Abstract Whilst the effects of inbreeding on growth and survival have been well studied, knowledge impact social behaviour is scarce. Animal groups are often composed relatives, which can facilitate cooperation (due to kin selection) improve group performance accordingly. Therefore, increased genetic relatedness in inbred could increase performance, whilst reduced diversity negative (inbreeding...

Adaptive female coloration is likely to occur when males largely invest into reproduction or variance of quality between potential mating partners is high. Although recent studies have shown male choosiness of female traits, little is known about the extent to which female ornamentation signals benefits to males. Female ornamentation might signal individual quality information and thus might be...

The social environment individuals are exposed to during ontogeny shapes social skills and social competence in group-living animals. Consequently, social deprivation has serious effects on behaviour and development in animals but little is known about its impact on cooperation. In this study, we examined the effect of social environment on cooperative predator inspection. Predator inspection b...

The species of Verhoeff's Southeast Asian subgenus Malaccopleurus (an unavailable name) are here assigned to subgenus Otostigmus. His Otostigmus (M.) trisulcatus Verhoeff, 1937 is a junior subjective synonym of O. (M.) sulcipes Verhoeff, 1937. The foetus stadium of O. sulcipes is described. Otostigmus (M.) sutteri Würmli, 1972, is also assigned to the subgenus Otostigmus and may be conspecific ...

In wild animal populations, the degree of inbreeding differs between species and within species between populations. Because mating with kin often results in inbreeding depression, observed inbreeding is usually regarded to be caused by limited outbreeding opportunities due to demographic factors like small population size or population substructuring. However, theory predicts inclusive benefit...

This paper describes the ginkgoaleans (Ginkgoites) and conifers (Palissya, Stachyotaxus, Schizolepis) of Rhaetian flora from Wüstenwelsberg, as well a new species cycad Becklesia. The ginkgophyte leaf fragments are very abundant in certain levels (‘Blätterkohle‘) whereas common main fossiliferous bed. Wüstenwelsberg specimens extend range for Ginkgoites taeniatus Hettangian to genus Becklesia C...

Group living is widespread in animals, and many fishes form shoals. Examining within-group interactions may contribute to the general understanding of dynamic social structures animals. The sex ratio a group has been shown influence grouping decisions can be expected affect behaviour at level. Behavioural experiments usually involve relatively short acclimatisation times, although establishment...

Fast acclimatisation of experimental animals to laboratory test conditions is crucial for effective research. During highly standardized experiments, confounding parameters must be minimized which might lead to animals behaving unnaturally. The objective of the present study was to develop a simple method to enhance activity of fishes under laboratory test conditions. Many fishes intensively in...

Mating preferences for genetic compatibility strictly depend on the interplay of the genotypes of potential partners and are therein fundamentally different from directional preferences for ornamental secondary sexual traits. Thus, the most compatible partner is on average not the one with most pronounced ornaments and vice versa. Hence, mating preferences may often conflict. Here, we present a...