This paper investigated the movement behaviour of GPS‐tracked male brown bears in Finland during the mating vs. non‐mating season and the potential influence of anthropogenic presence. Throughout the year, male bears selected forested/shrub habitats and increased movement rates near main roads, as well as roaming behaviour during the mating season. All movement metrics increased within areas of high human activity, suggesting a bear response to a higher risk perception while using those areas. Abstract During the reproductive period, mating strategies are a significant driver of adaptations in ..read more

We analyzed the feeding behavior of ground snakes (Sonora episcopa) that were fed scorpions, spiders, and centipedes, and we found snakes used different behaviors for each prey. To capture prey, snakes used the unusual behavior of pinning prey with the ventral surface of the head using a closed mouth strike before biting. Snakes grasped and envenomated scorpions in all trials, and this behavior lasted significantly longer for scorpions than for spiders. Our study revealed that ground snakes alter feeding behavior based upon prey defenses and use novel prey capture and handling behaviors to sub ..read more

Brocket deer are ecologically similar species due to convergence or relatedness and may overlap in niche dimensions. Syntopic species (Mazama rufa with M. nana and M. jucunda with Subulo gouazoubira) found in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest were observed to show spatial partitioning, activity patterns related to phylogeny and diet overlap. Then, brocket deer species of evolutionarily convergent subtribes preserve differences in ecological niche dimensions that facilitate the coexistence of their populations. Abstract Understanding species coexistence requires information about how species intera ..read more

In this paper we analyzed the swimming speed, effective velocity, effective displacement index (EDI) and proficiency of juvenile to adult specimens (ranging from 1.1 to 36 mm of the diagonal bell width) of the box jellyfish Carybdea marsupialis. Abstract Although usually considered part of the plankton, cubozoans are strong swimmers. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of the active swimming ability of the box jellyfish Carybdea marsupialis on the spatial distribution of a well‐studied population in the NW Mediterranean where adults and juveniles do not overlap geographically ..read more

Journal of Zoology, Volume 323, Issue 2, Page i-iv, June 2024 ..read more

In this study, we use the urodele Salamandra salamandra as a study model to apply an analytical approach for extracting and quantifying colour proportions and patterns variation, using the recently developed R packages patternize and recolorize, to accurately describe and compare colour distribution at both taxonomic and habitat levels. Our results demonstrated that this methodological workflow effectively detects differences in colour patterns at both levels, confirming its utility from systematics to eco‐evolutionary studies. Our results also revealed an increased prevalence of melanistic co ..read more

Here, we used fine‐scale GPS location data and continuous‐time stochastic processes to study the socio‐spatial ecology of 23 giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) in the Brazilian Cerrado. Our findings suggest giant anteaters are a solitary and largely asocial species that readily share space with conspecifics. Our study provides insight into heretofore unknown aspects of the socio‐spatial ecology of this iconic, but understudied species, as well as crucial information for proactive area‐based management. Abstract Movement is a key component of an animal's life history. While there are num ..read more

In our study, we found a trend of variation in body size and number of vertebrae associated with climate in Bothrops jararaca, a pitviper widely distributed along the eastern coast of South America. We argue that these trends emerge from physiological mechanisms and ecological factors in snakes. Abstract Morphological variation along the spatial distribution of species has been extensively investigated in ecological studies, and several ecogeographical rules explore the relationships between morphological traits and the environment. Many morphological traits are correlated, providing an opport ..read more

Migration's ecological importance, shaped by climate change, is underscored by bird migration data. Analysis of 126 species' autumn migration in Europe reveals temperature rise and dry breeding seasons reducing migration rates and delaying timing. Local adverse weather disrupts migration until favorable conditions return. This nonlinear process, influenced by species traits and weather, challenges accurate climate change predictions. Abstract Migration plays a central role in many ecological and evolutionary processes. Global patterns of climatic variation are having a profound influence upon ..read more

Turtles and tortoises may bask out of water, at the water surface, or in deep water, during the day or at night, and with or without exposure to sunlight or another heat source. Basking's primary function is thermoregulatory warming, but evidence supports several other purposes. Unambiguous use of the term basking requires the specification of distinguishing criteria and the attachment of qualifiers to stipulate time of day, medium, and environmental exposure. Abstract Behaviours designated as basking span a broad array of ectothermic and endothermic animals. Understanding the role that baskin ..read more