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Lecturer in Zoology and Ecology in the College of Science and Engineering at James Cook University, Cairns, Australia. Obtained a Bachelor of Science (Hons; 2003) from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, a Masters in Science (2004) from Pretoria University, Pretoria, South Africa, and a PhD (2009) at the University of the Witwatersrand. 9 years as an academic at James Cook University. Current research is focused on behavioural flexibility and personality, cognition and physiology of rodents and funnel-web spiders. Member of the Australasian Society for the Study of Animal Behaviour, Australian Mammal Society, Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour, Animal Behavior Society, Society for Conservation Biology. the Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales and the Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Sciences.
Problem solving is important for survival, allowing animals to access novel food resources or escape from predators. It was originally thought to rely on an animal’s intelligence; however, studies examining the relationship between individual cognitive ability and problem solving performance show mixed results, and studies are often restricted to only one cognitive and one problem solving task. We investigated the relationship between general cognitive ability and problem solving across multiple tasks in the fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat Melomys cervinipes. We measured general cognitive ability across different domains (memory in an odour learning association task, recognition in a novel object recognition task, size discrimination using different sized pieces of food, and learning across multiple presentations of a food-baited activity board). We also measured problem solving across different contexts (food-baited puzzle boxes in home cage, obstruction task, and food-baited activity board in a novel arena). Mosaic-tailed rats showed a general cognitive ability, with average problem solving latency, memory ability, and learning in the tile task being correlated. As such, individuals that were able to remember an association and learned to solve the tile task solved the problems faster than individuals that could not remember or learn. Our results suggest that problem solving in mosaic-tailed rats likely relies on some forms of simple cognition, particularly memory, but could also depend on other traits, such as an individual’s persistence.
Misha K. Rowell; Tasmin L. Rymer. Memory enhances problem solving in the fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat Melomys cervinipes. Animal Cognition 2021, 1 -12.
AMA StyleMisha K. Rowell, Tasmin L. Rymer. Memory enhances problem solving in the fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat Melomys cervinipes. Animal Cognition. 2021; ():1-12.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMisha K. Rowell; Tasmin L. Rymer. 2021. "Memory enhances problem solving in the fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat Melomys cervinipes." Animal Cognition , no. : 1-12.
This revision demonstrates that an integrated taxonomic approach to classical taxonomic practice can lead to increased internal cladistic resolution within a clade, including the recognition of new taxa at all nomenclatural levels. In particular, this revision has two aims: 1) to complete an α-taxonomic revision of Seraphsidae (Stromboidea); and 2) to resolve the infrafamilial relationships within Seraphsidae using morphological cladistics. An annotated synonymy was generated for each taxon, the precedence of names determined, and revised descriptions formulated. Character sets that reflect the synapomorphies within the major subclades of Seraphsidae were coded and a cladogram generated using maximum likelihood within the tnt program with default settings. Four forms of material and evidence were used in this systematic review: 1) the type material for each taxon; 2) non-type physical material; 3) published images; and 4) literary references for specimen localities without illustration. The current morphologically-based classification of Seraphsidae was found to be sound in terms of current species delimitations. Regardless of this, the use of an integrated taxonomy improved understanding of the internal cladistic relationships within Seraphsidae, which led to higher resolution of the internal cladistic arrangements and taxonomic delimitation. Furthermore, this increased resolution is now reflected in the family nomenclature. Two new subfamilies are proposed, Seraphsinae and Pseudoterebellinae, which are used to distinguish the two clades within Seraphsidae based on form: members of Seraphsinae are involute, while members of Pseudoterebellinae are evolute. Pseudoterebellum is proposed as a new genus to show the discontinuity in the fossil record and highlight the structural differences between it and Terebellum. A new species from Jamaica, Seraphs kaindraperi, is described, being the first record from that location and that geological period and is morphologically distinct from other described taxa. This revision included Mauryna within Seraphsidae on the grounds that it provides a basal link to the Seraphsidae sister taxa Semiterebellum and Terebellopsis, all of which are currently contained within Rostellariidae, and all three clades may in time be brought together under one family. All clades have been constructed to be in compliance with both the ICZN and PhyloCode. It was not possible within the context of this revision to test the results of the α-taxonomic findings against phylogenies generated with molecular data. This was due to the high number of extinct taxa within the Seraphsidae.
