Fourteen females belonging to five groups were selected for the study of mating system in free-ranging domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) All the matings occurred between August and December with a peak in late monsoon months (September to November). Both males and females differed in their degree of attractiveness to the opposite sex. The duration of courting association increased with the number of courting males in an association. The females exhibited selectivity by readily permitting some males to mate and avoiding, or even attacking others, if they attempted to mount. Frequency of mounting in courting association increased with the number of males present. There was a positive correlation between the duration of courting association and the frequency of mounting. The young adult males were more likely to copulate successfully than the old adult males. There was a negative correlation between the number of males present in an association and the number of successful copulations. In this study, six types of mating (monogamy, polygyny, promiscuity, polyandry, opportunity and rape) were recorded. Mean (&#x00B1;S.E.) duration of copulatory ties was 25.65 (&#x00B1;1.43) min. Several natural factors influencing the duration of copulatory ties were identified.

S. K. Pal

Mating System of Free-Ranging Dogs (Canis familiaris)

Gammarus spp. represent an important taxon in running water ecosystems concerning both structural and functional aspects. Gammarus spp. are also part of several macrozoobenthos indices for assessing biological water quality. However, in ecotoxicological water quality assessment, this taxon has been used much less than Daphnia spp. A new user-friendly and low-cost test protocol for Gammarus spp. has been developed, constituting the “ecotoxicological module ”of an integrated multimetric triad-based concept for water quality assessment. The GamTox test is based on several test parameters: behavior (especially locomotion and feeding) depicts rapid and sensitive early warning indicators, survival displays an indicator of severe acute stress, and biochemical biomarkers, esp. AChE inhibition, is a sensitive marker of neurotoxic xenobiotic stress. GamTox can be performed both in situ and ex situ, based either on visual or automatical recording.

Almut Gerhardt

GamTox: A Low-Cost Multimetric Ecotoxicity Test with Gammarus spp. for In and Ex Situ Application

Gammarus aequicauda is a euryhaline amphipod that is a common inhabitant of brackish environments of the Mediterranean Sea. In the Ebro delta, the population density of G. aequicauda is highly variable throughout the year. The main objective of this study is to investigate the effect of salinity on the growth of G. aequicauda juveniles. G. aequicauda embryos and juveniles can survive and grow in the laboratory between 2&#x2009;psu and 40&#x2009;psu salinity, depending on the previous acclimation period for the reproductive individuals. Adults acclimated at 34&#x2009;psu produced embryos and juveniles that survived and developed at salinities between 9&#x2009;psu and 40&#x2009;psu; adults acclimated at 9&#x2009;psu produced embryos and juveniles that could develop in oligohaline conditions. The lower growth rate values were 10.9&#x2009;&#x3bc;m&#x2009;d&#x2212;1 and 13.5&#x2009;&#x3bc;m&#x2009;d&#x2212;1 at 40&#x2009;psu and 2&#x2009;psu, respectively, with the higher values of 18.0&#x2009;&#x3bc;m&#x2009;d&#x2212;1 and 18.5&#x2009;&#x3bc;m&#x2009;d&#x2212;1 at 19 and 34&#x2009;psu, respectively.

L&#xed;dia Delgado

Guillermo Guerao

Carles Ribera

Effects of Different Salinities on Juvenile Growth of Gammarus aequicauda (Malacostraca: Amphipoda)

Watercress releases phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) upon wounding as a defence against herbivores. PEITC levels released from watercress farms are elevated due to cropping, washing, and processing and are thought to lead to adverse effects on Gammarus pulex in chalk streams. This study elucidates the sublethal effect of PEITC on reproductive behaviour of G. pulex, employing ex situ tests to investigate the disruption of precopular pairing under conditions simulating in situ exposure. Mean time to separation of precopular pairs was 89 ± 6 minutes for watercress wash water (1 g watercress per litre water) and 
 81 ± 15 minutes for pure PEITC (1 μL/L). Re-exposure to watercress wash water to simulate the pulsed operation at a watercress farm did not alter behavioural response. The repeated interruption of reproductive behaviour under in situ conditions would impair long-term reproductive success and could explain in part low abundance of G. pulex downstream of watercress farms.

