Filatova O.A., Burdin A.M., Hoyt E., Sato H.
A classification of killer whale calls recorded in the Avacha Gulf (Kamchatka Peninsula) in 1999-2003 is given. Most of the calls falls into discrete structural categories with higher or lower variability that allows to discern from one to seven subtypes. However, in the repertoire of whales, some highly aberrant variants of discrete call types and highly variable calls also occur. They might not be classified into some definite categories. Such differences in the sound structure appear to be the results of their variable functions.
Temereva E.N., Malakhov V.V.
Larvae of Phoronid species (Phoronis muelleri, P. hippocrepia, P. psammophila, P. ijimai, Phoronopsis harmeri, and Actinotrocha sp. from the Sea of Japan are described. The descriptions of Phoronis muelleri, P. hippocrepia, and P. psammophila are given based on literary data. Subsequent stages of the larval development in P. ijimai, Phoronopsis harmeri, and Actinotrocha sp. are described in detail. A key to the identification of Phoronid larvae is given. Such characteristics as pigmentation, number of tentacles, number of stomach diverticula, number of blood masses, the presence of piriform organ are suggested to be used for the identification of the larvae studied. The structure and form of protocoel is suggested to be a new indicative characteristic.
Litvinova E.M., Vasilieva N. Yu.
The role of midventral gland and saccular secretions in the formation of individual body odor in the Djungarian hamster, Phodopus sungorus, was studied. A relative time of the recovery of individual body odor after its removing by washing with detergents in donor males that were whether operated (midventral gland and sacculi were surgically removed) or sham operated was compared. The ability of the test males to discriminate body odor of two different individuals was studied using a “habituation-discrimination” test. During the test trial, body odor (for extract) from an individual male was presented four times with an interval of 15 min. Then, a similar stimulus from a novel individual was presented. A fur extract from donor males was prepared 1, 2, 7 and 8 days after their treatment with detergents. The time of investigating (sniffing and licking) the odor of a novel individual was used as a criterion for discrimination of two samples. The results showed that the recovery of an individual body odor in sham operated donors occurs on the second day, while in operated males, on the eighth day after the treatment with detergents. The data obtained suggest that secretions of midventral gland and saccular secretions play a leading role in the formation of individual body odor.
Artem’ev A.V.
The studies of Ficedula hypoleuca in southern Karelia (1979-2002) showed that the time of beginning of molting and nesting and frequency of their overlapping in bird populations varied markedly between years. A complex of external factors correcting the endogenic program of postnuptial molt related to specific features of a season was detected. These factors include breeding time, clutch and brood sizes and weather conditions in spring and summer. The molting of males depended on the environmental conditions to a greater extent that that in females. Probably, these birds are capable to change the time and rate of molting depending on seasonal environmental conditions. This circumstance allows the birds to combine molting and nesting without an increase in their energy expenses, damage to themselves, their mate and offspring. The overlapping of molting and breeding is suggested to be an adaptation of birds for the maximal use of resources during the most favorable season of a year.
Anisimov V.D., Barsova L.I., Popovkina A.B.
The ability of two Parus species to perceive and learn odors associated with food was tested using the procedure developed by the authors. Eight specimens of P. major (L. 1758) and 9 ones of P. caeruleus (L. 1758) were used in the experiment. The birds were offered a multicellular feeder with food marked with odorant concealed in a single cell. At the early stages of the experiment, the tits were accustomed to the food impregnated with odorant. The presence of an odorant (for 1 min) on the cover of the cell containing food resulted in 88.5% and 95% successes of food search in great and blue tits, respectively. These values in variants without odorants were by 12.8 and 22% lower, respectively. The frequency of successful searches was 4.4 times higher in great tits and 4.7 times higher in blue tits when cells with food were odor-marked. This fact indicates the ability of these birds to perceive odorous at a close distance from a food object.
Titov S.V.
The ethological studies (about 400 hours) in two colonies of the russet souslik, Spermophilus major Pall. were conducted for three years (1996-1998) in Ul’yanovsk oblast. The reproduction strategy of these animals was revealed based on specific features of its sexual behavior (30 reproductive contacts). Territorial polygyny with weakly expressed male-male competition was characteristic of russet sousliks. The following main factors support the given type of sexual relations: (1) concentration of weakly mobile females within heat areas of males; (2) heightened aggression of individuals in reproductive periods due to well expressed territoriality in animals of both sex; (3) high affection of females to small territories resulted in female monogamy. Readiness of females to copulation and their behavior in contacts determines a direction of the reproductive interaction. The results obtained are compared with the data on the reproductive behavior in other representatives of Spermophilus.
