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Kerr NZ, Morris WF, Walters JR. Inclusive Fitness May Explain Some but Not All Benefits Derived from Helping Behavior in a Cooperatively Breeding Bird. Am Nat 2024; 203:393-410. [PMID: 38358814 DOI: 10.1086/728670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
AbstractIn cooperative breeding systems, inclusive fitness theory predicts that nonbreeding helpers more closely related to the breeders should be more willing to provide costly alloparental care and thus have more impact on breeder fitness. In the red-cockaded woodpecker (Dryobates borealis), most helpers are the breeders' earlier offspring, but helpers do vary within groups in both relatedness to the breeders (some even being unrelated) and sex, and it can be difficult to parse their separate impacts on breeder fitness. Moreover, most support for inclusive fitness theory has been positive associations between relatedness and behavior rather than actual fitness consequences. We used functional linear models to evaluate the per capita effects of helpers of different relatedness on eight breeder fitness components measured for up to 41 years at three sites. In support of inclusive fitness theory, helpers more related to the breeding pair made greater contributions to six fitness components. However, male helpers made equal contributions to increasing prefledging survival regardless of relatedness. These findings suggest that both inclusive fitness benefits and other direct benefits may underlie helping behaviors in the red-cockaded woodpecker. Our results also demonstrate the application of an underused statistical approach to disentangle a complex ecological phenomenon.
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Huang Z, Wang D, Zhou J, He H, Wei C. The Improvement of Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization Technique Based on Explorations of Symbionts in Cicadas. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15838. [PMID: 37958818 PMCID: PMC10650757 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes is widely used for the identification of microbes in complex samples, but it suffers from some limitations resulting in the weak or even absence of fluorescence signals of microbe(s), which may lead to the underestimation or misunderstanding of a microbial community. Herein, we explored symbionts in the bacteriomes and fat bodies of cicadas using modified FISH, aiming to improve this technique. We initially revealed that the probes of Candidatus Sulcia muelleri (Sulcia) and the yeast-like fungal symbiont (YLS) are suitable for detection of these symbionts in all cicadas and some other species of Auchenorrhyncha, whereas the probe of Candidatus Hodgkinia cicadicola (Hodgkinia) is only suitable for detection of Hodgkinia in a few cicada species. The fluorescence signal of Sulcia, Hodgkinia and YLS exhibited weak intensity without the addition of unlabeled oligonucleotides (helpers) and heat shock in some cicadas; however, it can be significantly improved by the addition of both helpers and heat shock. Results of this study suggest that heat shock denaturing rRNA and proteins of related microbe(s) together with helpers binding to the adjacent region of the probe's target sites prevent the re-establishment of the native secondary structure of rRNA; therefore, suitable probe(s) can more easily access to the probe's target sites of rRNA. Our results provide new information for the significant improvement of hybridization signal intensities of microbes in the FISH experiment, making it possible to achieve a more precise understanding of the microbial distribution, community and density in complex samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Huang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of the Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; (Z.H.); (D.W.); (J.Z.)
- College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Dandan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of the Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; (Z.H.); (D.W.); (J.Z.)
| | - Jinrui Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of the Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; (Z.H.); (D.W.); (J.Z.)
| | - Hong He
- College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Cong Wei
- Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of the Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; (Z.H.); (D.W.); (J.Z.)
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Zhang W, McDermott S, Salzberg DC, Hollis ND, Hardin J. A Randomized Controlled Trial using Brief Educational Messages Directed to Adults with Intellectual Disability and Hypertension or their Helpers Reduces Hospital Stays. Am J Health Promot 2023; 37:894-904. [PMID: 36880149 PMCID: PMC10467014 DOI: 10.1177/08901171231161470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE We assessed an educational intervention to reduce the number of emergency department (ED) and inpatient stays for cardiovascular diagnoses, among South Carolina adult Medicaid Members with intellectual and developmental disability and hypertension (Members). DESIGN This Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) included Members or the person who helped them with their medications (Helpers). Participants, who included Members and/or their Helpers, were randomly assigned to an Intervention or Control group. SETTING South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, which administers Medicaid, identified eligible Members. SAMPLE 412 Medicaid Members - 214 Intervention (54 Members participating directly; 160 Helpers participating in lieu of Members) who received the messages about hypertension and surveys about knowledge and behavior and 198 Controls (62 Members; 136 Helpers) who only received surveys of knowledge and behavior. INTERVENTION Educational intervention about hypertension included a flyer and monthly text or phone messages for one year. MEASURES Input measures - characteristics of the Members; Outcome measures - hospital emergency department (ED) and inpatient visits for cardiovascular conditions. ANALYSIS Quantile regression tested the association of Intervention/Control group status with ED and inpatient visits. We also estimated models using Zero-inflated Poisson (ZIP) models for sensitivity analysis. RESULTS Participants in the Intervention group with highest baseline hospital use (top 20% ED; top 15% Inpatient) had significant reductions in Year 1 (.57 fewer ED and 2 fewer inpatient days) compared to the Control group. For ED visits, improvement continued in year two. CONCLUSION The intervention reduced the frequency of cardiovascular disease-related ED visits and Inpatient days for participants in the Intervention group in the highest quantiles of hospital use, and the improvement was better for those who had a Helper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanfang Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Suzanne McDermott
