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Jennings DJ, Gammell MP. Fluctuating Asymmetry of Fallow Deer Antlers Is Associated with Weapon Damage but Not Tactical Behaviour during Fights. Symmetry (Basel) 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/sym15040829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The horns and antlers borne by the males of many species of ungulate are considered to be both badges of quality, and armaments for use during intraspecific combat. Underpinning arguments concerning their dual utility is the idea that these structures should be costly to produce in order that the signal value of the structure is maintained. In agreement with such theorising is the belief that fluctuating asymmetry (FA), small deviations from symmetry around a mean of zero, measures individual quality as it represents the ability of the individual to withstand stress. We investigated whether the antlers of fallow deer indicated something of the quality of the bearer by assessing whether the degree of antler FA was associated with breakage (i.e., badge of quality) or with tactical investment in fighting (i.e., armament). We show the anticipated relationship between FA and antler damage, however, there was no relationship between FA and contest tactics. The present study, therefore, shows partial support for the idea that the magnitude of fluctuating asymmetry expressed by weaponry is related to individual quality.
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2
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Costello L, Fox JW. Decline effects are rare in ecology. Ecology 2022; 103:e3680. [PMID: 35302660 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The scientific evidence base on any given topic changes over time as more studies are published. Currently, there is widespread concern about non-random, directional changes over time in the scientific evidence base associated with many topics. In particular, if studies finding large effects (e.g., large differences between treatment and control means) tend to get published quickly, while small effects tend to get published slowly, the net result will be a decrease over time in the estimated magnitude of the mean effect size, known as a "decline effect". If decline effects are common, then the published scientific literature will provide a biased and misleading guide to management decisions, and to the allocation of future research effort. We compiled data from 466 meta-analyses in ecology to look for evidence of decline effects. We found that decline effects are rare. Only ~5% of ecological meta-analyses truly exhibit a directional change in mean effect size over time arising for some reason other than random chance, usually but not always in the direction of decline. Most apparent directional changes in mean effect size over time are attributable to regression to the mean, consistent with primary studies being published in random order with respect to the effect sizes they report. Our results are good news: decline effects are the exception to the rule in ecology. Identifying and rectifying rare cases of true decline effects remains an important task, but ecologists should not overgeneralize from anecdotal reports of decline effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Costello
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jeremy W Fox
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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3
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Ward DL, Schroeder L, Pomeroy E, Roy JE, Buck LT, Stock JT, Martin-Gronert M, Ozanne SE, Silcox MT, Viola TB. Early life malnutrition and fluctuating asymmetry in the rat bony labyrinth. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2021; 304:2645-2660. [PMID: 33586866 DOI: 10.1002/ar.24601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Maternal malnutrition during gestation and lactation is known to have adverse effects on offspring. We evaluate the impact of maternal diet on offspring bony labyrinth morphology. The bony labyrinth develops early and is thought to be stable to protect vital sensory organs within. For these reasons, bony labyrinth morphology has been used extensively to assess locomotion, hearing function, and phylogeny in primates and numerous other taxa. While variation related to these parameters has been documented, there is still a component of intraspecific variation that is unexplained. Although the labyrinthine developmental window is small, it may provide the opportunity for developmental instability to produce corresponding shape differences, as measured by fluctuating asymmetry (FA). We hypothesized that (a) offspring with poor maternal diet would exhibit increased FA, but (b) no unilateral shape difference. To test these hypotheses, we used two groups of rats (Rattus norvegicus; Crl:WI[Han] strain), one control group and one group exposed to a isocaloric, protein-restricted maternal diet during gestation and suckling. Individuals were sampled at weaning, sexual maturity, and old age. A Procrustes analysis of variance identified statistically significant FA in all diet-age subgroups. No differences in level of FA were identified among the subgroups, rejecting our first hypothesis. A principal components analysis identified no unilateral shape differences, supporting our second hypothesis. These results indicate that bony labyrinth morphology is remarkably stable and likely protected from a poor maternal diet during development. In light of this result, other factors must be explored to explain intraspecific variation in labyrinthine shape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devin L Ward
- Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lauren Schroeder
- Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
| | - Emma Pomeroy
- Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jocelyn E Roy
- Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Laura T Buck
- Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Jay T Stock
- Department of Anthropology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Archaeology, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Jena, Germany
