u and PVG.R8 rats were used. Partner preference paradigms were used to determine social preference and mate choice. Social preference was measured by the amount of time female's spent with MHC-same and MHC-dissimilar males. Mate choice was based on sexual behaviors engaged in by the female and male. The PVG.R8 females displayed a social preference for the MHC-same males that was unaffected by ovarian cyclicity. Even though females had reached reproductive senescence by the time mating tests were conducted, they produced significantly more mating behaviors in the presence of the MHC-dissimilar males than the MHC-same males. Our findings (1) demonstrate that MHC-derived odors enable social preferences and mate choice decisions of rats, with a bias towards dissimilar MHC individuals and (2) suggest that there is variability in expression of this selection mechanism. Media Friendly Abstract

SHUGARHJ POSTER Accepted VARIATION IN PLANT SUBSTRATES AND ITS CONSEQUENCES FOR THE STUDY OF INSECT VIBRATIONAL COMMUNICATION Reginald B. Cocroft, Holly Shugart*, Katie Konrad & Krystall Tibbs Biological Sciences, Univ. of Missouri - Columbia, USA (hjs2fc@mizzou.edu) Program Abstract Communication through plant-borne vibrations is common among insects and other arthropods. However, plant stems and leaves provide a heterogeneous transmission channel for vibrational signals. Signals may be filtered, sometimes severely, and they may also be distorted by reflections and by the dispersive propagation of bending waves in stems. This filtering creates challenges both for the communicating animals, which will encounter an unpredictable transmission channel, and for human observers, who may wish to characterize signals at an individual, population, or species level. We used an insect model (the treehopper ) to quantify the effect of variation in the plant substrate on vibrational signals. We recorded individuals on multiple substrates using a repeated measures design that incorporated variation within and between plant species. As expected, the frequency spectra of signals were substrate-dependent. However, other features (especially temporal features) were highly repeatable. We discuss the consequences of substrate-dependent signal variation both as a challenge for communicating animals and as a challenge for comparison of signals recorded on different substrates. Media Friendly Abstract

SHUSTESM ORAL Accepted MEASURING SEXUAL SELECTION: A COMPARISON OF METHODS USING THE SYNGNATHIDAE Stephen M. Shuster* & Michael J. Wade Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5640, USA & Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405-3700, USA (Stephen.Shuster@nau.edu) Program Abstract Seahorses and pipefish (Syngnathidae) show various degrees of sex role reversal. Males are duller in color and care for young, whereas females are showier and provide little offspring care. Most sex differences are thought to arise via sexual selection, making the Syngnathidae well suited for investigating this process. Several methods exist for estimating the intensity of sexual selection. All except the Opportunity for Selection method assume that sexual selection is caused by sex differences in initial parental investment. We use published results to illustrate each method's power to predict sex differences in courtship, aggressiveness and sexual dimorphism in the Syngnathidae. While the results of each approach are qualitatively similar, only the opportunity for selection method reveals the source, magnitude and statistical significance of the sex difference in the intensity of selection, within as well as among species. We show that variance in mate numbers causes a sex difference in the strength of selection. Thus, for the Syngnathidae, we provide clear, quantitative interpretations of field and laboratory data. Media Friendly Abstract Seahorses and pipefish (Syngnathidae) show various degrees of sex role reversal. Males are duller in color and care for young, whereas females are showier and provide little offspring care. Most sex differences are thought to arise via sexual selection, making the Syngnathidae well suited for investigating this process. Several methods exist for estimating the intensity of sexual selection. All except the Opportunity for Selection method assume that sexual selection is caused by sex differences in initial parental investment. We use published results to illustrate each method's power to predict sex differences in courtship, aggressiveness and sexual dimorphism in the Syngnathidae. While the results of each approach are qualitatively similar, only the opportunity for selection method reveals the source, magnitude and statistical significance of the sex difference in the intensity of selection, within as well as among species. We show that variance in mate numbers causes a sex difference in the strength of selection. Thus, for the Syngnathidae, we provide clear, quantitative interpretations of field and laboratory data.

SILVERED ORAL Accepted CONSIDERING INCREASED BEHAVIORAL VARIATION IN THE CALCULATION OF RELEASE NUMBERS FOR REINTRODUCTION PROGRAMS. Emily Silverman* & M. Elsbeth McPhee School of Natural Res. & Environment, Univ. of Michigan (esilver@umich.edu) Program Abstract The selective pressures associated with captive environments can be different from those in which animals evolved. For example, captivity may relax selection, resulting in increased variation in behavioral traits. High behavioral variation can translate into decreased survivorship upon reintroduction of captive-bred animals to native habitats. Long-term captive populations of oldfield mice Peromyscus polionotus subgriseus exhibited increased behavioral variability. We developed a series of calculations to determine "release ratio," the number of captive-bred animals needed to insure that a certain number of individuals are within targeted behavioral bounds. In this talk, we present examples of release ratio calculations for several behavioral variables with different distributions. We also present general results illustrating the functional relationship between release numbers, increased variation, and change in average behavior. For oldfield mice, our calculations indicate that 150 captive-bred animals should be released to obtain a target population of 100 animals. Media Friendly Abstract

SMITHCL ORAL Accepted YODELING IN COMMON LOONS REDUCES TERRITORIAL INTRUSIONS. Carolynn L. Smith* George Mason University (Casmith@nsf.gov) Program Abstract During the summer of 1999, I conducted playback experiments on lakes in Oneida County, Wisconsin using recordings of yodels from twelve male Common Loons, Gavia immer, to determine if yodeling when an intruding loon flew over reduced the likelihood of territorial intrusion. On each lake, I conducted a series of two-hour treatment periods. During the control period, I observed whether flying loons landed if no yodel was broadcast. This provided the baseline rate of intrusion for each lake. In the experimental period, I played back the yodel of the territory's male as an intruding loon flew over and recorded the number of loons that landed and the number that did not land after the playback on each lake. In the control period, forty-four percent of the flying loons landed when the yodel was not played. During the treatment period, eleven percent of the flying loons landed when the male's yodel was broadcast. Using Mantel-Haenszel test to calculate the odds ratio of flying loons landing to not landing, I determined an intruding loon was 7 times less likely to land if a yodel was played as the loon flew over(X^2MH=8.749, df=1, P<.005). Media Friendly Abstract Most everyone who's spent time in the summer on the lakes of the northeastern United States or Canada has heard the eerie cries of the Common Loon and has perhaps wondered why they make these interesting calls. Loons use these calls to communicate with each other. Both male and female loons make four different calls, each call with its own meaning, but only males make the yodel (the long rising call that ends in a oscillating series of repeated notes). Male loons often yodel when they feel threatened, either by another loon or a by perceived predator. But, why should a loon feel threatened by another loon? The answer is because pairs of loons use the lakes to raise their young during the summer and an intruding loon may try to take over their lake and kill the pair's chicks or even one of the pair. When an intruder lands on their lake, the pair will aggressively attempt to drive intruding loon off and males will often yodel if they even see a foreign loon flying overhead. We wondered if yodeling by the territorial male while a foreign loon flew over decreased the chance of an intrusion. We found that flying loons were 7 times less likely to land after we broadcast the male's yodel than if nothing were played. We concluded that by yodeling before an intruder has the chance to land the male might be able to avoid a lengthy confrontation and potential injury from a fight. This study has helped to shed a little more light on the purpose of the calls of these interesting birds.

SMITHLC POSTER Accepted ULTRAVIOLET REFLECTANCE IS DEPENDENT ON BODY SIZE AND AGGRESSION IN A LIZARD, LACERTA VIVIPARA Linda C. Smith*, Henry John-Alder, Jane LeComte, Michelle de Fraipont & Jean Clobert Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics,, The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, NJ, Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers University, NJ, Laboratoire d'Ecologie, CNRS-UMR 7625, Université P.et M. Curie, Paris, France & Laboratoire de (linda.smith@stockton.edu) Program Abstract , the common lizard, inhabits bogs throughout Europe. We captured male lizards during the peak of the mating season and held them in the laboratory in individual tanks. We randomly assigned males to paired interactions in an arena that was novel to each individual. We made observations of the behaviors performed during these interactions and characterized behaviors that are difficult to detect in the dense vegetation of the common lizard’s natural habitat. In addition, before and after the social encounters we measured the ultraviolet reflectance of the ventral and dorsal sides, and the throat of each lizard. Behavioral observations could be interpreted in a dominant/subordinate context. Social interactions lead to a size dependent change in the intensity of ventral ultraviolet reflectance. Larger, more aggressive males had a greater intensity of ultraviolet reflectance. Media Friendly Abstract

SMITHVA ORAL Accepted EXAMINING ASSOCIATION PATTERNS IN BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS USING COMPUTER SIMULATION V. Anne Smith* Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center (asmith@neuro.duke.edu) Program Abstract Previous research showed that a freely associating captive group of brown-headed cowbirds, Molothrus ater, produced self-organized patterns of association based on age and sex. However, the very complexity which enables such emergent phenomena to be examined hampers the ability to tease apart influences on individuals. Thus, in order to elucidate individual rules of behavior for birds in such a group, I built an agent-based simulation. Birds were modeled as modified classifier systems, using rules in the form of if-then statements to interact with each other. These rules were then evolved with a genetic algorithm to match previously observed association patterns. I then collected data on association and movement patterns in two new groups of real birds in outdoor aviaries with differing age and sex compositions. The simulation successfully predicted the association patterns of these two new groups of birds, as well as new types of movement data not collected previously. Thus, the simulation showed the same rules for behavior can produce different patterns of association in different social contexts. The simulation's rules also gave insight into how real birds self organize. Media Friendly Abstract

SNELL-EC ORAL Accepted THE EFFECTS OF PRIOR RESIDENCE ON SOCIAL RANK AND CONTEST OUTCOME IN WINTERING FLOCKS OF WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS (ZONOTRICHIA ALBICOLLIS) II Emilie C. Snell-Rood* & Daniel A. Cristol Dept. Biology, Coll. William & Mary, Williamsburg VA 23187 (ecsnel@wm.edu) Program Abstract The objective of this study was to determine how prior residence affects access to resources in wintering flocks of White-throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis). A previous experiment showed that fall arrival date was a significant determinant of social rank and contest outcome in natural flocks. To determine whether this relationship was due to prior residence per se or some correlate of arrival date, we artificially delayed the arrival of 60 individuals and compared their social rank to that predicted from control individuals that arrived naturally. There was a significant negative relationship between the length of the delay and the difference between observed and predicted rank, such that longer-delayed birds had lower-than-expected ranks. This relationship was not likely due to a decrease in condition with the delay treatment as delayed birds gained weight normally in the aviary. Instead, the drop in rank of delayed birds was a function of whether naturally-arriving birds had established residence during the period the delayed birds were in the aviary. Media Friendly Abstract

SNOWLS POSTER Accepted FEMALE 'RECEPTIVITY SIGNALS': IS THE BLACK WIDOW REALLY TELLING THE TRUTH? Lindsay S.E. Snow, J. Adam Leverette, Andrew C. Mason & Maydianne C.B. Andrade Div. of Life Sciences, University of Toronto at Scarborough (snow@utsc.utoronto.ca) Program Abstract Active responses of females to male courtship have been reported in a number of species. In the black widow spider Latrodectus hesperus* females have been observed to respond to male courtship with 'jerky' movements and violent twitches of the abdomen. These behaviors have been interpreted as displays of female receptivity to males. However, in preliminary trials, some females failed to mate with males despite these responses, and one responsive female cannibalized her potential mate. In this study we asked whether female displays actually signal receptivity by 1) examining whether or not male mating success was correlated with female responses and 2) recording and analyzing vibrations produced by female responses to determine whether they might function as signals to males. Further, we explored the potential role of female courtship responses in female choice by investigating whether females vary their response displays and receptivity as a function of morphological characters of first versus second mating partners. Media Friendly Abstract

SNOWLS POSTER Accepted ADVANTAGE OF SELF-SACRIFICE IN MALE REDBACKS: STRAIGHT SPERM TRANSFER OR CRYPTIC CHOICE? Lindsay S.E. Snow* & Maydianne C.B. Andrade Div. of Life Sciences, University of Toronto at Scarborough (snow@utsc.utoronto.ca) Program Abstract Complicity in sexual cannibalism is apparently adaptive for the cannibalized male in the Australian redback spider Latrodectus hasselti. Cannibalized males copulate longer than males that are not cannibalized, and copulation duration is positively correlated with paternity. This suggests that longer copulations result in the transfer of more sperm. Alternatively, longer copulations could serve as copulatory courtship and influence cryptic female choice, in which case a correlation between duration and sperm transfer is not necessarily expected. We investigated the relationship between sperm transfer and copulation duration in redbacks to elucidate the mechanism by which cannibalized males achieve a paternity advantage. We interrupted copulations at durations typical of cannibalistic and non-cannibalistic matings and assessed sperm release by males and sperm uptake by females to determine whether the additional copulation duration afforded by cannibalism results in the transfer of more sperm. We discuss the implications of these results for understanding sexual sacrifice and mating behaviour in redbacks. Media Friendly Abstract

SOHAJA ORAL Accepted GENETIC HOMOGENEITY OF SONG DIALECT POPULATIONS IN PUGET SOUND WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS Jill A. Soha, Douglas A. Nelson & Patricia G. Parker Evolution, Ecology & Organismal Bio., the Ohio State Univ. (jsoha@biosci.ohio-state.edu) Program Abstract Zonotrichia leucophrys pugetensis* is one of three subspecies of white-crowned sparrow known to form geographical song dialects. We investigated whether these dialects correspond to genetic differences among Z. l. pugetensis populations. We compared allele frequencies at four microsatellite loci in males from 11 sites spanning six dialects over the subspecies' range in Oregon and Washington. Cluster analysis and genotype assignment tests indicated no tendency for populations within dialects to be genetically more similar than populations from different dialects. AMOVA tests revealed high within-population variation and low cross-population and cross-dialect variation. Finally, genetic distance between populations was not correlated with dialect differences when the effect of geographic distance was removed. We compare our finding of low genetic differentiation among Z. l. pugetensis dialect populations to results of previous studies on Z. l. nuttalli and Z. l. oriantha, and discuss dialect maintenance in the absence of assortative mating based on song. Media Friendly Abstract