Stephen J. Maxwell; Tasmin L. Rymer; Bradley C. Congdon. Resolving phylogenetic and classical nomenclature: A revision of Seraphsidae Jung, 1974 (Gastropoda: Neostromboidae). Zootaxa 2021, 4990, 401 -453.
AMA StyleStephen J. Maxwell, Tasmin L. Rymer, Bradley C. Congdon. Resolving phylogenetic and classical nomenclature: A revision of Seraphsidae Jung, 1974 (Gastropoda: Neostromboidae). Zootaxa. 2021; 4990 (3):401-453.
Chicago/Turabian StyleStephen J. Maxwell; Tasmin L. Rymer; Bradley C. Congdon. 2021. "Resolving phylogenetic and classical nomenclature: A revision of Seraphsidae Jung, 1974 (Gastropoda: Neostromboidae)." Zootaxa 4990, no. 3: 401-453.
Decision-making reflects an individual's behavioral motivation, shaped by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. We investigated the motivation and decision-making to forage in captive bushveld gerbils (Gerbilliscus leucogaster) using an individually tailored experimental protocol. Individual gerbils were subjected to 4 experiments, where we assessed behavior and decision-making in response to: (a) food quality when resources were clumped (Experiment 1), (b) food quality when resources were scattered (Experiment 2), (c) changing food distribution (clumped vs. scattered; Experiment 3), and (d) predation risk. Each experiment comprised 4 treatments, where both cost (a weighted door) and incentive (preferred vs. nonpreferred seeds; clumped vs. scattered seeds) varied according to the mass and personal preferences of individual gerbils. We counted the number of seeds eaten, assessed the frequency of door usage, and measured the duration of exploration, vigilance, and foraging (as a proportion of total time) of gerbils in each experiment. Gerbils showed individual preferences for different seed types although all preferred sunflower or sorghum seeds. Generally, gerbils ate more seeds and used the door more frequently when the costs were low. Similarly, gerbils tended to forage more when the costs were low and predation risk was low. We also found that males, in general, were more vigilant than females in Experiments 3 and 4, likely because of risk of intrasexual competition over a high-resource patch. There was considerable individual variation in behavior, but there was also consistency in most behaviors, indicating that individual gerbils perform consistently differently to other gerbils. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Tasmin L. Rymer; Megan Cruise; Neville Pillay. Decision-making by bushveld gerbils (Gerbilliscus leucogaster). Journal of Comparative Psychology 2021, 135, 244 -257.
AMA StyleTasmin L. Rymer, Megan Cruise, Neville Pillay. Decision-making by bushveld gerbils (Gerbilliscus leucogaster). Journal of Comparative Psychology. 2021; 135 (2):244-257.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTasmin L. Rymer; Megan Cruise; Neville Pillay. 2021. "Decision-making by bushveld gerbils (Gerbilliscus leucogaster)." Journal of Comparative Psychology 135, no. 2: 244-257.
Problem solving, the act of overcoming an obstacle to obtain an incentive, has been studied in a wide variety of taxa, and is often based on simple strategies such as trial-and-error learning, instead of higher-order cognitive processes, such as insight. There are large variations in problem solving abilities between species, populations and individuals, and this variation could arise due to differences in development, and other intrinsic (genetic, neuroendocrine and aging) and extrinsic (environmental) factors. However, experimental studies investigating the ontogeny of problem solving are lacking. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of problem solving from an ontogenetic perspective. The focus is to highlight aspects of problem solving that have been overlooked in the current literature, and highlight why developmental influences of problem-solving ability are particularly important avenues for future investigation. We argue that the ultimate outcome of solving a problem is underpinned by interacting cognitive, physiological and behavioural components, all of which are affected by ontogenetic factors. We emphasise that, due to the large number of confounding ontogenetic influences, an individual-centric approach is important for a full understanding of the development of problem solving.