| | - Malgorzata Martin-Gronert
- Metabolic Research Laboratories and MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Susan E Ozanne
- Metabolic Research Laboratories and MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Mary T Silcox
- Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto Scarborough, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - T Bence Viola
- Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute for Archaeology and Ethnography, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
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Mental Fatigue Might Be Not So Bad for Exercise Performance After All: A Systematic Review and Bias-Sensitive Meta-Analysis. J Cogn 2020; 3:38. [PMID: 33103052 PMCID: PMC7546119 DOI: 10.5334/joc.126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
There is an ongoing debate in the scientific community regarding whether a state of mental fatigue may have a negative effect upon a range of objective and subjective measures of human performance. This issue has attracted attention from several fields, including sport and exercise sciences. In fact, a considerable body of literature in the sport science field has suggested that performing a long and demanding cognitive task might lead to a state of mental fatigue, impairing subsequent exercise performance, although research in this field has shown contradictory results. Here, we performed a meta-analysis to investigate these inconsistent findings. The analysis yielded small-to-medium effects of mental fatigue on exercise performance, d z = 0.50, and RPE, d z = 0.21. However, a three-parameter selection model also revealed evidence of publication or reporting biases, suggesting that the bias-corrected estimates might be substantially lower (0.08 and 0.10, respectively) and non-significant. In sum, current evidence does not provide conclusive support for the claim that mental fatigue has a negative influence on exercise performance.
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6
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Ishihara R, Miyatake T. Relationships between mating tactics and male traits such as body size and fluctuating asymmetry in the Japanese scorpionfly. J ETHOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10164-020-00645-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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7
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How do journals of different rank instruct peer reviewers? Reviewer guidelines in the field of management. Scientometrics 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s11192-019-03343-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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8
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Koricheva J, Kulinskaya E. Temporal Instability of Evidence Base: A Threat to Policy Making? Trends Ecol Evol 2019; 34:895-902. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2019.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Revised: 05/12/2019] [Accepted: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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9
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Abstract
Abstract. Ego depletion has been successfully replicated in hundreds of studies. Yet the most recent large-scale Registered Replication Reports (RRR), comprising thousands of participants, have yielded disappointingly small effects, sometimes even failing to reach statistical significance. Although these results may seem surprising, in the present article I suggest that they are perfectly consistent with a long-term decline in the size of the depletion effects that can be traced back to at least 10 years ago, well before any of the RRR on ego depletion were conceived. The decline seems to be at least partly due to a parallel trend toward publishing better and less biased research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A. Vadillo
- Departamento de Psicología Básica, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain
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10
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Kelly CD, Stoehr AM, Nunn C, Smyth KN, Prokop ZM. Sexual dimorphism in immunity across animals: a meta-analysis. Ecol Lett 2018; 21:1885-1894. [PMID: 30288910 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2018] [Revised: 07/16/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
In animals, sex differences in immunity are proposed to shape variation in infection prevalence and intensity among individuals in a population, with females typically expected to exhibit superior immunity due to life-history trade-offs. We performed a systematic meta-analysis to investigate the magnitude and direction of sex differences in immunity and to identify factors that shape sex-biased immunocompetence. In addition to considering taxonomic and methodological effects as moderators, we assessed age-related effects, which are predicted to occur if sex differences in immunity are due to sex-specific resource allocation trade-offs with reproduction. In a meta-analysis of 584 effects from 124 studies, we found that females exhibit a significantly stronger immune response than do males, but the effect size is relatively small, and became non-significant after controlling for phylogeny. Female-biased immunity was more pronounced in adult than immature animals. More recently published studies did not report significantly smaller effect sizes. Among taxonomic and methodological subsets of the data, some of the largest effect sizes were in insects, further supporting previous suggestions that testosterone is not the only potential driver of sex differences in immunity. Our findings challenge the notion of pervasive biases towards female-biased immunity and the role of testosterone in driving these differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clint D Kelly
- Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888, succursale Centre-Ville, Montreal, QC, H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Andrew M Stoehr
