Threat-sensitive anti-predator defence in precocial wader, the northern lapwing Vanellus vanellus

Birds exhibit various forms of anti-predator behaviours to avoid reproductive failure, with mobbing—observation, approach and usually harassment of a predator—being one of the most commonly observed. Here, we investigate patterns of temporal variation in the mobbing response exhibited by a precocial species, the northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus). We test whether brood age and self-reliance, or the perceived risk posed by various predators, affect mobbing response of lapwings. We quantified aggressive interactions between lapwings and their natural avian predators and used generalized additive models to test how timing and predator species identity are related to the mobbing response of lapwings. Lapwings diversified mobbing response within the breeding season and depending on predator species. Raven Corvus corax, hooded crow Corvus cornix and harriers evoked the strongest response, while common buzzard Buteo buteo, white stork Ciconia ciconia, black-headed gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus and rook Corvus frugilegus were less frequently attacked. Lapwings increased their mobbing response against raven, common buzzard, white stork and rook throughout the breeding season, while defence against hooded crow, harriers and black-headed gull did not exhibit clear temporal patterns. Mobbing behaviour of lapwings apparently constitutes a flexible anti-predator strategy. The anti-predator response depends on predator species, which may suggest that lapwings distinguish between predator types and match mobbing response to the perceived hazard at different stages of the breeding cycle. We conclude that a single species may exhibit various patterns of temporal variation in anti-predator defence, which may correspond with various hypotheses derived from parental investment theory

Cyberbullying

In modern society we are increasingly faced with the phenomenon of cyber bullying, also known as cyber mobbing, and online mobbing. In a broad sense, persecution is the systematic, repeated for a long time bullying, abuse, humiliation of the dignity of another person, for example, at school, in the workplace, in prison, and through the Internet, and so on. The typical steps taken when bullying is spreading false information (rumors and gossip) about the man who taunts and provocations, direct insults and intimidation, social isolation (boycott and demonstrative ignoring) attacks that infringe the honor and dignity of the person caused material or physical harm

Cyberbullying

In modern society we are increasingly faced with the phenomenon of cyber bullying, also known as cyber mobbing, and online mobbing. In a broad sense, persecution is the systematic, repeated for a long time bullying, abuse, humiliation of the dignity of another person, for example, at school, in the workplace, in prison, and through the Internet, and so on. The typical steps taken when bullying is spreading false information (rumors and gossip) about the man who taunts and provocations, direct insults and intimidation, social isolation (boycott and demonstrative ignoring) attacks that infringe the honor and dignity of the person caused material or physical harm

The sight of an adult brood parasite near the nest is an insufficient cue for a honeyguide host to reject foreign eggs.

Hosts of brood-parasitic birds typically evolve anti-parasitism defences, including mobbing of parasitic intruders at the nest and the ability to recognize and reject foreign eggs from their clutches. The Greater Honeyguide Indicator indicator is a virulent brood parasite that punctures host eggs and kills host young, and accordingly, a common host, the Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus frequently rejects entire clutches that have been parasitized. We predicted that given the high costs of accidentally rejecting an entire clutch, and that the experimental addition of a foreign egg is insufficient to induce this defence, Bee-eaters require the sight of an adult parasite near the nest as an additional cue for parasitism before they reject a clutch. We found that many Little Bee-eater parents mobbed Greater Honeyguide dummies while ignoring barbet control dummies, showing that they recognized them as a threat. Surprisingly, however, neither a dummy Honeyguide nor the presence of a foreign egg, either separately or in combination, was sufficient to stimulate egg rejection

Selfish or altruistic? An analysis of alarm call function in wild capuchin monkeys, Cebus apella nigritus

Alarm calls facilitate some antipredatory benefits of group living but may endanger the caller by attracting the predator's attention. A number of hypotheses invoking kin selection and individual selection have been proposed to explain how such behaviour could evolve. This study tests eight hypotheses for alarm call evolution by examining the responses of tufted capuchin monkeys to models of felids, perched raptors and vipers. Specifically, this study examines: (1) differences between individuals in their propensity to call in response to different threat types, (2) whether there is an audience effect for alarm calling and (3) the response of conspecifics to alarms. Results indicate that the benefits likely to be afforded to the caller vary with stimulus type. Alarm calling in response to felids is most likely selfish, with calls apparently directed towards both the predator and potential conspecific mobbers. Alarm calling in response to vipers attracts additional mobbers as well, but also appears to be driven by kin selection in the case of males and parental care benefits in the case of females. Alarm responses to perched raptors are rare, but seem to be selfish, with callers benefiting by recruiting additional mobbers

Diagnóstico y prevención del Mobbing: Un estudio de caso

Tretzenes Jornades de Foment de la Investigació de la FCHS (Any 2007-2008)El estudio del mobbing está dando lugar a numerosas investigaciones sobre todo referidas a su evaluación y posterior intervención. En el presente trabajo se expone un caso práctico de diagnóstico y propuestas de prevención del mobbing en un instituto de secundaria de la provincia de Castellón. Además de incluir una revisión teórica del concepto, se presentan datos sobre la incidencia de mobbing en una muestra de 45 trabajadores/as. Se ha utilizado la escala extensa de mobbing diseñada por WONT dentro de la metodología RED. Mediante los análisis que los datos obtenidos permiten, se observa qué conductas de mobbing son las habituales en el centro y se discuten los casos susceptibles de mayor análisis. Estos resultados permiten que se sugieran estrategias de prevención y formación para los trabajadores. Los análisis de componentes principales y de cohesión interna del cuestionario permiten hacer comentarios con respecto a la idoneidad de la escala utilizada