Papers by Constantino Garcia
Royal Society Open Science, 2014
Revista chilena de historia natural, 2008
Intra-specific brood parasitism revealed by DNA micro-satellite analyses in a sub-oscine bird, th... more Intra-specific brood parasitism revealed by DNA micro-satellite analyses in a sub-oscine bird, the vermilion flycatcher Parasitismo intraespecífico revelado mediante análisis de microsatélites de ADN en un ave suboscina, el cardenalito o saca tu real ABSTRACT Extra-pair reproduction is known to occur in many avian species. However, among passerines, the majority of studies on extra-pair reproduction have been carried out in oscine birds from temperate regions. Conversely, sub-oscines species, and particularly, species that inhabit tropical regions, have been studied to a much lesser extent. Given that a majority of avian species live in the tropics, it is important to study more tropical and sub-oscine species to have a more accurate picture of the rates of extra-pair reproduction among passerines, and a better understanding of the adaptive function of extra-pair reproduction in birds. Tropical species differ from temperate species in several ecological and life history traits, that may influence the occurrence of different modes of extra-pair reproduction and their prevalence. In this study we asked whether extra-pair reproduction occur in a sexually dimorphic and socially monogamous sub-oscine, the vermilion flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus). We report cases of extra-pair paternity, extra-pair maternity and intra-specific brood parasitism, and discuss our results in the view of other studies with passerines.
Journal of Zoology, 2005
Terrestrial hermit crabs use mollusc shells to protect their soft bodies from predation and desic... more Terrestrial hermit crabs use mollusc shells to protect their soft bodies from predation and desiccation, but their use is costly. The energetic short-term cost of using shells has been demonstrated, yet this could theoretically be overcome by increasing feeding rate or food quality. In the long term, shells have the potential to constrain growth, which may in turn have a negative effect on fitness. Thus crabs should choose the lightest (least expensive to carry) shell amongst those of a size that permit growth. Since in nature lighter shells are also thinner-walled, these may provide insufficient protection from predation or desiccation, facing the crabs with a trade-off between protection and growth. This potential trade-off was investigated in the terrestrial hermit crab Coenobita compressus. Crabs were individually maintained in captivity for a variable period of between 1 and 7 months, during which light or heavy replicates of the preferred shell were available. In a second experiment, crabs were given a choice between a thick (and heavy) or a thin (and light) shell. In addition, the resistance and water retention capacity of thin and thick shells was compared. As predicted, crab growth was negatively correlated with the weight of the shell used, but crabs rejected the thin (light) shells. Thin shells were more likely to break when crabs used the normal 'rolling' behaviour in response to perceived threats. In addition, thin shells lost water at a faster rate than thick ones. Since two putative functions of shell use in terrestrial hermit crabs are protection against predation and against desiccation, it is inferred that the preference for shells of intermediate weight in C. compressus results from a balance between the need to grow and the cost of carrying a brittle shell that is not sufficiently water tight.
Journal of Zoology, 2004
Male secondary sexual traits may increase the risk of predation because mating signals make them ... more Male secondary sexual traits may increase the risk of predation because mating signals make them conspicuous to predators and hamper evasive manoeuvres. Males of Xenotoca variata, a viviparous freshwater fish, show on their flanks bright and colourful spots (speckles), the number of which varies geographically. In this study, the association of this variation with the presence of the piscivorous snake Thamnophis melanogaster, which co-occurs with X . variata, was investigated. A test was also done to establish whether the snake distinguishes between male fish with contrasting numbers of speckles and if the perception of speckles is influenced by water turbidity. The amount of speckling and the prevalence of snakes in key localities was assessed by using one-way mirrors, and the effect of speckles on the predatory responsiveness of snakes was evaluated by presenting them with pairs of male fish in clear and in turbid water. In localities where snakes were infrequent there was a tendency for male fish to have many speckles. The snakes preferentially approached the males with more speckles than the males with fewer speckles. The direction of the preference did not change with the conditions of the water, but the magnitude was stronger in clear water than in turbid water. The snakes also approached first the males with more speckles. These findings indicate that predation risk by T. melanogaster may select against speckles and produce population differentiation.