- Department of Biological Sciences, Butler University, 4600 Sunset Avenue, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Charles Nunn
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Science Drive, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.,Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Trent Drive, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Kendra N Smyth
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Science Drive, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.,University Program in Ecology, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Zofia M Prokop
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387, Krakow, Poland
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11
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Tucić B, Budečević S, Manitašević Jovanović S, Vuleta A, Klingenberg CP. Phenotypic plasticity in response to environmental heterogeneity contributes to fluctuating asymmetry in plants: first empirical evidence. J Evol Biol 2017; 31:197-210. [PMID: 29134739 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) is widely used to quantify developmental instability (DI) in ecological and evolutionary studies. It has long been recognized that FA may not exclusively originate from DI for sessile organisms such as plants, because phenotypic plasticity in response to heterogeneities in the environment might also produce FA. This study provides the first empirical evidence for this hypothesis. We reasoned that solar irradiance, which is greater on the southern side than on the northern side of plants growing in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere, would cause systematic morphological differences and asymmetry associated with the orientation of plant parts. We used geometric morphometrics to characterize the size and shape of flower parts in Iris pumila grown in a common garden. The size of floral organs was not significantly affected by orientation. Shape and particularly its asymmetric component differed significantly according to orientation for three different floral parts. Orientation accounted for 10.4% of the total shape asymmetry within flowers in the falls, for 11.4% in the standards and for 2.2% in the style branches. This indicates that phenotypic plasticity in response to a directed environmental factor, most likely solar irradiance, contributes to FA of flowers under natural conditions. That FA partly results from phenotypic plasticity and not just from DI needs to be considered by studies of FA in plants and other sessile organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Branka Tucić
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Sanja Budečević
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Sanja Manitašević Jovanović
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ana Vuleta
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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12
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Ihle M, Winney IS, Krystalli A, Croucher M. Striving for transparent and credible research: practical guidelines for behavioral ecologists. Behav Ecol 2017; 28:348-354. [PMID: 29622916 PMCID: PMC5873838 DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arx003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2016] [Revised: 11/07/2016] [Accepted: 01/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Science is meant to be the systematic and objective study of the world but evidence suggests that scientific practices are sometimes falling short of this expectation. In this invited idea, we argue that any failure to conduct research according to a documented plan (lack of reliability) and/or any failure to ensure that reconducting the same project would provide the same finding (lack of reproducibility), will result in a low probability of independent studies reaching the same outcome (lack of replicability). After outlining the challenges facing behavioral ecology and science more broadly and incorporating advice from international organizations such as the Center for Open Science (COS), we present clear guidelines and tutorials on what we think open practices represent for behavioral ecologists. In addition, we indicate some of the currently most appropriate and freely available tools for adopting these practices. Finally, we suggest that all journals in our field, such as Behavioral Ecology, give additional weight to transparent studies and therefore provide greater incentives to align our scientific practices to our scientific values. Overall, we argue that producing demonstrably credible science is now fully achievable for the benefit of each researcher individually and for our community as a whole.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malika Ihle
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, Alfred Denny Building, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Isabel S Winney
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, Alfred Denny Building, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
- Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Eberhard-Gwinner-Strasse, 82319 Seewiesen, Germany
- Evolution & Diversité Biologique, Bâtiment 4R1, Université de Toulouse Paul Sabatier, 118 Route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse Cedex 09, France, and
| | - Anna Krystalli
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, Alfred Denny Building, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Michael Croucher
- Department of Computer Science, Regent Court, University of Sheffield, 211 Portobello, Sheffield S1 4DP, UK
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13
