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.

Summary: Bennett et al. (1984)

 Xerus inauris, commonly known as the Cape ground squirrel, is a diurnal, highly social, sciurid rodent that occurs in the arid regions of southern Africa. Squirrels are common in the southern Kalahari. The bushy tail of this species acts like a sunshade, allowing individuals to reduce environmental heat loads by raising the tail and shading the body. Bennett et al. (1984) measured the operative environmental temperature of squirrel mannequins oriented in different postures and with different tail orientations (late spring). At the same time, they observed naturally occurring thermoregulatory behaviour in a free-living colony. Bennett et al. (1984) noted a change in squirrel behaviour when environmental temperatures exceeded 40 C. Squirrels raised the tail over the body and turned their backs to the sun. By raising the tail over the body (to cover the head), the tail reduced the environmental temperature by over 5 C, allowing squirrels to increase time foraging above the surface (7h shaded vs. 3h unshaded). Squirrels also showed behavioural changes when the shaded temperature exceeded 40 C, by retreating into their cooler underground burrows.

Summary: Brassen et al. (2012)

Brassen et al. (2012)  noted that there is a deficit in information about the neurobiological mechanisms that underlie the relationship between age-related declines in the ability to undo regrettable situations and a reduction in engagement with these situations. They used a sequential risk-tasking task combined with a multimodal psychophysiological approach to investigate responsiveness to regret in young, aged emotionally successful and aged late-life depressed participants. Brassen et al. (2012) found that aged emotionally successful participants showed a reduction in responsiveness to regret that was paralleled by a corresponding neurobiological change in emotion regulation (autonomic and frontostriatal). They suggest that the ability to disengage from regretful events is critical for resilience of emotional health into old age.

Summary: Hart (2012)

 The ability to accurately determine an animal's level of pain and stress is crucial for the correct design and implementation of various handling and experimental procedures. Hart (2012) suggests that the quantification of physiological neuroendocrine responses could allow for an objective measure of associated stress and pain than behavioural observations alone. She notes that the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis plays a large role in the neuroendocrine response  of an animal to various types of stressors (environmental,  emotional  and  physiological). This system is integrated with the production of cortisol, a glucocortiocoid stress hormone commonly used in behavioural studies as a measure of stress. Hart (2012) suggests that using the concentration of cortisol as a measure of objective stress assessment could be misinterpreted, as aspects of HPA physiology are often overlooked. She notes that using plasma cortisol concentration as a measure of stress can be useful in some cases, but notes that investigators should take into account the unique variable nature of HPA axis activation.