- Department of Environmental, Occupational, and Geospatial Health Sciences, CUNY Graduate School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Deborah C. Salzberg
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - NaTasha D. Hollis
- National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disability, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - James Hardin
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
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Hadad E, Balaban A, Yosef R. Alloparenting by Helpers in Striped Hyena ( Hyaena hyaena). Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:1914. [PMID: 37370424 DOI: 10.3390/ani13121914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In an ongoing study of the striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena), we observed that in the nine different females, alloparenting by the daughters of a previous litter was not uncommon and occurred on fifteen different occasions, twice with two helpers. Alloparenting persisted from when the cubs are approximately a month old until they reach the age when they go out foraging with their mothers at 10-12 months. Helpers perform most maternal duties, except suckling, even in the mother's presence. Helpers accrued indirect fitness and practiced parenting before reaching sexual maturity. Future studies must study the reproductive biology of the striped hyena in the wild throughout its geographic range to elucidate additional breeding properties that have not yet been identified. The continued persecution of striped hyenas and the lack of information about their breeding rituals and capabilities in the wild mean that this study of their different reproduction strategies, focusing on surrogate mothers, is of great conservation importance. The fact that we have found cooperative breeding in this solitary species suggests that there is much more to uncover of the enigmatic striped hyena in the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ezra Hadad
- Israel Nature and Parks Authority, 3 Am Ve'Olamo Street, Jerusalem 95463, Israel
| | - Amir Balaban
- Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, Tel Aviv 66186, Israel
| | - Reuven Yosef
- Eilat Campus, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Eilat 88100, Israel
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Vezin L, Mouret M, Schwarz M. [Use of existing aids for caregivers of the elderly: Representations and practices of professionals in gerontology]. Geriatr Psychol Neuropsychiatr Vieil 2021; 19:211-218. [PMID: 34080980 DOI: 10.1684/pnv.2021.0940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The help provided by informal caregivers undoubtedly contributes to home support for the elderly with loss of autonomy. Based on this observation, the offer of support for the informal caregivers has grown considerably in recent years. It is therefore relevant to identify the potential obstacles for family caregivers to use existing aids from the perspective of the representations and practices of professionals in gerontology. These are key links to identify the needs and facilitate care orientation towards existing offers in the territory. Therefore, the knowledge of actual obstacles and practices proposed by professionals is necessary in order to adapt at best the support systems for informal caregivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laure Vezin
- Maison des aînés et des aidants Paris-Centre, Paris, France
| | - Marion Mouret
- Chercheuse indépendante et consultante, Pantin, France
| | - Maxime Schwarz
- Étudiant en 5e année, École des psychologues praticiens, Paris, France
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Barve S, Hagemeyer NDG, Winter RE, Chamberlain SD, Koenig WD, Winkler DW, Walters EL. Wandering woodpeckers: foray behavior in a social bird. Ecology 2020; 101:e02943. [PMID: 31782526 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Revised: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
In many cooperatively breeding taxa, nonbreeding subordinates, or helpers, use extra-territorial forays to discover dispersal opportunities. Such forays are considered energetically costly and foraying birds face aggression from conspecific members of the territories they visit. In contrast, breeders in cooperatively breeding taxa are expected to foray seldomly. We used novel tracking technologies to follow 62 acorn woodpeckers (Melanerpes formicivorus), a cooperatively breeding bird, to study extra-territorial foray behavior. Both helpers and breeders engaged in extra-territorial forays routinely and often several times per day. Helpers forayed earlier in the day and invested more time when foraying to high-quality territories. Unexpectedly, breeders forayed as often and as far as helpers. Breeders from high-quality territories forayed closer to their home territories than breeders from low-quality territories, reflecting a potential trade-off between foraying and territory defense. Such a routine pattern of extra-territorial forays in both helpers and breeders suggests that the motives behind forays differ by sex and social status and involve more than simply searching for dispersal opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahas Barve
- Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, 23529, USA.,Hastings Natural History Reservation, University of California, Carmel Valley, California, 93924, USA.,National Museum of Natural History, Washington, District of Columbia, 20560, USA
| | | | | | | | - Walter D Koenig
- Hastings Natural History Reservation, University of California, Carmel Valley, California, 93924, USA.,Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 14850, USA
| | - David W Winkler
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and TABER, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 14853, USA.,Cellular Tracking Technologies, Rio Grande, New Jersey, 08242, USA.,Conservation Science Global, West Cape May, New Jersey, 08204, USA
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Bichet C, Lepetit D, Cohas A. Extrinsic and intrinsic constraints interact to drive extra-pair paternities in the Alpine marmot. J Evol Biol 2018; 31:1794-1802. [PMID: 30216586 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Revised: 08/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