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Jennings DJ, Gammell MP. Lateralization during lateral display and its relationship with antler size and symmetry in fallow deer (Dama dama). Laterality 2017; 23:1-19. [PMID: 28276876 DOI: 10.1080/1357650x.2017.1293074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Individuals often display a preference for one side of their body during aggressive encounters. This may be a lateralized preference for using one structure of a bilateral trait during display or physical attack, or for keeping the opponent in one visual field. Alternatively, it may be the case that behavioural lateralization and the degree of symmetry expressed by bilateral structures are correlated forms of developmental instability. We examined whether there was an association between lateralization during a lateral display and different measurements of antler size and symmetry (beam length, beam circumference, brow tine length and coronet circumference). Three models addressed different structural measures: the right antler, the larger antler and antler symmetry. Results showed that beam length was negatively associated with behavioural lateralization irrespective of structural measure. A second analysis using a composite score of the four antler measurements, one for each structural measure, showed that only antler symmetry was negatively associated with lateralization during lateral display. Therefore, our second prediction was supported. We discuss these findings in relation to predator detection capability and stress reduction in prey species such as the fallow deer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dómhnall J Jennings
- a Institute of Neuroscience , Newcastle University , Newcastle upon Tyne , UK
| | - Martin P Gammell
- b Department of Life and Physical Science , Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology , Galway , Ireland
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14
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Nissen SB, Magidson T, Gross K, Bergstrom CT. Publication bias and the canonization of false facts. eLife 2016; 5. [PMID: 27995896 PMCID: PMC5173326 DOI: 10.7554/elife.21451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2016] [Accepted: 11/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Science is facing a “replication crisis” in which many experimental findings cannot be replicated and are likely to be false. Does this imply that many scientific facts are false as well? To find out, we explore the process by which a claim becomes fact. We model the community’s confidence in a claim as a Markov process with successive published results shifting the degree of belief. Publication bias in favor of positive findings influences the distribution of published results. We find that unless a sufficient fraction of negative results are published, false claims frequently can become canonized as fact. Data-dredging, p-hacking, and similar behaviors exacerbate the problem. Should negative results become easier to publish as a claim approaches acceptance as a fact, however, true and false claims would be more readily distinguished. To the degree that the model reflects the real world, there may be serious concerns about the validity of purported facts in some disciplines. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.21451.001
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tali Magidson
- Department of Computer Science, University of Washington, Seattle, United States
| | - Kevin Gross
- Department of Statistics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, United States
| | - Carl T Bergstrom
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, United States
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15
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Stephens J. Longitudinal Stability of Effect Sizes in Education Research. JOURNAL OF MODERN APPLIED STATISTICAL METHODS 2016. [DOI: 10.22237/jmasm/1478001900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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16
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Ferreira RL, Ueti A, Pompeu PS. Asymmetry compensation in a small vampire bat population in a cave: a case study in Brazil. SUBTERRANEAN BIOLOGY 2015. [DOI: 10.3897/subtbiol.15.4807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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17
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Fluctuating and Directional Asymmetry of the Blue Mussel (Mytilus edulis): Improving Methods of Morphological Analysis to Explore Species Performance at the Northern Border of Its Range. Symmetry (Basel) 2015. [DOI: 10.3390/sym7020488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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18
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Taylor LA, Clark DL, McGraw KJ. Natural variation in condition-dependent display colour does not predict male courtship success in a jumping spider. Anim Behav 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2014.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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20
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Synthetic analyses of phenotypic selection in natural populations: lessons, limitations and future directions. Evol Ecol 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s10682-012-9563-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Soler C, Kekäläinen J, Núñez M, Sancho M, Núñez J, Yaber I, Gutiérrez R. Male Facial Anthropometry and Attractiveness. Perception 2012; 41:1234-45. [PMID: 23469703 DOI: 10.1068/p7214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The symmetry and masculinity of the face are often considered important elements of male facial attractiveness. However, facial preferences are rarely studied on natural faces. We studied the effect of these traits and facial metric parameters on facial attractiveness in Spanish and Colombian raters. In total, 13 metric and 11 asymmetry parameters from natural, unmanipulated frontal face photographs of 50 Spanish men were measured with the USIA semiautomatic anthropometric software. All raters (women and men) were asked to rank these images as potential long-term partners for females. In both sexes, facial attractiveness was negatively associated with facial masculinity, and preference was not associated with facial symmetry. In Spanish raters, both sexes preferred male traits that were larger in the right side of the face, which may reflect a human tendency to prefer a certain degree of facial asymmetry. We did not find such preference in Colombian raters, but they did show stronger preference for facial femininity than Spanish raters. Present results suggest that facial relative femininity, which is expected to signal, eg good parenting and cooperation skills, may be an important signal of mate quality when females seek long-term partners. Facial symmetry appears unimportant in such long-term mating preferences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carles Soler
