Undoped Electron-Hole Bilayers in a GaAs/AlGaAs Double Quantum Well

We present the fabrication details of completely undoped electron-hole bilayer devices in a GaAs/AlGaAs double quantum well heterostructure with a 30 nm barrier. These devices have independently tunable densities of the two-dimensional electron gas and two-dimensional hole gas. We report four-terminal transport measurements of the independently contacted electron and hole layers with balanced densities from $1.2 \times 10^{11}$cm$^{-2}$ down to $4 \times 10^{10}$ cm$^{-2}$ at $T = 300 mK$. The mobilities can exceed $1 \times 10^{6}$ cm$^{2}$ V$^{-1}$ s$^{-1}$ for electrons and $4 \times 10^{5}$ cm$^{2}$ V$^{-1}$ s$^{-1}$ for holes.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figure

Noise characteristics of upper surface blown configurations: Analytical Studies

Noise and flow results of upper surface blown configurations were analyzed. The dominant noise source mechanisms were identified from experimental data. From far-field noise data for various geometric and operational parameters, an empirical noise prediction program was developed and evaluated by comparing predicted results with experimental data from other tests. USB aircraft compatibility studies were conducted using the described noise prediction and a cruise performance data base. A final design aircraft was selected and theory was developed for the noise from the trailing edge wake assuming it as a highly sheared layer

Facial Patterns are a Conventional Signal of Agonistic Ability in Polistes exclamans Paper Wasps

Some animals minimize the high costs of aggressive conflict by using conventional signals of agonistic ability to assess rivals prior to interacting. Conventional signals are more controversial than other signals of agonistic ability because they lack an inherent physical or physiological link with their bearer’s agonistic ability. Here, we test whether the variable brown facial stripes in Polistes exclamans paper wasps function as a conventional signal. Polistes exclamans were given the option of challenging or avoiding a rival with an experimentally altered facial pattern. Our results show that rival assessment is based on the facial patterns of rivals, as well as an individual’s own size, facial patterns, and nesting strategy. Individuals with larger body size and larger brown facial stripes were more likely to challenge rivals than individuals with smaller body size and smaller brown facial stripes. In addition, large individuals were more likely to challenge rivals with large brown facial stripes than small individuals, while an individual’s own body size did not influence whether or not they challenged rivals with small brown stripes. Individuals who previously nested in multiple queen groups approached rivals more rapidly than individuals who previously nested alone, suggesting that social experience also plays a role in rival assessment. Finally, rivals with small facial stripes were challenged more rapidly than those with large facial stripes. These results demonstrate that P. exclamans facial patterns function as a signal used to minimize the cost of conflict. However, individuals do not make simple decisions based on their rival’s signal alone, as an individual’s own social experience and agonistic abilities also influence rival assessment decisions.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/87088/1/j.1439-0310.2011.01967.x.pd

EVOLUTION OF IDENTITY SIGNALS: FREQUENCY-DEPENDENT BENEFITS OF DISTINCTIVE PHENOTYPES USED FOR INDIVIDUAL RECOGNITION

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/74986/1/j.1558-5646.2009.00833.x.pd

Co-evolution of plumage characteristics and winter sociality in New and Old World sparrows

Understanding the evolution of phenotypic diversity, including the stunning array of avian plumage characters, is a central goal of evolutionary biology. Here, we applied a comparative analysis to test factors associated with the origin and maintenance of black chest and throat patches, which in some taxa are referred to as ‘badges-of-status’. Specifically, we tested whether the evolution of black colour patches in Old and New World sparrows is consistent with a signalling function during the nonbreeding season or breeding season. We found no positive associations between patch evolution and polygyny or summer sociality. Instead, patch evolution is significantly associated with sociality during the nonbreeding season. Additionally, unlike typical plumage characteristics under sexual selection, these patches are visible throughout the nonbreeding season. Further, the pattern of patch dimorphism uncovered in this study does not match expectations for a trait that evolved in a reproductive context. In particular, patch dimorphism is not associated with polygyny or the presence of extra-pair mating although other types of plumage dimorphism are strongly associated with nonmonogamous mating systems. Overall, patterns of patch evolution suggest that they are more strongly associated with social competition during the nonbreeding season than sexual competition during the breeding season. These results clarify why some previous work has uncovered puzzling relationships between black plumage patches and reproductive behaviour. We discuss these findings in the context of signal theory and previous work on badges-of-status.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78723/1/j.1420-9101.2009.01861.x.pd

