Thermoregulatory function and sexual dimorphism of the throat sack in Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris) across Africa

Article Behavioral Sciences

A Smaller Habenula is Associated with Increasing Intensity of Sexual Selection

Daniel Hoops et al.

Summary: This study examines the volumes of habenular subregions in Australian agamid lizards and finds that sexual selection influences the size of the habenula, potentially related to increased aggression and reproductive drive.

BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTION (2022)

Add to Collection

Article Ornithology

Population ecology of Red-necked SpurfowlPternistis aferin the coastal towns of the Eastern Cape province, South Africa

Johann H. van Niekerk

Summary: The study found that indigenous vegetation patches and corridors play a crucial role in the population and dispersal of the Red-necked Spurfowl, while supplementary feeding does not impact population structure or density. Conservation measures should focus on removing free ranging chickens, reducing the use of hazardous substances, and preserving green patches and corridors.

OSTRICH (2021)

Add to Collection

Article Biology

How hornbills handle heat: sex-specific thermoregulation in the southern yellow-billed hornbill

Barry van Jaarsveld et al.

Summary: The study found sex-specific differences in thermal regulation in southern yellow-billed hornbills, with females exhibiting lower metabolic rates and evaporative losses in higher temperatures. This suggests that avian thermal physiology can vary within species in response to fine-scale microclimatic factors.

JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY (2021)

Add to Collection

Article Ecology

The thermoregulatory role of relative bill and leg surface areas in a Mediterranean population of Great tit (Parus major)

Nuria Playa-Montmany et al.

Summary: The study found no significant relationship between the relative bill or tarsi size and thermoregulatory traits in Great tits, but males with larger tarsi areas showed higher cooling efficiencies at high temperatures. This suggests that leg surface areas may play a role in males' physiological responses to heat stress, while bill surface area does not seem to have a significant impact.

ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION (2021)

Add to Collection

Article Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science

Efficacy and Function of Feathers, Hair, and Glabrous Skin in the Thermoregulation Strategies of Domestic Animals

Daniel Mota-Rojas et al.

Summary: Animals use various strategies to regulate body temperature in hot or cold environments, with thermal windows playing a key role. The characteristics of feathers, hair, or glabrous skin can significantly influence an animal's thermal comfort.

ANIMALS (2021)

Add to Collection

Article Biology

Short- and long-term dynamics of the physiological and behavioral response to heat stress and thymol supplementation in Japanese quail

Maria Emilia Fernandez et al.

Summary: By taking time-related factors into consideration, this study highlights the importance of understanding and utilizing the effects of thymol on alleviating heat stress, with the morning being the optimal time for thymol supplementation. These findings emphasize the importance of considering time-related factors when developing supplementation protocols to mitigate environmental challenges.

JOURNAL OF THERMAL BIOLOGY (2021)

Add to Collection

Article Biology

Physiological and behavioral responses of laying hens exposed to long-term high temperature

Da-Hye Kim et al.

Summary: This study investigated the impact of a 42-day heat stress on laying hens, focusing on physiological parameters and behaviors. Results showed that high temperature exposure increased rectal temperature, heart rate, body-surface temperature, and H/L ratio, while also elevating plasma CORT and yolk CORT levels. Laying hens in high-temperature conditions exhibited specific behaviors such as panting and wing elevation. The study suggested that rectal and body-surface temperature, heart rate, and behavior can serve as reliable indicators for assessing the stress status of laying hens under prolonged heat stress.

JOURNAL OF THERMAL BIOLOGY (2021)

Add to Collection

Article Biodiversity Conservation