- Department of Functional Biology and Physical Anthropology, University of Valencia, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
| | - Jukka Kekäläinen
- Department of Biology, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 111, FI-80101 Joensuu, Finland
| | - Manuel Núñez
- Department of Functional Biology and Physical Anthropology, University of Valencia, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
| | - María Sancho
- Department of Functional Biology and Physical Anthropology, University of Valencia, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
| | - Javier Núñez
- Department of Functional Biology and Physical Anthropology, University of Valencia, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
| | - Iván Yaber
- Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar, Cartagena, Colombia
| | - Ricardo Gutiérrez
- Department of Functional Biology and Physical Anthropology, University of Valencia, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
- Departamento de Química y Biología, División de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla, Colombia
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Komonen A, Päivinen J, Kotiaho JS. Varying Definitions of Abundance and Incomplete Assemblages Challenge the Generality of the Interspecific Abundance—Distribution Relationships. ANN ZOOL FENN 2011. [DOI: 10.5735/086.048.0304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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23
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Ciuti S, Apollonio M. Do Antlers Honestly Advertise the Phenotypic Quality of Fallow Buck (Dama dama) in a Lekking Population? Ethology 2010. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0310.2010.01862.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Balzeau A, Gilissen E. Endocranial shape asymmetries in Pan paniscus, Pan troglodytes and Gorilla gorilla assessed via skull based landmark analysis. J Hum Evol 2010; 59:54-69. [PMID: 20537369 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2010.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2009] [Revised: 03/12/2010] [Accepted: 03/25/2010] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Brain shape asymmetries or petalias consist of the extension of one cerebral hemisphere beyond the other. A larger frontal or caudal projection is usually coupled with a larger lateral extent of the more projecting hemisphere relative to the other. The concurrence of these petalial components is characteristic of hominins. Studies aimed at quantifying petalial asymmetries in human and great ape endocasts rely on the definition of the midline of the endocranial surface. Studies of brain material show that, at least in humans, most of the medial surface of the left occipital lobe distorts along the midline and protrudes on to the right side, making it difficult for midline and corresponding left and right reference point identification. In order to accurately quantify and compare brain shape asymmetries in extant hominid species, we propose here a new protocol based on the objective definition of cranial landmarks. We describe and quantify for the first time in three dimensions the positions of frontal and occipital protrusions in large samples of Pan paniscus, Pan troglodytes and Gorilla gorilla. This study confirms the existence of frontal and occipital petalias in African apes. Moreover, the detailed analysis of the 3D structure of these petalias reveals shared features, as well as features that are unique to the different great ape species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Balzeau
- Equipe de Paléontologie Humaine, CNRS, UMR 7194, Département de Préhistoire du Muséum national d'histoire naturelle, Paris, France.
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Ditchkoff SS, deFreese RL. Assessing fluctuating asymmetry of white-tailed deer antlers in a three-dimensional context. J Mammal 2010. [DOI: 10.1644/09-mamm-a-134r.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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26
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Polak M. The Developmental Instability—Sexual Selection Hypothesis: A General Evaluation and Case Study. Evol Biol 2008. [DOI: 10.1007/s11692-008-9032-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Mateos C, Alarcos S, Carranza J, Sánchez-Prieto CB, Valencia J. Fluctuating asymmetry of red deer antlers negatively relates to individual condition and proximity to prime age. Anim Behav 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2007.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Takahashi M, Arita H, Hiraiwa-Hasegawa M, Hasegawa T. Peahens do not prefer peacocks with more elaborate trains. Anim Behav 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2007.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Cárcamo HA, Floate KD, Lee BL, Beres BL, Clarke FR. Developmental instability in a stem-mining sawfly: can fluctuating asymmetry detect plant host stress in a model system? Oecologia 2008; 156:505-13. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-008-1009-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2007] [Accepted: 02/13/2008] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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LAJUS DMITRYL. Variation patterns of bilateral characters: variation among characters and among populations in the White Sea herring, Clupea pallasi marisalbi (Berg) (Clupeidae, Teleosti). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2008. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2001.tb01389.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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KOTIAHO JS, PUURTINEN M. Mate choice for indirect genetic benefits: scrutiny of the current paradigm. Funct Ecol 2007. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2007.01286.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Knierim U, Van Dongen S, Forkman B, Tuyttens FAM, Spinka M, Campo JL, Weissengruber GE. Fluctuating asymmetry as an animal welfare indicator -- a review of methodology and validity. Physiol Behav 2007; 92:398-421. [PMID: 17448508 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2007.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2006] [Revised: 01/22/2007] [Accepted: 02/26/2007] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