Misha Rowell; Neville Pillay; Tasmin Rymer. Problem Solving in Animals: Proposal for an Ontogenetic Perspective. Animals 2021, 11, 866 .
AMA StyleMisha Rowell, Neville Pillay, Tasmin Rymer. Problem Solving in Animals: Proposal for an Ontogenetic Perspective. Animals. 2021; 11 (3):866.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMisha Rowell; Neville Pillay; Tasmin Rymer. 2021. "Problem Solving in Animals: Proposal for an Ontogenetic Perspective." Animals 11, no. 3: 866.
This study provides a checklist of the distribution and relative abundance of Strombidae from the near-shore environment of Green Island, Queensland, Australia. Historical records indicate that this island has not been surveyed for at least half a century. We used an opportunistic sighting survey method, where we walked the path of the receding tidal line around the island, counting and measuring all species that we observed directly. We also recorded the substrate on which each individual was collected as sand, sand-seagrass or seagrass. Eleven species of Strombidae were found. The survey provided the first record of Ministrombus athenius (Duclos, 1844) from North Queensland. This study provides base-line data on the presence and distribution of near-shore Stromboidea that will enable future studies to detect and monitor changes in the composition of near-shore strombid species.
Stephen John Maxwell; Jessica Watt; Tasmin L Rymer; Bradley B Congdon. A checklist of near-shore strombidae (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Neostromboidae) on Green Island, Queensland. Biogeographia – The Journal of Integrative Biogeography 2021, 36, 1 .
AMA StyleStephen John Maxwell, Jessica Watt, Tasmin L Rymer, Bradley B Congdon. A checklist of near-shore strombidae (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Neostromboidae) on Green Island, Queensland. Biogeographia – The Journal of Integrative Biogeography. 2021; 36 ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleStephen John Maxwell; Jessica Watt; Tasmin L Rymer; Bradley B Congdon. 2021. "A checklist of near-shore strombidae (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Neostromboidae) on Green Island, Queensland." Biogeographia – The Journal of Integrative Biogeography 36, no. : 1.
The gastropod family Strombidae has sparked the recent interest of taxonomists as early revisions of the family are re-examined, with a plethora of new species and genera being described. This has brought a greater understanding of the level of diversity within the family, which has assisted in conceptualizing its evolutionary intergeneric relationships. However, gaps in the revisions remain. This paper examines the extant members of the genus Gibberulus after half a century of neglect. After examination of type material and original descriptions, the species are recircumscribed, and a new species, G. dekkersi, new species, is presented, bringing the total number of species in the genus to four. In addition, information of the geographic range of each species is provided. We suggest that, as further revisions of the Strombidae are conducted, particularly of those species with large fragmented distributions, a greater diversity of species will be found and described.
Stephen J. Maxwell; Linda C. Hernandez Duran; Misha K. Rowell; Tasmin L. Rymer. An iconography of extant Gibberulus Jousseaume, 1888 (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Strombidae), and the introduction of a new species from the southwestern Pacific. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 2021, 134, 89 -115.
AMA StyleStephen J. Maxwell, Linda C. Hernandez Duran, Misha K. Rowell, Tasmin L. Rymer. An iconography of extant Gibberulus Jousseaume, 1888 (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Strombidae), and the introduction of a new species from the southwestern Pacific. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 2021; 134 (1):89-115.
Chicago/Turabian StyleStephen J. Maxwell; Linda C. Hernandez Duran; Misha K. Rowell; Tasmin L. Rymer. 2021. "An iconography of extant Gibberulus Jousseaume, 1888 (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Strombidae), and the introduction of a new species from the southwestern Pacific." Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 134, no. 1: 89-115.
