Summary: Murase & Sunobe (2011)

Tube blennies (Neoclinus bryope) are small fish that occupy rocky intertidal areas in Japan. Murase & Sunobe (2011) investigated territorial behaviour in this species, noting that males occupied small holes for spawning nests. These males maintained the nest area and excluded other males from entering. The area these males occupied was fairly small (approximately 30cm) and males showed aggressive behaviour to fish that intruded close to the nest holes. Males also actively removed threatening egg predators (such as carnivorous snails). Males do not leave nest holes during the courtship period, which Murase & Sunobe (2011) suggest could be related to the cost of maintaining a courtship territory. They maintain that tube blennies maintain territories around these small holes in order to guard eggs and protect food resources while remaining in the small space during the spawning season.

Summary: Lovering et al. (2007)

Lovering et al. (2007) investigated whether tail snips collected from young mice (less than 4 weeks of age) could be used for immunofluroescence assays of muscle proteins. They found that skeletal muscle fibres present in the distal end of the tail (1 cm) of neonatal mice can be used in this procedure to determine the presence of three different muscle proteins, namely desmin null, dysferlin null and dystrophin null. Lovering et al. (2007) suggest that the use of immunofluroescence assays can allow for phenotypic confirmation of genetic screening of mutant mouse strains, allowing for scientists to evaluate muscle from mice expressing genotypes of particular interest.

Summary: Hugali & Stuart-Fox (2012)

Roulin (2004) defined a colour polymorphic species as one that possesses a colour trait that can be "easily classified into a limited number of morphs within one species suggesting a strong
genetic determinism." While colour polymorphism is widespread in a taxonomic sense, it is considered rare (occurring in only 3.5% of bird species for example). Hugali & Stuart-Fox (2012) suggested that the processes that generate and maintain colour polymorphism might also promote speciation. They found that colour polymorphism in three families of non-passerine bird species is linked to faster speciation rates. They also noted that rate of loss of colour polymorphism is much higher than the rate of gain. Hugali & Stuart-Fox (2012) suggest that the rarity of colour polymorphism, and its phylogenetic dispersion, is a result of an interaction between this higher rate of speciation and a greater transition rate between morphic types (poly- to monomorphism). Their results provide support for the general proposition that increased speciation rates can result from colour polymorphism.

Summary: Nie et al. (2012)

 Animals signal in a variety of ways, one of which is scent marking. Scent marking can provide information on the sex, age and reproductive status of individuals, but is energetically costly and relies on optimizing opportunity efficiency. Animals need to consider where scent should be placed in the environment in order to maximize the detection probability by receivers, while minimizing these costs. Giant pandas Ailuropoda melanoleuca are solitary and rely on chemical cues to distribute and gain information. Nie et al. (2012) investigated the scent-marking patterns of pandas living in Foping Nature reserve and found that scent marks were not posted randomly, but were targeted at specific trees. These trees increased the range and likelihood of detection of scents, and also promoted signal persistence. Nie et al. (2012) also found that pandas used different scent-marking behaviour, depending on the characteristic of the tree (either urine marks or anogenital marks). They also suggest that marking patterns vary depending on the season and the sexual status of animals, which could be important in a reproductive and competitive context.