SOKOLOG POSTER Accepted SUCKLING-RELATED FEEDING FACILITATES WEANING IN NORWAY RATS Greta Sokoloff*, Jeremy D. Novak & Jeffrey R. Alberts Dept. of Psych., Indiana Univ., Bloomington, IN 47405 (gsokolof@indiana.edu) Program Abstract Weaning is a major phase of mammalian development, but one that has rarely been studied systematically. We observed Norway rat dams and litters in a seminatural environment from postnatal day 14 to 19. We identified nursing bouts and analyzed the number of pups feeding after each bout. Suckling bouts are often followed by periods of heightened behavioral variability, including explosions of activity during which behavioral sequences become markedly more variable. Such post-suckling activation has been reported earlier, but here we trace it developmentally and relate it to behavioral sequences that lead to sampling solid food and the onset of independent ingestion. By postnatal day 15, the number of pups that fed after suckling bouts was greater than after the non-suckling, control periods. Furthermore, over the 6-days of observation the number of pups that fed after suckling increased. These changes corresponded to increases in the variability of pup behavior, reduced huddling, and more time spent outside the nest. The results from this study suggest that post-suckling activation along with the changes in behavioral repertoire facilitate weaning in rats. Media Friendly Abstract

SOLOMONG ORAL Accepted ESTIMATING THE REPRODUCTIVE CONSEQUENCES OF SOCIALITY IN THE PRAIRIE VOLE Nancy G. Solomon* Dept. of Zool., Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 (solomong@muohio.edu) Program Abstract There is still debate about the selective factors that favor group formation and the reproductive consequences of group living. Cooperative breeders are good model systems for investigating these questions since females are often related. Groups may contain one or more breeding females. In these groups, benefits to females may be direct or indirect. Costs may stem from reproductive suppression for subordinate females. Estimates based on field populations of prairie voles indicate that females may benefit if daughters remain in the group but do not breed. Estimated per capita reproductive success is much lower if there are multiple breeding females per group. The number of offspring per lactating females decreases with an increased number of lactating females. There is no evidence suggesting that daughters benefit in other ways. Female dispersers can successfully immigrate into other groups and preferentially select groups without resident adult females. Thus, females may remain at their natal nest until a breeding vacancy arises. Molecular techniques should help verify the tentative conclusions based on this model from trapping data. Media Friendly Abstract Determining the costs and benefits of sociality can have important implications for understanding many complex but puzzling behaviors. It is still not clear which factors favor group living and what the consequences of group living are for females. Social groups of prairie voles contain one or more breeding females. In these groups, benefits to females may be through production of offspring or due to helping raise the offspring of related females. Possible costs may stem from lack of reproduction by subordinate females. Estimates based on field populations of prairie voles indicate that females may benefit if daughters remain in the group but do not breed. (Lab evidence suggests that mothers may prevent daughters from breeding.) Interestingly, estimated numbers of offspring per breeding female decreases with an increased number of breeding females. So, the question remains as to why we see multiple breeding females per group? Do females benefit by helping raise kin if they remain in the group where they were born? Do females benefit in other ways? Genetic analyses will help answer these questions.

SONTAGCR POSTER Accepted SOCIAL FORAGING IN BUFO AMERICANUS TADPOLES C. R. Sontag, D. S. Wilson & R. S. Wilcox Department of Biology, State University of New York, Binghamton (bg23338@binghamton.edu) Program Abstract For the past three seasons I have examined Bufo americanus* tadpole groups using multiple approaches in the field and in the laboratory. One line of inquiry that seems to be neglected by previous researchers is social foraging. There are many aspects to social foraging: enhancement of feeding rates, location of food, and determination food quality. ?Many eyes? are useful in locating food, but do individuals actively pass on information regarding location of food. Test (1976) suggested that groups of B. americanus may facilitate filter feeding, but he did not determine whether groups are more efficient in finding food and distinguishing between food quality. I presented wild tadpoles with food resources of different quality and video recorded their reactions. When tadpoles were presented with two unequal food bonanzas; more tadpoles choose to feed on the better resource and the tadpoles approached the food along discrete, quantifiable pathways. This suggests that the tadpoles were foraging in an organized manner. If B. americanus is locating food and actively communicating information about food quality to others, the group may function more like a social insect colony than a selfish herd. Media Friendly Abstract

SORINAB ORAL Accepted MULTIPLE PATERNITY OF TWINS IN WHITE-TAILED DEER Anna Bess Sorin* Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (annabess@umich.edu) Program Abstract Incomplete observations of matings and uncertainty about which males’ sperm is responsible for fertilization has made paternity difficult to document in field research. Modern genetic methods, combined with observational field data, now facilitate assigning paternity in many species. While investigating male reproductive success in white-tailed deer, I conducted a paternity analysis using microsatellite data which revealed multiple paternity of twins: the first documented cases of frequent multiple paternity in a free-ranging, large ungulate. Multiple paternity was found in 22% of white-tailed deer twins with paternity assigned at the 95% confidence level. Males that jointly sired twins were invariably at least a year apart in age (maximum age difference three years). The elder male was always from the oldest, most dominant age classes of males in the study (5.5 to 7.5-years-old), while the younger male ranged from adolescents to mature adults (2.5 to 5.5-years-old). It is proposed that older males replaced younger males tending estrous females. Media Friendly Abstract

SOUTHABL FOUNDERS Accepted CONTEXT-SPECIFIC GRADED ACOUSTIC SIGNALING IN FEMALE NORTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL (MIROUNGA ANGUSTIROSTRIS) ATTRACTION VOCALIZATIONS Brandon L. Southall*, Ronald J. Schusterman & David Kastak Long Marine Laboratory, University of California, Santa Cruz (branlee@cats.ucsc.edu) Program Abstract Vocal signaling by northern elephant seal mothers and pups is one means by which they remain together in crowded breeding rookeries during the brief (24-29 d) lactation interval. Previous studies of vocal behavior have suggested that female vocalization usage and certain call temporal parameters might vary depending on the social context in which calls are produced. In this study, attraction vocalizations of females were recorded in natural conditions defined as representing variable potential danger to pups. Rates of female vocalizations in response to pup calls as well as female call duration and the number of call components were determined. The results of this study suggest that the probability of vocalizing and temporal characteristics of female calls depend upon the social conditions in which they are produced. Specifically, conditions of relatively high danger to pups, either related to an increased risk of separation or immediate physical danger from conspecifics, significantly increased the probability of females producing attraction vocalizations, the overall call duration, and the number of individual call components. These results suggest that female attraction vocalizations are graded acoustic signals and that variable call usage and structure are due to differences in arousal and/or motivation resulting from perceived danger to pups. Media Friendly Abstract

SOUTHAJA POSTER Accepted BEAK MOVEMENTS DURING SONG PRODUCTION IN DARWIN'S FINCHES Joel A. Southall*, Marcos R. Rossi-Santos & Jeffrey Podos Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst & Caixa Postal 10220, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brasil (joelsouthall@hotmail.com) Program Abstract Many songbirds modify the configuration of their vocal tracts while singing. Studies of North American sparrows have revealed that vocal tract modifications are closely coordinated with syrinx activity. Beak gape, for example, has been shown to correlate with fundamental frequencies produced. Our goal in this study was to document patterns of beak movement during song production in Darwin's finches. We recorded and videotaped nine species of Darwin's finches as they sang in the field. Beak gape, acoustic frequencies, and correlations between gape and frequency were analyzed for 117 video sequences. Our results indicate that beak gape correlates with acoustic frequency in a manner similar to that shown by North American sparrows. Of particular interest is the production of whistles of unusually high frequency (up to 14 kHz) which we find to feature maximal beak gapes. Our results support the hypothesis that beak gape changes help birds to produce songs with pure-tonal quality across a wide range of frequencies, and also help to explain how the evolutionary diversification of beak morphology in Darwin's finches has shaped patterns of vocal evolution in these birds. Media Friendly Abstract

SPRITZMD ALLEE Accepted SCRAMBLING FOR MATES: INTRASEXUAL SELECTION FOR IMPROVED SPATIAL ABILITY AMONG MEADOW VOLES, MICROTUS PENNSYLVANICUS Mark D. Spritzer* Department of Zoology, Miami University, Oxford OH 45056 (spritzmd@muohio.edu) Program Abstract Scramble competition is hypothesized to select for improved male spatial ability because better spatial ability allows males to more rapidly and accurately locate mates. This hypothesis was tested using meadow voles. Wild-caught males were tested in the lab for their spatial ability using a water maze. They were then released into field enclosures for two experiments. In the first experiment, male home range size was determined using radio telemetry. In the second experiment, male visitation to female nests was determined by housing females in nest boxes with one-way doors which were checked daily for the presence of males. As predicted, males with better spatial ability tended to have larger home ranges. Also as predicted, males with good spatial ability visited nest boxes more often and visited more different females than males with poor spatial ability. A tradeoff was found between visiting one female intensively and visiting multiple females. Females did not mate successfully the first time that they were visited by a male, which suggests that female choice may reduce the strength of selection for improved male spatial ability. Media Friendly Abstract

STAPLEJK ORAL Accepted THE EFFECT OF MULTIPLE PREDATORS ON PREY DEFENCES J. Stapley* School of Botany and Zoology, Australian National Univ, Australia (jessica.stapley@anu.edu.au) Program Abstract The threat of predation can have marked effects on a variety of prey behaviors. Most studies of anti-predator behavior have been confined to single predator systems, despite the fact that most prey are faced with several predators simultaneously in nature. In multi-predator environments avoidance behaviours towards one predator may conflict with avoidance of a second predator. Theory suggests that when prey defences are conflicting and both predators are equally dangerous, prey have no way of effectively coping with the predators and should ignore both of them. Consequently multiple predators have a risk enhancing effect. My study aims to address this hypothesis by investigating the anti-predator responses of lizards toward a common snake and bird predator, when they are encountered individually and simultaneously. Predation risk was simulated using a bird model that was flown over an enclosure and snake scent that was placed under a retreat-site. Behavioral responses were recorded on videotape and later quantified. The results will be discussed in the context of the evolution of predator defence behaviours and the interaction between multiple predators and prey. Media Friendly Abstract

STEURYTD ORAL Accepted BEHAVIORAL CASCADES AND INSTABILITY IN MULTI-TROPHIC-LEVEL IDEAL-FREE DISTRIBUTIONS Todd D. Steury* & Steven L. Lima Dept. of Life Sciences, Indiana State Univ., Terre Haute, IN (lssteury@scifac.indstate.edu) Program Abstract According to theoretical studies, when predators and prey forage under ideal-free circumstances, the distribution of prey across habitats should match the security of the habitat, while the distribution of predators should match the prey’s resources. We added trophic levels to the original theoretical models, and found the existence of a behavioral cascade, in which each additional trophic level causes the optimal distribution of the predators and prey to flip-flop between matching the prey's food resources and matching the safety of the habitat. The top predator, however, always matches the distribution of the prey's resources. We also generated simulation models to determine whether predator and prey reasonably can be expected to arrive at the predicted distributions. We found that the distribution of predators and prey often fluctuated about the expected equilibrium before attaining stable distributions. The size and duration of these fluctuations increased dramatically with increasing number of trophic levels or patches. These results suggest that real predator-prey systems may never arrive at expected distributions. Media Friendly Abstract

STEVENJ ORAL Accepted HARASSMENT AND FOOD SHARING: A SELFISH EXPLANATION FOR GENEROSITY IN PRIMATES Jeffrey R. Stevens* Dept. of Ecol., Evol. & Behav., Univ. of Minn., St. Paul, MN (jeff@nash.cbs.umn.edu) Program Abstract Although food sharing may appear to be altruistic, it frequently provides immediate benefits to the food donor. To test for often-overlooked, selfish explanations of sharing, squirrel monkeys (Saimiri boliviensis) and chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) were placed in separate food sharing experiments which manipulated the potential for beggar harassment. Theoretical models predict that costs associated with intense harassment may force food owners to share with beggars. In these experiments, separating pairs of subjects by a mesh partition or removing the partition controlled harassment potential by preventing or permitting physical contact between food owners and beggars. As predicted, removing the partition (allowing contact) caused a three-fold increase in harassment from the beggar and a five-fold increase in sharing by the owner. Despite higher levels of sharing previously reported for chimpanzees, the two species did not differ in sharing rates in this experiment. These empirical results represent a potentially common situation in which apparently altruistic food sharing may be a selfish strategy to avoid costly harassment. Media Friendly Abstract

STODDAPK INVITED Accepted EVOLUTION OF ELECTRIC SIGNAL COMPLEXITY Philip K. Stoddard* Dept Biological Sci., Florida Intl. Univ., Miami FL 33199 (stoddard@fiu.edu) Program Abstract Predation may constrain the evolution of communication signals; however among weakly electric fish predation has been a creative catalyst. Novel wave phases in the electric pulse suppress low frequency energy attractive to electrosensory predators. Phase additions that cloak the signal from predators have become a substrate for sexual selection. Juveniles and females retain the cryptic waveform, but males alter their waveforms to increase amplitude and reveal the low frequency spectrum. Males further modulate these characters enhancing them at night when active and in the presence of subordinates. These enhancements increase the signal’s energetic cost, attractiveness to predators, and match the to the sensory biases of conspecifics. The male’s peak signal amplitude is limited by his size and thus allocation of nutrients to growth. Males reduce both signal amplitude and low frequency spectral components when breeding conditions are poor. Thus male signal traits are consistent with an origin in sensory exploitation, and maintenance from good genes models including a condition-dependent variant of the handicap model. Media Friendly Abstract