Mygalomorph venom properties and active components, which have importance in medicine, agronomy, venomics, ecology and evolution, have been widely studied, but only a small fraction have been characterised. Several studies have shown inter-individual variation in the composition of venom peptides based on ontogeny, sexual dimorphism, season and diet. However, intra-individual variation in venom composition, which could play a key role in the evolution, diversification and function of toxins, is poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrate significant intra- and inter-individual variation in venom composition in the Australian funnel-web spider Hadronyche valida, highlighting that individuals show different venom profiles over time. Fourteen (four juvenile and ten adult females) funnel-web spiders, maintained under the same environmental conditions and diet, were milked a total of four times, one month apart. We then used reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry to generate venom fingerprints containing the retention time and molecular weights of the different toxin components in the venom. Across all individuals, we documented a combined total of 83 individual venom components. Only 20% of these components were shared between individuals. Individuals showed variation in the composition of venom peptides, with some components consistently present over time, while others were only present at specific times. When individuals were grouped using the Jaccard clustering index and Kernel Principal Component Analysis, spiders formed two distinct clusters, most likely due to their origin or time of collection. This study contributes to the understanding of variation in venom composition at different levels (intra-individual, and intra- and inter-specific) and considers some of the mechanisms of selection that may contribute to venom diversification within arachnids. In addition, inter-specific variation in venom composition can be highly useful as a chemotaxonomic marker to identify funnel-web species.
Linda Hernández Duran; Tasmin Lee Rymer; David Thomas Wilson. Variation in venom composition in the Australian funnel-web spiders Hadronyche valida. Toxicon: X 2020, 8, 100063 .
AMA StyleLinda Hernández Duran, Tasmin Lee Rymer, David Thomas Wilson. Variation in venom composition in the Australian funnel-web spiders Hadronyche valida. Toxicon: X. 2020; 8 ():100063.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLinda Hernández Duran; Tasmin Lee Rymer; David Thomas Wilson. 2020. "Variation in venom composition in the Australian funnel-web spiders Hadronyche valida." Toxicon: X 8, no. : 100063.
Mammalian paternal care is rare and is often linked to enhanced fitness under particular ecological conditions. The proximate consequences of paternal care on offspring are lacking, however. Here, we tested whether levels of paternal care predict the behavioural, cognitive and physiological development of sons in the naturally paternal African striped mouse (Rhabdomys pumilio). We focused on sons raised in two treatments: biparental (both parents) or uniparental (mother alone) families. We recorded levels of interactions between pups with both parents, and later assessed the behaviour, cognition and physiology of sons at three developmental stages: juvenile, sub‐adult and adult (sexual maturity). Sons from biparental families showed (a) reduced anxiety as juveniles; (b) greater exploration and social interaction at different stages; (c) better cognition; and (d) reduced corticosterone concentrations than sons from uniparental families. In contrast, sons from uniparental families showed greater levels of paternal care, although prolactin concentrations did not differ between treatments. Paternal care in striped mice enhances fitness of males. Here, we also show that sons benefit psychologically and physiologically through interactions with their fathers. However, sons also trade‐off such benefits against their own paternal care behaviour, suggesting that fathers influence the development of their son's phenotype in complex ways.
Neville Pillay; Tasmin L. Rymer. Sons benefit from paternal care in African striped mice. Developmental Psychobiology 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleNeville Pillay, Tasmin L. Rymer. Sons benefit from paternal care in African striped mice. Developmental Psychobiology. 2020; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNeville Pillay; Tasmin L. Rymer. 2020. "Sons benefit from paternal care in African striped mice." Developmental Psychobiology , no. : 1.
