BARTOL, I.K.*; GORDON, M.S.: Flow patterns around boxfishes: Role of body keels in dynamic stability The tropical marine boxfishes and their relatives (family Ostraciidae) are some of the most highly specialized living bony fishes. The forward 2/3 to 3/4 of their bodies are covered by rigid bony tests, which restrict body movements to their fins […]

Hale, M.E.: Fast Start Behaviors of Fish Lacking Mauthner Neurons The paired Mauthner neurons (M-cells) are used by fishes to initiate the C-start type of startle response. During C-starts, a fish turns rapidly away from an offending stimulus with a “C” shaped body bend. Mauthner neurons may also function in S-starts, in which the initial […]

Wesp, H.M.*; Gibb, A.C.: Escape Response Performance in the Larval Razorback Sucker, Xyrauchen texanus The razorback sucker, Xyrauchen texanus, is an endangered fish native to the Colorado River system. Previous research suggests that declines in wild populations are due to a lack of larval recruitment. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that poor escape […]

ANDERSON, E.J.*; MCGILLIS, W.R.; GROSENBAUGH, M.A.: Boundary Layer Flow in Fish and Squid A complete hydrodynamic understanding of aquatic locomotion requires knowledge of the thin boundary layer surrounding swimming organisms. In particular, tangential forces acting on the body surface are dependent on the distribution of velocity throughout the boundary layer. Fluid velocities tangent and normal […]

TRAMPUS, Franc I.: The Effect of Unrelated Workers on Colony Perfomance in a Brood Raiding Leptothoracine ant Intraspecific brood raiding is a common behaviour in many species of ants. This is presumably the result of territorial conflict which may ultimately result in the eviction of a small colony by a numerically larger neighbor that then […]

LIGHTON, JRB; DUNCAN, FDD; TURNER, RJ: Shaken, not stirred: Of ants and earthquakes According to anecdotal evidence, many animals including arthropods such as ants change their behavior during earthquake and earthquake precursor events. This poses the question: Are such behavioral responses real, and if so, are they robust enough to be utilized as a means […]

LEONARD, J.L.; PEARSE, J.S.*: Sex in banana slugs: Different clades do different things Five clades of banana slugs of the genus Ariolimax occur along the west coast of North America: columbianus from SE Alaska to central California, stramineus from central California to Mexico, and brachyphallus, californicus, and dolichophallus from the northern, central, and southern portions […]

PAPKE, R.S.*; RUTOWSKI, R.L.: Reinforcement in the butterfly, Colias eurytheme. When selection against hybrids occurs between two closely related species, females are expected to respond by accurately choosing conspecific males, and male secondary sexual characteristics are expected to evolve to clearly reflect species identity. This process, by which pre-zygotic barriers to gene exchange are improved […]

IYENGAR, E.V.: Kleptoparasitism: Prevalence in nature and factors promoting its evolution Two of the highest priorities for most animals are finding and protecting food resources. Thieves are common, both in the terrestrial and aquatic realms, among invertebrates and vertebrates. Kleptoparasitism, the stealing (inter- or intra-specific) of already-procured food, is ubiquitous. Although this behavior occurs in […]

EDWARDS, D.D.: Does Host Sex Enhance the Transmission Dynamics Of Parasites? A Study of Mites and Midges Larvae of the water mite Unionicola foili undergo a brief parasitic phase with adult chironomids during their life cycle and in doing so acquire nutrition and a mechanism for dispersal. An examination of several life history characteristics of […]