SUAREZMG FOUNDERS Accepted PREY RECOGNITION TIME WINDOW IN THE JUMPING SPIDER PORTIA FIMBRIATA Manuela Gonzalez-Suarez* & R. Stimson Wilcox Dept.of Biol. Binghamton University (SUNY) Binghamton NY 13902 (manuela_gonzalez@yahoo.es) Program Abstract The jumping spider Portia fimbriata uses aggressive mimicry to prey on many different species of spiders, and rejects (does not eat) very few prey species. One orb-weaver (Larinioides sclopetarius) elicits immediate rejection, a phenomenon observed so far only with this species. We exposed naïve Portia to both locally-collected and lab-reared Larinioides. Larinioides was rejected as edible prey within 2 seconds after Portia captured it. Thirty-two percent of attacks resulted in Larinioides? death. Portia showed no adverse effects from attacks. Current data indicate that Portia recognizes (does not attack) Larinioides within 45-50 minutes after a first attack but does not recognize (attacks) Larinioides after a longer delay. Portia has the ability to remember a planned detour for at least 120 minutes, yet the ability to recognize Larinioides seems to be limited to 45-50 minutes. We propose the existence in Portia of a prey recognition time window, as an adaptive strategy in a prey-rich habitat with low frequency of unpalatable prey. Media Friendly Abstract

SUMANAA ORAL Accepted QUEENS REGULATE WORKER REPRODUCTION WITHOUT PHYSICAL INTERACTIONS IN THE PRIMITIVELY EUSOCIAL WASP, ROPALIDIA MARGINATA A. Sumana* & R. Gadagkar Centre for Ecological Sciences, Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012 India, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012 India & & Evolutionary and Organismal Biology Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Resea (sumana@ces.iisc.ernet.in) Program Abstract Queens of the primitively eusocial wasp Ropalidia marginata are behaviourally docile and non-dominant individuals. Yet, they are completely successful in maintaining reproductive monopoly in their colonies. Therefore, unlike in other primitively eusocial species, this reproductive monopoly cannot be expected to be achieved by behavioural dominance. To investigate whether R. marginata queens regulates worker reproduction through the release of pheromones, colony fragments were separated by wire mesh screen, with the queen on one side. In all experiments (n=13) the queenless fragment behaved like a queenless colony; the potential queen became extremely aggressive and, she and other workers began to develop their ovaries. Thus, the signal used by the queen to prevent worker reproduction does not pass through the mesh. We hypothesize therefore that the queens signal their presence using a relatively non-volatile pheromone. The time taken by the potential queen to alter her behaviour, in the absence of the does not pass through the mesh. We hypothesize therefore that the queens signal their presence using a relatively non-volatile pheromone. The time taken by the potential queen to alter her behaviour, in the absence of the queen is much shorter than the rate at which she or any other colony member make direct physical contact with the queen, in a queenright colony. Therefore physical contact with the queen does not appear to be required for her presence to be perceived. We hypothesise that the presence of the queen is perceived by virtue of the workers being in her vicinity and yet without necessarily making physical contact with her. In the context of a primitively eusocial species, these findings are novel. Media Friendly Abstract

SUZUKIC POSTER Accepted SEASONAL CHANGES IN CORTICOSTERONE AND POPULATION DYNAMICS IN MERRIAM'S KANGAROO RATS Chizuko Suzuki* & Amy M. Barber Dept. of Biology, Univ. of Nevada, Reno, NV & Ecol. Evol. & Conserv. Biology, Univ. of Nevada, Reno, NV (csdally@hotmail.com) Program Abstract Measurement of adrenal activity in free-ranging Merriam's kangaroo rats was quantified using a fecal hormone extraction procedure developed for rodents and radioimmunoassay techniques. This non-invasive method permitted repeated samples to be reliably and easily collected from individuals in the field. Previously collected data analyzed using a repeated measures analysis of variance demonstrated no significant difference in fecal corticosteroid levels of field animals restrained in Sherman traps <4 hours, 4-6 hours or >12 hours, suggesting the effect of being trapped is not observed in fecal samples at the time of sample collection. In this study, fecal samples were collected monthly over the course of one year from individuals captured in Sherman traps at two salt scrub desert sites the Great Basin. Average monthly hormone profiles were correlated with population size estimates and species composition at these sites and discussed in terms of Heteromyid behavior and ecology. Media Friendly Abstract

SWADDLJP ORAL Accepted SYMMETRY PERCEPTION, CUES, AND SIGNALS John P. Swaddle* & Douglas A. Ruff Bio. Dept., Coll. of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187 (jpswad@wm.edu) Program Abstract The small differences between the left and right components of symmetric traits (fluctuating asymmetry) are an estimate of developmental instability, and in some situations are associated with fitness indicators. Therefore, animals could use these small asymmetries as visual cues that reveal the fitness of the trait-bearer. Much controversy has surrounded this area of research, and there have been very few direct tests of whether asymmetry differences are visual cues. In this study, we have adopted a different approach to addressing the debate. We investigated whether birds can actually see the small asymmetries that are present in nature. If birds cannot reliably detect and respond to the cues, then asymmetry differences cannot operate cues. In particular, we investigated the ability of European starlings Sturnus vulgaris to detect bilateral symmetry differences in visual patterns that roughly mimic their spotty chest plumage. Previous experiments have shown that the chest spot number affects social interactions. By testing discrimination through operant learning trials, we demonstrated that starlings do not learn to discriminate differences in spot asymmetry (i.e. different number of spots on left and right sides). These data imply that starlings cannot readily detect a common form of asymmetry cue in nature. Media Friendly Abstract

SWAISGRR ORAL Accepted DETERMINING THE FUNCTIONS OF SCENT MARKING IN THE GIANT PANDA, AILUROPODA MELANOLEUCA: A ROLE FOR CONSERVATION? Ronald R. Swaisgood* Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species, San Diego Zoo (rswaisgood@sandiegozoo.org) Program Abstract The giant panda relies on chemical signals to govern social interactions in a species that has few opportunities to communicate via other modalities. A series of controlled experiments is beginning to show that pandas possess sophisticated abilities to extract information from glandular secretions and urine. Pandas investigate odors from the opposite more than the same sex, and evidence indicates that female odors advertise estrous status. These odors also play a role in activating sexual and aggressive motivation. The pattern of response to odors experimentally placed at varying heights mimicking different scent mark postures suggests that marking posture signals competitive ability, and inherent chemical cues allow assessors to determine signaler age. Odors also play a role in mother-cub recognition. In addition to these primary components of the scent signal, pandas can discriminate individual scent signatures and may be able to age scents in that they consistently respond more strongly to fresher scents in paired odor presentations. Finally, these signals are long-lived (more than 3 months), providing opportunities for communication long after the signaler has left the area. These results underscore the importance of chemical communication to pandas and suggest useful applications for the conservation and management of this endangered species in both the wild and captivity. Media Friendly Abstract

SWITZEPV ORAL Accepted CONSPECIFIC INTRUSIONS AND SPACE USE IN AMBERWING DRAGONFLIES Paul V. Switzer* & Perri K. Eason Dept. of Biological Sciences, Eastern Illinois University & Dept. of Biology, University of Louisville (cfpvs@eiu.edu) Program Abstract Residents of mating territories interact with different categories of conspecifics: females, nonneighbor males, and neighboring males. In this study, we investigated how territorial male amberwing dragonflies (Perithemis tenera) adjusted their use of space in response to intrusions by these types of conspecifics. Residents experienced more intrusions by neighbors and fewer intrusions by females on the side of their closest neighbor. Residents generally perched on the side of their territory that experienced the fewest intrusions by neighbors and the most intrusions by females, but the pattern was more strongly related to neighbor intrusions than female intrusions. After pursuits of neighbors and females, residents tended to shift their perches away from the neighbor intrusions but closer to the female intrusions. Nonneighbor intrusions were not affected by neighbor proximity, nor did residents adjust their space use in response to nonneighbor intrusions. Our results suggest that neighbors are costly, that residents adjust their space use in response to intrusions, and that the nature of the adjustment depends on the costs and benefits of interacting with the type of conspecific that intruded. Media Friendly Abstract

TALLARSK ORAL Accepted FEMALE AGGRESSION AND ELECTRIC ORGAN DISCHARGE (EOD) FREQUENCY IN BROWN GHOST ELECTRIC KNIFEFISH, APTERONOTUS LEPTORHYNCHUS Sara K. Tallarovic*, David T. Lim & Harold H. Zakon Section of Neurobiology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin TX 78712 (skt@uts.cc.utexas.edu) Program Abstract Aggressive interactions between females often receive less attention than male-male aggression, perhaps because such interactions are more subtle or unexpected. Aggression in male brown ghost knifefish has been well studied, as males produce abrupt transient frequency rises of large magnitude called “chirps”. Females rarely chirp, but use slower frequency rises in agonistic interactions. Female brown ghosts are generally not considered aggressive, but when they compete over a resource they display physical fighting behaviors very similar to males. Using videotaped interactions between females as well as playback experiments with isolated fish we found that females display unusual EOD frequency (EODF) modulations during competitive interactions. The female with the lower EODF (usually the smaller fish) will often raise her frequency until it overlaps the frequency range of her rival, and while fighting they will sometimes modulate their EODFs in tandem. This behavior defies our understanding of the Jamming Avoidance Response (JAR) in which the fish with the higher EODF raises its frequency to avoid interference between the two signals. Rather, the fish with the lower EODF raises its frequency as if to match or jam its rival. If so, this is the first evidence of electrical signals being used in this manner. EOD may function as an indicator of dominance for female brown ghosts. Media Friendly Abstract

TALYNBC POSTER Accepted LESSONS FROM COSTA RICAN TREEFROGS: INTEGRATING BIOLOGY AND SOCIETY. Becky C. Talyn* Biology Department, Denison University, Granville, OH 43023 (talynb@denison.edu) Program Abstract More species of treefrogs occur in Costa Rica than any other country. Ancient and modern cultural, social and ecological importance of frogs makes them useful for teaching animal behavior, conservation biology, ecology, anthropology, mineralogy and public policy. The many golden frog artifacts found in archeological sites indicate their historical importance since Pre-Columbian times. Golden frogs can be distinguished as treefrogs, aquatic frogs or terrestrical frogs, symbolizing dichotomous social and biological ideas. Recently, several species of treefrogs and other small frogs have disappeared from Costa Rica. Specialists studying the loss of frog species from the Monteverde Cloud Forest area are confident that climatic factors relating to global climate change have contributed greatly to the decline. Ecologically, the frogs are an indicator of environmental health, and socially they symbolize tropical rainforests, species diversity, and the need for environmental responsibility. Using photographs of real frogs and frog artifacts, I will present suggestions for using this system to teach about the relationship between biology and society. Media Friendly Abstract More species of treefrogs occur in Costa Rica than any other country. Ancient and modern cultural, social and ecological importance of frogs makes them useful for teaching animal behavior, conservation biology, ecology, anthropology, mineralogy and public policy. The many golden frog artifacts found in archeological sites indicate their historical importance since Pre-Columbian times. Golden frogs can be distinguished as treefrogs, aquatic frogs or terrestrical frogs, symbolizing dichotomous social and biological ideas. Recently, several species of treefrogs and other small frogs have disappeared from Costa Rica. Specialists studying the loss of frog species from the Monteverde Cloud Forest area are confident that climatic factors relating to global climate change have contributed greatly to the decline. Ecologically, the frogs are an indicator of environmental health, and socially they symbolize tropical rainforests, species diversity, and the need for environmental responsibility. Using photographs of real frogs and frog artifacts, I will present suggestions for using this system to teach about the relationship between biology and society.

TAROULR ORAL Accepted ANALYSIS OF BAMBOO PREFERENCES IN A PAIR OF CAPTIVE GIANT PANDAS (AILUROPODA MELANOLEUCA) Jessamine Williams, Loraine R. Tarou*, David M. Powell, Rachel Tabet & Mary Allen Georgetown University, Smithsonian National Zoological Park, School of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology & Smithsonian National Zoological Park (taroul@nzp.si.edu) Program Abstract Giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) are herbivorous carnivores whose diet consists almost entirely of bamboo. In the wild, giant pandas feed on a variety of bamboo species. However, in captivity they are rarely offered such variation. The objective of this study was to determine whether two giant pandas housed at the Smithsonian National Zoo exhibited a feeding preference for bamboo. Three different species of bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra, Pseudosasa japonica and Phyllostachys bissetii) were randomly paired and placed in one of two locations in the pandas’ indoor enclosures. Eighteen classic choice trials were conducted. Preference was assessed using the total amount of bamboo consumed overnight as well as amount of time spent feeding on each bamboo species during a sixty minute observation session. The data collected revealed a significant preference for Pseudosasa japonica in both giant pandas. Preference was dependent upon position in the indoor enclosures for Phyllostachys nigra and Phyllostachys bissetii. In contrast, data on the total amount of bamboo consumed overnight indicated a strong preference for Pseudosasa japonica in the male panda only. The female panda preferred both Pseudosasa japonica and Phyllostachys bissetii to Phyllostachys nigra. This is the first study to document bamboo preferences in captive giant pandas. Media Friendly Abstract Giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) are herbivorous carnivores whose diet consists almost entirely of bamboo. In the wild, giant pandas feed on a variety of bamboo species. However, in captivity they are rarely offered such variation. The objective of this study was to determine whether two giant pandas housed at the Smithsonian National Zoo exhibited a feeding preference for bamboo. Three different species of bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra, Pseudosasa japonica and Phyllostachys bissetii) were randomly paired and placed in one of two locations in the pandas’ indoor enclosures. Eighteen classic choice trials were conducted. Preference was assessed using the total amount of bamboo consumed overnight as well as amount of time spent feeding on each bamboo species during a sixty minute observation session. The data collected revealed a significant preference for Pseudosasa japonica in both giant pandas. Preference was dependent upon position in the indoor enclosures for Phyllostachys nigra and Phyllostachys bissetii. In contrast, data on the total amount of bamboo consumed overnight indicated a strong preference for Pseudosasa japonica in the male panda only. The female panda preferred both Pseudosasa japonica and Phyllostachys bissetii to Phyllostachys nigra. This is the first study to document bamboo preferences in captive giant pandas.

