Delineation of species of the Tetramorium caespitum complex (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Anatolia with a diagnosis of related species-complexes The high level of morphological crypsis of the hyper-diverse Palearctic Tetramorium caespitum group have challenged taxonomists for decades. Within this group, Wagner et al. (2017) offered a multidisciplinary solution for the delimitation of ten European species of…
Continue Reading....Month: April 2025
Publication – Schifani et al., Diversity
Integrative Description of Temnothorax siculus sp. n.: A New Ant Species from Sicily, Italy (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) The mostly Holarctic genus Temnothorax (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) is the most diverse ant genus in temperate regions. The Mediterranean, a biodiversity hotspot of rare ant species, hosts over 150 Temnothorax taxa, including several short-range endemics.…
Continue Reading....Publication – Horváth et al., Environmental Pollution
Microplastic uptake with food increases risk-taking of a wide-spread decomposer, the common pill bug Armadillidium vulgare Exposure to microplastics (MPs) i.e., plastic fragments between 1 μm and 1 mm in diameter causing growing concern for wildlife and humanity. It is now evident that MPs can accumulate in soil, freshwater, seawater…
Continue Reading....Publication- Hegyi et al., Scientific Reports
Experimental data suggest between population reversal in the condition dependence of two sexually selected traits When viewing mate choice as a process of adaptive evolution, the condition-dependence of sexual ornaments represents a central pillar. Experimental tests of condition-dependence are few and refer to one population per species. The first brood…
Continue Reading....Publication – Jablonszky et al., Ecology and Evolution
Close Males Sing With Dissimilar Minimum Frequency and Repertoire Size in a Wild Passerine The position occupied in social networks influences the success of individuals in many animal species. However, the associations between bird song (an important means of communication) and the relative position in social networks remained understudied. Such…
Continue Reading....Publication – Laczi et al., Ecology and Evolution
Nestling Plumage Colour Variation in a Sexually Dichromatic Hole-Nesting Passerine Bird—Potential Functions and Mechanisms Animal colouration is subject to various selection pressures, which often result in the phenomena of sexual dichromatism and gradual colour development. Despite extensive knowledge about adult colouration, the significance of nestling or fledgling plumage colouration in…
Continue Reading....Publication – Kásler et al. Animal Conservation
Heated Aquatic Shelters Reduce Infection Intensity but Not Prevalence of a Fungal Pathogen in Common Toad Tadpoles The development of in situ applicable mitigation methods against diseases is an area in conservation biology that deserves more attention. The chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) causes chytridiomycosis, an infectious disease in amphibians. Although it is…
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