It has been suggested that fluctuating asymmetry (FA) reflects an animal's ability to cope with the sum of challenges during its growing period and, thus, is a potential welfare indicator. In this review we investigate the evidence of associations between FA and other welfare indicators measured at the level of the individual and of effects of welfare-relevant environmental conditions on FA in populations of captive birds and mammals including humans. As the question of validity cannot be treated independently from the quality of the available data, first a checklist for the proper measurement and analysis of FA is drafted and used to evaluate the methodological quality of the various studies. We recommend this checklist to be used as a standard for future FA studies. We found 17 relevant studies on associations between FA and other welfare indicators, and 36 studies on effects of welfare-relevant factors on FA. Frequent methodological shortcomings or insufficient methodological information allow for only cautious conclusions. The proportion of significant results supporting the link between higher FA and poorer welfare is only moderately high. Independent from statistical significance, almost all studies found the relationship between FA and welfare to be prevailingly in the expected direction. FA is a promising measure of animal welfare, despite a great number of open questions, e.g. relating to the ontogeny of FA or its sensitivity to various stressors. The considerable potential of FA as a welfare indicator makes it worthwhile to pursue more intensely validation studies as well as applied studies. These studies should pay particular attention to an appropriate methodological approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Knierim
- Department of Farm Animal Behaviour and Husbandry, University of Kassel, 37213 Witzenhausen, Germany.
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Kelly CD. Replicating Empirical Research In Behavioral Ecology: How And Why It Should Be Done But Rarely Ever Is. QUARTERLY REVIEW OF BIOLOGY 2006; 81:221-36. [PMID: 17051829 DOI: 10.1086/506236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
That empirical evidence is replicable is the foundation of science. Ronald Fisher a founding father of biostatistics, recommended that a null hypothesis be rejected more than once because "no isolated experiment, however significant in itself can suffice for the experimental demonstration of any natural phenomenon" (Fisher 1974:14). Despite this demand, animal behaviorists and behavioral ecologists seldom replicate studies. This practice is not part of our scientific culture, as it is in chemistry or physics, due to a number of factors, including a general disdain by journal editors and thesis committees for unoriginal work. I outline why and how we should replicate empirical studies, which studies should be given priority, and then elaborate on why we do not engage in this necessary endeavor. I also explain how to employ various statistics to test the replicability of a series of studies and illustrate these using published studies from the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clint D Kelly
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto at Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
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Borgia G. Preexisting Male Traits Are Important in the Evolution of Elaborated Male Sexual Display. ADVANCES IN THE STUDY OF BEHAVIOR 2006. [DOI: 10.1016/s0065-3454(06)36006-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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Leamy LJ, Klingenberg CP. The Genetics and Evolution of Fluctuating Asymmetry. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ECOLOGY EVOLUTION AND SYSTEMATICS 2005. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.36.102003.152640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 209] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Larry J. Leamy
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, North Carolina 28223;
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Sengupta DP, Sengupta D, Ghosh P. Bilaterally symmetric Fourier approximations of the skull outlines of temnospondyl amphibians and their bearing on shape comparison. J Biosci 2005; 30:377-90. [PMID: 16052076 DOI: 10.1007/bf02703675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Present work illustrates a scheme of quantitative description of the shape of the skull outlines of temnospondyl amphibians using bilaterally symmetric closed Fourier curves. Some special points have been identified on the Fourier fits of the skull outlines, which are the local maxima, or minima of the distances from the centroid of the points at the skull outline. These points denotes break in curvature of the outline and their positions can be compared to differentiate the skull shapes. The ratios of arc-lengths of the posterior and lateral outline of 58 temnospondyl skulls have been plotted to generate a triaguarity series of the skulls. This series grades different families, some of their genera and species as well as some individuals according to their posterior and lateral skull length ratios. This model while comparing different taxa, takes into account the entire arc-length of the outline of the temnospondyl skulls, and does not depend on few geometric or biological points used by earlier workers for comparing skull shapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhurjati P Sengupta
- Geological Studies Unit, Physics and Earth Science Division, Indian Statistical Institute, 203, BT Road, Kolkata 700 108, India.
