We show that, when studying large carnivores in inaccessible areas, it is important to use a combination of techniques to understand their feeding ecology and that GPS locations can be used to provide an accurate measure of diet even when small prey are being taken. “
“Most research on the winter ecology of temperate-zone Selleck AZD4547 snakes is restricted to

aspects of hibernation, because that is largely how snakes spend the winter. At lower latitudes, however, the same snake species may be active during winter, although why they are active and how much individuals vary in activity is unknown. We used radio-telemetry data from three winters to document winter movements of 30 rat snakes (Elaphe obsoleta) in Texas. Snakes moved in all months,

although there was substantial individual and gender-based variation. Consistent with active snakes foraging, monthly variation in movement was associated with availability of ‘thermal windows’ that would allow digestion of a meal. Females were more active than males, suggesting increased foraging demands. Individual activity in winter was positively correlated with activity the previous summer, particular among females. This may reflect enduring effects of variation in reproductive costs, or intrinsic variation in activity of individual snakes. Variation in activity was associated with differences in habitat use but not thermoregulation, although the data available to assess thermoregulation allowed limited resolution. Climate warming will increase the thermal opportunities for winter foraging, which will have implications both for snakes and their prey. “
“Precopulatory mate guarding Epacadostat is a common strategy, which has evolved in species where the female receptivity (and thus egg fertilization) is predictable, but also limited to a short period.

Although males are larger than females in many amphipods, the largest males pair with the largest females, leading to a positive size-assortative see more pairing. Size-assortative pairing has received much attention but how moulting physiology could affect pairing decisions has rarely been studied. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the size-assortative pairing in the freshwater amphipod Gammarus pulex is closely related to the female moult cycle. We characterized moulting status by observing the new cuticle formation then tested the influence of the moulting status on pairing decision. Overall, female moult stage influences the variation and intensity of size-assortative pairing. Whereas individuals tended to pair at random as soon as the females become receptive (early beginning of the premoult stage), size-assortative pairing was stronger as females were closer to the moult. Thus, moulting and pairing decision could not be dissociated and moulting should be controlled for when examining the behavioural ecology of mate choice decisions in crustaceans.