Female reproduction and conspecific utilisation in an egg-carrying bug:-Who carries, who cares?

Abstract Female ability to exploit conspecifics in reproduction may have unusual expressions. I studied the reproductive behaviour of the golden egg bug (Phyllomorpha laciniata; Heteroptera, Coreidae) experimentally in the field and in the laboratory. Female golden egg bugs lay their eggs mainly on the backs of conspecific males and other females. Non-parental eggs are often carried. Occasionally, the eggs are laid on the food plant (Paronychia spp; Polycarpea, Caryophyllaceae) of the species but typically, those eggs survive poorly due to egg parasitism and predation. I explored the dependence of female reproduction on conspecific presence and encounter rate. I also studied female current reproductive state (which depends on if she has recently oviposited) in relation to her activity as well as male choice of a female. Female bugs preferred to oviposit on conspecifics when presented with a choice between a bug and a food plant. When alone females often did not lay eggs. Increased encounter rate with others increased female egg laying rate. Survival of carried eggs among bugs did not vary significantly although males received more eggs than females. Females with high current fecundity (mature eggs accumulated to reproductive tract) were more active than females with lower current fecundity (recently oviposited). Females with high current fecundity seemed to search for conspecifics to lay eggs on. Males also preferred to court females with high current fecundity. These females were more likely to oviposit immediately after mating, lowering the risk of female remating before oviposition. To conclude, conspecifics are important egg-laying substrates for female golden egg bugs. Conspecific availability affects female egg laying and the rate of egg production in short term. In particular, males are necessary for egg-laying females and they typically receive unrelated eggs when they court females. Sexual interactions resulting from female polyandry are crucial factors that maintain female egg laying on the backs of males and other females in the unique reproductive system of the golden egg bug

Avoin julkaiseminen mahdollistaa harrastajalle pääsyn tiedonlähteille

Tiivistelmä Artikkeli käsittelee tieteellisen julkaisutoiminnan nykykäytäntöjä ja esittelee keinoja, mistä ja miten kuka hyvänsä tiedejulkaisuista kiinnostunut voi etsiä tiedeartikkeleita, ja saada niitä luettavaksi. Reitti tiedon valtatielle on nyt lyhyempi kuin koskaan aikaisemmin

Attention and altmetrics

Abstract Introduction: The concept of attention is applied in two altmetric studies concerning: (1) the use of social media tools on the web pages of scientific journals, and indications of attention in these pages received, and (2) attention received by the radio news on the web page of an indigenous radio station. The purpose is to reveal characteristics of web publications connected to the attention they receive. Method: Altmetric data describing attention data was compiled from the Facebook sites of scientific journals and the Facebook pages of an indigenous radio station news programme, as well as the news programme’s web site. The study was both quantitative and qualitative. Analysis: Attention was operationalized in the form of comments, likes or sharing of Facebook postings and these were analyzed quantitatively. The contents of the postings were analysed by qualitative content analysis. Results: The characteristics of the postings receiving most attention were relevance, community (in the sense of ownership), belonging and co-creation, and engagement in the meaning of interactivity. Conclusions: In altmetric research, data originating from several sources can reflect the societal impact a project or a publication may have, not only the impact it has in science. Attention economy theory supports the interpretation of altmetric data