TERRYAM ORAL Accepted CONSSIM: A SIMULATION ENVIRONMENT THAT USES POPULATION PARAMETERS AND INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR TO TEST CENSUS STRATEGIES. Andrew M. R. Terry* & Peter K. McGregor Dept. of Animal Behaviour,University of Copenhagen, Denmark. (amrterry@zi.ku.dk) Program Abstract Small populations of conservation concern need accurate census and monitoring data, often requiring that individuals be identified. Any bias or error in these strategies must be accounted for. However this is only possible with complete knowledge of the population, which is extremely unlikely. Thus we developed a simulation environment to model a specific population that can be counted using different strategies. The model uses individual behavior and population processes to determine how these features may lead to error and bias in census estimates. To test the models functions we used the census and monitoring of corncrakes (Crex crex) as a case study. Corncrakes are nocturnal birds living dense habitat, which makes the use of standard marking techniques problematic. Counting calling males during the breeding season is the only way to census corncrakes. The standard census approach contains assumptions about the population that may lead to biases in the census estimate, and a previous study found that these biases could act to underestimate the population size by 20-30% (Peake & McGregor 2001). We use the model to show how under the assumed population parameters corncrakes can be accurately counted, but when the population parameters change, as found by Peake & McGregor (2001), the population is underestimated. We then show how the model can be used to study the interactions between population parameters (vocalizing rate, immigration, emigration), environmental conditions (habitat patchiness) and census strategies can affect the counts obtained for a population. Media Friendly Abstract

THIELTA POSTER Accepted FIELD VERIFICATION OF PREDATOR ATTRACTION TO MINNOW ALARM SUBSTANCE Travis A. Thiel* & Brian D. Wisenden Biology Dept, Minnesota State University Moorhead, MN, USA (thieltr@mnstate.edu) Program Abstract Fishes such as minnows in the superorder Ostariophysi possess specialized alarm substance cells (ASC) that contain an alarm cue. ASCs are an evolutionary enigma because it was not apparent how they are maintained by natural selection. Laboratory experiments showed that ASCs provide a selfish benefit by signaling to predators, not conspecific prey. Alarm substance advertises the opportunity to pirate a meal to competing predators. Interference among predators gives the minnow an opportunity to escape. We did a simple field experiment to verify that fish predators are attracted to minnow alarm substance. Jigs were baited with sponge blocks scented with either 1) water (control for sponge odor and appearance), 2) skin extract from non-Ostariophysan convict cichlids (superorder Acanthopterygii) to control for general injury-released cues from fish, or 3) skin extract from minnows (superorder Ostariophysi). Predator strike frequency on each sponge type was 1:1:7 for water, cichlid and minnow cues respectively. These data provide the first field test using fish predators of the predator-attraction hypothesis for the evolution of Ostariophysan alarm substance cells. Media Friendly Abstract Minnows are a formal group of small fishes (not juveniles of game species) that possess special cells in their skin. These cells contain an alarm substance that, when released by injury,warn nearby minnows of danger. How does the minnow that sends the alarm cue benefit from its own investment into these cells? "Cheater" minnows that do not make these cells and instead devote that energy to growth and production would quickly outcompete altruistic minnows. The answer seems to be that the alarm cue is a signal to predators. Induced piracy attempts among competing predators create havoc and provide the minnow an opportunity to escape-thereby benefiting the minnow from its investment in these cells. We did a simple test in the field. We baited ice fishing tip-ups with scented lures and recorded which scents received the most strikes from game species (predators). The scents used were: 1) water, 2) minnow skin (with alarm substance cells), 3) cichlid skin (without alarm cubstance cells). Strike frequency was 1:7:1 for water, minnow and cichlid cues respectively, providing additional support for the predator-attraction hypothesis.

THOMASSA ORAL Accepted MATE CHOICE IN PRAIRIE VOLES: IS QUALITY IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER? Shawn A. Thomas* Department of Biology, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152 (sathomas@memphis.edu) Program Abstract Females are reported to assess males and choose a mate with the most desirable traits to sire offspring. However, it is not known if females assess males similarly or base mate choice on criteria specific for a given female. In a laboratory study with the prairie vole, , females assessed males similarly, but not all females preferred the same males. In 10 mate-choice trials in which four females were given the choice between the same two males only 16 of 40 females preferred the same males. This finding suggests criteria in addition to the overall desirability of a male affect preference for a mate. In a second study, I investigated the options used by females mated to less preferred males when a male preferred in a prior assessment once again becomes available. In this study, 37.5% of the females dissolved their current pair bond, 37.5% engaged in EPCs, and 25% remained faithful to the current mate. Overall, these studies indicate that mate choice is a complex phenomenon that includes assessment of criteria specific to an individual female to provide her the best chance for reproductive success. Media Friendly Abstract Macho males are attractive to some, but not all, females. In a series of mate choice trials with female prairie voles, I found considerable variance in mate preference in that not all females chose the same male partner. One possibility for this variance is that females might be choosing males that are genetically compatible with their own genotype, something that is not visibile to the human observer. I also found that when females were paired with a less-than-desirable male and then given a choice of two other males, they would often be "unfaithful" or, in some cases, "divorce" their current partner and move in with a previously preferred male or a novel male. It seems that females continue to exercise their option to assess and even switch mates later in life.

THOMPSKV POSTER Accepted FEMALE SEXUAL INTERFERENCE IN SABLE ANTELOPE Katerina V. Thompson*, J.P. Norvell & Steven L. Monfort College of Life Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park MD 20742 & Department of Reproductive Physiology, Conservation and Research Center, National Zoological Park, Front Royal VA 22630 & Princeton University, Princeton NJ (kt21@umail.umd.edu) Program Abstract Female sexual interference may occur when access to potential mates is restricted on a spatial or temporal scale. In the sable antelope, such a situation may arise because males are solitary and dispersed and females are gregarious and reproductively synchronous. Social interactions were studied in captive sable antelope herds consisting of one male and 3-12 females. Estrous cycles were experimentally synchronized within herds to create a situation where the operational sex ratio was likely to be female biased, increasing the potential for female sexual interference. The proportion of females exhibiting estrus decreased with increasing group size. For females that showed estrus, those of high relative dominance rank tended to enter estrus earlier and monopolize matings. Female-female aggression increased sharply near the onset of behavioral estrus and females were observed to disrupt matings with acts of overt aggression. These results, combined with previous data showing the ability of high ranking females to adjust their estrous cycles to increase synchrony, suggest that competitively superior females may use reproductive synchronization to monopolize matings. Media Friendly Abstract

TINCOFRJ POSTER Accepted MECHANISMS FOR LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT: TAMARINS HAVE RHYTHM TOO Ruth J. Tincoff*, Marc Hauser, Fritz Tsao, Geertrui Spaepen & Jacques Mehler Dept. of Psych., Harvard Univ., Cambridge MA 02138, Dept. of Psych., Hillsdale College, Hillsdale MI 49242 & LSCP, EHESS/CNRS, 75006 Paris, France (tincoff@wjh.harvard.edu) Program Abstract Human newborns discriminate spoken languages differing on prosodic characteristics such as the timing of rhythmic units. Like newborns, cotton-top tamarins discriminate languages from different rhythm classes when either natural or synthesized utterances are played in a forward direction, but fail on backwards utterances that disrupt the rhythmic cues. To assess the robustness of this ability, tamarins were tested on a different-rhythm-class distinction, Polish vs. Japanese, and a new same-rhythm-class distinction, English vs. Dutch. The rhythm hypothesis predicts that tamarins should fail to discriminate languages from the same rhythm class. When presented with natural forward utterances, subjects discriminated between Polish vs. Japanese, but not English vs. Dutch. When presented with backward utterances, subjects did not discriminate either language change. These data support the claims that human speech perception relies on general mechanisms that evolved before the divergence between humans and a chimp-like ancestor. Media Friendly Abstract

TITUSRC POSTER Accepted TESTING THE FUNCTIONS OF JUNCO SONG THROUGH SONG PLAYBACK Russell C. Titus* Dept. Biology, Indiana Univ., Bloomington IN 47405 (rct6@cornell.edu) Program Abstract Dark-eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis) were tested with three categories of song playback. These categories included one thought to function over short distances (Short-range Song, SRS), another thought to function over long distances (Long-range Song, LRS), and song of Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) as a control. Subjects were housed in male-female pairs and tested over three days. Male juncos approached speakers after playback of junco songs of either category sooner than they approached after playback of catbird songs. Female juncos approached speakers sooner after LRS than after SRS or catbird playback. Males increased their own LRS production after playback of either LRS or SRS, decreased SRS production after LRS playback and did not significantly alter SRS production after playback of SRS. Results lend support to the hypothesis that LRS functions in communication with out-of-sight males and females, while SRS does so during interactions with nearby individuals. Media Friendly Abstract

TOBIASML POSTER Accepted A COMPARISON OF VOCAL BEHAVIOR AND MITOCHONDRIAL DNA IN TWO POPULATIONS OF SILURANA FROGS: IDENTIFICATION OF A CRYPTIC SPECIES. Martha L Tobias, Ben Evans & Darcy Kelley Dept of Biol Sci, Columbia University, NY, NY & Center Environ Res Conservation, Columbia U. NY, NY (mt18@columbia.edu) Program Abstract The Xenopus/Silurana* taxon, fully aquatic anurans from sub-Saharan Africa, is composed primarily of polyploid species. We are investigating the phylogeny of vocal behavior within this genus in an effort to determine how gene duplication may have affected the evolution of song types. Here we report on male advertisement calls and molecular markers from a Nigerian derived, laboratory bred population, Silurana tropicalis (diploid chromosome number = 20) and a population we collected from Gabon; karyotypes of embryos supports a 20 chromosome number. Advertisement calls of the two populations are distinctly different in temporal properties but similar in dominant frequency. Sequence analysis of the mitochondrial 16S rDNA gene, a slowly evolving region, reveals a greater than 5% difference between the two populations. Together, calling and sequence differences strongly suggest that these populations may be distinct species and that tropicalis may not be the only diploid representative of the genus. Media Friendly Abstract

TOBINDB ORAL Accepted HOME RANGE ANALYSES OF RIVER OTTERS (LONTRA CANADENSIS) IN MISSOURI: A COMPARISON OF STATISTICAL PROGRAMS Deborah D. Boege Tobin*, Zuleyma Tang-Martinez, Godfrey R. Bourne & David Hamilton Department of Biology, University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63121 & Missouri Department o (s982004@admiral.umsl.edu) Program Abstract During the past two decades, the North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) has been the center of considerable conservation efforts in Missouri and other states in the U.S. While certain portions of Missouri now have abundant river otter populations, home range and core area sizes, as well as dispersal distances and directionality have yet to be statistically elucidated. In addition, different results may arise from the same data set simply due to statistical disprepancies in home range analysis programs. For two sites in Missouri we compared the results from three home range software packages for known locations of radio-implanted river otters. Results from each program with comparisons of their strengths and weaknesses will be presented. Media Friendly Abstract same as above

TOTHA FOUNDERS Accepted NUTRITION AND DIVISION OF LABOR IN THE WESTERN HONEY BEE, APIS MELLIFERA Amy L. Toth* & Gene E. Robinson Prog. Ecol. & Evol. Biol., Univ. Illinois, Urbana IL 61801 & Dept. Entomol. & Neurosci. Prog., Univ. IL, Urbana IL 61801 (amytoth@life.uiuc.edu) Program Abstract Nutrition is known to be extremely important in reproductive and morphological caste differentiation in many social insects. However, the role of nutrition in behavioral differentiation between morphologically identical workers is not as well understood. We investigated the connection between nutritional state (as indicated by stored lipid) and division of labor in the Western honey bee, Apis mellifera. We focused on two behavioral groups: nurses (typically young bees) and foragers (typically older bees). Lipid levels were significantly higher in nurses than in foragers. Experimental manipulations, producing bees of the same age performing different tasks, demonstrated that the lipid decline in foragers is not attributable to age. Assays on bees with gradients of foraging experience indicated the act of foraging has little effect on lipid stores. Furthermore, lipid levels were low even on the first day of foraging, suggesting a decline in nutritional state may precede and perhaps contribute to the initiation of foraging. These findings suggest that nutrition plays an important role in division of labor in honey bee colonies. Media Friendly Abstract How do the thousands of workers in a social insect colony "know" what jobs to do? This work examines whether the nutritional state of a worker is related to the task she performs in the colony. Focusing on honey bees as a model system, we have addressed the connection between nutrition and division of labor using lipid (fat) level as an indicator of nutritional state. Results indicate lower lipid levels in nurse bees as compared to forager bees. This difference does not appear to be strongly affected by worker age or flight experience. Furthermore, lipid levels are low on even on the first day of foraging, suggesting a decline in nutritional state precedes and may actually initiate foraging behavior. This work could lead to the development of a widely applicable mechanism for division of labor based on the nutritional state of workers.