Melanie J. Dixon

Peter J. Shaw

Watercress and Water Quality: The Effect of Phenethyl Isothiocyanate on the Mating Behaviour of Gammarus pulex

We will deal with the partial characterization and the activity of the following digestive enzymes: amylase, pectinase, alginase, lipase, and protease present in the digestive tract of juvenile freshwater crayfish Cherax albidus. Gastric juices, the hepatopancreas, and the intestine were sampled for enzyme analysis. Among carbohydratases, amylase activity was the highest. It was significantly higher in the intestine than in the gastric juice and hepatopancreas. Lipase activity was significantly higher in the hepatopancreas and the intestine compared to the gastric juice. Both alkaline and acid proteases were found. Alkaline proteases were characterized by employing specific protease inhibitors. Both trypsin and chymotrypsin activity was detected. The majority of alkaline protease activity was ascribable to trypsin. Several isoforms of digestive enzymes were identified by gel electrophoresis. This work provides basic information to study the digestive abilities of crayfish.

Elena Coccia

Ettore Varricchio

Marina Paolucci

Digestive Enzymes in the Crayfish Cherax albidus: Polymorphism and Partial Characterization

Habitat selection remains a poorly understood ecological process, but relating mating behaviour to pattern of habitat selection constitutes a fundamental issue both in evolutionary ecology and in biological conservation. From radiotelemetry protocol, habitat-induced variations in mating success were investigated in a solitary mustelid carnivore, the European polecat Mustela putorius. Selection for marshy habitat was regarded as adaptive in that mating success was found greater using marches than other habitats. Males consorted with 1.3 females, revealing a low polygyny rate. Pregnant or lactating females selectively shifted to deciduous woods. That some habitat types may favour a good reproduction forms a key factor for species conservation and environmental management. Nevertheless, such as in various vertebrates, habitat requirements seem to be based on simple broad features of habitat, suggesting that habitat avoidance rather than habitat preference can explain polecat habitat predilection.

Thierry Lod&#233;

Habitat Selection and Mating Success in a Mustelid

Thirty-three protected  wild game reproduction areas, located in the province of Florence (Central Italy), were monitored for habitat characteristics and hare census over a period of 2 years. A total of 172 hares was captured, checked for sex, and age, and blood samples were taken. Serum samples were analyzed by competitive ELISA test for detection and titration of anti-European brown hare syndrome virus (EBHSV) antibodies.
Results showed that EBHSV seropositive hares from areas with high and medium population densities had higher antibody titers than those coming from low-density areas and that adults showed lower values than young animals. Anti-EBHSV antibody levels were inversely related to the distances between protected areas and private hunting areas while a high density of protected areas was not associated with any similarity in the values or prevalence of EBHSV.

Gisella Paci

Antonio Lavazza

Marco Ferretti

Francesco Santilli

Marco Bagliacca

Relationship between Anti-European Brown Hare Syndrome Serological Titers and Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus Pallas) Densities

The detrimental effects caused by stressors encountered by animals during routine handling can pose economic problems for the livestock industry due to increased costs ultimately borne by the producer and the consumer.   Stress adversely affects key physiological processes of the reproductive and immune systems.  In recent years stress responsiveness has been associated with cattle behavior, specifically temperament.  Cattle with more excitable temperaments, as measured by chute score, pen score, and exit velocity (flight speed), exhibit greater basal concentrations of glucocorticoids and catecholamines.  Similar to stressed cattle, more temperamental cattle (i.e., cattle exhibiting greater exit velocity or pen and chute scores) have poorer growth performance, carcass characteristics, and immune responses.  Thus, understanding the interrelationship of stress and temperament can help in the development of selection and management practices that reduce the negative influence of temperament on growth and productivity of cattle.  This paper discusses the relationship between stress and temperament and the developing evidence of an effect of temperament on immune function of cattle that have been handled or restrained.  Specifically, the paper discusses different methodologies used to measure temperament, including chute score, pen score, and exit velocity, and discusses the reaction of cattle to different stressors including handling and restraint.

N. C. Burdick

R. D. Randel

J. A. Carroll

T. H. Welsh

Interactions between Temperament, Stress, and Immune Function in Cattle

About this journal

International Journal of Zoology publishes original research articles as well as review articles in all areas of zoology.

Journal profile

Meet the editorial board

International Journal of Zoology maintains an Editorial Board of practicing researchers from around the world, to ensure manuscripts are handled by editors who are experts in the field of study.

Editor spotlight

Submit your proposal

Do you think there is an emerging area of research that really needs to be highlighted? Or an existing research area that has been overlooked or would benefit from deeper investigation? Raise the profile of a research area by leading a Special Issue.

Special Issues

Author guidelines

Editorial board

Databases and indexing

International Journal of Zoology - Table of contents 2011

International Journal of Zoology | Hindawi

title

International Journal of Zoology publishes original research articles as well as review articles in all areas of zoology.

International Journal of Zoology