To reproduce, animals have to form pairs and large variations in the degree of mate switching are observed. Extrinsic and intrinsic factors can constrain individual's mate switching. Among intrinsic factors, genes involved in pair-bonding, such as Avpr-1a, receive increasing attention. The length of microsatellites present in the regulatory region of Avpr-1a determines the neural densities and distributions of the vasopressin receptors known to impact pair-bonding behaviours. For the first time, we investigated whether and how the genetic makeup at Avpr-1a, an intrinsic factor, and the social context, an extrinsic factor, experienced by wild Alpine marmot (Marmota marmota) females affect the proportion of extra-pair young. This proportion was positively correlated with the length of their Avpr-1a regulatory region but only when the social constraints were relaxed, that is when mature male subordinates were present. When ignoring the interactive effect between the length of their Avpr-1a regulatory region and the social constraints, the genetic makeup at Avpr-1a was not associated with the proportion of extra-pair young. Under natural conditions, the genetic regulation of pair-bonding could be hidden by extrinsic factors constraining mate choice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coraline Bichet
- UMR-CNRS 5558, Laboratoire Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France.,Institut für Vogelforschung, 'Vogelwarte Helgoland' (Institute of Avian Research), Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - David Lepetit
- UMR-CNRS 5558, Laboratoire Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Aurélie Cohas
- UMR-CNRS 5558, Laboratoire Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
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Van de Loock D, Strubbe D, De Neve L, Githiru M, Matthysen E, Lens L. Cooperative breeding shapes post-fledging survival in an Afrotropical forest bird. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:3489-3493. [PMID: 28515884 PMCID: PMC5433992 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2016] [Revised: 12/02/2016] [Accepted: 12/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
For avian group living to be evolutionary stable, multiple fitness benefits are expected. Yet, the difficulty of tracking fledglings, and thus estimating their survival rates, limits our knowledge on how such benefits may manifest postfledging. We radio-tagged breeding females of the Afrotropical cooperatively breeding Placid greenbul (Phyllastrephus placidus) during nesting. Tracking these females after fledging permitted us to locate juvenile birds, their parents, and any helpers present and to build individual fledgling resighting datasets without incurring mortality costs or causing premature fledging due to handling or transmitter effects. A Bayesian framework was used to infer age-specific mortality rates in relation to group size, fledging date, maternal condition, and nestling condition. Postfledging survival was positively related to group size, with fledglings raised in groups with four helpers showing nearly 30% higher survival until independence compared with pair-only offspring, independent of fledging date, maternal condition or nestling condition. Our results demonstrate the importance of studying the early dependency period just after fledging when assessing presumed benefits of cooperative breeding. While studying small, mobile organisms after they leave the nest remains highly challenging, we argue that the telemetric approach proposed here may be a broadly applicable method to obtain unbiased estimates of postfledging survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dries Van de Loock
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit Ghent University Ghent Belgium.,Department of Zoology National Museums of Kenya Nairobi Kenya.,Evolutionary Ecology Group University of Antwerp Campus Drie Eiken Wilrijk Belgium
| | | | | | - Mwangi Githiru
- Department of Zoology National Museums of Kenya Nairobi Kenya.,Wildlife Works Voi Kenya
| | - Erik Matthysen
- Evolutionary Ecology Group University of Antwerp Campus Drie Eiken Wilrijk Belgium
| | - Luc Lens
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit Ghent University Ghent Belgium
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Pierratos A, Tremblay M, Kandasamy G, Woodward G, Blake P, Graham J, Hebert M, Harvey R. Personal Support Worker (PSW)-supported home hemodialysis: A paradigm shift. Hemodial Int 2016; 21:173-179. [PMID: 27546588 DOI: 10.1111/hdi.12476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2016] [Revised: 07/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite improving clinical outcomes associated with the use of home hemodialysis (HD), its utilization is low in most countries. The inability or unwillingness of patients and their families to participate in their own treatment is one of the most important barriers to the adoption of home HD. METHODS We hypothesized that paid helper-delivered home HD supported by public funds would be successful and welcomed by patients and be delivered at an affordable cost. We conducted a pilot project to dialyze six patients at home using Personal Support Workers (PSW) and resolve regulatory, organizational and financial constraints. FINDINGS cWe provided publically-funded PSW-supported home HD to six patients. We describe the administrative structure of the pilot project allowing scalability and turnkey operation in the province of Ontario. Regulatory and insurance concerns were resolved and patients and staff were enthusiastic. The projected total dialysis cost, when economies of scale are met, are expected to be lower than the cost of in-center HD. DISCUSSION A second phase of the project is currently under way including 8 hospitals and 67 patients. If equally successful, it may have significant implications for the delivery of care for End Stage Renal Disease in Ontario and similar jurisdictions. It promises to increase the utilization of home dialysis possibly at a lower cost than in-center HD. This would be particularly important in providing dialysis in underserviced and geographically hard to access areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Pierratos
- Humber River Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Ontario Renal Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Melanie Tremblay
- Humber River Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Ontario Renal Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Graham Woodward
- Ontario Renal Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Cardiac Care Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Peter Blake
- Ontario Renal Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Janet Graham
- Ontario Renal Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marc Hebert
- Ontario Renal Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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