TRAINOBC ORAL Accepted ARGININE VASOTOCIN INTERACTS WITH THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT TO REGULATE ADVERTISEMENT CALLING IN THE GRAY TREEFROG (HYLA VERSICOLOR) Brian C. Trainor, Kathryn L. Rouse & Catherine A. Marler Dept. of Psychology, Univ. of Wisconsin -Madison, Dept. of Zoology, Univ. of Wisconsin -Madison & Dept. of Psychology and Zoology, Univ. of Wisconsin -Madison (bctrainor@wisc.edu) Program Abstract Research on the peptide hormone arginine vasotocin (AVT) has primarily focused on its effects on reproductive behavior and advertisement calling. However, less attention has been directed at how environmental stimuli interact with AVT to affect these behaviors. Previous work suggests that AVT can affect the outcome of competitive interactions between male tree frogs (Hyla versicolor*). We conducted a field study to investigate how the presence of other males in a chorus influenced the production of advertisement calls in males treated with AVT or saline. After treatment we placed individuals either in close proximity to another calling male (50 cm), or in a more distant location (> 1 m). Preliminary data indicate that males treated with AVT tend to produce longer calls (P=0.08) with more pulses (P=0.04) if placed in the close condition compared to the distant condition. In contrast, males treated with saline produced shorter calls with fewer pulses when in the close condition compared to the distant location. These data suggest that AVT alters how males respond to advertisement calls and may help explain how AVT affects competitive interactions. Media Friendly Abstract

TRIEFEFA ORAL Accepted SENDER STATUS INFLUENCES SIGNAL PERCEPTION IN WEAKLY ELECTRIC FISH Frank Triefenbach* & Harold Zakon Section of Neurobiology, University of Texas at Austin (fat0@mail.utexas.edu) Program Abstract The brown ghost knifefish emits a sexually dimorphic electric organ discharge (EOD) for electrolocation and communication. Males discharge at higher frequencies (EODFs) than females, and male EODF is correlated with size and dominance. Males often emit rapid modulations (chirps) at low and high frequencies (LoCs and HiCs 1-3). HiCs vary substantially in duration and are emitted during courtship, whereas LoCs are presumably aggressive intrasexual signals. In a playback experiment, we recorded male chirp responses to 8 presentations of EOD mimics: EOD alone, EOD+LoC, EOD+HiC1, EOD+HiC3, each of which were superimposed on one of two carrier frequencies, 60Hz below or above the focal's EODF. The higher carrier frequency elicited significantly more LoCs in all cases, and the lower elicited slightly more HiCs. Whereas chirp responses decrease when chirps are superimposed on the higher (more masculine) carrier frequency, males chirp more at chirps on the lower (more feminine) carrier frequency than to the carrier alone. We discuss the functions of these chirp categories and their interaction with sex and social status. Media Friendly Abstract

UETZGW ORAL Accepted MATE PREFERENCE IN FEMALE SCHIZOCOSA OCREATA WOLF SPIDERS VARIES WITH FEMALE AGE AND THE NATURE OF THE CHOICE. George W. Uetz, Stephanie Norton, J. Andrew Roberts & Phil Taylor Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati (uetzgw@email.uc.edu) Program Abstract We examined several questions about mate choice in wolf spiders (Schizocosa ocreata*) from the females' perspective: Do females mate more than once? Does female receptivity vary with age? Is preference for male traits repeatable? Does preference depend on the choice of males? Re-mating by females was rare (6%). Females of varied age (post-adulthood) were (repeatedly) presented live males or video playback of courting males. In live pairings, mating probability increased over 14 days post-molt, with 90% mated within 7 days. Females were less receptive to video images of courting males in the first week, became more receptive by 3 weeks, and less thereafter. Female receptivity to video males (identical size and behavior; different tuft size) varied with tuft size in single presentation (no-choice) tests, and in simultaneous choice tests. However, female preference was repeatable (r = 0.65) only when choosing between an average male and one with reduced tufts, but not (r = - 0.24) between an average male and one with enlarged tufts. As a consequence, mate preference may be influenced by the timing of presentation and choice of males. Media Friendly Abstract In nature, females may encounter many males during the breeding season, but choice and availability of mates may vary over time. We investigated several questions about female mate choice in wolf spiders: Does female receptivity vary with age? Is preference for male traits consistent? Does preference depend on the choice of males? We tested whether females were more or less choosy depending on their age (post-adulthood) or the choice of males. We used 'virtual spiders' (video playback of animated courting males of identical size and behavior, but different leg tuft sizes) to control for differences between males, and presented them (repeatedly) to females of varied age. Females were less receptive in the first week, became more receptive by 3 weeks, and less receptive thereafter. Female receptivity to video males varied with tuft size in both single presentation (no-choice) tests, and in simultaneous paired (choice) tests. However, female preference was more consistent when choosing between an average male and one with reduced tufts, indicating that female spiders discriminate against inferior males.

URENAOM ORAL Accepted PREDATORY BEHAVIOR OF A FLY-HUNTING HOVERFLY LARVAE (SYRPHIDAE: DIPTERA) ASSOCIATED WITH WHITEFLY NYMPHS (ALEYRODIDAE:HOMOPTERA). Onanchi M. Urena* Universidad de Costa Rica (philoni@cwpanama.net) Program Abstract For the first time the predatory behavior of Ocyptamus sp larva is described. The larva hunts adult flies of a variety of dipteran families by striking them with its head, apparently using adhesive threads and an immobilizing poison. The larvae are found on the leaves of Citrus sp infested with whitefly nymphs. Because the larvae do not have legs, eyes or obvious weapons that would help them capture prey, their association with the secretions of the whitefly nymphs was evaluated. When a fly touches the larva the later regurgitates. The function and composition of this regurgitate will be discussed. Under experimental conditions larvae with nymphs captured more prey than when alone. Larvae abandoned the leaves without nymphs (79.3%) and stayed if they were present (82.2%). Larvae experimentally washed and covered with nymphal secretions, but isolated from nymphs, did not hunt significantly more than simply washed larva. The frequency of contacts by preys were significantly higher in the presence of whitefly nymphs and their secretions, but the capture efficiency remains unaffected. Contacts by preys were more frequent in the anterior and middle portions of the larvae and they lasted longer in the presence of nymphs and secretions. The data suggests that the larvae attract prey, and that the attraction may be facilitated by their association with the whitefly nymphs. Media Friendly Abstract

VAN BRNA ORAL Accepted FACTORS AFFECTING DIVORCE IN A SERIALLY MONOGAMOUS FISH SPECIES Natalie A. van Breukelen* & Matt Draud Biology, C.W. Post-Long Island University (nattiev@aol.com) Program Abstract I examined divorce in a serially monogamous fish Archocentrus nigrofasciatum by evaluating the effects of relative male size & female observation of male physical interaction. Male size has previously been shown to be an indicator of quality in mate choice. Based on the better option hypothesis, I predicted that there would be significantly more divorces when the rival male was larger & that females may use male interaction as a means of assessing relative quality. Relative male size alone did not have a significant effect on divorce, while female observation of male interaction did.There was a significant combined effect of relative size & male interaction on the distribution of divorces. I propose a theory to explain how female assessment of males may differ between mate choice and divorce. This “reproductive investment theory” suggests that for divorce to be profitable the quality of the rival male must increase in proportion to the female reproductive investment in the current mate and females may use a multi-factorial assessment of potential mates in order to obtain an accurate estimate of quality. Media Friendly Abstract Anyone who has had the experience of watching loved ones divorce understands how complicated and confusing the process can be. While divorce is often thought of as a human condition, it can occur in almost any monogamous animal. Of course, the ubiquitous human concept of love makes our relationships more complicated than most animal pairs, however similarities may be drawn between the underlying drives of human behavior and the behavior of animals. Therefore, by studying divorce in other species we may be able to better our understanding of divorce in humans. My goal in this study was to see what factors would cause a female to leave her current mate for another male. Using the monogamous convict cichlid, I presented a paired female with a potential mate that was either larger than or the same size as her current mate, since females prefer larger males when choosing a mate. In addition, the female was either able or unable to observe the males interacting. Females didn’t divorce based solely on the size of the potential mate. Instead they seemed to rely upon their observations of the interaction between the males. Based on these results I suggest a theory to explain the difference between the way females chose a mate and the way they divorce. This theory suggests that divorce may not occur when a potential mate is simply “better” than the current mate, but rather the potential mate must be increasingly better than the current mate in relation to the time and energy a female has invested in the pair. Further studies of the relationship between investment in a pair and divorce may prove to be helpful in understanding aspects of the processes involved in divorce, for both animals and humans.

VERGAJN ORAL Accepted HOW DO FEMALES FIND THEIR MATES? A STUDY OF MATE ASSESSMENT IN THE BEAUGREGORY DAMSELFISH (STEGASTES LEUCOSTICTUS) Jack N. Verga*, Matthew J. Draud & Michael P. Haley Dept. of Biology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Dept. of Biology, Long Island University at C.W. Post & Dept. of Biology, University of the West Indies at Mona (nikkojv@msn.com) Program Abstract This field study investigated mate search in the beaugregory damselfish. Although this species has a semi-lunar breeding cycle, females conduct many forays when they are physiologically unable to mate. These forays are probably information-gathering forays. Previous mate search model predictions assume that forays conclude with a mating decision. Predictions are posed in this study that assume, instead, that the purpose of a foray is to gather as much information as possible about the variable distribution (mean and variance) of male quality, under the constraint of budgeted per-foray search costs. The search models make different predictions about how varying distributions of male quality will empirically affect information-gathering forays. Accordingly, we manipulated these distributions in three populations and measured consequent differences in forays. Females use a tiered process of assessment whereby each male is first assessed against an adjustable threshold based on a behavioral phenotype, and subsequently against a fixed threshold based on males’ defended resources. Media Friendly Abstract How females locate, assess and choose a mate from among a population is an issue that, while central to the theory of sexual selection, has rarely been explored experimentally. We conducted a field study to investigate the strategy used by female beaugregory damselfish. The females in this species are only able to lay eggs twice per month, but they have been observed to court males continually throughout their breeding cycle. We found that females assess males based on a tiered process of assessment: females first assess each male according to his courtship behaviors, thereby effectively filtering out the inferior half of her prospects. If a male is graduated to the next tier of assessment, the female then assesses the quality of the resources he holds. For territorial females, search costs are high. If males in a population are variable with respect to their relative mate-qualities, then knowing the locations of acceptable mates in a population before becoming physiologically ready to mate may give females the highest benefit/cost tradeoff. This would translate to any animal that is up against similar selective pressures.

VIERAM POSTER Accepted SEXUAL BEHAVIOR OF ANELOSIMUS STUDIOSUS (ARANEAE, THERIDIIDAE). Carmen Viera* & María José Albo Departamento de Biología Animal, Universidad de la República, Uruguay (cviera@fcien.edu.uy) Program Abstract A. studiosus is the only known spider in Uruguay that shows sub-social behavior.The nest consist in one adult female with their progeny.Sexual interactions between adults and sub-adults, including courtships, mates, and aggressive behavior between males are described. Three-hundred spiders were collected and identified.They were maintained isolated in laboratory conditions.Two adult females and two sub-adult females were placed on green branches inside glass boxes for 48 hours.After this time, two adult males were placed in the same box to observe their interactions. Nineteen adult females (mean=22 min) and 9 sub-adult females (mean= 40 min) were courted. Twenty mates were observed. Fifty percent of the males which presented aggressive behavior, showed ritualized fights.The winner was the one who mated and guarded thereafter the female. The looser was rejected, but waited nearby, and after the winner let the female, returned to copulate with the same female. Subadult females elicited long courtships by males,despite they could no mate. Courtships could be a possitive stimulous to accelerate female maturation. Media Friendly Abstract

VOLLBRKA POSTER Accepted IS THERE A FISH ALARM CUE? AFFIRMING EVIDENCE FROM A WILD STUDY Keith A. Vollbrecht* & Brian D. Wisenden Biology Dept, Minnesota State University Moorhead, MN, USA (vollbrke@mnstate.edu) Program Abstract This study was borne from the controversy in the world of chemical ecology created by Magurran et al. (1996 Proc R Soc Lond 263:1551-6) in which they used underwater video to test for alarm behavior in response to chemical alarm cue (skin extract) in free-ranging minnows, found no response, and concluded that minnow skin has no role in mediating predator-prey interactions. Here, we repeat their experiment using underwater video on free-ranging minnow populations in three lakes in Minnesota. We released through a submerged hose either alarm cues, or water (control), recorded the behavioral response, then caused a model predator to approach the area, and recorded the behavioral reponse. We found that minnows reduced use of the area in which alarm cue was released, and that this change in area use was the same as their reponse to the approach by a model predator (after release of water). The avoidance response to the model predator after the release of chemical alarm cues was significantly more intense than the response to the model predator after water release. These data affirm the role of minnow alarm cues in risk assessment. Media Friendly Abstract Chemical cues are used by a wide variety of aquatic animals to learn about their environment. One area of behavior that is strongly guided by chemical cues is antipredator behavior. Fishes, like larval amphibians and many species of aquatic invertebrates, use injury-released chemical cues as an indicator of danger. A recent paper (1996) concluded that fish may not use this source of information for risk assessment. We repeated that 1996 experiment and found that fishes do indeed use chemical alarm cues to guide their behavior in such a way as to reduce their risk of predation. They avoid areas where the cue is detected, and once detected, the fish are primed to respond with great intensity to a visual presentation of a model predator. Thus, there are direct and indirect affects of chemical alarm cues.

WACKCL POSTER Accepted SEASONAL DEMOGRAPHIC STUDY ON BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS (TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS) FOR THE YEARS OF 1998-2001 IN THE ASSEATEAGUE-WALLOPS ISLAND, VA REGION Corina L. Wack*, Wendy J. Beeching, Simon C. Beeching, David Schofield, Albert Answini & Wendy Ryan Marine Science Consortium, Wallops Island, VA (clw5951@sru.edu) Program Abstract The three-dimensional complexity of nearshore marine habitats produces a variety of microhabitats for mobile marine animals. Migratory bottlenose dolphins in the Assateague-Wallops Island, VA region appear to be highly mobile, and thus able to exploit several local marine habitats. We observed dolphins by boat in the Assateague-Wallops Island, VA region collecting data on group size and composition, and tracked the movement of groups using a GPS system. Data were collected from 1998 to 2001, between May and October, within a study area approximately 16 km2, centered at the Chincoteague Inlet. We examined distribution and group size within a year and among the four years by using Arcview GIS. Dolphins were observed most often in and around the Chincoteague Inlet throughout both the early and late seasons, and group size increased in the late season. These results suggest that the area in and around the Chincoteague inlet may contain higher food availability or some other exploitable resource. Media Friendly Abstract

WACKCL ORAL Accepted FEMALE MATE PREFERENCE OF THE CONVICT CICHLID, CICHLASOMA NIGROFASCIATUM Corina L. Wack* & Simon C. Beeching Department of Biology, Slippery Rock University (clw5951@sru.edu) Program Abstract Pair-bonding and parental care are rare among fishes, but quite common in fishes of the Family Cichlidae. When permitted a choice, male convict cichlids, Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum, choose the largest female. In nature, however, males are usually paired with females that are 30% their size. This suggests that female mate preference is important in this size-assortative pairing. However, a recent study by Beeching and Hopp (1999) demonstrated that females have no consistent preference for male size, although individual females had preferred males. I extended this experiment to test the hypothesis that females are matching mate size to their own and improved the previous design by encompassing a second measure of female preference. Female visiting behavior of a three-way preference test, and her subsequent pair formation, was used to explore the relationship between male size and his attractiveness to females. Female preference was measured by examining the number of visits to each male. We also compared female preference, and the subsequent mate choice during physical interaction between the males and females. Media Friendly Abstract Convict cichlids are well-studied fish from Central America. These fish are unusual in that they form a nuclear family, and both mothers and fathers provide care for their young. When males are permitted a choice among females, they usually choose the largest female. In nature, however, the males are usually found with females that are 30% smaller. This would suggest that females are playing the dominant role in the determining mate choice. A recent study indicated that females do not consistently choose similarly sized males, though individual females do have preferred males. We tested female mate preference by setting up a three-way choice apparatus with males of different sizes. We also used a second measure of female preference by permitting the males and test female to interact, allowing females to choose a mate. Female visits were recorded over three days as the males were exchanged. The females’ visiting behavior and her subsequent pair formation were used to explore the relationship between male size and his attractiveness to females. Female preference was measured by comparing the number of visits to each male and the choice during the physical interaction between the males and females.

