@article{BierbachSchulteHerrmannetal.2011, author = {Bierbach, David and Schulte, Matthias and Herrmann, Nina and Tobler, Michael and Stadler, Stefan and Jung, Christian T. and Kunkel, Benjamin and Riesch, R{\"u}diger and Klaus, Sebastian and Ziege, Madlen and Rimber Indy, Jeane and Arias-Rodriguez, Lenin and Plath, Martin}, title = {Predator-induced changes of female mating preferences innate and experiential effects}, series = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {11}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, number = {3-4}, publisher = {BioMed Central}, address = {London}, issn = {1471-2148}, doi = {10.1186/1471-2148-11-190}, pages = {10}, year = {2011}, abstract = {Background: In many species males face a higher predation risk than females because males display elaborate traits that evolved under sexual selection, which may attract not only females but also predators. Females are, therefore, predicted to avoid such conspicuous males under predation risk. The present study was designed to investigate predator-induced changes of female mating preferences in Atlantic mollies (Poecilia mexicana). Males of this species show a pronounced polymorphism in body size and coloration, and females prefer large, colorful males in the absence of predators. Results: In dichotomous choice tests predator-naive (lab-reared) females altered their initial preference for larger males in the presence of the cichlid Cichlasoma salvini, a natural predator of P. mexicana, and preferred small males instead. This effect was considerably weaker when females were confronted visually with the non-piscivorous cichlid Vieja bifasciata or the introduced non-piscivorous Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). In contrast, predator experienced (wild-caught) females did not respond to the same extent to the presence of a predator, most likely due to a learned ability to evaluate their predators' motivation to prey. Conclusions: Our study highlights that (a) predatory fish can have a profound influence on the expression of mating preferences of their prey (thus potentially affecting the strength of sexual selection), and females may alter their mate choice behavior strategically to reduce their own exposure to predators. (b) Prey species can evolve visual predator recognition mechanisms and alter their mate choice only when a natural predator is present. (c) Finally, experiential effects can play an important role, and prey species may learn to evaluate the motivational state of their predators.}, language = {en} } @article{RieschDuweHerrmannetal.2009, author = {Riesch, R{\"u}diger and Duwe, Virginia and Herrmann, Nina and Padur, Lisa and Ramm, Annemarie and Scharnweber, Inga Kristin and Schulte, Matthias and Schulz-Mirbach, Tanja and Ziege, Madlen and Plath, Martin}, title = {Variation along the shy-bold continuum in extremophile fishes (Poecilia mexicana, Poecilia sulphuraria)}, issn = {0340-5443}, doi = {10.1007/s00265-009-0780-z}, year = {2009}, abstract = {One potential trade-off that bold individuals face is between increased predation risks and gains in resources. Individuals experiencing high predation and hungry individuals (or individuals with low body condition) are predicted to show increased boldness. We examined one behavioral trait previously reported to be associated with boldness (the time individual fish needed to emerge from shelter) in various populations of mollies (Poecilia spp.). Our study system included several southern Mexican surface streams with high piscine predation and high food availability, sulfidic surface streams with high avian predation, in which the inhabiting fish show reduced body condition, and a sulfidic cave, where predation and body condition are low. Our comparison revealed very short times to emerge from the start box in populations from non-sulfidic streams. In sulfidic habitats (whether surface or cave), it took individual Poecilia mexicana considerably longer to emerge from the start box, and the same difference was also found in an independent comparison between P. mexicana and the closely related, highly sulfide-adapted Poecilia sulphuraria. Fish reared under common garden conditions (in the absence of predators and hydrogen sulfide) showed intermediate boldness scores to the extremes observed in the field. Our data thus indicate that (a) boldness is shaped by environmental conditions/ experiential effects, but is not heritable, (b) predation affects boldness in the predicted direction, but (c) low body condition leads to reduced boldness. Extremophile Poecilia spp. spend most of their time surfacing to survive under sulfidic and hypoxic conditions, which exposes them to increased levels of predations, but the fish forage on the bottom. Hence, in this system, increased boldness does not increase foraging success. We argue that energy limitation favors reducing energetically costly behaviors, and exploring novel environments may be just one of them.