This blog is devoted to BIOL 6988, a graduate level seminar in the biological sciences at Youngstown State University. While targeted towards graduate students, BIOL 6988 actively incorporates undergraduate participants in their scholastic endeavors in the biological sciences. This blog is intended as a educational tool not just for YSU students and faculty, but for anyone who wishes to contribute to an active-learning environment.
Please join us for the seminar presented by Dr. Carmen Panaitof entitled "Neurophysiology of reproductive behavior and biparental care in the burying beetles". Dr. Panaitof is our newest faculty member in the department.
This past week Dr. Panaitof presented a lecture titled "Neorophysiology of reproductive behavior and biparental care in the burying beetles."
Biparental care is rare amoung organiams. It is slightly odd to think that many species out in nature do not typically have both parents provide care. In humans, it is pretty typical to be raised by both mother and father, but now it is becoming more common for single parents. In burying beetles, the male parent is less active than the female parent. Also, the larvae have actually shown behavior of begging the parents for food.
Dr. Panaitof explained some of the biogenic amines. For example octopamine, serotonin, and dopamine profiles are established during breeding bouts.
What are the ecological and evolutionary benefits of biparental vs monogamous parenting?
Dr. Panaitof’s seminar was very intriguing. I have never studied the burying beetle, therefore this topic was very interesting.
In the burying beetle, the most common type of parenting is biparental parenting compared to monogamous. Some studies have shown that two parents together raised more offspring than single parents of either sex. This showed that the presence of the male can directly influence parental fitness even in the absence of competitors. But other studies showed that in other species of burying beetle, biparental families do not differ in offspring number.
Fitness always plays a role in the evolution and maintenance of flexible biparental care in the burying beetle. It was also shown that biparental parenting produced more larvae than monogamous parenting when the beetles freely adopted to their family composition.
Dr. Panaitof's presentation on burying beetles was very interesting. The parental care depends on the species, but for burying beetles biparental care is observed. Fitness also plays a large role in determining the type of care. For example, in another study of burying beetles, a higher parental fitness was observed in biparental families that produced more larvae. Parental care includes but is not limited to nest construction, egg incubation, protection, thermoregulation, and gathering food. Female monogamous parenting is observed in many species but there are some expectations. For example, male monogamous parenting in observed in fish and biparental care is common in birds. However, biparental care has become more common in mammals, amphibians, and insects. Monogamous parental care in a species has commonly evolved to biparental care because of increased offspring fitness. However, some problems arise in biparental care, such as one parent may providing more care than the other. Although such problems can occur, studies have shown that offspring grow better with biparental care even if one parent provides less than the other.
Biparental care has shown to increase both the fitness and number of offspring across many species, including the burying beetle. Ecological benefits include a stable, structured home for the offspring is helpful.
Dr. Panaitof discussed the burying beetle and its parental care and reproductive behaviors. In the burying beetle, biparental care is most often observed. Both parents contributed towards gathering food, maintenance and protection of the nest, and more. In some species, a single parent raises their offspring (monogamy), needing to do the mentioned work by itself.
Monogamy avoids some parent-offspring and sexual conflicts, which can lead towards unstable parental care, or a lack of parental care altogether. Biparental care can provide benefits, too, mainly because a second individual is able to contribute towards completing tasks that are likely to aid in the survival of their offspring.
Dr. Panaitof presentation was interesting, I have never thought of burying beetles that way. Biparental care has been greatly studied among many species but not burying beetle, therefore making it a clever topic.
Some studies show that monogamous parenting only accounts for 3-5% of the total animal population. Mostly seen in mammals due to the necessity of lactation. This leads to reduced care for offspring's thus decrease their survival. Other studies show that biparental care can increase offspring's survival rate but also, bring inter-sexual conflicts which increase female and male mortality rate. However, many species display alloparenting, it involves relatives or a group of mates taking care of offsprings.
This past week Dr. Panaitof presented a lecture titled "Neorophysiology of reproductive behavior and biparental care in the burying beetles."
ReplyDeleteBiparental care is rare amoung organiams. It is slightly odd to think that many species out in nature do not typically have both parents provide care. In humans, it is pretty typical to be raised by both mother and father, but now it is becoming more common for single parents. In burying beetles, the male parent is less active than the female parent. Also, the larvae have actually shown behavior of begging the parents for food.
Dr. Panaitof explained some of the biogenic amines. For example octopamine, serotonin, and dopamine profiles are established during breeding bouts.
What are the ecological and evolutionary benefits of biparental vs monogamous parenting?
Dr. Panaitof’s seminar was very intriguing. I have never studied the burying beetle, therefore this topic was very interesting.
DeleteIn the burying beetle, the most common type of parenting is biparental parenting compared to monogamous. Some studies have shown that two parents together raised more offspring than single parents of either sex. This showed that the presence of the male can directly influence parental fitness even in the absence of competitors. But other studies showed that in other species of burying beetle, biparental families do not differ in offspring number.
Fitness always plays a role in the evolution and maintenance of flexible biparental care in the burying beetle. It was also shown that biparental parenting produced more larvae than monogamous parenting when the beetles freely adopted to their family composition.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDr. Panaitof's presentation on burying beetles was very interesting. The parental care depends on the species, but for burying beetles biparental care is observed. Fitness also plays a large role in determining the type of care. For example, in another study of burying beetles, a higher parental fitness was observed in biparental families that produced more larvae. Parental care includes but is not limited to nest construction, egg incubation, protection, thermoregulation, and gathering food. Female monogamous parenting is observed in many species but there are some expectations. For example, male monogamous parenting in observed in fish and biparental care is common in birds. However, biparental care has become more common in mammals, amphibians, and insects. Monogamous parental care in a species has commonly evolved to biparental care because of increased offspring fitness. However, some problems arise in biparental care, such as one parent may providing more care than the other. Although such problems can occur, studies have shown that offspring grow better with biparental care even if one parent provides less than the other.
ReplyDeleteBiparental care has shown to increase both the fitness and number of offspring across many species, including the burying beetle. Ecological benefits include a stable, structured home for the offspring is helpful.
ReplyDeleteDr. Panaitof discussed the burying beetle and its parental care and reproductive behaviors. In the burying beetle, biparental care is most often observed. Both parents contributed towards gathering food, maintenance and protection of the nest, and more. In some species, a single parent raises their offspring (monogamy), needing to do the mentioned work by itself.
ReplyDeleteMonogamy avoids some parent-offspring and sexual conflicts, which can lead towards unstable parental care, or a lack of parental care altogether. Biparental care can provide benefits, too, mainly because a second individual is able to contribute towards completing tasks that are likely to aid in the survival of their offspring.
Dr. Panaitof presentation was interesting, I have never thought of burying beetles that way. Biparental care has been greatly studied among many species but not burying beetle, therefore making it a clever topic.
ReplyDeleteSome studies show that monogamous parenting only accounts for 3-5% of the total animal population. Mostly seen in mammals due to the necessity of lactation. This leads to reduced care for offspring's thus decrease their survival. Other studies show that biparental care can increase offspring's survival rate but also, bring inter-sexual conflicts which increase female and male mortality rate. However, many species display alloparenting, it involves relatives or a group of mates taking care of offsprings.