Olfaction is the dominant sensory modality in rodents, and is crucial for regulating social behaviors, including parental care. Paternal care is rare in rodents, but can have significant consequences for offspring fitness, suggesting a need to understand the factors that regulate its expression. Pup-related odor cues are critical for the onset and maintenance of paternal care. Here, I consider the role of olfaction in the expression of paternal care in rodents. The medial preoptic area shares neural projections with the olfactory and accessory olfactory bulbs, which are responsible for the interpretation of olfactory cues detected by the main olfactory and vomeronasal systems. The olfactory, trace amine, membrane-spanning 4-pass A, vomeronasal 1, vomeronasal 2 and formyl peptide receptors are all involved in olfactory detection. I highlight the roles that 10 olfactory genes play in the expression of direct paternal care behaviors, acknowledging that this list is not exhaustive. Many of these genes modulate parental aggression towards intruders, and facilitate the recognition and discrimination of pups in general. Much of our understanding comes from studies on non-naturally paternal laboratory rodents. Future studies should explore what role these genes play in the regulation and expression of paternal care in naturally biparental species.
Tasmin L. Rymer. The Role of Olfactory Genes in the Expression of Rodent Paternal Care Behavior. Genes 2020, 11, 292 .
AMA StyleTasmin L. Rymer. The Role of Olfactory Genes in the Expression of Rodent Paternal Care Behavior. Genes. 2020; 11 (3):292.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTasmin L. Rymer. 2020. "The Role of Olfactory Genes in the Expression of Rodent Paternal Care Behavior." Genes 11, no. 3: 292.
Habitat complexity reflects resource availability and predation pressure – both factors that influence behaviour. We investigated whether exploratory behaviour and activity varied in fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rats (Melomys cervinipes) from two habitats that were categorised differently based on vegetation. We conducted vegetation surveys to determine structural complexity and vegetation cover, confirming that an abandoned hoop-pine (Araucaria cunninghami) plantation forest was structurally less complex, with lower vegetation cover than a variable secondary rainforest. We then tested mosaic-tailed rats from both sites in four behavioural tests designed to assess exploratory and activity behaviours (open field, novel object, light-dark box, acoustic startle), predicting that rats from the less structurally complex habitat would be less exploratory, and show lower activity. Our results provide some evidence for a context-specific trade-off between exploratory behaviour and predation risk in rats from the abandoned hoop pine plantation, as rats were less active, and showed a freezing strategy in the light-dark box. We also found context-specific sex differences in behaviour in response to a novel object and sound. Our results suggest that small-scale variation in habitat structure and complexity, as well as sex differences, is associated with variation in behaviour, most likely through effects on resource availability and/or predation risk.
Emma M. P. Delarue; Sarah E. Kerr; Tasmin L. Rymer. Habitat and sex effects on behaviour in fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rats (Melomys cervinipes). Australian Mammalogy 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleEmma M. P. Delarue, Sarah E. Kerr, Tasmin L. Rymer. Habitat and sex effects on behaviour in fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rats (Melomys cervinipes). Australian Mammalogy. 2020; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEmma M. P. Delarue; Sarah E. Kerr; Tasmin L. Rymer. 2020. "Habitat and sex effects on behaviour in fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rats (Melomys cervinipes)." Australian Mammalogy , no. : 1.
The fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat (Melomys cervinipes) is a common Australian rainforest rodent; however, little is known about the growth or behavioural development of individuals of this species. We raised mosaic-tailed rats in captivity to assess the growth and behavioural development of pups from birth until weaning. Pups developed quickly compared with some other Australian species, and there were no significant differences in growth between males and females, except for anogenital distance. The auditory meatus was open by Postnatal Day 5, and eyes were fully opened by Postnatal Day 9. All behaviours, including righting, locomotion, negative geotaxis, climbing and grip reflex, were fully developed by Postnatal Day 6. These results suggest that mosaic-tailed rats are semiprecocial in their physical and behavioural development compared with some native Australian rodent species that are found in arid environments. As females produce few, relatively well-developed young, the population has a low intrinsic rate of natural increase. This may, however, be offset by mosaic-tailed rats producing more litters per year. Understanding the biology of mosaic-tailed rats in general could provide insights into how rarer precocial species might struggle to increase in population size under increasing disturbances.
