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Articles by Mark Elgar
Diet‐dependent reproductive investment in gumleaf skeletonizer moths, Uraba lugens
INTRODUCTION Communication plays a crucial role in the process of sexual reproduction, from revealing the location and receptivity of potential mates to allowing individuals to exercise a choice of mating partner. Sexual communication may involve several sensory modalities, but chemical signalling is arguably the earliest and taxonomically most widespread modality (Symonds & Elgar, 2008).
Devise an ethical open-access publishing model
CORRESPONDENCE 19 December 2023 Scholarly publishing revenue has conventionally come from library subscriptions paid for mainly by publicly funded institutions, and so is underwritten by the taxpayer. In my view, such institutions should also pay for their open-access publications. Recognizing who ultimately pays for scholarly publishing therefore raises ethical concerns (see Nature 623, 472–473; 2023).
Editorial: Key determinants of biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and restoration in climate change sensitive ecosystems
At the global scale, we are already past the planetary boundary of biodiversity loss (Montoya et al., 2018), and further declines are expected to occur (Tilman et al., 1994; Helm et al., 2006; Vellend et al., 2006). Therefore, ecosystems that contribute greatly to human well-being through the delivery of biodiversity and ecosystem benefits should be the focus of particular concern (Montoya et al., 2012; Seddon et al., 2016).
Challenges and opportunities for innovation in bioinformed sustainable materials - Communications Materials
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Abstract Nature provides a rich source of information for the design of novel materials; yet there remain significant challenges in the design and manufacture of materials that replicate the form, function, and sustainability of biological solutions. Here, we identify key challenges and promising approaches to the development of materials informed by biology.
By Devi Stuart-Fox, Leonie Barner, Sean Blamires, Mark Elgar, Alistair R. Evans, Amanda M. Franklin, Katja Hölttä-Otto, James A. Hutchison, Jennifer Kelley, Janet McGaw, Jun Mei, Mohammad Mirkhalaf, Chiara Neto, Andrea J. O’Connor, Tim Schork, Gerd E. Schröder-Turk, Anna Wang, Lukas Wesemann, Fernando Jativa, Anna-Lee Jessop
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Nature
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Editorial: Aquatic insect ecology in a changing world
The overarching goal of this Research Topic was to serve as an outlet for studies on the impacts of a changing environment on aquatic insects. For example, how can aquatic insect data answer fundamental questions about watershed health, biotic integrity, and other aspects of freshwater ecosystems?
Bio-informed materials: three guiding principles for innovation informed by biology - Nature Reviews Materials
Nature provides an endless source of inspiration for advanced materials, fuelled by evolutionary innovations over many millions of years. Capitalizing on this wealth of biological solutions requires an approach to materials innovation that is informed by a holistic understanding of multi-functional biological systems and leverages the defining feature of the natural world — diversity.
Editorial: Urban insects: biodiversity, ecology, and conservation
The urban habitat is a growing landscape on the Earth’s surface affecting natural ecosystems (Groom et al., 2006; Aronson et al., 2014). According to UN data, the urban population is expected to increase by 200% by 2030 (Fragkias et al., 2013; United Nations, 2022).
Skin transcriptomic correlates of cave-dwelling Sinocyclocheilus cavefish
1 Introduction Cave-adapted organisms, particularly cavefish, make up a significant portion of vertebrates inhabiting caves. They present unique opportunities for evolutionary biologists to study the patterns of adaptation to new environments (Jeffery, 2001). Over 300 cavefish species have been discovered worldwide, evolving rapidly from their surface-dwelling ancestors, making them ideal for comparative analysis of adaptive processes (Borowsky, 2018; Fortune et al., 2020; Policarpo et al., 2021).
Air pollution makes it harder for insects to find food and mates
For most of us, losing mobile phone signal even for a day is enough to generate blind panic. We take for granted the ability to communicate immediately with friends, family and colleagues, as well as to purchase whatever we need using these digital signals. Communication plays a critical role in the lives of all animals – whether online or not – because the loss of communication impacts their ability to find food and to locate mates, and therefore their ability to reproduce.
Disentangling the impacts of macroalgae on corals via effects on their microbiomes
1. Introduction Microbiomes can alter the development, health, function, and behavior of humans and other hosts (Markle et al., 2013; McFall-Ngai et al., 2013; Gensollen et al., 2016).
Editorial: Recent advances in museomics: revolutionizing biodiversity research
Introduction Museomics, a term coined by Drs. Stephan Schuster and Webb Miller in ~2009, refers to “the large-scale analysis of the DNA content of museum collections” (http://mammoth.psu.edu/museomics.html). Although such DNA studies existed before the term was first used, “museomics” highlighted the importance of specimens in biological studies. Specimens in natural history collections (NHCs) have been collected for hundreds of years to document the spatial and temporal occurrences of species.
Frontiers | The Early Permian Bolosaurid Eudibamus cursoris: Earliest Reptile to Combine Parasagittal Stride and Digitigrade Posture During Quadrupedal and Bipedal Locomotion | Ecology and Evolution
Introduction Bolosauridae was first formally proposed by Cope in 1878 to include the sole representative Bolosaurus striatus Cope, 1878, which was based on several poorly preserved skulls, jaw fragments, and a few postcranial fragments, all recovered from a single lower Permian locality in Texas. However, it was long afterward that these specimens were described in detail by Watson (1954), who suggested that B.
