Nesting behaviour

Experiments have shown that feather pecking, cannibalism and nesting behaviour can be improved by selection. 

Hudson, R. and Distel, H. (1982) The pattern of behaviour of rabbit pups in the nest. Behaviour 79, 255-272. 

Fire Master FF-1 caused a longer sexual cycle in monkeys [5], and PBBs caused decreased egg production and nesting behaviour in Japanese quail [86]. One recent study reported that in mice PBB (di-BBs and tetra-BBs) reduced the in vitro fertilisation rate at higher dosages. Furthermore, an increased incidence of abnormal two-cell embryos and degenerative ococytes was observed at the 1 and 10 mg/ml concentration of PBB [87]. PBBs also affect the regulation of steroid hormones. The extent depends on the species as well as the dose and duration of exposure. 

Further criteria nest appetite and acceptance, disposition to cannibalism and feather pecking, feather quality, proportion of broody hens, unwanted behaviour in general (nervousness, flying in the hen run)... 

MHC genotype has also been found to influence kin recognition, in the context of maternal behaviour in mice. Female mice are more likely to form communal nests with kin of MHC-similar genotype, minimising the delivery of maternal resources to genetically unrelated individuals (Manning, Wakeland and Potts 1992). Furthermore, if mouse pups have become scattered from the nest, females preferentially retrieve pups of similar MHC type to themselves (Yamazaki, Beauchamp, Curran and Boyse 2000). The pups themselves appear to be able to use MHC-related cues to learn the odour of their mother and siblings, as revealed by a preference for odours of maternal MHC-type in a choice test (Yamazaki et al. 2000). 

Rabbit pups anticipate and prepare for the mother s vital, once-daily visit behaviourally and physiologically. An hour or so before the mother s arrival they become increasingly active, increasingly responsive to vibrational and tactile stimuli, and gradually uncover from the nest material (Hudson and Distel 1982). This enables them to reach the mother s ventrum unhindered and to start the rapid search for nipples the moment she stands over them. The anticipatory arousal is accompanied by a rise in pups (and mothers ) body temperature, and in the expression of... 

Olfactory navigation to the nesting burrow in Leach s petrel [Oceanodroma leucor-rhoa). Animal Behaviour 22,192-202. 

Besides magnetic perturbations and electron-lattice interactions, there are other instabilities in solids which have to be considered. For example, one-dimensional solids cannot be metallic since a periodic lattice distortion (Peierls distortion) destroys the Fermi surface in such a system. The perturbation of the electron states results in charge-density waves (CDW), involving a periodicity in electron density in phase with the lattice distortion. Blue molybdenum bronzes, K0.3M0O3, show such features (see Section 4.9 for details). In two- or three-dimensional solids, however, one observes Fermi surface nesting due to the presence of parallel Fermi surface planes perturbed by periodic lattice distortions. Certain molybdenum bronzes exhibit this behaviour. 

Recognise Tourists need to recognise and identify that their behaviour creates a problem, e.g. nesting bird species such as albatross, if frightened from nesting sites, may not reproduce again for 2-3 years a small action with substantial consequences but, unless the impact is recognised, the motivation to alter activities is low... 

Parental behaviour (nest-building, buccal incubation of eggs, maintenance of brood pouch) in some species. 

Verboven, N., Verreault, J., et al (2009) Nest temperature and parental behaviour of Arctic-breeding glaucous gulls exposed to persistent organic pollutants. Animal Behaviour, 77(2) 411 18. 

A further parallel comes from developmental pathways. The spontaneous alloparenting behaviour and high likelihood of remaining in the parental nest (philopatry) of subordinate prairie voles are influenced by their prenatal hormonal environment in the uterus (Roberts et al., 1996). I wonder how different this is from developmental influences on social insect larvae as they are directed to worker or queen roles ... 

Insects coimnunicate with one another concerning gender identification, sexual maturity, mate selection and reproduction, the tracking down of prey, marking of territory and routes, feeding and nesting places, as well defence and alarm behaviour, or the regulation of social and caste systems. [161] (In these terms their behaviour hardly differs from that what humans do.)... 

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