Misha K. Rowell; Tasmin L. Rymer. Growth and behavioural development of the fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat (Melomys cervinipes). Australian Mammalogy 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleMisha K. Rowell, Tasmin L. Rymer. Growth and behavioural development of the fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat (Melomys cervinipes). Australian Mammalogy. 2020; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMisha K. Rowell; Tasmin L. Rymer. 2020. "Growth and behavioural development of the fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat (Melomys cervinipes)." Australian Mammalogy , no. : 1.
Innovation is the ability to use a new behaviour, or use an existing behaviour in a new context. Innovation, as an aspect of behavioural flexibility, could be important for allowing animals to cope with rapid environmental changes. Surprisingly, few studies have focused on how innovation ability is affected by task complexity. We investigated innovation ability across multiple tasks of varying complexity in a native Australian rodent, the fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat (Melomys cervinipes). We predicted that mosaic-tailed rats would be capable of innovating because they live in complex habitats and can exploit disturbed and changing environments. However, we also predicted that the success rate of innovating would decrease as task complexity increased. Mosaic-tailed rats were exposed to six novel problems: cylinder, matchbox, obstruction test, pillar, tile and lever (the last three presented in a Trixie dog activity board), which represented increasing complexity. We counted the number of individuals that could solve at least one task, compared individuals for solving efficiency and latency to solve, and compared the solving success of each task. All mosaic-tailed rats could innovate. However, solving success differed between individuals, with some solving every task and others only solving one. Solving success rate was significantly higher in the simplest task (pillar) compared to the most complicated task (lever). There was no effect of sex or sampling condition on innovation. This study is the first to demonstrate innovation ability across task complexity in an Australian rodent and provides promising avenues for future studies of innovation.
Misha K. Rowell; Tasmin L. Rymer. Innovation in a native Australian rodent, the fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat (Melomys cervinipes). Animal Cognition 2019, 23, 301 -310.
AMA StyleMisha K. Rowell, Tasmin L. Rymer. Innovation in a native Australian rodent, the fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat (Melomys cervinipes). Animal Cognition. 2019; 23 (2):301-310.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMisha K. Rowell; Tasmin L. Rymer. 2019. "Innovation in a native Australian rodent, the fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat (Melomys cervinipes)." Animal Cognition 23, no. 2: 301-310.
Tasmin Lee Rymer. Parental Investment. Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior 2019, 1 -10.
AMA StyleTasmin Lee Rymer. Parental Investment. Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior. 2019; ():1-10.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTasmin Lee Rymer. 2019. "Parental Investment." Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior , no. : 1-10.
Misha Kyla Rowell; Tasmin Lee Rymer. Rodentia Cognition. Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior 2019, 1 -9.
AMA StyleMisha Kyla Rowell, Tasmin Lee Rymer. Rodentia Cognition. Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior. 2019; ():1-9.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMisha Kyla Rowell; Tasmin Lee Rymer. 2019. "Rodentia Cognition." Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior , no. : 1-9.
Here we evaluate the taxonomy of the marine gastropod genus Laevistrombus Abbott, 1960 and determine that there are five extant species within this genus, three of which occur in the southwest Pacific. Comparative analyses of this complex have been problematic due to the lack of designated type material. Therefore, we present the type material for L. canarium Linnaeus, 1758; L. taeniatus Quoy & Gaimard, 1834; and L. vanikorensis Quoy & Gaimard, 1834. Current taxonomy has L. vanikorensis absorbed within the L. canarium complex. L. taeniatus is generally held to be a synonym of L. turturella Röding, 1789. We demonstrate that both L. taeniatus and L. vanikorensis are distinct species and reinstate both to species level. Our revision also notes the significant variability in early teleoconch structure within the geographic range of L. vanikorensis, and highlights the need for a greater revision of Laevistrombus, given the diversity in early teleoconch morphology present in southwest Pacific species.
Stephen J. Maxwell; Aart M. Dekkers; Tasmin L. Rymer; Bradley C. Congdon. Laevistrombus Abbott 1960 (Gastropoda: Strombidae): Indian and southwest Pacific species. Zootaxa 2019, 4555, 491 -506.