Socially cued anticipatory adjustment of female signalling effort in a moth
Abstract Juvenile population density has profound effects on subsequent adult development, morphology and reproductive investment. Yet, little is known about how the juvenile social environment affects adult investment into chemical sexual signalling.
Secrets of the basket-web spider’s silk
Ants make remarkably formidable enemies – even for humans – which may explain why they are so rarely included in the diet of most insect-eating animals. Ant weaponry can include biting and stinging, often injecting neurotoxins or spraying chemicals such as formic acid. The benign ant Camponotus bendigensis (left) is a visual mimic of the fearsome jumper ant ant Myrmecia fulvipes (right).
Kith or Kin? Familiarity as a Cue to Kinship in Social Birds
Introduction Kin selection is often invoked to explain the evolution of cooperation among relatives in social animals (Rubenstein and Abbott, 2017). Here, we use ‘social' to describe species that exhibit cooperative breeding, following the widely used definition of cooperative breeding as a reproductive system in which more than a pair of individuals collectively raise young in a single brood or litter (Emlen and Vehrencamp, 1985; Koenig and Dickinson, 2016).
Why small dogs live longer than big dogs
You don’t necessarily need a working knowledge of evolutionary theory to know that in the animal kingdom, larger beasts tend to live longer than smaller ones. An elephant lives longer than a mouse; a cat lives longer than a goldfish. Even among small animals – birds, for instance – the observation rings true; large birds tend to have longer lifespans than smaller ones. A cockatoo can live up to 80 years, while sparrows generally live for about three. But dogs are different.
Mechanisms of Social Influence: A Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Social Information on Female Mate Choice Decisions
Introduction One of the major benefits of living in social groups is access to information. Individuals can employ social information to recognize appropriate habitats, food items, and mates, thereby navigating some of the most important decisions facing an animal (Galef and Giraldeau, 2001; Danchin et al., 2004).
Beyond Traditional Scientific Training: The Importance of Community and Empowerment for Women in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Introduction Diversity within the fields of ecology and evolutionary biology remains relatively low. For example, the membership of the Ecological Society of America remains disproportionately composed for white males; from 1979 to 2012 the percentage of women increased from 23 to 37%, and the percentage of underrepresented minorities, including Hispanic American, African American, and Native American increased from 4 to 9% (Beck et al., 2014).
Dual pathways in social evolution: Population genetic structure of group-living and solitary species of kleptoparasitic spiders (Argyrodinae: Theridiidae)
Abstract Group-living behavior is taxonomically widespread but rare in spiders. The conventional view is that the main pathways to group-living in spiders are either sub-social, where extended maternal care leads to prolonged sibling association; or communal living, where individuals aggregate to exploit a common resource.
Curious Kids: Can chimpanzees turn into people?
This is an article from Curious Kids, a series for children. The Conversation is asking kids to send in questions they’d like an expert to answer. All questions are welcome – serious, weird or wacky! The short answer is no. An individual of one species cannot, during its lifetime, turn into another species. But your question is so interesting because it helps us think about life, evolution and what it means to be human.
Curious Kids: Why do humans not have fur like chimpanzees and gorillas?
By Mark Elgar, Professor of Evolutionary Biology, University of Melbourne This is an article from Curious Kids, a series for children. The Conversation is asking kids to send in questions they’d like an expert to answer. All questions are welcome – serious, weird or wacky! We know that at one point humans did have fur! But we don’t know why we lost it, so we have to guess.
Curious Kids: Why do humans not have fur like chimpanzees and gorillas?
This is an article from Curious Kids, a series for children. The Conversation is asking kids to send in questions they’d like an expert to answer. All questions are welcome – serious, weird or wacky! We know that at one point humans did have fur! But we don’t know why we lost it, so we have to guess. Scientists think that our ancestors (so think of your grandmother’s grandmother’s grandmother’s grandmother but over a million years ago) experienced a very big change in the climate.
Genes don't always dictate that 'boys will be boys'
But now, it seems entirely necessary to highlight those insights from studies of animal behaviour that tell us what we aren't. The strength of feeling against evolutionary thinking in the past was typified by a protester infamously pouring a jug of water over the head of eminent biologist and Pultizer prize winner E. O. Wilson, at the 1978 meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Washington.
Promiscuous Men, Chaste Women and Other Gender Myths
The notion that behavioral differences between the sexes are innate and immutable does not hold up under scrutiny One of Australia's more provocative art museums, the Museum of Old and New Art in Hobart, Tasmania, hosted in 2016 and 2017 an exhibition on the evolution of art. Three evolutionary scientists who guest-curated the show offered their perspectives on how evolution explains not just the characteristics of amoebas, ants and antelopes but also the uniquely human endeavor of art.
What are the attributes needed to be a successful sporting leader?
Most team sports have captains, appointed in the belief their leadership skills will increase the chance of winning games. But what attributes of players might mark them out as successful leaders? This question typically exercises the minds of spectators at major sporting events, like the Olympics, and is also cause for nervous reflection by AFL and NRL captains and coaches as we approach the pointy end of those seasons.
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