Developmental plasticity and the origin of novel communication systems: Individual recognition in Polistes wasps*

Although developmental plasticity facilitates the evolutionary origin of many traits, the role of plasticity in the origin of novel communication systems has received little attention. If plasticity mediates the origin of new communication systems, exposure to a novel environment will induce new traits that could function as signals or receiver responses. Here, we test whether plasticity facilitates the origin of individual recognition. We reared a species of paper wasp that naturally lacks individual recognition (Polistes metricus) with a relative that has facial patterns that signal individual identity (Polistes fuscatus). We found P. metricus reared with individual identity signals learned unique wasp faces significantly more accurately than P. metricus reared without individual identity signals. However, exposure to individual identity signals was not sufficient to induce individual recognition in social contexts. These results suggest that if variable facial patterns arose in P. metricus, wasps would immediately improve their ability learn variable facial patterns, thereby facilitating the origin of individual face recognition. Improved learning is an initial step toward individual recognition that would need to be refined by selection to produce an established signaling system. Developmental plasticity may be an underappreciated factor facilitating the evolutionary origin of novel recognition systems.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146923/1/evo13613_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146923/2/evo13613.pd

Specialized visual learning of facial signals of quality in the paper wasp, P olistes dominula

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/109618/1/bij12394.pd

How Does Individual Recognition Evolve? Comparing Responses to Identity Information in P olistes Species with and Without Individual Recognition

A wide range of complex social behaviors are facilitated by the recognition of individual conspecifics. Individual recognition requires sufficient phenotypic variation to provide identity information as well as receivers that process and respond to identity information. Understanding how a complex trait such as individual recognition evolves requires that we consider how each component has evolved. Previous comparative studies have examined phenotypic variability in senders and receiver learning abilities, although little work has compared receiver responses to identity information among related species with and without individual recognition. Here, we compare responses to identity information in two Polistes paper wasps: P. fuscatus, which visually recognizes individuals, and P. metricus , which does not normally show evidence of individual recognition. Although the species differ in individual recognition, the results of this study show that receiver responses to experimentally manipulated identity information are surprisingly similar in both species. Receivers direct less aggression toward identifiable individuals than unidentifiable individuals. Therefore, the responses necessary for individual recognition may pre‐date its evolution in the P. fuscatus lineage. Additionally, our data demonstrate the apparent binary differences in a complex behavior between the two species, such as individual recognition, likely involve incremental differences along a number of axes.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/102093/1/eth12191.pd

Feeding ecology of the seagrass-grazing nerite Smaragdia souverbiana (Montrouzier, 1863) in subtropical seagrass beds of eastern Australia

By amalgamating all seagrass-associated grazing invertebrates into an epiphyte-feeding guild, the currently accepted model of seagrass trophic dynamics ignores the diverse range of invertebrates that feed directly on, and do considerable damage to, seagrasses. Of the wide range of invertebrates documented to damage seagrass directly, the gastropod genus Smaragdia has adaptations and ecology that suggests it could be a specialized seagrass-feeding group, of which at least two species are known preferentially to consume seagrass. This paper investigated the dietary associations of Smaragdia souverbiana, one of the most widely distributed but least studied species of the genus, in the subtropical eastern Australian part of its range. Using field-based assessments of grazing damage and targeted laboratory feeding trials, we assessed the dietary associations, digestive ability and feeding preferences of S. souverbiana with local seagrasses (Halophila ovalis, Zostera capricorni and Cymodocea serrulata). We found that this species consumed and damaged all available species, but showed a strong preference for the most abundant and moderately digestible Z. capricorni. Although it avoided seagrass bearing a high epiphyte load in a laboratory context, considerable amounts of epiphytic material were found in the faeces of field-caught individuals. Grazing and digestibility of seagrass cells was higher in Z. capricorni and H. ovalis, and the former was preferred when both were available. This study adds to the growing body of literature demonstrating that S. souverbiana—and potentially many other grazing invertebrates—cause considerable damage to seagrasses directly, rather than targeting epiphytes.Versión del editor1,358