Journal of Herpetology, 2013
We describe the diet of Thamnophis melanogaster on the Mexican plateau, including geographic vari... more We describe the diet of Thamnophis melanogaster on the Mexican plateau, including geographic variation between populations in the Lerma and Tula drainages (represented by 39 localities), annual and seasonal variation in an isolated population in the Nazas drainage, and sexual and size-related variation in all three drainages. The Mexican Black-bellied Gartersnake inhabits banks of streams, rivers, canals, ponds, and lakes, where it captures fishes, leeches, crayfishes, tadpoles, earthworms, and frogs by foraging underwater. There was no geographic variation between the Lerma and Tula populations in proportions of prey taxa consumed, but whereas primary and secondary tadpole stages were consumed by snakes in Lerma, only secondary stages were consumed by snakes in Tula. Crayfishes, novel prey for this genus, were consumed over a restricted zone in the contiguous headwaters of the Lerma and Tula drainages. Interannual and seasonal variation in proportions of annelids and anurans ingested was documented in the Nazas population, and attributed to temporal change in relative abundance of prey taxa and snake size classes. Snake size was a major determinant of diet in all three drainages, affecting proportions of different prey taxa consumed and the upper limits on the mass of ingested prey. In the three drainages, sexes were similar in body size and consumed the same prey taxa in similar proportions and masses. We discuss proximate and functional determinants of diet and suggest that the observed interannual and seasonal variation observed in Mexican Black-bellied Snakes is due mostly to temporal variation in prey availability and proportions of snake size classes.
Journal of Fish Biology, 2007
The cross-utility of 12 microsatellite loci (including nine newly developed loci) amongst the viv... more The cross-utility of 12 microsatellite loci (including nine newly developed loci) amongst the viviparous subfamily, the Mexican Goodeinae, was assessed, examining both the probability of amplification and the potential incidence of null alleles from tests of F IS . Genetic diversity was relatively high in comparison to other freshwater species. Amplification success was not correlated with genetic distance between microsatellite source and target species, but taxa that were more distantly related were less likely to be cross-polymorphic for microsatellite loci. On average, species that were cross-polymorphic were separated by a genetic distance of 15% at the cytochrome oxidase I locus, while those that were monomorphic were separated by 19%. There was no evidence that null alleles become more frequent at greater source-target genetic distance.
Journal of Fish Biology, 1998
Male predation risk due to ornaments seldom reduces female mating opportunities because males esc... more Male predation risk due to ornaments seldom reduces female mating opportunities because males escape costs through alternative mating strategies and/or females cease to select for highly ornamented males. Males of the Amarillo fish Girardinichthys multiradiatus (Goodeidae) have large sexually selected fins that impair attack-avoidance manoeuvres. This fish was used to seek evidence that intersexual selection for handicapping traits can result in a deficit of acceptable mating partners. Also it was examined whether, under male scarcity, females remain choosy to the point of missing mating opportunities, and that they can exert effective control over matings, which is a pre-condition of effective female choice. It was found that snakes prey disproportionately on males, that it leads to female-biased sex ratios, and that highly ornamented males are more scarce after predation than males with small ornaments. Females can avoid being fertilized by unattractive males, and that missing one reproductive period can lead to infertility. Thus it appears that females have promoted the exaggeration of a male trait that increases predation risk, remain choosy even when acceptable males are scarce, and pay a large cost when missing mating opportunities. A prediction from these results is that females enjoy substantial fitness benefits from mating with highly ornamented males, which override the occasional fatal costs of refusing to mate with sub-optimal males. One potential consequence of female selectivity and control over matings when males are scarce may be a reduced capability to colonize new habitats. 1998 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles
Journal of Fish Biology, 2000
... Females can reproduce parthenogenetically, males may become pregnant and fish of both genders... more ... Females can reproduce parthenogenetically, males may become pregnant and fish of both genders can ... by the difficult task of finding a mate, and thus they do not separate ... preferentially with familiar females (Griffiths & Magurran, 1997a, b) while male guppies prefer to court ...
Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 2007
ª 2 0 0 7 T H E A U T H O R S 2 0 ( 2 0 0 7 ) 2 0 4 8 -2 0 5 5 2048 J O U R N A L C O M P I L A T... more ª 2 0 0 7 T H E A U T H O R S 2 0 ( 2 0 0 7 ) 2 0 4 8 -2 0 5 5 2048 J O U R N A L C O M P I L A T I O N ª 2 0 0 7 E U R O P E Sex and genetic differentiation 2049 ª 2 0 0 7 T H E A U T H O R S 2 0 ( 2 0 0 7 ) 2 0 4 8 -2 0 5 5 J O U R N A L C O M P I L A T I O N ª 2 0 0 7 E U R O P E ª 2 0 0 7 T H E A U T H O R S 2 0 ( 2 0 0 7 ) 2 0 4 8 -2 0 5 5 J O U R N A L C O M P I L A T I O N ª 2 0 0 7 E U R O P E
Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 2005
Patterns of speciation in endemic Mexican Goodeid fish 929 J . E V O L . B I O L . 1 8 ( 2 0 0 5 ... more Patterns of speciation in endemic Mexican Goodeid fish 929 J . E V O L . B I O L . 1 8 ( 2 0 0 5 ) 9 2 2 -9 2 9 ª 2 0 0 5 E U R O P E
Journal of Ethology, 2010
This study investigated whether male body colour is a trait upon which females of Skiffia multipu... more This study investigated whether male body colour is a trait upon which females of Skiffia multipunctata, a viviparous fish of the subfamily Goodeinae, base their choice of potential mate. About 60% of the males in the study had black patches on the sides of their bodies and/ or dorsal fins. Patches varied in number, size and distribution. Most males (70% of the fish in the study) had diffuse orange colouration on their flanks, mainly on the peduncle. The hypothesis was that, after controlling for differences in body size, females would choose males with more black or orange colouration than males with less exaggerated patches of colour. However, in contrast to this hypothesis, females preferentially approached the males with less black colouration. Since orange colouration did not have a significant effect on female response, and there was no correlation between black and orange colours on the males in the study, females rejected males with more black colouration rather than preferring males with more orange or other visible colours. These findings indicate that sexual selection by female mate choice is not driving black or orange male body colouration in Skiffia multipunctata.
Heredity, 2007
The relative importance of genetic and non-genetic factors in extinction liability has been exten... more The relative importance of genetic and non-genetic factors in extinction liability has been extensively debated. Here, we examine the levels of genetic variability at 13 (seven informative) loci in wild and captive populations of two endangered species of Mexican Goodeid fish, Ameca splendens and Zoogoneticus tequila. Allelic diversity was higher in the wild populations, and F(IS) lower. Values of theta (=4Nemu) were estimated using a coalescent approach. These implied that the effective population size of all captive populations of A. splendens were smaller than that of the wild population; qualitatively similar results were obtained using an analytical method based on within-population gene identity disequilibrium. However, the wild population of Z. tequila did not show a significantly greater estimate of theta. We used the Beaumont approach to infer population declines, and found that both species showed clear evidence of a decline in effective population size, although this was stronger and probably occurred over a longer period of time in Z. tequila than in A. splendens. The decline in Z. tequila probably occurred before captive populations were established. We discuss implications for the conservation of critically endangered populations.
Ethology, 2003
Fish responsiveness to visual stimuli has been studied extensively in contexts such as female mat... more Fish responsiveness to visual stimuli has been studied extensively in contexts such as female mate choice, predator inspection and schooling, yet surprisingly little work has been conducted on visual orientation in space in fish. Here we report on an experiment designed to test ...
Canadian Journal of Zoology, 2004
Male Xenotoca variatus (Bean, 1887) have shiny scales ("speckles") on their flanks, the number of... more Male Xenotoca variatus (Bean, 1887) have shiny scales ("speckles") on their flanks, the number of which varies within and among populations. Using fish from two localities with turbid water and two with transparent water, we tested whether differences in the number of speckles were associated with differences either in water turbidity or with the expression of female mate choice. We also tested whether female mate choice was influenced by water turbidity. In our sample the number of speckles and water turbidity were not associated. A test including all the populations in a combined (factorial) analysis showed that in clear water females exhibit a preference for visiting the male with the largest number of speckles of a pair, though no population differences were detected. When tested in clear water, females spent more time close to a male with more speckles; in this instance, males were from a clear-water locality and possessed many speckles. Our findings suggest that female mate choice might not contribute to the geographical variation in speckle number, but may instead be constrained by the transmissibility of the signal.