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Ritchie MG, Webb SA, Graves JA, Magurran AE, Macias Garcia C. Patterns of speciation in endemic Mexican Goodeid fish: sexual conflict or early radiation? J Evol Biol 2005; 18:922-9. [PMID: 16033564 DOI: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2005.00919.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Currently there is much interest in the potential for sexual selection or conflict to drive speciation. Theory proposes that speciation will be accelerated where sexual conflict is strong, particularly if females are ahead because mate choice will accentuate divergence by limiting gene flow. The Goodeinae are a monophyletic group of endemic Mexican fishes with an origin at least as old as the Miocene. Sexual selection is important in the Goodeinae and there is substantial interspecific variability in body morphology, which influences mate choice, allowing inference of the importance of female mate choice. We therefore used this group to test the relationship between sexual dimorphism and speciation rate. We quantified interspecific variation in sexual dimorphism amongst 25 species using a multivariate measure of total morphological differentiation between the sexes that accurately reflects sexual dimorphism driven by female mate choice and also used a mtDNA-based phylogeny to examine speciation rates. Comparative analyses failed to support a significant association between sexual dimorphism and speciation rate. In addition, variation in the time course of speciation throughout the whole clade was also examined using a similar tree containing 34 extant species. A constant rates model for the growth of this clade was rejected, but analyses instead indicated a decline in the rate of speciation over time. These results support the hypothesis of an early expansion of the group, perhaps due to an early radiation influenced by the key innovation of live bearing, or the prevalence of Miocene volcanism. In general, support for the role of sexual selection in generating patterns of speciation is proving equivocal and we argue that vicariance biogeography and adaptive radiations remain the most likely determinants of major patterns of diversification of continental organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- M G Ritchie
- Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, Dyers Brae House, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, UK.
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Abstract
The immune system is of increasing interest to evolutionary biologists. Immunity may trade-off against other fitness components, with recent work suggesting reproduction in particular impinges on immune defence. There may also be sex differences in the immune system. Additionally, while life history traits typically have low heritability, little is known about additive genetic variance of immunity. An insect's major defence against multicellular pathogens is to encapsulate the invader. Phenoloxidase (PO) is a key enzyme in the cascade resulting in the melanized capsule, and is often used to estimate resistance to an immune insult. We examined the effects of copulation, egg laying, sex and age on PO in Scathophaga stercoraria. We also measured the heritability of PO activity. The sexes differed in haemolymph PO activity and PO was significantly affected by age, but not by copulation or egg laying. There was significant heritable variation for haemolymph PO.
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Leimu R, Koricheva J. Cumulative meta-analysis: a new tool for detection of temporal trends and publication bias in ecology. Proc Biol Sci 2004; 271:1961-6. [PMID: 15347521 PMCID: PMC1691819 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2004.2828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Temporal changes in the magnitude of research findings have recently been recognized as a general phenomenon in ecology, and have been attributed to the delayed publication of non-significant results and disconfirming evidence. Here we introduce a method of cumulative meta-analysis which allows detection of both temporal trends and publication bias in the ecological literature. To illustrate the application of the method, we used two datasets from recently conducted meta-analyses of studies testing two plant defence theories. Our results revealed three phases in the evolution of the treatment effects. Early studies strongly supported the hypothesis tested, but the magnitude of the effect decreased considerably in later studies. In the latest studies, a trend towards an increase in effect size was observed. In one of the datasets, a cumulative meta-analysis revealed publication bias against studies reporting disconfirming evidence; such studies were published in journals with a lower impact factor compared to studies with results supporting the hypothesis tested. Correlation analysis revealed neither temporal trends nor evidence of publication bias in the datasets analysed. We thus suggest that cumulative meta-analysis should be used as a visual aid to detect temporal trends and publication bias in research findings in ecology in addition to the correlative approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roosa Leimu
- Section of Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Turku, FIN-20014, Finland.
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Cooley JR. Asymmetry and Mating Success in a Periodical Cicada, Magicicada septendecim (Hemiptera: Cicadidae). Ethology 2004. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0310.2004.00993.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Nykänen H, Koricheva J. Damage-induced changes in woody plants and their effects on insect herbivore performance: a meta-analysis. OIKOS 2004. [DOI: 10.1111/j.0030-1299.2004.12768.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 242] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Beck ML, Pruett-Jones S. Fluctuating Asymmetry, Sexual Selection, and Survivorship in Male Dark-Winged Damselflies. Ethology 2002. [DOI: 10.1046/j.1439-0310.2002.00814.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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