AMA StyleStephen J. Maxwell, Aart M. Dekkers, Tasmin L. Rymer, Bradley C. Congdon. Laevistrombus Abbott 1960 (Gastropoda: Strombidae): Indian and southwest Pacific species. Zootaxa. 2019; 4555 (4):491-506.
Chicago/Turabian StyleStephen J. Maxwell; Aart M. Dekkers; Tasmin L. Rymer; Bradley C. Congdon. 2019. "Laevistrombus Abbott 1960 (Gastropoda: Strombidae): Indian and southwest Pacific species." Zootaxa 4555, no. 4: 491-506.
Rodents rely on their sensitive olfactory systems to detect and respond to predators. We investigated the ability of a native Australian rodent, the fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat Melomys cervinipes, to detect, recognise, and discriminate between two species of native snakes. We used snake sheds from a sympatric venomous red-bellied black snake Pseudechis porphyriacus and a non-sympatric non-venomous Stimson’s python Antaresia stimsoni. 20 mosaic-tailed rats each experienced three olfactory tests using a Y-maze. Rats were first exposed to one snake shed against a paper control, and then exposed to the other snake shed against a paper control. Which rat experienced which shed first was allocated randomly. Mosaic-tailed rats were then exposed to both sheds simultaneously. Rats could detect the snake sheds, spending longer investigating, and making more visits to, the sheds than the paper control. They also recognised the sheds as potentially dangerous, reducing their total investigation over time, but increasing their frequency of visits. However, rats did not discriminate between sheds, suggesting a general strategy for assessing the identity of reptilian predators.
Kelsey Paulling; David Wilson; Tasmin L. Rymer. Olfactory recognition of snake cues by fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rats Melomys cervinipes. Behaviour 2019, 156, 1235 -1253.
AMA StyleKelsey Paulling, David Wilson, Tasmin L. Rymer. Olfactory recognition of snake cues by fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rats Melomys cervinipes. Behaviour. 2019; 156 (12):1235-1253.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKelsey Paulling; David Wilson; Tasmin L. Rymer. 2019. "Olfactory recognition of snake cues by fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rats Melomys cervinipes." Behaviour 156, no. 12: 1235-1253.
The Paraseraphs Jung 1974 is an extinct group of gastropods that existed during the Late Paleocene and Eocene of Europe and the Caribbean. P. cantamessae sp. nov. is described; it differs structurally from its sympatric sister taxon and spatiotemporally from other members of the clade.
S. J. Maxwell; B. C. Congdon; T. L. Rymer. A New Species of Paraseraphs (Gastropoda, Seraphsidae) from the Priabonian White Limestone Formation of Jamaica. Paleontological Journal 2018, 52, 1371 -1373.
AMA StyleS. J. Maxwell, B. C. Congdon, T. L. Rymer. A New Species of Paraseraphs (Gastropoda, Seraphsidae) from the Priabonian White Limestone Formation of Jamaica. Paleontological Journal. 2018; 52 (12):1371-1373.
Chicago/Turabian StyleS. J. Maxwell; B. C. Congdon; T. L. Rymer. 2018. "A New Species of Paraseraphs (Gastropoda, Seraphsidae) from the Priabonian White Limestone Formation of Jamaica." Paleontological Journal 52, no. 12: 1371-1373.
Wendy A Callaway; Ayla A Turner; Oscar B Croshaw; Jade A Ferguson; Zachary J -N Julson; Trevor M Volp; Sarah E Kerr; Tasmin L Rymer. Melomys cervinipes (Rodentia: Muridae). Mammalian Species 2018, 50, 134 -147.
AMA StyleWendy A Callaway, Ayla A Turner, Oscar B Croshaw, Jade A Ferguson, Zachary J -N Julson, Trevor M Volp, Sarah E Kerr, Tasmin L Rymer. Melomys cervinipes (Rodentia: Muridae). Mammalian Species. 2018; 50 (968):134-147.