WADEMJ INVITED Accepted GROUP TRAITS AND GROUP SELECTION Michael J. Wade* Department of Biology, Indiana University (mjwade@bio.indiana.edu) Program Abstract Natural selection occurs in any system whose members have the properties of replication, variation, and heredity. When such a process operates among germ-line cells, it can result in gametic selection or meiotic drive, one of the strongest evolutionary forces known. When selection occurs among individuals, among groups, or among species, it is called individual selection (sometimes mass selection), group selection, or species selection, respectively. The existence of levels of selection above the individual has long been controversial. It can be difficult to establish that groups have the necessary properties of replication, variation, and heredity. Groups can be formed in so many different ways and the processes of group formation determine, in large part, whether biologically significant variation among groups can exist and, if it exists, whether or not it is heritable. I show that the common definition of group traits limits both group-level variation and heritability, making group selection a weak evolutionary force. However, whenever social contexts (like density and competition) affect trait expression, then group-level variation and heritability are not only enhanced but can exceed that at lower levels. In addition, the affects of social context on trait expression tend to interfere with and limit individual selection in metapopulations. Media Friendly Abstract

WALKERS ORAL Accepted A SIMULATION MODEL OF THE EFFECTS OF A PARASITOID FLY ON MALE MATING SUCCESS AND LONGEVITY IN CRICKETS IN CRICKETS Sean E. Walker* & W. H. Cade Dept. of Biol. Sciences, Univ. of Lethbridge, Canada (sean.walker@uleth.ca) Program Abstract In crickets, males may call to attract mates or use a non-calling strategy (satellite) and intercept females as they move through the landscape. While calling attracts large numbers of females, there are costs associated with this strategy. Calling males are subject to attack by an acoustically orienting parasitoid fly and after being parasitized, males die in 7-10 days. We used a simulation model to determine how frequency dependence, density, and parasitoid flies effect the mating success of calling and non-calling males. Calling males have higher mating success than satellite males under most conditions even though negative frequency dependence influences calling male mating success. If parasitoid flies were present, satellite males have similar or higher mating success than calling males. These data suggest that the presence or absence of parasitoid flies strongly influences the fitness of calling males and most definitely plays a role in the evolution and maintenance of alternative male mating strategies in crickets. Media Friendly Abstract

WALTONHC POSTER Accepted FACTORS AFFECTING VARIANCE IN FEMALE CHOICE AND MALE CALL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE GRAY TREE FROG, HYLA VERSICOLOR Hilary C. Walton* & Thomas E. Hetherington Dept of Evol. Ecol. & Org. Biol., The Ohio State University (walton.55@osu.edu) Program Abstract Previous studies of sexual selection in Gray Tree Frogs, Hyla versicolor, have documented the characteristics of male calls upon which females can base mate choice decisions. This work has been done comprehensively at the population level to yield strong estimates of variation, as well as at the individual level to estimate repeatability. To date, no study has examined the factors underlying any of this variation. In order to make the results of our assays of female choice and male call characteristics more meaningful, we examined the extent to which their variation correlates with factors including body condition, time in season, time since last rainfall, nature of the chorus, etc. We studied a small population in which we were able to mark all of the males and many of the females, enabling us to recapture known individuals and retest them. Males were recorded in the field and then brought into the lab for body measurements. Females were tested in the lab with a battery of two-choice tests, allowing for estimates of repeatability and tolerance, before being measured. We present alternative hypotheses to account for the most prominent correlations that we observed. Media Friendly Abstract

WATSONJJ ORAL Accepted ADULT FEMALE BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN (TURSIOPS ADUNCUS) MOVEMENT AND AQUACULTURE IN SHARK BAY, WESTERN AUSTRALIA Jana J. Watson* & J. Mann Biology Dept., Georgetown University, Washington, DC & Biol. & Psych. Depts., Georgetown University, Washington, DC (jjw4@georgetown.edu) Program Abstract Despite the need for information due to the increased use of aquaculture, very little is known about the impact of shellfish farming on cetaceans. We examine the relationship of pearl farming activity (Pinctada albina) and ranging of bottlenose dolphin females (Tursiops aduncus) who calved during a 14-year study in Shark Bay, Western Australia. Ranging patterns were contrasted during four time periods: inactive pearl farm, regular pearling activity, illegal extension, and when the extension was removed. Preliminary data suggest that adult females spent less time in RCB after pearling activity started than before the pearling operation started but more tests need to be done to control for the amount of time researchers spent searching in and out of RCB. Prior to the extension of the pearl farm, females had a higher sighting frequency in RCB than when the extension was in place. A more detailed analysis of changes in ranging will be used to determine if the dolphins are avoiding the pearl farm area or RCB. Preliminary data used to test whether the dolphin mothers avoided the pearl lines specifically were limited because the pearl lines are located in a small area. However, ad lib data suggest females with calves swim around and near, but not across, pearling lines. Other factors such as increased boat traffic may also be responsible for changes in the dolphins’ ranging. Media Friendly Abstract

WEIC POSTER Accepted DECIDING TO LEARN: MODULATION OF LEARNING FLIGHTS IN HONEYBEES, APIS MELLIFERA Cynthia A. Wei*, Shawna L. Rafalko & Fred C. Dyer Dept.of Zoology, Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI 48824 (weicynth@msu.edu) Program Abstract Honey bees and other insects actively learn visual landmarks that enable them to return to a goal by performing learning flights. The durations of these flights are greatest during initial visits and subsequently decline, which suggests that investment in learning is modulated by a bee’s accumulating experience. We document various factors that influence this decision: 1) Learning flights reappear when experienced bees encounter a delay in finding food at a familiar place, and the durations of such "reorientation flights" increase with the length of the delay. 2) The decay in learning flight duration over visits following such reorientation flights is more rapid than following initial discovery of the food. 3) Learning flight duration increases in visually complex scenes, or when spatial relationships among landmarks are unstable. 4) The durations of learning flights at a new feeding place are influenced by the sucrose concentration in the food. Taken together, these results suggest that bees can adjust their learning efforts in response to changing needs for visual information, the value of which is influenced by sources of spatial uncertainty and the quality of the food. Media Friendly Abstract When honeybees find a new food source, they perform learning flights, also known as "turn back and look" flights, upon departure in order to learn visual features of landmarks surrounding the new location. These flights are longest following the first visit, and become shorter with every visit thereafter until they no longer perform this behavior, presumably when they have learned the landmark information. Given the modulated nature of this behavior, how does a bee determine when and for how long to perform these flights? We begin to address this question by documenting various factors that influence the decision to perform learning flights. Our results show that learning flight duration is influenced by: 1) past experience, 2) increasing delays between a bee’s arrival at a familiar food source and receipt of the sucrose reward, 3) complexity of the visual environment, 4) stability of landmarks, and 5) sucrose concentration of the food source. Collectively, these results suggest that bees can adjust their learning efforts in response to variations in their need for visual information.

WEISSS POSTER Accepted EXAMINING THE FUNCTION OF FEMALE ORNAMENTS: FEMALE-FEMALE COMPETITION AND SEX RECOGNITION IN STRIPED PLATEAU LIZARDS Stacey L. Weiss* Dept. of Zoology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708 (slweiss@asu.edu) Program Abstract Recent work on the function of female ornaments has focused on sexual selection theory although other non-mutually exclusive hypotheses for the evolution of female ornaments have been proposed. Previously, I have shown that the reproductive color of female striped plateau lizards reliably indicates female phenotypic quality and influences the behavior of potential mates. Here, I address two additional hypotheses concerning the function of this female ornament. The female signal hypothesis predicts that females with more developed color dominate females with less developed color. I examined female-female competition for basking sites and food resources, and found no consistent pattern to suggest that color affects these interactions. The sex recognition hypothesis predicts that female color improves gender identification. Resident males interacted with male intruders painted to express either male-typical color or female reproductive color. Intruder color had no significant effect on resident behavior. Other cues, such as olfactory signals, may be important for close-range sex recognition. Media Friendly Abstract

WELCHA ORAL Accepted PARENTAL GENETIC QUALITY AND GENETIC COMPATIBILITY AFFECT OFFSPRING GROWTH IN GRAY TREE FROGS Allison M. Welch* Department of Biology, Univ. of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (welcha@unc.edu) Program Abstract Females in many species discriminate among potential mates, and one benefit of mate choice can be enhanced genetic quality of offspring. Offspring genetic quality may be enhanced if a female selects a mate of high genetic quality or a mate with whom she is genetically compatible. Most tests of genetic benefits of mate choice have addressed the hypothesis that preferred mates are of higher genetic quality. Here, I test the relative importance of genetic quality and genetic compatibility for offspring performance in gray tree frogs (Hyla chrysoscelis). In order to differentiate effects of males’ genetic quality and genetic compatibility between males and females, I conducted a series of maternal and paternal half-sibship crosses. Both male identity and the interaction of male and female parent affected tadpole performance traits, suggesting that males in the population vary in their genetic quality and that the specific combination of male and female parent can also influence offspring fitness. Thus, variation in both male genetic quality and genetic compatibility may be sources of selection on female mating preferences. Media Friendly Abstract Females in many species choose among potential mates, and one benefit of mate choice can be enhanced genetic quality of offspring. Offspring genetic quality may be enhanced if a female selects a mate with high genetic quality or a mate with whom she is genetically compatible. If genetic quality varies among males, then males with “good genes” will produce offspring of high genetic quality, regardless of who the mother is. Whereas if genetic compatibility is important, a male whose genes are a good match for one female may not be a good match for other females. Most tests of whether mate choice can lead to enhanced offspring genetic quality have tested whether preferred mates are of higher genetic quality. Here, I test how both male genetic quality and genetic compatibility affect offspring quality in gray tree frogs (Hyla chrysoscelis). In order to differentiate effects of males’ genetic quality from effects of genetic compatibility, I crossed several males with several females in all possible combinations. I found that the quality of tadpoles produced by different fathers varied (regardless of mother’s identity) and that the quality of tadpoles produced by different male-female combinations also varied, showing that male genetic quality and genetic compatibility can both affect offspring quality. Understanding how offspring quality is influenced by genetic quality and compatibility provides insights into the benefits of mate choice and may help us understand why mating preferences have evolved differently in different populations.

WESTNEDF ORAL Accepted DIET, SIGNALS, AND ANTIBODY PRODUCTION IN HOUSE SPARROWS David F. Westneat*, Joseph Poston, Dennis Hasselquist & Ian Stewart Department of Biology, University of Kentucky;, Department of Animal Ecology, Lund University; & Department of Biology, University of Kentucky (biodfw@uky.edu) Program Abstract Sexually selected characters may provide information about the health of their bearer. One version of this hypothesis requires that some aspect of condition simultaneously influences signal development and immunocompetence. We manipulated diets of male house sparrows going through their first molt and measured the effects on several plumage traits, including the melanin-based bib, and on antibody production in response to diphtheria-tetanus vaccine. Males experienced 1 of 3 types of diet: 10% protein with a full complement of amino acids, 6% protein with a full complement of amino acids ("low protein"), or 8% protein with a 50% reduction in the two precursors to melanin, phenylalanine and tyrosine ("PT-reduced"). Diet had no effect on the size of the bib but did significantly affect the melanin density in the bib (PT reduced birds had paler bibs) and the size of the white wing bar (low protein males had smaller bars). Diet also had an impact on antibody production, with PT reduced birds having significantly higher production of antibodies. These results are surprising and do not support a condition-dependent link between immunity and signal. Media Friendly Abstract Males of many animals have extravagant traits that appear to function only as signals. What information do such signals contain? One idea is that males with good immune systems may produce better signals and be preferred as mates. A possible way this could work is if both immunity and the signal depend on the male's ability to acquire resources needed for both. We used diet manipulations to test this in a sexually dimorphic bird. We found that diet had some effect on plumage, but had the opposite effect on the immune response from that predicted by the hypothesis. These results suggest the possible links between immunity and signals may be more complex than previously proposed.

