That would almost certainly mean that the usurper's offspring emerged before the queen's, leading to an unwelcome change of dynasty.To test this hypothesis, Dr Bull observed the guarding behaviour of the queens.
Given that patterns of paternity in the wild will be influenced by many other factors such as variation in male attractiveness, availability of extra-pair males, male mate guarding behaviour, or competitiveness of male sperm [1] [4], demonstrating an effect of female personality has remained elusive.
Character 1, egg-nymph guarding behaviour (maternal care) [0 = absent, 1 = present].
This pain-related guarding behaviour subsided gradually by day 21 (chronic state) (Fig. 1b).
This type of guarding behaviour may mask LSI, leading to a false negative finding.
Character 1, egg-nymph guarding behaviour (maternal care) [0 = absent, 1 = present, ? = missing data].
The mates do not stay together after mating, indicating the absence of male postcopulatory guarding behaviour (Amano & Chant, 1978b).
This new information on the mating strategies helps explain the post-copulation guarding behaviour of S. gregaria.
To guard vulnerable nestlings, vole mothers should increase vigilance and nest guarding behaviour (e.g., at burrow entrances), especially during the first sensitive nestling phase.
In the evaluation of the ongoing pain, lifting time of the hind paw on the ipsilateral side was measured for 2 min as a guarding behaviour.
Assessment of gait revealed no gross difference in guarding behaviour as assessed using the limping score (F(15,78) = 1.274; P = 0.239).