Turpaeva E.P.
Eighteen species of Nymphon were collected from the shelf and slope of the Kuril Islands and at the Yamskii Islands (the northern Sea of Okhotsk). Thirteen species and six subspecies with denticulate spines on ovigers with one pair of big teeth and thin plate with small teeth are described. Four species (Nymphon brevirostre, N. grossipes, N. mixtum, and N. longitarse) are characterized as circumpolar forms. Nine species are endemics of the northern Pacific. One new species, N. apertum, and two new subspecies, N. brevirostre okhotikum and N. mixtum brevicaudatum, are described. The pattern of individual variability in some species (N. grossopes, N. mixtum tuberculatum, N. diospinum, and N. microsetosum) from different localities is considered.
Afonina V.M., Tshernyshev W.B., Soboleva-Dokuchaeva I.I., Timokhov A.V.
The investigations (three years) were carried out in agroecosystems (maize, vetch-oat mixture, and winter wheat), including their adjoining grassy margins. Insects were collected regularly during growing periods by standard entomological sweeping in different zones of agrosystems: in the center (about 150 m from field margins), along perimeter of field - at field edges (7-12 m deep into fields) and at margins. The composition of mass species in the grass layer, except for some phytophagous insects, was similar on the same crops from year to year. Three types of spatial distribution of insects in the agrosystems studied were distinguished: the preference of field (obligate agrobionts), the preference of field margins (some facultative agrobionts, which are able to colonize fields), and relatively even distribution within all zones of agrosystems (eurybionts). The habitat preference in many objects altered during a season and might depend on the kind of crops (for instance, winter or spring cultures). During a season, most of the insects migrated from field margins to field edges and then to the center. Some coincidence of allocation patterns in phytophagous and entomophagous insects were observed.
Kartashev A.G., Kartasheva A.A.
The structure of catching webs in the spider Singa hamata inhabiting the Tomsk region is described. Webs of adult females were measured according to the methodology for standard webs. The web is shown to be asymmetric: it is elongated down and to the right. The number of turns in the central zone correlates with the number of radii of catching webs. The length of radii is the main parameter, which determines sizes of this web.
Burukovsky R.N.
Three species were identified among the shrimps of the genus Nematocarcinus collected nearby Marquesas Islands (the Pacific Ocean). One of these species is described as a new one. N. machaerophorus sp. n. is very similar to N. tenuirostris, but rostrum in adult individuals of the former is equal or exceeds the length of carapace. The rostrum ventral edge in the new species is usually supplied with two teeth instead of one tooth in N. tenuirostris. The posterior edge of dorsal side of the third abdomen segment forms a poorly pronounced protuberance. Imaginery lines that continue its sides intersect at an angle of more than 120°. The protuberance in N. tenuirostris is large enough with prominent sides. Imaginery lines that continue its side intersect approximately at the right angle. Spots of the distro-ventral organ of the 6th segment have a small cut in front and inside resulted in the formation of small sharp protrusions on its anterolateral sides.
Ivanov I.E.
Two species, Paranaitis wahlbergi (Malmgr.) and Notophyllum foliosum (M. Sars), of the family Phyllodocidae were studied. The results obtained were compared to the data on the morphology of coelom in other phyllodocides reported in the first communication. Generally, all the representatives of this family are similar in morphological features. The dorsal longitudinal muscles are arranged in two weakly separated ridges; ventral longitudinal muscles, in two distinct ones. Continuous circular muscular system is absent. Dissepiments are developed and consist of muscular cells. Coelomycetes are not found. Coelomic lining consists of simple myoepithelium, its cells form few cytoplasmic appendages. Both species have well-developed bloody systems. The level of developing the cytoplasmic appendages is related to the size of the bloody system, muscular cells, and of animals themselves. The degree of developing the cytoplasmic appendages, dissepiments, and the bloody system demonstrate adaptive features. Such morphological features, as the myoepithelial type of mesodermal tissues, muscle dissepiments, and the absence of coelomycetes and coelothelium may characterize the family as a taxonomic group. The developmental level, the type of circulatory system, and body size may determine ultrastructural features of the secondary body cavity.