Chicago/Turabian StyleWendy A Callaway; Ayla A Turner; Oscar B Croshaw; Jade A Ferguson; Zachary J -N Julson; Trevor M Volp; Sarah E Kerr; Tasmin L Rymer. 2018. "Melomys cervinipes (Rodentia: Muridae)." Mammalian Species 50, no. 968: 134-147.
Mammalian paternal care is rare, and often considered synonymous with social monogamy. Numerous hypotheses have been proposed to explain the evolution and function of paternal care in mammals, many assuming that males are important for offspring survival, with accompanying costs and benefits to fathers and mothers. Most hypotheses are taxon‐centric, focusing primarily on three mammalian orders. Consequently, there is no definitive ‘one size fits all’ hypothesis that adequately explains the evolution of mammalian paternal care. Here, we review both proximate (ontogeny, mechanisms) and ultimate (adaptive significance, evolution) questions to provide an integrated perspective of paternal care, focussing on the rodents. Firstly, we describe the behavioural machinery, and then the neuroendocrine, genetic end environmental factors that regulate and modulate paternal care. We suggest that the behavioural machinery of parental care is conserved in both males and females, although parental care is regulated in a sex‐ and species‐specific manner. Secondly, we provide hypotheses for the evolution and function of paternal care. In contrast to previous studies, we consider seven adaptive hypotheses that explore the possibility of paternal care benefiting the offspring, mothers and/or fathers. We also consider three constraints hypotheses. We suggest that paternal care does not have to incur a survival benefit to offspring to evolve. Instead, the combined benefits to fathers, mothers and offspring should out‐weigh the costs to fathers of providing care. Our suggestions for integrating proximate and ultimate explanations for why and how male rodents provide paternal care are applicable across taxa. Integrating these explanations is complicated because the adaptive consequences are context and species‐specific. Therefore, future research should integrate these approaches within and between a wide array of taxa.
T. L. Rymer; N. Pillay. An integrated understanding of paternal care in mammals: lessons from the rodents. Journal of Zoology 2018, 306, 69 -76.
AMA StyleT. L. Rymer, N. Pillay. An integrated understanding of paternal care in mammals: lessons from the rodents. Journal of Zoology. 2018; 306 (2):69-76.
Chicago/Turabian StyleT. L. Rymer; N. Pillay. 2018. "An integrated understanding of paternal care in mammals: lessons from the rodents." Journal of Zoology 306, no. 2: 69-76.
Noel Preece; Sandra E. Abell; Laura Grogan; Adrian Wayne; Lee Skerratt; Penny Van Oosterzee; Amy L. Shima; Peter Daszak; Hume Field; Andrea Reiss; Lee Berger; Tasmin Rymer; Diana Fisher; Michael J. Lawes; Susan G. Laurance; Hamish McCallum; Carol Esson; Jonathan H. Epstein. A guide for ecologists: Detecting the role of disease in faunal declines and managing population recovery. Biological Conservation 2017, 214, 136 -146.
AMA StyleNoel Preece, Sandra E. Abell, Laura Grogan, Adrian Wayne, Lee Skerratt, Penny Van Oosterzee, Amy L. Shima, Peter Daszak, Hume Field, Andrea Reiss, Lee Berger, Tasmin Rymer, Diana Fisher, Michael J. Lawes, Susan G. Laurance, Hamish McCallum, Carol Esson, Jonathan H. Epstein. A guide for ecologists: Detecting the role of disease in faunal declines and managing population recovery. Biological Conservation. 2017; 214 ():136-146.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNoel Preece; Sandra E. Abell; Laura Grogan; Adrian Wayne; Lee Skerratt; Penny Van Oosterzee; Amy L. Shima; Peter Daszak; Hume Field; Andrea Reiss; Lee Berger; Tasmin Rymer; Diana Fisher; Michael J. Lawes; Susan G. Laurance; Hamish McCallum; Carol Esson; Jonathan H. Epstein. 2017. "A guide for ecologists: Detecting the role of disease in faunal declines and managing population recovery." Biological Conservation 214, no. : 136-146.