Biology Letters, 2011
Research has shown that bird songs are modified in different ways to deal with urban noise and pr... more Research has shown that bird songs are modified in different ways to deal with urban noise and promote signal transmission through noisy environments. Urban noise is composed of low frequencies, thus the observation that songs have a higher minimum frequency in noisy places suggests this is a way of avoiding noise masking. Most studies are correlative and there is as yet little experimental evidence that this is a short-term mechanism owing to individual plasticity. Here we experimentally test if house finches (Carpodacus mexicanus) can modulate the minimum frequency of their songs in response to different noise levels. We exposed singing males to three continuous treatments: low-high-low noise levels. We found a significant increase in minimum frequency from low to high and a decrement from high to low treatments. We also found that this was mostly achieved by modifying the frequency of the same low-frequency syllable types used in the different treatments. When different low-frequency syllables were used, those sung during the noisy condition were longer than the ones sang during the quiet condition. We conclude that house finches modify their songs in several ways in response to urban noise, thus providing evidence of a short-term acoustic adaptation.
Biological Conservation, 2006
We compared the behaviour of wild and captive-bred butterfly splitfins (Ameca splendens), an enda... more We compared the behaviour of wild and captive-bred butterfly splitfins (Ameca splendens), an endangered freshwater fish, to investigate whether captive breeding results in the behavioural divergence of wild and captive individuals. In a first experiment, we examined whether the captive environment allows for the similar expression of behaviours observed in wild fish. The foraging, courtship and aggressive behaviour of fish in their natural habitat (in Mexico) was compared with that of their counterparts that have been bred at London Zoo, UK, for 40 years. These in situ observations revealed that wild fish were preoccupied with searching for food whereas captive fish engaged more in aggressive interactions. In a subsequent laboratory experiment we compared the behaviour of wild-caught and captive-bred fish under standard conditions in two novel habitats: structured (enriched) and unstructured (bare) aquaria. Overall, captive-bred butterfly splitfins displayed higher levels of aggression than wild-caught fish. The relationship between aggression and habitat structure was influenced by density; captive-bred males were more aggressive when observed in structured habitats than unstructured ones, but only when they were stocked at a high density. We also found an effect of tank structure on foraging behaviour, with individuals spending more time foraging in unstructured tanks than structured tanks. There was no effect of captive breeding or habitat structure on courtship behaviour.Our findings suggest that captive environments can promote the development of aggressive behaviour which may affect the suitability of captive-bred fishes for reintroduction into the wild.
Behaviour, 1989
JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, a... more JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. 1) Our fieldwork was all the more enjoyable for the friendship and generous hospitality of Ingeniero NUNEZ, Rocio, Polo, Mauricio and Jaime, and for the cooperation of Manuel BLANCO. For assistance in the field we thank Aldi de OYARZABAL, Jose-Luis OSORNO, Joaquin ALBUERNE, and numerous students of the Facultad de Ciencias, UNAM. Some "extra visits" were made by O. SOSA and the data were reported in SOSA (1982). We are grateful toJ. H. BROWN, G. M. BURGHARDT and H. W. GREENE for comments on the manuscript, and to Jorge CABRERA for use of a turbidimetre. We thank John FA for drawing Fig. 5, and Elvia ESPARZA for Fig. 4. Financial support was provided by the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia and UNAM. 2) Present address, School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, NORWICH NR4 7TJ, England. This content downloaded from 132.248.49.32 on Wed, 08 Jul 2015 18:45:07 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 24 HUGH DRUMMOND & CONSTANTINO MACIAS GARCIA (air and water). Most garter snakes have some association with water, but only three (T. melanogaster, T. rufipunctatus and T. couchi) are aquatic
Behaviour, 2009
Summary The influence of ambient noise in shaping birdsong attributes has received much attention... more Summary The influence of ambient noise in shaping birdsong attributes has received much attention lately. Recent work shows that some birds sing higher-pitched songs in noisy areas, which may allow them to avoid acoustic interference; yet it is not clear how this is achieved. Higher- ...
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Papers by Constantino Garcia