WHITEBC POSTER Accepted SOCIAL SPACING IN A BACHELOR GROUP OF CAPTIVE WOOLLY MONKEYS Brent C. White*, Jason Beare, Jodi A. Fuller & Lisa A. Houser Psychobiology Program, Centre College, Danville KY 40422, Arizona State University & LABs of Virginia, Inc (bcwhite@centre.edu) Program Abstract Woolly monkey social groups typically include several adult males that remain in their natal group. These males tolerate the presence of each other, but maintain a greater social distance than others in the group. Captive breeding groups tend to have a single adult male due to male aggression. This situation has produced a surplus of males. In order to assess the dynamics of male interactions, we studied the spacing of adult males in a captive bachelor group as it was formed and again three years later. Focal observations determined the proximity of individuals during feeding, resting, and other behavioral activities. Over the three-year period, there was a significant decline in the incidence of screaming and in being in close proximity to each other. For each animal, nearest neighbor relationships became more evenly distributed among the animals. Chest rubbing was less frequent after three years, but was being done by a subset of the group rather than all members. This captive group of males behaved similar to wild monkeys by maintaining social distance, which appears to facilitate their accommodation to a peaceful bachelor group. Media Friendly Abstract

WHITEC ALLEE Accepted ELK MANAGEMENT INFLUENCES ON THE COMMON RAVEN IN JACKSON HOLE, WYOMING Crow White* Wildlife Biology, University of Montana (crowsfeather@aol.com) Program Abstract I monitored common raven foraging tactics, and surveyed their population distribution and densities order to quantify the effects of Fall elk hunt-provided gutpiles on raven ecology in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The number of gutpiles in Jackson Hole has increased dramatically in the last fifty years. Concurrently, the local raven nest density has increased seven-fold, and the high raven population density presents a serious threat to Jackson Hole’s biodiversity. Results from this study indicate that ravens exploit elk hunt-provided gutpiles, raven distribution is influenced by the immediate distribution of gutpiles across the landscape, raven Fall density is influenced by the overall density of gutpiles in a given area in the Fall, and, most importantly, Spring raven population and nest density is influenced by Fall gutpile density. I conclude that the super abundance of elk gutpiles in Jackson Hole is a significant supplemental food resource to ravens; that it is artificially increasing the local raven population density, and may be generating negative cascading effects on Jackson Hole’s biodiversity. Media Friendly Abstract

WHITEDJ ORAL Accepted CORRELATES OF REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS ACROSS SOCIAL GROUPS IN BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS David J. White* Department of Psych., Indiana Univ., Bloomington, IN (dajwhite@indiana.edu) Program Abstract Cowbirds experience wide variation in social ecology and behaviour across their range. I have studied captive flocks varying in social composition (i.e., age class of birds present) to understand social influences on development of mating competency. Variation emerged across groups in: singing and association patterns, aggression, song quality, copulation success, and egg production and fertility. Here I explore the correlates of egg production and fertility across groups. I also investigate traits of individuals within groups that correlated with copulation success. Across groups, amount of male-male singing best correlated with female egg production. Within conditions, different behaviours correlated with copulation success in different groups. For example, in all-adult groups, males with highest quality songs were most successful, whereas in aviaries with juvenile males, intrasexual aggression correlated with success. In sum, patterns of male interactions emerged as predictors of female stimulation and at the individual level, traits that corresponded to mating success depended on the composition of the group. Media Friendly Abstract Cowbirds are found all over North America and across their range their social behaviour varies dramatically. I have been studying large groups of captive cowbirds to determine how social behaviour affects the development of mating abilities. I have found remarkable differences in the birds living in different social groups. One of the biggest findings is that females lay different amounts of eggs depending on the behaviour of the males in their group. In groups where males engage in the most competition with other males, females lay the most eggs. Where males do not behave socially, females lay fewer eggs. The qualities of males that corresponded to mating success however, depended on the type of social group in which the males were housed. In groups without juvenile males, the males with the best songs were most successful at copulating. In groups where juvenile males were present, the most aggressive males got the most copulations. In sum, male-male competition stimulated females’ egg production, but the success of the strategies that males used to get copulations depended on the type of group in which they found themselves.

WHITHAJC POSTER Accepted GREETING INTERACTIONS AMONG ADULT MALE BABOONS Jessica C. Whitham* & Dario Maestripieri Committee on Human Development, University of Chicago, Chicago IL 60637 (whitham@midway.uchicago.edu) Program Abstract Greeting interactions between adult male baboons involve several ritualized behaviors including rump presentation and grasping, hip-touching, embracing, and the diddling of the penis and/or scrotum. This study tested the hypothesis that male baboons use greetings to evaluate the quality and strength of their social relationships. Data were collected in a colony of 40 Guinea baboons Papio papio at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago. Fifteen adult male baboons were focally observed in 30-min sessions over a 6-month period, resulting in 195 hours of observation. The quality of social relationships between males was assessed with measures of affiliation and social tolerance. As predicted, males with strong social bonds were more likely to exchange risky, intimate signals (i.e. embracing, diddling) than were pairs with poor relationships. Differences in dominance rank among individuals did not account for the distribution of greetings. The results suggest that by imposing on his partner, a male baboon is able to obtain reliable information about this individual's current willingness to invest in their relationship. Media Friendly Abstract

WIEGMADD ORAL Accepted FLOWER CONSTANCY: INFLUENCE OF FLOWER HANDLING COST ON THE CHOICE BEHAVIOR OF BUMBLE BEE (BOMBUS IMPATIENS) FORAGERS Faith A. Waldron & Daniel D. Wiegmann* Dept. of Biol. Sciences, Bowling Green State University (ddwiegm@bgnet.bgsu.edu) Program Abstract Insect foragers often display flower constancy, the tendency to sample flowers of one or a few specific plant species and bypass potentially rewarding alternatives. A negative incentive contrast design was used to determine how flower choices of bumblebee foragers trained to a single flower type are affected by the handling cost of alternative flowers. A total of 96 subjects, divided into three groups, was reinforced on blue flowers in 20 training trials. Experimental subjects in each group were reinforced with a concentration of 0.5 sucrose solution. Control subjects received a concentration of 0.2 sucrose solution. In 20 test trials subjects were given a choice between blue flowers and yellow flowers, each filled with 0.2 sucrose solution. Yellow flowers had a handling cost less than (Group A), equal to (Group B), or greater than (Group C) the cost of familiar blue flowers. Experimental subjects showed a severe disruption of consumption in the initial test trial and were more likely to visit the yellow flower than control subjects. Experimental subjects in Group A were more likely to revisit a yellow flower than experimental subjects in Groups B or C in the initial test trial. Only the flower choice of subjects in Group A shifted toward yellow flowers in test trials. Thus, the cost to sample alternative flowers appears to influence the likelihood that bumblebee foragers remain flower constant. Media Friendly Abstract

WILDERSM POSTER Accepted MOVEMENT PATTERNS AND HOME RANGES OF CO-EXISTING RESIDENT AND IMMIGRANT PRAIRIE VOLES (MICROTUS OCHROGASTER) Shawn M. Wilder, Loren D. Hayes, Y. Kirk Lin & Nancy G. Solomon Department of Zoology, Miami University, Oxford, OH (wilders@muohio.edu) Program Abstract The introduction of immigrants to a habitat may affect the movement of resident animals. Immigrants to an unfamiliar area may move longer distances than residents in order to locate suitable habitat in which to establish a home range. We used radio telemetry on Microtus ochrogaster* in four replicated 0.1 ha enclosures (residents only vs. residents with immigrants, n = 8) during 2000 and 2001 to investigate 1) the effects of immigrants on resident home range size and movement patterns, and 2) differences between immigrants and residents in home range size and movement patterns. The introduction of immigrants had no effect on the home range size (p=0.23) of residents despite the larger home range size (p=0.004) and greater mean interfix distance at night (p=0.0095) of immigrants. Immigrant M. ochrogaster were able to establish a home range similar in size to a resident in one week without affecting the home range size of residents. Media Friendly Abstract

WILSONDS INVITED Accepted MULTILEVEL SELECTION: THEN AND NOW David Sloan Wilson* Department of Biology, Binghamton University, Binghamton NY 13902 (dwilson@binghamton.edu) Program Abstract Multilevel selection (MLS) has become a powerful framework for studying animal behavior. Fitness differences can exist between genes within individuals, between individuals within groups, or between groups within a larger population. Groups can be unambiguously defined using criteria shared by other theories of social behavior. Group selection is often a significant evolutionary force, despite its widespread rejection in the 1960's. For many researchers, group selection has become a part of mainstream science that is no more controversial than, say, sexual selection. I will provide a broad overview of multilevel selection and its relevance to animal behavior research, from microbes to humans. Media Friendly Abstract

WILSONEO INVITED Accepted GLOBAL CONSERVATION: SAVING THE SUBJECT OF RESEARCH Edward O. Wilson* Harvard University (ewilson@oeb.harvard.edu) Program Abstract In the past several decades biologists have found the biodiversity to be far richer in species and higher taxa than previously imagined. At the same time conservation biologists have determined that the extinction rate of species is, order of magnitude, a thousand times higher than the prehuman baseline, and probably rising. The cost in knowledge, security, economics potential, and not least, spirit is potentially enormous. But the problem is soluble, and new approaches and increasing global attention give reasons for cautious optimism. Media Friendly Abstract

WILSONML ORAL Accepted VOCAL SUPPRESSION IN WILD CHIMPANZEES Michael L. Wilson, Marc D. Hauser & Richard W. Wrangham Ecol. Evol. & Behav. Dept., Univ. of Minn. St. Paul MN 55108, Psychology Dept., Harvard Univ., Cambridge MA 02138 & Dept. of Anthropology, Harvard Univ., Cambridge MA 02138 (wilso198@tc.umn.edu) Program Abstract Numerous anecdotes have been reported, describing cases in which chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes*) appear to suppress their vocalizations. Nevertheless, few quantitative data are available to test such claims. Here we provide data on the spatio-temporal patterning of loud call (“pant-hoot”) production in chimpanzees living in Kibale National Park, Uganda. Chimpanzees often produce pant-hoots when feeding on abundant food sources, but giving such loud calls near community boundaries or while crop-raiding risks discovery by hostile individuals such as chimpanzees from rival communities and human farmers. All-occurrences sampling of pant-hoot production by 252 different parties revealed that parties produced fewer pant-hoots when in crops than in either the core or edge of their range. Focal follows of individuals revealed a similar trend: males produced fewer pant-hoots when eating cultivated foods than when eating wild fruits or herbaceous vegetation. These results support the claim that chimpanzees can suppress their vocalizations, especially when the costs associated with call production are high. Media Friendly Abstract A persistent view maintains that unlike humans, most other animals have little control over the sounds they produce, calling reflexively in response to things such as food and predators. In contrast to this view, a growing number of studies have shown that a variety of animals can vary their call production according to what other animals might be listening to their calls. Many anecdotes have suggested that chimpanzees can suppress calls when calling is dangerous. To obtain a more systematic understanding of whether chimpanzees can control their call production, we studied wild chimpanzees in Kibale National Park, Uganda. Chimpanzees often give a loud call, the “pant-hoot,” when feeding at abundant food sources such as fruit trees. We tested whether chimpanzees produced fewer pant-hoots when facing two potentially dangerous audiences: members of rival chimpanzee communities and human farmers. We found that when chimpanzees fed in banana plantations and other crops outside the park, they rarely pant-hooted. These data support the claim that chimpanzees can suppress their calls, especially to avoid being discovered by farmers.

WINTERM ORAL Accepted RELATEDNESS WITHIN NEST GROUPS OF SOUTHERN FLYING SQUIRRELS, GLAUCOMYS VOLANS. Mike Winterrowd*, Peter D. Weigl & William F. Gergits Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, AL & Dept. of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC (wintemf@groupwise1.duc.auburn.edu) Program Abstract Southern flying squirrels nest in groups and rely on scatter caches of hard mast. Since food-storing individuals pay higher storage costs than pilferers; the costs of stolen caches must be mitigated for scatter hoarding to be an evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS). This can be achieved by group members storing food independently and minimizing pilfering through retrieval behavior that provides an advantage to storing individuals, or group members could cooperatively hoard food and share caches with relatives where the cost of pilfered caches is recouped through indirect fitness gains. The program Relatedness (Goodnight 2002) was used to estimate the relationships within nest groups. Sixty adults of unknown relationship from 15 nest groups were compared to 15 individuals from four nest groups. The latter groups consisted of a female and juveniles, and calculations based on three microsatellite loci indicate that they were close relatives. Conversely the majority of nest groups were comprised of nonrelatives. These preliminary results are consistent with the independent hoarding strategy. Media Friendly Abstract

WISENDBD ORAL Accepted SYNERGISTIC INTERACTIONS BETWEEN CHEMICAL ALARM CUES AND THE PRESENCE OF CONSPECIFIC AND HETEROSPECIFIC FISH SHOALS Brian D. Wisenden*, Mike S. Pollock, Robyn J. Tremaine, Jeff M. Webb, Monique E. Wismer & Douglas P. Chivers Biology Dept, Minnesota State University Moorhead, MN, USA & Biology Dept, University of Sakatchewan, SK, Canada (wisenden@mnstate.edu) Program Abstract Here, we test the behavioral response of littoral prey fishes to combinations of chemical alarm cues (skin extract) and the visual presence of a fish shoal. We scented minnow traps with either alarm cues or water (control), placed inside the trap a jar that contained either a fish shoal or nothing (control) and recorded the number of fish captured. In one experiment, fish shoals + water cue attracted stickleback. Traps with alarm cue and a shoal caught significantly more stickleback than alarm cue presented with no shoal. In a second experiment, minnows entered traps at the highest rate for traps with alarm cue + shoal. The lowest catch rate was for alarm cue + no shoal. Fish shoal + water had the second highest catch rate and no shoal + water had the second lowest catch rate. We conclude that chemical alarm cues induce a behavioral proclivity to increase shoal cohesion. The presence of a shoal induced alarmed fish to shoal with them and thus, enter the trap. This occurred even though the trap was the source of the alarm cue. This is evidence for a synergistic interaction between chemical and visual sources of information during risk assessment. Media Friendly Abstract Nature is red in tooth and claw. All animals benefit from information about danger. Small fishes (stickleback, minnows) detect the smell of their own species being eaten as a way of detecting danger. These fishes form schools as a defense against predators, benefiting from the 'safety in numbers' effect. What do fishes do when they encounter a minnow trap scented with extract of fish skin (chemical alarm cue) and also contains a school of fish? Flee? Enter? We found that when the alarm cue is presented without a school, fishes avoid the trap. When a school of fish is in the trap, but no alarm cue, fish are attracted to the trap. Surprisingly, the most attractive traps were those with both alarm cue and a school. These traps were more attractive than traps with a school but no alarm cue. We think this is because the chemical alarm cue induces antipredator behavior. Alarmed fish seek protection in a school (or shoal) and entered the trap. Traps with the combination of alarm cue and shoal were the most effective in capturing fish because the presence of the chemical cue enhanced the attractiveness of the school in the trap.

WOLFFJO ORAL Accepted LABORATORY STUDIES WITH RODENTS: FACTS OR ARTIFACTS Jerry O. Wolff* Department of Biology, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152 (jwolff@memphis.edu) Program Abstract Wild rodents such as voles and mice typically have home ranges of 50 to several hundred square meters in forest or grassland habitats where they interact with numerous conspecifics of all ages and sexes on a daily basis. These rodents have not evolved in 20 x 40 cm polypropylene cages. Therefore, what kinds of questions can we ask in artificial laboratory environments that have relevance to the real world? Two phenomena that have been studied extensively in the laboratory with several species of voles and mice are the Bruce effect (pregnancy disruption) and reproductive suppression of young females by adult females. In field studies no support was found for the Bruce effect in the gray-tailed vole and minimal support for the prairie vole. Also, no support was found in the laboratory for reproductive suppression of daughters by their mothers in prairie voles and meadow voles or in the field for gray-tailed voles and white-footed mice. Many laboratory studies provide valuable information on animal behaviour, however, evolutionary theory and the natural history of a species should be taken into consideration when designing and interpreting laboratory studies with rodents. Media Friendly Abstract How does confinement and husbandry in artificial laboratory environments affect normal social behavior of wild rodents? Apparently quite a bit. I conducted field studies to test a widely held view that exposure to strange males causes female voles to abort a current pregnancy. In experiments with two species of rodents, the gray-tailed vole and the prairie vole, I failed to support this behavior which has only been observed in the laboratory. Another widely held view is that adult females suppress reproduction in young females. I failed to find any support for this observation in a laboratory experiment with prairie voles and meadow voles and in field experiments with gray-tailed voles, white-footed mice, and deer mice. A complete understanding of the limitations of laboratory environments must be taken into consideration with respect to the natural history of wild species in designing and interpreting laboratory studies.

