Effects of nautical traffic and noise on foraging patterns of Mediterranean damlsefish (Chromis chromis)

Chromis chromis is a key species in the Mediterranean marine coastal ecosystems where, in summer, recreational boating and its associated noise overlap. Anthropogenic noise could induce behavioural modifications in marine organisms, thereby affecting population dynamics. In the case of an important species for the ecosystem like C. chromis, this could rebound on the community structure. Here, we measured nautical traffic during the summer of 2007 in a Southern Mediterranean Marine Protected Area (MPA) and simultaneously the feeding behaviour of C. chromis was video-recorded, within both the no-take A-zone and the B-zone where recreational use is allowed. Feeding frequencies, escape reaction and school density were analysed. C. chromis specimens were also collected from 2007 to 2008 to evaluate their physiological state using the Body Condition Index as a proxy of feeding efficiency. The MPA was more exploited by nautical tourism during holidays than on weekdays, particularly in the middle of the day. Greater traffic volume corresponded with lower feeding frequencies. The escape reaction was longer in duration (>1 min) when boat passed nearby, while moored boats did not induce an escape response. We found no differences in density between schools in the A- and B-zones and worse body conditions among those individuals inhabiting the B-zone in one area only. Overall, our findings revealed a significant modification of the daily foraging habits of C. chromis due to boat noise, which was slightly buffered by no-take zones established within the MPA

Primate rhythmic categories analyzed on an individual basis

Rhythm is a fundamental feature characterizing communicative displays, and recent studies showed that primate songs encompass categorical rhythms falling on small integer ratios observed in humans. We individually assessed the presence and sexual dimorphism of rhythmic categories, analyzing songs emitted by 39 wild indris. Considering the intervals between the units given during each song, we extracted 13556 interval ratios and found three peaks (at around 0.33, 0.47, and 0.70). Two peaks indicated rhythmic categories corresponding to small integer ratios (1:1, 2:1). All individuals showed a peak at 0.70, and most showed those at 0.47 and 0.33. In addition, we found sex differences in the peak at 0.47 only, with males showing lower values than females. This work investigates the presence of individual rhythmic categories in a non-human species; further research may highlight the significance of rhythmicity and untie selective pressures that guided its evolution across species, including humans

The Indris have got rhythm! Timing and pitch variation of a primate song examined between sexes and age classes

A crucial, common feature of speech and music is that they show non-random structures over time. It is an open question which of the other species share rhythmic abilities with humans, but in most cases the lack of knowledge about their behavioral displays prevents further studies. Indris are the only lemurs who sing. They produce loud howling cries that can be heard at several kilometers, in which all members of a group usually sing. We tested whether overlapping and turn-taking during the songs followed a precise pattern by analysing the temporal structure of the individuals' contribution to the song. We found that both dominants (males and females) and non-dominants influenced the onset timing one another. We have found that the dominant male and the dominant female in a group overlapped each other more frequently than they did with the non-dominants. We then focused on the temporal and frequency structure of particular phrases occurring during the song. Our results show that males and females have dimorphic inter-onset intervals during the phrases. Moreover, median frequencies of the unit emitted in the phrases also differ between the sexes, with males showing higher frequencies when compared to females. We have not found an effect of age on the temporal and spectral structure of the phrases. These results indicate that singing in indris has a high behavioral flexibility and varies according to social and individual factors. The flexible spectral structure of the phrases given during the song may underlie perceptual abilities that are relatively unknown in other non-human primates, such as the ability to recognize particular pitch patterns

Insights into an endemic medicinal plant species of Madagascar and Comoros: The case of Famelona (Chrysophyllum boivinianum (Pierre) Baehni, Sapotaceae family)

Abstract Chrysophyllum boivinianum (Pierre) Baehni is an endemic plant of Madagascar and Comoros. In Madagascar, it is known by the local name "famelona". The wood of C. boivinianum is exploited for carpentry as material for building houses and ships. Its leaves are used in traditional medicine to treat fever, muscle pain and scorpion bites as well as to heal wounds. In Madagascar, it is widely used by the local population to treat many diseases. Thus, a deeper assessment of its valorisation strategy is becoming ever more crucial. The objective of this study was to determine the phenolic and organic compounds in the leaves and stems of C. boivinianum in relation to their biological activities and local uses. Solvents composed of methanol, water and chloridric acid were used for leaf and stem extractions. The two extracts were then compared with leaf infusions and stem decoctions by spectrophotometric and chromatographic analysis in order to determine phytochemical composition, and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The results showed that the leaf extracts contained the highest amount of total polyphenolic compounds (TPC) (805.16 ± 1.08 mgGAE/100 gDW), followed by leaf infusions at 477.87 ± 38.49 mgGAE/100 gDW. The stem extracts and stem decoctions had lower TPC than did the leaf extracts, with 249.12 ± 7.11 mgGAE/100 gDW and 191.66 ± 14.88 mgGAE/100 gDW, respectively. The leaf infusions showed much higher antioxidant activity (49.67 ± 0.45 mmol Fe2 +/kgDW) than did leaf extracts (27.60 ± 0.32 mmol Fe2 +/kgDW). This activity was influenced by high amounts of chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid, at 217.08 ± 2.89 mgGAE/100 gDW and 13.02 ± 0.15 mgGAE/100 gDW, respectively. The leaf infusions were also rich in gallic acid (15.19 ± 1.63 mgGAE/100 gDW). The stem extracts and stem decoctions also had lower antioxidant activity, at 19.86 ± 7.35 mmol Fe2 +/kgDW and 12.53 ± 0.15 mmol Fe2 +/kgDW, respectively. The leaves of C. boivinianum showed a higher content of bioactive compounds than the stems, and the infusions represented the best method for extracting biomolecules with high amounts of healthy properties and antioxidant activity. Regarding antimicrobial activities, leaf extracts had higher antimicrobial activity against Salmonella typhii, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans than did stem extracts. This activity was influenced by the high rates of polyphenols in the leaves

Exploring Local Perceptions of and Attitudes toward Endangered François’ Langurs (Trachypithecus francoisi) in a Human-Modified Habitat

Understanding local community attitudes toward wildlife is critical for making context-sensitive conservation planning and management decisions that may facilitate better human–wildlife coexistence. We conducted questionnaire-based interviews with local households in Qinglong Village of Mayanghe National Nature Reserve (MNNR) in China from March to August 2015. We used a mixed analysis technique based on a theoretical framework of categorical variables to explain attitudes to investigate the key factors that influenced local attitudes toward Endangered François’ langurs (Trachypithecus francoisi). We found that 53% (40, N = 75) of interviewees liked François’ langurs presence around the village, 27% did not, and 20% were neutral. Respondents with favorable attitudes to langurs associated them mainly with tangible benefits from local tourism and their positive aesthetic and emotional values. Respondents with negative attitudes to langurs associated them with tangible costs such as crop feeding and the destruction of their houses. Over half (N = 9) of respondents with neutral attitudes associated langurs with various cost and benefit trade-offs. Overall, local people tended to have slightly negative perceptions of the langurs’ impacts at the household level, while they had very positive perceptions of their impacts at the community level. Ordinal logistic regression models revealed that age, gender, and impact perceptions were significantly associated with local residents’ attitudes toward the langurs at the household and community levels. We suggest that such socioeconomic monitoring efforts should be periodically conducted in protected areas such as MNNR, especially in the context of rapid economic and infrastructure development