}, language = {en} } @article{RyllEidenHeuseretal.2018, author = {Ryll, Rene and Eiden, Martin and Heuser, Elisa and Weinhardt, Markus and Ziege, Madlen and Hoeper, Dirk and Groschup, Martin H. and Heckel, Gerald and Johne, Reimar and Ulrich, Rainer G.}, title = {Hepatitis E virus in feral rabbits along a rural-urban transect in Central Germany}, series = {Infection, genetics and evolution : journal of molecular epidemiology and evolutionary genetics and infectious diseases (MEEGID)}, volume = {61}, journal = {Infection, genetics and evolution : journal of molecular epidemiology and evolutionary genetics and infectious diseases (MEEGID)}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {1567-1348}, doi = {10.1016/j.meegid.2018.03.019}, pages = {155 -- 159}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Rabbit associated genotype 3 hepatitis E virus (HEV) strains were detected in feral, pet and farm rabbits in different parts of the world since 2009 and recently also in human patients. Here, we report a serological and molecular survey on 72 feral rabbits, collected along a rural-urban transect in and next to Frankfurt am Main, Central Germany. ELISA investigations revealed in 25 of 72 (34.7\%) animals HEV-specific antibodies. HEV derived RNA was detected in 18 of 72 (25\%) animals by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay. The complete genomes from two rabbitHEV-strains, one from a rural site and the other from an inner-city area, were generated by a combination of high-throughput sequencing, a primer walking approach and 5′- and 3′- rapid amplification of cDNA ends. Phylogenetic analysis of open reading frame (ORF)1-derived partial and complete ORF1/ORF2 concatenated coding sequences indicated their similarity to rabbit-associated HEV strains. The partial sequences revealed one cluster of closely-related rabbitHEV sequences from the urban trapping sites that is well separated from several clusters representing rabbitHEV sequences from rural trapping sites. The complete genome sequences of the two novel strains indicated similarities of 75.6-86.4\% to the other 17 rabbitHEV sequences; the amino acid sequence identity of the concatenated ORF1/ORF2-encoded proteins reached 89.0-93.1\%. The detection of rabbitHEV in an inner-city area with a high human population density suggests a high risk of potential human infection with the zoonotic rabbitHEV, either by direct or indirect contact with infected animals. Therefore, future investigations on the occurrence and frequency of human infections with rabbitHEV are warranted in populations with different contact to rabbits.}, language = {en} } @article{ZiegeHennigeSchulzMueckschetal.2012, author = {Ziege, Madlen and Hennige-Schulz, Carmen and Muecksch, Frauke and Bierbach, David and Tiedemann, Ralph and Streit, Bruno and Plath, Martin}, title = {A comparison of two methods to assess audience-induced changes in male mate choice}, series = {Current zoology}, volume = {58}, journal = {Current zoology}, number = {1}, publisher = {Current Zoology}, address = {Beijing}, issn = {1674-5507}, pages = {84 -- 94}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Multidirectional communicative interactions in social networks can have a profound effect on mate choice behavior. Male Atlantic molly Poecilia mexicana exhibit weaker mating preferences when an audience male is presented. This could be a male strategy to reduce sperm competition risk: interacting more equally with different females may be advantageous because rivals might copy mate choice decisions. In line with this hypothesis, a previous study found males to show a strong audience effect when being observed while exercising mate choice, but not when the rival was presented only before the choice tests. Audience effects on mate choice decisions have been quantified in poeciliid fishes using association preference designs, but it remains unknown if patterns found from measuring association times translate into actual mating behavior. Thus, we created five audience treatments simulating different forms of perceived sperm competition risk and determined focal males' mating preferences by scoring pre-mating (nipping) and mating behavior (gonopodial thrusting). Nipping did not reflect the pattern that was found when association preferences were measured, while a very similar pattern was uncovered in thrusting behavior. The strongest response was observed when the audience could eavesdrop on the focal male's behavior. A reduction in the strength of focal males' preferences was also seen after the rival male had an opportunity to mate with the focal male's preferred mate. In comparison, the reduction of mating preferences in response to an audience was greater when measuring association times than actual mating behavior. While measuring direct sexual interactions between the focal male and both stimulus females not only the male's motivational state is reflected but also females' behavior such as avoidance of male sexual harassment.