WOLLERL ORAL Accepted THE POTENTIAL FOR COMMUNICATION ERRORS IN A COMPLEX ACOUSTIC ENVIRONMENT Lori Wollerman* & Haven Wiley Hood College, Frederick, MD 21701 & University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3280 (lwollerman@hood.edu) Program Abstract Differences in vocalizations promote accurate identification of species during mate choice. The properties of vocalizations vary, however, and overlap in the properties of different species' calls raises the possibility of errors in species identification. A simple model of these possibilities is provided by discriminant function analysis (DFA). We use DFA to consider possibilities for error in the classification of advertisement calls by Hyla ebraccata in a diverse community of neotropical hylid frogs. The analysis used three features of their calls: duration, dominant frequency, and pulse repetition rate, separately and in combination. With only one feature, DFA misidentified 12-32% of individuals, whereas with two call parameters, DFA committed few or no errors. If the analysis included the relative abundances of the different species, there were fewer errors. The distribution of calls in discriminant-function space did not differ statistically from random. This finding could be explained by differences in the intensity of selection for distinctiveness in calls of common and rare species. DFA illustrates some constraints on communication that result from errors in classifying signals. Media Friendly Abstract

WONGBB ORAL Accepted FITNESS CONSEQUENCES OF FEMALE CHOICE IN RELATION TO MALE DOMINANCE IN THE PACIFIC BLUE EYE FISH. Bob B.M. Wong* School of Botany and Zoology, Australian National University (bob.wong@anu.edu.au) Program Abstract The assumption that females benefit from mating with dominant males has rarely been tested and may often be incorrect. I conducted an experiment separating the effects of male-male competition and female choice in a freshwater fish, the Pacific blue eye (Pseudomugil signifer), to test whether females prefer dominant males and to determine whether females benefit from being choosy. I found that females did not prefer males successful in male-male competition and that there was no difference in hatching success between eggs guarded by dominant and subordinate males. Instead, females preferred males that spent a greater proportion of time engaged in courtship. Further, females paired with preferred males spawned sooner and preferred males also succeeded in bringing a greater proportion of eggs to hatching. These results indicate that males with a more dominant phenotype are not necessarily more attractive than subordinate individuals but females benefit through the exercise of choice. Media Friendly Abstract

WOODLESK POSTER Accepted INVESTIGATION OF LOW CONCENTRATIONS OF SOCIAL ODORS IS INCREASED BY ESTROGEN IN MALE AND FEMALE FERRETS. Sarah K. Woodley* & Michael J. Baum Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston MA 02215 (swoodley@bu.edu) Program Abstract Many mammals prefer odors of opposite sex conspecifics, and these chemosensory cues contribute to mate recognition and attraction. These preferences for opposite-sex odors are influenced by circulating sex steroid hormones. We asked whether estradiol increases investigation of decreasing concentrations of volatile odorants from anal scent gland secretions in gonadectomized ferrets. We used an habituation-dishabituation paradigm in which increased investigation of the anal scent relative to oil vehicle measures olfactory sensitivity and/or motivation. Animals were tested with 6 different concentrations each of male and female anal scents, then injected daily with estradiol benzoate (EB) and retested. Without EB treatment, gonadectomized ferrets of both sexes showed increased investigation to higher but not lower concentrations of anal scents. After EB treatment, both sexes responded to all dilutions of scents. These data suggest that estradiol acts in both sexes to increase sensitivity of the main olfactory system to low concentrations of social odors. (supported by DC00426-02 and HD21094) Media Friendly Abstract

YASUKAK ORAL Accepted DO BEGGING CALLS OF NESTLING RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, AGELAIUS PHOENICEUS CONVERGE? Alan Her & Ken Yasukawa* Beloit College, Department of Biology, Beloit WI 53511 (yasukawa@beloit.edu) Program Abstract Reproductive success in birds requires parental care. Nestling birds solicit parental care by producing begging calls, which also function in parent-offspring recognition. To see how red-winged blackbirds recognize their offspring, we examined the similarity of begging calls of broodmates using sound spectrographic, cross-correlation analysis of recorded calls. We found some evidence for begging call convergence of broodmates when nestlings were recorded together, but when the same nestlings were recorded separately, their calls were no more similar than those of two nestlings from different broods. If begging call convergence is present in red-winged blackbirds, then parent birds only have to learn to recognize one "family" call rather than the signature calls of individual nestlings. Media Friendly Abstract Any mother will tell you that she can recognize her baby when it cries. Parent birds are also able to recognize their own young by voice, but many birds raise several young at once. We wondered whether the begging calls of each of the 3–4 nestlings in a brood of red-winged blackbirds is individually distinct so that the mother would have to learn each one, or similar enough that the mother would only have to learn one "family" call. To find out, we recorded broodmates alone and in pairs and then compared their begging calls. When broodmates were recorded alone, their begging calls were individually distinct, but when the same nestlings were recorded together, their calls became similar. We now wonder why this convergence occurs. Are the nestlings trying to make it easier for their mother to recognize them, or are they trying to trick her into feeding the wrong sibling? Or maybe giving similar begging calls makes the mother work harder to bring food. We need to do more experiments to find out why.

YINSA ORAL Accepted BARKING IN DOMESTIC DOGS: NOISE OR COMMUNICATION? Sophia Yin* & Brenda McCowan Dept of Animal Science, University of California, Davis & Dept of Pop Health & Repro, Univ. of California, Davis (sophia@nerdbook.com) Program Abstract In this study, ten adult dogs of six different breeds were recorded barking in three different test situations—a disturbance situation where a stranger rang the doorbell, an isolation situation where the dog was locked outside isolated from its owner, and a play situation where either two dogs or a human and a dog played together. Spectrograms of 4,672 barks were analyzed using computer macros that took 60 sequential frequency measurements and 60 sequential amplitude measurements along the length of each bark. Statistical analyses revealed that barks are a graded vocalization that ranges from harsh, low-frequency, unmodulated calls to harmonically rich, higher-frequency, modulated calls. The harsh, low-frequency, unmodulated barks were more commonly given in the disturbance situation, and the more harmonically rich, higher-pitch, modulated barks were more commonly given in the isolation and play situations. Disturbance barks were also longer in duration with more rapid repetition than the other barks. Discriminant analysis revealed that dog barks can be divided into different subtypes based on context even within individual dogs, and that dogs can be identified by their bark spectrograms despite the context of the bark. Media Friendly Abstract Ask any dog owner why his or her dog barks and you'll get a plethora of answers. Because he is hungry. He wants to come inside. He hates the cat next door. With so many uses for one type of vocalization, is barking just a nuisance by-product of domestication or could barking serve some specific communication functions? In this study, ten adult dogs of six different breeds were recorded barking in three different test situations—a disturbance situation where a stranger rang the doorbell, an isolation situation where the dog was locked outside isolated from its owner, and a play situation where either two dogs or human and dog played together. Spectrograms of 4,672 barks were analyzed using computer macros that took 60 sequential frequency measurements along each bark. Statistical analysis revealed that dog barks can be divided into different subtypes based on context and that individual dogs can be identified by their barks. Additional analysis revealed that disturbance barks tend to be harsh, low-frequency, and unmodulated whereas isolation and play barks tend to be tonal, higher-frequency, and modulated. These findings suggest that barks may have specific functions in specific contexts; further studies should be performed to explore this idea. Additionally, because barks vary predictably with context, humans should be able to recognize the barks their dogs give in specific contexts.

YOUNGJ POSTER Accepted A COMPARISON OF FLORIDA MANATEE (TRICHECHUS MANATUS LATIROSTRIS) ACTIVITY AND SOCIAL INTERACTIONS IN DIFFERENT CAPTIVE ENVIRONMENTS Jennifer S. Young* & Bruce A. Schulte Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA & Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, USA. (gsi21707@gsaix2.cc.gasou.edu) Program Abstract The endangered Florida manatee serves as an umbrella species for critical near shore habitat of the southeastern United States. Human-related and natural injuries to manatees result in manatees being brought into captivity for rehabilitation. Using an ethogram of major behavioral categories (swim, feed, inactive, other), the activity patterns were determined for 37 manatees at six facilities over a 3-h period. We examined the influence of facility, manatee age, sex, season and length of time in captivity on activity patterns. No significant trends and no factors that would seem to have biological significance were noted, suggesting that lengthy time in captivity should not eliminate a manatee as a candidate for release. In addition, we investigated the degree of contact among manatees at four facilities housing 2-9 adult females and in two facilities one or two juvenile males. Virtually all contacts were non-aggressive. The number of contacts between manatees increased with density; however, contacts were not random. Manatees often only associated with a subset of the individuals. Relationships maintained in captivity indicate not only the potentially social nature of wild manatees, but these relationships may facilitate successful reintroduction of manatees if associates were released together. We are conducting further studies with wild manatees. Media Friendly Abstract The endangered Florida manatee serves as an umbrella species for critical near shore habitat of the southeastern United States. Human-related and natural injuries to manatees result in manatees being brought into captivity for rehabilitation. We determined the activity patterns for 37 manatees at six facilities over a 3-h period around the morning feeding period. We examined the influence of facility, manatee age, sex, season and length of time in captivity on activity patterns. No factors that would seem to have biological significance were noted, suggesting that lengthy time in captivity should not eliminate a manatee as a candidate for release. In addition, we investigated the degree of contact among manatees at four facilities housing 2-9 adult females and in two facilities one or two juvenile males. Virtually all contacts were non-aggressive. The number of contacts between manatees decreased at facilities with larger aquariums; however, manatees often only associated with a subset of the individuals. Relationships maintained in captivity indicate not only the potentially social nature of wild manatees, but these relationships may facilitate successful reintroduction of manatees if associates were released together. We are conducting further studies with wild manatees to examine their social behavior.

ZAWISTSL INVITED Accepted PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS, EXPECTATIONS AND THE FASCINATION WITH ANIMAL BEHAVIOR Stephen Zawistowski* Animal Science Department, ASPCA (stevez@aspca.org) Program Abstract Animal behavior holds an undeniable fascination for scientists and the public. The explosive growth of media outlets for the presentation of animal behavior provides the field, and the Animal Behavior Society with tremendous opportunities and challenges. This symposium highlighted the role that the field of applied animal behavior can play to integrate the wide spectrum of animal behavior study, as well as other disciplines in the academy. Applied animal behavior is also how society typically integrates animals into people’s lives. It frequently reflects circumstances where the lives of people and animals intersect. These examples can be used to develop a bridge between public interest and active support for animal behavior research. It will require a steady hand to navigate the tricky waters between the charlatans, exploitation and sensationalism and professional disdain. The rewards are substantial if the field can stay the course. Media Friendly Abstract Animal behavior holds an undeniable fascination for scientists and the public. The explosive growth of media outlets for the presentation of animal behavior provides the field, and the Animal Behavior Society with tremendous opportunities and challenges. This symposium highlighted the role that the field of applied animal behavior can play to integrate the wide spectrum of animal behavior study, as well as other disciplines in the academy. Applied animal behavior is also how society typically integrates animals into people’s lives. It frequently reflects circumstances where the lives of people and animals intersect. These examples can be used to develop a bridge between public interest and active support for animal behavior research. It will require a steady hand to navigate the tricky waters between the charlatans, exploitation and sensationalism and professional disdain. The rewards are substantial if the field can stay the course.

ZAWISTSL INVITED Accepted OPENING REMARKS AND INTRODUCTION Stephen L. Zawistowski* (stevez@aspca.org) Program Abstract Media Friendly Abstract

ZAWISTSL INVITED Accepted CLOSING COMMENTS Stephen L. Zawistowski* (stevez@aspca.org) Program Abstract Media Friendly Abstract

ZHUF POSTER Accepted TESTING THE WAR OF ATTRITION MODEL WITH COMPUTER SIMULATIONS Winfried Just & Fang Zhu* Dept. of Mathematics, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701 (zhuf_00@yahoo.com) Program Abstract The War of Attrition is a game-theoretic model of animal competition for a resource of value V. The contestants are assumed to exhibit one type of behavior, a ritualized display. Contestant one is prepared to display for a time t[1] and contestant two is prepared to display for a time t[2]. The contest is supposed to exert a certain energetic cost on each contestant that is proportional to its duration. The contest ends when one player gives up. A player's strategy is represented by the time this player is willing to persist in the contest. The theoretical model predicts a single ESS (evolutionarily stable strategy) where the persistence times follow an exponential distribution that could be represented either by randomizations for each player or a polymorphism within the population. We tested the theoretical model by individual-based computer simulations. The results partially confirm the predictions of the model for the randomized interpretation of the ESS, but also show that in a polymorphic population somewhat different distributions of persistence times than the one predicted by the model evolve. Media Friendly Abstract

ZUKM INVITED Accepted PARASITES, IMMUNITY AND THE EVOLUTION OF SIGNALING Marlene Zuk* Dept. of Biology, University of California, Riverside (mzuk@citrus.ucr.edu) Program Abstract Signaling is ubiquitous in biological systems, whether the signals are transmitted between cells within an organism or among individual organisms of the same or different species. We usually think of signals between organisms as very different from those occurring within a body, and the latter, with a few exceptions, aren't considered the purview of evolutionary biologists. However, that many parallels exist between animal signaling and the kinds of signals that are exchanged between cells in an organism during the immune response. I will provide a link between these types of signals via the role of parasites, pointing out some of the similarities and analogies that exist and then suggesting how these resemblances can be useful in understanding the evolution of signaling itself. Media Friendly Abstract

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