}, language = {en} } @article{ZiegeHermannKriestenetal.2020, author = {Ziege, Madlen and Hermann, Bernd Timo and Kriesten, Stefanie and Merker, Stefan and Ullmann, Wiebke and Streit, Bruno and Wenninger, Sandra and Plath, Martin}, title = {Ranging behavior of European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in urban and suburban landscapes}, series = {Mammal research / Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences}, volume = {65}, journal = {Mammal research / Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences}, number = {3}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Heidelberg}, issn = {2199-2401}, doi = {10.1007/s13364-020-00490-2}, pages = {607 -- 614}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Various mammals, particularly carnivores, reportedly establish smaller home ranges in urban compared with rural areas. This may be because urban environments provide optimal resources within a small area, negating the requirement to range further, or because habitat fragmentation constrains ranging behavior. Comparable information on urban populations of herbivorous mammalian species (such as European rabbits) is scarce. To fill this knowledge gap, we radio-tracked 13 individuals (seven females and six males) equipped with radio collars in a suburban and an urban study site in the city of Frankfurt am Main in Germany during the reproductive season (March to September) of 2012. The study sites differed in levels of habitat fragmentation. We report the smallest home ranges ever described for this species, with mean 95\% minimum convex polygons (MCPs) covering 0.50 ha, while no consistent differences between sites were uncovered. We occasionally tracked individuals crossing streets underground (in burrows), suggesting that streets may restrict the ranging behavior of rabbits-and possibly other burrowing species-to a much lesser extent than previously thought. We conclude that heterogeneous landscape structures, made up of a diverse mosaic of buildings, parks, and gardens, provide sufficient food and shelter in close proximity to burrows at both study sites. Therefore, our data support the hypothesis that optimal resources constrain ranges in this case rather than habitat fragmentation.}, language = {en} } @article{ZiegeTheodorouJuenglingetal.2020, author = {Ziege, Madlen and Theodorou, Panagiotis and J{\"u}ngling, Hannah and Merker, Stefan and Plath, Martin and Streit, Bruno and Lerp, Hannes}, title = {Population genetics of the European rabbit along a rural-to-urban gradient}, series = {Scientific Reports}, volume = {10}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, publisher = {Nature Publ. Group}, address = {London}, issn = {2045-2322}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-020-57962-3}, pages = {12}, year = {2020}, abstract = {The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is declining in large parts of Europe but populations in some German cities remained so far unaffected by this decline. The question arises of how urbanization affects patterns of population genetic variation and differentiation in German rabbit populations, as urban habitat fragmentation may result in altered meta-population dynamics. To address this question, we used microsatellite markers to genotype rabbit populations occurring along a rural-to-urban gradient in and around the city of Frankfurt, Germany. We found no effect of urbanization on allelic richness. However, the observed heterozygosity was significantly higher in urban than rural populations and also the inbreeding coefficients were lower, most likely reflecting the small population sizes and possibly on-going loss of genetic diversity in structurally impoverished rural areas. Global FST and G'ST-values suggest moderate but significant differentiation between populations. Multiple matrix regression with randomization ascribed this differentiation to isolation-by-environment rather than isolation-by-distance. Analyses of migration rates revealed asymmetrical gene flow, which was higher from rural into urban populations than vice versa and may again reflect intensified agricultural land-use practices in rural areas. We discuss that populations inhabiting urban areas will likely play an important role in the future distribution of European rabbits.}, language = {en} }